Timeline of Bible History

Here is a great tool for anyone who wants to know a little more about how we got our Bible....treasure it for all those who sacrificed to make it so, especially Jesus who died to give us the reason for it!

Passion for the Word of God

1 Corinthians 13.....love bears all....endures all...

From my journal after my husband admitted his adultery....years ago I wrote this:

"Because I have something to bear and am enduring hard - I've realized the depth of my love. The object of my love is causing me to bear much. If I didn't love - it wouldn't have affected me but I also would not have needed to bear anything....we bear whatever we need to bear when we love"

I will repeat it again..."we bear whatever we need to bear, when we love."

I went on to write: "I'm realizing - God has called me to walk this path - He must be doing something and teaching me something. I'm sure it will be worth the pain - but it still is pain."

The Gospel, Are We Sharing It?

In Matthew 28 Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." Then in Acts, just before Jesus ascended to heaven His final message was to be witnesses everywhere.

My question is how are we doing with this? How is the Church doing? How are you doing as an individual? I know I love sharing the gospel (the message of Christ)but each time I meet with the Father, I hear His still small voice telling me that the gospel message is what life needs to be about and I am not doing it enough.

When Jesus left this earth, he charged us with passing the message along. This is not something to be taken lightly, he commanded it. That means if we are not making disciples at all we are living in sin. Yet it seems we don't give it much thought as we rush around in our busy lives.

I'm reminded of when my husband and I went to China. We lived normal lives as students, but our life there was about building relationships with the intention of sharing Christ and then making disciples out of those who believed. (Note: not just making sure people know and believe the truth, but teaching them how to walk with Christ). Just because I am living in America now does not mean I should do away with that missionary mindset. Whether I am a full-time missionary or not, my life should reflect obedience to Christ's last command.

The time on earth is short and we must be about our Father's will...sharing Christ with those who don't know. People won't come to faith in Christ only by watching us live, they also need to hear the message. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."

My prayer is that if you read this, you will seek the Lord honestly and ask of yourself how you are obeying His last command. Have you forgotten about it? Do you leave it to others? Become intentional with the good news of Jesus Christ!

If you have children, you have your first people to make disciples of right in your own home.

That Nasty Thing Called Pride

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
James 4:10 Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Those two verses have a deeper meaning to me today. I have just been reading about Haman and Esther and the terrible time Haman had with his pride, trying to put himself in the position of king. A thought hit me and made me realize not only that pride is sin, or the pride is not wise or profitable, but actually how stupid pride is.

Why will we fall when pride comes?

Because we set ourselves up, only by our strength can we try to keep from falling. When God sets us up through humility - nothing can push us over to cause us to fall because His hands are holding us in place.

It is a beautiful picture of God just wanting the best and safest thing for us. I would rather be humble in the palm of HIS hands and He can do what He wants with me, than to be without His hands walking towards a cliff with my eyes shut, sure to fall. Now that is stupid.