Friday, February 23, 2007

Experiencing God

One of the most important studies of the Word of God I have encountered is Experiencing God by Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King. The insights I learned from this study the first time I participated over eight years ago, enabled me to grow my relationship with God to a deeper level of faith and action. I learned how to know when God was speaking, what He was saying and what I had to do to obey. I was so impressed with what I learned from Experiencing God, I felt I had to complete the study more than once. In fact, I was enrolled as a student twice, lead a study once and read the textbook.

While I am serving our church on our elder selection committee, I decided to refresh my memory with the insights I found from the Word specifically in the Experiencing God Bible study. I love the Word of God so much, I want to share some of the Truth revealed through the Holy Spirit that I learned and had forgotten, so I will post some of these wonderful thoughts here. As I go through the study each day, I hope to post some of the things I learn.

I pray that the Spirit will speak clearly to each of you as you read the revealed Truth and study the Word of God to find His answers to all of your questions.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Five Things About Me

1. I was an extra on an episode of Seinfeld and I was an audience member for three shows... that was fun!

2. I raised pigs as a high schooler in 4-H. I still remember what the 4 H's are, if you ever want to know.

3. I've known my husband for 30 years. I think that's pretty interesting since I'm only 38.

4. I've been on safari at Masi Mara, Kenya. Our oldest went too, she was 26 months old.

5. I'm 5th generation C of C.


Now, who to tag? Dan, if you ever get your blog up, it's you baby!

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Life

I've been working on this post since November. The subject of abortion and unborn life is so sensitive I actually thought about deleting this before it was finished. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I didn't delete it. I have decided to publish this post because the Holy Spirit revealed insights from the Word of God that I needed to put down for someone to read. If you read this post and decide to comment, please be sensitive to other readers and to me.

This post is taken from a radio message by Chip Ingram. You can find the podcast at Living on the Edge.

God says he has absolute truth. God created life in Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.


We know human life is sacred because God created it. God had capitol punishment in the Bible, whether we agree with it or not and scripture affords the same value to a fetus, from the first cell on, as to any other human life.

The first Scripture used against abortion is often quoted by Christians.

Psalm 139:13-16

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.


God was involved in plans for us before we were born, not after we took our first breath. We find examples of this in both the Old and New Testaments. (David, Jeremiah, Paul)

But... what if in Scripture, we saw the same punishment for the murder of an unborn baby as for fully developed human beings?

In Exodus 20, there is the receiving of the Ten Commandments. The following chapters in Exodus are an explanation and application of these Commandments.

Exodus 21:22-25
22 If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.


God views the fetus as special, needing protection as a pre-born human being.
If we believe the Bible is truth, we can not ignore this teaching.

There are several emotional oppositions the Pro-choice movement uses to keep us from taking our stand.

The mothers' life is in danger.
This is extremely rare and exceptionally uncommon. Former US Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Coop has said that in 30 years of practicing pediatric medicine, neither himself nor his colleagues ever had to choose between the life of the mother and baby.

Pregnancy from rape and incest.
These are horrific tragedies. However, punishing an unborn human for sin committed by another doesn't solve anything. Two wrongs don't make a right. Only 0.06% of rape result in pregnancy. Due to post-rape exams and procedures performed by hospitals (i.e. D & C), rape resulting pregnancy is extremely rare. The act of abortion is much harder on the mother emotionally and physically with regret, guilt, and depression toping the list.

A return to back ally abortion.
Before abortion was legal, in 1965 only 265 deaths occurred due to illegal abortions. Abortion became legal in 1973, since that time with the advances in medicine we would expect the statistics to have become better. However, according to the CDC, the statistics for the mortality of the mother is almost exactly the same. Of all pregnancy-related complications in New York and California, 20% were due to abortions. In 1996, about 20 women for every 1,000 women aged 15-44 years had an abortion, and for every 1,000 live births, about 325 abortions were performed, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

So, where do we go from here? What do we do about Christians who are professing the word of God but teach contrary to it? First, we need to work on finding forgiveness. There has to be an accountability to take responsibility for false teaching and then establish limits. Violence is ungodly and unrighteous. Bombing abortion clinics and murdering doctors is sin and, again, two wrongs don't make a right.

Romans 16:17-19
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.


We are called to be light to the world, not heat. Light illuminates, heat drives away. It is not our place to keep others from sinning, but to bring the darkness to light and gently restore our brother in Christ.

Galatians 6:1-2
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Matthew 18:15-17
15 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.


Acting in love, we need to be sure our method matches the message of Christ. How would he approach someone caught in the middle? WWJD? The loving body of Christ's Church has to use dialogue, not condemnation, so as not to drive our brother away.

Ephesians 4:15-18
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.


It is vital to address the core issue based on the word of God: is it a human being or a mass of tissue? If you are able to use these scriptures to help your brother (or sister) to understand what this means, be sure to listen to their answer and share the truth in love.

I did not post this subject as a debate on interpretation of scripture. Everything written is from the Word of God, taken in context, and has been brought with prayer and love. If you have been convicted here by the Holy Spirit, please take it to God. Study his Word, the answers to all of lifes questions are there. He is faithful and he will honor seeking his name in truth.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Someday

While driving in my car today, the song Someday by Nichole Nordeman was playing. So rare is the time I get to listen to something other than Veggie Tales, that when I do get the opportunity to hear something for adults, I am sure that I choose wisely.

Once again, the lyrics of Nicholes songs are so poignant from the Word of God that I have been inspired to write them out to encourage you. This song specifically made me think of my dear friends who are going through a tough time right now. May you find peace in this song as its poetry speaks from the Lord.

I believe in the rest of the story
I believe there's still ink in the pen
I have wasted my very last day
Trying to change what happened way back when

I believe it's the human condition
We all need to have answers to why
More than ever, I'm ready to say that
I will still sleep peacefully
With answers out of reach from me...

Until someday
All that's crazy
All that's unexplained
Will fall into place
And someday
All that's hazy
Through a clouded glass
Will be clear at last
And sometimes we're just waiting
For someday

We are born with a lingering hunger
We are born to be unsatisfied
We are strangers who can't help but wander
And dream about the other side...

Of someday
All that's crazy
All that's unexplained
Will fall into place
And someday
All that's hazy
Through a clouded glass
Will be clear at last
And sometimes we're just waiting
For someday

Every puzzle's always missing a piece
Every unsolved mystery
More than half of every whole
Rests in the Hands that hold you
For someday

And someday
All that's crazy
All that's unexplained
Will be beautiful, beautiful
And someday
All that's hazy
Through a clouded glass
Will be clear at last
And sometimes we're just waiting and waiting
For someday


from Brave by Nichole Nordeman

Although the entire chapter of 2 Corinthians speaks directly on this subject (Treasures in Jars of Clay), I have only posted the last three verses here in order that they would be read. I encourage you to read the whole chapter for encouragement.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.