AHA
This book has been perfect for my week. Taking a look at my life and seeing what God has for me today, tomorrow, everyday!
My days are devoted to sitting with, praying over, thanking God, and loving the blessing of each day with my earthly father. The father whom I am a part of, in a way that is like no other man. And the best part I am also blessed with precious time with my mom and my other father, who I am told, I act more like. As hard emotionally as this time is, it has also been such a sweet blessing to come back to mom's and have a home made meal. I don't have to think about what I want to eat. Truth be told, I set out every night to stop to get food and nothing sounds good so I head to mom's and she has some of the best meals for me!
So, back to my book. A couple of things I am getting out of this book that I need right now- the book is based on the prodigal son.
Lesson 1 - the distant country is any area of our lives where we have walked away from God.
Lesson 2- hard things I wish I could erase from my life are the very things God has used to get my attention, draw me closer to Him.
Lesson 3- disappointment in life will often bring two different responses: we will either cry out to God in desperation, or we will distance ourselves from God.
2 Corinthians 7:10New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance[a]without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Lesson 4- IF allowed God will use circumstances to wake you up and ultimately draw you closer to HIM.
Lesson 5- when faced with a desperate circumstance that is the time to cry out to God!
As I am writing this now, I have a duck trying to get my lunch. I am defending my lunch! Asking God to protect me from being attacked! Calling Him to call His creature away!
Lesson 6- my rebellion, my "distant country" does not just effect me! I am fooling myself to think those closest to me are not effected!
Lesson 7- God wants/needs me to be still to hear from Him! I cannot hear Him in the midst of my busyness! When I have so much noise in my life it's not that He is not speaking to me, it's that among the noise I cannot hear Him.
Side note - this scary duck has not left me. He looks at me all ugly and I threw all my food away in hopes of him to leave. I went to take a picture so you could see him and he left. Yay!
Lesson 8- it is possible that the only thing standing between me and a realization could be a little solitude.
Something I really don't have much of, or should I say take much of. These trips to see my dad are that! In the midst of all that is going on here, this is the only and most time I have ever (possibly in my whole life) had with this much time that I have not had a schedule or had others I felt I needed to take care of. I went straight from school to marrying the man of my youth. We had kids very early, I never lived alone and am not home alone for long period of time with out a schedule. These trips have been a blessing to stay connected with God! To be still and know God. To face an emotional time and be able to seek God's face.
Lesson 9- when someone in my life points out my wrongs what do I do with them? Do I deceive myself and try to prove them wrong instead of actually confessing the truth and doing something about it? Do I apologize because I got called out or caught instead of apologizing because I know in my heart it is wrong? Is it an apology or a confession? Am I really broken over my actions?
Kyle Idleman has a list of questions to ask yourself. To be honest with yourself. He ends chapter 5 with this verse and I will too !
I am just on chapter 7, I cannot wait to see how much more I will learn! Praising God through it all!
Lesson 8- it is possible that the only thing standing between me and a realization could be a little solitude.
Something I really don't have much of, or should I say take much of. These trips to see my dad are that! In the midst of all that is going on here, this is the only and most time I have ever (possibly in my whole life) had with this much time that I have not had a schedule or had others I felt I needed to take care of. I went straight from school to marrying the man of my youth. We had kids very early, I never lived alone and am not home alone for long period of time with out a schedule. These trips have been a blessing to stay connected with God! To be still and know God. To face an emotional time and be able to seek God's face.
Lesson 9- when someone in my life points out my wrongs what do I do with them? Do I deceive myself and try to prove them wrong instead of actually confessing the truth and doing something about it? Do I apologize because I got called out or caught instead of apologizing because I know in my heart it is wrong? Is it an apology or a confession? Am I really broken over my actions?
Kyle Idleman has a list of questions to ask yourself. To be honest with yourself. He ends chapter 5 with this verse and I will too !
I am just on chapter 7, I cannot wait to see how much more I will learn! Praising God through it all!
Proverbs 28:13New American Standard Bible (NASB)
13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
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