"I am seeing more and more that we begin to learn what it is to walk by faith when we learn to spread out all that is against us: all our physical weakness, loss of mental power, spiritual inability--all that is against us inwardly and outwardly--as sails to the wind and expect them to be vehicles for the power of Christ to rest upon us. It is so simple and self-evident--but so long in the learning!"
~*~ Lilias Trotter
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"
2 Corinthians 12:9
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
The Ten Questions...continued
If you were utterly enthused by the first ten reflective questions by Donald Whitney and just couldn't get enough of them , here are twenty-one more to help you "Consider your ways." Use them now or save them for later.
11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?
12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?
13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?
14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?
15. Who do you most want to encourage this year?
16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?
17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?
18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?
19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?
21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?
22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?
23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?
24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?
25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?
26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?
27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?
28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?
29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?
30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?
31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year? The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you remember to encourage that person than if you hadn't considered the question.
If you've found these questions helpful, you might want to put them someplace—in a day planner, PDA, calendar, bulletin board, etc.—where you can review them more frequently than once a year. So let's evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage" (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let's also remember our dependence on our King who said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Copyright © 2003 Donald S. Whitney.
11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?
12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?
13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?
14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?
15. Who do you most want to encourage this year?
16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?
17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?
18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?
19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?
21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?
22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?
23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?
24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?
25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?
26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?
27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?
28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?
29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?
30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?
31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year? The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus. For example, just by articulating which person you most want to encourage this year is more likely to help you remember to encourage that person than if you hadn't considered the question.
If you've found these questions helpful, you might want to put them someplace—in a day planner, PDA, calendar, bulletin board, etc.—where you can review them more frequently than once a year. So let's evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage" (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let's also remember our dependence on our King who said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Copyright © 2003 Donald S. Whitney.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Chemistry...See It Through
As unplanned as it may have been, chemistry is in my future. Oh, not just general chemistry, there is biochemistry and the organic kind as well. Did I mention that there is also a dash of microbiology and a hint of physiology too? Changing my major from culinary arts to dietetics has twisted the steering wheel of my academic plan drastically. I thought I could get away with only general biology, yet now I am faced with almost years of sciences such as chemistry. This might be nothing to a science, biology, or chemistry major, but to gal who never considered herself a "a science person” this took me back a little.
However, God surprised me this last semester by showing me how much I enjoyed general biology. Not only did I enjoy it, I was good at it too. Needless to say, this has given me tremendous courage in my future of chemistry. I still can't say that I am completely fearless when approaching science, but at least it no longer has the "off limits" sign on it.
Here is a poem by the ever clever, Edgar A. Guest. For me, these 23 lines have chemistry written all over them....
See it Through
When you're up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it's vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don't let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!
Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you're beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don't give up, whate'er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!
Edgar Albert Guest
However, God surprised me this last semester by showing me how much I enjoyed general biology. Not only did I enjoy it, I was good at it too. Needless to say, this has given me tremendous courage in my future of chemistry. I still can't say that I am completely fearless when approaching science, but at least it no longer has the "off limits" sign on it.
Here is a poem by the ever clever, Edgar A. Guest. For me, these 23 lines have chemistry written all over them....
See it Through
When you're up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it's vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don't let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!
Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you're beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don't give up, whate'er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!
Edgar Albert Guest
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Resolved!
As I promised in an earlier post, I am giving some purposeful questions to ask yourself as you enter into the fresh calendar year. These are not "resolutions" per say, though they certainly could lead to the making of them. As pastor Y reminded us at college group last week, despite how jinxed the phrase "New Year's resolutions" may be, we as Christians are to be a "resolved" people. However, the why, how, and what of those resolutions should be in accordance with Romans 12: 1-2. In essesence, the why for our resolutins should be God's glory. The how, is only by being transformed by the renewing of your mind (through God's word). And lastly, the what (what we actually resolve to do) must fulfill the criteria of what is the "perfect, acceptable, will of God."
So with that in mind and without further ado, here are the "Ten Questions to Ask Yourself on the New Year (or your birthday)" taken from Donald S. Whitney's website, "
The Center for Biblical Spirituality." Here is Mr. Whitney's introduction (don't skip it!):
Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them. Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going. The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? (An aside from Cathryn: singles you don't get out of this one! If you still live at home, you can use this question to assess whether your contribution to the family resembles something of a leech or something of a sevant. Lastly, no matter what particular living situation you are in, establish habits and standards that will work towards the quality of your future home- even if there is no one in sight...yet.)
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
Copyright © 2003 Donald S. Whitney.
It's important to remember that change happens in centemeters not miles. Maybe the entirety of this list is not for you right now, but I would encourage you to take one or two and prayerfully consider how God would have you live steadfastly and with single-mindedness.
So with that in mind and without further ado, here are the "Ten Questions to Ask Yourself on the New Year (or your birthday)" taken from Donald S. Whitney's website, "
The Center for Biblical Spirituality." Here is Mr. Whitney's introduction (don't skip it!):
Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them. Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going. The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? (An aside from Cathryn: singles you don't get out of this one! If you still live at home, you can use this question to assess whether your contribution to the family resembles something of a leech or something of a sevant. Lastly, no matter what particular living situation you are in, establish habits and standards that will work towards the quality of your future home- even if there is no one in sight...yet.)
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
Copyright © 2003 Donald S. Whitney.
It's important to remember that change happens in centemeters not miles. Maybe the entirety of this list is not for you right now, but I would encourage you to take one or two and prayerfully consider how God would have you live steadfastly and with single-mindedness.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Well, we are back from vacation and have lots of pictures and fun stories to share. Yet before I do any of that, I think I had best pass on the best bit of news... but to find it you will need to hop over to my sister's blog. She says everthing much better than I could. Here's a hint.....: )
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