Like a vapor the Word says of our lives are and lately I feel just like that.
May took me to Israel with Precept Ministries on the trip of a lifetime thanks to a gift from my sweet Mother. She's known how much I wanted to visit there for years and made that possible for me this year.
I can't say this enough - save your money and go - it is safe and every Christian should visit the Holy Land...you will never be the same.
The Bible is alive everytime I read it now...I can picture where we were and the marvelous things I saw and experienced...
June brought Deeper Still to Atlanta with Priscilla Shirer, Kay Arthur and Beth Moore and 19,000 women filled Phillips arena sharing in the Word and hearing from Ms. Kay about where our country is headed if we don't get on our knees and surrender our sin to our Holy God. It was an eye-opening day for many people. I hope that what was heard fell "on ears that will hear". America has fallen in love with sin and it's follies....and God clearly tells us in Ezekiel 14 starting in verse 12:
The word of the Lord came to me. "Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, even if these three men -Noah, Daniel and Job - were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD." you read the remainder of the chapter to find out just how God will deal with a country that sins against Him....
Have we sinned against God? I don't think there are many who would even try to argue that case. It would be fruitless for "truth has stumbled in the streets" in America and we have forgotten how to care for and serve our God and our neighbor. We are murdering innocent babies and calling it choice. We are accepting lifestyles that are an abomination to the LORD according to His Word. We are not loving one another but tolerating each other's behaviors. We are told we are not to judge but God's Word is clear that we will be known by our fruits....
This nation has sinned against God and His Sovereign judgement is upon us. We MUST get on our knees and on our faces and repent to out God for the sins of our nation. Pray for forgiveness, for revival in our hearts and for leaders to take our nation back to the Cross and to live in the resurrection of our LORD. He tells us that even Noah, Daniel, and Job could only save themselves because of their righteousness....where is you righteousness??? Would God see your righteousness???
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
So, where are you focusing all your energy?
Life is too busy....how many times have you heard that? I think it is time to slow down. That is difficult for me with my "D" personality, I love to be in control and love to make things happen. With Spiritual Gifts such as Administration and Leadership - again difficult to sit back and watch things stay undone. Add to that the call of God on your life to minister to and for Women and things get busier....but I think I am learning that it is not all about doing....sometimes we, like Mary, must sit at His feet.
So, how does He get me to sit still? By giving me Bible Studies to lead and knowing I have to be still to hear Him....He knew that I would do that so I could glorify Him with the words of my mouth. Notice: not my words but His Word with my mouth...
Do you glorify His name with His Word from your mouth? I'm trying - failing some but trying more and more to glorify Him with what I say and do. Why is that so important? Because He is God....He is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, the LAMB of GOD who WAS and IS and IS TO COME! Praise be to HIM and to HIS NAME FOREVER and EVER!
Where are you focusing your energy?
So, how does He get me to sit still? By giving me Bible Studies to lead and knowing I have to be still to hear Him....He knew that I would do that so I could glorify Him with the words of my mouth. Notice: not my words but His Word with my mouth...
Do you glorify His name with His Word from your mouth? I'm trying - failing some but trying more and more to glorify Him with what I say and do. Why is that so important? Because He is God....He is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, the LAMB of GOD who WAS and IS and IS TO COME! Praise be to HIM and to HIS NAME FOREVER and EVER!
Where are you focusing your energy?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
What is it all about anyway?
I've been thinking about all that has been done in the Women's Ministry in the past year or so and am amazed at all the different venues, studies, ministries, etc that we have had the privilege to offer other women in our church, from our communities, and in our neighborhoods.
You started Small Groups meeting in homes around Cobb County monthly to discuss "Voices of the Faithful".
The small groups came together Quarterly with lots of good food and put feet to what we had learned about serving others....Cobb Street Ministry cleaning supplies, Church on the Street blankets, hats, gloves for the homeless and a washing machine..Crisis Pregnancy Center clothing and food for the children 2 and under that they support...... We learned more about Cobb Street Ministry from Mrs. Carol Paschal, and more about Church on the Street from Kurt Salierno, more about our mission trip last summer from Lisa Baynes and Peter Cunningham.
We held a Day of Equipping - Women's Workshop on Spiritual Gifts and Prayer.
We participated in a Call to Prayer on Wednesday evenings and opened a new Prayer Toom behind the Worship Center.
You've assisted with everything from Fall Festival to the Veteran's Day Celebration...
You raised money to help provide Bible Study materials for a young soldier's wife in Germany.
You brought in items for Hospital Care Bags...
Hugs - Anne and her ladies are touching lives with cards as they hear of needs...
Kari and her group of fine ladies started 31woman.net - a devotional, focused mealtime once a month in Marietta for lunch and for breakfast...
You brought in back packs and school supplies for the Block Parties the church has.
You learned about Angel Tree and serving the children of prisoners from Mary Kay Beard. Mary Kay also talked to us about forgiveness and bitterness as she shared her remarkable testimony.
You helped send some of our ladies to the Women's Retreats that couldn't afford to go. One of those was Deeper Still in Nashville - what a fabulous time of learning, fellowship and worship....
We had a fabulous time starting our Christmas season with a Brunch and Bazaar where three beautifully talented women of God from RSBC reminded us who are King is....Kim, Mary Ann, and Suzy....then, we assisted with the Hanging of the Green and the beautiful family service that evening.
2008 brought us our first Fun Night and we had a blast in our gym playing games, learning to knit and learning how to arrange flowers....of course, good Southern Women do eat at all events :).
Many of you served refreshments to our Upward Basketball parents and got to know them and their kids.
In February, we honored our Teachers with a Tea.
Last week we honored our LORD with a beautiful Passover Seder.
We've been saying all along that we are reaching women where they are and trying to meet the needs of our women with events or occasions that speak to them and meet a need in their life individually. We don't expect all women to come to everything but we are attempting to offer opportunities to meet the needs of many. Please check out the website for more coming opportunities....
So - what have we covered in our efforts - In-reach, Fellowship, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Definition, Ministry, Missions, and some Out-Reach into our local community..
There have been a lot of wonderful things that have occured from the efforts of our ladies to serve others and I am most thankful for the opportunity that God has granted me to watch and learn and see how He works so intimately. I know that God has softened my heart this year as He has allowed me to be an observer as He works.
Now comes the awesome opportunity to take the next, Biblically appropriate, soul-winning step - Do you ever wonder how you could be a part of sharing Jesus to others? Do you feel like God has bigger people than you, smarter people that you to do that? Let me tell you that God's Word is very clear that we are all to tell the world about Jesus.
Do you talk about spiritual things at work? at school? at the market? Oh, I don't mean beat people over the head but talk in such a sweet, loving, kind way that they ask themselves what is different about you? Do you have your Bible on your table when people walk in? Is God part of your daily vocabulary. Praising Him when someone shares good news; offering to pray right then when they share bad news...
That brings me to this in my thoughts....
PEOPLE SHARING JESUS - is an opportunity that Dr. Easley and Kenn are co-teaching to those of us who come April 20, 21, 22, and 23. Four short evenings that can change your life and save another from eternal damnation...... Can you? Will you join us for this training? Please consider this a personal invitation to be a small part of a life-changing event....put it on your calendar and just do it for God...
When? April 20-23
Where? Roswell Street Baptist Church
Let's fill the house with praying women who want to see changed lives!
You started Small Groups meeting in homes around Cobb County monthly to discuss "Voices of the Faithful".
The small groups came together Quarterly with lots of good food and put feet to what we had learned about serving others....Cobb Street Ministry cleaning supplies, Church on the Street blankets, hats, gloves for the homeless and a washing machine..Crisis Pregnancy Center clothing and food for the children 2 and under that they support...... We learned more about Cobb Street Ministry from Mrs. Carol Paschal, and more about Church on the Street from Kurt Salierno, more about our mission trip last summer from Lisa Baynes and Peter Cunningham.
We held a Day of Equipping - Women's Workshop on Spiritual Gifts and Prayer.
We participated in a Call to Prayer on Wednesday evenings and opened a new Prayer Toom behind the Worship Center.
You've assisted with everything from Fall Festival to the Veteran's Day Celebration...
You raised money to help provide Bible Study materials for a young soldier's wife in Germany.
You brought in items for Hospital Care Bags...
Hugs - Anne and her ladies are touching lives with cards as they hear of needs...
Kari and her group of fine ladies started 31woman.net - a devotional, focused mealtime once a month in Marietta for lunch and for breakfast...
You brought in back packs and school supplies for the Block Parties the church has.
You learned about Angel Tree and serving the children of prisoners from Mary Kay Beard. Mary Kay also talked to us about forgiveness and bitterness as she shared her remarkable testimony.
You helped send some of our ladies to the Women's Retreats that couldn't afford to go. One of those was Deeper Still in Nashville - what a fabulous time of learning, fellowship and worship....
We had a fabulous time starting our Christmas season with a Brunch and Bazaar where three beautifully talented women of God from RSBC reminded us who are King is....Kim, Mary Ann, and Suzy....then, we assisted with the Hanging of the Green and the beautiful family service that evening.
2008 brought us our first Fun Night and we had a blast in our gym playing games, learning to knit and learning how to arrange flowers....of course, good Southern Women do eat at all events :).
Many of you served refreshments to our Upward Basketball parents and got to know them and their kids.
In February, we honored our Teachers with a Tea.
Last week we honored our LORD with a beautiful Passover Seder.
We've been saying all along that we are reaching women where they are and trying to meet the needs of our women with events or occasions that speak to them and meet a need in their life individually. We don't expect all women to come to everything but we are attempting to offer opportunities to meet the needs of many. Please check out the website for more coming opportunities....
So - what have we covered in our efforts - In-reach, Fellowship, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Definition, Ministry, Missions, and some Out-Reach into our local community..
There have been a lot of wonderful things that have occured from the efforts of our ladies to serve others and I am most thankful for the opportunity that God has granted me to watch and learn and see how He works so intimately. I know that God has softened my heart this year as He has allowed me to be an observer as He works.
Now comes the awesome opportunity to take the next, Biblically appropriate, soul-winning step - Do you ever wonder how you could be a part of sharing Jesus to others? Do you feel like God has bigger people than you, smarter people that you to do that? Let me tell you that God's Word is very clear that we are all to tell the world about Jesus.
Do you talk about spiritual things at work? at school? at the market? Oh, I don't mean beat people over the head but talk in such a sweet, loving, kind way that they ask themselves what is different about you? Do you have your Bible on your table when people walk in? Is God part of your daily vocabulary. Praising Him when someone shares good news; offering to pray right then when they share bad news...
That brings me to this in my thoughts....
PEOPLE SHARING JESUS - is an opportunity that Dr. Easley and Kenn are co-teaching to those of us who come April 20, 21, 22, and 23. Four short evenings that can change your life and save another from eternal damnation...... Can you? Will you join us for this training? Please consider this a personal invitation to be a small part of a life-changing event....put it on your calendar and just do it for God...
When? April 20-23
Where? Roswell Street Baptist Church
Let's fill the house with praying women who want to see changed lives!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Focus - Back to the Basics
It is such a blessing to be under the leadership of a Godly man in our church who is leading us "Back to the Basics". You know, that is not just what our church needs but what our country needs. Back to the Basics....
We've walked away from or lost so much of our heritage where we took care of our neighbors needs and made sure that people had a warm place to sleep, food to eat, and someone who just cares. We are so busy getting to every sporting event and every fun!! thing that we can add to our calendars, we don't have time for one another.
Dr. Easley has challenged us as a church to find one or two people to just serve this year. To meet some of their needs. To be there for them when they have a need. To be their friend...to have them over for dinner....to take them to a Doctor's appointment...to share some laughter or a movie or a cup of coffee... to invest in the lives of others I think that simple kind of gesture ignited could set the world on fire.
Could we actually move back away from the "me"/ "it's all about me" mentality in the United States? Can we start seeing those homeless people as people who need something not as people who don't care? Find someone in your neighborhood that you don't know....goodness, I don't know that many and most of mine are family..... we are all so tired and so busy that we just don't invest in each other any more.
When you read the Old Testament and study the children of Israel, God's chosen people, you see that they did everything together. That is how traditions and their heritage were passed along....at the meal table....as they worked side by side to accomplish the greater community good. Today's children don't get to see that any longer and it is so sad to me. We need to begin the movement to pull back from all the entertainment and tickling of our ears to telling the stories of God's people and working together to help one another...
It's what Jesus did....He told us stories that could change our thinking and direct us to the Father and the service of others.....He changed people's lives reaching into their worlds and making things better with a touch....
Who will you serve this year?
People who really stop to serve one another...please, mam, you go ahead in line....can I help you with that....hey, how about a cup of coffee and elt's chat - what's going on in your world....how can I pray for you?.....
We've walked away from or lost so much of our heritage where we took care of our neighbors needs and made sure that people had a warm place to sleep, food to eat, and someone who just cares. We are so busy getting to every sporting event and every fun!! thing that we can add to our calendars, we don't have time for one another.
Dr. Easley has challenged us as a church to find one or two people to just serve this year. To meet some of their needs. To be there for them when they have a need. To be their friend...to have them over for dinner....to take them to a Doctor's appointment...to share some laughter or a movie or a cup of coffee... to invest in the lives of others I think that simple kind of gesture ignited could set the world on fire.
Could we actually move back away from the "me"/ "it's all about me" mentality in the United States? Can we start seeing those homeless people as people who need something not as people who don't care? Find someone in your neighborhood that you don't know....goodness, I don't know that many and most of mine are family..... we are all so tired and so busy that we just don't invest in each other any more.
When you read the Old Testament and study the children of Israel, God's chosen people, you see that they did everything together. That is how traditions and their heritage were passed along....at the meal table....as they worked side by side to accomplish the greater community good. Today's children don't get to see that any longer and it is so sad to me. We need to begin the movement to pull back from all the entertainment and tickling of our ears to telling the stories of God's people and working together to help one another...
It's what Jesus did....He told us stories that could change our thinking and direct us to the Father and the service of others.....He changed people's lives reaching into their worlds and making things better with a touch....
Who will you serve this year?
People who really stop to serve one another...please, mam, you go ahead in line....can I help you with that....hey, how about a cup of coffee and elt's chat - what's going on in your world....how can I pray for you?.....
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Women's Ministry
Well, it's been about a year since we started working from the mission that God gave us. I guess it's time to reflect on those things that fulfilled that mission and those that did not....weeding out those that didn't.
In our Mission Statement, we said that we were committed to supporting the mission of Roswell Street Baptist Church by Exalting the Savior, Evangelizing the Sinner, and Equipping the Saints. I believe we haev engaged in all three at some level over the past year.
We also said "our mission is to meet women where they are, developing relationships, telling them the good news and preparing them for Christian living through discipleship." I believe we have begun this good work to honor the Kingdom and to honor God but "begun" is the operative word. There is so much more to be done.
We've become comfortable in our safe environment but Carol Paschal and Kurt Salierno have challenged us to get out of our comfort places by supporting homeless. Our Pastor has encouraged us to reach out to the families from Upward Basketball; many don't have church homes or families in the area and might need a new friend or two. We are being discipled by excellent Bible teachers and our Pastor but now it is time for us to disciple, as well.
What are your plans to serve God and another person or couple this year? Have you prayed about the person or people you are to serve in 2008 as our Pastor has challenged us to do? It is time to find out who we are in Christ, how to disciple another for Him, and who to serve in 2008 before this month is over. Answer the call. God's call on your life......
In our Mission Statement, we said that we were committed to supporting the mission of Roswell Street Baptist Church by Exalting the Savior, Evangelizing the Sinner, and Equipping the Saints. I believe we haev engaged in all three at some level over the past year.
We also said "our mission is to meet women where they are, developing relationships, telling them the good news and preparing them for Christian living through discipleship." I believe we have begun this good work to honor the Kingdom and to honor God but "begun" is the operative word. There is so much more to be done.
We've become comfortable in our safe environment but Carol Paschal and Kurt Salierno have challenged us to get out of our comfort places by supporting homeless. Our Pastor has encouraged us to reach out to the families from Upward Basketball; many don't have church homes or families in the area and might need a new friend or two. We are being discipled by excellent Bible teachers and our Pastor but now it is time for us to disciple, as well.
What are your plans to serve God and another person or couple this year? Have you prayed about the person or people you are to serve in 2008 as our Pastor has challenged us to do? It is time to find out who we are in Christ, how to disciple another for Him, and who to serve in 2008 before this month is over. Answer the call. God's call on your life......
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
What Gift will you give?
I have to tell you this past weekend was wonderful in the life of Roswell Street Baptist Church. Our church family began this wonderful season of celebrating the life of Christ with our Women's Brunch and Bazaar focusing on supporting the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Kim Buckner, Mary Ann Baker, and Suzy Thrasher all blessed us with the message of Christmas through their sharing of Christmas Tradition and their beautiful voices. How blessed are we to have such talent and willingness to use their gifts to Honor the King of Kings!
Spiritual Gifts have been on my mind a lot lately. Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? I recently heard it described in a really easy way to understand. The Spiritual Gifts we have are usually strongest in a few areas, making it easy for the Body of Christ to work together as one. It's like going to a Covered Dish Dinner, where you get a little of this and a little of that on your plate but you get a little more of some others.....that's a picture of our spiritual gift. Pastor James MacDonald recently preached a series on "Finding Your Place" that I get on my podcast and he speaks about how important the balance of gifts is in the Body of Christ. He is so right. If we had a church where the gift of mercy was all we had, we would be floating in tears. The gift of mercy is important but it has to be balanced with the other gifts. If we had a church full of the gift of prophecy, we would have parched ground as the prophets speak so frankly about what they see and understand. There has to be balance.
The problem comes when people do not use their gifts in His service. I keep finding that there are so many of us that don't understand what our gifts are. We have a wonderful opportunity to learn about our Spiritual Gifts at RSBC through Place Ministries. Take advantage of that resource to learn about all the spiritual gifts, take a survey that will help point you in the right direction, and most of all, roll up your sleeves and go to work in the church. If it is your giftedness, you will know because you find in fulfilling and you are not stressed over and you will hear compliments from others. If you wind up serving in an area that is not your gift, don't give up - keep trying different things until you know....
I'm beginning to think the greatest gift you could give this Christmas season is using your Spiritual Gifts in service to Christ the King!
This Sunday is our Missions Sunday where our goal is $390,000 from our church family for Missions this next year. Consider giving in honor of someone else this year and send that person a card telling them you made that offering in their name as their Christmas Gift....what a wonderful gift to give when we have so much and missionaries around the world have the opportunities to give eternal life through their sacrificial service....
Spiritual Gifts have been on my mind a lot lately. Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? I recently heard it described in a really easy way to understand. The Spiritual Gifts we have are usually strongest in a few areas, making it easy for the Body of Christ to work together as one. It's like going to a Covered Dish Dinner, where you get a little of this and a little of that on your plate but you get a little more of some others.....that's a picture of our spiritual gift. Pastor James MacDonald recently preached a series on "Finding Your Place" that I get on my podcast and he speaks about how important the balance of gifts is in the Body of Christ. He is so right. If we had a church where the gift of mercy was all we had, we would be floating in tears. The gift of mercy is important but it has to be balanced with the other gifts. If we had a church full of the gift of prophecy, we would have parched ground as the prophets speak so frankly about what they see and understand. There has to be balance.
The problem comes when people do not use their gifts in His service. I keep finding that there are so many of us that don't understand what our gifts are. We have a wonderful opportunity to learn about our Spiritual Gifts at RSBC through Place Ministries. Take advantage of that resource to learn about all the spiritual gifts, take a survey that will help point you in the right direction, and most of all, roll up your sleeves and go to work in the church. If it is your giftedness, you will know because you find in fulfilling and you are not stressed over and you will hear compliments from others. If you wind up serving in an area that is not your gift, don't give up - keep trying different things until you know....
I'm beginning to think the greatest gift you could give this Christmas season is using your Spiritual Gifts in service to Christ the King!
This Sunday is our Missions Sunday where our goal is $390,000 from our church family for Missions this next year. Consider giving in honor of someone else this year and send that person a card telling them you made that offering in their name as their Christmas Gift....what a wonderful gift to give when we have so much and missionaries around the world have the opportunities to give eternal life through their sacrificial service....
Friday, October 12, 2007
So, why do we study the Bible?
Do you? study the Bible?.... There was a time in my Christian life when Bible Study meant nothing to me, well... not a lot. I guess as a young Christian I either was not discipled to be in the Word and thought listening to the sermon on Sunday morning was good enough and then when I went to Sunday School....well, I was doing real good. Twice in a week I had been in the Bible. Although both of those are good and they give you the perspective of the preacher/teacher at least 52 times a year. Don't get me wrong, I believe that my Pastor and Sunday School teacher are annointed by God and the spirit of God in them teaches me a lot. But, there are a lot more days in the year and a lot more Bible that could be covered and should be covered by me. As one of my heroes in the Faith, Kay Arthur, teaches us we should discover God's truth for ourselves, in context.
I'm not sure quite how long ago (you know, some of us women measure time by our children's lives - so I don't remember which one was a baby, but one of them was), I had been back in church for a while and trying to walk the right way when I attended a Women's Retreat in Helen Georgia held by the women of our church. Our teacher for the weekend was Patti. She was one of the sweetest, most gentle women I had ever met and genuine in every way. She taught me that weekend about the "imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God" from 1 Peter 3:4. I was astonished...I had never heard that scripture. That weekend I realized that being raised in church did not make me someone who understood the Word of God. I prayed that weekend for God to give me a hunger for His Word that I might know how He wished me to live.....it has been a wonderful journey of learning who He is and who I am in Him. My prayer for you is that you join me on the journey.
So, why do we study the Word? Here are a few reasons straight from the Word:
God's Word gives us faith:
So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ Romans 10:17
God's Word gives us profit:
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 2 Tim 3:16
God's Word gives us joy:
Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16
God's Word gives us success:
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Joshua 1:8
God's work gives us victory and strength over temptation:
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping {it} according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precept. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your words And regard Your ways. Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.
Psalm 119: 9-18
God's Word gives us direction:
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
God's Word gives us peace
"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 Peace
God's Word gives us value:
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Psalm 19:7-10
(all the emphasis is mine)
I heard James MacDonald preach on this from a podcast this morning. It made me stop and reflect again on the importance of the Word of God in my heart...... In fact, it has been with me all day and now I get to share it with you during lunch.
Where are you in the Word? Time to get on the train girlfriend and learn the Word, put it in your heart and in the hearts of your children - not just on Sunday but every day of the week...who has time for that you ask? God will find you the time if you will be faithful. He is worth spending more time reading His love letter to you....
I'm not sure quite how long ago (you know, some of us women measure time by our children's lives - so I don't remember which one was a baby, but one of them was), I had been back in church for a while and trying to walk the right way when I attended a Women's Retreat in Helen Georgia held by the women of our church. Our teacher for the weekend was Patti. She was one of the sweetest, most gentle women I had ever met and genuine in every way. She taught me that weekend about the "imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God" from 1 Peter 3:4. I was astonished...I had never heard that scripture. That weekend I realized that being raised in church did not make me someone who understood the Word of God. I prayed that weekend for God to give me a hunger for His Word that I might know how He wished me to live.....it has been a wonderful journey of learning who He is and who I am in Him. My prayer for you is that you join me on the journey.
So, why do we study the Word? Here are a few reasons straight from the Word:
God's Word gives us faith:
So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ Romans 10:17
God's Word gives us profit:
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 2 Tim 3:16
God's Word gives us joy:
Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16
God's Word gives us success:
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Joshua 1:8
God's work gives us victory and strength over temptation:
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping {it} according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precept. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your words And regard Your ways. Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.
Psalm 119: 9-18
God's Word gives us direction:
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
God's Word gives us peace
"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 Peace
God's Word gives us value:
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Psalm 19:7-10
(all the emphasis is mine)
I heard James MacDonald preach on this from a podcast this morning. It made me stop and reflect again on the importance of the Word of God in my heart...... In fact, it has been with me all day and now I get to share it with you during lunch.
Where are you in the Word? Time to get on the train girlfriend and learn the Word, put it in your heart and in the hearts of your children - not just on Sunday but every day of the week...who has time for that you ask? God will find you the time if you will be faithful. He is worth spending more time reading His love letter to you....
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