Heartbeatians, so much to chat about!
Are we crazy as the Christ followers of old were? Why or why not?
In Hebrews 10:32-34, 11:24-26, 12:1-2 & 13:12-13, the passages we read, what stuck out to you? why?
Why did they think that "Reproach" (whatever that means) was greater than treasures here on earth?
Can you find anything in 2 Corinthians 4 that parallels the various passages in Hebrews that relate to our suffering and how to endure through it? I dare you to find it! Double dare then!
Any other thoughts, comments, reflections, applications, etc.
Blog away,
-P.James
Any other thoughts, comments, reflections, applications, etc.
Blog away,
-P.James
I just wanted to say that last night was awesome! I don't know what it was, but I felt like I really got it! It was so neat! Although, I don't know if an unbeliever would be so excited about the suffering :)
ReplyDeleteI liked 11:24-26, because it talked about Moses, and how he gave up the riches that he could have had to suffer with his people. And I think that is pretty much what God is asking us to do here on earth. Because there are so many ways we can "get rich quick" here on earth, but they don't glorify God. Instead He askes us to leave the ways of the world, and go and suffer with our people (other Christians).
I am not as crazy as i wish i was!
ReplyDeleteSo during worship when we were singing chain breaker some thoughts came to mind. And also sorta a prayer! so I decided to share it with you guys!
We have to get others to share in the joy! We can't leave them on their own. We are free but are they? What am I doing to share it? I can't keep it all to myself. Lord empty me of myself so that I can leave the door open for others to see you. Lord please take everything! as hard as that is to even think about being in complete abandon, Lord that is what I want and I pray that you will help me t o be strong in you so that I can leave me behind. That is what my soul is crying! Take my life, use all of me. All I have is an empty shell but I give it all to your for your glory!
last night really hit hard. It was good, but hard. The more I study and read Gods word the more I see my sin!
Wonderful! RJ, I felt the same way! Last night was rich and smooth!
ReplyDeleteMoses is the man even though he fell very short!
What unbelievers will perk up about is seeing us live out suffering with Joy!
LH, I hope to become closer to Christ as well, which will result in a worldly view that I am strange, I mean is it really that hard to understand if we know we are not made for this world?
Chain Breaker is beautiful, We need Christ 1st for how much our souls ache for Him and then all will follow!
Great thoughts, so encouraging, keep it up!
-James
So I have been reading "The Shadow of the Almighty" about Jim Elliot. I just finished it today and at then end there were a whole bunch of quotes that he said, I found some of them interesting, some challenging, some both! so I thought I might share some of them with you guys!
ReplyDeleteThis first part Elizabeth Elliot wrote to end the book.
"He took an Acua by the hand. At last the twain met. Five American men, three naked savages. Two days later, on sunday January 8, 1956 the men for whom JIM EILLIOT HAD PRAYED FOR SIX YEARS killed him and his four companions.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." 1949
"God I pray thee, light theses idle sticks of my life, my God, for it is thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus. 1948
"Father take my life, yea, my blood if thou wilt, and consumer it with thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine alter."
1948
Wow.. I would say he would fit into our list of people who were crazy for God!
"One treasure, a single eye, and a sole master." 1948
"As your life is in His hands, so are the days of your life. But don't let the sands of time get into the eye of your vision to reach those who sit in darkness. THEY SIMPLY MUST HEAR. Wives, houses, practices, education, must learn to be disciplined by this rule: 'let the dead attend to the affairs of the already dead, go thou and attend the affairs of the dying." 1948
He definitely followed this one!
"Overcome anything in the confidence of your union with Him, so that contemplating trial, enduring persecution, or loneliness, you may know the blessedness of the 'joy set before' for 'we are the sheep of His pasture.' Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise.' And what are sheep doing going into the gate? What is their purpose inside those courts? To bleat melodies and enjoy the company of the flock? No. Those sheep were headed for the ALTER. Their pasture feeding had been for one purpose: to test them and fatten them for bloody sacrifice. Give Him thanks, then, that you have been counted worthy of His alters. Enter into the work with praise." 1949
I would have to say that Jim Elliot is a perfect example of what we are learning in heartbeat right now. He was joyful even through the trials, and counted them as a blessing!!!
Ok! So Romans 8 is crazy!!!!! I just read the first 17 verses this morning and even that was cool!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite parts were verse 1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Ahhhh! how good is it to know that there is no condemnation!!!!!!! Hehehe... that makes me happy! :)
and then verses 16- 17
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Lord, Let me suffer with you to be able to share in your Glory! Hallelujah Father, let me suffer! Put me through that fire so that I grow more like you, and may share in your Glory!
For the womens luncheon, i sang the song hosanna, and one day while i was practicing it something hit me(not literally). You know whenever you read something over and over and over again you find new things out about it or new details that you didn't notice before, well this was one of those moments.
ReplyDeleteIn the bridge of the song it says,
"Take my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything i am for your Kingdoms cause
As i walk from earth into eternity."
I felt that God put this on my heart as a prayer for myself. We can't try to be like God without God's help and i feel that through this song really opened my eyes to that. after i finshed singing the song i wen t into prayer.
I said:
Lord please take my heart make it clean, get rd of all the bad things that have been kept there. Lord, Open up my eyes to new things, so i may see more of your miracles and blessings throughout my life. God how can i even come close to loving like you love me??? Please help me, to the best that i can, love like you do Lord I can't do it without you. God Break down my heart, tear through the hardened walls, help me to know, God, what breaks your heart. Lord protect me on my journey as a christian disciple, don't let the way of the world distract me from you. and Lord help me live the best i can and help me use my gifts from you to the best of my ability so that it will be pleasing to you.
Hey Ki-Ki,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to express my joy that it "clicked" for you!!!
That is a truly beautiful prayer!
It's hard to believe or know how gracious God is Ki-Ki to open our hearts and receive the truth of his word and spiritual things as this song!
It has been awesome see in you grow in Christ over this year, keep your head up high no matter the circumstance!
So, how is the Devotionals going?
-James
Well Pine cove was pretty much amazing((((: The lessons that James taught on about decisions is probably the lesson that has stuck with me the most and clicked the most. Yesterday at school, all throughout the day God was on my mind. I was constantly thinking about the decisions i was making, wheter it was what i was doing, what i was laughng at, or what i was saying. It is such a new experience for me, something I've never felt before. I can honestly say that before this weekend Christ wasn't on my mind 100 percent of the time, and sometimes that is really hard to admit. At school i really felt distant from other people, its not something thats easy to explain in words. I feel like I have a new sense of joy and im growing more satisfied in Christ(: Like James was saying today the more i look back i can see how unsatisfied I was, (and a snickers won't do to help fill that) but Christ is what fills that. I think people saw a difference yesterday(: which is terribly exciting! I was reading my devotional book in class yesterday and a girl leaned over and asked me what is that? and i told her its my devotional book, its kind of a guideline to help me grow in God, and she thought it was really cool(((: It seems like everyday something new clicks and i get a better understanding how much of a merciful, commpassionate, loving, graceful, peaceful, passionate God really is!!! This is still all really new to me, and i hope to keep growing in my walk with Christ, and i would like for everyone to pray for me for this, because at school it is really hard to keep close because of the pressures of everyday and all the sin that you can practically see going on.
ReplyDeleteAlso heres some other stuff that has been going on(((:
In my devotional book today it was talking about chosing between life and death and the verse used as Deuteronomy 30:19-20. The thing that caught my attention the most is the word chosing or choice. A choice is a decision which goes along with what James taught on at Pine Cove.
God uses songs alot of the times to tell me something ot to get a point across, (something that i need to learn). well sometimes those songs are not meant to be about Christ. In te song 'Never Gonna Be Alone by Nickelback'
the lyrics are:
Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,
I won't let you fall...
Never gonna be alone!
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone.
This is part of the chorus of this song. God never leaves us alone and he won't let us fall, even when we can't hold on by ourselves anymore, he helps us get through the pain and he is also there in happy times(:
Also Pine cove was such a blessing(((: It was really encouraging to hear from the staff members that we are always a very awesome group(: we go in with smiles on our faces and keep working even though we're tired(((:
Another song I feel God was trying to speak to me through was "How He Loves Us'. It got me to thinking, God is so gracious and loving, and forgiving that he loves us even though truly we aren't worth it. I can't even imagine what it would be like to love everyone and keep loving them and be able to forgive them the way God does when they sin and fall away. It is truly amazing to think about.
hehehehe... terribly exciting :)
ReplyDeleteI agree!!!!!!!! Pine cove was amazing!!!!!! The lessons really hit home!!!!!!!!! Every choice we make has a consequence, good, or bad, even if we don't see it. It could affect someone and us not even realize it!
I am a fairly indecisive person when it comes to little things (where to eat, which sticker to choose for my car etc...) I have never really thought that it would make much difference... When it comes to my faith, I am a bit more opinionated!
But every choice means something! Its something that I am going to have to work on... I have a whole bunch of jumbled up thoughts in my head that are just dying to get straightened out... prayer and time, challenges from people etc.. have all helped, and will continue!
While I am here, and we are talking about songs, I was listening to masquerade, by seventh day slumber. I have heard this song plenty of times, I knew the lyrics but never really listened to them. But yesterday was different.
"I don't know what to think about me anymore,
Cause I am still the same as always.
Here I am again, that same old broken man.
I can't make it on my own. I need You.
Chorus:
And I am not afraid of anything anymore.
And I am not ashamed, the masquerade has ended.
And I will stand for You even if I lose it all.
Cause nothing really matters,
[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/Itje ]
You are all that matters, Lord.
As messed up as I am, still You bring me in.
You take me in Your arms and hold me.
The worthlessness I feel, You make it disappear.
You are always there, You're endless.
(Chorus)
I don't know what to think about me anymore.
Cause I am still the same as always.
I am not ashamed of anything anymore!!!!! That is what I want! I made a choice to let things go, now, I might fail today, but I made the choice, and hope to keep making it each and everyday!
the masquerade has ended, and I am free to be bold inn Christ!!!!!! I don't have to worry about what people think!!!!!!
Thanks for sharing! Its really encouraging!!!
ReplyDeleteand i did the terribaly exciting part just for you!!!