Philippians

I just wanted to share some things we have been learning in our small group lately. First off, I cannot say how much we love having a bible study at our house with some friends who we have really enjoyed growing closer to. God has brought some great people into our lives to challenge and teach us.

Lately we have been working on a study of Philippians with Matt Chandler. If you don't know anything about Matt Chandler, google him. He is awesome. I know everyone draws different things from different studies, so I wanted to share what I've been learning.

Fear.

The good kind, that comes from the "...fear of the Lord..."(Prov 1:7). And the bad kind, which is clearly from satan.

Philippians 2:12 is what we focused on, which says to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling". This verse really gets to me. This world is so quick to say the opposite. In God, there is only happy, nice feelings. Fear and trembling? Must be a typo. God doesn't believe in fear. Fear is bad, happiness is good. Oh the lies that satan tells us to make us complacent and to keep us stuck in our sin.

Am I saying to be scared of God? A little healthy fear never hurt anyone. It keeps us walking a straighter line and brings the reality and consequences of sin into full weight.

"But I will show you whom you should fear:Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Luke 12:5

Or what about those of us who have been going to church all of our life? Who consider ourselves to be "religious", or claim to know this God? There's a verse for us, too.

"Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:22)

If that verse doesn't make you want to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, I don't know what will. One of God's blessings to me (and sometimes a curse) is a deep sense of empathy. When I read that verse, I see these people I know. People I love, people I have brushed elbows with. People whom I have seen speaking of God and reading their bibles, crying out and begging my Jesus. Hearing the words, "I never knew you."

That has really gotten to me lately. It makes me make SURE that I know Him. That I read his word so that I know what He loves.

The point of our study on Philippians 2:12 was to reveal to us that if we know God, we are to LOVE what He loves, and to HATE what He hates. If we know Jesus, if we have worked out our salvation with fear and trembling, and if we fear the one who has the power to throw us into hell, then we are to run passionately after Him, throwing off what He hates, and clinging to what he loves. And if we don't want to do these things, to take a serious look at our hearts.

I'm not going to lie. I reeeeeeally want to go see Sex and the City 2.

As I watched the preview for it last night, I came to the realization that I couldn't go see it, and I became saddened by the fact that I couldn't go see it.

Then i remembered satan. I remembered how the other night I was plagued by anxiety after feeling free of it for so long, and remembered how much I hate satan with all that is within me for making me feel that way. The next morning I vowed to hate what God hates, because we now, more clearly than ever, have a common enemy.

And guess what. I don't feel so bad about not being able to see the movie.

I hate that movie because it glorifies what satan looooooooves.

I'm kind-of all over the place with this blog post. That's how my mind works, sorry. Let me see if I can sum it up?

Fear God-> don't assume....read the bible and KNOW that you KNOW God->Follow His word->love Him passionately->realize through this how much you hate satan->begin to hate what God hates->follow through with it.

Did you follow that? Hope so. This is just a glimpse at what God has been teaching me.

What has God been teaching you?

Backyard Fun!

So I've spent more time outside in my backyard this past month than I have probably in the past two years! Lorelai truly loves to be outside every moment of the day. She's figured out how to unlock the doors and has taken to running outside (in the backyard) without asking (which was QUICKLY corrected). Most mornings I usually let her run around the backyard while I stay at our breakfast table, backdoor open so I can see/hear her, but she doesn't need me out there to entertain her. That's what "Berkie" (Lance Berkdog) and "Clenentime" (Clementine) are there for. Those dogs have more patience in them than any dog I have ever known. This video is just a sample of what goes on here every day.

We planted a small vegetable garden this year and just this past week have gotten to eat some tomatoes from it. Here's the first tomato:

I love it when she comes in from playing outside. All sweaty, curls everywhere, usually covered in dirt that she's been trying to force-feed the dogs. What a life. :)

On a different note, last Thursday was Lorelai's last day of Mother's Day Out. We will miss her friends and her teachers, but I'm excited to have my girl every day all day. I really enjoyed my Tuesday/Thursday freedom, but I usually ended up spending money and picking up a very grumpy 2 1/2 year old who hadn't napped. We'd end up going home and putting her down for a nap and then that's almost a whole day I hadn't spent good time with her. I really enjoy spending time with her and while some days I am thoroughly exhausted....I think that's just the life of a mommy. At this point, I don't plan on putting her back in. I foresee this being very difficult since my photography business is really starting to take off, but I'm going to try really hard to manage my schedule. And if all else fails, I can always put her back in next year :)

That's all for now!