Good afternoon, Barnabas Ladies! Hope your week is going well. And if
you're like me, you're eagerly anticipating the cooling trend that's supposed to start tomorrow! :D
So I'm sure you've all heard me say a zillion times that the girls
and I started school this past Monday (the beginning of my 11th year
homeschooling, yowza!!). Between the commitments that I'm making to the
local homeschool group, plus the work I'm doing for ladies class,
housework, and actually educating my own kids, I've been feeling a
little frazzled already. Generally I like to have the Barnabas Letters
in the queue ready to send by the Monday prior to it actually going out,
but I just haven't felt inspired until now (it's Tuesday afternoon as I
type). I just felt like there's too much going on, and I've got to do
this thing and call that person and type up this document, etc etc and I
just didn't have the mental energy to think of something to say to you.
(So much for being a Barnabas, eh?)
Then I sat down to work on ladies class. I'm a week ahead of the
class (if I start early, I'm less likely to get behind!!) so today I did
lesson 3, day 2. And what do you suppose it's about? Taking the time to
have a quiet spirit before the Lord. (Picture me with my eyes looking
like this O_O when I saw the subject of the lesson) Someone is keeping
His eyes on me, I'll tell you that much. :)
I'm a strange contradiction, because while I consider laziness to be
one of my major faults, I am also terrible at relaxing. I hate baths,
because I feel like I am just wasting time sitting there (well, that and
I'm not too fond of water in general). I feel aimless if I just sit and
watch tv, I feel like I need to be doing something while I watch. I've
already gotten up twice while typing this message, because if I'm not
actively pressing buttons with my fingers, then I'm wasting time
sitting. I'm a habitual email/Facebook checker, not because I'm obsessed
with what's going on but because I feel like if I just sit, and be
still, that there's something else I ought to be doing. But that's not
very conducive to learning to have a quiet spirit before the Lord, is
it?
Job's friends sat with him, in silence, for seven days and nights. Revelation mentions that at the opening of the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for half an hour. And Psalm 46 reminds us to be still, and know that he is God.
It's clear that silence is an important concept for a Christian to
embrace. But how can we sit quietly and be still when everything around
us is hollering? (I got up once again, since the washing machine was
letting me know it was finished.) I think there are two keys. One, be
aware of stolen moments. Did the kids go outside, or lay down to nap, or
are engrossed in a tv show or computer game? Is dinner simmering for
the next 10 minutes? Take a moment to sit, be still, and pray. The other
key is to create the moments you need. Get up 10 minutes before you
really NEED to. Stay up 10 minutes after everyone has gone back to bed.
Maybe you can enforce an afternoon quiet period, even for the
non-nappers. Give yourself the time on a regular basis to sit, be quiet
before the Lord, and thank him for the opportunity.
I'm off to just sit for a little bit. :)
In Christ alone--
Elena
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Barnabas Letters, part 12
Hello Barnabas Ladies! Sorry I missed emailing you yesterday--I thought I had it all together but I guess not! :D
I have ordered the books for ladies class, and they are due to arrive tomorrow. I will bring them Sunday, or if you know I won't see you then, we can arrange to get them to you some other time before or after. Each week in class we will be discussing one lesson, and each lesson is divided into four days worth of work (each day takes about 15 minutes, give or take). So if you are planning to attend the first class on August 16 it would be best for you to have the book no later than Sunday. I have ordered a few extras, so if you didn't ask for one already, but are interested, please let me know!
Due to the subject of our class, a lot of the upcoming Barnabas Letters will probably have something to do with prayer, and today's note is no exception. :D Mrs. Martin makes reference to Ephesians 3:17-19.
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Her comment regarding this passage goes as follows:
"That is a stunning picture. Filled to the measure of the fullness of God. Can you even imagine? Filled to overflowing, bursting forth, gushing up, and spilling over the brim with the presence of God Himself. More than enough to fill every empty space, every hollow ache, every cavern of loneliness and pain. More than enough to wash away any dirty thought, filthy action, muddied motive, and grimy intention."
I had never considered how pouring ourselves out before God in prayer makes room for him to fill us up… and not just fill, but being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. There is no circumstance in which prayer is not both appropriate and effective. My prayer for you all is that whether you are joining us in class or not, that you will come to a deeper understanding of how God can fill you with his fullness.
In Christ alone--
Elena
I have ordered the books for ladies class, and they are due to arrive tomorrow. I will bring them Sunday, or if you know I won't see you then, we can arrange to get them to you some other time before or after. Each week in class we will be discussing one lesson, and each lesson is divided into four days worth of work (each day takes about 15 minutes, give or take). So if you are planning to attend the first class on August 16 it would be best for you to have the book no later than Sunday. I have ordered a few extras, so if you didn't ask for one already, but are interested, please let me know!
Due to the subject of our class, a lot of the upcoming Barnabas Letters will probably have something to do with prayer, and today's note is no exception. :D Mrs. Martin makes reference to Ephesians 3:17-19.
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Her comment regarding this passage goes as follows:
"That is a stunning picture. Filled to the measure of the fullness of God. Can you even imagine? Filled to overflowing, bursting forth, gushing up, and spilling over the brim with the presence of God Himself. More than enough to fill every empty space, every hollow ache, every cavern of loneliness and pain. More than enough to wash away any dirty thought, filthy action, muddied motive, and grimy intention."
I had never considered how pouring ourselves out before God in prayer makes room for him to fill us up… and not just fill, but being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. There is no circumstance in which prayer is not both appropriate and effective. My prayer for you all is that whether you are joining us in class or not, that you will come to a deeper understanding of how God can fill you with his fullness.
In Christ alone--
Elena
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