Hiding Philippians In My Heart

 

In late August of 2020 I was overwhelmed with everything that was going on in our world and how I, as a believer, was to live in response to it.  Collectively we were in the middle of a pandemic.  There was tense racial division and protesting because of the death of George Floyd in my home state and in states across the county.  An important presidential election was coming in a few months and people were very passionate about their candidate, some to the point of idol worship it seemed.  Conspiracy theories abounded.  Social media was a hotbed of opinions and sadly, so much hatred.  Stress and anxiety were high for many as families were still dealing with job loss, changes to their jobs, finances, schooling for their children and lots of loss and grief.  

I was weary, discouraged and praying, "Lord, how do you want me to live in response to everything that is happening in our world?"  At the time I happened to be in the book of Philippians in my personal Bible reading.  One morning as I was reading chapter 1 I came across the following phrase.

"...striving side by side for the faith of the gospel."

All around me there was striving...

Striving for this political candidate or that one  

Striving for masks or no masks

Striving for justice or revenge

Striving above the opinions of others so that yours could be heard.

But here was my answer.  The striving that I, as a Christ follower was to be involved in was to be for the gospel.   Did I have personal opinions about the other things?  Of course I did, but God spoke to my heart that day.  He reminded me of what was really important and that was the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  All around me people were hurting and discouraged.  I had the answer.  Jesus Christ.  Was I faithfully sharing that or was I busy being a keyboard warrior? 

As I read through Philippians and meditated on it, I thought that this would be a timely book to memorize. I figured that I could easily memorize it over the next year and began in earnest.  I didn't meet my goal to have all 4 chapters memorized in one year but I am not giving up.  For whatever reason memorizing seems to be a little harder for me than it has been in the past. 😊  It's taken me 1 year to memorize the first 2 chapters and I plan to take this year and finish up with chapters 3 and 4.  Hiding Philippians in my heart has helped me to keep my focus on what is important in the middle of all the chaos.  Hiding Philippians in my heart has brought peace and hope to my soul that the world cannot take from me, no matter what is going on around me.  

Are you currently working on memorizing God's word?  I'd love to know what passages of Scripture you are committing to memory.  

Psalm 27

This week I started memorizing Psalm 27.  It is one of my favorite Psalms and one that I had wanted to memorize.  Psalm 27:13-14 was very important to me last winter, very close to this time of the year in fact, when I had a herniated disc in my lower back.  The Lord used those Scripture verses to encourage me; what better way to remember them than to memorize them!

 

Won't you join us? It's not to late.  Visit the Do Not Depart blog HERE to register.

Daybook

For Today...

Monday, November 10th, 2014

 

 

Outside my window...  the morning light is beginning to break forth.  I thought I would wake to a ground covered in snow but so far there is just a dusting. 

 

 

I am hearing... beautiful piano music by Paul Cardall

 

 

I am thinking... that I will enjoy another cup of coffee with cream and coconut sugar while I listen to this beautiful music.  Mmm

 

 

  I am thankful...

• for a wonderful week full of so many blessings
• game night with my family
• God's word
• Sunday afternoon talks with my boys - always lots to share after fellowshipping with friends.
• being able to have my nephew spend the weekend with us
• that I can worship God through the creativity He's given to me
• beautiful piano music to soothe my soul
• for the wonderful years with our sweet Sheltie, Tess who we had to put down on Friday - very unexpectedly. 

 

{Tyler and Andrew playing legos}

 

 

{Lizzy wanted to play rummy too.  She went from lap to lap.  At one point we put her bed on a chair because she was crying so much to be part of the action.  ☺  Sleepy Jon in the background}

 

 

{Andrew showing Sammi his hand - there were two separate games going so she was helping him decide what to do.}

 

 

{Tess}

 

 I am wearing... a new white nightgown with lavender trim and flowers. 

 

 I am creating... planner pages.  Last week's theme before I started to fill in the details and then the start to this week - decorated for our first snow.

 

 

  I am enjoying...

 

 

I am wondering...  if I can get all of my Christmas shopping done before December this year.  It is a goal each year but never happens. 

 

 I am reading... through the Bible with my Good Morning Girls group.  I read Genesis 41 this morning.  I am almost finished with Aunt Jane's Hero - I probably could have finished it last night but I was so sore (knee problem) and decided to take an extra long hot soak in the tub.  By the time I crawled in between the sheets I was too tired to read. 

 

 I am hoping (trusting God)... for the salvation of some very precious loved ones and for my older children to be led by God in all areas of their lives.  For the love I have for my children to be clearly understood in even all of the little unseen things I do for them. 

 

 

 Around the house... we got the yard prepared for our big "snow event" that was supposed to happen but thus far seems to have taken a break. 

 

  In the kitchen...  We have a tradition to bake cookies on the first snowfall of the season and fill our winter snowman cookie jar.  We only use this cookie jar in the winter.  I'll have one of the boys get the cookie jar from the closet and wash it up while we make cookies. 

  

I am (still) learning… to let go and let God.  It is best to be taught by Him.  This is such an old entry but it is still so applicable.  Even this morning as I read and studied in Genesis 41 - Joseph who had been called forth from prison to interpret the Pharaoh's dream had two sons.  He named the first Mannaseh and the second Ephraim.  Mannaseh means to cause to forget and Ephraim, fruitful.  Joseph was able to "let go" of the unkindness and betrayal of his brethren and rejoice in the affliction of his current situation.  I have seen this played out in my own life.  How graciously God has healed hurts and after letting go of them He's brought His peace and joy even if still in the midst of affliction.  I also think that I have been more spiritually fruitful during those times of affliction - I've realized I really do have no control and the only right way to respond is to come before Him in total surrender and cling to Him. 

 A quote to share...  “If a tiny spark of God’s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out… Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter… Do not give yourself to others so completely that you have nothing left for yourself.” (St. Charles Borromeo)

 

 A few plans for this week:  If we get all of the expected snow they say we are to get, I am looking forward to staying home.  As much as I am not looking forward to the cold returning I do love that feeling of winter - where you feel all tucked in.  ☺ Just the normal activities this week with a possible skating day on Wednesday.

 

 A peek into one of my days... on Friday's, in my Facebook Bible study group I put up a new Fun Friday question each week.  Sometimes they are serious... sometimes silly.  Here is this week's question.  I would LOVE to hear your answer in the comment section - I'm sure others would too!  My Scripture and answer is below.

 

Luke 7:36-39 - "Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.  And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."

This account has always touched me… The courage and vulnerability of this woman, a sinner (aren’t we all!), to enter into the Pharisee’s house to see Jesus and then cling to and weep upon His feet is so raw and pure – her need of a Savior overtook every inhibition she had.  May I be as she… pouring out my life at His feet.  Tossing out all pretenses and man made expectations and worship my King.

 

  This post is linked at The Simple Woman's blog.

A Greater Grace

 

"And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men.  And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.  And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.  And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.  And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.  Then the handmaidens came near and their children, and they bowed themselves.  And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.  And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.  And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself."

Genesis 33:1-9

Twenty years earlier Jacob, after deceiving his father Isaac into giving him his brother Esau’s blessing, fled to his mother's brother’s house to escape the anger of his brother.  Genesis 27:41 says that Esau hated Jacob and that after the days of mourning for his father were over he had plans to slay Jacob.  For twenty years Jacob worked and served his uncle Laban and God had prepared and blessed him during that time.  God was now calling Jacob to return to the land of his fathers but what would he be met with?  Did Esau’s anger still burn so strong that he wanted to slay Jacob? 

Have you ever so messed up or even allowed the busyness of “life” to put distance between you and God that you didn’t know how you could get back into God’s favor?  Or maybe you thought you had to come to Him with works and offerings.  Thinking you must deny or prove your devotion to Him in order to be accepted.  Oh dear heart, have you?  I have.  I’ve tried to appease God – so many times I have allowed the enemy to skew my view of God or have taken my finite knowledge and relational experience and applied it to my relationship with God.  If we were honest, I believe we all have.

Beloved, His LOVE and GRACE and MERCY and TENDERNESS and FORGIVENESS towards us is SO great and He desires for each of us to know it.

“…that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.” 

Ephesians 3:17-19

I know my own anxiousness and trepidation when coming before Him after times of separation.  What was Esau’s response?

He RAN!

Esau ran to meet Jacob!  He embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him and wept!   He didn't want the droves sent as an offering - he wanted only the restoration between himself and his brother.  Oh the grace!  I read that and heard the Spirit of God speak these grace words to me.

 “Theresa, why did you bring all of this to Me?  Sweet, precious, daughter, I do not require this of you.  You do not need to appease Me or buy back My love toward you.  I have already secured your place in My Son!  My love for you is everlasting.  My grace for you is in Jesus.  Daughter, I desire you to have a broken and contrite heart before Me (Psalm 51:17).  A heart that trusts and is wholly Mine – surrendered (Proverbs 3:5-6).   You are a chosen generation, chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world that you should show forth the praises of Me who has called you out of darkness and into my marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 1:4).

 Why do I complicate something that is so simple – Come before Him with a broken and contrite spirit.  Confess my sins (1 John 1:9), trust in His forgiveness and faithfulness and show forth His praises (goodness). 

Father, I lift up each one that might read here today, Lord I pray that we might wholly surrendered to You and allow Your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all Truth.  Father I pray that we would no longer allow the enemy or our humanness to replace Your words spoken to us and over us.  May we be renewed in mind as we read and meditate on Your word and have complete trust and confidence in You.  Thank you for Your Son, Jesus and for the picture of grace you showed to me today in this story of Jacob and Esau.   May we give as we have been freely given,  In your name I pray, Amen.   

 

  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

Isaiah 1:18

Psalms on Sunday

 

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture.

 

Psalm 95:1-7a

Learning to S.O.A.P.

 

 

There are so many different ways to study Scripture.  This summer, I went through the book of 1 John.  I studied out one verse each day (in context) and then looked up key words in my Greek/Hebrew Study Bible.  I also read through any Scripture references and did the same with those verses that captured my attention.  It was slow and very deliberate.  I enjoyed this method of study very much and felt the Holy Spirit revealed many truths to me through the extensive study of one book over many months.

Currently I am reading through the Bible 1 chapter a day and following a study method known as S.O.A.P.  I first heard about this method of study years ago through the ministry of Good Morning Girls, but am unsure of where it originated. 

The S.O.A.P study method is a very solid method of Scripture study because you are studying in context.  I also love how it gives structure in its approach which makes it an ideal method for those that are new to Bible study or need a little more direction.

SOAPing takes me between 15-45 minutes each morning.  I begin with prayer, asking the Lord to bless my time in His word and for the Holy Spirit to bring understanding and reveal truth to me as I read.  I then read through the chapter and S.O.A.P the verse or verses that really stood out to me.

So what exactly is the S.O.A.P method? 

The S.O.A.P method focuses on 4 different key areas each day. 

S – Scripture – Read through your chosen selection or chapter of Scripture. In your notebook, hand write the part of the scripture that has captured your attention or that the Holy Spirit spoke to you.  Some days this is just a verse, on others it might be a longer passage.

O – Observation – Carefully and deliberately examine the verse or verses you wrote down. Ask yourself some of the following questions.  Who is speaking?  What was said?  Are there others there?  How did they react?  Where is this taking place?  What kind of details are mentioned as to location, time, etc.?  What is happening?  Is there a command or promise?  To whom is the command or promise given?  Really take your time here and study to learn everything you can about the selected passage.

Some days I have more time available and I’m able to look up commentary on the verses.  This is especially helpful if I’m having trouble understanding something in the passage.  Sometimes there are cultural aspects that I am unfamiliar with and reading through commentaries, while not necessary, can help to bring further clarification. I use a Bible study software called PC BibleSoft but you can find study helps and resources online at places like Bible Gateway (com) or Bible Study Tools (.com) Bible Study Tools has Matthew Henry’scommentary and others free to use.  I also like to use the 1828 Webster dictionary online.

A – Application –  Here is where our study gets personal.  How does this passage personally apply to my life?  Has the Holy Spirit revealed truths within the passage that I need to give attention to?  Are there attitudes or actions I need to respond to through repentance and obedience in light of what I’ve read? Are there relationship conflicts that I need to resolve or give to the Lord, people I need to forgive, truths I need to meditate on and receive?  Write it all down and then…

P – Prayer –  Commit all you’ve learned today to the Lord in prayer.  Ask the Holy Spirit to seal the truths of the passage to your heart and for the strength to move forward in trust and obedience where He has asked.

 

What a blessing that in America we can study the Scriptures so freely and have so many resources available to aid us in our study.  I hope this post will be a practical help to you if you are wanting to read and study the Scriptures but are unsure of where or how to start.  If you have any questions feel free to ask below in the comment section.  :)

Hope

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14-15

Wednesday's Word

 

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15

Colossians

 

A small group of women at my church and I are endeavoring to commit the book of Colossians to heart over the next year.  You are welcome to join us if you'd like. 

Our schedule has us memorizing 2 verses a week (3 verses on a few weeks) and I created two documents similar to the one that Ann Voskamp has offered on her blog only in KJV.  One is for use in a spiral bound index card book like the one pictured above and the other for a small Moleskine® book or one of similar size as pictured below.

I've used the cover from Ann's blog.  You can find the document for the cover and Ann's post about memorizing Colossians HERE.

 

I printed out two books for myself.  I keep the spiral bound book in the house.  It moves with me from room to room and stands nicely on the counter when I'm getting ready in the morning or on the counter in the kitchen when I'm cooking or washing dishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Moleskine® book is kept in my purse and is formatted vertically (like a book) rather than horizontally like the spiral bound book.

If you are interested in either of the downloads to print off the KJV of Colossians, please e-mail me as I haven't figured out how to insert a link to the pdf on my blog.  everydaysacred @ hotmail . com (remove the spaces before the @ and .)

Meditation

 

 

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

Sunday's Psalm

Psalm 111

  Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

² The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

³ His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

⁴ He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

⁵ He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

⁶ He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

⁷ The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

⁸ They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

⁹ He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Psalm 112

Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth forever.

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious and full of compassion and righteous.

A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

Surely he shall not be moved forever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

his heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

he hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth forever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.