I love it when the Bible carries a theme from the Old Testament to the New Testament---and it is clear enough for me to see it! It is like a thread weaving them to together for me.
In Genesis 3:6, we read:
"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it."
There they are...the three aspects of temptation. We read about them again in I John 2:16, which says:
"For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world."
The three aspects are repeated again, although a little differently. We can definitely correlate them though.
"Good for food" would be "the lust of the flesh"....don't we just love to have some little delicacies that please our flesh? Maybe it is food, or maybe it is something else that our flesh loves...
"Pleasing to the eye" and "the lust of the eyes".....don't really need an explanation there, do I? I think of the children's song that says, "Be careful little eyes what you see..."
"Desirable for gaining wisdom" would be related to "the pride of life." We can we prideful creatures thinking that we are so wise that we can tell God what He should do in our lives, can't we? I know I am guilty of that. I think that my simple, earthly wisdom is right, when ultimately God knows what is best and He sees the full picture, unlike me. This is evident sometimes in my prayer requests. I "ask" God to help in a situation and then I give Him some pointers on how He could do that!! How arrogant am I? My wisdom is nothing compared to His. The quicker I remember that, the better off I am!
That's my thoughts on that passage. I'll be back soon with some more thoughts from Genesis. I'm starting to read through the Bible, beginning to end, again, so I will be writing on things that the Lord shows me this time through.
Have a wonderful day!!
~Amy
12 March 2011
02 March 2011
EPIC!!!
I've been giving this word more thought recently... What do you think about when you see (or hear) the word "epic"? You might think about current uses of the word, like, "That was epic!" when something is really awesome. Perhaps, "epic fail" comes to mind...that is a major failed attempt at something.
When I hear "epic," my mind always conjures up things like Beowulf (ugh!). Here is a typical quote from that epistle:
"Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble. This is no mere hanger-on in a hero's armour."
Also coming to my mind are more current "epics" like Braveheart and even the Narnia series. Some people enjoy these "epics," but I am NOT among them. What I say around my house is, "Epics are not my genre!" This quote gets me out of attending showings of these films that hold no interest to me. To me "epic" means long, drawn out, often bloody battle scenes. I just can't bear watching them. I find them on one end of the spectrum boring and the other end unsettling.
How does Webster define "epic"? It has several definitions, so here they are:
(1) an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero, (2) a literary or dramatic composition that resembles an epic (My thoughts interrupt here....aren't we defining "epic"? So why is "epic" part of the definition??? Anyway...) (3) a series of events considered appropriate to an epic (There they go again!)
Well, that didn't help me much, how about you? As I have been pondering this for the last few days, I have come to a realization. It has been shocking for me though. Each of our lives could be seen as an "epic"!!! What??? My life is now the genre that I can't stand??? In a word, yes. Maybe that is why I am finding life challenging right now.
When you really look at epics, the main theme seems to be good versus evil, thus all the battles. Each of us are surrounded by that battle daily, but we especially notice it when we become Christians and begin to grow in our relationship with Jesus. We notice because not only is the battle going on around us...we are now engaged in that battle. I think that is why I have finally come to this new realization. My life has many battles right now, and I am becoming fatigued. I find myself almost daily calling for back-up from my My Lord and Savior, Jesus. He will have the final victory, but I'm praying that He will continue to help me through each of my daily battles, too.
Scripture comes to mind... Ephesians 6:12 says:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Lord, help me to remember that even though there are actual flesh and blood people confronting me, it is really the forces of the Evil One (Satan) that I need to be battling. That is truly the epic battle of life--the ultimate Good (Jesus) versus evil (Satan) battle. Sometimes I think I am doing okay with it, then Satan takes a cheap shot at me...and sometimes he lands that shot in a very painful place. I must call on my Savior to help me get back up and stay in the battle. With Jesus in my corner, I, too, will be a victor!!!
Here is a large chunk of Scripture from Ephesians 6 that helps us know how to continue on with our personal EPICS!!
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Standing strong in my EPIC life!!!
~Amy
When I hear "epic," my mind always conjures up things like Beowulf (ugh!). Here is a typical quote from that epistle:
"Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble. This is no mere hanger-on in a hero's armour."
Also coming to my mind are more current "epics" like Braveheart and even the Narnia series. Some people enjoy these "epics," but I am NOT among them. What I say around my house is, "Epics are not my genre!" This quote gets me out of attending showings of these films that hold no interest to me. To me "epic" means long, drawn out, often bloody battle scenes. I just can't bear watching them. I find them on one end of the spectrum boring and the other end unsettling.
How does Webster define "epic"? It has several definitions, so here they are:
(1) an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero, (2) a literary or dramatic composition that resembles an epic (My thoughts interrupt here....aren't we defining "epic"? So why is "epic" part of the definition??? Anyway...) (3) a series of events considered appropriate to an epic (There they go again!)
Well, that didn't help me much, how about you? As I have been pondering this for the last few days, I have come to a realization. It has been shocking for me though. Each of our lives could be seen as an "epic"!!! What??? My life is now the genre that I can't stand??? In a word, yes. Maybe that is why I am finding life challenging right now.
When you really look at epics, the main theme seems to be good versus evil, thus all the battles. Each of us are surrounded by that battle daily, but we especially notice it when we become Christians and begin to grow in our relationship with Jesus. We notice because not only is the battle going on around us...we are now engaged in that battle. I think that is why I have finally come to this new realization. My life has many battles right now, and I am becoming fatigued. I find myself almost daily calling for back-up from my My Lord and Savior, Jesus. He will have the final victory, but I'm praying that He will continue to help me through each of my daily battles, too.
Scripture comes to mind... Ephesians 6:12 says:
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Lord, help me to remember that even though there are actual flesh and blood people confronting me, it is really the forces of the Evil One (Satan) that I need to be battling. That is truly the epic battle of life--the ultimate Good (Jesus) versus evil (Satan) battle. Sometimes I think I am doing okay with it, then Satan takes a cheap shot at me...and sometimes he lands that shot in a very painful place. I must call on my Savior to help me get back up and stay in the battle. With Jesus in my corner, I, too, will be a victor!!!
Here is a large chunk of Scripture from Ephesians 6 that helps us know how to continue on with our personal EPICS!!
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Standing strong in my EPIC life!!!
~Amy
24 February 2011
Good afternoon...
I almost put "Good Morning" because it just seems that this day, like many others, is flying by! But that might be part of my thoughts for another day.
Today, I wanted to say hello to anyone out there who might stumble across my blog. It has been quite a process just to find the right name for my blog. I know you are probably thinking to yourself...."'Memoirs of Amy' doesn't seem that complicated to me." And that is a true statement. It took me a month to finally secure this blog name might be a more accurate statement. I tried thousands---well in reality, probably only a couple dozen, but it seemed like thousands---of blog names before I found one that someone else had not taken. I almost put "that someone else was using," but that would have been a bit misleading. I guess the years from 2000 to 2005 were a big time to start a blog. I searched many possible blog names, but almost all (except this one, of course) were blogs started in those years and most had only one to two posts TOTAL!!! Did those people forget that they started a blog? Did they forget their user name and password so they never posted again? Or maybe some of them have even passed away... Whatever the reason for all of those unused blogs, I just wonder...Isn't there some way to get rid of those old blogs that no one is using to free up all those great blog names that I searched??? But, alas, I think the answer to that question is no. I've heard that once something is out there on the Internet, it is there forever.
You might have noticed that I already had a couple of blog postings before this one in which I introduce myself. Turns out I have another blog. I used to sell Stampin' Up! rubber stamps and crafting products. I started my other blog to share my creative endeavors. I am no longer a demonstrator for SU! products, but I am still an avid crafter....although my time is limited with 3 teenage girls (which makes me a taxi driver most days!). So on my stamping blog, I had started to post some of my thoughts from my Bible reading and study. I got the bright idea to start a second blog with those things on it and save the first blog for crafting stuff. With this blog finally established, I moved a couple of posts from my other blog. Now, let's just pray that I do not become one of those statistics that I mentioned earlier who start a blog, post twice and then are seemingly lost forever!!
Now, introductions are in order. My name is Amy (obviously). I am married and have 3 teenage daughters (okay, the youngest is days away from 13, so I am rounding up!) I live in the mountains of Virginia, although I did not grow up here. I have been a Christian for 11 years. I am striving to do more Bible reading and study, and I really need to journal my thoughts. That is part of the reason for this blog, but I am certain I won't put all of my thoughts out here in cyberland for all to read! I have been trying to keep an actual journal for years, but for the most part that has been random. I might scour those journals (yes, that is plural on purpose---I started lots of times, therefore lots of journals!) to find tidbits from the past to include here.
I am not sure who if anyone will ever find this and start reading. But if you are out there reading this...WELCOME!!
My thoughts for today are about 2 Kings 25:9. I am studying this section from Sunday School this week. Verse 9 is talking about a man named Nebuzaradan who was a commander under Nebuchadnezzar. The verse says:
"He burned the Lord's temple, the king's palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem; he burned down all the great houses."
The part of this that really struck me was in the study guide. It said, "To watch the temple disappear in flames likely would have signified to the people of Judah that God's presence had departed."
It makes me wonder, were these people so holy and spiritual that they would have stood around lamenting that "the presence of the Lord has departed from us." Or maybe they would have been more like most of us. We would see the beautiful, historic building burning, and although we are saddened by the loss of it, most of us have forgotten the significance of that old building in the first place. It might seem a sad statement on society these days, but I somehow think that people are people....always have been, always will be. Maybe it wasn't until later, in retrospect, that people came to realize the signifance of what they witnessed. Maybe the realities of what had taken place came to them bit by bit. I'm not sure. I just hope that they are more like me, I guess. I do pray however that my spiritual eyes will be opened to at last see glimpses of God in the daily events surrounding me. And maybe sometimes I will be able to grasp the major signifance of an event!
Have a blessed day wherever you are!!
~Amy
Today, I wanted to say hello to anyone out there who might stumble across my blog. It has been quite a process just to find the right name for my blog. I know you are probably thinking to yourself...."'Memoirs of Amy' doesn't seem that complicated to me." And that is a true statement. It took me a month to finally secure this blog name might be a more accurate statement. I tried thousands---well in reality, probably only a couple dozen, but it seemed like thousands---of blog names before I found one that someone else had not taken. I almost put "that someone else was using," but that would have been a bit misleading. I guess the years from 2000 to 2005 were a big time to start a blog. I searched many possible blog names, but almost all (except this one, of course) were blogs started in those years and most had only one to two posts TOTAL!!! Did those people forget that they started a blog? Did they forget their user name and password so they never posted again? Or maybe some of them have even passed away... Whatever the reason for all of those unused blogs, I just wonder...Isn't there some way to get rid of those old blogs that no one is using to free up all those great blog names that I searched??? But, alas, I think the answer to that question is no. I've heard that once something is out there on the Internet, it is there forever.
You might have noticed that I already had a couple of blog postings before this one in which I introduce myself. Turns out I have another blog. I used to sell Stampin' Up! rubber stamps and crafting products. I started my other blog to share my creative endeavors. I am no longer a demonstrator for SU! products, but I am still an avid crafter....although my time is limited with 3 teenage girls (which makes me a taxi driver most days!). So on my stamping blog, I had started to post some of my thoughts from my Bible reading and study. I got the bright idea to start a second blog with those things on it and save the first blog for crafting stuff. With this blog finally established, I moved a couple of posts from my other blog. Now, let's just pray that I do not become one of those statistics that I mentioned earlier who start a blog, post twice and then are seemingly lost forever!!
Now, introductions are in order. My name is Amy (obviously). I am married and have 3 teenage daughters (okay, the youngest is days away from 13, so I am rounding up!) I live in the mountains of Virginia, although I did not grow up here. I have been a Christian for 11 years. I am striving to do more Bible reading and study, and I really need to journal my thoughts. That is part of the reason for this blog, but I am certain I won't put all of my thoughts out here in cyberland for all to read! I have been trying to keep an actual journal for years, but for the most part that has been random. I might scour those journals (yes, that is plural on purpose---I started lots of times, therefore lots of journals!) to find tidbits from the past to include here.
I am not sure who if anyone will ever find this and start reading. But if you are out there reading this...WELCOME!!
My thoughts for today are about 2 Kings 25:9. I am studying this section from Sunday School this week. Verse 9 is talking about a man named Nebuzaradan who was a commander under Nebuchadnezzar. The verse says:
"He burned the Lord's temple, the king's palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem; he burned down all the great houses."
The part of this that really struck me was in the study guide. It said, "To watch the temple disappear in flames likely would have signified to the people of Judah that God's presence had departed."
It makes me wonder, were these people so holy and spiritual that they would have stood around lamenting that "the presence of the Lord has departed from us." Or maybe they would have been more like most of us. We would see the beautiful, historic building burning, and although we are saddened by the loss of it, most of us have forgotten the significance of that old building in the first place. It might seem a sad statement on society these days, but I somehow think that people are people....always have been, always will be. Maybe it wasn't until later, in retrospect, that people came to realize the signifance of what they witnessed. Maybe the realities of what had taken place came to them bit by bit. I'm not sure. I just hope that they are more like me, I guess. I do pray however that my spiritual eyes will be opened to at last see glimpses of God in the daily events surrounding me. And maybe sometimes I will be able to grasp the major signifance of an event!
Have a blessed day wherever you are!!
~Amy
17 February 2011
Psalm 119:105
I was coming in from picking Emily up from work on Sunday night and just thought this lamp was so picturesque with the tree limbs behind it. It made me think of Psalm 119:105. As I ponder more about it, life can be just like this. Sometimes it is very dark and I can barely see anything around me. The light helps me to see, but only for a short distance. God will light our feet and our path before us, but He only uses a lamp not a floodlight. We can sometimes only see the next step we are to take. For all we know there could be dangers all around, but we only see that one step and should not try to move out of that light that our Father provides for us. God paces our steps in order for us to avoid many of those dangers, I believe. When we rush ahead without waiting on God's timing or when we try to veer off the lit course He has made for us, that is when we run into trouble. May we each strive to follow the steps that God lights for us as we sojourn here on earth. May we not run ahead, lag behind or veer from the designated path. May we learn the lessons that God has for us on that path. There will be pain and heartache along the way, but it is still a safer and more rewarding path than the one without God with us!!
Blessings to you,
~Amy
Isaiah 43
That is the theme of this past week---Isaiah 43. It seems like every time I read something this past week, it referenced that chapter of the Bible. I knew that I needed to read the whole chapter myself since I kept being reminded of it. That chapter is special to me from past promises and gave me new promises.
In 2006, when the Lord told me to go to India on a mission trip, I really was not excited about it. Who would be? I mean I had heard of the unsanitary conditions, the lack of sleep that people got on these trips, and most recently I had heard of the water. You see, two of my pastors had just been to India in August, the rainy season. There was so much flooding in the slum area of Bombay (a.k.a., Mumbai) that my pastors had to take off their shoes and socks, roll up their pants legs and wade through water that was a foot deep and so murky that they had no idea where they were stepping. But they had to do it in order to see the precious orphan children that our church cares for. And when I went on my trip in January of 2007, we would be visiting all the children, too, even the ones at the same home that my pastors waded through the water to get to. All I could picture after that was walking through that murky water. What if I stepped on something sharp and cut my foot, only to get a severe infection or something worse? What if there were snakes in that water? The "What ifs" went on and on, and I just couldn't seem to stop thinking about them. I prayed about it because I was very uneasy.
The Lord heard my prayers and gave me an answer!! I love it when the answer to a prayer comes quickly. Then I am able to remember that I am precious to my Father (I am Daddy's baby girl!). Of course, as a side note, I must say that I am always precious to my Father even when the answers to my prayers are delayed or come in a different form than expected! Back to my story... the Lord lead me to Isaiah 43:2 which says,
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
And when you pass through the rivers,
They will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
You will not be burned;
The flames will not set you ablaze.
Amazing!!! Right there in God's word, He had an answer prepared for me long before I was even born!! I tried to focus on the water part though, since fire was mentioned. I hadn't even thought of fire... But I digress.... From that point on, I began to get excited about my trip to India.
I do want to make sure that you notice though that it says "when you pass through the waters." It doesn't say IF you do, but WHEN you do. That is a great reminder for all of life. We will pass through water and fire in this life, maybe not literally, but at least figuratively. We need to remember during those times when we feel that we are drowning or burning up that our Daddy, who loves us so much, is right there with us!! There will never be a trial that comes that God says to us, "Sweetie, you are on your own with this one!" Instead He will walk through the trials with us, carrying us when we are too weak to walk ourselves.
What a wonderful reminder that was from my past. A time when God showed me that He heard my prayers and He loves me enough to stick with me in the difficult times as well as the good times. You can't rely on mere human beings to do that for you!
But as I read on in that Isaiah 43, I came to verses 18-19. This part of the chapter served as my new encouragement for the season that I am in right now. It says:
Forget the former things;
Do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
Hallelujah and Thank You, Jesus!! Does anyone besides me need a "new thing"? I have been struggling in this same place for so long that I feel like it will be my home forever. But God told me this week that He is doing a new thing!!! Have I not perceived it yet? Maybe I have been too busy dwelling on the former things... But I have been instructed to forget that stuff. Of course, we cannot truly forget (unless we get amnesia), but really what God wants is for us to not let the mistakes and problems from our past to define who we are forever. First Corinthians 5:17 clearly tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" I believe that the old is going and the new is coming continually. It is a process of being "conformed into the likeness of His Son (Jesus)." (Romans 8:29) Lord, thank you for giving me the hope of "a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Now help me to truly "forget the former things" and not dwell on them!
So there it is! Remembering God's faithful promises from the past and seeing that current promise of a "new thing!" Lord, may I begin to perceive it and wait expectantly on You to fulfill Your promises to me!!
Blessings to you,
~Amy
In 2006, when the Lord told me to go to India on a mission trip, I really was not excited about it. Who would be? I mean I had heard of the unsanitary conditions, the lack of sleep that people got on these trips, and most recently I had heard of the water. You see, two of my pastors had just been to India in August, the rainy season. There was so much flooding in the slum area of Bombay (a.k.a., Mumbai) that my pastors had to take off their shoes and socks, roll up their pants legs and wade through water that was a foot deep and so murky that they had no idea where they were stepping. But they had to do it in order to see the precious orphan children that our church cares for. And when I went on my trip in January of 2007, we would be visiting all the children, too, even the ones at the same home that my pastors waded through the water to get to. All I could picture after that was walking through that murky water. What if I stepped on something sharp and cut my foot, only to get a severe infection or something worse? What if there were snakes in that water? The "What ifs" went on and on, and I just couldn't seem to stop thinking about them. I prayed about it because I was very uneasy.
The Lord heard my prayers and gave me an answer!! I love it when the answer to a prayer comes quickly. Then I am able to remember that I am precious to my Father (I am Daddy's baby girl!). Of course, as a side note, I must say that I am always precious to my Father even when the answers to my prayers are delayed or come in a different form than expected! Back to my story... the Lord lead me to Isaiah 43:2 which says,
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
And when you pass through the rivers,
They will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
You will not be burned;
The flames will not set you ablaze.
Amazing!!! Right there in God's word, He had an answer prepared for me long before I was even born!! I tried to focus on the water part though, since fire was mentioned. I hadn't even thought of fire... But I digress.... From that point on, I began to get excited about my trip to India.
I do want to make sure that you notice though that it says "when you pass through the waters." It doesn't say IF you do, but WHEN you do. That is a great reminder for all of life. We will pass through water and fire in this life, maybe not literally, but at least figuratively. We need to remember during those times when we feel that we are drowning or burning up that our Daddy, who loves us so much, is right there with us!! There will never be a trial that comes that God says to us, "Sweetie, you are on your own with this one!" Instead He will walk through the trials with us, carrying us when we are too weak to walk ourselves.
What a wonderful reminder that was from my past. A time when God showed me that He heard my prayers and He loves me enough to stick with me in the difficult times as well as the good times. You can't rely on mere human beings to do that for you!
But as I read on in that Isaiah 43, I came to verses 18-19. This part of the chapter served as my new encouragement for the season that I am in right now. It says:
Forget the former things;
Do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
Hallelujah and Thank You, Jesus!! Does anyone besides me need a "new thing"? I have been struggling in this same place for so long that I feel like it will be my home forever. But God told me this week that He is doing a new thing!!! Have I not perceived it yet? Maybe I have been too busy dwelling on the former things... But I have been instructed to forget that stuff. Of course, we cannot truly forget (unless we get amnesia), but really what God wants is for us to not let the mistakes and problems from our past to define who we are forever. First Corinthians 5:17 clearly tells us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" I believe that the old is going and the new is coming continually. It is a process of being "conformed into the likeness of His Son (Jesus)." (Romans 8:29) Lord, thank you for giving me the hope of "a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Now help me to truly "forget the former things" and not dwell on them!
So there it is! Remembering God's faithful promises from the past and seeing that current promise of a "new thing!" Lord, may I begin to perceive it and wait expectantly on You to fulfill Your promises to me!!
Blessings to you,
~Amy
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