Author: casualchef

Originally Read and Commented on 3.27.21

Psalm 62:5
Write about things in which you want to hear from God. After you do take time to be silent as you wait for Him to answer:
My Path – where do you want me?
Next steps in my journey
Mission Trips
How can I best work for/influence the Kingdom
How to open my Heart, develop the Heart of David
How to Surrender
How to make personal relationships better/more productive/my in sync

These are things I pray for daily and journal. Answers are personal, but I am sure I will write about some of them as time goes on.

Originally Read and Commented on 3.27.21

Matthew 3:13-17
Journal on what the Holy Spirit is saying to you and prey through anything God may be teaching you through the passage. Rest in silence as the truth that Jesus’ work is finishing and that God is rejoicing over you:
In my meeting with my Pastor, we discussed setting up a prayer schedule, pray and read scripture at the same time of day, make a habit of it.
Along with that I started a Prayer Journal, so that I can document what I prayed for, and then sit in silence for 5-15 mins after and Listen, if something comes ot me journal it also, so that I can then reflect and pray on it if needed the next day or later that week.
I also have started an Accountability Group with JD, who Pastor and I met with.

As I prayed about this passage, it is a reminder that I need to surrender things, start with small things. Frustration at traffic maybe? (prob a bad one for me to start with, it is a big frustration). Small things. Surrender those. Then work up to medium things, Then to large things. Die to Self as I do these. Each thing I surrender is an opportunity to Die to Self.

Originally Read and Commented on 3.26.21

What is one way that your perspective on surrender has shifted during your time journaling on this topic?:
I need to surrender. I met w Pastor about this topic specifically. We will meet every other week as I work through this. I also started on the path with an Accountability partner. I wish to use PS as this as well, a double check.
As I work on surrender this will be critical to it.

[[4.14 Update]] With PS and I not together, I will lean more on my Acct Partner and God. OS was important to me as a double check and a barometer on this.

Identify an area of your life in which you could apply something you learned about surrender:
My daily life, I need to pray about surrender. I need to look at interactions with people, see what is there, and then work on those interactions and connections.

Which aspect of surrender (fasting, denial, selfishness, resurrection) are you committed to working on right now?:
Denial and Selflessness. Focus on Gods plan , not my plan. Pray intently about this.

Originally Read and Commented on 3.25.21

Matthew 14:22-33
Describe a book or movie that represents the idea of resurrection for you.:
Not sure I have a book or movie.
Resurrection is New Life. It is not coming back from the dead, it is New Life within your current life. The point of a baptism is New Life, it is resurrection of ones self, die to self in the water, to come out of the water with New Life in God.

Originally Read and Commented on 3.24.21

Isaiah 55:6
How has todays devotion refreshed your perspective on the theme of selflessness? How cab you practice selflessness on your daily life?:
I need to focus more on others. I have always described myself as “selflishly selfless” or “selflessly selfish” I do watch for others, but I often defer that to a later time, get mine now and take of others then… I need to try and do both at the same time.
I need to Lead. Lead by example. I need to use the vast Wisdom I have, but focus it through my Heart. I need to look at others and accept others where they are at and then draw them to God.

Originally Read and Commented on 3.23.21

Luke 9:23-26
In what areas of your life do you need to deny your own goals and instead put your life in the hands of the Creator?:
I met with my Pastor today, this subject came up as a side note of our Surrender discussion. What does God want with/from/for me? I need to ask, listen. pray, surrender as I hear what God has to say.
I need to take a good look at myself and see where I can deny myself and turn to God.

Originally Read and Commented on 3.22.21

Matthew 6:16-18
If you have fasted in the past, how has it drawn you closer to God? What is something you cab fast from in this current season?:
This is something I need to work up to. PS has done Whole 30, and we discussed if we continue forward in our relationship, doing it as a couple. You give yo sugar, alcohol, and some other things. Two of my weaknesses.
She challenged me to 1 week of no Alc, and I added extra sugar. specific to candy and treats. I failed on the candy/treats front. So I started it again. Just short of two weeks no Alc, and one slip up on the treats. My reaction to this failure was a huge point of contention between PS and I, because of my reaction to the failure. I was so mad at myself for letting her down, and not following through, that I went against her, almost blaming her for my failure. I was so mad at myself for it.
Fasting is something I need to learn more about and do.

[[4.13 Update]] I am really bummed that I will not be doing Whole 30 with PS as a means of fasting in the future. We had plans for some things, dance lessons, Whole 30, other things. I am extremely sad about missing out on these things with her. I will find my own reasons to do these things. But the fun of doing this was to do them with her.

Originally Read and Commented on 3.21.21

John 14:16-17
What parts of your life have you Surrendered to God? What parts have you held back?:
Surrender is my biggest challenge. I am not sure how to Surrender. On 3.23 I have a sit down with my Pastor to discuss this topic specifically.
I feel I have surrendered a bit, I have accepted Jesus, I have always believed, I pray daily (and have for years and years). But i cannot name individual things, or aspects. I need to learn to Surrender.
My friend PS tells me about it all the time. She sees so much potential in me, but I need to surrender. It is the biggest wall between us right now.
More to come on this…

[[4.13 Update]] Still a challenge. But I do know I have surrendered many things. I have sort of taken surrender for granted, without recognizing it. I am on the last two days of the 40 Days, and I have learned so much that as I read the day, I did not understand it, to now, I have accepted so much of these topics as the norm. I just never named them. With PS and I not together, and ending our relationship, I am leaning more and more on God, as I realize I need to surrender a lot of my drive to use intellect to solve issues. Something she and I have discussed a lot. This however is NOT the reason she and I were in each others lives, part of it maybe, but this is not it. I do need to surrender though. I am surrendering.

Originally Read and Commented on 3.20.21

What is one way your perspective on Joy has shifted during time journaling this topic?:
I always associated Joy and Happiness as the same thing. Through this I have learned they are not the same. Joy is Internally generated, from the Heart (Soul), it is triggered by God and His workings. Happiness is External, it is from laughing children, good times, a spouse, birthdays and holidays. Itis from those around you.

Identify an area in your life in which you could apply something you learned about Joy:
I need to apply Obedience and Salvation in my life. In my daily life, staying true to my prayer, obedient to it, same with my reading of scripture. I have an Accountability partner, and I have a regular sit down with my Pastor scheduled. I need to stay Obedient to those things.

Which aspect of Joy (happiness, praise, obedience, salvation) are you committed to working on right now?:
Obedience

Originally Read and Commented on 3.19.21

Psalm 16
In what ways has obedience to God brought joy to your life:
I have not been that obedient to God, as I have said in previous entries. Recently God has brought someone into my life, PS, and she has helped with Happiness and Joy. She has helped me to get back into Church and work toward a goal of Surrender. PS has been Happiness for sure. Likely she has helped me to find Joy, in that I have began to be more Obedient, I have started with this book and with returning to Church to walk His Path better.