Monday, May 26, 2008

I AM so you don't have to be Lesson 5

Chapter Two
I AM - Your Sufficiency

Lesson Five"I Was"Key Passages:
Exodus 2
Hebrews 11
Acts 7
"And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land."
Exodus 2: 21-22

There is a note in one of my Bibles that says Moses lived in disappointment for 40 years. Angie and I were discussing this earlier, and like her I do not want to live in Midian or disappointment for forty years...I would be nearly ninety...

God zeroed me in on the word ark in Exdous 2:3. Moses' mother placed Moses in an Ark to protect him while he floated on the Nile. You know she was praying every step of the way and it was only by faith that she was able to trust him to God and do this. Basically this was an ark of covenant between Moses' mother and God.

Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever found yourself 'in faith' yet bewildered or demoralized?
Yes, today would be a good example.

2. Do you consider yourself content? Would you describe it as Decidedly Content or Dreamily Content?
Yes, I am Decidedly Content. But this is also a training ground. Like Paul I have to learn to be content in whatever state that I am in. I have to be able to say God is enough before I can move out of Decidedly Content to Godly Content. And that is decidedly where I want to live.

3. If you are not content, are there circumstances that keep you from this feeling?
Yes to both. Like I said earlier, I am the stumbling block that is keeping me from being content.

4. Have you ever found yourself in a place where you looked back on a period of your Christian walk and believed a great opportunity passed you by?
Yes, during a period I walked with God closely, He had control of everything. I would stand in my closet and so Okay God what am I going to wear today. Pride of who and where I was reared it's ugly head and I let it steal it all.

5. Do you ever believe your faith was stronger in an earlier time in your Christianity and find yourself floundering now?
Yes, I know it was, but I am slowing but surely getting it back. Praise God that one of His promises is that whatever the thief steals when it is found out he has to return it 7 times.

6. Can you recognize that this season may be one of great preparation instead of a period of "I Was"?
Yes. I look at Moses and he got in a hurry, just cause he knew who he was he thought everyone else should know who he was. I get in trouble with the same thing. I think that just because I know I am a child of God, even when my actions don't show it, that everyone else should too. This is an area that God is dealing with in me. I forget that I am all the Bible that some people may ever read, and that if I am to be Christ like it means they are suppose to see Christ in me 24/7 which is so not happening, even in my sin.

Like I told Lisa in a comment you can get off my toes anytime. But thank God she is the willing instrument of God.

Sallye

5 comments:

Michelle V said...

Sallye,

Great post! I am right with you on being decidedly content but being my own stumbling block! And I also know what you mean about sometimes forgetting that I am the only Bible some people read. It even occurred to me today. I had been really engrossed in Bible study all morning (all weekend really), but my son came and needed to go to the store. So, I found myself mentally "putting aside" everything and walking out the door. The Holy Spirit prompted me and showed me what I was doing. It was like I was trying to leave Him here and go to the store. And, we all know that sometimes the store can be the place we need Him the most! Long lines and rude people, and He wants us to keep our focus on Him even in the grocery store, or at work, or where ever we go, and I am realizing that I have been guilty of that one!

Hope you're having a good Memorial Day!

Blessings
Michelle

Sallye said...

Michelle,

Was listening to Wednesday with Beth, and she made the statement about asking God to come be at a meeting, and God reminder her that He was already there and inviting her to come. Second time I have heard this. So I guess we just need to learn to be senitive to the Spirit and move as He directs regardless of where we are. Ouch just reminded me that He's already at my job and I am more in the way than helping.
Well I have been asking for change, and looks like I am going to get it.

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

Hey Girls...

Do I know what you are talking about here. I can't tell you how many times I put my books away to go to the ball field and then have some otherwordly conversation with someone who needed to hear a Word from the Lord.

I am so thrilled y'all are doing this study together!! You are such a delight to me! :))

Lisa

Lynn - JnL4God said...

Sallye,
Thanks for stopping by my blog,I need to do some catching up after my weekend away, but eager to get going, I have to say as much as I loved being with my family I missed doing my studies.
Talk to you soon,
Lynn

GammySel said...

Hey Darling Siesta-

Thank you for the reminder that even when I am at the grocery store and the people are rude that I am to shine through. In those situations it is hard to show the love of Christ but we have to think of what he endured carrying the cross to Calvary.. spitting, mocking, etc. So what is a rude person or two?

I Timothy 6:6- a reminder of what contentment brings!

Have blessed day in the Lord Siesta~
Angie