Kaleb's Scripture Memory

This is the scripture for March.  He said it to his teachers last week without looking!!!!  The cool part is that he is learning what God-Breathed and rebuking means!!!! 

This was his scripture last month.  He can tell you what a pure heart is and renew as well as steadfast!

It's exciting to watch him grow in The Word!

 

Are you a Sponge?

Phil. 2:12-13  Even as the Philippians were obeying in Paul's presence and even while he was away, they were growing.  They were learning, working and being followers of Christ by working out their salvation.  Let me be clear here.  Works will not save you!  Faith saves you and the works that flow out of that faith is what causes you to grow.  We could work all day, every day and no matter how good, how wonderful or how much of a blessing we are- without faith it doesn't matter.  All of those good deeds won't get you any where.  Faith in Christ.  Faith that believes He is who He says He is.  Faith that believes He can and will do what He says He will and can do.  AMAZING!  He loved you and me so very much that He was willing to go to the cross.  He would die a criminals death and be buried in a borrowed tomb and be raised again on the third day to ascend to the right hand of the Father.  Can you and I even come close to wrapping our tiny human minds around that?  Do you believe it? Do you understand it? If we have enough faith to believe that He did this for us- How can we not be busy about the Father's work.  How can we just sit by and act like a sponge. 
Let me explain.  A household sponge that soaks in all the water possible and is left to sit will start to smell and stink and eventually will get moldy and mildew.  On the other hand a sponge that is being used to fulfill it's purpose is filled with water, cleans and is rung out.  What comes out when it's squeezed is what it was filled with, cleaning water.
You and I are like this and we can be useful or we can be stale and stinky.  We can be the first sponge.  We can go to Bible Studies, Sunday School, Worship and we can soak it all in.  BUT we don't "do" anything with it.  We are just busy soaking.  After a while we are a  little hard hearted, a little bitter over someone or something and before long we are wallowing in our mold and mildew and we just reek.
OR we can be like the second.  We go- we listen- we pray and the we squeeze a little for service in the community or squeezed again for service within the church-squeezed again when finances are tight, kids are not obeying and what comes out is what we were just filled with at the last service or lesson.  Sweet, fragrant offerings.  The second sponge doesn't get stale and smell and stink. It's being used, poured out, cleaned and refilled.
My question-
Which sponge am I?
Which sponge are you?
For sure something to consider. Working out my salvation- Faith without works is dead.

3-D Part 3

OK, I hope you have been challenged. I hope you have been in His Word. Have you?  Let's get to this last little piece.  Go back to Acts 7:57-8:1
This is pretty short so I will type it out for you so you don't have to go back and forth to a link. 

"At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.  Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.  While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.  And Saul was there giving approval to his death."

 

 

Did you catch it?  Did you see it?  Did you see who is on the side-lines?  Yes ma'am....Saul is standing there giving his approval and holding the coats of those doing this.  Oh my goodness!!!!  It's amazing to me to think of someone standing in the crowd watching something like this.  As I think about that I am convicted of the times that I have been a part of a conversation that was not uplifting of another or tearing someone down. The question is.....Did I say anything or get away from the situation.  Father forgive me! 

 

 

I praise the Lord for Saul who became Paul.  Showing me that the Lord can use even me.  Saul is tearing apart the church, putting men, women and children in prison UNTIL that wonderful face to face meeting on the Damascus road with Jesus.  Praise the Lord!!!!!  There is something about that face-to-face meeting with Jesus.  Precious, Powerful, Sweet. 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed working through these verses as much as I have.  They are indeed powerful and something to pray and consider.  His Word is Powerful!!!!!  Dig In It!!!!!!!

 



3-D part 2

So we made it to the second part of this scripture in Acts.  Acts 7:54-8:1 is powerful.  That is the only adjective that I know to use.  We have Stephen who has just stood before the Sanhedrin and given them scripture and history.  He is living his life in 3-D with information, transformation and proclamation.  The crowd and court that has heard him speak the truth is furious and gnashed their teeth at him.  I can't imagine this happening but what an experience it must have been.  They proceed to take Stephen out of the city.  Scripture says that even as they are yelling and gnashing their teeth that Stephen is still speaking.  The circumstances around him have not stopped him.  He is still speaking and proclaiming.  He says, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." POWERFUL!!!!!  Even as he is saying this they are dragging him out of the city. 

For us, what would we do?  Would we continue to speak? Would we continue to proclaim Christ? Maybe we would quietly leave the room? Maybe we would even apologize for making someone angry?  It really makes me stop and think about what my response would have been.  What about yours?  Stephen never stopped. 

During the process of dragging Stephen out of the city he sees Christ "standing" at the right hand of God.  This is so rich.  Christ came as our High Priest. He came as the perfect sacrifice. He came to complete the work.  If we go back to the Old Testament we find that the priest were not allowed to be seated. The work was never complete. There was always sacrifices to be made.  When Christ came, He fulfilled those requirements.  He was The Sacrifice.  He SAT DOWN because the work was done.  Stephen is being stoned for his proclamation- his preaching of Christ.  Try and get that picture in your head.  Stephen is being stoned. He looks up and sees Christ standing to receive him. WOW!

Going on in the scripture it talks about they were stoning him that Stephen prayed for those stoning him.  This can be very difficult.  This can even hit a nerve or two.  Praying for those who hurt us.  Really?  ABSOLUTELY!!!!!  I have been there. I have done it. It is not easy but it can be done in His strength and power.  It not only has the power to change the person, but you and the circumstances as well.  Do you pray for your enemies or those who have hurt you?  What a challenge.  Let Him help you do it!!!!!

There is one more part that we will talk about tomorrow.  Don't worry, I didn't miss the by-stander in the scripture.  

Living 3-D

This week in our Sunday School lesson is about Stephen.  This is probably one of my favorite set of scriptures.  It's powerful on so many different levels.  At the same time so very simple.  My book talks about how Stephen lived in 3-D.  I had never thought about it this way but just love it.  It simply says..... "Stephen's testimony offers us a 3-D Christianity.  He shows us that following Jesus Christ involves three dimensions: information, transformation, and proclamation.  Stephen believed the good news about Christ (information), loved Christ (transformation), and preached Christ (proclamation).  Like wise, we have the opportunity to give our heads, hearts, and lips to the God who creates us and re-creates us."

So let's take a look at this.  If we go back to scripture and we look up in the book of Acts 6:5-7:60.  I am not going to post this entire passage but here is a link to Blue Letter Bible that might help if you need to link to it while we read and dig into the Word.

Acts 6:5-9 talks about Stephen and we see the first part of this 3-D living, he believed the good news about Christ (information).  He is described as full of Faith and of the Holy Spirit, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.  Stephen was someone who believed in who Christ was.  He had no reservations about Him.  He was a follower of Christ.

The second part of the 3-D talks about loving Christ (transformation).  You can't help but be transformed by the love of Christ.  Reading on in Acts 6:11-7:53 we see that Stephen is transformed.  His love for Christ is evident in his, what I would call, sermon.  He loves His Lord and will stand up for Him.  What power and confidence in the Lord.

The third part of the 3-D talks about preaching Christ (proclamation).  In these verses, Stephen stands and gives the scripture that those on the court.  They have heard it. They don't like it but they have heard it. He is bold. He is not sitting on the side lines and wondering what they are going to think about him when he is finished. He starts with Abraham and goes to present. He knows his history and his scripture. He doesn't back down. He stands firm.

So now, lets get a little personal.  This hit me square between the eyes as I was reading and studying this passage.  I have read this before. Like I said it is one of my favorites.  But looking at it in this light was new and fresh.  This 3-D is what I so desire.  I want all of it.  I have the "opportunity as it says to give my head, hearts and lips to the God who creates us and re-creates us".  What about you?  do you want to be a Stephen?  Do you want the "information", the "transformation", the "proclamation"?  I know I for sure do.  

For me, the key in this is his knowledge of the scripture and the history.  I want that so much.  I want scripture in my head and in my heart so that I can use my lips to share it.  I'm horrible at scripture memorization.  I can finish a verse. I can quote them but it's the "address" that escapes me.  I want to be able to give it so that I can turn and point to it. The other part of this is being in the Word.  I don't mean glancing over it and call it a quiet time.  I mean really digging and looking for those things that He has for me.  It's a powerful moment.  So, what about you.......Do you do well with scripture memorization? If you have to takes someone down "The Roman Road", could you do it? Do you know the address to many of the scriptures that we use? 

Tomorrow we will talk about the rest of this set of scripture.  It's just amazing!!!!!!

Turkey Day is Coming!!!!!!!

Well, it's not very far away.  Are you ready? Are you traveling?  Have you bought your turkey yet?  We are excited to be having our first Thanksgiving in Mississippi.  We were blessed because Hubby's work gave us the turkey.  A HUGE turkey.  Yes, I will be cooking it!!!!!!!  I can't wait!!!!!  I have planned our menu as to what we are having so hopefully Kaleb will actually eat.  He is so very picky but getting better!!!!! 

Here in Mississippi, Kaleb will be out of work for the entire week.  I was shocked when I saw that but very excited at the same time.  I have several activities planned for us to do to get us ready for Thanksgiving and teaching him what it means to be thankful and what he is thankful for.  We will be making turkeys and an Indian head band with "thankful" feathers.  He will have so much fun!!!!!!   (so will I!)

I know that I have been doing the "Days of being Thankful" on Facebook.  It's a lot of fun to do and a lot of great reading on other's post about what they are thankful.  They are so heartfelt and wonderful to see.  I wish that most of the post were like that all the time.  It is such an uplifting experience. 

I am working on reading through the Bible.  I'm so excited about it.  I am only on day 4 but it is just wonderful.  It is part of a reading plan on my iPad.  It makes it easier and it is just a blessing.  I have read this scripture before and heard the stories (Creation, Adam and Eve and Noah) even as a child.  Yet, as I read these scriptures now, they are new and exciting.  I have found things that I have not seen or looked over before.  It's just powerful!  I don't know if you have ever done it but I would so encourage you!!!!!!!!! 

Have a wonderful day!!!!!  What is on your menu?  Are your cooking or traveling or both?  Looking forward to hearing from you!!!!!!!

Started Something New

The other week I had posted about me in our Sunday School Class.  I had read something in the lesson that had me going and I just kept it going in class.  Then I felt bad because I talked so much.  Well, you will be happy to know that I chose to be quiet this past Sunday.  I have to admit it was kind of funny.  Tim was teaching class and kept looking in my direction to see if I would say something I think.  I could have opened my mouth and let it fly again but I didn't. 

The week that I talked so much there was a question posed about who had read through the Bible before.  I did ONE time a very long time ago.  Well, since that question was asked I could not get it out of my head.  I decided to take on the challenge that wouldn't let me go.  My iPad has a great App and I was looking through all the parts of the App and there are all kinds of reading plans.  Well, I found one that combines the Old Testament and New Testament together when you do your reading.  I signed in and started.  I have now done 2 days with only 363 days left.  For whatever reason I believe this is what the Lord would have me do right now.  It's amazing!!!!!  I have read Genesis before.  At the same time, I find something new every time I read.  His Word is ALIVE and ACTIVE!!!!!!

One last thing that I wanted to share.  We are approaching Thanksgiving.  It's one of my favorite times of the year.  I love the cooking and company and family and leading right into Christmas.  Here is my thought.......How do you get it across to your children?  We are teaching Kaleb and most of the time I believe he gets it but there are the times when I hear him, I wonder if he is.  There is a blog that my friend Traci writes on sometimes called Tommy Nelson "Raising Faithful Kids" and she wrote on their blog about some ideas for Thanksgiving.  WE WILL BE PARTICIPATING in these!!!!!!  They are awesome!!!!!!  Being thankful is not just a season or a holiday.  It should be 365 days a year!!!!!!!  Go check it out and get some ideas.  You will just love them. 

Praying you have a wonderful afternoon and evening!!!!!!  By the way....have you read through the Bible before?  Have you thought about doing it again?  What are some Thanksgiving ideas that you will be doing or traditions?

What do you KNOW!?

The other day I made mention of this writing from my other blog that I had.  Well, I thought I would share it here.  We have actually talked about it for 2 weeks in my Bible Study from the words of Philippians.  It's just exciting!!!!!!  If you have read it before, read it again and see if you find something new. 

OK, so I was thinking....(OH NO!!!! RIGHT???) Anyway, I keep running across this word and I hear people use it and I wonder sometimes if they know what they are saying or maybe they mean one thing and it is coming out wrong. We use words like hope, worship, know and a million others that I wonder if people really use them right. Please understand that I don't use them right either. Please don't think that I do. I am so far but I have found that I am choosing my words a bit more carefully and thinking through them before they come out of my mouth.
So, let's take this word "KNOW" and run with it.
Know- according to Websters means to perceive directly : have direct cognition of (2) : to have understanding of (3) : to recognize the nature of : discern to recognize as being the same as something previously known (2) : to be acquainted or familiar with
So we use this particular word all of the time.
I know how to do that.
I know what her/his name is.
I know who that is.
I know my children.
I know the Lord.
I know the Word.
I know what the Word says.
Now, if you were to look at the meaning behind the word "know" in the context of scripture. At times there is the same know as above. You have knowledge of someone. You know what their name is. You have met them. You may even know their spouse and their children. You have "head-knowledge" of that person. You know them. Does that make sense? You can even know the Lord. You can know the Word. You can even know what the Word says. Now let's look at the word in a different light. Know in scripture can be used in a different way. Looking at the Lexical Aids in my Bible takes it to a whole new level.
KNOW- YADA- to know (Qal) to know 1a to know, learn to know 1a to perceive 1a to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a to discriminate, distinguish 1a to know by experience 1a to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a to consider to know, be acquainted with to know (a person carnally) to know how, be skillful in to have knowledge, be wise (Niphal) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed to make oneself known to be perceived to be instructed (Piel) to cause to know (Poal) to cause to know (Pual) to be known known, one known, acquaintance (participle) (Hiphil) to make known, declare (Hophal) to be made known (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself know for certain4, know with certainty1, know assuredly1, (*This is the Old Testament Word. If you look in the New Testament it would be Ginosko and the meanings are almost identical)
I realize that was a lot but let's look at it. Stick with me on this one. To know means to know someone or something by experience. As in the way a husband and wife would know one another. You know by a real experience and not just casual, on the surface, it is intimate.
Let's go back to that list again.
I know how to do that (because I have done it in the past and good at it)
I know what her/his name is. (He is my husbands best friend and has been in our home)
I know who that is. (We have been to dinner together before and she is a wonderful person.)
I know my children.(I gave birth to them and they live with me.)
I know the Lord. (I have seen Him work in my life in big and small ways)
I know the Word. ( I read the word and it is alive and active in my life.)
I know what the Word says. (I read the Word and it is being written on my heart and in my head.)
I so hope that I have not totally lost you. Stick with me. I promise it will all make sense. When we know (yada) someone or something we know (yada) by experience. So this is the way that I look at it and it speaks so loudly at me.
I know, by personal experience, that the Lord loves me.
I know, by personal experience, that He has a perfect plan for me.
I know, by personal experience, that He is my Savior and my Lord.
I know, by personal experience, that His Word is alive and active in my life.
Does that make sense now?
We can have all the head knowledge in the world but if we don't have that personal experience, yada, of Him, we are missing so very much.
Do you know, by personal experience, yada, the Lord?

I pray that this is something for you to think on today. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Do Not Worry!!!!!

So let's continue in that wonderful passage out of Philippians.
Everyone has probably taught this to your child at some point and I am sure that you may have read it yourself.....

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

 
What a verse!  Does it step on your toes like it does mine.  With all that we, as a family, have been through in the last 2 months I can say that this is the verse that has come to mind so very much.  When the WORD says, don't be anxious about anything, that seems a little hard to do in the times that we live in. 
We have lots to "worry" about........
Family
Friends
Money
Housing
Work
Co-workers
Paying for College
Paying for vacation
What sport shall we play next
What is the next move that I need to make at work


Once I did that, and believe me it was not easy, I experienced exactly what this verse talks about.  A peace that passes ALL UNDERSTANDING!!!!!!  I can't tell you how many times that people would ask....
"What are you thinking?"
"What about your condo and the housing market?"
"What about your work Pam?"
"Why in the world would you want to move to Mississippi?"
"What about hurricaines?"
"What about the schools?"
I mean, you name it, people would ask.  They were more worried than we were.  It was amazing.  When I tell you that leaving it at the altar and allowing Him to give that perfect peace....It is just incredible. 
We came for our visit.  We had seen the area.  We had experienced the Lord move while we were here.  It was a "no-brainer" as my husband would say.  Not coming and following would have been complete and total disobedience.  He supplied EVERYTHING, right down to the boxes that we got for free.  It was incredible!!!!!!! 
Even being here now, we have watched Him continue to work.  He has supplied and worked out details that no human could do.  We have found bargans and things that we could only hope for and once again He supplies exactly what we need.  I am amazed!!!!!!

Have you ever had an experience? 
What are you worried about?
What are you concerned about?
Tell Him what it is.  Allow Him to take it. He is big enough to handle your worries.  My prayer for you is to experience His Peace!  When people ask you all the questions....Your response.....My God is in control because I can't do it on my own.  That was my response.  It's a place of freedom!!!!!! 

Sunday Scripture

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

 

 Psalm 9:2

 

His Word is Alive and Active

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm_______(anything).  I was looking this morning and it just seemed to leap of the page so I will lead us in a look at Psalm 34:1-3 in just a minute.  Yesterday, I had Community Bible Study.  WHAT A BLESSING! I knew when I went that I was suppose to be there.  We had literally just moved here.  I had looked on line for a Bible Study Fellowship class and there are none to be found except down next to the gulf and that is TOO far to drive.  I heard about how they do this class and that was just what I needed. 
Another amazing fact is that I had just posted about wanting JUST Him and His word and not what He said to someone else.  I needed to hear from Him.  It was clear in just talking to the sweet woman that I met the first day.  Her comment was something like....."We have done other studies but there is just something about just scripture and and questions."  Ok, I was hearing this and just about to jump up and down realizing that He had put me here.  God is so very Good!!!!!!! 
I hope that what you are reading and learning here is really helping you.  I hope that you are studying for yourself.  Get into His word.  YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!!!!!!

Let's get started. 
Psalm 34:1-3.....Yes, I'll type it out for you.......hahaha

vs1-I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
vs 2-My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
vs 3-Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

I have highlighted some of the words that just leap on the page.  Another reason is the fact that they have these little tiny numbers in my Bible.  I have a Key Word Study Bible.  It is truly a treasure!!!  It has the Hebrew and Greek words in the back so that you can really dig into what you are reading.  It is just wonderful.  So, back to where we were. 

Extol- means to bless, praise, be blessed, to pray, to ask a blessing of.  We of course don't use the word extol in our everyday language and some don't even know what it means.  I know I didn't. 

Always- of course we know this one.  That is a given.  Here is means- duration, extension, continuance, continually, daily, at all times, without interupption......I'll let you chew on that for a few minutes!!!!!!

Lips- of course we get the physcial.  Here we take it a little farther---speech, testimony, external manifestation of an individual's character and disposition, whether good or bad. 

Soul- Life- breathe and be refreshed

Hear- give undivided attention, to understand what you have heard. to obey, give heed to

Glorify- Magnify- to make great and powerful.

Now you may ask why in the world would we go through all of that and the research and the reading and writing and digging.  Well, this is where it is all I can do to type this fast enough.  I get so very excited with the possiblity of sharing what scripture says..........

Let's look back at the scripture and put in some of the definitions that we have looked at........

I will give praise to the Lord at all times;
His praise will constantly, continually, daily, at all times, without interuption be in my speech, my testimony, a part of my character and disposition.
My life and breathe will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted give undivided attention to understand and listen and obey and rejoice.
Magnify and make Him great and powerful with me; let us exalt his name together.

DO YOU SEE?????  Can you contain yourself??!!!  I can't help but just want to shout.......His word is RICH!  His word is Powerful!!!!!!! 

May His Word Go Out Today!!!!

Bible Study

You have had a glimpse into what my time looks like. You have a list of instruments. You have a copy of His Word. So let's get started.

This is really simple and yet so very powerful.  I'll give you the outline of what you can use.  Then I'll give you an example of how to do it.  It's amazing to watch and see how something so simple can just simply change how you look at scripture and your time with Him.  This is not a time where I am worried about the red pen of the English Teacher.  I don't use complete sentences.  I write in abbreviations and fragments.  This is for me and my time. 

Let's get started.....

#1 What does it say? 
This is the easy part.  Do Not Make This Hard.  Literally list out on a piece of exactly what it says.  Don't change the words.  Write it just as it is written

#2 What does it mean? 
This is still easy and straight forward.  Main goal is to NOT ADD to His Word.  Write down what it means.  This does not require a Master of Theology Degree.  

#3 What does it say to me?
This is the the powerful part.  It's amazing to see how something so simple as these 3 questions could be.  Go  back and read over the sections that you just completed in question #2.  This is where it comes to life and the rubber meets the road.  This is application in the simplest form and it is just amazing.  Make it in the form of a question and then use it as a time of journaling.


Here is your sample..........

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him would have eternal life. 
John 3:16

#1- What does it say?
 God loved us so much.  He gave His One and Only Son.  Whosoever believes in Him=Eternal life.

#2-What does it mean?
 GOD LOVES ME!  He gave His Son. His One and Only. I believe=eternal life.

#3 What does it say to me? 
Can my mind comprehend that the God of this world loves me?
Do I understand He loves me so much that He was willing to send His Only Son?
Do I understand the sacrifice that He made for me?
Because of my belief of Him, I have eternal life.  Have I thanked Him for His love of me? 

Now I can take those questions from #3 and start journaling and answering the questions.  Praying while writing and really listen to what is flowing out of you pen and your heart.  The Lord can use it!!!  It's so simple but yet so very powerful. 

If you are looking for where to start.  Start in John, Luke or even Matthew.  Otherwise you can use the scripture that you are studying for a Bible Study or even Sunday School.

I would love for you to share.  Please share what you use.  Share if this is helpful!  I really want to hear from you.