II Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." I love that verse and yet as a teacher I tremble at that verse. In this verse is an implied directive that those who handle God's word are to do it accurately. This only comes by being diligent. My desire in my teaching is to point everyone I encounter to Christ. I feel a great responsibility to accurately handle God's Word which requires pressing on in my diligence toward God's word.
I think about how indignant we can get when others misquote or take we have said out of context. I know I personally get very frustrated when my children know what I mean but can find the loopholes in how I have said it. God in His infinite wisdom had His thoughts written down inspired by the Holy Spirit and then He leaves it there. There is no arguing, finding loopholes or debate with God. It is our responsibility to accurately look into God's word using proper and complete observation of any text including the history of those who wrote it and to whom it was written. We are to view the entire context of God's word and the passage we are reading to get an accurate interpretation. This means we must get to know God so we can understand His heart. God is multifaceted and beyond our comprehension but when we humble ourselves and seek His heart He will revel Himself to us. How frustrated He must get when we take His words and twist them to make them say what is easier for us. We are a people who wants a convenient religion not and intimate relationship with the Creator of this world. I am grateful for His grace.
I pray God continues to work in my life to keep me humble so I always approach God's word with reverence. I know "...to whom much is given, much is required." God had given me a unique gift in the way I understand His word and can apply it to life today. I also have a great responsibility to approach His word without my own agenda, being accurate and complete in my study and making certain I stay teachable.
As I begin a new study tomorrow, at a new church, with new students, please pray that God's grace will flood me as I share with them my passion for God's word. Pray I will remain diligent and that I will be accurate in handling what God has entrusted to me. Pray I will Hold Fast to His word and Press On in diligence as I study and prepare for this new adventure. Thank you all so much.
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Holding Fast and Pressing On with an Open Hand
Currently on Sunday mornings Pastor Bill Logan is preaching through the Bible in a year in chronological order. We have chosen as a family to attempt to do the same. This Sunday we reached the story of Abraham and Isaac. It is a story that is very familiar since I have heard it, studied it and read it more times than I can count during my 36 years in the church and yet is one that I never tire of hearing. God's absolute provision and His knowledge of how to get to the heart of Abraham captivates me. I have heard and applied over and over the concept of holding the gifts God has given me loosely. I went through realizing that material possessions must be held with an open hand as well as relationships and people and dreams for the future. This time God drilled into my heart and exposed something I was not holding with an open hand, partly because I had no idea it was even there...that is my view of who I am, my identity.
I have gotten the concept that God is a jealous God and nothing or no one can take His place in our life or He is compelled to remove it for our benefit. I never realized my identity as a redeemed child of God makes my primary identity in Christ a thing I can replace. Any other identity that gets in the way of or takes over my identity in Christ is not God's desire for me. God chose me and He placed a calling on my life (Col 3:12). I am to fully immerse myself in Christ and become a partaker of Him (Heb 3:14).
Since this calling has been placed on my life I must sacrifice on the alter any concept of myself that I may have. I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a good friend. I am a college graduate, I am homeschooler, I am a scrapbooker, I am a Bible teacher, but first and foremost I am Christ's. If that is not the identity I place as my primary identity then God will lovingly show me where I need to change.
In the last year God has rearranged many things in my life to help me see that my identity needs to be Christ first and always. I must be willing to be stripped of any other identity other than Christ and Him alone. This is difficult but very rewarding because I know who I am even when everything I thought or knew to be true changes. No matter where I live or who comes and goes in my life or what any other person believes to be true of me, I KNOW who I am. I am holding fast and pressing on with my identity in Christ and all the other things that define me held loosely.
I have gotten the concept that God is a jealous God and nothing or no one can take His place in our life or He is compelled to remove it for our benefit. I never realized my identity as a redeemed child of God makes my primary identity in Christ a thing I can replace. Any other identity that gets in the way of or takes over my identity in Christ is not God's desire for me. God chose me and He placed a calling on my life (Col 3:12). I am to fully immerse myself in Christ and become a partaker of Him (Heb 3:14).
Since this calling has been placed on my life I must sacrifice on the alter any concept of myself that I may have. I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a good friend. I am a college graduate, I am homeschooler, I am a scrapbooker, I am a Bible teacher, but first and foremost I am Christ's. If that is not the identity I place as my primary identity then God will lovingly show me where I need to change.
In the last year God has rearranged many things in my life to help me see that my identity needs to be Christ first and always. I must be willing to be stripped of any other identity other than Christ and Him alone. This is difficult but very rewarding because I know who I am even when everything I thought or knew to be true changes. No matter where I live or who comes and goes in my life or what any other person believes to be true of me, I KNOW who I am. I am holding fast and pressing on with my identity in Christ and all the other things that define me held loosely.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Holding Fast and Pressing On Without Results
It is the beginning of a new year and the round of New Year's resolutions has begun. We are a results driven culture and I am no different. I want to use my time to achieve, to see things get done, to produce results. When I start something I know how I want it to end. I am realizing that much of the time the things we do are less about the result and more about the process. I am not fond of the process, I want to skip to the results. The older I get the more I see the process as the goal in many instances. The end result is just the "carrot" to get us to change.
In my physical life this is so very true when it comes to my weight. I have been working for over 2 years to achieve weight loss. I have not achieved much. I do weigh less than I did 2 years ago but I not my "satisfactory" weight let alone my "ideal" weight. I have worked very hard the last 6 months and the scale says I have achieved a mere 15 pounds on a good day. I am confronted daily with what I see as my failure. So when confronted with it, what is my response? I choose to continue on, yes, I hold fast and press on. I continue to eat right, continue to take my vitamins, continue to research and read new information, continue to go to the gym and continue to listen to those who know more than I. I continue on even though I am not experiencing the result I desire. I then evaluate the process, what is happening as I move toward my goal? I am noticing changes in how I feel, noticing my clothes fit better, and most of all I am noticing the pain I was living with diminish. The result is not what I want but the effects of the movement toward the goal are in themselves very rewarding.
The next question I asked as looked back over the last 6 months is, "Am I doing the same spiritually?" I have the goal to be more like Christ. I have been working to achieve this result for 36 years and I am still not there. So again I am confronted with failure, at times it is more glaring than others, what is my response? I choose to continue on, again I hold fast and press on. I continue to study my Bible, I continue to pray, I continue to chose right behavior and I continue to listen to those who know more than I. It is a challenge as I evaluate my progress in reaching my goal. It is so unattainable in my mind that I must remember that I am called to be a follower, to continue my pursuit. I can't look forward or I become discouraged at how far I have to go. I must look back at where I was and where I am now. I must evaluate my personal progress. I can't look around at others because they did not begin at the same place I did . If I see someone who is doing better than I am and closer to the goal I can become discouraged; if I see someone doing worse than I, then I can become puffed up and quit striving. The only standard by which I can measure is that of my own progression.
My encouragement to myself and to each of you is to hold fast and press on. It is not the result that matters at this time but the process and the benefits we gain as we continue on without results. God will reward those who endure and hold fast not always those who achieve. I thank God everyday for His grace in this.
May God bless each of you this new year.
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
In my physical life this is so very true when it comes to my weight. I have been working for over 2 years to achieve weight loss. I have not achieved much. I do weigh less than I did 2 years ago but I not my "satisfactory" weight let alone my "ideal" weight. I have worked very hard the last 6 months and the scale says I have achieved a mere 15 pounds on a good day. I am confronted daily with what I see as my failure. So when confronted with it, what is my response? I choose to continue on, yes, I hold fast and press on. I continue to eat right, continue to take my vitamins, continue to research and read new information, continue to go to the gym and continue to listen to those who know more than I. I continue on even though I am not experiencing the result I desire. I then evaluate the process, what is happening as I move toward my goal? I am noticing changes in how I feel, noticing my clothes fit better, and most of all I am noticing the pain I was living with diminish. The result is not what I want but the effects of the movement toward the goal are in themselves very rewarding.
The next question I asked as looked back over the last 6 months is, "Am I doing the same spiritually?" I have the goal to be more like Christ. I have been working to achieve this result for 36 years and I am still not there. So again I am confronted with failure, at times it is more glaring than others, what is my response? I choose to continue on, again I hold fast and press on. I continue to study my Bible, I continue to pray, I continue to chose right behavior and I continue to listen to those who know more than I. It is a challenge as I evaluate my progress in reaching my goal. It is so unattainable in my mind that I must remember that I am called to be a follower, to continue my pursuit. I can't look forward or I become discouraged at how far I have to go. I must look back at where I was and where I am now. I must evaluate my personal progress. I can't look around at others because they did not begin at the same place I did . If I see someone who is doing better than I am and closer to the goal I can become discouraged; if I see someone doing worse than I, then I can become puffed up and quit striving. The only standard by which I can measure is that of my own progression.
My encouragement to myself and to each of you is to hold fast and press on. It is not the result that matters at this time but the process and the benefits we gain as we continue on without results. God will reward those who endure and hold fast not always those who achieve. I thank God everyday for His grace in this.
May God bless each of you this new year.
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Holding Fast and Pressing on in Thanksgiving
I LOVE this time of year! It is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the chill in the air and the smell of cinnamon, baked goods and coffee. I so enjoy fellowship with my family and others. This time of year gives me a chance to spend time with people and to show them the love I have for them through fellowship. I enjoy having a day that is dedicated to Thanksgiving! God has been teaching me so much about having an attitude of thanksgiving over the last year.
This time last year I was very ill and had Home Health Nurses coming to my house daily as we got ready for Randy to leave on deployment. I was so frustrated and could not reconcile how this illness was "....a light and momentary affliction," and I certainly could not see how it was going to be used to God's glory! I was struggling so much internally with the whole situation. I was teaching the book of Hebrews during this time and God was speaking loudly to me through it. We were to look at II Corinthians 4 and look at the "treasure we have in earthen vessels." I read that and then I read he whole chapter. I read that we are "...afflicted in EVERY WAY but not crushed, struck down but not destroyed..." because our power is from God. Then I got to a verse I do not remember ever reading before, II Corinthians 4:15 "For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God." I realized that my illness was for my sake and the sake of those around me, as they showed me grace and cared for me I was to be thankful and this is how God would be glorified in the situation. God receives glory when we have our attitude right. Whether that attitude is one of showing grace to those afflicted or as one afflicted being thankful God receives the glory.
If you read on in that chapter it talks about how these things "...that are for your sakes..." are "...light and momentary afflictions." They are producing a weight of glory. The word for weight and the word for glory in Hebrew were the same root and it is believed that this influenced Paul to chose these specific words in Greek that make up this phrase according to the Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the New Testament. The use of these words together implies a prolonged process or a working out. Our afflictions accomplish a purpose that glorifies God whether by a change in us or a change in others and that process takes time. In our microwave generation we want to see the reason now, we want the why's answered and to know the purpose. God does not always share that with us; we may even have to wait until eternity to discover the reason.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving,
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
This time last year I was very ill and had Home Health Nurses coming to my house daily as we got ready for Randy to leave on deployment. I was so frustrated and could not reconcile how this illness was "....a light and momentary affliction," and I certainly could not see how it was going to be used to God's glory! I was struggling so much internally with the whole situation. I was teaching the book of Hebrews during this time and God was speaking loudly to me through it. We were to look at II Corinthians 4 and look at the "treasure we have in earthen vessels." I read that and then I read he whole chapter. I read that we are "...afflicted in EVERY WAY but not crushed, struck down but not destroyed..." because our power is from God. Then I got to a verse I do not remember ever reading before, II Corinthians 4:15 "For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God." I realized that my illness was for my sake and the sake of those around me, as they showed me grace and cared for me I was to be thankful and this is how God would be glorified in the situation. God receives glory when we have our attitude right. Whether that attitude is one of showing grace to those afflicted or as one afflicted being thankful God receives the glory.
If you read on in that chapter it talks about how these things "...that are for your sakes..." are "...light and momentary afflictions." They are producing a weight of glory. The word for weight and the word for glory in Hebrew were the same root and it is believed that this influenced Paul to chose these specific words in Greek that make up this phrase according to the Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the New Testament. The use of these words together implies a prolonged process or a working out. Our afflictions accomplish a purpose that glorifies God whether by a change in us or a change in others and that process takes time. In our microwave generation we want to see the reason now, we want the why's answered and to know the purpose. God does not always share that with us; we may even have to wait until eternity to discover the reason.
The other dilemma many have with being thankful in their circumstance is that they don't appreciate the idea that what they are experiencing is for others. We are a selfish people and we want to know why things are happening to us. If God told us that what was happening was for the benefit of our Christian brother or sister many of us would become angry and bitter. If God told us it was strictly for our benefit than we would could become victims who feel helpless. C.S. Lewis wrote an essay called The Weight of Glory. He states
"It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken...All day long we are in some degree, helping each other toward a state of worship or corruption..."I love this reminder that we are not here for ourselves. We do have a responsibility to others and God in how we behave and most importantly in our attitude. There are so many people I could thank for helping me move closer to a state of worship. This Thanksgiving season I give thanks for those families whose table we have sat at or who have sat at our table and encouraged us to thank God for the blessings He has given. I am holding fast and pressing on because of the help of those who spur me toward worship and thanksgiving.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving,
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Holding Fast and Pressing on as a Romantic
I am currently taking a Ladies Bible Study Lecture Series by Beth Moore. This week she talked about how God is a Romantic. We are studying Revelation 19 where God prepared the bride in fine linen and perfection and the Groom has anticipated her arrival they enjoy the beautiful marriage supper then Christ mounts his white horse and gathers the Bride and they ride to avenge the earth. It is a beautiful picture. While she was teaching she asked the question, "Are any of you Romantics?" I lowered my head and thought, "Unfortunately, yes." She went on to contrast the Romantic with the Cynic.
As I have pondered the lesson and expanded more in my mind on what a Romantic is, I will tell you that I have suffered much at the hands of being a Romantic and I thought how much easier life would be as a Cynic. Let me just share with you what I mean. What makes me a Romantic you may ask. I see other people through the lens of their ultimate potential. I see who they can be and hope that is contained in them. I look at my relationships and believe the best of the people around me. I do not default to how some one could harm me or betray me. It never occurs to me to think that way about them. If I become concerned about my relationship with someone I assume it is me. I default to reviewing in my head, "Did I say something wrong?, Am I misjudging them?, Do I have an unrealistic expectation?" I believe in happy endings and that everyone can chose to look at life positively and even difficult things will be made easier. I want everyone to get along and respect one another. I am in love with my husband because I look at him through eyes of love and self-sacrifice not what he owes me. I am not saying I believe that things are all rosy and wonderful but I do see the potential for good.
I have been called idealistic, Pollyanna, naive, unrealistic, innocent, not very smart and way too trusting. I have been ridiculed for my outlook on life, betrayed without seeing it coming, hurt by unkindness, and shocked and baffeled by those around me. I care deeply, I want what is best for others and yet it does not always work out well to live life that way. I began to ponder what it means to be a Cynic and whether that would be a better way of life for me. A cynic may be smarter but they do not trust. They are protected but are suspicious and believe the worst of others. A cynic is not disappointed because they believe everything is going to fall apart anyway so why hope. A cynic gets ahead in life because they believe they must look out for number one. A cynic does not allow people close because they only see here and now and do not believe in potential. The world if full of Cynics.
I tried to live as a Cynic after one particularly shocking hurt but I was miserable. I suffered from anger and depression. Thinking the world is a miserable place and the people in it not worth my time was not a beneficial way for me to live. I will continue to live as a Romantic. I believe that is what God wants for us. He wants us to see our potential in the way those around us view us and that is why we are to fellowship with one another. We are to speak the truth in love and allow that love to cover a multitude of sin. Christ did it for us and life is much more fulfilling for me when I live it with love and forgiveness. I can view things realistically without being cynical. I am willing to risk hurt and betrayal and pain and disappointment because my love for another may the thing that helps them hold on to their faith and helps them to press on to maturity. My prayer is that God strengthens me as I Hold Fast and Press On to live as a Romantic.
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
As I have pondered the lesson and expanded more in my mind on what a Romantic is, I will tell you that I have suffered much at the hands of being a Romantic and I thought how much easier life would be as a Cynic. Let me just share with you what I mean. What makes me a Romantic you may ask. I see other people through the lens of their ultimate potential. I see who they can be and hope that is contained in them. I look at my relationships and believe the best of the people around me. I do not default to how some one could harm me or betray me. It never occurs to me to think that way about them. If I become concerned about my relationship with someone I assume it is me. I default to reviewing in my head, "Did I say something wrong?, Am I misjudging them?, Do I have an unrealistic expectation?" I believe in happy endings and that everyone can chose to look at life positively and even difficult things will be made easier. I want everyone to get along and respect one another. I am in love with my husband because I look at him through eyes of love and self-sacrifice not what he owes me. I am not saying I believe that things are all rosy and wonderful but I do see the potential for good.
I have been called idealistic, Pollyanna, naive, unrealistic, innocent, not very smart and way too trusting. I have been ridiculed for my outlook on life, betrayed without seeing it coming, hurt by unkindness, and shocked and baffeled by those around me. I care deeply, I want what is best for others and yet it does not always work out well to live life that way. I began to ponder what it means to be a Cynic and whether that would be a better way of life for me. A cynic may be smarter but they do not trust. They are protected but are suspicious and believe the worst of others. A cynic is not disappointed because they believe everything is going to fall apart anyway so why hope. A cynic gets ahead in life because they believe they must look out for number one. A cynic does not allow people close because they only see here and now and do not believe in potential. The world if full of Cynics.
I tried to live as a Cynic after one particularly shocking hurt but I was miserable. I suffered from anger and depression. Thinking the world is a miserable place and the people in it not worth my time was not a beneficial way for me to live. I will continue to live as a Romantic. I believe that is what God wants for us. He wants us to see our potential in the way those around us view us and that is why we are to fellowship with one another. We are to speak the truth in love and allow that love to cover a multitude of sin. Christ did it for us and life is much more fulfilling for me when I live it with love and forgiveness. I can view things realistically without being cynical. I am willing to risk hurt and betrayal and pain and disappointment because my love for another may the thing that helps them hold on to their faith and helps them to press on to maturity. My prayer is that God strengthens me as I Hold Fast and Press On to live as a Romantic.
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Holding Fast and Pressing On Through Pain
It has been a few weeks since I have posted. There has been much going on here in our family. My focus has been on my pain and trying to alleviate it or endure it. I have a chronic knee issue. I injured it in August of 2009 and it has taken a while to isolate the problem and then deal with the surrounding issues. As I was making progress we moved and I am starting the process all over again which carries a great degree of frustration. My knee prevents me from doing what I want to do and what I feel I need to do. Many times I feel like a burden and like it would be easier on my family in particular if they did not have me to care for and wait for. I will say that is in my head because my family is wonderful and my husband reminds me daily how God will use this in my life and the life of my children.
I have been evaluating my attitude about my pain in relationship to God's Word. In II Corinthians 4:15 it say that these things are for my sake and that it is for the abounding of grace toward me by others for my thanksgiving so God will get the glory. That is my paraphrase. Not long after that verse it tells us these are light and momentary afflictions in the eternal spectrum. I have to remember God is a God who wastes nothing. He uses every experience in His child's life for their growth, the growth of others and for His glory. My responsibility is to Hold Fast and Press On. That means it is my job to be as pleasant as possible even when I don't sleep because of the pain, to not get depressed and mope because I can't do all the things I want, to be humble and ride a cart at the amusement park so I don't slow down the family and do more damage to my knee, to continue to exercise and eat right, and to continue to fight with the medical care system to get what I need. This is how I press on and how God will get the glory. These things do not come naturally to me they are supported by the Holy Spirit in me.
In the past when things have become physically painful or overwhelming I quit. That is not an option in my life any longer. God put me here for a purpose and I need to cooperate with Him as much as I can to allow Him to complete that process in me and through me. I tend to worship at the alter of comfort and ease. I don't want to hurt, or do the hard things many times and yet that is sin. Doing what we need to do even when we don't feel like it is a "workout" for our character. God wants men and women of character and determination. I want to be one of those so I will continue to Hold Fast to Him and Press On toward the maturity this pain will bring in my life.
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
I have been evaluating my attitude about my pain in relationship to God's Word. In II Corinthians 4:15 it say that these things are for my sake and that it is for the abounding of grace toward me by others for my thanksgiving so God will get the glory. That is my paraphrase. Not long after that verse it tells us these are light and momentary afflictions in the eternal spectrum. I have to remember God is a God who wastes nothing. He uses every experience in His child's life for their growth, the growth of others and for His glory. My responsibility is to Hold Fast and Press On. That means it is my job to be as pleasant as possible even when I don't sleep because of the pain, to not get depressed and mope because I can't do all the things I want, to be humble and ride a cart at the amusement park so I don't slow down the family and do more damage to my knee, to continue to exercise and eat right, and to continue to fight with the medical care system to get what I need. This is how I press on and how God will get the glory. These things do not come naturally to me they are supported by the Holy Spirit in me.
In the past when things have become physically painful or overwhelming I quit. That is not an option in my life any longer. God put me here for a purpose and I need to cooperate with Him as much as I can to allow Him to complete that process in me and through me. I tend to worship at the alter of comfort and ease. I don't want to hurt, or do the hard things many times and yet that is sin. Doing what we need to do even when we don't feel like it is a "workout" for our character. God wants men and women of character and determination. I want to be one of those so I will continue to Hold Fast to Him and Press On toward the maturity this pain will bring in my life.
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Holding Fast and Pressing On in Isolation
I talked about embracing the unfamiliar and making it familiar last week and this week I am looking at the isolation I am currently experiencing. It is not an isolation like solitary confinement but an isolation from community. A community is a group of people who have intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs and other conditions in common. A sense of community is feeling that one is contributing in some way to the benefit of the whole group by their actions or influence. I must say currently I am without a sense of community. I do not have a sense of belonging.
When in Maine I had many communities where I belonged. I was in the church community at Cornerstone; I was in the homeschool community with many like minded families; I was in the military community where we were experiencing common things; I was in community of women who were my friends and we had much in common. Here I am very disconnected from the homeschool community, I have not been accepted into the church community yet and the military community here is very different than what I am used to. Much has changed in my life and in how I relate to people. When we moved before I had little children and it was easy to make them the "common bond" that brought others together with a sense of community. As I have gotten older and as my children have gotten older that is more difficult. We are more set in our ways and in how we identify ourselves and it seems more difficult to find a common ground. I am not saying we can't fellowship, I have met some wonderful people here with whom I fellowship but I still do not feel that sense of belonging.
This is a real challenge for me since I am a social, extrovert who thrives on relationship and is motivated by those around me. I am here and am having to do the things I know help me and are right for me without anyone to motivate me. In the past I have relied on others to push me and make be better. That is not wrong until one gets to the point where they refuse to move forward with out others who are headed in the same direction. That desire for others to help motivate can become a heart idol when it becomes a requirement for doing hard things and moving forward.
I am currently doing Beth Moore's Revelation study and she points out that John is on the Isle of Patmos without a Christian community and yet he is found "in the Spirit on the Day of the Lord." He has no church to lead, no position to hold, no people counting on his example, no one to minister to and yet we find him doing what he needed to be doing. He is keeping his heart and mind fixed on the Lord. Scholars believe he was discouraged because he was the only disciple who had not given his life for the cause of Christ. He was an exile sitting on an island waiting to die. He was one of the most relational disciples which is shown by his participation with Christ and his loyalty at the cross. In the books John wrote in the Bible he talks much of relationship, it was very important to him . He could have given in to the despair created by loneliness but instead he leaned on the Lord and stayed in the Spirit.
I looked at many of those whose lives are recorded in the Bible to see who else experienced this isolation from community. Abraham left his community to go seek God. Moses was forced by his choices to find sanctuary in a place where he had no community for 40 years and even when he delivered the people they never really embraced him as one of their own. David spent much time running and feeling very alone as we see in the Psalms. Many of the prophets describe times of isolation. Esther lived in the palace and was void of any community who understood her beliefs and way of life. Ruth felt isolated after coming from Moab to Israel. Paul was alone for 3 years as he learned from Christ. In looking at these people I see God uses isolation to refine us and prepare us for something he has planned for us.
I am not succeeding all the time in doing what I need to do but I do see God has a purpose even though right now I do not know the purpose God has for me. I am confident as I look at the evidence of those he has used that he too has a plan for me. I must press on in my pursuit of God as I hold fast to the knowledge that God has a purpose.
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
When in Maine I had many communities where I belonged. I was in the church community at Cornerstone; I was in the homeschool community with many like minded families; I was in the military community where we were experiencing common things; I was in community of women who were my friends and we had much in common. Here I am very disconnected from the homeschool community, I have not been accepted into the church community yet and the military community here is very different than what I am used to. Much has changed in my life and in how I relate to people. When we moved before I had little children and it was easy to make them the "common bond" that brought others together with a sense of community. As I have gotten older and as my children have gotten older that is more difficult. We are more set in our ways and in how we identify ourselves and it seems more difficult to find a common ground. I am not saying we can't fellowship, I have met some wonderful people here with whom I fellowship but I still do not feel that sense of belonging.
This is a real challenge for me since I am a social, extrovert who thrives on relationship and is motivated by those around me. I am here and am having to do the things I know help me and are right for me without anyone to motivate me. In the past I have relied on others to push me and make be better. That is not wrong until one gets to the point where they refuse to move forward with out others who are headed in the same direction. That desire for others to help motivate can become a heart idol when it becomes a requirement for doing hard things and moving forward.
I am currently doing Beth Moore's Revelation study and she points out that John is on the Isle of Patmos without a Christian community and yet he is found "in the Spirit on the Day of the Lord." He has no church to lead, no position to hold, no people counting on his example, no one to minister to and yet we find him doing what he needed to be doing. He is keeping his heart and mind fixed on the Lord. Scholars believe he was discouraged because he was the only disciple who had not given his life for the cause of Christ. He was an exile sitting on an island waiting to die. He was one of the most relational disciples which is shown by his participation with Christ and his loyalty at the cross. In the books John wrote in the Bible he talks much of relationship, it was very important to him . He could have given in to the despair created by loneliness but instead he leaned on the Lord and stayed in the Spirit.
I looked at many of those whose lives are recorded in the Bible to see who else experienced this isolation from community. Abraham left his community to go seek God. Moses was forced by his choices to find sanctuary in a place where he had no community for 40 years and even when he delivered the people they never really embraced him as one of their own. David spent much time running and feeling very alone as we see in the Psalms. Many of the prophets describe times of isolation. Esther lived in the palace and was void of any community who understood her beliefs and way of life. Ruth felt isolated after coming from Moab to Israel. Paul was alone for 3 years as he learned from Christ. In looking at these people I see God uses isolation to refine us and prepare us for something he has planned for us.
I am not succeeding all the time in doing what I need to do but I do see God has a purpose even though right now I do not know the purpose God has for me. I am confident as I look at the evidence of those he has used that he too has a plan for me. I must press on in my pursuit of God as I hold fast to the knowledge that God has a purpose.
Holding Fast and Pressing On,
Teresa
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