If the words “Lenten Joy”
seem like an oxymoron,
it’s because Lent needed reforming,
it needed the gospel!
So as we begin this first full Lenten week,
let us contemplate both
the first command of Jesus
along with His first miracle.
For they are tied together.
His first command was:
Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.
(Matthew 4:17)
And His first miracle was
turning water into wine at a wedding!
Layers upon layers of meaning,
but a HUGE one is the joy that godly repentance brings
because of the lavish love of God —
the kind of festive joy we feel at a wedding,
when a brand new life begins!
Even if you’ve seen this before, watch it again, to catch the joy of this Jewish wedding by clicking here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgZ4ZTTfKO8&start_radio=1&list=RDKgZ4ZTTfKO8
Marriage, Ephesians tells us, points
to a more eternal union,
that of each believer with Christ.
And what makes a good marriage?
Ruth and Billy Graham said:
“a good marriage is made up
of two good repenters.”
Likewise, when Luther nailed his thesis
to the Wittenburg door, he began with:
“All of life is repentance.”
It is sin that clouds any union,
robbing it of joy!
So this week we will learn
why we should embrace repentance eagerly,
and what true gospel repentance is!
On a personal note: Thanks so for your patience and help with the new website. It was my first time to write this study on the new website, and I am just learning how to do it, so I appreciate your continued patience and prayers! We may still have some glitches, but we are addressing them and Control Yours is eager to help us get it right.
Sunday:
- What stands out to you from the above and why?
Monday: Through Pain’s Doorway to a Party!
Soften your heart for the study with this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGDU2H1tZCI
Repentance involves initial pain: admitting you were wrong, humbling yourself, and turning from the idols you thought were your friends. It was painful for the younger son to admit what a fool he had been, and humbly return to his father to tell him so, but after the doorway of pain, there was first: the embrace. And that same embrace is waiting for us!
And then, the party! (As extravagant as a wedding party!)
During Lent, I encourage you to begin with Scripture, and then let that Scripture be a springboard for prayer. You can write your prayers here or privately.
2. Read Luke 15:11-20.
A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of to
God. How did the younger son do that?
B. What pain did his idols bring him?
C. What pain have your idols brought you? (Be specific.)
D. Turning from idols may bring initial pain, for they will fight. What
pain might you need to go through to truly turn from a besetting sin?
3. Use the above as a springboard for you to be honest with God in prayer.
4. Describe how the father received him. (Luke 16:20-24)
5. Use the above as a springboard for praise to God.
Tuesday: Religion Versus The Gospel
Why is the first miracle at a wedding?
And why is the miracle
turning the jars of water
used for ceremonial cleansing
into wine?
To give you a clue, consider what man-based religion brings:
Death, Pride, Anger, & Bondage
And what the Gospel Brings:
Life, Humility, Joy, & Freedom
6. Read Matthew 23:23-26
A. What were the Pharisees good at cleaning?
B. What were they missing?
I can be just like them: more concerned that someone sees me impatient with my grandchild than the fact that I am impatient with my grandchild; more concerned with the outside than the inside. God says, “Dee, come to me in genuine repentance, and I will make your heart clean, and then the outside will be clean as well.”
7. Let the above lead you into prayer.
8. Give it a stab. With the above in mind, why do you think Jesus first miracle was turning the water in the ceremonial jars into wine?
Wednesday: We Can’t Do It.
The Pharisees thought they had saved themselves from the penalty of sin by keeping all their religious rules of tithing, fasting, lengthy prayers… There is irony in the preface to the story of the prodigal sons.
9. Read Luke 15:1-2
A. What two kinds of people does Luke say were gathering around Jesus? What is the irony in Luke’s statement?
B. Where have you been more concerned about ourward appearance than your heart?
C. Let this lead you into asking God for help.
So often repentance becomes a self-reformation project. Benjamin Franklin tried to work on a virtue at a time. Even many of our Bible studies put us on the Pharisee track, giving us a list of things we should check to try to improve in our own strength. Our own Susan has a story I asked her to share:
10. Does anything stand out to you from Susan’s story? Have you ever tried to reform yourself in your own power and ended up hating yourself? If so, share something about it.Thursday: He Can Do It
160 comments
What stands out to you from the above and why?
“layer upon layer of meaning” stood out to me, as did the tying together of repentance & celebration. I look forward to the layers and to further growth in the area of repentance as a privilege that leads to worship.
One of our pastors once taught on repentance, he said early in his walk with the Lord that he looked on repentance as something he HAD to do…okay I have sinned now I must confess it, but he had a shift when he grasped what an amazing thing it is that we get to bring our worst before God and he forgives us!! We GET to repent!That was so helpful to me. It was a focus shift from my normal inward, shocked and ashamed at my weakness beating myself up mode, but rather to a celebration of my God’s amazing grace.
The study we did here on the blog about the Prodigal Son parable really helped me with this too. It dawns on me that that parable also has repentance and forgiveness followed by a party 🙂
I love this — we get to repent!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
Luther’s words: “All of life is repentance.”
Because it reminds me that if all of life is repentance, then it shouldn’t surprise me if I or anyone else needs to keep repenting, often. There is also comfort in knowing that I am not on this journey alone ~ I am with fellow-repenters. C.S. Lewis said, ” Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What, you too? I thought I was the only one.'” James 5:16 says to confess our sin to one another that you may be healed. So, this idea of being “broken together” ~ repenting ~ is what real, heart to heart, authentic connection with others involves. But more importantly, it is what genuine relationship with our God involves. (Book entitled The Beauty of Broken by Elisa Morgan speaks to this.)
There is a five minute news segment on Lent (from World & Everything In It podcast) that highlighted the Lenten homily given at the National Cathedral last week.
“Lent is an old word for spring. It is the time when we are to dig up and turn over the soil of our souls. It is a time we are to pull weeds and cast out all the dead growth that hangs on from the long winter, so that the new life of Christ can take root in us.”
(By the way, Dee, I heard you at the beginning of this podcast a few weeks ago 🙂 )
The other thing that stands out is the wedding! My youngest son (of five children) is preparing to be married on Mother’s Day weekend. So we are in the preparing-to-celebrate mode at our house.
Nila — I loved that from The World and Everything in It. I didn’t know Lent was another word for spring! Congrats on the upcoming wedding!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I love the concept of “Lenten Joy”! And of being an eager, “good” repenter. My son has always been a “good repenter”, from as young as 4 I began to really learn from his real sorrow over sin and his quick desire to be restored, have reconciliation. I am not as quick to repent as I long to be. I can default into wanting to explain my side, justify my words. But to remember that repentance is a gift, it is the pathway back to union with Christ, to joy and peace restored, that motivates me to run to repent! Lord, open my eyes to every opportunity to turn away from myself righteousness and instead towards repentance and faith.
And even though it’s posted beneath this question, I saw “When God Ran” and it brings tears even before I play it. I first heard that song on a Benny Hester cassette in 7th grade–still moves to me mush.
Your son is so amazing — a model to us all. And I love that you want to be a good repenter! I don’t know Benny Hester, but love that you love When God Ran.
Dee, I just posted my TK notes under last weeks comments. I thought I was posting a new comment, but it ended up posting under your reply to my initial post about the sermon! I had tried to reply to you and there was no keyboard. It ended up replying with my new comment! So strange but I thought you could pass that on to the team.
Okay — I will. And I have your others things to pass on to them as well if they are still causing trouble.
2. Read Luke 15:11-20. A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of to God. How did the younger son do that?
(*DEE- it says Luke 16 instead of Luke 15)
He took his inheritance and tried to fill the need in his heart with a reckless lifestyle, apart from his father.
B. What pain did his idols bring him?
He experienced poverty, famine.
C. What pain have your idols brought you? (Be specific.)
Relational pain through my self righteousness and lack of forgiveness, criticism, desire to control, or pushing others away because of self reliance and independence rather than living in community.
D. Turning from idols may bring initial pain, for they will fight. What pain might you need to go through to truly turn from a besetting sin?
It is often painful to be vulnerable and share honestly with others. Even as I go to others in repentance, I have to give grace for what that may “unleash” of how they have been hurt by my sin against them. I must be willing to accept and take responsibility for the consequence of my sin in the past, even as I am trying to start new patterns.
3. Use the above as a springboard for you to be honest with God in prayer.
Father, forgive me for turning to idolatrous ways, trying to create my own protection and defense. You are my Protector, You are my Defender. You have made me like You, relational. Help me to live with others in grace and truth–choosing my words carefully, being lavish with grace and forgiveness.
4. Describe how the father received him. (Luke 15:20-24) *(it says 16 instead here too)
The Father received the son, who came in repentance, with joy and celebration.
5. Use the above as a springboard for praise to God.
Father, I praise You that you are lavish in Your love and forgiveness towards me. You overflow with joy as I repent and come near to You. You do not pour criticism, or shame upon me, You give me Your robe, You throw me a party–You celebrate with abundance. Thank You Father. Help me to be like You. Help me to lavish grace and forgiveness on others when they repent, to celebrate with them they are restored to You.
Thank you for writing these so very meaningful and helpful prayers, Lizzie.
Thanks for the catch, Lizzy!
Sunday
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
“…the joy that godly repentance brings.” I never really thought about it this way, but it’s so true because what follows is the sweetness of our heavenly Fathers forgiveness.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why? “Good repented…” I am not a good repented…. my fear of disapproval runs so deep and so connected to my worth that repenting is hard. It feels humiliating and affirms my fears (I am a failure). I also want to give an excuse but to give an excuse is to pretty much say, “sorry but not sorry cuz it wasn’t my fault.” Oh how I need His mercy and Love!
Jill, I just started reading Abba’s Child by Brennan Manning. So many good quotes in this book, and I’m only on chapter 2. What you wrote made me think of this one: “This (brokenness) is what needs to be accepted. Unfortunately, this is what we tend to reject. Here the seeds of a corrosive self-hatred take root. This painful vulnerability is the characteristic feature of our humanity that needs to be embraced in order to restore our human condition to a healed state.” (Nicholas Harnan) Perhaps, for you, it is the fear of disapproval, the feeling of humiliation, and the ‘I am a failure’ that needs to be embraced and accepted as a part of your humanity. Manning writes that the spiritual life begins with the acceptance of our wounded self.
So good Susan! And Jill, thanks for being vulnerable! I get it!
Oh Jill.
You have articulated this so poignantly. I need his mercy with this very same deep insecurity.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I LOVE Vanessa’s Wedding Surprise!! The joy, excitement, laughter, and love expressed are awesome! I imagine the wedding that Jesus attended (where He performed His first miracle) was filled with music, laughter, and dancing, too. So many people think of God as a “cosmic kill-joy” but He is not! So yes, “Lenten Joy” does seem like an oxymoron. Lent and Easter are so different from Christmas; much more solemn….Tennenbrae Good Friday services, inward reflection, sorrow even. “It is sin that clouds any union, robbing it of joy”….I have found this to be true, even today.
2. Read Luke 15:11-20
A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of to God. How did the younger son do that?
Perhaps the younger son wanted power and control; he wanted to be his own person, in control of his life, out from under his father’s thumb, free to do whatever he wanted. He may have thought that having lots of money to live extravagantly would buy happiness, even earning him approval and affirmation (popularity). He asked his father for his share of the estate, which I once heard meant that the father had to sell off land. Then, the son took his belongings and left.
B. What pain did his idols bring him?
He found out that he was not really in control of anything; he couldn’t control the circumstances that brought famine and starvation. Once his money was gone, his popularity faded and it seems like nobody offered to help him. The security and comfort his money temporarily provided was gone. He was an alien in a foreign land doing the dirty work of feeding pigs. His idols took him far from home and far from his father.
C. What pain have your idols brought you? (Be specific)
The years of finding approval/affirmation, comfort/security in and from my children, instead of first looking to God to meet my deepest needs for love, approval, comfort, security, purpose and identity, has brought pain to me as my children grew up and became adults, with two of them moving far away from home. I have tried to hide the pain and avoid dealing with it through busyness, but I have learned that relational idolatry is serious and the consequences are sadness, depression, loss of identity, feeling that I lack purpose and meaning in life. It is a fine line we mothers walk as we love our children with all of our hearts and want to serve them and do our best always for them. I’m still learning in this area. I see it and recognize it now. It is not easy for me to practice replacing this idolatry with God.
D. Turning from idols may bring initial pain, for they will fight. What pain might you need to go through to truly turn from a besetting sin?
There is the pain of letting go. When my one son first moved to Houston, he was pretty non-communicative. At first, I felt hurt and rejected. After all, I know people whose daughters and sons call frequently. I tried not to pressure, but sometimes I would text or call and it would be made clear that I was ‘bothering him’. So, I came to understand that moving to a big city alone wasn’t easy for him and he was trying to, I believe, sort of prove himself that he was capable and independent. I stopped initiating any communication, though it was hard. Because I let him alone, after a while, he would call or text. The hard part is that my emotions told me that by not calling or texting, I wasn’t being a ‘good mom’, or I thought he’d think I didn’t care about him. It is a maturing process, I believe, as a mom, to understand that my children are not extensions of me, and though they give me so much joy, they were not created to meet my needs or to fulfill me. It is hard and painful to not turn first to others when I feel needy. God can feel like He is very far away. It takes faith to believe that He is with me and will truly meet all my needs.
3. Use the above as a springboard for you to be honest with God in prayer.
God, I can put myself in the story of the younger son. My request would have been, Give me children. And You did. I took them and went away from home, believing they were all I needed to make me happy and fulfilled. When they grew up and away, I was left feeling alone and in need, like the son when his money ran out, his friends abandoned him, and he had no food. You know how I tend to run to others to fill me up. I believe You understand, yet Your understanding isn’t saying it’s okay to remain stuck in this sin. I really struggle in this area, and I need You to reach down and rescue me from it. I do repent, and I want my repentance to be honest and the kind that leads to bringing me back home to You. Thank You for the beautiful children You’ve given me, and I ask You to bless them and to bring each one of them home, too, into Your loving embrace.
Susan your sharing and your prayer here are precious, thank you! May this week be something we can look back on as an Ebenezer in years to come-A place where God answered our prayers and delivered us.
I agree Chris — Susan’s post is so beautiful. May it be an Ebenezer!
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The festive joy of when a new life begins. Daily repentance-each time is a new beginning of joy and having our chains come off, and especially humility!! I think the more we repent the more humble He makes us, then the more we repent. The more we repent and cling to Him the more beautiful – like Him- we become. I think it is a growing process. This post made me think of connecting, a long obedience in the same direction (Eugene Peterson) to all of life is repentance. 🙂
Hi Rebecca,
Give us an update on how you are doing!
A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of to God. How did the younger son do that?
He pursued happiness by making his own decisions and being his own master.
B. What pain did his idols bring him?
He was completely destitute and lonely, he had to humble himself and return
C. What pain have your idols brought you? (Be specific.)
Comfort sought through food left me overweight depressed and unwell, when I give into comfort sought through a manageable schedule it leaves me lonely and unchallenged. I feel convicted that it also leaves people I care about feeling unvalued.
When I thought about my approval issues I thought of this verse:
Proverbs 1:3“The wicked flee though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”I had an incident at a place I worked where I thought I might be suspected of doing something wrong, I hadn’t done the thing, but the idea of being suspected totally unglued me. No one even suspected me but I lost sleep over the idea that they could. God began to show me through that circumstance how much approval was an idol for me. My over the top emotions clue me in to look at what’s going on in my heart… I have to dialogue with myself & God asking for wisdom, what do I think I need right now, what is shaping my perspective. I often need to repent of “needing” people’s good opinion.
A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of to God. How did the younger son do that?
He pursued happiness by making his own decisions and being his own master.
B. What pain did his idols bring him?
He was completely destitute and lonely, he had to humble himself and return
C. What pain have your idols brought you? (Be specific.)
Comfort sought through food left me overweight depressed and unwell, when I give into comfort sought through a manageable schedule it leaves me lonely and unchallenged. I feel convicted that it also leaves people I care about feeling unvalued.
When I thought about my approval issues I thought of this verse:
Proverbs 1:3“The wicked flee though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”
I had an incident at a place I worked where I thought I might be suspected of doing something wrong, I hadn’t done the thing, but the idea of being suspected totally unglued me. No one even suspected me but I lost sleep over the idea that they could. God began to show me through that circumstance how much approval was an idol for me.
My over the top emotions clue me in to look at what’s going on in my heart… I have to dialogue with myself & God asking for wisdom, what do I think I need right now, what is shaping my perspective. I often need to repent of “needing” people’s good opinion.
I do too, Chris ~
I often need to repent of “needing” people’s good opinion.
The idol of approval is a ‘popular’ idol, I’m afraid…..I can relate to needing people’s good opinion, too.
1. What stands out to you from the above and why?
The wedding video brought me to tears even though we have seen it before! I have never experienced love like that.
Jesus’ first command and miracle. Interesting to think about.
Being a repenter. Always asking for forgiveness.
I too love the love in that video. Think of God rejoicing over you like that, Laura, for He does!
D. Turning from idols may bring initial pain, for they will fight. What pain might you need to go through to truly turn from a besetting sin?Comfort fights back, the stress of opening my home for hospitality of, making the time to go and serve, or choosing to babysit or visit a friend makes my life less ordered, I have less ‘down time’. But I rarely regret those commitments once they are done with. Protecting my self-interest in this area isn’t a worthwhile exchange. When I do get downtime and I am grateful, it feels different than when I have pursued it for its own sake. Our discussion here has me thinking about this CS Lewis quote:“Gratitude exclaims… ‘How good of God to give me this.’ Adoration says, ‘What must be the quality of that Being whose far-off and momentary coruscations are like this!’ One’s mind runs back up the sunbeam to the sun.”
Approval is perhaps harder for me, I know I don’t always realize when it is calling the shots. I need to lay down what another person thinks of me, placing the weight of me on what God thinks of me. God is less real in those moments of trial than the person whose opinion is there in front of me. I want to feel acceptable…I want to be more like Paul in 1 Corinthians 4“4Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”
Chris, you nailed it here: “God is less real in those moments of trial than the person whose opinion is there in front of me.”
Yes. I so agree with that statement about God being less real than the opinion of the person right in front of you. God showed me once that I was giving that person power over me that they had no right to have.
D. Turning from idols may bring initial pain, for they will fight. What pain might you need to go through to truly turn from a besetting sin?Comfort fights back, the stress of opening my home for hospitality of, making the time to go and serve, or choosing to babysit or visit a friend makes my life less ordered, I have less ‘down time’. But I rarely regret those commitments once they are done with.
Protecting my self-interest in this area isn’t a worthwhile exchange. When I do get downtime and I am grateful, it feels different than when I have pursued it for its own sake. Our discussion here has me thinking about this CS Lewis quote:
“Gratitude exclaims… ‘How good of God to give me this.’ Adoration says, ‘What must be the quality of that Being whose far-off and momentary coruscations are like this!’ One’s mind runs back up the sunbeam to the sun.”
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Approval is perhaps harder for me, I know I don’t always realize when it is calling the shots. I need to lay down what another person thinks of me, placing the weight of me on what God thinks of me. God is less real in those moments of trial than the person whose opinion is there in front of me. I want to feel acceptable…I want to be more like Paul in 1 Corinthians 4
“4Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”
Read Luke 15:11-20.
A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of to
God. How did the younger son do that?
He bowed to his inheritance (money) and left his family for a “better life.”
B. What pain did his idols bring him?
He ended up starving!
C. What pain have your idols brought you? (Be specific.)
Mental duress, where I feel like I am at constant war in my head.
D. Turning from idols may bring initial pain, for they will fight. What pain might you need to go through to truly turn from a besetting sin?
The one thing that comes to mind is denying the flesh. Especially if the idol is eating too much drinking too much etc.
1. What stood out? “The joy of repentance”. It is only conviction from God and the repentance that follows making joy, which is unexplainable to unbelievers. It is truly something that can be looked forward to. Not making sin attractive, but making it right with God extremely attractive.
1. What stands out and why? I loved the clip of the Jewish wedding. Such joy! It is not often that repentance and joy are spoken of together…most equate it with pain. Maybe if we linked it to joy, we would be more eager to repent!
I’ve made a list of troubles you are having with the new website and have e-mailed Laura-Dancer, Mary B, Nila, and Chris to see if you are still having the same headaches before I go to the website people. Or, you can let me know by replying to this post. Thanks so much. Dee
Dee, The comment box is now working for me if I click on reply. I hope this sends!
Great!
My duplicate comment above was the result of trying to edit a comment, when I click the edit comment button a box that is clear/empty opens. I clicked away and came back, there was a box that looked like my original posting box, I edited that and it posted again :/
Sorry about that!
I am on the computer at work and it seems to work fine on here. Both browsers are Chrome, this is a PC at home I use a MAC, I am not sure if that is relevant or not.
Dee, thank you for this beautiful song here on this Monday morning. Beautiful.
Porter’s House Worship Project offers some beautiful contemplative music. Musicians from all over met in NYC in the summer of 2017. This is one of the songs that emerged from that. We Labor Unto Glory ~ His Glory rushes in to cover us when we uncover our sin. Amazing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRuPZCXShg4
Dee,
So, three things:
1. I cannot reply to anyone’s comments.
2. I cannot edit my comments.
3. It doesnt save my name and email
2. Read Luke 15:11-20
A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of to God. How did the younger son do that? I think it begins in a misunderstanding of our needs. I can imagine the younger son thought that the life he was leading wasn’t what he ‘needed’ so he sought a way to make his life look like ‘it should.’ I, too, think life ‘should’ look a certain way but this is like telling Michelangelo that one of his brush strokes is off – how can I know without seeing the whole picture?! And how can I see the whole picture in this life? I must trust the Artist.
The younger son, I think, thought that life should be “all fricasseed frogs and eel pie.” So he set out to have a life where he could do what he wanted, when he wanted, at the expense of someone else. He didn’t know his true need until he had nothing, he only knew the symptoms that masked the true need.
B. What pain did his idols bring him? He probably lost friends and because of this probably suffered self criticism. He was hungry, thirsty. He may have had true physical pain from a contracted disease or from fighting or accidents while out having a “good time.” He experience desperation, loneliness, and regret as he pondered his outcome. In the end his pain was utter humiliation, to come back home admitting he was so very wrong and being an absolute failure. The evaporation of pride always stings…
C. What pain have your idols brought you? (Be specific.) oh my… I think the biggest one is loneliness. Sometimes I want to protect myself from embarrassment or looking a failure and this leaves me lonely for the Lord’s presence as I miss obedience. Sometimes I want to protect myself from being hurt and this leaves me lonely for friends. Sometimes I want to protect myself from children gone astray and this leaves me lonely for my kids as I unintentionally push them away. Sometimes I want to have my selfish way and I am lonely because of a lost connection with my husband.
D. Turning from idols may bring initial pain, for they will fight. What pain might you need to go through to truly turn from a besetting sin? I need to endure the sweet pain of humiliation. It is not all about me. It is not about making sure I do right and show up at the throne looking my best. Christ covers me and so I need to trust Him in every situation, this means I will look a fool sometimes, this means I will bear the burden of pain in relationships sometimes, this means I will have to bend and bend and bend… My besetting sin truly is looking to man’s standard for a good person and imposing that on my perception of God’s opinion of me. I resist obedience so often because “what if…” but instead of seeing the “what if” in bad light I need to see that “what if” in good light – what if it made a difference? What if it brightens someone’s day? What if God can use the seed to grow a tree? What if I just trusted the Lord in my actions and was content in His love and mercy?
3. Use the above as a springboard for you to be honest with God in prayer. O God, you are my God and I will ever praise You! Christ has covered it all, let me not cast off that garment for the filthy rags of man’s approval. May I find your sweet presence on my knees in humility serving those around me. May my heart be attuned to Your presence as I obey and not attuned to the eyes of man as I imagine them watching (are they even seeing?! Probably not, which is good!). God, help me! Humble me (and help me endure the pain of that humility)… Give me strength, indeed you have…give me awareness to lean on the strength you have given through your Holy Spirit to do the next right thing, to not give into selfishness or feelings but to see beauty in obedience, joy in laying self aside and walking Your story instead of seeking my “should be”! Amen, let it be.
4. Describe how the father received him. (Luke 16:20-24) He received him with celebration and assurance. He could have just forgiven him and reinstated him into the family but instead he exorbatantly celebrated his coming back. All for the son’s assurance of his love and acceptance, each gift (as in our lives, too) is just reassurance of the greater truth- the father loves the son. I also think that maybe the father knew he would come to ruin and would come back and he was anxious for that day and that is why he celebrated so – not only that he was physically back but that the son’s heart sought to come back (repentance).
5. Use the above as a springboard for praise to God. God! Thank you for your gifts and acceptance. Forgive me for doubting your constant and unchanging love for me! Forgive me for trying to earn your favor and prove myself worthy as a daughter of the King. Thank you Lord for loving me first. Thank you, Lord for loving me through my conceit, failures, tantrums, and complacency. God You are the Great I Am , forever and for always, praise be!
Jill,
Oh my…….your tender, vulnerable responses here are a balm to my soul.
Thank you.
P.S. Dee , system is allowing me to reply. Thank you tech guys!
Golde from Jill: “I need to endure the sweet pain of humiliation.”
And Nila — Hurrah! Yes, thanks to tech guys!
Chris– I appreciate your thoughts on “getting to repent” having been mulling over that and will continue to.
Susan– thank you for the quote. I, too, am reading Abba’s Child. I will go back and reread…wanting so much for Manning’s truths to sink deep and soften my heart ….
This post is only a test.
Testing in order to see if can edit a post. ( working directly with tech guys).
Editing a post is now working.
Thank you tech people! 🙂
I still can’t reply to your message Dee. I turned my phone off and back on, and refreshed the page. I am using Safari and I have an iphone “S.” I said 7 before but I was mistaken. I even had trouble after I canceled the comment with creating this post. The keyboard showed up but the cursor did not. I can’t renember what I did to get the cursor, however I might have bounced into the name and email boxes and then back up the the main comment box. Sorry to be a pain…
Laura — I am so sorry. I don’t know what else to ask you to do except work directly with the tech guys. That’s what Nila had to do, and so I direct you to them as well. david@controlyours.com
If it isn’t a big deal, I may have you live with it for a while for I get a little free service each month — but this sounds like a big deal if you can’t post!
6. Read Matthew 23:23-26 A. What were the Pharisees good at cleaning?
They are really good at making the outside look great, but it is like a thin veneer over cheap wood. I do think I was raised with this mindset, and yet I take full responsibility for the ways it is still my default. I repent of how the concern for what people think of me often overshadows my concern for purity of heart.
B. What were they missing?
They miss cleaning the inside, the heart, the core of who they are.
7. Let the above lead you into prayer.
Oh Father. Forgive me for the ways I act like a Pharisee–focusing my effort on making sure I lok good, giving more value to the outward appearance of who I am, my dutifulness, my works…help me to die to my pride, my flaming self righteousness. It is ugly.I so easily get caught up in wanting to appear as sweet, nice…that I am more focused on the outcome w=of what someone will think of me than I am really focused on just blessing them and loving. Forgive me for being a glory thief.Father, my true desire is to bring YOU gloty, and not myself, and I know it must start with my heart, for that is where You look–to my inside, not the outside.
This lesson is helping me look at the why behind my failure to be good at repenting. I love the gift of repentance, I LOVE to see a heart of true repentance, I am so attracted to that kind of humility–and yet, I so struggle with going there myself. I am seeing more the fear, deep, dark fear of rejection that I believe lies in my heart. But again, to apply the Gospel to that part of my heart–it is not about me trying to gain or protect my own glory–all of life is repentance, then all of life is to show HIS glory. Less of me, more of Him, shining through my life. Sorry for the tangent–thinking out loud here now! 😉
Lizzy ~
I hope this lesson is also helping me in this same way that you described here. Thank you Lizzy.
This lesson is helping me look at the why behind my failure to be good at repenting. I love the gift of repentance, I LOVE to see a heart of true repentance, I am so attracted to that kind of humility–and yet, I so struggle with going there myself. I am seeing more the fear, deep, dark fear of rejection that I believe lies in my heart. But again, to apply the Gospel to that part of my heart–it is not about me trying to gain or protect my own glory–all of life is repentance, then all of life is to show HIS glory. Less of me, more of Him, shining through my life.
Sunday:
What stands out to you from the above and why? – Oh my how fun was that toast at the wedding. I was waiting for Fiddler on the Roof to start playing. They take the wedding ceremony to a new level. What a blessing to have that sung over you, to start your new life together as one with such a great blessing. Oh my!
Also, that a Christians life should be a life of repentance. I see that, since we are a work in progress that is what we should be doing, but I never thought of it that way, and to have JOY we need to repent. Repenting is a detox drink, we need to get all the toxins out so our body can live refreshed.
Repenting is a detox drink!
2. Read Luke 15:11-20.
A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of to God. How did the younger son do that? – He took his inheritance and left his family to have a good time.
B. What pain did his idols bring him? – Sadness, shame, regret, brokenness, worthlessness
C. What pain have your idols brought you? (Be specific.) – The big one for me know is unforgiveness. By hanging on to it, my attitude toward others is bad and not appropriate. It brings mumbling and grumbling against them instead of me speaking kindly or thinking kind thoughts.
D. Turning from idols may bring initial pain, for they will fight. What pain might you need to go through to truly turn from a besetting sin? – I would need to have confrontation with those who I am unable to forgive right now. I need to cleanse myself of ME so the Lord can take over and I can be free. I need to allow Him to enter in order for this to happen.
3. Use the above as a springboard for you to be honest with God in prayer. – Lord I hate the way I act toward some of the people close to me. Like I’m right and have never done anything wrong to hurt others. Help me Lord to be free of this unforgiveness that is surrounding my heart. I want to be free from this. Help me to be free. In Jesus Name AMEN!
4. Describe how the father received him. (Luke 16:20-24) – The father welcomed him with open arms, like nothing was ever wrong. He treated him like royalty without any thought.
5. Use the above as a springboard for praise to God. – Thank you Lord for always welcoming back to you with open arms. Help me to know that I need to do the same. I am me and I am not you. I need to live up to the image you created me to me, the image of yourself. I need your cleansing power in my body, mind and heart. In Jesus Name AMEN
What stood out to me was the video of the wedding. It was an absolute joy to watch. I think because my youngest son is getting married at the end of April, this just struck me as the ultimate celebration from every side ( the fathers of the bride and groom, the friends, the groom). I’m not an outgoing expressive person, but I love seeing others be what I am not.
Awww — I love seeing other be what I cannot.
2. Read Luke 15:11-20.
A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of to God. How did the younger son do that? He longed to have what he wanted when he wanted it to use in any way that he wanted to. He did not want to wait on God’s timing.
B. What pain did his idols bring him? He lost all that he had in wasteful spending and lavish living that left him alone and empty. He was further humiliated in having to care for pigs…totally against his cultural upbringing.
C. What pain have your idols brought you? (Be specific.) I often wonder if I had held a firm boundary at the beginning of my marriage against excessive drinking if my husband would be in a much better place than today? It is a hard thing to set a boundary knowing it may well cost you a marriage especially when approval of others is at stake.
D. Turning from idols may bring initial pain, for they will fight. What pain might you need to go through to truly turn from a besetting sin? In my efforts to avoid conflict I can also choose to avoid speaking the truth in love and holding others accountable for their own behavior. This can cause pain not only for me but for others as well…for we all reap the consequences. My sin can bring pain to others in addition to myself.
3. Use the above as a springboard for you to be honest with God in prayer. Father, please forgive me for the many times I have demanded my inheritance now…and not waited on Your timing. I feel as if I have journeyed to a far country and am at the end of my resources. I feel like the prodigal son who was starving to the point where even that which he fed to the pigs looked good…yet no one gave him anything. Lord, help me remember the gracious character of my Abba and get up and go to You. Please enfold me in Your mercy and grace and let me relinquish all attempts to control my life. Let me rest in You and look to You alone for my provision.
4. Describe how the father received him. (Luke 16:20-24) When the son was still a long way off the father saw him and came running and embraced him and rained kisses on his face. Then the father ordered that a celebration be held in recognition of that which he had lost which was now found. The son was dressed in his fathers robe, he was given the signet ring, and fine sandals…scandalous grace…grace that was extended to even the tax collectors, prostitutes and other sinners…even and especially the Pharisees.
5. Use the above as a springboard for praise to God. Lord, I can scarcely begin to wrap my mind around such lavish grace. The grace the You long to extend is Yours only because of Your willingness to purchase it with the blood of Your Son…my Passover Lamb. I imagine You watching for me as I come up this dusty road and my breath catches as I picture You running to meet me and falling on my neck to weep tears of joy and kiss my face as You celebrate my return. Let me cling to the truth that although there may be a fleeting moment of pain in my act of repentance there will be everlasting joy. Lord, I come in repentance asking you to make me ever more sensitive to my sin so that I may come in true confession.
3. Use the above as a springboard for you to be honest with God in prayer.
Oh Lord, help me to give up my idols and focus only on You for Lent. When I falter, help me remember that I have dance to rehearse for church, and TK to listen to and contemplate, and of course, Your Word to read and understand better. Help me to not be self serving at this time and at all times.
4. Describe how the father received him. (Luke 16:20-24)
He received the son with open arms, running to him (I remember a sermon of Keller’s where he describes the father running by picking up his robe to do so. He said people of affluence just didn’t do that back then.) The father ordered a party. I can’t tell you how much I want to be the father when my daughter decides to come home from her “trip.” I long to see that day.
5. Use the above as a springboard for praise to God.
Thank You God, for giving us the ability to forgive and forget. Thank You for giving us an intrinsic desire to please others, to love them, to be able to lavish our loved ones with the joy of our hearts. Thank You Lord, for being able to have that feeling, the feeling Jesus must have had, knowing that we were the ones who would benefit from His hanging on a cross. Thank You Lord.
6. Read Matthew 23:23-26
A. What were the Pharisees good at cleaning?
They were good at cleaning their water.
B. What were they missing?
They were missing justice mercy and faith.
7. Let the above lead you into prayer.
Dear Lord, help me not forget the important things. Help me remember that how I treat people is most important, not how I look to others.
8. Give it a stab. With the above in mind, why do you think Jesus first miracle was turning the water in the ceremonial jars into wine?
Was it a metaphor? He turned the plain water into rich wine; he takes plain people and makes them Christ-like?
Here’s a clue — the ceremonial jars of water were used for washing the outside — what did Christ do instead? And wine is often symbolic of the Spirit.
Thanks for clarifying Dee, and I can reply to your post!!!
6. Read Matthew 23:23-26
A. What were the Pharisees good at cleaning? They were good at cleaning the outside of life while the inside was full of self-indulgence.
B. What were they missing? They missed being cleansed on the inside which would have taken care of the outside as well.
7. Let the above lead you into prayer. Lord, you know there is a limited amount of energy to be spent in a day. How often I waste my energies in counting my mint, dill and cumin so that I can be sure to get my tithe exactly right. And you also know how often I overlook or ignore the weightier matters of justice, mercy and faithfulness. Those heart issues are easier to keep hidden and if exposed, might reveal my sinful, fallen nature. Thank you for loving me too much to leave me in to my idol of approval and reminding me that you will present me pure and blameless which is a miracle that only you can do!
8. Give it a stab. With the above in mind, why do you think Jesus first miracle was turning the water in the ceremonial jars into wine? The ceremonial jars of water would have been for “washing the outside”. After what we just read…maybe Jesus was saying that water was expendable…of little importance. What was truly important was entering in to the joy of the master…being in fellowship. To our “religious eyes”it seems strange that Jesus would rather there be wine for the wedding feast than that there be water for cleansing…but that’s because our eyes have been so trained to critically judge others for their appearance.
I posted last night on my laptop and do not see that post. I have tried to reply to several posts this morning on my Ipad…but not been able. I did not get the email this week either…domI need to sign back up for the blog? I have decided to take this opportunity to use my new email address so maybe that is causing some of the issues?
Yes — it didn’t recognize your new e-mail address, Lucy. That’s why I had to approve you again. It’s technology — very black and white!
3. Use the above as a springboard for you to be honest with God in prayer.Father, thank you for your mercy, for giving me the bad news about my heart incrementally and in ways that don’t leave me utterly crushed, Christ’s righteousness is my hope, not my moral performance. Thank you for the understanding you’ve given me of the battle, I do now recognize the emotion that usually accompanies my idolatry, I know I need the armor you have provided. I don’t want to cling to worthless things like what people think about me, how I look, how I conduct myself, at the same time don’t want to be apathetic or cynical about people, I want to value people as you do and for your sake. I lack wisdom in these things, you promise to give wisdom to those who ask, I am asking. Please show me quickly when I am placing the weight of my being on anything but you.Help me believe how good you are, I don’t want the serpent to shape my perspective. I am so grateful that you are faithful, that your steadfast love endures forever, that you run to meet me as I come.
Chris, beautiful prayer….placing the weight of my being on anything but God.
4. Describe how the father received him. (Luke 16:20-24)
With joy and honor, unreservedly… no condemnation!
5. Use the above as a springboard for praise to God.Father the reception of the prodigal seems too good to be true. I feel the weight of my sin, the enemy tells me I am unclean and it is true. The prodigal didn’t value your relationship, he looked to the wrong things, I do too. Yet you bore the shame I deserve to bear. It is hard to imagine a joyful reception for me when I see how still I dig empty cisterns, trying to find worth in empty things. Please Father, let me believe more and more that this picture really is a depiction of how it is between you and me, that just as the prodigal’s half-hearted self-interest laced return is met with a celebration, so is mine.
I thank you for this blog as a safe harbor where I can process. I praise you for your patience with me, for Jesus, for this parable. Thank you for your very great mercy.
I love your processing, Chris.
Amen to this, Chris~ for me too.
Please Father, let me believe more and more that this picture really is a depiction of how it is between you and me, that just as the prodigal’s half-hearted self-interest laced return is met with a celebration, so is mine.
A. What were the Pharisees good at cleaning?
The outside of the cup, making themselves appear to others as morally perfect.
B. What were they missing?
What was really going on inside their hearts, they were building their houses on the sinking sand of their moral appearances, their reputation among men. The loved what religion, being perceived as close to God did for them. They thought that their superior moral display gave them the right to cast judgement on those less scrupulous in their obedience. They missed that we are all dependent on mercy, no one can stand before God on their own merit.
7. Let the above lead you into prayer.I thank you for your provision, for making a way for us to be reconciled. I confess to being too concerned what others think of me, of wanting to be perceived as better than I am. Forgive me this and guard me from it.If I have any real good in me it is a fruit you have nourished, not something I should be praised for. Father if I see some sin in someone else, I ask that it break my heart, that I will see it is against you and that my desire would be for the repentance of my brother or sister, not an occasion for feeling superior to them.
8. Give it a stab. With the above in mind, why do you think Jesus first miracle was turning the water in the ceremonial jars into wine?I heard a teaching that said the amount of wine was an abundance and was a pointer to the extravagance of grace.I am guessing due to the context of our lesson though, that the Pharisee’s made much of ceremonial washing rituals, Jesus miracle diminished ritual and pointed to lavish celebration?
I do think so — I know that is Yancey’s take. I see a difference between religion and the gospel, between ritual by man and the Spirit given by God. I see new wine into new wineskins. And here is a riddle for you, Chris — why is the latter wine better than the first?
1. Godly repentance brings joy. “A good marriage is made up of 2 good repenters “ Ruth and Billy Graham.
“All of life is repentanc “, Luther.
“ Repentance is actually the mother of all joy in Jesus” Wilkerson
2. A. The son demanded of his father his share of the estate (the inheritance before the father died) and then distanced himself from the family so he could live as he chose. He squandered the wealth with wild living.
B. When he ran out of money he was forced to find a job feeding pigs, the lowest of the low for a Jewish boy. And he was starving. he was far from home and the comfortable life he had left
C. My idol of approval brings many consequences it has put distance between me and God while it gives me no content or satisfaction because approval is always dependent on someone else to give it! And it causes me to make decisions about spending money that bring about guilt it occupies my mind so that I feel like a hamster on a spinning wheel with no mental rest and no end in sight
D. I might feel rejection, fear, discontent. But God is patiently waiting with compassion for me to turn towards Him. I love that repentance doesn’t mean having it all together before I am accepted again. It is simply the decision to turn to Him. He is the One who restores.
3. Lord, my desire for approval from people only brings anxiety and guilt and damaged relationships. The promise of being accepted, loved, and valued is met only in You. Please show me the path to follow to find my way back into Your holy presence and freedom from the chains I have forged.
Laurie ~
Your response to 2C resonates. Thank you for this word picture.
My idol of approval brings many consequences……. it occupies my mind so that I feel like a hamster on a spinning wheel with no mental rest and no end in sight.
Beautiful prayer:
The promise of being accepted, loved, and valued is met only in You. Please show me the path to follow to find my way back into Your holy presence and freedom from the chains I have forged.
Oh Laurie, your words here about approval are hitting me hard this morning! Because, someone I love said some very hurtful things to me and I am feeling the anxiety, rejection and fear, and yes, the feeling of dependency upon this person for approval.
Dee,
I just tried editing a post. Improvement! I can get in to the edit window, but when I attempt to edit, it removes all italicized words from my post and it doesn’t return to the main blog window so that I can see how my post was edited.
Thank you tech guys for all the hours you have given us here this week!
I know Rob is following comments — if it doesn’t get fixed, tell me again in April as I’ll have another free hour. Thanks, Nila.
6. Read Matthew 23:23-26
A. What were the Pharisees good at cleaning? – They are good at cleaning the outside of their cup and plate. In more common terms, they clean up their act, their shell of a body, to make it look like they are good people, but this would have to be done all the time. It’s hard to stay right all the time doing it their way.
B. What were they missing? – They were missing the true meaning of following Jesus. To change from the inside out is a more lasting change and the ‘act’ would follow.
I can be just like them: more concerned that someone sees me impatient with my grandchild than the fact that I am impatient with my grandchild; more concerned with the outside than the inside. God says, “Dee, come to me in genuine repentance, and I will make your heart clean, and then the outside will be clean as well.”
7. Let the above lead you into prayer. – Lord I know I can be superficial, pretending that all is ok. That my body motions, my facial expressions show one thing, when I really am a mess on the inside. Help me Lord to allow you to cleanse me from the inside out so my true heart feelings match my outside actions. This is something only you can help me do. I thank you Lord for your grace in the meantime, but I really want to be clean. In Jesus Name AMEN!
8. Give it a stab. With the above in mind, why do you think Jesus first miracle was turning the water in the ceremonial jars into wine? – Is it because they were so concerned with cleaning up the outside of the jars and hiding what was truly going on in the inside that he is trying to show them that when you change on the inside, the outside will follow along and still hold the same shape but will shine much more freely?
That’s good, Julie. Also, see my response to Chris above.
2.A. Idolatry is turning to our own way of meeting our needs instead of turning to God. The younger son did that by demanding his inheritance immediately instead of waiting for it, and then squandering it. Makes me think of the verse in James that says that even when you ask, you ask only to use what you get on your own pleasures.
B. His idols brought him to the bottom with nothing left. No money, no status, no friends, no future.
C. My idols have brought me shame, obesity, inability to bend or kneel, and addiction.
D. What pain may I need to go through? To go without, to feel abandoned, to have the pain of withdrawal, to recapture by battle all I’ve lost.
3. Lord, there has been this tug of war in me for years now. The idol of food vs the idol of thinness. There is only one solution, and that is to smash and destroy them both. But I do not have the strength in me. The only thing I can do is to set my face towards You, toward Home, and start plodding. I ask that You meet me in each halting step and help me. Help me find joy in repenting for every pull of idolatry, every desire that isn’t of You or for You.
4. The father received him gladly, joyfully, not resentfully or with an attitude of I told you so.
5. Father, I confess in my mind I’ve painted You as having given up on me, disgusted that after all You’ve done for me I’ve repaid You with evil. Even my mental picture is a sin against You, because it slanders Your character. I repent Lord, oh I repent! I feel in my spirit Your smile, that You have been waiting for this moment. Where are there enough songs to praise You? Where enough shouts to lift up Your true nature? All the beauty on earth is not enough to say Who You are and what You have done for me! I kneel in my spirit and keep saying Thank You!
Mary, I love your heart in your prayer here.
I agree with Susan Mary!
6.A. The Pharisees were good at the outward actions, cleaning the outside of the dish.
B. They totally missed that the whole idea was to turn their eyes inward and see their need of Father God to work at cleaning the inside.
7. Lord, it is obvious to me now that both food and thinness are outside things. The inside thing is, what am I doing with my needs and desires? Do I see You as the Father who loves me and wants to share all good things with me? Do I run to You as an eager toddler, happy to have my Abba near? You, Lord, are my Abba. Oh, thank You!
8. Why was the first miracle turning water to wine? Maybe to show that what is on the inside on our own can be used to clean up our act, but it is never enough, never done. Or we can let God change the inside to be a continual party of praise for how He has made me clean inside and out forever.
4. Describe how the father received him (Luke 15:20-24).
The father was filled with compassion for his son; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. He directed his servants to get the best robe, which must have been the father’s, and put it on him, along with sandals and a ring. Then, the father wanted to have a celebration.
5. Use the above as a springboard for praise to God.
God, You are so gracious and kind, and filled with compassion for me. Why do I so often want to hide from You when I feel I’ve done wrong when You are like this father in Jesus’ story? You are waiting for me to come back, and You will never reject me. How big is Your heart, Lord! You are lavish and extravagant with grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness.
Dee, I had to go back to using Safari this morning because with Internet Explorer, I couldn’t see the photos nor read all of the posts.
That’s a big deal, Susan. I’ll alert the web guys.
6. Read Matthew 23:23-26
A. What were the Pharisees good at cleaning?
Jesus uses the metaphor of washing a cup and dish, saying that the Pharisees clean the outside of these things but not the inside. He is really referring to them, saying that they may be ‘clean’ on the outside, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
B. What were they missing?
They were so good at all the external, outward conformity to rules, but never thought about the condition of their hearts.
8. Give it a stab. With the above in mind, why do you think Jesus first miracle was turning the water in the ceremonial jars into wine?
I think the significance might be that the ceremonial jars were used for ceremonial washing; making the outside clean. They signified obeying the external rules which leads to lack of joy. Filling those jars with wine for a celebration meant that Jesus didn’t come to add to the long list of rules everyone had to obey, but He came to fill us with joy.
A. What two kinds of people does Luke say were gathering around Jesus? What is the irony in Luke’s statement?
The Pharisees rejected Jesus because he ate with sinners Jesus would reject the Pharisees who failed to see their need for a savior
B. Where have you been more concerned about outward appearance than your heart?
When I am in the embrace of my comfort/food idol I want to eat alone, I don’t want anyone to see me pigging out. I wouldn’t want to be judged by them. How stupid is that! My concern should be why an I seeking solace there, what is ruling my heart? Where am I putting God when I try to eat myself to contentment.
I have listened to gossip because my desire to be accepted by the group I was with at the moment was more powerful than my desire to obey the leading of the Spirit to get out of there or to call someone out for the way they are speaking.
I began sending our support $ to our church via mail rather than putting an envelope in the offering. I struggle sometimes still with not putting in an envelope, what the usher might assume about our giving.
I can get really aggravated with my husband about really stupid things. I don’t want him to know. If he asks me what is wrong I usually say … nothing :/
I want to appear better than I am. I suspect fear of man is underneath this too.
C. Let this lead you into asking God for help.
Oh Father, I feel pretty overwhelmed when I think about the ways I sin. I don’t want to be like those of whom you said:
“I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely. They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds.”
Help me, I need you to rescue me, to make the cry of my heart for redemption to be genuine. I want David’s assurance that you are willing, and will wash me and that I will be whiter than snow.
I don’t want to wallow in self-absorption, I want to glory in the wonder of your goodness, restore to me the joy of my salvation. I want you to be big to me Lord that I might be the right size, help me think rightly about all these things, not giving my mind over to the lies of the enemy so that my life will glorify you.
I keep thinking of our verse from last week where you said that our work is to believe in the one you sent…help me to believe and to trust more and more.
I am weak, but you are almighty.
In Jesus name Amen
ditto that prayer, Christina. So loved the words, “they do not cry out to me from their hearts, but wail on their beds.” “I don’t want to wallow in self-absorption. I want to glory in the wonder of your goodness.” from the sunbeam up to the sun, as Lewis was quoted somewhere above😊
10. Does anything stand out to you from Susan’s story?
The whole thing makes me sad, your honesty Susan was met with judgement, your burden made heavier rather than lighter, I am sorry that happened to you. At the end where you said you probably should have talked to the leader about it, perhaps it was the Lord’s kindness that prevented you. She may have made you even more defeated or confused had you sought her council.
Chris, in the teacher’s defense, I think she would have been horrified if I had told her what I was experiencing. I really don’t think she meant it to be like a heavy burden. There were several women in the class who had good marriages and relatively few problems in their marriages, so they didn’t have hardly anything checked on their lists. I wish I’d been honest with her about what was going on. Maybe it was my own pride that didn’t want to admit it.
Dee, my name and email did not save over to today….
9.A. There were two kinds of people around Jesus, ‘sinners’ and ‘righteous’. The irony is that the ‘sinners’ turned to Him and were being made righteous, while the ‘righteous’ muttered against Him and remained in their sin.
B. My outward appearance – guilty as charged. I want people to like me, esteem me, desire me. All based on projections of competence, compassion, calmness while inside is a turmoil of doubt and fear.
C. Sometimes, a Lord, I’ve seen this in me and added to myself hatred. Today, having repented and turned back to You, I see it all as so silly and useless. I can’t BE anything worthwhile without You. My way has been a house of cards. With You is the solid foundation for a house that can stand against the floods to come. Not in my strength, but in Yours. Thank You!
10. Have I tried to reform myself and ended up hating myself? How do I hate me… Let me count the ways, to paraphrase Browning. I do it by keeping lists, being obsessed with exercise or good behavior, seeing counselor and dieting endlessly. None of it has helped. I’ve been like the woman that bled, for almost the same length of time, spending but only getting worse.
Right, Mary — you need to sign in each new day you come on — just your name and e-mail.