IBS Week 19:

Nick:
Reflection:

Father thank you for this day of rest to think about what all you have done. It really is incredible to look back and rejoice and see what all you have done and brought me through. You have grown me so much father. You have made me do things I don’t want to do but in the end its always for my good. In the past, I would have ran from most situations that you that you have brought me through here. But you have shown me to press on, to persevere and to endure. You have changed me much Lord but there is still much work to do. Im very far from imitating Christ and your likeness. Its has been so easy for me to get caught up in the preparation of the nest season and what it looks like. Ive have been keeping my eyes on myself and what is in it for me that I sometimes lose Gods perspective on it all. Our lives here on this side of heaven is only to prepare us for heaven. To make us more like his son. In the process we get to be vessels of Gods grace and are the lights in this dark world. Even though the death of gunner this week was tragic, I know you will use it for the good. It is truly a blessing Lord to see you working in the life of other people. Thank you for those eyes, your eyes.

Julie:

John 5:2-17 – “The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath”

Jesus sees this paralyzed man and wants to heal him.  My ESV version says that he is an “invalid”.  That class consisted of the blind, lame, and paralyzed.  Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to be healed?”  The man gives some kind of excuse, probably out of fear, but Jesus tells him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”  The man was instantly healed, and he took up his mat and walked.  I know I have many things that deem me “invalid”.  I am prideful yet insecure, lacking self-control yet crippled by fear.  This passage was Jesus speaking to me asking “Julie, do you want to be healed?”.  “Yes, Jesus, yes I do!”  My excuse for getting up and walking, again probably out of fear, is that I do not want to fall again.  This fear came from past experiences.  Once Jesus healed me and picked me up, I hit the ground running just to find myself back on the floor begging for God to pick me back up.  I left Him in the dust and ran on my own strength.  After a very hard fall in this last season, Jesus has once again healed me and picked me up, but this time I am deciding to walk in His stride and not my own.  This takes self-control that I do not naturally have and humility that I also do not naturally have.  But this new season of walking with Him very slowly and at His pace has grown me in those areas as well as patience and how to wait upon the Lord.  

IBS Week 18:

Nick:

IBS Ephesians 4:2-3

Father, thank you for this morning in your Word. Thank you for getting my parents here safely yesterday and for the time we had with them yesterday. Thank you for convicting me of my judgement I had on them. You're the judge not me. You call me to love them not condemn them. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Lord you call me to bear with them in humility and gentleness, not be there critic. I want them to feel at home here with us and feel welcome and loved not judged and nervous. Help me to be eager to maintain unity in the spirit, not discord or dissension. Help us to be bonded in peace today Jesus. True biblical love is difficult but achievable with Christ. 

Julie:

John 15:1-17 “I Am the True Vine”

As we read through this passage in a women’s Bible study, I was given an image by God.  This passage talks about how Jesus is the Vine, God is the Gardener, and we are the branches.  The second verse says that He takes away all branches that do not produce fruit.  I thought of a big beautiful tree (which is me).  And as I stood there, I produced fruits that would grow and drop on the ground.  I started thinking of what fruits I was dropping.  Some of my fruit was fake! Plastic! Non-nutritional!  I was producing fruit in vain.  I was not letting God grow Spiritual fruits in my life.  My next thought was, “Why am I not letting You work in my life, God?”.  He said, “You don’t trust me”.  He was right!  I wasn’t trusting Him.  I was so worried about looking down and seeing some kind of fruit laying on the ground, I didn’t care if it was fake or not.  I didn’t want to waste my time trusting in God if there was a chance that He would not let my produce.  So, yes, I am this tree, and, yes, I have fruit for all to see around my tree --- BUT, what about the day that someone, maybe a Spiritually hungry child, comes to my tree for shade and food?  What is going to happen when they take a bite of my fruit and they find out it is plastic, or worse poisoned?  That thought convicts me to the core.  I am thankful for the image God gave me, because I no longer want to produce fruit for looks or vanity or quantity, but for quality and health and Spirituality.

IBS Week 17

Nick:

IBS Acts 8

I was reading in Acts 8 this morning of Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. This passage is both encouraging and convicting. When the angel of the lord told him to rise and go toward the south, he rose and went. John Macarthur’s new testament commentary says that the road down from Jerusalem to Gaza was almost a deserted road that was hot and untraveled. Yet Phillip didn’t question the prompting of the spirit. He was not fearful of what to say, he was not to lazy to go a route that seemed foolish to travel. He simply trusted God. God Prepared this divine appointment, Phillip just had to obey. So the Ethiopian was in his chariot reading in book Isaiah. This was a very wealthy man seated high up in his chariot. To most this would have been an intimidating circumstance to be in. Not for Phillip, He knew the Lord Jesus had sent him there. The Lord then commanded him to join the chariot. So Phillip coming behind the caravan ran up to the chariot and heard him reading Isaiah. Commentary says that it was custom to read out loud in those days. Phillip had to have known this was why the Lord sent him down the abandoned road. He must have been full of excitement and joy, but also boldness.

Julie:

1 Thessalonians 2:12 – “we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

When we are exhorted or encouraged, we are usually complimented or promoted in some way or another.  That little boost of confidence is always a good enhance our walk.  But sometimes we must be humbled to walk in a manner worthy of God.  And how loved are we when He does this?  He sees us as sheep (dumb) walking in the wrong direction, usually blinded by some kind of pride, and He redirects us from walking straight off a cliff.  The humility that follows that kind of “ego blow” is that of lowliness.  But it is a good place to be, because then you can refocus yourself back on God and bask in His love that He has for us.  That state of humility is exactly what make us worthy.  It sounds so backwards to the world, but that is the manner God asks us to walk in and stay in.  I want to be thankful when God brings me back to that point of humility, no matter what the cost.  I want to look at it as His love and guidance for my life.

IBS Week 16

Nick:

Ephesians 1:14 The spirit is Gods guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Father thank you for this morning in your word. Thank you for sending your son Jesus as the propitiation for our sins that we can be restored back to you and that we could be in your presence.

So that we can have peace and rest. Jesus thank for coming down and leaving all of your divine privileges to come down and save us from the power of sin and ourselves. Thank you for being obedient until the point death on the cross so that the promised spirit from long ago would be poured out on us. And spirit thank you for making your home within us and teaching us about the father. Without you spirit, I would be able to grasp and understand the things of God.

Julie:

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ”

I used to ride the fence with what I believed about God.  I used to love learning different theories on who God was or where He came from.  But all that those questions do is drive me away from Him and make me doubt Him.  What I do know to be concrete in my heart is that the answers to the questions I have are too wonderful for my head to fathom.  They are too great for ANY human to comprehend.  Most of the questions we hear and repeat are just questions lacking faith.  They are questions that have been asked for centuries with no answers in sight.  (Ex. If God can make a rock too big to move, how does He move it?)  I do believe in questioning things and learning on our own, but God is something I cannot dissect and analyze.  He is not of this world, and not even the smartest of minds can figure Him out.  I am proud to say that I have given up the battle of my flesh in trying to make God something of this world.  It makes heaven that much more exciting to get to, in my opinion.  I do not want the enemy creeping into my mind and telling me I need to “figure out” God.  I am at peace knowing that He is real and that He loves and protects me.    

IBS Week 15

Nick:

Acts 3:16 “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed, and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus name has healed this man before his very name.

Lord Jesus I was saved in the power of your name. I know that what I am is because of you Jesus. But I don’t fully understand the power that comes from my faith in your name. I believe Lord but help me with my unbelief. I want to know more of you Jesus. I want a deeper and stronger faith in you. I read this passage and it is just somewhat mysterious to me. It is such a deep verse. This is where all of what you give us comes from, faith in your name. The only reason any of this Christian walk and experience is possible is because of what you did and are now doing through the power of your spirit.

Julie:

 Ephesians 6:1-3 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

This verse has been a great verse for us to teach Trent.  Trent wants to obey, but he needs help – as we all do.  The bible is a guide to every trouble, no matter the age.  We had always told Trent the command to “obey your father and mother”, and he has had to recite it back to us many of times as well.  But one thing that I never noticed was that this commandment was followed with a promise.  The original verse in Exodus 20 says “…that is may go well with you.”  Trent is still a child and doesn’t understand complete sacrifice, so I thought this was pretty neat that God would know exactly how to speak to a child so they would hear.  If they obey this command, then they get something.  How often is that our parenting technique?  We tell Trent all the time that we are trying to make his life easier in the future (that it may go well with you) and protect him (that you may live long in the land), and that is why he should obey us.  God not only laid out in His Word a motive for Trent to obey, but encouraged Nick and me in our parenting.

IBS Week 14

Nick:

Acts 2:11-12 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs. and we all hear these people speaking their own languages about the wonderful things God has done! they stood there amazed and perplexed. “What does this mean?” They asked each other.

None of what we do or say holds any weight unless we are doing through the power of the Holy Spirit. I can just imagine the apostles telling the crowds all about Jesus and Gods wonderful mystery of the kingdom of God. Testifying to all of the miracles Jesus performed during his ministry on earth. Them sharing their testimonies of the saving power of Gods grace and how it can truly transform lives. God chose the ones who the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. God transformed the lives of these fisherman from Galilee. They were now here in Jerusalem, redeemed and transformed by the power of God into trophies of His grace for all the world see. What took place here Pentecost wasn’t just for these apostles once for all time. He wants to use our lives in the same way through the power of his spirit. We to are to consider and proclaim the wonderful things he has done for us. To testify to the things we have seen and heard from him.

Julie:

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 – “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”

When I read this verse, I was being pressed from every side by God.  I was in distress and skating the fine line between discouragement and depression.  If I could put this verse in a “Julie Version”, it would go something like this – “The walls are closing in from every side, but we are not crushed; confused, but not overwhelmed to discouragement; captured and beaten, but not abandoned by God; humbled to lowliness, but able to keep walking; we suffer like Jesus because He is manifested in us.”.  The first point is that we are never defeated – especially by death.  And even if death does take us, we have eternal life, so death still has not won us.  The second point is that we suffer like Jesus because He is in us.  We do not get the reward of having Jesus in us without having all of Jesus in us.  That includes not just the salvation, eternal life, and joy, but it also includes the flogging by family and friends, the pain and suffering needed to grow, and the humility of dying to self.  But once you know a life with Jesus in you, what better way to live?  As it says in Psalm 84:10, “For a day in your courts (or presence) is better than a thousand elsewhere.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”.  I have walked the path without Jesus in me, and it is hell in comparison to the hardest day with Him in me.  I pray I keep this perspective and grow more into it.

IBS Week 13

Nick:

1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider the wonderful things he has done for you.

As of recently the Lord had brought to my attention how lazy and irresponsible I have become. I have been making small compromises and neglecting the small things that the Lord has given me. I have been unfaithful in areas in which the Lord has given me to be faithful in. My perspective and my heart have been so far off from what God has intended for me. I know that he has great plans from me, but along the journey I have forgotten that to be given more I must be faithful in the little things. I have, in a sense, grown weary of doing good, of serving him. I’ve allowed myself to be distracted by things and people. Things that ultimately are temptations of the flesh and drag me way as James puts it in 1:14. The Lord by his gentleness has redirected my path and has brought to my attention the cliff I was getting to fall off of. There is a countless list of incredibly wonderful things He has done for me out of his boundless love. Because of this, Lord please restore my heart to you so that I can fear you and serve you faithfully with all my heart.

Julie:

2 Corinthians 3:3 – “And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tables of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

In the Old Testament, the people followed the law of Moses.  They followed the ten commandments that were written on stone tablets.  They kept their distance from God in the temple.  They sacrificed when they sinned.  But now, we worship a God who does not keep a veil between us.  We follow a God who has already accepted the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, His Son.  And most of all, we do not have to go back to the stone that the ten commandments were written on because they are now written on our heart.  We now live for a God that conquered death and defeated the grave.  The guilt and shame that we once carried around on our hearts is now replaced by hope and faith.  That hope and faith has a character on our hearts.  It is the cross.  At the cross, when Jesus died for our sins, we discovered a relationship with God that does not require the weight of the law to be carried around in our hearts, but a light and peaceful word.  I felt this weight go away when I read this verse this morning.  God reminded me of His hope, truth, light, and faith.  And what comes out of the mouth comes from where? The heart!!! If the things God reminded me of are dwelling in my heart, then they will overflow off my lip and into the heart of others.  My application is to remember the what is truly dwelling in my heart that God placed there, and let THAT flow from my mouth.

IBS Week 12:

Nick:

Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

This was a portion of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples when they asked him to show them how to pray. He never said to pray for things to go the way you want them to go, but he said to pray for gods will to be done here on earth. I want to come to the point of wanting gods will to be done and nothing more. I know there has to be a huge freedom in wanting only what god wants for us. He created us and knows best for us. He knows the plans he has for us, we don’t. I find myself trying to figure out or predict what God might have for our family and he never asks us to do that. Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow. But our spirit is willing but our flesh is week. We want to know what God knows, and we can’t have that. We try and say this is his will and we think we know and we dwell on the ideas that we form. Ultimately, these thoughts will never give us the satisfaction we are looking for. We will never have the peace our hearts long for. I know that there is that peace and freedom once we have that perspective of wanting only Gods will to be done, not mine.

Julie:

1 Corinthians 7:23 – “You were bought with a price; do not become bond servants of men.”

This is one of those verses that you hear a million times, then one day it really sinks in how true and personal it really is.  Where I was spiritually when I read this verse this morning wrecked me.  I know that I am bought with a price, but have I really ever measured the weight of that price?  I’ve tried.  But I never fully grasped it.  As I read this though, God opened my eyes to recognize what exactly was given for my salvation.  The weight of Jesus’ blood was on me.  I felt it.  It was heavy.  I was humbled!  I was in awe.  I was convicted.  I had not been respecting what God sacrificed for me – his Son.  I have a son.  I can only taste the pain of the sacrifice.  And it was for me!  This lack of respect had landed me in giving myself to men (the world), not God.  Man does not own me.  Man did not create me.  Man does not know my future.  God does.  Why do I enslave myself to something that does not even care for me the right way?  Man usually has an ulterior motive or a selfish ambition.  I, as God’s beloved, cannot let myself get entangled in the pleasing of man any more, for man has nothing to offer me because I now have a better understanding of the weight of my price.  I am far more valuable than to fall into the snares of the world and be overcome by it.  I am God’s purchase and I will let Him be my guide.  I will let Him overcome me, and I will submit to my Creator.

IBS Week 11:

Julie:

Acts 17:28 – “For in Him we live and move and have our being…”

I am so happy, to the point of tears, to realize my faith in God is maturing.  I no longer doubt His Presence when I don’t feel Him close and my stressing out of situations is subsiding because my faith in Him has grown.  I am to let my past experiences be the precedents that give me faith.  Thank you, God, for my trails that have strengthened me.  Please continue to live and move in me.  Please continue to grow me.  You are right next to me, watching me, right now.  I want to grow so much more in You, that I acknowledge You every moment of every day, and not let You slip to the background as the day goes on.  I want to be as confident in your Presence then as I am during devos in the morning.  When I take up my cross every morning, I want to know Your Son is carrying His cross with me too, although I do not always feel Him near.  Because You live and move through me, I can have to selfless ambition to run and it not be in vain.  That chain of condemnation has been broken!  God, I do not want to treat You like the wind, but instead acknowledge Your Presence and honor it.

IBS Week 10:

Nick:

2 Timothy 2:21 – “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

Father, thank you for this morning here with You in Your Word.  Thank you for your grace and mercy and for allowing me to be healthy.  Thank you for Your Word and Your revelations of who You are.  On Saturday the 24^th, on the way to the beach, Austin asked me to teach chapel on the 6^th of July.  God, You are so incredible.  To bring a guy like me from where I was to where I am now is a miracle.  It’s who You are.  It’s what You do.  You brought to mind on Sunday during church a verse that You gave me very early on during my walk with You – 2 Timothy 2:21.  Lord, You have cleansed me from what is dishonorable, and now I am ready for You to use me for every good work.  Whether it be teaching, media, gardening, or leading my family, they are works that You have prepared for me to bear fruit for You.  God, You are so good and faithful.  Thank you for choosing me to be a part of Your kingdom.

Julie:

Luke 7:36-50 – The woman with the oil

This woman was bold by being such a sinner and walking into a Pharisee’s house.  She honored Jesus (I think) by standing behind him.  She acknowledged who she was by weeping.  She obeyed the Holy Spirit (I think) by giving Jesus her oil.  She sacrificed (I think) by giving her valuable oil.  If I had to guess, I would say it was expensive.  She didn’t do this act to be forgiven (I don’t think).  I honestly think she was compelled by the Holy Spirit to pour out all she had to Jesus, whether it was much or little (like the feeding of 5000).  She probably thought she couldn’t offer anything of enough worth because she was such a sinner, but she had the same child-like faith that the boy had in the feeding of 5000 to humble herself (to not care what others thought) and to give up what she had (sacrifice).  She did not even have water or a towel.  She used her tears and hair.  On her way to Jesus I’m sure she thought, “I am so unprepared to do what I am being compelled to do, but here I go anyway.”  She was faithful when it made no sense to be.  She was so bold and courageous to walk into a Pharisee’s house being such a sinner that everyone knew her.  And little did she know that by giving her oil, tears, and hair (something so little), she gave MORE than anyone else at that house.  She didn’t let the enemy tell her that because she had so little that it wasn’t enough in comparison to the “Pharisees” and “disciples”.  She just walked when God called.  And in being so faithful, Jesus forgave her of her sins and she was able to be at peace.  For a sinner, it is truly a relief to hear that you are forgiven.  I’m sure hearing it from the mouth of God, face to face with Jesus, was beyond words can explain.  This woman didn’t seek to serve Jesus to earn her forgiveness, she simply walked in the Spirit.

IBS Week 9

Nick:

LUKE 7:22-23 - AND HE ANSWERED THEM,"GO AND TELL JOHN WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND HEARD: THE BLIND RECEIVE THEIR SIGHT, THE LAME WALK, LEPERS ARE CLEANSED, AND THE DEAF HEAR; THE DEAD ARE RAISED UP, THE POOR HAVE GOOD NEWS PREACHED TO THEM.  AND BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO IS NOT OFFENDED BY ME.

THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN CAME TO JESUS WANTING ANSWERS FOR JOHN ON WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS THE ONE TO COME. IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT WHEN THEY ARRIVED HE WAS PERFORMING THE MIRACLES THAT HE PROCLAIMED HE WOULD DO EARLIER IN CHAPTER 4, WHICH WAS PROPHESIED IN ISAIAH 61. JESUS DIDN'T HAVE TO SELL HIMSELF OR JUSTIFY HIMSELF OR CONVINCE THE DISCIPLES OF HIS IDENTITY. THEY WITNESSED THE MIRACLES AND JESUS SIMPLY SAID "GO AND TELL JOHN WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN". HE IS THE ONE TO COME AND HE IS DOING THE WILL OF GOD BUT IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN WHAT JOHN THOUGHT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE. HE MAY HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHEN HE WAS GOING TO SET HIM FREE FROM PRISON, BECAUSE THE PROPHECY STATES THAT HE WOULD SET THE CAPTIVES FREE. HE DID SET THEM FREE AND GOD'S WILL FOR JOHN WAS TO BE WHERE HE WAS. IT ALSO STUCK OUT TO ME THAT WHEN WE ARE BEING SAVED BY JESUS, WE BEGIN TO SEE, WALK, WE ARE CLEANSED, WE HEAR, AND WE ARE RAISED UP BECAUSE WE HEARD THE GOOD NEWS THAT WAS PREACHED TO US BY THE SPIRIT. AND BLESSED ARE WE WHO ARE NOT OFFENDED BY HIM WHO WORKS WITHIN US.

Julie:

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 – “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”

When I first read this verse, years ago, I thought Paul was just being poetic.  I completely overlooked important words like “chosen” and “Holy Spirit” and “conviction”.  But as God has grown my understanding for Him and my desire to be closer like Him, I have begun reading the Bible with different eyes.  1 Thessalonians was not on my daily reading today, but I felt compelled to read it.  And as I read this verse, I was amazed at how possible it actually is to be completely transformed by God when we hear His gospel and accept it.  The Holy Spirit really can radically save and give power and conviction.  It doesn’t always have to be a struggle with accepting Him (like Jacob the night he became Israel).  I know this is possible because I have seen my husband’s walk with the Lord.  It took a while for me to humble myself and accept that he is sold out for the Lord.  And it took even longer to accept that I was the one who struggled with God.  But watching Nick’s walk and seeing his loyalty and faithfulness to God, I have been encouraged to let go of the struggle and just accept because IT IS possible.  And v6 says …”with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all believers…”.  Nick really has set an example of true surrender to the Lord. And as I humble myself and see him for who he truly is (a man of God), I step into the role of submission and respect to him as God has designed.

IBS - Week 8

Nick:

FRIDAY MAY 26, 2017. MARK 13:37 AND WHAT I SAY TO YOU I SAY TO ALL: STAY AWAKE. 

I HAVE TO STAY IN AN EXPECTATION THAT HE IS GOING TO RETURN IN MY LIFETIME. THAT HE IS GOING TO COME IN ALL HIS GLORY RIDING ON THE CLOUDS CALLING US UP TO HIM AND TAKING US HOME. I DONT WANT TO BE SLEEPING IN MY FAITH AND RELATIONSHIP WHEN HE DOES. I WANT TO KEEP MY HANDS TO THE PLOW,, NOT TURNING TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT. EACH DAY THAT PASSES IS ONE DAY CLOSER TO HIM IN HEAVEN. I FIND IT FASCINATING THAT EVEN JESUS DOESNT KNOW WHEN THE DAY WILL COME FOR HIM TO RETURN WILL BE. I IMAGINE ON THAT DAY, THE FATHER TURNING TO JESUS AND SAYING ITS TIME. JESUS STANDS UP FROM THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD AND OUT OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US, COMES AND TAKES US HOME. I HOPE TO BE ALIVE ON THAT DAY. IT WILL DWARK EVEN THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE OR REVELATION HES GIVEN TO ME. OUR HEARTS WILL MELT AND WE WILL BE OVERCOME BY THE SIGHT OF HIS GLORY. COME LORD JESUS! BRING US HOME.

Julie:

IBS Week 7 – Luke 1:45 “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

I always love to find verses in the bible that talk about “she” and “her”.  Although some verses are saying “she” as in wisdom or a city.  But this verse is about a woman!  This verse can actually relate to us as women, because it was said by Mary.  God gave Mary a promise and she believed.  She had faith.  She carried the promise that God spoke to her and didn’t doubt.  Not only is her faith and belief something to point out and admire, but also her promise was fulfilled.  God DOES fulfill His promises to us.  He fulfills His promises to me!  He wants to see me living in his blessings, but with faith.  His will will come to pass regardless of my faith, but how much more significant is his fulfilled promise when I can say I held on to faith with endurance during the suffering and waiting.  Mary is truly an example here for me.

IBS - Week 7

Nick:

MAY 24 MARK 11:22-24 AND JESUS ANSWERED THEM, HAVE FAITH IN GOD. TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, WHOEVER SAYS TO THIS MOUNTAIN, BE TAKEN UP AND THROWN INTO THE SEA, AND DOES NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, BUT BELIEVES THAT WHAT HE SAYS WILL COME TO PASS, IT WILL BE DONE FOR HIM. THEREFORE, WHATEVER YOU ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT, AND IT WILL BE YOURS.

I CAN NEVER FORGET GODS PROMISES THAT HE MADE TO ME EARLY ON IN MY WALK WITH HIM. GOD GAVE ME THE FAITH TO BELIEVE GENESIS 12:1 EVEN WHEN THERE SEEMED TO BE IMPASSABLE MOUNTAINS IN THE WAY WHEN HE GAVE IT TO ME. GOD HAS MOVED SO MANY MOUNTAINS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN I COULD’NT EVEN COUNT THEM IF I TRIED. IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE AT THE TIME, TO BE FOR ME TO BE WHERE I AM TODAY, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. PRAISE GOD THAT I CONTINUED TO BELIEVE WHAT HE HAD TOLD ME IN MY HEART AND NEVER THROUGH IT AWAY. THERE WERE MANY TIMES OF DOUBT, BUT GOD ALWAYS SEEMED TO RESTORE MY BELIEF. I CANNOT FORGET THAT, BECAUSE OF JESUS’ STATEMENT IN THESE VERSES, I AM EVEN HERE.

Julie:

 Galatians 6:17 “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus”

I was beginning to let the enemy get to me.  I was letting him use people to take my eyes off of Jesus.  He dangled a shiny ball in my face and I began to bite.  But very quickly God unhooked me from that and directed me in another path. (And more importantly, He moved me with His Word and His Truth.  Which shows growth in our relationship.)  He reminded me of two things – 1. I bear the marks of Jesus Christ and 2. Because of that, no one should cause me trouble.  Jesus suffered the mocking, the shame, the flogging, the scourging.  Jesus carries the whip marks on His body.  Jesus had the nails pierce His hands.  It was Jesus whose side was pierced, shoulder dislocated, face spit on.  I can only imagine how many actual marks were on his dead body.  And why? For me!  That’s what I deserved.  And if my mindset is on Him and what He did for me then I am humbled.  And where does a humble man sit?  On the floor with their face to the ground.  Therefore, let no one cause me trouble because I can go no further down than I already am.  “There is no counter punch for humility”.  And if I keep my eyes on my Savior and meditate on His Spirit that lives in me (and bears the marks), then I can “mind my own business”.  This keeps me free from letting people and circumstances influence me.  This keeps me out of the enemy’s bondage.  I was truly freed in reading this verse. 

IBS Week 6

 

NICK:

MAY 19, 2017 MARK 7:15 “THERE IS NOTHING OUTSIDE OF A PERSON THAT BY GOING INTO HIM CAN DEFILE HIM, BUT THE THINGS THAT COME OUT OF A PERSON ARE WHAT DEFILE HIM.”

ITS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THOSE THINGS THAT DEFILE ME, THAT TAKE ME OUT OF THE SPIRIT AND HIS PEACE. JESUS CARES ABOUT OUR HEARTS, NOT ON THE THINGS ON THE OUTSIDE. THESE THINGS DO HAVE SOME IMPORTANCE IN HIS KINGDOM, LIKE STEWARDSHIP, BUT THE CONDITION OF THE HEART IS OF MORE IMPORTANCE. THERE ARE MANY OUTWARD THINGS THAT GOD HAS CALLED ME TO HERE, BUT THEY SHOULD NEVER COME BEFORE THE HEARTS OF MY FAMILY. THE MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY WIFE AND SON ARE WEIGHING ON MY HEART AND I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE COULD BE MORE LOVE DIRECTED TOWARDS THEM. I NEED TO BE SPENDING MORE TIME WITH THEM WHEN NOTHING IS GOING ON AROUND HERE. I CAN BE INVESTING MY TIME INTO THEM SO THEY FEEL MORE LOVED BY ME. LORD I NEED YOUR HELP IN GUIDING ME IN THAT DIRECTION. I CANT FULLY LOVE THEM THE WAY YOU CALL ME TO WITHOUT YOUR HELP. I WANT TO BE A LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER WHO GIVES THEM MY TIME.

 

Julie:

IBS Week 6

Mark Chapter 5

Mark Chapter 5 has shown me more of who Jesus’ character is.  Which is amazing because I prayed for that before I read this morning.  God is so good!  There is a pattern here with three different occurrences.  The pattern is the “unclean” coming to Jesus in faith and Jesus healing them with compassion.   Jesus goes to Gerasenes and comes in contact with a man that possesses an “unclean spirit”.  Before Jesus arrives, the man is unable to be contained and is cutting himself.  The man was not happy and cried all day and night.  The man sees Jesus (v6), runs to him (v6), and falls at his feet (v6).  And Jesus cast the demon, named Legion, out of him.  Jesus had the compassion to heal this unclean man despite what the old testament says which is to leave the unclean alone.  Because of this man’s faith in Jesus, he was healed.  The second instance is when Jesus heals the woman who was bleeding, which according to the old testament, the women who bled had to remain outside the camp because they were unclean, but Jesus had compassion on her.  She heard who Jesus was (v27), came up to him (v27), and touched him (v27).  Her faith in Jesus and who he was, healed him, as it says in v28 – “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”  And being face to face with Jesus, she fell down before him and confessed (v33).  Her faith and boldness and confession healed her.  The third instance in this chapter is Jarius’s daughter who was dying.  Jarius was a Pharisee or some kind of Jewish worshiper in the synagogue.  He should not have believed in Jesus like the others, but he did!  He saw Jesus (v22), fell at his feet (v22), and implored (or begged) him (v22) to heal his sick daughter.  During all of this, the child did die and Jesus went to her.  And taking her by the hand – actually touching her (v41), she came back to life.  In the old testament it is a law that no one could touch a dead body because it was deemed “unclean”.  Ok – so all of these circumstances occurred for us to remember that Jesus defies the laws!  He actually steps over them in love and grace and heals us!  Us – unclean people – sinners – liars – addicts – dead to Him – doubters – adulterers. I mean, Jesus loves us, as we are!!!!! And if we are willing to recognize him, fall at his feet in humility, and in faith believe that he can heal us a love us then he will (be it his will).  The best way to sum up this chapter is with v36 – “Do not fear, only believe”.  The depressed man, the man opposing Jesus, and the shamed woman I’m sure all had fear in confronting Jesus, but despite that, they did it in faith not fear that he would heal them and he did!!!!



IBS Week 5

NICK:

SATURDAY MAY 13, 2017  MARK 2:9-12 WHICH IS EASIER, TO SAY TO THE PARALYTIC, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN, OR TO SAY, RISE, TAKE UP YOUR BED AND WALK? BUT THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT THE SON OF MAN HAS AUTHORITY ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS-HE SAID TO THE PARALYTIC- I SAY TO YOU RISE, PICK UP YOUR BED, AND GO HOME. AND HE ROSE AND IMMEDIATELY PICKED UP HIS BED AND WENT OUT BEFORE THEM ALL, SO THAT THEY WERE ALL AMAZED AND GLORIFIED GOD, SAYING, WE NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

 THE SCRIBES IN THE SCENE COULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES THAT JESUS REALLY DID FORGIVE THIS MANS SINS BECAUSE OF THIER LACK OF FAITH AND BELIEF. SO JESUS DECIDED TO GIVE THEM PROOF OF HIS AUTHORITY ON EARTH. HE WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING EQUALY AS IMPOSSIBLE FROM AN EARTHLY PERSPECTIVE. HE WAS GOING TO HEAL A MAN OF HIS PARALYSIS SO THAT THEY KNOW HE HAS THE POWER TO FORGIVE THIS MAN HIS SINS, REGARDLESS IF THEY BELIEVED OR NOT. HE HEALED THE MAN AND HE JUST WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM. I CAN JUST IMAGINE THE ROOM IN DEAD QUIET AND PEOPLE JUST IN ABSOLUTE AWE OF WHAT JUST HAPPENED. IT SAYS THAT THEY WERE AMAZED AN GLORIFIED GOD. THIS EVENT WAS SO INCREDIBLE THAT ALL THEY COULD DO IS GLORIFY GOD. ANOTHER THING IS THAT EVEN THOUGH JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY ON EARTH, HE NEVER USED IT FOR BAD OR RETALIATION OF DEFENSE OF EVIL AGAINST HIM. HE ONLY USED IT FOR GOOD. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE FAITH OF THE FRIENDS OF THE PARALYTIC WHO BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS WANTS TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE WITH PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE HE WANTS TO DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS AS HE HAS DONE FOR US. HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO, WE JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH THAT HE WILL, FAITH THAT HE CAN SEE.

 

Julie:

 

IBS Field Time Week 5

Colossians 2:16-19 – Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.  Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

“Let no one pass judgment on you…” and “Let no one disqualify you…” both really spoke to me and ministered to me.  The passing of judgment is regarding the things that we involve ourselves with.  In the old testament, before Jesus, this included Jewish ceremonies to advance spirituality.  Today this means, in my life, raising my child as a Christian the way I see fit in the Lord.  I will not be moved by the world any longer in regards to what I know is the right way to raise Trent.  I had always fallen back into the judgment of other people and let them shake me.  And in fear of them, I changed my way of raising Trent to a more worldly way instead of staying on the Godly path.  The disqualifying of one is in regards to strong self-disciple and strong worship.  Some have looked on my behavior as a Christian and said that “I have taken it too far” or “I’m too radical” or “I’m trying too hard to earn God’s love”.  I have let myself be embarrassed for my outward display of love that I have for Jesus, and I have let it stunt my growth with Him.  I have to remember that only God can truly pass judgment me on my day of going home to heaven, and only He can convict me for over doing any act of disciple or worship for Him.  He alone keeps me pure and grounded.  So why should I let the world sway me with their judgment and disqualifying when I do not answer to them?  (Yes, I do answer to my husband and authority – but only in what’s pleasing to the Lord and I submit to them unto the Lord.)  I will be in prayer to not let the criticism of the world sway me but instead draw me closer to Jesus.  I have to remember that the world tried to judge and disqualify Him first.

 

 



IBS Field Time Week 4

Nick:

“WHO THEN IS THE FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT, WHOM THE MASTER HAS PUT IN CHARGE OF THE SERVANTS IN HIS HOUSEHOLD TO GIVE THEM THEIR FOOD AT THE PROPER TIME? IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THAT SERVANT WHOSE MASTER FINDS HIM DOING SO WHEN HE RETURNS.” MATTHEW 24-45-46

 THE LORD HAS BEEN BRINGING ME BACK TO LISTENING TO HIS VOICE AND BEING OBEDIENT TO IT. I HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED FROM ALL THE BLESSINGS AND SURROUNDINGS THE LORD HAS PLACED IN AND AROUND MY LIFE. EVEN THOUGH I AM IN A MINISTRY WITH OTHER BELIEVERS, THERE STILL IS THE THREAT OF THE ENEMY DISTRACTING ME WITH THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. ALSO FOR MY FLESH TO TRY AND SATISFY ITSELF IN THINGS GOING ON AROUND ME. PRAISE GOD THAT HE HAS BROUGHT ME BACK TO OUR RELATIONSHIP AND HIS VOICE BECAUSE ITS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. ITS WHERE ALL THE FRUIT COMES FROM. ITS THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS WORD. ITS THE ONLY WAY I CAN LIVE THIS VERSE OUT. THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME WITH A WIFE AND SON AND HAS CALLED ME TO BE IN CHARGE OF MY HOUSEHOLD, AND TO FEED THEM AT THEIR PROPER TIME. IF IM NOT IN THE SPIRIT AND LISTENING FOR AND TO HIS VOICE, HOW AM I TO KNOW WHEN HE IS ASKING ME TO FEED THEM? HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT TO FEED THEM? IF IM TRYING TO DO THIS IN THE FLESH, IM LIKE THE SERVANT IN VERSE 49 THAT BEATS HIS FELLOW WORKERS. THIS IS A VERY TERRIFYING POSITION TO BE IN WHEN NOT RELYING, DEPENDING, AND TRUSTING IN THE LORD. THE LORD ISNT CALLING ME TO PREACH TO MY FAMILY. HE IS ASKING ME TO FEED MY FAMILY AND GUIDE MY FAMILY IN HIS STRENGTH NOT MINE. LIKE PAUL SAID IN ROMANS, “THANKS BE TO GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Julie:

Matthew 23 – “Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees (me)” …

 v3 – They preached but did not practice.  I do not want to be the hypocrite who tells people to have faith during storms but when a storm coms upon me, I have no faith.  V4 – They lay heavy burdens on people’s shoulders.  I do not want to be the wife or friend or sister who lays my burdens on other people to make my load lighter.  It only creates a stumbling block for them in their walk with Christ.  V5 – They do their deeds to be seen by others.  I have recently been convicted of seeking the Lord in vain and it makes me sick that I can be that rotten and self-centered.  I do not want man to look at me and say, “good job, but instead God look at me and say, “well done my good and faithful servant”.  V6 -  They love honor and the best seat and people addressing them as Rabbi.  I can say all day how these kinds of arrogant and assertive people test my patience, but I can very easily be the same way.  When I don’t get the best seat, I want to be happy for the one who does deservingly get it.  V15 – They travel far to recruit but them corrupt them with false doctrine.  I do not want to just be enthusiastic about acts of service, but also give my service the best I can.  I do not want to grow lazy in a responsibility I was once so happy to receive.  V16 – The swear by  the temple, but the gold of the temple is too sacred to swear by.  Wow – that anything could have been more sacred than God, but how many times do I do the same thing?  I do idolize certain things and the real confusion (which could be the same in this passage) is what I idolize relates to God.  So what I’m doing is dressing up my sin of idolatry with God and calling it Holy, but in reality and deep down I know that I am choosing God’s gift to me over God himself.  V23 – They tithe spices but not justice, mercy, and faithfulness.  They were giving away things of the flesh, but not things of the heart.  God asks us to die completely to ourselves and that includes our hearts as well.  I pray that I never let my acts of kindness be more visible than the work it is doing in my heart.  V25 – They clean the outside of the cup while the inside is still dirty.  Can I really think that if I serve every time I can, and always smile, and fast and pray fervently, that no one will see through the façade.  I can clean the outside of my cup till it is crystal clear, but if the inside of my cup is dirty then any water I pour out will be just as filthy.  A dirty cup does not have living water in it.  Only by Christ can our cups be washed clean on the inside.  V30 – They mourn for the martyred and the dead prophets, then boast that their fathers were the ones that killed them.  I never want to be someone who exaggerates who they are to fit in with the crowd they are around.  I once was this way, like a boat without an anchor being tossed by the waves, but now I have an anchor and over any characteristics I have, I am first a daughter of Christ and my full identity is found in Him and His truth.

IBS Field Time Week 3 April 24th-30th

Julie:

Matthew 17:26 “And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.”

In this section, Jesus and Peter are approached by a tax collector who asks Peter if Jesus pays taxes.  Peter answers “yes” and they go on.  But I love the way Jesus turns this into a lesson for Peter.  He asks him if he thinks Kings take taxes from their heirs.  Peter believed that the kings collected taxes from others, and Jesus adds “Then the sons are free.”  I am an heir of the King!  Therefore, I am free and exempt from paying taxes to Him.  The ultimate payment was already made, and that was Jesus Christ.  I am free from having to pay for my sins because I am a child of God.  I do not have to earn my freedom.  I can keep my mouth shut and my body still and I will still be exempt.  And going along with saying that I am a child of God is Matthew 18.  “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  What is a child?  They are vulnerable with their parents.  They are humble enough to ask their parents for help when they are in need.  And they trust that their parents will protect and comfort them in all situations.  This is the child of God I want to be, and who He wants me to be.  I am thankful to be an heir of God, so my prayer is to have more gratitude in my heart.

Field Time Week 2 April 17th-23rd

Nick:
Tuesday April 18, 2017 Matthew 10:27-28 "What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Through the spirit we receive revelation and insight from the Lord. He pours out his wisdom and understanding on us. He shares his truth with us. There will be times when the spirit is compelling us to say things in the light to people. Things that Jesus told us in secret that he wants us to proclaim from the rooftops. He may ordain a certain conversation with somebody, or put us in front of many people. II Corinthians 5:20  "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. God uses us to further his kingdom and for his sovereign will to be done.” And when he does call and ask us to be those messengers, we must not fear flesh and bone. We must fear the one who created us. The one who determines whether it will be heaven or hell.

Julie:

Matthew 13:44 “The Parable of the Hidden Treasure”

This parable has really made an impression on me.  I’ve heard that there are a couple of different ways to view what Jesus means when he says, “the kingdom of heaven”.  When I read this verse, I thought of heaven itself.  Some may think of heaven on earth.  Anyway, the revelation I had was that heaven is my ultimate reward.  My walk with the Lord thus far has been to seek Him, and sometimes when I do that I get discouraged when I get no reward.  Then I realized my heart must be in the wrong place to feel tired of chasing Jesus and coming up short (in my mind).  But, I was missing the heart – the love – the faith.  The man in this parable found his treasure (heaven).  Then he covered it back up and walked away from it.  That must have taken some real faith that it would still be there if he left it there while he went out and handled other business.  His faith becomes even more encouraging when we find out what he left his treasure to go do.  He sold all that he had.  I can’t wrap my head around what everything was to him.  Was it his money and assets, or was it his family, was it himself?  Whatever it was that he sold, the treasure he found was greater.  And once all that he had was gone and he stood alone with some denarii, he didn’t seem to question what his next step was.  He purchased the field that possessed his treasure, so that it could be his.  This man didn’t steal or manipulate or cut corners to get his treasure.  He didn’t say “I want to have my cake and eat it too”.  No, he sold all that he had it hopes to possess the best treasure he had ever seen.  He did this out of faith, and his treasure for that faith was treasure.  What he gave up where things of the world, but what he gained was eternal life.  He didn’t have that child-like mindset that says, “I would rather have one now than a hundred later”.  He knew what was important and he put his mind to it until he possess it.  I am praying that I can be that faithful and steadfast like the man in this parable.

IBS Field Time – Week 1 April 10th-16th

Julie:

Matthew 10:39 – “Whoever find his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

I am finding myself numb, like a robot.  On the plane back to Guatemala and a few days after arriving I was worrying a little inside because I thought I had cracked.  I thought I was broken of connecting my emotions to my actions.  But as I was journaling, I was saying how lost I feel.  I feel like I have lost grips of who I am and what makes me “me”.  I feel like I no longer possess compassion or empathy or happiness or sadness or anger.  I’m just existing right now.  The enemy has tried telling me that people in my life who are emotionless have rubbed off on me.  He has also tried convincing me that Dad dying as so tramatic that I have flipped all my switched off to avoid dealing with it.  But instead of freaking out (which I can’t do anyway), I turned to God.  And God showed me this verse and reminded me that I am on the right path.  I felt so much peace when I read it.  I felt joy – not to be confused with happiness.  I felt my fruits growing not my emotions.  God reminded me that if I lose myself, I will find myself in Jesus.  God is sanctifying me.  He is setting me apart from the way the world thinks.  I do not want my emotions to guide me anymore, but instead the truth.  I felt like I was walking just parallel to the Christian walk, so close that it looked like I was on it, but my path had a cliff that I had just walked off.  But this verse disillusioned the trick the enemy was playing on me.  I feel so comforted knowing that God is transforming and renewing my mind to be more like Him.

3/31/17 – Friday – IBS – Proverbs 12:1 - Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

    but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Julie:

Pretty direct.  Those who love and accept discipline, accept knowledge.  Those who hate discipline, hate knowledge.  This verse is so simple, but means so much.  For instance, no one can ever take knowledge from you, so why not accept it?  This point should help us to realize how special knowledge is.  The next point is, why we think we shouldn’t.  It is because we think we already know.  But all over God’s Word it says that the prideful are not wise.  The world thinks those two characteristics go together, but in reality (or in God’s eyes), it is a hindrance to any growth.  Not accepting disciple for the sake of gaining knowledge hinders our growth in not just knowledge, but it also hinders our humbleness, our self-control, and the softening of our hearts.  This person is a fool (or stupid as my ESV says – but we don’t say that word in our house).  

Thursday March 30, 2017 II Timothy 2:2 And what you have from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Nick:

The revelation and understanding that God gives us through his word is a blessing that we are not to keep to ourselves. We are to have fellowship over it. Some are called to teach it to other faithful men who will then in turn teach also. But we all are called to be students of his word. We never know when God will place us in a circumstance that requires us to draw upon the knowledge we gained during our time here as students. We were all called here for a reason and I believe its because God in some way wants to use us all for his kingdom work. There will be some of us who will be called to teach and some even to preach and pastor churches. This season is to prepare us fro the next season, and the next for the next and so on. Knowing this, we must continue to be students of his word in each season because we never know when he will call us to teach what what we have learned to other faithful men.

Julie:

This verse is the truth of a disciple. In verse one, Timothy refers to the readers as children.  What they have heard and what has been taught to them should be then taught to other faithful men.  In doing that, they will turn around and teach others the same.  If we think about a nicely stacks display of glasses, with fifty on the bottom then forty-five then forty and up and up until it gets to one cup on top, then we pour water into the first cup.  What happens?  The first cup gets full and begins to overflow, but the cups that are holding it up now get poured into until they are overflowing, then the next cups, then the next.  This is a beautiful picture of what it means to disciple.  Timothy understood that what these children in the faith learn, they must eventually get to a point of spiritual fullness where they go out and and teach others, who go out and teach others.

Wednesday March 29, 2017 Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Nick:

Our righteousness is our faith in Jesus Christ. Teach one who belongs in the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will increase in learning. Why does the righteous man increase in learning? The righteous man knows that he always has something to learn. He knows that he can never fully understand all of what God is. Teach him can come in many different ways. Know . ledge is one way of learning. Like here in ignite, there has been a curriculum laid out for us to learn from, to walk in. We learn from pastors and teachers teaching from the word in a class room setting. We also learn from experience. An example here has been Austin letting the guys teach a message on an area of scripture that God has put on our hearts. For me learning from experience is the most efficient way to learn things. Counsel is another way of being taught. Something comes comes up in our lives and we want to make sure we are doing things pleasing to God. Sometimes we are so caught up in the circumstances we can’t see through the fog. So we go to trustable godly men for couple or advice on what route to take. Proverbs 15:22 Without couple plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. All these different ways of being taught in the end come from Gods providential hand, and I think that is the key to increasing in learning. God is always trying to teach us something, we never will fully understand it all.

Julie:

So many times I think I'm wise enough.  So many times my pride stands in the way of receiving instruction.  But this Proverb says that a wise man takes instruction.  So what I'm understanding from this verse is that a wise man humbles himself to receive correction.  He may know the measure of his wisdom, but he also knows that it is never enough.  The hunger to humble ourselves so we can be filled with more is wisdom.  What I am is skewed and foolish.  I'm full of my self in this sense.  So how can a person who is full of themselves be full of anything else?  They can't!  And the worst part about it that, is pride is a synthetic fullness.  Nothing about it fruit bearing.  Today I was given instruction on how a godly woman should act.  I felt my pride welling up inside me saying "You are already a godly woman.  You don't need to change anything.  Especially what this person is saying. Be meek!?! Ha! No way!  I need to be a light.  My efforts, my credit, me, me, me."  But I knew, after reading this verse, that those thoughts are nothing more than the enemy trying to get a foothold of me so I cannot grow.  He wants to stunt my spiritual growth by letting my pride hinder my acceptance of instruction.  I pray that the Lord will give me more opportunities to choose the humble road of accepting intruction instead of choosing pride.

3/28/17 – Tuesday – IBS – Luke 2:46 - After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Julie:

I can only imagine how terrified Mary must have felt when she realized her son was missing.  If Mary was confident enough to have Jesus’ head count before they left, then I can only assume that was because he was such a well-behaved child.  Plus he was twelve, not seven!  Anyway, if Jesus, being a well-behaved character was drawn so far from obeying his mother and father, it must have been for something worth it.  And it was.  It was for God.  Something sparked in him deep enough to say to himself “God over parents”.  I bet it was the Holy Spirit drawing him in closer to where he came from, heaven.   I feel that sometimes.  I feel the Holy Spirit attempting to draw closer to me.  But He only draws as close as I’m willing to soften my heart.  If I remain stiff-necked and hard-hearted I do not get to experience Him on such a deep and intimate level.  Unfortunately, this softening requires letting go of things in the world.  But Jesus didn’t leave his parents forever.  He was with them again.  Which gives me hope when I have to let go of things and it hurts.  Jesus chose God over literally everything.  His family, his source of food, protection, shelter, his everything.  He watched it keep walking and he chose to stop sit at God’s feet and dwell there instead.  Jesus truly is the greatest example we can have.

Monday March 27, 2017 Mark 4:10-11 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything is in parables.

Nick:

Jesus is the secret of the kingdom of heaven. The disciples had Jesus, the word in the flesh. Everything that was prophesied in the Old Testament about the coming of Christ was sitting right in front of them in the flesh. Colossians 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the rich of the Glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Being born again and baptized by the spirit, we have been born into the kingdom of God. We are part of his body, the church. He dwells within us using us a vessels to accomplish his master plan. Colossians 2:9-10 For in him the whole fullness of the deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. Jesus is the secret of the kingdom of God, and we have been “crucified with Christ, it is no longer us who lives, but Christ who lives in us. and the life we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Julie:

Jesus told the people, including the disciples, about the parable of the sower.  He taught many things in parables.  But why?  This was the same question that the disciples and a few others had.  He said, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables”.  That sounds like another riddle as an answer to his first riddle.  But what Jesus is actually doing is letting them know that the very fact that they are asking for an explanation shows that they already know the real secret past the sower parable.  They did not here, not comprehend, and walk away.  They were hungry for answered and stayed to get them.  They did not understand but wanted to!  The other people, which were so many he had to get in a boat to teach, did not care to understand his teachings.  They are considered “outside” in Jesus’ explanation.  When we search for understanding of God’s Word we are searching for God.  I am guilty of thinking, “Oh, that teaching went way over my head. Oh well…”  And when I do that, I am just like an outsider, not gaining the secret of the Kingdom of God.  I am a student to God, so everything I here, I should want to understand.  I do not want to just here someone’s doctrine and run with it because… well…. It keeps me from thinking too hard.  I want to be teachable to God’s Word.  That desire is the secret.

3/21/17 - Tuesday - IBS - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 -  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Julie:

What I feel when reading this is conviction of not having the self-control that I should have.  I have a big heart and the right motives, and that is good momentum, but without self-control, I'm useless.  Self-control helps me to not exhaust myself.  It keeps me from keeping simplicity alive.  It keeps me out of danger.  I need self-control over my thoughts, my actions and my words.  I tend to get excited and let that take me too far.  This is immaturity because it is a lack of self-control.  It's a form of being impulsive.  I may not be impulsive to buy things or make changes in my life, but when it comes to expressing myself, I am impulsive.  But I am running a race.  And just like runners, I do not want to sprint the whole time less I tire out and quit.  Sometimes I have to slow my pace down.  Long distance runners are constantly calculating how much distance they have left vs how many calories they have eaten to burn.  They are deliberate with their actions.  That is self-control.  And at the least, they do not quit when they get tired.  I want all of these qualities in my spiritual race.  I wan to obtain the imperishable crown for running with endurance and self-control.  I want to get to the finish line where my Father tells me how proud he is of me.  These forms of self-control are something that I have desired for a long time, and I am just not able to obtain them.  So I know that I can only get them through God.  I just have to stay in prayer for him to give me self-control.  I have put myself in enough bad situations from lack of self-control to realize that I need to pray for God's discipline to rule over me until it becomes natural to run with self-control.

Monday March 20, 2017 I Timothy 4:8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and life to come. 

Nick:

While practicing self control and whipping your body into submission as Paul likes to put it is of value here, godliness holds both value here and in the life to come. What is godliness? I Timothy 3:16 says "Great indeed we confess is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” The understanding  of what God did through Christ and magnitude of it. So training myself in this understanding of Jesus Christ and the knowledge of him is of much more importance than physical training. Christ crucified should be an importance in my daily walk with the lord. It should be a meditation. Reading scriptures on the events leading up to, during, and after should be a daily discipline. Having fellowship with other believers over these scriptures and revelations would only increase my understanding and would draw out more insight into his life. Seeing that he is the way, the truth, and the life, why would I seriously devote the majority of my time to something other than growing in godliness. Keeping ourselves in what he did and his love for us will be the source of our joy and hope here and in the life to come.

Julie:

When we think of bodily training, we may think of running and working out.  And although that is correct, it is not the only kind of training that we need to strive for.  Being self controlled, patient, and loving all require training as well.  They are fruits of the Spirit, and as we all know, fruit does not just appear.  It must be grown.  Or else it is fake or plastic fruit.  It is easy to be discouraged when we do not see immediate fruits after three days of caring for a garden.  If we get more real with this metaphor: It is not easy when we give our brother our other cheek when he has struck one.  It is not easy to acknowledge the plank in our own eye, when we are focused on the speck in our brother's.  It is not easy to lay our fear down so people can taste and see the Lord through our boldness in faith.  It is not easy to cast our anxieties onto the Lord.  I could some all of this up by saying it is not easy to way the costs of following Jesus and still pick up our cross to follow Him.  That is why we train in the little things, so that when Jesus calls us to deeper water, we go.  The training place may be nothing like the arena, but it's all relative.  As an example, walking with 5 lb weights on each ankle may not seem necessary.  It may actually be a nucence.  But as you walk, your body is building up muscles stronger than if you had no weights, so that when the day comes that you need to run, you can do so faster.  God is working out our muscles of self control, love, patience, endurance, unity, faith, discipline, and so many others.  It is hard and it hurts, but the Heavenly reward is so worth it.  I pray that when I am in seasons of suffering or lacking, that my perspective would be thankful that I am actually training for godliness.