The hubs on: time to catch up!

Week 7,8,9,10,11:

Isaiah 53:6

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Matthew 7:7

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Ephesians 5:18

"Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit."

Galatians 5:22-23

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

Jeremiah 33:3

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

Background: 

I'll try not to make a habit of combining 5 weeks worth of material in one post. I want to talk about some stuff that is going on in my life. I hope you don't read this as a list of excuses. Rather, I would like to share about myself so that you can hear the workings of the one true God! In mid February, my wife lost her grandmother. We went out to her parents house for a few days before and around the actual funeral. Around that time, God had prepared us by revealing to us some beautiful things about heaven and His promises. I heard it said by people older than me (who had been to many more funerals than I have), "This was the best funeral service they had ever been to." Joy characterized the service.

The month of march has been jam-packed with work! We're getting close to a delivery date and trying to do our best to make sure our product is top-of-the-line. That being said, I'm working longer hours each day, sometimes into the weekends. I get worn out, grumpy, disgruntled, and really selfish. This also acts as a trigger for me to turn back to my sinful ways. But amidst it all, God has been SO refreshing! I LOVE IT! I've never realized how our Lord refreshes before. And now I can't get enough of that thought. I've been stretched by the world and all I can see is the beauty of my Father, His Son, and His Holy Spirit.

Observations: 

It is interesting to see all these verses together. God's remedy for our sin (placing it upon Jesus). The everlasting character of God and how he is faithful and sure. Our NEW life (not just our old life + some extra moral characteristics) filled and controlled by God's Spirit in contrast to being filled (drunk) and out of control by our own sinful selfishness. The choice fruit of the Spirit - who would not want a life characterized by these?? And finally, the majesty of God - always listening, always answering, and always with things that are more mighty than we can imagine!

Break it down: 

There are some rhymes in Isaiah (astray, way), Matthew has a 3-letter word, 4-letter word, 5-letter word (ask, seek, knock), my wife has told me she will teach me a song about the fruits of the Spirit. Other than that, if you are working on memorizing too, take heart! We're having just as hard a time :) I think we are currently at 7 out of 11. I've neglected to work with my wife. But there is still life in me and another day to build upon the Lord's foundation in my heart.

So far: 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.