His Faithfulness

Scripture Memory:

just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

(Colossians 1:7-8 ESV)

Insights:

When I first read this my initial thought was: I wanted to be like Epaphras. He was commended for his faithfulness in his service for Christ. I prayed that my work be done not for the glory of self, nor men but always "as unto the Lord." I suspect that is how Epaphras did his ministry, which would explain why he was so effective for the cause of the gospel.

Then a few days later, I looked at the verse again and I was still struck with the same word "faithfulness" but this time it was God's. As I have shared before in my prior posts, Agent G and I were going through some growing pains. But God, oh He is always faithful!

I can't help but give Him props for always letting me know He can hear me and He knows what is going on. And what did He use this time? Of all things, fortune cookies. I normally don't put stock in what the fortune cookies say but in this case I take exception. I mean, if God can use a donkey to speak to a prophet, He can surely send a message thru a cookie. And send a message He did. 

This is what Agent G's fortune said:

 

(Uh yes, he who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says.)

This was mine:.

 

These were both spot on. I looked around and listened for this tell-tale theme song because I was sure we just entered The Twilight Zone. 

I was speechless and beyond amazed that the Creator of heaven and earth, the God of the universe would take the time to - like it says in my memory verse - make known to me His love in the Spirit. I turned my face to hide a smile.

Thank you, Father!

*** {This is part of the  Adventures in Colossians series wherein I memorize, you guessed it, the book of Colossians in a year.} ***

Adventures in Colossians

Hi, again. Excuse the dust. I have been busy posting twice a week on this blog and have neglected this one. You might ask, "But, Grace & Peace, you can't even keep up with this blog, why start another one?" Trust me, I'm asking that question myself. All I can say is: It's all God's fault. :) It's His idea not mine.

Sometimes God can be a tad...demanding. Not only does He want me reading His Word daily in 2012, He also wanted me to memorize Colossians in a year. Ahem, actually, He asked me to do that last year. But due to my son's illness (and my inherent laziness), I let it fall through. So, truthfully, it's not His fault.

What I plan to do is to post the two verses each day (or week or let's be realistic, however long it takes me) plus the insights that He gives as I ponder those two verses. I chose the ESV instead of the NIV used in Ann's blog (see, another excuse - I'm good at finding those).

Shall we begin?

I admit my weakness, I'm motivated by cute. And this notebook I found at Staples from the Martha Stewart line is very cute:

I printed the verses on the Avery 8164 labels (6 to a sheet) so I couldn't use the excuse of "I don't have time to cut and paste the verses!" The label fits perfectly in the notebook. It was done in no time!

What are we waiting for? Let's go!

[x] Memorize:

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

(Colossians 1:1-2 ESV)

Insights:

Paul became an apostle by the will of God. He was a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5-7) and in his own words, a "persecutor of the church." But God (I love this phrase - anytime you see that it means something good is about to happen) had something in mind for him (see what I mean?). Something that is beyond his imaginings. Paul preached the gospel to the Gentiles and his writings live on today.

God can give someone a Damascus experience where the blindness and scales will fall afterwards. No one is beyond the reach of God's mighty hand. Amen and Amen.

What hope that gives me!

An Invitation

How is 2012 so far? Are you keeping your resolutions? If one of them is to go on a deeper walk with God, perhaps I can help in some way. Some friends and I are reading through the bible here. Will you join us? We would love to have you there.

May this year be more fruitful than the last.

Happy New Year!

Finally...an answer

A few posts back, God asked, "Will you love him for me? I could not answer Him then. And honestly, I was hoping God will just forget about it and let me move on. Well, God did not forget, but I sure acted like He did. Days, weeks and months passed.

During this avoidance period, I hid behind the excuses that my flesh gave me: You can't because you're sick, you're tired. He's a jerk. Oh, and let's not forget Pride. Pride certainly got in the way. It got in collusion with Flesh and they both told me what I wanted to hear: Why should you bother to try? He doesn't even pay attention. He doesn't care. It's so nice when he's not here, you don't have to worry about cooking dinner every night. So peaceful! And here's the kicker: He's a selfish man and he doesn't deserve you!!!

Oh, they were convenient excuses, justifiable ones even and pleasant to the ears. But, I did not realize Pride was slowly but methodically destroying my marriage. And I almost let it.

But God...

Yesterday morning, He put it in my heart that the time has come. God wants His answer.

Last night, I was doing the dishes, and helping my younger son* memorize his verses for the upcoming BibleBee competition.

*Disclaimer: His motives for memorizing the verses are less than holy - he was doing it so he could reclaim the videogame I have been holding hostage for such a time as this. (Yes, I had to resort to our very own Verses for Videogames program. Oh, it was so frustrating! I have been on him for the last five months to get started and he wouldn't listen to me! Uh-oh. Oh.my.gosh. as I typed that it came to me - I was doing the same thing to God!)

I was only half paying attention to the memorization because the impending "talk" was foremost in my thoughts. My son came to me with the sixth verse:

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

It stopped me in my tracks. While I listened to my son's teeny, sweet 9 year-old voice recite that verse, I know I'm hearing from the Lord. Those sure sounded like marching orders to me. Suddenly I knew what to do: I need to humble myself and apologize to my husband. I could not avoid it any longer.
So, after much prayer and anxiety and more, "Son-can-you-repeat-Joshua-1:9-for-me,-please?", I finally talked to my husband. It wasn't easy. He was watching the World Series of Poker. He had that glazed expression in his eyes that is achingly familiar to me. I have seen that expression many times before. It made it easier to build my defenses, my wall. Pride reminded me, "Can you really go through with this? You already know what he's going to say. And you're going to feel slighted because he won't react the way you pictured it in your head."

But God also had something to say, "It's not about you, is it? It's about him. Look at him, you know deep down he's hurting. You know he's searching. He is my prodigal son and I want him back. Will you help me?"
It's about time I listened to God.

I told him: "(Deep breath) I have to apologize to you. Uhm, God put it in my heart that I have not been loving you the right way. I apologize for not loving you unconditionally. I use being tired as an excuse to not even try. I am sorry to say that I almost gave up on our marriage. So, uhm, I'm really sorry." Or something along those semi-coherent lines.

He nodded then turned up the volume. I don't even know if what I said will make a difference. But I choose to trust God who urged me to go forward. I pray that the bumbling words that left my lips were sifted and blessed by the Lord - that it went through His prodigal's ears, all the way to his heart.


We'll just have to wait and see.