tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.comments2023-12-18T16:47:45.600-08:00my church journeyNorma Hill - aka penandpapermamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02034679415355279691noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-7461449022832304732016-08-04T15:21:45.630-07:002016-08-04T15:21:45.630-07:00Thanks, Lester! I suspect many of us suffer from t...Thanks, Lester! I suspect many of us suffer from this ... and after reading your blog over the past few months, you've given me the courage to tell the truth! <br />Norma Hill - aka penandpapermamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034679415355279691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-76090098642473866792016-08-04T14:27:16.091-07:002016-08-04T14:27:16.091-07:00I love this piece. I am in the same boat, terrifie...I love this piece. I am in the same boat, terrified by disapproval. Afraid to step out and be myself no matter what the world thinks. Thank you for writing this!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16457507677240588559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-87760647926826592072016-03-17T20:43:25.235-07:002016-03-17T20:43:25.235-07:00Well said! Thank you for speaking to the times!Well said! Thank you for speaking to the times!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17427264398505840933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-75689271627826453952016-03-17T20:42:12.382-07:002016-03-17T20:42:12.382-07:00Well said!Well said!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17427264398505840933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-6917357399331612242012-08-19T07:56:29.701-07:002012-08-19T07:56:29.701-07:00"...Instead, He shows her that there is an an..."...Instead, He shows her that there is an answer to her all her needs - and He introduces her to the Answer - Himself, the Living Water."<br /><br />Amen!<br /><br />What a great God we have.<br /><br />Thanks for this encouraging Word.Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-25321395567801016712012-07-02T02:28:04.040-07:002012-07-02T02:28:04.040-07:00Thankl you Norma for sharing this. I woke up this ...Thankl you Norma for sharing this. I woke up this morning singing "For I'm building a people of power" - and I decided to goole it.<br /><br />I have read this but I am coming back later to read it again.<br /><br />I like what you said about it not being about the "traditions and fear"Gingehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18288148154196732409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-37851333176739167742011-09-26T12:19:20.009-07:002011-09-26T12:19:20.009-07:00Thanks for commenting, Jean. Love what you said: ...Thanks for commenting, Jean. Love what you said: "if one focuses on the journey it has been oh so fruitful." I think that we've been taught to set goals - and keep our eyes on those goals. We get so focused on the end-point that we miss seeing every amazing step along the way - and we don't even realize that it's been Jesus' plans and purposes rather than ours - and those are always so much greater than our narrow human vision can imagine :-)Norma Hill - aka penandpapermamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034679415355279691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-3373248613063410632011-09-26T12:04:17.488-07:002011-09-26T12:04:17.488-07:00Thanks, Jonathan. It was just like they were talk...Thanks, Jonathan. It was just like they were talking about. Like what I've read about on other blogs ... but was beginning to wonder if it was really possible. <br /><br />All in Father's perfect timing :-)Norma Hill - aka penandpapermamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034679415355279691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-79639711750517789262011-09-24T17:21:39.134-07:002011-09-24T17:21:39.134-07:00Sounds great! I pray God will provide you with br...Sounds great! I pray God will provide you with brothers and sisters to fellowship with so you can build each other up to become more like Christ. Thanking God for this opportunity.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01266729238990589293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-91001004146962480732011-09-23T20:17:27.553-07:002011-09-23T20:17:27.553-07:00This is so true Norma. I have been struggling wit...This is so true Norma. I have been struggling with whether the decision to try Crafting for Missions at our church was a good and right one. We have never had our crafts even viewed by the congregation, let alone bought by them. They do not come out to our sales. What sells is the baking! After church on Sundays. No other time. :(<br /><br />Still...if one focuses on the journey it has been oh so fruitful. Many new friendships were made this year. And many of us learned new skills. We also learned to lean on God and trust Him to earn the money for missions. It hasn't been as much as I'd like, but this is God's machine, not mine. <br /><br />I am sensing a lack of enthusiasm in the congregation now, and we do not need a special group to do baking etc. for the congregation. It was only the crafting that needed it due to the need for funds up front to purchase supplies. Without crafting we don't need the group. So it's disbanding.<br /><br />BUT, a few of us have decided to strike out on our own to sell crafts at community sales next year. And there is talk of joining CARFAC and the Craft Council with some of our members. So I think this has been worth it if only for the encouragement it has given them. God does work in mysterious ways...Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648414685097430288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-44656832606848854192011-09-23T14:29:37.437-07:002011-09-23T14:29:37.437-07:00Yes Norma, I agree. I agree there is a lot of o...Yes Norma, I agree. I agree there is a lot of overlap between Christ's church and Christ's kingdom. I think where I'm at I get very confused by how the word church gets used. And I'm tired of trying to figure out how to best do church or best be church. So for now I'm resting in the idea that it's not my job to figure out and plan.<br />However living under the reign of God seems very clear to me (yet a daily challenge to maintain focus). And I pray that as I follow my Lords lead he will provide all that I need, including fellowship or a tribe of some sort.<br />God bless!Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01266729238990589293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-13834471022200703092011-09-23T11:42:42.513-07:002011-09-23T11:42:42.513-07:00Thanks, Jonathan.
I know that we only find the wo...Thanks, Jonathan.<br /><br />I know that we only find the word "church" twice in the gospels, but are you sure that means the Kingdom is more important? In his recent Epic Jesus talk (linked to in this post), Frank Viola says the following:<br /><br />We cannot separate the King from His kingdom. Wherever Jesus is, that's where the Kingdom is.<br /><br />But we also make a mistake if we separate the Kingdom from the ekklesia.<br /><br />Jesus talked a lot about the ekklesia - on almost every page of the gospels. Even though the word "church" is only mentioned twice in the gospels, that little group of 12 men and a few women living as a community with Jesus Christ, with Him as the Head ... you are seeing the embryonic expression of the ekklesia. And that is the community of the King, the new society that Jesus was constituting while He was on this earth. And all those references to the salt of the earth, to the vine and branches, etc : He's talking about the ekklesia.<br /><br />To separate the church from the Kingdom is to separate light from visibility.<br /><br />Anytime a group of people are enthroning Jesus Christ as their head, King, Lord - there in the midst of that people is the Kingdom of God. And you will have peace, righteousness and joy among them.<br /><br />In Jesus Christ, God's future has broken into time. We as Christians live in the presence of the future. The Kingdom is already but not yet. "My kingdom is not [of] this world." The Greek is actually "My kingdom is not FROM this world." And it is certainly FOR this world. "Thy Kingdom come... on earth as it is in heaven."<br /><br />SOOO... It really does come down to living indwelled by Christ and as you say, resting in His plans ... just walking with Him and repeating what He says (as He repeated what Father said to Him) and doing with Him what we see Him doing already. (Lots more about that in the Epic Jesus talk, as well!)Norma Hill - aka penandpapermamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034679415355279691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-36998050301452827232011-09-22T18:47:27.127-07:002011-09-22T18:47:27.127-07:00Hi, I found your post encouraging.
I've been...Hi, I found your post encouraging. <br /><br />I've been realizing lately it is not my job to figure out and build Christ's Church. He's doing that despite all of our misguided efforts.<br /><br />I'm also recognizing the Jesus spoke way more (50 x more?) about the kingdom than He did about church. So I may need to refocus my desires some. If I learn to focus on living under the reign of God, maybe I can rest in His plans for myself and my world around me. Maybe I can let Him worry about building His church.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01266729238990589293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-24106728549645723062011-09-20T07:57:13.706-07:002011-09-20T07:57:13.706-07:00you're welcome! and thanks for commenting :-)...you're welcome! and thanks for commenting :-)Norma Hill - aka penandpapermamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034679415355279691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-87815048540392874122011-06-02T12:18:40.670-07:002011-06-02T12:18:40.670-07:00Hello, Linda. I got the picture from: http://www...Hello, Linda. I got the picture from: http://www.turnbacktogod.com/tag/bible/page/71/ (picture 1211).<br />They offer a wide variety of free pictures for use as wallpaper etc.Norma Hill - aka penandpapermamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034679415355279691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-14335406042777766182011-06-02T08:41:25.845-07:002011-06-02T08:41:25.845-07:00Do you know who owns the artwork on your site with...Do you know who owns the artwork on your site with the little girl in the pink dress sitting on Jesus' lap? with 2 other kids? I need to find out in order to see if I could have permission to use it. Thanks for any help you can give me! roth5eec@aol.comLinda Rothnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-64274164078470041552011-03-18T19:29:28.365-07:002011-03-18T19:29:28.365-07:00You're quite welcome, Norma! Thanks for the li...You're quite welcome, Norma! Thanks for the link. :)Josh Lhttp://jlawson23.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-56995813418611305352011-03-16T16:53:23.770-07:002011-03-16T16:53:23.770-07:00its fruit.
and i see it in you..its fruit. <br /><br />and i see it in you..Brother Frankiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17081661623967845655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-36109469340579369172011-03-16T16:50:23.155-07:002011-03-16T16:50:23.155-07:00great post sister..
Don’t worry about the entire...great post sister.. <br /><br />Don’t worry about the entire quilt; just focus on your square.<br /><br />i love it<br /><br />Blessings<br />Brother FrankieBrother Frankiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17081661623967845655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-85203373842954914232011-03-01T05:21:18.772-08:002011-03-01T05:21:18.772-08:00Norma
I just finished reading Imaginary Jesus and...Norma<br /><br />I just finished reading <i>Imaginary Jesus</i> and a big source of the main character's (author's) struggle to find the real Jesus had to do with understanding why God didn't stop his wife's miscarriage. The answer he gets when he finally meets the real Jesus is powerful and encouraging. It certainly isn't an easy answer, or a complex theological treatise, but it is incredibly meaningful. I think that we like to invent theology to answer questions so that we don;t have to wait on and trust God to give us what we really need: Him.<br /><br />DanDan Allenhttp://someekklesia.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-18247958804934602982011-02-28T19:54:07.960-08:002011-02-28T19:54:07.960-08:00Amen!Amen!norma j hillhttp://normajhill.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-59285396962458628312011-02-28T17:17:39.924-08:002011-02-28T17:17:39.924-08:00Norma
Thanks for the link! I think we all struggl...Norma<br /><br />Thanks for the link! I think we all struggle with these questions, but if we are aware of our tenancy to follow cultural trends and theological heroes then maybe we can, in taking those things into account, try to turn down the white noise and hear the Spirit of Truth. All our opinions are subjective, even our interpretation of Scripture is subjective to culture, our worldview, and our influences. Only the Spirit has objective truth, and only by listening and obeying Him can we hope to find real truth in this world of uncertainty. Anyway, thanks again for the link, and I'm glad that these questions, which I struggle to answer everyday, have been helpful to you as well.<br /><br />DanDan Allenhttp://someekklesia.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-47705030498872731652011-02-26T13:06:02.476-08:002011-02-26T13:06:02.476-08:00Norma,
I find that sometimes it is very easy to h...Norma,<br /><br />I find that sometimes it is very easy to honestly slip into the works mode, and quit relying on His grace. In fact I have been living in works in one area of my life for quite awhile and wasn't even aware of it until recently. What you have been writing resonates with me, because it is where I am in many ways. <br /><br />I think the fact that we so easily falter speaks to the powerful grip that the old system had on us, and the depth to which it was entrenched. I look forward to seeing what my children do as they grow up, unencumbered by the lies you and I grew up in.<br /><br />MarkMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14871432677951973950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-46221195821388822612011-02-26T12:56:23.311-08:002011-02-26T12:56:23.311-08:00Norma,
"I see His finger pointing, and I das...Norma,<br /><br />"I see His finger pointing, and I dash off, pell-mell, in the general direction, by myself,"<br /><br />That sounds like something I've done before! It seems like He has to correct my rabbit trails fairly frequently. The great thing is that He is so faithful to do it, and one day I will mature enough to not do it so frequently!<br /><br />MarkMarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14871432677951973950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4253506665415753283.post-72152515354421311572011-02-25T13:13:07.502-08:002011-02-25T13:13:07.502-08:00yes!!!!yes!!!!Norma Hill - aka penandpapermamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034679415355279691noreply@blogger.com