How do we change to become the kind of joyful, loving people we genuinely want to be?
Just as we are saved not by striving but by looking to Jesus, we are transformed, not by striving, but by beholding Jesus:
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18
John Piper put it so simply:
Beholding is Becoming.
That is my goal for the heart of the book I’m endeavoring to write. The first portrait we will be beholding is that of “Stonecutter.” For He is alone is the One who can turn our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.
Sunday: Thankful for His Presence
Only the Judeo-Christian faith has a personal God who can be present with us.
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways?
Monday: Beholding His Holiness Reveals Our Sin
I’ve mentioned my friend Marty before, who was frustrated with our Bible study because she said, “Dee, the problem is I’m not a sinner.” So she skipped Bible study and went for a bike ride. During that bike ride, God gave her a glimpse of His holiness. She came late to Bible study, flushed with excitement, announcing: “I’m a sinner!”
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you?
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this?
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel?
C. How did this impact him?
D. How did the Lord then show him grace?
E. How did Isaiah respond?
Tuesday: Seeing the Stones in our Hearts
I think the women on this blog will laugh along with the counselors John Piper was speaking to, because you are women of insight, and you know, like a good Christian counselor, that the root of the problems in our lives and our relationships is sin. This five-minute opening is golden. Please watch. (I’ve included the transcript, but I really want you to watch!)
I feel honored and humbled and exposed as a speaker to the American Association of Christian Counselors. I assume that of all the audiences in the world, you are the ones who can see right through a speaker. I take that to be a good thing. It forces the issue of hypocrisy. It makes real for me at the horizontal level what is always true vertically. God always knows if we are hypocrites. So it’s good to be among people who make us feel emotionally naked. It’s a wake up call from the dangers of pretense.
So to spare you some analysis, I will tell you that you are listening to a sinner. A man
- who must crucify the love of praise every day;
- who struggles with the same adolescent fear at age 63 that he had at 15, the fear of looking foolish;
- who is prone to feel self-pity and pout when he doesn’t get loved the way he wants;
- who is almost never sure he has used his time in the best way and therefore struggles with guilt;
- who is short on compassion and long on critical analysis;
- who can freeze up emotionally when he’s tired, and feel instinctively that it’s someone else’s fault;
- who loves to praise God in the great assembly and feels a constraint on his spirit in his own living room;
- who has loved his wife of forty years imperfectly and spent with her over three of those years with a Christian counselor trying to become better images of Christ and the church;
- and who never feels sure that his motives are pure, including right now, for why he is telling you all this.
At one level, I want you to be open to what I have to say, and I thought that being open with you might help you be open to me. At another level, a better one I hope, I want you to see why I love the grace of God.
4. Watch the above and then answer:
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence?
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts?
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now?
Wednesday: Being Delivered from the Penalty of Sin
This happens the moment we put our trust in what Jesus did for us at the cross. If you came to Christ as a little child like Patti or Sharon, or several others of you, you may not remember. You cannot identify with Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress, who knew the moment the burden fell from his back. But it is such a good picture of how we are saved, not by striving, but by looking to Jesus.
5. What illustration did Jesus give Nicodemus for how to be born again in John 3:14? What did the Israelites have to do to be rescued from the lethal snakes? Point?
6. Does anyone know the short story of how Charles Spurgeon came to faith? It’s a great illustration of the above. If so, share here.
7. Do you remember how God revealed your sinfulness and His grace to you? If so, share in a sentence.
Thursday: Being Delivered from the Power of Sin
As John Piper’s honest confession demonstrates, it is a struggle we will face until we see Him face-to-face and are delivered from the presence of sin. However, if we are aware that whenever there is a problem in a horizontal relationship, there is likely a problem in our vertical relationship with God, we may be able to see the idol and turn from it. Watch the following short clip from counselor David Powlison:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSFVnECHzr0
8. Watch the above.
A. What stood out to you and why?
B. List some of the verbs that describe our relationship with God.
C. What question does Powlison tell us to ask when there is a problem that will help us examine our vertical relationship?
9. Now — think of an area in which you struggle — Piper named so many — let’s us each just name one and consider how seeing the sin beneath the sin might set us free. (I will share as well tomorrow!)
Friday: Letting the Stonecutter Work
A pediatrician I know tells children, when removing a splinter, “If you hold still, it won’t take so long.”
When confronted, it’s easy for pride to rear its head. But if I can hold still and take it before the Lord in private, He will show me what is true and what is not. If it is true, it is a splinter I want out. One quick story: It was the seventies, and I was endeavoring to reach the other residents’ wives for Christ. Their marriages were falling apart because their husbands were gone all the time, and they had little children. I thought Marabel Morgan’s book Total Woman might be the answer and began passing it out. They were SOOOO angry. Here they were, doing everything by themselves, and she told them also to take a bubble bath, dress up, and make a gourmet dinner before their husbands got home.
A godly woman came to me after much prayer and gently confronted me, telling me she loved my concern for them, but it might be backfiring. She helped me see they weren’t rejecting Christianity, but this distortion of Christianity. When she left, I wept before the Lord, and He strengthened me to go to them and tell them how wrong I’d been. Those four years were amazing, and we saw so many put their trust in Christ — but a big stone had to be removed before it happened.
10. Do you have a story of true repentance that bore fruit? If so, share.
Saturday:
11. What is your take-a-way and why?
187 comments
I’m in a hotel with shaky internet so publishing while I have it –thus Saturday night!
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways?
By being reminded of this verse: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but the Lord is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Isaiah 73:26
I use a devotional by Paul Tripp called New Morning Mercies. Last week in reference to this verse he said, “You had better guard your mourning. Your mourning is never neutral; you are either mourning with God, who weeps for the condition of the world he made, or you’re mourning against God, questioning his goodness, wisdom, and love. ….. When you don’t understand what’s going on, run to God’s goodness rather than questioning whether it exists.”
Sometimes there is a sorrow that doesn’t seem to diminish. Last week I needed our God’s help embracing this moment of life here and now. I soaked in this song by Sandra McCracken & Ben Shive titled “What Is”.
Tried to play along with my guitar. Sometimes that helps me “chew on” a thought.
Here’s a link to the song and some of the lyrics:
The Still Point | What Is | Sandra McCracken & Ben Shive – Acoustic Studio Live Version
What could have been
Missed the only train
“What should have been
“We only ask in vain
What we we aim for, we exchange for
Where we’ve landed
You can open up the present every day
You can cry for the one that got away
Like the rain at dawn,And the clouds roll on
Empty handed
We could miss all of this,If we wish it all awayI
wanna wake up
In the moment,
Receiving what is
What is, what is
Nila,
Good to see you here this morning. New Morning Mercies is solid gold. Thanks for sharing. And the song as well. Blessed to be reminded so beautifully by it.
I love seeing you here, Nila — you always bring such rich fare!
Oh, Nila! It is so good to see you here, Nila! Thank you for the verse from Psalm 73! ….And for adding the lyrics to this great song! Love them both! I already had the verse underlined, and it prompted me to re-read that whole section! I love v. 28 too: “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I am may tell of all Your works.” I can imagine you doing this song on your guitar, as a duet with one of your daughters.❤️ This blessed my day!
Thank you for verse 28 too, dear Patti! I love that!
What a lovely song, Nila. A great reminder that we need to live in the moment for what it is, not what we wish it was.
Amen, Dawn!
So good encapsulation, Dawn!! That’s worth writing in my notebook!
Nila, thank you for sharing the song and Paul Tripp’s words: When you don’t understand what’s going on, run to God’s goodness rather than questioning whether it exists.”
Nila, I’ve missed seeing you here. This hits me in an area I have been struggling. I need to chew on this. Thank you.
Oh, I always love your comments and books and songs you recommend! How intriguing is that song and I also need to chew on it a bit to get it in my dense mind. New Morning Mercies is in my library already but unread. You’ve piqued my interest with that good quote.
Glad you are joining us again Nila! You have been missed.
Sunday: Thankful for His Presence
Only the Judeo-Christian faith has a personal God who can be present with us.
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways?
—Experiencing His presence in the little ways never stops but I find every morning in my Bible reading He is always ready and willing to speak if I will just listen.
I felt His presence in a big way when I listened to David Platt’s message.
In case you missed it last week in the blog comments, a couple of times Dee recommended we listen to a sermon by David Platt from the closing of the Gospel Coalition in May. Patti acknowledged that she had listened to it and both Dee & Patti called it powerful. I watched it Saturday morning and it is exactly that. And it makes you say Wow! I added the link below.
If you haven’t had a chance please try to give yourself an hour to do it. I think it is some of the best teaching on Ephesians 6 and the armor of God that I have ever heard. And he illustrates his points from the scripture with incredible accounts of God working in his own life. Like Patti I will watch it gain and I am recommending it to several of my close friends and family. I sent the link to the men in my family who have hearts to walk with God.
This was a message from God’s Word that challenged my soul and greatly encouraged my heart as to Who my God and Savior are and the reminder of how powerful He is and how much He loves me.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/tgc-podcast/empowered-together-new-fight/
ThANKS SO FOR THE ENDORSEMENT OF THAT MESSAGE BY DAVID PLATT!
Yes! My husband and I watched David thatt night live streaming. We were both deeply moved.
Thank you for sharing the link here. I want to listen again.
Amen, Bev! Thank you again, Dee!!
Thanks for the link, Bev. I have started listening to it and will finish sometime tomorrow. I love Ephesians 6.
I’m looking forward to this. Now I’m wishing I had looked at the blog sooner….
Thank you for the link again, Bev and Dee!
I listened in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep! Haha! LOVED it and shared it with many people.
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways? I am still having hip pain and instability, I work on my feet 4 days a week. I was blessed by co-workers who did what they could to ease my burden and even gave up their time off so that I could have an extra day off to rest. I ended up taking 3 of my granddaughters (ages 3,2, and 10 months) so that my daughter-in-law could focus on VBS which she is in charge of (my request, not hers). God blessed me with 3 very easy going girls and not too much getting up and down. I spent all of yesterday resting and except for going to church today, I plan on resting all of today. So far, this has been the best that my hip has felt in a month!
Oh my, I wouldn’t call that restful. So nice your co-workers are appreciating the lovely person you are.
What a beautiful blessing, Dawn. I know your co-workers love and appreciate you.
Dawn, Praying and asking God to heal your hip. So sweet you were able to enjoy your granddaughters.
Joining the others in praying for healing for your hip, dear Dawn.
Dawn, I pray you will get more of those restful hip periods!
Is it a Michigan thing to think we are take off work and then take more work? Haha. Praying for your hip. What a blessing you are to your daughter.
I get the hip pain Dawn! I have been out of commission with dance for a while now, trying to figure out what is wrong and how to fix it. Ugh! It wakes me at night and I can barely roll over in bed. An MRI shows there is nothing wrong. Frustrating! I will pray for you.
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways?
I truly felt the Lord’s presence this week, in a conversation with Cara, the young woman, who gives me riding lessons. She manages the horse farm and had recently lost her beloved horse, which she had had since she was 3 or 4 years old. She found out, at that same time that her beloved 10 year old dog, had a malignant melanoma, and only days left. I had sent her a card about her horse. When she told me about her dog, I was so sad. Of course, we both teared up and starting sobbing…we have kindred spirits about our love of the underdogs. I held the sweet dog’s face in my hands, and silently prayed for him ( I did not tell anyone I was praying). I felt the Lord’s presence as we share words about our losses. I know this might like a sound silly story, but I could see a new warmth in our friendship.
Oh Patti, Not silly at all. God notices when a sparrow falls. Love your heart. ❤️
Patti, so like you to connect with your horse riding trainer. I don’t think that was a silly story. god has given you the gift of empathy, and tears most often speak louder than our words. Praying for your friendship with Cara.
I love your tender heart.
I think the Lord may be up to something with you and Cara — please, Lord.
You are one precious lady, Patti! It seems so like you to hold that dog’s face in your hands and pray. Wish you could do the same for my doggie, but most of all, just wish I could meet you in person one day!
So sweet of you Patti. You are a good friend.
This is Mary Berger, whom many of you don’t even know. Years ago I was pretty consistent, but in submission to my husband’s asking me to pull out of a number of commitments, have followed silently for a long time.
just had to tell you all that I was present in the room as John Piper spoke that day. (As a lay counselor.) I felt very sorry for him. He was truly bewildered by the laughter. He really believed that as counselors, licensed or lay, people really could see into his core as he stood there. His telling of his weaknesses and sins was his way of putting it in the open before anyone ‘exposed’ him. I also tremendously admired him, because he was doing what we are all told to do – confess our sins to each other.
love you all so very much!!
Thank you, Mary! So good to see you here!! Thank you for adding the details. I wonder if the audience may have thought it was self deprecating humor? And, yet it makes me sad to read this. He is a wonderful preacher and teacher, and it showed his humility to speak of these things.
Mary, So good to see your post and this good input here. You are definitely missed by those of us who remember your posting here in the past. But we certainly understand your position to balance your commitments.
Mary, good to see you here. Am glad you are following silently still. I have a short bursts of those times here in the past. Always appreciate your input.
Hi Mary,
thank you for sharing this. I thought I could hear sincerity in his voice and bewilderment, but now I know that is exactly what it was. As I listened, I really felt the audience did not catch his sincerity and yet, I do believe that it is their ability to see themselves in him that brought the laughter.
Your insight that most people there saw their own sins as Piper verbalized his, and that is what brought the laughter, is intriguing. So you see it kind of like what happens with a comedian? The comedian verbalizes what is common to all of us, but in saying it we see how funny we are as fallen people?
That’s interesting, Mary. I thought he was enjoying it, but apparently it was the opposite.
How much I miss your deep comments here, dear Mary! I hope your husband will see that we need you here! But how sweet to be submissive when it goes against your own desires. What a testimony you are!
Love seeing you here again, Mary!
So very nice to see you here Mary! You have been missed. I hope you can stay for a bit 😉.
Hi all! I’m going to try this week and see if I can participate amidst a really crazy life these days!
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways?
A few weeks ago we left our home city of 19 years and now are in 3 months of temporary living, split into 7 different locations, while we wait for our new house to be finished. It’s already been an adventure and I’m overwhelmed by how God is blessing us in this time. I’ve had more time and talks, and thankfully laughs!, with my 18 year old son than I have in what feels like a really long time. It’s been a bit of “glamping” and some closer quarters and I see how God is using it to bond us all closer, and I am thankful. I also had a birthday a few days ago–honestly I woke up very heavy with thoughts of my absent mom, sisters, and daughter. I went on a walk alone and cried through most of it. But when I got back to the rental and was flooded with love from my Christian family and I was reminded again that He sees me, and I am His treasured daughter-which is worth more than anything.
So good to see you back, Lizzy! You have been missed! Thanking God that this time of transition has been a bonding and good time together! Praying for continued good times and blessings.
Yes, Lizzy. I second Patti’s comments. It is so good to see you back here.
Oh Lizzy Lizzy — cartwheels! (As if I could — but in my heart) To see you here, to here of glamping bonding…
Lizzy! What a joy to see you here. We’ve missed you. 💕
I love to see you here, dear Lizzie! How sweet of our Lord to mingle joys with your tears. One day, it will be only joys!
Miss your input, Lizzy!
Lizzy! So delightful, that you have returned. Did you move to another city? State? That must be hard and a busy time right now. Happy belated bday!
Sunday: Thankful for His Presence
Only the Judeo-Christian faith has a personal God who can be present with us.
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways?
This past week felt like a blur to me for some reason. I have to look back and read my journal to remember what has transpired. Monday started with a beautiful promise in Psalm 143:8: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.” Jessica Ray’s “Lilies and Sparrows” and Cody Carnes’ “Firm Foundation” set me up for some unexpected news. My brother-in-law was hospitalized for serious symptoms of pneumonia in the Philippines last Thursday evening. He is scheduled to be dismissed today (Monday morning there already). He has incurred a large hospital bill and is concerned. One of our pastor friends was diagnosed with cancer, a little crisis with a former student that I had to deal with. But God was always there, reminding me of His care and provision for the people I love. He is a personal God.
Reflecting on these things makes me realize (again!) that without him, I can do nothing. This song came to mind just now:
Day by day and with each passing moment Strength I find to meet my trials here
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment I’ve no cause for worry or for fear
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure Gives unto each day what He deems best
Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure Mingling toil with peace and rest.
I so love the quote from John Piper: Beholding is becoming. I remember some friends who knew my Mom told me that my mannerisms are very much like my mom’s. Do I have Jesus’ mannerisms? Well, I mean to use the word positively.
I love how songs are so intertwined with your day. Me, too, but I’m not sure I pay enough attention to to them. Love your thoughts.
Oh, Bing! I love how you press into the Lord with every detail of your life. I love this verse from the Psalms and love the song. I agree, without Him, I can do nothing.
Bing, Yes “Day by day He provides. We can only live one day at a time.
Thank you, dear Bing, for reminding us that He is a personal God. How precious in the face of so many hard things in your life and your friends’ lives. And I have always loved “Day by Day” and often find myself singing it in my car as I ride around.
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways?
My girls invited me to a breakfast for my middle daughter’s 26th birthday. My oldest daughter hosted and we each brought something. It was very special. The older grandkids and my 7 year old were at VBS and we just had the two babies. Each of us brought a dish and we were able to have some great conversation about our faith. Knowing our trials, you can imagine it was about how a loving God can allow hard things in our lives. My middle daughter’s friend is especially struggling with this. Reflecting afterwards, I said to my DIL, how grateful I was to have all my daughters together that morning and all of them able to share about their faith, knowing each one is truly grounded in biblical faith. I remember struggling at one time with thinking about struggles in life and how unfair that seemed after all the hard work of raising our kids right but the reward is not easy living, but the joy of knowing we have a loving Heavenly Father to get us through.
What a precious time with your daughters, Chris. Such sweet conversation with your girls sharing about their faith. The pain and loss in life is truly so hard to understand. I love this: the reward is not easy living, but the joy of knowing we have a loving Heavenly Father to get us through.
That sounds like such a beautiful time, especially having your daughters around you talking about the goodness of the Lord in the kids of the terribly hard. Just makes me smile to think of how this must’ve brought joy to your heart and the heart of God. No greater joy than to hear that your children walk in truth.
These times with our loved ones are so precious. Thankful with and for you, Chris.
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you? Hmm. I think song was one way he impacted me. I’m not sure why but I have a distinct memory of being at AWANA and singing “He’s got the Whole World in His Hands” and that is all I remember of the event. Somehow, in many little ways he spoke to me as a child, through nature, VBS, people in my life, and showed me his holiness. I was drawn to him.
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this? It’s an incredible vision of God on his throne. I would be overwhelmed.
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel? He saw the Lord and his train filling the temple and the seraphim above him calling out Holy, holy, holy is the Lord…. And he felt the foundations shaking and the house filling with smoke.
C. How did this impact him? He was overwhelmed with his sin.
D. How did the Lord then show him grace? He was forgiven.
E. How did Isaiah respond? He wanted to serve.
Music stays with us — such a gift from God.
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you?I loved the beauty of nature and the changing seasons, and was in awe of the stars, snowflakes, the clouds, the beauty of the world God made. As a child, I related it to church songs like “This is my Father’s World”. It made nature seem like a giant cathedral to my child mind.
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this? It sounds overwhelmingly beautiful, almost terrifying, in a way.
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel? He saw the Lord on a throne, the train of His robe filling the temple; he heard the Seraphim saying “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of hosts. He was fearful, as he knew he was a sinner.
C. How did this impact him? He was fearful, because anyone who saw God was thought to die immediately.
D. How did the Lord then show him grace? God sent a seraphim with burning coal to touch Isaiah’s lips to show that his sins were forgiven.
E. How did Isaiah respond? Isaiah said “I am here, send me.”
Patti, I love that song, too! This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings and round me rings, the music of the earth.
I love your comment, Patti, about God’s world seeming like a giant cathedral. Reminds me of Isaiah 66:1 “Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool.”
Monday: The Holiness of God
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you?
Like Marty, I did not view myself as a sinner. As a friend was praying with me, for me to understand the truth of the gospel, I kept thinking that I already knew “all that.” THEN the Holy Spirit revealed the Lord’s Holiness and majesty and I saw myself bowing down to someone else. My fiancé was my God. I was a sinner, and though I knew “all that,” this was the moment it became a reality and the Lord quickened me.
As I then started to read the Bible with a new perspective, that of a redeemed sinner, the Holiness of God and His sovereignty leaped out of the pages. The impact of see the Holiness of God, then and now, keeps me humble.
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this? Isaiah’s terror being in the presence of a Holy God. He could not stand and saw himself as a sinner, bowed down and unable to even speak.
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel? Saw: The Lord seated on a high throne, His royal robe filled the temple, seraphim above the throne (each with six wings), altar, smoke Heard: the seraphim calling “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is filled with His glory.” Felt: physically felt the temple shake, emotionally felt despair – Woe is me!
C. How did this impact him? He felt the weight of his sin in the presence of a Holy God felt humble – no pride at all in himself or his people anymore – “for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” He confessed his sin, “a man of unclean lips.”
D. How did the Lord then show him grace? Forgave Isaiah – in the vision a live coal was taken off the altar and touched to Isaiah’s lips cleansing the iniquity
E. How did Isaiah respond? He offered himself to the Lord.
Quite a testimony from Cheryl:
Like Marty, I did not view myself as a sinner. As a friend was praying with me, for me to understand the truth of the gospel, I kept thinking that I already knew “all that.” THEN the Holy Spirit revealed the Lord’s Holiness and majesty and I saw myself bowing down to someone else. My fiancé was my God. I was a sinner, and though I knew “all that,” this was the moment it became a reality and the Lord quickened me.
Amen to Dee! Wonderful testimony Cheryl. I so appreciate you.
Good morning, dear friends,
I just have to say what a trial it is to me to not be able to participate fully on this blog. I read through it each week, but the cares of this life prevent me from responding as my heart so longs to do. These past few weeks have been super rich material and my heart longs to be here.
I sensed the presence of the Lord in a tangible way yesterday afternoon when my beloved oldest son came to visit and talk with me. He is again not walking with the Lord and my heart has been so very heavy. When he is walking with Jesus, he is such a blessing to me. When he is not, he tends to stay away. I was reading Jeremiah the past few weeks and seeing how he suffered so for telling the truth about the coming judgment of God. The people only wanted the prophets who prophesied good things to speak to them.
God has showed me another way than the way I previously confronted my son with his sin with my acid tongue and anger and desperate pleadings. Oh, how God has quieted my heart in the last few months and taught me instead to pray and to speak gently. This is not my nature in instances like these, so it is only the Holy Spirit that is teaching me another way. I haven’t veered from telling the truth to my son, but I’ve had a gentle spirit given to me only by God. Yesterday, we talked for hours, with tears from both of us. He told me he is seeing a new person in me and found it amazing. My heart is still broken in a thousand pieces, but I’m learning so much in how to cast my cares upon His strong shoulders to bear what I cannot bear or fix in my own strength. I still have much to learn in this new way of quietness and confidence in the power of God and not my own efforts at reforming another whom I love.
So much more I want to say about what I’m learning but that would take a library and who has time to read a library. I want to continue to behold the gentle and lowly Jesus and become just like Him.
Much love to you all. I miss you!
Just have to reiterate to you Miriam we will take anything anytime you can post your thoughts. You always bless us. Praise God for the good work He is doing in you son’s life and your relationship with him. He answers our prayers. 💕
Oh, Missy, thank you so much for this meaningful post. I agree with Bev! Anytime you can post, it always resonates in my heart. Your character of humility and your love of God are so evident. It can be so hard to communicate with our adult children. What a beautiful breakthrough you had with your son and I’m so thankful that you were able to speak together for hours and cry together. How great is our God!
Missy, your comments here are always a blessing to me. Thankful for the time you spent with your oldest son. We are all a work in progress. And we have a wonderful God who will not give up on us.
Yes Missy! A quiet and gentle spirit is so hard but yet so impactful. I am struggling the same way with my little Gracie. She is lashing out and I am digging deep to be calm and quiet so she can also learn that is necessary.
I hope you read all of Miriam’s post and rejoice and pray for her — here is a snippit after being with her prodigal son:
Yesterday, we talked for hours, with tears from both of us. He told me he is seeing a new person in me and found it amazing. My heart is still broken in a thousand pieces, but I’m learning so much in how to cast my cares upon His strong shoulders to bear what I cannot bear or fix in my own strength. I still have much to learn in this new way of quietness and confidence in the power of God and not my own efforts at reforming another whom I love.
Monday: Beholding His Holiness Reveals Our Sin
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you?
—I had a sense of righteousness about myself because I didn’t drink, I didn’t smoke, I didn’t swear, I went to church and didn’t live like the world. I was a “good” Christian in practice. But one day God showed me from his Word that my righteousness was just filthy rags. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
Isaiah 64:6 KJV
That truth from God’s Word gripped my heart and convicted me of my sinfulness. I began to understand my inherent sinful and over time the reality of what Jesus actually did in taking on my sin. It became clear to me that I never dare think too highly of myself. It is all Jesus.
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this?
—The fact that Isaiah in the presence of God immediate saw he was sinful and in particular that he had filthy lips or speech and all people were the same. I think of “as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel?
—He saw God on his throne in all of his beauty and glory with angels continually praising Him and it caused him to feel his absolute sinfulness.
C. How did this impact him?
—He thought he would be destroyed and die because of his sin.
D. How did the Lord then show him grace?
—God had an angel take a burning coal from the alter and purified his lips by touching them with it. God did not leave Isaiah in his sinful state but removed his guilt and forgave his sins.
E. How did Isaiah respond?
—When God called out and asked whom He should send as a messenger to the people Isaiah volunteered and said “Here I am. Send me.”
Love your testimony, Bev. I remember as a young Christian, knowing I was a sinner, but it took me some years to fully see how the depth of my sinfulness in the light of God’s glory. I, too, thought I was a good Christian person, but as the years go by and the Lord, the stonecutter, continues to work on my sinfulness, I see more of His love and feel that I am starting to Behold Him in more real ways.
Bev, thank you for your testimony. You have such a beautiful way with words. I remember having a similar outlook as I grew up in a non-religious but moral household and there was pride in it. We weren’t like THOSE people. It may not have been said out-loud, but it was there. As I grew in my faith and particularly in a bible study after I was married, I remember being overcome with my sin. My husband found me crying and said, that’s good. It is good to be sorry for our sin. I don’t remember what the scripture was but the feeling of remorse over my sin remains strong. I think a big distinction for me was that I used to be sorry if people found out about a fault I had because my idol was approval, but after this my worse fear was not honoring God in my actions. I still find myself wanting to please people, but pleasing the Lord is stronger in most cases. The old hymn, “When We All Get to Heaven” is ringing in my head, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing out and shout the victory! While we walk the pilgrim pathway, clouds will overspread the sky; but when traveling days are over, not a shadow, not a sigh. Haven’t sung that song in years. Miss the old hymns.
Love this hymn, too, Chris! There were clear messages in the hymns, and the words and melodies memorable. They helped me to know Jesus and are such a good reminder of the scriptures. I still have to repent of,my idols of people pleasing and approval.
The holiness of God was thundered to me from my father my entire formative years. He often spoke King James Bible English to me when he warned me that, “Thy sins have caused a thrice holy God to thunder upon thee from Mount Sinai.” Once when my brother and I did some egregious sin (can’t remember the crime but won’t forget the punishment), part of our punishment was that we should read Isaiah 6 ten times daily for a month. I believe my brother didn’t read it and said he did, but me, fearing more thunderings from Sinai read it carefully ten times daily for 30 days. I cannot forget Isaiah 6 and the holiness of God. My journey as an adult has been to reconcile the holiness of God with His mercy and grace, and what a journey that has been and continues to be. I am finding His holiness to be just as beautiful as His mercy and grace, and that each cannot live without the other. What need have we for grace and mercy if He is not holy? I long to worship Him in the beauty of His holiness and revel in His mercy and grace to such an unholy one as me. How thankful I am that such a holy One also calls me His beloved daughter.
Oh, I love these words, Missy! How grateful I am for His Holiness, as well as His mercy and grace!!I so relate to this and love this: I am finding His holiness to be just as beautiful as His mercy and grace, and that each cannot live without the other. What need have we for grace and mercy if He is not holy? I long to worship Him in the beauty of His holiness and revel in His mercy and grace to such an unholy one as me. How thankful I am that such a holy One also calls me His beloved daughter.
Wow. This is a beautiful response in your life to a very challenging and scary thundering from your father as a child. Praise God for his mercy and grace in your life. Now I’m going to read Isaiah 6.
Interesting punishment and two different heart responses!
I had a son memorize The Sermon on the Mount to pay for his phone bill.
How creative, Dee! It also made me laugh out loud just to think of the circumstances which required the memorization of the sermon on the mount. I bet he never forgot the truths he memorized.
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways?
I am resting and it feels nice. He is speaking to me through Bible study.
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you?
I’m not really sure about this, but as a child I remember the reverence at church. People dressed up, the liturgy was followed. I remember our pastor always reciting the phrase, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your site, oh Lord our Rock and our Redeemer, Amen.” I wish we were that way today. Church was a special place. God seemed honored.
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this?
I’m interested in the statement that he makes that he is sinful and he lives with sinful people and ponders. He wonders how he could be in the presence of God.
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel?
He saw God on his throne with his robes filling the temple. He sawSerafin with their wings, covering their faces and their feet. They were singing to the Lord about his holiness. The temple, shook and was filled with smoke.
C. How did this impact him?
He was humbled and felt not worthy.
Laura, I like your memory of church and how God seemed honored. There is something in that I see missing from church today as well. Everything is so casual, our dress, our manner, our worship. This is not all bad, but I agree there should be a holy reverence restored in church. When I used to teach Children’s Worship as taught by Sonja Stewart, the children were taught to sit in a circle and the Bible story was told in the middle of the circle. They were to understand that all was to be quiet and listening for the few minutes of this story. The story was made of wooden figures and was handled carefully, not because the figures were special, but because God and what we were learning was important. When we read the story from the Bible, we always began with “This is the Bible, the true and holy Word of God.” I believe our church tries to tie importance and reverence to the Word by having us stand when it is read. The emphasis for people is not to wear your Sunday best as it used to be, but come as you are. I guess that seems positive as previous churches have put too much emphasis on wearing certain apparel and that can get burdensome. It can get tricky to instill set standards for worship.
Laura and Chris, I love your discussion of reverence in churches in years past. I so agree. I loved the “awe” I always felt when hearing the organ play, listening to Bible stories in a way honoring to God, having hymns with a history and a story. Have “we” made God too much like us, in our minds, rather than having the “Potter” honored, as He molds the clay (us). There are many great things in some current churches, but it sometimes seems that we rush too much through worship, instead of savoring time with God.
Patti, I agree with the idea of not rushing through worship. My son asks almost every Sunday as soon as the sermon begins, “Is church almost done?” 😉
Monday: Beholding His Holiness Reveals Our Sin
I’ve mentioned my friend Marty before, who was frustrated with our Bible study because she said, “Dee, the problem is I’m not a sinner.” So she skipped Bible study and went for a bike ride. During that bike ride, God gave her a glimpse of His holiness. She came late to Bible study, flushed with excitement, announcing: “I’m a sinner!”
1. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you?
Music has always been a source of glimpses of God and His attributes. And often it is when I am made aware of how sinful I am. This is one song I can think of right now in the early 80s:
When I look into your holiness When I gaze upon your loveliness
When all things that surround become shadows in the light of you
I worship you, I worship you…
When I’ve found the joy of reaching Your heart When my will becomes enthroned in Your love
When all things that surround become shadows in the light of you I worship you, I worship you…
The reason I live is to worship you.
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this?
“In the year that King Uzziah died”… this must be a significant point for Isaiah to include. I see the importance of acknowledging that though early kings are gone, God rules and He is King over all kings.
..the train of his robe filled the temple.. it must be very large and long!
Holy, holy, holy… words three times spoken…
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel?
He saw the Lord seated on the throne, the long train of the robe, and he saw the seraphim with 6 wings, the doorposts and thresholds shaking, the smoke filling up the temple.
He heard the voices of the seraphim, the tremble, feelings of fear, and awe.
C. How did this impact him?
Convicted, Undone, Fear of ruin, awareness of his uncleanness?
D. How did the Lord then show him grace?
Upon acknowledgement of his standing before the Lord, Isaiah was shown grace by God through one of the seraphim touching his mouth and cleansing him from the guilt of uncleanness, and his sin was atoned for.
E. How did Isaiah respond?
He heard God’s call and humbly accepted God’s calling to be sent out to the people (v.9).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDJhGCt3tZI Great art interpretation of Isaiah 6:1-8 from Hillsong kids
Bing, Thank you for sharing the art interpretation. A unique and beautiful illustration.
What a beautiful interpretation, Bing. Thank you.
Thank you for the link to this amazing presentation of these verses, Bing. So good!
Thank you for this artistic interpretation Bing ~
WOW!!
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you?
I think, in some ways, maybe, growing up Catholic actually helped me see God’s holiness from an early age-at least. I can’t remember not seeing Him as set-apart, perfect, just, pure, holy. I also have always been drawn to nature—and I remember seeing fields of flowers as a child (on vacations away from my hometown of Houston!) and being enthralled by the beauty He made. And my dogs—always felt a connection to God through my dogs.
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this?
His power and majesty-“the whole earth is full of His glory”
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel?
He saw the Lord upon His throne and seraphim.
He heard the voice of the seraphim and the shaking of the foundations.
He felt his guilt and unworthiness.
C. How did this impact him?
He was humbled.
D. How did the Lord then show him grace?
The seraphim touched his mouth with a fiery coal and said the Lord has taken away his guilt and his sin was atoned for. The Lord saud “whom shall I send?”
E. How did Isaiah respond?
With a willing heart-“here I am! Send me”
4. Watch the above and then answer:
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence?
I think it was the refreshingness of his transparency, humility, and honesty about himself. When someone is that vulnerable and transparant, it puts us at ease, we feel free to laugh—there was nothing he was trying to hide, no persona he was putting on—just freedom to be honest about his sin because he is so secure in his identity in Christ.
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts?
Seeing our sin and our desperate need of mercy, helps us more accurately value the beauty of His grace. To the degree we feel the weight of our sin, we can appreciate the weight of His grace.
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now?
The desire for acceptance, love, concern for how I appear to others, prone to pout when I don’t feel loved; questioning my motives-all the time! and my tendency is to first blame myself severely disregarding His grace, and if not me, then blaming others.
I will say the Lord has been so gracious to me to really begin rooting out this desire for approval. After leaving my job of 19+ years and no longer working for a church after over 27 years—I was very scared at losing that identity. And yet, as soon as I did I felt this flood of His love for me as never before. I saw His face shine upon me. This from Nouwen is so good: “As long as we keep running around, anxiously trying to affirm ourselves or be affirmed by others, we remain blind to the One who has loved us first, dwells in our heart, and has formed our truest self.”
Such a good quote from Nouwen. 💕
So good, Lizzy! I think we both see God in nature and in His sweet vulnerable creatures. 🥰 God’s artistry is breath taking. I agree with Bev on the great Nouwen quote.
Oh Lizzy — how I love your testimony and this quote from Nouwen — which book is it in?
As long as we keep running around, anxiously trying to affirm ourselves or be affirmed by others, we remain blind to the One who has loved us first, dwells in our heart, and has formed our truest self.”
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? When I really got the fact that God is no respecter of persons. I had this idea that as a Christian, I was somehow better than all of the people that don’t believe that Jesus is the Savior and that we can only come to Christ by him. How did it impact you? When I came to the realization that it was NOTHING that I had done. That God in His infinite mercy opened my eyes. I came to see the unsaved and struggling people as just as worthy of love, kindness and respect as what I would consider would be due to the the greatest Christian.
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this? It looks so Revelations rather than Old Testament.
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel? He saw the seraphims and the smoke from the altar. He heard the cries of “Holy ,Holy, Holy”. He felt fear and trembling inside and the hot burning coals on his lips outside.
C. How did this impact him? It opened his heart, mind and will to anything that God had for him to do. It filled him with the importance of God’s work above all else.
D. How did the Lord then show him grace? The Lord did not condemn his unclean lips, but purified him and gave him the power to become an ambassador of God.
E. How did Isaiah respond? He gladly and eagerly stepped up to be the voice of God.
This is so good, Dawn : That God in His infinite mercy opened my eyes. I came to see the unsaved and struggling people as just as worthy of love.
D. How did the Lord then show him grace?
He touched Isaiah’s lips with burning coal and told him he was forgiven.
E. How did Isaiah respond?
He accepted the call from the Lord to go and tell others of the Lord. To be a messenger for God
Tuesday: Seeing the Stones in our Hearts
4. Watch the above and then answer:
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence?
—That was very interesting. I could understand the laughter at his initial comments and at the irony of speaking to counselors but I honestly didn’t understand the thinking of the audience to continue laughing when he obviously was moving into a serious mindset and posture of humility and transparency. It seemed a bit of a challenge to draw them into what he was really saying. But Dee you were right what he said was solid gold.
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts?
—When we understand the depth of our depravity we better understand the depth of what Jesus did for us on the Cross. And the depth of God’s grace poured out on us.
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now?
—Oh my. Like you Dee I can in some measure identify with all of them.
There are several in particular:
-I almost never am sure I use my time in the best way and therefore struggle with guilt. I desire to feel more clearly directed in being where God wants me to be and doing what pleases Him.
-I have been someone who is short on compassion and long on critical analysis but I do feel God has been doing a work in my heart against a critical spirit and putting His love and compassion on my heart for others. It is a struggle to stay on guard against my flesh but I am encouraged by the Lord.
-I sometimes feel unsure sure that my motives are pure. I think that is a result of the old “control idol” wanting to orchestrate situations to please myself instead of submitting to God’s will especially when life is hard. My default is to be self serving.
I can relate to your answers to C, except for the critical spirit. I have to laugh because I tend to be compassionate where my husband is critical and he can’t understand this most of the time, BUT I can definitely be critical of him. Oh our sinful hearts! Thanks for your answers Bev. Makes me think.
Interesting reflections on Piper and the audience.
4. Watch the above and then answer:
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence? They could identify with him.
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts? Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now? I can certainly identify with them all. Certainly, love of praise and guilt are both working in my life. I have daily battles in my head about these things.
4. Watch the above and then answer:
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence?
I’m not sure. Maybe it was his deadpan delivery when it seemed like he was giving a backhanded “compliment” to the group because they are gifted at their job.
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts?
So we can remain humble in our ways. We can “check” ourselves and not get puffed up too much.
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now?
His admittance of loving his wife imperfectly for 40 yrs. I feel that way with my husband. We have not been to counseling however. My husband and I don’t agree on things often. I have to bite my tongue a lot! However, if I’m paying attention, I see him try to change something when I have mentioned it. It’s so hard with men! They don’t communicate like women. He would say the same of me, I’m sure. He’s a good man, who is flawed just like me. I think good marriages must struggle, right? We have to get over ourselves and give to the other person more than we would normally give to someone. We have been through some very challenging events in our marriage. We remain together 🤷🏻♀️.
I agree 100% with your answer to C. As we are reading Tim Keller’s book on the meaning of marriage with our son and his fiancée, we are learning so much. A good marriage does struggle. It’s when they quit struggling that they fail. Absolutely, about getting over ourselves. Yay, for remaining together 🙂
Yay for remaining together. 🙂
The Gottman institute said that the silent treatment is the biggest red flag they will divorce for they are not longer struggling, they have given up.
I agree with Chris and Dee! So good you are still together! Love Tim Keller’s book on Marriage!
Yep, Good marriages struggle. Terry and I have a good marriage and yes we struggle. 🥴😊
Monday: Beholding His Holiness Reveals Our Sin
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you?
It surely wasn’t a glimpse, but I saw His holiness when I was awakened to the fact that He is in control and I’m not. It brought me to my knees to see my sinful pride and have my eyes opened to the fact that He is the great I Am…He’s God and I’m not! God’s word says in 1 Peter 1 that we are to be holy as He is holy…how? Total surrender and dependence upon Him. This is a daily struggle that I continually give to Him. So thankful for His amazing grace!
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned, but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this?
I am so thankful that Christ removed my guilt and forgave my sins through His shed blood rather than having hot coals touched to my lips.
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel?
He saw the Lord sitting on a lofty throne and the train of His robe filled the Temple.
He saw mighty seraphim attending Him.
He saw that the seraphim had six wings…two covered their faces, two covered their feet and with two they flew.
He heard the seraphim calling out to each other, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!
He felt the Temple being shook to its foundations by their voices.
C. How did this impact him?
It made him realize what a sinful man he was as he felt it was all over for him and he was doomed!
D. How did the Lord then show him grace?
His guilt was removed and sin forgiven by a hot coal touching his lips. Then the Lord asked him, “whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
E. How did Isaiah respond?
“Here I am. Send me.”
Love your answer to 2. Sharon! So good: Total surrender and dependence upon Him. This is a daily struggle that I continually give to Him. So thankful for His amazing grace!
Watch the above and then answer:
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence? I listened to this twice and it was hard to tell if he was serious, which he seemed, or being humorous by being self deprecating. I believe the audience felt he was delightful. I think the counselors related to all of his struggles, themselves! I know I did!
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts?
When we know the depth of our sin nature, we can better understand our need for Jesus and how great the gift He gave us by going to the cross.
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now?
I related to all of Piper’s struggles. I struggle with fears, with past failures…did I fail as a parent, did I offer cheap grace because I do not like conflict or confrontation ….and so much more. How I pray to behold God’s glory, to glorify God in my daily interactions..
Sunday: Thankful for His Presence
Only the Judeo-Christian faith has a personal God who can be present with us. – Yes and Amen!!!!
1. How have you experienced His presence this week in little or big ways? – Praise, praise, praise! Thank you, Jesus, for your covering over my friends and family. With so much prayer over Kyle, my older son, and Joe, my husband, we have seen a switch in thinking with Kyle and a clear PET Scan for Joe. Kyle is now wanting to try again to come off of the pain pills he’s been on since 2010 and wants to come to Tennessee to do it because he doesn’t want to die, YES!!!! and Joe’s scan shows nothing lighting up so the nodule that they found is nothing right now. We continue to pray and lean on our Lord Jesus, our Great Physician.
Praising God for these wonderful answers to prayer, Julie!!! Thank you Lord!🙏🙏This is huge! Both for Kyle and Joe!
Julie, praise God for the answers to our prayers regarding Kyle and Joe!
Thank You Jesus! Praise the Lord for answering these two prayers in Julie’s life and family! So sweet!
Praise for these answers, Julie. And continued prayers for Kyle.
So thankful for you, Julie.
Julie, So blessed to hear these answers to prayer. 💕
Monday: Beholding His Holiness Reveals Our Sin
I’ve mentioned my friend Marty before, who was frustrated with our Bible study because she said, “Dee, the problem is I’m not a sinner.” So she skipped Bible study and went for a bike ride. During that bike ride, God gave her a glimpse of His holiness. She came late to Bible study, flushed with excitement, announcing: “I’m a sinner!”
2. What are some ways, early in your Christian life, that God gave you glimpses of His holiness? How did it impact you? – When He opened my eyes to the Truth of His Word. That just knowing him wasn’t enough. It was a start, but it wasn’t what I needed to truly know Him. I was grateful for the obedient friends in my life at the time to see me through to that truth. It has helped me grow as the heir to Christ that I am.
3. Isaiah was a wealthy, educated, and respected man. Then God commissioned him but first gave him a glimpse of His holiness. Read Isaiah 6:1-8.
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this? – When I first read this, it reminds me of what John spoke in Revelation. I also see that if we are honest with ourselves and with God, that we have sinned, he can and will cleanse us of our sins and use us for His glory in His Kingdom.
B. What did Isaiah see, hear, and feel? – He saw the Lord sitting high on a throne and the train of his robe filled the temple. He saw the seraphim who called to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” He felt the foundations shake as the LORD spoke and the house filled with smoke. With all of this happening, Isaiah felt he was not worthy, that he was a lost soul and a man of unclean lip and living among those just like him. He became clean when the hot coal was put to his mouth by the seraphim. Then he heard the Lord ask “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”. Isaish cried out “Here I am, send me.”
C. How did this impact him? – He was amazed, excited, shocked, maybe a bit anxious, that he saw King, the LORD of hosts.
D. How did the Lord then show him grace? – He took his guilt away and his sins were atoned for. The Lord was now able to use Isaiah in His Kingdom
E. How did Isaiah respond? – Isaiah gladly replied, Here I am, send me.
Tuesday: Seeing the Stones in our Hearts
4. Watch the above and then answer:
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence? – Because he was speaking to counselors who are trained to listen and hear key words in order to help someone. John Piper was speaking as if he was ‘laying on the couch’ in a therapy session. He was cutting right to it so the audience, the counselors wouldn’t have to figure out anything and be able to really hear what he was saying.
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts? – If we are open to the fact that we have sinful hearts, the enemy the devil can’t use it against us. We need to recognize that we are not God/Jesus and that we are sinners saved by grace. I think this is the only way we can really weaken ourselves so that there is room for God to increase in us.
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now? – Out of all of them, these two are my biggest problems…who struggles with the same adolescent fear… the fear of looking foolish; who is short on compassion and long on critical analysis. I don’t like to be in the center, I’m much more comfortable in the background, because I don’t feel I’m qualified in some areas and don’t like to look foolish with not knowing something, but God is working on me in this area. He is helping me see that it is ok to not know everything and to say that I don’t and to just learn from what I’ve flubbed up. The second one, is hard for me because I am a very independent person and have had to figure out a lot of things on my own that my compassion sometimes lacks when others can’t seem to figure things out. I don’t get defensive; I just get irritated by the lack of knowledge, I guess. I don’t even know how to explain my feelings. I need to get to the point of stepping back, seeing that they are not at the same point of learning as I may be and be more understanding and compassionate. I need to show the love of Christ to them and help them see or learn what might be their stumbling point but not act like I know it all.
Oh Jesus, the help I need, needs to be removed from my being. Like your Word says in Romans 14:13, help me to not make anyone stumble because of my lack of compassion, help me Lord be more like you. In your mighty name I pray, Jesus, amen.
Appreciate your honesty in answer c. Hearing others helps each of us
Tuesday: Seeing the Stones in our Hearts
4. Watch the above and then answer:
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence?
Being counselors they could relate to what he was saying and thought it was funny.
I absolutely love Piper but in the defense of those laughing throughout his talk, Piper seemed to come across as trying to be funny or make light of what he was saying even if he didn’t mean to. It was a very sobering thing he did and I’m sure not easy but I wish he would have prepared the audience for the seriousness of it.
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts?
To keep us humble before God and as a reminder of the grace He extended to us so we can extend it to others.
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now?
“Prone to feel self-pity and pout when I don’t get loved the way I want.”
“Short on compassion and long on critical analysis;”
In looking at the two I’m struggling with…maybe because I’m short on compassion and long in critical analysis is why I’m not being loved the way I want, therefore the pity party. God has really been working on my heart this past week as I have allowed the devil to get a foothold through discouragement.
Praying for you, dear Sharon.
Praying that you will feel encouraged by the Holy Spirit, Sharon. We all need Jesus every minute.🙏💕
Praying for your this morning Sharon. 🙏🙏🙏
Sharon, praying for you also in this regard. The enemy knows our weakness, and he capitalizes on it. May the Holy Spirit encourage your heart right now.
Tuesday: Stones in our hearts
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence? Having the advantage of watching Piper up close, face to face almost, in the youtube video, I could see his sincerity. I don’t think the counselors saw that., and took his remark as humorous. I was saddened to see and hear how he kept saying that he did not know why they were laughing, my heart ached for him.
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts? Realizing the total depravity of our hearts means that our salvation is totally of God. It’s only by His grace, His mercy, and His love. I also realize that I still have selfish stones/idols, and that I need to not deceive. myself that everything is alright.
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now?
who is almost never sure he has used his time in the best way and therefore struggles with guilt; I’ve mentioned before about my use of time, not always in the wisest way. I’ve been trying to remember “turn my eyes away from vanity” and when I fill my time with the Lord, there is less room for ther things. This blog has helped me with that.
Mary, who was there, had the same reaction, Cheryl. I had thought he understood why they understood, but perhaps it was still painful.
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence? I think it was because they could identify with what he was saying before he even finished saying it.
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts? So that we can be honest with ourselves and God.
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now? The fear of looking foolish in front of others and never feeling sure that my motives are pure. I struggle with sharing my faith with others. I don’t like to talk to people unless I really know them well. The times that I have seem more like a bible scholar moment than a personal conversation.
5. What illustration did Jesus give Nicodemus for how to be born again in John 3:14? What did the Israelites have to do to be rescued from the lethal snakes? Point?
The illustration to Nicodemus was of Christ being lifted up on the cross as the snake was on Moses’ pole- Nicodemus had to look to Christ for salvation and not trust in earthly striving. The Israelites had to look to the snake on a pole to be healed from the snake bite, after Moses prayed for their forgiveness. The snakes had been sent as a punishment for their sin. The point is we cannot be forgiven our sin by our own works and our forgiveness comes from Christ alone.
6. Does anyone know the short story of how Charles Spurgeon came to faith? It’s a great illustration of the above. If so, share here. I do not know the story but had to look it up. So it’s interesting that a layman preached on one verse of Isaiah 45:22, which says “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” This is exactly the teaching with the snake and with Nicodemus. I love that his salvation was so simple and yet I do believe the Lord had been working behind the scenes for some time in his life. I say this is interesting because our pastor has asked a layman to preach this Sunday. This person is employed by our church and is starting full time this month and will be ordained but is not yet. It’s a completely different set of circumstances and yet the story was fresh when we discussed and I think it helped bring levity to the conversation.
7. Do you remember how God revealed your sinfulness and His grace to you? If so, share in a sentence. The Lord was gracious and has revealed my sinfulness slowly over the years.
Wednesday: Being Delivered from the Penalty of Sin
This happens the moment we put our trust in what Jesus did for us at the cross. If you came to Christ as a little child like Patti or Sharon, or several others of you, you may not remember. You cannot identify with Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress, who knew the moment the burden fell from his back. But it is such a good picture of how we are saved, not by striving, but by looking to Jesus.
5. What illustration did Jesus give Nicodemus for how to be born again in John 3:14? What did the Israelites have to do to be rescued from the lethal snakes? Point?
—Jesus told him just like when Moses held up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness that The Son of Man who was Himself (Jesus) would be lifted up.
—The people were required to look upon the snake and believe in its power to heal and save them. Jesus was held up on the Cross and so it would be that people who are sin-sick and dying would need to look to Jesus and believe in Him to be healed and saved from from their sinful condition which by their trusting in Him would give the eternal life. Complete healing from death.
6. Does anyone know the short story of how Charles Spurgeon came to faith? It’s a great illustration of the above. If so, share here.
—I’m sure I read it before but have forgotten so will trust some others here to tell it. 😊
7. Do you remember how God revealed your sinfulness and His grace to you? If so, share in a sentence.
—It wasn’t a one time eye opening moment but I do know that it happened as a result of reading, hearing and being taught the scriptures through sermons and Bible study that He revealed those truths to me and I came to understand it clearly.
I like your answer to 7 and believe that to be true for me as well. It’s important to remember how impactful the scriptures are and that we should share them with others often.
5. What illustration did Jesus give Nicodemus for how to be born again in John 3:14?
Just like Moses lifted the bronze snake to heaven on a pole, the Son must be lifted for all to receive eternal life.
What did the Israelites have to do to be rescued from the lethal snakes?
No idea 🤷🏻♀️
When I looked up the story of the bronze snake it said that the people were able to look at the snake, if they were bitten, and survive. This was because God allowed it to happen.
Point?
I suppose it means that if we look to God we will live.
6. Does anyone know the short story of how Charles Spurgeon came to faith? It’s a great illustration of the above. If so, share here.
I looked up the story and found this:
https://stonethepreacher.com/the-prince-of-preachers-gets-saved/
Apparently, he was in a snow storm and stopped at a church to get out of the weather. The preacher was preaching on looking to Jesus, not ourselves, and be saved. He did and he was.
7. Do you remember how God revealed your sinfulness and His grace to you? If so, share in a sentence.
Stop trying to be in control and, instead, let me do it for you.
Wednesday: Being Delivered from the Penalty of Sin
5. What illustration did Jesus give Nicodemus for how to be born again in John 3:14? What did the Israelites have to do to be rescued from the lethal snakes? Point?
He gave the illustration of Moses lifting up the bronze snake in the wilderness and compared it to the Son of Man must be lifted up.
While the Israelites were headed to Mt. Hor they became impatient with the long journey and started to complain about having nothing to eat or drink, speaking against God and Moses. The Lord sent poisonous snakes and many of the people were bitten and died. Moses cried out to the Lord asking Him to take the snakes away and prayed for the people. The Lord told Moses to make a replica of a poisonous snake, attach it to a pole and those who were bitten simply had to look at it and were healed.
Taking their focus off of themselves and turning to look at the bronze snake would save them and bring healing.
6. Does anyone know the short story of how Charles Spurgeon came to faith? It’s a great illustration of the above. If so, share here.
I know I have heard it but found this from David Guzik; “Charles Spurgeon gave his life to Jesus Christ after hearing a message on Isaiah 45:22, and hearing that text applied to this account of Moses lifting the serpent in the wilderness, and the people looking and living. Spurgeon was so impressed by this picture of the gospel and salvation in the Book of Numbers that he chose an engraving of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness as a logo for his publications.”
7. Do you remember how God revealed your sinfulness and His grace to you? If so, share in a sentence.
I don’t remember other than my Dad giving me the plan of salvation when I was 6 and praying with him. I do feel that my journey as a Christian has been a lot like Christian’s in Pilgrim’s Progress…it has been a progress of continued growth, so maybe I relate to it more as being rescued from the power of sin in my life which is a journey.
I love your answer to 7. Sharon. I totally relate. It is only 7am and I have already prayed several times that the Lord will help stay focused on Him and His will and power in my life today. I am always in the process of being rescued from the power of sin in my life. I need to look at the Cross.
I agree with Patti, Sharon!
Wednesday: Being Delivered from the Penalty of Sin
This happens the moment we put our trust in what Jesus did for us at the cross. If you came to Christ as a little child like Patti or Sharon, or several others of you, you may not remember. You cannot identify with Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress, who knew the moment the burden fell from his back. But it is such a good picture of how we are saved, not by striving, but by looking to Jesus.
5. What illustration did Jesus give Nicodemus for how to be born again in John 3:14? What did the Israelites have to do to be rescued from the lethal snakes? Point? – Jesus told Nicodemus that ‘just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, the Son of Man must also be lifted up. In Numbers 21:6-9 it talks about the fiery serpents and that Moses had to build a bronze serpent on a pole. When I read this know what comes to mind is that the Israelites had to look up. We as Christians need to always being looking up to Jesus. He is the only one that has the power to remove us in some way from our fiery trials.
6. Does anyone know the short story of how Charles Spurgeon came to faith? It’s a great illustration of the above. If so, share here. – I never heard of it but looked it up. All in God’s plan for Charles’ life. There are no coincidences with God. Our lives are planned out from the beginning exactly as God wanted them. Though we may go off the path, God is watching and waiting and coaxing us back on track.
7. Do you remember how God revealed your sinfulness and His grace to you? If so, share in a sentence. – He made me eager to seek Him and find out what His Word revealed. He didn’t just slam me down and make me feel unworthy, he nudged me to turn from the worldly ways, and I started removing anything that did not glorify him. I still have some cleaning up to do, but a good portion of past life has been thrown in the garbage.
Oh, Julie! I love this: He made me eager to seek Him and find out what His Word revealed. He didn’t just slam me down and make me feel unworthy, he nudged me to turn from the worldly ways, and I started removing anything that did not glorify him. I still have some cleaning up to do, but a good portion of past life has been thrown in the garbage.
Tuesday: Seeing the Stones in our Hearts
1. Watch the above and then answer:
A. Why were the counselors laughing before Piper could even finish his first sentence?
His vulnerability and honesty were refreshing. I think both can bring laughter (and perhaps a reality check, as it did me), especially to a large audience like in this conference. If I were in that audience, I would laugh, too. I would also be willing to listen to somebody who acknowledges that he is not above his audience.
B. Why is it so good that we realize the depravity of our hearts?
One of the best ways to kill my pride and ego is to acknowledge my heart is depraved. I am not exempt from the sinful nature of man, as much as I sometimes think I am not as bad as the other person. Or blaming someone else and not accepting my sinful part? No amount of Christian upbringing and theological knowledge can redeem my deceitful heart. It’s the power of the cross alone that can save me from myself.
C. Piper confesses his daily struggles. I could identify with all of them! Which of them particularly resonated with you, and how might it shed light on something with which you are struggling right now?
John had me both in tears (Oh, Lord, that’s me!) and laughter. I do identify with all of his daily struggles, and I know that the idol of approval ranks high on my list. And if I look long enough at his list, this idol expresses itself in all of them, depending on my circumstances.
Loved your answer to A. Some feel he was hurt by the laughter and maybe he was, but I sensed he understood.
Wednesday
5. What illustration did Jesus give Nicodemus for how to be born again in John 3:14? What did the Israelites have to do to be rescued from the lethal snakes? Point? He said that the Son of man must be lifted up like Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num, 2:19
The point being that Jesus MUST be lifted up; looking to the cross and believing in Jesus would save men from their sins and give them eternal life
6. Does anyone know the short story of how Charles Spurgeon came to faith? It’s a great illustration of the above. If so, share here.
“There was, I thought, a glimpse of hope for me in the text. He began thus: ‘My dear friends, this is a very simple text indeed. It says, “Look.” Now that does not take a deal of effort. It ain’t lifting your foot or your finger; it is just “look.” Well, a man need not go to college to learn to look. You may be the biggest fool, and yet you can look. A man need not be worth a thousand a year to look. Anyone can look; a child can look. But this is what the text says. Then it says, “Look unto Me.” ‘Ay,’ said he, in broad Essex, ‘many of ye are looking to yourselves. No use looking there. You’ll never find comfort in yourselves.’ Then the good man followed up his text in this way: ‘Look unto Me: I am sweating great drops of blood. Look unto Me; I am hanging on the Cross. Look: I am dead and buried. Look unto Me; I rise again. Look unto Me; I ascend; I am sitting at the Father’s right hand. O, look to Me! Look to Me!’ When he had got about that length, and managed to spin out ten minutes, he was at the length of his tether.
“Then he looked at me under the gallery, and I daresay, with so few present, he knew me to be a stranger. He then said, ‘Young man, you look very miserable.’ Well, I did; but I had not been accustomed to have remarks made on my personal appearance from the pulpit before. However, it was a good blow struck. He continued: ‘And you will always be miserable — miserable in life and miserable in death — if you do not obey my text. But if you obey now, this moment, you will be saved.’
“Then he shouted, as only a Primitive Methodist can, ‘Young man, look to Jesus Christ.’ There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun; and I could have risen that moment and sung with the most enthusiastic of them of the Precious Blood of Christ.”
7. Do you remember how God revealed your sinfulness and His grace to you? If so, share in a sentence. I shared this in Monday’s lesson.
Cheryl, we found the same story of Spurgeon! Wow-what an illustration! So good!
Cheryl and Bing: Thank you for sharing the full story on Spurgeon!
Great job on Spurgeon!
Wednesday: Being Delivered from the Penalty of Sin
4. What illustration did Jesus give Nicodemus for how to be born again in John 3:14? What did the Israelites have to do to be rescued from the lethal snakes? Point?
Moses lifted the snake in the wilderness so they would survive the lethal bite. We have to look to Jesus on the cross so that we will be saved. Jesus, the only way to salvation.
On a side note, I was in Exodus 6:5-7 yesterday for Scripture writing, and the verses became radioactive for me: “and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm…and bring you out from under the yoke.” All I could envision was Jesus with his outstretched arms on the cross.
5. Does anyone know the short story of how Charles Spurgeon came to faith? It’s a great illustration of the above. If so, share here.
Oh, Dee! I am so glad you included this story about Charles Spurgeon. I did not know. I checked online and found an article written by Justin Taylor in 2014 for The Gospel Coalition. Spurgeon was depressed on his way to his church, but a blizzard prevented him from going there; instead, he ended up at the Primitive Methodist Church, where there were just a few people in attendance.
A poor man filled the pulpit due to the absence of the pastor. And the text was very short, and his message was short. ‘Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth’ Isaiah 45:22. Tim Keller would be pleased with how this man took each word. He started with the word “look” and ended with “look to me,” as said by Jesus. And then he looked at Spurgeon and addressed him,” Young man, and you will always be miserable—miserable in life and miserable in death—if you do not obey my text. But if you obey now, this moment, you will be saved.’ ‘Young man, look to Jesus Christ.’ And Spurgeon said, the darkness rolled away.
And come to think of it, the way this story was written was both somber and, to me, humorous if I were in attendance. Just like John Piper and his audience.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/charles-spurgeons-conversion-in-a-primitive-methodist-chapel/
4. Do you remember how God revealed your sinfulness and His grace to you? If so, share in a sentence.
It is very humbling to share this experience with you all. I felt like this question was written just for me. Yesterday, I dealt with the aftermath of a miscommunication between a student and the company where she was supposed to take a test. I was so upset with how they dealt with her situation. I was privy to her situation being there while she was trying to log in, and I felt she was treated unfairly. I called the company and said words out of anger, and only God kept me from saying more than what I already said. After the call, I unloaded on God, and He asked me why was I so angry and gently told me to trust His ways.
This experience showed me I am still governed at times by the flesh and not by the Spirit. And this reminded me to stop and pray first instead of giving in to my natural inclinations. God showed His grace to me but helping me sort through my emotions and actions. Come to find out, I learned from a colleague that this company is very strict and not as considerate as it should be. She told me that she had a similar experience with them with one of her students in the past. This did not make me feel any better. But the experience helped me see my heart and its response to felt injustices. And that even if I have messed up, Jesus still loves me.
I just realized my answer to the #7 (autocorrected to 4-ugh) question is more than one sentence! Yikes!
One sentence: Being convicted by His Word and by the Holy Spirit, and upon confession, received forgiveness without strings attached.
Love your vulnerability, Bing. More than once I’ve had to return to a grumpy salesperson and apologize for my grumpiness!
5. What illustration did Jesus give Nicodemus for how to be born again in John 3:14? What did the Israelites have to do to be rescued from the lethal snakes? Point?
Jesus gave Nicodemus the example of Moses, who made and held up a bronze serpent, so the Israelites, who had been bitten by lethal snakes, could look up at the bronze serpent and be saved. It is the foreshadowing of the death of Jesus on the cross, who gave His life for the sins of man, so that if we believed in Him, our sins would be forgiven and we would have eternal life. We must look up to the cross to be saved.
6. Does anyone know the short story of how Charles Spurgeon came to faith? It’s a great illustration of the above. If so, share here.
I did not know the long and wonderful, detailed story that Bing and Cheryl shared. I just knew that, due to snowstorm, he entered a church (not the one he was heading for) and heard a sermon, that seemed directed to him personally . I forgot it was not delivered by a pastor! The sermon was on Isaiah 45.
7. Do you remember how God revealed your sinfulness and His grace to you? If so, share in a sentence.
I don’t remember a specific time, but I have had a variety of times, when in my idolatry, even as a Christian, the Lord has loudly showed me the errors of my ways. I am reminded to always keep my eyes on Him, lest I slipped. It is a daily walk. He reveals is to me often. This prayer from The Songs of Jesus for today, July 3, is perfect:
“Lord, I worry because I forget your wisdom, I resent because I forget your mercy, I covet because I forget your beauty, I sin because I forget your holiness, I fear because I forget your sovereignty. You always remember me; help me to always remember you. Amen. (Tim and Kathy Keller; The Songs of Jesus)
That prayer is so true to identify the danger of not getting it right vertically with God and then the horizontal aspect of our lives suffer. “You always remember me; help me to always remember you. Amen.” Such a good request. Thanks for sharing this Patti. 💕
Love that prayer from Kellers, Patti.
Patti, I love this: “Lord, I worry because I forget your wisdom, I resent because I forget your mercy, I covet because I forget your beauty, I sin because I forget your holiness, I fear because I forget your sovereignty. You always remember me; help me to always remember you. Amen. (Tim and Kathy Keller; The Songs of Jesus)
Thursday: Being Delivered from the Power of Sin
8. Watch the above.
A. What stood out to you and why?
—By examining my vertical relationship with God I can turn my horizontal relationships away from being idols that are sin against God to being appropriately in their place. My love for God has to be primary.
B. List some of the verbs that describe our relationship with God.
—Love, Trust, Fear, Obey
C. What question does Powlison tell us to ask when there is a problem that will help us examine our vertical relationship?
—What am I loving?
What I am loving can be an idol which takes the place of loving God first.
He also asked What do I fear? And Do I trust God? Those questions reveal more about my vertical relationship with God and my love for Him.
9. Now — think of an area in which you struggle — Piper named so many — let’s us each just name one and consider how seeing the sin beneath the sin might set us free. (I will share as well tomorrow!)
—It feels like the struggle of my life has been to try and feel satisfied in my soul and I have predominantly used food to try and satisfy a heart need. Feeling pleasure is a form of comfort and good food prepared and shared with others is a satisfying experience. For me it is a struggle to find the balance of letting God satisfy my heart first and letting Him meet my deep heart needs rather than going to food for comfort.
Food and fellowship are gifts from God to be enjoyed but not used in place of God. It comes back to what am I loving and what is the idol I love before Him. He promises to satisfy my soul. Slowly I am learning to love Him more dearly and enjoy Him more nearly see Him more clearly. As I do I am becoming more settled in my heart and life. Without a doubt time spent alone with Him in the Word and prayer are crucial to loving Him more. But it is and will be a struggle until I am done with this flesh and oh how I look forward to the Marriage Supper. 😊
The best of all food and fellowship will be experienced in His presence.
8. Watch the above.
A. What stood out to you and why?
I like that Powlison asks: “What am I loving? What am I living for?” “What voice do I hear? What am I seeking ?” I need to review these questions daily when I pray. I know if my vertical relationship with God is doing well, I am seeking Him and His will first. If I am listening to myself, I tend to see my idols become in charge. It is such a daily or hourly re-focus that I need to do. It takes me back to Keller pointing out, I need to think of my self less and more about what God desires from me to serve Him.
B. List some of the verbs that describe our relationship with God.
Love, Confess, Pray, Abide, Obey, Believe, Receive, Listen, Praise, Repent, Follow, Serve, Give, Seek, Share, Humble, Sacrifice
C. What question does Powlison tell us to ask when there is a problem that will help us examine our vertical relationship?
What am I loving? What am I loving for?
9. Now — think of an area in which you struggle — Piper named so many — let’s us each just name one and consider how seeing the sin beneath the sin might set us free. (I will share as well tomorrow)
I think I fear that I have disappointed God, by not seeing His purpose in my life. Maybe that comes from lack of trust in my future. I know that is partially true, because everything in my entire life has been uprooted and changed in the past 4 years. I need to daily, the minute I wake up, pray that I will keep my focus on God and His will. Yet, I know that He alone is trustworthy . This verse keeps popping up in my life: 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
I am weak. I fear. Yet I trust in Him. I can do nothing without Him and I will wait in the Lord. He is faithful.
I think the Lord is so pleased with you, Patti.
8. David Powlison says the questions to ask myself are,
What am I loving?
What do I fear?
Where do I take refuge?
What am I trusting?
And then he says, “By identifying these things it allows me to much more richly come to the God of mercy…… and say, Lord help me. Deliver me.”
9. I need to forget about myself in such a way that I am not worried about what people think, so that I can love them. And the only way to forget me is to behold Him. So, as I identify my sin, my idols, then I need to see them in the light of his mercy or I will sink.
Andrew Peterson has a song titled “Behold the Lamb of God”. It helps me to slow down and behold. Again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFEK68ncZ7o
Nila, Love your answer to 9. Thank you for the link to this great song!
Nila quote: The only way to forget about myself is to behold Him.
What a beautiful song. I love your response to 9, see my idols in light of his mercy or I will sink.
Thanks for sharing.
Thursday: Being Delivered from the Power of Sin
8. Watch the above.
A. What stood out to you and why?
We’re much more aware of the horizontal dimension of sin, but they’re a way to get at the vertical dimension as we identify them, which allows us to much more richly come to the God of mercy.
It’s important to identify and be aware of what’s going on in the horizontal dimension of sin so the door of the vertical dimension/my relationship with God doesn’t become closed…My desire is to “strip off every weight that slows me down, especially the sin that so easily trips me up,” so I can much more richly come to the God of mercy!
B. List some of the verbs that describe our relationship with God.
Love, trust, fear, obedience.
C. What question does Powlison tell us to ask when there is a problem that will help us examine our vertical relationship?
What am I loving?
9. Now — think of an area in which you struggle — Piper named so many — let’s us each just name one and consider how seeing the sin beneath the sin might set us free. (I will share as well tomorrow!)
Discouragement – fear of no longer being needed by my children, being of no use within my church, and not having any close friends to confide in. I think approval and control are the sin beneath this.
This is the truth that I need to stand firmly in…
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
I surely see lies from the enemy in those fears!!! You are such a blessing here and I am sure you are to everyone in your path.
Thank you for this verse, Sharon. I needed it today. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Amen to Dee, dear Sharon! You are a huge blessing in my life! I always look forward to your meaningful posts! Do not listen to the enemy, for he does not speak truth. Lord, I pray for Sharon and all of us on this blog, that you will place a hedge of protection around us and bind the powers of the enemy to influence our hearts and minds. Keep our minds on You and Your Word only, Lord, so that may know You and behold You. In the Name of Jesus, I pray.
My favorite verse! I said it to myself everyday when I had to lay for radiation. Praying for you Sharon. I liked putting my name in after the word “afraid.”
8. Watch the above.
A. What stood out to you and why?
That once we understand what it is, on the horizontal level, that is controlling us, we can come to God with a richer understanding of His mercy.
B. List some of the verbs that describe our relationship with God.
love, trust, approval, control, fear, obey, hope
C. What question does Powlison tell us to ask when there is a problem that will help us examine our vertical relationship?
How do I __________ the Lord?
9. Now — think of an area in which you struggle — Piper named so many — let’s us each just name one and consider how seeing the sin beneath the sin might set us free. (I will share as well tomorrow!)
I suppose the one I would struggle the most with is control. Although I know I cannot control the situations I encounter, and I ask Him to be the one in control, it saddens me that I have no control. Not sure I can explain this well. I guess I need to trust and that will set me free.
Very honest to say “It saddens me I have no control.” Yes, trust to be set free. I love you, Laura.
Amen to Dee, Laura. I love you, too.🙏🙏
8. Watch the above.
A. What stood out to you and why? How relatively easy it is to discover the source of our struggles.
B. List some of the verbs that describe our relationship with God. Love, trust, fear, obey, set your hope.
C. What question does Powlison tell us to ask when there is a problem that will help us examine our vertical relationship? Ask yourself, “What am I loving right now?”
9. Now — think of an area in which you struggle — Piper named so many — let’s us each just name one and consider how seeing the sin beneath the sin might set us free. (I will share as well tomorrow!) While I have multiple, you asked for one, so I’ll pick laziness (or escapism). I work hard all day at my job and try to be constantly working and not wasting time, but when I get home, it’s a different story. I spend my time doing frivolous things like surfing the web, watching videos, or Netflix, basically sitting on my behind. I tell myself that I’m getting older and need more rest; that I’ve spent the last 40 years working full time, homeschooling 4 kids, keeping up with all of their activities, teaching Sunday school, volunteering for and/or attending all of my church’s activities and I deserve this time to myself.
I’m seeking comfort (and maybe control over my time), but it’s not comfort from the one who can truly bring me comfort.
I should be spending my rest time reading the word, praying, and doing bible study instead of the useless stuff that I have been filling my time with.
I’m pondering your response and praying God will give you wisdom. I will return to this!
8. Watch the above.
A. What stood out to you and why? This short interview is golden. I believe we have watched this before. The idea of taking our horizontal relationship struggle and looking at it in terms of a vertical relationship struggle is so key to taking the sting out of any problem. God is our refuge and ever present help in trouble, if we can look to him. I love the example of anxiety in this video. Something so many have made an idol today. We all struggle with this to some degree and thinking of it in this sense of learning to trust God for whatever is bringing about that anxiety, rather than just asking for help not to be anxious. It gets at the root of the problem. This is something I am working on with my son. He has so much anxiety for a little one. I need to chew on this for myself and for him.
B. List some of the verbs that describe our relationship with God. Love, obey, seek, trust, follow, acknowledge, pray, worship, serve, confess.
C. What question does Powlison tell us to ask when there is a problem that will help us examine our vertical relationship? We need to ask, “What am I trusting?” This way we can get at the idol we are facing and the root of what we need in prayer…not just get me through this but help me trust you more if its fear or control or comfort or whatever we are seeking to appease.
9. Now — think of an area in which you struggle — Piper named so many — let’s us each just name one and consider how seeing the sin beneath the sin might set us free. (I will share as well tomorrow!) This is challenging to think about-thanks Dee ;). I know I stress about money. I would say it’s not a fear of poverty, as God has shown me time and again how he provides. I believe it is an approval idol as my husband has put our finances in my lap and I fear messing it up and being responsible. Time and again I find that it’s a struggle for me to rest in the peace that the Lord has much more control in this area than I do. I find myself wishing for a direct line that I could seek direction on this area of my life. My husband and I struggle to talk about money, so we don’t much. Usually, it helps me to look at the bigger picture and not the day to day expenses as well as to remember how the Lord has brought us through tight circumstances in the past, and seek to please the Lord overall with giving and helping others. I know these things and yet I still have not found freedom, but ways to cope with the sin.
Father, please release Chris and her husband from these fears, and show them You will provide. Please give them Your wisdom and Your peace.
I join Dee in praying for you and your husband, Chris. I pray for the Lord to replace your fears with His peace.
Chris,
Thank you for sharing so vulnerably on 8 C. I can identify with your struggle here.
I’m often reminded of this ~
I Peter 5;7 Casting all your anxieties on Him who cares for you.
Thursday
8. Watch the above. A. What stood out to you and why? His advice about taking the verbs and turning them to ask myself what am I really loving, trusting, etc. in any situation. Realizing that a horizontal problem is directly related to my vertical relationship is eye opening to me.
B. List some of the verbs that describe our relationship with God. Love, yield/surrender, fear, obey, focus, trust, delight, walk, rest
C. What question does Powlison tell us to ask when there is a problem that will help us examine our vertical relationship? Using the verbs listed, ask myself “who/what am I loving, fearing, etc. right now?”
9. Now — think of an area in which you struggle — Piper named so many — let’s us each just name one and consider how seeing the sin beneath the sin might set us free. (I will share as well tomorrow!) Quick to criticize my husband. Who am I loving – myself. who am I trusting -my own opinion. The idol is control.
Saturday:
11. What is your take-a-way and why?
This verse says so much to me: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
I feel that if I can keep my eyes focused on the Lord and pray before speaking, filter my thoughts, before they become words, and pray to have a tender, thoughtful and not judgmental heart, that I will better be able to behold Him, and be transformed more to His image. (Longest run on sentence ever)
As Piper points out, it will always be a struggle. I so appreciated our discussion of Piper, for it demonstrated how well meaning listeners, may have misinterpreted the meaning of his comments. Though he may have been crushed by their laughter, his message was effective….maybe more so, by the confusion of his comments . Were they meant for self deprecating humor or was he being serious. Maybe the confusion, made us all think a bit more how we respond to others, not realizing what is meant one way can easily cause hurt.
Thank you, Mary, for opening my eyes to that. It helped me to think about the stones in my heart.
My take away is that iron sharpens iron so beautifully in our discussions, with Dee’s thought provoking questions, all of our sharing and great “clips” . I pray that God will continue to remove the stones in my heart and help me to a truly and deeply behold Jesus, so that I am a teacup that the potter is constantly transforming, until the day I am with Him. I pray that I can face life with deep joy.
Patti’s heart — a model for us all.
Another take away: Psalm 54:4. Behold God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.
I need to behold Him in His Word and through prayer to sustain my soul.
🤍