Friday, June 11, 2010

Part 5 ~ Chapter 33

Love, Love, Love

It's the Greatest Commandment, all we need, what we long for. Right?

As we turn the page to another chapter, we also begin Part 5 of our journey today!

Do you find it ironic that our earthly parents and caretakers are constantly, lovingly pushing us away from our temporal home while our Heavenly Parent constantly, lovingly pulls us towards our eternal home?

This irony struck me as I read the words of the child psychologist Beth quotes on page 194 of our study: "If the bond we had with them as infants did not change, we would never be able to let them go" (referring to a parent/caretaker's relationship with their teenagers).


Switching gears completely now...


I am reading a fiction book right now from the Yada Yada Prayer Group series. Now, if you know me well, then you probably know that I rarely read fiction. I'm actually a non-fiction kinda girl. Fiction has to be really good to draw me in and keep me reading. So, long story short... this is a REALLY good series of stories. Very inspirational.

Just last night, the fictional prayer group in the series gathered for a meeting and they quoted, from Psalms, the "His love endures forever" passage. They went on to shout woes and trials, praise and glory, requests and answers... but they followed them all with the same line...

His love endures forever!

No matter what happens in life... know that He is faithful and His love endures forever. There is nothing, no one like God! He is our Rock, Salvation, Every Present Hope, Mighty Warrior, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One, Emmanuel - God With Us!

This passage means so much to me because it was "played out" another time in my life. I was chaperoning a youth group last summer when about 30 African children showed up to sing to us. What a blessing! It would take quite a bit of writing, then reading on your part, to describe the amazing event. Just please know it was real special.

At one point in their presentation, the microphone was passed from child to child as they spoke words of praise to God... then followed it with...

"His love endures forever!"

No matter what's going on in your life, no matter who has betrayed you, no matter the circumstance...

His love endures forever!

Sweet Mercy! AGAPE!!! ; )


Part 4 ~ Chapter 32

I could list so many quotes from this chapter... takeaways that are great reminders... but I might end up infringing on some copyright laws. : )

With all due respect to the publisher and writer of Breaking Free, I will refrain from quoting half the chapter here and just refer to several things that might encourage you to review your own copy... or go out and buy one to support Beth Moore's ministry.

In this chapter, we are reminded that we are not perfect (neither are we expected to be, thank God), but in God, we are being perfected into the image and likeness of Christ. I will hold onto the five "daily treasures" on pages 188-189. These are things to remember as you walk with God: He provides new mercies every morning.

I'm like Beth lighting her own fire: I tend to depend on my own flint to start my own fire, which provides flames for my own torch and attempt to blaze my own path (in reference to her story on the bottom of page 190).

I have to remember to look to/for God DAILY and depend on Him ALWAYS.

I do pretty good on a lot of days, but there are so many others on which you'll find me furiously searching to create my own spark.

On the journey, please remind me to look for the Divine Spark within and also point to this post and this chapter! ; )

When my torch goes out and I'm exhausted, PRAISE GOD "no matter how long the detour has been, the return is only a shortcut away" (Beth Moore).

Stop, Drop and Pray... put out your own torch and carry The Eternal Flame in your heart. It's the only thing you need today.

Part 4 ~ Chapter 31



In this chapter, I became refreshed when I read one of the dear passages of Scripture that captures the very essence of our journey. I have often thought of it during our time together.

Isaiah 43:18-19

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."

Sweet words to a parched soul and desperate spirit!

By this point in our journey, I hope you have gotten to a point where you can put the past behind you and find hope that God is going to do a new thing in your life. Your part is letting Him; allowing Him to take over and make you over! This "new thing" is gonna spring up like Old Faithful and amaze you! You'll find a way in the desert and drink refreshing Living Water where you thought there was no water at all... no refreshment.

God longs to satisfy your every need, and He even wants to give you the desires of your heart (your very spirit). Will you allow Him to provide for you in this way?

God created you with a soul (your very own mind, will and emotions). With this soul, you have the ability to make decisions.

Who or what will be Master of your life?

You choose. You'll be the one who has to live eternity with the consequences.