Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Abiding in God

Have you heard about "Into the Word Wednesday" in the blogging world?? I think this is one of the BEST blog link-up ideas! I decided to join in the fun today, by sharing what God has been revealing to me through His Word lately.

As most of my friends know, I've been doing How to Study the Bible {"HTSTB", a Bible study} since 2009 at The Village Church. Originally, I only joined this bible study group because my home group leader kept asking me to come and check it out. BOY, did God have a plan! I immediately fell in love. The group's devotion is to practice and apply Matt Chandler's HTSTB method, to learn how to "feed" yourself {not rely on a pastor, study guide, or theology books}, walk with God, and learn about God's heart and character. It's how I abide in God.


Since June, we've been walking through 1Samuel and God has been continually repeating the same themes to me. 

God is good and He does good=God's Sovereignty
*1:5 "the LORD had kept her {Hannah} from conceiving"
*2:25 "but they would not listen to their father, since the LORD intended to kill them"
*3:18 "He is the LORD. He will do what He thinks is good."
*4:10-11 "30,000 of the Israelite foot soldiers fell"
*7:2 "then the whole house of Israel began to seek the LORD."
*15:2-3 "Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant"
  
These are just a few of the verses that God revealed to me. This is God's sovereignty: God keeping Hannah from getting pregnant, God intending to kill people, God allowing 30,000+ of His own people to be killed, God commanding His people to kill their enemy's women, children, and babies...and this is good? God is good in this?? YES!!

How can these horrible things be good...the killing of children...Hannah's infertility? I am forever indebted to John Piper and his book Spectacular Sins for unpacking this truth:

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." Colossians 1:15-16 "All that came into being exists for Christ--that is, everything exists to display the greatness of Christ. [...]from the greatest saint to the most wicked genocidal dictator--everything that exists, exists to make the greatness of Christ more fully known..." {John Piper}

As Christians, we know God is sovereign. He is in control, but do we trust Him? I don't. This is still my greatest struggle. When I watch my closest friends go through infertility and miscarriages, when I watch the news at night full of violence and death, when I struggle with understanding why there is sin in the world {and Satan} and why God just doesn't get rid of it all...I turn to Colossians 1:15-16, it's for God's glory. God is good and He does good! 

After every "hard" verse in 1Samuel, I wrote in my journal "God is good, and He does good!". My hope is, one day I will live from a heart that fully believes and knows how good God is and how He does good, always. Then, and only then, will I trust Him.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
     whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jer. 17:7-8

Tales of Beauty for Ashes

17 comments:

  1. Ohhh Girl!! That's good stuff right there! I'm gonna have to check out Spectacular Sins. Over and over in the Bible God still shines through tragedy. It may take some years, but His goodness is unending. While in the middle of a warped world, "good" seems rare. But, Praise God for it! Thank God this warped world is NOT the grand finale.

    Great post!! Thanks for linking up!! New follower here. :)

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  2. Thank you so much for sharing. I too, love Piper, but have never heard of that book. I need to check it out for sure! I am so glad that God is good. It makes it easier to trust Him when I know that He has only good in mind.

    Thanks for linking up with us, so glad you like the linky party!

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  3. Thank you for sharing! I have the same thoughts about, what is the reasoning for such sadness in the world. I love that passage from John Piper, very enlightening! I'll have to get that book. I find it hard to completely let go and trust God situations in my life sometimes, even though I know His was is way better than I could ever come up with ;) everyday is a journey, and thankfully God is right there to guide us

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  4. beautiful!

    come say hi at nichollvincent.blogspot.com and have a great night!

    xo

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  5. Trusting God is the hardest thing for all of us! We get scared and impatient and think, well, maybe God's waiting for ME to do something. We're just so small and human. And, at the root, we want to be in control. We think we know best. How God must laugh! I'm new to Into the Word, and I'm so enjoying seeing that other believers struggle w/ the issue that I do. Fumbling loves company. :-) I'm number 22 on the link list this week. Come visit me! God bless you!

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  6. Girl God is CONTINUALLY using people like YOU to share with me how I need to TRUST him in my walk. TRUST in HIS perfect will. Boy do i struggle! The How to Study the Bible study intrigues me!!! I am headed to check it out now. THANK you SO much for linking up this week! You are just awesome per usual! :)

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    1. seriously go listen to the HTSTB link (just the first 1hr)...it will rock your socks off! THANK you for hosting this AWESOME blog hop! xo

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  7. love reading those verses! :) stopping by from mom's mingle

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  8. Really love John Piper. Just purchased his book God is the Gospel and can't wait to read and learn from him. I also listen to your pastor via podcast on occassion and learn so much from him as well.
    Such a wonderful reminder you shared here. God is good and does good. So often it is hard to see through the hardships, but it is a truth about Him that we can stand on.
    Thanks so much for sharing! So looking forward to getting to know you!

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    1. Thanks Wendy! I love Piper and how he unpacks scripture too!

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  9. Following you back from Weekend Blog Walk. So glad you're joining in our fun. Great blog you have here!

    Jessica @ At Home Take 2

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  10. Yes God is good and he does good. Sometimes I know that is hard for me to grasp especially through the really difficult situations but I know it's truth. And I LOVE the Village Church. That's where we go!

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    1. Oh wow! What a small world!!! I'm following you now, and maybe I'll see you around the Village sometime! xo, Viv

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  11. this was honetly just what i needed to hear today. that verse about trusting God..wow!


    Hope you’re having a great day! Drop by nichollvincent.blogspot.com and say hello!

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