WE HAVE BEGUN A JOURNEY WE WILL
BE ON FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES
BUT OH!
STONES ARE BEING CHISELED
HEARTS OF FLESH RELEASED
TO LOVE, TO FEEL, AND TO EXPERIENCE
THE POWER OF GOD
This week, before the beauty of concentrating on Thanksgiving and Advent, we will review where we’ve been, and as part of that review, discuss a movie that portrays some of the themes we’ve discussed. The Tree of Life grapples with what Romans 6, 7, 8 calls the old nature (simply called nature in the film) and the new nature (called grace in the film) and with the difficult question of suffering, drawing upon the close of Job. The story of this Texas family shows how “nature” and its natural bent of clinging to idols destroys, and how “grace” and its gift of trusting God can overcome. I’ve received e-mails from those wondering why I would recommend this movie, and it true it is not a light movie, but I believe it to be one, when discussed, that may act as a hammer in the shattering of stones in your heart. I was so moved by it in so many ways. I sensed the quickening of God on the writer/producer — more than he may have even realized. To my knowledge, none of the lead actors are believers, yet God used them. (As He used Cyrus, “though he does not know me” to free the Jews.) It might be a movie to discuss over the holidays with people you love — even non-Christians.
Here is an excellent review from Christianity Today which I recommend that you read before watching. (They feel it is appropriate for children and I do too, though not the very young.) Here is that review:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2011/treeoflife.html
STONECUTTER REVIEW:
When we began, I asked you to begin to identify a heart idol. Tim Keller, in Counterfeit Gods, identifies three primary heart idols.
1: COMFORT/SECURITY
2. POWER/CONTROL
3. AFFIRMATION/APPROVAL
So often in the past we have tried to work on the “near sin” but ignored the deep heart idol. For example, someone with the near sin of losing his temper might try to count to ten, but as long as he ignores his deep heart idol of control, he will not be likely to have victory. It isn’t enough to try harder, or to be a faithful church goer, but you absolutely must identify how you are trusting in something other than God. We all do it, for it is our natural bent.
In the same way, someone with a near sin of overeating, overspending, or oversleeping may get a better diet, budget, or alarm clock — but until she allows God to be her comfort instead of food, or shopping, or sleep, she will not have victory.
We may have never considered that we have an idolatry problem. We are simply living in a way that feels natural, or, as The Tree of Life puts it, “the way of nature.”The father in The Tree of Life loved his family, and yet he nearly destroyed them, and passed down his abusive ways to his eldest son. It isn’t until he loses the job that he gave his all to that he sees the clay feet of his idol. We may not realize we are living for power or approval or comfort — but seeing our idols and how they destroy is indeed, half the battle. Realizing they are not our friends can change our whole lives, as many of you have seen.
We also learned that idols cannot be removed, only replaced. We must allow, in faith, to allow God to be our approval, our comfort, our security, our control… That is a journey that happens as we abide in Him, and as we practice the habit of turning from the darkness of our idol to the light of the One True God. Repenting must become like breathing. The more you experience God’s love, the more you long for it, and your heart of flesh will continue to be released.
Sunday/Monday (Icebreaker and make plans to see the movie)
1. During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
Monday-Wednesday: Bible Study
The prophets use the terms of idolatry and adultery almost interchangeably. Their point is that sin is not so much “breaking a rule,” but breaking God’s heart. Hosea was commanded to marry an unfaithful woman as a living parable for God’s people, that we might see the futility of running after our idols, how we are breaking God’s heart, and what He longs to show us about Himself.
When Kathy Troccoli and I were praying what book of the Bible we would use for the third in our trilogy about approaching Jesus as our bridegroom, Kathy wanted to do portraits of Christ from The Gospel of John. I wanted to do portraits of Christ from the prophet Hosea. After praying for God’s heart and likemindedness of two very strong-willed and different women, one night, I woke suddenly in the middle of the night thinking, “I wonder if we might see the same portraits of Jesus in both the writings of Hosea and the writings of John.” I could already see The Redeemer, The Lion, and The Bridegroom in both — but the most important portraits of Jesus in John are the eight great I AM’s, and I didn’t see THE GREAT I AM in Hosea. But I wondered… I went downstairs in the middle of the night and curled up with Hosea in my green leather chair — might I find THE GREAT I AM? During that reading I wondered if THE GREAT I AM might be seen, in the negative in Hosea 2:2. The next day I called Dorian Coover-Cox, a Hebrew expert at Dallas Seminary, and she confirmed it. She said, “YES! YES! He is saying, because of your infidelities, for a time, I am separating from you — and I AM NOT your husband. It’s temporary, to bring her to her senses, and He sees a day when she will again call Him her husband and He will enable her to keep her covenant.” Forever in Love with Jesus therefore shows the portraits of Christ that are in both Hosea and John,because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And it is filled with amazing portraits by Martin French done especially for that study.
2. Read Hosea 2
A. Why is the Lord going to “separate” from His people, saying I am not her husband, according to verses 1-2?
B. Why, according to verse 5, did she decide to go after her lovers?
C. What does she not realize, according to verse 8?
D. Describe God’s heartbreak in verse 13. How has this fact helped you resist your idols more effectively than approaches in the past? Be specific by describing the old approach and the new approach.
E. Why did God lead His bride into the wilderness? Meditate long on Hosea 2:14-15.
F. Describe a way that the failure of an idol in your life ultimately led to you hearing God’s tender voice.
G. In Hosea 2:16-23, describe how we will be truly changed when we see Jesus face to face. (“In that Day”)
H. What stands out to you from Hosea 2 and why?
3. Preparation for watching The Tree of Life
A. The movie opens with Job 38:4. Read this verse in context. What point is God making to Job with this verse and with the ensuing questions in the close of this magnificent book?
B. Suffering can turn our hearts to stone if we do not trust God, but God has given us far more evidence than Job ever had for us to trust Him. Name a few things that you can cling to when suffering comes.
4. The movie opens with the statement that there are two ways of life — the way of grace and the way of nature. Meditate on this passage from Romans 6:
12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
In terms of our Stonecutter study, you often have the choice during the day to present yourself to your idol or to trust God. What promise can you find in verse 14 and what does this tell you about “the way of nature/idols” and “the way of grace/God.”
5. There is a point in the movie where the eldest son is becoming abusive like his father and he quotes Romans – I do not do what I want to do, but I do what I hate. How have you experienced the power of sin spiraling you down — and how has God been able to reach down and rescue you?
REFLECTING ON THE MOVIE (Friday-Saturday)
6. WHAT CHRISTIAN THEMES STOOD OUT TO YOU FROM THE MOVIE AND WHY?
7. DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT “THE WAY OF GRACE” AND “THE WAY OF NATURE” IN THE OPENING? COMMENT, IF YOU DO.
8. THERE IS A KALIEDOSCOPE OF IMAGES FROM THE CLOSE OF JOB AND THEREFORE CREATION IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE MOVIE. (NOTE THAT THEY TAKE PLACE IN THE SAME AREA THE BOYS PLAYED.) WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU AND WHY? FAVORITE IMAGES?
9. The mother represents grace, but grace does not mean licentiousness or freedom from the law. Find examples of when she talked sternly to her eldest son about his abuse. When you are aware of a parent’s love (or God’s love) why is obedience more likely?
10. What do you think the father’s idol was and why? How was it bringing destruction?
11. What awakened the father to the futility of his idol? What evidence of repentance did you see in the father in his words to his wife after the son died?
12. Do you think the mother could have handled the situation any differently? Why or why not?
13. What did you think the closing scene represented?
14. Describe the forgiveness scene between the two brothers. Comment.
15. Why do you think the movie was called “The Tree of Life?”
16. What was your take-a-way from the movie — positive or negative?
301 comments
Didn’t have time yesterday to post my take-away from last week, so here it is: First, something from the Keller sermon, where Keller said, about these experiences when we get “hugged by God”, “this is the adventure of Christianity!” I thought, yes, yes! I remember having a conversation with my niece about God and I said something like that, that knowing God is like a lifelong adventure, you can never get to the bottom of God; He is always new and He is never boring! I think I saw that Kim also said that her Christian life is becoming an adventure now – yes!!
Secondly, something Elizabeth posted, about how in her life, in the past, she would have said things like, “Why didn’t I have…….”, and I, too, can fill in that blank; “why didn’t I or why don’t I have….” But now the question is more like why do I even deserve this amazing love from God? I want to hold-on to this perspective, because I often am still in the “why don’t I have…..” level, and perhaps reflecting on why I DO have God’s love will help me not be depressed about what I don’t have; I want to be more thankful for God’s love.
So good, Susan. Those things from Kim and Elizabeth are both things I recorded too. May you be hugged today by God — how is the fellowship at church going?
I’m still going to the women’s fellowship group the first hour. The woman who leads it, Kathy, is very kind, genuine. She called me a couple weeks ago and she asked if I would share my testimony in December; she wants all the “new ladies” to do this so that we can all get to know each other better. It’s a diverse group; all age groups represented; some married, divorced, widowed, or husbands don’t attend church. I have one woman I already knew because she’s a neighbor and she also attends church alone. Actually, our husbands work together. I know it’s just going to take time. I’m hoping in January to once again get into a weekly women’s Bible study. I haven’t been in a face-to-face Bible study since my nephew died two years ago. This study has been a real life-line, but I think it’s time to seek fellowship in my new church.
How is your leg today? I hope the swelling has gone down? I know you said you were taking a diuretic (water pill) for the swelling. If you will be on them for a while, make sure they keep an eye on your potassium level, as diuretics can lower it. Bananas and orange juice have potassium in them.
You will give a powerful testimony. This sounds great, Susan. I’m glad for you and for the women you will touch.
Susan — could you remind me if you can remember what post you put the story of your dad coming in and putting his hand on your shoulder when you were in emergency? I want to look at that again — piecing together things from you I’d love to use in The Stonecutter.
Bananas!
Yes Susan, I just know you are going to go out and touch these women! I am excited! You are getting to go out and pass this onto others! I look forward to hearing the “I Spy’s” in God moving through you to touch others. 🙂
This is all so good Susan, I missed your thoughtful ponderings last week.
It’s so interesting that my words spoke to you a little, because, I hope this will make sense, but there are parts of your story that I have always identified with–being the baby of the family, your stories of the piano, sisters…and over time when I read about you & your Dad, I have felt like there is maybe a picture in it for me…like maybe God is showing me a picture of what my Dad’s love for me might have looked like if he was not bound by alcohol and depression. A while back when Dee thought your story of the ER with your Dad was my story, I just sort of smiled–imagining that my Dad would have loved me that way, if he had been able to be free. I have thought on this a while and hesitated to share, because it may feel weird to you–but it has helped me in my healing and breaking free from the unforgiveness towards him that had hardened my heart for so many years.
Susan,
I sense that this bothered you and I just wanted to apologize. I guess it was another thing I should have kept to myself. I’m learning that this week. I wanted it to encourage you in some way, but I apologize if it felt strange to you.
ICE-BREAKER
1. During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that you saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
Wow. The past several days, I’ve been reflecting way, way back to the start of this study, and that initial question Dee asked, to identify a “stone” I wanted removed from my heart. At first I had such a hard time; I saw “stones” everywhere. I had decided to target my thought life, in particular, my habit of escaping into daydreaming and fantasizing, often about being married to a different man, to escape the unhappy reality of my marriage. Another area was my jealousy and resentment of certain people in my life. But I still didn’t really understand the heart of these issues, I still really didn’t get the depth of where we were going, to the idol/idols themselves.
I can say, it truly has been only in the last few weeks that I even feel I am fully grasping what we have been learning; about God, about ourselves, about our idols.
Just in the last week, God has put His finger on a deep idol, or I should say, idols, in my heart. My fear of losing my dad; his deteriorating health, led me one night to curl up in a blanket and cry out to God how will I live without dad and his love? WHO WILL LOVE ME LIKE A FATHER? I am 47 years old, and still the child in me needs to be enfolded in her dad’s arms and held; my dad did that just a week ago as he talked about death and he cried; I know he doesn’t want to leave me. It’s that tender love of a father I long for.
I’ve been feeling for a long time a sense of losing my purpose in life, my meaning in life, and it has made me feel depressed, sad, hopeless. I feel God led me back to Keller’s sermon on The Gospel and Idolatry (The Grand De-mythologizer). I felt I could insert my own name in the part where he described a woman he counseled who could not forgive her husband because she had made an idol out of her son.
I have these deep idols of wanting security, love/affirmation and have in turn made idols out of people; my mom and dad, my children; looking to them to give me what I want and need, what my heart longs for. Keller said, “Any individual life that is not based on the glory and grace of God is going to be based on some created thing in God’s place.”
“Everyone looks to something to save it, to rescue it; it puts its hope in something.”
God has shown me some really painful things that are shedding light; He is chiseling, chiseling. I am so thankful He doesn’t want to leave me imprisoned in stone. When I take these good things He has given me, these gifts of family and children, and worship them instead of God, it’s a disaster. It makes me keep searching, longing, despairing over what I don’t have and all the while God is standing there with His arms empty, when I could be in them but I go elsewhere.
As we have been focusing on God’s love for us and how to experience it, I hope I am beginning a journey now to learn how to experience His love and to turn to Him and not idols. I believe what can transform my affection and love for God is looking deeply into the Gospel, what Jesus did for me.
Susan — this is sooo beautiful. God has given you insight into your fears because He loves you so and wants to know He does love you. I am very excited about what I see happening in your heart. I am praying for it to continue and it is sweet we are on the cusp of a season that tells us again and again of His love.
I love this line, “I am so thankful He doesn’t want to leave me imprisoned in stone.” Thank you Jesus!
Susan, that was so beautifully written and from your heart. I felt like you were writing my life story! Thank you for opening your heart to us…I am praying for you.
Susan, this really touched me. Thanks for your honesty in sharing your struggle.
I SO want to get into the movie, but I will try to wait-it is hard since I just saw it last night and it is on my mind. 🙂 I cried from the point where the boy forgives his brother and then what his brother said after that to God made me break down and cry. I couldn’t talk, and then all the way to the end, tears.
My husband was saying-oh sunflowers they must be in Kansas? (i smiled-he is a guy..;)but I couldn’t talk and tell him what I thought because i was choked up-how could the writers know this? It had to have been a quickening as Dee suggested. I loved when the mother let go at the end and then there was a picture of a field of Sunflowers! 🙂 I finally got what the boy said at the beginning and the end when he said, “Mother, Father always you wrestle inside me”.-o.K. I will stop. I do wonder what others will think of the beach scene where all the people are on the beach.
I was beginning to wonder if the writer of the movie did our study! I can see, if some haven’t done our study, or if they don’t know the Lord, where they would think it was strange. Some of the reviews of people who seemed not to be believers but were artists did like it though.
I would recommend taking notes during the movie. I scribbled as fast as I could-the stuff that impacted me. missed some stuff, but sometimes the talking is slow enough where you can write it down.
You are certainly helping whet enthusiasm, dear Rebecca!
I couldn’t help it. Yes, I am trying to work on calming down in general-I tend to get over-excited sometimes-and jump the gun! 🙂
Rebecca, your enthusiasm is contagious and I will rent the movie today.
I have to wait untill Netflex sends it:(
I figure we’ll be talking about this movie for a few weeks so don’t worry! You’ll be so much smarter when you watch it because of preview comments!
Ya! Never thought of it that way!!
Cant wait to get started!
1. During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
Ok I will choose clinging to other women for fullfillment which i think is a comfort idol and a approval idol.. since beginning the stonecutter i see the Lord working in me in this area.. as i have shared before, I used to cling, and cling some more to other women.. it seemed to be “new friends” and as soon as i got to know them or i met another new friend it switched over to the new friend it was a continuous cycle… well i met a new friend a few weeks ago, she is 38 and I was finding myself clinging to her becasue.. i just keep thinking wow she is the friend i have always wanted! BUt even she will fail God is the only one who will fulfill me and he is the one i will always want/need. A few weeks ago, i found myself crying becuase i was frusterated at myself for clinging and wanting to be with this person she was contantly on my mind.. BUt i cried out to God and asked him to give me a desire for him and to help me think of him..constantly and to take this clingyness away. Anyway i went from clinging to other people and not caring or caring but not really doing anything about it, to crying and knowing it was wrong and being sorrowful and asking God to help me!
Great example, Meg!
Meg, This is great-how God has helped you to see this! “But even she will fail God is the only one who will fulfill me and he is the one i will always want/need.”
Thanks Rebecca
Could you pray this morning regarding this though? I am having a really hard time this morning regarding this. Pray like i said about that God would fill me and my mind be filled with him and not my friend.
1. When we began the first idolatry study God identified for me the idol of approval. Now as I look back over the landscape of my journey I see that the need for approval was actually a near(er) sin with roots in the idol of security. This morning as I sat with the Lord, He revealed it to me. I was full of fears and they caused me to behave irrationally. Last fall He began to show me His power. The next precept was His love. Then just a few weeks ago He showed me that joy is next and it is coming. The knot of fear inside of me is unraveling and I am again a child in my Father’s lap. I look at His face, not my circumstances.
I see this Anne, and love it “I look at His face, not my circumstances.”
Praying for Joey this morning–will youth group be tonight?
Oh Elizabeth, thanks so much for remembering and praying! Our new church was awesome this morning with a sermon on Judges (beginning of a series) with teaching on trying to manage sin instead of killing it. Judges is a great book for teenage boys! One of the boys from youth group stopped to talk with Joey. It was good all around. I decided ahead of time not to take him tonight because it is a family potluck which I don’t think Joey is ready for just yet. And I am supposed to meet with the girls at work this afternoon for knitting 🙂 Sometime I have to catch up on Acts study too.
All sounds good for Joey!
Sounds like a great sermon on “managing sin.” Oh!
Every time I post and see my avitar I am blessed. It is so small that you can’t really see it but I must share the story. Those flowers are Azaleas that are in front of my house. They are probably over 40 years old and have been a problem for trimming. At one point I wanted my father to come and pull them up so I could start over with something else. He said that was probably not a good idea because it would disrupt the foundation. This picture is from inside the den last spring. The den walls are dark with old paneling (another thing I did not appreciate) and these flowers made the walls glow with pink. It was absolutely beautiful!
Since my oldest son has been home he has worked with me in the yard many Saturdays when he is off, which is one of those deep joys that the Lord has brought. I started to trim them last spring after they bloomed but there was a bird nest with babies so I stopped. A couple of weeks ago Alfred went to work on them with the chain saw. He had to take them down to the ground because of vine roots that have to be dug up. So for now my azaleas are gone but I have this picture and the promise that they will grow again (they always do).
Oh Anne! When I see these flowers I see you-blooming so beautiful each year-as God chips away at your stones and you cling to Him. God showed me this with the tree in our front yard-so many years it didn’t show color, the leaves just died-this year it was a brilliant, deep burgundy, and lasted a long time. I sensed God using it to show me what my heart looks like to Him in this journey of turning my heart from stone to flesh. 🙂
And I love your tree Rebecca! What a beautiful analogy to your heart!
Love that picture Anne and the memories. 🙂
Thanks Angela. I am not sure why but I feel like it is more descriptive of me than a picture of my face.
Sunday/Monday (Icebreaker and make plans to see the movie)
1. During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
(SHORT ESSAY HERE, SORRY, but I can’t help it! ) 😉
For me it was approval-I think this was a deeper idol than comfort. satan would whisper lies in my head about what other people were thinking of me-and for some weird reason I felt comfort in my idols arms as I pulled back-only for it to grow worse. All of it was negative and not true (This is where it starts-I have learned to watch my thoughts closely- be careful what I am thinking-then if I sense a lie to replace it with truth)
I assumed others thought less of me regardless-merely because I spent most of my life with my family communicating to me in such a way. What really, really amazes me is God has given me victory a step at a time-a stone chip at a time. First with singing. I thought that was the big chunk of stone-but it soon went into where I work-then bam, another chip in the stone-I told myself the truth and repented/turned and walked in faith-then victory-one after the other.
So now, he is working on the deepest root-the part of the stone that is small, yet thick and most attached to my heart-harder to chip off-but NOT for HIM! It is approval from family-and so he is now freeing me from this. I am catching the lies and speaking truth to my soul-reminding myself of who Jesus is- my mother and father-who sets boundaries, yet delights in me so much he went to the cross so he could have me! He is my approval! He is the One who adores me, like the mother in “Tree Of Life” on the beach and the way she passionately looks at all the curves and the tears on her son’s face and wipes them-touches him with her finger outlining his face and then embraces him. She approves of him. Jesus approves of me and this mental picture helped! There is no condemnation, no judgment for He paid that price for me so He could touch my face-embrace me-so I could be His and He is mine. We are all fallible-we all miss the mark- I do, just like my family! So I can’t put my trust in man only because I know myself too well! I have had to repent of the weight I have put on my families approval of me over God’s-I exchanged the glory of God for a stick in the ground-and yet while that grieved Him, He still approves of me 100%. While there is some pain as I have gone through this-He is my comfort, so I haven’t gone through depression. My comfort idol was the first idol he replaced-as I look back I see how crucial it was to have that replaced before he tackled my approval idol. Really, he is just reiterating the Gospel to me-causing me to delve deeper into the depths of it than I ever have in the last 20 years. BEHOLD, what manner of love is this?!?!
This frees me to love, it really does..When I see the gravity of my fallible nature compared to His great love-His sacrfice-how can I ever be unforgiving toward my family when He has forgiven me? How could I go there for I am just like them and God gave His life for me-emptied himself of all but love so He could die for me so He could have me..How could I not love?
OH, and I have to add that I see in Cyndi this freedom from man’s approval. I love the free spirit God has given her-and I have always admired her-God has used her to encourage me in this area.
i am humbled…thank you!
I just love you Rebecca and love your testimonies and love to see what God is doing in your life. So share on! 🙂 God is so good.
Wonderful thoughts, Rebecca!
1. During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
Man this journey has been amazing. I was a real mess coming in. Not sure what was going on, “the heart is deceitful above all things” but as time went on God started opening my eyes and chiseling pieces. I started to see dust flying and it was a good thing. I was feeling freer and freer, lighter and lighter. I identified the root was approval but I think it intertwined with a deeper one of control. I needed others approval to feel valued but so much anger was there if things did not go my way.
As the journey continued God really moved and started revealing things to me. A while back He gave me a picture when I asked Him what was an issue hindering me. He showed me this vine all wrapped around a trellis. So many vines intertwined. I had so much pain needing approval from others. He showed me that the deeper root of it was fear. As I studied even more I found that only His perfect love can cast out fear. Nothing else. Nothing can replace it but Him. He put all these things together for me.
Now as I am very ill He has stripped me of security, approval, and comfort all in one. I find deep joy and love being at this place in Him alone. I cannot explain it but my heart is so full and pumping His blood. It is full of flesh and I feel so alive (yet stuck in bed). To be honest I am fearful now when I get well I will fall back into the old pattern. I am free. Truly free. Of course I still have to take those thoughts that come to try to take me captive again and make them obedient. That will probably never stop on this side of Heaven. I ask your prayer for this. That I will remain free when I am well. God willing I get well. I am now fearful of it and what it means for me and my heart. May I never forget and remember God alone is enough.
Angela, I will pray about this. I am sorry that you are not yet feeling better. What is wonderful is how God is using even this for good in your life. He is with you and we will pray.
Angela, love this, “May I never forget and remember God alone is enough”. Praying for you to get better and to never forget. I need to keep that in my heart,too.
Angela — you are living out what I’ve heard said, “You cannot know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” Thank you for sharing this.
Father,
I thank You that You are filling Angela with such life, love, and joy, even while she is stuck in bed. Father, thank You. How I pray that if this is pleasing to You, that You will restore Angela’s physical health as you have her spiritual health, and allow her to keep this life, love, and joy.
In Jesus Name, I do pray.
Amen
This is so beautiful, Angela. It is so encouraging that God is filling you with His sufficiency as he strips off the idols. It gives me hope in my own journey. I too pray that your physical health will be fully restored.
I am out of descriptive words as I want to comment on what God is doing among us and I think maybe I can copy John: Behold! From what planet is this love! Kim, I saw your comment on the last post, Meg, Rebecca, Susan, Angela and me. How changed all of us are! Angela, you shared a very real concern that we need to pray for protection that we do not lose ground in the days ahead. Sorry, I am talking too much. Excited!
ha not talking too much it is just a BEHOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!! moment! 🙂 I just love you ladies so. So thankful for you all and really you are the fellowship that I am getting these days. I so praise Him for it. I see the changes too and it is like a beautiful painting developing. We get to watch it happen right before our very eyes. What a privilege He has given us.
Anne, I rejoice with you!
Ladies,
I wanted to share this yesterday but i forgot.. Its from the book captivating!
Oh Gently lay your head upon my chest
and i will comfort you like a mother while you rest
The tide can change so fast
But i will stay
the same through past, the same in future, the same in today
Oh Weary tired and worn
Let out your sighs
And drop that heavy load you hold
Cuz mine is light
I know you through and through
There’s no need to hide
I want to show you love
that is deep and high and wide
For I am constant
I am near
I am peace that shatters all your secret fears
I am holy
I am wise
Im the only one who holds your hearts desire
Oh Gently lay your head upon my chest
And i will comfort you like a mother while you rest.
Jill Phillips “I am “
Very beautiful Meg. Thanks
Thank you for that, Meg…beautiful!
Kim, I couldn’t find your comment on here but I read it in my e-mail!! I am SO REJOICING WITH YOU!!!!! That totally thrilled me to see what God is doing in your heart! You know, this is weird, but this morning-we had a visiting youth pastor who spoke at the weekend IMPACT they had for the teens. I noticed right away a genuine-ness to him as he prayed. Godly, humble man. Praise you Lord-for I see you in so many! What you have done and are doing in the hearts of men and women amazes me-and it doesn’t stop at salvation-you are faithful and are passionate for us-you pursue us like the father when he ran to the prodigal son. Your desire for us is so deep and it never changes. Your love amazes me.
Amen!
cant really share this with anyone here because i do not want her feeling shamed in any way……I just found out Lily was sexually abused in china by the other girls in her orphange several times a week for 2 years. my heart is breaking for her and my brain is trying to figure out how best to help her heal from it before she gets to dating age and my spirit is crying out for grace and wisdom. she also told me that Emma touched her that way here once, so we have a LOT to deal with. please pray for me, lily, emma and for my friend Donna who will be doing the counseling.
will be praying cyndi, I was also sexually abused as a child.. my heart aches for you and your family 🙁
im so sorry meg! will be praying for your heart to find healing!!!!
I will be praying for you all, Cyndi.
Praying Cyndi. I am so sorry. How this hurts I am sure. I am glad you have a counselor who is also a friend. I believe the Lord is able to heal these wounds and for this I will pray.
Oh Cyndi, this is heart wrenching. I am praying and trusting God for help and comfort.
Oh cyndi my heart aches so much for you and her. Praying.
I am so sorry to hear of the abuse that Lily experienced in the orphanage– my heart is broken for her and what she endured. I am so glad that somehow you found out so you can help her deal with it through counseling. I will be praying for the counselor, for Lily and for you during this process.
Oh Cyndi, this broke my heart-will pray!
Oh Cyndi — I am so sorry, yet so glad she is with you and will pray for Donna. We discovered the same about our Beth, and yet she is doing well today.
thank you friends!!! your prayers are being felt. she seems so much happier tonight now that it is out. I told her that it was not her fault and that God loves her like crazy and we will trust Him to heal her heart and that she can talk to Donna. Donna feels like since she had not acted out on it since she has been here that all she is feeling is relief and that the trama is over and she is in a good place to find healing and go into her teen years with out a ton of baggage…..so gratful for Gods grace!!!!
sorry, but i forgot to say that she thinks emma’s was just a little girl curiosity because her parts are not “normal” and that she will talk to her but does not feel its an issue.
Cyndi,
How good that God allowed this secret to be brought into the light, where Lily can be helped by counseling and begin to heal from this. I was thinking how much Satan would wish for this to remain in the dark where he can use it against Lily, but I think when something like this comes into the light it loses some of its power to hurt us.
I am so sorry, though, for the abuse your little girl suffered. Will be praying.
Oh Cyndi, so much to pray for. Poor little Lily…I’m so thankful God sent her to you and your family, and for Donna to help her. How blessed all your children are to be in your family. I was sexually abused as a child just once and it affected me all my life….I can’t imagine her being abused for 2 years. I am praying, praying, praying for lily and all of you.
1. During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
Well, it has been awhile, but I think I chose the power and control idol; I “need” to have control over my
children, to “make” them behave and make good choices, etc. The study we have done has helped
me rely on Jesus, not myself, when dealing with my kids. There have been very hard times over the past couple of months. Each time something has happened I have purposely relied on Him. I have prayed to Him and asked Him to take charge. I have sung songs, “Trust and Obey for there’s no other way…” etc.
God has rewarded me each time I have done this. He has proven His love for me because we are still here, living life, with the “bad” things held at bay. I want it to be even more better; Sarah and my 21 year old John going to church with us again, but it just takes time I suppose in the meantime I will pray for God to re-reveal Himself to both of them through others, not myself.
This past week I had an older woman (who has prayed for Sarah all these months – I write a prayer request nearly every week and put it in the offering plate) stop me and say, “You are the most faithful mother I have ever seen. It has given me hope for my grand-daughters who are struggling right now.” i am a reflection of what God wants us to be because of this study. That is God working through me, not me. I have given Him the control and have total faith that what happens to my kids is His will, not mine. Thanks be to God!
Laura-Dancer — I thought of the verse from James that the prayers of a righteous man availeth much!
You have grown so while with us. I like this: There have been very hard times over the past couple of months. Each time something has happened I have purposely relied on Him. It reminds me of Daniel purposing in his heart that he might not sin against God. When I finally let go of my youngest son is when God began moving mightily in him. Bless you today, Laura!
Meg,
I love this from your testimony above: “I went from clinging to other people and not caring or caring but not really doing anything about it, to crying and knowing it was wrong and being sorrowful and asking God to help me!”
I can see the progression of God working in you!
Thanks Susan
Please pray for me today though i am having a hard time already clinging to my new friend.. Pray like i said above.. for God to fill me and not to constanly thinking about her in my head
Praying, Meg…..I don’t know if it would help if when you find yourself thinking about your friend, you turn that into praying for her, so you are talking to God about your friend and getting your focus back on Him.
2. Read Hosea 2
A. Why is the Lord going to “separate” from His people, saying I am not her husband, according to verses 1-2?
Because Israel went after idols-she had an affair-she sinned and God is Holy-He turned from her, but it is only temporary because she is in a covenant with Him-God also never goes back on his promise-and he knows in the future she will turn with His enablement.
B. Why, according to verse 5, did she decide to go after her lovers?
Because of what they could give her.
C. What does she not realize, according to verse 8?
That God is the one who gives her these things.
D. Describe God’s heartbreak in verse 13. How has this fact helped you resist your idols more effectively than approaches in the past? Be specific by describing the old approach and the new approach.
It was like God was watching her take great delight in pursuing and then making love to someone else-She put her idol on the throne and made it the glory in her life and God was the worthless stick in the mud. it had to break his heart.
Before I came to the stonecutter study I wasn’t aware I had an idol problem, and yet I would go to God in repentance for my near sins when I saw them-but there was a deeper issue I didn’t realize I had that was causing a block in my relationship with God. I went to Bible Studies as I usually do and most of them would be what I would call fixing the near sin-or quick fix studies-you should embrace that your approval is Jesus-not man’s and then just walk in it! Apply these truths to your life and you will have victory. Yet it didn’t address how God felt about it-Like in Hosea. His love leads me to repentance-Often we don’t focus on the ‘his love’ part. I need to repent and turn so that their won’t be a block in my relationship with God, so true, but did I repent from pursuing and delighting in my idol? How could I do that when I didn’t know I was doing it? It even blinded me from repentance of some near sins because I rationalized that they weren’t. How could I apply truths and walk in victory when my idolatry has blinded me? None of the studies addressed man’s underlying problem-I am naturally bent to worship and turn my face away from God and I can easily turn from God and worship idols.
SO..When I came here and did the Stonecutter study-I finally saw why I had this block, but then more important how it grieved God-I don’t want to grieve God! Yet like the movie Tree of Life-these two natures wrestle inside me, so I need to choose each day-to turn to my idol or to God. When I sense my idol beckoning, or even when I fail and run to my idol, I remember the Gospel and when I do, I am compelled to turn and repent and stay in the arms of the one who truly loves me.
Your answers delight me, it is so in your heart.
Dee, I thank God for you-your heart is abandoned to Jesus and you are showing me what it looks like to be truly abandoned to Him-and loving all of us so much to give of your time to pass it on. Thank you-Love you!
Yes, you really have the gospel and are living it out. I believe the Stonecutter book is going to be like no other study.
Oh but, to quote Ann Voskamp, I am a mess-and am thankful God intervenes with His mercy in the middle of my mess. 🙂 Oh, and I agree wholeheartedly that the Stonecutter is going to be phenomenal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98kXnCXlOec
This is my new favorite song that i wanted to share with you ladies!
A. Why is the Lord going to “separate” from His people, saying I am not her husband, according to verses 1-2? becasue she commited adultry
B. Why, according to verse 5, did she decide to go after her lovers?
I will go after my lovers,
who give me my food and my water,
my wool and my linen, my olive oil and my drink.’
C. What does she not realize, according to verse 8?
She has not acknowledged that I was the one
who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil,
who lavished on her the silver and gold—
which they used for Baal.
Sisters, pray for me if God brings it to mind..I just called the head of my department at work and asked to go back to being a substitute. She said certainly-she also said the schools will be thrilled I am back on the list-as I have a good reputation. That was so nice to hear!
I am going to tell my boss this morning. I know she will understand, but it is tempting to not want to disappoint her, so I want to go in with confidence in the Lord’s approval. Also, I am confident God wants me to do this-my home and family were really getting out of balance with me working 20 hours a week! Yikes!
praying
Angela, Thanks for praying! I told my boss and she understood. I was confident in the Lord’s approval and in this direction He is taking me, so I wasn’t nervous. 🙂
Praying, Rebecca
Dee,
I’ve been looking back to try to find where I posted that about my dad and me in the ER; can’t find it yet!
I think I can remember the story pretty well,or you can tell me again. It was sweet. I can see why you want him to stay on this earth and why he wants to stay for you. It is reminiscent of how Steve and I felt. It is a grief. Yet God will be your Father indeed.
1. my idol of control has been such an unkind master…I would get to the point that i was almost to the goal only to find it just out of my reach. My sweet savour came in and filled that place with HIS control and replaced my need for control with an overwhelming trust in HIM.
Its funny how now I feel and see that old master as soon as it rears its ugly head…some days I am able to stop it, some days my hormones take controle:) but I do see it for what it is, an ugly idol, and not what I thought it was, a way to make me better then everyone around me…..
wow that sounds bad! but that is what the idol of control did to me, it made me feel as if I HAD to be the best, the right one, the one with all the answers.
God has been so kind and patient with me! I have been so proud at times im sure HE wanted to slap me around:) I know my husband and children did!! LOL and still do sometimes.
my behavior has not changed all the way, but my heart recognizes what Im doing now, and when I get to the point that Im ready to stop the temper tantrom I crawl up into his lap and HE holds me, I picture him shaking his head in both frustration and amusement “it would have been easier on all of us if you would have just done this in the first place but im glad your finally here…i love you, dont ever forget that”
well, we have lice AGAIN so i am off to clean every stitch of bedding in the girls room and bag up everything i cant wash, shop for opporation christmas child and teach ballet after I get done with school..*sigh* this is a 3 coffee morning and a trust in HIS strength kind of day:)
Praying for you, Cyndi
During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
I am still deep in the middle of this although I have experienced some victory. My idol is approval and acceptance. While I am turning in repentance away from seeking others approval, I am still finding myself craving it and finding it hard to believe that God approves of me. I continue to speak the truth to myself and be honest with God about it. I can see a definite change, but I still have a long way to go.
Dawn says, ” I continue to speak the truth to myself and be honest with God about it. I can see a definite change, but I still have a long way to go”.
I love that and feel the same way!
Sunday/Monday (Icebreaker and make plans to see the movie)
1. During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
One of my heart idols is approval, and have seen Him work in that, but still notice my struggle almost daily 🙁
The area I have seen Him work the most in my heart is my unforgiveness, which I could argue for falling into any of the 3 categories, but mostly believe it has been an idol of control for me.
I have always been prone to hold a grudge, to require the offender to earn my forgiveness. In my mind, I thought I was justified, and told myself if they are really sorry, then I’ll forgive, no problem. But I wore the judge hat of what “really sorry” meant, and for a few significant relationships, they never met my criteria of an apology.
In our study, I realized that in order to hold a grudge, I must believe I am superior to my offenders. My unforgiveness, was a lack of repentance. The more I began to see my desperate need for forgiveness, the more I grew in humility, the more overwhelmed I became at the wealth of grace I have received. And the more aware I grew, the more I wanted to grant that same forgiveness. There is a part of this that is shameful for me to admit–just how easy it was for me to hold a grudge. But rather than sulk in shame, I choose humility, which draws me to my knees.
Keller defines Forgiveness “you free the person from penalty for a sin by paying the price yourself” Someone has to pay the offense. I have a choice—be like Christ, or be like the enemy. Once I began to really choose to lay down the offenses on the altar, something changed in me.
I want to add too that I have had years of Christian counseling in the past—I thought I was there. I thought I had gotten as far as I could in forgiveness, and had resolved that this little bitter weed in me would just stay, because, I had been wounded, and the scars would remain. But as we did this study, and freedom, true freedom, was discussed, I began to feel my bitterness and resentment grow. My anger in these relationships was not gone, it had only been put on “mute”. When I had to face talking about my parents, I felt it inside, the grudge, the resentment…and I wasn’t sure anything could remove it. I’m so thankful I was wrong.
I didn’t want to write so long and take up so much of everyone’s time—so I will finish here—the freedom I feel in offering grace, in knowing the weight of my own sin, my own identity as the older, and younger prodigal son…in wanting to eagerly offer that grace instead of hold a grudge…all I can describe it as is like a 100 pound weight loss off my heart. I am so thankful.
Praise God!
There is so much here, Elizabeth — for all of us. When we have been deeply and grievously wounded.
This is supernatural:
Once I began to really choose to lay down the offenses on the altar, something changed in me.
Thank you.
Oh yes, this is sticking with me-it is supernatural. This reminds me of when Karla Faye Tucker said the change in her was supernatural-she couldn’t explain it.
Thank you all for your encouragement, and continued prayers. One of the clearest ways I know God is in this study is the spiritual attack I feel at times on this journey!
And Dee, I must say again, thank you. I know it is all Him that is at work in us, but you are the faithful servant. It brings me tears as I picture His words to you, “Well Done, my good and faithful servant”, for you have been that to us. You POUR into us, you are so selfless in your time, your encouragement, your love…oh I have SO SO much to learn from you, but so thankful for the model of you in my life.
A. Why is the Lord going to “separate” from His people, saying I am not her husband, according to verses 1-2?
God has been a faithful husband to his people, but they have continually been unfaithful in response. God brings a separation between Himself and His people, because essentially, they have disowned Him, but it is a separation, not a divorce. God will not give up on His people!
B. Why, according to verse 5, did she decide to go after her lovers?
She was drawn to the immediate satisfaction she received from other lovers. She convinced herself these other lovers were giving her something better, something God would not give.
C. What does she not realize, according to verse 8?
She had forgotten that God was her provider, that He is the giver of all gifts and loves to bless His people.
D. Describe God’s heartbreak in verse 13. How has this fact helped you resist your idols more effectively than approaches in the past? Be specific by describing the old approach and the new approach.
What I see in this verse, is the tender, personal heart of God for me. It is just that I don’t want to “break a rule” and make Him angry with me (old approach); I don’t want to break His HEART.
E. Why did God lead His bride into the wilderness? Meditate long on Hosea 2:14-15.
He wanted to get her away from the temptations and distractions of sin. He wanted to get her where the voice of the enemy would be drowned out by His Voice. He wanted to show her all that He can give her, to open her eyes, remove the scales, let her taste His Love, and never want to leave it again.
F. Describe a way that the failure of an idol in your life ultimately led to you hearing God’s tender voice.
When my Dad died, I was left with a bitter, empty hole in my heart. I had waited nearly 20 years for him to offer me an apology, and it never came. I had held up my idol of control, refusing to forgive, refusing to love, until my demands were met. When that was no longer possible here on earth, I lived the next several years in a state of bitterness. I began to then hold a grudge on anyone close who hurt me that deep, if they did not apologize. I wanted to control their ability to hurt me again. It was my method of self-protection, a survival mechanism. But it didn’t offer me the protection I longed for, it didn’t work. It has taken a long time, but finally, the reality that I will not hear my Dad’s words, and I could either stay self-protective, or learn to forgive, set in. I heard Jesus tell me, He paid for it. Just as He paid for me. Let it go, lay it down.
G. In Hosea 2:16-23, describe how we will be truly changed when we see Jesus face to face. (“In that Day”)
We will be devoted to Him, and ONLY Him! We will have no temptation, nor remember any other loves. We will be safe, fully loved, fully resting in His arms, forever.
H. What stands out to you from Hosea 2 and why?
The PASSION of God’s love for me. He chose the marriage metaphor to describe His relationship with us. He could have chosen something else, but He chose the most intimate possible. The Webster’s 1828 dictionary says this: “Marriage was instituted by God himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes…” I found that interesting because God’s intent is to marry us, to love us so fully, so securely, solidly, that their would be no promiscuity, no adultery. We have ruined His intent, but He is faithful, He forgives, and “in that Day” we will be joined and the adultery will have never happened.
Wow — that Webster’s definition and your analogy is wonderful. May I use it?
Icebreaker
1. During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
One of my idols was control. I am a person who enjoys being on time. My sweet husband is not so concerned with this. 😀 I will rush and nearly kill myself so no one will have to wait on me. I asked God to reveal the why to me and He did. When I was growing up it was a source of contention between my parents. Of my parents’ four children none of us can stand to be late. During this study God impressed upon me when I am ready to go somewhere to simply get in the car, take deep breaths and pray that God would help me be quiet as an act of obedience and submission. I tried this and eventually got pretty good at it. I felt God’s pleasure on me and I even stopped pleading with my hubby to speed up a little. Amazing thing’s happened when I relinquished my demands, we got to places on time anyway. I tried to figure this out thinking maybe God made all the stoplights green but decided it is better to just relax and enjoy the blessing of it.
Whew — you are a model to me. I have a daughter like this and it is always a spiritual challenge for me to wait and be pleasant. I’m impressed, Kim!
It is SO hard to remain pleasant. I tried discussing pleading begging and sassing to hurry him and none of these worked so I was a bit desperate. I am a work in progress so I dare not take the credit!
A. Why is the Lord going to “separate” from His people, saying I am not her husband, according to verses 1-2? She is not acting as a wife nor treating me as her husband.
B. Why, according to verse 5, did she decide to go after her lovers? Their mother is a shameless prostitute and became pregnant in a shameful way. She said, ‘I’ll run after other lovers and sell myself to them for food and water, for clothing of wool and linen, and for olive oil and drinks.’
C. What does she not realize, according to verse 8? She doesn’t realize it was God who gave her everything she had-grain, the new wine, the olive oil, silver and gold. She gave the gifts to Baal.
D. Describe God’s heartbreak in verse 13. How has this fact helped you resist your idols more effectively than approaches in the past? In the past I didn’t see my idol worship hurting God only hurting myself. Now my eyes are open to the love and price He paid and my love has grown for Him and I don’t want to hurt Him. It’s easier to deal with temptation when you love someone completely and would take hurt on yourself rather than give it.
E. Why did God lead His bride into the wilderness? To allure her, lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her, give her back her vineyards and make the Valley of trouble a door of hope so she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
I want to expound on why God led His bride into the wilderness. For me God led me to the wilderness to show me how empty idols leave me and how much pain, unrest and overall dissatisfaction with life they bring. In this study He has spoken tenderly to me with truth, given me a new hope and a future and caused my heart to sing again. He restored joy to me and made life worth living.
F. Describe a way that the failure of an idol in your life ultimately led to you hearing God’s tender voice.
When my comfort idol failed to comfort me longer than a few minutes and brought the pain that being overweight brings into a life-tight fitting clothes, low self esteem, physical pain etc. I had no alternative but to ask God for help. Oh, how grateful I am that God allowed this idol to cost me so, for without it I might not have turned and beheld Him as I am now!
G. In Hosea 2:16-23, describe how we will be truly changed when we see Jesus face to face. (“In that Day”) These are my favorite verses: 2:19-20. I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, love and compassion in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.
No more striving, I will be the bride He deserves, I will never again fail or hurt Him.
Kim, I loved this post! This is so exciting to hear!
That was wonderful, Kim:)
A. Why is the Lord going to “separate” from His people, saying I am not her husband, according to verses 1-2? No longer my wife, instead a prostitute.
B. Why, according to verse 5, did she decide to go after her lovers? for food, water and clothes
C. What does she not realize, according to verse 8? God gave her everything even the abundance
D. Describe God’s heartbreak in verse 13. How has this fact helped you resist your idols more effectively than approaches in the past? Be specific by describing the old approach and the new approach. He will punish her when she runs after all things??IS that what you are looking for? Knowing His love though for me is what changes me and old patterns. It makes me not want to run after other lovers. It makes me want to stay with HIM not other useless things.
E. Why did God lead His bride into the wilderness? Meditate long on Hosea 2:14-15. speak tenderly to her/give her hope. Takes her away from everything else.
F. Describe a way that the failure of an idol in your life ultimately led to you hearing God’s tender voice. Well this time now could be considered this. All idols now are stripped off as I lay here with nothing. He is speaking so tenderly. SO gently. I love being in this place. Like I said before though moving out is fearful. I want to keep Him first and I know His deep rooted love for me will help me with this.
G. In Hosea 2:16-23, describe how we will be truly changed when we see Jesus face to face. (“In that Day”) we will call Him husband all things will be as they should.
H. What stands out to you from Hosea 2 and why? This is just an amazing book to me. How God would use the prophet Hosea to demonstrate the bigger picture of His marriage to us through Hosea and his wife. Life Ephesians 5 talks of marriage being a representative of Christ and the church and how we fail that picture so much. Marriage is sacred and to be treated that way because it is a covenant that represents so much more than the immediate picture we see. It just baffles my mind more and more when I ponder this. Yet how important restoration is and how God never gives up on those that are HIS.
Angela, this SO humbles and challenges me “All idols now are stripped off as I lay here with nothing. He is speaking so tenderly. SO gently. I love being in this place.”
You have such an amazing testimony. Your demeanor reminds me of Joni Erickson Tada in many ways–it’s so hard to imagine responding as you are in the circumstances you are in…my faith feels too weak and my heart too immature. But when I hear you, I hear the blessing you receive through it–because you have not fought, you are resting, abiding in Him. It’s a beautiful testimony, thankful for you.
Oh for F. I answered wrong I think…got a little brain fog cuz of this medicine. Approval…when I am obsessed that people like me I am running on a hamster wheel trying to make all things work for my benefit that people like me. I am not rooted in His approval so it causes me to idolize others thoughts and they causes me to compromise in areas here or there to make myself look better. It continues on this cycle endlessly because not everyone will like you. I must just stand on truth, love because He loves me. Rest in His approval of me period.
I think specifically homeschooling community and Cyndi talking of mom’s with the long skirts! The moms I am around can be so intimidating so it gives me much practice! 🙂
I’m not sure F was wrong — I have loved this whole description of you in this place, dear Angela.
1. During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiselling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
I stepped into this Bible study into the middle and I find it hard to really understand what heart idol I should focus on. Lately, I have been bombarded by so much awareness of my own deficiencies that I am so confused. When it comes to relationships, I can’t seem to do anything right. I can be chilly toward those who love me (not able to trust myself to them). I fear rejection so much. Even when someone has proved their love to me, I doubt them. Sometimes it is like I keep demanding more proof. I am never satisfied. When I do not get the approval, I get controlling. I then am wracked by guilt and pull back again. Using Keller’s three primary heart idols of comfort/security, power/control and affirmation/approval, my idol is all three. It is so complicated, I fear never being free.
How do I replace my need for peoples’ affirmation with receiving God’s affirmation? How do I learn to trust other people? I have been a Christian and student of the Bible for a very long time, but still I struggle and struggle. My trouble is finding the hope that I can change.
I am learning so much from this Bible study, from Keller’s sermons and from watching you ladies interact. I am not at the place that some of you are in rejoicing in your growth, but, oh, I want to be. Susan’s picture of “God is standing there with His arms empty, when I could be in them but I go elsewhere” breaks my heart. I yearn for His arms.
Oh Diane, I almost got teary eyed reading this because I see a breakthrough-I know you don’t see it, but I do in several of the statements you have made-I can relate with you as well in some of these areas-I am going to pray for you tonight-I am so encouraged to see God moving in you!
AMEN DIANE TO REBECCA’S COMMENT. I HAVE SEEN SO MUCH GROWTH AND I AM SEEING YOU ON THE PRECIPICE OF BREAK-THROUGH — I’M EXCITED.
My dear Diane, Rebecca is correct. I see growth too. The fact that you stay and desire change is great progress. This is hard work girlfriend! It takes courage to look deeply and want change. I had every idol listed when I began but decided to take the biggest one first. Some of the weaker one’s fell off along the way and there will be work to be done as long as I’m alive but I believe it gets easier as I get more and more of the gospel down in my heart. It’s like I said to Rebecca a week or two ago, we see the idols clearer and turn from them faster. We don’t get all tangled up in them as often. I think the devil gets frustrated too when he can’t get us in one area he tries a different one. I hope I frustrate the heck out of him!
I wanted to respond this morning, but I sense God holding me back! PLEASE read what Susan wrote in response!!! SO GOOD- I really believe her comment is from God!
Diane, I do pray you will be encouraged, as you can see so many of us DO see your growth, I pray you will press on and press into Him. I understand what you are feeling, this week has been like that for me–I broke down to my husband just last night sensing that I thought I was growing, but not sure it is evident to others, though I know I should not think that way…but I know that as long as we are turning to Him, He is gracious, He is always at work.
There was another Keller sermon I am reminding myself of, on Growing in Him…He says we are always growing, even in the winter, there is a growth process going on in order for the Spring blossoms to come.
I will be praying for you this week to be encouraged by His presence.
Thank you all, ladies, for your encouragement. I feel like these crises will never come to an end, but I am learning so much about how only God can satisfy. I feel him wooing me. I really appreciate your prayers. Is this just the winter? Is a breakthrough really near? How I long for spring!
When am i going to get it into my THICK head not to cling to other women and think about them all the time.. so frusterated with myself.. very hard day regarding this.. I tried praying for her everytime i thought of her but my thoughts would just go back to thinking about her again.
Praying for you, Meg
Meg, when I can’t get my mind to stay on track I try worship-either sing or hum a praise song or say a memorized scripture out loud. You might ask Jesus to give you a verse to stand on and then memorize it and speak it out loud. I remember being full of fear once and I asked the Lord for a verse. A day or so later He led me to a verse in Joshua, “Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” I realized that God commands me to fear not and that was life changing. I still say it out loud when I feel scared and it works. The Word of God is powerful. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Is. 55:11.
I just realized that I posted my last night post on last week’s lesson, so I will post it again here.
During our journey, name at least one heart idol you identified and ways that You saw the Stonecutter move in your life, both in chiseling the stone and in being to you what your idol could not be.
At the beginning of the study, God showed me that I was turning to idols of comfort and security as well as the idol of affirmation and approval. He just revealed to me another way the idol of affirmation and approval was rearing its ugly head. I was tempted to brush it off, because it seems like a rather small issue, but God spoke to me and said that there is no small idol. Each idol reveals a heart issue and unfaithfulness is never insignificant.
My husband and I have settled in a church that we have found to be relational and scriptural. We sensed that this is our new church family and this is where we are settling in. A couple weeks ago, I realized that I have something that I need to return to a member of the church we were attending previously. I have been putting off bringing it to this woman because I don’t want to face her and feel her disapproval that we aren’t going to that church anymore. I didn’t even realize until tonight that this is an idol.
Jesus is my Lord and the only one I need approval from–looking to others for approval is an indication that I have a divided heart. Lord, forgive me for looking to others for approval. You are the one I love, only you, and I repent of seeking approval from others. Thank you for speaking to me, and showing me how you are jealous for my love.
After several days of tooth/mouth pain, I did have a root canal late this afternoon. On pain meds now, so I am logging off for the night.
PRAYING FOR YOU TO FEEL BETTER AND FOR FAVOR WHEN YOU GO TO THIS WOMAN. I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD.
A. Why is the Lord going to “separate” from His people, saying I am not her husband, according to verses 1-2?
The Lord is upset that His people are not being faithful to Him. They are “tainted” and He is mad.
B. Why, according to verse 5, did she decide to go after her lovers?
Because the lovers gave her material things that made her life “better.” The food and water will make her life supposedly easier to live. She has faith in these gods because on the surface she is taken care of when she has these things.
C. What does she not realize, according to verse 8?
God is the source of all material things.
D. Describe God’s heartbreak in verse 13. How has this fact helped you resist your idols more effectively than approaches in the past? Be specific by describing the old approach and the new approach.
Well, God wants to teach a lesson so that Israel will learn and remember Him. It is like beating your head against a wall….you do the same thing over and over and nothing changes. You have to finally trust God to do the “work” for you and then it is done perfectly; because He is perfect.
My example? With Sarah I would try to intervene at school to “help” but it would always backfire on me. I learned to stop and ask God what to do. He would invariably get me on a different path and the situation would resolve itself.
DIANE,
I want to reply to your post above, to encourage you, dear sister! Diane, we’ve been in this Stonecutter study for weeks and weeks, and it is only just beginning to all come together for me now. I, too, when I first started, saw stones, or idols, everywhere – I was still seeing all my “near-sins” and was overwhelmed on choosing one to work on. You said you “stepped into this Bible study in the middle”, so don’t be discouraged. It takes alot of time to learn these truths, process them, pray about them to God, and to work them into your life. I am very much still in the applying them to my life process – and you mentioned some of Keller’s sermons, and I immediately thought of one I would like to share from my notes with you!
The sermon was titled “Removing Idols of the Heart” Colossians 3:5-11
“When you become a Christian, though you say, ‘Now I know that God accepts me only because of the righteousness of Christ’; that’s what the gospel is; you still have a big part of yourself that the Bible calls the old man. The new man says only in Jesus am I acceptable and He is my righteousness; on the other hand you’ve got the old man who says, ‘Are you kidding?'”
“The flesh is self with a capital “S”, the side of you that still wants to go about making its own righteousness. The flesh can still operate when you’re a Christian and can dominate your Christian activities. It can be a need for security, for love and approval. Every one of us has got an “old man”, a “self”. The only way to grow is to recognize the ways in which that happens (“that” being the way we try to patch-up our own righteousness) and repent of it every day.”
“How do you take these thing, these idols, out? When you’re able to spot your problems, HALF THE BATTLE IS OVER. THE ONLY WAY YOUR FLESH CAN DOMINATE YOU IS WHEN YOU’RE NOT AWARE OF IT AT ALL. DON’T BE DISCOURAGED, DON’T DESPAIR. If God or someone shows you something, like you’re extremely sensitive to what others think of you, when you can see it or name it then you are not really being dominated by your flesh, you woke up.”
“In fact, anybody who comes and says, “Oh, I see all kinds of bad motives, I see all kinds of problems, I’m so discouraged”, I (Keller) say, “You are not really being dominated by your flesh if you’re upset like that, if you can see the movement of it, you’ve engaged it; the most important part of the battle is actually over and that is you woke up. If the enemy is after you, and you’re asleep, there wont even be a battle, you’ll be dead. But if you’re awake, at least there will be a battle. IF YOU FEEL THE FIGHT THAT IS A SIGN OF LIFE AND A SIGN OF GROWTH AND A SIGN THAT GOD IS WORKING IN YOU. The only people who are losing is when there is no struggle at all.”
I so relate to what you said about fearing rejection, doubting someone’s love for you, and even demanding more proof. I’ll say this for me, I think it must go back to a basic insecurity of knowing beyond doubt that God loves me. I’ll be praying for you and I hope Keller’s words will especially encourage you because I agree with Rebecca, the signs of growth are there!
Thanks, Susan. I appreciate your help. I will try to listen to this sermon of Keller’s but your notes are great. The battle is raging and sometimes I am discouraged, but I will not give up. I am praying that I will see some fruit soon. Probably there is fruit already but I can not see it.
Susan, thank you so much for posting this. I so need it this morning and will be meditating on it at work where I find myself in the thick of the the battle with my approval idol. I especially like that you mentioned not only doubting others love, but demanding more proof because I have recently come to realize that I do just that.
I hope that Meg read your post, too.
2.
E. Why did God lead His bride into the wilderness? Meditate long on Hosea 2:14-15.
I think the wilderness is her trouble-God opened her eyes so she could see the futility of her idols. He rescued her from her idol to bring her to her senses. He loved her that much. In verse 10 he says, “no one will take her out of my hands”-He intervened-Yet He also stepped in and comforted her while she went through this pain and wooed her to Him and lavished His love on her-He made her trouble a door of hope-He gave her a new song in her heart and she responded like a bride on her honeymoon would respond in passion toward her groom. God turned her passion from her idols to Him by wooing her to Him.
I could be wrong but I think I see the Gospel in this passage?
YES — I SEE THE GOSPEL TOO.
F. Describe a way that the failure of an idol in your life ultimately led to you hearing God’s tender voice.
My comfort idol only led to me being afraid and I drew inward and it evolved into depression-it made me forget the Gospel. It got worse over time where it was beginning to envelop every area of life. But God intervened and showed me this destruction-and spoke tenderly to me through this study.
when God led me here, it started with seeing His love for me, even before the Stonecutter study started. I think it was his encounter with Mary when Lazarus died and Jesus wept with her. God tenderly spoke to me in time in the passages of scripture we studied and in the lives of the women here-it was a time of pain and repentance and turning to Him in faith-it was a process-I think it was about a year-He gave me new vineyards-he made my trouble a door of hope-and I responded to Him as I did when I first came to know Him and wrote that intimate poem of laying on His chest and resting in His arms. I didn’t think that was possible-I didn’t.
Somehow I grew cold over the years-yet He said, “no one will ever take her away from me!” and he rescued me and comforted me in my wilderness- The stuff my idol gave me was ripped away-I was in pain because I didn’t have that quick fix-and I have learned with God it is a process so that there can be real healing! I had to be willing to let go and trust Him with my pain-but it was SO GOOD because it was the start of a cycle in my life that was missing- like a continuing open-ness to Him now and being totally naked before Him-I am not ashamed of my nakedness before God like I was although not perfect yet-but I trust if I am curling around something He will show me, I just need to continue to respond and open up.
this spoke to me Rebecca–as your words SO often do!Especially this “I have learned with God it is a process so that there can be real healing!” there is such encouragement in that…and this too “but I trust if I am curling around something He will show me,”
the good news is that emma did not have lice…her hair was full of white things but they were dandruf or fuzz, i am lice paranoid these days!!! the bad news is that i had already done all the laundry:) LOL got to laugh at myself.
today has been a very hard morning, found lots of candy wrappers hidden in emmas bed, again, and all of our candy is put way up so im not sure how she is getting it….she had not done her chores and had taken all her stuff and thrown it in the recroom instead of putting it away an i lost it….I am so angry right now….i hate it when i yell and that is all i have done all morning.
i need HIS grace an mercy today, Im feeling like a very big failure.
I FEEL SO DE-JA-VU WHEN I READ YOUR POSTS CYNDI. ANNIE STOLE CHERRY TOMATOES AND HID THEM IN THE SOFAS AND IN HER BED, MAKING BIG STAINED MESSES.
AND OH I REMEMBER THE LICE!
I THINK THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE TIME TO CONSIDER FOSTER CHILDREN. 🙂
i think you are correct Dee:) the rest of the day went way better….regrouped, read the bible, prayed…..guess we should have done that first.:) I do pray you are right Elizabeth! but some days mommy monster comes to visit and it is not pretty:)
Cyndi, 😉 My mommy monster visited tonight. 🙁 I blew it with the boys when I got home from the store and it wasn’t pretty. I mean, just getting their attention can be a battle sometimes, well most times and that accompanied with socks on the floor, t.v. left on, paper from their art projects at home and backpacks strewn all over the place. 🙂
im feeling your pain sweet sister! some days just suck:)
oh sweet cyndi! I can be SURE you handled it all much better than I would have! Days like that I need the reminder, “love covers over a multitude of sins”—and I am certain your children feel so much love from you!
Cyndi, Remember, when your children are grown, not to dwell on your bad days and your shortcomings as a mother. Since my youngest has turned 18, I have been having a lot of heart to heart talks with all of my sons wanting to apologize for the “life scarring” incidents that I have caused (having homeschooled for 16 years we spent alot of time together and had plenty of bad days) and the funny thing is, they don’t remember any of them. I was pleased to find that while they have some bad memories (don’t we all) the majority was taken in stride and even what stuck in their minds is forgiven because they know my desire was to be a good mother and that I’m not perfect. I could have saved my self years of feeling like a failure if I would have known this earlier.
D. Describe God’s heartbreak in verse 13. How has this fact helped you resist your idols more effectively than approaches in the past? Be specific by describing the old approach and the new approach.
She forgot him, well i am not 100 percent at this yet, BUt in the past when i would have problems arise or whatever i would forget to go to God, I would go to other things, and sometimes i still do, but i am getting better.. It takes me awile to finally go to him, but I do, But i also see myself getting better and better.
Lord, I pray that you would help me come to you first, when trouble arises and not other things, help me to have a holy passion for you. Amen
E. Why did God lead His bride into the wilderness? Meditate long on Hosea 2:14-15. I think that God was trying to get her back to going him by putting her in the wilderness
F. Describe a way that the failure of an idol in your life ultimately led to you hearing God’s tender voice. Can i get some help with this one please.. I need it explained more please
Meg — on F
Think of a time when you sinned and felt the pain of it, and wanted to be set free — and then you sensed God coming to you tenderly…
2. Read Hosea 2
Wow! Hosea 2 is amazing! As we apply it to ourselves, God will show us that our idols cannot satisfy us anymore. Then and only then, will he woo us back to himself so we will call him ‘My husband’. I’m blown away! Then our idols will never have power over us again. I’m looking forward to that day so much!
A. Why is the Lord going to “separate” from His people, saying I am not her husband, according to verses 1-2?
His people have gone back to their adulterous ways.
B. Why, according to verse 5, did she decide to go after her lovers?
She thinks they are providing her with life’s essentials and pleasures (food, water, wool, linen, oil and drink).
C. What does she not realize, according to verse 8?
She does not understand that it is God who provides both the essentials (grain, new wine and oil) and the luxuries (silver and gold).
D. Describe God’s heartbreak in verse 13. How has this fact helped you resist your idols more effectively than approaches in the past? Be specific by describing the old approach and the new approach.
God watches as we feast and worship our idols. He watches as we adorn ourselves and sleep with our idols instead of worshipping him which he deserves. He grieves at how quickly we have forgotten him. He knows he must punish us so that we will see our wilful disregard for His love.
If we fully understand how we break God’s heart when we sin, our love for God will overpower our love for our sin and we will not do it.
E. Why did God lead His bride into the wilderness? Meditate long on Hosea 2:14-15.
Allure definition: The quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating
What is it about God that so mysteriously attracts us to him? In spite of ourselves, we are drawn to him.
He will take away all the idols that distract us by putting us in the wilderness where there is no satisfaction in anything that used to pacify us. And when we stop panicking, demanding our idols back and realize that they could not satisfy us, God will speak tenderly to us. God will woo us. He will make our troubles (Achor mean trouble) a door of hope. He will begin to give us back the good things of life (vineyards) and we will fall back in love with him as at the beginning when we first knew his love, when we were saved, like a bride adores her husband at the beginning of their marriage. We will have eyes only for him.
F. Describe a way that the failure of an idol in your life ultimately led to you hearing God’s tender voice.
I have a best friend. We were inseparable. We were both Christians and very involved in Christian ministry as well. It was a wonderful gift from God. But I depended on her too much. God moved her thousands of kilometers away. I ranted. I grieved. I grew depressed. I visited whenever I could. God has allowed us to keep this friendship though it is long distance, but He is slowly is teaching me how to have a healthy friendship with her; to be deeper and more reliant on God than on each other. No matter how wonderful she is, God is better. We will fail each other, but God never does. This idol too is still in process and is part of my recent struggles. I thought she was the answer to my prayers. She was, but God has led me to begin to see that He alone can truly be my answer.
This is beautiful Diane, thank you for sharing it–I see Spring breaking through in you
Amen to Elizabeth’s comment, Diane.
Diane, Double amen to Elizabeth’s comment-I think God is beginning the process of answering the questions you asked yesterday. :=) He is so good.
Lord, It thrills our hearts to see you moving-speaking truth to Diane’s soul, Lord we praise your glorious name, Holy are you Lord God almighty-the Glorious one. Thank you that you are faithful and you are her true comforter, her Approval and the One who can truly heal, and you won’t let anyone take Diane away from you! Thank you that you will finish the good work you have started in her.
2. The Lord separates from His people because of adultery. Israel went after her lovers because she believed that they gave her food and clothing. She does not realize that it is the Lord who gave her all of those things and silver and gold besides which the lovers used for Baal. He is heartbroken because she forgot Him.
The fact that it is not about me and what is good for me or not good for me, but rather about what I am doing to His heart changes my motivation. Add to that an understanding of how He loves me and I am changed. Before, I tried to change by my own will power without ever understanding the motivation behind my sin. I did not see how I was trying to fill God’s place in my life with counterfeit gods. When I saw what I was doing and turned to Him instead, He began to show me more and more how sold out I was to idols. As Rebecca has so aptly put: He began peeling off the layers of my idolatry. At first it was very painful, but as I began to see His heart, my heart turned toward Him and it began to feel good to me, layer after layer. It felt like getting clean.
E. As I meditate on 14 and 15 the first thing that comes to mind is that God removed her from her idols in the wilderness so that she would not be distracted by them and could only see Him when she was ready. He wanted to speak tenderly to her but she had never listened before. Now He would be able to get her attention. I love verse 15 where it says that He will turn the Valley of Trouble (Achor) into a gateway of hope. Isn’t that what He has done in our lives!? There she will respond as in the days of her youth. This reminds me of when I was first saved and how I loved the Lord but when idolatry moved in my heart grew cold. I think too of how my son’s hearts were toward the Lord when they were children. And here is the glorious thing, He brought us back, not we ourselves, but Him and He will do it for my sons too, just as He did with Israel (Gomer).
F. God first identified for me the idol of approval. Before that time I would find myself repeatedly humiliated. It came to the point that I realized that God was speaking to me in this. I saw that He was allowing it for a reason. Not long after that I began this study.
G. In that day we will see ourselves differently, not as a slave but as a His betrothed. We will be purified and ready for marriage. Our idols will be forgotten by us. I love verse 19 that speaks of righteousness, justice, love and compassion, these are the foundation of our marriage to Him. His faithfulness is how we came to this point! How could I ever see Him as a harsh taskmaster.
H. I so love this portion of scripture! Verse 23 is my life verse since I studied with you Dee in Forever In Love With Jesus. THIS is what He has done for me! I was Gomer but He has redeemed me and not only that, He is preparing me for the most intimate relationship with Him, marriage!
Love this from you Anne:
I love verse 19 that speaks of righteousness, justice, love and compassion, these are the foundation of our marriage to Him. His faithfulness is how we came to this point! How could I ever see Him as a harsh taskmaster.
Verse 23 is magnificent!
Anne, I haven’t done Forever in Love with Jesus yet. I would love to do the whole series.
It was a great study and the one the Lord led me to. When I did it I saw why. The teaching about idols came later here on the blog. God is so tender and patient. Nothing and no one can ever come close to Him!
Dee, I remember really wanting to see the accompanying videos. Was there a great deal of opposition from the enemy in the production of the video for this study?
F. Describe a way that the failure of an idol in your life ultimately led to you hearing God’s tender voice.
I will use masturbation.. I believe that I am finally free from this.. But when i used to give in, i felt so guilty and would even start crying But then i would feel the peace of God.. and alot of times would hear God saying Meg i still love you.
So good, Meg.
Praying for you to continue in this light.
H. What stands out to you from Hosea 2 and why? Where God was talking about the wilderness.. I feel that is where i am now with God and my depenancy with my friend. God is wanting me to turn back to him, yet i keep clinging and clinging some more to my new friend. Prayers would be appreciated!
I started to share this last week, I thought it was so powerful with what we are learning . We sang Jesus I My Cross Have Taken, and maybe you all have, but I had never heard the story of the hymn’s author, Henry Lyte. Lyte’s own father left him when he was very young, and Lyte was sent away from his mother and brother to boarding school. While there, his mother and younger brother died, the money ran out…he was told he would have to leave the school and go into foster care. Instead, he was adopted by the headmaster, and later came to Christ. After hearing his story, his own earthly father’s failures, his lyrics gained even more depth to me:
I have called Thee, “Abba, Father”; I have set my heart on Thee:
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather, all must work for good to me.
Also this:
Think what Spirit dwells within thee; what a Father’s smile is thine;
What a Savior died to win thee, child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?
This Sunday we sang another of his, Abide With Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ALmQZ_NiA0), which feels like the song of all our hearts. This line especially, I hear in so many of our words:
“When other helpers, fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, abide with me”
Elizabeth, Thanks for this song-I am listening now! So good!
Love this story, especially knowing your story, Elizabeth.
E. Why did God lead His bride into the wilderness? Meditate long on Hosea 2:14-15.
I think we all need to feel like we are desperate and then we long for some thing to help us out of the desert. If we need something so much to take away our pain them we are “prepared” for God. Otherwise we take Him for granted. He wants us to be ready when He is. I was only prepared when I had nothing left. When I saw no hope in my situation with my children. Then I was ready to hear Him and follow His guidance. I was a child ready to be led by the Great One Himself. He is beautiful; because now I long for Him and His word to lead me through the tough patches. He sucked me in, like a vortex!
F. Describe a way that the failure of an idol in your life ultimately led to you hearing God’s tender voice.
It’s like I said above, when I had nowhere else to turn with helping parent my children I only had Him.
G. In Hosea 2:16-23, describe how we will be truly changed when we see Jesus face to face. (“In that Day”)
He says He will “betroth” us forever. He will betroth us in faithfulness, justice, righteousness, love and compassion. That means he will marry us in these things. How bonding!
H. What stands out to you from Hosea 2 and why?
God is faithful and patient. He wants us to want Him. It’s like when we are young and don’t long to go to school; some of us don’t care for the regiment. However, as we grow old we get wiser and realize how good we had it in school! We now work a job; no vacations, no real freedom. We then appreciate what we had back in school.
We realize that we were in a safe, secure place instead of the dog eat dog world of the job. Sometimes we may long for those early days again. It is like that with God. We long for Him now. Not to just “be a Christian” but to be starved without Him.
Laura, I loved this: “I was a child ready to be led by the Great One Himself. He is beautiful; because now I long for Him and His word to lead me through the tough patches. He sucked me in, like a vortex!” OH this is good.
Laura-Dancer — I see you growing in intimacy with the Lord. Do you sense that too? Despite your hard circumstances I see a joy.
Yes Laura-dancer,
I see a joy in you, and do see growth as well!
Yes Dee, I am truly growing with God. I can’t wait to get to this site in the morning to read my Bible and study! It is amazing to me. I have had a very bad “incident” occur this week where I know I did something wrong in a venue I shouldn’t have done it. Sometimes my mouth gets me in trouble 🙁 maybe this is why Sarah has the problems that she has. I know I could get in a alot of “trouble,” but I am calm. I truly believe God is with me and will take care of me one way or another. If it ends up bad then that is the way it is. It is His plan and that means it is a perfect one regardless of how I see it.
I am growing in God…..thanks to everyone who is praying for me and my family. I truly appreciate this website! The women here are strong and intelligent in the Bible and I learn so much. Thank you Dee and everyone 🙂
And I loved this too Laura: “We long for Him now. Not to just “be a Christian” but to be starved without Him.”
Dee,
I finally found it! It was in the post MELTING ICY IDOLS in June 2011.
I can write it here, too:
After my daughter was born, we had ordered pizza one night for dinner. Right after I ate I had the most horrible chest pain and was dizzy. Since I’d been having panic attacks, I’d often felt like I had a lump in my throat and had developed acid-reflux.
I called my doctor, and I know he was thinking of the risk of a pulmonary embolus because I’d just had a baby; but I didn’t think it was that, but I went to the ER.
As I was sitting in the waiting room, I had my eyes closed, and I was saying that verse over and over to myself…”For I am the Lord your God, Who takes hold of your right hand…” Suddenly I felt a big warm hand on top of mine. I opened my eyes, and it was my dad! (My husband had phoned my parents) That was another wonderful surprise from the Lord!
(The verse I had been clinging to to help me during those panic attacks and fear was Isaiah 41:13, “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you”. When I felt my dad’s hand, I truly felt God was telling me through my earthly dad, “I am here with you”. It’s one of those moments I have never forgotten!)
Hurrah — thank you. I’ll put in a safe place!