What does this have to do with me???

Well it has been a week or so....how is everyone doing? I pray that the Lord has shown you some wonderful moments to sit quietly with His word and read. :) I have been reading my Bible in bed instead of my silly fiction books and am really amazed at how much I DON'T miss the silly books and how wonderful it has been to know that I am reading the Living Word that has been given to me! I have to admit that I find the old testament to be filled with great little "fiction books" because of the way that we follow one persons life in detail. :) Please don't think that I am comparing the Bible to a fiction book, just saying that I find myself reading the Bible and the chapters fly by just like one of my silly books because I want to know what comes next. :) Hope this makes sense.

Okay, so I totally slacked on my review post for the Feb. 5Th slot. :( I found the beginning of Leviticus to be a hard one (okay a little boring) at first because it kept going into so much detail about the steps that needed to be taken to successfully bring a sacrifice before the Lord. So, I was tempted to go to outside sources to see what they could teach me that would be relevant to my life, but resisted the urge. I prayed before starting the third day of reading that I would find the lesson for me, for my life right now and here is what I came up with:

First off, THANK YOU JESUS! :) I know that we say this to often without even really honestly weighing the phrase, but look what we were freed from. Look at the gift that Jesus gave us. He took our sins, he carried them to the cross for us and he was the ultimate sacrifice that covered us. WOW! To consider it this way and to know that before the gift of the cross followers of the Lord were living with constant need to bring sacrifices and receive cleansing...we are blessed.

Secondly, along the same lines, did you notice that over and over it would be said that if the sinned unintentionally sinned and were not aware, to this I say THANK YOU FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Lastly, I wanted to point out that while the specific subject of bringing a sacrifice and preparing the animal in such a way is not exactly relatable to us today directly, I believe it has a wonderful indirect reminder for all of us. I believe that it is very easy to smooth the edges of the Lords commands. Meaning that in today's world of extreme relativism I fear that even I can become complacent and dare I say even a little bit to comfortable with specific actions or attitudes that are not acceptable or pleasing to the Lord. We are given very specific instructions on how to live and what is right and good and I must admit that at times, I soften these truths to "suggestions" in my mind to give myself permission to overlook an issue, attitude or situation that is just not right. Again, I am not saying that we are to be right fighters and approach the world with a fire and brimstone attitude, because after all that is not what we are called to do either, but I do think that at the very least we each need to take a moment on a very regular basis and evaluate and compare our lives and how we are living to the Biblical truths layed out so clearly.

Okay, who is next? What are you learning? What do you want to share with all of us? Can't wait to hear what you have to say!

-T

p.s. Please join me in welcoming Alyssa to our group of readers! :) Now that you have made yourself known Alyssa, I am going to start hitting you up for a post soon :) HAHA :) Seriously, I am really excited to have you join us!

A case of doubt or longing for the known?

(2/4/09)***MAN, I wrote this a week ago and did not come back to edit it and get it up...sorry! :) I am working on my February assignment right now...but until then, here you go. hope you can remember way back to Genesis :) - T

I am way behind in my reading. I just finished the book that I was reading and am not going to start another one until I get back on track with my Bible reading. So, sorry if this is something that you read weeks ago....I just could not go on until this was posted. I was really convicted and moved by my reading last night.

In Chapter 19 of Genesis the angels enter the town of Gomorrah and allow Lot, his wife and their daughters to leave the town before it is destroyed. The first think I noticed was that the angels had to grab Lots hands and physically help him in order to get him to actually leave.(v.16) Though it seems that he did not agree with the state of the town it was amazing that even on the brink of destruction it was hard for him to actually take the steps needed to removed himself from the comfort of the known. This is so understandable but from the outside looking in, I say "what are you doing? Why are you not running away the first chance you get?"....but if I were to make this a more personal application, what do I know is not what I should be doing with my life or my time or my finances but I just can't bring myself to make that uncomfortable move to a safer place.

Along these same lines, I was struck by Lot's wife turning to salt because she turned and looked back after the angels had lead them away (v.26)AND after the clear warning NOT to look back. I asked myself why? Why did she do this? Why would she look back and that is the question I am going to open up to all. Did she doubt the truth and the extreme nature of the situation? Did she have second thoughts because just as Lot had trouble leaving the comfort of the known was this her moment of second thoughts? Whats she one of them at heart and this action proved it? What do you thing? Please share! :)

-T