This is a hard one for me. Thankfulness in suffering. I would like to start with a resource I ran across today. It comes from The Village Church. I would highly recommend spending some time on their website. It is full of sermons, papers, and other resources. Whatever you are facing or asking, they probably have a wealth of information available. So before I give a few thoughts, please take a minute to read the PDF "Does God Want His Children to Suffer?"
So, my suffering may be how God chooses to grow me, bring my ultimate joy or bring Him glory. I am not in the midst of some form of intense suffering right now, so most days I can understand that and accept it. What I am facing right now is a time of waiting and perhaps disappointment. While I know it does not begin to come close to the suffering in the world today, it has brought about some sadness and frustration at myself, and, if I was honest, God. That being said, I will still put it into a category of mild suffering for the sake of this discussion. I won't go into detail at this time because to fully understand why I call it a form of suffering would require me to tell my life story. I'm not sure that it is time for that and don't think it is necessary to the discussion. Rather than coloring your idea of suffering with my thoughts, I would rather this be a personal reflection for you as it has been for me.
During this time, I have been through numerous stages. In all of my life, I have never really expressed frustration when speaking to the Lord. I have asked, begged, and cried, but I never once had spoken angrily to Him. At the beginning of this time of waiting and disappointment, I reached a new place of anger and sadness with myself and what I thought He was doing. For the first time, I bared my soul - every ugly corner - to Him. I cried and screamed until I literally vomited. I was raw, empty, and spent. I wasn't sure what to think when it was over. To be honest, I still am not sure. But, He got to hear it all (even though He already knew it was there). Much to my dismay, He has yet to rescue me from any of the circumstances surrounding that outburst. In fact, things actually went further downhill. For a time, I fell into a depression about everything. I was still in the same circumstances. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and seek an answer. I was shut down at every turn. So, here I am today still in the same place. But now, I am beginning to see a purpose in it. He is starting to show me what this time is for. As of now, these are the things that He is showing me in this time:
1. He is revealing my sin. I had areas of unconfessed sin in my life that I needed to repent of.
2. He is showing me my weakness. I have always considered myself to be a strong person, but He is revealing my brokenness.
3. He is teaching me that my worth is not based on anything that I can do or how I perform.
4. He is teaching me His way of seeing the world and myself.
5. He is redefining success in my mind. (http://www.thevillagechurch.net/the-village-blog/redefining-success/)
6. He is purifying my desires.
7. He is trying to align me with His will.
8. He is creating an attitude of thankfulness in me.
I am sure He is up to so much more than that. Time and His Spirit will reveal these to me. For now, I am trying to be teachable and thankful. It's not always easy. Satan has definitely thrown in more road blocks. I am trying to look to Christ and the other followers in His Word as examples of how to find joy as I wait. Here are a few verses I have found so far:
James 1:2-4 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
1 Peter 5:9-10 "But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you."
James 1:12 "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
Romans 5:3 " And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Romans 8:18 " For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
With that in mind, I would like to continue my blessing or gift list from the last post...
11. A personal Savior who knows me and what I need better than I know myself
12. The opportunity to suffer alongside Christ and His disciples around the world
13. Grace
14. Being given a personal relationship with the God of the universe through His Son
15. His Word
16. Prayer
17. Worship through song
18. The Holy Spirit living in me and guiding me
19. His love for me at this very moment
20. The words and works of His followers past and present that encourage and teach me.
What are you thankful for in your time of suffering? What verses have been comforting to you?
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thankfulness
My thoughts today have turned to thankfulness. I want to pose a question that I read on Facebook yesterday. It has taken over my mind for the past 24 hours or so...
"What if tomorrow, when we woke up, all we had was what we thanked God for today?"
I must say that when I first read this, it left me speechless. I know this isn't the first time I have probably heard this. But, it really struck me when I read it this time. I had to stop and really think about the answer to that question. I want to honestly confess that I am not a very thankful person. I have had periods of great thankfulness that have lasted days or maybe even weeks, but I have never maintained an attitude of thankfulness as I feel I should. How soon do we forget the blessings that have been lavished on us. I am so disappointed in myself. It was just last summer that I was shouting the practice of thankfulness from the rooftops! How soon I forgot.
In the book "One Thousand Gifts," Ann Voskamp argues that the fall of man may ultimately be seeded in ungratefulness. She contends, "Non-eucharisteo, ingratitude, was the fall - humanity's discontent with all that God freely gives." What a thought! I had never considered that before. Before I jump on the author's band wagon, I want to dig a little deeper into the original passage.
Genesis 3 describes the fall of man.
Genesis 3:1 - 7 NASB "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings."
In order to more fully understand this passage, I turn to a commentary and concordance. In this moment, Satan casts doubt on God's character suggesting that He is jealous and holding them back from their destiny. Satan offered them the promise of divinity - knowing good and evil. Eve was then left to her natural desires and appetites. In verse six, Eve saw the tree was desirable. This word is closely related to the word covet (Exodus 20:17) seen later as God commands us not to covet the things that others have. Okay, now time to make this real. I will admit that I have coveted before. When I do so, I look at what someone else has and desire it for myself. In doing so, I am saying that I think what they have is better than what I have. James 1:17 states, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." By desiring what someone else has more than what God has given me, I am saying that what He has deemed as good isn't good enough for me. Whoa! I need to let that sink in for a moment...
With that in mind, I turn back to my book as the author looks at Luke 17 in Young's Literal Translation starting in verse 11.
"And it came to pass, in his going on to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee,12and he entering into a certain village, there met him ten leprous men, who stood afar off, 13and they lifted up the voice, saying, `Jesus, master, deal kindly with us;' 14and having seen [them], he said to them, `Having gone on, shew yourselves to the priests;' and it came to pass, in their going, they were cleansed, 15and one of them having seen that he was healed did turn back, with a loud voice glorifying God, 16and he fell upon [his] face at his feet, giving thanks to him, and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, `Were not the ten cleansed, and the nine -- where? 18There were not found who did turn back to give glory to God, except this alien;' 19and he said to him, `Having risen, be going on, thy faith hath saved thee.' "
What is meant by "saved thee?" Had Jesus not already healed them? In Greek, the word is sozo which some translations define as "well" or "whole", but its literal meaning in this translation states "to save." So, when did the leper receive sozo? After reading verse 18, it seemed to occur when he returned to give thanks. If the fall is ingratitude, then salvation may be related to the giving of thanks. Is thanksgiving an integral part in the faith that saves?
Now, I am not saying that we as humans have any power to save ourselves - NOT AT ALL!! But, the author asks, "How else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our 'yes' to His grace."
There is something about giving thanks. Look at how many times Jesus gave thanks. He was constantly thanking the Father. Why had I not seen this before?!?!?!?!
I want to live a life of thankfulness. In her book, Ann Voskamp challenges the reader to come up with 1000 things he or she is thankful for. When I first read the book, I thought I could be thankful without that exercise. Well, here I am reading it again thinking there may be something to it. So, I am going to start my 1000 gifts list with you. Don't worry, I won't share all 1000. But, I would challenge you as well to join me. I would love it if you held me accountable. We could be partners actually. I would also encourage you to pick up Ann's book "One Thousand Gifts." Her writing is poetic yet logical.
Here is the beginning of my list of 1000 things or gifts I am thankful for:
1. A Savior who died for me while I was yet His enemy
2. My husband's laughter
3. Light
4. The smell of rain
5. Emma's sweet growl at me when I am not paying attention to her
6. Gracie's tooth
7. Friends who love me after walking through the fire with me
8. The sound of pages turning in a Bible
9. Highlighters
10. Old Gold - my Honda Accord I've had for 11 years
So bring it on!!! What are you thankful for???
"What if tomorrow, when we woke up, all we had was what we thanked God for today?"
I must say that when I first read this, it left me speechless. I know this isn't the first time I have probably heard this. But, it really struck me when I read it this time. I had to stop and really think about the answer to that question. I want to honestly confess that I am not a very thankful person. I have had periods of great thankfulness that have lasted days or maybe even weeks, but I have never maintained an attitude of thankfulness as I feel I should. How soon do we forget the blessings that have been lavished on us. I am so disappointed in myself. It was just last summer that I was shouting the practice of thankfulness from the rooftops! How soon I forgot.
In the book "One Thousand Gifts," Ann Voskamp argues that the fall of man may ultimately be seeded in ungratefulness. She contends, "Non-eucharisteo, ingratitude, was the fall - humanity's discontent with all that God freely gives." What a thought! I had never considered that before. Before I jump on the author's band wagon, I want to dig a little deeper into the original passage.
Genesis 3 describes the fall of man.
Genesis 3:1 - 7 NASB "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings."
In order to more fully understand this passage, I turn to a commentary and concordance. In this moment, Satan casts doubt on God's character suggesting that He is jealous and holding them back from their destiny. Satan offered them the promise of divinity - knowing good and evil. Eve was then left to her natural desires and appetites. In verse six, Eve saw the tree was desirable. This word is closely related to the word covet (Exodus 20:17) seen later as God commands us not to covet the things that others have. Okay, now time to make this real. I will admit that I have coveted before. When I do so, I look at what someone else has and desire it for myself. In doing so, I am saying that I think what they have is better than what I have. James 1:17 states, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." By desiring what someone else has more than what God has given me, I am saying that what He has deemed as good isn't good enough for me. Whoa! I need to let that sink in for a moment...
With that in mind, I turn back to my book as the author looks at Luke 17 in Young's Literal Translation starting in verse 11.
"And it came to pass, in his going on to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee,12and he entering into a certain village, there met him ten leprous men, who stood afar off, 13and they lifted up the voice, saying, `Jesus, master, deal kindly with us;' 14and having seen [them], he said to them, `Having gone on, shew yourselves to the priests;' and it came to pass, in their going, they were cleansed, 15and one of them having seen that he was healed did turn back, with a loud voice glorifying God, 16and he fell upon [his] face at his feet, giving thanks to him, and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, `Were not the ten cleansed, and the nine -- where? 18There were not found who did turn back to give glory to God, except this alien;' 19and he said to him, `Having risen, be going on, thy faith hath saved thee.' "
What is meant by "saved thee?" Had Jesus not already healed them? In Greek, the word is sozo which some translations define as "well" or "whole", but its literal meaning in this translation states "to save." So, when did the leper receive sozo? After reading verse 18, it seemed to occur when he returned to give thanks. If the fall is ingratitude, then salvation may be related to the giving of thanks. Is thanksgiving an integral part in the faith that saves?
Now, I am not saying that we as humans have any power to save ourselves - NOT AT ALL!! But, the author asks, "How else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our 'yes' to His grace."
There is something about giving thanks. Look at how many times Jesus gave thanks. He was constantly thanking the Father. Why had I not seen this before?!?!?!?!
I want to live a life of thankfulness. In her book, Ann Voskamp challenges the reader to come up with 1000 things he or she is thankful for. When I first read the book, I thought I could be thankful without that exercise. Well, here I am reading it again thinking there may be something to it. So, I am going to start my 1000 gifts list with you. Don't worry, I won't share all 1000. But, I would challenge you as well to join me. I would love it if you held me accountable. We could be partners actually. I would also encourage you to pick up Ann's book "One Thousand Gifts." Her writing is poetic yet logical.
Here is the beginning of my list of 1000 things or gifts I am thankful for:
1. A Savior who died for me while I was yet His enemy
2. My husband's laughter
3. Light
4. The smell of rain
5. Emma's sweet growl at me when I am not paying attention to her
6. Gracie's tooth
7. Friends who love me after walking through the fire with me
8. The sound of pages turning in a Bible
9. Highlighters
10. Old Gold - my Honda Accord I've had for 11 years
So bring it on!!! What are you thankful for???
Sunday, January 15, 2012
I'm Shanna...
Hello all! Welcome to my blog! For years, I have maintained a professional blog as part of my photography business. Now, I want to start a personal blog. It will have nothing to do with my photography...unless I am photographing something personal. So, if you are here to look at images, you can close this window in your browser now.
For the rest of you still with me, thanks for sticking around. I struggled with what to make this blog about. So many people I know have interesting, themed blogs. When I started mulling over a possible theme, I realized I am not a person with an extreme amount of knowledge or interest in one particular thing. Rather, I have always delved into a huge variety of things. For example, I think I changed my major in college about 10 times. Not because I was looking for an easy way out, I simply like to learn about lots of things. So, when I considering narrowing down my personal blog, that would be like cutting away parts of me (and I really don't want to lose an arm, eye or even a tooth!). Thus, welcome to Shanna's Bananas...a random assortment of entries depending on my mood that day. You will probably find the following:
- personal happenings
- random quotes
- synopses of documentaries I have watched (I love documentaries).
- thoughts on books I am reading
- trivia that I find interesting
Basically, if you know me, it will be much like our conversations - random but full of information. I hope you will tolerate me as I share and rant about whatever it is that day that I am thinking about. I would love to hear your thoughts as well. I love a good conversation!!!
Well, thanks for dropping by! Come back soon to see what randomness is occurring!
For the rest of you still with me, thanks for sticking around. I struggled with what to make this blog about. So many people I know have interesting, themed blogs. When I started mulling over a possible theme, I realized I am not a person with an extreme amount of knowledge or interest in one particular thing. Rather, I have always delved into a huge variety of things. For example, I think I changed my major in college about 10 times. Not because I was looking for an easy way out, I simply like to learn about lots of things. So, when I considering narrowing down my personal blog, that would be like cutting away parts of me (and I really don't want to lose an arm, eye or even a tooth!). Thus, welcome to Shanna's Bananas...a random assortment of entries depending on my mood that day. You will probably find the following:
- personal happenings
- random quotes
- synopses of documentaries I have watched (I love documentaries).
- thoughts on books I am reading
- trivia that I find interesting
Basically, if you know me, it will be much like our conversations - random but full of information. I hope you will tolerate me as I share and rant about whatever it is that day that I am thinking about. I would love to hear your thoughts as well. I love a good conversation!!!
Well, thanks for dropping by! Come back soon to see what randomness is occurring!
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