My physical body is sooo tired from today I almost feel as though I'm sleeping while awake? LOL...so excuse me if this post is a bit...uhh...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....what? Oh...uh...what was I saying? :)
I had a wonderful day today although it started out a little rough. Have you ever had one of those days when you go to church and you can't sit still and you feel like you would rather be anywhere else than listening to the message you are sitting in? (oh come on...you know you have!!!!!! at least once? Ok...so your a saint...)
Well, while I don't think I can say I would rather have been anywhere but there...I really was totally frustrated with the message. It was about the Minorah and its symbolism and representation of the body of Christ and...ect...ect...and yes my attitude was horrible. And I apologize to those of you who love all that stuff but usually...while I know there is a lot to be learned from it...I have never been into all the different feasts...and all that stuff...or church history. I wish I was...but it is so hard for me to focus in on and really give it my all. I know it probably shouldn't...now start talking to me about revival and missions and church planting and Paul's life...ect...and I'm all EARS!
Even when Beth Moore dishes it up...I usually find myself tuning out. We missed worship because we were so slow moving this morning but I was so ready for church...so ready...and then as we walked in and I started listening I just got so antsy...
I read the bulletin like 5 times...played with my shoe...sat on the floor - yes I actually sat on the floor...we were in the back so I could...tugged on John's foot a few times...all the while listening...and being frustrated....ready to go. (acting like a child in truth) I just kept looking up at John and was thinking...honestly...I wonder what he's thinking if I'm feeling like this...
So when it was all said and done with I was like "Man! That was hard to sit through..." and I expected him to share about how he felt the same way and then go on to discuss what it was exactly that made me feel that way...but...(record scratch)...He enjoyed it! It was a very good solid teaching he said...I said "What?!?"
I thought back on what he had shared...and I was like...what's the deal. I was bored to tears...I was longing for something to stir my spirit...call me to battle...rattle my cage...
I had an epiphany while sitting there after his message was over...I was worshipping and opened my eyes to see many people still sitting down...they had made their chairs their alters and some were hugging each other...some where crying and some were standing with their hands outstretched worshipping God as though no one else was in the room...what did I miss?
I kept thinking...that wasn't a moving message. Or was it? After I walked away from service I felt like I had been cheated...my heart was not in the right place and because I prejudged the message because it was about a Jewish symbol and figured I knew where it was going...I missed a blessing. I went so hungry too...or was I? I felt like I was expectant and so ready to hear from God since I hadn't had my time with him in like 2 days...and then there I was...still hungry for the word of God.
So afterward we had a birthday party to go to and it was so much fun. Some dear friends of mine's little daughter was turning 3...we went and had a great time. We didn't get home until late and so after making dinner...cleaning and putting the boys to bed I sat down...still hungry...although my tummy was full...
I received a message from a dear friend who shared a scripture that God had pointed her to and spoke into her life through and so I went and read that chapter and man...the word of God is like living waters...just as the Bible says. Our God is so incredible and so wonderful...and His Word is so alive and real. I want to leave you with that chapter...be blessed and seek God with all that you are!
Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Life by the Spirit
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
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