Tag: Joy

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 2

Ruth, Part 1&2

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Adapted from She, Volume 2, pp 63-66

Read: Ruth 1-2:13

In yesterday’s journey, we focused on Naomi, who, along with her husband and sons, had left their Bethlehem home during a drought to dwell in the land of Moab. While they were there, not only did Naomi’s husband die, but her sons, who had married Moabite women, also died. For at least ten years, Naomi continued on in Moab with her widowed daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Our journey picks up today with the story of Ruth, who, when Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, left all that she knew behind and committed herself not only to her mother-in-law but to her God.

Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

Ruth 1:16-17

Ruth did not have to do this; Naomi had released both of her daughters-in-law from any obligation they may have felt by cultural tradition or allegiance to her sons that they owed her. She encouraged them to return to the homes of their own mothers. Orpah chose to do so, but Ruth, as Scripture bears witness, chose to leave not only her family but the gods of Moab behind.

Ruth was strong, courageous, bold, brave, and determined.

She, Volume 2, p64

As today’s study journal points out, Ruth was not only strong but she was also courageous, bold, brave, and determined. As we journey through her story, we will see how God used these characteristics to accomplish not only His purpose for her life but also for His people. We will watch Naomi’s bitter spirit come alive with joy, and we will see God divinely direct Ruth’s path to a “happily ever-after, purpose-filled ending”. Though I’m sure it didn’t seem that way to her at first.

Ruth is new to town, widowed, along with her widowed mother-in-law, who is admittedly struggling with bitterness. “They have no man to protect or provide for them, and no source of income,1” but Ruth does not shy away from doing what is necessary to survive and provide. It would not have been uncommon, in their situation, for her to have to beg, become a prostitute, sell herself as a slave, or glean.2 However, as God would have it, Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest, so Ruth sought Naomi’s approval to glean. While gleaning sounds like the best of the options the women had, it came with its own problems and dangers, and, depending on the field you found to glean in, there was little to no promise of a profitable haul, as gleaners were limited not only in what would be left but in what they could take. In addition to these hurdles, there was the added challenge that Ruth was a Moabite and may not find a field where the owner would allow her to glean. There was also the real and present danger of assault because she was not only a young widow but a foreigner.

“There is nothing safe about Ruth going to glean in an Israelite’s field. She is wise to request permission from the harvest manager.”

I am a firm believer that there are absolutely no coincidences with God. So when we read that Ruth ended up in the field of Boaz, a relative of her dead father-in-law, Elimelech, we are allowed to see that she was divinely directed by God to this particular field.

So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

Ruth 2:3

When Boaz arrives and sees Ruth, he is curious and talks to his foreman about her. The foreman explains who she is and gives a glowing report of her work, which moves Boaz to talk to Ruth and encourage her to stay and work with them, telling her she will be safe and enjoy the privilege of water to drink and food to eat. Ruth is so moved by his kindness that she fell at his feet with gratitude, and asked him, “Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?“

Boaz gave Ruth his field to glean from freely.
God has given us His Word and He shares it with us freely.

May we be mindful of where we are spending our time, and from what (whose) field(s) we are gleaning.

She, Volume 2, p66

As we read in verses 15 and 16, Boaz also made sure she would have good success in her gleaning. She had so much success that when she arrived home, Naomi’s surprise and joy were evident as she gathered details from Ruth about the day and how the Lord had blessed them by sending her to Boaz’s field.

That man is one of our closest relatives, one of our family redeemers.

Ruth 2:20

Friends, it is worth noting that if Ruth had returned to her mother’s home as Naomi had encouraged her, she might never have met Boaz and known the blessing of God’s hand on her life in the days and years to come.

It was no accident that God directed her to the field of Boaz.

“she went”
God gave her the faith to go.
“and came”
God directed her steps of where she should go.
“and gleaned”
God provided exactly what she needed, when and where she needed it.

She, Volume 2/p45
The More We Know

I love that the journal for today points out that not only did Boaz encourage Ruth to stay, but that he knew no other field could meet her need, and that “the field” is a picture of the Word of God. Oh may we continually glean3 from His Word.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

Marked

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based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ, w1d4

Read:Ephesians 1:11-14; SOAP: verse 13

 And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 1:13

What a joy to know that because we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ we have been marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit. Being marked by the Holy Spirit is the assurance that we belong to God. He has identified us as His own and we are secure in Christ. No one and nothing can change it or take the promised inheritance away.

 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Ephesians 1:14

The added bonus is that we aren’t just marked by the Holy Spirit, instead He is sent to live within every believer. However, He isn’t a silent partner of the trinity, rather He works on God’s behalf to “convict, guide, renew, unite, and encourage us daily.” He produces in us evidence, like love, grace, mercy, and peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control – so that others know that we belong to Him. When this happens God receives glory, honor, and praise.

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Jesus Joy

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based on Abiding in Jesus, w5d1

Read and SOAP: John 15:11-12

 I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. 12 My commandment is this—to love one another just as I have loved

you

John 15:11-12

Jesus’ joy didn’t depend on the absence of pain or conflict but rested in a deeper assurance. ~ Abiding in Christ can bring us that same assurance. The more we abide in Him, the less the world’s troubles sway us, and the more His peace and joy fill our hearts. Abiding doesn’t remove us from life’s challenges, but it gives us a firm foundation to stand on.

Abiding in Jesus/p145: Read the whole post here

This week’s theme is abiding in Jesus’ love. With the exception of one day with Paul in Romans, we will spend most of the week reading the writings of John. We will continue to be reminded of the richness of Jesus’s love and how it has been revealed to us. We will also pick up the repetitive and necessary teaching of this study about how we, the disciples of Jesus, are to love others.

Today’s passage challenges us once again to love others as Jesus has loved us. As we have noted before, this is a command that is repeated throughout the Gospels and is noted by Jesus to be the first and greatest commandment. It may be tempting to skim it or skip over it, but I encourage you to soak it in each time you read it or hear it, and pray often that God will help you to faithfully practice the command: My commandment is this—to love one another just as I have loved you.

It’s tempting to read this edict from Jesus Christ with discouragement. Christ was sinless and perfect (Hebrews 4:15), so when He commands us to love each other the way He loved us, it’s challenging. Worse, it can seem impossible: as fallible people, we don’t always feel happy thoughts about others, even fellow Christians. The thought that we’re obligated to feel perfect, joyful affection towards others is daunting. The prospect of martyrdom can be terrifying (John 15:13). However, that is not what Christ means in this statement.

Of course, His life and conduct are a born-again believer’s goal (John 13:15). So far as we can, we want to respond to other people in a Christlike way. But Jesus is not telling believers “feel about other people the way I do.” Nor is He demanding we be sinlessly, infallibly perfect. Rather, our love needs to echo the character of Christ’s love. This involves two main ideas.

First, we should realize the “love” Jesus speaks of is practical, not emotional. …Second, we are meant to echo the nature of Christ’s love.

Bibleref.com/read the full commentary HERE
Jesus Joy

While I know the focus of this week is Abiding in Jesus through Love, what jumps out to me in this passage is JOY … and not just any joy but ‘Jesus’ Joy. He wants us to understand the importance of abiding SO THAT – HIS JOY may be in us and our joy may be complete. When we abide in Him – when we obey Him, we will know His joy; and we will love as He has loved us. Loving as Christ has loved us is a call to love sacrificially, wholeheartedly, faithfully, demonstratively, and joyfully.

The More We Know
“Not My will but Yours be done.”

When I read the familiar stanza: “love one another just as I have loved you,” the words of Jesus, “not My will but Yours be done,“ came to mind. I found myself jotting down: “This should be our anthem when it comes to commands that seem burdensome or more than we can bear, or simply something we wish we didn’t have to do.” After all, these were the words of surrender that we hear in Jesus’ prayer to the Father, while He waited and wept with the knowledge of what was coming. It’s also worth noting that earlier in the evening, Jesus had set the example of a servant’s heart as He washed the feet of the disciples, even the feet of Judas, who He knew would betray Him. And of course, the ultimate example of sacrifice is the life-saving sacrifice for us (sinners who deserved the death He bore). Friends, this is what our love for God and others is supposed to look like. It is to reflect our love for and obedience to God/Jesus, not necessarily how we feel about another person. MefromtheNsideout 🦋

  • For even more insight, read Monday’s LGG Blog.

Posted in Abide, Abiding in jesus, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Living by the New Nature

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Based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus

Read and SOAP: Galatians 5:22-23

 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23

For two weeks now, we have read and talked about our responsibility, as believers, to “bear fruit.” So it should come as no surprise that we have reached the definition or description of the fruit a believer should produce. The thing I love about Paul is that he not only tells us what the fruit of the new nature is, but he reminds his readers what the old nature looks like.

At the moment of conversion, the Christian receives a new nature. It is instantaneous. Sanctification, on the other hand, is the process by which God develops our new nature, enabling us to grow into more holiness through time. This is a continuous process with many victories and defeats as the new nature battles with the “tent” in which it resides—the old man, old nature, flesh.

Gotquestions.org

In contrast to the earlier description of the sinful nature, which wants to do evil, our new nature (controlled by the Spirit of God) wants to do what is good and right. Before Paul lists out the “fruit of the Spirit (or new nature),” he highlights the details of the old nature. They include sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealous, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Paul says that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God!

On the contrary, Paul writes that those who live by the Spirit instead of the old sinful nature will be noticeably different. He explains that the Spirit produces evidence of a godly character. As we grow in our understanding and love of God we will become more loving, experience more joy and exhibit more patience and self-control. We won’t be so quick to get angry or be unkind, instead we will known for our gentleness, goodness, and faithfulness. And, instead of missing out on the Kingdom of God, those who live by the Spirit will inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

Galatians 5:22-26
The More We Know

Friends, I should tell you, Galatians is one of my favorite books of the Bible. It played a great part in the transformation and growth of my faith and understanding of God’s grace. In large part, Paul has written this part of the letter because he knew many were struggling with the old nature. He’s trying to help them understand that they no longer are to live as though they are still slaves to sin, for they have been set free and given a new nature. Yet, somehow, they are back to believing that circumcision can save them and have lost sight of the faith they professed and the truth that it is the only way to God. They are now trying to add works to their faith. Paul reminds them that this is futile, as faith alone in Christ alone is the message of the Gospel. May we never lose sight of this truth and may we always stand in awe of His grace and mercy.

For more insight on today’s journey read today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues, Quiet Time

Choosing The Jesus Way

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Based on the LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues,/w3d2

Read: MICAH 3:9-12; 4:1-5 and 4:10-12
Bad morals corrupt good character

Today’s journey through Micah reveals an unflattering picture of God’s people and disturbing news of what was to come. Israel’s leaders had forgotten the God whom they were committed to serve. Micah writes that they hated justice and perverted all that was right. They were building Zion through bloody crimes and Jerusalem through unjust violence. Legal cases were decided on bribes that the leaders received, even the priests proclaimed rulings for profit, and the prophets read omens for pay. As if this corruption was not bad enough, despite the fact that devastation and destruction were already wreaking havoc within the nation, the leaders continued to claim to trust the LORD and were telling the people, “The LORD is among us. Disaster will not overtake us!”

What About You?

We, too, face a similar choice. In a world that says that serving self and doing what seems right to you is the most important, we must, as Joshua told the people in his day, decide whom we will serve. Will we serve self or God? Take a moment to think about your own heart. Are you willing to set aside your wants and desires to follow what God may be calling you to? Are you willing to put others first over getting something you want? Is your heart’s desire to make the name of Jesus known over building your platform or building your own renown? It’s a choice we all must make.

Our God Who Pursues/LGG Journal p99
The hope of Future Days

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. 2 People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. 3 The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore 4 Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise! 5 Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.

Micah 4:1 -5

The Temple Mount/Mountain of the LORD’S House written about by Micah: A hill in the Old City of Jerusalem that has been venerated as a holy site for thousands of years, including in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The Jesus Way

Admittedly, serving oneself or garnering the applause or approval of others can be pretty enticing. Goodness knows I have succumbed to those choices more than I care to admit, but I can tell you it generally led to disappointment or heartache. Choosing the Jesus Way isn’t always the easiest, most desirable, or most comfortable way, but it is most certainly the best way, for it leads to immeasurable blessings and joys.

As I wrote that last sentence, A group of women I used to lead on Sunday mornings came to mind. The name of our group was JOY, which stood for Jesus … Others … You. Seems like a great acronym for our focus today. Jesus first, then others, and then yourself. Whether it is in serving or living out our day-to-day lives, or even in our prayer lives, pay our eyes to stay on Jesus, the One we chose to follow.

23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Luke 9:23-24

But I say love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Matthew 5:44

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Mark 12:29-31
Prayer of Response

Father, do not let us be like the leaders of Israel, who forgot their commitment to serve You and Your call on their lives to serve the people. Help me to remember Jesus’ similar call to let go of my life and follow Him. It isn’t always easy, but You knew that, and You sent the Spirit to empower us to do all that You have called us to do. Holy Spirit, keep my focus Heavenward, guard me from the distractions of this world and the enticements of the flesh. May I be known for living a J.O.Y.-focused life: Keeping Jesus first in all things and serving and loving others before myself. In the name of Jesus – I pray and believe – Amen!

The More We Know
The Jesus Way Devotional
The Jesus Way Song

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Psalm 119, Quiet Time

Joy in His Commands

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Scripture: Psalm 119:137-144

I grew up in a home where going to church was a Wednesday and Sunday habit, prayers were prayed, and God’s Word was taught and instilled in us. I am forever grateful for this part of my childhood. The foundations that were laid are priceless and counted as a treasured gift from the Lord. However, as I was reading this passage today – the thought hit me again of how easy it is to become so familiar with the Word and even with God through the eyes of others that we can find ourselves caught up in a religion rather than a relationship with God. We wake up one day to find ourselves living off of the beliefs and the truths we’ve heard preached, only to realize that they lack the joy and substance that come from a life spent with God.

Don’t get me wrong, it is a great gift to grow up in a godly home and to be familiar with God and His Word from infancy, and to place your faith in Him at a young age – but at some point, we must make it our own faith and build on the knowledge we have been given by searching out the Scriptures as the Bereans1 did and by building a relationship with God through Christ that leaves us able to say of our God the same beautiful truths that the Psalmist declared – by belief and experience – he knew and trusted God and found his joy in God’s commands – so much so that he became filled with indignation when others, namely his enemies, disregarded God’s Word.

Read the passage again, noting all of the declarations the Psalmist makes about the Lord. He sees God as righteous and His regulations as fair. He proclaims God’s laws to be perfect and completely trustworthy. He reveals that his love for God’s promises is based on the fact that they have been thoroughly tested, most likely throughout the course of his own life. He doesn’t just assess the Word of God but makes particular note of the indignation he feels because his enemies have disregarded God’s Word. My favorite acknowledgment and assessment comes in verse 143, when he talks of the joy he finds in God’s commands – even when the stresses and pressures of his life weigh him down.

O Lord, you are righteous,
    and your regulations are fair.
138 Your laws are perfect
    and completely trustworthy.
139 I am overwhelmed with indignation,
    for my enemies have disregarded your words.
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
    that is why I love them so much.
141 I am insignificant and despised,
    but I don’t forget your commandments.
142 Your justice is eternal,
    and your instructions are perfectly true.
143 As pressure and stress bear down on me,
    I find joy in your commands.
144 Your laws are always right;
    help me to understand them so I may live.

Psalm 119:1137-144 NLT
Living Out the Journey (personal application)

How about you? How would you describe God and His Word (laws, commands, instructions, regulations)? Do you see them as fallible, fair, righteous, perfect, and trustworthy? Or do you doubt and question them? Are they so precious to you that you are offended or riled up when others disregard them? Do you strive to understand them, remember them, and live them out – or are they just in one ear and out the other until the next time? Have you experienced God’s peace and the joy that comes from His commands, even when life is pressing in on you? – I’m not trying to weigh you down with questions, but rather just simply hoping to share with you the encouragement that God pressed on me as I read the words of the Psalmist. – Know who God is, find delight in His Word, and if you don’t know or see God as the Psalmist described Him – search the Word – ask God for the understanding of who He is and the truths of His Word. Seek Him with all of your heart, and I promise you – He will be found –

The More We Know

You will find me when you seek me … While these prophecies and promises are specifically related to the people of Judah and Israel, the principle that God will draw near to those who draw near to Him is a universal truth (James 4:8a). But we have to draw near to God on His own terms—with clean hands and purified hearts (James 4:8b) that only God can provide by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). While Jeremiah’s letter recorded the words of God for the exiled people of Judah, readers today can benefit from recognizing that the same God who said, “You will find me when you seek me with all your heart,” has also told us that we can draw near to Him and He will draw near to us (James 4:8) and that He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

gotquestions.org/Jer 29:13

Seek and you will find… The heart of Jesus’ point is that God is listening, paying attention to His people, and ready to give them good gifts. What a remarkable truth! The God of all creation cares so deeply about His children that He hears them when they pray. Even better: He answers. This also speaks to those with doubts and questions about faith. Those who lack faith, but pursue truth, will find it in Christ (Mark 9:24; John 14:6).

Bibleref.com/Matthew 7:7
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Lent, LGG Study, Quiet Time

That Will Be A Time to Fast

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based on the LGG Study, Lent – A Time of Drawing Close to God / w1d5

Scripture: Luke 5:33-35 / SOAP: verse 35

A Discussion about Fasting

33 One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?” 34 Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. 35 But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.” This isn’t another trick question from the Pharisees but rather a legit question of wonder from unidentified people. Why do the disciples of John and those of the Pharisees fast while the disciples of Jesus do not? Jesus’ answer is, and I paraphrase, ‘Because I am still with you. When they come and take Me away from you that will be a time to fast.’ Luke 5:33-35

From the Journal / LGG Lent Journal, pg 58

“When Jesus was with His disciples, there was no need for them to fast. But now, since Jesus is not physically with us, since He has completed the work of His first coming and is preparing fo rHis second, we fast.

Fasting reminds us that, without God, we are nothing. It heightens our longing for eternity and reminds us to recognize how empty we are without Him. We fast and pray, earnestly longing for Him to come and restore and redeem all things.

Now is the time to fast. Now is the time to turn our hearts toward our Risen Savior. Now is the time to remember His love, mercy, compassion, and grace. Now is the time to remember that without Him, we are nothing. And now is the time to remember and remind one another of God’s incredible grace and the victory we have in Him!”

While these are all incredible reasons to fast, it hit me as I was reading/studying and highlighting the passage in my journal – that while Jesus may not be physically with us now He rose again and walked among the disciples again and He ascended into Heaven with the promise that He will come again. We cling to that promise, not in mourning, but with HOPE and we look forward to that day with JOY – we no longer mourn as the disciples did in the three days between the crucifixion and the resurrection after He had been led away or “taken from them” – but we rejoice in the grace of God poured upon our lives and we remember that the grave could not hold what “man took away!”

I”m not saying we shouldn’t fast – but for me the fasting isn’t in mourning His absence, for Joy and Hope follow the resurrection and ascension – because He is alive and will come again – just as He promised! – Me, from the Insideout 🦋

I wait, perhaps fasting and praying, as Anna did – for His coming – keeping my mind set on Him – watching and listening and hoping always … but I do not mourn at His absence for He is with me! Scripture says, I abide in Him and He abides in me. In an effort to comfort their sorrows, Jesus actually told the disciples in John 16:7 that it was to their advantage for Him to go away. The commentary from Bibleref.com on John chapter 16 is quite enlightening concerning the way the disciples would have felt following the resurrection –

Modern believers have the benefit of hindsight. We read the description of Jesus’ arrest (John 18:1–3) and crucifixion (John 19:18) knowing He will be resurrected (John 20:19). The disciples originally listening to Jesus didn’t have that perspective. That three-day period (John 2:19) will fill them with unimaginable sorrow, fear, and doubt. Jesus compares this to the experience of a woman in childbirth. During labor, pain is almost the only thing a woman can process. However, once the baby is born, agony is no longer the center of her attention. She doesn’t literally lose all memory of the pain, but the joy of a newborn vastly outweighs memories of labor. The same will be true for Jesus’ followers: they will quickly move through extreme pain and into tremendous joy (John 16:16–24).

bibleref.com

Sadness Will Be Turned to Joy

16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. – John 16:16-24 NLT

Posted in From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The New Has Come!

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This is my life verse and a great reminder of TRUTH to start the first day of the New Year with! How wonderful is it to know that as believers, we can purpose to live every day of 2024 with the awareness that we belong to God – and are made new in Christ! The baggage of the past is gone … and while we may not know what 2024 holds – God does and He has given us everything we need to live a godly life regardless of what each day brings. His mercies will be new every morning … His grace will be all-sufficient … we will see that His power is made perfect in weakness … His love will never fail … His forgiveness is guaranteed … His peace will pass all understanding … His comfort will be present in troubles … when we listen we will hear His “still-small-voice”, and when we look – we will see His finger-prints … when we commit our words and thoughts to Him – He will make them pleasing and acceptable to Him – and He will use them and us as salt and light in this unsavory and dark world. May 2024 be a year blessed with an awareness of Him and of the New Creations we are in Him!

Posted in Advent, Advent, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, The Promised Messiah

Son of David or of God?

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 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They replied, “He is the son of David.”

Matthew 22:42

We know and celebrate Jesus as the Son of God, but in today’s reference, and many other places in the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the “son of David.” Jesus even says of Himself, “I am the root and the descendant of David …” in Revelation 22:16, identifying Himself as both the creator (root) of David and David’s descendant. Only Jesus can claim both titles because He alone is the true and living Son of God come down to earth in the flesh – just as God promised David through the prophet Samuel.

The title “Son of David” is more than a statement of physical genealogy. It is a Messianic title. When people referred to Jesus as the Son of David, they meant that He was the long-awaited Deliverer, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

gotquestions.org

Our traditional Christmas celebrations are centered around the nativity. We talk of Mary and Joseph and others like Elizabeth and Zechariah or Anna and Simeon who are all part of the narrative. We sing of the baby in a manger, of shepherds and the angels on the night of His birth, and of the wise men who visited him from the East, and these are all good and true parts of the story worthy of rejoicing in. However, in recent years, I have grown to love this season of Advent – the time leading up to the celebration, a time when we look forward to the nativity by remembering God’s promise of a Messiah to His people and, ultimately, the world. It is a time of hope, peace, joy, and love coming down to earth in the flesh, Jesus – the Light and Savior of the world. Advent is a time of remembering that while Jesus is fully God, He is also the promised Messiah, the “son of David.” Combining the history of this long-awaited Messiah with the sweet baby boy in the manger has helped me more fully appreciate and celebrate Christmas for who and what it’s really about. The twinkling lights, the music, the presents, and childlike wonder are always going to tug at my heart of nostalgia and childlike delight – but the Advent will forever move me in awe and wonder of God’s love and fulfilled promise the Messiah – Immanuel – God with us!

May we press on faithfully in the observance of Advent and draw near with hearts of worship and wonder worthy of our God and Savior.

Going further

Be sure and check out today’s blog post by the LGG Team

Reflections on the journey

Who do you say Jesus is?

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Thanksgiving

The Habit of Thanksgiving

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And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Eph. 5:20

The following is shared from a facebook post by Ann Voskamp on November 15, 2023. Ann is a joy to read and listen to. She is a catalyst of knowing, loving, and worshiping God. She plants seeds and nurtures them and today’s post is a beautiful example – Read each line, read them slow and let them soak in to the crevices of your heart, soul, and mind – and be prepared for joy to abound and thanksgiving to pour forth and become a habit that changes your life and touches the lives of those around you. I praise God for introducing her to me and for how He has used her to grow my faith and ignite a life of gratitude within me. I pray that she will be a blessing to you as well. – Me, from the insideout – 🦋

“As long as thanks to God is possible — then Joy in God is always possible.

But you better believe it: There’s a force in this world that does not want any of us to live in real joy.

Because Joy is dangerous — it’s igniting and contagious and otherworldly and it wins the war against the dark.

Joy isn’t Pollyanna– joy is revolutionary: Joy goes straight against the way the darkness spins.

Joy isn’t the optional feature of the Christian life. Joy is the operative feature of the Christian life –

Joy is a function of gratitude — and gratitude is a function of perspective.

So how do we see, how do we get and keep the perspective to see that there are gifts everywhere to be grateful for?

You trains your eyes to see gifts.

You make thanksgiving your life habit.

So we have got to pick up a pen & wield it like a sword & write down what we’re thankful for, & count gifts & fight this fight for joy because this is the thing:

Our God asks us to give thanks in everything —

because He knows this is the only way to live through *anything.*”

Response of Prayer

Father, thank You for the power of giving thanks and for the joy it ignites in us – a joy that is a force against the enemy and a contagion that spreads among Your people and brings You glory, praise, and honor! Thank You for Your servant, Ann. Thank You for the way You use her to touch and empower others with Your Word. Thank You for what she has taught me about giving thanks and how I have seen it change the way I think and respond and live. Use this post as a catalyst to ignite thanksgiving in the lives of those that read it – that You might be praised and the world around us might be impacted with life-long habits of thanksgiving and joy that flows from the gratitude. Train our eyes to see the gifts of Your grace and to respond with resounding praise! In and through the name of Jesus ❣ I pray – Amen!

Going Further in the Journey

Check out Ann’s book: “One Thousand Gifts” @ https://annvoskamp.com/onethousandgifts/