Well, on to getting a sound mind again. The scripture for Sunday School yesterday was Romans 5. We didn't really get too far into the scripture itself, but it laid good ground work for further study and exploration this week.
He (my Sunday School teacher) shows us how to apply the scripture we are studying. He has a different method for teaching than I have experienced before, but it is very effective in promoting conversation and helping me think about the application and being real with what my priorities are and what value I place on people and things in my life.
The first verse in Romans 5 says, "Therefore being justified by Faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" Verse 2 and the follow scripture just reinforces the LIGHT BULB moment I had the other day. What have I been craving? Peace. Where do I find it? With God, in Christ, by faith. What a JOY to see how God can take a thought and continue to reinforce that so that I am more and more sure of the direction/position I should take. "By whom we also have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3. And not only so but we glory in tribulation also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4. and patience, experience; and experience, hope: (HOPE!! Hope! hope hope hope hope!! HOPE!) 5. AND HOPE maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
These first 5 verses are such a joy. WHY? BECAUSE of HOPE! We are going to have troubles, problems, trials, test and testing, BUT we have HOPE and PEACE thru the grace we have, and we have it thru Jesus. Is this Hope like what we think of today?? Or is it the salvation that is available thru Jesus? Either way, hope is a great thing. Hope that the experiences I have had will not just be troubles, problems, trials, testing. Hope that Jesus can and "will work all things together for good". (Maybe not mine, but for someone else) How can my heart and mind be in turmoil when I have PEACE with God thru Jesus/salvation by grace?
Remeber the song lyrics, "Why do I feel discouraged? Why do the shadows come? Why does my heart feel lonely and long for heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion. My constant friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me." Need to get that playing in my head on a loop track!
SO! Let's talk about trials and tribulations! No one has killed me yet, like they did Jesus and Paul and John and so many others! I may have been 'tortured' many times, but I'm not dead. I have my family, by the way, in and of itself, a miracle from God. I have my babies and my friends and those he has given me to influence, touch, and love. He's giving me tools to use to help them.
Another new tool and then showing me how to use that tool, and it's not easy to learn what he has for me. It's not easy at all, but as long as I am not dead, I will continue to struggle and sort and lean on Him. "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me!"
Time for babies to come here! More later.
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