Scripture Journal

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Jen

Several years ago, while doing homework for whatever bible study my women’s group was undertaking at the time, I came across the following verse:

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 10:19

An image of my 6 or 7 year old son trying unsuccessfully to talk his way out of something immediately popped into my head (it seemed I was constantly telling him he would get into less trouble if he’d just stop talking) and I burst out laughing. I was fairly certain this verse was put in the bible just for him and verifiable proof that God has a sense of humor.

I’ve never been good at memorizing scripture, but I certainly didn’t want to forget this verse so I wrote it down in a fat little 4×6 spiral binder with a quick blurb about why I liked it. Over time I recorded other passages – some funny, some pertinent to my situation at the time, and some encouraging. Some I found during a formal bible study, some I found as I was just perusing the good book and some I was shown by my friend, Beth.

All of that came to an end when I got sick seven years ago and I put the scripture journal away. I’m a little sad I didn’t keep up with it because it would probably be full by now. I came across my fat little binder in the drawer of my coffee table a few months ago. There are still a lot of empty pages in it, but not for long.

I would LOVE it if you would share some of your favorite verses here. It’s a really fat little binder and I’m going to need help filling it up!

Weary and Burdened

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Terri

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-20

This is one of my favorite passages from the Bible. Many years of my life were spent feeling weary and burdened that was until I began following Jesus and believing in what these words mean.

I told a couple of people last week that I was weary, tired and running on empty. As much as I love ministry, I sometimes find myself frustrated, disappointed, irritated and wondering why it has to be so hard.

Ministry’s hard because it’s all about people. We’re complicated, set in our ways, wounded, arrogant, doubtful, side-tracked and unmotivated. What I do becomes difficult because I’m one of those people who sees everything in black and white, right or wrong, which leaves me perplexed at times. I also happen to be a highly-driven perfectionist who will work non-stop to get it all done and get it done right! These traits, unfortunately, give me a narrow viewpoint when I’m under a great deal of stress.

How I’m “wired up” leads to being weary and burdened, but only when I keep Jesus at arm’s length. I end up experiencing weariness when I lose sight of the fact that God is using me to do his work, not mine! It’s so easy to forget that God’s in control, not me.

These times of unrest always pass thanks to the help of friends in ministry and out reminding me that Jesus is there every step of the way guiding, supporting and reaching to me. I just have to remember to reach back and find in him what I need.

Personality, Gifts, Passion

Posted on October 15, 2009 by Terri

I’m sure most of us have taken the “Myers Briggs” somewhere along the way, in school, the workplace, at church - you know, the results give you four letters that describe your personality: E or I, N or S, F or T, J or P. There are 16 different personality types. I’m an ESFJ through and through - Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging. Here’s how an ESFJ is described:

Warmhearted, conscientious, and cooperative. Want harmony in their environment, work with determination to establish it. Like to work with others to complete tasks accurately and on time. Loyal, follow through even in small matters. Notice what others need in their day-by-day lives and try to provide it. Want to be appreciated for who they are and for what they contribute.

Gifts refer to the spiritual gifts I received when I made Jesus the leader and forgiver of my life and was baptized. My top 3 spiritual gifts are evangelism, teaching and leadership.

My passion centers on people. What makes my heart beat fast is helping people meet and form a relationship with Jesus, coming alongside them as they learn about him and connecting them into the life of the church. I love doing these things, just love them!

These descriptions all look good on paper, but in reality it’s not always that peachy! The last couple of months have been extremely stressful for me at work. I know, I know, most would say, “how can working for the church be stressful?” It can be. While my personality is described as this warm and fuzzy, upbeat, team player who goes around all day making sure everybody’s needs are met, when things aren’t working out so harmoniously, my deadlines are impacted by others, and I get verbally roughed up by a co-worker, I’m like a volcano that grumbles and heats up and eventually erupts thousands of feet into the air. And what comes out is just as hot and dangerous as what comes out of a real volcano! What’s more difficult, is that I want to speak up, work it out, and explain myself, but most of the time I can’t do it. I can’t do it because, for years, I’ve been told I’m too emotional, unapproachable, too black & white, overly upset. If I’m quiet, others can’t say or think those things about me which is what an ESFJ wants – harmony!

My volcano erupted last night and it wasn’t good! Two people I love and trust said I need to figure out how to STOP letting stuff impact me so deeply and so personally. Yeah, I know that, but boy is it hard to put into practice. They also told me the only thing I can control and change is me. They’re right again.

So today’s a new day. I’m up doing what brings me comfort and hope – reading my Bible, talking to God and writing it down. Prayer, Jesus’ words, and time alone always bring the start of change and healing; the continued growth toward Christlikeness.

Conversations

Posted on September 18, 2009 by Terri

Conversations is a group for women who have questions or just want to talk about the Bible, Christianity, prayer, the church, God, Jesus. The group will meet the 3rd Saturday of every month at 9:00 AM. The first Conversation is Saturday, October 17th in Classroom #1 upstairs in the children’s building. For more information, contact Terri Stone at 610.792.0777 ext. 207 or terri@moviechurch.com.

Join the Conversation!

Leaps of Faith

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Terri

Every time I’ve taken one, as scary and as painful as it was, it ended up being a meaningful experience in my life. Moving to Pennsylvania from Colorado 9 years ago, leaving behind a brand new grandbaby was a huge leap for me. How would this little girl know I was her grandma if I didn’t see her every day? I prayed that God would help me build a relationship with her even though we were miles apart. Then after living in Pennsylvania 4 years, my husband left corporate America with all its perks and a child headed to college, to become our church’s Executive Pastor. This was definitely a leap of faith.

What’s most difficult in these situations is knowing and trusting that God’s there through the fear, the doubt and the uncertainty. We worry and stew over what might be when all along God’s guiding, loving, teaching and stretching us to his outcome. My questions is: When we have to make hard decisions, do things that make us uncomfortable, whatever, why is it so hard to give God our complete trust, love and devotion? Why is it we struggle believing these words from the Bible, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”?

Recently my family took another step off the ledge trusting in God to take care of a major situation. While it was stressful, scary and at times uncomfortable, God worked it out. He answered prayers and provided what was needed. Our entire family has been significantly impacted by the experience – spiritually, physically and mentally.

What’s going on in your life right now? Do you need to take that leap, that step off the ledge knowing that God’s got you taken care of? Trust me, it’s an amazing experience or better yet, don’t trust me, trust God!

Obey My Teaching

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Terri

Dictionary.com lists these definitions for obey: to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of; to comply with or follow; to submit or conform in action to. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20 to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything he commanded. In John 14:23-24 he said “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” and “Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”

Jesus also said to “follow me.” Read the definitions again. Follow the commands or instructions, comply with, submit in actions to. Follow, obey hmmm… Are we, who profess faith in and love for Jesus, obeying his teaching; are we following him? He wasn’t just talking to hear himself talk, Jesus told us these things so we would become like him. He was radically different to those around him in his lifetime; he expects the same from us in our lifetime.

If we let ourselves be changed the way he wants us to change, if we obeyed his teaching, the world would be a different place. We Jesus followers wouldn’t be called hypocrites or judgmental, people would want to hear what we have to share, our money management would be the example, and our compassion and love for all people would be a large part of what defines us.

Some of the best ways to learn what he taught are to read our Bibles, to have conversations with one another often and to attend church services regularly. It’s not too complicated or too difficult if we take it one day at a time. We made the decision and shared that with the world in our baptism; now it’s time we take the decision to follow and obey to those around us. Let’s show them how what it really looks like to be the image of God.

Rest

Posted on July 21, 2009 by Terri

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30

Rest, we all need it. If we don’t rest, we just don’t function right. We need mental, physical and spiritual rest. I spent many years of my life without the rest Jesus talked about. I used to say, “I just can’t get settled.” Everything bothered me, everything. I worried about money, I was never happy at work, I’d let an issue with another person nag at me, I obsessed about the number on the scale, and I envied what others had. These things left me in a constant state of restlessness. Then one day I came across Jesus’ words when I was reading my Bible.

These words meant a lot to me and I took them to heart. God rested on the 7th day, he told the nation of Israel he’d give them a place of rest, Jesus told the weary and burdened to come to him and he’d give them rest. I think this resting place is a place where there are life’s issues and struggles but there’s no unsettled feeling. Why? If we take the rest that Jesus gives there’s no worry, stress, heartache, or distraction that we can’t handle. We’re not deprived; we’re rested. We can function the way God wants us to function.

Think about it, when we’ve not rested like we should, we’re blurried-eyed, grouchy, sluggish and whiny. When we’re rested our eyes are wide open, we’ve got energy, we’re ambitious and we can take on anything. I love being rested, it’s so much better than being exhausted by all of life’s twists and turns.

My hope is that we women believe Jesus’ words and take the much need rest he so generously offers!

CLEAR

Tag Archives: Bible