Day 83
I'm awake! I woke up to the alarm this morning! Yes, I didn't get to bed early, so my eyes are drooping, but I'm here. Take that, Satan!So I woke up to "Share it with me" by Family Force 5 (Dance or die with a vengeance). I was struck by the chorus. It hurt. no, haha. "You've already broken my heart / I'd like to keep at least one piece / You can take all that you want / But you're gonna have to share it with me." I just think, how often do we think "Here God, here's my heart. Take it. Take all you want. But I'd like to keep this one part. I'm not willing to give that up yet." Then it's not full surrender and we wonder why God isn't so close. Definitely something to remember.
C--- hasn't contacted me at all. Usually he's always sending me a message of some kind. I hope he's just been busy. God, show me what I need to do!
Make every effort to follow Jesus. Humility. God's love for me is ridiculous, thank you for welcoming me back with open arms. Even tempers, use words carefully.
YOU WILL OVERCOME!!!! Now I want to sing that song. :-)
Love,
Luke 13-15
Jesus, there's these Gentiles that are doing despicable things! Yes, but do you think they are worse sinners than all the other Gentiles? No! Have you heard of Timmy Powers' illustration from LT? Oh, wait, that's like, 2000 years in the future... But anyway, no one is any better or worse to anyone else. So stop feeling superior and let's get on with forgiveness, shall we?
So there's this woman that's crippled by a spirit. I don't remember her at all. But what I find interesting is that she just showed up near Jesus. He called her over and healed her. She didn't call out, Jesus, come to me, have mercy on me, etc. He didn't ask her what she wanted. He just up and did it. I don't know if it's because he knew that she had manners? A woman would not be talking to a man. Or maybe he knew what she wanted and wanted to give it to her. Or he wanted to do that, and show the Pharisees that the Sabbath they had in mind was oppressive. Whatever it was, that just struck me is all.
The kingdom of God is invasive. mwahahahhahahahahaaaa
Make every effort to go through that door. But actually, I already did (or actually, he will do it soon haha)! you just have to make every effort to accept me. Ok, but there's a way this speaks to me, the lazy girl here. Make every effort to follow Jesus. Every Effort. Not just some effort. Not just most of your effort. All of it should be to please God. Some situations will take more effort than others, but use it all. Don't do anything half-heartedly.
Luke 14
Two dinner parties: One, you are the guest. Seat yourself in the lowest position so you may be honored when the host comes. But if he decides that that is the spot for you, is right at the bottom? Don't be mad. That's pride still. Humility is sitting there, and feeling surprised if anyone wants to make different seating arrangements.
The other dinner party: You are the host(ess). Invite those who cannot repay you. You will get repaid at the end, but you will also be repaid right there, by feeding people who need it. It is more blessed to give. It's more fulfilling to do that.
Hahahahhaa the tower story. There's an unfinished tower in Cuyahoga Falls that someone started but couldn't afford to finish. It is the ridicule of CF. So that is a truth in the Bible shown in real life haha.
Luke 15
Lost sheep, lost coin, lost son. Lord, how on earth could you love me that much? How on earth could you chase after each of us, to bring us home, to rejoice over our return? Lord, I know my idea of your love is minuscule. I can't wrap my head around it. But Lord, take what feeble thanks I can give that you brought me home.
Verse 17 "came to his senses" Yeah, I know how that feels. It happened last night, as well as the night before, the morning before that and basically every day of my life. It's nice to be back in your right mind, but it's also discouraging to see what you did in the meantime. Ok, I'm rereading that and it makes it sound like I'm crazy. No... Satan just likes to dull your hearing sometimes. Then you come back to your senses and repent.
Lord, help me be like the younger son come home. I pray you would keep me from both the younger son leaving, and the older son seething. (nice choice of words, God!)
Proverbs 17
2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. Proverbs is for the usual. When the father/ master is God, when the disgraceful son comes back, he's back where he belongs. (Though Jesus never says if the older brother had to split the inheritance again, or if the father wouldn't let the brother have any more, because he's had his share, he's got to suffer the consequences. I honestly don't know which You'd do...)
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Not here. I am friends with my sisters, and I love it.
27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. I try to be!
Revelation 17
14 "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." Hallelujah! I like this verse.
The rest is a little creepy/don't know what's symbolic, though he does explain some...
God... You shall overcome!