How Hard Can It Be?
01 May 2012 3 Comments
in Bible Study, Daily Devotion, Joy, Patience, Peace, Purpose, Religion, Spiritual, Uncategorized, Women Tags: and proud woman., Bible, Change, Devotion, fear of the lord, fruit of the spirit, leadership, Life, Love, presence of god, Religion, spirituality, Women
We make life so hard. We think we must have all the answers, when we really have need of only one – God. We busy ourselves as if we are so important, when in truth, we are told to decrease so that God might increase. We strive to have our preferences known and complicate so much by the man-made rules and laws we try to enforce.
When pressed by busy lawmakers and politicians, Jesus stated it all so very clear: Love God and love people. How hard can it be? How hard can it be to provide shelter in your own home to someone in need? How hard can it be to clean out your pantry to feed the hungry in your community? How hard can it be to sort through your closet to supply others with clean, warm clothes? For goodness sakes, how hard can it be to smile at your neighbor? Really, how hard can it be?
Mark 12:29-31 “Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: Listen, O Israel! The LORD, our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Discussion Questions
What is it that causes us to make Love God and love people so difficult?
What is one thing you can do today to love God and love people?
Birds of a Feather
24 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Bible Study, Daily Devotion, Joy, Patience, Peace, Purpose, Religion, Spiritual, Uncategorized, Women Tags: and proud woman., Bible, Change, Devotion, fear of the lord, fruit of the spirit, leadership, Life, Love, presence of god, Religion, spirituality, Women
My mother would have said it like this: “You are the company you keep.” I have been thinking about the influence of the company in my life. At times those influences were to ignore God and do things my own way. That just never worked out all that well for me. In fact, those influences generally caused me to hurt the ones I loved and led me straight into trouble of one type or another and in one degree or another. In contrast, the influences in my life which were much more positive brought blessing to those around me as well. Those influences, such as friends, family, and Scripture consistently bring me closer to those I love and admire.
Proverbs 13:20 “Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.” Or as my mother would have said, “Birds of a feather flock together.”
I’m fortunate in that I did not spend much time in the company of those that would influence me away from God and from what is considered good. But I know it could have been different, very different.
Discussion Questions:
- Identify the influences in your life that made lasting impressions on your life journey. What do you think caused you to turn to those influences?
- No matter what age or stage we are in life, we face the same dilemma to choose to spend time with those that influence you. What advice would you give to yourself in that regard?
Go and Tell
17 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Bible Study, Daily Devotion, Joy, Patience, Peace, Purpose, Religion, Spiritual, Uncategorized, Women Tags: Bible, Change, Devotion, fear of the lord, fruit of the spirit, leadership, Life, Love, presence of god, Religion, spirituality, Women
This semester of PURSUIT has been about women that were changed, dramatically changed, by Jesus. When Jesus changes someone’s life, it is always a witness to who He was and brings glory to God.
Scripture is clear that we are to give testimony of how Jesus has changed us. We are tell our story – Is. 62:6 – unceasingly; Mark 5:18–19 – to those we live with; Acts 1:8 – empowered by the Holy Spirit; Ephesians 5:19 – to encourage other Christians; 1 Timothy 1:8 – without shame or fear; 1 Peter 3:15 – and at a moment’s notice. Our story is personal – Psalm 66:16 and recounts God’s blessings in our life – Is. 63:7; should be hard to NOT tell – Jer. 20:9 and Acts 4:20 and our story should be a living outgrowth of faith – 2 Cor. 4:13.
And so, I have provided a simple outline that will help you in the telling of your own story of how Jesus has changed your life. I suggest that you put three bullet points that would complete the following four statements: My life before receiving Christ…; How I realized I needed Christ and when I received Him as Lord…; Since that time, Jesus has done this in my life…; Jesus is doing this in my life today…
Now, go and tell…go and tell.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you find sharing your story with others easy or difficult and why do you think that might be?
2. What groups or individuals would you most like to share your story?
He is Alive!
10 Apr 2012 Leave a Comment
in Bible Study, Daily Devotion, Joy, Peace, Purpose, Religion, Spiritual, Uncategorized, Women Tags: Bible, Devotion, Life, Love, presence of god, Religion, spirituality, Women
The women who went to attend to the body of Jesus, proclaimed it. The disciples who scurried to the empty tomb, confirmed it. On the road to Emmaus, two men, encountered Him: Jesus is Alive! He has risen just as he said he would.
We have just celebrated Easter, that annual reminder to the world and to Christians alike that Jesus is very much alive!. We sing about it in the lyrics of great songs and read about it in Scripture. But do our lives witness to the fact that Jesus is alive? Here is your chance to tell me how you know that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive today. How do you know that Jesus is indeed risen and alive? What has Jesus done in your life that is proof that He is alive and as one song says, “He’s living on the inside, roaring like a Lion?” Post a comment, my friend – post away!
