Sunday, January 26, 2014

{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.

Pin It
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!

11 comments:

Susan M said...

Another great song and post Patter! Reading your words has made me realise I have been feeling defeated lately and I too have gained back some of the weight I had lost 18 months ago. I moved to a different country and left behind wonderful Christian friends and I haven't been relying on the Holy Spirit as I should. Thank you for this post Patter, and in connection with your previous post , it has been a great ENCOURAGEMENT to me.

KathyFuller said...

Oh Patter...thanks so much for this post. I, too, was moved to tears while reading it. The song you chose is one of my favorites. I sing along to the radio all the time. But, until I actually went and googled the full lyrics, I hadn't actually really LISTENED to them, ya know? I fall so short on most days. I have come to a place in my life lately where I was actually beginning to think God is going to give up on me...that He's gonna say "Hey Girl...you keep making the same mistakes over and over...and over again. Sure, you always ask Me to forgive you, and I DO, but I don't think you deserve My forgiveness another time." This song and these verses restored my faith that maybe I am worth another chance. Thank you SO much for sharing your heart with us all.

Susan said...

Thanks for this Patter. I too have been feeling defeated and been in a depressive funk lately. We had to give back our house to the bank, move and I wasn't able to remain a member of Weight Watchers. So I was feeling a failure and fat. I have turned the corner in my "stinkin thinkin" but I needed this as a reminder to keep my eyes on high!!

Jannie said...

Wonderful, wonderful post, Patter! I can't tell you how appropriate it is for me right now. I was touched by the song, and realize I've never listened to the lyrics closely enough. Thank you so much!
The comments from the other gals were so appreciated, as well. Feeling defeated is such a struggle, and one we don't always share. Thank you all and please know I will be praying for you all. ((Hugs))

Patter Cross said...

Thank you all for your beautiful words, transparency, and encouragement to me and each other. May God hold each of us in the palm of His Mighty hand as we deal with daily struggles. He has the power to help each of us overcome! Joyfully in Christ,

Tracey Gregory said...

Patter, you are not the only one! When I think on the times that I have been successful in healthy habits,it was only when I gave the power over to God. When I slip,and then slide,it's because I think "I got this" when I so obviously don't.Thanks for your encouraging words!

Anne-Marie said...

Patter,
Thankyou for allowing the Lord to truly direct you in what you have shared as you have spoken to so many of us. We all struggle with different areas of our walk with the Lord. Lately I have been feeling a failure but your words and the scriptures you have shared have "picked me up". This song is one I had never heard before and those words are so true.
Your page is beautiful.
Bless You

Anonymous said...

Well, yes, indeed. Praying for you as I enjoy the page you made about this. I fight this battle, too. Your vulnerability and honesty are far more impressive and inspiring than it would have been to pretend everything is just fine, truly.
Grace & peace, Jennifer in OH

SCarol said...

Thank you so much for this truly beautiful post - beautiful because of your openness and honesty. I too have had to battle with my weight and know how you feel. Thank you for all really great scriptures - it is only God who can lift us up and give us the grace and strength we need to overcome.

Nancy said...

Thank you so much for your open sharing, Patter! I am praying for you! You are such a blessing to so many of us...to me personally! We all fall short...over and over...in so many different areas! God is so good and ever faithful!
Your page is absolutely gorgeous! I love the pretty colors you used! :o)

Traci S. said...

Dear Patter,
You are not alone in this. I want to share something very personal. I have misplaced your email address. Would you please give it and hopefully your phone number to me again? I will not share it with anyone, and I will only use the number with your permission.

My email is:
tracistarkweather@gmail.com

He loves you...and so do I, my Friend.

His,
Traci Starkweather

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