Hi, Ladies. I'm so . . . what's the word? Inspired. That's it. I'm inspired by your responses to the last post on obedience, so much so that I'm going to make a confession before THIS post is through.
But first, our prayers for --
IRELAND, who longs for God's guidance.
ALEXANDRIA, who is under stress at a theater convention and competition.
And welcome, ALEXANDRIA! Sounds like you arrived just in time. We're jazzed that you're here and any of us will be glad to answer any questions you might have.
RESPONSES TO OUR LAST POST: There weren't a LOT of comments, but those of you who did post had some deep, honest things to say. (And by the way, anyone who still wants to comment on that post, you still can, any time.) All of you seemed to come to the same conclusion: we experience things we just KNOW are God's doing, but then we immediately step into what IRELAND calls that "puddle of doubt." (I LOVE that!) What if I'm making something out of nothing? Is this just in my head? Is it just a coincidence? Am I just groping for something that isn't there? Why doesn't God makes things more clear? Why can't I feel the Presence? We get the signs 'n wonders and we STILL doubt!
MY RESPONSE TO YOUR RESPONSE!
I won't lie to you -- it really is hard to be sure that what seems like a God-thing really is. What's easy is to give it the benefit of the doubt. Why WOULDN'T that be God? What does it hurt to believe God's talking to you through that sign or wonder? Wouldn't it be better to go with it and maybe feel a little foolish than not go with it and possibly lose out completely? If it were totally clear, where would the faith and trust come in? Does it really matter if you totally understand it? My experience (and I've had lots of it!) has shown me that you never go wrong when you believe something you think might be God really is God. I think that will become clearer in today's session . . .
OBEDIENCE SESSION #3
READ: John 5:1-9 Those of you who have been with me a while have probably heard my interpretation of this passage before, but it bears repeating. We have this guy who has been trying for 38 YEARS to get into the healing pool at Beth-zatha. Jesus of course knows his situation (POINT #1) and says to him, "Look, do you WANT to get well?" (POINT #2) The guy doesn't actually answer Jesus; he just starts whining about how nobody will help him and everybody else gets in front of him. (POINT #3) Can't you just feel Jesus getting impatient with that? I imagine him thinking, "Oh, for Pete's sake -- enough with the whining like a little girl, already." To me his voice is like, "Oh, for heaven sake, man, get up, take your mat, and start walking." (POINT #4) The minute the guy obeys and starts moving forward, he's totally healed. (POINT #5)
IMAGINE AND PONDER: First PONDER: a situation you're in where you've been whining because something isn't happening and making excuses for why it isn't happening, because maybe you're actually afraid for it TO happen. IMAGINE: that Jesus already knows all about that situation, probably even more than you do. (POINT 2) IMAGINE: Jesus asking you if you'd like for this thing to happen, (POINT 1) and IMAGINE yourself going into whine mode about it. (POINT 3) IMAGINE: the look on Jesus' face as he listens to you go on and on (and on) and the tone of his voice as he tells you how to move forward on this thing. (POINT 4) IMAGINE: yourself taking one small step in that direction and being healed as a person (POINT 5)
PRAY: Draw or describe yourself taking that first step. As you do, talk to God specifically about just that step and no further. Ask for guidance or courage or strength -- whatever you'll need to go just that far.
NUDGE TO ACTION: Do you know what that baby step might be? Then take it. Try it. Obey.
SHARE: Let's do something a little different. If you want to tell us about this experience, write your comment the way you heard that baby step being spoken to you. For example: "Susan, I know your feelings were hurt, but just write her an email and say you're ready to talk." Let's see what happens when we hear that voice being spoken to all of us.
I promised you a confession. Here it is:
I've been doing a LOT of whining this week because I'm waiting for the go-ahead to start a new book project that I really, really (and did I mention really?) want to do. The date I was supposed to know has passed and the more days go by the more I whine. How long does it take to drop someone an email? This author over here didn't have to wait that long. I don't want to nag people and be all high-maintenance. Now I have to wait the whole WEEKEND?! Finally I got sick of hearing myself (and I was running out of cheese to go with that whine), so I got quiet and said to God, "What am I supposed to do? I need to plan out my year here." I didn't get an answer right away, but a few hours later, in a conversation with a friend, she said, about herself, "I am so scattered. I need to just do what's in front of me." I could almost hear God saying, "Did you hear that, Nancy? Do what's in front of you." So I wrote this blog post for you. And right now, that's the most important thing in my world.
I love it when that happens. I'm going to write that down and put it in my Tresure Chest.
Blessings,
Nancy Rue
Welcome, Alexandria!!!!! I LOVE your name! It's one of my favorite names ever. That's what I'm going to name my eldest daughter when I'm grown up and married. :)
Posted by: Grace Anne | 01/18/2013 at 05:21 PM
Hello ladies! Sorry I've been a bit distant lately... I'm 5 weeks away from finishing all of my high school work (I'm so excited!!!) but it's getting pretty stressful. Between work, school, and various other commitments, I haven't had a chance to comment - but I've been reading the posts!
Welcome to the In Real Life blog, Alexandria!! :)
Okay, here's my confession: I'm beyond - WAY beyond - ready to be done with high school. To be honest, I complain a lot about school. I keep telling myself it's not too far off but that doesn't help much. I definitely need to stop whining there...my family is probably sick of hearing me complain. I think this is a "do what's in front of me" moment. And what's in front of me is school. I'm thinking I need to get over the fact that it's difficult (whoever said pre-calc was fun?!) and do my work as unto the Lord.
Hey, how are all of the Project365 girls getting along? Are you still on track with journaling? So far, so good for me! Let's just see if I can keep it up for the rest of the year! ;)
I've been at work all day and am functioning on three hours of sleep so I really hope this made sense... :P Love you girls! Praying for all of you!! <3
Posted by: Sarah Elizabeth | 01/19/2013 at 05:52 PM
Sarah Elizabeth: I'm still writing in my journal everyday!!! I'm fairly shocked that I've gotten this far!!!
Posted by: Grace Anne | 01/19/2013 at 05:58 PM
Hey girls
Just thought I'd drop in and give you all another update on baby Em. She's doing fabulous. She got to meet her big sister for the first time this week (You should see the videos her mom posted of the two of them! Absolutely adorable!) and she's tolerating her feeds amazingly well. The hope is that sometime in this next week she'll be able to be moved from the NICU at the children's hospital 9 hours from our little town to the NICU in a smaller hospital only half an hour from our town. This would be great as all his family lives up here, plus they would get to be with their other daughter as well. So if you could pray that that does happen.
Also, exams are coming up. I have mine on the 23, 24 and 25. I'm not extremely nervous but after the last exam I had I passed out so if you could just please pray that these set of exams go better, that I'm able to stay healthy and remember what I need to and not get overwhelmed. I will be so glad when the exams are over and done with.
Praying for you all
Posted by: Alisha | 01/19/2013 at 09:58 PM
Hi everyone! (WARNING: I'm super tired right now, so I apologize if I'm not able to form any understandable sentences)
I haven't commented yet on this series because I've had a hard time figuring out what God's calling me to do, but I think I finally figured it out and with that I have a confession: I've had a hard time letting go of my depression, I think because I let it define me and so I don't know what to do without those feelings. Around early December I was just starting to let go when I started getting bored because life felt "too easy" in a way, and then I started chewing myself out for feeling like that and that's how I slipped again. I'm doing alright now, but I'm kinda freaking out over a math test I have on Thursday that makes up 30% of my grade and that I'm SO not ready for (prayer plz!).
Another prayer request: my church decided to combine the the high school service that normally met on Sunday mornings with the Bible studies that used to be on Wednesday nights and so starting February 10th service will be on Sunday evenings and I won't be able to go anymore :(
Glad to hear baby Em is doing well!! Praying for her and her family!
Welcome Alexandria!!!! :D :D
Posted by: Abby:) | 01/21/2013 at 01:44 AM
Grace Anne - Good job, girl! :)
Alisha - That's great! So glad Em's doing well! I'll continue to pray for her and her family... I know that has to be really hard on all of them. Keep us updated on how she's getting along! And I'll be praying that everything goes well with your exams.
Prayer request: My friend's mom is in the hospital again. She had a heart transplant a few months back and was recovering fairly well. Then she fell and broke her hip and was in the hospital for 2 or 3 weeks until they final put some metal screws in to fix the break. A couple weeks ago, she went to the doctor for her regular checkup and they found a blood clot so they put her on a blood-thinner to clear it but then her blood got too thin and the clot was still there. So she was in the hospital for a while with that issue. Recently, though everything was finally starting to get better and Shannah was looking so much less stressed but, on Thursday, her mom had a transient ischemic attack (which is basically a mini stroke). So she's back in the hospital and when people have a TIA, chances are high that they'll have a major stroke within the next 6 months. So please pray for complete healing of Shannah's mom and for peace for both of them. Neither of them are Christians so please pray that they would come to know the Lord even in the midst of all of this!
Posted by: Sarah Elizabeth | 01/21/2013 at 01:54 AM
Thank you so much for your prayers! I will be praying for you all too:) Iand thanks for the welcome , you guys are making me feel very happy and safe. ended up having a complete blast at the Competition and Convention. I felt God's presence there,and I think my team did too, the Broadway director of Newsisrs ( our judge ) said he felt a spirit that he couldn't explain,and we knew who it was. God really helped us,and the children around us were super supportive .Go get them Abby! I can understand about the math. Thanks Mrs.Rue. I am following the nudges :)
Posted by: Alexandria | 01/21/2013 at 11:51 AM
Haha, my mom says that, "You want cheese with your whine?" all the time! XD Oh boy, this whole obedience thing has struck a nerve with me. I've been kind of ignore these blog posts because I don't really want to think about it. I know there are certain areas in my life where I'm ignoring the God nudge. Its easy to do because I just convince myself that it wasn't really God, when deep down I know it was. As far as whining, I'm ashamed to say I may be the queen of whine right now. I'm not being as cooperative as I should be with my mom on things like school work and just her authority in general. We never fight but we've been clashing heads a bit more then usually lately, which probably has to do with my attitude and the amount of stress we are all under, reason enough for me to buck up and quit whining.
Alisha, I'm so glad about Em! I'll be praying for that family and you.
Welcome Alexandria! :)
Praying Abby, I know how that feels. I hope you're doing better.
You're friend will be in my prayers Sarah Elizabeth.
Posted by: Therese | 01/21/2013 at 05:46 PM
I know I'm super late on this one, but I figured I'd comment anyways if that's all right :)
I'm with Therese; this obedience series is really speaking to me, because it's something I usually tend to avoid thinking about - these posts are making me uncomfortable in a good way, if that makes sense, like I'm swimming into deeper God-waters without my floaties on... And it's way better out here than in the kiddie pool!
Lately I've been really whiny about how I 'never' have time for prayer or reading my Bible or just being silent and spending time with God because of homework, soccer, and trying to spend time with my family and friends in the midst of it all. So I heard God challenging me to do in a warm yet firm invitation to turn from the worn-down path of mediocrity of the world, of what it expects me to do with my life and how to act and what to say and think, as a typical teenage girl should. Instead, God has a unique, beautifully unknown path set before me, created to complement perfectly my purpose in life so that I may brilliantly, unashamedly reflect His perfect Light into the world. And in the end, that's the only thing that will ever satisfy.
My baby step is going to be getting up just 15 minutes earlier in the mornings to spend the beginning of my day to hear, through God's own Word, what He has to say to me that day and just be with Him in prayer; hopefully those few minutes will set me in the right mindset for the rest of my day and remind me why I woke up in the first place - because He's not finished with me yet ;)
Love and Blessings,
*Rachel*
Posted by: *Rachel* | 01/22/2013 at 11:24 PM