I am sharing my FB post from this morning because more people need to see it besides my FBF’s. A while back I thought about sharing my daily posts here anyway, I just haven’t done it. ‘Not sure why…
You can go to this link and listen to what I hear every day>https://dailyaudiobible.com
Passages like the ones we read today are abrasive and thought provoking, the kind that make people say, “Yup. I’ve heard enough,” and walk away limping, with their toes crushed. They brought me back in time to when I first read this Old Testament story in the book of Ezra, and to many of Paul’s letters in the New Testament, too. Paul was all about tough love!
I became indignant, and even offended reading chapter six in first Corinthians at how arrogant, accusatory, and condemning the apostle Paul sounded to me, the defensive, wayward daughter. I was appalled that God wanted men to divorce their pagan wives and send their families away in chapter ten of the book of Ezra. How could a loving God want that?
This particular chapter of first Corinthians, though, is why I’m posting this today. Simply because I instinctively wanted to shy away from posting at all today. BECAUSE it’s a toe-crusher. And I am a recovering people-pleaser!
I pictured Paul like this big drill-sergeant of a man, all puffed up, in your face, and full of himself rather than Jesus! But his goal is not condemnation here. It’s about growing up, putting on the big boy pants, and holding each other accountable as believers and followers of Jesus.
Yes, we are supposed to confront one another when we see our siblings stepping out of bounds. It’s our job to help each other live by God’s standards and to strive to be like Jesus. It’s why having a church family is so important. We don’t grow and learn in isolation. And we mess up a lot without the help of our peers.
I’m far from perfect. I still do and say things that God hates and that I wouldn’t want others to know! But I’m aware, and remorseful when I mess up. And I want to please Him. THAT’s the difference Jesus made in me. He gave me the desire to please our heavenly Father. And that’s what He sees; your motives and your heart, not whether or not you get it perfect. Christianity, believe it or not, is not performance-driven.
Let me confess something right here.
If not for that desire to please my Abba, and a Christian sister calling me out, I would probably not have married again when my husband and I began our very impromptu relationship. But God…
With two failed marriages under my belt at the age of fifty, I was done. Then God plunked this man into my lap that needed Jesus as much as I did. And we decided to give it a go because we agreed it would be nice to have someone to grow old with.
When my friend asked what our living situation would be when he moved to Florida I hedged. She said, “Will you just live together?” I said, “Yes, for now.” She said, “So, you don’t believe what we learn in Bible study?” I said, “Of course I do!” She said, “But it doesn’t apply to you?” And I said, “Damn it Jenny!”
That night on the phone I told him about this exchange. He listened and said, “So you wanna get married? I’ll marry ya.” My jaw dropped and my heart soared. I’m standing here giggling as I write this. We both swore we would never marry again. And, he’s my third husband, but not one of them ever proposed to me. Only one guy ever did, and I didn’t marry that one!
Here’s the story in a nutshell:
My hubby and I grew up together and hadn’t seen each other in forty years. We talked on Facebook in 2013 a few times, then on the phone for a few months in 2014. He came south to visit in May of that year, spent five days, and went home to pursue a job transfer.
God orchestrated it all. I am still convinced of that, because he got his transfer, right to where I live and we married two months later, because I really wanted to do it right for the first time in my life. We were determined that divorce would not be in our vocabulary and we would make this work with God’s blessing.
Here were are, just having celebrated our tenth anniversary on July 25th! Partially the result of one of my Christian sisters holding me accountable. And God has blessed this union. I am so grateful.
Here’s another funny side note I need to share, because it just this second occurred to me why today’s date has been nudging me since I woke up. Today is our legal anniversary! Of course there’s a story!
I flew to NY to wed that year. When we arrived at the clerk’s office on Wednesday to get our marriage license for a ceremony on Friday, I didn’t have all the divorce paperwork needed, nor could I get it in time. We ended up having to have a commitment ceremony instead of a marriage, and did the legal ceremony on this day, in 2014. And the really funny part is, I’m wearing the same sundress today!
Even if you’re the most disciplined person, having an accountability partner or group is so instrumental in any kind of personal or spiritual growth. I hope that you will plug yourself in somewhere, even if just a WordPress community. There are some great people here!
Another great community I love is in the app for my daily Bible reading. You are welcome to visit and listen to what I hear every day at https://dailyaudiobible.com
Blessings! Enjoy my post below 🙂
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Good Morning 🙂 It’s Saturday August 10 2024
Today’s readings: Ezra 10:1-44 * 1 Cor 6:1-20 * Ps 31:9-18 * Pr 21:3
https://dailyaudiobible.com
Ooo boy. The thin-skinned out there will be hurting today.
Between chapter 10 of Ezra and Chapter 6 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians I’m not sure what stings more. We don’t like hard truths in general. These ones will crush some toes.
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/EZR.10.NLT
Ezra ‘s prayer and weeping for the Jews who intermarried and contaminated the new culture in Judah moved his people to sorrow and encouraged them all to repent. The thing you won’t like is that repentance included separating from their wives and children and sending them away to cleanse the land of idolatry and pagans.
Oof. Our sensitivities today…it’s like the coarsest sandpaper against your face hearing that kind of divisive judgement, no? In our culture of tolerance and not wanting to step on peoples’ toes, this really makes people squirm.
My study Bible explains that Ezra had to go to extremes because his goal was to “…preserve Israel as a nation committed to God…Although breaking up these families was very painful and difficult, pagan worship would have rapidly infected and crippled this new struggling community.”
It’s different today. Because Jesus really did change everything. The Christian community recommends we marry others of the same faith. It’s hard to have a great marriage when only one spouse is a believer AND follower. (there’s a difference) But…separating a marriage for this reason isn’t encouraged. Just the opposite. Praying for the other spouse to come to Christ is how we roll these days 🙂
Ezra ends with chapter 10 and the study Bible points out that
“The book of Ezra opens with God’s Temple in ruins and the people of Judah captive in Babylon…” then “…the return of God’s people, the rebuilding of the Temple, and restoration…NO ONE IS SO FAR AWAY FROM GOD THAT HE OR SHE CANNOT BE RESTORED. REPENTANCE IS ALL THAT IS REQUIRED…”
God is a good Father.
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https://www.bible.com/bible/116/1CO.6.NLT
Paul will probably shock, insult, and maybe even anger you today if he hasn’t already. Brian acknowledges this on page 221 of THE GOD OF YOUR STORY:
“…we see Paul’s tone is very direct and even confrontational in this letter. It’s easy to read Paul and sense condemnation in his words, but this would be missing the point…Paul’s intention wasn’t condemnation. Rather, he called them to a higher standard — and true freedom.
We are like sheep gone astray, then and now. We follow our whims. Here there and everywhere. Even the most disciplined of us are guilty of something God doesn’t like, simply because we are not perfect.
Whatever enslaves us, all those webs we weave, that keep us from living as God would have us live it, is what separated us from God in the first place – back with Adam and Eve.
The whole thing about Jesus is that He changed everything. He bridged the gap that was created between humanity and our Creator. All we have to do is believe that, and invite Him in, and repent. (change)
Is it hard to wrap your brain around? I get why people shake their heads and walk away. We’re inherently lazy. We don’t want to think that hard. And most of all, we don’t like change.
It brings my own mind back to when I didn’t believe Jesus could possibly be the only way to eternal bliss. Because what about the people that never heard of Jesus? (That’s where missionaries come in.) Then I started to study. And that’s where lots of us stop, again, because we are lazy. No condemnation! Just fact!
Nerds like to deep dive. That would be me. 🤷♀️That’s why I’m sharing with anyone that will partake ☺✌ And why I’m still diving and having finished this post yet, lol!
So here’s the thing. We humans are so willing to believe about all the other mysticism in the world, why are we so resistant to the only one that saves us from eternal death and brings us to eternal life?
Likely it’s because of our resistance to change, just like me back when. I didn’t want to change anything about my lifestyle because change is scary, not because I was ‘happy.’ I was treading water and quite miserable to be honest, just too busy to let it paralyze me. I had a kid in college and no one to share the burden with. That’s why it still took a near tragic accident to wake me up!
If you’re following along with this ‘Bible-in-a-year’ plan I hope you don’t let Paul’s letter or Ezra’s severe demands on the exiles scare you away. I know Paul gave me attitude when I first read his letters. I got a little indignant, even. I’ve heard if you’re easily offended you have a pride problem!
Hello! Who am i?
PRIDE! It makes us so stupid and blind. 🤦♀️
Can you imagine if we did live like God intended? This whole planet living a life of peace and unity with God at the center and brothers and sisters to love on and lean on for all of time. Wow. How cool would that be?
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https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PSA.31.NLT
‘So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord !’
Psalms 31:24
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https://www.bible.com/bible/116/PRO.21.3
‘The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. ‘
Proverbs 21:3
Blessings and Peace in Christ on this Saturday in August 2024
💜☮✝✡
God Loves Bad Girls, Too! 