He starts with the reminder that their strength and power must come from the Lord. However, it’s the next phrase that captured my attention though –
Trusting the God of the Impossible
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 I’ve had some twist and turns lately that have caused me to remember these words from Proverbs chapter three. Words that instruct the child of God to trust in Him…
The Restorative Character of God
If we are honest with ourselves, we will acknowledge that we sometimes feel as though our life has seen destruction and that we are defenseless and in need of God’s protection but cannot see it.
From Broken to Restored
“he was desirous, if not determined, to turn the people’s hearts to God. “
Are You Prepared?
Reevaluate from time-to-time to make sure your armor hasn’t grown rusty or weak. Remember, because the battle is spiritual and not physical, we will only be able to survive the battle if we are armed for the battle with God’s armor.
Honoring the Sabbath
Jesus showed us a different way. He showed the religious leaders and His followers the true intent of the law: to provide a time of rest and celebration for God’s people.
Purpose Matters
Jesus’ anger wasn’t just about Him not liking what they were doing. It was about His jealousy for God and what they were taking away from Him.
If you or anyone else you know ever wants to know why reading the Bible is so important – here’s the answer. It is inspired by God for the purpose of empowering and equipping those who are dedicated to God for “every good work”. Paul breaks it down to Timothy like this, God’s Word is able to …
Investing
based on the LGG Study, From Broken to Restored / W5D4 Scripture: Nehemiah 12:44-47; Leviticus 7:28-36 / SOAP: 1 Timothy 5:17-18 Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching. For the scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading…
REJOICE!
based on the LGG Study, From Broken to Restored/w5d3 Nehemiah12:27-43 / SOAP: Nehemiah 12:43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard from far away. Nehemiah 12:43 “Lift up your heart,Lift up your…
Doing Good
If we’re honest in answering this question we will have to admit the answer is simply – because it isn’t always easy, desirable, or appreciated by others. We will be tempted to pay more attention to our own needs and desires and time schedules or whatever/whoever is vying for our attention; not to mention, we will literally be tired and not want to take the time to “do good.”
The Heart’s Treasure
Whole-hearted, God first devotion comes from God being first in our thoughts and lives.
In My Blood
based on the LGG Study, From Broken to Restored / w4d5 Scripture: Nehemiah 9:38-10:27; Jeremiah 31:31-33; Luke 22:14-20 / SOAP: Luke 22:19-20 Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And in the same way…
A God of Forgiveness
based on the LGG Study, From Broken to Restored / w4d4 Scripture: Nehemiah 9:5-37 / SOAP: Nehemiah 9:16-17 “But they—our ancestors—behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments. 17 They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their…
Conviction, Confession, Forgiveness
based on the Love God Greatly study, From Broken to Restored / w4d3 Scripture: Nehemiah 9:1-4; Leviticus 26:39-45 / SOAP: 1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 All of our passages in today’s study reveal the seriousness that…
Remember
We need to remember what He has done, celebrate it, and teach future generations about His faithfulness. – LGG Team
No Longer Condemned
We no longer face the condemnation that that law pronounced – because Christ took it for us when He was condemned on the cross in our place. – Why?
The Proof is in the Details
– only those who could prove their lineage were allowed to live in the city.
A Steadfast Hope
based on Love God Greatly’s study, From Broken to Restored / w3d4 Scripture: Nehemiah 6:15-19; Job 42;2; Psalm 37:22-24 “I know that you can do all things;no purpose of yours can be thwarted; Job 42:2 In all of his loss and pain, in all of his emotions and questions and conversations following the devastation that…
The Power of God’s Word
based on Love God Greatly, From Broken to Restored / w3d3 Scripture: Nehemiah 6:10-14; Psalm 119:9-16 / SOAP Psalm 119:10-11 With all my heart I seek you.Do not allow me to stray from your commands.In my heart I store up your words,so I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:10-11 In the continuing story of Nehemiah…
Knowing When to Say No
The word Nehemiah was doing was important because it was honoring God.
Faithful
Nehemiah chose to honor God with a life of faithfulness and God blessed him for it.
Staying Focused
Knowing His Word is the only way we can be sure that what we are asked to do is from Him.
Righteous Anger
Nehemiah was angry at a situation and actions that were not pleasing to God
Be Gracious
based on the Love God Greatly Study, From Broken to Restored / w2d4 Scripture: Nehemiah 5:1-5; Deuteronomy 23:19-20; Proverbs 3:27/ SOAP: Proverbs19:17 The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 19:17 So what does it mean to be gracious to the poor? According to some translations…
ased on the Love God Greatly Study, From Broken to Restored / w2d3 Scripture: Nehemiah 4:15-23 / SOAP: 1 Peter 5:8-11 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same…
Don’t Let the Enemy Deter You
The enemy pursued their quest of stopping the rebuilding of the all, and what did Nehemiah do? He prayed.
Seek God
When we are distressed by the evil of this world or the personal attacks/battles of life — the first thing we should do is – SEEK GOD! He is our faithful deliverer.
Project: Rebuild and Restore
whether family units or priests, temple servants, goldsmiths, or inexperienced people – they came – one after another after another – and worked together to rebuild the walls.
Let’s Rebuild
The beauty and example for us is that Nehemiah paid no attention to them but sought and followed God faithfully.
The Best You Can
Surely no reward or praise that man may give can be better than the inheritance of eternal life with our God.
Waiting is Difficult
Are you waiting on something? Whether it is God’s promised return or a job, marriage, a house, a child or perhaps God’s healing hand on you or someone you know – waiting is difficult.
Wholehearted Engagement
I love the profound yet simplistic passages like this. David, the Psalmist, uses the if this, then that process, which is very much how my brain works. He gives us four directives:
Impossible Made Possible
From the virgin birth of Christ and His victory over the grave – to the doubts and fears and temptations we face daily – nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible with God.
Live Out Loud
Today’s Verse: James 2:17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. I was saved at a young age and I have witnessed God strengthening my faith through the years. Actually, He continues to strengthen it day by day, trial by trial, miracle by miracle,…
Alive and Active
Today’s Verse: Hebrews 4:12 When life seems devoid of hope – He is a well-spring of life – just as water is a source of life for the deer. Hebrews 4:12 One of the ways I see God’s goodness is the way He uses His Word to guide us, teach us, and correct us. He…
The Pursuit of His Presence
When life seems devoid of hope – He is a well-spring of life – just as water is a source of life for the deer.
Living While We Wait
Our verse today speaks hope to this anxiety and promise that graces us with the strength to go on living – despite the wait.
The World-vs-Your Soul
-the danger comes when our motive is based on what the world offers or says is best rather than on the reality of what God has given us.
Created for Good Works
God is intimately involved in our lives – from birth to rebirth and even to death – as we know that You alone have “numbered our days –
Wonderfully Made
I don’t know about you, but I find myself seeking His mercies and strength more and more as I weather the consequences of the lack of self care and/or good habits, or simply the aging process on this earthly body.
Safe in His Shadow –
In these TRUTHS I find HOPE and JOY and STRENGTH! In these TRUTHS, I find PEACE and REST, knowing that I am safe in His shadow.
Your Victorious Right Hand
Have you ever wondered just how personally God is involved in your life?
The Spirit God Gave
Timothy had no reason to be timid for he had been empowered to live out His calling. The same is true for us today.
Through Him…I Can
Through Christ You empower me to live – to endure – and to walk in confident HOPE that all of Your promises are “Yes and Amen in Him” who has overcome the grave; and through whom I can do all things!
Jesus – The Anchor of Our Hope
God’s Word makes it clear that Jesus is our Anchor; and equally clear, that in the midst of life’s storms and trials our Anchor holds secure!
The Focus of Our Hope
The focus of our hope is vital to our endurance. This is made clear by Paul’s words to Timothy. He doesn’t just give instructions about not setting their hope on riches (things, desires, treasures) of this world that are “uncertain” – but…
Endure Suffering …
Paul basically makes a list of things that Christians should do, or ways they should live, in order to please God.
True Hope
God is the only one who gives me hope.
Even If
I believe our remedy to maintaining our hope is found in not only knowing who our God is but in remembering who He is.
Jars of Clay
“Paul’s heart was the vessel that God had shown His light in. The same is true of everyone who names the name of Christ today, and according to Scripture, we too, have been given the mission to carry this Gospel message to the world.”
The Privilege of Prayer
Praying offers us the opportunity to rejoice in what God does and allows us to be a part of His work.
There are many lessons packed into these three small verses, like how Jesus is the pioneer of our faith, meaning He led the way or set the example for the life of faith He has called us to live.
Don’t Throw It Away!
Endurance accompanies a steadfast hope.
Building Your Endurance
You see, we can work out every day to build up our physical strength and endurance, but if we don’t use the muscles we’ve worked out we will never progress. The same is true spiritually. If we are not
Faith is the Victory
While these are all awe-inspiring and certainly stood out to me it was the statement about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthath, and David, and Samuel, and the Prophets that I found captivating and a wonderful picture of the power that moves when we live by FAITH!
A Touch – A Cloak – And Faith
Hope surged within her, believing if she could just touch His robe, she would be healed. In desperation she made her way through the crowd and reached out from behind him –
Contentment in God or …?
as the years went on I would “act out”, so to speak. I would chase after other things that I believed could satisfy – for somewhere in my mind I had traded hope in God for hope in my circumstances.
When God Remembers
Because God’s power and love are seen in His Word I can endure the times of waiting and unfulfilled desires with Hope.
A Faith that Presses On
The same is true for us today, for when we walk by faith and not by sight, placing our trust in Jesus, we are made right with God – no longer His enemies but the children He, by grace, adopts as His own.
Confident Expectation
Based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope, w3,d4 Today’s Reading: Titus 3:3-8 / SOAP: Titus 3:7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” Titus 3:7 Because Jesus made us right with God – who saved us by His grace – we have become…
The Salvation of Your Souls
Based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope, w3d2 Today’s Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9 / SOAP: 1 Peter 1:8-9 You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, because you are attaining the goal of your faith—the salvation of your…
Strangers and Enemies
You see, we are born sinners, strangers and enemies of God; and because He is a holy God we are separated from him by our evil (unholy) thoughts and actions.”
When Hope Is No Hope At All
The Gospel Paul preached was: Christ crucified, dead and buried, and raised from the dead. It is this Gospel that has the power to save …
Comfort in Trouble
It is obvious that the Psalmist puts much weight into God’s Word
His Loyal Love Endures
Enduring Hope, An LGG Study / Week 2 Hope In GOd’s Character Today’s Reading /Psalm 136 / SOAP Psalm 136:23-26 to the one who remembered us when we were down,for his loyal love endures,24 and snatched us away from our enemies,for his loyal love endures,25 to the one who gives food to all living things,for his loyal…
The Goodness of God
Consider this, not only had God provided Naomi with a guardian, He was continuing to carry out His plan to gift us with a Savior! – Oh the vast, immeasurable goodness of God!
Hope in the Lord
Enduring Hope, An LGG Study / Week 2 Hope In God’s Character Today’s Reading / Psalm 31 / SOAP Psalm 31:24 So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalm 31:24 Sadly, we live in a fallen world. We live in a world where we have to call out to the…
Made Like Christ
Everyone who has this hope focused on Him – purifies himself, just as Jesus in praying
His Love Never Fails
It is a visible love that speaks volumes of how secure our Hope is in Christ.
Hope Deferred
I believe the answer lies in whether we want our desire more than we want God’s will and His perfect timing.
Saved in Hope
Father, help us to wait patiently for the hope-filled promise of 4-ever with You!
Sickened by Lies
Enduring Hope, An LGG Study / Week 2 Hope In GOd’s Character Today’s Reading /Psalm 77 / SOAP Psalm 77:10-13 Then I said, “I am sickened by the thoughtthat the Most High might become inactive.11 I will remember the works of the Lord.Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago.12 I will think about all you…
Suffering Produces Hope
if I had to sum it up today as we begin – I would use the phrase “life-changing”.
Enduring Hope
Join me for the journey through the LGG Study, Enduring Hope
Listen With More Than Your Ears
Just as God patiently listens to our prayers with His heart of compassion, we must learn to listen with more than our ears.
It’s Tricky
just because you like words doesn’t mean you always use them well.
God’s Way of Listening
One of the greatest privileges afforded to those who have placed their faith in Jesus is the opportunity to take the concerns of our heart to the Father.
Be A Good Listener
It is also vital to not just listen to others but we must learn the art of listening and practice it faithfully.
The Art and Importance of Listening
How important is it for a follower of Jesus to be a good listener?
When I Remember
I am reminded this morning that one of the many facets of Your goodness is Your faithfulness – indeed Your Great Faithfulness!
These Stones Remind Us
He wanted the people to have a visual reminder of His past faithfulness. God wanted the people to have a way to endure their present and future struggles based on His character and not their feelings.
Spur One Another On
Now listen to what the Bible says about the Christian community: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
The Great Commission
It’s important to note that Jesus had been the teacher up to this point, and to remember that His teaching involved mentoring, training, explaining, and modeling matters of faith.
Love and Honor
We talk so much about loving others that the ‘lesson’ can sometimes become old or stale and easy to brush off.
It’s A Gift
“Everyone — from our sister to a stranger — is deserving of compassion.”
The Impact of God’s People
God’s people are important to His process of calling others to Himself.
Prioritizing
Life isn’t about us. It is about God and loving others more than anything or anyone else. It is about obedience that flows from “TRUE” and unadulterated love for God and others.
I Bless Your Name
You are good and all that is within me blesses Your Holy Name!
CALLED BY YOUR NAME
A page from my journal –
Encouraging Others
taking the time to consider how we can encourage others. Note the clarification the author makes, we are to encourage each other specifically toward acts of love and good deeds.
Love that Covers a Multitude of Sins
It is difficult for sin and resentment to flourish in a community rich in Christ-like love.
You’re Beautiful to Me
May the light of Your Presence and the counsel of Your Word daily transform me
Our Biblical Community
We are blessed to be a part of the body of Christ and to gather freely and with the confidence that Jesus is there with us.
Created for Community With the Local Church
We will see how Jesus plays a part in that community, as well as the importance of fellowship, serving others, unity, and meeting together. I hope you’ll join me for the journey –
The Way of Peace and Unity
Living this way is the call of Christ on our life, it pleases God, and it will lead to peace and unity as we are united together as one.
Meditate On It
Blessed are we when we meditate in It day and night
Christ Our Example
f we are going to have this same attitude we must practice humility – namely, by putting away any selfish ambitions or vanity.
Living Like Jesus
This kind of living is not only counter-cultural, it is difficult to the nth-degree. If it weren’t for God it would be impossible
Not Made to Be Alone
I love knowing that, as a believer, I can trust God to see/know when something isn’t right and to take care of it in the best way.
Standing on the Promises
When we make it a habit to remember the things God has promised or the things He has done we will be strengthened in our Spirit, we will sense His victorious right hand holding us up and helping us. We will begin to trust Him as our Protector and stand on/rest in His promises.
A Message of Hope and Assurance
– there is nothing that brings me more comfort and confidence than knowing that God is with me
Changed From The Inside Out
Out of a close relationship with Him flows life – 🦋
Evidence of Our Faith
“We will come to him and take up residence in him.”
Not Made To Be Alone
o quote the opening and closing words of the following introduction, “- I know this is hard. … but [[ladies] we were not made to be alone; we were created for community.”
Peace With The Shepherd
Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with…
Bringing Peace into a Difficult Situation
Abigail came humbly. She brought peace into a difficult situation and saved her entire household by doing so.
One In The Spirit
Where this love is absent, self will be prevalent and there will be no true unity. This is why Paul doesn’t suggest that we do this on our own but instead says to “make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Sprit, binding yourselves together with peace.”
Peace in the Stillness
I can tell you that it was in those still and quiet moments that He awakened my soul;
The Difference Faith Makes
r been shown than that of God, the Father and the Son!
The Inside Scoop
Can you imagine a better prayer warrior on your side than Jesus, the Son of God?
Because of My Name
As I sat wondering how in the world to apply Christ’ statement and the reality that we, as His disciples/followers, are going to be hated because of His Name these four thoughts came to mind:
He Comes In the Name of the Lord!
I cannot help but imagine the beauty of the Disciples of Jesus, their crowd of voices raised in one accord –
Only One Turned Back
Whether we are seeing Jesus for the first time or whether we have known Him all of our lives, we must give God the praise He is due. To do this we means paying attention.
The One
We can pray boldly and wait expectantly, to rejoice with every lost person who repents.
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
Thus to place faith in Christ is to understand the cost and still choose Him above all else – be it people, situations in life, possessions, money, earthly desires, and self – Christ must be first to be Lord of our life.
Do Not Worry
What matters to God and what He wants to matter most to us – is what we have invested and stored up for Him.
Persistence
Don’t just pray words, pray with persistence, persistence that comes from faith and faith that comes from the Word of God – by which we know Who He is and what He can do and what He has done before.
This Is The Way
Instead, the love Christ is referring to requires investing yourself in the person, helping them, not only with their pressing need, but any needs that may arise in the days to come.
Open Our Eyes Lord –
Because we are privileged to know so much about Christ, we must be careful to follow Him
A Vital Question for Every Believer
Make your faith personal, so that you are ready with an answer for the HOPE that is within you, a declaration of “who you say Jesus is”.
Trust and Obey
We see from the very beginning joicee that the disciple of christ to
The Wind and Waves
It is worth noting that first Jesus spoke to the wind and waves and then to the disciples about their faith. He questions them on their faith, not simply because they were unnerved by the storm but because fear had consumed them.
The Importance of the Word
The lesson is the same for His mother and brothers. They cannot depend on who they are to Him but must respond to who He is to them.
Understanding Is Key
– it wasn’t the evidence of her love that saved her, rather it was the evidence of her faith – as Jesus tells her, “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”
They Glorified God
Today’s Scripture: Luke 7:1-17; SOAP / Luke 7:16 Fear seized them all, and they began to glorify God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us!” and “God has come to help his people!” Luke 7:16 There were two miracles in today’s passage. The first emphasizes the faith of a Centurion, the second the compassion of Jesus for a widow…
A Mountain Retreat
Jesus’ objective in the mountain retreat was to pray.
None Righteous, Not Even One
Whether we are filled with mindless rage, as the Pharisees were after Jesus healed a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath or we simply have yet to repent – we are all left with this one question – “What we will we do with Jesus?
The Power of our Faith
Faith moves mountains and stirs the heart of Jesus -❤️ Me, from the Insdeout 🦋
But, At Your Word I Will …
Obedience outside of what we do not understand reveals our trust and respect for the one we choose to obey. Not only that, but our obedience can lead to a broken and contrite heart, and then to worship, and even to others seeing and knowing Jesus.
In the Power of The Spirit
Going through rituals meant for sinners, enduring temptations, mockery, insults, and all that we will witness moving forward may appear to be easy for this man who was God – but let us not lose sight of the fact that He was a man, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Today’s Scripture: Luke 3:1-4:13; SOAP – 3:21-22 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.” Luke 3:21-22…
Good News of Great Joy
God sets the stage, aligning all things with His perfect will and timing. From the ‘unexpected pregnancy’, to the census, the genealogy of Jesus, and heaven’s army joining the angel and filling the sky – God is clearly the orchestrator of these events.
It’s All About Him
However, in this moment, with this blessing he turned all of His words into praise of the Lord God of Israel and prophesying about the Messiah –
The power, the purpose, and the promise of God in action
If you have ever doubted what God can and will do, or should you ever doubt His promises in days to come – you only need to consider this story.
What The LORD Has Done For Me
Know that God doesn’t always say ‘yes’, but that His silence isn’t always a ‘no’
“He Sees, He Knows, He Cares”
Our journey will take us through Luke’s writings of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Our destination: The Empty Tomb!
To The Only Wise God
God is the source of all wisdom. Job said, “With God are wisdom and might … [God] has counsel and understanding … With him are strength and sound wisdom.”
Ancient Words Strong and True
Not only can TRUTH be used as a weapon but it is also an important tool in our representation/presentation of God to the world. The words and actions we use should be filled to overflowing with the light and love of God so that others see and hear Him in us.
Cultivating an Attitude of Patience
My mother always told me, “Don’t pray for patience”. The theory of this statement is that if you do pray for patience the Lord will answer with situations that train you to be patient. Patient in trials, patient in waiting, patient in listening, patient with a difficult child, patient with someone slower than you, patient…
God Most Faithful
He is faithful in the trial, in the temptations, in forgiveness, He will be faithful to the end, and He calls us to the same
Full of Grace
The Grace of God is the expression of His unmerited favor on all who, by faith, believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is, I believe, the catalyst of His mercy, an expression of His love, and His power at work through me.
Called to Do Justice
God’s justice is untainted by sin. He is always right and perfect in all He does. His being just, is based on His knowledge of our actions, thoughts, and motives – which are weighed or measured against His perfect law, given so we might know right from wrong.
Eternally, Purposefully, and Faithfully Good
His goodness is not just a theory or descriptive term but it is in every way a reality. One meant to be tasted and seen, savored – for all that it is.
AGAPE, God Most Loving
Agape is the word used to describe the love of God and it, as all of the other attributes we will study, are a requirement for holiness. The more detailed definition is that “agape is an act of the will, an intelligent, purposeful attitude of esteem and devotion; a selfless, purposeful, outgoing attitude that desires to do good to the one loved.”
Be Holy As He Is Holy
God’s will is not hidden from our view, it is made evident throughout His Word, which makes clear that we are to be Holy, and the extent to which He went to make it possible.
Knowing God’s Character
“an invitation to become like the God we worship, to see His characteristics become true of us -“
Pray for Yourself
David expresses his own desire to not forget the good things God has done for him and then begins to name them …
Love Overflowing
He’s praying about what really matters – not just that they might grow in love but in the knowledge and understanding of how to live and love like Jesus Christ.
Love One Another
He not only tells the believers to love each other but he explains how they are to love each other – namely, the same way He has loved us.
Love With Your Whole Being
So important were the words God had given to Moses that they were meant to be passed on to their children, written on their door posts, and spoken of day and night, at home or on the road. Surely if they are that important they are meant to be a consideration of our prayers …
What Are You Wearing?
Prayer is the light in your closest and the mirror on your wall –
Committed to Prayer – Heart, Mind, & Soul
As Inspired by the love god greatly study, The Importance of Prayer-week 5 When we trust in Jesus Christ to be our savior we make a commitment to the Father who sent Him. The commitment involves laying down our own life and desires of the mortal flesh to follow after Christ in the new spiritual…
Commit to a Pure Heart
Read: Psalm 51; Soap: Psalm 51:10 Create for me a pure heart, O God.Renew a resolute spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 Have mercy … wipe away … wash away … cleanse me … forgive me … cleanse me … grant me forgiveness … hide Your face from my sin … do not reject me ……
Committed to Seek His Strength
The more we know about God and the more we experience with God, the more we will trust Him and seek Him for the strength we need.
Committed to Praise
when your relationship with God is based on these truths and not dependent on your circumstances Your very life will stay yielded to a lifestyle of PRAISE.
Committed to Being Satisfied in God
Once we have experienced God’s love nothing else satisfies and even in the midst of drought and storms we will still praise Him.
Commit to Wait Expectantly
This combination of commitment and expectation is also what keeps us coming back – asking, seeking, knocking – and what moves our heart to rejoice when we receive the answer.
All You Can Ask or Think
So confident is Paul in what God can do- that he commits all he asked of God to God for the glory of God.
Conquering and Consuming Fire
“How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the Lord is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!”
Waiting for God’s Answers
In the meantime, rest and delight in knowing that His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is great!
God Remembers
– for ultimately, it is about us remembering and knowing, as Hannah did, just who our God is and what He can do when we humble ourselves before Him in faith – believing He is able.
Prayer for God’s Strength
God’s plan was never for Paul, or us for that matter, to think of ourselves as self sufficient but rather to be dependent on God’s all-sufficient grace
Looking Back and then Ahead
we will journey through both the Old and New Testaments, covering some passages that reveal “How God Answers Prayers
Knowing the Spirit Intercedes
Just because we don’t know how or what to pray doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pray
He Gives Good Gifts to His Children Who Ask Him
We must learn to pray from a position of trust whether we are praying for God’s Kingdom or our own needs.
Praying According to His Will
As such, they are no longer separated by a curtain but are invited to approach God – to come before Him – with confidence that when they ask anything according to His will He will hear them and answer accordingly.
Pray Rejoicing In Hope
Faith is the victory! It is the key to the righteousness we must obtain through Christ to be made right with God and experience the hope of rejoicing in His glory!
Reflections
For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like
Kneel Before the Father
What a powerful and God honoring prayer that we would do well to model.
The Power of Prayer
We too can learn much from watching Jesus – the way He lived, loved, and worked/served.
Reconcile With Others
We must care so much about others that we seek to not offend them and to quickly make things right if we do.
Find Time For Prayer
Knowing His need, He was determined and strategically took precautions against interruptions. He didn’t just need time away from people but time alone with God.
Pray for Each Other
“I’ll pray for you” can easily become a trite statement, something we say as a Christian nicety but with very little or consistent follow through.
Praise the Name of the Lord
May it be praise that ignites more praise both in us and in all those who hear or see what He is doing.
Worship Filled Praise
We must get to know God for who He is in order to worship Him as He deserves. Likewise we must be aware that all other gods pale in comparison to Him.
Boldly Approaching God
Confidence comes with trust and trust is built through relationship and established over time . MefromtheNsideout –
Devoted to Prayer
“The believers were devoted to Christ and given over, out of love and loyalty for Christ, to the Apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
PRAISE THE LORD!
PRAISE THE LORD was going to be my single response here – but as I began typing my observations it occurred to me that, for me, the application might just need to be a question (and answer) response.
“Let’s remember that we are preparing for and awaiting the coming of our King, our Good Shepherd, our sovereign Lord.” LGG
THE KING WILL COME
I have a good Shepherd.
Shout for Joy
God is my God and He is with me, my mighty Savior who takes delight in me, with gladness! I will remind myself often that it is in Him and because of His love that I find a calming peace and a renewal my spirit.
God Restores
When we focus on the joy we have in the Lord, no matter our circumstance, we find hope. We do not ignore our suffering, but we focus on God’s faithfulness and what He promises to do.
The Coming Glory
Sin brought a curse upon the world and man that is still present today. So that we (believers) eagerly await God’s “coming glory”, when all will be restored and completely made right.
The Lord Returns
From the first words of this chapter, Isaiah’s message changed from one of coming doom to one of comfort and peace and the coming of the LORD, the God of Israel.
God Protects His People
Are you following God but facing one trial after another while others who follow only the desires of their hearts seem to flourish?
Trust In His Faithfulness
Despite the circumstances of our lives, we must trust in God, in His faithfulness and power to rescue us and set us free, even when …
A Cry for Help!
Because God’s law was no longer being honored, Habakkuk, the prophet, cried out to God .
A PRAYERFUL REFLECTION: WEEK 1
Thank You for the encouragement of Advent to focus and refocus our hearts on Your promises God.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE SON OF MAN
Advent is the season of intentionally waiting as we slow down our lives, our hearts, and our schedules to reset and remember what we are truly waiting for.
ALL THINGS NEW
We’ve always been on His mind. Think of it: The most important Man in the universe has always been thinking of [us]!
The Coming King
Keep the celebration for His first coming flowing and the anticipation growing for His second coming by staying grounded, rooted, and fixed on Him.
Seeking the Peace of God
Take time to soak up all nine verses, they are beautiful and have a message of hope for all who belong to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Waiting for Deliverance
While we look forward to the second coming of Christ, the people of Judah were given hope and would have been looking forward to the first coming – the first Advent – the coming of the Messiah.
Give thanks –
Perspective
Thanksgiving is the lens God means for us to see joy all year round.
The Three Steps
Paul has laid out three distinct steps for the believers – rejoice, pray, and “in everything” give thanks.
Gratitude Defined
Give it some thought – it might just be the spark they need.
True thankfulness seems to overflow, not from the circumstances of our life, but from the FAITH we have been taught and placed in Christ.
GOD IS GOOD
Admittedly, it is easier to say when things are going our way – but we may need to let the truth of this quote by Ann Voskamp sink in and stir our hearts to praise Him even when life doesn’t seem “good”.
Commissioned
Much like Paul gave Timothy his ‘charge’ or particular ‘ministry’ to do, Jesus gives His disciples a charge to carry out. He actually tasks them with much the same thing – the work of an evangelist, which is to spread the Gospel message
The Work of an Evangelist
as disciples of Christ, called to go and share the Gospel message and to make other disciples as we go, it seems we need the very same instructions Paul gave to Timothy.
Children of the Light
As “children of the light”, who will one day “come to life together with [Jesus], we are to “encourage one another and build each other up in the faith.”
A Grace Filled Hope
This Scripture makes clear how we are to live while we wait for Jesus to appear, fulfilling our hope, we are to:
Being Intentional
Day 1, Week 6 of Come, Lord Jesus Come (A Love God Greatly Study) Encourage as the Day Draws Near! Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25 (SOAP – Hebrews 10:24-25) 24 And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works 25 not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the…
What’s Next?
A perfect follow-up to Come, Lord Jesus, Come, The God Who Restores Bible study journal will lead us through the season of Advent, a season of waiting and great expectation of the coming back of our eternal King.
Be On Guard
Such a fitting message for me today – and everyday. A message that reminds me that those who trust in God, those who keep their thoughts fixed on Him will know His perfect peace.
The Wise and Foolish
A wise person thinks things out and takes the time to be prepared for the day, the hour, an event – or for whatever they know lies ahead of them.
Live As Though It Could Be Today
The fact of the matter is that Scripture repeats itself, in part because the Gospel writers tended to share similar events but in large part because God is making a point that is vitally important for us to hear and not forget.
Faithful Followers
As believers, those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, we are to be faithfully living as His followers.
A Message For Everyone
We are to be alert – awake to what is being said and what (prophecy) has been given – so that we don’t fall prey to false prophets of our day.
Be Patient and Courageous
The Return Is Near
Immortal…Imperishable…Transformed
Dead or alive believers will be changed – transformed into a heavenly body, like Jesus (49)
Be Ready –
Taken, One Left Week 4, Day 3 of Come, Lord Jesus, Come (A Love God Greatly Study) Scripture Reading: Luke 17:22-37 (SOAP: Luke 17:34-35) I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding grain together; one will…
Marvelous Grace
Jesus came in the flesh bearing God’s grace to a world in need of salvation. He came not just to the Jews but to all people who, by faith, would believe in the One God had sent.
Caught Up Together
Week 4, Day 1 of Come, Lord Jesus, Come (A Love God Greatly Study) Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (SOAP: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will…
Music From Heaven
After a difficult day of information and emotions – I chose to turn music on to drown out the fiery darts that were beginning to assault my mind with fears and worry and sorrow.
God All Victorious
BUT GOD … after three and a half days causes them to stand on their feet bringing fear to all those who saw it.
Jesus Will Come Back
His sacrifice was so perfect that we have no need of another payment, or atonement. So when He returns it will not be to pay for our sins but to save all those who have trusted in Him from this dark sin-filled world.
Witnesses – of These Things
From Elijah’s whirlwind departure to Jesus’ mid-prayer departure, we are definitely journeying through some drama-packed adventures of God’s people. In essence, we are witnesses of these events.
Energized by the Spirit
Such imagery might be too much for us to imagine but we live in the day of incredible cinematography that allows us to actually see in our mind this scene that Jeremiah paints of Elijah going up to heaven.
The Power of Faith
WEEK 3, DAY 1 OF COME, LORD JESUS, COME – (A LOVE GOD GREATLY STUDY) TODAY’S READING: Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5 (SOAP: Hebrews 11:5) By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been…
I Am Coming Soon
For, what better prayer could there be than for God’s sustaining grace(s) to be with His people as they wait.
I Am Coming Soon
Do your “deeds” identify you as one who is evil or do they reveal God’s grace?
Come, Lord Jesus, Come
I Am Coming Soon: Week 2, Day 3 (A Love God Greatly Study) Today’s Reading: Revelation 3:10-11(SOAP verse 11) “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon….
I Am Going Away and Coming Back Again
Come, Lord Jesus, Come: Week 2, Day 2 (A Love God Greatly Study) Today’s Reading: John 14:15-31(SOAP: 27-28) “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away,…
I will Come Back
Their bravery, and ours, depends on knowing and trusting Jesus as God.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come
The words belong to Jesus and to every believer that hears them – they offer encouragement and hope. Look for them, soak them up so that you might cling to the hope that is ours in Christ Jesus,
The Last Hour
In verse 19, John also gives us details of how we will know them. The details are both shocking and concerning. First, the shocking detail is we will know them because they were part of our churches.
One Who Holds Evil Back
Paul warns the Thessalonians, as he has others, not to be easily shaken by false messages.
Scoffers Will Come
This is important for us to understand as we prepare our minds and hearts for the last days.
In the Days of Noah
God called Noah to build an ark and was specific in telling him when it was time to go into the ark as well as who and what to take aboard. God isn’t sending another flood but He is sending His Son for those that are His and He called us to be ready.