Thoughtful Thursday...er...Friday--Our God doesn't change

Or miss a deadline He made for Himself.

Ahem.

What I've been reading this week really answered my main questions about Prayer. "Does prayer really make a difference? Can I make God change His mind? Why pray if it doesn't change anything?"
  
The chapter I read is titled, "Sovereign: Does prayer change God's mind?". The author uses the example of when Moses intercedes for the Israelites and it appears that God 'repents'.

"And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.”

But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people." Exodus 32:9-14



Read the story and it does sound like Moses had a lot of influence with the God of the universe. It's kinda scary. Just imagine, that if someone had enough faith, they would be able to stop God from doing something? Or make Him do something?

I never want to be able to do that with my prayers. I don't know what is the ultimate best for me. I can try to make wise decisions. But only someone who is omniscient (all-knowing) would know what the best course is.

The author goes on to say that he believes this is one of several examples of the Bible-writers using human figures of speech to try to describe God. One example being that God is a Spirit, but is said to have a hand, mouth, arm, heart and breath, all in Isaiah 40.

We see in the following verses...


God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19


And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” 1 Samuel 15:29


...that God does not change His mind, like a man.
So where does this leave us?

In "Drive-by Theology" with Todd Friel and Pastor R W Glenn, the topic of God's unchangeability  came up. I was very interested to hear how they explained it. 'Pastor Smarty-pants' (R W Glenn) shared his belief that God's nature does not change. Which leaves room for Him to change His mind, technically. Sounds alright. But we do have the two verses above saying that He doesn't even change His mind. So...

I'm sure I could study this for a very long time and not get to the bottom of it. It's one of those things like the Trinity and election/freewill. I'm not going to break my head over it.

God is omniscient (All-knowing), omnipotent (All-powerful), and sovereign (in control) over all things. Including our prayers. Could it be that, along with the decisions we make, the actions we take, our prayers are even directed by God? I like to say yes. If he is indeed sovereign, we do nothing apart from His directing it. Even our next heartbeat, our next blink is caused by Him. I know it's hard to believe that God causes all things when we think of all the bad things that happen in the world. I don't claim to like it or understand it. But I do take great comfort in the fact that Someone has control and that Someone is Good.

So what were the answers to my questions?

Does prayer really make a difference?
Prayer does make a difference. Even if I don't know how.

Can I make God change His mind?
No, I can't make God change His mind. And that's a good thing.

Why pray if it doesn't change anything?
Because God uses my prayers to make a difference in me.

I'm satisfied with those answers for now. And I'm experiencing a better prayer life because of it. : )

Fail Friday, indeed

Continuing with that theme...I didn't pass my road test. : (

He got me for going too fast and my lane usage. Things I know not to do, but I guess with my nerves, I just  didn't think. My nerves always made me play too fast for piano recitals too.

But!

It wasn't as involved as I thought it would be (I'd rather do the road test than the written test) and I get to practice for 2 weeks and ace it on the 8th of July : )

Thanks for your prayers...The man who did the test was very nice and didn't add to my nerves. And we stayed safe on the road. So, even though I'm disappointed with myself (I knew better!), I am excited for a second (and last) try.

Got the tire fixed, by the way.

Fail Friday

Yeah, so I missed Thoughtful Thursday. I have something in the works and I hope to get it published today. More about Prayer.

It's been a busy week and today is a little wacky...My appointment for a driving test is at 2 today and Mom discovered one of our tires was as flat as could be when she went to leave for the grocery store this morning. Daddy came and got it and hopefully will be able to get it fixed. 

Will get back to you.

This is War - Paul Washer

This is hard-hitting, but so, so needed.

Please listen to the whole thing. I was very challenged.

Thoughtful Thursday--The God Who Hears

Mom read the post I wrote last week and gave me a book to read. It was recommended to her when she was a new believer and was trying to understand more about prayer. The title is "The God Who Hears" and it was written by W. Bingham Hunter. I don't know anything about him, so if any of you know for sure that he is a heretic, let me know. So far, it's all been kosher.

I've only had time to read the first three chapters, but already have had some questions answered. And truly, like so many other things about God, we won't fully understand prayer in this life. But we can try.

This isn't a review about the book, but I must say I love how the author is approaching the concept of prayer. He is making the case that you must have a proper understanding of God before you can understand how to pray properly.

First, he talks about the Holiness of God. The Holiness of God is often symbolized as light. 

God is Light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

God the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom on one has seen or can see... 1 Timothy 6:15-16

Our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29

If God's Holiness is light, just imagine what it does when it comes near us; it reveals our nastiness.

Darkness cannot comprehend light. 

The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome[understood, comprehended] it. John 1:5 (The Light being Christ)

Also, when the Light comes, darkness must flee. Hallelujah!

The author goes on to say that our idea of holiness, the culture's idea, is a negative one. Being Holy is viewed as not doing wrong, or not having fun, not enjoying anything. I know that's the first thing that pops in my head still when I hear the term 'holy'. I'm still working on that Biblical Worldview.

But that's not what holiness is. Holiness does mean "to be separate", but to be separate from evil and separate to good. When we are saved, our sin is removed from us, but God's holiness is also imputed to us. We take off the sinful robe of our father Adam and are given Christ's holiness to put on instead.

Holiness is not a lack of activity; it is living set apart to God.

It is when we begin to have a better, more biblical understanding of God's holiness, which we have been given (if we have been redeemed), that we understand 

how to approach Him, 

our position in relation to Him 

and our need for repentance and forgiveness.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17

I think I'd like to continue with what I'm reading over the next few Thursday's, so stay tuned.

Thoughtful Thursday-Prayer

Okay, so here it is 'Thoughtful Thursday' once again.

Well, this week I've been thinking a lot about prayer. What it is, how it's done and why it should be done.

It's always been hard for me to understand. I can remember thinking, "What good is prayer anyway, if God is sovereign and will do what He will do no matter?" But I know God wants us to be in communion with Him. That's what prayer is. The Bible tells us to "pray without ceasing". Must be pretty important. I've heard it attributed to C.S. Lewis, the saying, "Prayer doesn't change God, it changes us." But if we keep just asking God for things, how does this change us? That made me realize that prayer must be done along with a regular diet of bible-reading. We read the Bible to better understand God's heart and ways, and then we will know better how to pray.

I still have many questions and want to do more research before I write much about it. So, I shall do that this week, and hopefully be ready to share my conclusions by next 'Thoughtful Thursday'.

Any comments?

Thoughtful Thursday--The philosophy of jogging

Yep. Jogging.  Of which I've gained much experience in the last couple of months.

When we're not struggling up a hill, mom and I can get somewhat philosophical as we endure our daily exercise.

Just the other day, mom made the statement, "If you think about it, jogging is a lot like life. If I think about how much farther I have to go, how many more hills we have to climb, or how many more minutes there are left, it is easy to get overwhelmed. But if I focus on the task at hand, taking the next step, I can handle it."

That surely rang true with me, as we were not yet halfway through our jog and the near-noon-day sun was beating down on us.

I thought about my own life. About my future. Doing so always presses my panic button.

Why?

I guess it's because I'm too quick to think of all the possibilities for disappointment and hardship. I don't know why I do that. It's not like I've had more than my share of hard times and trauma. But, then again, the media certainly isn't painting a pretty picture.

But then I'm reminded to look at the other side of the coin. To think about all the possibilities for much good and much growth. To remember that I'm safely in God's Hands.

I guess the area that causes me the most anxiety is marriage. "Will I get married? Will I never marry?" Honestly, I never thought I'd be 26 and unmarried. I thought I would have one or two children by now. Lot's of people do by 26.

I came close to marriage when I was 21. I remember thinking, "Well, this timeline works." Turns out, nothing else did. It was a disaster. It was scary and painful, and God did a miraculous work to derail that train. I learned a lot about God's sovereignty through that experience.

Thank you Jesus!

That scared some sense into me and made me realize it would be much better to never marry than to marry the wrong person.

After that fiasco, I remember thinking, "23 sounds like a good age to marry." I guess this is why, when an eligible young man started calling in my 23rd year, I was so quick to think, "This is it! Exactly as I'd planned!". Despite very important differing opinions and views, I thought I'd found him. So even though we hadn't grown very close, it was painful letting go of my 'plan'.

'My plan'. I'm sure if you think hard enough, we all have our own 'plan'.

Like making small goals for myself while jogging ("If I can just make it to the mailbox"), I guess having a 'plan' can help make the 'unknowns' of life more endurable. 

Really, you do have to make plans. The important thing is to make your plans according to scripture, and allowing God's plans to replace yours when they differ.

For example, I have a plan for how I will approach the possibility of marriage.

I will not consider any man, unless he shows himself to be a biblical christian. I will not enter into a 'relationship' unless it is with the express purpose of evaluating someone for marriage. I will not encourage or tolerate any premature physical displays of affection.

This is my plan and I believe it to be biblical. However, I have not planned when, how, where or whom I will marry. I know better than to try to do that.

In Proverbs, it says : The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

That is how I signed my letter of refusal 5 years ago (on May 21st). I think it was as much for me as it was for him.

I was able to surrender to the Lord's direction once He showed me how faulty my plans were.

Lord God, help me to be ever mindful of Your plans; "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

Help me to surrender my plans when they don't line up with Yours. And finally, help me to trust You and Your plan for my future. There's no better place to be than in Your sovereign Hands. Amen.

Thoughtful Thursday--Adoption

I had quite a few thoughts fluttering around like butterflies this week. It took some time to finally catch one and pin it down.

This past week, I've listened to several chapters from a book about adoption, physical and spiritual, and also a short teaching about spiritual adoption.

The book is called "Adopted for Life" by Russell D. Moore. He interweaves the Doctrine of Adoption, the story of the adoption of his sons, and the huge responsibility of the Church to care for orphans. 

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27  

"Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land." Psalm 68:5-6

The teaching I heard is one of 48 lectures teaching about systematic theology. It's called "Drive-by Theology" and it was put together by Todd Friel (of Wretched Radio) and Pastor R.W. Glenn. I have immensely enjoyed these teachings and feel like I've learned so much, but I really have just begun to grasp some of what is talked about.

The lecture on the Doctrine of Adoption comes under the category of Soteriology, or the Doctrine of Salvation. A lot of different things are going on when one gets 'saved'.  Election, regeneration, repentance, faith, justification, sanctification, glorification, and also, adoption. Yeah, I know it sounds complicated. Thank God, we don't have to understand all this to be 'saved'. All of these doctrines are talked about in the bible though and so, it is good to try to gain some understanding about them for it gives us more of an understanding and gratefulness for all God has done for us. On a side note, I find that I love God more the more I learn about Him. There is no end to His Goodness.

So back to adoption, R. W. Glenn gave this quote from a man, Everett Ferguson, giving the definition of adoption. "The person adopted, at any age, was taken out of his previous condition, all old debts were cancelled, and he started a new life in a relationship of sonship to the new family, whose name he took and to whose inheritance he was entitled. The new father now owned the adoptees property, controlled his personal relationships, and had the right of discipline while assuming responsibility for his support and liability for his actions." Having been adopted into God's family, I can see the beautiful parallel. 

As a natural-born human being, a distant descendant of Adam, I was a child of the evil one. Yuck! I don't even like typing that, but it's true. We are all the sinful offspring of Satan. John 8 says: 

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

These were the Pharisees, the leaders of Judaism, that Jesus was talking to! Until God calls us and we are adopted into His family, we are of the devil. That is our previous condition.


As the process of adoption begins, our debts are cancelled. Or, better yet, they are paid by someone else. The debt of sin is death and in no way could we afford to pay it and live. The Son of God, because He is God, is the only One who could afford to pay the debt. He was punished. He was killed. He paid the debt which we couldn't pay. AND He came back from death, defeating it!


So now we have taken His name and have become heirs. We have become brothers with Christ, and co-heirs with Him. This does not mean that we are the same as Jesus, or equal to God, but that we are of His family and He calls us brothers.  "For he who sanctifies(Jesus) and those who are sanctified(the adopted) all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers." Hebrews 2:11


And now, our Heavenly Father, owns all we have, all our property, all we are. He did before, because He is God, but now we acknowledge His ownership, His Lordship and we don't fight against it. For He takes care of what is His. He treats us as a good father would. He looks out for us by disciplining us, supporting us, surrounding us with others who have been adopted by Him, and giving us Grace when needed (which is all the time).


A difference I have thought about, between earthly and spiritual adoption is that, like when my parents first took in Natalie-Rose, all we knew about her was that she was a preemie and she needed a family, but God, when he adopted us, chose us, He knew everything about us there is to know. This blows me away! Why, knowing what I would be, would He still take me into His family? An extremely humbling thought.

I'm still uncovering the many layers of this Doctrine and others. I don't claim to even have this one quite right. If any of you Bible-readers see any error, please correct me! This is me taking baby steps further into understanding God and His amazing Love for us, His children.

Some of my latest...

Here are a few pictures of my latest creations...

The new addition is the Organic Baby Booties. I personally refer to them as the "boy booties" because they do look a little more appropriate for boys than the Mary Janes. But someone might like these sweet little boots for their little girl as well.

I'm having fun finding ways to embellish the shoes.

I'm also experimenting with some Fall items. Hats mainly. Then I could offer sets of a hat and shoes.

This hat goes with the "boy booties". Isn't it handsome? I'll be trying the little girl hat soon.

I'm really enjoying this venture and am thrilled with how it's going.

Thoughtful Thursday--Neither Jew nor Greek

Okay. So here it is, 'Thoughtful Thursday' once again. Today, I will be 'shooting from the hip'.

On Monday and also last night, I had the opportunity to serve the most interesting group in the Dining Room at the Cove. And I honestly don't know if I should give the name of the group, possibly for their safety. But I can say that they were a group of pastors and church leaders from the countries of the Middle East. Muslim countries.

At first, it was a little bizarre. Being an American, tragic events have taught me to be wary, at least, of Muslims, or people who look Muslim. And please don't think I am given to prejudice. 

But as I watched these people and picked up on some of their conversation (in english) I fully realized what a miracle Jesus Christ is!

The descendants of Ishmael have come to be the Spiritual sons of Isaac.

Seeing these people pray to and worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was such a beautiful thing. Almost as beautiful as when a Jew comes to know his long-promised Messiah.

And so, I saw in the flesh the truth of Galatians 3:28-29: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, [neither American nor Arab] there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise."

*Retroactive* Thoughtful Thursday--Exceptionally Ordinary

"Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on the water is easy to impulsive pluck, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is a different thing. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he followed Him afar off on the land. We do not need the grace of God to stand crises. Human nature and pride are sufficient, we can face the strain magnificently; but it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours in every day as a saint, to go through drudgery as a disciple, to live an ordinary, unobserved, ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God; but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in mean streets, among mean people, and this is not learned in five minutes."

This quote is from "My utmost for His highest" October 21st.

Each year when mom comes to it, she reads it aloud to us. Sometimes she evens goes to it when it's not October 21st. It really is very true. I think almost all of us feel that need to be doing huge things for God. That often comes out of a heart so full of thankfulness for what He has done for us. But sometimes, it can just be the pressure to perform. The need to outdo someone. The way we've been taught.

Doing something big for God is not what is set forth in scripture. No. Instead, a lot of the stories in scripture tell about God using small people who are doing small things to bring about His will. 

Don't get me wrong though. There are plenty of people doing big things too. I just want to make the point that obedience is what God desires.

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are." 1 Corinthians 1:26-28

"Saul was rejected as king because he failed to utterly destroy the Amalekites, instead choosing to keep the best of the best for himself and to sacrifice to God. But God didn't want his sacrifice, he wanted obedience." 1 Samuel 15:22

This is especially applicable to Home-makers, Stay-at-home moms, or even Stay-at-home daughters. Or as Jasmine Baucham calls them, Home-girls ; )

A lot of people consider home-making to be ordinary, ignored, unobserved drudgery. But since we see in Scripture that it is not necessarily feeding all the world's hungry, ending the infanticide we call abortion, or bringing peace to the Middle East, we can understand 'staying home' in a different light. A mother can feed all the hungry in her house. A mother can choose to raise the children God gives her and do it well. And she can bring peace into the home.

When a mother is changing diapers and wiping noses, she is making sure her child grows up healthy and happy. When she cleans up the kitchen only to dirty it up again, she is fulfilling the call to hospitality and to ministry within the home. When a wife seeks her husbands advice and allows him the final decision, she is honoring him and honoring God. And in each of these things (and many more) she is showing the love of Christ to her family.

When a daughter chooses to pursue further learning at home, instead of leaving the safety of her family, she is choosing to bless her family with her presence and gaining the benefits of continuing to learn in a family atmosphere. When a daughter acknowledges the high-calling of motherhood and chooses to prepare for such a future, she is avoiding all the hardships that being on her own would bring and fulfilling God's plan for woman. When a daughter seeks the wisdom and advice of her parents, she is getting such a head start in life and staying away from many pitfalls other girls on their own might fall into. And like the mother, she has the opportunity to show her family the love of Christ. 

We can do many impressive things, but without sharing Christ's love, we accomplish nothing.

"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-2

If God calls someone to do big things, and He does a lot of the time, then they should do it with all their might, for His glory. And for those of us who live 'small' lives, we should also live for His glory. None of it is wasted if it is done for His glory. That's why He created us.


I humbly ask Him to show me what to do, help me to be obedient, and help me love others as Christ loves us.

Coming soon....

...my retroactive 'Thoughtful Thursday' post

and

pictures from our annual Isle of Palms vacation. : )