first, i've learned that my way isn't always God's way. this seems like such a small concept to grasp, but it's huge if you get it. there are some things that i just know are what i want and when it doesn't work out how i want them to, i automatically assume that God just doesn't want me to have what i want. that's so not true! i've had to keep reminding myself lately that God has my best interest in mind and that His plan for me is ten times better than the plan i have for myself.
secondly, i know i say this a lot, but my all time favorite verses in the Bible are Philippians 4: 6-7. they are just so great in that they always give me a huge sigh of relief whenever i'm feeling stressed or overwhelmed (which is most of the time). there's such huge truth in just these 2 little verses. my favorite part is when Paul says, "...the peace of God, which transcends ALL understanding..." this verse reminds me to turn my worries to prayers and to trust Him to take away all my feelings of anxiousness. these verses have helped me feel a lot less stressed as i've began to do work again and figure out a whole new schedule and what i want to do with the rest of my life. it's all in God's hands, not mine...thank goodness!
lastly, i've been thinking a lot about the verse we had to memorize this week for YL leadership training. when i first read it i was sort of confused as to why we had to memorize it. so i decided to read the whole story and figure out why we had to know Acts 4:13. this is what i discovered... (might be helpful to read it here first)
brief synopsis:
-Peter and John "teaching the people" and proclaiming Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
-Sadducees= members of small, but powerful, Jewish religious sect that did not believe in the resurrection of the dead and some helped carry out Jesus's death/plan it.
- Sadducees heard Peter and John proclaiming Jesus' resurrection and so they were arrested and sent to the slammer for the night.
- the next morning the Jewish council hears their case and asks them, "By what power or what name did you do this?" and they respond by showing them that Jesus, whom they had crucified, had risen again
- then comes the verse I had to memorize... "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (i'll come back to this in just a second)
- the council discusses what to do with these men and decide that this needs to be stopped from spreading any further and that these men need to not speak to anyone in Jesus' name
- then the best part comes...Peter and John come back in and the council tells them to stop talking/teaching in the name of Jesus and P & J say, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen or heard." BAM! take that Jewish council. i just love that part so much!
- Peter and John end up being released because the council can't decide how to punish them because everyone was praising God for what had happened!
after studying these awesome verses here is what i think the Lord was trying to teach/remind me:
1. Peter and John took a huge risk when they started proclaiming Jesus' resurrection to people. i think in order to win our friends to Christ we must take risks. it may seem scary and a little intimidating, but i think the Lord will honor our willingness to share the gospel with others. in Peter and John's case 5,000 men came to know Jesus because of the risk they took that ended them up in jail. 5,000 men is a lot! but even if it was just one person they won over, do you think they would've been as willing to go to the slammer for a night? taking risks in my faith is something i want to really work on. my Bible says, "Whatever the risks, realize that nothing done for God is ever wasted." be risky this week :)
2. i mentioned i would come back to verse 13 later and this is why i believe i had to memorize it. i think that it's so important to realize that Peter and John were "unschooled, ordinary men" who were proclaiming the good news. unschooled and ordinary. no experience needed. no training needed. all that was needed was the Holy Spirit in them. i think that's awesome. sometimes your testimony is the best tool to share the gospel with others.
3. i want zeal for the Lord that's so strong that I can't keep quiet, even when threatened. i want to be bold, just like Peter and John. verse 20 says, "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." that's exactly what i want. i want to be so on fire for the Lord that i just can't keep it in and have to share it with everyone!
i'm so sorry this post was extremely long. but hopefully you were able to relate to what God's been teaching me this week. remember to take risks, be unschooled and ordinary, and have zeal for the Lord that's so strong you can't keep quiet. hope you're having a fabulous week so far! :)
xoxo,
erin with a p and a double r
lastly, i've been thinking a lot about the verse we had to memorize this week for YL leadership training. when i first read it i was sort of confused as to why we had to memorize it. so i decided to read the whole story and figure out why we had to know Acts 4:13. this is what i discovered... (might be helpful to read it here first)
brief synopsis:
-Peter and John "teaching the people" and proclaiming Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
-Sadducees= members of small, but powerful, Jewish religious sect that did not believe in the resurrection of the dead and some helped carry out Jesus's death/plan it.
- Sadducees heard Peter and John proclaiming Jesus' resurrection and so they were arrested and sent to the slammer for the night.
- the next morning the Jewish council hears their case and asks them, "By what power or what name did you do this?" and they respond by showing them that Jesus, whom they had crucified, had risen again
- then comes the verse I had to memorize... "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (i'll come back to this in just a second)
- the council discusses what to do with these men and decide that this needs to be stopped from spreading any further and that these men need to not speak to anyone in Jesus' name
- then the best part comes...Peter and John come back in and the council tells them to stop talking/teaching in the name of Jesus and P & J say, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen or heard." BAM! take that Jewish council. i just love that part so much!
- Peter and John end up being released because the council can't decide how to punish them because everyone was praising God for what had happened!
after studying these awesome verses here is what i think the Lord was trying to teach/remind me:
1. Peter and John took a huge risk when they started proclaiming Jesus' resurrection to people. i think in order to win our friends to Christ we must take risks. it may seem scary and a little intimidating, but i think the Lord will honor our willingness to share the gospel with others. in Peter and John's case 5,000 men came to know Jesus because of the risk they took that ended them up in jail. 5,000 men is a lot! but even if it was just one person they won over, do you think they would've been as willing to go to the slammer for a night? taking risks in my faith is something i want to really work on. my Bible says, "Whatever the risks, realize that nothing done for God is ever wasted." be risky this week :)
2. i mentioned i would come back to verse 13 later and this is why i believe i had to memorize it. i think that it's so important to realize that Peter and John were "unschooled, ordinary men" who were proclaiming the good news. unschooled and ordinary. no experience needed. no training needed. all that was needed was the Holy Spirit in them. i think that's awesome. sometimes your testimony is the best tool to share the gospel with others.
3. i want zeal for the Lord that's so strong that I can't keep quiet, even when threatened. i want to be bold, just like Peter and John. verse 20 says, "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." that's exactly what i want. i want to be so on fire for the Lord that i just can't keep it in and have to share it with everyone!
i'm so sorry this post was extremely long. but hopefully you were able to relate to what God's been teaching me this week. remember to take risks, be unschooled and ordinary, and have zeal for the Lord that's so strong you can't keep quiet. hope you're having a fabulous week so far! :)
xoxo,
erin with a p and a double r
Perrin this was an awesome post, and so refreshing for me to read today...i needed to hear the part about trusting God's way rather than our own. Sounds like you are doing great at JMU...Love you!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh this was great! since i got back from Passion it's been in my mind to be risky for jesus. the thing is HOW do i be risky for jesus? ugh it's so hard but you're post was an encouragement! gracias amiga
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post.....well, maybe except for the first sentence. I'm glad that the Lord is teaching you new and wonderful things and He, through you, has taught me much as well. Love you!
ReplyDeleteThis was great! Don't be too busy doing "good" things and not doing the best thing; being at His feet.
ReplyDelete