The Pursuit of Holiness

Doing a personal Bible study on Holiness...using the scriptures and Jerry Bridge's book on the Pursuit of Holiness. : )

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

Jerry Bridges begins the preface talking about how farmers do all their plowing, sowing and fertilizing, knowing in the end he is utterly dependent on forces outside himself for the final results. He can't cause the seed to germinate, or produce the rain or sunshine for growing. The farmer cannot do what God must do, and God will not do what the farmer SHOULD do. I can't attain any degree of holiness without God working in my life, but God has given me the responsiblity to do the walking, he doesn't do that for us. We pray for victory when we know we should be acting in obedience. One of Jerry Bridge's major focuses in this book is the age old struggle of "what do I do myself, and what am I to rely on God to do?" We must see what the Bible teaches on this question and face up to our own responsibilities in the scriptures. Diligence and effort are required and it is a lifelong task! As we begin to conform to one area in our lives, God reveals our need in another area. Thats why we will always be pursuing this holiness, never coming to the place where we feel we have arrived. Similar to childrearing! I'm learning this! We THINK we've arrived when our children are grown! Or at least that we've raised them and they are OFF to adulthood! Done! HA! : ) I was speaking with one of our sweet, Godly ladies at church, Linda. Her daughter just had triplets...and she had been spending the night there to help her 5 nights a week. Linda was thrilled to be able to do this, but she looked exhausted. I looked at her...I guess a lot because of my current health....I just looked at her and it dawned on me that I need the grace of God more than ever... to realize that my job is never done...it just changes. Our rest from our labors comes when we arrive on the golden shores...til then I will take one day at a time...resting in the Lord...finding strength in each day from the Giver of strength and grace...pursuing holiness daily. My children need the Lord, they need to see their parents pursuing holiness and a deep walk with the Lord. We can't give up or let up!

Update on Health!

Been a few months since I've updated...seems like a week! Time flies! Well, I've gotten even worse since I last posted. Can't remember what I posted last, but doc had me on Doxycycline...which I can only assume stirred up things in my body which caused my symptoms to get worse. I didn't even know I had psoriasis when I first went to the Rheumy...after I started meds it came out on my arms and hands. Doc said I had it from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet and I believe he was right. My joints and overall discomfort level grew after I began treatment. The only other things he had me on was an nsaid and thyroid med and estrogen. Anyway! The last appt I told him I felt worse...joints really hurt. He looked at them and said, yep...you need to be on methyltrexate. Wasn't happy to hear that. Its a drug commonly used for chemo...mine would be of lower dose by weekly injection. Let me pause here and interject a few thoughts. Everything in my life is intertwined by my life and faith in God...as should be for a Christian. Anyone that knows me knows that I HATE medications, not thrilled with doctors...in love with Barley Green...: ). But quite honestly...in the words of Dr. Phil....how's it been workin for ya?? : ) Not so good. Caused me to be very thoughtful lately about why I think like I do...examining myself in light of all that is going on. I think I will always be health conscious to a fault...but I really believe a lot of it is that I'm trying to be in control of my life,many times instead of letting God have control. Going to a doctor, taking medicatons...these things are putting control in another persons hands and not my own. Requiring faith in something outside myself. I've had 2 treatments of methyltrexate...changed the nsaid...and the last few days I have felt a definite change in my pain level and joint pain....a clearer feeling in my head. All the diet changes, lifestyle habits....none of that did a thing....I believe the meds are working. Hmmmm.....I think God is teaching me something! My ways, my research, are imperfect, as is our human bodies on this earth. I guess I always assumed natural ways are the best because that is maybe how God originally intended them to be...but as in all things...we can begin to trust in ourselves and our own reasonings....even trusting in natural alternatives themselves instead of our Lord for ultimate healing. Not even to mention the fact that God may never bring healing to me...that needs to be okay with me...because His purposes and Glory are to be pre-eminent above all else. On the other hand...to take medications, go to the doctor....while gorging on food not fit for consumption is not right either! Here I go again! lol! But there are specific Bible verses on how to treat our bodies and appetites on this earth that cannot be disobeyed without consequence. This is truth. I have such a difficult doctor too which brings more complex issues to my struggles. I'm actually beginning to feel like there may light at the end of the tunnel...through medications which baffles me! : ) And this difficult doctor may be the one God led me to....He works in unusual ways! : ) So I take one day at a time. Stronger medication may be on the horizon for me...not sure at this point. I'm assuming hes going to see what this med does first. Will keep posted!