Priscilla Shirer's Blog, page 74

Theology Thursday

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Welcome to “Theology Thursday”. I’ll admit that I’m a little intimidated by that title. I mean, let’s be honest, it’s the kind of phrasing that could make an avid reader think they’re getting A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis or E.M. Bounds when they come to the page.
But. . it’s just little ol’ me.
Priscilla Carleen Shirer.
Maybe if I called myself “P.C. Shirer” I’d feel like I fit in more comfortably with the aforementioned initial-bearing theologians.
O well, this much I can say, “That which I have (however simplistic it may be), give I thee.” =)
 
 
I certainly hope that the theological, or simply biblical, tidbits I get to share with you on these days will expand your love and appreciation for the Scriptures. I have had a love affair going on with God’s Word since I was a little girl. The daughter of a preacher, I spent many hours sitting on the floor in the hallway of our home, just out of the sight of the men gathered in the den, listening intently to the conversation going on inside. Great men of God would sit and discuss the finer issues of theology with passion. Their points of agreement were interesting to hear but it was in the moments of dispute, albeit argued with kindness and patience, that I leaned my ear up against the wall and listened more closely. They’d rattle off Scripture and theological principles I’d not yet become acquainted with to defend their point. I was intrigued and my heart was set ablaze for the things of God.
 
So starting today, my hope is to share some thoughts for you to ponder. By my mentioning them here, I am not suggesting that I’ve got it all figured out theologically. In fact, you might just like to disagree with me and, just like in my teen years leaned up against that hallway wall, I’m ok with that. Chime in with your own thoughts and it will only help all of us to become more equipped in our Biblical knowledge.
I should also add that these posts might be a bit longer than our usual ones. I get a tad long winded when I’m talking about the Bible. So, if you have to read a bit then take a break and come back later to finish up, I won’t mind.
I’ll be here all day =)
 
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Let’s begin in the Old Testament, shall we? I’m completely intrigued with the shadows that this Testament gives for the next. It’s the study bridge that carries us across the murky waters of theological confusion onto the solid ground of our relationship with God through Christ.
Genesis 15 has captured my attention recently. In this passage, God establishes a covenant with Abraham. The process of “cutting a covenant” was one that Abram would have been familiar with. In the most ancient of days, the foundation for human relationship was established via a binding agreement called a covenant. So, when God wanted to seek a relationship with humanity, He didn’t stop at a verbal exchange, He used the process of the covenant to ensure Abraham of the authenticity and gravity of the relationship He was establishing.
 
“The Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” So Abram presented all these to him and killed them. Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side . . .
 As the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him.
After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses.” (Portions of Genesis 15:9–17, NLT)
 
If I were writing a Bible study series and you and I were in the throws of a lesson right now, I’d ask you to take out a pen and underline a couple portions of the passage. Since, we’re not, I’ve done it for you =)
Go back and take a look at what I hi-lighted.
 
The detailed process of cutting a covenant was very specific. Certain actions had to be followed in order for the contract to be sealed between the participants. One of the most important was that the lesser party had to walk between the pieces of the dismembered animal as a statement of their undying loyalty to the stronger, greater party. For example, if a small nation was cutting a covenant with a larger more powerful one, the king of that weaker nation would walk among the pieces of the animal as a declaration that his nation would not break the covenant by making this type of agreement with another nation. In exchange for the protection and provision of the greater nation, they would pledge their loyalty. If the weaker nation committed treason, their nation, their families and their very lives would be torn apart just as this animal’s carcass had been.
 
When God cuts a covenant with Abraham, it is clear that Abraham is the lesser, weaker party in the contract and that he should be the one to walk between the pieces of the animal. But before he has a chance to do so a deep sleep comes over him and darkness descends. And then, in one of the most unbelievably gracious and divine theophanies (God appearances) in all the Old Testament, Yahweh descends and moves between the pieces on Abraham’s behalf.
GOD TAKES ABRAHAM’S PLACE.
HE declares His loyalty even though He knows full well that Israel will seek other gods. Even more stunning than this, Yahweh accepts the wages for treason.
 
If this isn’t a shadow pointing towards the New Testament reality of Jesus than I don’t know what is.
 
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB95)
 
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9, NIV84)
 
A relationship established between God and man not by any of our own works but because of His.
 
Do you see? God didn’t allow Abraham to walk through the pieces so that none of his own work would be a contributing factor in the covenant. God wanted the entire cost of the covenant to be solely on His divine shoulders. Well before the time of Jesus, God the Father was already willing to take the place for fallen humanity. He was already charting out the love-rich path that His relationship with you and me would take.
Hallelujah!
 
This, my friend, is something to shout about!
He has taken your place – from the beginning of time. . . until now.
Priscilla

Wife Wednesday!

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Whether you are single or married, I am so glad that you've popped in today as we continue our summer series that is bound to be tons of fun.

 

Motherhood Monday
Wife Wednesday
Theology Thursday
Freedom Friday (For single women!)

Hope you'll plan on joining us as much as possible and chiming in with a comment whenever you can.

Today is our first official installment of "Wife Wednesday" and I just can't escape the fact that I feel the need to start with a disclaimer: I'm not a marriage expert. (I'm sure that Jerry would gladly echo that.) It seems that each year of marriage only serves to teach you new things that you'd never even considered the year before. 
Jerry and I will only reach our 13 year milestone next month so we're just "teenagers". Let's be honest, what "know-it-all" teenager do you know who couldn't use some wise counsel and more maturity before daring to offer advice and counsel to others?
So, while I might be able to share some tid-bits of wisdom here and there during our summer series, I'm hoping to enlist the help of those further along in the game of love than myself :) 

One thing I know for sure, however, is that it's easy to take for granted the privilege of being a wife. All of us, no matter our season or station in life, can often take for granted the very blessings that God has gifted to us  . . . marriage is no different. I often hear so many women complaining about their role as a wife. Do you? Caught up in the rhythms of regular every day living, we can very easily lose sight of the beauty of the life that is ours. 
Sure, there are challenges. 
Sure, keeping a good relationship requires effort and diligence. 
But, there is still so much to be grateful for. So many things that many single women would love to experience.
So, I thought that a great way to kick off our series would be to remind you of things that make the married life worth living. My hope is to stir your "gratefulness" juices and remind you of the very things you most looked forward to before you ever walked down the aisle.
So. . . take a moment to listen to what some single gals are saying. Sure, these are "ideals" but each one will inevitably remind you of some truths in your own relationship. I should also mention that several of them are from women who WERE married but aren't anymore and miss these specific things about their former lives as wives.

Wives have someone to go home to. They have a "person".
Wives can be vulnerable and "real" with their spouse and have confidence that the relationship will remain intact
Wives know that they've been chosen above every other woman in the world by their man.
Wives can have a greater level of financial security because they share life with a partner.
Wives can satisfy their physical desires as often as they'd like to with their spouse.
Wives have someone else to help make the big life decisions with.
Wives have someone to "debrief" with at the end of the day. They have a companion.
Wives have someone with a strong chest that they can lean on for comfort.
Wives can delegate some of the household responsibilities they don't enjoy, or that are difficult for them to do, to their man.
In addition to fulfilling their own calling, wives get to help a man stand before God one day and hear "well done" because he fulfilled his destiny on earth.
Wives no longer have to play the dating game. They can relax in their relationship.
Wives who love sports can watch it on tv without her friend trying to turn to a "girlie" show.
Wives have someone to appreciate their bodies when they've been working out and eating right.
Wives have a private world with their husband where the private jokes they share are the funniest things ever.
Wives have someone to have children and create a legacy with.
Wives don't have to go home after a fun evening. . .they are home!
Wives are able to illustrate to the world the relationship between Christ and the Church

 

(Single women, I'm counting on you to comment and add more to this list today :)

 

These quotes have got me wondering: Which ones have I taken for granted in marriage? What about you? 
What are you are grateful for about married life? Wade through all of the concerns that might normally squeeze out thankfulness. Make this blog a starting place for a "list of gratitude" about the life God has given you as a wife.

Have a great "Wife Wednesday"!
Priscilla

For Girls Like You WINNERS!

We are so excited to see all of your responses from yesterday's blog post. If you're joining us for the first time this week, you'll want to be sure to click that link so you can catch up with what will be going on over the next six weeks here on our blog. I think we are going to have an awesome time together learning from and also encouraging each other in our different stages of life. 

As I was reading through your comments yesterday of what you all are needing as mom's in this day in age, my mind was spinning with ways that we can discuss and help set the tone for the next generation as families! It's going to be awesome! We are looking forward to going through your questions and will try to address as many of them as we can each Monday Morning!

 

Ok, so we randomly chose 2 people from the comments yesterday, and congratulations are in order for . . . 

1. SOULFUL SELENA - 

"Any tips on developing a healthy schedule, doing it and MAINTAINING it, staying MOTIVATED? I want to get in a two-piece again!!! LOL I want the ENERGY to fulfill my purpose and all the roles, "be it all and do it all too" in the words of Christine Caine. 2. Also, tips or short cuts, to keep the house orderly?? I've learned that laundry NEVER ends. We have cut back on expenses so I don't have the help I once had.3. Finally, creative  low-budget summer activity ideas???Soulful SelenaJacksonville, FL"

2. SHEILA

"How to help your child grow in their own personal relationship w/Christ. (i.e. do you "make" them have quiet time hoping it will capture their heart and they will want to? do you model it for them and encourage them only?)"

Congratulations to our winners! Please send your name and mailing address to info@goingbeyond.com and we will be sure to get your For Girls Like You magazine to you.

AND Be sure to wish the one and only Mr Jerry Shirer a very happy birthday!!!! Unfortunately, the Shirer clan and Katie are traveling back from Austin today so he isn't around the office for us to shower him with cake and birthday songs. BUT we can try to give him the most tweets he's ever gotten in one day. Go ahead.... @jerryshirer ..... help us spread a little birthday love!

See you tomorrow as we have our first round of "Wife Wednesdays"!

Linnae

Calling all MOMS! WIVES! THEOLOGIANS! SINGLES!

Hey all!  It's SUMMER!

And WITH that, we thought we'd have a little fun with y'all.  SO.  For the next 6 weeks, we're going to be doing blogs especially geared towards moms, wives, theologians and singles!  Yep!  We haven't left anyone out!  

Our schedule will be:

Moms on Mondays

Wives on Wednesday

Theologians on Thursday

AND...

Singles on Friday..our staff of single girls affectionately calls it "Freedom Friday." :)

Now just because Tuesday didn't get a cool theme and graphic doesn't mean that we're gonna leave it out.  We'll be here, as always, Monday through Friday.  

So if you have any moms in your neighborhood or church that need a little special loving this summer, send them our blog on Mondays!  

The same goes for all the gorgeous wives out there...I know I'm attending a wedding this weekend and am already planning on sending her our Wednesday post as a little fun for her.  I mean, who doesn't love being a new WIFE?!  

Now when we say theologians, we really just mean good ol' fashioned Bible teaching, ala Priscilla Shirer.  :)  

And singles?!  Get ready.  Our girl staff is just brimming with thoughts on singleness...and we need YOUR thoughts too!

So.  Whether you're a wife joining us on Mondays or a Single jumpin in on Wednesday, we're praying you jump in headfirst and share YOUR thoughts on what's going on here.  We love it when y'all dialogue and share...feels much more like the family we are!  

Finally.  We've brainstormed all sorts of fun things to bring your way on these days...BUT, do YOU have anything you want us to blog on?  What kinda' stuff do you wives and moms wanna hear?  Theologians and singles...anything you're DYING to talk about?  Let's do it!  Let us know so we can get cracking.

 

As always, you are loved and we are grateful for YOU!

 

Praying His Presence and Protection over you today...

 

annetta 

Summer Blog Theme

Hey there friend!

It's SUMMER which means it's time to have some SUMMER FUN on the Going Beyond blog! I am so excited to spend time with you in our virtual living room during these sunny months.

Last year we had a great book club on "The Resolution For Women" that took us through the fall, so this year we thought it would be neat to stir up some more good conversation with you.

 So, together with the sweet girls in the office, we've planned a fun-filled summer schedule for you right here on the blog!

Motherhood Monday
Wife Wednesday
Theology Thursday

. . .and just in time for your hot date on Friday night . . .

Single Gal Friday (Our staff of single girls affectionately calls it "Freedom Friday." :)

TODAY WE BEGIN!

After all, it is Monday so something geared towards motherhood is called for, right!? Well, I couldn't think of any better way to kick of our  "Motherhood Monday's" than by giving away something fun to you!

Have you heard of this magazine yet?

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"For Girls Like You" is one of the coolest entertainment options for young girls that I've found. The founder and editor is doing an incredible job at capturing the hearts of young readers with fun, imagination and stories that are of interest to them. It's a great alternative to some of the culture's options.

I'm particularly captured by this quarter's issue of "For Girls Like You" mag.  The cover girls are two of Hollywood's rising starts. Maggie Jones () starred in "We Bought a Zoo" with Matt Damon and her sister, Mary Charles (), snagged a key roll in last Spring's "Footloose". These girls are being raised by Godly parents who are holding high the laurels of their faith in the mist of Hollywood.

What great examples for your own daughters. . . .and for you!

I'd love to give away two subscriptions to this magazine today! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below answering this question:

What types of questions/or topics would you like to see covered on "Motherhood Mondays"?

If you are a mother of boys, please take the time to comment anyway. Surely there's a young girl in your life that you could give this subscription to and if not, I'd still love to know what you'd like to see us tackle on the blog this summer.

And don't worry, "Boy Mom" day has not been overlooked! Stand by sister!

 

Looking forward to all of your comments today!

You are loved!

Priscilla

Attitude of Gratitude...Cliche or Relevant?

Attitude of gratitude. Have you ever heard that before? I can’t remember when I first heard it, but I definitely remember the feeling. It was pure *eye roll.* Whoever said it had a life that looked a whole lot more shiny than mine. In fact, if I take all the facebook status update’s and tweet’s at their face value, then EVERYONE has a better life than mine. But I'm pretty sure that (at least in the online world) appearances can be deceiving.  This was proven to me a few years ago...

I had a friend who seemed to have the life we all want. She was joyous, always seemed to have energy and great things happening, and her status updates confirmed the appearances with play-by-play envy-worthy life moments, chronicled for all to be jealous over. One day, in conversation, my friend asked me to pray for her family. I agreed and then said, “um, for what? Y’all seem to have it pretty much all together.” She began telling me some of the incredibly hard circumstances that she (her family) was facing and noted that it had been going on for years.  I walked away quite puzzled. This friend is honest in her portrayal of her life, both good and bad. So why did it still seem like she had it all together?

Occasionally, the little Shirer men swing in the Going Beyond office to say hello to their “big sisters.” We absolutely love getting to see their sweet faces and hear their stories of the day...and I personally love getting to play a little pick-up football or baseball game. And as we’ve played, I’ve noticed something profoundly simple:

If I’m not positioned in place to catch the ball, I will miss it.
A real genius statement, huh?
When I think about my friend, I realize she was positioned well, because she had postured herself in gratitude. Our entire conversation was filled with this breathless thanking of God for what He was doing, strength He was giving to get her through the rough patch and even a grateful heart for the rough times themselves as they allowed her to see God work more clearly and to feel His Presence more intimately.  I saw a tweet this week that said, "The grateful heart is a happy heart."

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She had an attitude of gratitude. And it changed everything.

So. I wanna catch the Goodness God’s throwing at me today...I want to be postured in a place of thankfulness. And I’m relying on His grace to help me stay there.  Here's to "happy hearts" all over this globe today...grateful for YOU!

 

annetta

 

Keep up with Priscilla:

Twitter

Facebook

Miss Katie Mae

Hey there. Glad you stopped in today because I'm itchin to introduce you to the newest member of the Going Beyond Team. As you'll see from her note to you, she is a big ol' ball of fun, doesn't take herself too seriously and is passionate about many things. She's brought a breath of fresh air into our ministry that we are all enjoying immensely.

In fact, several of you have actually emailed or tweeted me to say how sirprised you were to find such a deliciously wrapped package in your mailbox when a book or bible study you ordered from our ministry arrived to your home. Katie, my friend, is the person responsible for all of that beauty! She works wonders with boyws, tissue paper, wrapping paper and all things decor.

When Katie's around, things just become more beautiful.

 

Enjoy her post (despite her misguided references to God's favorites) and be sure to make her feel welcome!

Priscilla

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My family from left to right: Mitch (brother in law), Chavanne (little sister),

ME, Mom (aka Jesus), Dad (aka Chuck Norris)

 

Hi! My name is Katie! I am here for the summer helping out everyone’s favorite Texans. I come from
God’s favorite place, Baton Rouge, LA. It’s also the home of God’s favorite
team – LSU – GEAUX TIGERS!!! For the past 6 years I have worked at my home
church in Baton Rouge - Healing Place Church. My pastors mentioned that Jerry
and Priscilla were looking for someone really awesome to come help them, so
when awesome is sought, awesome is found… and here I am! J

I used to think Baton
Rouge was a pretty big city . . . then I moved to Dallas. I now live completely
lost, at all times. I have always loved where I am from, but thought I could
use a little adventure. At the same time, the famous saying “distance makes the
heart grow founder” is starting to ring true.

I thought for my first blog post I would just give you a couple of fun facts about myself that make me
just the special/awesome person that I am….

I sometimes
run out of gas in my car.
I love
avocados! Just as of this year.
I love being
a girly girl. I love doing my (or anyone else’s) hair and makeup.
I LOVE
movies. Once I start one, I can’t stop it. I have to know how it finishes, even
if it’s the cheesiest movie ever.
I speak
fluent Russian.
I once ran a
half marathon.
I have a goal
to one day do an Iron Man triathlon. I am currently doing nothing to train for
this…oops.
I consider
myself extremely blessed with THE best family, and THE best friends in the
world.
Purple is my
favorite color.
I am a
die-hard LSU fan!!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Can’t wait to get to know
all of you and share a little bit with you on this amazing blog!

God bless and GEAUX
TIGERS!!!

Katie

Sitting on the Side

I once heard a preacher say, "Don't serve past your sanctification". It's a truly profound statement when you think about it. It's a challenge not to allow yourself to be involved in certain ministry tasks or teach others certain spiritual principles that you don't have the character or the experience to back up. It's an encouragement to make sure that there is integrity backing up your service.
No one's perfect but there is a certain level of maturity and personal consistency that should precede our public service. (a sobering thought for me personally)

That's why making a decision to sit on the sidelines is often the best place for us to be; taking time to digest what God is teaching us and internalize the lessons He has been asking us to learn. But the reality is, making the decision to sit still; to wait until the time is right, requires a patience that very few have - that I often don't have.
I can see myself in my own children - who along with their cousin's yesterday, could barely wait for a few minutes after lunch before jumping back into the swimming pool. Their tummies full and bursting to the brim, I made them take a few minutes to allow the digestion process to take place but, of course, they wanted to get back in prematurely, without allowing what they'd taken in a chance to settle.

When jumping in head first to God's calling and assignments looks as exciting as that pool did to those kids and we feel like we can handle all that it will require to stay afloat, it can be difficult to discipline ourselves to wait until the digestion process of God's lessons has taken its full course.
The days, weeks or months of dangling our legs over the side of God's assignment, waiting for the cue to dive in will test our patience for sure and yet waiting until the time is right will ensure that what God is doing in us has time to settle appropriately.

What is God doing in you right now? 
Are you willing to quiet your hurried, anxious heart and wait until the right time to dive in to God's assignment for your life?

Priscilla



Like my children and their cousins dangling their bare legs over the edge of a cool, inviting pool yesterday - their bellies filled to the brim with lunch - waiting is required

A Season of Change

There is one word that has a tendency to consistently provoke a reaction out of me. A word that I honestly do not like hearing, but for some odd reason it keeps rearing its head in my life. A word that causes fear and worry to surface and lately, a word that has caused me to experience many sleepless nights. Despite the negative feelings and emotions that this word tends to bring, it does have one benefit that I can’t deny.....this word keeps me at the feet of Jesus. The word is.....

CHANGE

I’ve experienced change before in my life, but not like this. It seems like everything in my life is changing. I’ve been in seminary for the last two years and now that it has come to an end, my surroundings are looking a little different. The people that I started this journey with are now moving away and getting ready to be launched into ministry and their new careers. The place that I’ve called home for the last two years will be soon changing. My brain is shifting from studying and writing papers to being consumed with thoughts about what’s next. Friendships that I’ve had for years and years and never thought would ever change are....changing. 

What’s even more scary y’all is that the change is not only happening around me, but it’s also happening within me and I can’t really even explain it fully.  So when I say that I’m experiencing change on a completely different level, I am not exaggerating.

The other day I found myself rehearsing, over and over again, all of the change that’s going on in my life. I mean, I was focused and about ten minutes later I was completely overwhelmed and frustrated. And I’m sure y’all can guess what happened next.

The Lord swooped right in and placed a scripture on my heart. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith....” Hebrews 12:2. 

The entire time I was focused on the wrong thing, but as soon as I shifted my focus, my perception completely changed. I no longer view change as being this big ugly monster. Change is good. Uncomfortable at times, but good nonetheless. It matures and stretches us and whether we welcome it or not, it's inevitable. 

While it’s okay to acknowledge the different things going on in our lives, we should only be looking intently at the One who NEVER changes. He is always faithful, always present and He always loves....all the way, all the time.  

How do you handle change? Do you welcome or run from it? Any lessons that you’ve learned about change that you want to share? Please do:)

So grateful that we are all on this journey together,

Antrenette 

Portland Prayer Requests

We hope you guys had an awesome weekend and are enjoying this awesome summer weather! (Ok, it's not so awesome in Texas, just super hot, but in most other parts of the country it  seems to be quite lovely)

Speaking of awesome weather, Jerry and Priscilla just got back from Portland this weekend with the rest of the Going Beyond Team and the weather there looked absolutely glorious! We have been hearing some neat testimonies from the weekend and hope that it was such a blessing to those of you who were able to attend.

I wanted to ask you all today, whether you were at the event or not, to hop on over to the our prayer request page and pick one of the listed requests and commit to praying for that particular person throughout this week. It is such a privilege to get to pray for others, and we believe that God wants to move on our friends' behalf. 

So today, we'd love for you to join us in praying for our sweet friends that were gathered together this past weekend in Portland, and if you would like us to pray for anything for you as well, just leave it in the comment section below and we will be sure to cover you in prayer this week. 

So glad to have a community of friends that loves and believes the best for each other! 

Thanks for your prayers!

Linnae