The Campaign for the New Possible Part 2
3 years ago
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
T minus 2 Days and Counting
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!!!!!
Lethargically happy I have to say at the moment. What is the reason for your happiness I hear you ask?
NO MORE CELLO PRACTISE!!!!
The girls have their exams in the morning so I don't have to hear them practise again before then woo hoo! Now don't get me wrong I love them to pieces and they play very well for their age but it has long since reached the tedious point.
There is however another reason for my happiness;-
T minus 2 days and counting - 2 days of working left and then 2 weeks off WOO HOO!!!!!!
I am sooooooo ready for my time off and holiday. So there you have it a knackered, very lethargic but happy Bec, very much looking forward to the next 2 weeks!!!!! -x-
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Bible Study bits and bobs
The following probably won't make any sense to anyone but me and they are definately in no particular order. But are just musings and bits that I wanted to look up following several sermons.
Passage I wanted to look up;
Romans 8v26
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
Notes
As a believer you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems. Even when we don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy spirit prays with and for you and God answers. With God helping you pray you don’t need to be afraid to come before him.
Ask the Holy spirit to intercede for you “in harmony with Gods own will” Then when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will always do what is best.
Blasphemy
Something which you say or do that shows you do not respect God or a religion
*In connection with 1 John 5
Mark 3v29 Deliberate, ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy.
Christian love is not a feeling it is a choice.
We can choose to be concerned with peoples well being and treat them with respect, whether or not we feel affection towards them. If we choose to love others God will help us express our love (Notes on 1 John 2 v 10-11)
1 Peter 3v13-14
Now who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead you must worship Christ as Lord of your life.
Passage I wanted to look up;
Romans 8v26
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
Notes
As a believer you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems. Even when we don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy spirit prays with and for you and God answers. With God helping you pray you don’t need to be afraid to come before him.
Ask the Holy spirit to intercede for you “in harmony with Gods own will” Then when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will always do what is best.
Blasphemy
Something which you say or do that shows you do not respect God or a religion
*In connection with 1 John 5
Mark 3v29 Deliberate, ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy.
Christian love is not a feeling it is a choice.
We can choose to be concerned with peoples well being and treat them with respect, whether or not we feel affection towards them. If we choose to love others God will help us express our love (Notes on 1 John 2 v 10-11)
1 Peter 3v13-14
Now who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead you must worship Christ as Lord of your life.
Bible Study 4 - 1 John 3
1 John 3
Initial –
v10 Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
v10 The Message
The one who won’t practise righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love a brother or sister.
v15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.
Lets show the truth by our actions v18
The Message
My dear children, lets not talk about love, lets practise real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. Its also the way to shut down debilitating self- criticism. Once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves we’re bold and free before God!
Notes from v4
There is a difference between committing sin and continuing to sin. Even the most faithful believers sometimes commit sins, but they do not cherish a particular sin or continually choose to commit it. A believer who commits a sin can repent, confess it and find forgiveness. A person who continues to sin by contrast is not sorry for what he or she is doing. Thus this person never confesses and never receives forgiveness. Such a person is in opposition to God, no matter what religious claims he or she makes.
Notes from v 8-9
We all have areas where temptation is strong and habits are hard to conquer. these weaknesses give the devil a foothold so we must deal with our areas of vulnerability if we are struggling with a particular sin however these verses are not directed at us, even if for the time we seem to keep on sinning. John is not talking about people whose victories are still incomplete he is talking about people who make a practise out of sinning and look for ways of justifying it.
Notes on v15 link to Matthew 5v21-22
Christianity is a religion of the heart;
Outward compliance alone is not enough.
Bitterness against someone who has wronged you is an evil cancer within you and will eventually destroy you.
Don’t let a “poisonous root of bitterness” grow in you or your church.
Linked passages;
v12 links with Genesis 4v7
Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and b its master.
v15 links with Matthew 5v21-22
You have heard that our ancestors were told “ You must not murder. If you commit murder you are subject to judgement. But I say, if you are even angry with someone you are subject to judgement. If you call someone an idiot you are in danger of being brought to court. And if you curse someone you are in danger of the fires of hell.
Message paraphrase – Sin is lying in wait for you ready to pounce, its out to get you. You’ve got to master it.
Notes of Matthew 5v21-22
Killing is a terrible sin, but anger is a great sin too because it also violates God’s command to love. Anger in this case refers to seething, brooding bitterness against someone. It is a dangerous emotion that always threatens to leap out of control leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress and spiritual damage. Anger keeps us from developing a spirit pleasing to God.
Have you ever been proud that you didn’t strike out and say what was really on your mind? Self control is good but Christ wants us to practise thought control as well. Jesus said that we will be held accountable even for our attitudes.
Initial –
v10 Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
v10 The Message
The one who won’t practise righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love a brother or sister.
v15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.
Lets show the truth by our actions v18
The Message
My dear children, lets not talk about love, lets practise real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. Its also the way to shut down debilitating self- criticism. Once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves we’re bold and free before God!
Notes from v4
There is a difference between committing sin and continuing to sin. Even the most faithful believers sometimes commit sins, but they do not cherish a particular sin or continually choose to commit it. A believer who commits a sin can repent, confess it and find forgiveness. A person who continues to sin by contrast is not sorry for what he or she is doing. Thus this person never confesses and never receives forgiveness. Such a person is in opposition to God, no matter what religious claims he or she makes.
Notes from v 8-9
We all have areas where temptation is strong and habits are hard to conquer. these weaknesses give the devil a foothold so we must deal with our areas of vulnerability if we are struggling with a particular sin however these verses are not directed at us, even if for the time we seem to keep on sinning. John is not talking about people whose victories are still incomplete he is talking about people who make a practise out of sinning and look for ways of justifying it.
Notes on v15 link to Matthew 5v21-22
Christianity is a religion of the heart;
Outward compliance alone is not enough.
Bitterness against someone who has wronged you is an evil cancer within you and will eventually destroy you.
Don’t let a “poisonous root of bitterness” grow in you or your church.
Linked passages;
v12 links with Genesis 4v7
Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and b its master.
v15 links with Matthew 5v21-22
You have heard that our ancestors were told “ You must not murder. If you commit murder you are subject to judgement. But I say, if you are even angry with someone you are subject to judgement. If you call someone an idiot you are in danger of being brought to court. And if you curse someone you are in danger of the fires of hell.
Message paraphrase – Sin is lying in wait for you ready to pounce, its out to get you. You’ve got to master it.
Notes of Matthew 5v21-22
Killing is a terrible sin, but anger is a great sin too because it also violates God’s command to love. Anger in this case refers to seething, brooding bitterness against someone. It is a dangerous emotion that always threatens to leap out of control leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress and spiritual damage. Anger keeps us from developing a spirit pleasing to God.
Have you ever been proud that you didn’t strike out and say what was really on your mind? Self control is good but Christ wants us to practise thought control as well. Jesus said that we will be held accountable even for our attitudes.
UPDATE - ANOTHER PROPER BLOG AT LAST
Well, well, well. Have just spent the last little while sorting out my blog as it was a bit of a waste of space until now so am resoluting - if thats the right word to blog every now and then and actual use this space I created over 6 months ago!
Well today is Tuesday and I am so looking forward to Thursday, the 2 girls I look after - Becky and Jessie are both doing grades on their cello's B grade 2 and J grade1. And why you ask am I looking forward to it well its simple no more cello scales!!!!!!!!!!! for the last couple of weeks I have been i suppose the fairest word I could use is subjected to roughtly 30 -40 mins cello practise a day half of which has been scales!!!!!!! To add to that the pieces Jessie is doing becky did for her grade one about just over a year ago so it is the 2nd time i have had to aid the practise of these particular pieces!
I have to say they are definately getting better - which is a flipping good thing considering they have their exams thursday morning! but i am very much looking forward to only having to get them to do cello practise once a week Woohoo I now have another styring to my bow - excuse the pun "I the brass player can now play the c scale on the cello :->"
Anyway enough ramblings, I will sign off now before I bore myself - whoops too late! :->
Well today is Tuesday and I am so looking forward to Thursday, the 2 girls I look after - Becky and Jessie are both doing grades on their cello's B grade 2 and J grade1. And why you ask am I looking forward to it well its simple no more cello scales!!!!!!!!!!! for the last couple of weeks I have been i suppose the fairest word I could use is subjected to roughtly 30 -40 mins cello practise a day half of which has been scales!!!!!!! To add to that the pieces Jessie is doing becky did for her grade one about just over a year ago so it is the 2nd time i have had to aid the practise of these particular pieces!
I have to say they are definately getting better - which is a flipping good thing considering they have their exams thursday morning! but i am very much looking forward to only having to get them to do cello practise once a week Woohoo I now have another styring to my bow - excuse the pun "I the brass player can now play the c scale on the cello :->"
Anyway enough ramblings, I will sign off now before I bore myself - whoops too late! :->
Bible Study 3 - Romans 12
Romans 12
The Message –
Take your everyday life –
your sleeping, eating, going to work and walking around life
and place it before God as an offering.
Readily recognise what he wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity. God develops well – formed maturity in you.
If you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate.
Love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it.
Don’t let evil get the best of you, get the best of evil by doing good. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness.
v1 God has good, pleasing and perfect plans for his children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds living to honour and obey him.
v2 Wise Christians decide that much worldly behaviour is off limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this worlds values however must go even deeper than just behaviour and customs, it must be firmly planted in our mind.
“Let God transform you into a new person, by changing the way you think.”
v6-8 Be thankful for those whose gifts are completely different to yours.
Let your strengths balance their weaknesses and be grateful that their abilities make up for your deficiencies.
Together you can build Christ’s Church.
v9-10 God calls us to real and genuine love that goes far beyond being hypocritical and polite.
Genuine love requires concentration and effort
v21 onwards. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness
Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions.
If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions.
Many time you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings.
Linked bible passages
v1 linked to Romans 6v13
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
v2 linked to Ephesians 4v23
Instead let the spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.
v16 linked to Isaiah 5v21
What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.
v19 linked to Deuteronomy 32v35
I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive and their destiny will overtake them.
Linked with my thoughts through studying this passage; Proverbs 25v15
Patience can persuade a prince and soft speech can break bones.
The Message paraphrase –
Patient persistence pierce through in difference
gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
Following this bible study I felt compelled to email Andy to do what I could to heal any rift that has been caused for whatever reason – Thursday 18th Jan.
Friday 19th Jan I received a less than positive response requesting that I not contact him again as he has no intention of speaking to me again and suggesting that we can “co-exist” at church.
To me the phrase coexisting at church is an oxymoron. But whatver he believes I have done what I can, all that I can do now is pray for him and that he is able to deal with the issues within himself.
The Message –
Take your everyday life –
your sleeping, eating, going to work and walking around life
and place it before God as an offering.
Readily recognise what he wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity. God develops well – formed maturity in you.
If you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate.
Love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it.
Don’t let evil get the best of you, get the best of evil by doing good. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness.
v1 God has good, pleasing and perfect plans for his children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds living to honour and obey him.
v2 Wise Christians decide that much worldly behaviour is off limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this worlds values however must go even deeper than just behaviour and customs, it must be firmly planted in our mind.
“Let God transform you into a new person, by changing the way you think.”
v6-8 Be thankful for those whose gifts are completely different to yours.
Let your strengths balance their weaknesses and be grateful that their abilities make up for your deficiencies.
Together you can build Christ’s Church.
v9-10 God calls us to real and genuine love that goes far beyond being hypocritical and polite.
Genuine love requires concentration and effort
v21 onwards. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness
Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions.
If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions.
Many time you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings.
Linked bible passages
v1 linked to Romans 6v13
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
v2 linked to Ephesians 4v23
Instead let the spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.
v16 linked to Isaiah 5v21
What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.
v19 linked to Deuteronomy 32v35
I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive and their destiny will overtake them.
Linked with my thoughts through studying this passage; Proverbs 25v15
Patience can persuade a prince and soft speech can break bones.
The Message paraphrase –
Patient persistence pierce through in difference
gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
Following this bible study I felt compelled to email Andy to do what I could to heal any rift that has been caused for whatever reason – Thursday 18th Jan.
Friday 19th Jan I received a less than positive response requesting that I not contact him again as he has no intention of speaking to me again and suggesting that we can “co-exist” at church.
To me the phrase coexisting at church is an oxymoron. But whatver he believes I have done what I can, all that I can do now is pray for him and that he is able to deal with the issues within himself.
Bible Study 2 - Psalm 34
Psalm 34
In the introduction to the Psalms, it says this
In reality only when honest feelings and emotions are shared
can real people be known, loved and helped.
Often patterns of superficial communications spill over into our talks with God.
When I first read this passage the very first things that jump out at me are;
v4 I prayed to the Lord and he answered me. HE FREED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS
v17 – 18 He rescues them from all their troubles
He rescues those whose spirits are crushed
Then through studying the passage
v2 let all who are helpless take heart
God promise great blessing to his people, but many of these blessing require active participation. He will set us free from our fears, guard and defend us, show us goodness, supply our needs, listen when we call to him, and redeem us, but we must do our part. We can appropriate his blessings when we trust him, cry out to him, take refuge in him, fear him, refrain from lying, turn from evil, do good, and search for peace, are broken hearted and serve him.
v9 To fear the Lord means to show him deep respect, reverence and honour. We demonstrate this attitude by humility and genuine worship.
v9 links with Psalm 31; 23 – For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
v11 links with psalm 111 v10
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
There is an obvious link between fear of the Lord (love and reverence for him) with obedience)
v14 Study note – Some may think that peace should come with no effort. But David explained that we are to work hard at peace. Paul echoed this thought in Romans 12;18. A person who wants peace cannot be argumentative and contentious. Because peaceful relationships come from our efforts at peace making, work hard at living in peace with others each day.
Psalm 71 v 19-21 The Message
v5 Look at him, give him your warmest smile never hide your feelings from him.
v15-18 God keeps an eye on his friends his ears pick up every moan and groan. God won’t put up with rebels he’ll cull them from the pack. Is anyone crying out for help? God is listening ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there (if you’re kicked in the gut he’ll help you catch your breath)
v21 The wicked commit slow suicide they waste their lives hating the good.
In the introduction to the Psalms, it says this
In reality only when honest feelings and emotions are shared
can real people be known, loved and helped.
Often patterns of superficial communications spill over into our talks with God.
When I first read this passage the very first things that jump out at me are;
v4 I prayed to the Lord and he answered me. HE FREED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS
v17 – 18 He rescues them from all their troubles
He rescues those whose spirits are crushed
Then through studying the passage
v2 let all who are helpless take heart
God promise great blessing to his people, but many of these blessing require active participation. He will set us free from our fears, guard and defend us, show us goodness, supply our needs, listen when we call to him, and redeem us, but we must do our part. We can appropriate his blessings when we trust him, cry out to him, take refuge in him, fear him, refrain from lying, turn from evil, do good, and search for peace, are broken hearted and serve him.
v9 To fear the Lord means to show him deep respect, reverence and honour. We demonstrate this attitude by humility and genuine worship.
v9 links with Psalm 31; 23 – For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
v11 links with psalm 111 v10
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
There is an obvious link between fear of the Lord (love and reverence for him) with obedience)
v14 Study note – Some may think that peace should come with no effort. But David explained that we are to work hard at peace. Paul echoed this thought in Romans 12;18. A person who wants peace cannot be argumentative and contentious. Because peaceful relationships come from our efforts at peace making, work hard at living in peace with others each day.
Psalm 71 v 19-21 The Message
v5 Look at him, give him your warmest smile never hide your feelings from him.
v15-18 God keeps an eye on his friends his ears pick up every moan and groan. God won’t put up with rebels he’ll cull them from the pack. Is anyone crying out for help? God is listening ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there (if you’re kicked in the gut he’ll help you catch your breath)
v21 The wicked commit slow suicide they waste their lives hating the good.
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