I wanted to share some stuff with you this weekend.
First, my beautiful and amazing family is on the cover of P31 Woman this month. You can order a copy for $2 or year's subscription for a donation to Proverbs 31 Ministries of $15. Click here.
First, my beautiful and amazing family is on the cover of P31 Woman this month. You can order a copy for $2 or year's subscription for a donation to Proverbs 31 Ministries of $15. Click here.
Second:Thursday was an exciting day at the P31 office. Follow this link to the Proverbs 31 Facebook page to experience the fun. You don't have to be on Facebook to view the pictures.
Click here.Third:
Last weekend was awesome and I wanted to share the fun.
Me and one of my new friends Linda.
Not friends enough for her to give me this awesome shawl. Isn't it beautiful? Isn't she beautiful? A woman in love with Jesus and it shows.
This is the awesome Chad James of the Chad James band. They will opening for Third Day soon.
To see more pictures, yes, me attempting to line dance, follow this link. Click here. I hope I did that right.
Ya'll have a great weekend. My super kids did a super job with their cleaning Friday so my house is clean. YEA! I will work on my retreat for Central Baptist Church in April. Here's a hint...I will read the book of Nehemiah.
31 Comments:
Good Saturday Morning to you all!
I am up early, unfortunately after a bad night sleep and some noisy neighbors at 3:00 am. I'm going to pray about that today. I was so angry that I grabbed shoes and a blanket and marched myself over there and gave them a piece of my mind. Didn't we just talk about letting God speak through us? I know that is not what he would've said. So I'm headed off to work in about an hour with a couple hours of sleep and feeling a little crabby. But I need to praise God for waking me up and for the gentle pitter patter of the rain today. I love rain early in the morning. And also the blessed extra time that I have to spend with him.
I am loving Deuteronomy so far. I'm still feeling sad for Moses and today we see for the first time that he does approach God about entering the promised land.
There are so many verses that stuck out to me today, but one of my favorites was Deuteronomy 4:31. "For the Lord your God is a merciful God, he will not abandon you..." Even when I get lost like I have been for so many years, as long as I come back to the Lord and ask him into my life he will be there. When I read that out loud it sounds so simple. I could lead a much simpler and less complicated life if I would really fully allow God in. I'm starting to realize these things. Wow! That is powerful stuff.
Wendy, I can't thank you enough for leading us on this journey. The magazine cover looks awesome!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Kristin in Wisconsin
Kristin, your post made me laugh. I tend to have a temper too and I could see myself doing exactly what you did with your noisy neighbors, and then regretting my words later. Here's hoping you get to sneak a nap in today...there's nothing worse than that all day exhausted feeling.
Today's reading was wonderful! So many nuggets and truths. I too felt bad for Moses...he said "please let me cross the Jordan" and the Lord was angry when he said, "That's enough! Speak of it no more."...wow...kind of sets me back in my chair. God is God and His say is final. We do find in the NT that Moses does get to step to the other side during Jesus' transfiguration....so once again we trust God's plan as perfect.
I noticed today how many times fire was referenced. God spoke from the heart of the fire. I've always had a fear of fire...I associate hell with fire...but to associate fire with God...being on fire for Him; refined in His fire; the Holy Spirit came as tongues of fire; the sacrifices were made by fire; fire offers light and heat; and so on.
May my heart always burn like fire for my Jesus. Let others see my burning love for God and allow their cold hearts to melt. Consume my sinful ways in your refining fire Lord. Amen.
I'm headed to a girl's weekend away with high school classmates...lots of laughter, food, and fun awaits me! Thank you Lord for friends.
Happy weekend all.
Morgen
Happy Saturday (Beautiful Ladies)….Lori I loved your greeting yesterday…It was so much needed.
Kristen hang in there with us girl...remember we are mere humans.
Morgen...sweet sister...The fire and furnance caught my eye too. have a great weekend with your classmates.
Wendy ….Where do you get your energy??….(you can come rearrange my scrap booking area anytime)…. Your family is Beautiful. I’m not on face book so couldn’t view you in the red-cowboy boots…line-dancing. You are a sweetheart for so many reasons.
For me today …. “The furnace of affliction”
My bible verse:
Deuteronomy 4:20, but you he has taken, and led out of that iron foundry,* Egypt, that you might be his very own people, as you are today.
In the sacred Scripture….Israel time in Egypt is referred to as a “furnace,” or “foundry” of affliction-
The *footnote I just love them.
1King 8:51, For they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of an iron furnace.
Jeremiah 11:4, which I enjoined upon your fathers the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that iron foundry, saying: Listen to my voice and do all that I command you. Then you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
The words of Isaiah could well apply to most of us today: (It sure is for me). The situation with my family ….We are in the furnace.
“See, I have refined you like silver
tested you in the furnace of affliction.” — Isaiah 48:10
Why were the Israelites allowed to suffer so many years of degradation, oppression and slavery in Egypt? For their spiritual development, and so that they would become detached from living there--their longing for something better opened them up to God’s plan for them: to live in the land of Canaan as his witnesses to all the Earth.
God is also working in our lives, friends. God’s people still suffer in the “furnace of affliction.” this is to burn away the sin in our hearts. Thus purified of attachments to this world, we begin to be prepared for that better, heavenly life that he has prepared for us.
Jeanne…Thank You very much for your prayers….Yes it would be great to meet this side of heaven. Was together with a few of my sisters last night…. For some reason my heart does feel this unexplainable peace about the situation. Through some tough trials for me is where I came to know and long for my Heavenly Father. Putting her into His hands …(today I realize there is no better place). I will keep you and your niece in my prayers. Blessings to you sweet sister.
Have a Spiritual Weekend Everybody
Rhonda
Morning Everyone,
Wendy when I clicked on the link for the pictures it took me to your profile picture and that was all. Not sure how you linked the page, but I send my family and friends that are not on FB links to picture albums all the time and you have to click on the album you want to send then down at the bottom there should be a "public link" that you can copy and paste that when clicked on will take you to that specific album. Hope that helps :)
I agree with Kristin and Morgen this morning, the reading today was great! So many things stood out that I wrote in my journal about. The one I want to comment about on here though is:
Deut 5:8-9, "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind...I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. ...the entire family is affected."
I know we have read this before but God hit me so hard with this commandment this morning. He chose to put idolatry as the sin that affects our family and future generations. When we put other things before God our families are going to be affected. Our kids will see us not putting God first and they will learn that is ok. At the root of all sin is pride, pride that thinks we can do what we want and there will be no consequences. Pride that wants our way and not humbly submitting to God's way. When we let pride rule our lives then our kids will see that. That is what we will teach them. It makes me think of the generational strongholds we have talked about before and how we have to be the ones to break those and choose a new path despite what our parents and generations even before them chose. If I don't choose to walk away from idolatry and placing things ahead of God, my son will learn that it is ok to do the same then he will struggle in areas as well. I don't want that for him. I want to be the one that changes so he won't have to fight the battles I should have fought.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Brandee, TN
Enjoy your weekend everyone.
Wendy, you have a lovely family.
Moses is reviewing God's commands-obey God, don't worship idols but worship God only,remember what wonderful things God has done for you in the past, teach all this to your children and grandchildren.Then unbelieving nations will notice the Lord our God is near when we call on Him.
Deut. 4:29 tells us if we swearch for God with all our heart and soul, we will find Him. After we have rebelled, we will search for God and His forgiveness and we WILL find Him. What a great promise for us and our straying loved ones.
Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness with the complaining people. Considering the fact that they had spent 400 years in Egypt as slaves to Pharoah and lived his way,not depending on God,complaining, it wasn't such a long time to get Egypt and its ways out of the people.
Does God have to get Egypt out of us-idols, false gods, dependence on others, new things to buy? How patient God is! The flesh doesn't go down without a fight.However, greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. He continues to work with us. All God wants is for us to love Him most of all and above all.
Have a good one gals.
Linda from Ark.
Happy Saturday Everyone ~
Wow, I've been blessed already, I'm just loving you early birds! Wendy, LOVE the pic's! Thank you sweetie-pie for sharing YOURSELF with all of us! We love and adore you! Was thinking the other day how I have not received any Proverbs 31 magazines-duh, I forgot to reorder!!!
Lovely picture! Will reorder today!
Wow...all of you, along with today's reading, have given me more to think about! I love Deuteronomy-Its main theme I do believe, is to "Love the LORD with All of Your Heart." It's the last chapter of Moses, and yes, it will be so sad, to say 'good-bye' to him, our faithful role-model, who walked with God.
But, I'm sure ya'll noticed how many times today, that we read...OBEY...!!! Wow ~ God is telling us something here, ladies. He wants our obedience.
Brandee, you talked about it yesterday and today - and something you wrote stuck with me, Linda from AK, "our first mission field is our family." Then, today, I loved what you said, Brandee, re: our families. Oh, dear friends, this is so heavy on my heart right now. Many weeks ago, one of you young ones, mentioned that the only way you could get your reading in was to read the Bible to your baby. I can't tell you how this impressed me! How I wish I did that when i was your age. My free time back then was reading those baby books making sure I was doing all of the right things at the right time! Fretting and trying to be a perfect mamma, rather than spending time with my Father! God wants us raising our kids from the moment they are born to love Him with all of their hearts. To talk about Him to them, throughout our days. To be a faithful role-model to them.
Weekly, we went to church, and they were quite active in church activities...but ahh, there is just so much more we can do.
"Be e sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren...and they will teach their children..."
We can't let ourselves become so busy that we are tending to everyone except our own families and extended families. We gotta make sure our faith is passed-down.
Oh, I can't wait for my husband to be saved, and ALL of my extended-family members!
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy...love and hugs! Lori
Good Morning all!
The sun is shining and the birds are singing outside! :) Although you all have already touched on them, these are my take aways:
1) Deut 3:22 "Do not be afraid..., for the Lord your God will fight for you." Tied to Deut 1:30 from yesterday - "The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you." Our God not only fights for us, he goes ahead of us to create the path for us to follow.
God is so good! He is taking me on a journey by tying it to another verse from today's reading: Deut 5:33 "Stay on the PATH that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow."
He then led me to Psalm 27:11 - Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path." ...and Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
Before I could ask "How can I be sure I am on the right path?", He answered me ---By being in my Word.
I almos didn't post, but God had something to add! Ladies, let's stay in God's Word each day and share what He lays on our hearts. I am LOVING this journey in the Word and what I am learning from God, Wendy and each of you!
2) Remembering has been a key theme for me ...Deut 4:9 "But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren." REMEMBER! I need to start doing a much better job keeping a journal of answered prayers and just the way that God touches my life and my families' lives each and every day...so that we don't forget.
3) New name for God...Although our God is a "devouring fire" (4:24), He is also a "merciful God" (4:29)...."The God of compassion and mercy.. slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness." (Exod 34:6) Praise Him!
Have a blessed day!
Leslie
Oh how much I am gleaning from this daily study and all of you precious GIGS :) This is my first read thru the Bible and I am absolutely loving it. His Word is so alive and teaching me wonderful truths.
Something that jumped out at me from yesterdays and todays reading that I hope someone can clear up for me. Deuteronomy 1:37 And the LORD was also angry with me because of you. He said to me, Moses, not even you will enter the Promised Land. And Deuteronomy 3:25-26 Please let me cross the Jordan to see the wonderful land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon mountains. But the LORD was angry with me because of you and he would not listen to me. That's enough he declared. Speak of it no more. I thought Moses could not go because of his disobedience from not speaking to the rock and striking it instead. It seems as if he is blaming the people by saying, because of you, instead of taking responsibilty. Am I reading this wrong? Since this jumped out at me twice, Oh LORD where I am not taking responsibilty in my life??
The LORD gave me this awesome message the Christmas of 2008. It beacame my Christmas letter that year. Mom had her heaven day in July of that yr. Decorating the tree became difficult as I handled each ornament mom had bought us. She loved to shop :) As I sought the LORD in reflective sadness and tears and told him I missed her so much and that this was too hard for me. The Holy Spirit reminded me that we were created to praise and worship God. We worship Him on earth and in heaven. Revelation 4:11 “ Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Every time I praise God on earth I am connected to my mom, who is also praising Him in heaven. What an awesome picture! How comforting this is to me. God created us to be full of praise, joy, and thanksgiving. He is blessed by His creation ~ us! So anytime I am having a missing my mom moment, I am reminded to break out in song and praise and join her in worship. Hope this blesses others who are missing loved ones.
Prayers for my Emily,15, who has second degree burns on her right thigh from boiling water. It is a large area from knee up to leg crease. It happened Wed. nite and went to Dr on Fri, it is healing nicely, we go back Mon morning. Thank you LORD for no infections and please heal quickly with no scars.
Blessings to all,
Linda in PA
Blessed Saturday!
Gleanings from other sources this week on Deuteronomy -
Deut. is a review. Must be important because they say it is mentioned over 100 times in NT and Jesus quoted it more than any other book!
It can be viewed as Moses' commencement address to a graduating class. I so like that picture! Moses reviews the past schooling in wilderness "training", hitting the high parts and not mentioning the low points much and sends the "graduates" forward with God's blessing and promises. Just as our teachers in life, he and they cannot accompany us on the next part of the journey, however. he admonishes them to stay on the right course throughout the rest of their time and to teach future generations of
God's laws and promises. I learned also that every seven years the entire book of Deuteronomy would be read out loud in The Tabernacle to the congregation.
One of their problems seemed to be "murmurings in their tents". Please keep me from murmuring in my tent!!! Can't wait to read some more.... I go now to physically clean up my tent.
Blessings from sunny and windy Florida. Dixie
I loved everyone's comments and insights this morning! Thank you, Ladies!
The one thing that jumped out the page to me today was how many times Moses commanded the Israelites to be careful or listen carefully! I looked up the definition of careful - cautious in one's actions, taking pains in one's work, exact or thorough, solicitously mindful, done or performed with accuracy or caution.
I feel that my comments yesterday and together with this prompting, maybe the Lord is telling me to be careful, walk cautiously and not get SO IMPATIENT! Put my trust in Him and His Ways! Thank you dear sweet Jesus!
Have a wonderful weekend! I love getting on this blog and reading everyone's comments! Have a blessed weekend, Everyone!
Bethany-OH
Linda, I too wondered about God being angry with Moses, so I went to a commentary. Here is what it said:
b. Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter: God did not want to hear Moses’ appeal on this matter. Because of his sin at Meribah (Numbers 20), where he misrepresented God as being angry with Israel when He was not, Moses could not enter the Promised Land.
i. This may seem an excessively harsh punishment for Moses. It seemed that after only one slip-up, he then had to die short of the Promised Land. But Moses was being judged by a stricter standard because of his leadership position with the nation, and because he had a uniquely close relationship with God.
ii. It is right for teachers and leaders to be judged by a stricter standard (James 3:1); though it is unrighteous to hold teachers and leaders to a perfect standard. It is true the people’s conduct was worse than Moses’ but it is irrelevant.
iii. Worst of all, Moses defaced a beautiful picture of Jesus’ redemptive work through the rock which provided water in the wilderness. The New Testament makes it clear this water-providing, life-giving rock was a picture of Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4). Jesus, being struck once, provided life for all who would drink of Him (John 7:37). But was unnecessary - and unrighteous - that Jesus would be struck again, much less again twice, because the Son of God needed only to suffer once (Hebrews 10:10-12). Jesus can now be come to with words of faith (Romans 10:8-10), as Moses should have only used words of faith to bring life-giving water to the nation of Israel. Moses “ruined” this picture of the work of Jesus God intended.
c. Speak no more to Me of this matter: Moses was a great man of intercession - perhaps one of the greatest in the Bible. Yet, God would say “no” even to Moses in prayer. God will sometimes say no even to His mightiest intercessors (Jeremiah 15:1).
It doesn't say why God was angry BECAUSE of the Israelites, but it shows how leaders are so much more accountable to God.
Today's reading in one word, "OBEY"
like Lori said.
Today is cold and rainy here in Tn, but I smell Raisin Cinnamon Bread baking as I type. Wonderful smell! I baked one yesterday, and my son and DIL walked in and asked what smelled so good. There is about 2" left on that loaf...they devoured it! If anyone wants the recipe let me know...got it off the internet the other day. My breadmaker has been busy!
Jan TN
Good Morning from sunny Northern CA...Finally :)
I noticed Deu 4:12..Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you...how often to do I obey in just the things I want to...not totally
Deu 5 : 27-29 when the people tell Moses "then come and tell us everything he tells you and we will listen and obey" God replies in 29 "Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands" I want that kind of heart...
Have a great day
Sue in CA
GIGs,
My heart is heavy for a family at my DS2s school. Pls pray for Ben, 13, who has brain cancer. My older son who went to school w/ Ben's older brother said Ben is not doing well. It could be any day now. Pls lift him up and his mother Alicia in prayer. She is a single mom. Her other son, Andrew had a stroke when he was only 8 years old and now has special needs. I mentioned this family in December after I joined this group. My heart is breaking for them. Please pray for them.
Thank you dear friends.
Linda, thank you for sharing what God revealed to you about praising WITH your Mom in heaven. Not only do I take comfort in that because my mom is there, too, but I can share it with others who have lost someone as well. What a blessing. Praying for Emily for complete healing from her burns.
The comments about all of the low numbers of posts reminds me of being on a conference call--many times the leader wonders who all is out there because many of us are on "mute," but we can all "unmute" back in and there we are! So many of us read and watch the vlog every day and journal, but do not comment or post. I love the comments from someone awhile back admiring those of us with small children who were doing this study (which would be me), but I also love seeing the generation in their 50s and 60s on because I know then I will have more time, like you, to do the daily posts and research commentaries for the rest of us! I so appreciate all of your comments--late night and early morning, for making this study be sooooooo much more meaningful! It is the highlight of my day.
The opening line of Mercy Me's new song is "Separated, until the veil was torn..." That would have meant nothing to me without this study!
I do have a humble question for you all--even though I am spending time doing all of this reading, I feel I am lacking in the spending time with Him part. You say you spend five minutes -- how do you not get distracted, nodd off, etc? Do you pretend he is next to you on the couch? I need some help here and desparately want to do this! I do pray, but this is more involved.
Jennifer--Iowa
Happy Day Light Saving Time to all as I lose an hour of sleep. :) At least I'm commenting before 12 a.m. this time.
Jennifer in Iowa, I remember saying that I admired you as a young mom to undertake this task. Now that I am 60 as of 3/10/10 and retired from 31 1/2 yrs. of teaching in public schools, I do have muuuuccchhh more time to spend with God. However, that doesn't make me any higher up in His book than you. I am ashamed that I did not give Him more of myself; therefore, I don't think I was a good Christian mom. I could have been closer to Him, but.... so many excuses.... I tried so many different times to get up early. In retrospect, I wish I had thought to have read the Bible to them as you are doing. I do that with my grandson as he plays; he calls it my Jesus Book. Just give God what you have for Him; He understands, and I honestly think that when it is right, and when he knows that you are ready, He will speak to your heart. Your time for this Bible reading may be in the bathroom or while you're waiting for water to boil. I read back in my journal that you commented on 2/2 that you loved Christian rock as part of your daily worship....this is time with Him, too that I personally glorifies Him and pleases Him...think about the scripture you memorize from the songs you hear. Don't sell yourself short on the amount of time, just be grateful for each moment He gives you to spend with Him. I'm going to buy a Mom's devotional Bible (put together, I think, by MOPS) for my DIL and my D as I know they don't spend time with Him. I just pray that God will use that tool to get them started... Hang in there, gal. You are one of His precious children and He loves you for the struggle. I'm going to do as Leslie suggested today: start keeping a journal of answered prayer. You, Miss Mom Jennifer will be in that journal.;)
Morgen, thanks for the reference to the fire...I wrote it down as I certainly missed all that. I hope you had fun with your friends tonight.
Rhonda, I am so thankful that you are feeling a peace about your situation. Thank you so much for responding to my comment. We'll keep praying, dear SIC,
Lori, loved it OBEY--> that was my To Do. I'll be praying for your hubby.
Leslie, loved that you brought out the theme of remembering...I missed that too. I'm going to start a prayer journal like you. We can leave it for our children, husband, or whoever to see how faithful God is to answer, in His Way, our prayer concerns...a legacy.
Linda, Linda, Linda, I cannot thank you enough for sharing about your mom's heaven day and your remedy for missing her. Wow, I never thought of singing and praising God with my mom in heaven. I want to use this to help me when I, too, am having a MMMM!! I have had a MMMM all week as 3/10 was my 1st birthday without her. I knew she was rejoicing in Heaven at His Feet, and now I feel even more at peace to know that we can rejoice together until He calls me home. Does Phil.2:10 also reassure this promise?
I will pray for Emily.
Jan in TN, THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing all that you had learned on Moses as I was also confused like Linda. Thank you for the time you took in this.
Grace and Peace, I'm praying for Ben, Alicia, and that family.
I've got some praying to do before bedtime, so I'll close.
Praying to OBEY in all I do,
Jeanne
Dear beautiful friends; greetings this Sunday morning! I just finished a week of travel in Slovenia for business (in the graciously elegant city of Ljubljana). The area is surrounded by tall and snow-capped mountains, forming a bowl that holds the city. It reminds me a bit of Bozeman, MT.
I kept up with the readings, but I have not been able to view the vlogs or read all of your comments. I did read those posted Saturday, and you all rock! Thank you for all the insights; they were so rich and thoughtful!
Today I loved being reminded of all the promises kept and still extended to us by the LORD. To me they seem to weave in and out of the OT and NT in an elegant pattern.
Duet. 6:24-25 - 24 And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. 25 For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.
Romans 4:24-25 - 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Duet 7: 8-9 - 8 Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 9 Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.
Galatians 3:16-18 - 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
Deut. 8:3b - He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Matthew 4:4 - 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
John 6:35 - Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
The Word of God is living and active. It is also a tapestry woven with gold, silver, purple, blue and scarlet threads for our edification and is deserving of awe and praise!
I am traveling again today, this time to the states, so I will likely be off line until next week, but I wish you all peace and joy on this continued journey!
Karen, Basel
Okay..this is only the second time I have posted and decided this morning that I am going to committ to at least posting once a week...just read all of your comments and think what I have to say is not nearly as insightful as what I read.
I am amazed at God's promises to the Israelites that if they obeyed Him that they would be completely taken care of.
Deut. 9:6 You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not-you are a stubborn people. God led the Isrealites into the Promised Land not because of anything that they did but because He is a God of His Promises. He is always faithful to do for us what He promises...we don't have to be perfect and free from sin (that's why Jesus died for us) we just need to love him with our whole heart, soul and mind. Thank you Lord for loving me in all my weakness and imperfections!!
Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!!
Sunday Morning Salutations, GIG's,
I just caught up with the Saturday comments, and my heart was so gladdened by all your wonderful sharings! Thank you all!!
KAREN- Welcome back, and please don't disappear again for a week without notice! What a relief to scroll down and once again see your lovely face and words! I missed you, Sista!
LIZ in Alaska -- I'm missing you, too!
BRANDEE -- May God keep you strong and determined to reject the sin of pride of your ancestors and set a good example for Will. Your words really touched and inspired me.
RHONDA -- Your Sat. comments touched me, especially that we must become "purified of attachments to this world." This study has helped me so much towards that goal. My daughter commented last night on how much calmer and less bothered I have been by certain things (of this world) these past few months, and I said out loud "Thank Ya, Jesus, for Your peace."
LINDA in PA -- I so agree with your insight that "God created us to be full of praise, joy and thanksgiving." That is how I want to spend my days (and nights, when sleep eludes me.)
DIXIE -- I smiled from ear to ear reading your observation on "Moses' commencement address" as he sends his "students" on to the next part of their journey. With both my children graduating (college and grad school) in May, I will need God's help in letting go and sending them on.I want to rejoice, and not be sad for me. This Thursday, future son-in-law finds out where his medical residency will be, and if it's in an appealing city, my son plans to follow his sister and new brother-in-law to start his teaching career there as well.
JENNIFER in Iowa -- I stand with Jeanne in admiring your desire to spend more time with the Lord. One way to do this is to simply notice and acknowledge His great gifts to us during our day -- the birds, the sunrise, our children, music, kindness, health, safety, Wendy's vlogs, good food, LOVE and, above all, His desire to have a relationship with us. That is a form of prayer. Just like Linda said, be full of "praise, joy and thanksgiving."
To close this looooong post, my nugget from Sunday's reading is Deut 8:18
"Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful." Not "successful" as the world defines successful, but successful in our efforts to OBEY God's commands, and be grateful to Him for all his blessings, guidance, strength and peace.
Praise the Lord, and peace to you all!
Michelle in New England
good morning my GIGs!!
today's reading was so 'on point' for me today that i don't have enough markers and highlighters...no disrespect here, but my deuteronomy looks like a coloring book!! i guess God is getting to me!! its like He put 'amy jane,...' at the beginning of each sentence, and is speaking right to me....thank You Lord!
brandee, love the comments on applying this Word to the raising of our children... wise insights that i enjoy reading and apply to my life...thank you
rhonda, your comments always touch me, and i appreciate your research on our behalf...
jan, lori, morgen, dixie....ditto...thanks for all of our collective input to make us 'one body'... i love you guys!!
my thread this morning was on the 'pride' topic...
God gives us 'cities we did not build, goods we did not produce, wells we did not dig, vineyards we did not plant....
but be careful! He didn't do this because we were good...we aren't. we are stubborn and rebellious people.
but He loves us. we are His special treasure!
BUT, in times of plenty, do not become proud and forget the Lord. HE IS THE ONE WHO GIVES YOU THE POWER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
stay humble. give thanks. don't forget where it all came from.
we are not/i am not good...its not about me. i am blessed to be a blessing. my gifts are given to me to help others, and to bring them to the Kingdom. to whom much is given, much is required....
don't forget, amy jane......
happy peaceful Sabbath, my girlfriends...
love,
amy jane
Nice dispatch and this post helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you on your information.
Good Morning, Good Morning Everyone!
Hello from sunny AZ-wow, we've been blessed with the most beautiful weather here in the valley. It's hard for me to stay inside! My walks are getting longer this time of the year! :)
I'm so enjoying your comments dear friends! Jennifer, in Iowa, you've been on my mind my little one! I love your desire that you have for God. Jeanne has given you the best advice! God will pursue you and He is doing that, by the desire that you have on your heart right now. Right when you wake up...lay there and say, "praise you LORD, today is a new day to lift up praises to you and to thank you throughout my day. Today, LORD, I want to know you more." When you are daily spending time in His Word, you WILL hear from him. It's nothing to fret about. It's all about the anticipating and joy of "seeing" him throughout your day. Everything that happens to us, is because He allowed it to happen. I spent many months wondering to myself "how do you praise and thank Him all day long?" I'd ask God...I have little chats with him quite a bit! He knows my thoughts anyway, so I have become very good about talking to Him throughout my day. The more I do it, the more automatic it seems to be. I seem to be in His peace so much more this way. When something comes up to alarm me, I am getting much better about immediately turning it over to Him, rather than running to the phone! He wants us. He is jealous for us. He loves us. He longs for us to go to Him with everything. So, little Bethany, just keep chatting away to Him throughout your day. Lift up questions to Him. If you do your part, by reading His Word, He, I promise will do His part. He adores you!!!
Something I learned from a Beth Moore class, was to begin our day praising our Father, and before going to bed writing something down that you are thankful for. She terms it "GODSTOPS"
(GOD Savoring the Observable Presence." We begin our day with the expectation that we will see Him. Then, when He reveals himself to us, we stop and take notice! To savor these moments! We want to get to the point where we recognize Him in all of our moments. At night time we end our day remembering Him.
Psalm 63:6 "on my bed I remember you."
I keep these in a special journal, and I've thought many times after I am no longer around, who will find it??? What a gift, ya know! A dated, journal of praises to my LORD! Something that hopefully can be passed down and continued!
oooo, this is getting long and I have sooooooooo much more to say! Let's see, how can I shorten it. Well, today, did you notice all the "OBEY'S" AGAIN? Also,
read Deut 6:7, 8, 9...oh, I love these verses!!!
Why does the LORD continue to put up with us? Deut. 7:8 "the LORD loves you." Yesterday we read, "Because he loved your ancestors" (4:37). "He is a great and awesome God" who deserves our obedience. (7:21)
Have a peaceful and restful time with the LORD dear sisters! HuGs, Lori
PS Thinking about all the fun you're havin' Morgen!
Michelle and Amy Jane we were typing at the same time! Loved your comments ~ God is so good to give us this group of encouraging Believers to study His Word with each day! I feel so blessed at this very moment! Thank you dear LORD!!!!
Michelle, you are so lucky to be able to see Wendy at give her a 'real' hug! Wendy, hope you got all your 'studying' done and prep. done that you set out to do yesterday. I lifted up prayers for you!
Yes, welcome back sweet Karen, and where are you Liz?! I miss you too! :)
That's all for now. :) Love, Lori
Lori, beautiful post! I envy you your nice weather. It's been pouring here in New England for two days. I was picturing you on your nice, long walk. Want me to give Wendy a hug from you when I see her next month?
Michelle in Rainy New England
Blessing the Sabbath & Praising...
...Wow!!!....I love you gals.
...You are such an inspiration.
...Going to make today's short (I hope).
...Can I say it again: I love you gals.
I was going to take today off from commenting....but after reading your comments. I just have to hop on and Thank YOU ALL so very much.
My nugget was: on how many times it said his "strong hand."
Deut. 6:21,Then you must tell them, 'We were Pharoah's slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his "strong hand."
Deut.7:8 ,Rather, it was simply that the LORD loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancesors. That is why the LORD rescued you with such a "strong hand" from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharoah, king of Egypt.
Deut. 7:19, Remember the great terrors the LORD your God sent against them. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the "strong hand" and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The LORD your God will use this same power against all the people you fear.
Deut. 9:26, I prayed to the LORD and said, "O Sovereigh LORD, do not destroy them. They are your own people. they are your special possession, whom you redeemed from Egypt by your mighty power and your "strong hand."
And once again... in the very last sentence:
Deut. 9:29, But they are your people and your special possession, whom you brought out of Egypt by your great strength and "powerful arm."
Okay I'm getting toooo long here.
His Strong Hand Girl...Rest in His Strong Hand.
Rhonda
Sunday blessings to all you FIGs. Just love reading all the comments and so much speaks to me. You all are a blessing!
Deut. 7:22 "The Lord your God will drive those nations out ahead of you little by little. You will not clear them all away at once, otherwise the wild animals would multiply too quickly for you." Little by little- God develops us deliberately "little by little" for our own good. Growth is a step-by-step progress for our own good.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Gaylene
Hi Just Me again....
I just remembered another nugget...
Was just wondering if anybody noticed the prayer in...
Deut. 6:4:
Listen, O Isreal! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.
Question & quiz for us all...Do we remember what this prayer was?
Think about it???
Rhonda
Hint: We discussed it back in Numbers 15:37-41
Okay...It was the Mosaic Law...prescribed that tassels be worn on the corners of one's garments as a reminder to keep the commandments.
....also The Shema: which is the confession of faith in God as "one." It consists of the reading or recitation of three biblical passages..(deut. 6:4-5; 11:13-21; and Numbers 15:37-41.
Hey GIG's! I'm back home! I'm exhausted....I never sleep well in a hotel...and the time change....ugh.
Haven't read today's verses yet...but just wanted to say THANK YOU JESUS for friends who get together after a year apart and laugh until they cry.....what great therapy for the heart. I had a blast!
See you all tomorrow....hopefully less sleepy...
Morgen
Happy Sunday afternoon GIGs,
Hope everyone remembered to change their clocks :) It has seemed so early all day today, time change is hard for me to get adjusted to.
The comments all weekend have been so wonderful and I don't have time to comment on everyone's, but I have read them and you ladies are just awesome. I thought about our group when I was in church this morning. Our Pastor was discussing being a healthy church and one of the things he talked about was instruction and how we have to be fed the Word of God daily, keep each other accountable and talk about what we learn. That is JUST what we do on here each and every day and what a blessing! Life gets in the way sometimes and I know I can't comment each day as many of you can't either, but I know we are all keeping each other on the right track and being in God's Word. Thank you Wendy for your leadership and obedience to our Savior for all you do.
My Bible looks like a coloring book too in Deut! I am LOVING the reading and so many things are popping out and I am journaling like crazy. Today one thing that I wrote about was Deut 8:11-20. Doesn't this sound like our country? We have plenty and we have forgotten God and are not following His commands anymore (vs11). We are "full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in" (vs 12). God says, "So not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God" (vs 13). God gives a warning in verse 19, "But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to then, you will certainly be destroyed." Our country is in trouble, we need to pray. Before I even read today's reading I was on my knees praying 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 for us as a body of Christ in America and Psalm 67 for our country. We have to be on our knees before it is too late guys! I read an article yesterday about a city in AZ where they have told a Pastor and his wife they can no longer hold home Bible studies. It was on World News Daily if you want to check it out. We CAN NOT let those things happen! It is our right and our freedom to be able to meet and study the Word. Please pray with me that God will hear us, we will turn from our wicked ways and He will heal our land. We need to turn back to Him.
You all have a wonderful Sunday and those that have beautiful sun and warm weather send some to TN. It is cold and rainy again :)
Love,
Brandee, TN
I wanted to post a link to a festival I read about this evening on World News Daily. It goes right along with what I posted today about our country. Let's add this summer event to our prayer list and that God will use this to heal our land!
http://www.jubileefest.net/Home_Page.html
hi FIGs
you all can carry on well without me!
aren't we having fun?
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