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God is so good. No seriously, He's reallly goood. I'm on two weeks of consecutive devotions now. I'll be the first to admit that some days have been more productive and fruitful than others, but some form of prayer, scripture reading and mediation time with Jesus has happened. HOW COOL IS THAT?! The difference I see in myself from just two weeks of walking after/seeking God is great. I'm joyful even when it hurts to walk. I'm a smile factory. I see so much beauty in people. Not to say I'm perfect by any means. There were tests that I failed. I gave into having a bad attitude about someone this weekend. I'm trying to change my heart and debating whether I should say something to them. I sped on my road trip to Kentucky. Not terribly but still I was above the posted limit. (Yeah, it's a speed LIMIT, not a speed MINIMUM...still trying to respect that.) That's the great thing about God. I messed up; I repented and asked God to help me do better and He forgives. All that for all that, the real point of tonight's blog is from the BSF lecture tonight. Just studied Numbers 11 & 12 this last week for Bible Study Fellowship. In Numbers 11 it's just three days into the journey from Mt. Sinai to Canaan that the Isrealites start complaining to each other but in earshot of God. This happens a couple times. Through Moses' faithfulness and intercession, the Isrealites get more second chances and Moses gets help leading the people. Numbers 12 is Miriam and Aaron's jealousy towards Moses and his position of leadership and relationship to God. Miriam is the one who's punished and mentioned first in Num 12:1 so she seems to be the instigator. God does not mince words responding to Miram and Aaron's talking back to Moses. He answers their criticalness concisely. From the lecture there are five good steps to dealing with grumblings. I'm going to employ them this week and report back. 1) Phil 2:14--"Do everything without complaining or arguing." Post this somewhere(s) to be seen everyday (maybe several times a day). 2) Take complaints to God 1st. God knows my heart anyway, so don't shy away from telling Him what's wrong. Just remember to check my heart attitude. Is this a legitimate concern or am I just discontent? 3) Regularly ask God to show me if I have a complaining or critical heart. Ask for forgiveness and be ready to change it. 4) Turn complaints upside down--look for the praise in the situation/person/circumstance. 5) Pray for those who hurt me.

So that's all for today. This week's plan is a little ambitious.

  • I'm starting to study the rest of Numbers 12 as well as 13 and 14 tomorrow for BSF next week.
  • Reviewing what we've covered so far in the book The One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven and memorizing my questions to ask from my 3x5 card(s) for this Wednesday.
  • Started the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster last night; going to take that one chapter at a time and try to digest it.
  • Pray more on my drive to work; pray more often during the day especially during the rush.
  • Read Phil 1 daily.

Final thoughts: God is so very good. Jesus totally and fully saves. The Holy Spirit fills to overflowing.

Lord, may my rest tonight be refreshing and prepare me for tomorrow's battles. Stir the embers within and push the fire in me to grow. Show me if I've mastered walking and can move on to jogging. I want to run like Paul eventually.

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  1. Mz TwizFebruary 27, 2009 at 9:42 AM

    You are a beautiful woman Mikki and I am so proud of you and this endeavor! I know you will succeed in you goals and become even closer to God for your efforts!.
    Just remember to draw a line, learn from it, forgive yourself and move on :)
    PS You Rock!

    ReplyDelete
  2. MikkiFebruary 27, 2009 at 11:26 PM

    Thanks. You're pretty rocking yourself. God's power is amazing and I find myself relying on Him more and more to stop temptation before it even hits me. Easier to deal with when I prepare for it and know how to fight it when it comes.

    ReplyDelete

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