I've been toying around with the idea of starting a meme or link-up or whatever you want to call it about sharing how we have seen or had contact with Jesus in our week.
So, what do I mean by this and why does it interest me?
I've shared about being in a small group bible study now and in the past. To be perfectly honest, I've been in a lot of bible studies. I like them, but lately, I'm not finding them very satisfying. I want to be challenged to be living my christianity and not just reading about it. This hasn't been the easiest thing for me to do, since I went back to work, full time. I remember back when I was a sahm and I taught adult sunday school classes on Sunday morning. The class was mostly couples with at least one spouse working and sometimes both. The working members of the class were never prepared. Typically, they had never opened their bible. They expected to show up and just share their thoughts without any prep. This used to annoy me. (remember me, the rule following ISTJ) Now I'm the one working 40 hours a week and struggling to get my lesson done. However, getting my lesson done isn't the thing I miss most about my walk with christ since working full time. I miss noticing how Jesus was working in my life on a daily, or at least, weekly basis. Back then, I was looking for answers to prayer or doing faith based service work or just plain, hanging around with other christians. Now, not so much.
When someone asks me why I believe that Jesus is my savior or why I'm a christian (and this hardly ever happens, but once in a while it does) I'd like to give a personal answer and have a recent encounter with Jesus to share with them. I don't want to spout bible verses or theological dogma. I want to share experiences of Jesus working in my life or changing me or convicting me or blessing me. I don't want to get up in everyone's business. I don't want to know what horrible sins they've been forgiven from or what horrible situations they want their husband or wife freed from. I mean, I'll pray for people's needs, but I don't want to be a voyeur into their lives. But, I guess I do want to know how they feel freed and empowered by forgiveness of sin. I want to know about a situation containing a struggle with making the ethical choice over the easy choice came about. I guess I want to hear and be encouraged by people choosing to do What Jesus Would Do over what they would typically do. And, more to the point, I want to notice when Jesus intervenes in my life during the work week and I make a decision that is a decision or action Jesus would have made over one I typically would have made.
Do any of you think this is something that would be interesting and uplifting and encouraging to people that read blogs? I read blogs from people that seem to see Jesus in their lives every day. I'm just trying to find a way I've let Jesus have a hand in my life once a week. Do you think I'm alone in this search? Do you think there are other christians out there that have too much World in their lives and not enough Jesus? Maybe I'm way off and this isn't the way Jesus works in people's lives. I'm open to any and all suggestions
I was thinking of calling it Finding Jesus Fridays. Maybe I'll try it for 10 weeks and see what happens.
445. Meeting with my small group bible study and seeing some good friends off as they return to their home
446. A relaxing weekend with movies and without golf on tv
447. Looking forward to my husband coming home on Friday
So, what do I mean by this and why does it interest me?
I've shared about being in a small group bible study now and in the past. To be perfectly honest, I've been in a lot of bible studies. I like them, but lately, I'm not finding them very satisfying. I want to be challenged to be living my christianity and not just reading about it. This hasn't been the easiest thing for me to do, since I went back to work, full time. I remember back when I was a sahm and I taught adult sunday school classes on Sunday morning. The class was mostly couples with at least one spouse working and sometimes both. The working members of the class were never prepared. Typically, they had never opened their bible. They expected to show up and just share their thoughts without any prep. This used to annoy me. (remember me, the rule following ISTJ) Now I'm the one working 40 hours a week and struggling to get my lesson done. However, getting my lesson done isn't the thing I miss most about my walk with christ since working full time. I miss noticing how Jesus was working in my life on a daily, or at least, weekly basis. Back then, I was looking for answers to prayer or doing faith based service work or just plain, hanging around with other christians. Now, not so much.
When someone asks me why I believe that Jesus is my savior or why I'm a christian (and this hardly ever happens, but once in a while it does) I'd like to give a personal answer and have a recent encounter with Jesus to share with them. I don't want to spout bible verses or theological dogma. I want to share experiences of Jesus working in my life or changing me or convicting me or blessing me. I don't want to get up in everyone's business. I don't want to know what horrible sins they've been forgiven from or what horrible situations they want their husband or wife freed from. I mean, I'll pray for people's needs, but I don't want to be a voyeur into their lives. But, I guess I do want to know how they feel freed and empowered by forgiveness of sin. I want to know about a situation containing a struggle with making the ethical choice over the easy choice came about. I guess I want to hear and be encouraged by people choosing to do What Jesus Would Do over what they would typically do. And, more to the point, I want to notice when Jesus intervenes in my life during the work week and I make a decision that is a decision or action Jesus would have made over one I typically would have made.
Do any of you think this is something that would be interesting and uplifting and encouraging to people that read blogs? I read blogs from people that seem to see Jesus in their lives every day. I'm just trying to find a way I've let Jesus have a hand in my life once a week. Do you think I'm alone in this search? Do you think there are other christians out there that have too much World in their lives and not enough Jesus? Maybe I'm way off and this isn't the way Jesus works in people's lives. I'm open to any and all suggestions
I was thinking of calling it Finding Jesus Fridays. Maybe I'll try it for 10 weeks and see what happens.
445. Meeting with my small group bible study and seeing some good friends off as they return to their home
446. A relaxing weekend with movies and without golf on tv
447. Looking forward to my husband coming home on Friday
I think it's a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI think link-ups are fun. I'm not very consistent with most of them, but I like to link up here and there.
ReplyDeleteyes! one of the most encouraging ideas for a link-up i've come across. and even on the weeks when i barely blog (which, erm, is like EVERY week now. oy.) i'd love the chance to peek in and see how Jesus is showing up in everyone's daily goings on. do it, please.
ReplyDeletei think it could be pretty cool...or you could just ask people to leave their stories in the comments to test the waters...
ReplyDeleteI love hearing stories about this topic. A few months ago a very young mom told me a beautiful story about her own life. I like to remember her story sometimes before going to bed. It gives me so much peace.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a nice idea.
ReplyDeleteare you aware of Into the Word Wednesdays? This link-up is exactly what you're talking about. I just joined. Every Wed. you write about what God is doing in your life. It's been a great discipline for me. For samples, you can go to my blog and click on the Into the Word Wednesdays category. I've written two posts so far. :-) There are a few gals who started it. This link will give you a sample of one of them.
ReplyDeletehttp://upwardnotinward.blogspot.com/2012/07/into-word-warning.html
This might be what you're looking for. Check it out!
Most of my family members are "Christians" but you'd never know it looking at their lives. They live and dab God in and out whenever they are in desperate need. Not full surrender Christianity at all.
ReplyDelete