Eight times in Nehemiah chapter 8 the word "understood" is used.
Americans revere the Bible, but don't read it.
Christians read the Bible, but don't apply it well. As a gross generality there is no marked difference in the way a Christian lives their life than how a pre-Christian lives theirs.
Recently while attending a seminar at Gordon-Conwell seminary the topic of Biblical illiteracy was discussed and here the same topic is again in Nehemiah. Satan uses our distractions/laziness/busyness/whateverness to keep us Biblically illiterate--EVEN CHRISTIANS.
The word of God understood has the power to transform people for good. It must be read, studied, understood before its beautiful power can be unleashed in your (our) heart(s). I could stop here and preach an entire sermon....
I believe most of us are guilty when we program the time to study the Word of God out of our lives for other noble pursuits.
Our Teaching Director, Beckie, says that the natural reaction to reading the Word is guilt due to the holiness of God. Interesting to think about.
There is no replacement for studying the scriptures. Not even a well marketed, appealing looking devotional book that has sold and printed a gazillion copies at a major league Christian bookstore.
Nehemiah and Ezra organized an outdoor Bible conference and took the Word seriously. To them, it was a real treasure and they treated it as such.
They were intentional about making sure people heard and understood it.
Our language continues to change and translations and paraphrases of the Bible can become a distraction but the beautiful thing is that God's word stays the same. The message--truth--remains the same (2 Timothy 3:16)
Let us understand the power of God in our lives.
Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
The Third Conversion
Recently I read R. Scott Rodin's "The Third Conversion," a short little novelette about fund development.
Sounds interesting, I know.
The basis of the title comes from a Luther quote, "There are three conversions necessary to every man; the head, the heart, and the purse."
The book offers great insight and reminders of what true stewardship is and who it belongs to and were great reminders for me as we are going through the strategic planning process for our command.
What we have is not ours. It all belongs to God. The glory belongs to Him and Him alone.
We need to treat our relationships with this in mind.
The book offers a summary and it lists seven things to keep in mind that translate so practically well to corps officers:
1. Be spiritually prepared for the battle
2. Trust God to be the fundraiser
3. Don't make decisions without prayerful discernment
4. Be willing to invest time in building kingdom relationships
5. Always make the ministry more important than the money
6. Seek and value accountability
7. Be sure God gets the glory
Sounds interesting, I know.
The basis of the title comes from a Luther quote, "There are three conversions necessary to every man; the head, the heart, and the purse."
The book offers great insight and reminders of what true stewardship is and who it belongs to and were great reminders for me as we are going through the strategic planning process for our command.
What we have is not ours. It all belongs to God. The glory belongs to Him and Him alone.
We need to treat our relationships with this in mind.
The book offers a summary and it lists seven things to keep in mind that translate so practically well to corps officers:
1. Be spiritually prepared for the battle
2. Trust God to be the fundraiser
3. Don't make decisions without prayerful discernment
4. Be willing to invest time in building kingdom relationships
5. Always make the ministry more important than the money
6. Seek and value accountability
7. Be sure God gets the glory
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Nehemiah--leadership in the face of opposition
Elijah and I have attended a weekly Bible Study at a church here in Murfreesboro for the past year and a half.
A quote was shared in class that says, "circumstances don't make you. They define who you are."
We spent a good part of the winter studying Nehemiah and how real the scripture was to me during that time as we were going through difficult times in the corps and the steadfastness of Nehemiah and his clear leadership abilities--including having a plan in the face of opposition--were great gifts from the LORD for me to digest.
Although there were several forms of external opposition Nehemiah did not get discouraged. He was focused. Rather than listen to the nonsense that was coming at him from nearly all sides he decided to listen to God instead and intensified his prayer (selective listening skills). Even that had strategy. Through prayer is how he received strength and courage. The tactics against him were: ridicule, mockery, insults, slandering, conspiracy, and threats against him. The more the opposition= the more he (they) prayed.
God entrusted him with a tremendous work as a result. Satan pushes against us when God is blessing our efforts. We are to stay faithful and press on. The victory has already been won. Hallelujah!
Something that spoke out to me loudly about Nehemiah was even though he was personally attacked he did not let it get the best of him. Taking up personal offense dishonors God.
Nehemiah was a man of prayer, was obedient, was an encourager, a delegater, a good communicator, generally level headed, responsible, diligent, focused, passionate and thoughtful.
In other words, he was a true man of God.
A quote was shared in class that says, "circumstances don't make you. They define who you are."
We spent a good part of the winter studying Nehemiah and how real the scripture was to me during that time as we were going through difficult times in the corps and the steadfastness of Nehemiah and his clear leadership abilities--including having a plan in the face of opposition--were great gifts from the LORD for me to digest.
Although there were several forms of external opposition Nehemiah did not get discouraged. He was focused. Rather than listen to the nonsense that was coming at him from nearly all sides he decided to listen to God instead and intensified his prayer (selective listening skills). Even that had strategy. Through prayer is how he received strength and courage. The tactics against him were: ridicule, mockery, insults, slandering, conspiracy, and threats against him. The more the opposition= the more he (they) prayed.
God entrusted him with a tremendous work as a result. Satan pushes against us when God is blessing our efforts. We are to stay faithful and press on. The victory has already been won. Hallelujah!
Something that spoke out to me loudly about Nehemiah was even though he was personally attacked he did not let it get the best of him. Taking up personal offense dishonors God.
Nehemiah was a man of prayer, was obedient, was an encourager, a delegater, a good communicator, generally level headed, responsible, diligent, focused, passionate and thoughtful.
In other words, he was a true man of God.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Grandmom's passing
What was going to be a post about a great 80th surprise birthday party for my husband's dear grandmother and a family trip with Elijah's only cousin on the Seiler side has become much more.
My grandmother lost her battle to cancel while we were celebrating Andy's grandmother's 80th birthday. A bittersweet time.
I will miss my grandmother and the great times we had together. I remember vividly visiting my grandparents in the their condo in Florida during one Spring Break in college and I had a blast visiting with all of their retired friends (I am such a geek!) and really enjoyed seeing the social side of my grandparents. They are fun people!
I remember as a little girl staying at my grandmother's house and she would draw a bubble bath for me and the water was always way TOO hot, but the bubbles were so inviting that the heat always seemed to be a distant memory once I was all the way in the water.
I remember spending a week at the Jersey shore with my grandparents and Uncle Terry where I learned that my grandmom loved the beach but did not like the water. We went to the beach and she read and slept the whole time. I couldn't comprehend why she wasn't interested in the water. Now that I'm older, I understand. A nap on the beach or time with a good book listening to the water is pure medicine for the soul. If we were to do that now we would share James Patterson books--something she made me read!
I remember playing in her make-up drawer and with her jewelry and perfume. I believe my first perfume came from her--Avon's Candid--something that I would probably scream and run if you tried to spray that on me now. Haha.
I remember all of the Hanukkah's we celebrated where my grandmother would go absolutely nuts buying us so much stuff--expensive toys and nice clothes. One year she bought me these belly shirts because they were in style and someone said something about them and she said, "what's wrong? Haven't you ever seen a beautiful girl with style before?"
She was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan. She could jump, scream and curse at the tv with the best of any male fans. Something deep inside of her came through when the Eagles needed a talking to on that old box tv. She would do it with her pretty painted nails and "frosted" blonde hair.
We had a competition at my home corps (church) growing up where the Pioneer music school was going to award a prize (dinner with the Burgmayer's!) to the kid(s) who brought the most guests. I asked my Jewish grandmother if she would attend this Christian music concert and she did and had the entire family come with her. There they were--my entire Jewish family taking up a pew in the old Pioneer corps chapel--my grandmother singing, clapping, and praying with the best of them.
I love her. She was a rare gem. I want to emulate her love of life and people. And maybe share her love of Matlock and Law & Order.
Thank you, Ilene Hurwitz Cohen, for the heritage you have shared with me.
2014 is for family.
My grandmother lost her battle to cancel while we were celebrating Andy's grandmother's 80th birthday. A bittersweet time.
I will miss my grandmother and the great times we had together. I remember vividly visiting my grandparents in the their condo in Florida during one Spring Break in college and I had a blast visiting with all of their retired friends (I am such a geek!) and really enjoyed seeing the social side of my grandparents. They are fun people!
I remember as a little girl staying at my grandmother's house and she would draw a bubble bath for me and the water was always way TOO hot, but the bubbles were so inviting that the heat always seemed to be a distant memory once I was all the way in the water.
I remember spending a week at the Jersey shore with my grandparents and Uncle Terry where I learned that my grandmom loved the beach but did not like the water. We went to the beach and she read and slept the whole time. I couldn't comprehend why she wasn't interested in the water. Now that I'm older, I understand. A nap on the beach or time with a good book listening to the water is pure medicine for the soul. If we were to do that now we would share James Patterson books--something she made me read!
I remember playing in her make-up drawer and with her jewelry and perfume. I believe my first perfume came from her--Avon's Candid--something that I would probably scream and run if you tried to spray that on me now. Haha.
I remember all of the Hanukkah's we celebrated where my grandmother would go absolutely nuts buying us so much stuff--expensive toys and nice clothes. One year she bought me these belly shirts because they were in style and someone said something about them and she said, "what's wrong? Haven't you ever seen a beautiful girl with style before?"
She was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan. She could jump, scream and curse at the tv with the best of any male fans. Something deep inside of her came through when the Eagles needed a talking to on that old box tv. She would do it with her pretty painted nails and "frosted" blonde hair.
We had a competition at my home corps (church) growing up where the Pioneer music school was going to award a prize (dinner with the Burgmayer's!) to the kid(s) who brought the most guests. I asked my Jewish grandmother if she would attend this Christian music concert and she did and had the entire family come with her. There they were--my entire Jewish family taking up a pew in the old Pioneer corps chapel--my grandmother singing, clapping, and praying with the best of them.
I love her. She was a rare gem. I want to emulate her love of life and people. And maybe share her love of Matlock and Law & Order.
Thank you, Ilene Hurwitz Cohen, for the heritage you have shared with me.
2014 is for family.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
2014 is for Family
"A man ought to live so that everyone knows he is a Christian...and, most of all, his family ought to know" -D.L.Moody
Family is the basic unit of society, at least that's what I remember being taught when I was younger.
My definition of family is different than perhaps the definition that others have for family. I try to sincerely love those who around me no matter where I am at the time. This has, at times, led to disappointment when those around me fail, back slide, or don't love me back. Yet I love anyway. Those who are around me I make my family. I get hurt when those who are around me move away and the closeness we once had is gone, but I give love nonetheless.
I'm trying to focus more on people around me than on myself.
More time with my family (household) is necessary for my survival. Time well spent with our leadership team at the corps (soldiers and employees) is needed. Time with my biological family is important.
My mother has had an extremely rough few months and is living in a personal care home permanently. While the situation is not the best, I do believe it is the right decision for her at this time. Often I wonder if my siblings and I are doing the right thing. Many would think that we should take on the responsibility of her care, but we cannot provide what she needs even though we are "family." I am trying to love and respect her not just because she is family, but because she really needs someone to love and respect her.
It has been in difficult times like this when I am forced to re-define what "family" is as those who are the most supportive, encouraging, and helpful overall are not necessarily those who I share biological kinship.
Family is important. I love my family.
I was blessed this year to bring in the New Year with my brother Luke and his precious family after spending time with my sister Kate and her family. Add to that Zihir was with Luke and I and the girls and I realized quickly how over abundantly blessed I am for the richness of family.
I am thankful for them and for the close knit family of God I live life with in Murfreesboro.
2014 is for family. Looking forward to time spent with family this year.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
The Essential Priorities
God's goal is not to make us happy, but rather, holy.
I heard a woman in my Bible Study at a local church say this a few weeks ago and I wrote it down and have been internalizing it ever since.
It's true.
God's goal--above happiness--is holiness. That is what he wants for his people but is it what we want from him? We expect God to be holy but when he works on making us holy and it gets a little uncomfortable we revert to the ideal that we should be "happy."
This idea--myth really--of work-life balance does not exist. Everything vying for my time and attention is really a priority whether it is corps business, the Family Store, Elijah, Andy, corps people, my "me" time (haha!), and being there for Zi during this transition time in her life. Oh yeah--let me not forget my HEBREW class as I picked up working toward my MDiv this fall after putting it down for two years just as I got accepted to an executive leadership class locally through the businesswoman's organization that I belong to. All of this happened at the same time. Whoops.
There were a few other things but I did sift through them and put them on a back burner for now.
Where is the time to work on making me holy?
Did I just schedule God out of my life?
No, I did not. I have had to realize what is essential versus what I perceive as a priority.
Elijah and I attending Bible Study at a local church on Wednesdays during the day together is essential. So we do. Even this morning when he woke up at 5:00am just as I was creeping out the door for the gym. So, no gym time for me today but as he is singing happily eating breakfast as I type this my time with him as we watch the sunrise and then get ready for Bible Study is essential.
Living incarnationally in my house with an 18 year old girl who has literally lost everything she has ever known and is trying to put the pieces back together is more important than knitting a hat and scarf.
Spending time with my corps ladies as we try to build relationships with women in the shelter is more important than getting an A in Hebrew.
Working alongside our Family Store manager is more essential than answering e-mails immediately as he needs encouragement.
Missing the gym this morning so that Andy can sleep as I hang out with Elijah is the right decision.
Essentials. Holiness. In all parts of everyday life.
I heard a woman in my Bible Study at a local church say this a few weeks ago and I wrote it down and have been internalizing it ever since.
It's true.
God's goal--above happiness--is holiness. That is what he wants for his people but is it what we want from him? We expect God to be holy but when he works on making us holy and it gets a little uncomfortable we revert to the ideal that we should be "happy."
This idea--myth really--of work-life balance does not exist. Everything vying for my time and attention is really a priority whether it is corps business, the Family Store, Elijah, Andy, corps people, my "me" time (haha!), and being there for Zi during this transition time in her life. Oh yeah--let me not forget my HEBREW class as I picked up working toward my MDiv this fall after putting it down for two years just as I got accepted to an executive leadership class locally through the businesswoman's organization that I belong to. All of this happened at the same time. Whoops.
There were a few other things but I did sift through them and put them on a back burner for now.
Where is the time to work on making me holy?
Did I just schedule God out of my life?
No, I did not. I have had to realize what is essential versus what I perceive as a priority.
Elijah and I attending Bible Study at a local church on Wednesdays during the day together is essential. So we do. Even this morning when he woke up at 5:00am just as I was creeping out the door for the gym. So, no gym time for me today but as he is singing happily eating breakfast as I type this my time with him as we watch the sunrise and then get ready for Bible Study is essential.
Living incarnationally in my house with an 18 year old girl who has literally lost everything she has ever known and is trying to put the pieces back together is more important than knitting a hat and scarf.
Spending time with my corps ladies as we try to build relationships with women in the shelter is more important than getting an A in Hebrew.
Working alongside our Family Store manager is more essential than answering e-mails immediately as he needs encouragement.
Missing the gym this morning so that Andy can sleep as I hang out with Elijah is the right decision.
Essentials. Holiness. In all parts of everyday life.
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