Sisters' Saturdays- Jackie Kendal: The Worries of Girls

So the notes I took on this are from forever ago (October...whoops) but I still think they can be encouraging. I think she was addressing worries that we had shared with her, and scriptural passages to help us combat those worries. Here are the verses and quotes I wrote down. Hopefully it will challenge, encourage, and inspire you!

What to think about if you have worries about...

A. Relationships
"If you try to build intimacy with another person before you have done the hard work of becoming whole in Jesus, then all your relationships become an attempt to complete yourself and it sets you up for failure" - Dr. Leslie Parrot

Side note/ My Opinion: I feel like I'm never going to reach a point in my walk with God where I feel like I am completely 100% whole in Jesus. My faith will never be perfect, it will always be growing. So how will I know when I'm ready to be in a relationship? Sometimes I'll be thinking about guys (as all girls do, let's be real now), but then I'll just cast the thought away because "I'm not ready to be in a relationship yet". But what if I am? I'm hoping that when I'm ready, God will show me 100% without a doubt that it's time. But what if God puts a guy in my life, and I don't recognize it because of my belief that I'm not ready? Sorry that was kind of a rant, but it's just what goes round my head. Feel free to comment :)

B. Unsaved People
1 Tim 2:3-4 
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

God wants everyone to be saved. Does God reveal himself to all?

Matthew 10:32-38

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a]

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

C. God's Will

Psalm 32:8 (Guidance)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

D. Anxiety

Romans 8:23

23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

(also see psalm 150)

E. Other People's Thoughts

Galations 1:10 

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

F. Sinning

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

My Thoughts- Mark 1: Secret Healings

I love that Jesus makes the demons be quiet and not tell the people who He is. He wants them to work out their faith, and truly believe for themselves. I also wonder if Jesus tells the man healed of leprosy not to talk about it because healing wasn't Jesus' #1 purpose of being on Earth; an access of it would've actually take away from His ministry. While healing some demonstrated God's power residing in Jesus, it would've taken forever to heal everyone and He would never be able to actually give us the good news! 

I find this similar to how it is today. We've probably all have asked God for physical healing at some time or another, yet some receive it and some don't. For those who don't, it's because God has a bigger plan in motion, just like He did when Jesus was on Earth. It's hard to accept that when we can't know why God chooses to let us endure some things, but we just have to trust in his never failing goodness.

Want to read Mark 1? Click on the following link!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%201&version=NIV

My Thoughts- Matthew 5: Annoyance and Introductions

Sometimes instead of posting my thoughts on a passage, I just like to re-write the verses that stuck out to me, followed by a prayer incorporating those verses. This is one of those times :)

Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to recognize annoyance. Help me to pray and allow you to take that feeling away when I have it. I want to shine your love onto others, help me not to be too preoccupied to do that. Eradicate the sin within me. Help me to do things for people I don't know or don't like. Help me not to be afraid of forming new relationships in order to honor and glorify you. Thank you for bringing me into your family. I love you, and in Jesus' name I pray, amen :)

Teachings and Preachings- Mark 9: College and Careers (Faith)

Just as an intro I started going to a bible study for young adults in the college or early career phase of life (hence the name ;). I would encourage you to read Mark 9 before reading my notes, but if you need some quick encouragement keep in mind that in Mark 9 Jesus casts a demon out of a boy after His disciples were not able to.

-Faith alone is not powerful. God is powerful. Faith in God's power is powerful.

- Satan's power and the use of demons were much more active and visible during this time because the son of God was on the Earth. Now Satan has nothing to gain by blowing his cover; he can do his best work by disguising, bringing error into the church, and making small changes to ruin Christians. We do still see demon possession, but it is not nearly as commonplace today as it was then.

- As the boy's father is asking if Jesus can heal his son, he cares enough to ask how long the boy has been afflicted.

- Back in ch.6 the disciples had been given authority over demons and had been successful in casting them out of people. This may explain why the father doubted Jesus' power.

- The person who believes can do the humanly impossible when the humanly impossible is what God wants.

- Who can have faith when looking at their own ability? But everyone can have faith when looking at God's ability.

- There are a couple different interpretations of vs. 29 (see below) and one of them is that Jesus was being sarcastic. If casting out demons had gone to their head, and they had started to become prideful of their ability they may have stopped relying on God for power. This may mention of prayer may have been Jesus' way of reminding them who has given them this ability.

- The root of faith means persuaded. What are you persuaded by?

Mark 9: 29 - He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.

If this message sounds really interesting to you, and you would like to hear the whole thing click on the link below!
http://www.gibcjupiter.org/media.php?pageID=73 (look for the one entitled "faith" that was posted on 5/16).

If you would like to read Mark 9 for yourself, click on the following link!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%209&version=NIV#fen-NIV-24568a

My Thoughts- Matthew 13: Geting out of the Soil

I really like the parable of the weeds because it show that while on Earth we are living among sin and evil. Even though this is our fate we're still expected to grow and produce fruit for God. Hiding in the "soil" because of the evil around us is not what God wants for us, and this passage reminds me that if we do that we won't be able to be warmed by the sunshine of His blessings. 

If you've never read Matthew 13 and have no idea what I'm talking about, click on the following link to check it out!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013&version=NIV

My Thoughts- Luke 18: Goodness and Humility

I wonder why Jesus scolds someone for calling Him good. He says only God is good, but Jesus is a part of God, separate and equal, but a part. Plus Jesus never sinned and completely followed God's will. Doesn't that constitute goodness? Did He not want them to get get caught up in His deeds and forget to actually follow Him? This chapter really emphasizes the humility needed to be a follower of God. A widow, crippled, man, and a group of children are all exalted while the rich man is put down. It reminds me that we need to be ok with looking foolish and silly to the world for the sake of God's kingdom.

If you've never read Luke 18, and don't know what I'm talking about, click on the link to check it out!
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2018&version=NIV

My Thoughts- Luke 15: The Parable of the Lost Sheep...and the Brother who Ruined the Party

I think I'm finally understanding why the "responsible" son is made to look bad in this last parable. It would be like a sinner who wandered all their life coming to know the Lord. Of course you would celebrate with them! Their life has been changed! And if you were never celebrated when you came to the Lord...? That's ok because your life is to please God, not to be gratified by men! (haha that's a lot of exclamation points, but understanding is a great feeling :) We will all receive our rewards in heaven for our good deeds. And it also shows how stupid pride is. This brother missed out on what I'm sure was a great party because of his pride (he's probably looking at all the Facebook pictures right now with serious regret for his attitude :p).

Have you never read Luke 15 and don't know what I'm talking about? Click on the link to read this awesome parable! http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15&version=NIV