Bible Chicks

I think this qualifies as someone we should pray for!
That poor girl is terrified.




ACT! For America Visit our News page

In honor of Nancy who is no doubt praying as she serves her Peru Adventure... (and a shout out to Kelley!)

TEACHER APPLICANT

This is good!!!!! (And soooo true!!!!)

After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective
teacher said "Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into
that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe
them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt
messages, and instill in them a love for learning. You want me to check
their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted
diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride. You want
me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair
play and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.

You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial
behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.
You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their
handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish
or any other language, by letter, telephone , newsletter, and report card.
You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a
bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies
me for food stamps. You want me to do all this and then you tell me. . .

" I CAN'T PRAY ?"

Our intimacy with God -- His highest priority for our lives -- determines the impact of our lives. Genesis 1:26



First, re-write that for yourself.



MY intimacy with God -- His highest priority for MY life -- determines the impact of MY life.

I find that comments and verses mean a lot more and force me to look at them differently when I make them personal. You could even put your name in there and make it really personal.



Bridgette's intimacy with God -- His highest priority for Bridgette's life -- determines the impact of Bridgette's life. You get the picture.



God is a God of relationship. He all by Himself is a relationship (trinity: Father, Son & Holy Spirit). God wants a relationship with you, with me. The bible talks quite a lot about all the things God does that show how much he cares for us. As I write this lots of things come to mind, saving my tears, knowing the number of hairs on my head, the whole salvation thing...

how about just the amount of grace and patience and mercy He gives me every single day. I don't mean in a oh I'm so religious way... but think about it.

I was recently very upset with a situation in a friend's life. It didn't impact me directly, but the main crux of the problem was somebody wasn't living up to their expectations / their obligations and it was having fall out into her life. I was righteously angry. (that's a good kind of angry for the uninitiated). I was also trying very hard not to bad mouth the other person but look for the good there too. (I wasn't quite so successful in this I am sad to say, but that adds to my point.) While thinking about this God did His famous whammy on me and instead of seeing things from my safe and secure position over here out of the way where my motives are (clears throat) pure; God asks, and in what areas are you not living up to your expectations and obligations Bridgette? Who in your life might be feeling the burden your friend is because of the things you don't do? Hmmm, that's a whole lot less "fun'"

This could be one of those instances where I feel like I've been hit in the gut and all the air rapidly leaves my body while I crumple to the floor emotionally. But, this is my God we are talking about. He loves me. He wants what is best for me and I get to choose to see Him that way - which is to see Him truthfully. So when God comes up and asks me a question like: "That person there that you are having such difficulty with? How are you like them? How do you behave that way?" and I am given the gift of additional motivation to work on something I might have previously been content to let sit as is because it's not really bothering me.

The other side of this perspective change is I can then look back at the original problem person and see them differently. Not just see the "bad" they are doing, but see them through the eyes of experience. Yes, that behavior was bad. It was harmful. I often find myself doing similar things because I am feeling selfish though I don't care to call it that. When I look again, I see a human being who is falible and who needs all the same love, mercy and grace that I do. And then I see even more clearly where my relationship with God comes into play.

The closer I am to God, the more He has my ear. The more closely I am able to hear from Him, the more I know what He's going to say, what His desires are in my life. the same way I don't need my close friends to tell every detail of a story for me to understand how they felt in a situation because I know who they are. I want that in my relationship with God. He even makes it easier than that for me...for us. He gave us His Holy Spirit who talks directly to my spirit and goes everywhere with me.

I want to have a life that has impact. Don't you? I really do. Picturing myself looking back on my life; I don't want to have just gone through the motions or gotten through whatever; I want to leave a mark. I want people to remember me yes, but I want people to remember me as a christian. As the song Legacy by Nicole Nordeman goes. (lyrics & song on link).

So end of Life Principle 1: MY intimacy with God -- His highest priority for MY life -- determines the impact of MY life.

Questions:
Do I want to live a life that is fulfilling and significant?
Do I want to make a difference in the world?
Then surrend myself completely to Jesus Christ and ask Him to oepn my hear to His infinite love and mercy.

How will I live this Life Priniciple in my life?
How will I pursue a deeper relationship with God?

Pray asking God to draw me into intimate communion with Himself and to transform my life so that I can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.

Remember:
God loves you and desired your fellowship and worship (Deut 6:5)
God wants my service for Him to be effective and fruitful (John 15:5)
God waits for me to invite Him to bless me (Rev 3:20)

(If you're in a hurry... just read the first bit in pink)

This is a call for you to take responsibility for the laws governing our country. Regarless of how many years we have left on the Christian countdown to heaven, we have a call on our lives to OCCUPY while here. If we don't stand up for Godly values, who will? An easy way to participate is signing up on one of the Christian political action sites available and when you get an email - read it, pray over it, and ACT on it! Your voice does matter. "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." James 5:16b

Hey, if your in-box is anything like mine, you are overwhelmed with opportunities to pray for people you don't know, to forward this email for breast cancer, to boycott XYZ Corporation because of their anti-Christian (or anti-American) ways.

On top of those, you may receive a number of email devotions (because it's such an easy way to get spiritual on the fly), news alerts from at least one source, and "act now" calls from any number of groups you may have at one time been a part of.

You can tell, I get a little tired of all this. I've acted on a few of these emails, became a #1 fan of www.snopes.com to double check validity before forwarding (something I highly encourage you all to do), even had people asking me where to send money but could never read a live person to discuss details of such transactions with.

All this to say... we are called to STAND as Christians. I am not what I would call super political. I tend to vote conservative and believe I have good reasons for doing so, but it is not lost on me that liberal or conservative; we are ultimately dealing with politicians. As I look at the world around me, I see things differently from many in the world because I have a Christian world view. Some things bother me so much I can't think about them. Some make me so angry I want to chew nails. Some I just don't have the energy for, but know I should do something. I know I am not alone in feeling that being politically active is a full time job that practically involves a degree in poly sci not to mention the daily reading of who knows how many publications to stay on top and sift through the truth. It's daunting. I have found myself of late doing the ostrich with my head in the sand thing. It's just too much.

I've actually unsubscribed from several political action sites because I felt there was nothing I could do, or I just got tired of being bombarded by them. Perhaps I've allowed myself to grow cynical.

Though I've unsubscribed, I continue to get some of these emails. I actually think this was God telling me that I don't get to opt out. There is a truly powerful quote from a rabbi that fits this so well.

"It is not up to you to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from trying."

You have an obligation to do what you can.

How is God touching your heart today?

We all struggle with difficult things in our lives at one point or another. Lately, I have found myself a bit shy with God, a little afraid. I truly hate admitting that, but there it is. And this is an odd place for me. It's only part of me that seems to be 'waiting for the other shoe to drop' and the rest of me knows God is good and regardless of where He takes me I'll be ok.

It's also an interesting place to be because traditionally in my life I've not been afraid of trials (for that is what part of me fears). I welcomed them because my life's hindsight shows me how close I am to God during them.

Two friends of mine in particular have really been put through the ringer. Well, that makes it sound past tense and unfortunately, it's not. Without going into extreme detail... we are talking about financial problems out of their control (for the friends of Job in us that means... not their fault) that have brought them to the brink of homelessness... more than once. Having to deny their children things that they really "should have" been able to provide. Devastating illness that will plague a family for months and possibly years to come. Not having money for gas, not having money for food, not having money for Christmas. It's heartbreaking.

I find myself constantly trying to resolve these problems. I think we all do when we hear of people who are struggling in any significant way. Oh... have they tried this? How about that? Truth is... there is little WE can do. These are truly God sized problems. I'm now joking with them saying... "I didn't know you were related to Job." One friend shot back, "Hey, we're all related to him!" eeek (If you don't know Job's story from the Bible that comment will have little significance. So happy reading!)

So, I have no great spiritual understanding to add to this.

Ok, maybe one thing.

When people share their difficulties, I think we should first pray. 2nd. we should continue to pray for them when they come to mind. 3rd. we should ask God if there are ways we can be of assistance -- this would be instead of offering all the solutions that come to mind.

Oh, now I'm thinking... (uh oh) do you think we offer solutions because we trust those more than we trust God? Do we really believe God will resolve the issue at hand? Do we believe that prayer works? That God listens and answers? This is a bit of a challenge for me now. oh, it's that same question that has been with me for decades now.... How Big Is Your God?

God is sufficient for you!

I am praying for all of you, have a wonderful weekend.

(I'm scrapbooking tonight, so my weekend will be GREAT!)

Hello ladies!

It's Be. Light. Thursdays again and this is just a reminder that we will be meeting at Global Café tomorrow at 9:30am.

Please glean your cupboards and bring items to the Café. After we meet in the Café will head over to our Minnie Street Center to pray. Lastly, we will go to have lunch at CPK on Michelson in Irvine, where we’ll pray for our Servers.

Remember, we are going to schedule weekly opportunities to “be light” in our community each Thursday throughout the summer. So, visit our blog to share your stories and find out what’s happening each week!

BLESSINGS OF GOD'S LOVE
Shelly Juskiewicz, Pastor to Women
Women's Website

click here to view this email online

This spoke to me and I think it will speak to several of you as well. The quote from Isaiah kind of stopped me in my tracks. how often is that true of me! Do I have the kind of faith and relationship with God David did, that he honored those put in authority by God, that he was patient enough to let God deal with situations?

Are You Horizontal or Vertical?
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
06-16-2009

"Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight" (Isaiah 5:21).

Many of us have been trained to make decisions and respond to problems in a horizontal way instead of vertical. Operating from a horizontal basis means we try to fix the problem through our own self-efforts by bringing greater pressure upon it through our reasoning or our natural skills. Operating from a vertical position means we are seeking God for the answer and waiting for him to impact the problem. Perhaps it is a spouse who fails to put their clothes away, or a boss who is overly critical, or an employee that you clash with. When we operate horizontally we attempt to shame or coerce the other to change their ways.

God knows the solution to the problem before it ever exists. Our responsibility is to ask God for help to solve the problem and to rely on Him for the outcome. The minute we take on the responsibility, God quietly stands by to let us experience failure until we decide to seek Him for the answer.

One of the best examples of the contrast between a vertical and horizontal dimension in scripture is that of King Saul and David (see 1 Samuel 25). King Saul thought the way to preserve his kingdom was to kill David. While in pursuit of him there were several occasions when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but David chose to wait upon God's timing and await his own deliverance because he understood authority. David had such respect for those who had been put in authority by God over him that he would not take matters into his own hands.

Saul represents the exact opposite of this principle. He thought David was the problem and sought to get rid of him through force. As a result, he lost his kingdom because he chose to rule horizontally instead of vertically under God's rule in his life.

No matter what problem you face today, stay vertical with God.

What word are you a woman of?

Off the top of my head...

• I am a woman of MANY - many words, many emotions
• I am a woman of BUSY - being busy gives me a sense of importance & accomplishment
• I am a woman of ANGER - I hate that this is true, but anger often gets the better of me, wait... rather, I often let anger rule my emotions
• I am a woman of PRAYER - I have recently rekindled my ongoing conversation with God & find myself praising Him for loving me enough to bring me to my knees.

What words define you?

We are called to be Women of the Word... as in Word of God. Scripture. This is important. As I sit here going over your prayer requests & finding scripture that pertains to them I find myself thinking often that there are so many scriptures that apply to each issue. I could fill pages & my issue quickly becomes how to not create a 20 page volume of prayer for one aspect of our lives (ie: your bible study group).

How do we become Women of THE Word?
You know the answer. Quiet time. Devotions. Reading your Bible. MEMORIZING Scripture. Knowing God's will for your life.

YBH?
I heard a teacher once who wrote YBH in her Bible when she agreed with something, but didn't yet know how to put it into practice. Yes, But How?

So, very practically... what are you going to give up? I ask this because we are all busy. We all find things to do with our time. I personally am a huge fan of TV. Yes, I know, not having actual TV/Cable in my home for something like 13 years means I go about it differently, but I have discovered that technology has found many ways to bring this tantalizingly entertaining time waster into my life. (This commercial kind of sums it up). So this past week I've had to look at how I spend my time and let go of some things; re-prioritize.

Make A Decision
Decide that your Bible reading, prayer, quiet time are a priority. Take stock of what you will eliminate in order to capture quality time for you and God. Cutting down or cutting out TV time is an easy answer. Multi-tasking some things could help…like: returning important phone calls on your cell phone while you power-walk or drive. Be creative.

Work particularly on eliminating time wasting, energy sapping activities …as many as you can identify. This will leave enough space for productive, necessary things; leaving you more time to hear what God is saying.

A Blessed New Habit

Restructure your time and you will be blessed going in and blessed going out. (Deut 28:6)
Less stress & more peace will ensue. Remember it takes 30 days to make something a habit so that is your first goal.

You want God's word & prayer to become a natural part of your thinking and your knee-jerk response to any situation.

Knee Jerk Response
I love this... I read it on this blog. Build a knee-jerk response that is Godly. Read & memorize scripture, pray without ceasing, talk with God constantly, meditate on God's word and you will begin to have a different reaction to life.

When fear trys to creep in, you'll banish it by focusing on God.
When anger threatens to take over; you'll call on the Holy Spirit to calm you & give a calm response.
When lonliness wants to befriend you, you'll remember that God is always with you.

Perhaps God will change your heart. You'll look at things differently and see prayers being answered. You'll reach out to others who are going through similar issues. You will start having powerful knee-jerk reactions instead of condemning ones.
Gosh, this is exciting!

Transformation

What we spend our time doing and who we spend our time with will have a profound effect on who we become.

As we spend dedicated time in scripture meditation and in prayer, we are spending time in the presence of the Lord. And, that will determine, more than anything, who we are to be.

(In future days/weeks I am going to be posting selections from pray-the-scriptures.com on prayer, quiet time and drawing close to God)

IF the 90 Day Bible Challenge is too much, I am offering a second opportunity.

Reading the New Testament through in 90 days. (perhaps you'll then want to hit the Old Testament in 90 days after this?!)

GOD'S WORD WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

To read I recommend the following:

1. PRAY! Pray before reading and ask God to reveal Himself to you.
   
2. Just read. Don't try to understand everything you're reading, just read so you can get the whole context of what is being said.
3. Notes: If you come up with questions keep a highlighter or pencil and just mark it in your Bible as you read (FYI: people who write in their Bibles are more holy than people who don't ☺)
4. Distractions: If you are anything like me, you'll be distracted. The world, the enemy, your children, the phone, sleep...anything will attempt to keep you from reading God's word. I have a habit of keeping a separate piece of paper with me to write all the other stuff I have to do that comes to mind while I'm reading or doing my Bible Study (a to do list). Out of my mind, on the paper, then I go right back to reading/studying.
   
5. Want to go Deeper? Use a notebook to write down questions / answers or things to look up later for a better/deeper understanding. There is something special about writing questions down, but I find God answers -- or maybe because I've written it down, I HEAR God's answer, because we know He is faithful!

New Testament in 90 days reading plan = 15 minutes / day! (Whole bible in 90 days reading plan is here)

1. Matthew 1-4
2. Matthew 5-7
3. Matthew 8-10
4. Matthew 11-13
5. Matthew 14-16
6. Matthew 17-19
7. Matthew 20-22 37
8. Matthew 23-25 38
9. Matthew 26-28
10. Mark 1-3
11. Mark 4-6
12. Mark 7-9
13. Mark 10-12
14. Mark 13-16
15. Luke 1-3
16. Luke 4-6
17. Luke 7-9
18. Luke 10-12
19. Luke 13-15
20. Luke 16-18
21. Luke 19-21
22. Luke 22-24
23. John 1-3
24. John 4-6
25. John 7-9
26. John 10-12
27. John 13-16
28. John 16.5-18
29. John 19-21
30. Acts 1-3
31. Acts 4-6
32. Acts 7-9.
33. Acts 10-12.
34. Acts 13-15
35. Acts 16-18
36. Acts 19-21:36
37. Acts 21:37-25:22
38. Acts 25:23-28:30
39. Romans 1-3 40.
40. Romans 4-6 .
41. Romans7-8
42. Romans 9-11
43. Romans 12-13
44. Romans 14-16
45. 1 Corinthians 1-4
46. 1 Corinthians 5-7
47. 1 Corinthians 8-11
48. 1 Corinthians 12-14
49. 1 Corinthians 15-16
50. 2 Corinthians 1-3
51. 2 Corinthians 4-6
52. 2 Corinthians 7-9
53. 2 Corinthians 1-13
54. Galatians 1-2
55. Galatians 3-4
56. Galatians 5-6:4
57. Ephesians 1-3
58. Ephesians 4-6
59. Philippians 1-2
60. Philippians 3-4
61. Colossians 1-2
62. Colossians 3-4
63. 1 Thessalonians 1-3
64. 1 Thessalonians 4-5
65. 2 Thessalonians 1-3
66. 1 Timothy 1-3
67. 1 Timothy 4-6
68. 2 Timothy 1-4
69. Titus 1-3 2
70. Philemon
71. Hebrews 1-2
72. Hebrews 3-4:13
73. Hebrews 4:14-7
74. Hebrews 8-10
75. Hebrews 11-13
76. James 1-3:12
77. James 3:13-5
78. 1 Peter 1-3:7
79. 1 Peter 3:8-5
80. 2 Peter 1-3
81. 1 John 1-3:10
82. 1 John 3-11-5
83. 2 John; 3 John; Jude
84. Revelation 1-3
85. Revelations 4-6
86. Revelations 7-9
87. Revelation 10-12
88. Revelations 13-15
89. Revelation 16-18
90. Revelation 19-22

God's Word does not return void!
Blessings ONYA!

OK, honestly, this IS one of the best devotionals I've read. Short and simple, yet the tone of the devotional seems to get right to the point. I really believe this is an inspired book and would heartily encourage everyone to get a copy!

They are $6 at Family Christian Stores.
(Harbor & Sunflower in strip mall on South side of street)

Here are a couple samples too...

I hope you guys don't mind that I post things from other sites. I can write, but it takes me longer because of the EDITING that needs to occur after. I'm rusty and with my gifting at bureaucracy, I tend to use 1000 words when 10 will do.

Also, why re-invent the wheel when so many gifted people are out there and we can gleen from their lives and penned wisdom. (You know penned will always sound better that typed or blogged...).

This one is Powerful!

Again... Lisa from Proverbs 31 Ministry blesses us...

Francis Frangipane in his book Holiness, Truth, and the Presence of God says, “Anyone can pass judgment - but can they lay down their lives in love, intercession and faith for the one judged? Can they target an area of need and rather than criticizing, fast and pray, asking God to supply the very virtue they feel lacking? And then persevere in that love - motivated prayer until that fallen area blooms in godliness? Such is the life Christ commands we follow!” (pg.11)

Prayer
Dear Lord, may I first fall in repentance into Your loving arms of grace. Thank You for the harsh ways I have been judged and let it open my eyes to this stinging way we women can be. Forgive me for not extending grace at times to others. I am a woman who desperately needs it - so, I should be a woman who freely offers it. When I am tempted to be critical of someone else, help me hold my thoughts and my tongue. Instead of voicing those things, help me bring them to You in honest and heartfelt prayers for that person. May I be one who is so motivated by love, that I will persevere in my prayers for that person until I see You working in glorious ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

The next time I feel critical of someone else, I want an action plan so that I can respond biblically. Don’t you? Why not write out today’s scripture verses on an index card and carry them in your purse. Below the Scriptures write, “Instead of criticizing, I will commit this person to prayer. I will stand in the gap for them with love and persevere in my prayers. I commit to keep my mouth closed but my heart wide open.”

Reflections:

Y How did it feel the last time I was judged by someone?

Y Why not resurrect that stinging feeling each time we are tempted to be harshly critical of someone else? That way the hurt we felt can be put to good use if it prevents us from falling into the trap of judging others.

Power Verses:

1Peter 5: 5-6, “…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.’” (NIV)

Luke 6:37, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (NIV)

And ladies, let's please not be the ones to judge OURSELVES either!

Surfing today took me to a longstanding bookmark Christian Soul Care. (I mean, who wouldn't love that name.) I've long been a fan of true Christian Psychology - people who help others with the understanding of humanity from both a learned/medical approach and from a scriptural one. Cloud & Townsend, New Life Treatment Center, Larry Burkett, even Dr. Dobson and others have blended these two perspectives so well that people can not just grow and understand their behavior, but be set free from the confines of sin in their life. I get excited just thinking about it! (Freedom does that to me.)

So... in looking through the offerings on Christian Soul Care today, I saw a test that Bill (one of the authors) put together. you may not yet know this about me, but I have the "gift of bureaucracy " and part of that gifting is my love of creating forms.

Soooo, all that to say, I took their little test and made it all cool in Excel so that you don't have to add anything up -- it's all self scoring. Too cool. Of course, you still have to actually fill out the answers. Can't help you there. Here's the link...

Image of God Test
It's created in Excel, if you do NOT have excel, here is the version from their website, where I'm afraid you'll have to do the math yourself. :) (or send me the answers and I'll plug them in for you). Printable Image of God Test.

Blessings ONYA!


Thanks to Christian Soul Care for some wonderful work and articles.

OK... so every now and then I really spend time on a website and look at all the stuff a particular ministry has to offer. Apparently, right now that website is In Touch Ministries with Charles Stanley.

I know you all have gobs of extra time in life (insert knowing laugh here) so I am giving you but yet another way to spend all this extra time.

In Touch has what they call Faith Foundations. It's a set of teachings that a Christian should have kind of 'under her belt', things you should know or at least be aware of as we walk this life of faith.

I plan to print one out at a time and read through them. I personally find the best way to do this is to print and keep in my purse. When I'm stuck in bad traffic or at a long light - I'll read. Walking to the bathroom - I'll read (yes, I really do this). Waiting in line or at the doctors office - I'll read. And of course, the ever popular, reading as I fall asleep option.

Now, should you choose to do this, do not think that you are free from doing homework, cuz you're not. I'll bring the ruler along and we'll do that whole Catholic school knuckle slap thing if we have to (evil grin).

Faith Foundations - In Touch Ministries

I realized about a year ago in bible study when one of the women was brave enough to share that God didn't talk to her. Knowing that God did indeed talk to her, I questioned this belief. We came to learn that, as Christians, we speak so often of "God talking" to us that we don't realize not everyone understands "Christianese." This sweet woman was feeling left out because she wasn't literally hearing God's voice.

Since today, God is definitely speaking to me, I wanted to share this with you because I know God is speaking to you as well. Perhaps, you just aren't tuned in to catch the message.

One of the ways God talks to us is in confirmed messages. You'll hear something at church that seems to really hit home. You know it was for you. Later in the week, that same topic will come up again in a discussion with a friend. Perhaps you'll hear another message on the radio or read it in your daily devotions. That is God confirming His word to you. So listen.

That's how I know God is talking to me, and given my position within the group and my affinity for sharing neat and thoughtful things, I know that God is also talking to YOU!

This is a devotion I receive in my inbox daily. I don't always read them, but they are there for me when I have the time to open them.

This was the prayer for today...

Today's Prayer

Good morning, Lord. Thank you for this absolutely beautiful day. God, I need for You to please tell me something. Do I place too much emphasis on my wants? my relaxation time? my family time? my job? anything? Please show me, help me know in my spirit, if there are any "rights" I need to relinquish that may be hindering my freedom to experience Your love and grace. Please help me to balance my time and activities, my desires and needs, my work and play; every area of my life. May You receive all the glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Sound at all like some of the things we covered during last week's study? Hmmmmm.....

I know I received a personal nudge on this in regard to my family. No rebuke, but the idea of not working too hard to put my needs first when my role as a Mom & Wife pretty much require me to relinquish much of my personal space & time - for a season. In the past, I have fought this and found that I was constantly trying to have ME time and never really got it. I see now I "failed" at getting all that me time because it's not there. It just doesn't exist in the life of a Mom with school age kids. God has graciously changed my heart and I am able to see the blessings in this. I am much better at letting go and enjoying the time I have with my family and kids. I still get some time alone every so often and I appreciate it all the more.

I hope this blesses - or challenges - you.

Today we are going to talk about .... Scripture memorization...

Why? I hear you ask.... well...

I cam across this blog... by Beth Moore.

Beautiful design and did ... hey, what is this?
Siesta Scripture Memory team? hmmmm

So I thought... hey... what a great idea! Let's do it too.

I thought we could just follow what Beth has done.

• They do 2 scriptures per month. On the 1st & 15th of each month.
• It's not a scripture I pick, each person will pick their own scripture and then, hopefully, share what scripture they picked with the rest of us (because if it's a good one, I am definitely going to want to memorize that one next).
• Keep all your memorized scripture in a spiral bound 3x5 /index card holder. (what? you say... something like these... which are avail at Target, office supply stores and some grocery stores.
  
  
• If you need help finding a verse, add a comment here with what kind of topic you'd like to cove and I'm sure one of us can come up with something great!

If you'd like to read more about what Beth is doing, her blog is here: LPM

shared by Marla -- so appropriate after our discussion last night!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name"
(Hebrews 13:15, AMP).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

The Bible tells us there are many ways to praise and worship God— but have you ever thought about what it means to offer a sacrifice of praise? It means that we acknowledge God above our circumstances. We live our lives in such a way that we honor and glorify Him no matter what is going on around us. We rejoice in all things.

For example, when somebody offends you and you feel like giving them a piece of your mind, but instead you just smile, do you know what you just did? You were saying with your actions, “I am living at a higher level. I am acknowledging God in every circumstance.” On the freeway, when someone cuts you off and you’re just about to tell them what you think, but instead you look over and smile, that’s giving a sacrifice of praise.

Remember, God promises to dwell among the praises of His people. When you continually offer up praise, you are inviting God’s presence and power into every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I choose to praise and glorify You in all circumstances. Help me, by Your Spirit, to be a light and example to the world around me. Thank You for working in my heart. I bless You today and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

(from Joel Osteen*)
note: please take his teaching under the advisement of Scripture & the Holy Spirit.

Trusting God During Difficult Times
19 May 2009
Susanne Scheppmann

"For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

Horrified, I placed the phone back in its charger. My mind reeled. What could I say to one of my dearest friends after this new tragedy had struck? First, she experienced the loss of a fourteen-year-old son to brain cancer. Now her eldest son, only eighteen, had been discovered mugged and murdered. Incomprehensible.

She asked, "Why?" I had no answer other than, "I don't know, but I cling to the factual knowledge that God is good, regardless. Tragedies in this life are beyond our understanding this side of heaven."

I believe Jesus is good, and that knowledge sings from the depths of my soul. This nugget of truth is more precious than life itself to me. We have been taught and recognize that faith is not something we can necessarily see, hear, feel, taste, or touch. It is stepping out of our comfort zones and trusting God—regardless of how we feel emotionally. The Bible explains, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1, NIV).

The true story of Horatio G. Spafford demonstrates this type of faith in God's goodness. Spafford wrote the familiar hymn, "It is Well with My Soul" in 1872 after his four daughters drowned, soon after his own financial bankruptcy. He, somehow, held onto the fact that despite the outward circumstances, God was good. He wrote, "And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight." He knew that his faith was not in vain, and that someday he would see the meaning and purpose of all the tragedy surrounding his life at that moment.

For myself I think my greatest lesson of faith has been in the acknowle dgement that God is good—all the time. Oswald Chambers wrote, "Faith by its very nature must be tested and tried. And the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character must be proven trustworthy in our own minds."

There will always be moments of uncertainty. I find comfort in the words written by David Jeremiah in My Heart's Desire:

You may sometimes feel awkward and uncomfortable, and find yourself saying, "Is this really true? I don't see anything in it. I don't hear God's voice. I don't feel His presence." There are days like that for all of us. The pursuit of God has no shortcuts. You simply must keep walking, keep seeking, and keep yearning. Keep at it, and you won't be disappointed.

God is good, even as I mourn with my friend. I have witnessed her grief, anger, and doubt. But throughout the passing months, I have watched her cling to Jesus with hands wet wi th tears. My friend believes God is good all the time even when she can't feel it with her emotions. Her faith rests in the fact, "The Lord is good and his love endures forever."

Dear Lord, grant me the faith to know that You are good all the time, even during the most difficult circumstances of this life. When I am weak, lift me up. Enable me to accept the love and comfort from others who love me, but let me rely on Your everlasting love for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Birds in My Mustard Tree by Susanne Scheppmann

Trials for Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life by Janet Eckles

Application Steps:
Memorize one of the Power Verses below to repeat and remind yourself of God's goodness during difficult times in your life.

Reflections:
What situations in my life do I feel are out of my faith-comfort zone? Do I believe that God is good all the time?

Power Verses:
Psalms 91:2, "I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."(NIV)

Deuteronomy 31:8, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (NIV)

Psalms 27:5, "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." (NIV)

© 2009 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Matthews, NC 28105
877-P31-HOME (877-731-4663)

Great thing to print and keep in your Bible!

Question: "What are the attributes of God? What is God like?"

Answer: The Bible, God’s Word, tells us what God is like and what He is not like. Without the authority of the Bible, any attempt to explain God’s attributes would be no better than an opinion, which by itself is often incorrect, especially in understanding God (Job 42:7). To say that it is important for us to try to understand what God is like is a huge understatement. Failure to do so can cause us to set up, chase after, and worship false gods contrary to His will (Exodus 20:3-5).

Only what God has chosen to reveal of Himself can be known. One of God's attributes or qualities is “light,” meaning that He is self-revealing in information of Himself (Isaiah 60:19; James 1:17). The fact that God has revealed knowledge of Himself should not be neglected (Hebrews 4:1). Creation, the Bible, and the Word made flesh (Jesus Christ) will help us to know what God is like.

Let's start by understanding that God is our Creator and that we are a part of His creation (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1) and are created in His image. Man is above the rest of creation and was given dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28). Creation is marred by the fall but still offers a glimpse of God’s works (Genesis 3:17-18; Romans 1:19-20). By considering creation's vastness, complexity, beauty, and order, we can have a sense of the awesomeness of God.

Reading through some of the names of God can be helpful in our search of what God is like. They are as follows:

Elohim - strong One, divine (Genesis 1:1)
Adonai - Lord, indicating a Master-to-servant relationship (Exodus 4:10, 13)
El Elyon - Most High, the strongest One (Genesis 14:20)
El Roi - the strong One who sees (Genesis 16:13)
El Shaddai - Almighty God (Genesis 17:1)
El Olam - Everlasting God (Isaiah 40:28)
Yahweh - LORD “I Am,” meaning the eternal self-existent God (Exodus 3:13, 14).

God is eternal, meaning He had no beginning and His existence will never end. He is immortal and infinite (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17). God is immutable, meaning He is unchanging; this in turn means that God is absolutely reliable and trustworthy (Malachi 3:6; Numbers 23:19; Psalm 102:26-27). God is incomparable; there is no one like Him in works or being. He is unequaled and perfect (2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 86:8; Isaiah 40:25; Matthew 5:48). God is inscrutable, unfathomable, unsearchable, and past finding out as far as understanding Him completely (Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 145:3; Romans 11:33-34).

God is just; He is no respecter of persons in the sense of showing favoritism (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:30). God is omnipotent; He is all-powerful and can do anything that pleases Him, but His actions will always be in accord with the rest of His character (Revelation 19:6; Jeremiah 32:17, 27). God is omnipresent, meaning He is present everywhere, but this does not mean that God is everything (Psalm 139:7-13; Jeremiah 23:23). God is omniscient, meaning He knows the past, present, and future, including what we are thinking at any given moment. Since He knows everything, His justice will always be administered fairly (Psalm 139:1-5; Proverbs 5:21).

God is one; not only is there no other, but He is alone in being able to meet the deepest needs and longings of our hearts. God alone is worthy of our worship and devotion (Deuteronomy 6:4). God is righteous, meaning that God cannot and will not pass over wrongdoing. It is because of God’s righteousness and justice that, in order for our sins to be forgiven, Jesus had to experience God's wrath when our sins were placed upon Him (Exodus 9:27; Matthew 27:45-46; Romans 3:21-26).

God is sovereign, meaning He is supreme. All of His creation put together cannot thwart His purposes (Psalm 93:1; 95:3; Jeremiah 23:20). God is spirit, meaning He is invisible (John 1:18; 4:24). God is a Trinity. He is three in one, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. God is truth, He will remain incorruptible and cannot lie (Psalm 117:2; 1 Samuel 15:29).

God is holy, separated from all moral defilement and hostile toward it. God sees all evil and it angers Him. God is referred to as a consuming fire (Isaiah 6:3; Habakkuk 1:13; Exodus 3:2, 4-5; Hebrews 12:29). God is gracious, and His grace includes His goodness, kindness, mercy, and love. If it were not for God's grace, His holiness would exclude us from His presence. Thankfully, this is not the case, for He desires to know each of us personally (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 31:19; 1 Peter 1:3; John 3:16, 17:3).

Since God is an infinite Being, no human can fully answer this God-sized ques

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tion, but through God’s Word, we can understand much about who God is and what He is like. May we all wholeheartedly continue to seek after Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

Recommended Resource: Knowing God by J.I. Packer.

www.GotQuestions.org

Question: "How do I get the image of God as imposing and angry out of my mind?"

Answer: Perhaps it will help to consider one of the most profound statements in the Bible: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Never was a more important declaration made than this; never was more meaning crowded into a few words than in this short sentence—God is love. This is a profound statement. God doesn’t just love; He is love. His nature and essence are love. Love permeates His very being and infuses all His other attributes, even His wrath and anger. When we see God as angry, it might help to realize that His anger is filtered through His great love.

It might also help to understand that God is never angry with His children, those who have come to Christ in faith for forgiveness of sin. All His anger was directed against His own Son on the cross, and He will never again be angry with those for whom Christ died. The Bible tells us that “God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11), but we who belong to Christ are not “the wicked.” We are perfect in God’s sight, because when He looks at us, He sees Jesus. “For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). All God’s wrath against our sin was poured out on Jesus on the cross, and He simply will not be angry with us ever again if we have placed our faith in Christ. He did this out of His great love for His own.

The fact that God is loving does not cancel out His holy requirement of perfection. However, because He is loving, He sent Christ to die on the cross in our place, and this completely satisfies God’s requirement of perfection. Because He is loving, God provided a way for man to be no longer separated from Him by sin, but to be able to enter into a relationship with Him as a welcome part of God’s family, placed in that family because of the finished work of Christ on the cross (John 1:12; 5:24).

If, even knowing these things, we still see God as angry and imposing, it could be that we are not sure of our own relationship to Him. The Bible encourages us to “examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If we doubt that we truly belong to Christ, we only need to repent and ask Him into our hearts. He will forgive us our sin and give us His Holy Spirit who will live in our hearts and assure us that we are His children. Once we are assured that we are His, we can draw close to Him by reading and studying His Word and by asking Him to show Himself to us as He truly is. God loves each of us and desires to know us in a personal relationship. He has assured us that if we seek Him with all our hearts, we will surely find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). Then we will truly know Him, not as imposing and angry, but as a loving and gracious Father.

Cover of Knowing God

Recommended Resource: Knowing God by J.I. Packer.


www.GotQuestions.org