BQOTD- How Do You Want to Be Portrayed? | Fall '11 Blog Bible Study Week 8

Honestly, I'm having a hard time doing this study of Paul right now. Shortly after beginning this study, some of the moms at Mom's Group began doing Sheila Walsh's The Shelter of God's Promises (which is great, by the way!), and I joined them. It quickly became overwhelming for me to try and do the homework for both every day, but I tried to keep up with it. Often, this meant doing three or four days worth of devotionals on Friday morning and then trying to throw together a post. And those posts? Not the highest in terms of comments. I wish I could say that I didn't care in the slightest about the number of comments that I receive on posts, but the honest-to-goodness truth is that sometimes I do. I try not to. When I first decided to start this series, I prayed that I wouldn't, because it's not supposed to be about me. But sometimes I do care. This wasn't meant to be a pity party, but just to tell you that I'm human, and I struggle with this stuff sometimes, just like we all do. I'm sure that in a few months, I'll look back and see a lesson in all of this, but I'm just not there quite yet, ha!

Anyway, I picked up the Paul book this afternoon and flipped it open to where I thought I was supposed to be had I been keeping up like I was supposed to. I landed on Day 50, where Beth Moore asked the question, "What might be some parting words or themes you'd like to leave behind on those who follow you? What are the most important warnings and encouragements to pass on?"

She wasn't talking about blogging specifically, but I think it kind of relates, no? Which brings me to my Burning Question of the Day:

For those of you who blog, how do you hope that you're portraying yourself to your blog readers? Have you thought about it? Do you intentionally try to strive for something specific?

Personally, I hope that I'm portraying just what the "About Me" section on the sidebar says. I hope that I come across as someone who loves her husband, her daughter, and her family. As someone who is a mom, but more than that too. As someone who is passionate about photography, and loves spending Thursday nights curled up on the couch watching Bones. As someone who has recently re-prioritized faith in her life, and wants to learn and grow in that way. As someone who is real about her struggles (and definitely isn't perfect!), but doesn't complain too much...someone who can find the blessings and the hope. I know I don't get it right all the time, but I hope I do more often than not...


What about you?

BQOTD + Fall '11 Blog Bible Study Week 7

Day 42 of Beth Moore's book discusses Acts 19:1-7, wherein Paul encounters a group of believers who says they hadn't heard of the Holy Spirit, nor received it when they were baptized by John. Paul then has them re-baptized in the name of Christ, and they begin speaking in tongues. This verse is definitely divisive among Christians at times, and Beth Moore posed the question, "What do you do with those knotty doctrinal questions, ones with outspoken proponents on either side? How do you deal with things you don't understand?"

I thought this was a really interesting question that totally appealed to my nerdy inner Sociologist. I often feel like we as a society speak about "Christians" in general--and while our core beliefs are (usually) the same, there are over 38,000 different denominations of Christianity...in other words, there are a lot of different beliefs that all reside under the umbrella of Christianity. I tried to find a chart that compared what some of the larger denominations believe in terms of baptism, the rapture, whether or not salvation can be lost, and some other "hot button" issues just for the sake of comparison, but I had a heck of a time finding anything...

To me, the "knotty doctrinal issues" don't tend to get me super worked up. Justin and I go to a different church for Bible Study because our church didn't offer a Bible Study for young married couples at the time that we started going. The church we go to for Bible Study has different beliefs than our own in terms of communion, baptism, and some of that, but it just doesn't bother either of us, because we don't consider those things matters of salvation. Both churches believe that Jesus is the son of the triune God and that he died on the cross to pay for our sins. We both believe that it's by grace, through faith that we're saved. To Justin and I, that's the major thing, not whether a  person is dunked or sprinkled during baptism. And actually, I think it's been a good thing for us to participate in a church with a different denomination, because it's made me/us really research what the Lutheran church believes in terms of all those "hot button" issues--something I *thought* I knew, but I actually didn't.

So, for today's Burning Question of the Day, I'm curious:

BQOTD: If you identify yourself as being Christian, do you also identify with a particular denomination as well? Just for the purposes of this discussion, we'll consider "non-denominational" churches a "denomination" as well.  Do you feel like you have a good grasp of what your church believes in terms of "hot-button" issues such as baptism, communion, abortion, the rapture, etc? 

As always, I'm not asking because I have any desire to "convert" you to the Lutheran faith. You should know by now that that's not how I roll. I'm just curious how we all approach our individual faiths! 

BQOTD + Fall '11 Blog Bible Study Week 5

This morning, Beth Moore got me thinking a bit about Bible Study in general. I think one of the questions she asked is a really interesting one, and so today, instead of yammering on and on about what I've learned this week, I want to pose the question that Beth Moore asked to y'all as a Burning Question of the Day:

She asked, "What are some of your most effective ways of digesting the Word? What have you found to be the best ways to keep it alive in your heart and fresh on your mind?" (p. 162)

In other words, how do you do this thing called Bible Study? Do you carve out a special time every morning? Is it something that you want to do more often, but struggle finding time for? Do you participate with a group? Do you tend to use guided studies, or just crack open the Bible and read? Do you have any books or resources that you've found particularly helpful in study? I'd love to hear from you!

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If you're new today, the Fall '11 Blog Bible study is a blog-based Bible-Study/Devotional designed for those of us who would like to take the amazing community of women bloggers online, and extend it to encouraging each other in faith. Right now, we'll be working through Paul: 90 Days on His Journey of Faith by Beth Moore. Each day has a short 1-2 page reading and a few reflection questions. Then, at the end of the week, I'll post some of my own thoughts/reflections, as well as a link-up. If you feel so inclined, I'd love for you to link up with your thoughts as well! If you'd like to join, but are just coming across this post now, it's not too late--just start whenever. And if you fall behind, no worries, and no guilt...we're all just doing the best we can, and none of us are perfect :)

Fall '11 Blog Bible Study: Week 4

If you're new today, the Fall '11 Blog Bible study is a blog-based Bible-Study/Devotional designed for those of us who would like to take the amazing community of women bloggers online, and extend it to encouraging each other in faith. Right now, we'll be working through Paul: 90 Days on His Journey of Faith by Beth Moore. Each day has a short 1-2 page reading and a few reflection questions. Then, at the end of the week, I'll post some of my own thoughts/reflections, as well as a link-up. If you feel so inclined, I'd love for you to link up with your thoughts as well! If you'd like to join, but are just coming across this post now, it's not too late--just start whenever. And if you fall behind, no worries, and no guilt...we're all just doing the best we can, and none of us are perfect :)

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It should come as no surprise that I'm behind. Again. Which is especially funny, since I gave myself a week's head-start just to hopefully avoid this very situation. But, here I am, trudging along--so obviously, if you're feeling guilty because you're behind, stop stressing. You're definitely not going to hear any admonishment from me--'cause I'm right there with you!

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Source: google.com via Shannon on Pinterest

I'm doing another Bible Study with a bunch of the moms from Mom's Group (I've been so blessed to become involved in the past year!), and for that study, we're doing Sheila Walsh's Shelter of God's Promises (which is fantastic, btw). This past week, the promise that we were studying was The Promise of Confidence, with Romans 8:28 as the corresponding verse for the week.

Thinking about that verse, I couldn't help think about Esther--and the idea that perhaps she had been made queen "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). The idea that God had been working behind the scenes in her life for years to bring her to the very place that she was supposed to be. I don't believe that God caused the trouble and persecution that she was facing, but I absolutely believe that he can and did use that situation for good.

I see the same thing in Paul--that even in his youth, Saul experienced in Gamaliel a rare teacher who tempered the law with grace. As Saul grew older and began actively persecuting followers of Christ, God was still there, working behind the scenes on Saul's heart, so that if Saul would be willing to become Paul, Paul would be ready "for such a time as this". As Sheila Walsh commented in the last session I saw, "Even the acts that Satan uses to destroy us can be used by God for good." We can all be used "for such a time as this."

And for the first time this past week, I reflected on my own life, and how everything has worked together to bring me right where I am today. Looking back, reflecting, I can see how even some of the things that I've been really upset about in my life have ultimately worked out exactly as they needed to in order to bring me where I am today. I wonder, if even I may be here "for such a time as this"--for a purpose. I don't know what exactly that purpose is, but I hope that when the time comes, I'll be able to get out of the way and let God use me in the way HE intends, and not just the way that I expect.

Anybody still with me? What did you think this week? If you have a post to link up, let me know and I'll add the linky!

Fall '11 Blog Bible Study: Week 2

If you're new today, the Fall '11 Blog Bible study is a blog-based Bible-Study/Devotional designed for those of us who would like to take the amazing community of women bloggers online, and extend it to encouraging each other in faith. Right now, we'll be working through Paul: 90 Days on His Journey of Faith by Beth Moore. Each day has a short 1-2 page reading and a few reflection questions. Then, at the end of the week, I'll post some of my own thoughts/reflections, as well as a link-up. If you feel so inclined, I'd love for you to link up with your thoughts as well! If you'd like to join, but are just coming across this post now, it's not too late--just start whenever. And if you fall behind, no worries, and no guilt...we're all just doing the best we can, and none of us are perfect :) 

This week, we saw and studied a bit of the transformation of how Saul became Paul. I think I'd always known that they were one and the same, but I don't think I really realized what that meant. I don't think I really realized the implications that came along with it. I mean, Saul had once actively persecuted followers of Christ in Damascus. Only a short time later, he returned to Dasmascus, but then he was called Paul, and he was a follower of Christ himself. Can you imagine what that must have been like? Returning to that city, knowing how people would mock and ridicule you? How they'd question your motives? Would you wonder if they'd actually hear anything you were saying at all? Would you feel like your reputation was impossible to overcome?

In the Reflection Questions on Day 11, Beth Moore asks, "Are there elements of your reputation that make it hard for you (especially at work or within your family) to relinquish visible control of your lift to Christ? What patterns of expected behavior present the toughest obstacles to overcome?"

For me personally, sometimes I feel like our reputations as Christians as a whole precede us. There have been (and still are) a lot of really awful things that are done in the name of Christ, even though I don't believe they come from him. There's a lot of judgment. A lot of hate. A lot of pot calling the kettle black. Sometimes, when people ask about my religion and I tell them that I'm Christian, I get the distinct impression that they think I'm an extremist who hates gays and lesbians, and judges everyone...and that bothers me. Not even because that's what they think of me, but because of what they must think of Christ.

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Source: weheartit.com via Meredith on Pinterest

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Source: tumblr.com via Lacie on Pinterest

Know what the caption is for this last image over on Pinterest?  

"I think if more people believed in John Cusak's Jesus, I wouldn't hate 'Christians' so much."

Lord, help me to be the best steward I can of your love. Help me to treat others the way that you would have treated them. Help me not to judge, and not to get so wrapped up in debates about theology and dogma that I miss sharing the most important part--your never-ending, unfailing love.

Source: weheartit.com via Christina on Pinterest

What about you guys? Anything strike you this past week?

Fall '11 Blog Bible Study: Week 1

If you're new today, the Fall '11 Blog Bible study is a blog-based Bible-Study/Devotional designed for those of us who would like to take the amazing community of women bloggers online, and extend it to encouraging each other in faith. Right now, we'll be working through Paul: 90 Days on His Journey of Faith by Beth Moore. Each day has a short 1-2 page reading and a few reflection questions. Then, at the end of the week, I'll post some of my own thoughts/reflections, as well as a link-up. If you feel so inclined, I'd love for you to link up with your thoughts as well! If you'd like to join, but are just coming across this post now, it's not too late--just start whenever. And if you fall behind, no worries, and no guilt...we're all just doing the best we can, and none of us are perfect :)

In college, I took several Old Testament Studies classes. The Bible Studies that I've participated in thus far have similarly tended to focus on Old Testament books and people (David, Esther, etc). Despite going to church for as long as I can remember, I don't always feel like I have a good grasp on the New Testament--at least not the contextual information that always gives so much more insight into the words on the page.

And then, if I'm speaking honestly, sometimes a part of me feels like I need to do the whole Bible Study thing in order to win God's favor. Both of those factors (wanting to have a better understanding of the New Testament and also sort of thinking that having a better understanding of the New Testament would make God love me more) were two of the many reasons that underscored my desire to do this study of Paul. Not exactly my finest moment, but I'm just being honest here.

That said, Ms. Moore promptly brought that second "hidden" desire to the forefront during this first week on more than one occasion. First, during the Day 4 homework, at one point she said, "May I not just study Your Word to learn things and accumulate insights, but rather to know You and increase my love for You," (p. 20). Later, on an entirely different day, Moore said, "Without love for God and His Word, we're just trying to be good. Nothing will wear you out faster," (p. 27).

Oh my. That's exactly right--so often I find myself trying to be good, thinking that if I'm good enough/involved enough/tithe enough/if I study the Bible often enough, I'll be able to "earn" God's love. Instead, all it does is make me exhausted. In the last few weeks, I've been blessed to hear from a variety of different sources that the beauty of my faith is that God loves me not because of what I do, but in spite of what I do. What a relief. Yes, I should strive to do my best to glorify Him, but he loves me regardless. Even when I'm not perfect. in fact, there is never anything that I could do that would be too bad for God to love me. And that's a promise that I'm trying to claim daily.

What about you guys? Anything from this first week strike you?

Snippets

-It's been a busy week. Honestly, I'm exhausted! And lately I've been spoiled with Justin having Fridays off, but he's working today. Boo. I just might have to hit up Starbucks for a Salted Caramel Whatever to get me through the day...then again, it's still in the 100's here, so maybe I'll wait on it a bit.

-On Wednesday, I shot my first solo wedding. I've been asked once or twice in the past, but I'm just not really set-up to do anything other than outdoor, and so I've always referred them elsewhere. This time, I knew the couple, knew their personalities, and knew the venue, so I went ahead.

It was fun--a great experience. I'm not sure that I'll ever be strictly a wedding photographer (it's really the seniors, families, and newborns that are my true loves), but it's a fun treat every once in awhile to be able to capture someone's big day. Also, I feel like there are so many ways to learn and grow when it comes to wedding photography...it's just a good reminder that there's always more to try and learn.

-Speaking of weddings and photography, I also recently did my first senior portrait session of the year for some friends of the family. Dillon and his mom Vickie play on our co-ed softball team, and Dillon is actually the younger brother of my brother-in-law Justin (aka Stump).

As I was editing the pics, I realized that Dillon was actually the ring bearer/ junior groomsman in our wedding...and now he's a senior in high school. Way to make a girl feel old! Seriously though, I just love being able to take photos, and pray that doors will continue to open in order for me to keep on doing it!

-Thank you all for your prayers for Justin's Aunt Gina--I've wanted to update, but have just wanted to wait until I had some more information. Gina was actually released from the hospital, which is AMAZING, but may still need to have surgery? I'm not sure of anything other than the doctors are continuing to monitor her daily.

-Did you guys see the announcement over at {(in)courage} for the blog conference? We can never afford the cost associated with blog conferences, so it's kind of an exciting idea to me to be able to participate without the travel expenses. I just hope that even in a small town like mine, we'll have a group of women who want to meet!

-Lastly, if you're thinking about participating in the blog based devotional/Bible Study on Paul (see the button on the right sidebar for info), you should hopefully have your books by now and begin. If you don't have it yet, don't stress--the daily "homework" is literally only a short 1-2 page reading/devotion, and wouldn't be too difficult to catch up if you'd like to participate. It's different than any study I've done before, but I'm enjoying learning about Paul--Paul wrote my favorite book in the Bible (Philippians), but I also often struggle with his stance towards women, so it's interesting to study him on a more in-depth level and learn about him.

-I hope y'all have a marvelous weekend!

Announcing: Fall 2011 Blog Bible Study

I'm jumping in. Taking a risk. Putting myself out there. I'm a little nervous about this, but I'm just gonna do it. I'm going to host a Bible Study/Devotional for any bloggers that are interested this fall. After I posted about it yesterday, I realized that the devotional that I'd purchased for myself for after I finished with the Esther study might be fun to go through as a group. In fact, it might lend itself to blog-land quite well since there isn't a video or discussion questions, nor is there extensive "homework" (just a short reading and some reflection questions). Still, I think there could be a lot to discuss. So without further adieu, the book I'll be working through is:

 Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here's how it'll work: 

1- Every Friday, beginning September 16th, I'll post something about the past week's worth of devotionals (so if you'd like to participate, you should ideally start on or before Sept 9th). It might be specific to one day, it might be specific to the entire week--basically, whatever strikes my fancy. 

2- If you decide to participate, I'd love to hear your thoughts in post-form too, so at the end of my post, I'll also post a Link-Up where you can share your thoughts over the past week. 

3- Don't stress if you fall behind or miss a week. This isn't about guilt, it's about encouraging each other in faith. 

4- In that same vein, I expect everyone (both participating and not) to be respectful of each other here in the comments section. I simply won't tolerate disrespectful comments--either towards those who believe OR those who don't.

I hope you might consider joining me!