www.memoryverses.org

At my last home group meeting one of the ladies shared a resource about scripture memorisation, sadly, a discipline i think many of us have neglected since leaving sunday school, myself included. The following few questions may encourage you ...

• would you say the memorisation of scripture is a necessity, or an option if you have time?
• are you convinced that a regular intake of the word of God is a good thing for a christian, or is an absolute necessity? Do you hunger for the word?
• have you given scripture memorisation a priority which received scheduled time or only when you happened to get to it?
• are you easily distracted by other activities? e.g. things that are a waste of time (TV, certain hobbies) or things that are not bad but should have a lower priority.
• are you a procrastinator?
• do you think you are lazy?
• have you made an attempt to understand the scripture you want to memorise?
• have you made an attempt to meditate on it?
• have you made an attempt to apply it?
• is there significant sin in your life which is acting as a barrier between you and God or you and other people? This will also keep you away from the word.
• are you happy with your life? or do you struggle with discontentment, impatience, frustration, anger....?
• do you persue the wealth of the world, or the wealth of heaven. YOU GENERALLY CANNOT DO BOTH

Quotes from Francis Chan...

I don't want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit. I want people to look at my life and know that I couldn't be doing this by my own power.....

I don't believe God wants me to live in a way that makes sense from the world's perspective, a way I know I can 'manage'......

When our consciences are smiting us because of our sin, it is important to reflect upon the fact that, though our sins are real and inexcusable, nevertheless God's justice has already been satisfied through the ''satisfaction of Christ,'' that the penalty has been fully paid by Him.

Jerry Bridges

Hello 2010

Just a quick post to remind you I'm still alive...
few thoughts - firstly this year seems to be going very quickly, maybe I'm getting old but if you cast your mind over these past 8 months how do you think your year is going? Are you closer to God now than in January? Has God been speaking to you? What has he been saying? If you haven't heard anything have you tried listening? is there too much noise in your life? too busy doing nothing?
How have you grown this year?
It isn't over yet...let's ask God to speak and move in our hearts as we enter into Autumn :)

Some precepts...

When doing Precepts bible study, every so often you are encouraged to keep a 'Journal on God' and make notes about his character and other attributes as you see them in the text you are studying. I am not very good at noticing things and am always amazed at how others notice how something shows this side of God's character etc etc...so here are a few notes from Genesis 26. If you are familiar with the story, it is when Isaac goes to Gerar and says Rebekah is his sister instead of his wife (sounds strangely similar to his father Abraham, did the same thing a few chapters back, to the same guy Abimelech...kids never learn eh). God also makes promises to Isaac (again sounding fairly identical to the ones he made to Abraham). Check it out if you have time...
Here is what I learnt about God (how exciting) -

• Ch26 v2. When there is a famine God appears to Isaac. God shows up when you need him, when you are hungry. He shows up and he gives direction.
• v12 God keeps his promises. He promised to bless Isaac in v3 and delivers in v12. The Lord blessed him. Isaac reaped a hundredfold of what he sowed that year, became rich and then very wealthy. Sometimes I feel guilty for all the lovely things we are surrounded by here so I think it is important to note that God sometimes blesses in this way, and we should say Thankyou Lord :)
• After an unsettling time in Gerar (herdsmen fighting over wells and what-not) God appears to repeat his promises and reassure Isaac, v24. God knows what is going on in your life on an individual level, and cares about it. Amazing!
• Last point is not so much something we learn about God but a challenge...Abimelech noticed that the Lord was with Isaac. v28 They said, 'We see plainly that the Lord has been with you... When was the last time someone noticed this about you?

I have probably only scratched the surface here of deeper stuff, and hopefully not taken anything out of context, or concluded something that is incorrect. So please let me know if you have anything to add or comment on.

hello hello hello

my posting is so infrequent any time i do come on i feel like i need to extend warmer greetings. just came across a little gem (or two) on the blazing centre that i wanted to draw to the attention of anyone reading this. it was just what i needed to hear. somedays it feels like work is so difficult, frustrating and down-right annoying. i wonder if this truth will ever sink in or is it going to be a life-long struggle...dedicating my work to God.
so check out the post 'does your job really matter' ...its refreshing i can guarantee it. and take heed of his warnings on the next post 'the only safe rule for giving' ...i warned you!
www.theblazingcenter.com (june 18th 2009)

useful tool

there is a wee video clip we have seen in church a few times and its really good at focusing your soul on how amazing Jesus is, so i thought sharing it would be a good idea. daniel managed to find it on youtube...type in 'do you know him?' and it comes up.
or paste this into ur address-bar-thingy ....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z15FlTONVo
it stops you in your tracks for a few moments, and you can't do anything but worship.