Do you really know God?

Yesterday and today, my bible studies have confronted me with the idea that I may know about God, but not really know him. When asked questions about what He has done in my life, I struggle to think of an example, but I know there are millions. I am excited about God. I love God. I want more and more to study His Word. I believe I am being convicted of having some head knowledge, but very little heart knowledge. I need to go to the living room and leave the kitchen (reference Having a Mary Spirit in a Martha World. Do you really know God in your heart?

Lord, I pray that you will penetrate and fill my heart as you have filled my mind so that I may fully experience and share the full measure of your glory and power. I want to be changed by you completely. I want my entire life to be a testament to your glory. Amen.

Bible Study

I only have three weeks left of a bible study at my church. This study has truly been a blessing and opened my eyes to so many aspects of God, faith, and me. It is Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself. I highly recommend it to women and men alike.

I am in search of a bible study to begin once this one concludes. Please leave a comment. What has your favorite personal bible study been and why?

My Heart Breaks for Moms

Today my heart is breaking for mothers who are feeling the pain of loving their children. I remember when my oldest son was in the hospital. He was 4 months old and had a fever of 105. The doctors kept telling me he was very sick, but they didn't know what he was sick with. I was all alone in that hospital room with my ailing son. I felt like Hagar from Genesis Chapter 21. Let me remind you of the story. Sarah and Abraham wanted a son, but were not blessed with a son. Sarah sent Abraham to her servant, Hagar, who bore a son. In Genesis Chapter 21, Hagar and her son, Ishmael, are sent away at God's command.

Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away for the thought, 'I cannot watch the boy die.' As she sat there, she began to sob. Genesis 21:14-16

I just couldn't bear to watch my baby laying in that hospital bed being stuck over and over with needles, lethargic, suffering. I just wanted to go about a bowshot away so I didn't have to watch. I also wanted to stay because of the intense love I felt for my son. I don't know what I would have done had my own mother not been able to drive the two hours to be with us.

At the time this happened, I didn't lean on God. I tried to bear the weight on my shoulders as Hagar did with the food and water. What I have found is that if you try to bear with your own shoulders what should be born by Jesus, you will eventually run dry. I was lost. What I know now is that when a mother's heart breaks, God's heart breaks.

Ishmael was saved by God and became the father of many nations. My son was able to leave the hopsital after three days. He just had a virus.

Today my prayer is that all mothers hurting because of their intense love for their children will know that you do not have to bear that burden on your own shoulders. You can take it to the cross and lay it at Jesus' feet. He wants to bear the burden for you. I pray that you will find solace and rest in God.

If you have a prayer request, please leave a comment and I will pray for you or your heart's burden.

My list of things to do before you die starts with: Accept Jesus

Accept Jesus
There she goes preaching again. Yes. I am. I am not going to try to convert you here on Plinky. But I will ask you to open your mind, or take another look. I recommend reading The Case for a Creator and The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

Discover Your Talents
Find out what you are good at doing, then do it. Life is fleeting. Don't you want to enjoy the time you have here?

Life a Life Worthy of a Biography
It may seem like the daily grind is all you have time for. Not so. Life your life so that someone will find it interesting enough to want to write a book about it.

Overcome a Fear
Pick a fear any fear. My major fear is confrontation as noted in the in defense of your vice post. I am working now to overcome my fear and stand up or myself. You can overcome your fears as well.

Think About Someone Other Than Yoursel
Make a difference in someone else's life. Make someone else happy for a change.

My Vice: Peace Keeping

Speak Up for Peace by * Honest *

This past week, the Lord has really convicted me of some of my major personality flaws. The main thing He convicted me of was my views on peace. There is a drastic difference between being a peace keeper and a peace maker. A peace keeper doesn't want confrontation or change. Even when things are not great, the peace keeper will do everything they can to keep change away because change means conflict. Peace keeping is led by fear and distrust. I am a peace keeper. By trying to keep the peace, I am forcing myself to live in a prison of my own creation and not the freedom of the shadow of the Lord.

Jesus was a peace maker. There is a reason why the Marine Corps calls their troops peace keepers their guns peace makers. Jesus often made peace with a sword. Has Jesus ever cut you off from something that you knew wasn't the right thing for you, but you wanted it (her, him) anyway?

Peace making implies that an action must be taken. You can't just sit by and watch the world pass wrapped in bubble paper. You have to get out there and live. Yes, its going to hurt. Yes, you will be disappointed. Yes, it will be a life worth living. If you see something that needs to change, take the first step. If you see someone who has a need, fill it. Love people as God loves us. I promise the pain is worth it.

Hope is a Gift

All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:3

Hope is a gift of the Holy Spirit and an essential characteristic of the Christian. Today, we generally think of hope as mere expectation and desire. However, hope translates into a variety of Hebrew words which mean confidence, trust, and safety. Hope also includes trust, confidence, and refuge in God. As believers, our hope is based on the blood of Jesus, who pulled us from darkness into the light. Hope is the confidence, not that God will deliver us from evil, but that He already has. Hope is trusting that God has your best interests at heart. Hope is taking refuge in the Lord and gaining your strength and rest in Him. As you practice trust, confidence, and refuge in the Lord, your thoughts, feelings, heart and soul will purify because you are walking in the light of the Lord safe from the darkness.

Defend Your Faith

Lately I have had a lot of people questioning my faith. They range from the simple to the complex. One thing that I have been able to do is explain and defend my faith. I think it is extremely important that as a believer, you be able to express to others why you believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. If you don't know what you believe or aren't sure how to explain it, its time to start reading. Read your bible. I would also suggest reading A Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. It is a wonderful book that looks at whether Jesus was real, did die, and was raised from the dead. Part of your duty as a believer is to tel others about God. It is hard to defend your faith if you don't know why you believe.

I may regret this later, but I am ready, willing, and able to defend my faith. If you have any questions, ask away.