the only kind of camping i like
I’ve been camping in I Corinthians 1:8-10 the past few days—
“We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us.”
I feel the same as Paul did—crushed and overwhelmed. Sometimes I feel like I can’t go on, and I can’t imagine how I’m going to live through this. But the good great best news is that I can rely on the God who breathes life back into dead, dry bones. Even mine.
I hear Paul strengthening himself in the Lord in the last two sentences of that passage. I can just feel his faith rising as he reminds both his readers and himself that God did rescue him, will rescue him, and will continue to rescue him.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has to remind herself of the truth. Over and over and over. And it’s reassuring to think that as I do, maybe, eventually, others will see and hear my faith rising. And somehow that will strengthen their own faith, too.
Just like mine was strengthened by seeing Paul’s.
: :
Where are you camping? What are some verses your heart is stuck on this week?
Mmmm. Love that kinda camping. I’ve shared with you already that I’ve been camping in Esther. I’ll get back to you later this week with an update on that, though. I’m also camping out in Psalm 86. Good stuff.
Oh, and…
FIRST!
@gritandglory says:
this seems a bit martha stewart-esque.
i’m just sayin.
Eh!?
Maybe it’s the ReoGeo getting to me, but I’m so lost…
@gritandglory says:
insider trading…
Oh, duh.
Well, it’s not like I wouldn’t have been pressing F5 every 2 minutes anyway. Grin.
@gritandglory says:
“earl.”
niiiiice.
just for you, duch.
i was totally confused because every time i cook here @ the b-fords… carolyn calls me martha stewart. she really likes my cooking?
I know that I keep saying this and so sorry for the repeat…but so when I was in the States last a friend and mentor said that the only control God permits us to have is self control (ouch!!) and so I went through and looked up all the controls in the Bible and seriously. Crap. So now I am stuck in 2 Peter 1:3-11. Dang it.
” For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble.For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you. “
@gritandglory says:
repeat often, motts! serious. i need that constant reminder. “the only control God permits us to have is self-control.” so good.
I’ve been staying on Romans 8:15-7. “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”
I get so worked up about being good enough, and in that get consumed by fear of making mistakes, instead of living as the child of God that I am. I keep coming back here to be reminded and grow to belive that I am no longer a slave, but a Daughter. And as a Daughter to live in the rich inheritance of God’s love as a co-heir with Jesus.
@gritandglory says:
what a beautiful view your camping spot has!
@atangie says:
Your rising faith is seen and heard by me. I am encouraged and strengthened by it. Thank you for not giving up. I am proud of you, Alece.
@gritandglory says:
thank you, gigi. really.
I’ve been camping here for the last…..what seems like 6 months or a year:
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever read over a passage, and want to believe it with every fiber of your being, but just can’t seem to grasp it fully? For some reason, this passage is it!
@gritandglory says:
i know exactly what you mean…
mmmm mammabird this was so good.
i’m definitely gonna set up a fire and camp in 1 Corithians now :)
@gritandglory says:
i wanna see you build a fire.
if i was able to build a fire, an actual fire man have the firefighters right next to me.
and i am building a fire; on the inside and out.
it sparkles and makes good smores :)
I have been camping in Isaiah. Most specifically …
Isaiah 43:18-19 “The Lord says, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert and rivers in the dry land.”
He IS doing new things. It is exciting. Claiming, claiming, claiming His words for our life.
I like where you have been camping, too. Such truth … “and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us.” Now that, my sweet sister, is where peace lies! “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Good stuff … He has such good stuff for you in this journey. Praying for it to manifest in bursts and sweet little gifts every day!
Loving you dearly! :)
@gritandglory says:
i love me some isaiah!
@moweezle says:
Sometimes just reading all the things that Paul went through just overwhelmes me!!! Then I think about my own life and how great and wonderful I have it compared to all the suffering he endured.
I had been camping out in Exodus, just like the Israelites, I moved on out and onto the next. hehehe. Now I’m camping in Psalms (for comfort) and trying to camp in Leviticus (not so much for comfort), but God is teaching me soooo much and relating it to my life here now. Its been good for me.
@gritandglory says:
you’re right. paul’s struggles give me great perspective about my own. years ago i scribbled “how bad is my day really!?” next to 2 Cor. 11: 23-27 in my bible.
@chrystieecole says:
Hmmm, I have been in the Psalms for several months. One a day. Not really camping, more like trekking. But, I think I am currently camping in Isaiah 30:15, “in repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength.” I am trying for the life of me to understand what it means to rest and be quiet. I get it physically…but, mentally, emotionally and spiritually I just don’t have a clue. I am brain dead as to what that means. But, I am pretty sure it is a message that God is trying to drive home in me right now. If I just weren’t so doggone dense!
By the way, you do strengthen others through your transparency and vulnerability! That is a precious gift you share with us. If not for people willing to be real, the rest of us would think we were the only ones who ever struggled!
You are a blessing!
@gritandglory says:
thank you for saying what you did. it means a lot.
and i am the same. i’ve always struggled to fully grasp what sabbath/selah means. just yesterday (or was it the day before?) a friend and i commented back and forth on one of my other posts about how i know i am in desperate need of a sabbath, but i don’t even really know what that means for me. and when it feels like work to figure out how to rest… something’s wrong!
Okay, this reminds me of a funny bit I heard from the comedian Garry Shandling once: “My family loves to camp. We went camping at the Poconos once. So, we were at the Sheraton…” LOL
I like the picture of all of us camping in different parts of the Bible like this. :) Here’s where I’ve been camping lately:
Philippians 4:11: “…. I have learned to be content whatever the cirucumstances.” (emphasis on the word “learned,” OY)
and 1 Cor. 10:10: “And do not grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”
Ruh roh.
Forgot to add, this was an excellent post.
“Let God arise” is a bit from a song that’s been in my mind a lot these past several weeks. I love to picture your faith rising, Alece.
@gritandglory says:
sheraton camping i could do! :)
contentment… i know i need to work on mine.
As a non-believer my favorite camp is Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden”
This changed my life:
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drum. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away”
From the title page of Walden:
“I do not propose to write an ode to dejection, but to brag as lustily as chanticleer in the morning, standing on his roost, if only to wake my neighbors up.”
@gritandglory says:
i love that first quote. often i am ashamed of the different drum i hear. i need to embrace it. step to it. and in doing so, help others hear it too.
Pstorm 182. As yet unpublished.
Quite a camping trip, though.
@gritandglory says:
camping in a pstorm is always the hardest…
It is a challenge, Yes. But you know what? God sees me.
I’ve been camping in James…in face he kicked my butt around the camp fire last night! :)
James 1:2-4….”Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
@gritandglory says:
“count it all joy…” my math has SUCKED lately!
in fact…not in face….sigh
proverbs..