So here I am early on a Monday morning. It's 6 a.m., The Husband's breakfast has been cooked, dishes not done yet, and I am preparing for another very busy week. In an hour I will be getting ready to go to physical therapy (yes, the back is a mess according to the wise retiring rheumatologist a couple of weeks ago so I'm giving PT a try), then am meeting a sweet friend who needs a loving listening ear, and then am picking up The Grandbaby at preschool and spending the afternoon with her. Hopefully it will be an afternoon that includes a nap but if not, I am sure we will play and play and play. The Grandbaby does love to play.
The wonderful sermon yesterday at church was "If the Lord issued a report card for the prior six weeks, what would your grades be?" Well, boy, isn't that a loaded one? Yes it was very good, very convicting, and very enlightening. It made me realize my grades wouldn't be that high. The Pastor encouraged all to begin their day with the Bible. Honestly, I'm pretty sure the Lord was pushing that to me yesterday as the Sunday School lesson also encouraged Bible reading every day. If I'm gonna believe it and "preach" it, I gotta know what it says. For the most part, every morning I read a scripture that speaks to me. I decided after yesterday's messages to be more diligent.
With that said, I pulled out a short Bible study I had bought at the local wholesale store a good while back. I had started it--done one session (whoa, yay me...insert sarcasm here)--so I began it again. Let me tell you, it spoke to me big time. The study is "Trusting in Christ" and is talking a lot about anxiety (uh, do you know it too?) and worrying (do birds fly?). The first week focuses on "Trusting in Christ's Strength". Just saying that encourages me that He is in control and I know that but still trust my own worries and anxieties. I read the answers I had already provided a long time ago when I began this study the first time and I realized not much has changed in my worry/anxiety system. Everything still applied so obviously I had the need to carry on with this study and see it through this time.
The scriptures this morning were some of my very favorites in case you want to read yourself:
Matthew 6:25-34 (Consider those lilies of the field in their beauty...)
Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Girl's favorite--is that not a sign in itself?)
And just look at my Bible where it already has one of the Matthew verses written in....
The Proverbs scripture referenced to another couple of scriptures in my Bible. I turned to the one in Psalms (Psalm 37:3-4) and realized it was yet another of my favorites and will be the focus in the study tomorrow. I also turned to one I was not mentally familiar with but had highlighted in my Bible so obviously had read it before. I thought I would share it to end this post for the beginning of this week. It is from Jeremiah 9:23-24 and goes like this:
"Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glories glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord."
That spoke to me today along with the other scriptures. As I hope for the physical therapy to help my aching back, I more so hope that I can exercise the lovingkindness and righteousness that is of the Lord to those I meet and love. I commit to working hard toward good grades on my "spiritual" report card! The Lord has already begun HIS lessons.
Consider......
The wonderful sermon yesterday at church was "If the Lord issued a report card for the prior six weeks, what would your grades be?" Well, boy, isn't that a loaded one? Yes it was very good, very convicting, and very enlightening. It made me realize my grades wouldn't be that high. The Pastor encouraged all to begin their day with the Bible. Honestly, I'm pretty sure the Lord was pushing that to me yesterday as the Sunday School lesson also encouraged Bible reading every day. If I'm gonna believe it and "preach" it, I gotta know what it says. For the most part, every morning I read a scripture that speaks to me. I decided after yesterday's messages to be more diligent.
With that said, I pulled out a short Bible study I had bought at the local wholesale store a good while back. I had started it--done one session (whoa, yay me...insert sarcasm here)--so I began it again. Let me tell you, it spoke to me big time. The study is "Trusting in Christ" and is talking a lot about anxiety (uh, do you know it too?) and worrying (do birds fly?). The first week focuses on "Trusting in Christ's Strength". Just saying that encourages me that He is in control and I know that but still trust my own worries and anxieties. I read the answers I had already provided a long time ago when I began this study the first time and I realized not much has changed in my worry/anxiety system. Everything still applied so obviously I had the need to carry on with this study and see it through this time.
The scriptures this morning were some of my very favorites in case you want to read yourself:
Matthew 6:25-34 (Consider those lilies of the field in their beauty...)
Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Girl's favorite--is that not a sign in itself?)
And just look at my Bible where it already has one of the Matthew verses written in....
The Proverbs scripture referenced to another couple of scriptures in my Bible. I turned to the one in Psalms (Psalm 37:3-4) and realized it was yet another of my favorites and will be the focus in the study tomorrow. I also turned to one I was not mentally familiar with but had highlighted in my Bible so obviously had read it before. I thought I would share it to end this post for the beginning of this week. It is from Jeremiah 9:23-24 and goes like this:
"Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glories glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord."
That spoke to me today along with the other scriptures. As I hope for the physical therapy to help my aching back, I more so hope that I can exercise the lovingkindness and righteousness that is of the Lord to those I meet and love. I commit to working hard toward good grades on my "spiritual" report card! The Lord has already begun HIS lessons.
Consider......