How to Study the Bible.

Here is a wonderful quick tip about how to read the Bible if you've been reading it or if you've never read it (it's about a minute long audio) in this link by John MacArthur.  I hope to put it into practice and maybe you will too - I'm a slow reader so 7 chapters is a lot for me. Now just imagine reading your Bible on a warm southern california beach in the picture above!  Maybe 7 chapters wouldn't seem so long then -haha! I can't remember the name of this beach in SoCal - but I do remember it being too windy to actually enjoy it plus it was November, I digress... Here you go:

http://www.gty.org/resources/questions/QA54

Enjoy!

we offer what we have from the heart

But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. -Psalm 4:3-5

sick days

(photo from bigbackground.com.)

I have been sick for the last 8 days- my bed has seen the worse of it all.
Yesterday I thought I was feeling better and I decided to go to work, but throughout the day I knew that was a mistake. Needless to say I've been resting all day and really can not focus enough to write a post for this week. Hopefully by the end of this week (friday) I'll be able to post something.

Much Love!

-Tamara

Stuck

I'm stuck in two ways - Stuck inside because it's raining outside and stuck on a passage in 2 Samuel. I'll have to wait until Patrick comes home to help me figure that one out.

So after reading Samuel I went on to read, Disciplines of a Godly Woman, a book I got from the bookshop at our church. It really focuses on Scripture and bringing ourselves under what Scripture says. I'm only on the second chapter... did I mention I am a painfully slow reader.

I believe Christians tend to lose the importance of the Gospel in their hearts and their day-to-day living. Just like living with your spouse, after some time you just get "use" to their presence and slowly forget how much they mean to you. When they take a week long trip that's when you realize how much you miss and appreciate them. In a similar case I think we react to the scriptures that we've read or heard frequently into the "I know this one" category in our mind - whereas a new believer (as should we) finds the "wonder" in those scriptures that we take for granted.

The example given in this book is John 3:16. "For God . . . so loved . . . the world . . . that He . . . gave . . . His one . . . and only . . . Son . . . that whoever . . . believes . . . in him . . . shall not perish . . . but have eternal life." If your like me, I've memorized verse when I was younger and I tend to naturally want it to flow fast, but when I read it slowly and really let it soak in it really is an amazing thing being said!

So I hope today, that you and I will really take in what God's word is saying - and that we would see in Scripture what the Gospel is according to God's word (not a "gospel" according to our own ideas or opinions).

A Comparison

1 Samuel 27-31

I think we've all done it, you know, when you have an itching issue and you go to someone for advice. There is that one (or more than one) someone(s) that you always talk to. Sometimes Most of the time I can't even make it to my car without picking up my phone to call my sister/mom/husband.

Ring, Ring. "Hey Sis, what do you think about...."

Not that this is necessarily wrong, but it's also not the right first coarse of action. Instead, we should take David's example to heart and seek the Lord first before the council of others. In Chpt 23 when David saw that the Philistines were attacking the Jews in Keilah, He went to God and asked Him what he should do. So we should also go to God first. 

In contrast to this, Saul was always seeking the approval and guidance from man, and in Chpt 28  Saul even becomes desperate and seeks a witch so he could try and get in touch with Samuel (who died).  When he found out he (saul) would die with his sons the next day, this news made him so distraught and weak that he didn't get off the floor of this place for a long time. 

David, in Chpt 30, went to God before pursuing the Amelikites, and it says he built his strength upon God. 

In God alone can we find our strength - a strength that doesn't fail us. 

So this week, before you run to the aid of other's opinions/ approvals / support. Go to God. 

There is so much in these chapters and this is just a portion of what stood out to me as I face another opportunity in my life. I can only hope to be as steadfast in my devotion to God that I would seek Him first in all areas of my life. 

God Bless! 

Journey through the Bible

In this journey I am nearing the end of 1 Samuel. In all honesty there were days that I relied on myself and did not read the Word. The rest of those days most of my time had been taken up in surviving studying the Laws (in Leviticus-Deuteronomy) and another good slow pace in Judges - sometimes only getting through half a chapter. Now I find myself going through two chapters at once in Samuel. I'm sure everyone is different, but for me reading one or two chapters in Samuel at a time allows me to see the greater picture. 

This is where I am at: 

David has just fled "King" Saul and takes refuge in a cave. Chapters 20-22. Here in the beginning, 21:1-6, David takes bread from the priest, Ahimelech. This was referenced by Jesus in Mark 21:23-28 when He and the disciples picked grain on the Sabbath. 

The rest of Chapter 21-22 basically shows how David fears man. I for one can relate to this fear. "What will they think?"At least David's fears (death), are more reasonable than my own. 

Fear God: Hebrews 12:29 "For our God is a consuming fire". If we honestly believed this and had a godly fear for Him, then why do we find ourselves hiding in the shadows of man's opinions?  Though we shouldn't be purposefully offensive in conversation or living (Hebrews 12:14), we should still put Christ before man. 

Knowing this... God is good, He is great, He is all powerful and He is righteous. We fear Him knowing His righteousness and we fear Him knowing the grace He has given to us through Jesus. There is nothing we can do to ever be good enough to be completely righteous through our own means. We can only accept His grace through faith in Jesus (that's why it's grace!). The same God who can save me can also strengthen me.  

Today I pray for courage, increased faith, for a godly fear, and for understanding of His grace in my life. 

Will be back soon...

My husband is back! So I'll be taking a break, Still going through Joshua, just have to backtrack a bit. :)

Crossing the Jordan

I've been spending the couple of months contemplating, what seems to me, to be one of my  major life decisions. Unlike times in the past, where I'd make a choice and leave it up to some board to decide praying that God would either close or open the door, this time it's my choice. Oh how I loath choices! I'm the type of person that wants to be 100% sure about something. If I cant be I want to be at least 95% sure. (example: It took me 4 months, countless trips to various cities, hours looking online all to pick out one couch... I haven't even gotten started on the side tables/chairs!)  

So I'm glad I'm not Joshua, honestly I'm more like the Israelites, "God are you SURE?". 

Joshua (chapters 3-4) had the tribes follow after the Arc of the Covenant when it passed. It led them to the Jordan river - which the Bible says was flooding at that time- The priests took a step in the river with the Arc and the waters seized to flow. This made for an easy crossing into the promise land.  However, it wasn't an easy task God asked them to do (to follow and trust in Him in crossing into a new land via raging river). Sometimes our choices or lots in life aren't easy, in my case both sides of my decision will mean I have to trust in God and neither circumstance in the end will be an easy one.  Can we trust in God? Most certainly! Is it easy... NO! 

The Arc of the Covenant is our picture of the Lord, and Israel had to make the choice to follow Him. Just like we do, out of trust, obedience and prayer.  We make our decisions based off what Scripture says. We trust that the Lord will help us and guide and make sure our decisions align with God's word. 

Right now, I can see how both sides of my decision line up with God's word, more so in one way than the other... 


Oh Praise God that in my life I will always be learning to rely on God, Praise God that I am able to serve Him in my life here below for whatever time I have and in whatever place I am.

Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!

.... I'll try and be back to blogging tomorrow... 

A Different Kind of Beauty

What do we, as women, strive to be? Beautiful for the most part (or beautiful and brains if we could, hehe). Why else are our bathrooms cluttered with hair care, makeup, several types of equipment, etc? 

Rahab was beautiful... and if you're reading Joshua chapter 2 you'll notice she's smart too (hides the spies in her roof and plans ahead for their escape). 

But notice that in Hebrews 11 it mentions her for her faith. Not her beauty not her brains and definitely not by her good works (umm one word ... prostitute). Instead it was by her faith. She had faith that the Lord of the Israelites is the true God.  So the spies had her put a scarlet ribbon on her window so no one would harm her. Just like at the passover! 

But what is faith? 

Hebrews 11:1 states "Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." 

We all hope in things we dont quite understand or see; so we all have faith in a variety of things. Unfortunately, when we put our hope in other people or stability those things will fail us. If we put hope on ourselves we will fail ourselves (trying to do enough good works to get to heaven...)  Lots of people when they are first married put their hope and trust in their marriage partner and wind up disappointed that they didn't marry the perfect person. It may be even putting your hope on finding happiness in the things or job you want (I raise my hand to most all of these). 

The thing is, we need to put our faith (our hope and assurance) on the very fact that God sent Jesus to be our perfect redemption (our scarlet ribbon/ the blood that redeems us). 

My reminder for myself today is that when people fail me that I'll know that my hope is on Jesus, that my assurance is on His love and that I'd keep focused on the eternal aspect and not so much on my beauty, my brains (or lack thereof), my job or even my husband (love you babe!). So when those things fail me which they all will - I have the hope of eternity. 

I love you all! 

Back to Blogging and Courage.

Two Years Later.... 

                                   I took a long rest on this blog  (picture from our Hawaii trip)

I didn't believe too much would change without this blog, so I decided to ignored it and focus my time on other areas, mostly making new friends in Texas. 

Many changes occurred during the almost 2 years since I've last addressed this blog. We moved to California, I got a nursing job, we got another cat (to entertain the first monster cat), and we enjoyed the very little time we've had together with various travels.  It wasn't until recently that I began to think about this blog and wondering if I should put the time into it again. Though my work schedule is now fairly close to 12hr shifts x 5 days a week, somewhere in my crazy mind I began to think it was a good idea to write here again. So tonight, as I was planning on going to bed, I decided to log on and read through a few of my posts. One thing led to the other and I now find myself typing these very words! 

 Joshua:  Be Strong and Courageous 

I've begun a very slow journey through the Bible, beginning in Genesis and recently finishing Deuteronomy. I  strongly recommending a commentary for the Old Testament  - which I'm personally enjoying J. Vernon McGee's commentary- reading a chapter each day for several chapters then going back and reading through the commentary to help the information sink in. 

Joshua: Chapter 1

You know, I find reading a very difficult task for my ever-wondering mind, but when it comes to the Living Word (Hebrews 4:12), I find myself glued! Especially when it means entering into a new and exciting book... Joshua. 

vs 9. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

God commanded him to be strong and courageous. I cant imagine how overwhelming it would have been to be leading up after Moses. To lead a whole nation to a new land full of warriors ready to kill anyone who tried to take their land ... and, you know, trust that when you're telling everyone its going to be ok, that it really will be. Im sure that's why God kept reassuring Joshua to be strong and courageous, plus he needed to be for the sake of the Israelites. 

Trust in God. Obey His commandments. Be Strong and be Courageous! 

Everyday I have a wrenching gut feeling of going into work. I have no idea what will happen that day and the fear of not knowing enough, not being able to do enough, or not knowing what will happen really gets to me. Everyday I have to pray to God for His peace and strength - and trusting He will get me through.

If God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous, then we also need to trust in Him under our much more simplistic circumstances.

I hope you can take some encouragement from this, Joshua must have had fear going into this strange unknown.  We can place our trust in Him for our salvation - our strength - our joy - our everything. 

Be Content

 Contentment: a state of happiness and satisfaction

   

 This photo is from the gift shop I volunteer for at the local hospital. I have my R.N. but because I could not commit over a year, I am volunteering. After some time it becomes discouraging. I sit, jealously watching R.N.s walk to and from various places while I sell items from the gift shop. 

Philippians 4: A chapter I will blog on more than once. 

"Not that to speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength." 4:11-13

Paul was  in prison, his fate was unknown, he hungered and much more. However, he was content. Why? Because Christ gave him strength (vs 13)! 


Then, how much more should I be able to find contentment in my circumstances? I am well fed (probably overly so), well clothed, I have a home, a husband, a great family  and a cat. 


Lessons learned: my contentment comes from God and the fact that I have eternal life. I do this(volunteering) for Him Col 3:17. He gave me my license as an R.N. and it is His to have. Whenever I find myself wishing for that position or wondering why I am volunteering I remember that I am doing it for His glory. I also remember that He does know my frustrations but that with His strength I can learn to be content in this situation. 
Paul also says " I have learned" meaning this takes learning. I'm not perfect and definitely not content in every situation but with time and experience I can learn to be. I just have to press on and keep my eye on the goal, our finish line, which is being in heaven with God. 

What/Where do you find yourself lacking contentment?

Write down or just think about all the things God has blessed you with. Know that you can go to Him for strength everyday by reading His word and praying to Him. Don't forget to praise Him for all that He has given you. 

Just an extra photo of Milo today...