You may (or may not) have noticed I didn't post past day 2. To be honest, Wednesday we went to see Hell's Kitchen at the Fisher Theater in Detroit, and Thursday we went to the Lions Game! Those days I didn't do my study but I meditated on Romans 5 and some other daily studies I do.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peacewith God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
I would like to tell you that I am one of those people who carves out extra time every day to just read my bible, do studies, and is, well, perfect. But that's not how it is in my life. (though I do have a bible in my desk drawer, when I get overwhelmed I open it - sometimes to a specific scripture - Usually Isaiah 30:15 or sometimes just randomly). I'm thankful that I have memorized scripture though I can't say them all by heart, but as my friend says "I know the math" which means I typically know the book and verse of a scripture so if I am stuck or need a little "help" I can look it up. I struggle with studies because I lead a pretty busy life and you know who does all the things around here? me, and at the end of the day, I'm tired, y'all.
What I do know is that just like I studied last week, I have hope in God and in Jesus. I'll probably never be a biblical scholar or some great theological peep, but I know the main thing, love God and love people - and you may have heard me say, if I get all the rest of it wrong, well... I think I will be ok
This week is Peace.
Oh I am looking forward to this week! Last week's study and focus on hope was encouraging to my heart. And surely I can use some Peace in my life.
I was reminded yesterday of some "friends" I had at a previous church. I had met with the wife for breakfast and told her I was leaving the church that we both attended. And her face looked disappointed. I said "we will still be friends" and she said "we aren't friends with people who don't go to church with us". And then later he husband confirmed it in a text. I was shocked because I knew they were friends who people who didn't go to church with them. It hurt. I promise you, it hurt. I had opened my heart to them, loved them, loved their kids. I'll tell you what I heard - but wasn't said "we never really loved you - we used you" and that stung. And I was sad and mad. For those of you who have been hurt by people in the church - that's not biblical and no one is perfect. People make mistakes and hurt people. It's just the way it is. That's where forgiveness comes in. It's easy to love people when they are kind (to your face) hug you and tell you that they love you, but you know what's hard, letting go of the hurt and not reliving it. Praying for them. Wishing the best for them, and hoping (waiting with great expectation) that God blesses them. It's hard. It's been almost a year since that day, and my heart still is a little stingy but I do wish the God's best for them, even knowing I may never see it or that they don't care about me. 🤷
I'm learning to have peace with what happens in my life. My dad used to say (and shrug his shoulders) "it is what it is". And sometimes that's just the way it has to be because there is no other explanation.
I can't think of a time or day in my life that God hasn't shown up for me. I'm not saying that I always had everything, but He has been there through the fire. I have peace in knowing that He is with me, and loves me. We live in a chaotic world, heck, I make some of the chaos myself - self inflicted chaos-wounds, but I know that when I slow down, pray, and thank Him, life is filled with a lot more peace.
Phil 4:4-9 (that's the math)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Comments