Chapter 1 continued....

B.  A Heart Devoted to God

After choosing to have a changed heart, what does it actually mean to have a heart devoted to God?  In Luke 10:38-42 we can read about Mary and how Jesus praised her for having a heart devoted to him.

As you read this Bible passage, you will see two very different women when Jesus was received in their home.

• Martha was busy with the "physical needs",  "But Martha was cumbered about much serving..."

I can just imagine her runing around picking things up, and putting them away, do a little cleaning, making excuses if things aren't up to par, etc.; making sure everyone had a drink to quench their thirst from their travels, then preparing something to eat.  Something we may do if we have an unexpected guest we want to impress.  Or even when friends stop by unexpectly and our homes isn't as clean as we would want it to be

• Then there is Mary who "....sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word."

I'm sure with all the "running around" trying to meet the "physical needs" that Martha was starting to get stressful trying to get everything done for their unexpected guest that she started to complain to Jesus;

 "...Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?  bid her that she help me."  Then Jesus responded, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath choosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Before I go on with my "review", I'd like to share something about the last part of this verse that was "revealed" to me when I read it.

I need to be careful to not take away from someone their desire to know/learn more of God.  Yes, I can be a part of directing them in the right direction, especially if I see they are "going down the wrong path"--believing something that doesn't go/or isn't in God's Word but "sounds" like it could be something from God.  Though I must remember that if I choose to say anything to anyone that I may see "going down the wrong path" when they are searching to know/learn about God and his ways, I need to be able to prove/back it up with God's Word, the Bible.

I need to be careful with this "person" as I direct them as I can be discouraging them to stop if I'm not.  My purpose may be noble but it has to be done carefully--especially if it's someone that doesn't like to be told they are wrong or what/how to do something.  My words need to be put in a way that it will be encouraging them to keep seeking God instead of discouraging them to stop.  Hope this made sense to you.

Okay, where was I....

I'm sure Martha was excited to have Jesus in their home and to be able to have him at her dinner table.  Of course she wanted everything to be perfect.

Mary, too, was excited to have Jesus in their home but for a different reason.  She was able to hear God's Word from God himself and didn't want to miss a single word.

Are we so busy in our every day lives, doing our every day responsibilities, that we forget or just don't take the time with God; to read his Word and to pray.  Are we so busy that we don't take the time to stop, be still and "listen" what it is he wants us to know/learn.

I know I am guilty, many times, of not taking the time to do so.  How can anyone have a heart devoted to God if they don't spend time with him, to continue to get to know him, to learn about the things he wants us to know.

When we meet again, I'll mention some things on how we can follow Mary's example of her choice to spend precious time with God.

Part I The Pursuit of God

I apologize for taking so long in getting back to blogging.  Spring is in the air and along comes Spring Cleaning!  I started last month but since I have to take it easy, it takes longer than usual.  Needless to say I should be done soon so now am taking some time to get back.

"A Woman After God's Own Heart" is divided up into 3 Parts.  Some of the chapters are lengthly and divided into subparts so may take more than one day for me to write down my "review" for each chapter.  Please bear with me and I hope you will be blessed as you read this as I have been blessed (again) from reading this book (again).

Chapter 1:  A Heart Devoted to God

"But one thing is needful:

and Mary hath chosen that good part,

which shall not be taken away from her."

~Luke 10:42

A.  A Change of Heart

In I Cor. 5:7 it says "For we walk by faith not by sight"

How much easier is it to trust what we see instead of what we don't see; it IS much harder to trust what we don't see.  That's why we need to adjust our perspective to match God's view of life; which includes the past, present and future.  We need to keep in mind that God knows all things and have the faith to trust that he wants what is best for us.

We should live every day to count now and for eternity; choose to live every day for God; our sole desire.

• Love Him
• Worship Him
• Walk with Him
• Serve Him
• Look forward to being with Him in eternity

Psalm 37:4 says "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

If our perspective matches God's view of life than our desires will be what God would have us to desire.

• What am I doing to become a woman He wants me to be
• Give God ALL of my heart and devotion
• Make Him #1 in all things--the highest priority

No matter how little we think our tasks/responsibilities we do/have in our daily life, it ALL counts if we face it with our heart devoted to God.
I've learned that it's a choice whether I do so or not.  It's a choice NOT to make my choices by what has happened or is happening in my life but by what God wants in my life.
It's MY choice whether or not I'm going to see things from God's perspective and have the faith that he knows what is best for me--no matter what it is. 

You're invited to take a trip

I'm sorry I haven't been diligent in posting my "review" as when I said I would but I've had a couple of "bad days" and not feeling well on top of that.  For those that are reading my blog, I hope that you will understand and be patient with me.

While reading (a fiction book, no less!) I came across a verse: 
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." ~Jeremiah 29:13

I got to thinking that before anyone can be a person after God's own heart that they must find him and see their need for him as their personal Saviour for themselves FIRST.
I mean how can anyone be a woman (person) after God's own heart if we don't KNOW him; meaning, have come to the point that we realize we are sinners and believe what he did for us on the cross, then to accept him as our Saviour so that we may have life eternal with him in heaven.  I don't mean to just know it in our heads but to believe in our hearts of the need of him and accept it.
I came to the conclusion that before I can actually start telling y'all about what I have learned/my "review", that first I should take you on a "trip" down the Roman's Road (there may be some "detours" but basically it all leads to the same "destination").  If you haven't been "down this road" and "finish the trip" completely, I pray that you realize your need to do so.  Since I am making this simple, if you have any questions, please email me personally and I will answer.

ALL HAVE SINNED
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. ~Romans 3:10
....there is none that doeth good, no not one. ~Romans 3:12b
None of us is "good".  Not a single one of us.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" ~Romans 3:23
ALL-That's every single one of us that has been born into this world.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."~Romans 5:5
He gave us a way "out".  Please contine on and I'll tell you more.

THE PENALTY FOR SIN IS DEATH AND HELL
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." ~Romans 6:23
Wages = death (being separated from God forever) in hell  Accepting God's gift = eternal life in heaven

JESUS DIED TO PAY FOR OUR SINS
"For God so loved the world, that he GAVE his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him (Jesus) should not perish but have everlasting life."~John 3:16
"But God commendeth (proved) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." ~Romans 5:8
To show how he loves us; he first gave, then died.

JESUS INVITES YOU TO BE SAVED TODAY
To have God's gift is to just accept his Son as our Saviour.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock:  if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." ~Revelation 3:20
"And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hat not life." ~I John 5:11-12

It's easy to accept his gift of eternal life so you won't have to pay if you don't.
"That if thou shalt CONFESS with thy MOUTH the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE in thine HEART that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
"For whosover shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." ~Romans 10:9, 10, 13

Each and every one of us need to do this in order to receive his gift of eternal life.  If you haven't already and this is what you want to do, you may say a prayer something like this:
Dear Lord, I confess that I am a guilty sinner and that I need to be saved.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay my sin debt.  Please forgive my sins, come into my heart, and save my soul.

Just remember that it's NOT the words that save you.  It's the confession AND the believing that does.  If you JUST SAY the words (without truly confessing and believing), just thinking that you'll be "safe" now, then you aren't/will not be saved.
Also, you CAN'T say this "prayer" for any one else, whether living or dead.  EACH and EVERY person need to do this for themselves.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." ~John 3:36

The wonderful thing is that once you've accept His free gift is that you NEVER have to do it again, IF you truly confessed and believe.
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." ~I John 5:13

I do have a passion for all to know Christ as their Personal Saviour so if I seem to come across "strong" then it's because I want every one to know their need for Him because I know what is in store for them if they don't and I don't want any one to have to go through that (in hell) for eternity.  
My prayer is that whoever reads this, that haven't already, will realize their need for Christ.

By the way, I'm usually not on the computer on the weekends so I probably won't be adding to my blog again until next week.  Besides, it'll give you a chance to think and ponder about whether or not you are truly saved.  Don't make the same mistake I did; thinking I was already saved.  I was trusting in someone else's word that I was when I wasn't.  It still bring tears to my eyes to think that if I never, FINALLY, admitted that I wasn't saved and was trusting someone's else's word instead of trusting Christ as my Saviour MYSELF (you can read my testimony if you haven't already).  Don't wait until it's too late as I could have.

So much to grasp...

I have decide to post my "review" comments of  "A Woman After God's Own Heart" by chapter as there is so much to grasp that I had remembered that it wouldn't do the book justice if I just did one simple review of the book as a whole.  As I reread this book I am learning something I didn't "see" the first time I've read it.  Isn't it so true with reading and searching the Bible?  I can read the same thing over and over again and yet if I go expecting God to show/reveal what He wants to teach me, He is always faithful to do so.
I also want to make sure that the comments I post of what I've learned is what God would have me to share; that it won't be something I just say is true but because it's what God says is true.  Because of that, it'll probably take me 2-3 days or more for each chapter before posting my thoughs and comments.
I should have the first chapter tomorrow or Friday.  Whatever I say, I'd encourage you to still search His Word for yourself and see what God says and not just to take my word on what I've learned. 

A Woman After God's own Heart

I read this book (by Elizabeth George) recently and am now reviewing it and thought I'd put my thoughts on my blog.  There are chapters on how as a woman, wife, or mother, can pursue God's priorities with our husbands, children, in our home, in our walk with God and in our ministry.  We can find a life as a woman after God's own heart.

"A Word of Welcome"

In the Bible, I Samuel 13:14 it says about David "the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart".  It's amazing that with all of David's "mistakes" and wrong doings that God still considered David as a man after his own heart.  It just goes to show that we don't have to be "perfect" to be a person after God's heart. After all, David had a husband killed so he could have his wife for his own.  He wasn't the greatest parent.  He didn't always consult God before taking action (how many of us are guilty of this?  I know I am).  Now if  "the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart" like a man like David with all of his "mistakes"--it's obvious he wasn't perfect--who's to say that we can't try our best to be a woman after God's own heart.

For to do so is something we cannot do without desiring (wanting) to or without God's help.  Some of these chapters do refer to being a wife and mother but I do believe that they still can help a woman that isn't married or have children that do desire to be a woman after God's own heart.

I hope you will join me as I tell you about my journey on learning about what I learned how I can be a woman after God's own heart.  As I review this book I will just be writing down my own thoughts, comments and what I had learned.  Don't take my word on what I say but to find it for yourself what God says in his Word.

Again, don't hesitate to let me know what you think if you have any comments of your own.