Shelly Says ~ "Fear God"

As a child growing up in the church, I viewed the 10 Commandments as things I better do if I didn't want to feel God's wrath. While fearing God is biblical, I had a very distorted view of the concept.

I don't remember any specific influential figure passing down these distorted views, but I obviously picked them up from somewhere. Children are sponges for knowledge, and I was no exception.

It wasn't until January 2008, 31 years into my earthly existence, that I started understanding the truth: God established His commandments as a guideline for living life to the fullest. God passed down the 10 Commandments so that I could live a life free of bondage. And, to fear God is to stand in awe of Him and to reverently view Him as being in control of everything.

Sweet liberty!

Those truths began to set me free!

I am praying that this Bible study will unlock the rest of the shackles. There has been progress already!

What about you? What is this Bible study doing for you? Does this message of fearing God in a reverent way and obeying the 10 Commandments for your good speak to you? Were you once like me - thinking the Commandments were for keeping you in bondage and from doing fun things? I'd love to hear from you.

The study questions for this week can be answered by reading Chapter 14, and, in my opinion, don't provoke much thought regarding your personal life. Was there anything in the reading that spoke to you and/or unlocked some shackles?

I encourage you to offer your broken life to God so He can rebuild your ancient ruins. If you would like more information on how to do this or have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me by clicking on "view my complete profile" (at the bottom of the green box on the right), then click "e-mail."

May God bless you today as you offer your body as a holy, pleasing, living sacrifice to God (paraphrased from Romans 12:1 NIV).

Stop, Drop and Pray

Shelly Says ~ "Clean out the Closet"

Have you ever been caught off guard by an unexpected visit? I'm talking about the kind that sent you running around the house, cleaning up all the little messes as fast as you could. Maybe you didn't have time to run the vacuum or wash all the dirty dishes, but somehow you were able to make the place look rather presentable and welcoming.

Has this ever happened to you?

Unless you're a Martha (either of the Stewart name or of Bethany fame), I am guessing you know what I'm talking about. Even if you are a Martha, I bet it has happened a time or two. ; )

My favorite tactic for speed cleaning is stuffing any extraneous items in the closet. What's yours?

In the same way our physical clutter gets stuffed into the closets of our homes, our spiritual clutter finds its way into the closets of our hearts.

When you run into a friend at Target, do you grab the bitterness that is showing on your face over a fight with your loved one and hide it in the depths of your spirit?

When you run into your pastor at the grocery store on aisle 9, do you automatically hide the discontent you were just showing your kids on aisle 4? Chances are, discontent found itself behind a closed door at the sight of your earthly Shepherd.

Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think there's anything wrong with setting your feelings aside for the sake of a pleasant conversation; however, the problem remains in the closet of your heart and needs to be dealt with at some point.

If you continue to stuff your feelings inside the closets of your heart, pretty soon there will be no room left and we all know what happens when the junk flows out of the closets and clutters up the place... there is an overflow that causes major congestion. We then tend to blow up and all the stored up, stuffed in emotions come bursting out of our closets (or chest).

Often times this leads to the "ugly cry." You know the one I'm talking about. You are so distraught and so disheveled that you can't even make coherent words between sobs because everything is just too overwhelming. Other times, the emotions come out in one big fight you later regret.

The emotions do come out... eventually.

What would happen if you dealt with your emotions on a daily basis? Better yet, what would happen if you tended to them the moment they surfaced?

In Chapter 13, you may have discovered some feelings you didn't even know existed. I hope you took the time to search the depths of your heart. I hope you found the ancient ruins of your past and drug them out of the closet... into the light... so you could put them in their place.

We all need to clean out our closets.

Isn't it always easier when we don't let them get out of hand?

Stop, Drop and Pray for the hearts of the people you care about. I hope you'll be happy to know that there is already an answered prayer on our list!

Shelly Says ~ "Welcome Back!"

After a week of being unplugged, I am eager to discuss our ancient ruins and broken hearts. I hope you are ready as well.

I believe this step is crucial to breaking free. Without knowing why we are the way we are, it is difficult to understand our lives and to conform into who we want to be.

As much as I'd like to jump right into the discussion, I feel the need to allow you a moment to catch up if you are a few paces behind the pack. ; )

Please take the time today to read any parts of Chapters 13-22 that you have not read. You may also use this time to review.

Tomorrow, we will begin our discussion with Chapter 13! I can hardly wait to hear from you!

Stop, Drop and Pray

Shelly Says ~ "Unplug"

Hello fellow companions and visitors,

This week (5/16-5/22) I encourage you to unplug (click on the bold word for more info) as much as possible and really open yourself up to allow God access to your spirit and soul.

Isaiah 35:5

Psalm 139

1 Thess 5:23

Allow Him to move in your life like you've never seen before.

Spend time in prayer, in His Word, and in His presence (pray, read the Bible and enjoy growing close to Him).

Spend as much time as you can this week totally unplugged from all the electronic devices that constantly demand your time.

Even 5 minutes is a blessing!

Stop, Drop and Pray

I'll connect with you again on the 23rd when we will begin discussing the benefits of being unplugged and letting God have access to our whole being!

Many prayers for a blessed week,

Shelly Says ~ "I Am Yours"

I believe legalism is a problem for many reasons and one that really stands out to me is ignorance.

Before I continue, please understand that there is a difference between stupidity and ignorance.

The ignorant legalist is unaware or has forgotten that nothing can save them but the blood of Christ. They think that good works are the key to salvation. Somehow, they have either misunderstood, forgotten or don't know that salvation is in Christ alone. They think or fall into the type of thinking that suggests the more committees they're on... the better their chances of getting into heaven one day. They think the ticket through the pearly gates comes when they are nice to other people or do good things for them.

I believe that we often get so wrapped up in life and in serving others that we lose sight of our true identity. It's a mistake that deeply affects our soul, body and spirit... our self as a whole.

You get to go to heaven because you accept Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour... period.

You will go to heaven because of who you are (a Child of God) not because of what you've done.

I hang on to the lyrics of one of my favorite Casting Crown songs, Who Am I?

Not because of who I am but because of what You've done.

Not because of what I've done but because of who You are.

Stop, Drop and Pray

* Remember that tomorrow starts our week of "unplugged" study. Check your e-mail for more details.

Shelly Says ~ "Something Happens"

I love it when this happens: I ask a question (to God) regarding something that is currently happening or relating to some Bible study or book I'm reading and... BAM... in His time He provides the answer in a surprising way!

This happened yesterday, and I got the answer very quickly.

In the middle of the day, I felt the urge to review some of our material from previous Breaking Free Chapters. I resisted at first - thinking I've spent enough time on that today. ; ) As I sat down to read, Chapter 6 (To Experience God's Peace) really jumped out at me. So, I began reading it again.

Several things spoke to me, but I was left with these questions: What is the key? What unlocks this peace that is inside of us? How do I activate it?

While the answers seem simple... Jesus... I felt that there was more.

Then, as I decided to step away from the book and let those questions linger, I got a strong urge to keep reading. But, instead of reviewing the next chapter, I felt that moving on ahead to today's reading would be the right thing to do.

Now, mind you, I have been keeping up right along with the rest of you... doing the assigned reading on the assigned day; however, I felt the urge to read ahead on Chapter 11 yesterday.

The 2nd line of Chapter 11 gave me the answer to the questions I'd asked: "The key to peace is authority - peace is the fruit of an obedient, righteous life," says Beth Moore.

Wow! Ask and ye shall receive! : ) Praise God!

While we relish in the power and glory of the Lord, let's move on and discuss Chapter 11.

Prayerlessness is an obstacle. So, it seems the key to overcoming this is to develop a life of prayer. Right?

One of my favorite lines from this Chapter is - "The Spirit of God is released through our prayers" (paraphrased from the bottom of pg. 73). That's really powerful! I've never thought of my prayers that way.

What spoke to you? What hit home? What sentence, phrase or idea evoked questions? Did you ask God about them? Are you keeping the eyes and ears of your heart open to receive the answers? How did you answer the study questions?

Today of all days ; ) don't forget to Stop, Drop and Pray.

"The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace." Psalm 29:11 (NASB)

*** That is the preprinted Scripture on the journal page on which I wrote my thoughts yesterday : )

Shelly Says ~ "It Might Not Be What You Think"

It used to be that when I would think of idols, I would think only of the tangible kind: Think the hand-carved "immunity idol" on the show Survivor or the ones made by the Israelites in Numbers 33:51-53.

Over the last few years, my eyes were opened to the not-so-tangible kind... the ones that are much harder to spot... the ones that are readily available at any time and have been carved into our lives over a period of time.

Before I go on, please let me state my understanding of idols. An idol, as I understand it, is anything that takes the place of God in our lives. It's the persons, places or things in which we find satisfaction... in place of God. We end up worshipping these things because we give glory and honor to ___________ instead of God for the satisfaction in our lives.

We can even slip into idolatry. I say slip because I believe it's just that at times... a slip up if you will... but oh so quick that we might not even notice such a "minor thing".

You might think that TV is not an idol for you but then you catch yourself becoming unhappy and unsatisfied if you don't get to watch your favorite show. Now, I don't mean disappointed here. I mean mad. Have you ever been downright mad when you didn't get to watch a show on TV? You may be depending on that TV show to make you happy and fulfilled. Often times a TV show fills that empty space for 30 minutes or an hour. The true satisfaction you get from God comes from a place far deeper than a shallow show.

Please let me say... I don't believe there's anything wrong with using TV shows for what they were intended... to entertain; however, when it becomes a lifeline for you... there could be a problem.

Here's a big one... money. Money in itself can be good. But, when you look to money for your happiness and satisfaction, it becomes an idol. Buying most anything provides for some happiness and satisfaction (don't get me wrong here) but when your happiness and satisfaction depend on what you can afford... there could be a problem. I don't think there's anything wrong with buying a fancy new car or fabulous diamonds, but when you look to those things for happiness and security and to be satisfied... you are often not looking to God for what only He can provide.

We were created with a longing that can only be filled by God.

When we look to earthy things to fill that void, ironically we will be left empty.

Stop, Drop and Pray

Shelly Says ~ "Walk Humbly"

Today, as I read Chapter 9 of Breaking Free, the phrase "walk humbly with your God" kept popping into my mind. I could not shake those words, so I looked them up when I got downstairs to the computer.

They are words from the Bible and found in Micah 6:8. This is the NKJV version:

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

I also like this version of Micah 6:8 from The Message:

"But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously — take God seriously."

I have to admit, when I hear the word "humble" I often don't have a solid definition or picture of what that means. So, I looked that up as well. According to dictionary.com: When used as a verb with an object, it means "to destroy the independence, power, or will of."

Wow, that really shook things up! So, in the case that humble is the verb and I am the object, I'm supposed to destroy my independence and power and selfish will.

Here's how a sentence using that definition might look...

Shelly needs to be humble.

Here's the sentence I'd like to replace that one with...

Shelly walks humbly with her God.

Please Stop, Drop and Pray for me as well as your fellow companions. I know I'm gonna need some help rolling this boulder off of my path!

Shelly Says ~ "Believe God"

He is true.

He is right.

He is waiting for us not just to believe in Him but believe Him: Believe His Word.

I believe that in order to believe God (not just believe in Him), we have to read His word and then live like we believe it. We have to experience God.

Here's an example: Growing up, I believed in my parents. I believed in the fact that they had authority over me and were in charge of my upbringing. I believed in the promise they made to protect and help me through life. I also believed in the fact that they would punish me for disobedience.

It's one thing to know and/or hear that these things are so. It's a whole other to actually see them happen.

It was my experiences with my parents that caused me to actually believe what they said. They showed me love as they cared for and nurtured me. I believed they loved me. When I disobeyed, I was punished. The actual occurrences in which I experienced the punishments caused me to believe them when they said I was going to get a spanking.

I think our relationship with God is very similar.

It's often easy to believe in God when we simply obtain head knowledge of Him.

It's often hard to believe God if we don't experience Him and know in our hearts that He is who He says He is.

You might know in your head (believe in) that Jesus came to set the captives free, but you might not believe Him until you allow Him to set you free.

Will you give Him access to you heart? Will you surrender so you can be set free?

Here's a prayer that may help as you Stop, Drop and Pray today. It's from Psalm 139:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

And see if there be any hurtful way in me,

And lead me in the everlasting way