Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God: Ephphatha

Showing posts with label Ephphatha. Show all posts

Friday, March 1, 2013

Caffeinated in the Word - Week 2 with Mark

12:00 AM | Posted by Michelle | Edit Post

Week two. How did you do? Did you get your study done everyday? Or did you cram it all into one session. Confession time - that's what I did. For some reason this week I have been unable to get out of bed early to do my personal devotion time. As a result, this week I have been overwhelmed, depressed, in a fog, set adrift, lost, angry, frustrated,......I could go on, but I won't. I have no one else to blame but myself. I could have gotten myself up. My alarm went off. I could of rolled out of bed instead of rolling over. This week I have been running on fumes, when I could have been running on a full tank.

When I do this it reminds of my own hypocrisy of telling my daughter to do her homework daily. Of putting in the time to get good grades instead of watching TV or playing video games. I can't expect her to get it right when I myself am failing. I need to set good guidelines, not just for her, but also for me. I need to lead by example. Right now the rules seems to be "do as I say, not as I do." Doesn't really seem fair and it isn't. I need to get my act together so that I can teach her to get hers in order.

I loved the "Picture It" method. I loved envisioning myself in the place of one of the characters in the Bible story. It was a great way of thinking of what it would have been like to see Jesus and hear Jesus. Even though I crammed I got a lot out of the weeks study. Funny enough the truths that came out at me were ones I needed to hear this week. They were ones about Jesus' healing relief and freedom (Mark 1:40-45; 5:21-45; & Mark 7:31-37); about trusting Jesus to provide (Mark 6:35-44); and about where Jesus is in the storms (Mark 4:35-41; Mark 6:45-51). Another good reminder why I should be in the Word daily. These are all things I need to be reminded of and need to embrace.

My favourite word also came out this week in the study - "Ephphatha". It used to be my signature line for my blog. It means "be opened." I wrote a blog about it when I first blogged. How I still long to be open. How I long to be completely authentic in my walk. How I long to be free from the bondage that I cling to. God again placed this verse in my life to remind me that I am free. Free in Him if I would but believe it. I do believe it and will embrace it. I already feel a fresh wind flowing around me and renewing me. I feel lightened and embraced. I feel open. I long to stay open.

This week as we read we are to try the Probe It method or the SPACEPETS method. It is more based on action then complete reflection I am interested to see how this goes and can't wait to write more about it next week.

This week's reading:

Day 15 - Mark 8:34-38 Jesus teaches about taking up your cross
Day 16 - Mark 9:33-34 Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God
Day 17 - Mark 10:17-31 Jesus meets the rich young man
Day 18 - Mark 11:25 We must forgive to be forgiven
Day 19 - Mark 14:3-9 A woman anoints Jesus with perfume
Day 20 - Mark 15:33-39 The crucifixion
Day 21 - Mark 16:1-20 the resurrection

This week's memory verse:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 (NIV)

What did you learn from Mark this week? Are you a crammer or do you get things done when you should? If you are, can you teach me? Even if you aren't doing the study, please join your randomness up with the other Java Junkies this week.

Labels: 40 Days in the Word, Bible Study, Caffeinated in the Word, Ephphatha, Mark, Picture It, Probe It | 0 comments

Monday, January 17, 2011

Being honest....

8:07 PM | Posted by Michelle | Edit Post

Since participating in the Bible in 90 Days challenge (you guys are going to hate hearing about this by the end of the 90 days) and through the Babes study of David, I have been challenged with my relationship with God. There have been some good days and some bad. There have been days where I've wanted to walk away, but I have persevered. I have gotten mad at God. I've questioned God. I've cried with God,. I've laughed with God. I've had some Ah-Ha moments with God. I have had a rainbow of emotions with Him.

I couldn't say two years ago that I had this kind of relationship with Him. I couldn't even say I had this relationship with Him a month ago. This relationship is growing. It is a continual learning experience on my side. I've become more open to Him and willing to humble myself more to His will in my life, as well as handing Him the keys to my life. This is a big step. I am a control freak and planner. I like to have a plan for everything. By letting Him have control, I'm saying He's the priority. He's the master.

I'm sharing one of the first posts I ever wrote at Lost in the Prairies today, where I wrote about the beginning of my being open to God and His plan in my life.

He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ). Mark 7 v 34

I read this verse this morning during my daily devotion and it has stayed with me since. Be open. Some of my friends would say I'm an open book. I am known as a talker (LOL). I couldn't get away with anything when I was a kid as I was a poor liar. You ask me something and I'll answer it "truthfully." I say truthfully because if someone asks about my past or present, I'll answer honestly but on a need to know basis. For example, I'll tell people my grandparents raised me, but I won't elaborate on the why (future posts). What people don't know is that there is a wall around me that has some cracks, but I've pretty well fortified it so that most people don't see the hurt and pain behind it.

I feel God placed this verse upon me today, not just to be open to others, but to be open to Him. I've even kept Him at a distance. The one who should be the closest, the one who I can be totally honest with because He knows all, is the one I definitely keep at arms reach. God is Abba, the Father who doesn't accuse, doesn't lie, doesn't neglect us, doesn't abandon us. He is always there, always present, always loving. If we allow Him past the wall. I've been slowly tearing down this wall. Some days I take down 2 bricks, some days I add a few more. It is a slow and long process as I learn to trust Him with everything and give Him the controls.

Each one of us needs to keep God closest to us and lay at His feet our hurts, pains, sorrows, and joys. Through prayer and reading His word we can be "Ephphatha!"

In the spritit of being Ephphatha not just to God, but also to all of you, I would like all my bloggy sisters to post a question in their comments for me to answer this Friday for Caffeinated Randomness. I look forward to sharing some more about me with you.

I'm linking up today with Jen at Finding Heaven with the Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood.