At Rock Harbor on Sunday, Mike Erre spoke on Luke 10, the story of the good Samaritan. Having heard it a bunch of times I often read over it, remembering the obvious lesson of "helping others" and then proceed on to Luke 11. Mike gave background and examples relevant to today to explain the significance and the point of the message. What struck me from the message was that it's not just about being good and loving your neighbor, but about who you think your neighbor is. The samaritan is the worst, most detestable example God could have used for the Scholar. Jesus points to the heart in showing that how you treat people is a reflection of the feelings in your heart.
The second point, the one relevant to 3 and 3, is that this is an example of how I'll be learning at Capernwray College. The background that makes the stories and message relevant beyond the obvious (it's the between the lines, or the deeper meaning...every great book has them). I'm so excited to spend 5 days a week on this. Instead of the once a week (or maybe twice counting Bible study) i'll get 3-5 times that many (and since we have 5 classes a day) it's more like 15 times. I'm going to learn a lot!
My prayer is that God prepares my heart and mind and gives me the wisdom to understand the teachings, the diligence to dive in and the commitment to keep it up and not let it go to waste.
Thank you for your prayers and support!
2.22.2010
2.14.2010
4 weeks and 4 days...and 4 months ahead!
In four weeks and four days, I will walk onto a plan headed for London to start this seemingly unreal time of travel and studying the bible!
This coming spring is looking to be the most beautiful season yet. I've been on this amazing journey with God and He's gifted me four months in Europe, including (and this is the best part) 8 weeks at Capernwray bible college. In those eight weeks we will go through the whole New Testament, either by chapter or topic (each week covers something new). I'll live in a castle, at the school, in a shared room with 3-5 other girls with a total of about 140 students at the school!
I'll be updating this blog to let you know the latest adventure/lesson/story, etc.
For now, until I leave, I could use prayer for the preparations. I have been planning and trying to prepare and would love to be surrounded by prayer now and while I'm gone.
In faith and with a joyous heart,
Natalie
This coming spring is looking to be the most beautiful season yet. I've been on this amazing journey with God and He's gifted me four months in Europe, including (and this is the best part) 8 weeks at Capernwray bible college. In those eight weeks we will go through the whole New Testament, either by chapter or topic (each week covers something new). I'll live in a castle, at the school, in a shared room with 3-5 other girls with a total of about 140 students at the school!
I'll be updating this blog to let you know the latest adventure/lesson/story, etc.
For now, until I leave, I could use prayer for the preparations. I have been planning and trying to prepare and would love to be surrounded by prayer now and while I'm gone.
In faith and with a joyous heart,
Natalie
2.02.2010
God's Mercy
I have been blessed with an incredible family, spearheaded by two devoted parents that hadn't a clue how to be parents but trusted God and went for it. Fortunately for us, trusting God works.
In a recent exercise, I realized that sometimes we project the relationship we have with our earthly parents onto our image and relationship with our Heavenly Father. I think God uses this to show us a picture of Himself as well. There is one such experience that stands out in my life.
To understand the story you have to know that my dad has always been a very calm, slow-tempered, loving and wise man. I have always had the highest respect for him.
I was 16 years old, learning how to drive a stick-shift on an Isuzu truck...my dad's Isuzu truck. In later years we named the truck "Shrek" because it was green and looking at it head on, the mirrors looked like ears, giving it a "Shrek" resemblance. We went to an open parking lot, I got in the drivers seat and my dad went over EVERYTHING with me. I nodded but was just anxious to try it (I learn my doing). I worked on getting into first gear and once I had that down, he said, "okay, now shift to second." I put my hand on the gear, pulled it down to second and forgot a key step...the clutch. Very calmly my dad said, "okay, stop."
I believe God does this to us sometimes. Ever so calmly he instructs us and we listen, anxiously stepping halfway onto the path but keeping an ear and eye on what He's telling us. We get so excited we just want to be released to try it ourselves without taking the time to really learn what God is teaching us. Then He lets us go and we run off, without looking back and if we do pause, or if we are lucky enough to have God intervene, we can hear Him calmly say, "okay, stop," at which time he corrects and shows us again. This is God's mercy.
In a recent exercise, I realized that sometimes we project the relationship we have with our earthly parents onto our image and relationship with our Heavenly Father. I think God uses this to show us a picture of Himself as well. There is one such experience that stands out in my life.
To understand the story you have to know that my dad has always been a very calm, slow-tempered, loving and wise man. I have always had the highest respect for him.
I was 16 years old, learning how to drive a stick-shift on an Isuzu truck...my dad's Isuzu truck. In later years we named the truck "Shrek" because it was green and looking at it head on, the mirrors looked like ears, giving it a "Shrek" resemblance. We went to an open parking lot, I got in the drivers seat and my dad went over EVERYTHING with me. I nodded but was just anxious to try it (I learn my doing). I worked on getting into first gear and once I had that down, he said, "okay, now shift to second." I put my hand on the gear, pulled it down to second and forgot a key step...the clutch. Very calmly my dad said, "okay, stop."
I believe God does this to us sometimes. Ever so calmly he instructs us and we listen, anxiously stepping halfway onto the path but keeping an ear and eye on what He's telling us. We get so excited we just want to be released to try it ourselves without taking the time to really learn what God is teaching us. Then He lets us go and we run off, without looking back and if we do pause, or if we are lucky enough to have God intervene, we can hear Him calmly say, "okay, stop," at which time he corrects and shows us again. This is God's mercy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)