He who owes me nothing gives me everything

i sit this morning writing as i smell the banana bread for breakfast baking in the oven.  i can hear the soothing sound of chicks peeping in their box in the kitchen.  i look over to my left and see trays of seedings in newspaper pots reaching for light in the window.  a basket of clean towels is waiting to be folded at my feet.  i think about my hard working husband who working his tail off readying our yard to be just a little more self-sufficient this year. 

i am blessed beyond measure.  i am reminded that if we have eyes to see His activity in our lives, we will overflow with thanksgiving.  i want to overflow with thanksgiving in my life.  i want to be one with eyes as a child that look on life with wonder.  i want to overflow with joy. 

i remember that even with all He gives me in this life, nothing compares with the forgiveness of sin and the promise of the curse of death being forever removed.  what will it be like to be raised up and live forever?  what little tastes of this promise does He give me right now to anchor my hope in His return? 

He who owes me nothing gives me everything.

when i realize that it is not God who is in my debt but i who am in His great debt, 
then doesn't all become gift?  ann voscamp

 

every gift He gives now is either a taste of what is to come or a tool to prepare me for then... the day when i will see Him face to face.

72-87:

72. two grocery bags of hand-picked grapefruits from a friend.

73. blue sky accented with fluffy white clouds.

74. the whine of a violin playing the melody of my heart.

75. receiving a word from the Lord through my 7 year old.

76. the opportunity to serve by leading others into His presence in worship.

77. the soft peeping of baby chicks in my kitchen.

78. a candle lit date night in with the kids over at their nonnie and pa's house.

79. aebleskivers and coffee for breakfast.

80. rediscovering parts of myself that had been dormant for the past 10 years.

81. pain receptacles in my hand that tell me to let go of the handle of the cast iron skillet that is burning me.

82. salsa from chevy's.

83. listening to my husband teach the Word.

84. treasures from second-hand stores.

85. still ponds with fresh green grasses and reeds growing up around them and filled with ducks and geese.

86. the clear clean breath after using a neti pot.

87. the promise that He will raise up our bodies to live forever.

i am linked up at a holy experience.  let me know in a comment below that you are taking part and i will visit your blog.

what are you thankful for today?

charis

a beginner's guide to understanding the book of isaiah part 1

photo credit

as many of you know, i have been doing an in depth study of the book of isaiah for the past 7 months.  i have wanted to write here some of the deep stuff God has been doing in my heart through the study of this book, and even though i haven't written a post yet devoted primarily to the topic of the book of isaiah, my entire perspective on God, israel, the gentile church, the second coming, and even the times we live in has been so affected by this study that it has leaked all over what i have written as of late.

i had read the book of isaiah all the way through before, though it had been quite a while since i did. when my husband bill asked me to join his worship team in the commitment to this in depth study, i have to tell you that i was quite intimidated by the thought of the commitment to dig deep into this particular book!  his worship team leads the prayer set at our house of prayer, called the watch of the Lord, that is specifically devoted to praying for israel on friday nights.  he wanted his team to get a deeper revelation of God's heart for israel, and what better book to go deep in for grasping God's heart for His chosen people than isaiah!

why study the book of isaiah?

i know that isaiah is a book that so many are familiar with in parts because of songs written from portions of Scripture, popular memory verses, and sermon passages.  we all are familiar with the passages often quoted at christmas:

behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, 
and she will call His name Immanuel.
                                                   isaiah 7:14

and

for a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
and the government will rest on His shoulders;
and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace...
                                                   isaiah 9:6

there is even a bronze statue outside the united nations headquarters in new york that was a gift from the soviet union in 1959 that has written on the granite:

they shall beat their swords into plowshares, 
and their spears into pruninghooks.
                                                          isaiah 2:4

however, i also know that there is so much of isaiah i do not understand and i don't hear anyone preach about, talk about, sing about, or commit to memory.  so much of this book remains a mystery unless we are willing to dig deep.

this is a long book too!  66 chapters at one chapter a week (i thankfully have a husband so committed to having me be a part of this Bible study that he volunteered to watch the kids 1-2 hours a week so i can steal away to study at starbucks uninterrupted) would mean i was committing a year and a half of my life to dig deep in this book primarily to get revelation on God's heart for israel and to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me a deeper revelation of Jesus.  if i can grasp God's heart in the prophesies of isaiah, i can know His nature... He is a God who never changes. 

so, after six months i feel just a little bit qualified to give you some beginner tips and insights into this rich rich book.  i do not pretend to know it all or even know it in part yet... there are men like alec motyer who have devoted the larger portions of their lives to studying this book and these are the men who can really give insight into this hard book.  me?  i can point you in the right direction for you to start digging for yourself.

what you need to get started:

the first thing i would recommend in studying this book is to get a journal you can take notes in, write a summary of each section (in our study, we are breaking it down into sections, not chapters, and yet not verse by verse), and write a prayer about it as well.

then pray through what you have been reading.  ask the Holy Spirit to give you eyes to see and ears to hear.  all scripture, particularly prophecy, can either soften our hearts towards the Lord or harden our hearts.  particularly if a portion seems hard to understand or offensive to what you already thought you knew about God, pray through it!  ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you truth and truth will always be confirmed in the Word!

i think it is especially important to ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts in reading isaiah because of the context in which isaiah was called to prophesy.  in isaiah's throne room experience and commissioning in chapter 6 the Lord told him that though he would speak the words of the Lord, the people would not listen.  if they would listen, they would turn their hearts back to God.  isaiah asked how long their hearts would be hardened and God said devastation would come before they would turn to Him, but He promised a remnant of those who would believe. this promise of a remnant (a small group set apart for the Lord) is a common theme of isaiah's.

render the hearts of this people insensitive, 
their ears dull,
and their eyes dim,
otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and return and be healed.
                                       isaiah 6:10

i also recommend getting some study tools to help you as you read this book.  i recommend david pawson's book unlocking the Bible as a place for a good surface introduction to the book of isaiah.  

two commentaries on isaiah i would recommend after reading them for the past six months are the prophecy of isaiah: an introduction and commentary by j. alec motyer (who devoted over 30 years to studying and teaching the book of isaiah) and dr. constable who offers all his notes on all the books of the Bible for free online.  i would recommend using at least 2 commentaries during your study so you can compare opinions... sometimes they will differ on interpretation of certain portions and it is good to get more than one perspective.  also, i recommend these two men because they are more conservative in Bible interpretation, which simply means they believe that it is the inspired Word of God and that it is true.  some commentators of Scripture you find out there are only trying to prove how the Bible isn't true and i don't waste my time on reading them.  it just goes to show you can read the Word of God and still have your heart hardened to the truth without the Holy Spirit giving grace to believe.

stay tuned... this is only part 1 of a 3 part series.  more to come!


read part 2 here
read part 3 here

what is one thing about the book of isaiah that intrigues you and makes you interested in studying or reading it for yourself?

charis

simple woman's daybook 4.6.11

 

for today:

outside my window... it is another beautiful spring day.  not too hot.  not too cold.  i wish weather like this lasted around here.

i am thinking... about a series of posts i am working on about how to study the book of isaiah.  i think i will post the first of the three part series later this week!  be looking for it.

i am thankful... for the colors of spring popping up all over!  i love the beauty of flowers!  too bad they make me sniffle.  they add so much life to everywhere i look.

remembering... that everything will get done in time.  i need to be patient with myself and with others.  there isn't a rush to life.  when i rush, i miss enjoying the process and the journey.   

from the learning rooms... i am learning how to knit in the round on circular needles.  it is taking me forever,  but it is looking so good!  i love learning!

from the kitchen... i am making homemade peanut butter as we speak!  easy recipe: salted roasted peanuts in a food processor... and there you have it!  peanut butter.
 

i am wearing... jean shorts, brown leather sandles, a grey t-shirt with a vintage gold and grey sweater on top.  how is that for california dressing?!

i am creating... my first knit hat on circular needles.  i will try to post a picture when i finish.  it may end up on my etsy store or maybe it will be a gift.  we will see...

i am going... on a date with the love of my life tonight!  where or what?  i have no idea, but i will have good company.

i am reading... just finished the book of isaiah in my Bible reading challenge.  as i said, i am working on a 3 part series of blog posts about the book of isaiah!  you will not want to miss them.

i am hoping... the nice weather stays.

 

i am hearing... my middle two sons singing worship songs to Jesus in the other room at the top of their lungs.  what could bring a smile to my face faster than hearing them sing to their Savior?!

around the house... we are working, working, working on the backyard demo.  and by we, i mean bill.  not me.  did i mention that now we have more room he talked me into getting chickens? um, yeah.  now i am researching raising backyard chickens like a mad woman.  we will be our own little supermarket before long... garden, check. chickens, check.  what next?  

  
one of my favorite things... mangos.  i believe they are sweet nectar from heaven.

pondering... what does it mean to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ?  why would the apostle paul pray this for those who already believed?  i don't really get it, so i ponder and ask the Holy Spirit to teach me.

a few plans for the rest of the week: date night, back yard demo, soccer, night and day prayer sunday school... and of course hanging with the 4 coolest boys in the world.

picture for the day:

peanut butter in process as i type away on this blog post.

peanut butter finished!  whew, that was easy!

here is where i am linked up for the simple woman's daybook.  

charis

it's all about perspective

another monday morning.  another week beginning.  how to i approach new beginnings? 

           with dread and anxiety? 

                        or full of expectation and an awareness of God's activity?

i hear the sounds of my boys playing in their room as i hold the youngest one waiting for his heavy eyelids to surrender to sweet slumber.  i feel a stirring inside to connect with the One who gave me life and breath.  will i have the chance to steal away?

i look forward to my time in the shower.  hot water is soothing, but even more so are the moments of connecting with the Lord uninterrupted.  i anticipate the chance to pour out my love on Him and focus my attention before the demands of being a mom consume me and another day slips by without my heart being aligned with His.  the tasks ahead of me are the same; my perspective doesn't have to be.

whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. amen. 
                                                                                   1 peter 4:11

this is the life of a christian mom.  whoever speaks... whoever serves...   fresh perspective!  may all i put my hand to be for the glory of the One who gives me life, hope, and joy.

 

i continue counting blessings. how much slips by unnoticed when my eyes are not open to see the gifts He showers all around me all the time.  i open my eyes once again and thanksgiving brings forth praise and expectation.

49-71:

49. a bigger backyard after the structure demo.

50. running water.  twice within 48 hours we have had the water main shut off for 4-6 hours due to burst pipes during the demo in the backyard.

51. brothers that would come help my husband fix the pipes even in the dark.

52. new fun recipes that the kids love such as chicken paprikash.

53. surprise $ in our missionary check this month from a loved one right when we needed it.

54. the Holy Spirit reminding my heart to stop striving and be still.

55. homemade yogurt topped with homemade granola.

56. the baby saying mama when he cries and the privilege to be the one who comforts him.

57. provision to pay for asher's filling he needed this week.

58. sitting in the dentist office reading the book of isaiah on my phone and meditating on the faithfulness of God while asher's teeth were being filled right next to me.

59. email alerts of new comments on my blog.

60. the opportunity to be bad at something so i can learn something new.

61. brothers and sisters that i choose to be my closest friends.

62. toys on the floor showing our house is a home that is lived in.

63. the change of seasons.

64. reading a blog of an old friend that encourages me that my assignment to raise 4 boys to love the Lord is of highest importance and to not grow faint.

65. the color yellow.

66. the timely blessings of friends.

67. sitting on the chocolate brown leather couch surrounded by my 4 little men feeling like the richest woman in the world.

68. pizza sundays at my parents' house.

69. gathering with other families at homegroup and worshiping and studying the Word with our children.

70. the adventure of learning to live by faith.

71. being a missionary in my hometown.



won't you go to a holy experience to link up and join in if you too are a blogger?  let me know in a comment below that you are taking part and i will visit your blog.

what are you thankful for today?

charis

a question for you!

i have a question for you, my dear readers. 

as i write on this blog there is so much i would love to share and write about, but i can be a bit indecisive about what to focus on in what i write about on here.   i have pretty much decided my niche would be encouraging christian women and moms in their pursuit of following the Lord.  i have so many interests and little angles of perspective that some of you know about who know me in non-blogging world, such as i love to cook and create with food but there are so many food bloggers out there that i haven't focused on that on this particular blog.  i also have my b.a. in music and teach private piano lessons to supplement our missionary income.  i am passionate about parenting as was raised in a godly family with such a rich heritage in loving the Lord and being involved in ministry, and in real life settings (as if this is pretend life) i have had an opportunity to encourage many younger moms one on one. 

i am sure there are some of you who may have decided to join this blog community because of a particular post that spoke to you and may have hoped i would dive deeper into a particular topic.

all that to say... i would love your feedback in my comments about topics you would like to see my write about in future posts and series on this blog.  this blog is to encourage you!  

how can i best encourage you?  

what would you like to see me write about that i haven't?  

what would you like to hear more about? 

please leave feedback in the comments!  i take each one to heart.  

 charis