Category: From the Insideout

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Shiphrah and Puah: Saving Hebrew Boys

Day 1, Week 6 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: exodus 1:1-21; SOAP: verses 17 and 21

17 But the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.

 21 And because the midwives feared God, he made households for them.

Exodus 1:17 and 21 NLT
The story:

In a time when the land of Egypt was full of Israelites the King became concerned that they would overtake the Egyptians if a war should break out. So, in order to stop the increasing number of Israelites he ordered all newborn baby boys to be killed by the midwives. Shiphrah and Puah were two of the Hebrew midwives under orders from the King to kill all boys at birth. However, the midwives feared God rather than man, so they defied the King’s order and chose to let the boys live. Because they chose God’s way over man’s they were blessed by God with families of their own.

How Then Should We live?

Luke wrote of “Peter and the other Apostles” in the book of Acts, chapter five, verse 29 – that they should obey God rather than man. This is exactly what Shiphrah and Puah chose to do when the King had instructed the midwives We too should fear/obey God rather than man and consider carefully our response to orders that are contradictory to His will. We would also be wise to watch for ways God asks or allows us to use our gifts or profession for Him, as He did in the case of the midwives.

Prayer Response:

Father,You are the Great Orchestrator, placing us where we need to be, when we need to be there, and giving us peace to combat our fears of man. Than you for the encouragement that when we choose well You will bless us. For Your Gory –

YOUR TURN:

What’s your take away from the story of Shiphrah and Puah?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

Shiphrah and Puah feared God more than they feared the king of Egypt.

  • What lesson can we learn from these brave women?
  • What was the result of their obedience?
WANT MORE?

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Beautifully Surrendered: Looking Ahead to Week 6

A Love God Greatly Bible Study about God’s Heart for His Daughters

In the final week of our study (week 6), we will look at what it means to be “Women Leaving a Legacy”. We will build on knowing that God loves, sees, and cherishes women, and continue to focus on the fact that the acts of faith, prayer, and choosing praise and joy in all circumstances play a huge part in the surrender and sacrifice that are required of those who follow Jesus.

Our focus/memory verse is found in Psalm 145:4 – “One generation will praise Your deeds to another and tell about Your mighty acts!” Doing this should be part of our legacy as daughters of God. If we fail to praise Him for what He’s done or fail to tell others about His mighty acts – generations will rise up who do not know Him or what He can do and has promised to do. (see Judges chapter two).

This Week’s Challenge from the team at Love God Greatly:

We must pass our faith on to our children and the next generation, leaving a godly legacy for those who come behind us. Who in your life has lived out her faith well and inspired you to do the same? This week, make sure to share the difference she has made in your life. Who can you intentionally reach out to and invest in? There are many ways to leave a godly legacy behind, but they all start the same: choosing to take the first step.

Announcing Our Next Study!

by Melissa Fuller | Jul 5, 2022 |LGG Team Member

Our lives are a series of choices. We are constantly making choices, both good and bad, and all of our choices have consequences and outcomes. It can be overwhelming to question our choices or wonder if we are doing the right thing.

“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” – Colossians 3:1

Our choices can be simplified into two categories: the things of God and the things of the world. Choosing the things of God is often challenging, but it yields the best long-term results. Choosing the world can be much easier and can appear to be the best way to avoid pain, but these choices often lead to our destruction.  Check back on Wednesday for more details .

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Reflections of Week 5, Beautifully Surrendered

Beautifully Surrendered, God’s Heart for His Daughters is a Love God Greatly Study

The women we’ve studied this week showed us that joy and praise can be part of our lives when we live surrendered to God through every situation. Actually, praise can be a catalyst for surrendering to God and being filled with His joy as ‘it’ [praise] keeps God at the forefront of our minds and hearts. Miriam led others to praise Him on the other side of the Red Sea and Leah praised Him despite her loveless marriage. Praise can also be the catalyst for others to praise God. This is what happened when the ‘women of Bethlehem’ saw how God had blessed Naomi with a grandson. When we live surrendered and follow God into battle for His people, as in the story of Deborah, praise will flow and joy will follow. When this happens others will see, as we did in the life of Mary of Bethany, who despite cultural norms and heartache chose to sit or fall or give her best in praise and adoration to the Lord – her Savior. There is much that can be learned from these beautiful stories. There is much we would do well to mimic. As with the others that we have read they are certainly worthy of reading and sharing again and again. If for no other reason they will undoubtedly spark praise and joy in our own hearts as they refocus us on the greatness of our God.

Life isn’t always easy so praising God isn’t always easy. Likewise, being joyful in all circumstances, as James suggested, is at best a challenge and at worst seemingly impossible. However, when we realize the key is maintaining a focus fixed on Him – past (what we’ve witnessed in the Scriptures or in our own lives), present (His fingerprints in our own lives and those we know), and future (His promises of His presence with us, constantly new mercies, and eternal life …) – we feed both praise and joy.

My dear brothers and sisters, consider it an opportunity for pure joy when you face trials of many kinds. For you know when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:2-4

I have made this statement in previous weeks, but it bears repeating. Consider these stories and their truths often so that you do not grow weary and lose heart. Fix your eyes on Him and not the circumstances of Your life – only then will we truly surrender and say as Leah did, still in the midst of her loveless marriage, “Now I will praise the Lord!” As we saw again and again this week, the choice is ours. May we choose well – so that Jesus may say of us, “they chose the best part”.

“Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:42 NET

If you missed any of this week’s devotions from me you’ll find them at this link

If you missed any of the Love God Greatly Blogs for week 5 you’ll find them at these links:

https://lovegodgreatly.com/sing-to-the-lord/

https://lovegodgreatly.com/held-by-gods-hand/

https://lovegodgreatly.com/wholehearted-worship/

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Mary of Bethany: At Jesus’ Feet

Day 5, Week 5 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly Study

Today’s Reading: Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44, John12:1-11; SOAP – John 12:3

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

John 12:3 NLT
Observation: What’s the Story

Mary was continually found at the feet of Jesus. Read the passage again and watch as she sits at His feet listening to Him talk and teach. Look and listen as she falls at His feet weeping over the death of her brother. Then, take in the beauty of her extravagant act of celebration and worship of Jesus’s resurrection of Lazarus; she poured out the best of what she had onto His feet and and then wiped them with her hair. Her devotion to Jesus was quite clear in both her words and actions, even to the point of defying cultural norms.

Application: How Then Should We live?

Jesus told Martha that Mary had “chosen” the best part. So, since a favorable opinion from Christ is the best of everything we can hope for, we would be wise to choose as Mary did to sit at His feet, soaking up His Words as we listen to Him talk or teach. Likewise, we should not be afraid to fall at His feet in our sorrows weeping and sharing our thoughts or regrets with Him. Mary did this and Jesus was “intensely moved in spirit”, even to the point of weeping and calling Lazarus out of the grave! Lastly, by Mary’s example, we should be willing to pour out the best of ourselves at His feet in grateful adoration of who He is and what He’s done.

Prayer: Response to His Word

Father, thank You for showing us Mary’s heart and passion for Jesus, our Savior. Despite cultural norms and people’s opinions she desired to be “at Jesus’ feet”. Oh that we might choose well, as Christ said Mary did – letting nothing hold us back from being at His feet.

YOUR TURN: Set aside time to read and reflect on each of the passages

What’s your take away from the story about Mary of Bethany?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Her Actions spoke louder than words

Many people praise God with their words, but Mary of Bethany praised God through her actions.

  • Why do you think her actions “spoke” louder than any words she could have said?
  • What can you do to sit at His feet?
  • What sorrows or concerns do you have that would be better laid at His feet?
  • What can you ‘anoint His feet’ with?
WANT MORE?

Visit Love God Greatly for their Friday Blog

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Deborah: Praising God for Victory

Today’s Reading: Judges 4:1-5:9; SOAP: Judges 5:3-9

“Listen, you kings!
    Pay attention, you mighty rulers!
For I will sing to the Lord.
    I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.

4 “Lord, when you set out from Seir
    and marched across the fields of Edom,
the earth trembled,
    and the cloudy skies poured down rain.
5 The mountains quaked in the presence of the Lord,
    the God of Mount Sinai—
in the presence of the Lord,
    the God of Israel.

6 “In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
    and in the days of Jael,
people avoided the main roads,
    and travelers stayed on winding pathways.
7 There were few people left in the villages of Israel[b]—
    until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.
8 When Israel chose new gods,
    war erupted at the city gates.
Yet not a shield or spear could be seen
    among forty thousand warriors in Israel!
9 My heart is with the commanders of Israel,
    with those who volunteered for war.
Praise the Lord!

Judges 5:3-9
Observations:

The first part of the story is important in understanding and appreciating the victory, so let’s take a look…

  • The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight
  • The LORD turned them over to King Jabin of Canaan
  • The army’s general was Sisera
  • The Israelites cried out to the LORD for help because Sisera’s army was strong and he had cruelly oppressed them for twenty years

Meanwhile, God is working through a Prophetess named Deborah. Verse four says that she was leading Israel at the time of Sisera’s oppression of Israel. One day Deborah brought the commander of Israel’s army to her and reminded him what God had called him to do, which was to go to battle against Sisera and Jabin’s army. Deborah encouraged his obedience by promising her help (6-9). When Barak agreed she made sure he understood that while the victory would belong to Israel, he would not be the one gaining fame. She explained that the LORD would turn Sisera over to a woman, which is exactly what happened (14-24).

The Victory Song

Deborah’s song of praise that she sang with Barak did not focus on HOW the victory humanly took place, nor on who the “people were” that brought down the enemies – BUT on God alone! It was specific to what God had done and how He had used Deborah as a motherly protector in Israel.

How Then Should We Live?

We may not sit in a judge’s seat or rule God’s people from under a tree but we would be right to encourage others to do what God has called them to do, as Deborah did with Barak. The author of Hebrews said that we must encourage one another daily so that no one becomes hardened by sins deceitfulness.

We would also be right and wise to sing a victory praise song to celebrate God’s goodness, focusing the praise on Him and what He did.

 But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.

Hebrews 3:13 CSB
Prayer Response:

Father – victory is ours through Jesus Christ! May we be quick to sing Your praises – specific to what you’ve done and always focused on You. – AMEN!

Your Turn:

What’s your take away from Deborah’s story?

Reflection Questions:

Deborah praised God in the midst of battle.

  • Why is this important for us to do as well?
  • Why is it important to remember how God has fought on our behalf?
  • What can we learn from Deborah’s example?
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Women of Bethlehem: Recognizing God’s Hand

Day 3, from week 5 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly

Today’s Reading: Ruth 4; SOAP verses 14-15

Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. 15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”

Ruth 4:14-15
Observations:

While I’ve always loved Ruth’s story and have seen God’s hand of providence in it – I somehow saw it all the more sweetly reading through it this time. I noticed with fresh eyes how God used it all – the famine, the move from Bethlehem to Moab, the marriage of Elimelech’s sons to Moabite women, the deaths of Elimelech and his sons, and the decision of Ruth -(not by cultural norms but by her heart – Ruth 1:16-18) to leave Moab and go to Bethlehem with Naomi. God used all of it to accomplish what was good for those who loved Him and were called according to His purpose, Romans 8:28.

As I reread the story of Ruth chapter 4, of Boaz approaching and dealing with the rightful heir to Elimelech’s property, I saw something I hadn’t seen before – or at least understood it in a fresh way. Boaz looked at the whole picture and was wise enough to share that picture – well, at least the part he chose to share – with the rightful “kinsman-redeemer,” and because of this – Boaz “acquired the inheritance” and was able to make Ruth his wife, who the LORD enabled to conceive and give birth to a son. They named him Obed, who became the father of Jesse, who was the father of David – the ancestors of our Lord and Savior!

We will not truly or adequately give praise for that which we do not adequately recognize as being from God.

Me, from the inside-out – 2022
The Village Women

So Ruth was given a son, and the women of the village of Bethlehem praised the LORD for not leaving Naomi without a guardian, saying – “a son has been born to Naomi.” They also acknowledged Ruth as a blessing to Naomi, recognizing her as better than seven sons. From the depths of bitterness and despair, God brought joy, contentment, and praise!

How, Then, Should We Live?

I believe from the women of the village we can learn at least three things …

  • We should direct our praise to the LORD – not just for what He does in our life but for what He does in the lives of others.
  • We should pray over the blessings He bestows and believe in advance how He will use the gift.
  • We should speak encouragement to those He blesses.

Perhaps even more beneficial, though, is what we can learn from Boaz.

  • Look at the big picture and act with wisdom from God.
  • We will miss the beauty of God’s tapestry if our focus is on us and not God.
  • Abundant praise will flow from the lips of the one who watches Him.
Prayer Response:

Oh, Father, help me not to get caught up watching for You to work in or through me – such a singular vision can be blinding to what You are doing locally, globally, and in the lives of those I know and love. Such a singular vision stunts our praise and more. I also confess it is easy to say a quick “praise God” and keep going – but thank You for this picture of lingering and even praying over the “blessing” and also for the reminder to give You praise not only for what You do in our own lives but for what You do for others – and to be specific not flippant or vague.

Your Turn:

What’s your takeaway from this portion of Ruth’s story?

Reflection Questions:

The village women recognized God’s hand in Ruth’s and Naomi’s lives.

  • How can our lives spur others on to praise God?
  • What caused these women to praise God?

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Leah: Praise the LORD

Day 2, from week 5 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly

Today’s Reading: Genesis 29:31-35, 30:9-21; SOAP Genesis 29:35

Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children.

Genesis 29:35
Observations:
This Time

Leah had already been blessed with three other sons and with the first two births she acknowledged they were from the Lord. With the first two and the third she also made mention of the situation with her husband, how she was unloved and hoping that because of the children he would love her more. However, with the birth of the fourth son, her words were different, “This time I will praise the LORD!”, perhaps indicating a different attitude – as though not so woe is me. Whatever the difference meant, the noted praise was more intentional and direct.

Worth Noting

It is worth nothing that this fourth son, Judah, is the one God names as the tribe from which His own Son, The Lion of Judah, will come. 

The Lion of the tribe of Judah is a symbol found in Genesis and Revelation. In Genesis, Jacob blesses his son Judah, referring to him and his future tribe as a lion’s cub and a lion (Genesis 49:9). In Revelation, this symbol is seen again when the Lion of the tribe of Judah is declared to have triumphed and is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals (Revelation 5:5). Jesus is the One who is worthy to open the scroll (see John 5:22). Therefore, Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. https://www.gotquestions.org/lion-tribe-Judah.html
How Then Should We Live?

We should be quick to acknowledge God’s work in our lives – or even in the lives of others. Direct and intentional praise brings glory to God – which is something we should strive for. After all, we were created to for His glory.

Bring all who claim me as their God,
    for I have made them for my glory.
    It was I who created them.’”

Isaiah 43:7
One Other Note

I feel I would be remiss if I failed to mention this one other observation that I believe is a point worth imitating. Leah commemorated all of the births as blessings of God by naming them with names that would remind her what God had done. I can’t help but think this is something to consider, not necessarily in the naming of our children but capturing the gifts in a journal, or with a photograph, or a conversation … the special ways God reveals Himself to you throughout your life. The Israelites used stones on a variety of occasions as memorial markers, such as in Genesis 28:1-22 and Joshua 4, Leah used names, what can you use?

Prayer Response:

Father, we are quick to say, “God did this”, but let us never fail to be intentional to genuinely praise You! Let us find ways to remember what You have done, so that they remain testaments of Your goodness and Your faithfulness – that we may never cease to praise You. May our praises bring You the glory and pleasure You are due! – Amen!

Your Turn:

What’s your take away from Leah’s story?

Reflection Questions:

In the midst of feeling unloved by her husband, we see Leah praising God for blessing her with her children.

  • What does this story teach us about Leah and her relationship with God?
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Miriam: Sing to the LORD

Day 1, from week 5 of Beautifully Surrendered, A Love God Greatly

Today’s Reading: Exodus 15:1-21; SOAP verse 20-21

Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced.  And Miriam sang this song:

“Sing to the Lord,
    for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has hurled both horse and rider
    into the sea.”

Exodus 15:20-21
Observations:

Remember, from our earlier encounter with Moses’ mother, Miriam is Moses’ sister. She is the same one who watched to make sure he was safe after their mother put Moses in the river. We learn here that she was a prophetess, which simply means she was a woman who spoke about/for God. As we see here she was also one who encouraged or exhorted people with words of praise, telling or singing what He had done for His people.

How Then Should We Live?

Without question we should praise God for what He does, making sure to stay focused on Him and what He has done. When we lose sight of these details and His role in our life and the world around us we put ourselves in jeopardy of forgetting what He’s done. The danger in this is then we will fail to give Him the praise that He is worthy of. We should follow the example of Miriam who sang praises. Not only did she sing with Moses and the Israelites but she reverberated the praise the others had given – she kept the praise going – which is exactly what we should be in the habit of doing.

Remember the old song from the 70’s, “Pass It On”? Verse one went like this:

“It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That’s how it is with God’s Love,
Once you’ve experienced it,
Your spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.”

It’s that first line that came to mind as I was writing this. In today’s passage we read “Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD ….” Then in our focus verses we read that Miriam sang in response to what had been sung … someone started the song and when they had finished she kept it going. Praise is contagious!

Background NOTE:

Our passage starts out with the word, “then”, meaning what’s about to happen – happened because of what came before it. In this case – what prompted the praise song. According to what we read in chapter 14 they are singing praises to God because He has just delivered them through The Red Sea – on dry ground – and then watched as God released the water, bringing it crashing down on the Egyptian Army that was pursing them. Certainly worthy of the praise they gave!

Prayer Response:

Father, all praise and glory are due Your Name! May praise continually flow from my lips and may my life bring You glory. May I be alert to Your work in and around me. May I not lose sight of what You do and what You have taught. For You are worthy O God of continual praise and honor – Let my lips, as the Psalmist said – glorify You forever! Amen!

Your Turn:

What’s your take away from Miriam’s story?

Reflection Questions:

Miriam led the Israelite women with singing and praised God for the miracle He performed in Exodus 15.

  • What can we learn from her example?
  • Why is it important to praise God?
Want More?

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Beautifully Surrendered: Looking Ahead to Week 5

A Love God Greatly Bible Study about God’s Heart for His Daughters

In the coming week (week 5), we will look at what it means to be “Women of Joy and Praise”. We will build on knowing that God loves, sees, and cherishes women, and continue to focus on the fact that faith and prayer play a huge part in our surrender and sacrifice that is required of those who follow Jesus.

Our focus/memory verse is found in Psalm 34:1 – I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. It’s a lovely example of the praises we will read in the stories we read this week as we continue our journey through the word, discovering “God’s heart for His daughters”.

This Week’s Challenge from the team at Love God Greatly:

Who in your life have you seen fight for joy and praise God in the midst of hard times? Make a point this week to encourage her and share what you have seen in her life and how it has impacted you.

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The Poor Widow: Giving God Everything

Day 5, Week 4 of Beautifully Surrendered, a Love God Greatly Bible Study

Today’s Reading: Mark 12:41-44 (SOAP/Focus: verses 43-44)

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

Mark 12:41-44 NLT
Observations:

In the “making of disciples” Jesus didn’t always stand and preach but instead used real life situations to show and tell/teach them how to live. He observed people and events and used them as teachable moments. His observations of the poor widows gift was an opportunity to teach them about the real importance of giving an offering and the judgment that should and shouldn’t be made.

It’s important to note that Jesus wasn’t teaching that the wealthy should not give or that the poor should give all they have. Rather, He was pointing out how they gave – the wealthy gave out of their wealth, in other words not from what they needed but from what was left over – meaning it cost them nothing. The widow, however, gave out of her poverty or more specifically what she had to live on. Her offering cost her everything and it was her gift that Jesus pointed out as the greater gift. Again, not because it was monetarily more but because of what it cost her.

How Then Should We Live?

We should live as the ‘poor widow’, giving not out of what we have left over – but from what we need to live on. Did she have to give it all? No, I don’t think so, for Jesus didn’t use the moment to teach that “she gave what was expected” but rather that her two coins were more than all that the wealthy had given. This type of giving requires faith and surrender in every way. Give from the heart, give as the Lord leads you to give, and let whatever you give be a sweet smelling sacrifice to the Lord.

I think this is a good lesson for examining not only what we give but why we give, making sure that our gifts are acts of the heart rather than habit – as though we are paying a monthly bill. We must not see God as a debt collector but as the One who, by grace1, paid our debt2. He paid our sin-debt with the life of His son; and this was a free gift, one given out of His love3, not as a reward for something we had done1. When we see God as the extravagant gift giver that He is, we will give as the widow, not as though we could ever repay Him – but out of hearts of love – a love born out thankfulness and adoration for who is, what He has done, and what He’s promised to those who believe. 

1Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 
2Romans 3:23, For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. and Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. 
3John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Prayer Response:

Father, Giver of life and love, of provisions and grace and endless mercies – You clearly give from the heart as is evident in the gift of Your Son. May we be so generous and purposeful in our own giving. And may each gift bring You pleasure and glory and be useful in drawing others to You – in His Name, Amen!

Your Turn:

What’s your take away from the poor widow’s story?

Reflection Questions:

The poor widow in Mark 12 gave everything she had:

  • Why did her sacrifice mean so much?
  • What did her giving reveal about her heart and her faith in God?
Want More?

Visit Love God Greatly for their Friday Blog and while you’re there check out the details on our next study.