Out of the box

Our Bible study group is currently doing "Here and Now - Then and There: A Study of Revelation" by Beth Moore. Each day we are to ask God to reveal himself to us, and then we are to briefly journal telling how God has done just that throughout the week.

For quite sometime, God has been revealing bits and pieces of his greatness to me. Last week I had a dream (I will not share the details) but the message he was reinforcing to me was that I am to let him "out of the box". My faith is too structured, too "in the box", too ordinary. He can be anything he needs to be, do anything he needs to do, go anywhere he needs to go in order to reveal himself to us, to reach us, to work miracles on our behalf. We have a tendency to wrap the Almighty in flawed flesh -- just like us. He, however, is far greater than our minds can comprehend. He has been gracious enough to give us small glimpses of his greatness, his power and his brilliance via his creation all around us, under our feet and above our heads.

Chris Tomlin wrote a song a few years ago that addresses God's greatness. Our God IS indescribable! Enjoy.

Love,
Sherry

Fill'n up

Last year the Siestas on the Living Proof Blog were challenged to memorize 24 verses of scripture. In January we met in Houston to celebrate our year in scripture and to say our verses. I memorized Psalm 139 and Philippians 3:10a (25 verses). The Siestas will not be doing this through LPM, however, several of us are continuing to memorize scripture on our own in 2010.

Personally, I have enjoyed putting scripture to memory and find that it becomes easier the more I do it.

This year I have memorized Revelation 17:14 (part of the "Here and Now, Then and There - Study of Revelation" by Beth Moore. Also I have begun memorizing James 1. This is what I have put to memory so far this year:

"They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them,

because He is Lord of lords and King of kings -- and with Him will be His

called, chosen and faithful followers."

Rev. 17:14 (NIV)

"This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am writing to the 'twelve tribes' -- Jewish believers scattered abroad.

Greetings!

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way,

consider it an opportunity for great joy.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

James 1: 1-3 (NLT)

My verses for March are:

"So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,

you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.

He will not rebuke you for asking.

But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.

Do not waiver for a person with divided loyalty is unsettled

as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind."

James 1:4-6 (NLT)

I will be memorizing 28 verses this year; 1 out of Revelation and 27 out of James. What a privilege it is to be free to have numerous Bibles -- in various transaltions! However, if I do not use them or put the Word in my heart and mind, they profit me little. I hunger and thrist for more of my Lord, so I choose to fill up! :)

Love,

Sherry

Rock'n and a roll'n

I live in a very small town that's near a larger city and a short distance from our state capitol. In our little town the newspaper is published weekly -- yes, I said weekly. This was the headlines of our little paper this week:

You read it right! We had a 4.4 earthquake last Saturday! No damage was done, thank the Lord. It has been so interesting to hear the various stories of those who experienced it. Some people only experienced the shaking, some felt the shaking and heard rumbling sounds simultaneously.

In our case it was a bit different. Hubs and I were at home: I was in the living room and he was on the patio enjoying some sun. All of a sudden I heard "thunder", except this "thunder" was underground. I could hear it swiftly moving toward the house and my first thought was "Is this an earthquake?", then I braced myself for the possibility of shaking earth. After about 3 or 4 seconds of rumbling, the shaking began and lasted only 2 or 3 seconds, then it was over! I remember a sensation of warmth which in all probability was the warm air in the house shifting as well.

Hubs said he could hear the thunderous sound waves coming toward him, then popping sounds. Following the sounds he saw the fence moving and shaking and the floor beneath his chair began shaking. It was over in a matter of seconds, however, time seemed to slow down and everything was in slow motion - except for the shaking.

Haiti had experienced a terrible earthquake days before. Chile had just had an 8.8 earthquake the very same day! One of many numerous thoughts that flooded my mind was "What is happening to our world? Is it trying to come apart!" Then as quickly as that thought passed, the Lord reminded me that He has it all under control!

What a blessed peace only He can give in the middle of our shaking worlds! We can experience "earthquake" moments that can change our lives forever. Satan desires to shatter and destroy us. God, on the other hand, tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "'For I know the plans I have for you' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" God brings restoration and hope in the middle of our life-quakes in place of destruction and despair.

As children of the Most High God we have the assurance that he will never leave us or forsake us. His plan for our lives is perfect and good. When challenges come our way, we can ". . know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 KJV)

So whenever you are faced with a trial, think of it as a test not a tribulation. Tests are given to assess how much a student has learned. Tests are give for the student to pass -- not pass out!

Love,
Sherry