Chapter 8 is titled “Realizing How God’s Love Transforms Your Identity and Life.”  My thoughts this week come from this question;

Is every failure in sanctification a failure in worship?

Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

This verse appears to say that the mercy of God motivates us to present ourselves for sanctification, to become holy and acceptable to Him.  And that this is worship. 

Worship isn’t something done on Sunday morning.  Worship is yielding one’s life, believing in the mercy of God.  Belief, faith, in a merciful God produces a grateful pursuit of holiness.

So in looking up at Him, we see mercy, motivated by  His love for us, and we in turn are motivated to worship, which is an act that produces sanctification.
 

Family/Mothering Goals

One on one time with Mae, Petal Rose, Chica, Sunshine and JoyNess
 

Memorize Psalm 91:12-16 ~ Made it through verse 13
Karate Belt Test
Swim 4 Mornings
10 Lessons in Math Book, brushing up for College Algebra
Finish reading Peacemaking for Families and Because He Loves Me

The best way to stop child labor

to stop child neglect

to stop child prostitution

is to PREVENT IT.

Compassion International is working with children in areas where they are at risk of being exploited.  You can take part by sponsoring a child, writing letters and speaking life into the child, and praying for the child.

Visit Compassion International for more information.

In Chapter 6 the focus was on setting our gaze upon Jesus, believing with whatever small measure of faith we possess, that HE IS.

In Chapter 7 the author, Elyse Fitzpatrick, introduces the concept of the indicative and imperative in Scripture, using Colossians 3:1-3.  Indicative is what has already been indicated or declared.  Imperative is a command or direction. 

Some of the indicatives, or declarations in Colossians 1:1-3 are:
You are raised with Christ
You are the elect of God
You are forgiven by Christ
You are holy, beloved.

A few of the imperatives are:
Seek the things that are above
Set your mind on things that are above
Put to death fleshly deeds
Put on tender mercy, kindness, humility, forgiving others as Christ has forgiven you.

Throughout the Bible the imperatives are usually paired with an indicative, and there seems to always be a “put on” for every “put off”.

Now before we jump straight to the imperatives and start making the “to do” list, adding “how to” books to the shelf or blog reader, STOP.

Look Up.   Go back up to the indicative/declaratives. 

What happens if we focus on the indicative?  What God in Christ has done, has given, has called?  And here, again, our eyes are taken off self and what self can and cannot do.  Instead attention can be focused on the Author and Finisher of our faith, our very salvation. 

Then in gratitude we can set out to obey, resting in the imperatives, knowing that it is God who is really at work in us.  “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.

For Christ, by Christ, through Christ.

 

#4 Donna
and
#27 Aunt Maggie

Thank you for participating.  Check back often, we have more reviews and giveaways to share later this month.

Memorize Psalm 91:9-13 ~ Was able to recite 1-12 today!
Karate 3 Times,
Exercise each morning
Begin work in new Math Book, brushing up for College Algebra
Finish reading Peacemaking for Families and Because He Loves Me

Memorize Psalm 91:12-16
Karate Belt Test
Swim 4 Mornings
10 Lessons in Math Book, brushing up for College Algebra
Finish reading Peacemaking for Families and Because He Loves Me

“Faith is the gaze of the soul upon a saving God…Faith is the least self-regarding of the virtues.  It is by its very nature scarcely conscious of its own existence….faith is occupied with the Object upon which it rests and pay no attention to itself at all.” Elise Fitzgerald

Reading this chapter illuminated the bronze snake in the Exodus desert brilliantly for me.  As I continue to ponder the significance of looking at the bronze snake for the Israelites in the desert, and the above quote, I’m left knowing my faith is indeed very weak.  All one has to do is to look to Christ, simply believing that He Is.  This is where faith begins.

Here is where GRACE enters in my understanding.  I can’t pull myself up by my bootstraps (not that I am wearing boots).  My faith is truly as small, or smaller than a mustard seed.  But Christ is the author and perfecter of my faith.  He is the author, the giver, of faith.  And He promises to perfect it. 

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

This book study is fantastic.  As a self loathing sinner, so often in the past I have found Biblical teaching a reason to increase that unrighteous self abuse.  But as is continually happening these days, true Biblical teaching is soaked in the knowledge that it is by grace we have been saved, through faith.  GRACE.  FAITH.

Fix our eyes on Jesus.

Through Christ, For Christ, By Christ. 
 

Exciting News!  A dear friend of mine, actually her family is dear friends with my family, has a new children’s book available for preorder this month! 

Please visit Allison Flannery’s website to learn all about this wonderful musical adventure In the Hall of the Mountain King.