Take Every Thought Captive

I borrowed this photo from my sister Lana’s blog,  Above the Clouds. She wrote about how Bible Study can be illustrated with these Matryoshka dolls. I’m paraphrasing but the idea is that there is always more to find, deeper to go. I’m going to use this illustration in how God has been going into my mind, revealing thoughts that need to be captured for Him. Thoughts within thoughts within thoughts.

A few years ago I started to memorize Romans 12:1-3. This proved to be a mind changing experience for me. God began working on me in regards to my mind. He showed me wrong (sinful) patterns of thought that I entertained in my mind. He started with obvious big bad thoughts “the big outer doll”, if you will. Then He opened up doll after doll to show me how the wickedness in my mind was infecting my heart.  These thought patterns, fantasies, scenarios, rebuttals, defenses, gave me bad attitudes toward loved ones and wrong justifications about my behaviour. I knew God wanted me to say no to them. He showed me with practice in obedience to say no each time the same patterns would force their way into my mind. I had to say no a lot before some would desist! This was revolutionary for me. Mind you, we still have many more dolls to work on. Just look at all of them in that photo! 🙂 Sometimes I even try to put the same dolls back together. I am looking forward to the day that I’ll meet my Savior “face to face” by His grace with the last solid doll in my hand!

The gals over at Titus 2 Talk blog posted a great quote from a book about Susannah Spurgeon that gave me further hope in this mind struggle.

“The God who can understand your thoughts ‘afar off’ has the power to restrain them; no, more than that; before they reach you, while they are yet distant and unexpressed, he will purify and cleanse them, so that they shall enter your heart as angel whispers, and pass your lips only as words of love and blessing.”

I with Susannah want to be brave enough to pray, “Dear Master, I make your servant David’s prayer my own and say ‘Search me O God and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Here are some passages to consider: Romans 12:1-3; Colossians 3:2; Psalm 26:2; Is. 26:3; Mt. 22:37; Rom. 8:5-7; Phil. 2:5

ht: http://www.cse.ucd.edu/~saul/images/matryoshka.jpg / 

Daily Light

Answered Prayer

“I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.

I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. * God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone. * I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live. * My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. * Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Whoever offers praise glorifies Me.

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth. God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me. * I thank you and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You. * My heart rejoices in the Lord.”

I Sam. 1:27; Ps. 34:4; Gen. 35:3; Ps. 116:1-2; Ps. 28:7; Ps. 50:15, 23; Ps. 66:16-17, 19-20; Dan. 2:23; I Sam. 2:1

From Daily Light for Every Day with Anne Graham Lotz

Published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee 37214
Copyright 1998 by Anne Graham Lotz
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version.
Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.
First published in the King James Version in Great Britain in 1794 by Samuel Bagster, a forerunner of Marshall Pickering.

Ides of March

The ominous warning, “Beware the Ides of March,” originated with the Roman ruler, Julius Caesar, who was assassinated on the Ides of March – March 15, 44 B.C. If you’ve heard the ominous warning, then it’s most likely due to William Shakespeare and his play, Julius Caesar.

The warning itself was made famous in Shakespeare’s play on Julius Caesar, when an unidentified soothsayer tells Caesar, who is on his way to the Senate (and his death), “Beware the ides of March.” Caesar replies, “He is a dreamer; let us leave him. Pass.”

The Astrologer Spurinna

According to historical writer C.J.S. Thompson, Ph.D. in The Mystery and Romance of Astrology, 1929, the unidentified soothsayer from Shakespeare’s play was a Roman astrologer by the name of Spurinna. According to Thompson – and confirmed in Plutarch’s account of the story written in 75 A.D. and Suetonius in 110 A.D. – it was sometime prior to the fateful day of March 15 that Spurinna had first given Caesar the famous warning to “beware of the Ides of March.”The astrologer, Spurinna, had previously warned Caesar that on “the Ides of March,” he would be in great danger. If, however, Julius Caesar took care on that one day – then all would be well.

According to Plutarch’s account, Caesar had previously made the wise decision to stay within the safety of his bedroom chambers on the 15th of March. However, Caesar’s “friend” Decimus (Albinus) Brutus (not Marcus Brutus) managed to convince him that the astrologer’s warnings were nothing more than superstitious foolishness.

So Julius Caesar decided to attend the Senate on the 15th of March. On his way to the Senate, Caesar “accidentally” met up with the astrologer. Upon seeing Spurinna, Caesar confidently informed the astrologer: “The Ides of March are come.”

Spurinna replied, “Yes, they are come, but they are not past.”

Later that day – on March 15, 44 B.C. – Caesar’s enemies assassinated him in the Pompey theater, at the foot of Pompey’s statue, where the Roman Senate was meeting that day in the temple of Venus.

What Are the Ides?

In the ancient Roman calendar, each of the 12 months of the year had an “ides.” In March, May, July and October, the “ides” fell on the 15th day. In every other month, the “ides” fell on the 13th. The word “ides” was derived from the Latin “to divide.” The “ides” were originally meant to mark the full moon – but since the solar calendar months and lunar months were of different lengths, the “ides” quickly lost their original intent and purpose. So an alternative (albeit somewhat dubious) theory, as to why Caesar might have “seemingly” ignored the ominous warning of Spurinna, is that perhaps Julius Caesar got the dates of the warning mixed up. He may have been thinking that the Ides of March fell on the 13th.

Using this theory, forgetful Caesar would have been very careful and stayed home on the 13th of March, but on the 15th of March his guard was down

ht:   http://astrology.about.com/od/oddstrange/aidesmarch.htm

Magic Charm or The Lord?

Here’s more from Real Christianity by William Wilberforce  (revised and updated by Bob Beltz):

“Let us apply these things to our own lives. Have we cast ourselves completely on the grace of God and the work of Christ? Do we consider these the only source of hope in life? Are we progressing in our affection for the Lord and taking advantage of all resources provided by Him to deepen our love? I think we should bow humbly before the throne of God in prayer and seek the pardon and grace given to us by Jesus. I think we should ask God to create in us a spirit of true repentance and undivided faith in Jesus Christ. I think we should continually strive in these things so that we are not satisfied until we love Him fully. I think we should pray that we would be filled with joy and peace and hope through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I think we should diligently study the Bible so that our affection is rooted and rational. As we meditate on the passion of the Lord and as we worship Him in prayer and praise, we should attempt to practice the presence of Jesus continually.

It makes no sense to take the name of Christian and not cling to Christ. Jesus is not some magic charm to wear like a piece of jewelry we think will give us good luck. He is the Lord. His name is to be written in our hearts in such a powerful way that it creates within us a profound experience of His peace and a heart that is filled with His praise.”

I’m finding this read pretty convicting but real good!  Ellen B.

Seattle/Los Angeles

I added some contrasts between living in Seattle and living in the L.A. area in my profile. Click on profile above to read these and if any of you can think of others you’d like to share click on comments and share them with me. I can amuse myself quite easily but am looking forward to being amused by others, also.

Ellen

Pear Soup

I love children’s books. During my last visit to the L.A. area I braved the Camarillo Goodwill store (Goodwill’s in So. Cal. are not as nice as the Seattle stores). I bought Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath for 49 cents. It’s a story about Primrose, who’s parents are lost at sea. At the end of each chapter there are recipes. I’ll be including a few of these recipes on my blog so I don’t forget about them. This first one is more of a fall recipe. It really sounds good. I’m copying it just as it is written in Primrose’s words by author Polly Horvath;

Pear Soup

“Miss Bowser invented this recipe. Neither one of us wanted to ask Miss Honeycut for one. Put 4 cups of chicken broth and 1 cup of white wine in a big pot. Peel and core 6 pears and poach them in the chicken broth and wine until soft. Puree. Add 1 cup of crumbled Stilton cheese and 1 cup of grated Gruyere cheese. Stir at low heat until the cheese is melted. Serve garnished with garlic croutons.”

Enjoy,

Ellen

Ephesians and E.M. Bounds on Prayer

Our sermon at EV Free Conejo Valley Sunday was on this passage in Ephesians. What a goldmine it is. I’m including it here followed by a quote by E.M. Bounds.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen”

I read the following quote in the book Between Heaven and Earth compiled by Ken Gire.

E. M. Bounds
(1835-1913) Methodist minister and devotional writer who served as a pastor in the American South and became a POW during the Civil War.

“Prayer is the easiest and the hardest of all things; the simplest and the sublimest; the weakest and the most powerful; its results lie outside the range of human possibilities – they are limited only by the omnipotence of God. Few Christians have anything but a vague idea of the power of prayer; fewer still have any experience of that power. The Church seems almost wholly unaware of the power God puts into her hand; this power is rarely, if ever, used – never used to the full measure of honoring God. It is astounding how poor the use, how little the benefits. Prayer is our most formidable weapon, but the one in which we are the least skilled, the most averse to its use. We do everything else for the heathen save the thing God wants us to do; the only thing which does any good – makes all else we do efficient.”

Kitchen Tip

Over at “Rocks in my Dryer”, I posted a comment on a great way to clean your garbage disposal. I guess I should have posted the tip on my blog, too. So if people clicked on LNB they would see the tip. I’m such a dweeb. Anyway here’s the tip.

Freeze vinegar in an ice cube tray. Remove cubes from tray straight into your garbage disposal. Run the disposal till all the ice is ground up. Hopefully your disposal will be fresh and clean! Anyone with a garbage disposal should try this!

My mom got this tip from watching The Rachel Ray show on TV.

I think that’s a great title for a blog. (rocks in my dryer) She must have little boys! My big boy, who is 26,  works in the concrete business and still deposits rocks in my dryer!

One Anothers

We just finished a great study in home group about all the “one anothers” in the Bible. I recommend this easy study to any of you to do at home or in a study group. Grab your concordances and search and find all the ways we are suppose to behave in our community. I’m including one great passage from Colossians that covers a few and suggestions for what to look for. Enjoy!

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances  you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Here are some helpful descriptions of some of these virtues; (taken from The Reformation Bible, ESV, R.C. Sproul – general Editor)

Kindness: Readiness to do good, even when it may be undeserved (Rom 2:4; Titus 3:4).

Compassion: An emotional, caring relationship with those whose lives are hurt and broken (Matt. 9:36; 14:14; Rom. 12:1).

Humility: A posture of lowliness and servanthood (Mark 10;45; Phil. 2:1-11).

Meekness: Or, “gentleness” in offering help, a non-coercive approach to encouraging change in others’ lives (Matt. 11:29; 2 Cor. 10:1; Gal. 6:1; 2 Tim. 2:25).

Patience: Willingness to take the long view in face of human frailty (Rom. 2:4; 1 Tim. 1:16).

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of the “one anothers” to look for; love one another, serve one another, accept one another, forgive one another, comfort one another, encourage one another, care for one another.

My challenge to you in researching these and more is to find the 2 one anothers in the New Testament (maybe there are more than two) that are in the negative (the do not’s to one another).

Go and do and be blessed all you anothers!

Ellen

TENNYSON AND TIMOTHY

From Tennyson’s Idylls of the King, King Arthur, on his deathbed voices to his friend some profound thoughts on prayer;

” Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.”

I thought this passage was a good one paired with this quote…

I Timothy 2:1-8 (ESV)

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions,that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire then that in every place that men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;”