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Do You Struggle?

February 1, 2011 in Faith, Grace with 22 Comments

Time for some honesty….do you struggle to read the Bible?

I do!

I’m a reader by nature.  I can (and have) spend hours reading on the couch.  But when it comes to reading onion skin thin pages that offer the benefit of life and growth I can’t seem to sit for more than just a few minutes and never on a consistent basis.

The Bible is full of mystery, murder, suspense, triumph, love…everything I love in a great book, but my devotion to it is lacking.  What is it that keeps me from stepping into these pages the way I do any other book.

Today I want to step into the story.  Have words given by the God who created me flood into my heart.  I want to prepare heart as He leads me into this next season.

And because I know God’s timing is perfect, and I believe He has a sense of humor this arrived in the mail today from a dear friend.  It is a Bible reading plan journal.

Where are you currently reading/studying in the Bible? Did you know that there is a group of women who are reading through the Bible chronologically in six months, and furthermore that some of them just finished reading it through Genesis to Revelation in 90 days?

If you recall part of my digging deeper into my One Word this year is scripture memorization.  In January I dedicated myself to memorizing Colossians 3:12 & 13.  It went surprisingly easier than I’d thought it would.  A couple weeks ago I had two nightmares in less than a few days.  My joy was to lie in bed reciting this verse over and over.  To allow the goodness of God envelope my mind rather than the images that shook me awake.

For February I’m memorizing Proverbs 22:11 (NIV)

One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.

Seeking To Lose

January 31, 2011 in Faith, Grace, Life with 12 Comments

Last year I practiced Lent for the first time.  God worked in ways I’d never experienced previously, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

For the last week or so I’ve been seeking God on what I should seek to lose.  I’ve considered Twitter for a second year, but really want to make a decision based on His desire for me.

One verse I forever remember from my two years in Christian private school is Romans 12:1.  Paul instructs us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices.  Giving up ourselves for Christ.  Losing that which keeps us bound to other altars.

I want to lose those things.  I want to get up off the altar that wants to burn me up in its passions and offer myself to God and God alone.

So I’m seeking Him on what He wants me to lose.

Have you practiced Lent previous whether as part of a community of believers or on your own?  Are you planning/considering practicing it this year?

Grace Confessions

January 25, 2011 in Faith, Grace, Life with 19 Comments

At the airport on Friday I wanted to ungraciously tell a guy he was in the wrong numbering position to get on the plane.  I was #53, he was #54, he was in front of Shawn who was #52.  I became so angry, “Why couldn’t this guy just pay attention”.  My angry thoughts echoed in my head, my heart became hard.  The Holy Spirit was quick to whisper, “Grace”.  Conviction and my anger began to battle it out.

God is teaching me grace in the little things.  Things like responding to the guy in the airport.  Anger should not have been my first reaction to something so stupid (and when I say stupid I mean who cares if the guy was not in the correct spot?).

I was thinking yesterday that I wish it was the end of the year and this lesson could be over.  That I could be 12 months deep into it and be the person God has for me to be then.  But that’s not the way life works.  We don’t get to jump from point A to point Z.  There are a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to go through; and in the end we still may not be at point Z.

Over the last 25 days I’ve felt like throwing in the towel.  I’ve told God I don’t get it.  That it’s hard.  That I’m not sure what it is I’m supposed to be learning.

I know I’m not the only one.  Resolutions are hard, but I think this……is a lot harder.  Choosing having God give you a One Word is allowing Him to take you and completely rearrange your life, your mind, your soul, your heart etc.

I’m not giving up, and neither should you!

So…how is your One Word going?

GRACENOMICS

January 17, 2011 in Grace with 18 Comments

I’ve started reading through my reading list for the year.  Gracenomics by Mike Foster is the first book I’ve read.  In addition to being on my 2011 reading list it is one of the books I wanted to read for my One Word.

This book blew me away.

I think I highlighted more in this book than I have any other book including Crazy Love – which also blew me away.

In it Mike looks at grace through a lens called gracenomics:  combining the definition of grace – the act of giving favor when it is not required – with term economics.

He says, “Gracenomics is the science that deals with the production, distribution, and consumption of grace.” (GRACENOMICS pg. 16)

He focuses on three areas.  Grace for You, Others, and the Workplace.  In each area he digs in deep.  Giving valid examples of how grace works.  From not investing in things that tear us down and lies we’re told to how grace works in the workplace in a way that it can actually increase revenue for the company.

Through out the book Mike challenges the reader.  At the end of sections he gives actions and insights and a place for you to write down your own thoughts and personal applications.

In my wrestle with grace this book was an incredible encouragement.  It caused me to think more, to seek God more on what grace looks like.

I loved this book so much I want to give you a copy.  I wish that I could give you all a copy because I feel it is that amazing but that just isn’t possible.  I do I have one copy to give away.  Leave a comment here for a chance to win.  One comment per person, and the give away will end Thursday at 6pm Mountain.  Winner will be announced Friday.

The Look of Grace

January 14, 2011 in Faith, Grace, Life with 17 Comments

I’ve been think a lot about what grace looks like.

I’ve been wrestling with this for over a week.

Because honestly………-………I don’t think I really know what grace looks like.  I think I had an idea – pretty pink frosting & crystal sugar sprinkles, and God is showing me that grace isn’t necessarily pretty, that sometimes grace gets down and works with kneading fingers in the mud puddle and comes up slightly tarnished.

I can’t seem to pour out the words of my heart.  These wrestlings….they hide and rumble around like a thunderous Monsoon night.

I fight to make sense of them myself let alone share with you.

Some days it seems like grace looks like patience.  Letting go of heavy sighs and grumbling thoughts about the person or thing slowing me down.  The cashier taking their time at Walmart.  The old(er) man cutting across into the left turn lane after I’d already moved over.  In those moments the whispers of what grace looks like say patience.

Often He speaks that grace is forgiveness.  Letting go of hurts, of wrongs.  This is going to be a long process.  Pruning.  Purging.  Stripping.  This is the hardest part.  A necessary one.  It is one, that if I’m being honest part of me doesn’t want the change.  Part of me wants to remain content with unforgiveness, of not learning that part of grace.

I really have no idea what I’m going to look like at the end of the year.  My prayer is – of course – that I will look like grace.  That my actions will drip of grace like morning dew.

He Really Wants Me to Learn This

January 4, 2011 in Faith, Grace, Life, OneWord with 9 Comments

[written 12.28.10]

I’ve joked on Twitter that God is already trying to work in me my One Word:  Grace.  But it really isn’t joking, because He is already moving and has been for the past few weeks.  Sending things my way.  Reminding me in situations to exercise grace rather than impatience or anger or frustration.  What an ideal time to start:  Christmas.

It’s like He really wants me to learn the art of grace and He doesn’t need to wait for the count down at midnight.

Today this post from Catalyst’s blog was waiting for me in my Google Reader.  He is speaking.  He longs for me to be like Him.  He is pouring out His grace on me so that I can learn to have grace.

What a beautiful cycle.

My memory verse for January:

Colossians 3:12-13 (New Living Translation)

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

One Word 2011: Grace

January 3, 2011 in Faith, FEAR, Grace, Life, On Mission with 37 Comments

In 2010 I didn’t choose a One Word.  Instead my life and emotions took hold and my emotions decided my Word should be fear.  Fear seemed to take up residence in so many areas of my life.  I felt at times as if i was being defined by fear.  It took hold of me in areas it never had.  So I decided I needed to be defined by a different word.  A word completely opposite of fear:  Trust.

For 2011 I decided that I wanted to choose a word ahead of time rather than let one decide to define me.  The more I prayed about it the more I felt I was called to learn to live in a state of grace.  I am extremely impatient with people.  I often refuse to give them the benefit of the doubt.  I so often fail to have grace on them, but choose to bestow my silent judgment.

I want to be defined by grace.

Here are some of the things I’m planning to do over the next 12 months that will hopefully help me become this definition:

Memorize Scripture.  I used to be “really” good at memorizing scriptures when I had to for school.  Now that I’m an adult.  Well….  So one of the things I want to do is to memorize verses that speak of having grace & grace being upon us.  I am planning one verse/passage a month.  So that is 12 passages by 12.31.11.  Here are the verses in no particular order:

At the beginning of each month I’ll share which passage I’m memorizing.

Read books.  [links are Amazon Affiliate] There are a lot of really smart people out there.  People that God reveals Himself to and gives them an understanding of spiritual things.  These really smart people write books.  I am planning to read the following books over the next year:

If there are any others you would recommend please let me know.

Tomorrow I’ll share my verse(s) for January.

You can also see the other One Word posts that Alece has linked up on her site.

A winner:

The winner of the Story canvas is: Bethany.

Congratulations.  Please email me your address to prudy[at]prudychick[dot]com and I’ll get it out to you.

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