I Failed the Test

If you are a regular follower of this blog, then you will notice a bit of a change for the next 8 weeks. I am serving as a table leader for an 8 week Freedom Workshop. If you'd like to follow along, you can find the resources at the link directly above. Also, I will post here, the daily Bible reading assignment (heartwork) so you can read along. This workshop has been a life changer for me so I'm eager to share it with others. May you be blessed!

BIBLE READING HEARTWORK
Week 1 - Day 4
Romans 7; Psalm 43

Romans 7:24-8-2

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Lord, I confess that I forgot to remember this last night. I'd had plenty to eat and didn't need any dessert. But when RoboBoy decided to go get some, I caved. I confess that at that moment my desire for dessert was stronger than my desire to do what I knew was right. Please forgive me. Help me to put to death the deeds of my sinful nature.

Romans 8:12-14 NLT 2nd edition

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Psalm 43:2-3

For you are God, my only save haven.

Why have you tossed me aside?

Why must I wander around in grief

oppressed by my enemies? (my sinful nature)

Send out your light and your truth,

let them guide me.

Let them lead me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you live.

Lord, you are my only save haven. I asked you to continue to help me learn and grow in recognizing and exposing my sinful nature and those other voices. I failed this test but by your grace, please help me to pass the next one. Send out your light and your truth, let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.

I want to reside in your presence, Lord, because in your presence there is fullness of joy. And at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 NKJV

In Jesus' name, amen.

FREEDOM WORKSHOP VERSES

Psalm 77:1

I cry out to God without holding back.

Psalm 77:1

Psalm 27:8

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me," and my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

Psalm 27:8

MEMORY VERSES

Must Receive Christ

John 1:12

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

Must Receive Christ

Must Receive Christ

1 Timothy 2:5

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

1 Timothy 2:5

Must Receive Christ

Do Those Things That Lead to Holiness

If you are a regular follower of this blog, then you will notice a bit of a change for the next 8 weeks. I am serving as a table leader for an 8 week Freedom Workshop. If you'd like to follow along, you can find the resources at the link directly above. Also, I will post here, the daily Bible reading assignment (heartwork) so you can read along. This workshop has been a life changer for me so I'm eager to share it with others. May you be blessed!

BIBLE READING HEARTWORK
Week 1 - Day 3
Romans 6; Psalm 58

Romans 6:20-22

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves to God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

Lord, for years I didn't understand this freedom I have in you. I didn't really know how to avoid doing what my sinful nature urged me to do. Sure I avoided doing really bad things, or what we humans consider to be really bad. But I didn't truly understand how to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. Now you are teaching me how to do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

Like yesterday, I was hearing two voices. One was telling me to put off doing my homeschool lesson planning and do it later this weekend. The other voice was telling me, "Don't put it off; do it now. Don't rest until you do." Proverbs 6:4 Because I was fighting a bit of a headache, I was tempted to believe that the first voice was yours. So I prayed and asked you to show me which voice I should listen to.

Then you reminded me of what the consequences of putting off my lesson planning would be. I'd most likely end up not doing it and then Tuesday I'd be unprepared for school and feeling ashamed for not doing the planning when I needed to.

Suddenly, it became crystal clear to me that the first voice couldn't possibly be yours. It was trying to fascinate me so that it could then assassinate me. I praise you, Lord, for helping me to recognize and expose that other voice. Please continue to help me learn and grow in this.

I know you allowed me to hear that other voice so that I would turn to you, and also to train me. Thank you for helping me to get my lesson planning done. Now I can enjoy the rest of my weekend without that hanging over my head.

You also helped me to ignore the voice of my sinful nature which didn't want to make dinner or do the dishes last night. But the Holy Spirit was prompting me so I did those things. My husband noticed, because usually he or one of the kids makes dinner and the kids always do dishes because it is one of their chores. I was able to tell MyHero that this is what happens when I stop listening to those other voices and listen to yours instead.

My heart is full of praise for you, Lord God!! Please continue to help me do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. I love you, Lord! In Jesus' name, amen.

FREEDOM WORKSHOP VERSES

Psalm 77:1

I cry out to God without holding back.

Psalm 77:1

Psalm 27:8

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me," and my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

Psalm 27:8

MEMORY VERSES

Must Receive Christ

John 1:12

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

Must Receive Christ

Must Receive Christ

1 Timothy 2:5

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

1 Timothy 2:5

Must Receive Christ

I Can Live in Triumph!

If you are a regular follower of this blog, then you will notice a bit of a change for the next 8 weeks. I am serving as a table leader for an 8 week Freedom Workshop. If you'd like to follow along, you can find the resources at the link directly above. Also, I will post here, the daily Bible reading assignment (heartwork) so you can read along. This workshop has been a life changer for me so I'm eager to share it with others. May you be blessed!

BIBLE READING HEARTWORK
Week 1 - Day 2
Romans 5 Psalm 44

Psalm 44:22

But for your sake we are killed every day;

we are being slaughtered like sheep.

Lord, when I read this, I can't help thinking of how Jesus was lead like a lamb to the slaughter. How greatly you suffered for our sake!! You did this so that I can live in triumph over sin and death.

Romans 5:17

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Because of this, I will gladly turn from my selfish ways, take up my cross daily and follow you!

Luke 9:23

Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?"

Indeed, your word calls me to die to myself daily.

Colossians 3:5

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Lord, I can't do this on my own. I need you to help me put to death all those sinful earthly desires that are lurking within me. I know that one of the ways you help me is by allowing me to hear those other voices. Help me to know when I am hearing any voice that is not yours. Please fine tune my spiritual ears to hear and recognize the difference. I want to expose them so that I can turn and listen to your voice instead. This is the way I life in triumph over sin and death!

Lord, I want to thank you for helping MyHero to fix our AC. Will you please help it to keep running even though it is past the time when it should be replaced. Please help MyHero and I to get onto a budget and stick to it.

Thank you for giving ManBoy that job working with his Grandpa. Please keep him safe there while working with those machines. I pray that you will be at work in ManBoy. Please draw him back to yourself. Give him a hunger and thirst for you.

I pray that Fashionista and RoboBoy will have a passion for you and your word. Please raise up my children as mighty warriors for YOU! In Jesus' name, amen.

FREEDOM WORKSHOP VERSES

Psalm 77:1

I cry out to God without holding back.

Psalm 77:1

Psalm 27:8

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me," and my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

Psalm 27:8

MEMORY VERSES

Must Receive Christ

John 1:12

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

Must Receive Christ

Must Receive Christ

1 Timothy 2:5

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

1 Timothy 2:5

Must Receive Christ

Faith Like Abraham

If you are a regular follower of this blog, then you will notice a bit of a change for the next 8 weeks. I am serving as a table leader for an 8 week Freedom Workshop. If you'd like to follow along, you can find the resources at the link directly above. Also, I will post here, the daily Bible reading assignment (heartwork) so you can read along. This workshop has been a life changer for me so I'm eager to share it with others. May you be blessed!

Bible Reading Heartwork
Week 1 - Day 1
Romans 4; Psalm 140

Romans 4:16

So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's.

Oh Lord, you are so awesome and mighty. Your wisdom is incomparably high above anything we can comprehend! You not only made a way for this sinful person to be able to have fellowship with you, a holy God, but you also paralyzed my sinful nature from the neck down. It no longer has any power over me! It can scream and threaten and accuse but I have no obligation whatsoever to do what it urges me to do. Romans 8:12

Lord, would you help me to have faith like Abraham's? I confess that there are times when my faith falters. I want to have the kind of faith that KNOWS that you bring the dead back to life and create new things out of nothing. Romans 4:17 Lord, teach me to trust you completely and without reserve; to have faith like a small child.

Lord, I want to thank you for providing this portable AC unit until we can get our AC fixed. What a huge blessing this is!

And thank you for allowing me to have a small part in leading K to Jesus last night! I pray that you will strengthen her faith. Give her a firm foundation and deep roots in you. Help her to understand your word as she reads it and help her to have a passion to read your word every morning. In Jesus' name, amen.

FREEDOM WORKSHOP VERSES

Psalm 77:1

I cry out to God without holding back.

Psalm 77:1

Psalm 27:8

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me," and my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

Psalm 27:8

MEMORY VERSES

Must Receive Christ

John 1:12

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

Must Receive Christ

Must Receive Christ

1 Timothy 2:5

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

1 Timothy 2:5

Must Receive Christ

He Provided for Our Purifying

Leviticus 12:5

"If a woman gives birth to a daughter, she will be ceremonially unclean for two weeks, just as she is unclean during her menstrual period. After waiting sixty-six days, she will be purified from the bleeding of childbirth."

Lord, I don't get why the waiting time for purification was twice as long for a baby girl than for a boy. Would you please help me to understand?

Matthew Henry says, "Why the time of both these was double for a female to what it is for a male I can assign no reason but the will of the law-maker; in Christ Jesus no difference is made of male and female." Gal. 3:28; Col 3:11

Henry goes on to point out that the ceremonial uncleanness represents the fact that we are all born into sin. Ps. 51:5. "And the exclusion of the woman for so many days from the sanctuary, and all participation of the holy things, signified that our original corruption (that sinning sin which we brought into the world with us) would have excluded us forever from the enjoyment of God and his favours if he had not graciously provided for our purifying."

Lord God, I praise you for providing for my purifying. Through Jesus' death on the cross you cleared a way for me to be able to enjoy you. I praise your holy name! In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

Christ Paid the Penalty

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18

Christ Paid the Penalty

Christ Paid the Penalty

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5

Christ Paid the Penalty

Display Your Glory, Lord

Leviticus 10:3

Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD meant

when he said,

'I will display my holiness

through those who come near me,

I will display my glory

before all the people'"

This happened right after Nadab and Abihu disobeyed the Lord by using the wrong kind of fire in their incense burners. The Lord blazed forth and burned them up. It is a serious mistake to not take the Lord seriously. We must not make light of God's justice and holiness.

Hebrews 12:28-29

Since we are receiving a kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.

Lord, I want to please you by worshiping you with holy fear and awe. Lord, is it wrong to ask you to display your holiness through me as I come near to you? I want the world to see your glory.

You are awesome and mighty, oh Lord, my God! I praise you for the ways that you have already displayed your glory in my life. Please continue to display your glory in and through me. I am your servant, your vessel to use as you see fit. In Jesus' name, amen.

MEMORY VERSES

Christ Paid the Penalty

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18

Christ Paid the Penalty

Christ Paid the Penalty

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5

Christ Paid the Penalty