Overwhelmed? Do you ever feel that way? I definitely experienced that feeling the last few months with the holidays, some added job responsibilities, and some things going on with my mom to the extent that Postcripts has not been happening on my end.

That said, the things mentioned above haven’t been all that’s keeping me from this blog. I’ve been overwhelmed (in a good way) with the spirit of our discussions throughout this Bible study, overwhelmed with the subtlety of sin, overwhelmed with the effect of sin to the point where I feel inadequate to convey what these six months – yes six MONTHS! – in this Bible study has meant to our group.

We’re in different seasons of life. We come from different backgrounds. We go to different churches. We have different convictions. We have different preferences. We don’t always agree, but….

We’ve come a long way. We’re learning. We’re asking questions. We’re finding answers. Sometimes we have more questions than answers. We’re growing. We’re DOING what the “Who We Are” description of this blog says we’re about:

• Telling our stories
• Sharing our wisdom
• Listening to one another
• Praying together
• Sharpening, challenging, inspiring one another

I would highly encourage studying for yourself “Respectable Sins – Confronting the Sins We Tolerate” by Jerry Bridges. It’s convicting and eye-opening but I’m glad we did it. As we wrap up this study, I would like to share some encouraging scripture when you feel overwhelmed whether it’s due to the struggle with sin, discouragement, worry, anxiety…. any burden of this life.

First, to borrow from Pastor Dan’s message in Nehemiah 4 last Sunday, Nehemiah prayed as if everything depended on God (Neh. 4:4,5) but he pressed on as if everything depended on him. (Neh. 4:6). Nehemiah learned the enemy doesn’t just go away (Neh.4:7); in fact the enemy attacks when 1) we’re tired and need rest, 2) our focus is blurred and all we see is the mess, 3) we just can’t do it on our own.

When the situation is bigger than us

Deuteronomy 20:1 “When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.”

When you just can’t do it

2 Chronicles 20:15b & 17 “…..Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you….Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.”

When our focus is blurred

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

When we’re tired of struggling and need rest

Psalm 46:10a NIV “Be still and know that I am God.” 

(same verse but from the NASB) “Cease striving and know that I am God.”

And finally (reword with whatever your struggle and your situation)                                               

Exodus 14:13-14 “….Do not be afraid (overwhelmed/discouraged/anxious/worried/filled with despair). Stand firm (just be still, cease striving) and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today (let the Lord rescue you TODAY in this thing that you’re battling). The Egyptians (this fear/worry/discouragement/despair) you see today you will never see again (this situation won’t always be here). The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still (be calm, let Him bear the burden, rest in Him).”

Respectable Sins: Anger

It is the unfortunate reality that our anger is usually directed to those that we are closest to. Why? Because they are the people that we see most often and the easiest targets. We may be upset at something that happened at work. Since we are at work, we can't openly display our anger so we bundle it up, take it home with us at 5:00 p.m. and then proceed to take it out on our family members.

Anger causes an extreme display of emotions. Sometimes we justify our anger. We feel we have the right to be angry at someone or something. That righteous anger is a violation of God's moral law and can always be self-controlled.

We need to face up to our anger and realize that no one else is causing us to be angry. Being angry is a choice. Our pride is a huge cause of our anger along with selfishness and our desire to control.

If we are mistreated, we need to respond by being mindful to God. Start by asking yourself these questions with situations arise:

How would God have me respond in this situation?

How can I best glorify God by my response?

Do I believe that this difficult situation or this unjust treatment is under the sovereign control of God and that in His infinite wisdom and goodness He is using these difficult circumstances to conform me more to the likeness of Christ?

We need to develop this new habit of reflecting on such questions in a heated situation instead of holding onto our anger. Daily, we come into contact with circumstances or actions of other people that tempt us to be angry. But they never cause us to be angry. The cause will always lie within our prideful and selfish hearts.

Handling our angry starts with recognizing and acknowledging the anger we possess and how sinful it is.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:32 to "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." He always writes "...bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive." (Colossians 3:13)

Remember no anger is justified and acceptable to God.  Let's take the first step today recognizing our prideful hearts and forgiving those people and things that made us bitter.

Respectable Sins: Impatience

Impatience is defined by Bridges as a strong sense of annoyance at the (usually) unintentional faults and failures of others. We tend to express our impatience verbally by humiliating the person(s) who is the object of our annoyance.

The key to understanding our impatience is that it's usually a response to an unintentional action of another. I often get annoyed and become impatient by people that walk "too" slow. The people walking slow aren't doing it to purposely annoy me and perhaps they physically can't walk as fast.

God includes patience over and over again in Scripture because He knew we would struggle with it. Patience is a fruit of the spirit. In Ephesian's 4:2 we are told to, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." 

We need to understand that the cause of our impatience lies within our own hearts. It lies within our own attitude of insisting that others around us should conform to our expectations.

Here's your challenge. Ask your spouse or family member what you're impatient about and as hard it will be (for us stubborn folks) acknowledge those things and repent! Impatience is a sin!

Respectable Sins: Discontentment

Let's start by reviewing what anxiety and frustration is. Anxiety is a fearful uncertainty over the future. It can be either short-term or long-term. Frustration is immediate. It's the result of some event that has blocked plans or desires.

Discontentment is today's topic. This feeling arises from ongoing and unchanging circumstances that we can do nothing about. You and I both know it's a sin to be discontent with our money and possessions but what about the discontentment triggered by unchanging circumstances that are trials to our faith?

God places trials in our lives to make a change for the better. No life event is a surprise to God. He knows everything that is going to happen before it does. God calls us to act prudently and react appropriately.

Here's a little personal story for you... 

I have a 29 year-old severely mentally-disabled sister, Shoshone. Her brain only developed to the six-month stage. She has no verbal communication, cannot clothe or bathe herself, use the restroom and needs assistance walking, eating and doing almost every activity. Shone requires constant 24-hour supervision for her safety and needs, much like a six-month old baby. Shone still lives with my parents and are in their care.

I've often had the 'what if Shone was "normal"' the conversation with my dad. It's safe to say my life growing up and the lives of my of parents would be very different. Her condition requires my parents to sacrifice many social activities and alter life plans. But have I ever heard them complain? The answer is no.

So when I asked my dad 'what if' question his response is humbling. He says he feels honored that God entrusted him with Shone. God trusted my dad with the responsibility to nurture her needs and be the best dad on earth. My parent's situation could have easily lead to resentment and bitterness toward God. But instead, they have truly embraced this circumstance. They couldn't imagine life without Shone and love her unconditionally just the way God made her.

So the question I, Shone's sister, ask myself is would I respond the same way? I would like to think so but it's hard to know unless I was placed into a similar situation.  One verse I would use to remind myself of His plan is Psalm 139: 13,

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb."

God physically made Shone with this disability because that is how His plan can be fulfilled. My parents made peace with God because they accepted her situation because it was God's plan. They transitioned from feeling like the victim to a steward. They've used this trial to serve and glorify God and grow their trust in Him. 

Three takeaways to remember when dealing with discontentment is that our God is sovereign, infinitely wise and always does good. Any and all circumstances He has brought or allowed in our lives are for His glory and our ultimate good! 

Respectable Sins: Anxiety and Frustration

Do you trust God? Prior to reading this chapter when I asked myself this question, I would without a doubt answer "yes" but now I wonder do I really, REALLY trust Him?

The truth is no, I don't. Like many of you, I experience anxiety and frustration almost daily. When I think about pursuing future goals, I get anxious. When a driver is going five miles per hour under the speed limit, I get frustrated. The examples are endless!

Anxiety shows God that I don't truly trust him as well as my lack of acceptance of what he has placed in my life. If someone I loved, told me they didn't trust me. I would be hurt. Essentially, that is what we are telling God when have anxiety. When I give way to anxiety, I'm believing God does not care for me and won't take care of me in the circumstances that trigger anxiety.

"[Cast] all your anxieties on him because he cares for you." 
- 1 Peter 5:7

When things don't go my way, I need to ask myself 'What is God's agenda?' in all of this? At times my anxiety isn't triggered by a distrust in Him so much as an unwillingness to submit and joyfully accept His agenda for me.

So the question is... how do I overcome anxiety? By remembering these thing:
1. Everything He placed in my life is for His purpose
2. He is always right
3. There is a season for everything

Acceptance of God's providential will is not easy. I must learn to pray with an attitude of acceptance for whatever that will might me.

Worry is a synonym for anxiety and is often associated with long-term difficult or painful circumstances which appears to have no resolution. Since being saved I've become less of a worry-whort. In times of difficult situations, I remind myself that God has a plan and loves me so much. I can't control circumstances but I can show my trust and obedience to Him during these times.

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God."
 - Luke 12:6

I am His child. I am His personal concern. 

Also discussed in this chapter was the respectable sin of frustration. Frustration is a form of ungodliness that usually involves being upset or angry at whatever or whoever is blocking our plans. The truth is that God is behind all the events in my life. He is the invisible hand behind whatever it is that is causing my frustration. An important scripture to memorize is Psalm 139:16,
"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." 

God planned not only the days of my life but also the events and circumstances of each day of my life.  The next time I become frustrated I will stop and pray, asking the Holy Spirit to enable me to respond in a godly manner and use practical wisdom to overcome my frustration. I think God purposely uses events that tempt us towards frustration to push me in the area I need to grow. To make my sin evident in my eyes and show me that a changes needs to be made.

Even though anxiety and frustration may not seem like a serious sin in my eyes or the eyes of my peers, I need to me remind that all sin is serious in the eyes of God.

Respectable Sins: Unthankfulness

Happy Friday!

It's Seneca again. I have been MIA for weeks now. As some of you could guess this is the busy season for us photographers. (Jean, THANK YOU so much for filling in for me!) Now after the time change, it gets dark too early for comfort for must of us but luckily I'm able to attend Bible Study again. Hooray!

I've missed these evening with the ladies. I've learned so much just by listening to their insight and encouragement. I'm so happy to be back!

This week we discussed the sin of unthankfulness. Have you thought the lack of unthankfulness as a sin? We are all guilty of not thanking God for the many blessings He bestows on us. Why is it hard to remember to give thanks? There are a number of reasons but for me it's simple. I forget. I get so caught up in events and fleshly desires that I forget.

In Deuteronomy, God warns the Israelites to not forget to acknowledge that everything we have comes from Him:

"Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statues, which I command you today, lest when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when you herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then you heart be lifted up , and you forget the Lord your God ... Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your father, as it is this day."

Do you thank Him daily for your salvation? I'll be the first to admit I fail to. A perfect example was discussed Wednesday evening to put this in perspective. How would you feel if someone paid off your mortgage in full as a gift? I would cry happy tears and be overcome with absolute relief and joy. God gave us the greatest gift in Jesus, who wiped our biggest debt clean. Shouldn't we fall to our knees thanking Him daily for that gift?

Ephesians 5:20 tells us to give thanks always and for everything. This shows obedience to Him. The author asks if we've ever walked through our homes giving thanks for all the food in our pantry, furnishings, clothes hanging in our closets.. etc. When I first read his question I thought, "Yeah, right. Who does that?!" But the truth is EVERYTHING we have is a gift. Not just our belongings and material possessions but our abilities and talents too.

Many times I find myself upset because something didn't go the way I'd planned. Whether it be a flat tire or a rejected business venture. Paul tells us  in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Therefore as believer, we must give thanks in all circumstances, even the ones we aren't thankful for.

I may not alway see the outcome of the circumstances I face. It is extremely hard at times to give thanks for inconveniences and hardships but I need to remember God's promise found in Romans 8:28 that tells us all things work together for good. It may be years later but all the circumstances
God purposely places in my life, good will come out of it.  For God is faithful in all situations.

Here are some take aways for you as you go about your weekend: 

• Everything we have is a gift from God (Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17-18)
• Give thanks always and for everything (Ephesians 5:20)
• Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
• Cling to God's promises (Romans 8:28-29, 38-39)
• Memorize Ephesians 5:20 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Respectable Sins: Ungodliness

I wish I could capture, in this blog, the spirit of the dialog last night at Bible study. Lots of great conversation, sharing thoughts and feelings honestly, and freedom expressing differing opinions.

We started off asking the question, "before reading this chapter, what would you have said was the root of all sin?" Most of us said the root of all sin is pride. The author of our study suggests an even more basic, more widespread, and more apt to be the root cause of our other sins - the sin of ungodliness. And that started off our evening of great discussion.

Some of us said we looked at this chapter and thought this doesn't pertain to us - after all, we're Christians, we're not ungodly. Some of us said of course we're ungodly - we're so far from being Christ-like, we don't think of ourselves as nearly godly enough.

If we define ungodliness as living one's everyday life with little or no thought of God, or of God' will, or of God's glory, or of one's dependence on God, we can see how one can lead a respectable life and still be ungodly in the sense that God is essentially irrelevant in one's life. We may pray for a few minutes at the beginning of the day, we may even read our Bibles for awhile, then check ✔,
that's one thing off our list for the day.

It's not that we're living obviously sinful lives - we just don't think about the will of God throughout the activities of the day. We're content to avoid obvious sins but we don't seek the full knowledge of God's will.

"We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Colossians 1:9-10

Now that's a God-centered prayer! How do we balance a God-centered prayer, totaling seeking His will and expressing our deepest longings, without our prayer becoming a "to-do" or a "want" list from us to God? If we rush to say "not my will, but Yours be done" without first expressing our hearts, we withhold our desires and stop being ourselves....we stop being real with God. If we ask God for health, financial, and other temporal needs, we may feel we're being selfish or asking too much so we don't ask.....or we may ask with the wrong motivations. 

So, how do we get our prayers right? The answer is we don't have to get prayer "right".  We just need to talk with God, tell Him where we are, where we're messy, weary, worried - give Him the opportunity to be a part of our daily life; don't leave Him out - don't try to act on our own without God. We have to begin with what is real - Jesus didn't come for the righteous - He came for sinners and we all qualify.

Jesus was real when He prayed to His Father in Luke 22:42, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" and in Matthew 27:46 "... My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus was anguished because He was separated from His Father as He bore our sin.  Jesus expressed that anguish to His Father but yet accepted that His will be done. Jesus neither suppressed His feelings nor let feelings master Him. 

James 4:2 "....ye have not, because ye ask not." Our failure to ask, whether it's because we think God already knows what's on our mind, or because of pride, or because of self-reliance, keeps us distant from God.  Our next problem is when we ask selfishly. James 4:3 "When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." Avoid asking selfishly by surrendering completely - yet not what I will, but what you will. Be real about our feelings - but don't let feelings control you.

1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." The "all" in this verse includes every activity of our days; eating, drinking, shopping, driving, social relationships, work, school, our appearance - how we dress - everything! Do we consciously and prayerfully seek His glory in all we say and do in our most ordinary activities of the day? Or do we go about those activities with little or no thought of God. Where are we in the spectrum - is God relevant or irrelevant as we go about our day. 

1 Timothy 4:7 " Train yourself for godliness." An athlete must train to compete. Training involves commitment, consistency, and discipline. We must be just as intentional about training ourselves in godliness as a runner would be for a marathon.

Let's commit to pray for each other this week -  for a greater consciousness of God, of God's will, of God's glory, of our dependence on God in our daily routine and in our thoughts, words, and actions.