It's Hard to Trust Someone You Don't Know!

Last night I attended the Ladies Night Out event at Sagemont church where the Bible Recap lady, Tara-Leigh Cobble gave us a couple challenges. Her premise was, "it's hard to trust someone you don't know" and did she ever drive her point home! She communicated such rich, deep truths in simple, relatable, applicable ways. We looked at Matthews 7:24-27:
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." 

She challenged us with the fact that if we listen to the Bible for 12 minutes every day for a year we can read through the entire Bible! And if we put it on 2X speed - we can listen just six minutes per day!! How awesome is that?! It's also crazy that it has taken me over 50 years to finally take up the challenge for real. I challenge you TODAY to consider it!  

She encouraged us to consider if we have been getting to know God second-hand our entire lives... Have we dug into His Word and learned His character? She challenged us to stop reading the Bible looking for ourselves, but to look for God on every page in every sentence even the begats! (Well, she didn't use those words, I am). It was interesting to stop and think that if we only come to church weekly we are possibly only getting to know Him "second hand". Think about that.

She challenged us to read the Bible in these ways: 

Looking for God - His character - asking, "what does God say or do in this passage? What does this passage reveal about what God loves? and hate? (We hate things that threaten what we love) and What does this passage reveal about His motives and what of His attributes are displayed? 

Considering Context - we don't stop in to a movie and watch 5 minutes and leave and know what's really going on. 

Embrace Uncertainty - the good stuff is always on the other side of the struggle! and 

Ask for Help - from God first and others!

What's your faith/life founded on... the rock or shifting sand?

She subtly mentioned that we should go back and read Matthew 5-7. So, I did. I was intrigued as I saw in verse 24 the phrase "these words" and went on a hunt to find out what "these words" he was talking about...just reading the verse (7:23) above the passage we read - I was blow away with these words, "...I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." How can I trust Him if I don't know Him. I'm so thankful to have found The Bible Recap this year. I've learned so much about God.

In my search this past year and a half to discover more of Him and learn to trust Him more - I feel like last night was some sort of milestone. I was able to realize confidently that I am indeed growing in my knowledge of Him and that's the only reason why I'm learning to trust Him more every day. I'm not just stopping in on short sections of a great story, I'm digesting the entire story six or twelve minutes a day and I just can't get enough because He's where the joy is! 

So, do you know Him? What are you waiting for? He's an open book! 

Special thanks to my youngest daughter for the invite and ticket and my oldest daughter for picking me up and taking me to the event as well as a photo to remember. Just didn’t get a photo with my youngest!

Yes, I Will - "And They Did So"

Happy birthday America!! We celebrate you and freedom which comes truly only through Christ today. I’m in Kentucky for the birth of our #6 grandbaby. She will likely be born in the next 24 hours!! Exciting times!! With her birth will birth a balancing “game” of dependance and independence for her and her family. Everything is about to change in her little world as well as her family’s world. 

Sunday, I was able to enjoy worshipping with them with their faith family at Christ Community Church. I was challenged in deep ways by their pastor Blake’s message on a more than familiar passage in Luke 9 entitled “How High Can You Count”. Check it out:

“And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.

On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” 

But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.”

Pastor Blake challenged us to consider some things he saw in the text:
Everyone wants to be included in the count.

We often don’t count the cost of being on Jesus’ team... what will it cost us?

It will cost us TIME

It will cost us COMFORT

It will cost us our INDEPENDENCE... what did Jesus provide?

Jesus provided EVERYTHING for the twelve’s trip.

Jesus provided ENOUGH

Jesus provided EXACT number of baskets!

Besides realizing there were twelve baskets left over for the twelve (which I probably have heard "for the first time" a few times in my lifetime...I forget so easily)… what really got me were the four little words in the text, “And they did so,…”. The disciples were questioning Jesus about what to do in this chaos and he simply said, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so… Would you take a look at all that Pastor Blake pointed out? Following Jesus costs the twelve time, comfort and independence. He provided everything, enough and even exactly the number of baskets for them. They were all in! And walking so closely with Him. They were able to hear His actual voice. Can you even imagine? I try all the time. 

Lord, I’ve been trying to listen for Your voice in the chaos in my own life. I deeply yearn to hear Your voice. I may be hearing it, but confusing it with other things. Would You tell me what You would have me do (or not do). I’m so beyond ready to DO SO - whatever You ask!

“I count on one thing - the same God who never fails, will not fail me now. You won't fail me now!

In the waiting - the same God who's never late, is working all things out. You're working all things out

Yes I will lift You high in the lowest valley. Yes I will bless Your name!

Oh, yes, I will sing for joy when my heart is heavy! All my days, Oh, yes, I will”  

Song Video: https://youtu.be/ryFS_3eBq6s

Worship Service: https://www.youtube.com/live/fuVxtqa-5y4?feature=share 34:44 message follows prayer