Living a Sold Out Life - aka You Might Not Finish This Chapter

“You might not finish this chapter”, interesting title for this chapter don’t you think?  And Frances gets right to the point in the very first line “you might die before you finish reading the chapter.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t tend to think of myself, my life, or my relationship with God in light of moments, or seconds. And yet, if I did, my life might truly be different.

                Rejoice in the Lord, always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

                Do not be anxious about anything… Philippians 4:6

Two verses I am very familiar with, as perhaps you are too, but I never really put them into the same context, and yet God did. The other thing that I never really thought about was that by worrying about my problems, or even simple things, like, what I will be doing tomorrow, is saying that my life, my circumstances, what I am doing, are more important than God’s command to always rejoice; that my worry and stress reek of arrogance. Frances Chan hits us right between the eyeballs when he says “In other words, that I have a “right” to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.”  OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!  

If my purpose for existence in life is to bring glory to God, and it is, and by the way so is yours, then focusing on stuff in my life is counterproductive to that purpose.   My focus needs to be on God, not on me!  My life needs to be about Him, not about me, and my life needs to reflect that in all I say and all I do!

If I truly grasped the belief that my life belongs to God, that my whole purpose and reason for being here is for God, how might my life be lived out differently. Grasping the concept is different then believing.  I believe that we all believe we are here to bring God glory, and that our lives are brief here on earth. But if we truly grasped it; truly internalized it our lives, yours and mine, might look different. 

Blog/share this week:

What do you think your life might look like if you lived your life sold out to God 100%, no room for self, all about Him? How would your day-to-day routine and choices look different?

Activity for the week:

Make a list of things that worried you this week

Make a list of thing you were worried about over the past 6 months

Answer this question; “What has changed, or been influenced by your worry?”

Write a prayer expressing your desire for change to God this week.

By the way, in Philippians 4:6 there is more to the verse then stated earlier… God gave us the solution for how to Rejoice in the Lord always, and not be anxious for anything. Verse 6 goes on to say “but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Verse 7 “And then the peace of God, which transcends s all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Looking forward to your insights,

hugs, Sandra

Read chapter 3 in Crazy Love in preparation for next week’s discussion and challenges

God's Character Revealed through His Creation

Great sharing everyone! .... I love the song "I Can Only Imagine" but I must admit imagination is not something I do well. I am just too practical of a gal I guess. I grew up in a very controlling family with a very demanding father. Compile that with the fact I came to know the Lord in a fire and brimstone preaching church and I was destined to have a skewed image of God. If I were to be honest, to think of being in the presence of God brought about a sense of fear rather than joy. I certainly don't desire to be afraid when I approach Him in prayer, but at the same time I don't desire to be so lack-a-dazical that I do not give the proper respect due either. It is a challenge for me, to say the least. But all hope is not lost. When I read crazy love for the first time; it helped me to put the creator into perspective as I began to look more closely at His creation. Oh, I admired sunsets and sunrises, the power of the ocean etc. But I never really took a look at the world from a creation standpoint, or from the creator point-of-view. Like any great work of art we discover the character of the artist through his work; his creation. When I walk our world, when I walk the neighborhood, when I look into the eyes of those He created, when I think about the human body and how it functions, and when I see and experience true genuine love and caring; it is then I begin to really grasp God! And, as Trish so poignantly pointed out, I am one of God’s creations. By looking at, and learning more about, God through His creation I personally have become, less fearful of being in His presence. The nature, the earth, the creation I experience is made by a God that loves, comforts, provides, etc., He feeds all of my needs, and feeds all of my senses; He wants nothing but my best.  

Please take a moment to share on the blog site how this week's lesson on God the Creator changed your way of thinking, an activity or action that you will try to do more often as a result, or whatever God has laid on your heart as a result of week one!

Falling Crazy in Love with God

Sandra
 If you have not already done so, read chapter two and be ready to discuss your discoveries, insights etc.

In the Presence of God

Describing God


Frances Chan reminds us that God goes way beyond our comprehension. Frances states that it would appear that John is having trouble describing what he sees. It had to be rather mind boggling and awe inspiring to say the least. But I wonder if at the same time it was a wee bit fearful and intimidating? Think for a moment what it would be like to be standing before the throne in the presence of the Most Holy one! What feelings, emotions, begin to surface? Now realize that each time we are on our knees in humble prayer, we are in the presence of the Lord. We as His chosen creation have the privilege of entering His presence. That is very humbling for me. All too often I take all that for granted and I don’t really stop to think about, just, whose presence I am in. I wonder if that would change my prayer life, if I really grasped the totality of this, that when I am on my knees in prayer, I am in the presence of the Creator! I suspect it would! And it should! If you were ever present aware that you were in the presence of Holy God when in prayer, how might your prayer life look different? Share with us, here on the blog sight how it might change.

Well today is Wednesday, and my week is getting a kind of rough start. But all-n-all okay. By rough start, I mean my time with the Lord. There is just so many things that call for my attention. I am guessing that would be your case too. Remember Satan does not want us to be crazy in love with God. So hang in there. I would like to challenge each of you to take a walk in your neighborhood sometime this week. And as you walk the area, think about God and His creation. The people in the houses, the trees, the sunrises and sunsets, the mountains, the desert land. Give Him praise for all He is as Creator and Provider. Really soak in the magnitude of what He has provided for us. Here is my prayer for today....   

Most precious Father I am but a speck in your creation as I look around at all you have provided and created. I am in awe of such beauty and such precision found in your creation. I am humbled and brought to my knees; humbled that you created all of this for me; brought to my knees because I don’t even notice – I just take it all for granted, with little or no appreciation. Today, Lord as I experience nature with a different outlook, I am struck by the magnitude of your provision and the incredible love of such gifts. Today Lord, I pray that I might truly see the universe and the earth I inhabit, through your eyes. I know tomorrow I will most likely go back, to once again, taking all this for granted, may I have a new daily awareness of all you have created simply because of love; all you have created for me, out of love. In your Son’s most precious name, AMEN

Well my friends the journey is beginning. Be sure to watch the videos’ from the website that Francis mentions. Come back often, daily would be good, and share your thoughts, challenges, and ways that you are being convicted in your walk with God. I can hardly wait to hear how God will use this time together to grow us, to change us, and to challenge us.
Each day I will share with you a prayer as a result of this study. I share it to encourage you to daily journal a prayer to God was we go through this study. From time-to-time I would love it if you share some of those journaling prayer thoughts with me and the group.

I realize this is a very small group and pray this will not discourage you. You will have to trust me when I say you cannot read this book and be unchanged at the finish!
Stop Praying, I must admit, I wondered who would start out a book by telling you to stop praying. Crazy idea? Yes, and yet after having read the chapter it got me to thinking just to whom am I praying? As you get into the chapter it really begins to challenge you to ask some very hard questions. I tend to take God's creation for granted. I seldom stop to think about all that has gone in to making the world I live in what it is, or all that went into making me, me and you, you. To be awed by creation, means you must acknowledge the creator. Of course when I see a beautiful sunset, I admire the beauty, but most often not the creation of the sunset. I see a beautiful flower and I admire it for a moment, but don't really stop to think about the designer of the flower. Francis Chan challenged my way of thinking on so many levels in just this first chapter. It's as if I became alive in Christ, perhaps on some levels for the first time. When you really begin to grasp the wonder, the delicacies, the intricacies of it all, it either becomes overwhelming or awe inspiring; for me it is awe inspiring and at the same time it brought me to my knees.

Did you ever think of the goose bump chill factor; you know the way you get a chill with goose bumps? I never knew that God created a way for our bodies to stay warm while experiencing goose bumps, rather than lose body heat. Talk about detail! That is some engineering feat. Just think the whole universe and everything in creation is designed with that same thought and perfect detailing.

To Worship God to the fullest means we must come to know Him. And there-in lays the million dollar question…. Can we really know God? I mean… really, truly, know Him? I know that God is Holy… but just what does Holy really mean? God is eternal; yes… but in my finite non-eternal existence can I truly begin to grasp eternity? God is all knowing… notice it does not say a know-it-all, but All-Knowing…. What does it mean to be all knowing? God is all powerful… Now that realization can be either comforting or fearful depending on your perspective. I tend to think of all powerful in human terms, not necessarily comforting for sure. Yet because God truly is all powerful, I suspect that His power is nothing like what I equate it with. Because His power is bathed in perfect, agape, type love, it means that power is used for my good, my benefit, my well being; not to harm.
I am filled with many more questions, then answers… but am looking forward to the journey as we discover some of them together!

Crazy in love with God

Sandra

My prayer today:
Lord you are God- Elohim – Creator – Preserver – Mighty & Strong. Lord, how often in my life I miss that you are God! I bring you down to my earthly level of existence, and I sometimes forget just who I am privileged to have a relationship with. You God – Elohim – creator of the entire universe desire a relationship with me… me, Sandra, to be Your friend. I am blown away! I just cannot fathom the depths of such love. Thank you Lord that your love knows no measure and no end, much like the universe you created. Today Lord, as I go throughout my day, I am going to choose to bask in your love. I am chosen; I am blessed; I am loved!

Welcome to Crazy Love

Hi friends,

Welcome to the Crazy Love "online study" sight! Here we will discuss our discoveries and those things that challenge us as we read through the book Crazy Love by Frances Chan. I have previously read this book and it changed my life in a pretty dramatic way, more about that later. For the next few days, let's spend this time getting to know each other. Take a moment and share with everyone where you live, and a little about yourself and family. Share your expectations that you have for being a part of this group. How you came to join us, and last but not least share a little about your walk with the Lord up till now. I will start us off.

Hi my name is Sandra and I live in a little town called Sun City West. Sun City West is located outside Phoenix Arizona, in the United States. I am currently unemployed. I am married to a wonderful man. We have two children both grown with families of their own; a daughter in Texas, a son in California, and 5 grandchildren ranging in age from 6 to 20, quite a span for sure. I don't get to see my grandkids very often, as they all live out of state, it is a huge challenge to find ways to be close. I need lots of improvement and encouragement in this area.

I have been a Christian for a number of years, but I didn't really start developing a relationship with the Lord until much later in my walk. This season of my life is filled with teaching Bible studies, writing devotions, and most recently taking on the challenge of writing a Bible study or two. Writing has been prompted by the Holy Spirit, until about 3 years ago I never ever even thought of writing not has it has been strong desire; until now!
My expectations for this group are pretty simple. I am looking forward to sharing ideas, discoveries, challenges and insights as we read the book Crazy Love, encouraging each other along the journey both spiritually and personally. As already stated the book Crazy Love changed my life and has challenged my thinking in small ways and in radical "crazy ways".

I am not an experienced online blogger but hope to get better with practice. So please bear with me.

Okay enough about me - - now it is your turn.

Hugs, Sandra

God's Kaleidoscope

Early on in our study on the Fruit of the Spirit, I believe it was about week 3, I began asking the question “if (insert the name of the Fruit, such as Joy) were a color, what color would it be?” It was great fun to see the colors each of you chose and the reasons why. Some of you were very descriptive in your choices such as ‘Heavenly Blue”, or “Fuzzy Georgia Peach”, Rainbow Orange and Powder Puff Pink; just to name a few. I am fairly certain that many of you wondered “what on earth does picking a color have to do with the Fruit of the Spirit”. Your patience is being rewarded, and here is the why to the color question.

When doing research for our study on the Fruit of the Spirit, I always saw fruit such as bananas, apples, oranges, etc., usually in a bowl, basket or some other container being the visual representation for the Fruit of the Spirit; hence the original name for our study “God’s Basket of Fruit”. But, once I clearly grasped that it is one Fruit, not many, I was no longer comfortable with the Basket. The Fruit of the Spirit is one Fruit with many components… how do you put that into a visual? Then one day as I was praying the Holy Spirit gave me a great visual; a Kaleidoscope.

A Kaleidoscope is a single object with many dimensions, or colors; depending on which way the Kaleidoscope is adjusted, determines the pattern of those colors. In order to see the colors reflected and the beautiful patterns, you must have the Kaleidoscope pointed towards the light. No light….. No reflection… No reflection…. No colors.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is very much like that Kaleidoscope. As we abide in the True Vine (Jesus), as we surrender our will to the Holy Spirit, Fruit matures. Unlike the Fruit in a Basket which can be separated from the others, Holy Spirit Fruit is intertwined and each component, of the One Fruit, relies on the others. Our Fruit will be reflected in different ways at different times in our lives. As we look through the Kaleidoscope of our lives, yellow representing “Joy” may be bursting forth, and then a twist of the Kaleidoscope and blue representing “Peace” is being reflected in quiet splendor. The twist of the Kaleidoscope happens as we live out our day-to-day lives. As the events of life happen - the good things such as giving birth, marriage, answers to prayer, salvation of a loved one; and the not so good… divorces, death, illness, broken relationships, and various hurts along the way - our Fruit is revealed. Like the Kaleidoscope which possesses all the colors, so our lives possess all the components of Holy Spirit Fruit.

Our job, my job, is to allow the Holy Spirit to fill my Kaleidoscope (my life) with His Fruit; to keep the Kaleidoscope pointed to the light, Jesus; and to let the Father, God, turn the dial allowing the colors (the Fruit of my life) to be reflected that others might be drawn to the very heart of Jesus.

Many of you have encouraged me to publish this study on the Fruit of the Spirit. I’m not sure that will ever happen, but as a result of your encouragement I am looking into the possibilities. I have no idea where to begin; if you would join me in praying for God’s wisdom I would be greatly blessed.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share with you through this study. We have been on an amazing journey together. I hope you have enjoyed our time together, as much as I have!

This blog site will remain for a couple of more weeks to allow you to post any last comments to the group or to me. You may also send them to me via email.

Be Encouraged!
Sandra