It can be hard when you want to join a Bible study group and they aren't on on the nights that you're available. The answer? Create your own.
Right now I can't do night Bible studies and the women's group that met on Wednesday mornings has folded. So I got together with two of the other ladies from the farm and we formed our own small small group.
I love our group. We try to meet each Friday morning, but unfortunately I can count the number of times we've got together on one hand. Sickness (either ourselves or the kids), annual leave, and visitors have made it difficult but we've created a private Facebook group to keep in touch and share what we've been learning from the studies when we aren't able to meet.
We're doing a series on 'hope' and looking at Job. With the year I've had, one of the other ladies thought it looked great and she was right. When we do manage to meet it's a great morning of encouragement, morning tea, study and prayer. We are joined by a total of five children and it's often chaos. There's no-one to babysit or do a crèche out here. There are frequent interruptions - babies needing to be breastfed, toddlers needing discipline....but it's lovely. In the midst of the mess and noise God has always taught us something. I always leave feeling encouraged and refreshed.
The advantages of our small small group is that there are only three of us so we can be flexible with the times and locations. We already know each other so there's no awkwardness, and we can be honest with each other about personal things.
The downside is that if two people aren't available the group doesn't happen (which has happened quite a bit).
If you can't join an established Bible study, consider starting your own small small group.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Just Eat Something
This is my new motto when it comes to reading the Bible:
Just eat something.
In my current stage of life, reading the Bible at breakfast time doesn't work anymore. I often feel like I'm floundering when it comes to daily quiet times. Currently I'm finding Cathy's practice of 'Morning Tea and Bible Time' works reasonably well as I can sit down for a bit while Rory has his morning nap. Still, my Bible reading is sporadic at best.
I feel like I can strongly relate to yesterday's quote at the moment. Have you ever been so busy you've been racing around all day, then sat down and realised you've skipped a few meals in your busyness? You've started to feel faint and wondered why? I have. I was trying to do too much on an empty tank. It's like that with Bible reading. I find I can go for a while and not realised I've been neglecting reading God's Word and speaking with Him. Then I wonder why I feel so dry.
I loved Meredith's advice when it comes to Bible reading: five minutes is better than nothing. That's what I'm aiming for. Sure, I'd love to have long quiet times and do lots of heavy theological reading, but it isn't the stage of life for it at the moment. My head feels elsewhere most days.
If you're struggling with Bible reading, just eat something. Start with a nibble and work up to a bigger bite. Not because God won't love you if you don't read His word, but because if you don't read it ever, you'll starve.
Don't listen to people who place yokes on other believers' backs by insisting you HAVE to have a quiet time in the morning. Just eat something. Sometime. Somewhere.
Thank you, Meredith. I found your post so liberating.
Just eat something.
In my current stage of life, reading the Bible at breakfast time doesn't work anymore. I often feel like I'm floundering when it comes to daily quiet times. Currently I'm finding Cathy's practice of 'Morning Tea and Bible Time' works reasonably well as I can sit down for a bit while Rory has his morning nap. Still, my Bible reading is sporadic at best.
I feel like I can strongly relate to yesterday's quote at the moment. Have you ever been so busy you've been racing around all day, then sat down and realised you've skipped a few meals in your busyness? You've started to feel faint and wondered why? I have. I was trying to do too much on an empty tank. It's like that with Bible reading. I find I can go for a while and not realised I've been neglecting reading God's Word and speaking with Him. Then I wonder why I feel so dry.
I loved Meredith's advice when it comes to Bible reading: five minutes is better than nothing. That's what I'm aiming for. Sure, I'd love to have long quiet times and do lots of heavy theological reading, but it isn't the stage of life for it at the moment. My head feels elsewhere most days.
If you're struggling with Bible reading, just eat something. Start with a nibble and work up to a bigger bite. Not because God won't love you if you don't read His word, but because if you don't read it ever, you'll starve.
Don't listen to people who place yokes on other believers' backs by insisting you HAVE to have a quiet time in the morning. Just eat something. Sometime. Somewhere.
Thank you, Meredith. I found your post so liberating.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Quote of the Day
Not hearing the word of God is like missing the rain: one day you may not notice that it did not rain, but over time, you cannot live. We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3b).
- Phillip D. Jensen in his book By God's Word: Volume 1, page 104
- Phillip D. Jensen in his book By God's Word: Volume 1, page 104
Monday, July 22, 2013
Congratulations/Happy Birthday/Bon Voyage
My good friend Heidi celebrated her engagement to her partner Michael, her birthday, and we all said farewell to the newly engaged couple as they left Perth to travel overseas before their wedding next year....all in one party!
Yes, not a 30th this time.
They're thinking about getting married in either France or Italy. I'd better start saving my pennies!
As I get older I'm realising that it's not always about the frequency of catch ups with good friends...it's the quality.
Yes, not a 30th this time.
They're thinking about getting married in either France or Italy. I'd better start saving my pennies!
As I get older I'm realising that it's not always about the frequency of catch ups with good friends...it's the quality.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Friday Funny
NURSERY RHYMES WON'T DIE OUT IF WE KEEP THEM UPDATED
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
The structure of the wall was incorrect
So he won a grand with Claims Direct
It's raining, it's pouring
Of course, it's global warming
Mary had a little lamb
Her father shot it dead
So now it goes to school with her
Between two chunks of bread
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
The structure of the wall was incorrect
So he won a grand with Claims Direct
It's raining, it's pouring
Of course, it's global warming
Mary had a little lamb
Her father shot it dead
So now it goes to school with her
Between two chunks of bread
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Don't Rush Your Recovery
If you're depressed or suffering from another kind of illness, please don't rush your recovery.
Oh there will be pressure to. People who were great supports in the beginning will develop compassion fatigue. They'll become impatient for you to get well. They'll assume because you're taking steps forward that you're completely well. I think I've come to terms with the fact that my recovery will take a while, but when I feel rushed by other people I start to become impatient with myself. Then I end up sliding backwards.
Please don't rush your recovery.
The word 'no' has become my new best friend. No, I will not go on the roster for that thing at church. No, I will not join that group. No, I will not go out today. I need to be actively involved in my recovery and I need to go out of the house, but I'm already doing that. I try to pace myself. But I will NOT be rushed by other people and the timeline they've set out for me.
Sometimes I feel like I'm more loved by some people for what I do than for who I am.
There is great pressure on Christians to do lots of things otherwise risk being labelled lazy. Taking time out to recover well is not lazy, it's wise. Yes, there is always a chance you will descend into laziness and use your illness as an excuse, but you will know when you're ready to crank things up a bit. You'll just know.
Don't rush your recovery. That is all.
Oh there will be pressure to. People who were great supports in the beginning will develop compassion fatigue. They'll become impatient for you to get well. They'll assume because you're taking steps forward that you're completely well. I think I've come to terms with the fact that my recovery will take a while, but when I feel rushed by other people I start to become impatient with myself. Then I end up sliding backwards.
Please don't rush your recovery.
The word 'no' has become my new best friend. No, I will not go on the roster for that thing at church. No, I will not join that group. No, I will not go out today. I need to be actively involved in my recovery and I need to go out of the house, but I'm already doing that. I try to pace myself. But I will NOT be rushed by other people and the timeline they've set out for me.
Sometimes I feel like I'm more loved by some people for what I do than for who I am.
There is great pressure on Christians to do lots of things otherwise risk being labelled lazy. Taking time out to recover well is not lazy, it's wise. Yes, there is always a chance you will descend into laziness and use your illness as an excuse, but you will know when you're ready to crank things up a bit. You'll just know.
Don't rush your recovery. That is all.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Quote of the Day
Deb has asked a good question over at her blog, This Fleeting Moment:
Can there be forgiveness without repentance?
Those of you who are regular readers of this blog will remember I reviewed one of my favourite Christian books, Unpacking Forgiveness last year. It deals with this very issue.
Then, lo and behold, I was reading a devotional book called By God's Word: Volume 1 on the weekend and this leaped out at me. How timely:
Reconciliation is a wonderful thing. Reconciliation is peacemaking - bringing an end to conflict, and renewing friendship between alienated parties. There is nothing to be said against reconciliation.
Yet reconciliation is a difficult thing. It involves the execution of justice, the presence of real repentance and the genuine offering of forgiveness. Often in our desire for reconciliation we seek to take the shortcut of forgiveness without justice or repentance.
On minor issues, the omission of justice and repentance do not matter. It is important not to turn the proverbial molehill into a mountain: if somebody steps on your toe in a crowded bus, it does not require justice, repentance, or even an apology for you to ignore the offence. When people take offence over slight and unimportant issues, they are in the wrong. They have lost perspective and forgotten their own sinfulness. They have forgotten the kindness of God in forgiving them......
....However, on major issues, the omission of justice and repentance matters. We cannot just step over the offence and ignore its consequences. To ignore injustice is to be unjust. The damage that has been done has to be paid for by somebody. There is no reason why the victim should be the person who pays; the guilty should pay....
....God is the great reconciler. Christ is the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). But God's peacemaking was not wrought through cheap and easy apologies that ignored the reality of sin, the requirements of justice or the need for changed hearts. His reconciliation came by the death of His own Son - the Word who "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).
- Phillip D. Jensen in his book, By God's Word: Volume 1, pages 146-48
Can there be forgiveness without repentance?
Those of you who are regular readers of this blog will remember I reviewed one of my favourite Christian books, Unpacking Forgiveness last year. It deals with this very issue.
Then, lo and behold, I was reading a devotional book called By God's Word: Volume 1 on the weekend and this leaped out at me. How timely:
Reconciliation is a wonderful thing. Reconciliation is peacemaking - bringing an end to conflict, and renewing friendship between alienated parties. There is nothing to be said against reconciliation.
Yet reconciliation is a difficult thing. It involves the execution of justice, the presence of real repentance and the genuine offering of forgiveness. Often in our desire for reconciliation we seek to take the shortcut of forgiveness without justice or repentance.
On minor issues, the omission of justice and repentance do not matter. It is important not to turn the proverbial molehill into a mountain: if somebody steps on your toe in a crowded bus, it does not require justice, repentance, or even an apology for you to ignore the offence. When people take offence over slight and unimportant issues, they are in the wrong. They have lost perspective and forgotten their own sinfulness. They have forgotten the kindness of God in forgiving them......
....However, on major issues, the omission of justice and repentance matters. We cannot just step over the offence and ignore its consequences. To ignore injustice is to be unjust. The damage that has been done has to be paid for by somebody. There is no reason why the victim should be the person who pays; the guilty should pay....
....God is the great reconciler. Christ is the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). But God's peacemaking was not wrought through cheap and easy apologies that ignored the reality of sin, the requirements of justice or the need for changed hearts. His reconciliation came by the death of His own Son - the Word who "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).
- Phillip D. Jensen in his book, By God's Word: Volume 1, pages 146-48
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