tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63974378701597248242024-03-13T07:25:52.757-04:00Leah Pratt | Journey to Godlyleahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-80751360662414143682022-06-11T12:38:00.002-04:002023-06-18T19:32:17.988-04:00In a World of Affirmation...<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJmJHwmjt1DFdTnXnFJWi2O9Lv1VTSzoMm33stjlcu9jFVAL61ypHQ86eg2k7RMvZjUeFDFv2fhc8xhUmWgWtcjlGvlJwxo3x3RQBArhmPZmhwl2_FCbb79A7x4MuNiW0vq3f3kcj4mEA9bm-kuMAhNGs-QRSOFHhf-YNMQLLzh0oX4SkISoRdtSErQ/s800/Post2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJmJHwmjt1DFdTnXnFJWi2O9Lv1VTSzoMm33stjlcu9jFVAL61ypHQ86eg2k7RMvZjUeFDFv2fhc8xhUmWgWtcjlGvlJwxo3x3RQBArhmPZmhwl2_FCbb79A7x4MuNiW0vq3f3kcj4mEA9bm-kuMAhNGs-QRSOFHhf-YNMQLLzh0oX4SkISoRdtSErQ/s16000/Post2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">It's June. Of course, that means "Pride Month." </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Seemingly, the entire world around us is leaning into the affirmation and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. One would think this affirmation comes wholly out of true care and concern for the group, but--in reality--there is often more of a capitalistic realization of business and financial gain through the display of a rainbow on company logos.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I digress.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In recent years, we have seen more and more church denominations and/or individual congregations supporting Pride Month--and beyond that--having deemed themselves "affirming" churches. So, what is an affirming church? Most often, those who have taken a stance of affirmation also align themselves with a movement called "progressive Christianity." According to <a href="http://progressivechristianity.org">progressivechristianity.org</a>, one of the main tenets (#3) of progressivism in Christian congregations is as quoted:</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><span> </span>"<span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Seek community</span> that is inclusive of ALL people, including but not limited to:</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>Conventional Christians and questioning skeptics,</li><li>Believers and agnostics,</li><li>Women and men,</li><li><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Those of all sexual orientations and gender identities</span>,</li><li>Those of all classes and abilities."</li></ul></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Their idea of "[seeking] community" is a bit more insidious that one might think, on sight. This does not mean simply befriending and loving (as one should!) those within Pride's realm but rather claiming to enjoy <i>Christian</i> community and regenerate fellowship within the local church body with those who embrace living out their personal expressions of LGBTQ+ in both identity and practice. As true believers know, this would be a false community at best...an embracing of sinners <i>as saints</i> and their sins <i>as sanctification </i>at worst. But alas, this is what makes an "affirming" church thus. [Please note that their statement on "Christian" community extends far beyond those with gender and sexuality issues to non-believers (skeptics and agnostics) as well. This is an oxymoron, no?]</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ultimately, statements like these define LOVE (of neighbor, <i>a la </i>The Greatest Commandment) as AFFIRMATION, and necessarily so...otherwise it's not <i>truly</i> love, in their estimation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Throughout the Bible, though, love is seen as a covenantal, committed, and sacrificial choice to give of oneself to/for another--not at all affirming a belief or line of decision-making. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Allow me to detail a non-Pride example of affirmation...something that came to my mind just the other day.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">In Gary Thomas's bestselling book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Secret-that-Lasts/dp/080241270X/ref=asc_df_080241270X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312111868709&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5357810478957420070&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016112&hvtargid=pla-404289621350&psc=1" target="_blank">The 5 Love Languages</a></i>, one of the aforementioned "languages," <i>per se</i>, is "words of <span style="background-color: white;">affirmation</span>." In fact, that was MY top scorer when I took the test some years ago. The author's premise is that each of us "speaks a different language" when it comes to loving and being loved. He asserts that one will not FEEL as loved by another if that person does not cater to (or learn to "speak") his or her personal love language. In fact, other authors such as Willard F. Harley, Jr. go further, maintaining that there are certain things we actually NEED in order to enjoy a long-lasting and "affair-proof" marriage (from his book <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/His-Needs-Her-Making-Romantic/dp/0800740998/ref=asc_df_0800740998/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=581994915246&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6724920278621217605&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016112&hvtargid=pla-1634313790002&psc=1" target="_blank">His Needs, Her Needs</a></i>).<span style="text-align: right;"> </span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Hogwash.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Personally, I really enjoy words of affirmation. Most people do. They make me feel special and wanted...but at my core, it's the sinful nature that truly <i>craves</i> affirmation. It's my internal pride that wants to be validated. And as far as <i>needs</i> go, let's be real: outside of Christ, I have NEED of nothing. Because my husband and I are both growing believers, he has convenanted to love me as a sister in Christ, as a best friend, and as a 'til-death-do-us-part, one-flesh lover. And I don't NEED for him continually to tell me about all of my good qualities for me to know that his love is true. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This is because I do not define LOVE as AFFIRMATION.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now...is it kind of him to do so? To affirm me with his tender words? Of course! However, these words of affirmation should be focused on qualities that are not entangled with sin, in opposition to the affirmation we see celebrated each June. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">With each day forward, we should strive to define love in the very way that God has defined it for us in Scripture. So this month, in a world of affirmation...let's love as Christ commands. And to clarify, the following points are not an exhaustive list of how to do so but merely a few ways that are standing out to me in this moment.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span><span> </span>1. </span></span><span style="text-align: left;">OBEY CHRIST.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li><span style="text-align: left;">"If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15).</span></li></ul><p></p><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"><span> 2. </span>SHOW MERCY.</span><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>When Jesus gave the Greatest Commandment, He said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27). Then, in Jesus' immediately illustrating parable of the Good Samaritan, he asked the hearer, "'Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fall among the robbers?' He said, 'the one who showed him mercy.' And Jesus said to him, 'You go, and do likewise'" (Luke 10:36-37).</li></ul><div><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"> 3. GENTLY CALL OTHERS TO REPENTANCE.</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace...correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their sense and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:22, 25-26).</li></ul></div><div><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-size: medium;"> 4. LIVE SACRIFICALLY. </span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2).</li></ul><p></p><p></p></div></div>leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-7304098657662448392022-06-07T15:01:00.001-04:002022-06-07T15:02:21.823-04:00A return to blogging...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPP79BTSwSgdjSQ1XIfZhH3EuQZcCge9xxAHtHehQ_mH34Xl5ncLkqihvlQDtdVkOVj_dFeZFaK-XqST4Nyyj95_gj7rrdfihsx7gdrZP_K9sJGs3rX5h1dxd0FThxQzcWY8WkKgQ9QX24i-lIzBKXpWNR0XaiOeB9wIbQeTLrZyFqDWeh7J7G4XamA/s800/areturntoblogging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPP79BTSwSgdjSQ1XIfZhH3EuQZcCge9xxAHtHehQ_mH34Xl5ncLkqihvlQDtdVkOVj_dFeZFaK-XqST4Nyyj95_gj7rrdfihsx7gdrZP_K9sJGs3rX5h1dxd0FThxQzcWY8WkKgQ9QX24i-lIzBKXpWNR0XaiOeB9wIbQeTLrZyFqDWeh7J7G4XamA/s16000/areturntoblogging.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well folks, the time has come. As some of you know, I finished seminary and transitioned from working in mental health counseling to teaching <span style="color: #990000;"><b>SEVEN</b></span> long years ago. With that transition, I could no longer carve out the time for blogging. <b><span style="color: #990000;">NO MORE!</span></b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">The return may be slow. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My posts may be infrequent.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I could get a "wild hair" and upload multiple times per week.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Who (only the Lord!) knows?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But I'm excited to be back, and I look forward to interacting with any who choose to jump into the comments. May God be glorified in my upcoming writing...and in the community that may may ensue, if He wills.</p>leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-7452739576330911272014-10-07T21:28:00.003-04:002014-10-24T10:42:47.686-04:00MYTH: Perfect vs. Permissive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">In my <a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2014/10/what-is-gods-will-for-my-life.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, I discussed God's will for our lives. His will is a very important concept to grasp as we plod onward in this <a href="http://www.write31days.com/" target="_blank">31 Days challenge</a> to hear the "<a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/p/31-days.html" target="_blank">Word of God Speak</a>." So let's delve a bit deeper, shall we?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From my teen years (when I <a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2013/10/my-journey-to-christ.html" target="_blank">became a believer</a>), I was taught about God's perfect will. This seemed to be the ideal route, where best-laid plans <i>actually</i> <i>led</i> to greener pastures. I was taught that God "knew the plans He had for me...plans for welfare and not for evil, to give me a future and a hope" <i>a la</i> Jeremiah 29:11. The name tag slapped on those future plans was <i>God's perfect will</i>: a wonderfully plotted-out journey that I could be a part of if only I stayed close to Him and far from sin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But what would happen if I couldn't stay close to God and far from sin? Well, my friends, that's when the <i>permissive</i> will of God came into play - a sort of holy "Plan B." So in the case that I didn't live up to the <i>perfect</i> will of God, I could rest in the fact that I was still within His <i>permissive</i> will - that which He still <i>permitted</i> or <i>allowed</i> to happen to me, even if it wasn't His best road. I don't know if this "Plan B" option was meant to give me comfort or to scare me into a legalistic run toward the prize of "Plan A." But either way, it <i>terrified</i> me...mainly because the idea that God would allow people to slip from His perfect plan seemed to say that He (a) did not know the future and (b) was not all-powerful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, I remember agonizing over the choices I was making - praying that I was "in the center of God's will" (among other, beloved Christianese phrases). I remember almost preemptively asking forgiveness "just in case" I was doing something outside of God's perfect will. For me, the idea of an attainable "Plan A" made me crave that seeming perfection…which was already <a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2014/08/paralyzing-perfectionism.html" target="_blank">a hugely addictive struggle</a> in my spirit.</span><br />
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Because I was single until my early 30s, I remember some of my most dreadful thoughts about winding up with "Plan B" involved a future mate. Perhaps I wouldn't hold out long enough for "the one" God had for me, and I'd end up marrying someone <i>outside</i> of God's perfect will. And would I then have to live with the pain and regret that God "allowed" me to make a choice He didn't like…walking day after day in the consequences of a non-shiny "Plan B" choice? Eek!</span><br />
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After all, the one time I remembered in Scripture when God "allowed" something to happen outside of His perfect will (or so I thought) involved Satan's request to strike Job. <i>Satan! </i>I didn't want <i>anything</i> to do with <i>him</i>!</span><br />
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Over the years, I have learned more and more about God's Word and His ways. And the more I have learned, the more I have come to see the ideas of the "perfect" and "permissive" wills of God as myth rather than fact. Actually, <em>misnomer</em> is more the word I'm looking for, here. And as I sit under the wise teaching of godly professors at <a href="http://www.sbts.edu/" target="_blank">seminary</a> each week, my new view of God's will becomes crisper and clearer with each passing day.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">I am learning that it's far more biblical to look at God's will as divided into the following two categories: </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">1) God's decreed/sovereign will<br />2) God's revealed will</span></b></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">First is God's decreed (or sovereign) will. This is the larger spectrum in which everything that's <i>going</i> to happen <i>actually happens</i>. Speaking of Job...Job 42:2 says, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>DOH!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well that threw a wrench into my thinking, straight away. For this verse declares that <i>nothing</i> <i>ever happens</i> outside of God's will. <i>Nothing.</i> Not to mention that the clarifiers "perfect" and "permissive" represent divisions within God's will that are detailed <i>nowhere</i> in Scripture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next is God's revealed will. This is a subset within the big picture that our decisions <i>do</i> help to determine - the part that we are responsible for, so to speak. This area includes our choices (both sinful and not).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While some might chalk this debate up to semantics, I assure you that having a clearer view has been quite freeing for me. But lest this post go on forever...I'd <i>love</i> to share more about this with you tomorrow in my next installment in this <a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/p/31-days.html" target="_blank">31 Days series</a>. We have only scraped the surface of this concept, and hopefully many questions are springing up in your head. I know they are in mine, and I want to be able to address them all! So please stay tuned as we delve deeper in the days to come!</span><br />
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leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-56551783662785623272014-10-03T23:07:00.000-04:002014-10-08T00:37:05.188-04:00What is God's will for my life?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I begin this </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">31 Days</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> challenge to have the "Word of God Speak" into our lives, I must consider the following question:</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">What is God's will for my life?</span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This question is one that has haunted many a believer. In fact, some have become paralyzed by this query…agonizing over every, little decision, overanalyzing every seeming "sign" out there as to whether or not it is pointing them in a Godward direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many wonder if there is a specific plan that God has for their lives, one that would be His perfect, holy will. Some feel that they have detoured off of God's divine plan, either by sinning or by making choices "outside" the will of God.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Boy, have I been there.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Big" questions often plague us the most when it comes to the subject of God's will:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To what college should I go?<br />What career should I choose?<br />Whom should I marry?<br />Should we have kids? How many?</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">And the list goes on and on…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I will tackle some of these heavy questions in a later post. But for now, we must zoom out a bit and consider the larger scheme at work. The forest rather than the trees, as it were. Questions like:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What is the purpose of life?<br />What is the chief end of man?<br />Why did God create us?<br />Does God have a plan?</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The whole counsel of Scripture would point to the glory of God being the purpose of all creation, the reason we were made, etc. The <a href="http://www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous/westminster1" target="_blank">Westminster Shorter Catechism</a> succinctly states that "man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever." If the grand-scale plan of life is this, then God's will for our lives is largely to be conformed to His image - that we might bring honor and glory to God amidst the world around us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Romans 8:29 declares, "For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be <i>conformed to the image of His Son</i>." And 2 Corinthians 3:18 reads, "And we all, with unveiled face, <i>beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image</i> from one degree of glory to another."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So how do we proceed in this? Would you believe me if I said the Bible tells us exactly what God's will is for our lives? Well, it does:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>1 Thessalonians 4:3</u><br />"For this is the will of God, your sanctification."</b></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">With the divine leading of the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us what God's will for us is: sanctification. More simply put: growth in God. Paul then goes on to list many behaviors that either show or do not show conformity to God's ways. His list is not all-inclusive, but it does give us a start for examining whether or not our lives are looking like Christ's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So to answer the age-old question, "What is God's will for my life?": growth in the likeness of Christ. This is where we start, and this is where we finish. The process is life-long, however, and it <i>does</i> include our making of godly decisions based on the direction of His Word. Please join in as we continue to discuss this all month!</span><br />
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leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-6084401369213884152014-10-02T22:41:00.000-04:002014-10-06T10:26:42.279-04:00I am going to share my heart with you today...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I am going to share my heart with you today</strong><b>…</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First off, today was a rough day. It wasn't rough in the sense that anything "bad" happened to me. It was rough because it was a <em>full</em> day. And it was rough because there were unexpected kinks in the schedule <em>all day long</em>. If I'm completely honest with myself (and with you!), it was rough because I was being selfish with my time. When I realized this, I repented and tried to walk through the rest of the day in a more unselfish manner...taking time to breathe, worshiping the Lord through song, and spending time with people who matter to me. You know, really <em>being there </em>in the moment with them - <em>not</em> wishing I was doing something else on my crazy busy schedule!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That being said, I did not have time until now (read: 10:41pm) to write this post. But alas, I signed up for <em><a href="http://write31days.com/" target="_blank">31 Days</a></em>...and I am here. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I am going to share my heart with you today</strong><b>…</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My <em>31 Days</em> writing project is entitled "Word of God Speak." And it's not because I really dig the band <em>Mercy Me</em> and their hit tune from 2002. :) Rather, it is because I have recently been challenged to start rethinking the way that God truly speaks: through His Word...not the "warm fuzzies" through which I <em>want</em> Him to speak. [Are you sensing a "selfish" theme, here? 'Cause I am!]</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I am going to share my heart with you today</strong><b>…</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am currently taking a class at </span><a href="http://www.sbts.edu/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> called "Typical Problems in Biblical Counseling." The professor is Dr. Stuart Scott, a fellow with the </span><a href="http://www.biblicalcounseling.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Association of Certified Biblical Counselors</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> (now ACBC, formerly known as NANC) and author of many books on the topic. I've taken Dr. Scott's classes before, so I knew what I was signing up for: unadulterated honesty about deep discipleship in Christ. I also knew I was going to be challenged, pruned, and quite possibly stunned by how the Holy Spirit would use my prof to pry open my heart and receive the Word in new ways that I had not considered in the past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One month into the course, the hammer fell.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">I am going to share my heart with you today...</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have been tackling the following: biblical decision-making. As I began learning about the subject, my eyes were opened to the fact that I often look to feelings, signs/wonders, etc. when I want to "hear" from the Lord. Now, I already considered myself to be quite conservative on the topic of how the Lord speaks...ascribing to Southern Baptist doctrine and being a bit of a theologyphile...but I was challenged to my core. My prof posed the argument that God speaks through His written Word - not just through His Word <em>above</em> all other forms of speaking, but <em>only</em> through His Word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At first, this was a hard concept for me to grasp. I have often heard (and even taught others) that God speaks through His people, through confirmations, etc. But I am now beginning to understand that that is not the most biblical concept. Also, I am coming to realize that this is often an issue of semantics, since we many times say "God spoke" to us when we really mean something more akin to "God used a godly person or an exraordinary experience to clarify something or provide guidance that is parallel to that already included in Scripture." The second answer just takes longer to say [and doesn't quite sound as "spiritual," if you know what I mean].</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">I am going to share my heart with you today...</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In order to enhance my own learning about this topic, I will be writing about it all month for you to read and interact with. <em>I welcome your feedback.</em> Please know that I do <em>not</em> have this all figured out. I am a lifelong learner, as all believers should be! </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">I am going to share my heart with you today...</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I gotta' admit, I am also a bit scared to approach such a controversial topic with y'all. And I am nervous that my thoughts will come across as judgmental. So please know that we must all tread lightly, here. I will be approaching each day's post with fear and trembling, with humility and an honest/open heart. I will also be using Dr. Scott's notes as a resource. I am making this known because I am crediting him for the topic and the structure of this <em>31 Days</em> discussion. At times, I will be referencing another resource as well: the book <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Decision-Making-Will-God-Alternative/dp/1590522052" target="_blank">Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View</a></em> (by Garry Friesen). The thoughts and illustrations, however, will be my own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please join and interact with me, as I share my heart daily on this journey through letting the "Word of God Speak."</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/p/31-days.html" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.journeytogodly.com/p/31-days.html" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-jOCEM3HEg/VCx7qY8e0BI/AAAAAAAABOk/GSh_1RbJULc/s1600/WOGS.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-33220643376623528822014-10-01T21:08:00.000-04:002014-10-03T20:39:39.243-04:0031 Days: "Word of God Speak"<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">This month, I will be linking up with </span><a href="http://www.thenester.com/2014/09/31-days-2014.html" style="background-color: white; color: #27aeae; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Nester</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> to write for 31 consecutive days about the same topic: "Word of God Speak."</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-jOCEM3HEg/VCx7qY8e0BI/AAAAAAAABOk/GSh_1RbJULc/s1600/WOGS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-jOCEM3HEg/VCx7qY8e0BI/AAAAAAAABOk/GSh_1RbJULc/s1600/WOGS.png" height="500" width="500" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Since I am currently pursuing my biblical counseling certification, I have been doing a <i>ton</i> of studying lately! And most all of my studies here recently have had to do with the sufficiency of God's Word for the decision-making process. So...I will be putting all that study to use by blogging about what I am learning for the next 31 days!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a name='more'></a><br /><br />So often, we attribute so little of what we feel "God is speaking" to us to the actual, written words in Scripture. I know I've done it! Many times, I've struggled to "hear God's voice" and "know His will" without searching the Bible for how His Word might lead me.<br /><br />All that said, please join me in studying the ways that God does/doesn't speak to us over the month of October. I will be posting the links to each day's blog post at the link below, as the month progresses.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/p/31-days.html">http://www.journeytogodly.com/p/31-days.html</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br />If you would like to take the <a href="http://write31days.com/" style="color: #27aeae; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">31 Days Challenge</a>, click on the link below:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://write31days.com/" style="color: #27aeae; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img alt="http://write31days.com" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4baD9zeiATs/VCQkCMbhR4I/AAAAAAAABL0/zBPs59iCIk0/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-09-25%2Bat%2B10.17.18%2BAM.png" height="109" style="border: currentColor; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I hope to see you soon!</span></div>
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leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-51352000338186351422014-09-30T14:58:00.001-04:002014-10-06T10:12:43.394-04:00#InfluenceConf 2014 RECAP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I'm not quite sure where to begin. I am still processing all that I learned last Thursday through Saturday, and I'm not quite certain I'm ready to share that half-digested nugget of knowledge with the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2013/10/gleanings-from-2013-influence-conference.html" target="_blank">Last year</a>, I attended the <a href="http://www.theinfluenceconference.com/" target="_blank">Influence Conference</a> for the first time. I had no real expectations, as I had never been to a blogging conference before…let alone a Christian women's blogging conference. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Don't get me wrong, I've been in many conference settings over the years. Being in leadership in the faith community and the social work community for years now, I've attended almost every conference imaginable in both arenas. On the faith side, there's been the Youth Evangelism Conference, Women of Faith, Girls of Grace, Youth Specialties, Transformed, and a host of other ministry and missions events. On the social work side, I've attended autism conferences, systems of care conferences, and so on. My experience is varied between the sacred and the secular.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That first year at Influence, though, my experience was unprecedented. Included was a perfect mesh of business and faith training. I learned that the <a href="http://theinfluencenetwork.com/" target="_blank">Influence Network</a> exists to equip women to make their online lives <i>mean something</i>. Rather than seeing the online world as dark and full of seedy temptation (how many Christians view it...and somewhat rightfully so!), the Network champions our ability to live for Christ on the internet. And this perspective was refreshing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This year, I almost waited too late to get my ticket. In fact, I let the deadline pass and had to purchase my tickets from a lovely women who could no longer make it to the event. And I am <i>so</i> grateful it worked out. The conference was just what I needed to jump start my writing again and refocus me on being about God's business in my online <i>and</i> in-person life. I have influence, and I need to be using it wisely.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>27 <i>full</i> journal pages later, I sit in awe of what I learned about the Lord and about myself at Influence this year.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Over the course of a few days, I learned a <i>ton</i> about writing, speaking, blogging, branding, and publicizing. But much more than that, I learned about God's Word and His call for us to surrender <i>fully</i> to Him. I learned about the power of having other Christian women speaking the truth of God's Word into my life. The ladies I connected with at Influence this year were some of the most genuine and life-giving women I've met. Learning their stories and receiving their encouragement meant so much. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Below are some snippets of the most powerful things I learned...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">From <a href="http://www.thetinytwig.com/" target="_blank">Haley Morgan</a>:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My influence is not about my evocative words, my perfect Instagrams, my topknot, or my red lips.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Gospel stands up in the harsh lights and in the shadows.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Gospel is like a diamond, it's beautiful from a billion different angels. Just look closely at each side and tell the world about it" (Jess Thompson quote).</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I don't keep the world spinning. I am enough - but not too much - because of Christ.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Let go of the try-hard life. Silence the striving.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">From <a href="http://www.naptimediaries.com/" target="_blank">Jess Connolly</a>:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It's worth us taking the time in the early stages of building to ask <i>why</i> we're building.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I'm still that girl who wakes up every day and wants to build a kingdom of her own. God says "no" to that.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God loves <i>His</i> kingdom; God hates <i>my</i> kingdom. He is glorified when I build His kingdom.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God is out for His glory, but He is gracious.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We are <i>for</i> God, but are we <i>with</i> Him? Let's not be people who talk <i>about</i> Him but not <i>to</i> Him.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If there are any believing women out there reading this post who are bloggers, writers, speakers, ministers, small business owners, moms with Etsy shops, and the like…please consider becoming a part of the <a href="http://theinfluencenetwork.com/" target="_blank">Influence Network</a> or attending next year's <a href="http://www.theinfluenceconference.com/" target="_blank">Influence Conference</a>. There is nothing like being refreshed and encouraged by other women in Christ who are seeking to reach the lost world in similar ways.</span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-52224552751638300502014-09-15T20:53:00.000-04:002014-10-15T13:35:16.959-04:00Priorities.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgKRvETXL90/VAoThgtwPzI/AAAAAAAABHw/KCHZ53mQ57c/s1600/Priorities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgKRvETXL90/VAoThgtwPzI/AAAAAAAABHw/KCHZ53mQ57c/s1600/Priorities.jpg" height="640" width="536" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Having recently reentered seminary, I have found myself reordering my life around a new set of deadlines - really, a new set of <i>priorities</i>. If you've ever begun anything new (or started <i>back</i> to something that's been absent in your life for a while), you'll know that it is hard work to get everything accomplished - especially at the beginning!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">In recent weeks, I have found myself trying to shove my husband, job, schoolwork, friendships, Bible study time, and </span><span style="font-size: large;">ministry opportunities into the tiny bag that is my life</span><span style="font-size: large;">…until it was bursting at the seams! Getting it all in there is <i>tough stuff</i>. Picture this: it's like the carry-on suitcase that is too small to now zip up around the entire wardrobe you want to take with you on vaca. No matter how much you squish, tuck, fold, roll, cram, and <i>sit on the case </i>- it refuses to close. What's a girl to do?</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Busy-Mercifully-Really-Problem/dp/1433533383" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YQdwqo_ggZs/VAoUOJ35QQI/AAAAAAAABH4/cMS4OmNM6m4/s1600/CrazyBusy.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Over the summer, our church has been studying Kevin DeYoung's book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Busy-Mercifully-Really-Problem/dp/1433533383" target="_blank">Crazy Busy</a></i>. This read came at the right time for me, as it seeks to help believers understand the theology of rest (yes, that's actually a thing) as well as better prioritize the stresses of life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Saying "no" is key to getting said rest...for the more you say "yes," the more you have to cram into the space of a day. Quite a while ago, I learned a phrase that has helped me tremendously with the tug to do more: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">A need is not a call</b><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Does that make sense? Just because a need exists does not mean that you or I are the ones <i>called</i> to fill that need. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Oh. Sweet. Freedom.</em></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now…that being said, we do not have to be "called" to do all things. The Spirit does not have to "call" us to the mundane tasks of life that are indeed worthy of doing. For example, I was not "called" to brush my teeth this morning. But that need, my friends, <i>got did</i>! [And for that, my husband was thankful come goodbye-kiss time!]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Besides the everyday, ordinary, "small" tasks that need no calling, however, are the bigger things to which all believers are <i>already</i> called. These tasks as well need no "extra calling" to be done. For example, the Great Commission - perhaps the "biggest" of all tasks/needs (Matthew 28:19-20) - calls <i>all believers </i>to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Jesus wasn't telling His disciples that only those "called" to foreign missions ought to be taking His Gospel to the ends of the earth. Too many times, we think we need some kind of "special calling" above and beyond that of Jesus' words to actually participate in missions.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Psssssshhht! <i>Hogwash!</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So how do we differentiate between that which we ought to be saying "yes" and "no"…as well as fulfilling our callings rather than just meeting every arbitrary need out there in the world?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I gotta' say, there is no easy answer to this one.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In his book, Kevin DeYoung takes a stab at this by guiding readers to write down their priorities in life. When my pastor had us do this activity a few weeks back, I knew what I <i>should</i> be writing down…but my answer was a far cry from the woulda, coulda, shouldas.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /><b>Here is what my list <i>should</i> have looked like:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1) Alone Time with God</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">2) Michael (my husband)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">3) Ministry Opportunities</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">4) Work</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">5) School</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">6) Friends</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">7) Other</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Instead…</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">1) Work/</span><span style="font-size: large;">School (interchangeable, based on the day)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">2) Michael</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">3) Ministry Opportunities</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">4) Other</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">5) Friends/</span><span style="font-size: large;">Alone Time with God (again, depending on the day)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ugh. Fail. Epically so.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Though I thought that God carried place numero uno in my heart, I wasn't living that out in the day-to-day. And boy, was it was easy to determine what my top priority was...it was whatever I moved the <em>other</em> stuff around to get it completed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Since the <i>Crazy Busy</i> study, I have been seeking to right myself in the sight of the Lord, priority-wise. It's not an easy journey, but it is both a need <i>and</i> a call. And I'll bet that many of you as well struggle with this great battle for our attentions. So let's be about the work of aligning our priorities as they should be - by placing God back on the throne of our hearts and giving Him the pen to our planners. May our lives began to mirror the lyrics from one of my favorite worship songs as of late:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"Hallelujah, all I have is Christ. Hallelujah, Jesus is my life!"</i></span></blockquote>
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leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-768150185579886082014-08-29T16:55:00.000-04:002014-10-15T13:45:04.571-04:00Paralyzing Perfectionism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G8QFsG48GF4/U80eYjHHr4I/AAAAAAAABC8/vUqtIqdyRrI/s1600/ParalyzingPerfectionism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G8QFsG48GF4/U80eYjHHr4I/AAAAAAAABC8/vUqtIqdyRrI/s1600/ParalyzingPerfectionism.jpg" height="375" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I struggle with perfectionism…the type that is pervasive and sometimes paralyzing. Now before you write me off as "type A," one who seeks to be "better than" others, or just a freak of nature - please hear me out. And take time to evaluate your own heart, as you read. For I believe there are many more closeted perfectionists among us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">According to the Counseling Center at the University of Illinois, many college students struggle with perfectionism. I mention this fact because I have recently re-entered seminary and am taking a full load of classes [#thestruggleisreal]. <a href="http://www.counselingcenter.illinois.edu/self-help-brochures/academic-difficulties/perfectionism/" target="_blank">Here</a>, they list the following questions to help students diagnose the problem:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">1) Do you feel like what you accomplish is never quite good enough?</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">2) Do you often put off turning in papers or projects for school/work, waiting to get them <i>just right</i>?</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">3) Do you feel you must give <i>more</i> than 100 percent (though that's technically not possible!) on everything you do or else you will be seen at best as "mediocre," at worst - a failure?</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dl2tOaW7nA4/U_X3nEuQzoI/AAAAAAAABFk/aK2WodxutjI/s1600/Culkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dl2tOaW7nA4/U_X3nEuQzoI/AAAAAAAABFk/aK2WodxutjI/s1600/Culkin.jpg" height="233" width="416" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">According to Marshall and Mary Asher's biblical counseling resource, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Christians-Guide-Psychological-Terms/dp/1885904495" target="_blank">The Christian's Guide to Psychological Terms</a></i>, the perfectionist may be characterized by the following:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Believes that tasks are "all or nothing," "success or failure"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Has unrealistic goals</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Fears losing control</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Feels guilty over things he thinks he should have done</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Feels depressed because he could not accomplish everything</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Panics when things do not turn out the way he thought they should</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Worries about what others think of him</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Is intolerant of other people's standards</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Judges his self-worth by his performance</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Receives criticism poorly</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Compares himself to others</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>OUCH!</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you are like me, you will have checked "yes" for at least one of these. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YShYwLys3EM/U7L9_4TJGqI/AAAAAAAABCE/-8C5IKbXyxc/s1600/MScott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YShYwLys3EM/U7L9_4TJGqI/AAAAAAAABCE/-8C5IKbXyxc/s1600/MScott.jpg" height="233" width="416" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">According to Merriam-Webster, the medical definition of perfectionism is as follows:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable; <i>especially </i>the setting of unrealistically demanding goals accompanied by a disposition to regard failure to achieve them as unacceptable and a sign of personal worthlessness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Some strive for perfectionism in a way that they go "whole hog" - completing everything 100 percent. And some of these folks (not all!) can end up being bound by workaholism, eating disorders, OCD, etc...due to the degree that they give in to their perfectionistic tendencies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My particular brand of perfectionism, however, surfaces as a paralyzer through my vice of choice: procrastination.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I procrastinate completing tasks because I want to do them only when I have enough time to do them <i>absolutely</i> right. Please allow me to illustrate: </span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I am often down-to-the-wire on deadlines at work, because I put off writing case notes until I have the "time" to write them as detailed as I want them to be.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I often leave chores around the house undone because (let's face it) there's <i>never</i> enough time for perfection in a lived-in home…and if I can't get something as organized as I want it, I might as well not even try.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I will often go days (nay, weeks!) without blogging because I feel like I won't have the time to craft a "perfect" post.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I hinder my own walk with Christ because I long to study something in-depth, from cover to cover. Again, time constraints come in, and I put off starting because I feel I won't finish the study/memorization/etc. in the way that I want.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Notice any trends, here?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want…<i>I want</i>…<i>I WANT! </i></span></span><br />
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<b>I have come to realize that my struggle with perfectionism is sin, plain and simple. It is selfish arrogance of the highest order. </b></span><br />
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According to the Ashers, perfectionism has <i>pride</i> at its core. The perfectionist believes "his way is the correct way, wants people to think highly of him and his accomplishments, is consumed with thoughts of self, and wants to control everything." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I need to relinquish control to Christ over things that I have a death-grip on (read: perfectionistic striving). I need to turn from my sin. Do you? Let us repent from paralyzing perfectionism and instead walk in the freedom of "failing" in Christ…<i>failing</i> our old slumlord of sin while <i>falling</i> into the forgiving arms of our Redeemer. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So how do we accomplish this task? Thanks for asking!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">1) Repent from pride.</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">We must turn away from self-seeking ways. Our thought life is in error, for we think more grandiosely of ourselves than we ought. We are </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">not</i><span style="font-size: large;"> the kings of our own world, God is! We have set up ourselves as our own, personal idols. Perfectionism says, "I can do it without God (or anyone else!)." </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">2) Start <i>now</i>.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Don't put off obedience until it feels convenient or "start-worthy." Purposely start tasks </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">now</i><span style="font-size: large;"> rather than waiting until better "beginning" days. For example, don't wait 'til Monday, the first of a month, or the new year…start </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">now.</i> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">3) Identify your priorities.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Some things matter, some things don't. Most things fall somewhere in the middle. To quote an old friend, "You make time for what you want to make time for." List your tasks from greatest to least importance, and schedule them into your day accordingly.</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">4) Make it work.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> [Thanks, Tim Gunn, for</span></span><br />
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mainstreaming this wonderful phrase!] Follow your schedule, check off your to-do list, and <i>get things done</i>. It doesn't matter if you have an interruption or if you don't have time to fully complete a chore to perfection <i>right now</i>. If you get halfway finished, schedule a time the next day for completion. If you only make it a third of the way, schedule two more windows of time - and so on.</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">5) Let others help.</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever heard it said, "If you want something done right, do it yourself"? I have…and for years, I have bought into that statement hook, line, and sinker. In order to beat perfectionism, though, we must let others help us out with tasks we don't have time to complete. According to Kevin DeYoung's book </span><i style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Busy-Mercifully-Really-Problem/dp/1433533383/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409321536&sr=8-1&keywords=crazy+busy" target="_blank">Crazy Busy</a></i><span style="font-size: large;">, we have to be willing to delegate and to accept help from others. Beware, for DeYoung warns that this will require "having the courage to accept that someone might be able to do a worse job."</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">6) Rely on God's strength.</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">When the apostle Paul was plagued by a "thorn in the flesh" from which he was not delivered, God spoke these words to him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Selfish strivings like perfectionism don't go away overnight. When we choose to walk away from sin or from a certain personal "bent," we are not immediately made strong. Inversely, we are often weak and reeling from the change God is enacting in us…</span><i style="font-size: x-large;">as it should be</i><span style="font-size: large;">. We must rely on </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">His</i><span style="font-size: large;"> strength to make it through our challenges. </span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><u>Note</u>: I will be continuing this discussion in a later post that will focus on priorities, so please leave a comment below about anything further you'd like to see addressed. Then make sure to come back to check it out next week! </span></div>
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</span>leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-12687168023622944002014-08-04T20:29:00.003-04:002014-10-15T20:43:35.957-04:00Birthday Evaluation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This is it. My birthday. At 1:32pm today, I officially turned 35 years of age. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's weird to me. 35. </span><span style="font-size: large;">A new box to check. A downward slide into 40 [snort]. I am not so concerned with being another year older. I am, however, concerned with being another year down the path toward Heaven yet nowhere near where I want to be in light of the holiness that radiates from my God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I was small, birthdays were filled with fluttery anticipation of parties, presents, and cake. [Ohhhh, the cake!] But as I grow older, birthdays have become a time to "be still" (Psalm 46:10) at my Savior's side, to be ever so grateful for the fragile blessing that is and continues to be…my life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Birthdays also give me pause to evaluate, much like New Year's Day does. And as I look back upon my 34th year, I see a myriad of things to evaluate: my walk with Christ, my relationship with my husband, my closeness with family and friends, my progress toward work/health/educational goals, and whether or not I'm seizing every opportunity to minister for Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In my 34th year, I started this blog…and then I took a break from it over the summer. But I am craving to be back. Back to writing on a regular basis. Back to sharing what God is teaching me. Seminary papers and counseling case notes beckon, so I must be brief. But I want this to be known: I long to be here…stumbling along this "journey to godly" with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So today, on my birthday, one of the things I am evaluating is what I do here on the blog and why I do it. And I'd like <i>your</i> help. Please leave a comment below about what <i>you'd</i> like to see here. If it's addressing a specific topic biblically, <i>great</i>! If it's providing resources for your own studies, <i>wonderful</i>! Please let me know how I might best use this blog to honor God by serving <i>you</i>.</span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-82473957760315543732014-05-26T21:13:00.000-04:002014-10-15T13:53:46.478-04:00Why Inviting People to Church Won't Work...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RHYcHHr8J40/U4OZaLMLUpI/AAAAAAAABBQ/t8mGqxTEQH8/s1600/wontwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RHYcHHr8J40/U4OZaLMLUpI/AAAAAAAABBQ/t8mGqxTEQH8/s1600/wontwork.jpg" height="329" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Gone are the days when simply “inviting people to church” was enough to get the salvation ball rolling, so to speak. Today's average Joe (or Jane) doesn't care much for getting up early on a day off work, dressing up (to some measure), and taking his/her family to a church service. And with the bad rap that health/wealth preacher-thieves, priestly pedophiles, and the terminally unfaithful have given the church…most viewers of the nightly news think that houses of worship are disdainful. Heck - due to technological advances, even many so-called Christians prefer "streaming" services online to an in-the-flesh gathering of believers these days. So, how can we expect to non-believers to get all hopped-up about attending church?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One of my youth asked me about this matter last night, and I found that the answer was already lodged in his question. His query involved whether or not it was wrong for us to think that we could just invite someone to church and expect the pastor to “do all the work,” spiritually, in that person’s life. Of course, his presupposition was correct: yes, it is wrong for us to think this. In fact, that idea is unrealistic at best...more akin to preposterous, absurd, and even laughable! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I remember being a teenager in a mid-sized Southern Baptist Church in Georgia - growing up with “high-attendance Sunday” being the gold standard for church outreach events. But even back then, it didn’t work <i>well</i>. Sure, we’d canvas the neighborhood and mail out enough fliers to wallpaper the Taj Mahal. And of course, we'd prepare a country-fried potluck dinner to rival the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Amidst all our frenzy, though, we might've increased attendance by about 25% for the day - but then, where'd all those people disappear to the next Sunday?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">For some, it was back to their relaxing, poolside Sunday Funday. For others, it was back to their own congregations. [Because, contrary to popular belief, many people simply <strike>invited</strike> proselytized friends from <i>other</i> churches to boost their numbers and win the Sunday School's coveted "outreach" award pizza party. <em>Ugh</em>.] For more still, it was back to their way of thinking that church was definitely <i>not</i> for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">At any rate…today's churches are full of pew-sitters who (to some measure) still believe that all we have to do is "invite people to church" in order to fulfill the Great Commission. We are <i>sorely</i> mistaken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The command to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" in Matthew 28:19-20 mentions <em>nothing</em> about inviting people to sit in a pew on Sundays. However, it does mention the following...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>1) Make disciples</b>:</span><span style="font-size: large;"> the imperative Greek verb that commands us to guide others to conform to the image of Christ, just as we are already doing.</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>2) Going</b>:</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> the Greek participle implying a habitually traveling state of pursuing others - wherever they may be (think: the ends of the earth) - in order to make disciples of them.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>3) Baptizing</b>:</span><span style="font-size: large;"> the Greek participle speaking of the completion of the conversion of others (i.e. they have come to faith in Christ, they have declared that faith to others by means of baptism, and they have joined a local body with which they can grow).</span> </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>4) Teaching</b>:</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> the Greek participle meaning to train someone else by word, deed, correction, encouragement, etc. to follow Christ.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So the command for us to "make disciples" by going, baptizing, and teaching speaks to a far greater investment than a mere invite. And to further address my young friend's question about "letting the pastor do all the work"…</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">No pastor can deeply connect with every visitor to a church service. And true, person-to-person connection is generally what most people need to understand the Gospel fully and commit to a life in Christ. Why is this? Well the Gospel is, by nature, a shared commodity. God has chosen that the Gospel call go out to the nations by those of us who already know Jesus and can tell others about how <em>they</em> can know Him as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, perhaps the most effective, missional thing that one can do is to befriend sinners. And I'm not talking about being a courteous <i>bystander to </i>their lives but rather a loving and persistent <i>investor in</i> them. The old, somewhat trite adage is true: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." If we genuinely care for lost people <i>just the way they are</i>, they will most likely reciprocate - in turn, caring for us just the way <i>we</i> are. This will lead <em>them</em> to ask questions about our faith and actually listen when we answer. This will also lead <i>us</i> to communicate the Gospel in a way that speaks to <i>where they are</i> - because we will know the intricacies that make up their lives. We will more intimately know their passions, griefs, and deepest needs that only Christ can fill. And if we are living Christlike lifestyles in their full view, they will be much more willing to hear about this great salvation that we are proclaiming.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So yes, it <i>is</i> wrong for us to think that we can simply invite people to church and expect the pastor to complete the work unto salvation in their lives. </span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">"<b>Inviting people to church" won't work.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">It won't work to widely propagate salvation, and it won't work to fulfill our command to make disciples. In light of this fact, let us strive to befriend those sinners for whom Christ died so that we may respond to the Great Commission with gusto. And let our authentic, genuine style of evangelism be one that the Holy Spirit can swiftly work through in order that the lost may be found in Him.</span></span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-57422988736495996872014-05-22T22:11:00.000-04:002014-10-15T13:55:09.970-04:00We Are God's…Sons?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If we are in Christ, we are daughters of the King. How awesome does that sound?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In Isaiah 43:6-7, God called out, “Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In 2 Corinthians 6:18, God said, “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Even in a time when women weren’t valued as equals in society, God valued girls equally as His precious creation...and He valued those that truly knew Him as Savior as His beloved <i>daughters</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sometimes, the Bible simply classifies those that love Christ as “children” of God - not making mention of gender at all. However, more often than not, believers are referred to as the “sons” of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I have often heard speakers at girls’ and women’s events change the wording of certain verses about the “sons” of God to add “and daughters” after it. In this way, they felt they were making the passage more applicable to the all-female audience. I have even done this myself in order to point out to young women that God’s Word applies to us girls as well as the guys...even if the verse in question reads “sons.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I was recently reading a book that brought the idea of being “sons” of God into a new and fascinating light for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The author of the book was discussing Galatians 3:26, a verse in which Paul stated, “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Now normally, I would be mentally inserting the words “and daughters” during the reading of this passage; however, the author pointed out that the larger context of the text was about God’s adoption of us <i>all</i> - even the girls! - as “sons” in order that we could be “heirs according to promise” (v. 29).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You see, back in the day (read: Bible times), sons were the only ones who received an inheritance from their fathers. Thus, <i>sons</i> were the only ones considered to be true “heirs” in a family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ladies, when we come to Christ and receive His free gift of salvation, God makes us His <i>sons</i>. This doesn’t mean we undergo a divine gender-change. Rather, we are considered <i>equal heirs</i>. We are given the full inheritance of abundant life...both here on earth and in heaven to come!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Isn’t this a precious nugget of truth from the Word? We, as women, are considered <i>sons</i>. In our day and age, this may not seem so revolutionary. But believe you me, if we were living in Old or New Testament times, we’d be ecstatic about this fact.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A few Sundays back, we sang the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” in church. As I vocalized the words, “Thou my great Father, I thy true son,” I almost wept. Because from now on, whenever I read a verse, hear a message, or sing a song about the “sons of God,” I will no longer be mouthing the words <i>and daughters</i> to follow. I will be rejoicing in the fact that Christ has made me an <i>equal heir</i> to the glorious Kingdom of my Father. I am a <i>true son</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Let us all rejoice in the message of Galatians 3:26-29:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>For in Christ Jesus you are all <u>sons</u> of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, 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, <u>heirs</u> according to promise.</i></span></blockquote>
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leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-8004044781820083042014-05-20T22:38:00.004-04:002014-10-15T13:57:29.673-04:00ALL YOU YOUNG, WILD GIRLS: The Sexploitability of the "Scene Girl" Subculture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Girls' ministry involves long talks with young women about their hopes and dreams, their walks with God, their frustrations with parents, their questions about relationships...and the way they choose to present themselves to the world.</span><br />
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I was talking with a young woman the other day who gravitates toward the "scene" look. [For those of you who are unfamiliar, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scene_(subculture)" target="_blank">scene subculture</a> applies to both guys and girls who identify largely through fashion and music. Having been labeled everything from emo to grunge to punk, scene kids generally have the same "look": an ultra-slim frame, outrageously-colored hair, dark makeup, facial piercings, tattoos, etc.] If you are involved in youth ministry of any sort, I'm sure you have <i>seen</i> your fair share of <i>scene</i> kids (ba-dum-tsss!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A major issue for teen and young adult women is image. In many ways, <em>that</em> is what defines them - more than their family, more than their friends, more than their Savior (<em>ouch!)</em> - their image is what they hone the most and value more than anything. I think this comes from the vulnerability of puberty and the challenge that young women face when trying to reconcile the way they look with the way the media portrays beauty. At any rate, the scene subculture has for years taken in girls who feel misunderstood, less than beautiful, and desperate for a place to fit in. Many of these girls are attracted to the scene look and the scene crowd, as they've found it to embrace their darkest, deepest feelings and flaws yet still providing them a way to be viewed as beautiful.</span><br />
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Anyway, after talking with my young friend…and after recently attending a conference session on human trafficking…all these thoughts started swirling in my head. Now, I realize these two things seem <em>very</em> different and possibly not at all tied to one another. But all this thinking led me to some pretty scary places. Please know that with my writing today, I am not seeking to poke fun or make harsh judgments. I am also not seeking to say that scene culture and sex trafficking are irreparably linked. What I <i>am</i> seeking to do is to lovingly warn and protect some of our most vulnerable young girls.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>[<i>Note: some of the below is a bit blunt and graphic, so please be aware.</i>]</b></span></div>
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All of the following statements come from recent research I've done on the scene subculture that <em>strangely</em> connect to the markers that sex traffickers are looking for in young women they wish to lure into the trade. </span><br />
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1. Your average scene girl is striving to be a size 0. Slightness of frame is obsessed about among this group, and that focus often leads to unhealthy eating habits in order to maintain the frail norm. </span><br />
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2. Scene girls appear to be seeking the attention and affirmation of others. When searching for "scene" images (please don't!) on Pinterest or elsewhere, I encountered mostly selfies…and many of them were quite sexualized. The problem with the selfie obsession is that it is heavily steeped in vanity [I wrote earlier about selfies <a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2013/10/selfies.html" target="_blank">here</a>]. But the sultry, sensual poses of the scene girls I encountered took a further step into wanting that attention and affirmation<em> </em>from <em>guys</em>. I'm going to be frank here: the pouty-lipped, angled-from-above selfie basically gives guys the image of girls that they would see from being "on top of" them. While most will not be that candid, I feel it's necessary to do so in order to help girls see the image they are truly portraying. Most likely, the men that are searching for and viewing these images are making the young women their fantasy fodder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. Scene fashion is quite the attention-grabber as well. First, there's the extreme hair: vibrant colors, multiple layers, extensions, teasing, etc… Second, there's the outrageous </span><span style="font-size: large;">makeup, which involves a </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>ton</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> of black eyeliner, among other things.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">4. "Scene" clothing is often tight, ripped, and provocative...think "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_High" target="_blank">Monster High</a>" for actual people. These sexed-up outfits do not portray modesty or chastity to the world of men. And when these clothes are combined with the right hair and make-up, they almost serve as a costume or "mask" that the young woman can either hide behind or use to prompt more of a caricature-type lifestyle rather than reality. [Otherwise, they can be who they "want" to be rather than who God created them to be.]</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. Tattoos and piercings are also common among scene girls, and while I do </span><span style="font-size: large;">not believe <i>all</i> tats and piercings are bad, one must be judicious with how far she goes in this area. Many of the popular piercings of this subculture are facial - usually multiple mouth piercings - which originated for the purpose of oral sexual pleasure. [Girls: while this may not be <em>your</em> reason for getting them, rest assured - guys are going there in their minds. Again, you a</span><span style="font-size: large;">re likely becoming nighttime fantasy material.] Going even further, piercings and tattoos are both known to induce pain, and thus they are both tied to a sexual subculture that is downright vile and not at all how our God designed sex to be. 'Nuff said on that one!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">6. The scene look has some obvious ties to Japanese anime, a type of cartooning. This is all fine and dandy - but anime has a dark, pornographic cousin called hentai. Hentai is <i>erotic</i> cartooning that often embraces sexual violence, which would obviously appeal to men entrenched in pornographic viewing enough to want something more - like an "in the flesh" representation of what they're watching.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">7. Human trafficking is a growing problem in our country. 83% of confirmed cases in the US are American-born citizens, and 98% of sex trafficking victims are women and girls. The average age of women entering forced prostitution is 12-14. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So let's take into consideration the average scene girl profile from the eyes of a trafficker: very light weight (easily dominated), seeking attention and affirmation (looking for someone to make her feel seen and loved - easy to groom and abduct), outrageously dressed and made up (already looking sexy and somewhat "in disguise"), tattoos and piercings (obviously "into" pain and more readily able to sexually please men through this), and having a perfect "look" to attract men who are already entrenched in porn and prostitute-hiring (a.k.a. "they look like a hentai drawing," <i>a la </i>point number 6 from above).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Young girls are clearly our most vulnerable segment of the population when it comes to being taken advantage of sexually. Because sex trafficking has been on my brain lately, I have chosen to tie the markers of scene girls to the most extreme danger out there. And while that danger is real, most of our young women are not falling into the hands of traffickers. More often than not, our girls are - <em>at the very least</em> - finding their worth in social media and in men...not in Christ. May we continue to teach our girls about how they are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) and very precious in God's sight. And may our girls seek wisdom in the crowds they run with and in the way they portray themselves to the world.</span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-60809915290183910862014-05-12T22:22:00.001-04:002014-10-15T14:00:44.909-04:00#BringBackOurGirls: A Call to Prayer<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><strong>"How is it possible that 276 girls could be taken from their beds in the dead of night in a place that is supposed to be...safe?"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">This quote from a CNN World <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/04/world/africa/nigeria-abducted-girls/" target="_blank">report</a> attempts to make sense of the horrific, April 14th abduction of nearly 300 teenage women in Nigeria. Over the past few weeks, awareness of the atrocity has traveled worldwide - largely by means of the Twitter hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. For the few of you who may be currently positioned under a rock somewhere, militant Boko Haram terrorist group (whose name means "Western Education is Sin") kidnapped these girls in order to enact </span><span style="font-size: large;">their extremist view of the Islamic faith upon them. Since it is reported that the girls' school was "Christian," their captors - of course - are trying to convert them to Islam. <em>And</em>, claiming that these girls should not be pursuing education or careers, the terrorists also declare the girls will be sold as brides or sex slaves to make their point heard 'round the world. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This news pricked my heart </span><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">hard</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">, as modern human slavery - </span><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">especially</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> sex trafficking - is akin to falling into a virtually inescapable black hole of the worst, most depraved sins imaginable. Once a person has been sold, he/she is </span><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">very</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> difficult to recover. Often, young women who are sold for sex are purchased numerous times and moved far away from their hometowns under the darkest shroud of secrecy. While the president of Nigeria has declared that he will find the girls, let's fact facts: this will be a </span><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">tall</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> order at best. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Experts have since </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/08/world/africa/boko-haram-leader-plan/" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">stated</a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> that they feel the terrorists will probably not sell the girls outright, "but they could be used as sex slaves for fighters, forced into marriages or traded for ransom. They may also be used as human shields in any military operation against Boko Haram" (says Shehu Sani, north Nigerian human rights activist). None of these end results even </span><em style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">approach</em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> pleasant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The most recent <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/12/world/africa/nigeria-abducted-girls/" target="_blank">report</a> on the abductions is this: the terrorist leader released a video of approximately 100 girls seated on the ground, wearing traditional Muslim hijabs, reciting prayers to Allah. He stated that they had converted to Islam, and he would now consider trading them for the release of convicted members of his terrorist cell. While the video appears legit, no one can confirm that these are indeed the lost girls. Hopefully they are…because that would mean that a good portion of them are still alive and still together. But with the leader being a <i>criminal</i>, this could all be a mere photo op.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>So, what are <i>we</i> to do about such injustice?</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>1) We can continue to raise awareness about the issue.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">#BringBackOurGirls was <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/hashtag-wars-whos-behind-nigeria-bringbackourgirls-movement-n100771" target="_blank">first tweeted</a> on April 23rd by a Nigerian lawyer, and it has been tweeted over 1.6 million times to-date. Also, a 2011 campaign out of Hollywood entitled "Real Men Don't Buy Girls" has recently been <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-27328414" target="_blank"><em>re</em>-publicized</a> to bring awareness to the plight of the Nigerian women. I'm certainly not gonna' say that raising awareness is a bad thing...for it <em>does</em> help others to realize what's going on and to get involved however they can. But <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jumoke-balogun/hashtags-wont-bringbackourgirls_b_5292312.html" target="_blank">this article</a> should also be taken into consideration, as it states that American hashtags and other shows of solidarity may well do more harm than good (legitimizing more US military action in Africa and thus handicapping Nigeria's own response). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">2) We can get involved in our <i>own</i> localities' fights against human trafficking.</span></b> <a href="http://www.indianaagainsttrafficking.org/about/" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">IPATH</a><span style="font-size: large;"> is the task force here in Indiana, and there are 42 such organizations nationwide currently being funded by the Department of Justice. If the terroristic threat of selling these girls into the sex trade has pricked your heart as it has mine, get involved with one of these task forces near you. Many non-profits and Christian ministries have also been set up for the specific purpose of fighting human trafficking, and a somewhat comprehensive list can be found </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_opposing_human_trafficking" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: large;">. Join with one actively or through giving financial support.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">3) Above all, we can pray.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: large;">Prayer joins us hand-in-hand with our Almighty God as He goes about His sovereign work around the globe. Remember the endorsement of prayer found in James 5:16: "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." While we may not be able to join the fight "in the flesh" over in Nigeria, our prayers are being lifted to a most powerful God who cares deeply for the plight of the powerless. </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">He</i><span style="font-size: large;"> is the one who can work through the local government and military to find these stolen young women.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><u><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">And as you pray, pray specifically.</span></u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Pray for the girls.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Pray for them to be strong and bold. Pray that they are supernaturally protected from the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse that criminal men seek to force upon them. Pray that they are wise with their words and actions. Pray that they find (or keep) true faith in God. If some have already converted to Islam, pray that they return to the one, true God. If they haven't converted, pray that they do not renounce Christ in the face of torture and/or death. Pray that the girls don't lose hope in their captivity. Pray that they can either escape (as </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/11/world/africa/nigeria-escaped-schoolgirl-speaks/index.html?iid=article_sidebar" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">this girl</a><span style="font-size: large;"> did) or be found, against all odds. And pray </span><em style="font-size: x-large;">with fervency</em><span style="font-size: large;"> that they are one day able to heal from unspeakable trauma. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Pray for the captors/sellers.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Pray that these men make mistakes. Pray that their arrogance and egos get in the way of clear judgment. Pray that they are apprehended quickly. Pray that sickness befalls them, and they are unable to carry out their evil plans. And pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin and cause them to return the girls.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Pray for the buyers.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> If some of the girls have already been sold for sex (or if they are in the future), pray that the buyers are convicted of their sin as well and do the girls no harm. Pray for impotence - that they are not able to rape the young women they purchase. And pray for them to make errors in judgment that give the women opportunities to flee. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>Pray for the rescuers.</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Pray that they are fearless and forceful in their hunt. Pray that they are able to sustain with little sleep so they can search both day and night. Pray for wisdom and discernment on the chase. Pray that they find and follow leads. And pray that they are quicker and smarter than the terrorists they are pursuing. </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Remember: our God is bigger than this tragedy. May we join with Him now to #BringBackOurGirls through <em>prayer</em>, and may the Lord answer with His swift justice upon the unrighteous and His miraculous redemption of the lost and broken.</span></strong></span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-74879538134277371382014-04-29T22:25:00.002-04:002014-10-15T14:07:55.242-04:00Context is King<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Context matters. In fact, some would say "context is king"…and I <i>wholeheartedly</i> agree.</span><br />
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The above statement applies when seeking to understand everyday conversations, and it is <i>crucial</i> to interpreting Scripture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You've all been there: sitting in a coffee shop, overhearing a verbal interaction that sounds nothing short of awkward, looking over to see the people engaged in said convo, and seeing that neither one is as perplexed as you are by what was just relayed. And then you realize what has occurred. You have overheard a "bit" or a "piece" of a bigger conversation, and you have incorrectly interpreted those drips and drabs to mean one thing when the original speakers clearly meant another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We readily apply "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13) to pursuits like trying to beat the opposing team in a sports game. But the author's original intent was to encourage us to be content in every circumstance, whether "facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need" (v. 12). Paul taught that we could have contentment in all situations through Christ's strength working in us. He was not giving us a magic genie lamp to "rub" every time we needed help to win a competition! Too many times, we seek motivation or comfort from our "favorite Bible verses" that don't actually apply to our situations <i>at all</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">While I could continue to point out many other <i>glaring</i> examples of poor interpretation, I'd rather step away from that for a moment. [Truth be told, I started typing away example after horrible example, and realized I was getting all worked up about it…so I'm dialing it back a bit!] But I do want to share with you my most recent "aha!" moment concerning context. It came to me through this past Sunday's sermon, which my pastor referred to as a <a href="http://transmissionsfromexile.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/preacherfail-when-your-preacher-fails-and-youre-the-preacher/" target="_blank">#preacherfail</a>. But alas, God will work through that which God wants to work. Amen?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My pastor has been preaching through 1 Peter for a while now, and last Sunday's text was 1 Peter 3:1-7. This passage contains one of the most hailed messages regarding modesty in the Bible: "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." I gotta' admit, I have used this verse <i>multiple</i> times when teaching young women about modesty, beauty, etc...and while I still think that this verse points to a larger biblical truth for women, the <i>context</i> of the verse opened my eyes to an avenue I had not previously thought it applied: evangelism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1 Peter 3 follows 1 Peter 2 (duh!), and the first word of the passage is <i>likewise</i>. Whenever we see words like <i>likewise</i>, <i>therefore</i>, etc...we must look at the previous statement in order to correctly interpret the meaning of the current one. Chapter two ended by teaching believers about following in the steps of Christ (v. 21) and dying to sin in order to live to righteousness (v. 24). Chapter three then follows by instructing husbands and wives to conduct themselves in ways that they might witness to those in their lives who have not yet come to Christ - primarily lost spouses. Another thing that promotes correct interpretation is considering the historical and cultural factors of the setting. When Peter tells women not to concern themselves so much with external beauty, He is warning them against the practices of the lost women of the day who would "bling themselves out" for their pagan worship practices. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Ultimately, Peter wanted women who were new believers to know that Christianity should <i>look different</i>. He wanted them to dress modestly for two main reasons:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1) To draw attention to God rather than themselves.</span></b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">The other religions of the day put a heavy focus on self-promotion and gratification, so modest dress would fly in the face of pagan worship practices. In Christianity, </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">God</i><span style="font-size: large;"> is the one who deserves the attention - not us - so Peter wanted to encourage Christian women to dress in way that was counter-cultural in order to present a more accurate view of the faith.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">2) To be a faithful witness of Christ to their lost husbands.</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">In order to present the best witness possible to their husbands, newly-Christian women needed to be modest when leaving the house to attend worship. Otherwise, their husbands might assume they were not being submissive to </span><em style="font-size: x-large;">them</em><span style="font-size: large;"> but rather seeking to impress and serve </span><em style="font-size: x-large;">other</em> <em style="font-size: x-large;">men</em><span style="font-size: large;"> when attending their new houses of worship.</span></span></blockquote>
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As I was reading through this section of 1 Peter (and listening to my pastor's sermon!), my eyes were opened anew to the importance of context. Now, does this context negate the importance of modest dress for the Christian women of today? <i>Not at all!</i> When we apply Scriptural teaching from the Old and New Testaments to our own time and situation, we must lift the meaning that was originally intended <em>as is</em> and then superimpose it over our current climate. Currently, there is still a need for believing women to draw attention to Christ rather than to ourselves. And currently, we will still be a better witness to the lost if our appearance is more demure than it is showy. Garish and glitzy garb can be intimidating to others and do more to separate rather than draw you close to those you are trying to reach. Also, whether they're lost or not, our husbands would much prefer for us to dress up for <i>them</i> than for the other guys out there in society. And even more so for the lost husband - how devalued would it make him feel for you to get all dressed up to attend church with other men and then come home to him and slip back into your lazy-day t-shirt and sweats? It just doesn't jive.</span><br />
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I still adore 1 Peter 3:3-4, and I still believe it is a key passage for modesty instruction in the Bible. However, my eyes have been opened to the nuances that the actual context brings - and it has made the meaning all the richer. So next time you are tempted to bust out one of your "go-to" verses for motivation, comfort, or teaching…make sure to check and see if it really means what you think it means. Sometimes it won't, and you'll have to adjust your thinking. But sometimes it will, and it will be made even sweeter to your soul to know the correct background and context.</span><br />
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<a href="http://michellederusha.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img alt=" Hear it, Use it!" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EYEm1rS3InI/U1_7GHEPtPI/AAAAAAAAA9g/U3VnotEJ-zI/s1600/HearItUseItImage+with+text.jpg" height="200" width="136" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">~ This post is part of the "Hear It, Use It" {Link-Up}.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> ~</span></div>
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leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-74768650213110439512014-04-26T22:17:00.000-04:002015-01-19T16:18:32.949-05:00How to Teach Purity: 10 Tips for Youth Leaders<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Teaching purity to teens can be a daunting task. Oft-times, you may feel "put on the spot" or unable to handle questions that come your way. Let's be honest: this can be a touchy topic for many - both leaders and listeners alike. Below are ten basic tips to help youth leaders teach biblical purity in a way that will (hopefully) keep your palms dry and your heart from beating out of your chest.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">1) Have an "open door" policy with parents. </span></b><span style="font-size: large;">I realize that some of your youth's parents may </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">never</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> darken the door of the church. But when dealing with matters as heavy as God's view on sex, it helps to let parents know that you are open to talking with them about the topic as well. Many parents want to be the ones to teach their children about sex, so it is good to collaborate with them (if possible) to share what you will and will not be covering. Also, we cannot neglect the fact that the members of our youth groups spend countless more hours per week with their <i>parents</i> than they do with <i>us</i>. So we are unlikely to see changes in them if their parents aren't on-board with (or at least aware of) the subject at-hand.</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">2) Live out purity in all <i>your</i> actions. </span></b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is possible that you will be the most cons</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">istent model of the Christlike lifestyle that your youth will see. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Be all in. </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are a single youth leader, model purity in your dating relationships. If you are wed, model marital faithfulness and fulfillment. Strive to live an "above reproach" lifestyle. Philippians 2:15 challenges us to be "blameless and innocent, children of God </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">above reproach</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation," and Ephesians 5:3 admonishes that "among you there must not be </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">even a hint</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of sexual immorality." This means that you may have to inconvenience yourself in order to uphold your own reputation regarding purity. For example, taking a separate car to an event to avoid the appearance of evil that could come from riding alone in a car with a man or woman that is not your spouse, etc. This may sound extreme...but your youth are watching you </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">so closely</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> right now. If you take steps to model purity for them today, many more of them will follow your lead tomorrow</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">3) Become comfortable speaking to youth about so-called "hot topics" pertaining to sex and relationships.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> These areas include (but are not limited to) healthy friendships, courtship vs dating, social media pitfalls, God's call to sexual abstinence, the effects of pornography and masturbation, forgiveness of sexual sin, healing from sexual abuse, setting physical and emotional boundaries, fleeing temptation, and <i>above all</i> - loving Christ wholly and fully.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">4) Practice your "game face."</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">When your youth ask you pointed questions regarding said "hot topics" or confess their sexual sins to you, looking for your advice - <i>don't</i> be a deer in the headlights. Your teens need to know they can come to you and not receive looks of shock and bewilderment in response to their questions/problems.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">5) Be okay with saying, "Let me check on that."</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> If you are in a leadership role with youth, you are not required to know <i>all</i> the answers, <i>all</i> the time. It is okay to put someone "on hold" and ensure that you will study up and get back to them later. And if you feel a question points to a topic that is truly "too hot to handle" alone, feel free to encourage the youth and their parents to have that conversation - or to involve another leader/minister for accountability when you do get back with them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">6) Seek to remove the "sex is dirty" mentality. </span></b><span style="font-size: large;">Sex is a beautiful gift that God created for unification and procreation within the confines of marriage. <i>Champion this beauty</i> in the eyes of your teens. They shouldn't leave youth group meetings thinking that "sex is bad" but rather that "sex is good, and it promotes a holy union...so I <i>want</i> to save it for marriage." Additionally, if some of your teens have been sexually abused, they may feel that <i>they</i> are dirty. Teach them about the difference between the willful sins of their perpetrators and the undue guilt that may have been placed on the youth. Brush up on your mandatory reporting laws, and know when you can keep confidentiality and when you have to report abuse to authorities. Also, be willing to help them find good counseling if needed. If you are dealing with youth who have already pursued sexual experiences of their own and have sinned in this area, point them to the cross. Teach them about the vastness of God's forgiveness, and encourage them to choose purity from this moment on. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">7) Pray earnestly.</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">Remember: as the Greek philipsopher Parmenides said, "Nothing comes from nothing" (<i>ex nihilo nihil fit</i>). If we are not genuinely, earnestly praying over our teaching, it could possibly be ineffective. Likewise, if we are not praying diligently for our youth to be pure, we are doing them a disservice. God works through prayer...and He allows us to be a part of His perfect processes when we join Him in this manner. Don't miss out on this important step! Join with the Lord in prayer, and rejoice as He works through you. Please don't make Him detour around you (working <i>in spite of</i> you) to get His job done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">8) Instill a reverence for future marriages/mates.</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">God stands outside of time. This means He is all-knowing, all-seeing, and has a view of our <i>entire</i> earthly lives, beginning to end. He knows what the future holds for our youth, including their future husbands and wives. Instill a reverence and a spirit of expectancy for this in your teens. They need to know that what they do now will affect (for good or bad) their future marriages. Proverbs 31:12 states that the excellent wife "does [her husband] good, and not harm, <i>all</i> the days of her life." The word <i>all</i> refers to the days prior to marriage as well as post. Help your youth understand that they can do either good or harm to their <i>future</i> marriages by how pure or impure they decide to live <i>today</i>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">9) Point them to the Bible.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Testimonies are great, but they are <i>not</i> Scripture. No matter what God allowed in your life's quest toward purity, your experience is not the Holy Word of God. You can certainly illustrate points with your own experiences (which can often be <i>very</i> influential), but never leave it there. Always fix your eyes and the eyes of your youth on <i>biblical</i> truths regarding purity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">10) Just breathe.</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">You are not the first person to address sexual purity with teens, and you will not be the last. Even though this topic is a huge one to tackle - everything does not ride on you. Young people have their own personal responsibility to take what you've taught them and apply it to their lives. Study the Word, pray up, and teach godly purity to the best of your ability. Rest in the fact that you are <i>not</i> the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to take the reigns and bring the conviction. He can do a much more thorough job with this than any of us can, anyway!</span></span><br />
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Blessings on all of you as you strive to teach and mentor young people in this area! </span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Gruppo; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">One of my greatest passions is teaching young people about pursuing purity. If you would like to invite me to speak at your youth event, please click <a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/p/ill-come-to-you.html" style="color: #27aeae; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a> to learn more.</span></i></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-21873595374932069532014-04-23T23:13:00.003-04:002014-10-15T20:48:49.202-04:00Why Teach Purity?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Little girls don't know how to be sweet girls:</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>"Mama didn't teach me."</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Little boys don't know how to treat little girls:</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>"Daddy didn't show me."</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The above are lyrics from Erin McCarley's song "Love, Save the Empty." As the tune tumbles on, we learn that a sexual encounter has taken place. The singer bemoans "giving it up" too soon to a guy who showed her "false affection," causing her to "break down inside" upon realizing his ruse. She croons on about wanting true, genuine love to come and "save" her from her resulting emptiness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Heavy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I first heard this song when it debuted in 2008, and even though it's cut-to-the-heart words were cleverly set to a whimsical beat, the true sorrow contained was not lost on me. The words hit me like a gut punch - not because I've <i>had</i> similar experiences, but because I <i>haven't</i>. And because I <i>desperately</i> <i>long</i> for young people to skirt this kind of devastation as well - by living pure and holy lives before the Lord.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Now, I'm not <i>just</i> talking about making your "true love wait" (Christianese for abstaining from sex until marriage). I'm referring to seeking emotional chastity as well physical - in a sense, applying the biblical command to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30, ESV) to your quest for the kind of purity only Christ can bring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If we are to remain pure physically, we are going to have to fix our hearts and minds on this end as well. For middle and high-schoolers, college co-eds, young professionals, "single agains," and those called by God to remain unmarried on into the foreseeable future...it is nigh impossible to save physical intimacy for marriage when hearts, minds, and emotions have already gone there. </span><br />
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In our sexualized society, many have declared the teaching of chastity to be an uphill battle too tough to fight. Still others claim the concept of sexual purity pertained to a bygone generation and feel it's prudish and unrealistic to expect the young people of today to adhere to such a strict standard. So, why make the effort? While there are clearly more reasons than the four below, I believe these are the most basic and compelling: </span><br />
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<u><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Why teach purity?</span></b></u></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>1) Because God commands it. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">God commands us to live an entire <i>lifestyle</i> of purity. 1 Peter 1:15-16 teaches, "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in <i>all</i> your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.' " Within this call to be pure and set apart in <i>all</i> areas, however, God also specifies being pure in the <i>sexual</i> sense. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 states, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality," and 1 Corinthians 6:18 cautions us to "flee from sexual immorality." In fact, this topic is written about <i>so</i> frequently in the Bible that there are too many passages to name here. This <a href="http://www.openbible.info/topics/sex_before_marriage" target="_blank">link</a> gives a more comprehensive list. </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>2) To avoid physical detriment.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Most people realize that premarital sex can lead to some physical harms. While the short list includes sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unplanned pregnancies, the repercussions that follow may extend much further. For instance, some STDs are curable while others are not. Some lead to the harm of future offspring, and others prevent people from reproducing at all. On the pregnancy side, difficult choices abound - abortion, adoption, keeping the baby - each decision leading inevitably to more and more possible harm, both physically and emotionally. Which brings us to...</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>3) To avoid emotional </b><b>devastation.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Our hearts are tender. And since sex bonds two people together in emotional intimacy, premarital encounters often leave the hearts of those involved scarred and in need of much repair. If a person has engaged in so much premarital sex that they now feel "numb" to these effects, that speaks to even deeper heart havoc for which all the more healing is needed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>4) Because parents aren't.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Perhaps the most compelling reason to teach purity is this: because, by and large, parent's aren't. To echo the above song's lyrics, many mamas and daddies - even Christians who claim to uphold the value of premarital abstinence - are not teaching their kids about how to confidently pursue purity amidst a world replete with sexual sin.</span></div>
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I recently surveyed the teens in my youth group with two simple questions: 1) "When have your parents taught you that it's okay to have sex?" 2) "When have your parents told you that you are allowed to date?" In response to question one, almost every teen replied "after marriage." However, inquiry two brought varied answers revealing a grievous area of neglect:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The above responses speak to the reluctance of parents to handle the topics that moms and dads ought to be talking about with their children. Yes, these conversations can be uncomfortable, but purity does not exist in a vacuum. It will be very difficult for kids to make it all the way to marriage without "crossing the sex line" if parents aren't giving them the tools they will need to pursue purity along the way. We cannot expect that our youth will arrive at their wedding days clean and pure if we don't take the time to help them navigate the early waters of dating and relating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So what are youth ministers, leaders, and mentors to do? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Teach purity...and leave no stone unturned when it comes to the "how</i><em>."</em></b> </span></span><br />
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Remember: the only kind of love that will truly "save the empty" is the love of Christ, which in turn compels us to live a life pleasing to God (Colossians 1:10) and "unstained by the world" (James 1:27). If God has entrusted young people to your care, you must strive to teach them how to live for Christ in <i>all</i> areas of life...even the "uncomfortable" ones. Stay tuned for my next post in which I will give some basic steps on how to teach purity, from start to finish.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One of my greatest passions is teaching young people about pursuing purity. If you would like to invite me to speak at your youth event, please click <a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/p/ill-come-to-you.html" target="_blank">here</a> to learn more.</span></i></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-32748280612781940172014-04-21T22:22:00.001-04:002014-10-15T14:21:18.842-04:00EASTER: "He is Risen!" - OR - "I am Barren..."<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Yesterday was Easter Sunday: the day when Christians everywhere celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I greatly prefer it to the Christmas holiday, as Christmas only points to the <i>beginning</i> of the wonderful gift God gave us. Easter, on the other hand, commemorates the <i>completion </i>of that gift. Having fulfilled the Law by living a perfect, sinless life, Christ died in our place and took upon Himself the full cup of God's wrath. On the third day, He rose again to prove He'd defeated sin and death and thus made a way to reconcile us to God. So I enjoy the focus that Easter brings to the "it is finished"-ness of the Gospel of grace. Praise Him, for He is risen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />That being said, yesterday was also a day when everyone and their brother took family photos while dressed in their "Sunday best." The first time I checked Facebook on Sunday morning was glorious. I scrolled through pictures of all my friends and their progeny - so many squinty-eyed, toothy grins in the morning sunshine. It was beautiful! For a while...</span><br />
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<i>Of course</i>, I enjoyed catching up on how my friends' families have grown over the years. And <i>of course</i> my heart swelled with such love for them - seeing how God had blessed them with wonderful lineages. But my heart was a bit unsettled as well. First for myself and my husband, as we have yet to conceive or progress in our foster-to-adopt process, but also for those I know who have longed and prayed for children for years upon years...to no avail. Not to mention those who have lost precious little ones along the way for reasons unknown to any but God. </span><br />
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As the day progressed, the family photos became voluminous. Time and time again, I was reminded of the prolificacy of others in stark contrast to the barrenness of self. Over the past couple of years of marriage, I have been <i>completely</i> fine with trusting the Lord's timing for my little family. But yesterday, it stung a little bit. I had that feeling like life was marching on at a swift 8-to-5 glide (you other band nerds will know what I mean by that!) yet I was somehow standing still, watching it all pass me by. And my heart ached for those other couples I know as well, realizing that they too were likely scrolling through their own litanies of prolific peers.</span><br />
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But instead of wallowing in discontent, I decided to set my mind on Christ. It <i>was</i> Resurrection Day, after all! And the more I set my mind on Him, the more He reminded me that <i>He</i> is the One who decides how we are to best invest in the next generation. And <i>His way</i> is perfect (Psalm 18:30; 2 Samuel 22:31; Deuteronomy 32:4)!</span><br />
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I took a moment to reflect on all the younger guys and girls that the Lord has seen fit to allow me a hand in "raising." And I thought about kids I had taught at church back in the day who are now the <i>very</i> grown-ups bearing wide-eyed tots in my Facebook feed. And I praised the Lord instead of pouting.</span><br />
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Now, I know it's not a <i>total</i> cure for the no-offspring blues...but taking the opportunity to look around you and realize the influence God has allowed you to have <i>will help</i> to soften the blow. And if you have never had that great honor, ask the Lord to open your eyes to children who could use a helping hand from an adult who longs to "mother" or "father" them <i>in Christ</i>. So many kids out there need a trusted adult to come alongside and disciple them toward knowing the Lord more deeply.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />So let's set a goal for ourselves: let us so diligently nurture those whom God sets in our paths over the course of this year that <em>next</em> Easter - when we're forced to peruse the pastel portraits of progeny - hopefully (prayerfully!) we will be quicker to bless the risen Savior than bemoan our rightful state. </span><br />
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He is risen, indeed!</span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-14470051702799963162014-04-09T23:34:00.002-04:002014-10-15T20:50:15.445-04:00Gospel Nails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Anybody remember the ole' tried-n-true power band? You know, that bracelet made with six colors that represent the Gospel story? Well I recall making those way back in the '90s...and apparently, they haven't fallen out of style with the younger set. But we're talking <i>really</i> young - like lower elementary grades - and I work with middle/high schoolers. So what's a girl to do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Lest a good way to "wear our witness" lose steam, I googled more teen-friendly ways to use the colors and landed on the idea of Gospel Nails. All you need are the correct six colors of nail polish: black, red, white, blue, green, yellow. This is where order comes into play. These colors must be painted on the nails in exactly that order. Why? Think back to the Power Band:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Black</b> stands for sin. Sin separates us from God and requires atonement (Romans 3:23; 6:23).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Red</b></span> stands for Jesus' blood. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us - to pay the penalty and atone for our sin (Romans 5:8).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b>White</b></span> stands for purity. If we believe that Jesus died for our sin, gain forgiveness through His blood, and confess Christ as Lord, we are saved and cleansed from all sin (Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 1:9).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Blue</span></b> stands for baptism. Baptism is a symbol of our being washed clean. Our old lives are buried with Christ, and we're raised to walk in His likeness (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Green</b></span> stands for growth. True followers seek to grow to be more like Christ through fighting temptation and developing godly character (2 Peter 1:3-11).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: yellow;"><b>Yellow</b></span> stands for Heaven. We will one day pass on from this earth and go to live out the rest of our eternal life with God on the "streets of gold" (Revelation 2:18-21).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now...the tricky part is that human hands (yes, even teenage ones!) have ten fingers, not six. So the question becomes, "What do I do with the other four fingers???" Since slicing them off with a mini guillotine leaves <i>quite</i> a mess to clean up, you may choose from several less painful ideas: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A. Paint them all a different color (I usually choose silver, because that's the color jewelry I wear). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">B. Don't paint them at all. <i>Au naturale</i>, baby!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">C. Paint them whatever color out of the original six that you want to emphasize the most when witnessing (e.g. black for the deep depravity of our sinful state, green for how much growth in Christ lies ahead, etc.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Note: I like order and </span><span style="font-size: large;">symmetry, so that usually guides <em>where</em> I place the six featured colors. But you may not be as OCD as I am...so have fun with this part!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I have used Gospel Nails several times since I learned about the technique. Peruse the following, and feel free to try some out:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1. This past summer, I was blessed to be a part of a short-term mission team to Ecuador. We took Gospel Nails on the road, and it was a <em>complete</em> hit with the local kiddos - of every age! I was able to use my years of foreign language training in high school and college to communicate the Gospel in broken Spanish through the colors. [Let's be honest...most times, I simply read the card that had each color described with verses of Scripture. I can definitely <i>read</i> Spanish much better than I can <i>converse</i> in it!]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">2. My tween/teen VBS girls painted their Gospel Nails at Vacation Bible School last summer. While I must confess, the girls <i>probably</i> paid more attention to the glopping on of layer after layer of the six bright colors than they did to the lesson we were discussing at the time...but nevertheless, they were able to proudly "wear" their faith on their fingers for weeks to come! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">3. I painted my own nails with the Gospel colors (pictured at the top of this post). Since I work with families on a daily basis, I thought it'd be a great way to witness...and it was! I had one father tell me to "pick a color, already!" He later shared with me that he'd recently been saved and baptized in a local church, and I was able to share with him about growing in the Lord. I also had several teen clients ask me about the nails, and I was able to share the Gospel story with them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's the challenge: if you work with girls, give the Gospel Nails a go...and lemme' know how it works out for ya'!</span></span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-36357320082772964682014-04-07T19:19:00.002-04:002014-10-15T20:53:15.017-04:00Conscious Uncoupling: A Nice and Flowery Term for Something God Hates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Conscious uncoupling.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It's become the catchphrase of the month, thanks to actress Gwyneth Paltrow's use of the term to define the dissolving of her 9-year marriage to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. But what <i>is</i> it, exactly? Why use the term "conscious uncoupling" rather than separation or divorce?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">According to a recent Huffington Post <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-sonya-rhodes/what-the-hell-is-consciou_b_5078066.html" target="_blank">article</a> on the matter, the phrase is "ridiculous," "New Age-y, pretentious, [and] righteous." Of course, what the writers probably meant by that last descriptor was <i>self</i>-righteous, because the dissolution of a marriage - Christian or not - is never a "righteous" act. In fact, God clearly states that He <i>hates</i> divorce in Malachi 2:16.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Upon conducting my own research on the idea of "conscious uncoupling," I found an interesting 5-week program at the heart of the matter: <a href="http://evolvingwisdom.com/consciousuncoupling/free-online-class/" target="_blank">The Art of Conscious Uncoupling</a>, which has been lauded as a nonjudgmental way to pursue the "closure" of a relationship. The website's tagline seemed innocent enough..."how to heal the 3 breakup mistakes that cause suffering, steal joy, and prevent future love." But I would counter that the actual <i>mistake</i> in any breakup is not the breakup itself but one (or more) of three earlier missteps: 1) not doing enough research up-front, </span><span style="font-size: large;">2) committing to someone unworthy of your commitment, and 3) not properly committing at all!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A today.com <a href="http://www.today.com/health/what-paltrow-cited-conscious-uncoupling-2D79438274" target="_blank">article</a> stated that Paltrow and Martin released a 2,000-word summary of the term by which they have labeled their split. Included in that description of "conscious uncoupling" attributed to husband/wife team Dr. Habiib Sadeghi and Dr. Sherry Sami were such gems [insert sarcasm here] as these:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"Our biology and psychology aren't set up to be with one person for four, five, or six decades."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"The idea of being married to one person for life is too much pressure for anyone."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Egads, people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Paltrow and Martin also cited the author of the website I located earlier, The Art of Conscious Uncoupling - psychotherapist Katherine Woodward Thomas. She had some fine treasures [ahem!] in her descriptions as well: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"You must break the pattern that is the source of the suffering in your life...instead of allowing that pattern to break your heart" (speaking of painful relationship splits).</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>"There are no bad guys, just two people."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Now, if her comments referred to kindly breakups <i>prior</i> to marriage...I could almost buy it. But much of this curriculum seems to be directed at married couples looking to eradicate the pain and guilt involved in terminating what God created as a covenantal bond. There is a reason why the collapse of a marriage includes pain and guilt. The marriage covenant was never designed to be broken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So, what is so special about a covenant?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">One of the most powerful displays of covenant in the Old Testament is the one that God makes with Abram. In order to solidify that covenant, the Lord has Abram sacrifice several animals by cutting them in half (Genesis 15:9-11). His Spirit (as a smoking firepot and a flaming torch) later passes between the pieces in order to symbolize what is later alluded to in Ruth 1:17, "May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." Biblical covenants were written with blood and sealed unto death. In the same way, even our modern-day marital covenants should be written with sacrifice and sealed until our passing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So how is the Christian to respond to the idea of "conscious uncoupling" (i.e. separation, divorce, etc.)? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>For the single, avoid the missteps I spoke of earlier</u>:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">1) </span></b><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Do your research.</span> </b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't enter into a marriage - </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">or even a dating relationship</i><span style="font-size: large;"> - without knowing who the other party truly is.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">2) Don't commit to someone unworthy of your commitment.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> Granted, we are all sinners...but if someone is living in habitual sin that would lead them to drop their end of the covenantal bond of marriage, they are not worth your time and effort.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;"><b>3) When you commit, do it biblically.</b> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Remember that marriage is a covenant unto death. It can also be described as a "threefold cord [which] is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12). This means that </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">God</i><span style="font-size: large;"> is one of the parties entering into covenant here. As long as we are submitting our marriage to </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">Him</i><span style="font-size: large;">, </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">He</i><span style="font-size: large;"> is strong enough to help us uphold the commitment. Yes, there are some situations in which the Bible condones divorce, but those conditions occur fairly rarely and come with many more stipulations than most are willing to realize or abide by. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>For the married, t</u><u>he correct context of Philippians 4:13 can be applied here</u>:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I mention context because this verse <i>does not apply</i> in every circumstance that people wish it did. In this portion of the chapter (vv. 10-20), Paul is speaking of being content in every circumstance...even those involving pain and suffering (abounding, <i>brought low</i>, plenty, <i>hunger</i>, abundance, <i>need</i>). Most marriages will reflect these times of trial at some point or another. When in such dire straights, we must cling to the One who has delivered us and continues to deliver us still - not from the marriage entirely, but from the sin and strife that we sometimes incur within it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-large;">Conscious uncoupling: it's a nice and flowery term for something God hates.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't be misled. Love God fiercely, and "hold fast" (Genesis 2:24) to your spouse. Seek to "rejoice in the wife [or husband] of your youth" (Proverbs 5:18).</span></span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-2851292623521271762014-04-02T15:10:00.001-04:002014-10-15T20:54:24.804-04:00Where Everybody Knows Your Name...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Remember the theme song from <i>Cheers</i>? Well many of you don't, because you are what I like to call...wait for it...<i>young</i>. But I am not so young, and so I think of this tune almost <i>every time</i> I enter our local Starbucks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">From what I gather, this is not common at many of the 'Bucks stores; however, it's more the case here because our SB is <i>small town</i>. Almost every barista knows my name, and a large chunk of them know my drink...that is, if I haven't changed it up too much recently!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">From 1982-1993, the place "where everybody knows your name" on primetime TV was <i>Cheers</i>, a Boston bar. Today in Martinsville, Indiana, my place to be "known" is our local coffee shop. Now, my experience there is not <i>nearly</i> as relationally-entangled as <i>Cheers</i> was, so I realize this example falls flat on some level. However, there <i>ought</i> to be a place "where everybody knows your name" and where the relationships <em>are</em> intertwined and intimate. And that place - for believers - <i>ought</i> to be the local church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Church (capital C) is the Body of Christ, the collective group of all Christians everywhere. When expressed locally, the church (lower-case c) is able to link a smaller group of believers together for the purposes of discipleship, mutual encouragement, and ministry amidst their own community. As Romans 12:5 puts it, "So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." We have the blessed opportunity to be functioning parts of a whole, knowing and being known by each other. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So where is <em>your</em> place to know and be known? Who are <em>your</em> people to worship with and serve alongside? If you are a believer in Christ and are not yet a part of a local church body (or have strayed from this practice), please consider visiting one this Sunday. Regular attendance and membership in a congregation of fellow believers provides an opportunity for you to be known <em>far</em> deeper than your usual mocha latte request. And the family of God can be <em>infinitely</em> more encouraging than a group of silly sots around a bar. Granted, no church is perfect, but that's because we humans are not perfect. What we should be looking for is a <i>healthy</i> church. <a href="http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/we-are/led/senior-pastor/" target="_blank">Mark Dever</a> has created a great resource on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nine-Marks-Healthy-Church-Dever/dp/158134631X" target="_blank">9 Marks of a Healthy Church</a>. I'd recommend that you peruse those marks <a href="http://www.9marks.org/what-are-the-9marks/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Sometimes you wanna' go where everybody knows your name..." And wouldn't it be great if those people could teach you, lift you up in prayer, hold you accountable to God's Word, and encourage you in your walk with Christ? Hot diggity, what a combo! May we all find a local body where we can plug in!</span></span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-27351834547313575912014-03-31T21:29:00.000-04:002014-10-15T20:56:53.908-04:00When Your Day Job Eclipses Your Dream Job<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">They say that "absence makes the heart grow fonder." Maybe this will apply to my blog, as I have been quite absent as of late. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I'm obviously more of a realist than that...so I know the <em>reality</em> is that you've probably not even noticed that I've been on a posting hiatus. However, I'd like to address why I haven't been writing lately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">1. My workplace recently initiated a bonus system that is tied to high productivity and timely documentation. Needless to say, I have been greatly "incentivized" by the idea of more moolah coming in when I put my nose to the grindstone. So while my nose has been <em>quite</em> raw for two months now, I'm pleased to say that both my February <em>and</em> March totals qualified me for said bonus. [Happy dance!] The main reason I am excited about this new system is that the extra cash will help with a variety of goals my husband and I have been pursuing (e.g. paying off student loans, finishing master's degree programs, and completing home improvement projects so we can move forward in our foster-to-adopt process). But prior to gain comes pain (read: hard work), and I am just now settling into a routine that will allow me to get back to regular blogging.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">2. My husband and I were recently afforded the opportunity to visit my sister, her hubs, and their kids in El Paso, Texas. I mean, who gives up a chance to fly cross-country and soak up some downtime with precious family members? <em>Not this girl! </em>And being that I desperately needed respite from the break-neck pace of the job, this trip came at <em>exactly </em>the right time. I spent the break lavishing time and energy on my sweet niece and nephew...and blogging continued to remain in the back seat. So that explains that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">All this is to say, my day job (and rest from it!) eclipsed my dream job for a minute. Not that blogging is my dream job <em>per se</em>, but it <em>is</em> a part of the whole. Writing, speaking, and ministering - this combo <em>is</em> my dream job...and if any part of the trio is lacking, I feel a bit out of whack. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So here's to April being a bounce-back month full of blogging. I can't wait to get started!</span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-59122683368602132602014-03-04T20:18:00.000-05:002014-09-06T17:28:47.544-04:00Memorizing Scripture, Part 2: The "How"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2014/03/memorizing-scripture-part-1-why.html" target="_blank">Yesterday</a>, I wrote about the "why" of memorizing Scripture. Today is the "how."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what is the best method for memorizing God's Word, anyway? While there is no one way to go about this task that will work best for every person, there are a few methods that seem to be more user-friendly than others. I have listed seven of these below. "Why seven?" you may ask. If I were playing super-spiritual girl here, I'd say it's because seven is the biblical number of completion. [Snort.] While that may be the case, I can assure you that I am not playing super-spiritual girl today. I can also assure you that there are </span><em style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">far </em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">more ways to memorize Scripture than seven...so my list is in no way "complete." Yesterday, I gave seven reasons as to the "why," so today mirrors that in the "how." My list below is but a meager attempt to share the methods I have found most useful </span><em style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for me</em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> over the years.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1) Use a whiteboard. </b>Write out the entire verse or passage. Then read the passage out loud several times. Erase a few words, interspersed throughout, and read aloud several more times. Erase some more words, and read again. Continue this pattern until all the words a</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">re erased from the board, and you are still able to quote them <em>all</em> aloud.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Make a keychain. </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As featu</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">red in the title picture above, simply </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">write the verses on small cards that you can attach to a keyring. Keep the cards ever-present, in a pocket or hooked to a handbag. With the keychain option, opportunities abound </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(think: while in line at the grocery or elsewhere)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for reading through the verses and saying them over and over. This is also a super-fun idea to use with kids and youth, as the keychains can be made during a craft-time project at weekly church meetings, etc. The size is up to you, as you can cut your own or go pre-made (like the ones to the right, bought in the school supplies aisle at </span><a href="http://www.target.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Target</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for a couple of bucks). Bring plenty of fun-colored cards to the table, and consider opting for a stronger material as a "cover" for the front and back of the pack. Clear plastic works well, as you can still read the front card through it; however, opaque colors are more readily available (e.g. cut up a folder or other thick material in pieces that match the card size). Then simply secure the stack with a small rubber band so they don't go astray. Cool tip on this one: you can keep adding cards weekly as you select more verses to ingest...just keep some extras on-hand. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3) </b></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Write the verses out</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and p</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>ost them around your home/office/car.</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By displaying the verses around your home or office, you end up glancing at them pretty frequently - thus giving you a chance to ingrain the words. If your work will allow you to display Scripture, this option allows you to 1) witness to your co-workers and 2) be encouraged by God's Word at otherwise stressful and hectic times. And I bring up the car option not to make you a less competent (read: dangerous!) driver, but because there are many times when we are kept "waiting" in a motor vehicle (e.g. stoplights, banks, fast food drive-thrus, school carpool lines, etc.). I also need to note here that it might help you to place memory verses in areas where the Word can <i>actually apply</i> to your daily affairs. For example, if you struggle with fear and are wanting to memorize 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" - why not place this verse wherever you struggle with fear the most (like on the nightstand - so that when you wake up from a bad dream, you can meditate on that verse)? This way, not only are you able to memorize the verse but also you're able to have it accessible in your time of greatest need.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>4) Draw out the verses.</b> Mixing art with learning can oft-times cause the left and right sides of your brain to work in collaborative harmony. I've included a brief example of this to the right, but the key is to make the pictures and words go hand-in-hand in order to help you visualize the verse in your mind and thus recall it better over time because you can "see it" in your head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5) Sing it! </b>Setting Bible verses to song is an old-as-the-hills tactic...and it's not just for kids! In fact, the Psalms were precisely that: songs, often "songs of ascent" that the Israelites sung as they ascended the topography on their travels. If you are a musician, you may want to write your own tunes; however, revamping songs you already know can be a bit easier. For example, one time I replaced the chorus of DC Talk's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JxEwfbidFk" target="_blank">"In the Light"</a> with 1 John 1:7.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you know the tune, feel free to sing along with the new lyrics:</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"I wanna be in the light</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As You are in the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">light</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And the blood of Je-</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-sus </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christ, </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His Son</span></i></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cleanses us from all sin."</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also enjoy listening to Christian artists who write Scripture-based songs, often singing the verses word-for-word. Duo <a href="http://www.shaneandshane.com/" target="_blank">Shane and Shane</a> put out an album a while back called <a href="http://shaneandshane.skorstore.com/shane-amp-shane/psalms" target="_blank">"Psalms"</a> that featured music like this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>6) Use the "first letter" system. </b>This happens to be my favorite method because it works very well for me. Once you have read the Scripture through a few times, write down <i>only the first letter </i>of each word. In the picture to the right, you will see my first letter system for James chapter one (part of my current memory project). After I typed it up, I saved this as a picture file that I could set as my smartphone's background and lockscreen. This ensured that I was rarely without a way to freshen up on the passage. Also, this system ensures you can have "prompts" that don't really feel like cheating because you are not having to look at the <em>actual</em> words. [Note: before the days of smartphones, I used to write the first letters of my verse for the day on my hand. This is very effective since it's, like, <em>right there</em>. And I still use it from time to time, but I realize that some of you aren't into "temporary tats."] BTW, you can also use your first word charts for methods 1, 2, and 3.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>7) This time, with <i>feeling</i>!</b> Recalling and reviewing your verses should not sound robotic. I remember the days when I sounded like that robot from Lost in Space <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REvmhBO99I4" target="_blank">("Danger, Will Robinson!)</a>, and it was usually due to the fact that I was desperately trying to get through a load of words in order to <i>say</i> that I had memorized them. If you are memorizing for your own personal growth in Christ, you should be <i>lovingly</i> and <i>expressively</i> interacting with the words that you commit to memory. The longer I have known James chapter one, the more I have grown to understand and embrace every verse. And with that knowledge and love comes a passion in proclaiming those words. The person I've seen best embody this non-robotic recall of verses is David Platt. If you have some free time, feel free to click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-iv2JkLqrU" target="_blank">this link</a> to hear him quote Romans 1-8. The entirety is about 24 minutes, but you can hear what I mean within the first few.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I mentioned at the start, there are <em>many</em> other methods for memorizing Scripture (so feel free to leave <i>your</i> faves in the comments below!). The seven above are the ones I have the most first-hand experience with, as they have really worked for me over the years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, remember to practice, practice, practice. The only way to get better at memorizing God's Word is to <em>keep at it</em>, engaging in the methods that work best for you over and over and over again. Scripture memory is a discipline that takes time to develop - at any age! Don't let length of years fool you into thinking that you're "not good at memorizing" things. I only bring this up because I've heard this excuse time and again. Rest assured, I've seen the above tools work for men and women from 2-92 (or thereabout!) if they only work at it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">So hold your breath, take my hand, and let's jump into this vast ocean of Scripture memory together. You will not regret it! And if you are visiting this post and wondering about the reasons "why" we memorize God's Word, please click <a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2014/03/memorizing-scripture-part-1-why.html" target="_blank">here</a> to check out yesterday's blog. [<a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2014/03/memorizing-scripture-part-1-why.html" target="_blank">Click here for PART 1 on the "why"!</a>]</span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-74115239105405842362014-03-03T20:40:00.000-05:002014-09-06T17:27:31.660-04:00Memorizing Scripture, Part 1: The "Why"<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A few days ago, I mentioned <a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2014/02/in-night-watches.html" target="_blank">my challenge to memorize the book of James</a>. This is an ongoing journey that I first began in the summer of 2005. Shortly after making it through the 27 <i>beautiful</i> verses of chapter one, though, I moved off to seminary. The busyness of juggling full-time school and full-time work, followed closely by the immediate need to memorize <em>other</em> things (like church history and theology-related facts <em>for grades</em>) quickly took over. Soon after, I met, courted, and married my husband and then moved out of state. Whew! No wonder I never got any further than chapter one!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">But is that really okay? Some would say "yes," but I disagree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Does my busyness nullify the need to hide God's Word in my heart? <em>May it never be!</em> I did, however, need a swift kick in the fanny to make this challenge a priority and get going on it again. So when the ladies at my church studied Beth Moore's <em>James</em> last year, my interest piqued. But it took an accountability partner of mine and I deciding to tag-team the effort to really get me diligently pursuing the book again. So this begs the question: why do challenge ourselves to memorize?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Contained in the Word itself are the reasons why committing Scripture to memory is so important. For </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Psalm 119:9 says, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your Word." How do we guard our hearts with the Word? By seeking God's holiness with our <i>whole</i> hearts. Verse 10 follows by stating, "With my whole heart I seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments!" And how, pray tell, do we avoid wandering? We must <i>know</i> the Word: "I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me Your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of Your mouth. In the way of Your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word." (vv. 11-16).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Psalm 119 tends to be one of my favorite chapters in all of Scripture. Probably because it is long...the longest chapter in the whole Bible, in fact. It's almost a book within itself! But I don't love it just because it's long; what I love is that the length gives the author the time and space needed to ruminate on a subject and flesh out deep thoughts and feelings about it. It is also a nerd's delight (pointing at myself, here!) due to the Hebrew alphabet acrostic that is formed with each passing chunk of verses, but here I digress into seminary geekdom! Suffice it to say, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">the passage above details plenty of reasons we need to value Scripture memory as a worthy aim.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm sure many of you memorized Bible passages as children, especially if you grew up in church programs like Bible Drill or AWANA. [And I'm fairly certain the handful of verses you can still recall are filled with "thees" and "thous," as they were likely memorized in the King Jim...but that is neither here nor there!] Well, I did not have the experience of growing up in children's ministries; however, I memorized my fair share of Scriptures as a youth and young adult. I have found this spiritual discipline to be one of the <em>most</em> <em>useful</em> in my everyday life, because I can more readily rely on the Word when it's in my own head and heart versus on the written page (and down at the bottom of my purse or backpack somewhere!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I would be remiss if I did not also mention 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as part of my premise for memorizing the Word of God. For this passage states, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." How much easier would it be for God to use us in the lives of others if we had His Words poised and ready to go at the first flick of our tongues in conversation?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>So to recap (from the passages above), we memorize God's Word in order...</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>1) To keep our ways pure.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>2) To guard our hearts.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>3) To seek God wholly.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>4) To know His ways.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>5) To battle sin.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>6) To declare of God to others (evangelism).</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>7) To use for teaching, reproving, correcting, training, and equipping (discipleship).</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So now that we have the rationale, what about the methodology? Stay tuned, my friends, for the "how" will come in tomorrow's blog post! [<a href="http://www.journeytogodly.com/2014/03/memorizing-scripture-part-2-how.html" target="_blank">Click here for PART 2 on the "how"!</a>]</span></div>
leahcpratthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11712418897153004134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6397437870159724824.post-25552586735295087832014-02-24T10:49:00.002-05:002014-03-03T12:48:15.402-05:00In the Night Watches...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the years, I have heard many people say, "The Lord woke me up in the middle of the night..." Claims like these always make me bit uneasy, because I'm not sure <i>God</i> is always the one awakening us. Of course, in the greater scheme of life, the Lord is with our "going out and coming in" (Psalm 121:8). And we know that He is ultimately in control of <i>everything</i>, in His divine sovereignty. But in the Bible, we see God awakening His people only a few times, mostly by visions or angelic messages (think: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ezekiel, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Zechariah). So more often than not, I believe we are awakened by humanly circumstances (e.g. a crying baby, an illness, a loud noise).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For example, last night, I was awakened around 2:30am. I am inclined to think that my early-staged chest cold rattled me to life with a ragged cough struggling escape my lungs. But lest I waste the "awakened at 2:30" experience, I decided to honor the Lord in the night watches.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After going to the bathroom, hacking up said lung, and lying back down...I was wide awake. As I lay there, motionless and scanning the dark ceiling for casts of light breaking through the curtain's edge, I wondered: "How might I use this time for the Lord?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My mind recalled a few Scripture passages about the wee hours. Psalm 63:6, "When I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night" and Psalm 119:148, "My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promise." Thoughts of the elusive Proverbs 31 woman crept in as well: "She rises while it is yet night...her lamp does not go out..." (vv. 15, 18), etc. In that moment, I knew what I needed to do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I began by reviewing James 1, a chapter I have held near to my heart over the last 10 years. I first memorized it in an attempt to pursue the whole book of James, but many things (temptation, doubt, busyness) have crept in over the years to keep me from completing that end. Thankfully, I have recently locked in chapter one afresh and have begun to commit the rest of the book to memory (with the help of a dear friend in accountability!). So this is where I started...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After rolling through those precious 27 verses and marveling at the wonders contained, I then engaged in prayer - mostly prayers of confession, some of thanksgiving and praise. But suffice it to say, I sought to utilize my time wisely, reflecting on Christ rather than picking up my smartphone and surfing the web.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Does this make me a night watch hero? No. But it did prompt me to "set [my mind] on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2). This morning, after rising and shining [meh], getting ready for the day, and arriving at the local coffee shop...I spent time in God's Word and with God's people's words (namely <a href="http://www.radicalthebook.com/home.html" target="_blank">David Platt</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Call-Spiritual-Reformation-Priorities-Prayers/dp/0801025699/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393255462&sr=8-1&keywords=call+to+spiritual+reformation" target="_blank">D.A. Carson</a>,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> via some reading for small groups). I was also able to seek the Lord through focused prayer and journaling about my desire to keep Him first and foremost throughout my day. I believe that using my night watch time wisely helped keep me "in check" this morning and will hopefully continue to lead to a more Christlike outlook on the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, what about you? Have you been awakened in the middle of the night recently? How did you use that time? More importantly, are you choosing to set your mind on Christ <i>today</i>? Join me in seeking to glorify Him with our priorities, our thoughts, our speech, our actions, and our goals. And let these beloved lyrics from the hymn <a href="http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/t/btmvison.htm" target="_blank">"Be Thou My Vision"</a> be characteristic of our aim:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thou, my best thought, by day or by night,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Waking or sleeping - Thy presence, my light.</i></span></div>
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