June 6, 2010 by Teri Frana.

I usually have three types of Bible studies going on. (I must get bored easily.)

In one study, I simply read straight through the Bible.  There is an orange book mark that shows me where I left off.

For the second type of study, I pray and ask God to lay a specific verse or phrase or chapter on my heart.  As I read what is laid on my heart, I beg God to reveal Himself in those verses.  I ask Him to make clear what He would have me take away from His Word and how He would have me apply it in practical life.  My pink book mark shows me the last place I was lead to read.

The third type of study I do is to read and/or listen to commentaries over the verses from either one of the studies above.  I love to discover what others gleam from the pages.

This morning, I was practicing the second type of study.  My pink bookmark rests in 1 John chapter 3 today.  It was powerful for me.  I hope it is powerful for you too.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.  Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.”   1 John 3:18-22

Yesterday I spent my day in utter turmoil in my heart.  I berated myself using terms like, “imbecile”, “idiot”, “moron”.  I ran myself down in my mind all day with thoughts like this, “You will never get it.”, “How could you possibly think you have anything worthwhile to share with anyone?”, “You have no idea what you’re doing - give up.”

I prayed throughout the day to fight against the onslaught of negative emotions.  I tried being thankful.  I tried quietly worshiping.  I tried to read my Bible.  I even tried chocolate.  It took all my energy to not sink into a deep despair.  Have you ever had a day like that?  A week?

This morning I knew I needed to go to God and ask for help before I even lifted my head off the pillow.  These are the verses I got…  “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us…”  He doesn’t say IF our hearts condemn us, Paul says WHENEVER.  That tells me that my heart will try to condemn me often.  Whew!  So I must not be the only one who’s tries to rip myself apart on the inside.

Paul says I can set my heart at rest in God’s presence.  But how?  Knowing the truth that God is greater than my heart and He knows everything.   God knows our weaknesses.  God knows our fears.  God sees every human condition in me.  When our hearts begin to condemn us for whatever reason, we must first acknowledge that God already knows about it.  “Heart of mine, you aren’t telling me anything God doesn’t already know and hasn’t already paid for on the cross.  Stop it!”

A friend of mine says that when she feels those destructive self-thoughts creep in she screams out loud, “Thank you for reminding me how much I need God!”

In the rest that follows, there is quiet, magnificent confidence that comes.  It’s as simple as realizing, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to Him belong.  They are weak but He is strong.”  In knowing and clinging to this truth, we are able to move forward in the confidence that God is indeed stronger than anything which condemns us.

We are able to love so much more fully in action and words when we stop spending energy on condemning ourselves for junk God already knows and has taken care of already on the cross.  May you rest in that confidence today.

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February 12, 2010 by Teri Frana.

“God replied, ‘I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS.’ Just tell them, ‘IAM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14 NLT

I remember the first time I saw “The Ten Commandments” movie. I was a young child at the time. I was mesmerized by the burning bush with the deep voice the size of a mountain boomed from it saying, “I AM THAT I AM!” I was immediately struck with a deep fear and awe of God. Who is this God?

Later on in the movie, Moses climbs up to the top of Mount Sinai to get the stone tablets from God, I remember watching the rumbling mountain and hearing the warnings that you would die if you touched the base of the mountain. Again, I was afraid of this mighty God and what He would do. Still, I was mesmerized by the wonder of the story I was watching.

Then the scene played out that left an indelible mark on my young heart forever, Moses came down and his hair had turned completely white. My eyes grew as wide as Texas and my heart pounded in my chest. I looked to my dad for reassurance and he told me more about Moses’ experience. Dad explained that after being in the presence of God, Moses’ face shone so brightly that he had to cover it with a veil so people could stand to look at him. That did it for me as it seemed the blood froze in my very veins. I was terror stricken. Who was this God?

The movie was my introduction to the I AM. Although I didn’t understand what that meant, I knew that God was mighty and worthy of fear and awe. In some ways, those things kept me from drawing close to God. I was afraid to take one step closer to the top of the mountain for fear I would get too close or worse, disappoint Him and get punished!

As my childhood view of God has matured, I find I’m drawn to climb closer to this magnificent and loving God. He is the One who IS – who has always existed. Some other translations say, “I AM WHO I AM,” and “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE.” He sent Moses to His people to set them free from slavery. He sends Jesus to us to do the same. He is the most powerful being in the universe and He cares for His people that much.

There are a few more personal names God gives Himself that are just as compelling:

“I am the Messiah!” John 4:26
“I am the bread of life…” John 6:35
“I am the light of the world…” John 8:12
“I am the gate for the sheep…” John 10:7
“I am the good shepherd…” John 10:11
“I am the resurrection…” John 11:25
“I am the way, the truth and the life…” John 14:6
“I am the true vine…” John 15:1

He IS available; He IS here, now, waiting for you to climb closer. Take off your sandals and bask in His glory. Let His presence fill you to your depths and drink of the true vine.

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February 10, 2010 by Teri Frana.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 15:16-18 NIV

So, how do you carry Jesus with you into every circumstance?  That is a question people have been trying to wrestle with for centuries. One of my very favorite books is Practicing the Presence of God by a simply monk from the 17th century named, Brother Lawrence.  He rather demystifies the concept of carrying Jesus with you everywhere.  He says, 

“In continuing the practice of conversing with God throughout each day, and quickly seeking His forgiveness when I fell or strayed, His presence has become as easy and natural to me now as it once was difficult to attain.”

Brother Lawrence simply practiced talking with God throughout his day no matter what he was doing.  Also, the monk asks for forgiveness when his thoughts wandered and then focused back on God.  He didn’t keep kicking himself when he faltered, just got “back on the horse” and got going again.  

Over the past five years, I’ve really been practicing this art.  Almost every day I falter somehow.  But, instead of dwelling on it, I am learning to just get back up and keep going.  I ask forgiveness and know it has been granted and keep striving toward the goal.

Here are a few of ways I’ve used to help me stay focused on Christ no matter what I’m doing.  These are obviously from a wife and mother’s view point.  Take them and mold them into your lifestyle for what works for you.

Don’t get overwhelmed at the list.  I can never do all of these things at the same time.  I tend to focus on 3 or 4 of them at a time.   Over the course of five years, I’ve adopted more of them into my daily life, but still am not able to incorporate all of them at the same time.  Take a few and use them and see what happens!

* Write down one verse (or a few verses) each week and carry it with you each day. Read it often and ask God to reveal Himself in that verse. Memorize it. At the end of the week, spend a little time with God thanking Him for His precious Word, and how He revealed Himself to you.
* Find a verse from scripture which goes along with each one of the practices listed below.  Write it down and pray it whenever you can.
* Pray for the people around you at the stop light. (Have your kids do it too.)
* Pray for the people in your meeting.
* Pray for you company or business on the way to work.
* Pray for your family on the way home.
* Pray for your church on the way to service.
* Thank God for your children as you pick up their toys.
* Thank God for your friends as you think about them.
* When folding laundry, pray for the person whose clothes you’re folding.
* Thank the Lord for variety at the grocery store. * Praise God for His hand of provision each time you pay a bill or receive payment.
* Pray for protection of your home as you vacuum.
* Thank God for America when you see a flag.
* Thank God for plumbing as you clean the bathroom.
* Praise God for providing His Son as the pathway to heaven when you feel overwhelmed.
* When you are sad, thank God that Jesus knows our suffering and the God knows our troubles.
* Create a strong image of peaceful serenity with Jesus and put that in your mind when you are afraid.
* When driving your kids to events, pray for their health and protection. Thank God for all the opportunities we have available to us.
* Print your favorite verses and paste them in your house; on the bathroom mirror, on the frig, or by your bed. Print verses the kids will like and put in their rooms.
* Pray over the food as you prepare dinner or lunches.
* Pray over the beds for protection and sound sleep as you make them.
* Turn off the TV and open the Bible with your husband or just sit quietly together.
* Pray as a family before you leave in the mornings.
* Pray as a couple before going to bed.
* Pray with your accountability partner before or after church.
* Thank God for the wonder and complexity of the human body when you are tempted to tear yourself apart as you stand in front of the mirror.
* Offer your body as a living sacrifice to the Lord in the shower each morning.
* When you forget, apologize to God, tell Him you missed Him, and get back on track. LET GO OF THE GUILT!
* Wake up 20 minutes earlier, before anyone else is up, and enjoy that quiet time with God. Before you go to bed each night, pray and ask God for the grace and perseverance to get up earlier.
* Set aside one Sabbath day each week for you and your family. Ask your husband to lead it. Turn off the TV, videos, computer games, etc. Spend one quiet day together, thanking the Lord for all He is and all He has done. It doesn’t have to be Sunday. Take a rest day even if your family will not.
* Pray for your small group and their families as you prepare for the week.
* Have sections in your journal for prayer requests and for thanksgiving. Write them down when you think of them. Read your journals at least once a year to go through and see how God has responded to your thoughts, questions, concerns, prayer requests, and praise offerings. At that time, go deeply into His presence and ask Him to reveal what He wants you to focus on for the next year.
* Make your calendar part of your offering for each week. Ask God to reveal how best to balance your life. Ask Him for what to say “yes” to and what needs to be a “no”. Be willing to surrender any activity He tells you is getting in the way of your walk.
* Make your budget an offering to God. Pray together with your family for wisdom and guidance on how to manage your finances. Pray together to ask for God to provide. Ask together on how to give your lives, resources, and time away to others. Make serving and giving a family affair.
* Ask the question, “Lord, what are you doing right now” throughout your day. Ask God to reveal what He is working on and how you can be a part of it. Make sure to spend a lot of time after you ask listening. He will let you in and often ask you to participate – even if it’s just a smile at the cashier or a kind word.
* Spend 20 minutes each day reading your Bible as if God were beside you reading it with you. Imagine yourself and God having a conversation together over what you are reading.
* Spend 10 minutes each night simply being quiet and still with God; unwinding from your day, relaxing in His presence, drinking in His love like hot chocolate.

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