...a post about idolatry.
It's probably gonna *ouch* so it may take me awhile to get around to writing it! :)
In the meantime, something for amusement!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
quickie
I haven't written in a bit--partly avoidance, partly too busy. The avoidance is that while I've read Days 4 & 5 in Purpose-Driven Life, I'm still working my way through Day 3. And by "working through" I mean avoiding. ;) I've actually been reading my way through Proverbs as a bunch of lessons to myself on making good choices, following wisdom & honesty, etc etc.
Fortunately, I have no life so there's really not much to update. ;) I didn't get the Library job I interviewed for last week--they went with an internal candidate--which is totally fine. It would have been nice, but it's obviously not God's plan/choice. Which is totally what I'm looking for/pursuing. There are other options out there and I'm sure I'll be doing more interviews here in the next week or so.
It was good to hear that I "aced the interview and have a really strong resume and background" Woohoo! :)
So I'll keep pressing on (there's a quote about that I need to find and ruminate more on).
Fortunately, I have no life so there's really not much to update. ;) I didn't get the Library job I interviewed for last week--they went with an internal candidate--which is totally fine. It would have been nice, but it's obviously not God's plan/choice. Which is totally what I'm looking for/pursuing. There are other options out there and I'm sure I'll be doing more interviews here in the next week or so.
It was good to hear that I "aced the interview and have a really strong resume and background" Woohoo! :)
So I'll keep pressing on (there's a quote about that I need to find and ruminate more on).
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Day 3 (con't)
Yes. I'm still working through Day 3. I've reread it 2 or 3 times and have just finished journalling through the 5 common things that drive people (fear, need for approval, anger/resentment, materialism, guilt) and will work through the 5 benefits of a purpose-driven life tomorrow. Yes, I have a private journal--because I need to actually WRITE things out) and then am blogging some of what goes into my private journal. Plus more.
I really didn't expect to get stumped on Day 3!! I honestly expected to breeze through the 40 days an emerge at the end of it having grown, but relatively unscathed. Uhhhhh not so much.
I have a feeling there's going to be a major shift going on in my perceptions, my thinking, etc. Which is good, and necessary..but I guess I was a little over-confident at my ability to "absorb." :) Silly me!
I definitely need to have more of a reliance on God. It's been an effort to turn my trust over to Him as I look for a job, but I need to because I get frustrated and anxious and tense when I even look at job ads. That's not how I want to be. I know in my head that God has perfect timing. That knowledge just has to connect to my heart. So I surrender over and over and over again. There's no point, is there, in just surrending a little bit of my life to God. It has to be my whole life. *deep breath* A little scary, but probably far more worthwhile than me clenching my life tighly in my fist afraid to "let go & let God." Silly that we think we need to see the plan first before we approve it. Oh how arrogant we humans are!!
Anyway, tomorrow or Tuesday I'll finish up with Day 3. :)
I really didn't expect to get stumped on Day 3!! I honestly expected to breeze through the 40 days an emerge at the end of it having grown, but relatively unscathed. Uhhhhh not so much.
I have a feeling there's going to be a major shift going on in my perceptions, my thinking, etc. Which is good, and necessary..but I guess I was a little over-confident at my ability to "absorb." :) Silly me!
I definitely need to have more of a reliance on God. It's been an effort to turn my trust over to Him as I look for a job, but I need to because I get frustrated and anxious and tense when I even look at job ads. That's not how I want to be. I know in my head that God has perfect timing. That knowledge just has to connect to my heart. So I surrender over and over and over again. There's no point, is there, in just surrending a little bit of my life to God. It has to be my whole life. *deep breath* A little scary, but probably far more worthwhile than me clenching my life tighly in my fist afraid to "let go & let God." Silly that we think we need to see the plan first before we approve it. Oh how arrogant we humans are!!
Anyway, tomorrow or Tuesday I'll finish up with Day 3. :)
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Day 3
Theme: What Drives Your Life?
I read this last night after I got home from work. And quickly realized that this is one meaty chapter and that it's going to take me several days to go over & absorb a lot of the things that were said. So "Day 3" will continue for several days.
If I give a very fast answer to the question above, I would probably say something like "fear" or "money"--not fear in an afraid-of-life sense or money in a materialistic sense..but both having to do with paying bills, working enough, that sort of thing.
So I know right there that my focus is wrong. My focus & my priority, my drive, needs to BE God. Of course I have to pay my rent and my bills and be responsible by showing up at work on time etc etc...but that needn't be/shouldn't be a priority.
I am still totally stuck on the question "What am I supposed to BE when I grow up" I don't know why I can't shake this thought out of my head. I don't even have a dream career in mind! What I do want to do, though, is work in a college or university setting. Registrar's Office sort of thing. I prefer working more with or around students than I really do with adults. I like to help people, have answers to their questions, know information that's helpful, do detail-y type work but not super attentive-to-detail stuff.
Now I'm rambling. :)
But anyway. I feel this clenching in my chest whenever I think about a "career" or "what I'm supposed to do" So taking this time to really clarify that God has a purpose in my life is needed. I'm trying to give up the whole "must have a career" mental tape that I've got going on and just rest in God. When I feel that fist in my chest unclench, I'll let you know! :)
I read this last night after I got home from work. And quickly realized that this is one meaty chapter and that it's going to take me several days to go over & absorb a lot of the things that were said. So "Day 3" will continue for several days.
If I give a very fast answer to the question above, I would probably say something like "fear" or "money"--not fear in an afraid-of-life sense or money in a materialistic sense..but both having to do with paying bills, working enough, that sort of thing.
So I know right there that my focus is wrong. My focus & my priority, my drive, needs to BE God. Of course I have to pay my rent and my bills and be responsible by showing up at work on time etc etc...but that needn't be/shouldn't be a priority.
I am still totally stuck on the question "What am I supposed to BE when I grow up" I don't know why I can't shake this thought out of my head. I don't even have a dream career in mind! What I do want to do, though, is work in a college or university setting. Registrar's Office sort of thing. I prefer working more with or around students than I really do with adults. I like to help people, have answers to their questions, know information that's helpful, do detail-y type work but not super attentive-to-detail stuff.
Now I'm rambling. :)
But anyway. I feel this clenching in my chest whenever I think about a "career" or "what I'm supposed to do" So taking this time to really clarify that God has a purpose in my life is needed. I'm trying to give up the whole "must have a career" mental tape that I've got going on and just rest in God. When I feel that fist in my chest unclench, I'll let you know! :)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Day 2
Theme: You Are Not An Accident
Isaiah 46:3-4 really stuck out in this chapter
"I have carried you since you were born. I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you."
The promises of God taking care of me are incredibly reassuring! I always feel sorry for people who are alone or have no family around. Perhaps I empathize because I'm single and wouldn't mind every now and then having someone to lean on and just take care of me! I don't doubt God's care, but that tangible touch would also be nice!
I decided to keep reading through this section if Isaiah as part of my devotions and Isaiah 48:17b also jumped out at me.
"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to do what is good, who teaches you in the way you should go."
As I hunt for a different job and really seek God's leading, I want to cling to this verse. I want to really trust in God's plan and path for my life. I want to be thankful for all the blessings I have and to not complain about the nagging little things that sometimes get in the way or make for "easy" conversation.
The question given at the end of this chapter is a bit of an "ouch": "I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?"
Uhhhh I don't think I have enough space for this answer!!
In my notes, I wrote out a bit of a list of things that I ruminate over. Reading it over, it's not really so much to do with personality or anything, but more to do with my choices. Am I making good choices? How will I know if I make a 'right' choice? If God created me exactly the way I am can I use that as an excuse to be "lazy" and just say "God created me this way!" Ha!
Wouldn't it be convenient to use that as an excuse to cover all manner of indulgences and avoidances and 'flaws'?? :)
As soon as I thought of that, my mind jumped to Romans 12:1
"I urge you...in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."
Ok ok, off to the gym I go! :/ ;)
It's ME that wants to lose 30 pounds. It's me that wants to be more comfortable in my own skin. So I'm going to have to work for it by changing my eating habits and exercising. Do I want to take this verse to the extreme and make my entire life about being a bodily sacrifice? No. I want to be healthy. I want to give honour to God by the choices I make and one aspect of that is through discipline in terms of food & exercise. And for me this is an area of concern because so much of my life has been focused on it in one way or another--usually as a negative. I find it very hard to view myself positively. I'm getting better, but it sure ain't easy!!
Offering my body also means challenging my mind, taking care of my emotions, and investing in my relationships. It's a life BALANCE. And through balance we honour God. We honour His creation. We respect who & what He created us to be.
So through all of that I am reassured that I am not an accident. I am here for God's purpose. And so are you. :) And I'm glad that you're not an accident either. After all, God don't make no junk!!
Isaiah 46:3-4 really stuck out in this chapter
"I have carried you since you were born. I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you."
The promises of God taking care of me are incredibly reassuring! I always feel sorry for people who are alone or have no family around. Perhaps I empathize because I'm single and wouldn't mind every now and then having someone to lean on and just take care of me! I don't doubt God's care, but that tangible touch would also be nice!
I decided to keep reading through this section if Isaiah as part of my devotions and Isaiah 48:17b also jumped out at me.
"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to do what is good, who teaches you in the way you should go."
As I hunt for a different job and really seek God's leading, I want to cling to this verse. I want to really trust in God's plan and path for my life. I want to be thankful for all the blessings I have and to not complain about the nagging little things that sometimes get in the way or make for "easy" conversation.
The question given at the end of this chapter is a bit of an "ouch": "I know that God uniquely created me. What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?"
Uhhhh I don't think I have enough space for this answer!!
In my notes, I wrote out a bit of a list of things that I ruminate over. Reading it over, it's not really so much to do with personality or anything, but more to do with my choices. Am I making good choices? How will I know if I make a 'right' choice? If God created me exactly the way I am can I use that as an excuse to be "lazy" and just say "God created me this way!" Ha!
Wouldn't it be convenient to use that as an excuse to cover all manner of indulgences and avoidances and 'flaws'?? :)
As soon as I thought of that, my mind jumped to Romans 12:1
"I urge you...in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."
Ok ok, off to the gym I go! :/ ;)
It's ME that wants to lose 30 pounds. It's me that wants to be more comfortable in my own skin. So I'm going to have to work for it by changing my eating habits and exercising. Do I want to take this verse to the extreme and make my entire life about being a bodily sacrifice? No. I want to be healthy. I want to give honour to God by the choices I make and one aspect of that is through discipline in terms of food & exercise. And for me this is an area of concern because so much of my life has been focused on it in one way or another--usually as a negative. I find it very hard to view myself positively. I'm getting better, but it sure ain't easy!!
Offering my body also means challenging my mind, taking care of my emotions, and investing in my relationships. It's a life BALANCE. And through balance we honour God. We honour His creation. We respect who & what He created us to be.
So through all of that I am reassured that I am not an accident. I am here for God's purpose. And so are you. :) And I'm glad that you're not an accident either. After all, God don't make no junk!!
Day 1
I'm going to TRY to blog every day for the next 40 days as I read through Rick Warren's "A Purpose Driven Life." I read this book a couple of years ago and thought to myself that yeah, this was a decent read. I didn't really absorb it though. I didn't interact with it as I probably should have.
Recently I've been really questing to improve my personal relationship/time with God. It's been playing second fiddle...or third fiddle...or really, sitting backstage...a lot of the time and that's SO not what I want or what I'm about or what I want to be about.
Basically I'm trying to spend more time reading the Bible, and more time praying/talking to God. I have the ability to control a lot of my thinking, but I am realizing that there needs to be some major surrendering going on in terms of "contol"--oh how I love control. And oh how I'm not in control! :)
Anyway, Day 1's concept is that "it's not about ME" and that I was created by His purpose FOR His purpose. That puts a whole different slant on today's thinking of what do *I* want, where am *I* supposed to be, what am *I* supposed to do. God has created ME for HIS purpose. It's a baby step because inside the heart of me there's a little person wailing and screaming asking "what about me? what's the plan? what's the purpose? tell me now now now!! I MUST know now so I can decide if *I* agree!!" HAHA. Yeah, isn't that how we think? We want God to show us the plan so we can decide if it's good enough or if it's "right." That's about where I'm at on this journey and I want to be able to shut that little person up by trusting in God and that He is in control. Am I making sense?
This is the verse that really struck me in today's reading: "A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree." (Prov 11:28).
That is what I want my life to be: God-shaped. Not self-centred Rachel-shaped.
And it is my hope & prayer that on this journey that is what I'll move towards. A woman with a God-shaped life who is still young at heart and completely dorky. ;)
Recently I've been really questing to improve my personal relationship/time with God. It's been playing second fiddle...or third fiddle...or really, sitting backstage...a lot of the time and that's SO not what I want or what I'm about or what I want to be about.
Basically I'm trying to spend more time reading the Bible, and more time praying/talking to God. I have the ability to control a lot of my thinking, but I am realizing that there needs to be some major surrendering going on in terms of "contol"--oh how I love control. And oh how I'm not in control! :)
Anyway, Day 1's concept is that "it's not about ME" and that I was created by His purpose FOR His purpose. That puts a whole different slant on today's thinking of what do *I* want, where am *I* supposed to be, what am *I* supposed to do. God has created ME for HIS purpose. It's a baby step because inside the heart of me there's a little person wailing and screaming asking "what about me? what's the plan? what's the purpose? tell me now now now!! I MUST know now so I can decide if *I* agree!!" HAHA. Yeah, isn't that how we think? We want God to show us the plan so we can decide if it's good enough or if it's "right." That's about where I'm at on this journey and I want to be able to shut that little person up by trusting in God and that He is in control. Am I making sense?
This is the verse that really struck me in today's reading: "A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree." (Prov 11:28).
That is what I want my life to be: God-shaped. Not self-centred Rachel-shaped.
And it is my hope & prayer that on this journey that is what I'll move towards. A woman with a God-shaped life who is still young at heart and completely dorky. ;)
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