{SCRLLC14} Scripture Lesson #2, Undo

Today's post will be hard for me. It's hard to admit our sin and our failings but I feel God wants me to share. Tears stream down my face as I type this. They say it takes 30 days to make a habit. Well, for two years I ate healthy, exercised daily, was a great weight, my cholesterol was great—I felt amazing. Well, two months after I turned 48, I began slacking off—the kids left for college, our 2 year old puppy was diagnosed with epilepsy (daily issues there), lots of changes. I haven't handled them well so it was easy to quit watching what I was eating and to stop exercising. Can you believe since August I have gained 40 pounds? How is that possible? I cry. I ache. I am embarrassed. How could I go from being so healthy to being so unhealthy so quickly? I kind of feel like this scripture sums up how I feel:

Romans 7:15-20 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

Do any of you feel that way? Are you frustrated with something you do? Do you feel like giving up? Do you think God is done with you and has given up on you? Absolutely not! He is waiting with loving arms for you to come to Him and rely on Him through every struggle, every shortcoming—everything. Our God is a God of grace. He is faithful. His faithfulness is not dependent our our faithfulness. Praise God for that! He fills us with His Holy Spirit when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. And when we have the Holy Spirit in our lives but don't rely on Him, we live defeated. I guess that's how I have been feeling lately—defeated. Can you relate to that? How are you feeling? Defeated or victorious? I know I want to feel victorious again! It truly is a daily choice to rely on Him and let Him help you through everything.

Psalm 68:19 "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."

Hosea 6:3 "Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

Luke 9:23 "Then He said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.'"

Romans 8:5 "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

1 Corinthians 16:13 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."

The song we are studying this week is called "Undo" by Rush of Fools. Click here to listen and read the lyrics. You can also click here to see the band perform this song. It is so perfect for those of us that have fallen in some way whether it be with food or some other addiction or a struggle you battle daily. As believers, we will always have struggles but with Christ, we can change the things that we shouldn't be doing. With Him we have hope! The chorus to this song says it all:

Chorus
Turn me around pick me up
Undo what I've become
Bring me back to the place
Of forgiveness and grace
I need You, need Your help
I can't do this myself
You're the only one who can undo
What I've become

I have put in bold/italic what is so meaningful to me in this chorus. How about you? Read all of the lyrics in the link I posted above. Read this chorus. What touches you? What do you need to change? Will you fall at His feet and ask Him to help you?

Father, I have fallen. Most times I feel I cannot get up. But I know you are there waiting to hold me and keep me on the right path. I know there are others here feeling the exact same way. Would you hold each of us up? Please help each of us to make the daily choice to turn to You. Help us to trust You in every part of our lives and to press on with You even when we are discouraged and think we can never do it because with You all things are possible. We love you and thank you, Father. It's in Your Son's precious name I pray, Amen.

For my 6x6 page today, I used a sketch from Flying Unicorn. The scripture I chose was 1 Corinthians 16:13 shown above. I also added a part of the chorus of the song to my page because it really defines what I need each day—Him! I also have a couple of pieces on my page that have meaning to me. The key I used last week but it is so very true and applicable again this week.

*Key—He is the key to my daily life; without Him guiding me each day, I fail on my own.
*Bird cage—I am not as free and happy when I follow my own desires.

For my page, I also used the new Blue Fern Studios papers. These are actually scraps leftover from the page I shared on Friday. If you missed that page, click here. The bird cage is from the Blue Fern Studios Veranda Cage Set.

Papers: Blue Fern Garden Calling Cards 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Veranda Cage Set (colored with Adirondack ginger ink and Martha Stewart fine crackle) 
Stamps: Becky Higgins date stamp 
Stamp Ink: Adirondack pebble, ginger, and espresso 
Embellishments: May Arts twine; Maya Road vintage heart box key; Petaloo mini delphiniums chocolate and brown berry spray; Prima corine flower and wood veneer; Hobby Lobby doily; misc. brad; dry wall joint tape; sewing machine

Just a note. I had a question about keywords for each study. I will not always mention them, sometimes they will be evident, and sometimes the Holy Spirit will lead you to a word to use. Our first study could have been on the word "Lord." Words you could use for today's study could certainly include "victorious," "daily," "need," or "strength."

Remember to use Keyword SCRLLC14 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Blessings to you as your study and enjoy His word!