You know you're getting old, when you go to bed before midnight on New Year's Eve, in spite of having company over. :) The guys (& Myah) were getting up early the next morning for a duck hunt. The moms and younger kids, well, we were just tired.
In processing the new year, here are some personal goals:
* Read through the Bible again this year. This has changed my life. I use this plan, and love it.
* Pray more... and more... and more... This is where the power lies, and yet it is always such a battle to begin.
* Memorize Psalm 119... or at least a lot of it. :)
A new thing I have started with Myah, my 12 year old daughter:
We share a journal and write back and forth. What a blessing this has been! I write in it when it is my turn, and leave it on her bed for her to find. She then responds and write back, and leaves it on mine. What joy comes when I walk in my room, and find that special treasure waiting to be read. :)
Regarding homeschooling:
Relax. Enjoy the moments. Don't worry about being legalistic about finishing every task in the curriculum. I am learning that my kids learn so much from avenues I never dreamed of. They learn from having responsibility and tasks. They learn from every day life. Yes, the other is important, but it isn't all that is important.
Finally, "Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you." My life must be an example to my children and all around me that no matter what task I am doing, my goal is to be a vessel used by the Lord to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Aside from Christ, I have no hope. He needs to be everything in every moment. I need to shine His light in all I do.
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
PONDERINGS FROM 1 JOHN 3 -- Part 2: Hope
1 John 3:2-3, 5 "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as he is pure...and you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin."
Living with the hope of knowing that someday I shall be like Him, gives me the drive to "purify myself". My hope can be in nothing, but Jesus. He is the One Who saves me. He is the One who is "manifested to take away our sins".
When contemplating this thought, I read some things by David Guzik that really put some light on these verses. In thinking about sin... all my hope of being saved from sin is in Christ. None of it lies with me. Jesus saves me from the penalty of sin (justification), the power of sin (sanctification), and the presence of sin (glorification) in my life. It is a work we must respond to, but it is HIS work. I do not need to clean myself up before coming to Christ, but I come to Him, and let Him do the cleaning. This is why I can say, my only hope is in Christ. My ONLY HOPE is in CHRIST. When He is my only hope, my response will be to purify myself.
The question isn't, 'Do you sin?' but rather how do you respond to sin in your life?
Battling sin and hating it in our lives is the process of "purifying ourselves" and is great evidence of genuine salvation.
Living with the hope of knowing that someday I shall be like Him, gives me the drive to "purify myself". My hope can be in nothing, but Jesus. He is the One Who saves me. He is the One who is "manifested to take away our sins".
When contemplating this thought, I read some things by David Guzik that really put some light on these verses. In thinking about sin... all my hope of being saved from sin is in Christ. None of it lies with me. Jesus saves me from the penalty of sin (justification), the power of sin (sanctification), and the presence of sin (glorification) in my life. It is a work we must respond to, but it is HIS work. I do not need to clean myself up before coming to Christ, but I come to Him, and let Him do the cleaning. This is why I can say, my only hope is in Christ. My ONLY HOPE is in CHRIST. When He is my only hope, my response will be to purify myself.
The question isn't, 'Do you sin?' but rather how do you respond to sin in your life?
ARE YOU DOING BATTLE AGAINST SIN IN YOUR LIFE?
Battling sin and hating it in our lives is the process of "purifying ourselves" and is great evidence of genuine salvation.
"The grace that does not change my life will not save my soul." ~Spurgeon
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