John
Lesson 2
Notes
John's ultimate purpose was that through believing, the reader will have life. This eternal life, a quality of life that BEGINS NOW but reaches into etenity and never ends. p.1
I have never thought about ETERNAL LIFE beginning NOW, affecting the quality of life I live NOW. But after studying this book, I know, without a doubt, that my quality of life on this earth is positively affected because I believe!
Today, people divide themselves into one of two groups when they are presented in the full glory of Jesus Christ, His redemptive work and His undeviating demands upon every human being. Some respond with grateful faith. Others, the majority, choose the path of indifference or rejection that ultimately leads to direct opposition to the light and eternal life, which comes from Jesus Christ. p. 2
I am amazed that people could respond to the FULL glory of Jesus with indifference. Yet, often times I respond with indifference. Do I choose to MAKE time to put Him, His words, and His requirements FIRST in my life? If I were to answer this question honestly, it would be sometimes. When I feel like it, when it works out, when I do not let my love for sleep to win. Today, Monday, June 14th at 2:34PM I would have to answer no. Him, His words, His requirements are in my life, but I have not choosen to make them first, not my first fruits, the first thing I do each day. Why? I have excuses, good excuses. There will always be excuses, good excuses. But none good enough. I can see a difference in me. Not a good difference. I can see the one I use to be rising up in me again. The cure, is to put Him, His words, His requirements FIRST. By first, I mean first thing in the morning. Time that is uninterrupted by my beautiful children. I know He has washed me white and that I am forgiven. I know He desires to spend time, uninterrupted time with me so He can lavish me with His love. Sleep should not be such a huge temptation for me to overcome, yet each morning I battle. Satan tempts me with the lack of sleep I have had during the night due to circumstances beyond my control. Tomorrow I pray that God will give me the desire to overcome the temptation so I can be lavished by His love!
dflke
Monday, June 14, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
1 Week Later
In Christ Alone
Verse 4
No guilt in life,
no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell,
no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
It is one week later. I remember Rick Atchley using an illustration in one of his sermons about how one of the members of our military would sing this verse of this song as he patrolled the dangerous streets in Iraq. This verse gave him peace and comfort, reminding him who truly was in control of his destiny. This man who faces death every minute of every day can have peace because of the power of Christ in him. It is the peace that I have because of the power of Christ in me.
Another one of my favorite christian songs right now is Our God (Is Greater) by Chris Tomlin. (A fellow Aggie :)) My favorite part is the brigde:
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?
This year, more than ever, God has reaffirmed that HE is in control of my destiny. And if my God is for me (and I am fully confident that He is) then no power of hell, no scheme of man, no one and no thing can stand against His Will for my life. That knowledge allows the POWER of Christ in me.
I felt His power the moment I saw the 18 wheeler in my rear view mirror and knew that he was going to hit my car. There was no fear, no thinking "What am I going to do", no worry about what was about to happen, there was peace. Peace because my God is for me. Peace because the power of Christ resides in me.
What can stand against? Well not an 18 wheeler who hit me hard enough to push my car and the 4 cars in front of me over 81 feet before we came to a rest.
My God is greater,
My God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
My God is Healer,
awesome and power
My God, My God...
Sunday, June 6, 2010
HTL #1 John
Notes from the Home Training Lesson #1 for the Study of John
Rich learning
Share much of what we learn with one another and others
That Presley and Kennedy will learn:
*Obedience and Cooperation with their leaders
*The appropriate give and take that comes from being with other children
*The discipline of a quiet, learning attitude for times of Bible storytelling and hymn singing
*The joy that comes with a grateful and appreciative heart
They will learn:
* to recognize and understand new vocabulary words of beauty and power from God's Word.
*to recall many stories from the Word
*to enjoy singing meaningful hymns
I have seen many changes and developments in their hearts, minds and actions of Presley and Kennedy because of the time they have spent in BSF.
Bible Reading:
Psalms 119:9-16
How can Presley and Kennedy keep their way pure?
By living according to your word.
I pray they will seek you with all their heart;
do not let them stray from your commandments.
I pray Your Word will be hidden in their hearts
that they might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O Lord;
teach Presley and Kennedy your decress.
With their lips they recount all the laws that come from Your mouth.
I pray they will rejoice in following Your statues
as one rejoices in great riches.
I pray they will meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
I pray they will delight in your decress;
that Presley and Kennedy will not neglect your Word.
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was THE WORD,
and THE WORD was with God,
and THE WORD was God.
(Through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit THE WORD is with me!)
He was with God in the beginning.
THE WORD - is the trinity. 3 in 1. A concept I have difficulty understanding. But after the study of John I understand just a smidge better. But Presley, at the tender age of 5, has such a greater understanding of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. She grasps that they are 3 but 1. God lives in her heart. God speaks to her. The Holy Spirit that lives in her heart is really God! No questions, no wondering, no understanding of what is so difficult to grasp. He is 3 and He is 1. It just is. I want her faith!
But next comes my favorite verse, verse 3.
"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
Without Him nothing. How easy to forget, how easy I forget. Without HIM nothing.
He chose me before creation, He chose my husband before creation, He chose my children before creation! All that I am, all that I have, all that is yet to come, is from HIM. As long as I am in Him, I will enjoy His blessing, but if I chose to step outside His will, WITHOUT HIM nothing. Nothing! Nothing good, no peace, no real joy, no happiness, no abundant life.
John 20:30-31
John 21:24-25
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."
What I know of Jesus I have learned from His Word. The study of John has helped to know Jesus in a more intimate, personal way. I saw a Jesus who was fully God, but in the form of Man, fully surrendered to His Father and His Father's Will. Never once did He do His own Will. Every minute of every day, He did the work of the one who sent Him. Focused, Obedient, Radiating His Father. If you know Jesus, you know His Father because Jesus was God in the flesh. The power that was in Jesus as the Son of God and the Son of Man lives in me. I have that power in me. Yet that power is limited. Not because God is limited, but because I limit it by pursing my will over the will of the one who created me. What I know about Jesus' work while He was here on earth is finite, limited to what is recorded in the Word. But Jesus did MANY OTHER THINGS! So many other great, wonderful, miraculous, life changing things. I know this is true, but have never pondered it much.
Rich learning
Share much of what we learn with one another and others
That Presley and Kennedy will learn:
*Obedience and Cooperation with their leaders
*The appropriate give and take that comes from being with other children
*The discipline of a quiet, learning attitude for times of Bible storytelling and hymn singing
*The joy that comes with a grateful and appreciative heart
They will learn:
* to recognize and understand new vocabulary words of beauty and power from God's Word.
*to recall many stories from the Word
*to enjoy singing meaningful hymns
I have seen many changes and developments in their hearts, minds and actions of Presley and Kennedy because of the time they have spent in BSF.
Bible Reading:
Psalms 119:9-16
How can Presley and Kennedy keep their way pure?
By living according to your word.
I pray they will seek you with all their heart;
do not let them stray from your commandments.
I pray Your Word will be hidden in their hearts
that they might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O Lord;
teach Presley and Kennedy your decress.
With their lips they recount all the laws that come from Your mouth.
I pray they will rejoice in following Your statues
as one rejoices in great riches.
I pray they will meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
I pray they will delight in your decress;
that Presley and Kennedy will not neglect your Word.
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was THE WORD,
and THE WORD was with God,
and THE WORD was God.
(Through the gift and power of the Holy Spirit THE WORD is with me!)
He was with God in the beginning.
THE WORD - is the trinity. 3 in 1. A concept I have difficulty understanding. But after the study of John I understand just a smidge better. But Presley, at the tender age of 5, has such a greater understanding of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. She grasps that they are 3 but 1. God lives in her heart. God speaks to her. The Holy Spirit that lives in her heart is really God! No questions, no wondering, no understanding of what is so difficult to grasp. He is 3 and He is 1. It just is. I want her faith!
But next comes my favorite verse, verse 3.
"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
Without Him nothing. How easy to forget, how easy I forget. Without HIM nothing.
He chose me before creation, He chose my husband before creation, He chose my children before creation! All that I am, all that I have, all that is yet to come, is from HIM. As long as I am in Him, I will enjoy His blessing, but if I chose to step outside His will, WITHOUT HIM nothing. Nothing! Nothing good, no peace, no real joy, no happiness, no abundant life.
John 20:30-31
John 21:24-25
"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."
What I know of Jesus I have learned from His Word. The study of John has helped to know Jesus in a more intimate, personal way. I saw a Jesus who was fully God, but in the form of Man, fully surrendered to His Father and His Father's Will. Never once did He do His own Will. Every minute of every day, He did the work of the one who sent Him. Focused, Obedient, Radiating His Father. If you know Jesus, you know His Father because Jesus was God in the flesh. The power that was in Jesus as the Son of God and the Son of Man lives in me. I have that power in me. Yet that power is limited. Not because God is limited, but because I limit it by pursing my will over the will of the one who created me. What I know about Jesus' work while He was here on earth is finite, limited to what is recorded in the Word. But Jesus did MANY OTHER THINGS! So many other great, wonderful, miraculous, life changing things. I know this is true, but have never pondered it much.
"If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."
The WHOLE WORLD would not have room. Incomprehensible!
But it should not be. When I look at my life and the wonderful, great, incredible, miraculous, life changing things He has done just this week, it is enough to fill pages. My life alone could fill volumes. Big things and small things. God is good. God is great. I am grateful to gain a better, deeper understanding of who God is and how much I still need to learn!
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