Oh my, where to start. So many thoughts running through my head right now…
The video session this week: “Rejection”. I just want to touch a little on that. As Beth said, we all don’t take rejection very well. I know that I don’t. I want to be liked/loved by everyone. But I have to realize that this is not possible – at least not on this side of heaven. I really enjoyed this phrase by Beth during the video session: “Sometimes God allows rejection for our best interest”. Sometimes we don’t see a rejection as a blessing, but a punishment – I know I do it all.the.time…But I did struggle a little bit when Beth said: “It is not me who is rejected, but Christ within me”…Huh?! But why would my brothers and sisters in Christ reject me because of Christ within me. That might be true for unbelievers who see Christ in me – but not my fellow believers. Or am I wrong?
The homework was a totally different story…JOY. What a glorious word. What came to mind on day one was Psalm 51:12 (NIV): ‘Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me…’ Yes, I want God to restore that JOY every single day; that I don’t forget! I forget about my salvation too often when I am in the midst of trails and tribulations. How about you?
What really hit me in the homework though was day 4. Beth is talking about Elijah. My favorite point: When we become “wonders junkies“. As I have mentioned before, I have done this study about 2 years ago, but when I went through the home work – this point stood out again. Sometimes in my trails and tribulations I don’t hear the gentle whispers of God. The people He sends into my life to restore the joy I have in Him. It always happens when I take my eyes off the Cross and ‘wallow’ in self-pity. When I look for the huge Mountain top experiences! But He is there with me. Every step of the way! Quoting Beth: “He looked for God in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but he did not find Him there. I am convinced the most intimate times we ever will spend with God will be listening to His gentle whispers. It is there that we will find true chara.” – Amen to that!
The other great point Beth made: “The joy in fellowship”. I love the body of Christ! When we can share our struggles with other believers and can witness because of those struggles. He is FAITHFUL; He always sends the right people at the right time. Don’t you agree? (Oh I wish I could type as fast as my brain thinks)…
Unbelievers sometimes think that we have it all together and that we don’t have struggles in life. That is so not true. We have struggles, but we have a support system. First we can look to the Cross to restore us when we are in the pits; than we have other believers who pray for us…Isn’t that awesome to know!
If you have followed my blog over the last couple of weeks, you know that I have been on an emotional roller-coaster-ride. Here again I can point to God for allowing me to be part of this Bible study. His timing is always perfect!!!!
‘Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!’ Phil 4:1 (NIV)
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| Addie | Heather* | Carol |
| M | Rach | Jeana |
| Jenn | Amanda | MamaB |
| GiBee | Boomama | Maria |
| Blair | Heather | Nancy |
| Janna | Flipflop | Robin |
| Sherry | Patricia | Tara |
| Lauren | HolyMama! | Faith |
| Christy | Eph2810 | Karin |
| Leann | Rachel | Janice |
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This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm – Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word. |
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oh, you’re so right about His timing!!
and part of the joy in fellowship for me is in blogLand. I have such trouble fellowshipping in person, but online it’s so much easier for me!
I love the body of Christ, too – that’s actually what I wrote about this week. And yes, He absolutely sends the right people at the right time…exactly like He did through this study! 🙂
A very inspiring post. Thanks for sharing it.
God Bless!
To respond to your thoughts about the body of Christ rejecting you because of Christ in you. I do in fact think that is possible. Only because they still have a sin nature within themselves and that sin nature rejects Christ all the time.
And because the bible says that we will be known by our love for one another…I firmly believe that the enemy will attack that love any chance they get!
And I LOVE the verse you’ve pointed out in Ps. 51:12. That should be my prayer EVERYDAY!
Thanks Iris!
I have been wallowing in self pity for years. AMAZING how when I take my eyes off myself and look up I start feeling stronger, eh?
Neat commentary this week. I’ve looked through more of your posts and love your positive attitude through trials. Not easy, but better with God. 😉
I also love the JOY of fellowship that you talked about. You’re right — we don’t go through life free of struggle because we’re Christians. But we always have hope, which allows us to find strength through Christ. I’ve been very blessed to find support and fellowship in the blogosphere this year — I had no idea there were people like you out there! 🙂
Well said, God’s timing is perfect! It’s interesting that you thought about fellow believers rejecting you when Beth said that. I had only thought about unbelievers but I think Addie is right. Just your very presence may be a conviction for some people if the sin they struggle with is one that is not an issue for you. The rejection is still of Christ’s righteousness and not the individual. Thanks for your wonderful thoughts as always!
Good points. I think I might just start this study in the winter, when things aren’t so crazy around here.
Thank you for being so faithful to share your LBY thoughts with us again this week, Iris. Lovely post, as usual.
Great post!
The “wonder junkie” point really stood out to me too. And the fellowship too. Like Holy Mama, bloggin has been a great fellowship joy for me too.
After I read your post, God brought to my mind Ps 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” How else would be able to see Him in those little things? I’m glad that you brought out the “wonder junkie” thought!
Very meaningful study, and I wish I could participate right along with you. THanks for sharing about what you’ve learned about rejection and how God uses it. I think we all struggle with this.
Also, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed catching up on some posts here tonight. Every time I turn around, you’ve posted several wonderful things again! {{Hugs}}}