Impatience

Thanks everyone for your comments! I laughed, actually howled-laughed-out-loud, after reading Lesley's comment about the Madison County License Dept!!! I can just picture the scene in Blind Side when Sandra Bullock goes to the License Dept... all of you with children under 12... just wait for the learner's permits. That's all I have to say about that.

I'm loving your comments and nodding agreement in lots of ways. My own list of acceptable sins is growing - especially out of my weekend experience! I've now seen in living real-life color that impatience is a sin. If patience is fruit of the Spirit, then the opposite has to be fruit of you-know-who.

I'm headed to the couch for a good long read, and can I just say that Chapter 4 soothed my soul. I have lots more to say about that later.

I only received one email comment, but it certainly bears sharing... I have been very touched with all of your vulnerability and honesty...
I realized some of my "acceptable sins" allow me to feel "better" about myself out in the world and I am using them as a crutch. I need to live up to what God has given me and wants for me, not what the world and others make me feel and/or believe.
A new creation in Christ, set apart by God, for God.

Facing Up to the Truth

The acceptable sins are subtle in the sense that they deceive us into thinking they are not so bad, or not thinking of them as sins, or even worse, not thinking about them at all! Respectable Sins, Chapter 3

I am deceived! I have found out in three short chapters that I am a victim and product of the softening of sin in our culture and in our churches. I promise you, I never once considered impatience a sin - along with several others Mr. Bridges mentions as illustrations. Yet, in the middle of chapter 3, when he suggests we may want to throw the book across the room, I hugged mine tighter. There is something about coming to grips with sins which have previously deceived me.

Something welled up within me – I can’t explain it, but I got, like, fighty, feisty… both arms up, ready for a good karate kick. All in my mind’s eye of course. I thought if Holy God is willing to reveal my hidden sins to me, then I’m ready to open my eyes and see what is hideous and poisonous inside me. If I see, I pray I’ll be just as ready to fight to get long standing ingrained sins to DIE. I’ve taken on a deep inner commitment to get them routed out.

But, I know myself pretty well. I get pumped for the fight and then give out well before the battle is won. I often have a strong start and a weak finish. With Respectable Sins I need prayer and I need you. Without you, this would just be another book to read, be convicted, and put it back on the shelf. Let’s not do that. Let’s encourage each other and keep each other strong for the fight. At the end of this, let’s be able to say, with God’s lead and God’s power, we broke down sin’s stronghold and drove the thing out!

Instructions: Here’s how we will study together this week: Print off the following discussion segment. Answer the questions and choose which questions you would like to comment on. You are welcome to comment on the blog, in fact please do. For those of you who are resistant, this week you may email me your comments. Over the weekend I’ll compile our discussion points, using no names, and post for everyone to read. Unless we have good discussion our book club will fall flat. I am dying to hear what you are thinking as you are reading!

As iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 17: 17

Discussion:
1. I’m such a bottom-line girl. Review your notes from each chapter and write the one thing in each chapter that spoke to your heart.

2. From Chapter 3… Now, here is the unvarnished truth that we need to lay to heart. Even though our hearts have been renewed, even though we have been freed from the absolute dominion of sin, even though God’s Holy Spirit dwells within our bodies, this principle of sin still lurks within us and wages war against our souls. It is the failure to recognize the awful reality of this truth that provides the fertile soil in which our “respectable“ or “acceptable” sins grow and flourish.Based on this statement, what is the condition of the soil of your heart?
What “respectable” might you be tolerating in your life?

3. What do James 1: 14-15 and 2: 10-11 reveal about the root of our sinful actions? About God’s law and the consequences of breaking it?

4. Even though God always makes a decisive change in every believer’s heart, what does every believer face when he or she seeks to live in obedience to God? (See Galatians 5: 17 and James 1: 14.)

5. Beginning today, start a list of every “acceptable” sin God brings to mind.

6. Write a brief prayer to God about sin’s lure and impact in your life – and your desire for Him to help you stand strong in the face of temptation.

For July 1:
1. Read Chapters 4, 5, 6

2. Answer this as you read:
What does God use to convict us of our sins – including our selfishness and judgmental attitudes? (See 2 Timothy 3: 16.)

Let me end with a quote from the Editors of the Discussion Guide…
Oh, and one more thing. Have fun! Sure, it’s a serious topic. And yes, you have a serious responsibility. But inhale, exhale, relax and enjoy the experience. Approach your preparation as well as each group session with a positive, expectant spirit. Do you very best and leave the results to God. (Tip: That’s when the fun really starts!)

I can hardly wait to hear what you are thinking!

Danger Zone

Last night we were talking about what a dangerous place we put ourselves when we let prayer and Bible reading slide. They go hand-in-hand. I know a girl who is battling the after-effects of serious sin. As we were talking over the suffering sin causes, I just happened to ask her what she had been hearing from God in her prayer life and through the pages of Scripture. She told me she had not prayed since November! I cannot tell you how floored I was. The first thing that came to mind was last night's lesson teaching us when prayer slides, we then begin to slide toward a dark and dangerous pit of sin.

I thought you might enjoy reading something I've had tucked in my Bible since 2000.
Whatever need or trouble you are in, there is always something to help you in your Bible, if only you go on reading till you come to the word God specially has for you. Sometimes the special word is in the portion you would naturally read, or in the Psalm for the day, but you must go on till you find it, for it is always somewhere. You will know it the moment you come to it, for it will rest your heart. Amy Carmichael Edges of His Ways

Tuesday night girls - we are headed to victory! I look at your faces and I can tell that you are getting it! I have loved every minute with you and I don't want our time together to end. That's why this last lesson is a little longer than usual, so start early. I pray you will be blessed. See you next week!

How's the Reading Going?

I hope everyone is reading and highlighting and making notes! Just to clarify from one commenter... yes, by this Thursday have chapters 1, 2 and 3 read. We will follow the reading guide (June 17 post) and by the date listed the book club blog will discuss the chapters listed for that particular date. So by Thursday be ready to discuss!

I've already learned alot and all the way home tomorrow on the planes (Naples to Huntsville), I'll be finishing chapter 3 and preparing for book club. Can't wait to share thoughts with you!

Old Age is Not For Sissies

That is what my father-in-law says and I believe him!

It is hard not being able to see. It is hard not being able to hear. It is hard to continue asking,'what did you say?' It is hard to be afraid go anywhere for fear of falling... a fall starts the whole downward spiral you know. It is hard to not be able to work the phone or the computer or the cell phone or the digital picture frame or the pill bottle or the tv remote. It is hard thinking you are such a burden even when you are not. It is hard feeling bad all the time and not wanting to complain, so you don't. It is hard when every little simple task takes forever to do. It is hard to push yourself, and I mean push, to get out of the bed, to watch a little tv, to fix anything to eat, to take a shower or to get your hair washed.

I am visiting my in-laws. I love them to pieces. My heart is just about broken for how hard they try. They are still trying to make my visit a good one - when I am here to serve them... which is practically impossible. If you have a spare prayer, please pray for these two who are trying to make it through each day being strong and courageous and not sissies. Sissies? I can't believe the grit it takes to do what they do.

Let's Get Started!

This is one of those posts that you will want to print.

Welcome to the Coffee Tea and Thee Book Club! Now that we have book in hand we’re ready to begin. I usually don’t pray before I start reading a book, but in this case, let’s do. As we make our way through Respectable Sins let’s ask the Lord to: 1) give us the commitment to finish the book, 2) read with hearts wide open, 3) actually do whatever the Lord instructs. I personally pray that every post on the blog will be God-guided, encouraging, useful and interactive. I pray we will have a sweet connection to one another as we dig deeply in our hearts to be rid of sins we tolerate.

We will be closely, but not exclusively, following the Respectable Sins Discussion Guide. You do not need to purchase it, but you may find it helpful as we will not cover every question in the Guide. Each Thursday on the blog we will explore a variety of topics: individual questions, group questions, prayer opportunities, personal growth reflections and action items. We all need to be equipped with pencils, sticky notes and highlighters for note-making as we read. Oh, and since this is the Coffee Tea and Thee Book Club a good stash of coffee and tea is highly suggested and even better, a Starbucks card! Maybe Starbucks should be the location of our last meeting!

As you read, make notes of what interests you, what speaks to your heart and questions you have. Put a star by things that lead you closer to God and things that lead you to prayer. Be prepared to share on the blog! We all want to hear from each other and learn from each other. I can already tell you two chapters I'm dreading - Chapters 17 and 19. I haven't read them yet - I'm not going to read too far ahead of the reading schedule - but I saw the topics in the Table of Contents - ugh!

Reading Guide:
June 17
Just Getting Started
June 24
Read Chapters 1, 2, 3
July 1
Read Chapters 4, 5, 6
July 8
Read Chapters 7, 10
July 15
Read Chapters 8, 9
July 22
Read Chapters 11, 12
July 29
Read Chapters 14, 15, 16
August 5
Read Chapters 17, 19
August 12
Read Chapters 13, 18, 20, 21*

* I’m still tossing around the idea of having a face-to-face book club wrap-up meeting. We’ll see.

One last thing… I thought this was most helpful:
Jerry Bridges (born December 4, 1929, Tyler, Texas, United States) is an evangelical Christian author, speaker and staff member of The Navigators. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including The Pursuit of Holiness, which has sold more than one million copies. His devotional Holiness Day By Day garnered the 2009 ECPA Christian Book Award for the inspiration and gift category, and The Discipline Of Grace received a similar award in 1995 for the Christian living category.
Bridges earned his undergraduate degree in engineering at the University of Oklahoma before serving as an officer in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He joined Christian discipleship organization The Navigators in 1955, where he served as administrative assistant to the Europe Director, office manager for the headquarters office, Secretary-Treasurer of the organization, and as Vice President for Corporate Affairs before moving to a staff development position with the Collegiate Mission.

Happy Reading!
or I should say, read at your own risk!

The Settling of Sin

I guess there are a million ways to think about salvation. But at Bible Study Tuesday night, looking at salvation from an accounting perspective brought some new insights. Isn't it true, we never grow weary of studying the cross.

The Transactions of Sin
Biblical Truths:

God is Holy.
Sin separates us from God.

God loves us and wants us to be reconciled to Himself.
Sin must be judged.

The transaction between man and sin:
1. Man + Sin = Death

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23

The transaction between God and sin:
Sin is either on one side of the equation or the other -

on us or on Christ.
2. Jesus + Cross = Payment for Sin in Full

Instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins
and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. I Peter 2: 23-24

Biblical Truths:

God settled sin.

God settled sin at the cross.

The transaction between God and man:
We go to the cross to settle our sin with God.
3. Sinful Man + Jesus on the Cross = Life

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1: 9

Everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3: 15-16

This transaction between God and man is The Greatest Exchange the world has ever known. Jesus took our sin and we get salvation. It is the Crossing at the Cross, have you ever had that?

One Year Ago in June

I can’t believe I’m going to write this. I have heart palpitations just signing in to the blog. Here goes…

One year ago this month I surrendered a house. There. Said it. You have to understand that all of my married life I’ve wanted a new house – a dream house. I couldn’t tell you where it was or what it looked like, but I knew that I would know when I one day walked into it. Never did. Over the years in my mind and heart it grew bigger and bigger until it was more than a house – it was a dream, an adventure, an obsession – an idol.

Last May, as I was wrapping up the BSF study of Moses, I began to think of the difference in Moses from earlier in his life to the end of his life. I love Deuteronomy! Take a look at Deut. 3. Moses was begging God to let him go into the Promised Land. Here’s what God said to him… "That is enough," the LORD said. "Do not speak to me anymore about this matter.”

I had been begging God for a house for so long I can’t count the years. And when I read these verses God said the same thing to me… enough!

I compared the begging Moses to Moses in Deut. 33 & 34 and found that Moses died sweetly satisfied and at perfect peace with God. He never did get to go into the Promised Land, but at some point he got over it. I began to think God wanted me to just get over it. So I balked, vented, cried, expounded all my reasons again, and then one day in June 2009 I just gave it up. Surrendered it. Once and for all. Told God, ‘Okay, you are right, enough is enough. I’m going to move past it, never pray for it again and never bend Your ear about 'the house'. I’m going to trust You know best.’ And just like that it was gone. I tell you the truth, my heart felt as light as a feather. I can honestly say in the last year I’ve looked at houses, admired them, been happy for others, but my obsession is gone. I’ve never prayed about it again, never been distraught, angry or eaten up with it. Gone. Done. Over. Free.

Since the surrender I’ve begun to like my real house. I thought you might enjoy some pictures. I feel comfortable taking pics because it’s actually clean, the lawn is freshly mowed and the hydrangeas are in full bloom – having a party will do that, you know.


If you come see me, and please do, come to my back door.



and this is my own private den (used to be a bedroom – this is what empty nest gets you) where I have my quiet time…







when I’m not having it here…













A year later,
surrender feels good.
From my house to yours,
have a blessed day!

Ready to Squirm

I’ve heard lots of you have ordered or already purchased Jerry Bridges’ Respectable Sins. We will dig in next Thursday, and as much as the book is going to make me squirm, I think the very best way to read it is with a group. That way, I won’t quit the book and leave it sitting on my bedside table for months just because some of the points Mr. Bridges makes hit a little too close to home. I’m actually excited! I’m ready for some self-examination.

Meanwhile, forgive me for being a little laid back on the blog this summer. I promise to have some good pics to show you after the weekend. It’s my husband’s birthday weekend and Anna (with her parents) is coming to visit. Guess who will be the star attraction?

Happy weekends everyone!

Rahab Revisted

May I just speak to the Tuesday-night girls for a minute? I love coming on Tuesday nights and it’s summer and we have on sandals and capris and there is an eagerness to see what God has for us! I love how when we get to personal things like our lifelines and stones of remembrance, you all don’t run out of the church! I love how God is planting new seeds, new thoughts, and we’ve advanced from our ‘crossings’ to now understanding that we must be prepared for battle. Who wants to talk about battle!? Even last night, one of you said to me that you were ready to settle sin. That sends me through the roof rejoicing! When we are at that place, the place of wanting to face our sin, God is working big-time! I love our class and I love you!

Excuse my giddiness and the insane number of exclamation points – it’s 4:00 in the morning. I know what is wrong with me. Everytime I teach about Rahab I get very little sleep. The love of God keeps waking me up. I will not be able to shut these eyes until I have a few moments on my knees talking to Him about way back when, when He rescued a young immature selfish college girl out of a pit of despair.

Here’s what I want to say one more time about Rahab. It may have seemed to us that Joshua sent the spies in to Jericho to get military information, but really God sent them in to get Rahab. Joshua didn’t have to have a lot more information in order to attack Jericho. He was going no matter what. The whole reason for the mission was for one woman. God had been preparing her heart. She had heard of Him and she had believed in Him. Now he rescues her from death. He gives her confirmation to her faith, safety, a home with His people, and best of all; He gives her a place of honor in the ancestry of Jesus Christ. Don’t miss Matthew 1 – Rahab married one of the Israelites, a man named Salmon from the tribe of Judah. They had a son, Boaz, who married Ruth and Ruth and Boaz had Obed. Obed had Jesse, who was the father of King David.

Rahab reminds us of the Samaritan woman. Jesus went into Samaria and took that route that day for one reason – one woman. I keep thinking of when I came to Christ my junior year in college. The ways Jesus went out of His way just for me. Don’t let this lesson get past you until you have a few moments with Him revisiting how He went out of His way just for you.

Summer Favorites

Every summer I make a list of all the things I want to do before summer ends. Do any of you do crazy things like this? Summer flies by so fast, and it is already almost the middle of June. If I just mention these things in passing, summer will pass me by. But if I actually write them down and post it somewhere on my desk I am one hundred percent more likely to do what’s on my list. Here are a few things on my summer list, but I want to know what’s on yours! Some of your wonderful ‘want-to-do’s’ for the summer might end up on my list too. Please share!

This summer I don’t want to miss…

Home-grown tomatoes
Peach milkshake from Chick-filet
Going with Sarah to see Avatar/ 3D in August
Having Anna for a week and taking her to the Athens carnival
Starting on a landscape painting I’ve been wanting to do for a long time
Buying pink lipstick
Going on a long walk someplace I’ve never been

Have a wonderful summer day!

And the Winner is...

Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins we Tolerate by Jerry Bridges! Thank you all for your votes and I believe you chose well. We might say ‘ouch!’ a few times this summer, but we certainly will not be accused of being soft. Who said anything about us being summer slackers!

Okay, this is where we go from here… Everyone purchase your book and CT&T Book Club begins next Thursday, June 17 with comments and an overview of the reading schedule. Then, each Thursday we will have chapter-by-chapter discussion on the blog along with other things of interest relating to our book. Don’t ask me what the ‘other things of interest’ are – this is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this! But, knowing me, I can round up some pretty interesting rabbit trails. This is going to be so great reading and discussing Respectable Sins with you!

Meanwhile, on other days the blog will continue to cover a variety of topics, so stay plugged in. Every Wednesday there will be commentary on the current class I’m teaching, Crossings Continued.

Get to the bookstore or order online and get Respectable Sins on your bookshelf! Here we go!

Remember to Vote!

Three comments and quite a few emails later and we've got a book competition going!

Join the blog this summer for the Coffee Tea and Thee Summer Book Club. I've been asked the question, "Will we meet in person?" No, we will meet each Thursday in blog-world to review what we've read, answer some questions and get additional interesting information. It will be blog-interactive, so be familiar with commenting. I am considering a face-to-face wrap-up at the end of the summer... will let you know later about that.

I've been asked if I have a book preference. No! I want to read all six, even the two I've already read! I cannot think of a better way to read each of these six book choices than weekly with a great group.

Get your vote in by Sunday - the book will be announcd on Monday. Scroll down to the May 31 post and find the book choices and a review of each.

Home Base

Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you."

So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.

Joshua 5:9

It was good to see everyone last night! It was good to see new faces and familiar ones. It was good to revisit retreat and remember our crossings and thoughts of new land. Now we are ready to tackle the rest of the book of Joshua and head to victory.

Crossing over the Jordan River at flood stage was a major victory for Israel. After crossing, God wanted them to move inland and set up camp. Not stop at the place of first footfall. Not stay on the opposite shoreline ready to cross back over the river when the land or the people seemed especially fierce or scary. God wanted his people to be well inside their new land, fully committed to Him. So they did, and they were. They moved to Gilgal and set up camp, spreading out over a large plain just outside Jericho.

Gilgal was the place where God brought them full circle to have another try at taking the land, this time with God in the lead. Gilgal broke the old cycle of defeat and began a series of victories. Did you know Gilgal can be a place, a person, or both; a 'who' or a 'where'? Gilgal is our home base. I love to think about home base, whether house or heart. Home base is where we get our strength, a place where we are safe. It's the place we go from to live and fight battles and run missions, but come back to refresh and retreat and renew. To me it is open and free and wild and safe; God's spacious place. What is it to you?

He brought me out into a spacious place;

He rescued me because He delighted in me.

Psalm 18:19