Devotions 6/9/14 - iDisciple

Entrance by Cleansing by R.C. Sproul

Read Hebrews 9:13 and 10:22. Now find Numbers 19. Note the relationship between death and resurrection, unclean and clean, and old covenant baptism. What does this chapter teach you about your new covenant baptism? How many times do you need to be baptized with “pure” water?

It teaches me that my new covenant baptism is "once for all" while the Old Testament cleansing had to be done every time you became unclean. It would seem you only need to be baptized with "pure" water once.

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Follow His Vision for You by Jeff and Beth Jones = https://www.idisciple.org/post/follow-his-vision-for-you?rid=140332

Treasure in Earthen Vessels by Ed Young Sr. = https://www.idisciple.org/post/treasure-in-earthen-vessels?rid=140332

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #148: Yuuki o Dashite!

Today's Video: "Pray For Me - Courage"

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I have decided to stop using this app. I am no longer attending Miles's church (for reasons I won't go into). So this will be the last post like this. I will continue to record my devotions here, however.

Discuss/Describe a situation you need courage to get started today.

I need courage to take a risk and actively look for another job, rather than stay where I am comfortable but unhappy. I need that little nudge to actually do something about it.

Lord, it says in Psalm 27:1 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Give me the courage to obey YOU regarding looking for a new job. I ask for the strength to trust and wait patiently as YOU move in my circumstance. In Jesus name, Amen.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #147: Not What Was Advertised

Today's Video: "Door"

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Discuss/Describe the last time you were disappointed by a decision. Talk about how you were expecting something to be on one side of an opportunity or decision, and discovered it was not as advertised.

When I got my current job I thought it was going to be great. After all, it was union, had health benefits, and most of all, had come around after I and others had been praying for me to get a job, ANY job. So I figured God wanted me there, since things had worked out so well.

But the job hasn't been great. Sure, it was union and had great health benefits and was close to my house. But I took a bit of a pay cut from my previous job at first, it's been stressful, I've been moved around to different stores, and I am way overqualified for the job. And now I am in a rut, where I feel like I should move on but I can't push myself to do it, mainly cause I'm not sure where to go from here. Other than that I want a more career-like job (I'm out of college now, after all) and one I actually like (after 10 years of paying my dues, I think I've earned that...although knowing me, even at a job I like I'll find something to complain about...I did working at a bookstore, for goodness sake, and I love books...although to be honest I didn't complain nearly as much as I do now. My main issue was with this one strict manager I had who I didn't always get along with). Maybe something in an office? I am qualified for that. (As long as it's not like The Office ha ha). I have considered being a publishing assistant, and the idea of technical writing has come up, although I have no training in that regard. (They had a class in it at Cal State, but I took a different class in that category instead). It's something I need to think about.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #146: The Opinion of Man

Today's Video: "Bobbleheads"

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Discuss/Describe one situation that your fear of man and their opinion of you, is preventing you from obeying God. Include this in your prayer below.

It's keeping me from being open about my faith and witnessing. That's the biggest one.

Dear Lord, I know that I need to witness for you and share the Gospel but my fear of not knowing how to say it is getting in the way. I fear that they might ask me questions I can't answer or that I might offend them. I know that Mark 10:28 says, And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Please give me the courage and another opportunity to do what you are asking me to do. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #145: On the Wall

Today's Video: "Miami Heat - Championship Alley"

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Discuss/Describe one spiritual accomplishment that you think would make it on the wall of God’s championship alley, if God had one.  Explain why you think it was significant.

To be honest, I haven't accomplished much spiritually. Maybe for myself but not for others. The only thing I can think of is praying, along with others, that the daughter of one of my junior high volunteers at church would get well and she did. But that's not that impressive really.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #144: Armor Up

Today's Video: "Novocain - Dentist"

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Discuss/Describe ways that you can ensure that your spiritual armor is in place as you face the challenges of the world this week.  Endeavor to spend time in the word this week to help you prepare to wield your shield of faith as you face the world.

I can try not to think negatively. I can "capture every thought and take it captive" and think on what is good and praiseworthy, etc. That won't be easy. It's hard for me not to be negative. It will take time. But I can try to work on it this week.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #143 (catchup): Junk in The Mind

Today's Video: "Junk Food"

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Discuss/Describe one type of 'junk food' that you are feeding your heart or mind. Describe how it has poisoned your thoughts actions or words.

Definitely gossip. I shouldn't listen to it but I do. It has turned me into a gossip and that's not good. 

Also while I try to avoid "junk media" I do occasionally fill my brain with that.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #142: Faith Shortcuts

Today's Video: "Shortcut"

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Discuss/Describe one shortcut you are taking in your spiritual growth process and ask yourself if it is working.

I suppose my legalism, trying to follow all the "rules" of being a Christian perfectly and beating myself up when I fail. I used to be hard on myself for yawning in chapel! It hasn't helped me really at all. It's just shown me that that way doesn't work. :(

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #141: Letting God Contribute

Today's Video: "Pray for Me - Increase"

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Discuss/Describe an area of life where you make all the decisions and continually neglect to let God contribute?

I try to control everything in my life. My life is all compartmentalized, and I only let God control a little bit. The "Christian"/church part. I'm too afraid to take the risk of letting him control all of it, because I'm afraid of where it will lead. Even though I know it's what I should do. 

*sigh*

Help me release my personal “authority” over well, everything in my life. Lord as it says in Jon 3:30 “He must increase, I must decrease”. Let my words be your words, my thoughts be your thoughts, and my desires come from You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #140: Citizen of Heaven

Today's Video: "Citizenship"

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Discuss/Describe three aspects of your world, your friends, music, TV, language or diet that are actually contrary to the kingdom of God. In other words, they drag you away from God. As a citizen of heaven, Phil 3:20, you need to create an environment that reminds you and nurtures a heavenly attitude in your heart.

Well I try to stay away from bad stuff for the most part. I was basically raised in a Christian bubble, with church and going to a Christian school. But I know I am influenced by the world, and have been pulled away from God. Last year I didn't tithe or read my Bible or do any sort of devotions at all. 

But let's see...three things. My addiction to the internet I guess is one. Not that I look at porn or anything like that. But I spend too much time online, time I could probably spend doing something spiritual. I also have moved away from writing strictly Christian fiction. I haven't written anything anti-Christian, but I have written stuff that wasn't overtly Christian. It may have Christian values in it, but it doesn't mention God or the Bible. (Then again, my favorite book of the Bible, Esther, doesn't mention God's name at all). Also, where before I would never have included alcohol or sex or anything like that in my books, I am becoming slightly more ok with that. Well, not the sex. That's not going to happen. But the alcohol thing I'm becoming more ok with (in the Doctor Who story I'm working on, The Doctor and the male protagonist Darren both drink, although the main character Alys does not). Cursing I am also against, though I might be ok with like "bloody hell" or something like that. I wrote a novel a while back where one of the characters was a rape victim, though the rape was not described in any detail. I also am uncomfortable still writing about drugs.

The main "objectionable" subject I've written about more lately is magic. I am a big fan of fantasy, Christian and secular. For NaNoWriMo 2 years ago I wrote a novel that was my take on the magical girl genre, complete with magic. And while I'm not a Wiccan or anything, I am ok with writing about magic, whereas some Christian fantasy writers aren't. 

I also don't eat very healthy at all. That probably doesn't make God very happy.

In other words, not living a very heavenly attitude at the moment.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #139: Favorite Story

Today's Video: "Story of God"

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Discuss/Describe your most favorite story and how it relates to your life today.

I am a big fan of The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. There's a lot of long passages of theological discourse in there which can be hard to get through, but underneath is a great story of the Christian life, told via allegory. I've also read an adaptation of it by Steven James 

called Quest for Celestia which reimagines it as a fantasy novel. It combines both parts of Bunyan's work (with Kadin standing in for Christian and Leira for Christiana), condenses parts, and renames places and people, but overall tells the same story. It's a book I like to read sometimes cause I guess it helps remind me what the Christian life is really like. "The bitter must come before the sweet," as the messenger tells Christiana. The bit of Christian's burden falling away when he sees the cross is poignant too. 

I also relate to Leira in Quest for Celestia a little, in that she doesn't feel very worthy or beautiful and has to realize King Kiral (King of Celestia) sees her as special. I know how that feels.

So anyway yeah that's my favorite story.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #138: From The Heart

Today's Video: "Heart Talk"

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Discuss/Describe one recent comment you made that was taken wrong because you said it wrong. You did not speak from the heart.

I have probably said some things to people at work recently that weren't from the heart. I do try to be sincere but sometimes I don't come across that way. Having Asperger's tends to make you blunt, so I think I come across harsher than I mean to most of the time. There are also times I fake being happy when I have to help customers when I'm really miserable, and I hate that.

So I could do better at that sort of thing.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #137: Bad Voice

Today's Video: "Costa Rican Cuisine"

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Discuss/Describe a voice that speaks to you that could be destructive.

My own inner critic. It tears me down and makes me feel miserable. It's awful! :(

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #136: Roach Ew!

Today's Video: "Roaches"

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Discuss/Describe one type of roach in your life and the dirt or drama that you need to clean out of your life.

My own pride, which makes me think I have to be right, that makes me defensive. That has probably caused a lot of unnecessary drama in my life. I need to deal with that big time.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #135: Obedience

Today's Video: "Just Try"

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Discuss/Describe one act of obedience that you need to just try, whether you think you can do it or not.  Include that in your prayer below.

I need to just let go and trust God to control my life instead of insisting I control it myself. It's a tough task, and I have no clue how to do it perfectly, but I know I need to do it.

Dear Lord, I know that the just shall walk by faith, so I need to step out in faith and just try to allow you to control my life instead of trying to control it all myself. I trust that You will support me and give me the strength to get me through any difficulties I have. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #134: Will of God

Today's Video: "Pray for Me - Will"

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Discuss/Describe a choice you are making that is not the will of God. Use that choice in the prayer below.

I am choosing not to stand up and take risks but to play things safe. It's stagnating my life, and I know it. And I hate it. But I'm too afraid of change to do something about it.

Dear Lord, help me realize the gift of free will. Give me strength to rely on YOUR will regarding taking risks in my life. In Luke 22:42 it says " saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Dear Lord, I pray that in all my choices I wait for YOU, and not my will. In Jesus name, Amen.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #133: Verses for Life

Today's Video: "Sticky Note"

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Discuss/Describe one life situation that you need to apply God’s promises to. Begin memorizing one verse that gives you hope in that situation.

Not gossiping comes to mind. Either that or taking risks. One of those two. Oh and worrying. Any of those would work.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #132 (Catchup) - Out of Your Way

Today's Video: "Shower Water Tank"

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Discuss/Describe one time you went out of your way to do something that you knew was wrong. What was the result?

Well I know I've jaywalked before when I knew I shouldn't. And usually I get away with it, but one time it resulted in me getting hit by a car.

Sorry that's the only thing I can think of.

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #131: Boiling to Purify

Today's Video: "Hot Water"

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Discuss/Describe one time when a painful situation made you a better person. Thank God for the lessons that He taught you through it.

Well I guess what I went through with Kyle. I hated God for making me go through that, but I guess in the end it taught me how easily I could lose my heart to a guy just cause he was nice to me. It made me more cautious. But I think it might've made me too cautious. As in afraid to get close to any guys. Not so good. 😞

Miles-a-Minute Challenge #130: In a Cage

Today's Video: "Caged"

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Discuss/Describe one hurt or negative perception of yourself that has you trapped in a cage.

My fear of failure. If I fail at something, I take it personally. I think something must be wrong with me. Instead of thinking constructively how I can do better, or considering that maybe there were other circumstances, I just take it all on myself. But then all the effort I go to not to fail ends up stressing me out. Also, it keeps me from taking risks because I can't predict the outcome of such situations and fear that I might fail. 

Fear of failure paralyzes me, which is basically like a cage.