1 Corinthians Chapter 3

Great Chapter today.....the verse that struck a chord in me was the following verse 18 "If you think you are wise by this world's standards, you will have to become a fool so you can become wise by God's standards." 19 "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.", "God catches those who think they are wise in their own cleverness."

It made me think about how often that I try to rationalize something for my own desires, not God's. That I spend money on something that I think that I need but truly it is a want. Why is it so easy for us as society to get wrapped up in what we think that we "need"? I am challenged and convicted by these verses.

Lord,

Help me to live by your desires and by your wisdom that I read of versus relying on my own beliefs that are warped by the world and culture that I live in. Let my actions and words be for you instead of for me which is against you Lord. I pray for the strength to do better and to be challenged by your words. Let them soak into my soul so that they come easily to me, that I can portray those words and actions in your name my savior.

I ask for all of this in your sweet name!

Amen.

1 Corinthians Chapter 2

A chapter on wisdom. Who doesn't need more wisdom in this world? Wisdom to be a better parent, wisdom to be a better wife, wisdom to know what to say to your unchristian friend. There are so many things that we need wisdom for that, right now at this moment, it amazes me that more people are not grabbing the bible to try and get more wisdom. Seriously, why don't we try and gain more wisdom from the book that promises us wisdom through its readings and teachings? Is it that it is too easy? Too available?

The verse that jumped out at me today was "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." Isn't this SO true? We will never be able to see, hear or be able to imagine the greatest that God has prepared for us. This is the truth and wisdom that we know and read.

God, I pray today that you provide me the wisdom that you provide in order for me to become the person that you have intended me to be. To take that wisdom and bring it into the other relationships that I have. With my children, my husband, my friends, my family and the girls and people that I am working with at church. Help me take that wisdom into the relationship with my Mother. Let me truly forgive her and love her but still remain unhurt by her ways. I ask for all of this in your sweet name. Amen.

1 Corinthians Chapter 1

I'm a little ashamed at how long it's been since I have journaled. There's really no excuse for this.

The verse that stood out to me this morning was "The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done."

This has been something of trouble for me in the past. I've been trying not to boast about the things that have been provided or the events that have occurred in my life. Instead I should look at it as if I do boast to just do it as a blessing that God has provided. It's not wrong to boast if it is done in His name.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for all that you have provided me. A beautiful family of little boys a, wonderful husband and all of the materially things that we own.....because of you. Lord, without you none of this would be here, none of this would feel as a blessing. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to know you, love you and have a relationship with you. Lord please give me the strength and wisdom to remember you in all areas of life. To never put you second over anything. Lord I also pray for safety over my husband until he returns. Keep him safe and protect him from all things harmful and evil.

I ask all of this in your sweet name!

Amen.

Psalms 11

This morning as I was reading chapter 10 again and then 11 it was interesting to me how much the evils ones are talked about, how there is so much resentment against these people who are cursing, lying and doing evil things. To the point that is mentioned to destroy them, rid of them and for the Lord to be keeping track of the evil things they are doing. It made me think of the things that I do and the things that I know other people do that would be considered evil and thought is there really a tracking system for all of the sins people commit because if so that is quite the tracking system up there ;) But then I came upon verse Psalms 11:1 "I trust in the Lord for protection." This simply but so powerful verse amoung all of the evils deeds and tracking.

I feel that in the last few years of my life that I have had many people in my life some I considered my best friends, others just friends that have sinned against me and our friendship. It's been hard to forgive them and for most I would say that it is still a process of forgiving. But during this time I will hold close to know that as long as I put my trust in the Lord that he will protect me from their sins. It's almost as a boundry set by the Lord that their sins will not hurt me. That might be a little far fetched as I can still feel the pain from some of them but I will say that there have been some recently that have cursed or lied about me behind my back and I do not feel the pain. I actually have began praying for them that they will also feel the Lord's protection. So in closing here are the thoughts that I pray for...

Dear Lord,

I praise you Lord for giving me the protection that I need to not feel the curse and sins of some. That I can fully submit my worries and pain to you so that you may protect me. I trust you with all that I am and ask for continued strength to do this as with some it is easier than with others that you truly love. Lord I ask for protection for those that do sin and do not know you fully. That you may touch their hearts and minds for them to know you and want to be close to you in a way that would make them not want to sin against not only me but all the others.

Lord I know that somteims going through pain makes us stronger, that our faith is tested through these times. that this is unfortunately the only way that we can learn to grow closer to you. I want the strength to get through these times and to be able to reflect on them with joy. that in going through this I will become a stronger Christian that will be serving you Lord.

I ask for this in your name.

Amen.

Psalms 9 - 10

The psalms are full of interesting verses and you can hear that there is so much trouble yet so much hope all at the same time. The verse that stood out to me today was Psalm 9:1 "I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done."

It seems like a pretty simple thing to say thanks, doesn't it? I say thank many times throughout the day to many different people, for many different reasons. When I start my prayers off the first thing I do is thank God for all that he has given me. Yet, I question after reading that verse do I do it with ALL of my heart or is it just something that I do because it's the right thing to do. There's a difference. There's the politeness of saying "Thank You" and then there is how this verse is defining it. Do I thank the Lord with ALL of my heart? Do I tell of all the marvelous things He has done? No, I don't. I want to so why don't I. Honestly, I think it's unfortunately because I get too wrapped up in life and blame it on being busy. This is definitely an area of opportunity.

Dear Lord,

THANK YOU for ALL that you have given me. The good, the bad and the ugly :) I know that each one I should view as a blessing Lord. That I should cherish all that is around me and see the beauty in what you have created and provided to me Lord. Lord I ask that you help me to appreciate the good more, to understand the bad and grow from it and to really see that the ugly is not truly ugly but something that was provided by you to help me grow more into the person that you had planned for me to be.

I ask all of these things in your name.

Amen.

Psalms 7 - 8

I'm tired today and the kids watching TV is an annoyance to me. Why can't I just have some quiet time to reflect and read in the bible. Agh....trying to look past it. Psalms 8: 9 "O Lord, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the Earth."

It does, doesn't it. Even in the darkest alley He is there. It's that the people in the alley are refusing Him but He is there. Why is it at our darkest hour that we feel so alone when really God is right there. Holding us and trying to help us through with His love. Is it because Satan is attacking us and taking advantage of the situation? Is it that we are just so down that anything of comfort seems to be impossible? Why is it that can't see that His majesty is filling the Earth?

Dear Lord,

I thank you for all that you have provided. The weather, the world, my family. Lord such precious gifts that you have given to me please help me to remember how short life is and to be grateful for these gifts all of the time and not when it is easy for me. Lord help me to know that you are filling all of the Earth with your majesty. That you are here in my home, with my children, with my husband and that your majesty is all that we need in life. Lord, our Lord, your majesty fills this Earth and how we are thankful for that and love you.

Amen.

Psalms 5 - 6

Finally a quiet time to read the bible. It is 6:55am and all of my children are sleeping or at least being quiet in their rooms. This is an odd event in my house but one that I cherish. In reading this morning the verse that stood out to be was Psalms 5:8. "Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me." How true is this. Amazing that these "simple" words can move my heart so much that I feel like they were written just for me on this day. I know that is not true but that is the way that it feels. I do want to be lead by the Lord down the right path so I am not destroyed or conquered by my enemies. Who are my enemies? Is it the neighbor who gossips too much to please her unhappiness? Is it a coworker who uses foul language? Is it the TV show that displays lust and greed? Is it me? Am I my own enemy who is not listening to the Lord who is trying to guide and lead me down the right path? Honestly, I the enemy is all of these wrapped up together.

After all if the neighbor gossips do I partake in it? If the coworker uses foul language to I respond with foul language? If the TV show is lustful and greedy do I change the channel? Sure, sometimes I make the right choice and go down the right path. At these times I do feel a tug from the Lord help to lead or guide me. But all too often I feel the tug and I ignore it and go down the wrong path. It's hard to make the right choice all of the time. It's hard to listen to the Lord all of the time, in every situation.

Dear Lord,

Today I thank you for the small bit of quietness to be able to reflect and read in your word. I thank you for all that you provide to me and my family. Lord you know my faults, you know my weaknesses. I pray that you can give me the strength not to avoid the tugs and nudges when I am headed down the wrong path. Help me to rise above the urge to do it my way, to go down my own path. Instead give me the clarity that your path, the right path has so much more in store for me Lord. That it will bring me closer to you Lord and help me to serve you better. Be with me Lord in these moments so that I can be a better daughter, wife, mother, friend, employee and every other role that I lead in this beautiful life that you have given me.

Amen.

My middle son is now with me and asking me to workout with him. Thank you Lord for his amazing energy and cute freckles ;)

Psalms 4

Have I mentioned that I am really enjoying Psalms. It's never hard to see or feel the verse that pops out to me. This morning Psalms 4:4 is what struck a cord with me "Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you." Pretty easy and logical when you think about it but probably one of the most difficult things that I have time actually controlling.

As I am trying to read this morning I have a baby being loud upstairs, one boy eating and talking loudly at the table to my side and the older one watching TV and asking me what he should have for breakfast. I'm a little on edge quite honestly. It's 7am and I want some time in peace to read God's word. Their actions are making me angry and I could easily sin at any moment by yelling at them. They don't deserve to be yelled at as one just wants out of his crib and the other two are just being themselves. Why is it so easy to let anger control me?

Dear Lord,

I thank you for these beautiful and noisy children. I do feel truly blessed to have them Lord. Help me when the anger is setting in to take deep breaths and realize the blessings that I have around me. That anger is my enemy and purely Satan trying to get a hold of me to sin. Lord I pray for calmness in life that I can let the anger slip away for it to be replaced with this calmness so that I do not sin against the blessings that you have provided me.

I ask all of this in your name.

Amen.

Pslams 3

I'm really liking Pslams. I'll be honest that I have never read through it before but this chapter really hit home with me today. The verse that stood out to me was "3: But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high." I need to remember that no matter what is going wrong in my life, who I feel is against me or what faults that I have as a person that the Lord will lift my head high and be the shield or protector from the ones that are not for me.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this time that you have provided me to dig deeper into your word to grow more in my faith. Lord today I ask that you help me always remember your love for me. When I am getting down on myself to know that you love and protection for me is always there and always providing to me. Give me the strength to not fret about what others think or say but to always know that your love for me is more than enough.

I ask this in your name.

Amen.

Psalms 2

The verse that popped out to me today was verse 11 "Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling." It was just an interesting verse to me as I don't typically think of fearing the Lord, especially not reverently. I think of the Lord with grace, mercy and loving not someone to be fearful of. But in the context of this I think it's meaning is more of to submit everything to the Lord, leaving no secret back and that can be fearful. To live in the way that the Lord wants us to even when it is not comfortable or something that we desire, that again can be fearful. So my prayer today is that I can serve the Lord with reverent fear, to put all of my fears and desires aside in order to serve Him the way that is right. And to rejoice with trembling. This verse comes at an interesting time as I have been contemplating going on a mission trip. I have hesitated many times and now it's which trip should I pick, what does each on do because there are certain things that I would like to do a missions trip. Then I read this verse and think should I really get to pick what I want to do or just sign up and serve the Lord with reverent fear doing what is chosen for me to do.

Dear Lord,

Soften my heart and mind so that I can serve you with a reverent fear. That I can lay my desires aside for the better of you and what you have intended for me. I ask you to give me the strength to do this and to hold steady with it. This is something that I need to practice in my life every day not just for a few decisions. Lord be with me as I struggle through the obstacles in life in order for me to grow closer to you. I ask all of these things in your name.

Amen.

Psalms 1

It's been awhile since I've done this and I do not feel right about that. It's easy to get out of the habit when the demands of life, work and children are pulling you in a different direction. Although an encounter with a person where I leave feeling hurt can definitely get one back on the wagon again, so to speak.

I read through Psalms 1 this morning after my workout to try and set my mind for the day along with trying to escape the thoughts from last night. I think the verse that stood out to me was "But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants" It's talking through those you abide by God's law versus those you listen to the wicked. One will be set free while the other judge and condemned. Of course I want to delight in everything the Lord wants. I also want to try my best in everything that the Lord wants but really in our world today that is not an easy feat. There are times that I do what I know the Lord will want but it's really hard to "delight" in it. Last night I created, unfortunately my own confrontation. I truly did not mean for it to come off as confrontation but I could tell by the other parties that they definitely took it that way. I knew it right away but instead of trying to resolve it there I walked away. I thought don't add to it. Yet, when I walked in I knew that if I didn't address it that it would be something probably taken out of context and viewed poorly of me. I mustered up the courage to call and apologize. This was not easy at no point in time was I delighted in the conversation. Truthfully there were times that I had tears in my eyes and I wanted to hang up and be over with the conversation. The apology was not what was hard. It was how it was being taken. I knew the person well enough to know that it was going to be taken that way thus not wanting to do so but I moved forward knowing it was what I was supposed to do, what the Lord would have wanted me to do. Apologize, ask for forgiveness. It's in these times that even the right thing to do it's not easy to delight in it.

Lord I ask you for the strength to become a stronger Christian in that I can look at these times in life and truly be delighted in them knowing that by going this path I am becoming a stronger person in your love and in my faith. Lord I pray for help in knowing when to choose the right words in conversations that are hard to truly see it as an apology and that others will view it as sincere and accept it sincerely. The worst to me is an apology that is stated it is accepted when in the heart it is truly not. Help me to grow and become a person that delights in doing everything that you want. Amen.

Ephesians 3:8 -21

I had a hard time getting into reading this morning. It didn't help that there were 2 little boys upstairs getting up. But I reread and focused a little more. The verse that jumped out to me today and I shared with the boys as they are here now "helping" me is 3:18 "And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is."

Do I? Do you? Understand the wideness, length, highness and deepness of His love for us. I think the next verse explains that we don't. "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is os great you will never fully understand." I think that we have love that is earthly love and some that is very unconditional. I think that our love for our children and spouses is unconditional or at least it grows into that for our spouses :) That is something that comes over time, of going through the thick and the thin. I pray that I could understand the amount that God loves me, even a fraction of it.

I think that is half my problem sometimes is that I don't feel loved the way that I want to be loved. Yet, I am loved the way that I need to be loved by my heavenly Father. Isn't that enough? Or is it that I need the earthly love that I crave so longingly for.

Dear Lord,

I pray that I could take your love for me and grow to learn how much it truly is. That your love for me would satisfy my longing. That I can take that love and share it with my children and my husband. And all around me.

Please Lord with me with this gap that I have in my life.

Amen.

Ephasians 2 & 3: 1 -7

I'm looking out the window this morning to frost and a beautiful sunrise, much different then the cloudy grey skies yesterday and 2 to 3 inches of snow on the ground. It makes me reflect on life it's sort of like the weather. One day can be full of sunshine and you can feel so close to God and then next it's grey and doomy and God can feel so far away in reading this morning the verse that stuck out to me was Ephesians 3: 7 "By God's special favor and mighty power, I have been given the wonderful privilege of serving him by spreading his Good News." This is Paul stating this but really any one who believes has been given this privilege, this WONDERFUL privilege.

It made me think do we Christians regard spreading His Good News as a "wonderful" privilege. For sure there are some, I know our senior pastor is one that I would put into that category along with a good portion of Eagle Brook staff but does everyone, every day view it as a wonderful privilege or more of something that they should do because they know it's the right thing. Much different when you put it in that context, isn't it? But imagine if every one who believed in God, lived life to follow Him took it as a wonderful privilege, I think that this sinful world would be quite different.

But would their lives be easier, say wonderful. I don't know. In some ways it definitely would be as they would have God in the center of their lives every day, the forefront of every thought this would definitely be a better life. But as a privilege, a wonderful privilege that means that they would be faced with people who did not agree, would think that they were foolish and oppose them and their beliefs. That could definitely be hard BUT all with God being in the center of their lives. Obviously, looking at it as a wonderful privilege is the way that we all should live our lives, so why don't we? Are we more afraid of what someone will think or what Jesus will think? Why can't we push away Satan and help in spreading His word to all we know? I think that each person has different answers to these questions but I hope through prayer and trying to lead my life in Christ that I can get there.

Dear Lord,

Help me take this privilege and view it as wonderful. That I have You as my Father, that you sent your Son to this Earth for me to take away my sins and that no matter what you love me Lord with all my flaws. Let me grab ahold of your Good News and share it with those that you have placed in my life for that reason. Help me to become the daughter that you want me to, to lead my life in you, through you and with you. Lord I ask that you remove in me the fear of sharing your Good News with others and replace it with the attitude of it being a wonderful privilege. Help me Lord in this and in your name I ask all of these things.

Amen!

Ephasians 2:1 -10

This was a great chapter to read this week as we are preparing for Easter. The verse that stuck out to me today was verse 9 "Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

WOW....pretty powerful and so true. There are so many mentions in the bible that salvation and going to heaven is not about the "number" of good things we do on Earth but more that we live our lives according to God's word. Obviously by doing that, we are going to have a number of good things that we do on to others. I think what caught my eye is that sometimes I do boast about the "good" things that I have done. I don't know why I want the recognition for these things but sometimes I do. Maybe it's more that the I want the appreciation more than the recognition. Either way I want to get better in not needing to tell others the good things that I have done but instead take that energy and put it into the good things that I am doing. Maybe then they wouldn't be good but would be great :)

Dear Lord,

Your everlasting love and mercy is something that I am not worthy of but I am so happy that it is there and that we do have it. I pray today for the strength to do great things in your name and that by doing so I am able to reach others for Christ, not so that I can boast about it and not so that I think that I have a free ticket into heaven, but so that others can feel this love and mercy as well. I am a sinner and without your son I would have nothing but because of Jesus I can be assured of a tomorrow that is better than this sinful world that we live in. Lord thank you for the strength to do these things in your name.

Amen

Ephesians 1:15 - 23

Hi baby,

I just got done reading and the verse that stood out to me tonight was "This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms."

I know that I have said to you before that Christ rising from the dead is something that I can 100% fully believe in, no doubts, no curiosity. I just believe in it. The resurrection is so real for me and I can't truly tell you why. It's not because as a kid the catholic church brain washed it into me :) I just 100% whole heartedly believe. I always have. But it made me think....why are there some other things that do raise my curiosity? Why is it sometimes that I feel so alone when truly God is right there beside me? Why do I get so mad that God put me in the situation of being hurt by someone that I fully trusted? So many why's and so little time to analyze to try and find the answers. But the question that made this verse pop out to me is why can't I take that same belief and put it into all the "why's"? I believe with no doubt that Jesus came to this Earth, died on a cross for our sins, was buried and rose again. That God had the power to do something so INCREDIBLE like that. I read that verse and thought YEAH, I believe that. So why can't I take that strength of belief and rule out any curiosity, push away the loneliness and feel God's warmth around me, to see that there is a reason for why we are in the situation that we are in and to take James 1:2-4 to know that God is giving me this to help me grow and come closer to Him.

I don't know why but I can pray that I can take that power of belief and put it into action in our marriage and in life.

Dear God,

Thank you for this opportunity of "trouble". I pray that you can give me the strength to grow from it, to learn from it and to become closer to you and Bjorn. Thank you for Bjorn Lord. I sometimes don't thank you enough for him. Help me to be the wife that he needs me to be in order for him to grow closer to you and me. Lord help me to take the belief that I have, that strength and power and to throw it in the way of anything that makes me doubt you, doubt Bjorn or doubt myself. Lord you are an amazing God and I feel so blessed to know what type of heavenly Father that we believe in, whole heartedly.

Amen!

Love you poops and am missing you tonight. Travel home safe so that we can be together.

Jen ;)

Day 1 - Ephesians Chapter 1

Dear Bjorn,

I'm starting this blog to I guess provide myself with some accountability that I will read the bible everyday and to reflect on a verse that moves me. I want to share this with you, again somewhat for accountability but also as a way for me to share my feelings with you.

Today I read Ephesians Chapter 1:1 - 14

The verse that stood out to me the most tonight was "God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." It struck me. How often do we, or I, look at others with fault in our eyes. I know that I think to think that I don't do it but I do. I know what has happened between us and I know that I cast fault your way. It's not fair even though the hurt is still there. Why can't I be more like Christ and look at you with no fault as God does. I choose to love you, marry you through good times and bad. The good is always easier isn't it but does it make one grow, no. It's the bad times that make us grow. They are not fun but I do truly believe that they are there for a reason. I apologize for looking at you with fault and not always a tender love. That is what Christ wants from us to look at each with love, not judging and definitely not with fault. Please know that my intentions are there even if they are not displayed on a daily basis. I can only pray that with time God will heal us both from this pain.

Dear God,

Please give me the strength that I need to look at all with no fault. For that is the way that you look at me, a sinner. One who you know what my sins are yet you do not judge me or cast fault my way. You forgive me and love me as your child. Lord, teach me through your guidance and love to resemble that same love towards my husband and others. That I may look at others as children of Christ and not cast fault.

In your precious name!

Amen