Tag: LGG

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

From Courageous Faith to Bold Prayers

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based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, w2d2

Scripture: Our Road Map for the Journey / Daniel 2:1-18 / SOAP verse 18

Nebuchadnezzar Has a Disturbing Dream

2 In the second year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar had many dreams. His mind was disturbed and he suffered from insomnia. 2 The king issued an order to summon the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and wise men in order to explain his dreams to him. So they came and awaited the king’s instructions.

3 The king told them, “I have had a dream, and I am anxious to understand the dream.” 4 The wise men replied to the king: [What follows is in Aramaic] “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will disclose its interpretation.” 5 The king replied to the wise men, “My decision is firm.[n] If you do not inform me of both the dream and its interpretation, you will be dismembered[o] and your homes reduced to rubble! 6 But if you can disclose the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, a reward, and considerable honor. So disclose to me the dream and its interpretation.” 7 They again replied, “Let the king inform us of the dream; then we will disclose its interpretation.” 8 The king replied, “I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm. 9 If you don’t inform me of the dream, there is only one thing that is going to happen to you. For you have agreed among yourselves to report to me something false and deceitful until such time as things might change. So tell me the dream, and I will have confidence that you can disclose its interpretation.”

10 The wise men replied to the king, “There is no man on earth who is able to disclose the king’s secret, for no king, regardless of his position and power, has ever requested such a thing from any magician, astrologer, or wise man. 11 What the king is asking is too difficult, and no one exists who can disclose it to the king, except for the gods—but they don’t live among mortals!”

12 Because of this the king got furiously angry and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So a decree went out, and the wise men were about to be executed. They also sought Daniel and his friends so that they could be executed.

14 Then Daniel spoke with prudent counsel to Arioch, who was in charge of the king’s executioners and who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 15 He inquired of Arioch the king’s deputy, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. 16 So Daniel went in and requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king. 17 Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter. 18 He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that he and his friends would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon

Observation and Application of the Journey

Our journey through the first chapter of Daniel bore witness to God’s fingerprints. We saw how God was working behind the scenes on Daniel’s behalf, making the overseer of the court officials sympathetic to Daniel, endowing Daniel and his friends with knowledge and skill in all sorts of literature and wisdom, and giving Daniel insight into all kinds of visions and dreams. On top of this, we hear the King announcing that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are ten times better than any of the magicians and astrologers in his empire.

In today’s journey, King Nebuchadnezzar demands an impossible thing from his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and wise men. He not only requires them to interpret one of his dreams but to tell him what he had dreamed. When the men are unable to satisfy the King’s request, he becomes furiously angry and gives orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his friends, who had been seen “as ten times better than any of the magicians and astrologers in his empire.”

I love that Daniel didn’t run from the danger; instead, he sought the LORD, his God, and encouraged his friends to pray with him. Daniel’s prayer was for more than mere protection; it was also, and perhaps even more so, for revelation and interpretation of the King’s dream. Once again, Daniel was courageous in his faith and bold in his prayer, both of which set God up to be seen and glorified by the King and all who would witness what God would do.

Daniel’s hope wasn’t in his abilities but in God. He knew that all things were possible with his God. 🦋

Many years ago, I prayed for a specific job for my daughter – not just because she needed a job but because I truly believed, because of things God had already done, that He had positioned her for this job and was opening a door for her to fulfill His call upon her life. To our delight, she was given the job. However, while it was a learning experience, the end result of the job brought much heartache, sorrow, many hurtful losses, and even a certain amount of danger.

There were times when it was hard to see God’s hand, but we trusted His heart and prayed through the losses and, by his mercies, survived the dangers. Our faith was challenged but grew, as did our prayer lives; our hearts were broken and torn apart – even scarred – but those scars are becoming reminders of just how merciful our God is. To God’s glory, much good has come from the devastating ending of what we thought was her dream job – as He has and is showing her/us that while His plan is never to harm us – sometimes the pathway to His will and way can bring hurts and even fearful situations as we see with Daniel.

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar –

Heal the Wound / Lyrics by Point of Grace
Prayer/Worship Response to the Journey

Father, may we learn from Daniel that we do not need to run in panic but rather trust You and commit our way to You, walking courageously by faith, praying bold prayers – even when the request seems impossible, knowing that with You, nothing is impossible. May others see You, not only in our lives but in the miraculous way You answer us, and may we boldly and quickly give You praise – drawing attention to You, for You are worthy of all blessing, honor, and praise! Give us good and godly friends who we can ask and trust to pray with and for us. And Father, when danger or heartache appears, help us not to grow weary and lose heart, In the name of Jesus -Amen

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

The Value of God’s Word

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based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / w1d5

Scripture: The Roadmap for our Journey / Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-15 / SOAP: Deut 6: 6-9

These words1 I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. 8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. 9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NET

Paul wrote to Timothy that the Word of God is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. The author of Hebrews wrote, “The Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates, even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” And Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit, whom the Father would send in Jesus’ name, would teach the disciples all things and remind them of everything Jesus had said to them to them.2 Obviously, God considers His Word to be of great value and purpose. And, as we see through today’s passages, we should also value It. We are wise when we take to heart the words of David, who, in an effort to not sin against God, stored up God’s Word in his heart.

How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:9-11. ESV

God’s Word is so valuable and such an important part of our faith that It is to be on our minds when we wake up and when we lie down. We are not only to know His Word, but we are to teach It to our children and talk about it throughout the day. Paul wrote that we should let God’s Word dwell in us richly.3 David wrote that he had hidden It in His heart so that he might not sin against God.4 The Psalmist also said that God’s Word was a lamp to guide his feet and a light for his path.5 Paul also taught that the Word of God is to be used daily as armor so that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.6

Look again at today’s passage:  “(These words) I am commanding you today [must be kept in mind.]”

Friends, I realize that even the thought of “memorizing” Scripture tends to strike fear in the heart or mind and/or elicit an “I can’t” response, but that doesn’t change the fact that God initiated and even insisted on His people keeping His Word, specifically the commandments He gave through Mosses, in their minds.  Why? Because He knew they would need it to be strong and faithful in the land where He was sending them. Take heart, though, and remember that when God tells us to do something, He equips us to do it. Consider again the words of Jesus, who, before leaving His disciples, comforted them with these words, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.”

How do we keep God’s Word in our Mind?
  • God equips us with the Holy Spirit to help us remember what we need to know and do or not do
  • Moses gave us some helpful ideas for using visual reminders/prompters of the Word
    • though our visuals might be note cards and post-its, … the idea is to keep His Word present
    • He also instructed them to make a habit of talking about God and His Word throughout the day.
  • We are blessed in the 21st century with technology that allows us to have God’s Word at our fingertips –
    • meaning we can read/re-read it more frequently, which helps us keep His Word in our minds
    • We can listen to it as we drive or walk/run …

So don’t be thrown by the thought of memorizing—while it is a good and profitable thing to do, it is not the only way to keep God’s Word alive and active in our minds and lives. If you want to try to memorize, start with Jesus’ summary of the law and prophets, what He considered to be the greatest of the commandments: “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’e 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  – Friends, if we live this out in our everyday lives, we will be found living faithful in a faithless land.

 In response to a question from one of the experts of the Law,
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’e 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’f 40The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40. NLT
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, I confess the difficulty of living faithfully in this world. Be it temptations or simply the easier way, following You can be costly and sometimes scary. However, You have shown me that it is by far the best way. Help me to stay in Your Word and presence daily so that I remember and follow the desires of Your heart and Your teachings rather than my own desires and understanding. May I be careful not to forget that it was You who delivered me from slavery to sin. May I not go after the gods of this land but honor and serve You alone. Thank You for Your Spirit, who keeps Your Word before me. Help me stay alert to His promptings, faithfully hide Your Word in my heart, and faithfully follow hard after You all the days of my life. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray – Amen

The More We Know about the Journey

Many Jews have taken the concept of putting God’s laws on doors, hands, and head literally, yet the emphasis in these passages is on the importance of the Law. The Law of the Lord is perfect, according to Psalm 19:7. Psalm 1  emphasizes the importance of meditating upon God’s Word both day and night. We should never forget it; it should be a part of our daily lives. The Word belongs in our hearts, not just on our foreheads. gotquestions.org

The law that God had given to Israel in written form was flawless. As such, it can revive the soul. It gives life to those who heed it and revival when the human spirit is downcast.

gotquestions.org
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

Conformed or Transformed?

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based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless World / w1d4

Scripture: A Roadmap for our Journey – Daniel 1:3-7; Isaiah 39:6-7; Romans 12:1-2

Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. 2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2. NET

If we belong to God, He is our Father, and He wants us to live according to His plan and His ways—which are righteous and holy. This will not and cannot happen if we copy the behaviors and customs of the world around us. God’s plan and desire is to transform us into new people, and this starts with changing the way we think. He wants to mold us and make us into His image, specifically, the righteous and holy image of His only begotten Son, Jesus.

Paul exhorts the believers in Rome to present their bodies to God as living, holy, and pleasing sacrifices. This means we will have to forego all the pleasures of the world and our hearts’ desires that do not align with God’s will and pleasure. Please read that again, making sure to understand that we do not have to forego all pleasures or give up all of our heart’s desires – only those that do not align with the will of God. How, in the world we live in, with all of its demands and tempting pleasures, can we faithfully do this? I believe the answer is found in Paul’s instructions: we should not conform to the ways of the world but instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds. One question we can ask ourselves every morning is, will we conform to the ways of the world, or will we be transformed by the renewing of our minds by allowing God to change the way we think?

As God’s people, we are not to adapt to or adopt the ways of the world around us. 🦋

The picture we see played out on the pages of Daniel Chapter 1 is one of a king attempting to transform Daniel and the other Jews, who were God’s chosen people, into the image of a ‘true’ Babylonian by reshaping the way they thought and spoke. At the end of a three-year training program, they would enter the king’s service. Even their names were changed from names that pointed them to the true and living God of Israel to Babylonian names that pointed them to the gods of the Babylonians.

“Everything was going to challenge what they had been taught in Judah.” The question was, “How would they choose to live? Could they make a home in Babylon and remain faithful to their God?”

Love God Greatly / Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / p53 – emphasis added

“What about you, MaryEllen?” Those were the words that popped into my mind as I was rereading the first part of this post that I had written earlier in the day. More questions followed that question … Do my ‘name’, my character and the things about me – ie. my words and the things I do and say point me and others toward the true and living God – or toward the gods and things of this world? – It’s a hard but important question, one I believe is good to ask ourselves from time to time – along with, “How have I chosen to live? Am I remaining faithful to God as I live in this sin-saturated world?”

Paul strongly urged the believers in Rome to give themselves over to the pleasures of God instead of self – to no longer live as though they were still dead in their sins but as ones made alive in Christ, holy and pleasing to God. What he wrote to the believers then is still vital for us as believers today — who “live in a culture that seeks to challenge what the Bible teaches.”1Remember the King in Daniel’s story, how he worked to change the way the young men from Judah thought and spoke and even ate by filling their minds with the literature and language of the Babylonians and their bodies with royal delicacies? The Lord’s Word, His literature, and language have the power to transform us, to reshape the way we think and speak and live, and – as I have found – to change us from the ‘inside out’ as we learn to live by the good, pleasing, and perfect will of our God.

“We need to renew our minds over and over with the Word of God. The better we know God, the more likely we are to trust Him and know that His ways are best even when we can’t understand what is going on.”

Love God Greatly / Living Faithful in a. Faithless Land / p53

Father, how easy it is to let my thoughts be filled and influenced by the world/culture around me. Guard me against this, Father, and let Your ways, Your Words, Your love, and desires saturate – not just my mind but my heart – so that I can know Your good, pleasing, and perfect will and live accordingly. Change me from the inside out – I pray this in the name of Your Son, my Savior – Amen❤️

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

A Letter of Hope

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based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless World / w1d3

Scripture – Our Roadmap for the Journey: Jeremiah 29:4-14/soap 29:7

And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

Jeremiah 29:7 NLT
The Right Perspective

Perhaps one of the most challenging things for a Christian to come to grips with is the realization that we do not live a “charmed life.” The hope and future we have in and through Christ do not guarantee that everything in our lives will be easy or go well. Scripture warns believers that there will be suffering and difficulties in this life, but praise God 💜 It also promises that a beautiful future awaits us.

Observation and Application for the Journey
Exiled with Instructions

We must not overlook that the exiles were God’s people, and they were instructed by God to work to see that the city where they were exiled enjoyed peace and prosperity; they were also to pray to God for “the city” to prosper. In other words, they were to be concerned about the place where God had sent them and the people they were now forced to live in exile with. I can’t help but think of the command Jesus gave to His disciples in the NT to love their enemies and to pray for those who persecuted them.1

The RIGHT PERSPECTIVE

Having the right perspective requires knowing and remembering that God exiled His people only after they refused to do what He told them to do. 2 Reread Jeremiah’s warning and the people’s response in Jeremiah 18:1-12, paying careful attention to verses 11 and 12.

So now, tell the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem this: The Lord says, ‘I am preparing to bring disaster on you! I am making plans to punish you. So, every one of you, stop the evil things you have been doing. Correct the way you have been living and do what is right.’ 12 But they just keep saying, ‘We do not care what you say! We will do whatever we want to do! We will continue to behave wickedly and stubbornly!’” Jeremiah 18:1-12. NET

We also must not miss the “right perspective” we are given through the prophet Jeremiah’s identification of God as the orchestrator of the exile. Yes, God sent His people into exile as a consequence of their rebellion,3 but He had a plan for both the ‘city’ and the ‘exiles.’ The plan was not to harm them but to prosper them, and as Jeremiah went on to write, God knew what He had planned for His people—which was “to give them a future filled with hope.”4

I don’t know that we can fully understand this type of exile, but the thing that hits me with some semblance of understanding is knowing that this world is not our forever home. Peter referred to his fellow believers as “temporary residents and foreigners.” And Paul wrote, “We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” He goes on to say that “we are eagerly waiting for Christ to return as our Savior.” For then, “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.”5

Friends, it is important to understand that this promise was specific to the “Nation of Israel,” even more specifically, to the Jews who were in exile in the days of Daniel. However, all who are in Christ share in God’s promise of hope and a future forever with Him! Without this truth and perspective, we will get lost in our misery and struggles, or we will get caught up in the ways of the world around us and turn from our God – missing out on the purpose He has for us here, which is not just biding our time – but working and praying for the salvation of the lost until He returns.

The return of Christ is always presented in Scripture as a great motivation to action, not as a reason to cease from action. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul wraps up his teaching on the rapture by saying, “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Paul concludes a lesson on Christ’s coming with these words: “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” To retreat and “hold the fort” was never Jesus’ intention for us. Instead, we work while we can. “Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Gotquestions.org

Prayer of Response from the Journey

Father, thank You for the reminder that this is not our forever home. We are foreigners and aliens in this world. However, this has also reminded me that we are not to be simply biding our time until You return and we receive our promised citizenship in Your Kingdom. Instead, we are to work and pray for the salvation of the lost as Jesus commissioned His disciples to do – until He returns. Help us, Father, not to be caught up with the cares and struggles of this world but to keep our eyes on You, Your promised return, and Your call upon our lives to live faithfully in this faithless land. – I pray these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus – my Savior and Lord – Amen

WORSHIP RESPONSE TO THE JOURNEY/ BORROWED AND SHARED FROM YOUTUBE
Reflection on the journey
  • How can you work in your “city” for peace and prosperity?
  • How/what can you pray for “the city”?
The More We Know

For more insight, read today’s Love God Greatly Blog Post

For further reading and understanding: Psalm 137:1-4; 2 King 25:4-12

The Plans I Have for You

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

A God-Given Desire

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Scripture: Our Roadmap for the Journey: Jeremiah 24:1-8 / SOAP: verse 7 / w1d2

I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.

Jeremiah 24:7. NLT
Observation and Application from today’s journey

The Heart of God for His People is seen in the “I will” statements God gave through Jeremiah. They must have been great words of encouragement to Jeremiah, words of hope for a heartwrenching and seemingly hopeless situation. God had sent His people into exile because of their rebellion, but here, God tells Jeremiah, “I consider them to be good.” He then proclaims that He will look after their “welfare.” He will also restore them to their land, build them up, and not uproot them. He will give them the desire to acknowledge Him as Lord; He will be their God, and they will be His people. Why? Because God loves them with an everlasting love and, from the beginning of time, was working all things out – not to harm them but to give them hope and a future. The LGG journal for today’s portion of our journey explains this so well that I am sharing it with you here. May it help us as we move forward through the lessons of living faithfully in the land of the faithless.

Today’s devotion is borrowed and shared from the pages of the LGG Journal, Living Faithful in the Land of the Faithless, p 45.

Love God Greatly is More Than a Bible Study

The More We Know

For further reading: Daniel 1:1-2 and 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

What is the significance of the baskets of figs in Jeremiah 24?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

The Potter and the Clay

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based on the LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless World / w1d1

Scripture, Our Road Map for the Journey: Jeremiah 18:1-12 / SOAP verse 6

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” 3 So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. 4 But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over…

“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.” –

Jeremiaah 18:1-6. NLT

God is the potter, and we are the clay. He will mold us and make us according to His will.

Observation and Application from the Journey

I love it when God uses memories from our past to highlight the present lessons He is teaching us. When I was a little girl – still in elementary school, my best friend was Penny. Penny’s dad had a workshop in their basement where he worked on ceramics, using molds, paints, and other tools to create works of art that he would place in a kiln, which would eventually reveal their beauty. Penny and I loved going down to the basement when he was working because he would occasionally let us help him create. While I know the process of ceramics doesn’t quite compare to the beautiful picture of the potter and his clay, the memory of Mr. Tucker’s detail and attention to his creations flooded my mind as I began to journal my observations of today’s Scripture about the potter.

I also could not help but think of my life verse, the verse that gave a name to this blog site, mefromtheinsideout, from 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ Jesus the new creation has come, the old has gone the new is here. 🦋

In fact, the old version of a Christian, who they were before they were “in Christ,” is not recoverable. The old is gone, Paul writes. The new has come. All the old dreams and ideas and agendas and purposes have ceased to exist and have been replaced by Christ’s ideas and agendas and purposes in an entirely new creature called “Christian.”

– read more @Bibleref.com

Friends, this truth and challenge/question are from the LGG study journal today and are too good and necessary for the study not to share. I pray you will read them and give them thought and prayerful consideration. After all, we waste our time with these studies, or any others for that matter, if we only read them and walk away, ignoring or quickly forgetting what God has made known.

  • TRUTH:
    • “We all like to hear the positive things people say about us. We enjoy being reminded that God loves us, just as we are. But we can be less keen to hear truths such as God detesting our sin. He wants more for us, or He wants us to grow to be more like Jesus.”
  • CHALLENGE:
    • Look again at the SOAP verse (Jer. 18:6) . Read it aloud, but replace “nation of Israel/O Israel” with your name
    • How teachable are you? We are often more focused on the temporary things of this world. God wants to develop your relationship with Him and your character because He is interested in molding us into His likeness. Are you willing to be molded?
Prayer of Response from the Journey

Father, how blessed we are to know Your grace and mercy. How heart-wrenching it is to recall some of the days of my past, but oh, how sweet it is to know Your transforming power! The old has gone, and the new has come! Because of You, I am forever changed, a new creation in Christ Jesus!

As we begin this new study/journey on “Living Faithful in a Faithless Land,” please help us to be teachable, to hear Your Word, and to put it into practice. Guard us from being focused on the temporary things of this world. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, and please develop more of Your character in us. Let us be yielded to You as You mold us and make us according to Your will. – In the Name of Jesus, this is my prayer – Amen and Amen!

Responding in Worship to the Journey (borrowed/Shared from YouTube)
The More We Know

For further reading/understanding: Jeremiah 18:18; 25:1-3, 11

Dear reader, have you known/experienced the life-changing power of God’s mercy and grace? If not, I invite you to read Know These Truths and/or message me so I can share with you the way to a new life in Christ 🦋

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/

Connect with me on Facebook or via email. @mryelnb@aol.com (subject line: Journey through the Word

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

The Great Commission

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based on the Love God Greatly Study: Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w6d5

Scripture: The Road Map for The Journey
Matthew 28:16-20 / SOAP: 19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20. NET
Observation and Application from the Journey

This passage speaks volumes for itself! It is the climatic statement of Jesus’ mission and His final instructions for His disciples. In large part it is a message of “commission” to continue His mission of making disciples of all nations1 They are to do with others what Jesus has done with them. What they have learned from Jesus they are to teach and model to others from every people group; as Paul says in Colossians chapter three: “It doesn’t matter if they are Jew or Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave or free …”

Make no mistake, Jesus’ commission started with this face-to-face with the eleven, but it is clear that it was meant for all disciples who would come after them.

Followers of Jesus are to make followers of Jesus.

original source unknown

As we’ve come to the end of our present journey – Come, Lord Jesus, Come – that has been filled with these important instructions, we must not miss that the message also contains some of His final words of enduring encouragement for then and now: “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” He is with us to the end of the age, He is with us when we are “going” to make more disciples, He is with us when we are afraid, He is with us when we are in need, He is with us in grief and in joy. He is with us while we wait on His return. He is always and forever with us! – Of course, He didn’t mean this as a literal. physical presence but rather in Spirit, for all who believe in Jesus receive the gift of His Spirit from God. The Spirit is our Advocate and Counselor, and His presence graces us with both peace and strength for all we face in this life/world.

“I have spoken these things while staying with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.

27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.

John 14:25-27. NET

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, we wait for You – for Your perfect timing in sending Jesus to redeem His people. We wait to see His face and to be in Your presence. We wait with Hope and we pray for courage and obedient, yielded hearts to Your co-mission of us to carry the message of the Gospel to the world. We pray for Your help in living our faith out loud, in praying faithfully for the lost, in being ready with an answer for the Hope that is within us, We praise You for our salvation and the presence of Your Spirit with us – even to the end of the age! In the name of Jesus our Redeemer we pray and we watch and wait with hope and faith. – AMEN!

The More We Know: Side Trails along the Journey

From the LGG Journal – words of encouragement and of hope and beauty. May they be an inspiration to all who read them.

Jesus is with us to the end. We know our purpose. We know our mission. We are instructed to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations. Going out into the world means traveling to other countries, and it also means crossing the street or, in some cases, even the rooms in our homes. We need to share Christ with those near and far. We need to teach others God’s Word and how to obey it. That is more than just a conversion; Jesus wants us to disciple this generation.

When you think of the model of how Jesus chose to disciple His twelve disciples, you’ll see that He not only taught them God’s Word but also how to live it out. It’s not enough to know God’s Word in our minds; we must allow God’s Word to penetrate our hearts and change us from the inside out. God’s Word must impact the way we live our lives, the way we love, serve, and treat others. While this is all a process and takes time, we see that Jesus did life with and invested in a select group of twelve men. These men were far from perfect. They didn’t always understand Jesus, but Jesus never gave up on them.

Discipleship is hard. Discipleship takes time. But this is the command Jesus left us with: do as I have done. Numbers don’t matter. Pour your life into a group of individuals. Teach them God’s Word and how to obey it. Reach out to those locally and those at the ends of the earth. No one is too far from God. All are welcome at the foot of the cross. Jesus knew that the work He was calling us to was no easy task. But, He has promised us something that is a game-changer: He is with us always.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank You for the promise that You are always with us. Today, I pray for favor and open doors to share boldly with those near me and anywhere You might send me. Thank You for this opportunity to play a part in this amazing love story You are writing with our lives. Please open the hearts and minds of this generation to Your love. I pray this generation will turn from their sinful ways and turn to You. I pray for salvation for those who don’t yet know You, and I pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those of us who bear Your name. I pray for a mighty harvest like never before. I pray for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done. Until the day we see You face-to-face, we will pray, come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

Have you heard the Truth? Do You know the Way? If not or if you’re not sure please take a minute to read “Know These Truths” – You might just be surprised how this Truth can change your life and renew you from the inside out! 🦋

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Messengers of “The Faith”

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based on the Love God Greatly Study: Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w6d4

Scripture: Our Road Map for the Journey

 You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.

2 Timothy 4:5. NET

Have you ever had a friend, mentor, or someone in your life that has not just prodded you to do something, but given you a serious and difficult challenge -one that will change you and potentially others from the inside-out? 🦋 This is what we find on today’s journey. Paul charges Timothy, in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus<<<< that statement right there indicates the seriousness of this charge Paul has given Timothy. Check out the list of what he is asking of Timothy:

  • Preach the message – whether it is convenient or not
  • reprove
  • rebuke
  • exhort with complete patience and instruction

And then check out the seriousness of the reason:

  • People will be turning away from theTrue Gospel
  • They will prefer to listen to and follow those who say what they want to hear and do
  • They will not only turn away from the Truth but they will turn their minds toward myths/fables

Then the challenge/charge turns personal … Not only is Timothy reprove, rebuke, exhort with patience and instructions and preach the Truth – but he is to:

  • be self-controlled at all times
    • “Timothy was to be focused and alert, taking his life and role seriously … He was to be calm, focused, and controlled.” – Bibleref.com 2Timothy4:5
  • endure hardships
    • this wasn’t just instruction to merely survive hardships/difficult times but to maintain his Christian character and perspective regardless of what was happening in his life or within the ministry he had been called to
  • do the work of an evangelist
    • An evangelist is one who presents/shares the good news of Christ with others. While this is something that Paul particularly charged Timothy with, consider the commission that Christ put before all of His disciples, both past and present:
      • “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15-16. NET
  • and stay at the tasks until the mission/ministry has been carried out/fulfilled -no matter the difficulty or temptation to quit

Why was Paul so serious with Timothy and adamant that he stay at the tasks until his “ministry was fulfilled?” – The answer to this seems evident in verses 6-8 where Paul makes it known that his time on this earth was coming to an end. He knew the work had to go on and was making sure that Timothy would continue to carry out the mission even when he was gone. To not do so would leave many vulnerable to the false teachings and turning away from the true, life-giving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Friends, we too must “take up the mantel” that Paul so obviously considered a worthy passion and position in life. Like Timothy we have been charged with being messengers of “The Faith”, which is belief in Jesus Christ. When we come to the end of our life or when Jesus returns to take us home, may we be found faithfully living self-controlled lives, enduring hardships, doing the work of an evangelist, and fulfilling the mission/ministry we have been given. – Yes and Amen in Jesus Christ!

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Encouragement as We Wait

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Based on the LGG Study: Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w6d3

Scripture: Our Road Map for the today’s Journey

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 / SOAP vs. 9-11

For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing. 1 Thess 5:9-11 NET

Observations and Applications for the Journey

For those who have placed their faith in Jesus this passage is another beautiful reminder of God’s grace in pouring out the wrath that our sins deserved onto His Son so that we might live an eternal life with Him!💜🫶 – As I contemplated the passage a declaration from John’s first epistle came to mind – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God”.1 Jn 3:1 – Ah the unbelievable beauty of God’s love! May this be our encouragement to one another as we wait through these trying days for His return.

May we be found faithfully living as children of the light and of the day so that those in the darkness might see and hear our message of faith and hope and be saved from the wrath that is to come on those who have not believed.

– Me, from the Insideout 🦋

If you do not know Christ as Your Savior my prayer is for you to hear and understand the truth of God’s Word – that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory and that those sins are deserving of death. But, in God’s great love and mercy He gave Jesus, His only begotten son, to die in our place – so that ALL who believe in Him would have everlasting life. Because of this exchange there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. All who have believed will be spared the wrath that is to come on those who have not believed. – If you would like to know more about these truths and how you can share in this hope I invite you to read “Know These Truths” before it’s too late.

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Prayer of Response for the Journey

(borrowed, in-part, from the LGG Journal)


Dear Lord, give me words to build up those around me. Help me to be generous with my encouragement and lead me to those I should encourage and give me the right words to say. Help me be a better encourager in these last days. Show me how I can be Your hands and feet to those who need it. Thank you, Jesus, for how You love and sustain us. Thank you for bearing God’s wrath on the cross. You are amazing in every way! Until the day when we can see you face-to-face, we pray, come, Lord Jesus, come. – May we be found faithfully sharing the Gospel message of salvation until that day, so that all who have not yet believed may hear and know and believe in the TRUTH before it is too late. Amen.

The More We Know: Side Trails of the journey

Be sure and check out today’s LGG Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Set Apart - Living a Life for God's Glor

The Matchless Power of His Grace!

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Based on the LGG Study: Come, Lord Jesus, Come / w6d2

Scripture: The Roadmap for our Journey

Titus 2:11-15 / SOAP vs 11–13

 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. 12 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-13. NET
Observation and Application of the Journey

Have you ever considered the power of God’s grace? His grace appeared … His grace brought salvation to all people … His grace trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives … and it does all of these things while we wait for the fulfillment of our hope when Christ our great God and Savior appears. The same Savior that John wrote of in John chapter 1:14 – where he wrote: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good. 15 So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke that carries full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you. Titus 2:14-15. NET

You see Christ gave Himself over to death for us so that we, those who believe in Him, might be set free from the law of sin and death. By His death we have been purified and set apart as a people who belong to Him and are eager to do good. Only the power of Christ’s perfect life and His spotless blood was powerful enough for this type of redemption!

Prayer of response to the Journey

Father, may we never take for granted or forget the cost of our salvation. A salvation born of Your grace so powerful that it conquered the depth and deadliness of our sins, sins that made us Your enemies, condemned unclean! Yet, now we stand before You purified by the blood of Your Son and adopted as Your dearly loved children, joint heirs with Your only begotten Son. May we be quick and faithful to communicate this message to the world around us – the rich and powerful message of the Your grace God – a grace available to all who place their faith in Jesus Christ, the representation of Your grace and the coming fulfillment of our hope. – It is in His name I pray, amen!

Music inspired by the Journey
There is no power greater than the gift of God’s Grace poured out through the blood of Jesus Christ ! ❤️

Do you want to know the power of God’s Grace? Do you want to share in the Hope of Jesus Christ? Please click on Know These Truths and let God transform your life by the power of His Grace!

https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
The More We Know; Side Trails of our Journey

Encouragement from the LGG Journal Entry for w6d2, p176

As we wait for this happy fulfillment of our hope in Christ’s glorious return, let’s intentionally live lives that reflect the love we have for God. May our obedience flow from our love for God. Instead of looking at the world with dread, let’s see it as a place of opportunity and share Christ with those who do not know the reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15). Now is the time to share this amazing gift of hope in Christ with those around us. We don’t have to have all the answers, but we do need a passion to do our part in helping to bring salvation to all people. Make no mistake, you have been born in this exact generation for such a time as this.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, create in me a love and passion for those in this world who are far from You. Help me see them the way You see them, with eyes full of love, grace, and mercy. Use me powerfully now, on this day, to help reflect You to a watching world. Give me opportunities to share with those who are searching for the reason for the hope that I have. Until the day You come back, use me powerfully with the gifts You have given me. As I eagerly wait for Your return, I’ll continue to pray, come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.