Besides making me feel lazy, it really made me feel good and reminded me that a blog truly is a great way to keep up with each other during our busy lives.
So, since August, our lives have revolved around: baseball (shocker, I know!), school, Connor learning to drive, Colby converting his room to a zoo, and finishing up lots of projects around the house. All fun stuff that I wouldn't change, but WOW...how did it become almost December!!??!!
Today I had Bible Study. I am changing things up and began BSF this year. I normally do whatever Beth Moore study our church offers but was invited to try BSF and I love it. It gives a very thorough look at the Bible. This year we are studying the book of Acts with Hebrews, Jude and the Corinthians thrown in.
The crowd of women was extremely light today and our leader began our lecture by warning us of getting wrapped up in "this time of year". It's so easy to get pulled into the sales and shopping and decorating and cooking that we forget to even come to Bible Study, let alone DO our Bible Study homework the rest of the week.
Our lecture was on Hebrews 2. Pretty perfect for "this time of year".
Hebrews 2:1-3
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
Our teacher went on to emphasize these verses:
*When we don't spend time in the Word, our hope and joy go away and temptations become strong.
*Neglecting God and His Word results in us drifting away from Him.
How do we know when we are drifting?
1. God isn't as big of a priority as He once was. Church attendance, studying His Word, even our own salvation are "no big deal".
2. Bible Study and reading His Word becomes a chore.
3. We become more occupied with worldly things.
4. We become absorbed with ourselves. We ask "how does this affect me?" before we agree to anything.
5. We feel a distance and lack of concern for things.
The good thing is that once we are believers, we do not need to ever doubt our salvation; but, we still can drift. We must stay close to Him -- even through the busyness of the holidays. A holiday that should be all about Him anyway!
It seems that many people are "religious" -- especially "this time of year". But not many have entered that relationship with Christ. Lots of people have no problem using the nativity scene in their decorations or reading the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve or teaching their kids about Baby Jesus; but, what do they do the "rest of the year"?? We can't let Christianity be a religion. It is a relationship. It requires nurturing just like any other relationship we have. So, my challenge to myself and to my readers (!) is to know Christ and do whatever is possible to not drift away from Him. Then we will have true joy this holiday season!
P.S. Connor just walked by and exclaimed, "Yeah! You're FINALLY blogging!" :O)
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