Posted in Personal Bible Study, tagged Ephesians, Prayer, revelation, Wisdom on July 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »
This was my reading and my prayer for the day …
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what the hope is of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:17-18)
Amen!
Posted in My Beliefs, Personal Bible Study, tagged good and evil, quarrelsome, Romans 16, Wisdom on July 24, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Today’s reading fits will with several things I have been pondering for quite some time.
I’ve often wondered if the false teachers that the Bible warns us about know that what they are teaching is wrong; whether they are purposely lying and misleading people with a sinister intent … or whether they are simply deceived themselves and believe all that they teach.
This passage doesn’t really clear that up for me; maybe both are true. But this passage does reaffirm my decision to stop posting at C-M. It’s not been easy – that was “home” for so many years and I truly love all of the people there regardless of whether I agree with them.
But sometimes people become so “spiritual” and are so far out in left field that it’s impossible to have a real conversation. And a few are always quarrelsome. And I found myself, more and more, being angry. I’m not really sure what I was angry about … I just became so tired of seeing garbage spewn as “truth” when I know it is not. Tired of the accusing; tired of watching innocent people being swept away by bad doctrine; tired of Truth being painted as bad, and of lies being presented as good.
I guess that’s why today’s reading spoke to me … isn’t it funny how perfectly a passage can dovetail with your own life?
Now I beseech you, brethren, to mark them who make dissensions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For they that are such, serve not Christ our Lord, but their own belly; and by pleasing speeches and good words, seduce the hearts of the innocent. For your obedience is published in every place. I rejoice therefore in you. But I would have you to be wise in good, and simple in evil. (Romans 16:17-19)
I love that very last line, too … be wise in good, and simple in evil. Amen!!!
Thank you dear Father. I ask once again that you protect me from being deceived; help me to be compliant and to hear your voice; help me to follow and to learn whatever you want to teach me; fill me with your Wisdom. In Jesus’ name I pray!
Posted in Personal Bible Study, tagged Dad, death, Lowell Aldrich, Patricia Aldrich on July 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »
On this date in 2002, the Lowell and Patricia Aldrich family spent the day together for the last time on this earth.
Nine years. It doesn’t seem like it could possibly be that long ago. We were all together at Creighton hospital in Omaha with my dad. He was awake; he was talking; we had hope.
On that day I was alone with him when the LORD came to take him home. I was able to honestly hold my hands open and release him to God’s care; and I heard God’s voice: “Lori, I am so much bigger than all of that.”
What blessings. What sorrow. What a gift to have had that man as my father; he was quiet, gentle, kind, peaceable, and had such a wonderful sense of humor.
About a month ago I was driving across Iowa to visit my mom. It was a beautiful afternoon and the crops were just starting to grow well – corn and soybeans at early stages across the landscape. I thought about how much dad loved to see a pretty field; how he liked to just drive and look. As soon as I thought how neat it would be if he was driving with me that day, I knew that he was.
I couldn’t see him, of course; and I don’t imagine the spirit of our loved ones spend a lot of time driving with us. But I just felt such a strong sense of God giving me a gift for a time. It really is inexplicable so I won’t spend time trying to explain it, only to say that I know it was real and I burst into tears of wonder and joy and gratitude to God for that gift. It was wonderful. 
What have I learned since this day, nine years ago? I knew on that day how greatly God had answered an earlier prayer of wanting to know Him more, to trust Him more, to have a faith that would carry me through dark valleys. He has built on that, bringing me through a long dark valley of depression; forgiving me and guiding me away from a time of deceiving myself and sinning against Him; He has shown me what a wonderful life I have been given from the very start, and I am amazed at how truly blessed I have been.
I have learned how much God desires prayer from me, and He has taught me how to pray better; how to dedicate myself to praying for those He gives to me. I have learned how to accept the mystery of prayer, that I really don’t see or know very much at all, but to simply trust and “just do it.” I firmly believe this is a purpose and a ministry God desires to lead me into more deeply.
I’m all ears … I pray for more. More of Him; more Wisdom; more of His power; for His glory.
Posted in Personal Bible Study, tagged 1 Chron 16, Give Glory, John Piper, Rejoice on July 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »
This was part of my reading today. It’s beautiful and poetic – which is somewhat a surprising gem to find in the book of Chronicles – and I just want to revel in it today.
Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be glad: and let them say among the nations: The Lord hath reigned.
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all things that are in them.
Then shall the trees of the wood give praise before the Lord: because he is come to judge the earth.
Give ye glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (1 Chronicles 16:31-34)
I think of how we are told that all the earth gives glory to God; and passages like this that speak of fields rejoicing and trees praising just lifts my heart up to Him all-the-more.
I am reminded of these quotes by John Piper … they are wonderful and oh-so-true!
It is about the greatness of God, not the significance of man. God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself.” — John Piper (Don’t Waste Your Life)
“The really wonderful moments of joy in this world are not the moments of self-satisfaction, but self-forgetfulness. Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon and contemplating your own greatness is pathological. At such moments we are made for a magnificent joy that comes from outside ourselves.” — John Piper (Don’t Waste Your Life)
Posted in My Beliefs, tagged Bible, Jesus on July 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »
I read this on my sister-in-law’s blog and liked it … so naturally, I stole it 🙂
Jesus Christ is in every book of the Bible
In Genesis, Jesus is the Seed of the Woman.
In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb.
In Leviticus, He is the Priest, the Altar, and the Lamb of Sacrifice.
In Numbers, He is a Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by Night.
In Deuteronomy, Jesus is the Prophet, like Moses.
In Joshua, Jesus is the Captain of Our Salvation.
In Judges, He is our Judge and Lawgiver.
In Ruth, He is our kinsman Redeemer.
In 1 and 2 Samuel, He is our Trusted Prophet.
In Kings and Chronicles, He is our Reigning King.
In Ezra, He is the rebuilder of the broken down walls of human life.
In Nehemiah, Jesus is our Restorer.
In Tobit, He is the Messenger of New Life.
In Judith, He is Weakness Turned into Victory.
In Esther, He is our Advocate.
In 1 and 2 Maccabees, He is the Leader who dies for God’s law.
In Job, Jesus is our Everliving Redeemer.
In Psalms, He is our Shepherd.
In Proverbs, He is our Wisdom.
In Ecclesiastes, He is our Hope of Resurrection.
In the Song of Songs, He is our Loving Bridegroom.
In Wisdom, He is the emanation of God’s thought.
In Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Jesus is our security.
In Isaiah, Jesus is the Suffering Servant.
In Jeremiah, He is the Righteous Branch.
In Lamentations, He is our Weeping Prophet.
In Baruch, He is the Mercy from the Eternal One.
In Ezekiel, He is the One with the Right to Rule.
In Daniel, Jesus is the Fourth Man in the fiery furnace.
In Hosea, Jesus is the Faithful Husband forever married to the sinner.
In Joel, He is the One who Baptizes with the Holy Spirit of Fire.
In Amos, He is the Restorer of Justice.
In Obadiah, He is Mighty to Save.
In Jonah, He is our great foreign missionary.
In Micah, He is the feet of one who brings Good News.
In Nahum, Jesus is our stronghold in the day of trouble.
In Habakkuk, He is God my Savior.
In Zephaniah, He is the King of Israel.
In Haggai, He is the signet ring.
In Zechariah, He is our Humble King riding on a colt.
In Malachi, Jesus is the Son of Righteousness.
In Matthew, Jesus is God with us.
In Mark, He is the Son of God.
In Luke, He is the Son of Mary, feeling what you feel.
In John, He is the Bread of Life.
In Acts, Jesus is the Savior of the World.
In Romans, Jesus is the Righteousness of God.
In 1 Corinthians, He is the Resurrection.
In 2 Corinthians, He is the God of all comfort.
In Galatians, He is your liberty. He sets you free.
In Ephesians, Jesus is the Head of the Church.
In Philippians, Jesus is your Joy.
In Colossians, He is your Completeness.
In 1 and 2 Thessalonians, He is your Hope.
In 1 Timothy, He is your Faith.
In 2 Timothy, Jesus is your Stability.
In Titus, Jesus is Truth.
In Philemon, He is your Benefactor.
In Hebrews, He is your Perfection.
In James, He is the Power behind your Faith.
In 1 Peter, He is your Example.
In 2 Peter, Jesus is your Purity.
In 1 John, Jesus is your Life.
In 2 John, He is your Pattern.
In 3 John, He is your Motivation.
In Jude, He is the Foundation of your Faith.
In Revelation, Jesus is your Coming King.
Coffee with God 