"...make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." ~ 2 Peter 1:5-6
So, my fellow Countrysider's, were you as challenged as I was this morning after service? Did 2 Peter 1 reveal sin in your life, as it did me? I don't know about you, but WOW! What a great challenge! This passage talks about 7 things that we as Christians are to live, and how to live them. It was such an encouragement to me, as God revealed to me practical ways to live as Christ lived-- sometimes that seems like an impossible goal, but this passage has opened my eyes to 7 things that God wants to see in my life, thus, the 7 Day Challenge.
Each day I am going to focus on living out one of the 7 things listed in 2 Peter 1. But first, I want to look at the first three words of verse 5, listed above. Make every effort. This is not something to pass off as something 'good to do'. This is not something to do half-heartedly. Like we talked about in sunday school this morning, we CANNOT serve 2 masters. We cannot be involved in sin, and still receive the benefits of Christ. We must actively pursue Christ. This is no joke, this is Truth. This is who I want to be, and I'm going to strive to do it to the best of my ability. I challenge you to do the same, come alongside me and GROW in your relationship with Christ.
Note: Most of this is taken from Pastor Mike's sermon. I'm not taking credit for any of it :)
DAY 1 (monday): VIRTUE
Today, live with MORAL EXCELLENCE. See that your life stands out because of the change Christ has made in you. Be distinctive. Our lives are a reflection of GOD. Act like it today. Give God glory by the way you conduct yourself, the decisions you make, the words you speak. Do so with virtue, with excellence, with purity.
DAY 2 (tuesday): KNOWLEDGE
Today, focus on the Word. Know the Word. Understand the Word. Devote time today to spend reading and studying the scriptures. But don't stop there. Apply what the Lord taught you through His Word to Your life. Apply what you learn to the decisions you make by actively seeking God's will. Remember that God's will is perfect ALL the time.
DAY 3 (wednesday): SELF-CONTROL
Today, hold yourself in. Say NO to self, and YES to God. Control your passions and desires that are not godly. DON'T let them control you. Give your passions to the Holy Spirit's control. That is why the Holy Spirit was sent to the earth- to help us in our sanctification. Do NOT follow your heart and it's desires. The heart is desperately wicked. Instead, Guard and Guide your heart. DENY ungodliness and worldly lusts. Be disciplined. Be God's "Yes-man".
DAY 4 (thursday): PERSEVERANCE
Today, press through the tough times. Have endurance that NEVER quits, even though times get rough and don't go the way you want them to. View the disappointments of life in view of who God is, and the wonderful hope that we have in Christ, that the struggles we go through now, PALE in comparison to the future glory we will experience. Also remember all the suffering that Christ went through for us on the cross. Not only the physical pain of crucifixion, but the emotional and spiritual pain of being forsaken by the Father. Nothing we experience now compares to that. Remember this quote from "The Fellowship of the Unashamed": "I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still." Live for Christ with reckless abandon. Persevere for HIM.
DAY 5 (friday): GODLINESS
Today, live with reverence for God. Have a soft, plyable heart before God, not our usual stubborn and prideful heart. Worship God. Worship with a pure heart. Worship with a sincere heart. Worship with a genuine heart. Pursue God with a burning passion.Remember that God greatly dislikes the lukewarm Christian: "So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16". God would rather you be hot or cold than lukewarm. Be on FIRE for God today. Stand firm for God. Be devout.
DAY 6 (saturday:) BROTHERLY KINDNESS
Today, put other's needs first, even when it is costly. The only way you can do this is if you are involved with other believers and know their needs. Be unified. Be involved. Show others that you CARE for them today. Do something out of your way, out of the ordinary, just to show somebody that you love them with Christ's love. Bear each other's burdens. ?Be quick to forgive others. Esteem others way higher than you esteem yourself. Do this by serving others. PRAY for someone today, really pray for their relationship with Christ.
DAY 7 (sunday): LOVE
Today, show strong, SACRIFICIAL love to somebody. Be so devoted to God that your love spills out and finds it's expression in a love for others. Show a love that is not limited in action. Go above and beyond how much you think you can love. God will expand your love for others, as your love for HIM increases. Focus on your love for God today, and watch how it spills out to everyone you meet. Share the gospel today- that is the GREATEST act of love you can do for an unbeliever. Step outside of yourself and your comfort zone to meet someone's needs, whether they are spiritual or physical. Be dedicated to a higher purpose than yourself today. Be dedicated to God. Have a love of selflessness.
I really and truly hope that you will apply these simple and practical truths to your life this week as I am doing. Please let me know if you decide to do this so we can encourage each other this week as we go through this together. Love you peoples!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
I am a wretched sinner. God is a forgiving God. I am blessed.
Well, so much for posting every week! hahahaha...
I've been thinking a lot about sin recently. How much I struggle with it, how much I don't think I struggle with it, wishing it would just go away, wishing that I would be stronger in resisting temptation, wishing I would realize the sin that I struggle with every day that is right before me and change. But unfortunately, I haven't been doing a very good job of taking care of the sin in my life. And it's destroying me. It's destroying my joy, my peace, my relationship with God, my relationships with others... everything. Sin is so destructive and I am so ready to be done with it.
But that's as far as I get. I get so fed up with sin, but don't do anything about it. I get discouraged about all the awful stuff in my life, then turn around and do it again. WHY? Why do I take action against my sin!? Why am I content to just live an 'ok' life? Why am I fine with looking good on the outside and struggling with a lot of stuff on the inside? Why am I content to live with sin in my life?
I shouldn't be. Sin is an abomination to the Lord. He HATES sin with a passion. So I say I love God, but how then can my life constantly have the very thing that He hates most? It doesn't make sense. So that's why it's no longer gonna happen.
I am done with this. I no longer am going to tolerate sin in my life. I want to have the same passionate hatred of sin that God does. I am so ready to do a 180 and start living for God again. It's about time. No, it most definitely wont be perfect, and I WILL fail. That's just a fact of sin that I have to deal with. But at least I'm trying. At least I'm actively fighting the battle. At least I'm aware that there's a problem, and am doing my best to fix it.
Now, this is an impossible feat before me. I CANNOT do this on my own. There is NO possible way for me to do this. But I do have the ONLY way. And He literally LIVES IN ME. He is there SPECIFICALLY to HELP ME in my battle against sin. AND HE WILL. I know because He has before. He is SO GOOD. And He is MINE.
Thank you God for being such a forgiving God. Thanks for being so willing to forgive and forget all the things that I have done that are an abomination to you. You are so good to me. I do not deserve you in any way, yet you chose me, before the beginning of the world to be Yours. I can't wait to spend eternity with You. Love you so much :)
-Stephanie
I've been thinking a lot about sin recently. How much I struggle with it, how much I don't think I struggle with it, wishing it would just go away, wishing that I would be stronger in resisting temptation, wishing I would realize the sin that I struggle with every day that is right before me and change. But unfortunately, I haven't been doing a very good job of taking care of the sin in my life. And it's destroying me. It's destroying my joy, my peace, my relationship with God, my relationships with others... everything. Sin is so destructive and I am so ready to be done with it.
But that's as far as I get. I get so fed up with sin, but don't do anything about it. I get discouraged about all the awful stuff in my life, then turn around and do it again. WHY? Why do I take action against my sin!? Why am I content to just live an 'ok' life? Why am I fine with looking good on the outside and struggling with a lot of stuff on the inside? Why am I content to live with sin in my life?
I shouldn't be. Sin is an abomination to the Lord. He HATES sin with a passion. So I say I love God, but how then can my life constantly have the very thing that He hates most? It doesn't make sense. So that's why it's no longer gonna happen.
I am done with this. I no longer am going to tolerate sin in my life. I want to have the same passionate hatred of sin that God does. I am so ready to do a 180 and start living for God again. It's about time. No, it most definitely wont be perfect, and I WILL fail. That's just a fact of sin that I have to deal with. But at least I'm trying. At least I'm actively fighting the battle. At least I'm aware that there's a problem, and am doing my best to fix it.
Now, this is an impossible feat before me. I CANNOT do this on my own. There is NO possible way for me to do this. But I do have the ONLY way. And He literally LIVES IN ME. He is there SPECIFICALLY to HELP ME in my battle against sin. AND HE WILL. I know because He has before. He is SO GOOD. And He is MINE.
Thank you God for being such a forgiving God. Thanks for being so willing to forgive and forget all the things that I have done that are an abomination to you. You are so good to me. I do not deserve you in any way, yet you chose me, before the beginning of the world to be Yours. I can't wait to spend eternity with You. Love you so much :)
-Stephanie
Saturday, September 25, 2010
What Did I Ever Do To Deserve You
Father God,
Be with me now. I am struggling.
I am struggling to keep you first in my life. Every time I think I have it down, you how me how inadequate I am, and how misreably I fail.
Yet you keep picking me back up, and giving me a second chance. You keep loving me, even though I fail you.
You are so forgiving. I do not deserve that. But it just makes me love you even more.
You are my best friend. I can always talk to you about anything and everything, anytime, anywhere. I love that. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you. So much.
I stand in reverent awe of you, and all that you have done for me. You have brought me up from the pits and the depth of my sin. You loved me when I hated you. You saved me while I still deliberately sought to please only myself. you continue to sanctify me even though I so often chase after the fleeting pleasures of sin.
God, YOU ARE SO GOOD TO ME!
I can't wait to be with you in heaven for eternity. It will be so grand. I can't wait to worship you without the distractions of this life.
Thank you.
Stephanie
Be with me now. I am struggling.
I am struggling to keep you first in my life. Every time I think I have it down, you how me how inadequate I am, and how misreably I fail.
Yet you keep picking me back up, and giving me a second chance. You keep loving me, even though I fail you.
You are so forgiving. I do not deserve that. But it just makes me love you even more.
You are my best friend. I can always talk to you about anything and everything, anytime, anywhere. I love that. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you. So much.
I stand in reverent awe of you, and all that you have done for me. You have brought me up from the pits and the depth of my sin. You loved me when I hated you. You saved me while I still deliberately sought to please only myself. you continue to sanctify me even though I so often chase after the fleeting pleasures of sin.
God, YOU ARE SO GOOD TO ME!
I can't wait to be with you in heaven for eternity. It will be so grand. I can't wait to worship you without the distractions of this life.
Thank you.
Stephanie
Sunday, August 15, 2010
When I survey the Wondrous Cross
By Isaac Watts, 1707
When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it Lord that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God,
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See from His head, His hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down,
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small,
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
This song is one of my most favorite songs of all time. Yes, it is a hymn, and a very old one at that (over 300 years old!), but that fact, or its 'old' music style don't make any difference when you just read the words. They are timeless, a small glimpse of our eternal Father who has always been and never changes. I find it so cool that Isaac Watts in 1707 could write the words, and me, Stephanie Dietzel in 2010 can read them and still feel convicted by their truth. Isn't God amazing? Yes.
I love how the first stanza talks of looking at the cross, contemplating it and its purpose, and all that Christ did. And when you really and truly contemplate the cross, you can't help but disregard all the things you are proud of, your accomplishments, even your own spiritual maturity, which is something I easily am prideful of. And not only disregarding them, but pouring contempt on them. I love that line, and how is puts such a vivid, practical picture to something we Christians easily pass off as 'hard', or as an acceptable sin- pride is just too big, and a lot of times, its inward only. We don't necessarily go around stating how proud we are!
Stanza two: I just love how this come straight from scripture! Galatians 6:14 says "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." And once again, there is sacrifice, this time of our vain things.
The third stanza is unique because of the wonderful oxymorons- statements that seemingly contradict each other. Sorrow and love flowing from the same thorn-pierced head, hands and feet? Thorns composing a crown? Yes, these are contradictions, but they just make each other more extreme, and more precious to me.
The final stanza is probably my favorite. It shows how small I am in comparison to God. It shows how much God has given to me, and no matter how hard I try, how much I give, or what I do, I can never ever repay God for the incredible sacrifice He made for me. But that's ok! That is God's plan! And it is wondrous! Grace paid for my sins, and I don't need to worry about trying to earn my salvation. God did that for me. SO AMAZING! But in return, out of a gratitude to God, I give my soul, my life, my all to God. It's that simple.
The cross is truly wondrous. I am so thankful for it. Let us never grown numb to its wonder.
When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it Lord that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God,
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
See from His head, His hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down,
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small,
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
This song is one of my most favorite songs of all time. Yes, it is a hymn, and a very old one at that (over 300 years old!), but that fact, or its 'old' music style don't make any difference when you just read the words. They are timeless, a small glimpse of our eternal Father who has always been and never changes. I find it so cool that Isaac Watts in 1707 could write the words, and me, Stephanie Dietzel in 2010 can read them and still feel convicted by their truth. Isn't God amazing? Yes.
I love how the first stanza talks of looking at the cross, contemplating it and its purpose, and all that Christ did. And when you really and truly contemplate the cross, you can't help but disregard all the things you are proud of, your accomplishments, even your own spiritual maturity, which is something I easily am prideful of. And not only disregarding them, but pouring contempt on them. I love that line, and how is puts such a vivid, practical picture to something we Christians easily pass off as 'hard', or as an acceptable sin- pride is just too big, and a lot of times, its inward only. We don't necessarily go around stating how proud we are!
Stanza two: I just love how this come straight from scripture! Galatians 6:14 says "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." And once again, there is sacrifice, this time of our vain things.
The third stanza is unique because of the wonderful oxymorons- statements that seemingly contradict each other. Sorrow and love flowing from the same thorn-pierced head, hands and feet? Thorns composing a crown? Yes, these are contradictions, but they just make each other more extreme, and more precious to me.
The final stanza is probably my favorite. It shows how small I am in comparison to God. It shows how much God has given to me, and no matter how hard I try, how much I give, or what I do, I can never ever repay God for the incredible sacrifice He made for me. But that's ok! That is God's plan! And it is wondrous! Grace paid for my sins, and I don't need to worry about trying to earn my salvation. God did that for me. SO AMAZING! But in return, out of a gratitude to God, I give my soul, my life, my all to God. It's that simple.
The cross is truly wondrous. I am so thankful for it. Let us never grown numb to its wonder.
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