Carrying On…

So I was thinking we should carry on with the following verses, which like the former are not totally filled with “fridge magnet” quotes.  But, I got so much out of simmering on the last few verses, even though there were some tougher words in it, that I thought we could probably benefit from marinating on these words too.  Well, that’s silly, of course we can!

From Ephesians 4

²⁵Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 

New Season

It’s been awhile since we’ve been in this space with any regularity. We are moving into a new season, hence the new look. Just as spring has come and growth surrounds us, may this newness bear some tasty fruit.

In this space we plan to focus our attentions to the Living Word. To think on, meditate, and memorize scripture that will empower, remind, urge, teach, and speak to us. This discipline is not new here, since the beginning we’ve had Memory Monday, now this will be our  primary focus.

Each week, or two…depending on when a new Word arises, we’ll focus on a scripture. During the week you might find us sharing snippets from our contemplations, perhaps a writing, a poem, or a picture. We invite you to blog about your journey memorizing scripture. Simply link your post in a comment on our blog. If you have a verse you’d like us to focus on, please suggest it. We are excited to enlarge this community and share in the gifts God is imparting to you as you think on the Living Word.

My personal reasons for wanting to focus on memorizing scripture again come after a teleconference with Beth Moore. I hadn’t planned to attend, it kinda happened. I am glad I did. Intrigued by the topic, ‘Say Good Bye to Insecurities’, I listened…and the phrases that spoke to me?…A secure woman is entitled to truth,  upended by grace, rebounded by love…and as Beth said over and over ‘remember what you’ve been taught!’

How is one entitled? Upended? Rebounded?

By knowing. By remembering God’s word. By keeping them close to one’s heart, on the tip of her tongue, part of her breathing, her coming and going.  By remembering what you’ve been taught!

Oh how I want to be a secure woman. I want to be secure in Christ. I want my girls to see this everyday. I want my husband and those around me to be encouraged by my security. I want to be exceptional, a woman after God’s own heart, not stopped by insecurities and fears. I want to be fearless. Empowered by God to move those daily mountains.

So where shall we start? Beth Moore focused on Ephesians 4:17-24 in her description of a Secure Woman, so let’s begin there. I’ll post the whole passage, if you want to break it up please do. Personally I won’t memorize this whole block. But really felt the first part was necessary to understand the second part fully. In red you’ll find the portion I’m going to commit to memory.

 ¹⁷So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

 ²⁰You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. ²¹Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²²You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:17-24

 

Verse to ponder

I thought we could continue meditating on and memorizing the Galatians passage Leah began last week (with a bit of a skip) . New Year’s always feel so full… full of plans, full of hope, full of the unknown. As I have pondered these passages, I have thought how I would like to be full in the coming year… full of joy, full of grace, full of peace extended to others, full of God’s Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-25

 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

 

Memory

What a week… 12 weeks pregnant, 3 small children, and moved this past week. I am still unpacking this morning, and although I am full of gratitude how God continues to provide for us, the overwhelming keeps creeping in the corners of my heart.

Wanted to play some music this morning, couldn’t find a box of cds. God, knowing  just what we needed, led me to a box of christmas music. In it went. It is raising all the spirits in the house as we unpack and play to ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘Away in a Manger’.  And my heart keeps resting on this simple prayer…. ‘Come Lord Jesus, come.’ 

Come to our earth, come to our hearts, come to my wearied spirit, come transform our lives. Come.

My mind can only handle a simple verse this week, but my scattered thoughts and spirit crave a resting place.

‘Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.’ Revelation 22:20

 

Memory Verse(s)

I wasn’t able to choose between two verses that have been following me all week. The verses are woven together- one is a plea to God and the other is His promise to me. They are on my mouth and my heart at the start of my prayer time each morning. I will post both. Feel free to choose which you would like to memorize, or even both this week!

Jeremiah 33:3
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Mark 9:24
‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’

 

Wrapped in a Story

 

It’s the morning after a busy weekend. Needless to say she’s still a little tired from the nights rest and thus a little emotional. Her pouty face tells all. Her words are short. Her feet are heavy, she’s upset. Those aren’t my favourite moments. It takes patience to work through these moments with a two year old. But I understand because I too have moments like this.

She comes to my side, she asks for a story.  Wrapped in my arms, with a great story enfolding on our laps, my tender voice whispers sweet words of love, adventure, and new possibilities. We both soak in the moment.  We are both calmed as the emotions of the morning slip away. Grace, love, peace, rest remain.

May you find some time this summer to sit at your father’s side, with His story, Your story, on your lap. Take in the whispers of God. Enjoy. And know you are loved.

Those of you who are with us for  Memory Monday we want to let you know that we are taking a break for the rest of July and into August. We’ve worked on some wonderful passages and maybe you’d like to revisit those or find some on your own. May God’s words surround you in love this summer.

You could also check out Holy Experience, on Wednesdays, Ann is featuring a Walk with Him post. I’ve found her writings edifying, maybe you will too.

 

Memory

We have made it to the end of this passage! We are memorizing verse 12 this week, and if you are like me, also firming up the other verses this week.

Thank You Father for Your promises to us, that we are only filled by spending our lives on others. Let our light shine to bring You glory! Amen.

‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-

when you see the naked, to clothe him,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say:

Here am I.

If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.’

 

Memory Monday…sooo late, I’m embarrassed

Sometimes I get into these modes where I don’t post and I just can’t force myself to, I don’t know why?  That doesn’t work very well when you are part of a blog co-op where you are supposed to do certain posts on certain days.  Part of the reason I allowed myself to induldge this weird part of myself is that I figured most of you whow are doing the memory work would know to move on to the next verses.  But really, that isn’t a very good excuse.  So I am sorry.

Here are the verses for this week, highlighted in red.

Isaiah 58:6-12 (New International Version)

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness ^[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

¹¹ The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

I have really been blessed meditating on how God loves the poor and how he desires to be so good to us as we love his children.  I have seen so many glimpses this past week of God’s deep love for his church and I am thankful.

 

Memory…tuesday?!

Sorry everyone. I could explain that I was on holidays last week, and I am still disoriented on days, but I will just apologize and get us going on this week’s memory work!

 

I sometimes find memorizing a larger chunk of verses over numerous weeks easier, because the various verses feel less fragmented. I thought I would start us this week on the first 2 verses of  Isaiah 58: 6-12, and then if anyone wants to continue we can, or we can find something else next week. I love the whole passage, but I will be working on verses 6 and 7 this week. I will list the entire passage below:

 

‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-

when you see the naked, to clothe him,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say:

Here am I.

If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.’

 

There is so much in these verses, I find it dizzying and it scatters my thoughts. At first glance I feel ashamed how little I am doing of the justice-work and compassion-work that these verses describe. Then God reminded me of the three little hungry bodies I am feeding around the clock. And the three beautiful, naked bodies I am clothing each morning. It transforms me to see these tasks as they truly are… sacred.

 

I have been watering our garden through this drought, and as I want my garden to be well-watered and produce life, I also yearn for a well-watered soul that God can grow His glory in. I eagerly anticipate meditating on, and learning what it means to be a ‘Repairer of Broken Walls’ and ‘Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.’

 

I cannot ready myself for these three unfathomable words… ‘you will cry for help, and he will say:

 

Here am I.’

 

May the ‘Here am I’ God bless you this week as we bask in these verses together. Meg

 

Memory Monday – oops it’s Tuesday!

Sorry everyone! Yesterday I checked for the verse and then again today and since it wasn’t posted, I put two and two together and realized…I’m up for this week.

Since spring is here I thought this might be a nice passage to memorize (I’ve also been working through Romans, such a great book!! I am reading it in the NRSV, and it’s really giving me new eyes to those familiar passages.)

Romans 1:20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. NLT

This is a picture of my Russian Olive. My husband planted it where we buried the placenta from Joy’s birth to honour the life it gave to her for 9 months. It was my mother’s day gift. I love the image of a tree. A placenta has a beautiful tree like image on it. God’s creation is so amazing! The many details and intricacies leave me in awe of a talented, loving creator.