Independence from Britain was a great and good thing for the people that became the United States of America. But independence is not a good thing for the people of God. In fact, as God’s people we should make a formal “Declaration of Dependence” on our Creator.

Those of us, who have been born again spiritually, by the power of God in Christ, have no rights. We are not our own, we have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:20). We have been set free from the bondage of sin and death so we can become slaves of Christ (Romans 6:22).

In fact, according to the Bible, we are totally dependent on God for everything. We can do nothing without Christ (John 15:5) but with Him we can do everything (Phil 4:13). Without Him, nothing. With Him, everything.

So why do I still try to do things my way, in my own power and strength? Maybe it’s because I still think too much of myself and too little of Him.

Lord, I declare today “Dependence Day.” Will you help me be totally and utterly dependent on you in everything I say and do?

I ordered a “Turkey-Avocado wrap with spinach, tomatoes, and light ranch dressing” for $7.95. When I asked the waiter if fruit or chips came with the wrap he had to check. The answer? Two pieces of pineapple. Hmm? That should have sent up red flag warnings.

Twenty minutes later our food arrived. My wrap was huge! It was stuffed! With lots and lots of fresh spinach. There was one slice of extremely thin turkey breast and one slice of avocado about a quarter inch wide. This menu item needs to be renamed “Spinach wrap with a hint of turkey and avocado.”

Before I took the first bite I thought, “If I had wanted salad I would have ordered salad.” And when I finished the first half I muttered, “I’m going to have to eat dinner at 2:30.” Before I tackled the second half I snagged the waiter and asked for a little turkey and avocado to put on my Turkey-Avocado wrap. To be fair he quickly brought a small plate with a few slices of turkey and avocado. Much better.

Sometimes Christianity is like yesterday’s Turkey-Avocado wrap at the local hot spot. We decorate it with all the latest styles and fads to make it appealing to the masses. We fill the menu with great sounding fare. Then we serve up food that has little meat, no real substance. It’s just feel-good fluff.

I buy into it too. But what we need is real discipleship. Submission and obedience to Christ. Deep study on the truths of God’s Word. Commitment, accountability, and servanthood. But too often what we get is just what is easy and marketable. “Don’t ask too much.” “Don’t tell them it will be hard.” “Don’t let on there may be sacrifices.”

Is that really what we want? Deep down, don’t we want to be a part of something big? Something that has eternal purpose? Jesus certainly didn’t pull any punches.

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:23-25.

How would you describe your discipleship, your walk with Jesus? Is there real substance or is it mostly filler? For me, I pray for substance. But some days there’s a bit too much spinach.

Scripture Dig is an online resource, a tool for Christian women who want to really dig into God’s Word and allow it to transform their lives. Scripture Dig combines Bible study, information, resources, and community. Women will be taught, encouraged, and challenged.

This first week of June each of the five members of the Scripture Dig team will introduce themselves. Yesterday was my turn! You can check out the whole team here. Scripture Dig will not be a one-sided conversation. Readers will get to have their turn too. You will be invited into the community and asked to participate.

Starting Monday, June 7th, we will begin our first topic – the Bible itself. We will cover Bible Basics like “What is the Bible?” and “How did we get it?” We will talk about different translations and how to choose one for yourself. Then beginning June 21, we will shift the conversation to reading the Bible and having a quiet time.

Why so much emphasis on getting into God’s Word? The Bible reveals God and His ways to us. It guides us into relationship with the Creator of the universe and shapes our lives to please Him. Check out Scripture Dig today and sign up to be part of the ongoing community. See you there!   Kathy

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

I thought about my fellow students this morning during my daily Bible reading. In 1 Kings chapter 20 we read about Elisha’s call by God to be Elijah’s successor.  When Elijah issued the call Elisha was plowing a field behind a yoke of oxen. Not only did Elisha answer the call he also slaughtered the oxen and cooked them over a fire fueled by the plowing equipment.

Now that’s commitment! There would be no turning back for Elisha. No changing his mind or deciding he heard wrong. He could only move forward in obedience to God’s plan for his life.

Jesus calls us all to discipleship – to follow wherever He leads and not turn back. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (See Luke 9:23-25.)

When we gain Christ we gain everything that truly matters. Yet to gain all of  Christ we must let go of everything else. So often I hesitate.  I want to follow Christ but I’m afraid to slaughter the oxen. I want to hang onto my earthly comforts and be master of my own schedule.

I long to be like Elisha who was so determined to follow wherever God led that he slaughtered the oxen and burned his farming equipment. No turning back.

What oxen do you need to kill today? What earthly things do you struggle to let go of so you can follow Jesus wherever He leads?

I read a Psalm recently during my quiet time that I’ve read dozens of times. However, this time God showed me something I had not really noticed before.

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. Ps 19:12-13

Sometimes I sin against God and don’t even realize it. My sinful heart keeps me from being able to recognize the depth of my transgression against our holy God. I’m clueless. My sin nature blinds me to my own sin.

The psalmist, David, asked God to forgive him for the sin he was not even aware he had committed. Then he asked God to protect him from yielding to blatant temptation. David longed to be blameless – innocent in thought, attitude, and deed. And not in just the things that people would notice. David wanted to be innocent in the eyes of his holy God. Wow!

God has brought me back to these verses several times in the last week. Do you think He’s trying to tell me something? Every time, my prayer has been David’s prayer:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Ps 19:14

Tuesday I cancelled my gym membership. Not because I’ve given up exercising but because on Monday my husband bought an elliptical trainer. Since we already had a treadmill, a small home gym, and some free weights, we now have everything we need at home to stay in good physical shape.

Several people told me they wouldn’t have the discipline to exercise at home. They feel they need the discipline of going to a gym to stick to it. Then that’s what they need to do – whatever keeps them motivated. Since I’ve exercised practically my entire life and I’ve stayed committed to it before without the resource of a gym, I know I’ll continue.

Back in the fall I also discovered an awesome little tool that has helped keep my diet on track. Several of my friends introduced me to the “Lose-it!” I-Phone application. It keeps up with calories, exercise, and weight. This kind of accountability usually works well for me – until of course I have a rebellious day or weekend and eat my way through a half-gallon of Blue Bell’s cookies and cream.

Just yesterday I had lunch with three friends who also use the Lose-it app. After our healthy, low-cal meal, we all had out our phones checking our daily logs to see if we could split one of the deli’s large oatmeal-raisin cookies for dessert. Two of us did, so we shared the treat!

Now I have a confession to make. Often I am more disciplined in my physical health than I am with my spiritual health. Yet, in Scripture the Apostle Paul makes it clear we must discipline and train ourselves to be godly. Spiritual health and growth does not happen by accident. Yes, only the Holy Spirit can grow us and cause spiritual transformation. But He demands our obedient cooperation.

Train yourselves to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Committing to the spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading, prayer, Scripture memory, and obedience is essential for us to be conformed to the image of Christ. Here is a great resource to help you get started or get back on track: “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life” by Donald S. Whitney.

There are also many discipleship tools on this website. Check them out here.

So, how are you doing in your discipline to spiritual growth? What helps you stay motivated? What kind of things get you off track?

We’ve seen a lot of nurses over the last four days. You can tell by watching which ones like their jobs and which ones don’t. And you can tell which ones care about the patients and which ones see them more as a nuisance.

One visitation time on Wednesday as I neared Pappaw’s room I heard him weakly calling for help. I passed through the door just as a nurse in the corner said with snippy irritation, “There is no need to yell, I can hear you.”

All I have to say about that is it’s a good thing there was another nurse in the room who was already responding to help him. God protected me from acting very unChristian-like. And thankfully for Pappaw’s sake I have not seen the irritated nurse around again.

The nurse Pappaw has had the last two days definitely likes her job. She has been an advocate for him with the doctor. She has wiped his face with a rag, held his hand, and done everything she can to make him as comfortable as possible. She shows love to her patients through every action.

This got me to thinking about my own actions. Do I act loving not just to my family but to those God brings across my path?

“Are you more loving?” is the third question in that book I’ve been telling you about. In  “Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health,” Donald Whitney reminds us that Jesus said “love is the clearest mark of a Christian.” Love is the “badge and character of Christianity.”

He made another statement that personally challenged me: “We’re not growing in love when we have time for projects but not people.” Ouch. I have to admit that sometimes I’m too absorbed in a project to turn my attention to people that need my love and attention.

Thankfully, there are other times when I see glimmers of hope that God really is growing my love for others. How about you? Is your love growing? Are you increasingly more sensitive to the physical and spiritual needs of others?

I challenge you – and me – to show love to someone today without any expectation of them returning it. Can we do that?

I had a Magic 8 Ball when I was a girl. I often asked it for direction on vitally important matters.

Me: Should I tell Bobby I like him?

8-Ball: My sources say no

Me: Should I wear my purple, denim hip huggers to school today?

8-Ball: It is decidedly so

Me: Should I have a burger for lunch?

8-Ball: Concentrate and ask again

Me: But my lunch period is right now!

According to that reliable source Wikipedia, the Magic 8-Ball was invented in 1946. The little answer cube floating in liquid inside the plastic ball is covered with twenty different responses appropriate for “yes” and “no” questions. We thought it was really cool back in the 70’s. Today I came across a website where you can ask questions of a virtual 8-Ball and get the same goofy answers.

Way back then the 8-Ball was just for fun. I did not really make decisions based on its advice. However, every single one of us relies on something to navigate life. Sometimes it’s our intellect. Sometimes it’s what makes us feel good. Sometimes we do whatever our culture says is best.

What about you? What guides your life? What principles do you live by?

The best guidebook for life is the one written by the Creator of life. God revealed Himself and His ways to us in the Bible. It speaks to every area of life.

If you’re a regular to this blog, then you know I’ve been talking about Donald Whitney’s book “Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health.” Every Christian should be continuing to grow spiritually until the day Jesus calls us home. Whitney’s book gives us ten questions to ask ourselves to evaluate our personal growth. The second question is: “Are you governed increasingly by God’s Word?” Well, are you? Am I?

Before we can be governed by God’s Word we have to know it. We have to read it, study it, and meditate on it. Whitney says the best way to deepen our desire for God’s Word is “simply to discipline yourself to feast on it. Nothing can make us hungry for Scripture more than Scripture itself.” Hmm, I’m that way with chocolate.

Here are a few specific suggestions Whitney gives to help us develop our dependence on God’s Word:

-       Make sure you’re in a church that clearly teaches from the Bible

-       Regularly use Scripture as a guide for prayer

-       Don’t merely read the Bible, meditate on it

-       Read the Bible daily

-       As you read, identify at least one way you can respond

Think about this: How hungry are you really for God’s Word?

Last week I told you about the new book I started reading – “Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health,” by Donald S. Whitney. The first question Whitney says we should ask to determine if someone is growing spiritually is “Do you thirst for God?”

I’ve been thinking about this for the last week. Just how thirsty am I? Whitney says “God did not make us to be content in our natural condition.” That statement challenges me. Sometimes I’m too content in my natural – and that means worldly, sinful, unChristlike – condition. In those times, I lap up spiritual soda pretending it can hydrate my soul. But all too soon I’m back for more because soda only makes me thirsty again.

But there are other times – times when I realize that only Living Water can truly satisfy. The dried-up, shriveled places in my soul are hydrated through time in Christ’s presence. They soak up Living Water like a sponge. According to Whitney, once we’ve tasted Living Water we no longer thirst due to dryness of soul, but we thirst out of pure desire for God.

“Unlike the dry soul, and as self-contradictory as it may sound at the moment, the satisfied soul thirsts for God precisely because he is satisfied with God.”

This question of spiritual thirst prompted my choice for my February memory verse. I’m striving to memorize Philippians 3:7-11 before the end of the month. However, here is the pivotal verse of that passage: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death…”

Paul was thirsty for Christ. And it wasn’t because he had never drank of Him. In fact, Paul was thirsty because he had already drank of Him. Paul knew from experience that Christ satisfies a thirsty soul. And he wanted more.

I ask myself and I ask you, “Are we thirsty?”