Tuesday SHINE....
Today's Reading: 1 John 1
Happy Tuesday, SHINE girls! Are you ready to dig into some New Testament breakfast?
Ooh, I am!!
As much as I love the O.T. and the story of David, nothing holds a candle to the stories of my Jesus.
Nothing.
This first chapter in 1 John is only 10, yes 10, scriptures long.
Don't let the length fool you, though. There is a whole buffet waiting to be tasted inside these 10 little passages.
I'm bursting at the seams to discuss this with you girls!
"The Word of Life" is the title of this first chapter. My mouth is watering just thinking of this!
The word of Life is what this little ministry is based upon. God's Word. The only word that matters.
Remember how I told you this ministry began? God convicted me of being spoon fed His word. He wanted me to dig into the scriptures on my own. Me and Him. Him and Me.
Nobody to be my middle-man or middle-woman. Just the two of us. (and now all of you!)
He wants the same thing from you, sweet SHINE sisters. He wants you in His word, daily.
Do you skip a meal? Umm, no. Not on purpose anyway.
Why would we skip a day from reading the Living, Breathing, Word of God? Our Daily Bread.
Why do we insist on having someone else interpret Him for us? He desperately wants to reveal Himself to YOU, yes YOU. He doesn't need a mediator to speak to you. He just wants your little eyes in His Word. He wants to teach you.
Yes, He uses others to help us and enhance our journey with Him. However, He more than anything wants you seeking Him. In His Word.
"If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:6-7
If we were in a room together, you would see me get out of my chair and shout, Hallelujah!!!
If you don't feel like shouting yet, read the scripture again, even out loud.
See what I mean?
Ahhh, His word brings Life!
Girls, are you walking in darkness but claiming to have fellowship with Him? Seriously, think about this.
Are you following Jesus, or are you following yourself? Or maybe even someone else.
I, Jill Hill, am guilty of this. For many years, I staked my claim on Jesus, but I was walking in complete darkness. I was blinded by my own self-righteousness and sin.
Why?
Because, I didn't know His Word. I knew John 3:16, and some pretty sounding proverbs, but that's about it.
I knew some of the "stories" of Jesus, and liked them. However, I didn't live them. I was absolutely 100% not walking in the light.
We convince ourselves that because we understand what it means to be a Christian, then we are on the right path. We believe in Jesus, and that's good enough.
NO. Jesus wants more of us. In fact, He wants all of us. Not just a few pretty little memorized scriptures. He wants us--heart and soul. Head to freshly painted purple toe nails.
We may have a lot of people fooled, but we don't have Him fooled.
Let me make clear that walking in the light has nothing to do with being perfect or sinless. Walking in the light has everything to do with seeking Him. Daily.
My son spent the night with my Momma this past weekend. My niece and nephew joined them. They had a good time. MawMaw's house is so much fun!
As I went to pick him up yesterday, I tried to straighten up the mess that the kids had made in her kitchen. I noticed some spaghetti drops on the floor. I quickly grabbed a towel and some Murphy's oil soap, got on my knees and went to town scrubbing those little spots.
When I was on my knees in my Momma's kitchen, I heard God speak to me loud and clear. He said: "You've been mediocre long enough, sweet child. It's time for excellence."
I shivered as I heard Him whisper this to my heart. He was right.
I know you are wondering why in the world God speaks to me when I am cleaning floors...and I have no answer for you. I am still trying to figure that out.
A good friend of mine is going through a very, very hard time. She is so faithful and she is trusting the Lord, even while gritting her teeth through it all.
She simply stated this when I asked her how in the world she is staying so faithful and strong even despite this storm: "If I don't live it, how will my children ever learn?"
Oh, girls! Are we living it?
Are you being mediocre in your walk with Him, sweet girls? Or are you seeking Him, pursuing Him, obeying Him in excellence.
Here's what I do know, girls: The more we seek Him, the more we find Him. The more we give our hearts to Him, the more our hearts become like His.
It's impossible to go East and West at the same time girls. We have to choose a path. And follow it with excellence.
No looking back. Only looking up.
mediocrity is over-rated,
jill
p.s...girls, if you have any prayer needs or praises, please share them with us. we would love more than anything to cover you in prayer during your time of need. that's what we're here for! :) visit our prayer page here.
Happy Tuesday, SHINE girls! Are you ready to dig into some New Testament breakfast?
Ooh, I am!!
As much as I love the O.T. and the story of David, nothing holds a candle to the stories of my Jesus.
Nothing.
This first chapter in 1 John is only 10, yes 10, scriptures long.
Don't let the length fool you, though. There is a whole buffet waiting to be tasted inside these 10 little passages.
I'm bursting at the seams to discuss this with you girls!
"The Word of Life" is the title of this first chapter. My mouth is watering just thinking of this!
The word of Life is what this little ministry is based upon. God's Word. The only word that matters.
Remember how I told you this ministry began? God convicted me of being spoon fed His word. He wanted me to dig into the scriptures on my own. Me and Him. Him and Me.
Nobody to be my middle-man or middle-woman. Just the two of us. (and now all of you!)
He wants the same thing from you, sweet SHINE sisters. He wants you in His word, daily.
Do you skip a meal? Umm, no. Not on purpose anyway.
Why would we skip a day from reading the Living, Breathing, Word of God? Our Daily Bread.
Why do we insist on having someone else interpret Him for us? He desperately wants to reveal Himself to YOU, yes YOU. He doesn't need a mediator to speak to you. He just wants your little eyes in His Word. He wants to teach you.
Yes, He uses others to help us and enhance our journey with Him. However, He more than anything wants you seeking Him. In His Word.
"If we claim to have fellowship with Him, yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." 1 John 1:6-7
If we were in a room together, you would see me get out of my chair and shout, Hallelujah!!!
If you don't feel like shouting yet, read the scripture again, even out loud.
See what I mean?
Ahhh, His word brings Life!
Girls, are you walking in darkness but claiming to have fellowship with Him? Seriously, think about this.
Are you following Jesus, or are you following yourself? Or maybe even someone else.
I, Jill Hill, am guilty of this. For many years, I staked my claim on Jesus, but I was walking in complete darkness. I was blinded by my own self-righteousness and sin.
Why?
Because, I didn't know His Word. I knew John 3:16, and some pretty sounding proverbs, but that's about it.
I knew some of the "stories" of Jesus, and liked them. However, I didn't live them. I was absolutely 100% not walking in the light.
We convince ourselves that because we understand what it means to be a Christian, then we are on the right path. We believe in Jesus, and that's good enough.
NO. Jesus wants more of us. In fact, He wants all of us. Not just a few pretty little memorized scriptures. He wants us--heart and soul. Head to freshly painted purple toe nails.
We may have a lot of people fooled, but we don't have Him fooled.
Let me make clear that walking in the light has nothing to do with being perfect or sinless. Walking in the light has everything to do with seeking Him. Daily.
My son spent the night with my Momma this past weekend. My niece and nephew joined them. They had a good time. MawMaw's house is so much fun!
As I went to pick him up yesterday, I tried to straighten up the mess that the kids had made in her kitchen. I noticed some spaghetti drops on the floor. I quickly grabbed a towel and some Murphy's oil soap, got on my knees and went to town scrubbing those little spots.
When I was on my knees in my Momma's kitchen, I heard God speak to me loud and clear. He said: "You've been mediocre long enough, sweet child. It's time for excellence."
I shivered as I heard Him whisper this to my heart. He was right.
I know you are wondering why in the world God speaks to me when I am cleaning floors...and I have no answer for you. I am still trying to figure that out.
A good friend of mine is going through a very, very hard time. She is so faithful and she is trusting the Lord, even while gritting her teeth through it all.
She simply stated this when I asked her how in the world she is staying so faithful and strong even despite this storm: "If I don't live it, how will my children ever learn?"
Oh, girls! Are we living it?
Are you being mediocre in your walk with Him, sweet girls? Or are you seeking Him, pursuing Him, obeying Him in excellence.
Here's what I do know, girls: The more we seek Him, the more we find Him. The more we give our hearts to Him, the more our hearts become like His.
It's impossible to go East and West at the same time girls. We have to choose a path. And follow it with excellence.
No looking back. Only looking up.
mediocrity is over-rated,
jill
"Keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. " Proverbs 7:1-3
p.s...girls, if you have any prayer needs or praises, please share them with us. we would love more than anything to cover you in prayer during your time of need. that's what we're here for! :) visit our prayer page here.
