Bible Study Day 2

Read: Luke 1:26-38
Soap: Luke 1:37-38

S-For with God nothing is impossible. And Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And the angel departed from her.

O-NKJV   1) For with God nothing is impossible
               2) Be it unto me according to thy word
    NIV     1) For no word from God will ever fail
               2) May your word to me be fulfilled
    NLT    2) May everything you have said about me come true

What a great testimony of faith!

A-1) I need to have a faith like that. I am going to add to my daily remembrance that nothing is impossible with God.
   2) Facing uncertainty about the future, I need to trust God and say, "Be it unto me according to your word!"

P-Father,
I thank you for the great things to come in Kevin's job situation. Be it unto him according to your word. I know that nothing is impossible with you! In Jesus Name, AMEN!

Trust

Trust...this seems to be the theme for our lives right now.

Trust...believing that God's ways are higher than my ways, that His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.

Trust...believing in all things He will work for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

Trust...believing that He knows the plans He has for me and they are plans to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me hope and a future.

Trust...laying down all the cares of the world that choke me and follow Him.

It was amazing to see the parable of the sower in light of my relationship with God. As I allowed myself to be completely honest with myself, I found I am much like the soil of hearing God's word and receiving it joyfully, but in time allowing the cares of this world and the pull of possessions to choke me. It just hit me like a ton of bricks that when the cares of life over take me, I try to work it out myself. I try to make my own plan and in doing so, I follow my own path and am not following Jesus. Yes, I am saved, but I am not trully following Him. Following Him means to lay these cares and worries down, trust Him to follow His path, His way. He will take care of these worries. I don't have to work and fight these cares on my own. Yes, life is hard, but it doesn't have to be as hard as I make it, if I trust Him to be everything I need. Right now, I am needing Him more than ever before. I am learning to trust Him more. I am learning to wait patiently and often quietly. I am learning that my best laid plans will crumble beneath the weight of His perfect plan. His plan is greater than anything I could ever dream up, and I must remind myself of that even when I don't understand what is going on.

Trust...in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Reference: Isaiah 55:9, Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 13:22

New Year, New Bible Study Session!

I have several goals for this year: personal, marriage, mothering, homemaking, ministry and financial goals. One of the goals is to blog twice a month...I may be doing that a little more these next few weeks as I use my blog to try to connect with my Bible study group. I am going to post my Bible study observations and applications each Mon-Fri through the rest of January to stay accountable. We connect through a private group on Facebook. I won't be utilizing Facebook until February. My husband and I have been taking a much needed break. It has been a blessing to refocus on the important things without all the nagging distractions.

So today begins my Bible study entries. Our Bible Study is through Good Morning Girls, titled Living Like Jesus. We are studying Luke 1-8. I use the SOAP method that was introduced to me through Good Morning Girls. It has helped me so much in learning to study the Bible. For more information, check out the Good Morning Girls blog here.

*Note-I read my passages in NKJV, NIV and NLT. In my observations, there may be a mix of those three. I will note which version I used.

S-Luke 1:1-4

O-Luke-having had perfect understanding of all things
Written for Theophilus to have certainty of those things he has been instructed

A-I can take these accounts at face value, since these were firsthand accounts. I need to read his word for myself so that I, too, can be certain of those things I have been taught. (NKJV)

P-God, I want to know you in a new and refreshing way, I want to follow you, your word, and not man. Though there are great teachers, I can not replace reading your word and knowing you personally with great teaching. Speak to me God. I wait for you and am listening, Amen!

I'm Thankful For: Extended Family

I am so thankful for all of our family-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. I love all my family, both my mom's and dad's side and my family on Kevin's side. I feel so blessed to have such a great heritage and to know that Katelyn is apart of that line, too. I'm so thankful she is loved and we are loved. We know we have the support of family and that is such a comfort and blessing. Today was a great day and we got to see some family we haven't seen in awhile. I am thankful to have gotten to share this day with all the family that could come and missed the ones we didn't get to see. They are always in our hearts. We are blessed!

I'm Thankful For: Rest

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

 

 

I am thankful for a good night's sleep. I don't always have them, when my mind is racing or when fear creeps over me. But when I do, I am so thankful for the rest and I am thankful for when I am struggling to sleep, I can pray and remember the above scripture and many more. He has helped me so many nights. I am thankful for the rest He provides!

I'm Thankful For: Clothing

I'm thankful my family and I have clothes to wear when it is hot, cold, rainy or snowy. I am thankful we don't have to worry about what we are going to wear because we have not. It is not always easy to fill a closet, but God always provides. I'm so thankful He takes care of all of our needs.

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Matthew 6:28-30

I'm Thankful For: My New Church Family

I have old church family that I love dearly. I just wanted to say that first. I am so thankful for all the people in our past. I am thankful for all the leadership we have been under that has helped to bring us where we are today. But today, was just a fantastic day with my new church family that I had to dedicate this post to them. I don't know all of them yet. I can't wait to get to know them. I actually came into this church with the mindset that I wasn't there to make friends. I was just there for Jesus. I even told God that and, well, never tell Him you aren't going to do something. We have become more involved than I ever wanted to be and I have fallen in love with my church family. I am so proud to be apart of this church and to serve alongside them. I'll admit there were a few times in the beginning that I sat in the worship service and just cried thinking, "What in the world am I doing here!" I just felt out of place, but in all honesty it had been so long since I allowed myself to step into His presence. It makes me sad to think that my problem was I wasn't as familiar with Him as I use to be and that was because I grew distant from Him. I hadn't drawn near to Him in so long. I just felt so unworthy and so ashamed and it took awhile to feel comfortable again in His presence, to feel comfortable enough to lift my hands, to no longer hold the tears back and let them flow from a heart of gratefulness. I am so thankful to this church for helping me to draw near again. I am far from where I want to be, but I feel I am far from where I use to be in just a short few months. I have Calvary Assembly of God to thank for that. There are times my mind is flooded with thoughts of, "What have you gotten yourself into," "You don't belong here," "You are just making a fool of yourself." But then I come into this church and there is always someone there who encourages me and they don't even know the battle I had been going through. They keep me going. I wish they knew just how much they mean to me. I am thankful to have been picked up, dusted off and given marching orders. We sat on the sidelines to rest for a season. I think that season had been over for while, but now we are back in the game and I am proud to be apart of this team.