Particularily with my generation the church has become only a building you drive by and admire the stained glass windows. But what is the church for, what is its purpose? Today's lesson provided the answers, all based on scripture.
The church is the body of Christ
1Corinthians 12:27 Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.
Christ is the head of the church
Ephesians 4:15 Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
God places us in a church
1Corinthians 12:18 But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it.
The Holy Spirit gives each member of the church a gift to be used to benefit the church
1Corinthians 12:4,7 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.
Our responsibility is to do God's work AND to build up
Ephesians 4:12-13 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.
Being a member of a church should be so much more than attending Sunday services. We should be there to use the spiritual gifts we have been given and also to support each other. Why then is our church life not more important to us? Church groups should be a community within a community, but I suppose we are too often too busy with life (and yes, that includes me) to focus on the people within our church. I pray that we can all make our church a bigger priority in our lives.
Remember that, according to this study, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church. If we are not visible within the church how is the Holy Spirit going to speak to us through the church? When we are seeking to hear from God, often we will see that what we hear from the Bible, in our prayers, through circumstances, and at church are all saying the same thing. When that happens you will know that you are on the right path.
Showing posts with label Experiencing God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Experiencing God. Show all posts
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Experiencing God - Unit 6: Day 4
Spiritual Markers
Physical Markers of Spiritual Encounters
There are many instances of people in the Old Testament builing alters after they had an encounter with God. These are examples of physical markers.
The altars and stones became opportunities to teach about God.
Spiritual Markers
God has plans for our lives and to accomplish His purposes He will prepare us by guiding us through life, by developing our character and growing through life lessons and spiritual growth. Each step along the way can be thought of as a stepping stone along a path. As we come to the next stone we are focused on that single step, but God sees the whole path.
Spiritual markers are like those stepping stones, it identifies a time of trnasition, decisions, or directions where you clearly know that God was guiding you. As you come to know these spiritual markers you can confidently take the next step when you are faced with new decisions or a new direction for your life. The spiritual markers show you what directions God has been leading you, so that when faced with a decision you will know which option is the mopst consistent with His path.
Physical Markers of Spiritual Encounters
There are many instances of people in the Old Testament builing alters after they had an encounter with God. These are examples of physical markers.
The altars and stones became opportunities to teach about God.
Spiritual Markers
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
Spiritual markers are like those stepping stones, it identifies a time of trnasition, decisions, or directions where you clearly know that God was guiding you. As you come to know these spiritual markers you can confidently take the next step when you are faced with new decisions or a new direction for your life. The spiritual markers show you what directions God has been leading you, so that when faced with a decision you will know which option is the mopst consistent with His path.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Experiencing God - Unit 6: Day 3
Day 3 - The Truth of Your Circumstances
John 14:6 "I am...the truth"
No matter what are circumstances are the truth of the situation is not revealed until the Holy Spirit reveals it to you. In the midst of any situation we should always go to God, striving to be more God-centered rather than self-centered. This of course is so difficult to do, but we are deny our selves and follow Him. The workbook said the following:
John 14:6 "I am...the truth"
No matter what are circumstances are the truth of the situation is not revealed until the Holy Spirit reveals it to you. In the midst of any situation we should always go to God, striving to be more God-centered rather than self-centered. This of course is so difficult to do, but we are deny our selves and follow Him. The workbook said the following:
When He becomes the Lord of your life, He alone has the right to be..He will create any circumstance to do His will. If He is Lord of our lives we will see Him glorified by the circumstance.
- the Focus in your life
- the Initiator in your life
- the Director in your life
That is what is means for Him to be Lord.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Experiencing God - Unit 6: Day 2
Day 2 - God Speaks Through Circumstances
God works in His time and for His purposes. If we try to look at the circumstance from our perspectives we will always become confused and frustrated. When we face difficult or confusing circumstances, rather than become discouraged, we need to be looking for the ways that God is accomplishing His purposes.
The story the author told in the workbook was when his young daughter was having to endure cancer treatments. They chose to seek the perspective of God through the Holy Spirit and the Word. Many, many people and groups began to pray and about half way through the treatments she was completely cancer free!! The answer to prayer was for many of the prayer groups a way that God used to renew their prayer lives. God spoke to many through these circumstances!
John 5:17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
God is always at work even when we face difficult circumstances. Will you choose to be discouraged, or give Him the glory?
God works in His time and for His purposes. If we try to look at the circumstance from our perspectives we will always become confused and frustrated. When we face difficult or confusing circumstances, rather than become discouraged, we need to be looking for the ways that God is accomplishing His purposes.
The story the author told in the workbook was when his young daughter was having to endure cancer treatments. They chose to seek the perspective of God through the Holy Spirit and the Word. Many, many people and groups began to pray and about half way through the treatments she was completely cancer free!! The answer to prayer was for many of the prayer groups a way that God used to renew their prayer lives. God spoke to many through these circumstances!
John 5:17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
God is always at work even when we face difficult circumstances. Will you choose to be discouraged, or give Him the glory?
Experiencing God - Unit 6: Day1
Unit 6 - God Speaks, Part 2
Important Verse
John 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
Day 1 - What is Happening When You Pray?
Spiritual Concentration
Praying is part of our relationship with God. It is how we speak to Him and one of the ways He speaks to us. So obviously prayer is very important. But what do we do after we pray. When we say "Amen" what do we do next, many of us simply move on to the next task?
The workbook talked about a "spiritual concentration". It is what we do after we pray. After we pray we should anticipate the actions of God in response to our prayer. What begins to happen during the rest of the day? Is it a perfect day where everything goes as it should, or are there distractions and events that are not part of what you anticpated for the day. These distractions and events may be a way that God is trying to communicate with you, a way to give you an answer to your prayer.
The Silences of God
As we learned from Job, and answer from God may be silence. These times of silence may be to prepare you for a time of great revelation and a deeper knowledge of Him.
Important Verse
John 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
Day 1 - What is Happening When You Pray?
Spiritual Concentration
Praying is part of our relationship with God. It is how we speak to Him and one of the ways He speaks to us. So obviously prayer is very important. But what do we do after we pray. When we say "Amen" what do we do next, many of us simply move on to the next task?
The workbook talked about a "spiritual concentration". It is what we do after we pray. After we pray we should anticipate the actions of God in response to our prayer. What begins to happen during the rest of the day? Is it a perfect day where everything goes as it should, or are there distractions and events that are not part of what you anticpated for the day. These distractions and events may be a way that God is trying to communicate with you, a way to give you an answer to your prayer.
The Silences of God
As we learned from Job, and answer from God may be silence. These times of silence may be to prepare you for a time of great revelation and a deeper knowledge of Him.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Experiencing God, Unit 5 - Day 5
Unit 5 - God Speaks, Part 1
Day 5 - God Speaks Through Prayer
I think that too often prayer is just us speaking to God. But do we listen as well? Prayer should go both ways. It is the way that God speaks to us, so when we talk to and listen to God then we have two way communication. We have fellowship.
In the workbook, the author told a story that I thought was a fantastic analogy of how God uses prayer, so I will simply quote it here:
Need I say more! Well, maybe a little more...
Romans 8:26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
We don't even know how to pray! Our prayer time should be as much, or even more, listening as it is speaking to God!
Day 5 - God Speaks Through Prayer
I think that too often prayer is just us speaking to God. But do we listen as well? Prayer should go both ways. It is the way that God speaks to us, so when we talk to and listen to God then we have two way communication. We have fellowship.
In the workbook, the author told a story that I thought was a fantastic analogy of how God uses prayer, so I will simply quote it here:
For his sixth birthday, my oldest son Richard was old enough to have a bicycle. I looked all around for a bicycle. I found a blue Schwinn, I bought it and hid it in the garage. Then I had a task - to convince Richard that he needed a blue Schwinn bike. For the next little while, we began to work with Richard. Richard decided that what he really wanted for his birthday was a blue Schwinn bike. Do you know what Richard got? Well, the bike was already in the garage. I just needed to convince him to ask for it. He asked for it, and he got it!
What happens when you pray? The Holy Spirit knows what God has "in the garage". It is already there. The Holy Spirit's task is to get you to want it - to get you to ask for it. What will happen when you ask for things God alreasy want to give or do? You will always receive it. Why? Because you have asked according to the will of God. When God answers your prayer, He gets the glory and your faith is increased.
Need I say more! Well, maybe a little more...
Romans 8:26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
We don't even know how to pray! Our prayer time should be as much, or even more, listening as it is speaking to God!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Experiencing God, Unit 5 - Day 4
Unit 5, Day 4 - God Speaks Through the Bible
John 10:4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.
I have always loved this verse describing Jesus as our shepherd. Have you ever had an animal that was scared and would only come to you when you spoke to it in a calm way? I have and it is powerful, that just your voice can make the animal forget its fear because he knows he is safer behind you! It is the same with Jesus, we follow Him because that is where we are the safest.
As we get to know God we begin to recognize His voice. The workbook stated that God uses prayer and the Bible together to speak directly to us. Often circumstances and the church, or other believers, will confirm what God is saying.
The workbook also described a sequence that I will list here:
1. You read the Bible
2. The Holy Spirit reveals its truths
3. You adjust your life to those truths
4. You obey
5. God works in and through you to accomplish His purposes.
It all begins with reading the Bible!
John 10:4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.
I have always loved this verse describing Jesus as our shepherd. Have you ever had an animal that was scared and would only come to you when you spoke to it in a calm way? I have and it is powerful, that just your voice can make the animal forget its fear because he knows he is safer behind you! It is the same with Jesus, we follow Him because that is where we are the safest.
As we get to know God we begin to recognize His voice. The workbook stated that God uses prayer and the Bible together to speak directly to us. Often circumstances and the church, or other believers, will confirm what God is saying.
The workbook also described a sequence that I will list here:
1. You read the Bible
2. The Holy Spirit reveals its truths
3. You adjust your life to those truths
4. You obey
5. God works in and through you to accomplish His purposes.
It all begins with reading the Bible!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Experiencing God - Unit 5, Day 3
Unit 5 - God Speaks, Part 1
Day 3 - God Reveals
Isaiah 55: 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
We do not think the same way as God, therefore it does not make sense to try to accomplish God's plans in our our ways. It simply will not work. Also, if try to do it our way then we are missing out on seeing the mighty power of what God can do!
God's plans must be done by God's ways. When God is working through us others will see that mighty power and will be drawn closer to God.
Day 3 - God Reveals
Isaiah 55: 8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
We do not think the same way as God, therefore it does not make sense to try to accomplish God's plans in our our ways. It simply will not work. Also, if try to do it our way then we are missing out on seeing the mighty power of what God can do!
God's plans must be done by God's ways. When God is working through us others will see that mighty power and will be drawn closer to God.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Experiencing God - Unit 5, Day 2
Unit 5 - God Speaks, Part 1
Day 2 - God Speaks by the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
The Holy Spirit comes into us when we accept Jesus into our lives. We cannot understand the Word of God until the Holy Spirit teaches us, through the Holy Spirit the truth is revealed. Through the Holy Spirit we are encountering God.
Day 2 - God Speaks by the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
The Holy Spirit comes into us when we accept Jesus into our lives. We cannot understand the Word of God until the Holy Spirit teaches us, through the Holy Spirit the truth is revealed. Through the Holy Spirit we are encountering God.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Experiencing God - Unit 5, Day 1
Hooray, I have caught up to where I am actually studying in the workbook. Now I can write a post when I complete each day!
Unit 5 - God Speaks, Part 1
Verse to remember
John 8:47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.
Do you hear God speaking to you? If you do not, perhaps it is time to review your relationship with Him. Where are you going wrong? What ways can you adjust you life to be in a better position to hear Him when He speaks to you.
Day 1 - God Speaks in Different Ways
In the Old Testament God spoke in many ways, such as directly to people such as Abraham and Moses, and He also spoke through the prophets. In the New Testament God spoke through Jesus and then sent the Holy Spirit. Now God speaks to us by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church.
As we develop our relationship with God He will reveal His will. He will also reveal His plan and the direction we are to take. We should pray and wait, learn patience and depend on God's timing.
Unit 5 - God Speaks, Part 1
Verse to remember
John 8:47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.
Do you hear God speaking to you? If you do not, perhaps it is time to review your relationship with Him. Where are you going wrong? What ways can you adjust you life to be in a better position to hear Him when He speaks to you.
Day 1 - God Speaks in Different Ways
In the Old Testament God spoke in many ways, such as directly to people such as Abraham and Moses, and He also spoke through the prophets. In the New Testament God spoke through Jesus and then sent the Holy Spirit. Now God speaks to us by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church.
As we develop our relationship with God He will reveal His will. He will also reveal His plan and the direction we are to take. We should pray and wait, learn patience and depend on God's timing.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Experiencing God - Unit 4
Unit 4 - Love and God's Invitation
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
Because we love Jesus we want to obey His commandments, and the more we obey the closer we come to God. The closer we come the better we can see Him when he reveals Himself to us.
Day 1 - Know God
In the workbook there is a list of over 300 names, titles, and descriptions for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Below are just a few of those names, titles, and descriptions. In what ways have you experienced God? Has he been any of these to you? As we experience God we come to know Him better!!
my salvation (Ex. 15:2)
my friend (Job 16:20)
Comforter in Sorrow (Jer. 8:18)
a sure foundation (Isa. 28:16)
our guide (Ps. 48:14)
my confidence (Ps.71:5)
my hiding place (Ps. 32:7)
my hope (Ps. 71:5)
bread of life (John 6:35)
light of life (John 8:12)
the good shepherd (John 10:11)
good teacher (Mark 10:17)
Day 2 - Worship God
Have you ever struggled with how to worship God? It can be as simple as looking to the Word, look for scriptures that praise His name. Praising his name is worship. The names of God direct you to understand who He is and what He does.
The workbook gave a long list of scriptures that describe ways you can direct your worship toward God through His names. Listed below are a few of them.
Sing unto the Lord, bless his name (Ps. 96:2)
Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice (Ps. 105:3)
I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good (Ps. 52:9)
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name (Ps. 63:4)
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you (Ps. 5:11)
Day 3 - Love God
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
There is a progression shown here: know, love, believe, trust, obey
You come to know God and in turn love Him. As your love deepens you believe in Him and trust Him. As a result you happily obey Him. The reward for our obedience is that He reveals Himself to us.
Day 4 - God Invites You to Join Him
John 5:17 But Jesus replied, "My Father never stops working, so why should I?"
God is at work trying to bring the lost to Himself. As He reveals Himself to us it is our invitation to join Him in this work. He will show us where He is at work and how we can join Him. This is His revelation to us.
Day 5 - Knowing Where God is at Work
Often we ask God to bless us, but this is backwards. We should not look for how God is going to bless us, instead we should look for how God is revealing where He is at work. We will be blessed as we join Him in His work. We are to pray and watch to see what happens, it may be God speaking to us, revealing His plan to us.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
Because we love Jesus we want to obey His commandments, and the more we obey the closer we come to God. The closer we come the better we can see Him when he reveals Himself to us.
Day 1 - Know God
In the workbook there is a list of over 300 names, titles, and descriptions for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Below are just a few of those names, titles, and descriptions. In what ways have you experienced God? Has he been any of these to you? As we experience God we come to know Him better!!
my salvation (Ex. 15:2)
my friend (Job 16:20)
Comforter in Sorrow (Jer. 8:18)
a sure foundation (Isa. 28:16)
our guide (Ps. 48:14)
my confidence (Ps.71:5)
my hiding place (Ps. 32:7)
my hope (Ps. 71:5)
bread of life (John 6:35)
light of life (John 8:12)
the good shepherd (John 10:11)
good teacher (Mark 10:17)
Day 2 - Worship God
Have you ever struggled with how to worship God? It can be as simple as looking to the Word, look for scriptures that praise His name. Praising his name is worship. The names of God direct you to understand who He is and what He does.
The workbook gave a long list of scriptures that describe ways you can direct your worship toward God through His names. Listed below are a few of them.
Sing unto the Lord, bless his name (Ps. 96:2)
Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice (Ps. 105:3)
I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good (Ps. 52:9)
Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name (Ps. 63:4)
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you (Ps. 5:11)
Day 3 - Love God
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
There is a progression shown here: know, love, believe, trust, obey
You come to know God and in turn love Him. As your love deepens you believe in Him and trust Him. As a result you happily obey Him. The reward for our obedience is that He reveals Himself to us.
Day 4 - God Invites You to Join Him
John 5:17 But Jesus replied, "My Father never stops working, so why should I?"
God is at work trying to bring the lost to Himself. As He reveals Himself to us it is our invitation to join Him in this work. He will show us where He is at work and how we can join Him. This is His revelation to us.
Day 5 - Knowing Where God is at Work
Often we ask God to bless us, but this is backwards. We should not look for how God is going to bless us, instead we should look for how God is revealing where He is at work. We will be blessed as we join Him in His work. We are to pray and watch to see what happens, it may be God speaking to us, revealing His plan to us.
Experiencing God - Unit 3
Unit 3 - God Pursues a Love Relationship
Verse to Remember
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.
Day 1 - Created for a Love Relationship
The following quotes from the workbook say it all.
From page 43 - He created you for a love relationship with Himself. That is the very purpose of your life.
From page 45 - He wants you to love Him with all your being. Your experiencing God depends on your having this relationship of love. A love relationship with God is more important than any other single factor in your life.
God is Love! He shows us how to love! In the workbook, the task was to emphasize the word love in the following scriptures.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1John 4:9-10,19 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. We love because he first loved us.
Day 2 - A Love Relationship With God
Matthew 6:31-32 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
My mom worries about everything, I have even given her scriptures like this to put in her pocket to remind her not to worry. (p.s. mom, quit worrying about whatever you are worrying about!!) I suppose in a way, I learned not to worry because she worries so much.
Matthew 6:19-21,33 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
The more we seek after God the more we come to know Him, to love Him, and become more like Christ. Rather than spending time worrying about things we have no control over we should instead spend our time in those things that are lasting through to eternal life - enriching our relationship with God!
Day 3 - Walking with God
Any relationship requires time spent together. My hubby and I spent very little time together before we were married. We did however, spend many, many hours on the phone for several months. In those months before we were married, that time on the phone was top priority! That time gave us a strong foundation.
So if my relationship with God is the most important thing in my life, then I need to make spending time with Him my top priority. Every moment I spend with Him I come closer to Him. The closer I get, the more I love Him, the more I love Him the better I can hear and understand Him when He speaks to me.
Day 4 - God Pursues a Love Relationship
Revelation 3:20 Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.
No relationship with God begins without Him making the first move. He calls to us and we respond. As He draws us close to Him, He then begins to open our hearts and minds to understanding.
Day 5 - A Real, Personal, Practical Relationship
If your relationship with God is the most important part of your life, how much of your day and thoughts is He a part of? Is He only there when you open your bible or devotional? Is He only there when you need help and we call on Him in prayers of desperation?
This is the opposite of where we should be. God is a constant presence so shouldn't He be a part of every aspect of our lives - the good, the bad, and the ugly! Perhaps if we seek Him more, pursue the relationship more then we can have joy even through those bad and ugly moments.
Verse to Remember
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.
Day 1 - Created for a Love Relationship
The following quotes from the workbook say it all.
From page 43 - He created you for a love relationship with Himself. That is the very purpose of your life.
From page 45 - He wants you to love Him with all your being. Your experiencing God depends on your having this relationship of love. A love relationship with God is more important than any other single factor in your life.
God is Love! He shows us how to love! In the workbook, the task was to emphasize the word love in the following scriptures.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1John 4:9-10,19 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. We love because he first loved us.
Day 2 - A Love Relationship With God
Matthew 6:31-32 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
My mom worries about everything, I have even given her scriptures like this to put in her pocket to remind her not to worry. (p.s. mom, quit worrying about whatever you are worrying about!!) I suppose in a way, I learned not to worry because she worries so much.
Matthew 6:19-21,33 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
The more we seek after God the more we come to know Him, to love Him, and become more like Christ. Rather than spending time worrying about things we have no control over we should instead spend our time in those things that are lasting through to eternal life - enriching our relationship with God!
Day 3 - Walking with God
Any relationship requires time spent together. My hubby and I spent very little time together before we were married. We did however, spend many, many hours on the phone for several months. In those months before we were married, that time on the phone was top priority! That time gave us a strong foundation.
So if my relationship with God is the most important thing in my life, then I need to make spending time with Him my top priority. Every moment I spend with Him I come closer to Him. The closer I get, the more I love Him, the more I love Him the better I can hear and understand Him when He speaks to me.
Day 4 - God Pursues a Love Relationship
Revelation 3:20 Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.
No relationship with God begins without Him making the first move. He calls to us and we respond. As He draws us close to Him, He then begins to open our hearts and minds to understanding.
Day 5 - A Real, Personal, Practical Relationship
If your relationship with God is the most important part of your life, how much of your day and thoughts is He a part of? Is He only there when you open your bible or devotional? Is He only there when you need help and we call on Him in prayers of desperation?
This is the opposite of where we should be. God is a constant presence so shouldn't He be a part of every aspect of our lives - the good, the bad, and the ugly! Perhaps if we seek Him more, pursue the relationship more then we can have joy even through those bad and ugly moments.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Experiencing God - Unit 2
Unit 2 - Looking To God
Verse to Remember
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Day 1 - God-Centered Living
John 12:24-25 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
I read this verse several times trying to fully grasp it. And that is why I love the workbook concept. I happened to glance at the title of today's lesson and it all fell so beautifully and simply into place! Don't you just love it when the Holy Spirit opens your eyes so wide!
Verse 24 - Only when we die to this world through salvation can God work through us to save many more.
Verse 25 - If you love your life on earth you have it all wrong! Hating this earthly life means that you are aware of the sin of this world and you should then be focused on God by repenting of your sins and eagerly awaiting your eternal life with Him.
Day 2 - God's Plan Versus Our Plan
God works His purposes through us. If we say things like "I can't", "Not right now", "I don't think I am able to" then we are focused on our own inadequacies. Often God knows that we can't do it on our own, but He can! He wants to do it Himself through us!
Day 3 - God Takes the Initiative
Philippians 2:13 (NIV) for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13 (NLT) For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
Sometimes I find that a different translation helps to make a verse more clear. In this case the NLT showed me that God gives me the desire to obey Him. How wonderful! He wants me to obey Him and so he helps me to do it.
Day 4 - God Speaks to His People
God speaks to us by the Holy Spirit, through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church. The deeper our relationship with God, the better we are able to hear Him.
Day 5 - God Speaks with a Purpose
Matthew 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
God speaks to us when he has a purpose. A small assignment may be to develop your character in preparation for a larger assignment. If we are faithful in obeying God in the small things He asks of us, we are already blessed.
Verse to Remember
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Day 1 - God-Centered Living
John 12:24-25 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
I read this verse several times trying to fully grasp it. And that is why I love the workbook concept. I happened to glance at the title of today's lesson and it all fell so beautifully and simply into place! Don't you just love it when the Holy Spirit opens your eyes so wide!
Verse 24 - Only when we die to this world through salvation can God work through us to save many more.
Verse 25 - If you love your life on earth you have it all wrong! Hating this earthly life means that you are aware of the sin of this world and you should then be focused on God by repenting of your sins and eagerly awaiting your eternal life with Him.
Day 2 - God's Plan Versus Our Plan
God works His purposes through us. If we say things like "I can't", "Not right now", "I don't think I am able to" then we are focused on our own inadequacies. Often God knows that we can't do it on our own, but He can! He wants to do it Himself through us!
Day 3 - God Takes the Initiative
Philippians 2:13 (NIV) for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13 (NLT) For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
Sometimes I find that a different translation helps to make a verse more clear. In this case the NLT showed me that God gives me the desire to obey Him. How wonderful! He wants me to obey Him and so he helps me to do it.
Day 4 - God Speaks to His People
God speaks to us by the Holy Spirit, through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church. The deeper our relationship with God, the better we are able to hear Him.
Day 5 - God Speaks with a Purpose
Matthew 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
God speaks to us when he has a purpose. A small assignment may be to develop your character in preparation for a larger assignment. If we are faithful in obeying God in the small things He asks of us, we are already blessed.
Experiencing God - Unit 1
Unit 1 - God's Will and Your Life
Verse to Remember
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
I simply adore this verse. It was even part of the readings at my wedding! I can nothing on my own, God guides every moment of my life. As long as I remain on the path God provides for me (my branch) my life will be blessed.
Day 1 - Jesus is Your Way
John 14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life.
Jesus is the way! When you follow Him your faith and trust grow providing you with a sense of freedom. You do not have to worry about the next step, or any step or situation. God is planning all of those steps for you, He puts obstacles in your path. All of it is learn and grow ever closer to Him and His purposes.
Day 2 - Jesus is Your Model
Every experience, every bit of knowledge and wisdom should be brought to a test against the Bible. We need to hold the truths of the Bible as our guide for everything. Our faith is guided by the Bible and it will reveal the truth about our experiences.
As you focus on the Word, your focus shifts from being on yourself to where it should be - on God. God works in our lives everyday, but without knowledge and understanding of the Word, we may be experiencing God but are not able to recognize Him.
Day 3 - Learning to be a Servant of God
The following is directly quoted (in italics) from page 18 of the Experiencing God workbook. It spoke so loudly to me that I wanted to share it!
The author wrote:
The funny thing is that when I first did this lesson I did not highlight the "Stand There!" portion. But today as I reviewed it, there it was - screaming at me!!!
The relationship with God must come first. In an effort to change my habits, to make spending time with God a priority, I have been leaving my Bibles and Bible study materials on the table. I leave it sitting out where I can see it, where it reminds me as I am passing by to spend some time and sit down to do it. Sometimes I may only get in 5 minutes before I am interrupted by some preschooler crisis. But that is 5 minutes of time with God that I would not have spent before I made this small change! For those 5 minutes I can stand still and grow!
Day 4 - God Works Through His Servants, Part 1
Amos 3:7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
God reveals His plans as He works through us. The Bible helps us to understand the ways of God so that when He reveals His plans we can recognize that it is God at work.
Day 5 - God Works Through His Servants, Part 2
God chooses ordinary people to work through. The Bible calls Elijah, Peter and John ordinary, yet they did extraordinary things. God working through ordinary people makes them extraordinary.
Verse to Remember
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
I simply adore this verse. It was even part of the readings at my wedding! I can nothing on my own, God guides every moment of my life. As long as I remain on the path God provides for me (my branch) my life will be blessed.
Day 1 - Jesus is Your Way
John 14:6 I am the way, the truth and the life.
Jesus is the way! When you follow Him your faith and trust grow providing you with a sense of freedom. You do not have to worry about the next step, or any step or situation. God is planning all of those steps for you, He puts obstacles in your path. All of it is learn and grow ever closer to Him and His purposes.
Day 2 - Jesus is Your Model
Every experience, every bit of knowledge and wisdom should be brought to a test against the Bible. We need to hold the truths of the Bible as our guide for everything. Our faith is guided by the Bible and it will reveal the truth about our experiences.
As you focus on the Word, your focus shifts from being on yourself to where it should be - on God. God works in our lives everyday, but without knowledge and understanding of the Word, we may be experiencing God but are not able to recognize Him.
Day 3 - Learning to be a Servant of God
The following is directly quoted (in italics) from page 18 of the Experiencing God workbook. It spoke so loudly to me that I wanted to share it!
The author wrote:
We are a "doing people". We always want to be doing something. Once in a while someone will say, "Don't just stand there, do something."Maybe this spoke so loudly to me today because for a moment I felt guilty about taking the afternoon to do this, to spend time with this workbook and blog about it. I have preschool lessons to prepare, accounting cases to grade, never ending laundry to do, so much cleaning to do, tons of unpacking still to do, an incredible amount of yardwork, etc, etc, etc. Blah Blah Blah you get it!
"I think God is crying out and shouting to us, "Don't just do something. Stand there! Enter into a love relationship with Me. Adjust your life to Me. Let Me Love you and reveal Myself to you as I work through you". A time will come when the doing will be called for, but we cannot skip the relationship. The relationship with God must come first.
The funny thing is that when I first did this lesson I did not highlight the "Stand There!" portion. But today as I reviewed it, there it was - screaming at me!!!
The relationship with God must come first. In an effort to change my habits, to make spending time with God a priority, I have been leaving my Bibles and Bible study materials on the table. I leave it sitting out where I can see it, where it reminds me as I am passing by to spend some time and sit down to do it. Sometimes I may only get in 5 minutes before I am interrupted by some preschooler crisis. But that is 5 minutes of time with God that I would not have spent before I made this small change! For those 5 minutes I can stand still and grow!
Day 4 - God Works Through His Servants, Part 1
Amos 3:7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
God reveals His plans as He works through us. The Bible helps us to understand the ways of God so that when He reveals His plans we can recognize that it is God at work.
Day 5 - God Works Through His Servants, Part 2
God chooses ordinary people to work through. The Bible calls Elijah, Peter and John ordinary, yet they did extraordinary things. God working through ordinary people makes them extraordinary.
The author says on page 25 of the workbook:
So do you believe that God can work through you and do significant and extraordinary things? I believe that! He is God, and He has the right and the ability to do anything with me!
When you believe that nothing significant can happen through you, you have said more about your belief in God than you have said about yourself.
So do you believe that God can work through you and do significant and extraordinary things? I believe that! He is God, and He has the right and the ability to do anything with me!
Experiencing God Bible Study
A couple weeks ago the Wednesday evening Bible study that I attend started a new Bible Study. The workbook that goes with it is called Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry T. Blackaby & Claude V. King.
If you are interested in getting the workbook for yourself, here is a link to where I purchased my workbook on Amazon. (by the way, I generally purchase used books on Amazon and have always received books in fantastic condition) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805499547/ref=oss_product
Ok, so I am actually in the 4th unit right now, but thought I would spend the afternoon backtracking and blogging about the study so far. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon! That way I should be able to keep up with it better as I go. Finish a day, blog my thoughts. Great plan, right? We shall see!
This study is a guided workbook study that from what I have seen so far is a fantastic study in the foundations of where a Christian should be focused. There are five daily studies per unit and each study covers quite alot of information so I think I will simply write about what spoke to me the most while trying to stay with in that day's topic. At least that is the plan - for now.
Of course, I do want to give credit to the authors for anything that I will be posting about this study. My walk down the path of my own spiritual growth is simply being guided by the Holy Spirit through the aid of this study. I am also certain that the authors were guided by the Holy Spirit as they wrote the study. All credit therefore belongs with God!
The back of the workbook is simple. It repeats the title Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God then lists three basic but important points.
If you are interested in getting the workbook for yourself, here is a link to where I purchased my workbook on Amazon. (by the way, I generally purchase used books on Amazon and have always received books in fantastic condition) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805499547/ref=oss_product
Ok, so I am actually in the 4th unit right now, but thought I would spend the afternoon backtracking and blogging about the study so far. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon! That way I should be able to keep up with it better as I go. Finish a day, blog my thoughts. Great plan, right? We shall see!
This study is a guided workbook study that from what I have seen so far is a fantastic study in the foundations of where a Christian should be focused. There are five daily studies per unit and each study covers quite alot of information so I think I will simply write about what spoke to me the most while trying to stay with in that day's topic. At least that is the plan - for now.
Of course, I do want to give credit to the authors for anything that I will be posting about this study. My walk down the path of my own spiritual growth is simply being guided by the Holy Spirit through the aid of this study. I am also certain that the authors were guided by the Holy Spirit as they wrote the study. All credit therefore belongs with God!
The back of the workbook is simple. It repeats the title Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God then lists three basic but important points.
- Learn to hear when God is speaking to you.
- Find out where God is working and join Him.
- Experience God doing through you what only God can do!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
A new focus
This blog has been silent for much too long! No excuses, no whining or complaining - just time to move forward. Here is what is new and upcoming for this blog.
Book Reviews
The previous post you will have seen a book review. I have reviewed several books over on my other blog and thought that I would use this blog to review only biblically based books such as bibles or bible reference type books. The first book that came up that caught my attention was the God's Promises book. I then decided that I would include any reviews for childrens books on this blog as well.
By the way, I highly recommend blogging book reviews for Thomas Nelson. Free books just for your opinion. How great is that!
Beth Moore's Daniel Study
As some of you may know we recently moved back to our house in North Carolina. When we got back I joined some wonderful ladies in Beth Moore's Esther study. It has been incredible! So much so that a few weeks ago I raised the question about what study would we do next. Well, that eventually landed me into the role of faciliator of Beth Moore's Daniel study which we will start on June 8.
I have no idea how this will work yet, but I wondered if I could blog about the study as I prepare for each week. Like I said, I have no idea what that means yet! I plan to start to prepare for this study this week so I will blog as I go???
Experiencing God Study
Being back here also means I am back to attending Wed bible study at our church. We just started a new study called "Experiencing God" and it has a workbook that goes with it. Of course I had to get the workbook! I may or may not blog about that, I am currently just trying to catch up as I got the book right before the second week. Meaning I have three weeks to catch up on before Wed! Yikes!!
Summer Siesta - Ruth Study
And then, some of the same ladies from the Esther study will also be doing the Daniel study with me. But one of them found a summer study on Beth Moore's blog, the study will be on the book of Ruth. Maybe I will blog about that too???
All I can say is WOW! You would think I would be overwhelmed by all these workbooks bible studies going on at the same time. But I am not! By faith I am jumping into them and pray I can be a sponge to absorb what I need to hear and learn what I need to grow spiritually. It is time to put this blog to better use... But grow... so let's grow, will you join me? I am praying that you will. Please comment and let me know you have been here.
Book Reviews
The previous post you will have seen a book review. I have reviewed several books over on my other blog and thought that I would use this blog to review only biblically based books such as bibles or bible reference type books. The first book that came up that caught my attention was the God's Promises book. I then decided that I would include any reviews for childrens books on this blog as well.
By the way, I highly recommend blogging book reviews for Thomas Nelson. Free books just for your opinion. How great is that!
Beth Moore's Daniel Study
As some of you may know we recently moved back to our house in North Carolina. When we got back I joined some wonderful ladies in Beth Moore's Esther study. It has been incredible! So much so that a few weeks ago I raised the question about what study would we do next. Well, that eventually landed me into the role of faciliator of Beth Moore's Daniel study which we will start on June 8.
I have no idea how this will work yet, but I wondered if I could blog about the study as I prepare for each week. Like I said, I have no idea what that means yet! I plan to start to prepare for this study this week so I will blog as I go???
Experiencing God Study
Being back here also means I am back to attending Wed bible study at our church. We just started a new study called "Experiencing God" and it has a workbook that goes with it. Of course I had to get the workbook! I may or may not blog about that, I am currently just trying to catch up as I got the book right before the second week. Meaning I have three weeks to catch up on before Wed! Yikes!!
Summer Siesta - Ruth Study
And then, some of the same ladies from the Esther study will also be doing the Daniel study with me. But one of them found a summer study on Beth Moore's blog, the study will be on the book of Ruth. Maybe I will blog about that too???
All I can say is WOW! You would think I would be overwhelmed by all these workbooks bible studies going on at the same time. But I am not! By faith I am jumping into them and pray I can be a sponge to absorb what I need to hear and learn what I need to grow spiritually. It is time to put this blog to better use... But grow... so let's grow, will you join me? I am praying that you will. Please comment and let me know you have been here.
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