Friday SHINE....
Today's reading: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20SAMUEL%2015&version=MSG
Happy Fun Friday, SHINE girls! Don't ya just love Fridays?
Let's get straight to the reading...Whoa! Are we at a cliff hanger or what? I cannot wait to read the next chapter!
Do you find yourself feeling sorry for Saul? Me too.
I feel sorry for him, because I am a lot like him. Today's reading hit hard on my heart today. Once again, the resounding theme here: obedience.
Saul did not fully obey God with His instructions to kill every single last Amelekite. Instead, Saul saved some of the choice sheep and cattle to sacrifice to God.
GIRLS!!! Hello? Are we hearing this?
How often do we "almost" do everything in obedience to the Lord. How many times do we think that by offering Him our "sacrifices" of prayer, reading His word, attending church, giving to the needy, etc...that this is enough.
All of those things are part of the walk...but we are missing out on one huge piece of the puzzle, complete obedience to Him.
You know what I mean by this. Obedience in all areas:
Did i mention loving the unlovable? (this is a toughy.)
Let's not miss what God is telling us through the life of Saul! He wants desperately for us to get this in our own lives.
Ask the Lord today, what's missing in your obedience to Him. He would love to show you. I only know this, because I am living proof of all of this.
Missing the mark, constantly. That's me.
Don't think this is about perfection. It has nothing to do with being perfect, but everything to do with being obedient. Big difference.
The verse that rings over and over in my ears after today's reading is this: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22
What is your burnt offering and sacrifice? Whatever it is, it's only part of the equation. The rest is obedience, friend.
Chew on this for a while. Let it sink into that beautiful heart of yours. God loves you, sweet girl. That's why He is showing you all of this. He loves you.
Okay, I will make the rest of this post (kind of) short and sweet.
First, I want to give a big, fat, THANK YOU, to our SHINE prayer intercessors. They have gone above and beyond the call to pray for our SHINE girls daily. Wow.
Girls, let me assure you--if you have posted a prayer request--we have been covering it with the precious blood of Jesus...daily. Our intercessors do not take lightly the call to pray for you. Man, they are good.
They are not the only ones praying, I am sure. Hopefully all who see your requests are lifting you up as well. So, you are double-covered. :)
If you are interested in being one of our SHINE intercessors, let me know...we would love to have more. Prayer is POWERFUL. Enough said.
Secondly, I hope to see your beautiful SHINEy face this Sunday at the home of JaNice Van Ness in Conyers. Please try to come! It will be so much fun! You can RSVP at this link: http://shinegirlsshine.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-shine-girl-party.html
Thirdly, if you know me, you KNOW I love games and challenges. So......
You have a FUN FRIDAY SHINE challenge! Yay!
Your challenge today is to give thanks to the Lord all day today. Not just this morning, or tonight when you pray, but ALL day. When you are in your car, at school, at work, in the grocery story, at the gas station, on your hot date...whatever it is.
Give thanks to Him. Thank Him for this week...that you made it to Friday.
Thank Him for His word and how He is speaking to you through it. Thank Him for just being HIM. Holy of Holies, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
When we are thankful, our whole perspective changes. Does it not?
We see things differently. We see things as they should be and not skewed by bitterness.
Be thankful girls. It will only bless you.
I want to hear from you if you are doing this today! Tell us, share!
Listen to this verse. In fact say it out loud so that you really get it.
Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
so very thankful for the gift of His Word,
jill
**If you still are not getting emails and you signed up to get them...please let me know. I will see if I can fix the problem. :) Just check the blog regularly, we have good discussions about the reading going on in our "discussion" post. If you are confused about any of the passages, go to discussion post. It's enlightening! :)
Happy Fun Friday, SHINE girls! Don't ya just love Fridays?
Let's get straight to the reading...Whoa! Are we at a cliff hanger or what? I cannot wait to read the next chapter!
Do you find yourself feeling sorry for Saul? Me too.
I feel sorry for him, because I am a lot like him. Today's reading hit hard on my heart today. Once again, the resounding theme here: obedience.
Saul did not fully obey God with His instructions to kill every single last Amelekite. Instead, Saul saved some of the choice sheep and cattle to sacrifice to God.
GIRLS!!! Hello? Are we hearing this?
How often do we "almost" do everything in obedience to the Lord. How many times do we think that by offering Him our "sacrifices" of prayer, reading His word, attending church, giving to the needy, etc...that this is enough.
All of those things are part of the walk...but we are missing out on one huge piece of the puzzle, complete obedience to Him.
You know what I mean by this. Obedience in all areas:
- loving the unlovable.
- forgiveness.
- turning the other cheek.
- putting others before ourselves.
- humbleness.
- self-control.
- taming our tongues.
- minding our own business.
- not gossiping.
- showing grace to those that hurt us.
- wives--submitting to our husbands, not only in action but in our hearts.
- younger girls--submitting to your parents not just in action but in your hearts.
Did i mention loving the unlovable? (this is a toughy.)
Let's not miss what God is telling us through the life of Saul! He wants desperately for us to get this in our own lives.
Ask the Lord today, what's missing in your obedience to Him. He would love to show you. I only know this, because I am living proof of all of this.
Missing the mark, constantly. That's me.
Don't think this is about perfection. It has nothing to do with being perfect, but everything to do with being obedient. Big difference.
The verse that rings over and over in my ears after today's reading is this: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22
What is your burnt offering and sacrifice? Whatever it is, it's only part of the equation. The rest is obedience, friend.
Chew on this for a while. Let it sink into that beautiful heart of yours. God loves you, sweet girl. That's why He is showing you all of this. He loves you.
Okay, I will make the rest of this post (kind of) short and sweet.
First, I want to give a big, fat, THANK YOU, to our SHINE prayer intercessors. They have gone above and beyond the call to pray for our SHINE girls daily. Wow.
Girls, let me assure you--if you have posted a prayer request--we have been covering it with the precious blood of Jesus...daily. Our intercessors do not take lightly the call to pray for you. Man, they are good.
They are not the only ones praying, I am sure. Hopefully all who see your requests are lifting you up as well. So, you are double-covered. :)
If you are interested in being one of our SHINE intercessors, let me know...we would love to have more. Prayer is POWERFUL. Enough said.
Secondly, I hope to see your beautiful SHINEy face this Sunday at the home of JaNice Van Ness in Conyers. Please try to come! It will be so much fun! You can RSVP at this link: http://shinegirlsshine.blogspot.com/2012/01/its-shine-girl-party.html
Thirdly, if you know me, you KNOW I love games and challenges. So......
You have a FUN FRIDAY SHINE challenge! Yay!
Your challenge today is to give thanks to the Lord all day today. Not just this morning, or tonight when you pray, but ALL day. When you are in your car, at school, at work, in the grocery story, at the gas station, on your hot date...whatever it is.
Give thanks to Him. Thank Him for this week...that you made it to Friday.
Thank Him for His word and how He is speaking to you through it. Thank Him for just being HIM. Holy of Holies, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.
When we are thankful, our whole perspective changes. Does it not?
We see things differently. We see things as they should be and not skewed by bitterness.
Be thankful girls. It will only bless you.
I want to hear from you if you are doing this today! Tell us, share!
Listen to this verse. In fact say it out loud so that you really get it.
Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
so very thankful for the gift of His Word,
jill
**If you still are not getting emails and you signed up to get them...please let me know. I will see if I can fix the problem. :) Just check the blog regularly, we have good discussions about the reading going on in our "discussion" post. If you are confused about any of the passages, go to discussion post. It's enlightening! :)
