Out of the Net

I promised a dear friend that I would type out the notes from a Beth Moore taping this past weekend. She could not attend for she was tending to her newly brought-home son, whom she adopted. Sweet friend, here are your notes.

Session I: Series "Out of the Net"

Psalm 25: 1-22

The "net" in the Old Testament was generally seen as a "bad" or a negative object. It was used for capturing something from the feet up or from dropping over some thing's head. It was used to entangle the prey in which it was set out for.

In Psalm 25: 15, it refers to the net by saying "My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net."

We focused on the word "pluck" because it is as if He yanks our entangled feet out of the net in which we entangled ourselves into, or we allowed someone else to entangle us into.

A "net" is anything that gets us trapped or entangled. It can be an ongoing attitude we've had towards a situation, it can be a habit that we cannot break, a friend that we cling to and/or they cannot let go of us, and so on.

I. A net is something you don't see coming.

Proverbs 1:17 "It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it."

A net is not placed for all to see. It's hidden.

II. A heart can twist into a net.

Ecces. 7:26 "And I find more bitter than death, the woman who is a trap, her heart a net, and her hands in chains."

Stay in the net long enough, then it will grow into you.

What does this "woman who is a trap" look like?
* She's really possessive.
* She won't let go.
* She wants to be loved; but if love runs out; she'll feel obligated.

Proverbs 29:5 says, "A man who flatters his friend (neighbor) spreads a net for his feet."

Flattery is different than encouragement. Flattery has deceit to it, and it has a cloak. When we flatter someone, we create a co-dependent person, and if we allow someone to continuously flatter us, they will become entangled into our hearts.

You can also feel like you're in a "net" with this "netty" person if you feel like they know too much personal information about you and you feel like you can't leave/end the friendship/relationship. Personally, as Elizabeth speaking, I have felt this when I was growing up, especially in my teen years. I would share my heart, and then become so anxious over the thought of ending a friendship with someone, in fear they would divulge all my junk.

I Peter 1:22 "By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart..."

III. Sometimes shame can knot up an insidious net.

Psalmist is asking the Lord to forgive him of "all" his sins (admitting his sin), but for the Lord to not bring "shame".

Shame is Satan's laughter morphed into a mortal emotion!!!! I am going to share this with our girls as they work through their lives because shame is an easy emotion to feel, and VERY hard one to break! It's as easy as eating a loaded, calorie lunch when you're counting points. Easy to enjoy it, but oh so hard to drop it.

Psalm 25:22 "Do not let my enemies laugh at me."

hiding leads to guilt which leads to shame.............hiding..................guilt............shame

hiding, guilt, and shame all keep us from looking up
Luke 21:28 "...straighten up and lift up your heads because your redemption is near."

Shame can even bring down your posture.

IV. We can rest in knowing that the Lord will pluck our feet from the net.

This ends the series "Out of the Net". This particular series will take three weeks to cover when it's shown in the Spring. It will be interesting to see where we are in the journey when it airs on television and see how it continues to apply.
Okay, I'm going to post a different posting for the next series. Kind of break it up a bit. Remember sweet friend, you can always hit print and use it for bathroom reading and/or to help you fall asleep at night. You know I love me some good notes, and comments in an e-mail or posting. With love I hit "publish post". I will begin the next set of notes after having a quick cup-of-coffee.

Content. . . not stagnant

To be content where He has me, is not to say that He's not moving. It simply means, in the staying, I keep moving. Moving about doing His work, talking with His children, and serving in His name. Serving. . . here. . . now.

 

Hot cocoa, Fall, and Praise...

 

A long time, no type!  And I mean, a long time.  I miss writing, and what I love about not sharing this blog with many (I think 3 know about this blog), it frees me to just go on and on about whatever and I don't have to worry about readers. 

It's raining outside, Andres took our two youngest to a birthday party, the movie Julie and Julia is playing in the background, Brie is working on homework, the candle is burning and I just sipped a cup of hot cocoa (via our new Keriug), topped with whip cream.  YUMM......  These are the kind of moments you wish you could take a picture and it really captures the feelings, aromas, and tastes.  We forget really what God provides in moments like these because they're rarely captured for future viewing.  So, maybe the best way to convey is writing about it. 

The Fall is coming and I can almost feel it completely.  Ten degrees lower, a fresh breeze of cool air through the window, and pumpkin patches would make it official.  Oh, how I do love the Fall!  There's something so sweet about it, and I can't quite put my finger on it.  Maybe it's because it's when Andres and I began our courtship and who can forget their first love.  Every girl remembers everything about the first time they truly fell in love.  They remember the weather, smells of perfume, foods they ate, places they visited and the endless conversations into the night (for us, it was to the point of falling asleep on the phone). 

Maybe it's the fact that Fall brings a sense of relief to the heat of the Texas summer.  It takes every ounce out of us Texans when temperatures rise, and the humidity comes.  It's like an added burden when you're already juggling so many things.  There's the kind of summer heat that comes with swimming pools, suntan lotion, hair pulled back and frozen treats (that's at the beginning), and then there's the summer heat that rolls into the late months of summer.  It's like an unwanted visitor that doesn't catch onto the clues of someone wanting it to leave.  Shouldn't summer leave when we put the Fall wreath on the front door, plant our mums and put a pumpkin on front door step?  Those are signs that we're ready for the new season.  I almost feel bad talking about God's creation, but surely He understands that we love our new seasons.

So, with praise, we watch the Fall season roll in, Summer roll out and Thanksgiving around the corner.