One of the things she wrote in her book, and another one I read by her since this summer (Keep a Quiet Heart), is that she strongly recommends every Christian keep a journal. She said it would be extremely beneficial, because you can go back and look at what you learned previously, so you can remember it later on. I took her advice, and began journaling when I learned something profound or heard a great message at church. Over Christmas break, it became a daily thing - I wrote when I read my Bible in the mornings. I still am pretty consistent with journaling (though it's not quite every day), and have really enjoyed it. Since I haven't posted a blog in a few weeks, I decided I would. I decided to go through my journal and write some of the things I have been learning this semester. It could be specific verses, quotes by godly men and women, things I learned from a sermon, encouraging conversations I had with friends, lines from songs, or random thoughts that are a result of the sum of all of these things...I really don't know what will end up here. So bear with me, and enjoy :)
January 15, 2011 - "Many Christians, myself included...thoughtlessly meander up to God as though He were a doting old grandfather in the sky, giving out grace as He would pass out chocolate chip cookies" - Joni Eareckson Tada, Seeking God.
January 16, 2011 - Deuteronomy 7:9-10 - "Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenan and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; but repays those who hate Him to their faces to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face."
January 22, 2011 - [not an exact quote] "Submission is not based on the worthiness of the person submitted to, but because of God's command" - Voddie Bauchum, Truth&Life Conference.
January 23, 2011 - "Come thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace" - Come Thou Fount, Robert Robinson
February 6, 2011 - "It's not about me. I don't need to take attention for myself - it's prideful. Pride and selfishness are sin. God hates them. Jesus had to die for them. He redeemed me, so that all the sin I commit would not reign over me. So take your focus off of self and put it on the only One who deserves it, who is 'beautiful beyond description' and 'too marvelous for words'".
February 16, 2011 - "Nahum 3 is an even clearer, scarier picture of the destruction of Ninevah [than Nahum 2]. The heading of the chapter is 'Ninevah's Complete Ruin', and that is definitely what's described. This is an extremely vivid picture of God's wrath and justice. People who only focus on God's love need to read Nahum."
February 19, 2011 - Romans 2:4 - "...the kindness of God leads you to repentance."
March 3, 2011 - "Romans 13:2 - 'Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God...' To resist authority is to be opposed to God's commands."
March 21, 2011 - "Thankful for the unconditional love and mercy of the Lord, as well as His protection and sovereign control over every situation."
March 23, 2011 - [Background: during this time, I was reading Esther. Again and again, I saw her humility.] Esther 3 talks about Haman's plot against the Jews. He was filled with so much hatred toward Mordecai that he wanted to destroy all of his people too, not just Mordecai. How much pride does it take to get that far? Pride needs to be dealt with or else it just grows. Proverbs 29:23, 'One man's pride will bring him low but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.' (Haman is the first one, Esther is the second)." [Later in the book this happens, Haman is killed and Esther is honored.]
March 25, 2011 - "James 3:16 - 'For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.' - Haman shows this is true."
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