A New Kind of Cov...

As many of you know, a "cov" group is what my sorority has dubbed the name of a small group. My big, myself, her other little, and my two littles all meet together once a week and do various things that keep each other accountable throughout the week. We also talk about our lives... happies and crappies... things like that. Our newest idea is to take a passage from the bible (we all have the same one) and put it into our own words. How it applies to us directly. We've done this a couple of times so far, but I'd like to share mine with you today. It comes from Luke 9:23-26....

Jesus calls me to...

Deny myself in my earthly passions. Whether it be lustful temptation, thirst for money, judgment towards people unlike me... I am to deny myself.

Take up my cross daily. By looking at earthly burdens I am bearing and trusting God with them. By consciously being transformed into God's image instead of unconsciously being conformed to the world. By pressing on towards the goal. My body groans for heaven (Romans 8:23). Press on. It's time to take on the responsibilities of being a Christian and not be lukewarm. I am held to a higher standard.

God says...

Whoever holds on to themselves and won't let go of their earthly passions will lose their whole life. Everything they have "worked for". But whoever loses their life (or earthly passions) for Him will gain it all back.

Why will it even matter our short time on earth what purse we had, what car we drove, who we pushed down so that we, ourselves, could get to the top? You will lose yourself. Whoever is ashamed of Me, or the things that I stand for, I will be ashamed of them when they enter my kingdom.

I realize that some of these may sound harsh, but remember, I'm talking (typing) to myself here people. Keep pressing on.

-Much Love-
Bethany

p.s. Is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?