what I learned today

Actually, I should title this what I'm about to learn today...

I am getting ready to begin a new book given to me by my new friends from this weekend - Kari and Stephanie titled " Proverbs. It is such a cool book - it's formatted like a journal and you write out the passage of Proverbs that you are reading each day!

It is always exciting to me (mostly because God has to show me 2 or 3 times before I listen), when several different sources suggest the same thing to me!

(Don't tell him I said what I'm about to say) Wendell - one of my favorite people at Crossroads, taught us recently on the benefit to our spiritual maturity it is when we read a chapter in Proverbs each day. Of course I have not yet begun this practice because I spend a lot of my life waiting for the 'right' time to begin things...

But, today is the day that I begin in Proverbs with the help of my new book - I am very excited to begin learning. Writing it out is the perfect compliment to just reading for me - writing is my favorite thing and it helps me to remember what I read!

I write this hoping to encourage each of you to study today - if you don't study on a regular basis begin small and simply read God's Word - and if you want to learn like I learn - write it out!

full house

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No I am not talking about a hand of cards! I am referring to our very full house tonight - full of young adults!

We are so blessed to part of their lives!

Crossroads summer college Bible study group begins next Wednesday with Pastor Tim.

The group is limited to college students between the ages of 18 - 25.

I am so excited for the young adults of Crossroads...it is going to be a really great summer!

instincts

I am sitting on my deck at 8:30 in the morning IN OHIO, and it is already 75 degrees! It was snowing 3 or 4 days ago!

Needless to say, Ohioans have a greater appreciation of a clear beautiful day than do the folks from some of the other perfect weather states.

As I was sitting down preparing to study, I was of course distracted (how I spend much of my life), by a huge crow or blackbird...whatever! ...strutting around the yard below me. He walked around not looking down at all, almost like you do when you are getting ready to sneak and do something and you are trying to look all nonchalant (also how I spend a great deal of my time). Suddenly without any warning he pecked the ground and came up with a huge worm...

Ok, so that does not just happen! A God given instinct is the only explanation. Creation cries out it's testimony to the existence of a creator! No way it's just by accident, no way this all just exploded and landed in the right configuration. I think the only way an atheist could exist is to lock himself inside and never look out! The order, the purpose, the planning and the variety...My God is truly an awesome creative God! This was planned and God knew long ago I would enjoy his creation on this day! Instincts to survive, to learn, to change are God created. Just think about that today as we all enjoy this beautiful Saturday gift from Him.

PS> Talk to ya later, I just came in to post this so I wouldn't forget about the idea later (another way I spend much of my time these days...trying to remember) I have to hurry back outside before the weather changes - I'm in Ohio remember, could happen any second now. Enjoy the gift of this day!!

what I learned today

I haven't studied enough this week, so tonight was so welcome...

First I came across a reminder that We didn't choose God, He chose us! The disciples were busy helping their earthly fathers fish among other various jobs and activities. Jesus chose them and called to them to follow Him. I grew up believing that my spiritual life was totally in my hands. This was always very hard for me to buy into mostly because I know myself so well. And believe me, I'm not capable of saving myself, of deciding when the time is right, or living well enough to get to the place I could ever face Him. He chose me, I'm convinced of it.

As I went on in study in John 19, I read through the place where Jesus speaks from the cross and talks to John concerning the care of his mother. How amazing that He would have been so concerned with that as He was dying. It had been a long time since I thought about how difficult it was for Jesus to even breath hanging on the cross, let alone speak. He cared so much more about those standing around the foot of the cross then himself. That is why He was willing to die.

We have heard it before, He could have taken himself off the cross, "He could have called 10,000 angels" (blast from the past), but He didn't. He chose us...He chose me...that is really hard to wrap your head around, of all the people who have ever lived or will ever live He chose us! Wow!!

what I learned today

I actually look forward to this entry each week the most of any I do on a regular basis. I think all the time about learning, I really do. I decided to see what I could learn about learning. The following are the first few entries that came up when I googled how to learn.

Learning Styles - How to Learn Anything Fast
How To Learn More and Study Less
Learning How To Learn
How To Learn Facts
Teaching Students How To Learn
...on and on it goes according to the internet...

God said, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."
--study to know what God would approved. These are three of the possible applications that could be made from this passage about learning: obtain knowledge, strive to understand what you know, and apply the wisdom you gain in your studies.

So I had to wonder, why didn't God just create me already knowing what He would approve of. Why was it so important to Him that I discover on my own what would keep me from being ashamed before Him?

I think things become important to me only when I discover them and experience them myself. Love, forgivness, honesty, obedience... I can have no full understanding of them until I have learned what they are first hand. God obviously didn't want a bunch of robots obeying out of programed understanding, but instead followers who use personal diligence to know Him.

I do so want to stand before Him unashamed, approved.
This will be a life long learning. I learned to day that my desire to study is God given and should be used first and foremost to know Him more.

my day off

We started our day by stopping by church to drop off our computers to be updated. Monday is every one's day off except Jonathan Pierce, our IT guy and our receptionist, Alyssa. Or at least that is supposed to be the case.

What we found was 3 of our directors, our small group guy, Deering Dyer, deliveries, a crashed server - so no one could work, phones down, what a mess!

We made a quick exit and had a great brunch then headed home. I finally got to sit down and read. My devotions today were taken from Genesis 1: 1-3.

The awesomeness of God struck me. The fact that I cannot understand at all the fact that he always was, and always is and always will be. In my finite mind (a mind he created), I struggle with the concept that God has no beginning...where did He come from? He always was...how can this be? No idea. But I believe it.

He spoke and things were created. Earth, sky, water, from nothingness. The creation I love from nowhere, both the seen and unseen working together, sustaining one another. More than I can wrap my head around!

I have no understanding of no beginning, we are surrounded by dates, by beginnings and ends. By appointments, both missed and attended. God requires faith, faith in what we cannot see or understand. And faith in His decision to choose us to spend eternity in His presence. I am astounded that He would value a relationship with me. This time in the Word changed my day off !

Did any of you get time to study today, share the passage you studied with us!

what I learned today

Whenever I am quiet, whenever I study, God is there. I move so fast, I read and look at so many blogs, websites and articles that I seldom completely digest anything. I pick and choose the bits a pieces that jump out at me, but often do not look at anything in it's complete context. Shamefully the same sometimes applies even to my Bible study.

Today I sat down on my deck, like I try to do each Tuesday, determined to learn whatever it was God has for me. He was waiting.

My study of God's word was deep, intentional, rewarding. Did I understand every word, was I able to apply everything I read immediately to my life, of course not. But, I was obedient, I expressed my desire to know Him more, and He was waiting.

After Bible study, I turned my undivided attention to work. This time determined to thoroughly read what I find, see if there is content that God wants me to share or apply to our ministry. Because we have needed to focus on getting into a building of our own (which God amazingly provided!!!), we have not been able to get out of our own ministry to experience services or conferences. This is not necessarily a negative because of my complete love of our own ministry, but I slowly have lost contact with other leaders who are serving in my area of ministry. I have lost touch with creativity different from my own. Talk about guilt! I am responsible to champion this in our ministry.

Several months ago our staff was challenged to create blogs. This has opened the entire world back up to me! Right from my deck!

By spending a portion of time to searching other worship sites, blogs and articles, I feel myself rejuvenated toward creativity. I couldn't be more excited about our ministry! I have just this past week had conversations with 2 very high profile worship leaders here in the US. They talked to me! Really willing to help us! How cool is that?

Now back to my original paragraph, just this morning as I sat down to finish a project, God brought one piece after another to my attention. I am so thankful I shut everything off, took my computer out of the house and just listened. He is good and I am almost done!

What I learned today

I learned that God likes to surprise His children. OK, so I'm not a theologian, but I will never stop marveling at how God speaks.

Today as I sat out in the magnificent weather on my deck to study, I went to a chapter in David Nasser's "A Call To Die" entitled, True Worship. It began with one of my favorite verses, " I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1 esv

So often worship is only thought of as a sing-a-long before the message. Every single day our lives are acts of worship if we are a Christ follower. Nasser went on to say, "God is looking for a generation of "Walking worshipers". I like that, walking worshippers!

After reading this chapter in the Nasser book I tuned in the Bible to the chapter I was scheduled to study, guess what? Romans 12!! Surprise!

What a powerful chapter! verse 2 reads, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

This chapter goes on to explain that the many members of one body all have different functions. Everything that is offered to our Lord as a selfless act of service is an act of worship! How amazing that God can draw so many different people to one place and equip them with every gift necessary to make the body complete.

As I began to study today and was surprised by God leading me to the same passage twice I learned that God is very interested in what I study. He cares about what I am learning and wants to lead me to discover promises hidden within the pages of His words. I learned today that there is nothing more important than being available for God's surprises.