Primary Source

An Eternal King Promised

Jeremiah 27:1-22

Reflection: Primary Source

What “voices” are you listening to each day?

In what way do you struggle with worry and fear?

Think of three ways you can dwell on God’s promises-instead of what you fear-today?

This reflection made me think about all of the technology that we are inundated with today. You can find the most vulgar and disgusting images imaginable on the internet. The world is so different than it was when I was a child. I am concerned for my daughters and what the future holds for them. We are constantly bombarded with images of destruction and desolation around the world and sometimes in our own neighborhoods. These images often remove us from the reality of our own live s and cause us to see more bad in the world than good. It seems like an uphill battle that we may never win. But when I read the title of today’s reflection :Primary Source,  it gave me some perspective.  What we are reading and experiencing in our world today is a form of plagiarism. This is not the life that God intended for us. We are not here to worry about all of the evil in the world because to do so insinuates that God is not the author and finisher of our faith. Why should I commit myself to reading and studying the word of God and then spend the remainder of the day worrying about what bad thing will happen next? I trust him to do everything that he promised. We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in his Holy Word, he never failed me yet.   We can’t turn around so we may as well trust him. I’m changing the voices that I listen to. Rather than CNN I’m tuning in to the gospel Channel. When I hear something negative on the radio, I turn on my gospel playlist on Pandora. Don’t like what I’m reading in the paper? I go to Hebrews 2:2 where I can “fix  my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (NIV).” The negative images and bad news make good headlines, but there are just as many people doing good. Yes, I know that in these uncertain times I will continue to struggle with the negativity of the world, but I know that if I change the station, I can dwell on the word of God and his promises.

Related Readings

2 Kings 24:8-17

Psalms 27:1-3; 94:19

Philippians 4:4-9

Many Kings Fall

Many Kings Fall

Jeremiah 1-17

Reflection: Inside Out

What “Enemies of the Soul” (busyness etc) cause you to sometimes forget to take time with God  ?

How much time do you spend daily in prayer and Bible Study, preparing your heart for today?

What are some practical ways you can become more balanced in your life? 

“Help me God to slow down, to be silent, to do Your will, not mine.” -Marian Wright Edelman

I had heard parts of the book Jeremiah, but had never sat down and read the book through. Well I read the first chapters this morning and it was an eye opener. I woke up at 4am and couldn’t go back to sleep. I watched some of the Australian open and began to think about all of the things I could do if I just got out of bed. I do this sometimes but I usually try to clear my mind to go back to sleep. Well, today I did something different. I just got up. I hadn’t planned it, but here I was at 4:47 out of bed. I knew that I couldn’t do all of the things that needed done before getting ready for work but I thought surely I can spend some time in my bible and perhaps that will prepare me for the rest of the things that I have to do. Well, this passage of Jeremiah was just what I needed. Here I am with my busy self, running from here to there taking care of everyone’s needs that some days I don’t even take the time to read my bible. Have I really gotten that busy? The book of Jeremiah starts as a scolding. The honeymoon is over. I had to do some soul searching on this one. Why do we, I, sometimes turn away from God? He has given us everything. And not only do we turn away; we justify. We come up with all of the excuses of why we can’t come back. Yes, I’m going to say it: The church is greedy, the pastor is shady, people are too bougie, they so ghetto, They want me to do what? With basketball, soccer, PTO, family, blah blah blah… I just don’t have the time. We will stay at a job we hate, return time and time again to a fruitless relationship that we should have left a long time ago, forgive our trifling family, bail our kids out of trouble for the umpteenth time, but we don’t have time for GOD? The one who put everything on pause to 1. Create us, 2. Save us, 3. Give his only begotten son so that we may have eternal life? I could go on but you get it. He has done everything and given everything. And what do we do in return? Defile his land, break his laws, and worship false idols, cheat, steal, and lie, adulter. We have given up our birthright on one end and our inheritance on the other. We just need to stop it. But you know what? In the end God is Patient, Righteous and Faithful. I take this passage of Jeremiah as a warning. The God who has given us everything can surely take it away. But, even in our selfishness, he remains faithful. And so should we.

Related Readings

Psalms 5: 1-3

Proverbs 31:30

Romans 12:1-2

Ephesians 4:21-24

1 Peter 3:3-6 

Are You Listening?

The People Demand a King

Read 1 Samuel 8:1-22

Reflection: Are You Listening? 1 Samuel 3:10

1. What are some things that drown out God’s voice for you? What makes it difficult for you to be still in God’s presence?
2. Are personal sins blocking you from hearing God’s voice? Take time to confess any wrongs you have committed and ask God to cleanse you.
3. Read Psalm 84 to prepare you to spend some time in God’s Presence.

Life, Life is what keeps me from doing what I know I should for God. My noisy, busy life is in constant competition; always trying to get the floor. It seems that I am just too, too busy. First, I have to work, then the kids need me, my husband is next in line, and then if there is anything left, I will take some for myself. And then the phone rings; dishes need to be washed; laundry folded.  I recently took a vacation and stopped all of my data. I wanted to take a vacation. When I returned, I had ONE HUNDRED and NINETY emails, and that is just on one account. It seems that daily, the needs of those around me are more than I have time to give. It seems that everything and everyone needs me all at the same time. Maybe it’s just me, but I thought that technology and all of the modern inventions of industrialized society were supposed to make life easier. Instead, I am always bogged down and occasionally overwhelmed with all that I have to do in a day’s work. I promised the Lord that I was going to read DAILY for just thirty days, reflect DAILY and blog DAILY about my reflections. I must admit that it has been a challenge. I have been able to read and reflect, but many of the blogs remain in my head. I am trying to get them out. One thing that I have to do is stop beating myself up. I believe that God knows my heart. I did find encouragement in a passage that I read the other day. It simply said, “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that I have that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may not know about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and will never leave me to face my perils alone (Thomas Merton).”  I think this is the point of our busy lives. It is there to remind us of God’s grace. Even when we don’t keep our promises He is faithful and always in our presence, waiting patiently for us to return to his presence. When my busy life tries to drown out the voice of God, I just say the name Jesus (selah) and I know that he is with me.  And I have found that when I put Him first, the rest of the day seems much easier, and less busy. 

Related Readings:

Psalms 84: 1-12; 86:1-17

Matthew 5:8

John 10:1-6 

Count The Ways

Obedience from Love: Read Deuteronomy 10: 12-13 and 11:13-21

“And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”

Reflection: Count the Ways

1. When was the last time you told God You love him?
2.    When was the last time you served another out of love for God?
3. Can you think of a benefit you've enjoyed because you obeyed a specific command of God?

This is really a tough one. When I read it, I paused because I know that obedience is my number one battle. Call me hard headed, stubborn, obstinate, persistent or whatever.  I do like to do things my way, but as you may know, that hasn’t worked well for me in the past.  It took me a few days to write this particular blog because it required more reflection and prayer. First of all, I try to tell the people that I love, including God, daily that they are the most important priorities in my life. That is the easy part. As far as my serving others, this is more of a challenge. I do work with the children at my church and this is surely fulfilling, but what I recall is the time that I worked with a ministry at my church called the “Sandwich Makers”. These ladies go out every weekend and feed the homeless in our community breakfast. They do not have a media truck following them; they provide the food; they don’t have an entourage of helpers. Just a handful of dedicated ladies, who give tirelessly of themselves. I took my family out one Sunday to help them feed a group at the shelter. This was one of the most touching days of service that I have experienced because it puts everything in perspective. The things that we take for granted, daily; a hot meal, is so appreciated by a group of adult men who are down on their luck. The benefits of this single act of obedience had a great impact on me and my family. My children had never seen a homeless person up close and had never correlated homelessness with hunger. I was able to empathize with the people there. I ran into someone whom I had known as a child. He grew up in a dysfunctional, fatherless family that was always one paycheck away from homelessness, and there he was, homeless himself. I was able to offer him a meal and words of encouragement that what he was going through at that time did not have to be a lifelong circumstance. I prayed for him and continue to do so and reminded him that even when his family had nothing, they still went to church and gave thanks to God for what he had brought them through. I believe that my act of obedience of accompanying the “Sandwich Makers” on that day, was God’s way of leading me to encourage someone who may have lost his hope and his faith. 

Loving the Alien

Punishments for Sin Under Law

Read Leviticus 20:7-27 

“When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

Reflection: Loving the Alien

1. Have you ever felt like an alien because of your love for Christ?
2. Have you ever treated someone like an alien because they didn’t look, dress or behave as you do? How has this devotional changed your mind and heart?
3. Who in your sphere of influence is alienated from God? How can you apply the Golden Rule to help them see God in a new Light?

Fortunately, I have never been discriminated against as a Christian. I think this is something that we have taken for granted in America because we have such a freedom to practice as God leads us. This could be very different if we lived in another part of the world. Thank God that we are able to be unapologetically Christian in this country. I have recently become a surrogate mother to a girl in our neighborhood. She goes to school with my children and is often unsupervised for hours. I have found this disturbing. Her mother is not on drugs, she is just oblivious that sometimes parenting requires undivided attention. The girl is a handfull; she talks non-stop and constantly craves attention. She has a smart mouth and has never learned any manners.  My first inclination is to turn away from her; send her home each time she gets out of line. This devotional has made me look at her differently. She craves attention because she has never had any. She doesn't have any manners becasue she has never been taught any. Instead of being one more grown up who judges her for being out of place, perhaps I can make a difference in her life. I was just about to give up on her and tell her to stay at home, but when I consider the alternative, I just can't do it. I recently talked to her about personal safety, doing homework, hygeine and minding your manners when you are a guest in other people's homes. My husband told her that she can come over after school but only after she has informed an adult of her whereabouts and that she has to bring her school work to participate in study time. She has eaten with us for the past three days instead of, as she says , having Pop Tarts for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We read daily about children becoming statistics, kidnapped, dropping out of school, becoming unwed mothers. Maybe if they hadn't been treated as aliens by every adult in their life, things would have been different. What I have learned from this devotional is that it is easy to treat people kindly when they are the same as us; the difficulty arises when they are aliens. If I was to go to a different country, church, city, planet; if I became an alien, I hope that someone would treat me as their native born. Thank you God for giving us The Law, by which we know what is required of us to be saved.

Not Guilty

Sacrifices Required Under Law

Read Leviticus 5:14-19

Reflection: Not Guilty

Mandisa "Not Guilty"

1.     What unintentional sins have you committed in the past few days? Spend some time asking God to      reveal your sins to you.
2.  Now offer God a sacrifice of repentance and of praise for declaring you not guilty
3.   Whom can you serves sacrificially? How will you go about this?

Lately I have been struggling with the sin of discontent. I keep rehashing over and over in my mind things that I could have done differently in my life. Ojalá. If only I would have done A, B, C or D, I would have more, be more, be able to do more. I want to give more to the needy; do more for my church; I want to live in a bigger house; have all of my bills paid and not worry about  being able to retire comfortably when the time comes. I want, I want, I want. But then I think about the way I feel when my children are constantly asking me for the same thing over and over. I easily respond to them, “You have everything you need.” I realize that to God maybe I am sounding like a spoiled child, “begging” for something that I don’t have to have or maybe that I really don’t need. Sometimes when I tell my children no, I may not have the money, the time or the energy. Sometimes I tell them no because I want them to learn one of life’s greatest lessons; you can’t always get what you want even though I have it to give. There have been times that I have said no when I had a pocket full of money, a free schedule and energy to burn. But I know that giving your children everything that they want just because they ask for it is a very dangerous thing. God knows this too. They become insatiable and live their lives just to acquire more stuff. They are never satisfied. OK, God. I understand. I am no different than them. I have to accept that My Father has all of the riches in Heaven and Earth. He will supply all of my “needs”. Everything else is a blessing and in order for me to be blessed in the way that He sees fit, I must be content where I am right now with what I have right now. as a matter of fact, if he never does another thing for me, I need to be content. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it is necessary. If God revealed all that he has for me right here and right now, first I would be overwhelmed, but as soon as that passed, I would be forever looking for more. So I want to offer God my contentment and look around at all of the things that I have and see how blessed I really am. I have food, shelter, clothing and a family that I love, and they love me back. What more do I have to ask for? I don’t need more stuff; I need more God. I know in my heart that there is someone who has a genuine need. I will be grateful and seek out someone who is not just a “begging” child, but has a true need and help them meet it. Maybe then, I will be truly satisfied and content. Thank you Lord, for your sacrifice that I may be forgiven for my sin of discontent. 

Related Readings:

Psalms 139: 23-24

Proverbs 28:13

Isaiah 55:6-7
Hebrews 8:8-12

Not Guilty (ASL) (fast forward to :43)

Heart Troublers

Devotional: Heart Troublers- Read the full devotional here: New Women's Devotional Bible

Read Exodus 20: 1-17

When the people saw the thunder and the lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses”Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

Reflection:

1.      Have you ever found yourself fearing God in the way the Israelites feared him at Mt. Sinai?

2.      How does the fear of the Lord keep you from sinning, as God said to Moses?

3.      What “Heart Trouble” are you experiencing right now? Turn to God in trust and ask Him to perform his good work on your behalf.

Related Readings:

               Proverbs 1:1-7

               Proverbs 3: 5-6

               Luke 18:18-27

Sometimes I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach. I am just worrying and worrying. Did I do this right? Did I say something wrong? When am I going to have peace from this worrying? Am I a good mother, wife, sister, friend? I don’t know if this is fear, but maybe it is. Maybe it is the fear of being judged, not by man, but by God. Am I going to be in the number? But then, when I read today’s reflection and the passage from Exodus, I thought to myself…my fear is a good thing. I always hear people (me included) saying that they don’t care what people think of them. It’s alright to say that. I think what we mean is we make difficult decisions in our lives that people who are on the outside looking in have no idea how anguished  we were over those decisions. They have no stake in the outcome of these decisions, but they always want to put their two cents in. They want you to leave your spouse, but where are they when you can’t sleep at night, pay your bills or comfort your ailing child? They want you to put your child on the street. They can’t remember that they were Hell on wheels during their teenage years, too. They want you to quit your job because your coworkers are "getting on your nerves". Can they pay their bills and yours too? Can you move in with them and their family when you get evicted? They want to be involved in all of the decisions concerning you and yours so that they can watch you suffer and fall apart while they turn their back and go on living their lives.

So, No, I don’t care what these people think. They can give opinions, advice, or whatever it is that they have to give, but they are not God. And in the end I care what He thinks. I think that this is why I have that feeling in my stomach. I want Him to be happy with me. I want him to go down the list: Did she have any other Gods before Me? No. Check.  Did she make idols? No. Check . Did she misuse my name? Keep the Sabbath Holy? Honor her Father and Mother? Commit murder, adultery, theft? Give false testimony? Covet her neighbor’s husband, house, poolboy, maidservant, and car? Check, check, check check….

I guess I don’t care what people think, but I DO care what God thinks. And because I know what He has commanded me to do and who He has commanded me to be, I am fearful.  

He Breaks Us to Make Us

A People For God:

Read Genesis 28:10-15; 32:22-28

So Jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 

Reflection: He Breaks Us to Make Us

1. Describe the times you have wandered from God and how you sensed him relentlessly seeking you?
2. How has God broken you physically, emotionally, or spiritually? What was the result?
3. God is a good shepherd; thank him for his care for you even when you don’t understand his methods.

The question would be how many times have I wandered from God? I spent so many years running away; sometimes I wonder how he caught me. In my adult life, I have been a member of three churches. I joined the first church because I felt drawn to it. I drove past it many times on my way to the club and I always thought, one Sunday morning I will go there. I stopped in, and joined but I didn’t really feel connected. After a while I just stopped going. I visited the second church on New Year’s Eve with my family. I visited for a while and then I joined. Most of my family belonged there. I really enjoyed my experience there. The pastor was quite amazing (and still is). I just didn’t feel connected. I stopped going and I stayed away from church for many years. I still read my Bible and listened to my gospel music. I prayed and all the while I kept telling myself that I needed a church home, but made excuse after excuse for why I just didn’t fit anywhere. I began visiting churches. I didn’t say much to anyone because I didn’t want to feel the pressure to join a church. I prayed and told myself that this time I would wait on God. There was nothing wrong with any of the churches that I had visited. I was touched by the most amazing words, sermons and songs. But then something happened. I had a school assignment where I had to research what a loving church would look like. Through my research I discovered the United Church of Christ. I discovered what they believed and I began to see that their beliefs were in line with what I believed. God loves us all, equally. I realized that the connection was between me and God. Denominationalism is of man; it doesn't matter what church I am a member of. God Reigns over the body of Christ. And He is still speaking. He has a place for us all in his Kingdom and he will not judge.  It is only when we are still and listening that we can not only hear him,but be obedient to his message.Thank you, Lord, for being a Shepherd to me and taking care of me when I did not understand your methods. 

Bishop Joseph Warren Walker, III Mt. Zion Baptist Church Nashville TN

Related Readings

Psalms 23: 51:15-17

James 1:2-5

1 Peter 4:12-14

Day One: Genesis 7: 1-24

UPDATE: For the sake of clarity, the devotionals will be taken from the passage that we are reading.

 These are personal reflections. In essence, this is about you and your relationship with Christ. I understand that placing your heart on a blog may not feel comfortable to everyone, so please comment as you feel comfortable. If you just want to keep your own personal journal that is OK. God will be pleased with that. Spirit Quest is just that- Your own personal journey with God, so please share as you see fit knowing that your reflections may be an inspiration to someone who is struggling with the very thing that God has already brought you through.

Read Genesis 7: 1-24The Lord Said to Noah, “Go into the Ark, you and your family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.” 


Reflection:

1. In the face of a flood, who would you take into the Ark?
2. How are you preparing for the inevitable storms of life?
3. Has God Commanded you to do things that may seem foolish to others? In what ways are you obeying Him? 

Related Readings:

•  Hebrews 11:1-16 
•  1 Peter 3:13-22 
•  2 Peter 11-18 

This seems like a no-brainer. Of course in a terrible storm you would bring your closest loved ones- your parents, brothers and sisters, maybe some cousins. In the course of my life, I really hadn't thought about this seriously. After my friends and loved ones, I would think of the people I didn't want to go, but then I thought that the people I don't want to go are the primary ones who should be there. What if someone else wanted to keep me off of their Ark? Who would include or exclude you from their Ark? Are there people in your life who challenge you? Would you take them or just the people that you get along with and have easy relationships with? God chose Noah because he was righteous. So I would trust him on this. If he chose me, I would not assume that I was the only chosen one; whoever gets on that boat is there for God's purpose. 

I have done so many things that may seem foolish to others, but I have always felt guided. I do not wear my heart on my sleeve or always share with those close to me what I am thinking or feeling. I understand that this lack of explanation may be frustrating to those who love me, but I have always had God as a guiding force in my life and am fully aware that things I do that may seem foolish to others have already been blessed by God. Obeying the word can be difficult because people often cause me to question the very thing that I feel God has already told me to do. Have you ever done something and said to yourself, “what will people think about that? What will they say?” For me this is what makes it difficult. It is only when I drown out everyone else’s voice that I am able to stop caring about what they think I should be doing and I go ahead with God’s vision- as foolish as it may seem to others.

 “There are some things you learn best in calm and some in storm.” Willa Cather

"I am not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship"  Louisa May Alcott

"It's Gonna Rain" The Sensational Nightingales

Spiritual Quest

Let's take a journey together. Like many of you, I have questioned my spirituality. Over the years I have found myself at many stages in my relatioship with God; happy, sad, upset, disappointed, joyous, satisfied, prayerful, but mostly fulfilled knowing that his love will sustain me through all of those emotions. I have also learned for myself that spirituality is a journey and not a destination. Each of us as christians, especially Christian Women have struggled with our faith through marriage, divorce, child-rearing, (un)employment, and all of the trial that life has to offer.

I am not a minister. I do not claim to have the answer to any theological question; in fact,I have many more questions than answers. I am a layperson who is trying to gorw in Christ and my daily walk. I created Spirit Quest to assist me and others who have, are, or will be struggling with questions of spirituality to join me here to discuss and take this journey together. Spirit Quest is not a place for hatred, politics or taking a stance on who is right or wrong; God will ultimately judge. it is a place to grow spiritually, share insights, scripture, stories, and songs to aid others on their spiritual journey in hope that we can all grow in our understanding of our relationship with Christ.

The context for my blog will be The New Women's Devotional Bible by Zondervan Publishing House. It can be purchased at any book store or online. Each session, we will read the reflections that are highlighted in the text, and reflect upon those.

Unfortunately since I don't have publishing rights to the text, you will have to have a copy of the new Women's Devotional Bible to read the devotionals; however, anyone is able to participate in the dsicussions.

Reflection On My Journey

I wrote my first blog over two years ago. Since then, I have been on a journey of personal discovery but in many ways have still remained exactly where I was. Has anyone ever had that happen. You vow over and over to change, but for whatever reason you stay the same. Sometimes life allows us to remain complacent or change does not really seem necessary. There is no urgency for us to change. It is not until we are given a medical diagnosis, pink slip or served with a court order that we really see the need to take action. I had actually forgotten that I even wrote this blog. My husband had to write a blog for one of his school courses and he asked me to review it. Something made me log onto my own account and there was my blog, all written out telling the world what I was planning to do with it and how it would be used to bring women on a spiritual quest together, but guess what? I had never hit that publish button.

 So here we are in 2012 and I am publishing a blog. I hope this is an inspiration to someone, but really, I hope that it helps me grow in my walk with Christ and become closer to him. I will share music, verses and testimony and hope that all of you will do the same. If the text brings to mind a song or related verse, please share it with us. Invite your friends to join in on the conversation. I first purchased The New Women's Devotional Bible on my Kindle, It is a great tool, but this is actually a book that you may want to hold in your hand. I ended up buying the hardcover, and use the Kindle App on my Android phone and my PC.

The great thing about The New Women's Devotional Bible is that it has different reading plans to suit every reader's needs. It has thirty and sixty day reading programs, yearly programs and of course the devotionals. There are 260 daily devotionals and 52 devotionals for the weekends. The first writing will be taken from Chapter entitled "30 Days for Beginning Your Walk With Christ" The Fall of Humanity" Genesis 3:1-19 The Devotionals will be taken from week 34 because this is where we are chronologically on the calendar. I think this is the easiest way to keep up with the weeks. I will blog weekly based on the devotionals for that week. Unfortunately I do not own the Copyright to this material so in order to read the devotionals, you will have to have access to a copy of the New Women's Devotional Bible; however, anyone is welcome to participate in the discussions.