Checking In...

Life...it just keeps happening...it's kinda funny that way!  Oh, well, I suppose the fact that life does go on is definitely something to be thankful for, especially during unexpected difficult times.  Can I get a witness!?!

Ok, so, since it's been a while since I blogged and all, I bet you thought you were off the hook!  Wrong!

So, tell me...how's that challenge/homework going for ya?  (You know, the one I dared you with back on the November 11th post...go check it out if you are just now reading my blog for the first time...but you others have no excuse...you know the challenge I'm talking about!)  No, seriously, I do want to know how you're doing with it.  In case you're wondering...I'm still plugging along at it.  Soooo much I'm learning, too!

Well, there are only a few options of answers for "How's the challenge/homework coming?"

1.  "I've started, but I haven't gotten all the way through yet." 
- Well, I must say, very good!  Seriously, I know you may be beating yourself up over it a little (or a lot), but I promise, sometimes you just have to do things at your own pace.  And, believe it or not, that is exactly the pace at which you should be doing it.  The main thing is...just don't quit!  Don't give up!  Keep reading and considering all that is there and you will be sooo glad you did!
- Are you hung up on something?  Do you have questions that have surfaced?  Ask.  I may not know the answer, but I can sure try to help you find out.
- By the way, for any of you at whatever stage in this, one thing I have learned very well lately is to not wait until you (or I) have all of the answers and get it all figured out (we never will...no one can).  Take Him as you know Him right now, the way He has revealed Himself to you up to this point in your life, especially through the book of John as you are working your way through this challenge.  He will progressively answer more of your questions and show you more of Himself in your life as you are honest about what you do know (little or much) and act on the knowledge you do have.  

2.  "I've already finished." 
- Awesome!!!  Now, did you really consider it as you were reading it?  If so, what kind of thoughts did you have?  What different things did you learn (or are you still learning, rather)?  Please share. 
- Do you remember the part about Him feeding the extremely large crowd of people?  Did you catch a couple of the lessons in that? 

• Like for instance, sometimes in order to realize that God is at work we have to realize how humanly impossible the situation is. 
• Also, when we are dealing with something that is so impossible, are you one who takes whatever you have (strength, hope, energy, belief, money, etc. - even as little as it may be) and brings it to Him knowing He can take it and multiply it like He did the food that day and do something you could have never dreamed possible!?!
• Here's an awesome quote for you from my study of John I am going through (called BSF, in case you want to know more about it).  It's related to a lesson to be learned from the boy who gave his small lunch to be used that day, not knowing if he would even get to eat any of his own lunch, but just thinking that he might could be of some help... 
• "You must risk in faith before you know by experience." (Will you take that risk!?!)

3.  "I haven't started at all..."  
     (followed by one of the following:)
   a.  "...but I do plan to, just haven't done it yet."

• Again, I'm very glad you plan to (of course, it doesn't matter whether I'm glad or not...you don't have to please me...you don't owe anything to me...this is all for YOU...for YOUR benefit, not mine.).  Do start as soon as you get a chance, and I will say the same to you as I did above in #1..go back up there and read that again. 

   b.  "...and I don't plan to at all." 
        (To which I will then ask "Why Not?" and your response  
         will quite possibly be very close to one of the following:)
       i.  "I already know what it says, because I've read all or 
            most of John as well as the rest of the Bible so many
            times over the years...not to mention all of the 
            sermons I've heard on it (or even preached on it).  
            So, really, what's the point?  I already know all there
            is to know."

• Really?  You do?  I do understand what you are saying, as I have thought and told myself the very same thing several times, for several years of time as a matter of fact. 
• Is it really that you think that there is no way you could see/read/learn anything new by reading John again...or could there be more to it?  
• Let's think about this.  Time to really get honest.  I dare you!
• Could it be that you have been rationalizing your life and way of thinking for so long that you don't even realize that - even though you say you are happy with your life and the way you are living it and are furthermore not doing anything wrong - could it be that you are actually refusing to "come to the light lest your deeds be exposed" and you have to face and admit the fact that you have been wrong after all?  (quoting from BSF and John 3:18-21, not to mention my own experience) 
• I know it's terribly difficult and even humiliating to consider that you might have to hear "I told you so.",  even if it is your own self saying it!  (And, honestly, you are probably the only one who will say that to you...soooo many people in your life will be so overjoyed and refreshed to see the change in you and the obvious joy in your life that they won't even think twice to welcome you home with loving, forgiving, caring arms.)  
• No one can judge you, because no one on this earth is above sinking to the lowest depths imaginable...and each of us truly knows that about ourselves.

       ii.  "I don't believe in God, so there is no point in reading
            the Bible.  It's no more real than the mythological 
            writings."

• Do you believe everything else that you read?  Fiction?  Mythology?  Folklore?
• If you read other things KNOWING they are not true nor real, then what will it hurt to read this one book of the Bible, John?  Besides, it's nowhere near the length/size of many highly read literary works (the likes of which you may enjoy reading as well). 
• Why not just take this intellectual challenge and read it once through?
• I'm not asking you to believe it.  As a matter of fact, you can even leave out the prayer part of the challenge if that's just way too "out there" for you.  No big deal.  Give it a shot.  
• Again, as I said when I first issued the challenge...I dare you!  I'll even up the ante now...I DOUBLE DOG dare you!  :o)  To quote a pretty great movie, "What are you...yellow?"  (McFly...Hello...is anybody home!?!)  Ok, just had to throw some humor in there somewhere, whether you caught it or not.  :o)
  

Well, there's my re-cap of catching up on the ole assignment.  I'll leave you on this Christmas Eve with one more wonderful, thought provoking quote from BSF that is really a pretty cool concept to me...especially at this gift-giving time of year that all began back with THE Gift that was so lovingly and undeservingly given to us. 

"One who receives God's Gift of Jesus Christ and eternal life GIVES TO GOD to gift of one's love, thankfulness, and life."  WOW!  What a concept!  WE actually give TO HIM when we RECEIVE the Gift He offers US!  If only I could convince all of these people at Christmas that I really AM giving to THEM by receiving FROM them!!!  What!?!  You don't think that'll fly!?!  Me either!  But, I'm thankful it really DOES fly with Him!!!  :o) 

Merry Christmas to ALL!!!!!  :o)  God DOES love YOU!  Stop fighting it, and receive it!!!

Seal of Approval?

When I came back in town from my monthly trip to New Orleans, I had to sort through a stack of mail that had come throughout the week I was gone. Of course there are many varied offers attempting to get me to do everything from sign up for a "pre-approved" credit card, purchase a year or more of a magazine subscription, or give some amount of money to a fund-raiser (which I must say is the best idea of the 3 possibilities, though you just can't give to them all...not to mention that my family has to be clothed and fed first). Anyway, one of the many things in that stack was an offer for a subscription to Good Housekeeping. For some reason, this one struck me as interesting...

On their list of perks you get by subscribing to them, one of the first things mentioned is..."the Good Housekeeping Seal". Yes, you have all heard of it, and often don't even think twice about it except that it sounds pretty good. But really, come on! Who are these Good Housekeeping people and why do I need their "Seal"? (They want us to think we do, after all.) Oh yeah, and in the fine print, it says that "*A few exceptions apply." Another couple of the perks mentioned in the list are "Ask Heloise" and "Money-Back Guarantee" ("If you are not 100% satisfied...").

Interesting that this offer came when it did. In my current Journey Through John (How are you doing on that, by the way? Would love to read some comments - here or on Facebook.), I just happened to be reading this week about Jesus having God's "seal of approval" on Him. (John 6:27) Now THAT's a Seal of Approval I can trust and be 100% satisfied with! What do you think? Are you starting to feel the same way? I feel much more secure asking Him when I have questions/confusions/doubts/needs or even wants, rather than asking "Heloise". After all, "your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."(Matthew 6:8) Who better to ask than someone (THE One) who already knows what you need!?! And as far as that "Money-Back Guarantee", I don't think I need or want that either. One reason...what He gives is FREE!!! (It cost Him A LOT, but nothing but belief is what it costs me!!! That's truly Amazing Grace!) And, another reason...He promises that we will be 100% satisfied by Him (John 6:35 "...He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.")...no need for a Money-Back Guarantee. If you are still working through my challenge to you from that previous post, then you are most likely reading a lot about the satisfaction and filling that He promises us. If that's not enough for you, search the word "satisfied" on BibleGateway.com and read ("in context") the results that come up in that search. He not only promises satisfaction, but He provides satisfaction over and over again throughout the ages, and the only dissatisfaction that comes is due to stubbornness/rebellion/disobedience/lack of trust in Him - thinking we know a better, easier way.

So...whose Seal of Approval are you going to trust? The FREE one, that's proven over many AGES...or the one you have to PAY FOR that's only been around as long as that magazine has (or less)?

"Choose you this day whom you will serve..." (look it up in Joshua 24:14-16) or better yet...put another way, "If you decide that it's a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you'd rather serve—and do it today." (That's the same verse, but in "The Message" version.)

Like I have said..."To Not Decide Is To Decide..."!