Mind Wanderings On My Inductive Study In 1 Peter.

I joined our local women’s ministry and we are doing and inductive study on 1 Peter. This is my first time I’ve done an inductive study and I really enjoy it. I don’t do all the color coding or follow some type of key. I literally just underline words that pop out to me. I underline and arrow what they point to if they point to anything. Then I focus on the challenges and promises within the passage. Finally how can I apply to my life.

Today we were on 1 Peter 1:13-16. Which is basically a passage about our conduct as those who are saved. So I thought it would be fun to share what jumped off the page and intrigued me.

so read the passage - 1 Peter 13-16

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As I worked through this passage in the NIV, alert and sober jumped out right away so I wondered what that meant. I underlined so I could draw attention to because those are descriptive words used specifically on how we should be positioning our minds. Alert - prepare for action. Sober - to take serious.

Next grace. Before this passage Peter used grace a lot so here I take special notice of grace again and grace is God’s unmerited favor. Peter also used hope multiple times so I underlined hope and arrow to grace. I also always underline Jesus’ name when it’s referenced. The whole bible points to him so what is this passage saying about Jesus. Here it references his coming so I underline that. So taking those four words: hope, grace, Jesus, and coming from this sentence I note a promise: the only way we are able to stand before Jesus on that day is because of his unmerited favor he gives and will give us.

Moving on to the next sentence. I see action - do not, so I pay special attention to what I do not do which is conform. And when a but is present I always circle that. So do not conform BUT… so what’s my but. It’s not apparent right away so I stay here a little bit. I’m called to be holy. Holy is a big word. So what does this really mean. Because this passage says I’m to be holy in all I do. Well, holy is not about spiritual purity it is about apartness. God has never asked us to be spiritually perfect but he does ask us to live differently and according to the passage to not conform to this world and to set our mind on the hope found in his grace. So I focus this last bit on how I’m set apart. I’m holy because He is holy and we are to share in his holiness. His apartness.

So here is my challenge: do not conform to this world but live in his holiness. His apartness.

this reminds me of the passage in Romans 12:1-2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

‭‭So I end with an application to my self. I ask myself this question: Am I setting my mind on things above? My mind is a powerful weapon. Is it focused on his grace? Am I living set apart?

But then I remind myself in the whole context of the Bible that Jesus was for this world. So while I live holy for Jesus, I do so to show Jesus. Not to separate myself from those who do not know Jesus.

And there you have my morning mind wanderings folks. Hope it makes as much sense to you as it does me.

Your Life Tells Who Jesus Is

I can’t remember where I came across this quote. Maybe a sermon? A book? But it resonated with me. Made me think. What does my life say about who Jesus is? If I’m suppose to the the Salt, what difference am I making? If I’m the Light, how does Jesus shine through?

While my words on this blog, to my friends or what I share in study matters, but it’s my actions that truly make a difference. So today I ask myself, I ask you, what does your life and how you live say about Jesus?

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Fear Of The Lord

Fear the Lord beginning of wisdom. A verse I fell in love with in 2019. I’ve always wanted to be seen as a wise old lady.. you know… some day. Someone people seek out for good sound advice. And here we get the key. Fear.

Fear often has a negative connotation to it. And God speaks to this fear often. But this speaks to a different aspect. The fear of God. Yes God is loving and merciful and full of grace. He is our father who would do anything for us. But we are also suppose to fear him. For He is a God of great power. Ever wonder how great? I love watching the video below and listening to the song linked. They remind me of How great and infinite God is. The ruler of our universe.

The Awe Factor Video by Francis Chan

So Will I Song by Hillsong.

The greatness of God cannot be underestimated, his power is an astronomical power of the universe yet power so loving that He sent his son.

For us. For you

A Look Back On 2019

How do I explain 2019... we had a lot of sweets and a lot of sours. It was a year I had to lean into the word of God more than ever. To let go and trust. Six Notes took a major back seat as we navigated life but I stand amazed at how God continued to pull it forward. The messages written in the past became a lifeline for us. The words in the tees truly became what we needed as reminders of His goodness as we walked in this journey called life.

And if I’ve learned anything over the year it’s this. 👉🏼 the importance of showing up. 👈🏼. The importance of showing up for those who are hurting. The importance of showing up for my kids in the tough transitions in life. How much I value those who showed up for us during our great heartbreak. And how God shows up everyday if we just learn to sit still and feel his presence.

So as we jump into 2020, my goal is to continue to slow down and show up. Separate from the rat race. Get away from the busy. Enjoy what has been placed around me and show up for those who truly need me. Or those God has nudged me to love.

And showing up isn’t complicated, but it means we are self-less. And doesn’t God ask that of us anyway? “The last shall be first.”

If you want to see our top nine post from 2019, head to our instagram page. Below are a few of the quotes that were in the top 9.

#thebestnine #2019 #showup #2020goals