FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS...CONNECT...HOLY GROUND...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY
.

God is a God of connections! Oh, there are a myriad of them - if you stop to think about it. Just think of the connections in the human body or in friendships. My favorite God connections are the spiritual ones.

.

1. Brain - body connections - As many of you know, I am deeply in to brain based education. I have been taught by some of the best. There is much to be said to how a child learns body movements that connect with thinking: crawling, walking, feeding self, clapping, balancing... I learned last year that one of the first signs of Alzheimer's is a brain - body disconnect. That might happen when a person begins looking down at their feet to walk or ascend/descend stairs. I have a grandaughter who is connecting in the first ways. My sweet mother, is disconnecting in the latter as her Alzheimer's progresses.



2. Friend / Family connections - I don't go too many days without talking to someone who knows another person who I know. Since joining Facebook, I have re-connected with former college friends, students, youth group members, and other church family. I am amazed to find connections between people who I had no idea existed. Reminds me of the connections we made with other Women of Faith back in September and the two long lost cousins who found each other because they were placed sitting next to each other. (Kat and Willene - second row and second and third from right)!
   
   
   
   
3. Spiritual connections - It happens daily... hourly... okay... sometimes by the minute... It happened last night in our Wednesday night ladies class!

.

Last night, my dear friend Linda, mistakenly left her class teaching materials at home so we had an impromptu class that was Spirit-led and rich, rich, rich!!! There was sharing about brain-body disconnects and family disconnects that led to spiritual connections. Linda brought up that we often talk about how to keep our focus on Jesus when there is a big battle raging, but what about living in the day to day... the mundane... at home... on the job. She asked us to share. I have taken some things that people said and made them "my own". I am sharing how I plan to use them in transformation.

1. JESUS CONNECTION: When looking in the mirror each morning, I will ask, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, do you see Jesus in me at all?" Then, I will fix my spritual eyes on His characteristics... because I want to be more like my big brother today as He works in, around, and through me. I will thank Him!


2. FAITH CONNECTION: Then, I will thank Him for His perfect faith that was responsible for my salvation. I will commit to trusting Him in the little and the big things today because He and He alone is worthy of my complete trust. I will look into my "faith memory bank" and remind myself of a time when God has been faithful to me. I will thank Him!
   
3. JOY CONNECTION: Before I leave the mirror, I will smile really big for up to a minute as I consider the "JOY set before Him" . It was His focus. I will choose to thank Him for what I see in the mirror and the opportunity that this new day brings, for I know that JOY springs from a thankful heart! I choose to be thankful in all things today!


4. ENDURANCE CONNECTION: As I head into my day, I will commit to focus on Jesus with His Faith and Joy to help me ENDURE the challenges set before me.
   
5. HOLY CONNECTION: Much like my Lord Jesus as He sat down at the right hand of God, much like the "great cloud of witnesses", much like Moses at the burning bush... I will view my day, my home, my responsibilities as sacred... HOLY... I will take off my shoes and remember that I am "standing on HOLY ground".

.

"Therefore,

since we are surrounded

by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders and

the sin that so easily entangles, and

let us run with perseverance

the race marked out before us.

Let us fix our eyes on JESUS,

the author and perfecter of our FAITH,

who for the JOY set before Him

ENDURED the cross,

scorning it's shame, and

sat down at the right hand

of the throne of God."

.

Hebrews 12:1-2

.

HOLY GROUND!

.

1. JESUS
2. FAITH
3. JOY
4. ENDURE
5. HOLY

.

FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS...WHO FIXED HIS EYES ON THE JOY...

WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY

.

.

Let who sat!!! Know what that means? Quite possibly I've stumped you! Those are actually the first words of the three phrases in our memory verse for the week. They are in bold below. I encourage you to think about the meaning of the verse and finish putting it to memory. Then, say it after you've said verse one. I've added another Youtube today of one of our theme songs. Be blessed.

.

Hebrews 12:2

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the JOY set before Him endured the cross,

scorning its shame,

and

sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

.

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and

let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and

sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS ... A PERFECT MODEL FOR LIFE...

I'm thankful for the last 3 Mondays that I have been at the endodontist for root canal work. He puts on these funny little microsopic glasses so he can really see down in my gum. They look something like the ones above. I've thought a lot about them over the last few weeks for several reasons. First, I've thought about a new phrase we have at our house that my husband has coined, "See it through Gospel Glasses" or "Put on your Gospel Glasses!" In other words, look at each situation as Jesus would or for what Jesus died for. Secondly, our memory verse for the month (and specifically for this week) on this blog has the phrase, "Fix your eyes on Jesus..." .

.

Today, I'm so grateful for my wonderful, merciful Savior who I can fix my eyes on to learn how to do life the right way...to:

• be humble



• mourn over the lost



• be meek... a follower...



• hunger and thirst for righteousness



• be merciful



• be pure in heart



• be a peacemaker



• be persecuted



• live through difficult circumstances



• love



• be kind



• be patient



• be gentle



• be good



• be self controlled



• be full of joy



• be faithful

I'm thankful today for this song and the people who put this video together to challenge me to SEE JESUS...

FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS...TO BE MORE LIKE HIM...

MEDITATION MONDAY

Hebrews 12:2

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,

scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

.

Jesus wrote the book on life! He knew it would be extremely tough, yet He comprehended that if He lived His life perfectly, in this world, that there would be incredible JOY in the next world. He kept His focus on that JOY... He asks us to keep our focus on Him! It's the only way to be a "transformed mom"!

.

I didn't do so well with my "eyes on Jesus" yesterday. In fact, I bombed it much like Peter did when he tried to walk to Jesus on the water and he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink. That was me yesterday! I was focused on all the other stuff - "the wind and the waves." That's when I got a phone call from our son Caleb who had just landed in the St. Louis airport after spending a week with us. He said, "Mom, do you have my car keys?" Oh, my! I had done the "mom thing" and put them in a "safe place" while he was here and there they lay - still in the "safe place". It was then that Caleb's cell phone died!

.

To compound the problem, Caleb was to drive from the airport to the Amtrak station about 30 minutes away to pick up his wife, Krista, who was returning from a trip of her own. At least Krista had a working cell phone on her! Yet, I began to think of all the worse case scenarios. I completely took my eyes off Jesus. I did not pray. I did not trust. Yet, my wonderful merciful Savior took care of the situation in spite of me. Krista was able to take a cab to the spot where the car was. Caleb was there. They arrived home around 1 a.m.

.

Steve reminded me through my panic to put on my "gospel glasses" but I was so focused on the difficult circumstances throughout the evening that it not only stole my joy but made me realize that my trust in the One who could fix the problem was not there.

.

Just yesterday morning, as I taught the 3rd-4th grade Bible class, I asked them each to answer the following question with "Yes!" and then tell me one way that they were like Jesus. Their answers were right on target: "Kind! Patient! Helpful! Responsible! Babies come to me!" Evidently, my answer needs to be TRUSTING... FAITH-FULL! Jesus trusted the Father completely through life and through death!! What focus!

.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, do you see Jesus in me at all?"

.

Part of growing to be more like Jesus is to fix or turn our eyes toward Jesus!!! Today, I pray that you can meditate on the One who we each need to become more like! Pause the play list above before playing this song by Michael W. Smith:

.

FIX YOUR EYES ON OUR WONDERFUL, MERCIFUL SAVIOR...

SUNDAY IN THE SON

.

Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to "fix our eyes on Jesus".

I could think of no better songs

than the two I have chosen for our theme songs this week.

One was not available for our blog playlist,

but I do have them both in video format below.

Please pause the playlist before listening to them.
Enjoy!

.

.

The second song uses words from this weeks memory verse to speak to us. This week our son Caleb has been visiting us. When he was young, he fell in love with this next group and shared his passion for their songs and messages with me. I will share their version of this song first and then each day this week share different groups' versions since we do not have it on the playlist.

.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

HOLY...PUT OFF TO PUT ON...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

Catch Up and Must Do

.

I love our Saturday conversations over a sandwich! Today, though, I think I'll drink a protein shake while you eat yours. Last night, Steve and I went out to eat with our 3rd child, Caleb, who has been here visiting with us this week from Missouri. At Texas Roadhouse, it's more of an event than a meal. Our wait was about 30 minutes. Our steaks were mighty fine! Our fellowship was better. I am still full!

.

CATCH-UP:

• SLEEP: Since I finally turned my grades, from last semester, in on Wednesday, I'm hoping to catch up on my sleep. I've read that if you are sleep deprived, get about 11 hours of good quality sleep and your sleep clock will reset. Then, just make an effort to get 7, 8, or 9 hours on a consistent basis. The articles said that if you still are feeling really tired, then there may be something else wrong. That whole 11 hours thing is hard to do!
• OUR MEMORY VERSE: Hebrews 12:1a - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses..." God certainly gave us an amazing visual on this one this week - starting with a week ago Friday. Today might be a great time to "catch up" on this blogs posts since the new year began. Our sister Tanya's life and death have been an inspiration to many of us!
• OUR MEMORY VERSE: Hebrews 12:1b - "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles..." So what hinders us from running our lives for Jesus? Too many other things on our plate! This verse says to "throw off everything that hinders!" Have you decided what that might be? And what about the "sin that so easily entangles? Time to get out your spiritual trash can! Here is a brief list of sins from God's word that might get us started: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, lies, stealing, unwholesome talk, bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, malice...(Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 4;25-32).
• OUR MEMORY VERSE: Hebrews 12:1c - "...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Life is not a walk or a leisurely stroll! It's a race! It's not for the faint of heart! It's not for the quitter! We can not give up! Never... never... never... give up! It's marked out for us by the only way... the one way... JESUS! We'll talk much more about that next week.
• HOLINESS: Only God is truly holy! Yet, He invites us to participate in His divine nature. The journey to holiness certainly connects to our memory verse! Here are 2 passages to consider:

• Ephesians 4:22-24 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
• Galatians 3:26-29 "You are all sons (daughters) of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (put on!) 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

.

MUST DO:

• COUNT BLESSINGS... NOT TROUBLES: This "Christmas break" has been a little different for me. I did not put up my usual gazillion decorations or a tree. It had been a rough 2 months with Jessica and her pain and Steve and his surgery recovery with his back and knee pain. I was peddling as hard and fast as I could and somedays seemed to go nowhere. I was disappointed that I couldn't have things "just right" by the time Crystal came home from college (her bedroom was not ready). I was disappointed that Jordan and his family got the stomach flu and had to cancel their flights home over Christmas. Then, again, that's life!!! I choose to count my blessings! For three weeks, each morning, I got to go down the stairs and stand in the den with the roaring fireplace and watch Crystal curled up asleep nearby. I tried it this morning, but she's back in Michigan now... and has left me with treasured memories. For this week, I've heard Caleb's roaring laughter and I smile. More blessed memories! I count them!
• PITMAN "TRANSFORMED MOM" - Last night, after being in the ER for 9 hours, Carla finally got a room at Kennedy Hospital - #301. Will have her gall bladder removed this morning. Sherwin, Mandy, Linda, Dan/Katherine, & I have taken shifts being with her. I left her around 11 last night with the pain meds taking care of the pain so she can sleep... pray... Pitman family, please see how you can help with the three little ones, food, etc. ... talk to Brenda Peoples... GIGATTAATTGIG...

HOLY... DISCIPLINE...

.
As I've been memorizing our blog memory verse for this month, it's brought up a few questions in my mind this week. I've thought about the second part of Hebrews 12:1, "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles..."
.
I've been doing a lot of "throwing off" over the last few weeks. The end of the semester for an education professor is full of stacks of papers. I've graded Functional Behavior Assessments/Analysis, Behavior Intervention Plans, Pupil Impact Activities, Journals, and Dispositionals. When I get overwhelmed and in the midst of many projects I have messes everywhere. This was the office in our home last week.

Finally, this Wednesday, grades were all turned in and I was able to "throw everything out" that hindered me from enjoying my office loveseat. This was my office yesterday. Unfortunately, the rest of the house is now calling my name!


As I've thought about this section of verse, I've thought about what I've needed to "throw off" in different areas of my life. This has led me to thinking about 3 words. I've asked a few people...

1. "What do you think the meaning of 'holy' is?"
2. "How are 'purity' and 'holiness' alike?"
3. "Is 'discipline' necessary for purity and holiness?"

.

I looked up the definitions in the New Unger's Bible Dictionary for "holy" and it said to "see "holiness". So, I did!

.

1. HOLINESS is a general term used to indicate sanctity or separation from all that is sinful, impure, or morally imperfect; i.e., it is moral wholeness. The term is used with reference to persons, places, and things . Holiness is one of the essential attributes of God's divine nature. It is entire freedom from moral evil and absolute moral perfection. The Scriptures lay great stress upon this attribute of God. .
2. PURITY (Grk. hagneia, "cleanness"). Freedom from foreign mixture, but more particularly the temper directly opposite to criminal sensualities, or the ascendency of irregular passions...(2 Cor 6:6; 1 Tim 4:12; 5:2).
3. DISCIPLINE is confined to members of the family, and it may be

• preventive, as in the case of the apostle Paul, who was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble (2 Cor 12:7-9);
• corrective, which is the disciplinary moving of the Father against His wayward child for the good of the child;
• enlarging, the object being to "share His holiness," to bring forth the "fruit of righteousness" (Heb 12:11; John 15:2);
• vindicatory, as in the case of Job who vindicated God against the challenge and accusations of Satan that the patriarch did not really love God apart from his family, his possessions, and himself. There is a difference between disciplining and scourging. The latter represents the divine conquering of the human will that the redeemed life may be completely yielded to God (Rom 12:1-2; cf. Heb 12:6).

.

I've also thought a lot lately about how I was disciplined growing up... how Steve and I disciplined our children... and how I see young mothers around me disciplining their children... I've pondered about how I discipline myself and how I've seen God discipline me.

.

If we keep reading on down to verses 9-11 of Hebrews 12, we read this,

.

"Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us,

and we respected them;

shall we not much rather be subject to

the Father of spirits, and live?

For they disciplined us for a short time

as seemed best to them,

but He disciplines us for our good,

that we may share His holiness.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful,

but sorrowful;

yet to those who have been trained by it,

afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

2 Tim 1:6-7 says,

"For God did not

give us a spirit of timidity,

but a spirit of power,

of love

and of self-discipline."


.

Sister, let's be more aware of God's discipline in our lives and let's step it up and use the "self-discipline" that God has given us to "throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us" so that we might share in His HOLINESS!