Through the Alphabet - The Characteristics of God

I'm doing the Take Refuge study with HelloMornings for my morning devotional time, and I'm loving it.  We're going through a situation right now that on the surface looks nothing at all like Ruth's, and yet as we go through the study I am relating so strongly with the underlying message, the subtitle of the study being "Seeing Our Trustworthy God in the Story of Ruth".  I'm seeing our trustworthy God in the story, or trial, we are going through right now, so clearly, and so applicably.  

One of today's assignments in the lesson is "Consider journaling through the names and charactaristics of God.  Start with an "A" word, ("Awesome") and move through the alphabet to Z ("Zealous") "  I've done variations of this over the years, but not in such an organized manner.  It might take me awhile to finish this, but I'm in love with the concept.  (It's impossible to box God into just our english alphabet - there are so many options for each letter!  But the process is a good learning opportunity for me.)

‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

Matthew 22:32

A - Awesome

For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.  Psalm 47:2

Let them praise your great and awesome name— he is holy Psalm 99:3

Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty. Job 37:22

Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? Exodus 15:11

In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. Psalm 89:7

B - Builder

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Hebrews 3:4

For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Psalm 127:1

As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you Isaiah 62:5

C - Compassionate

The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. Psalm 116:5

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;  Daniel 9:9

If you return to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”

2 Chronicles 30:9

D - Deliverer

He said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 2 Samuel 22:2

From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Psalm 3:8

Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. Psalm 140:7

But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay. Psalm 40:17 & 70:5

and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. Romans 11:26

E - Eternal

Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. Psalm 93:2

Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Psalm 119:89

according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:11

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:4

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’ Deut. 33:27

But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. Jeremiah 10:10

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrws 13:8

F - Faithful

But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 

2 Corinthians 1:18

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

I Corinthians 1:9

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.  Hebrews 6:10

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Numbers 23:19

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

I Corinthians 10:13

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Deut 7:9

G - Great

Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?  Psalm 77:13

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:3

“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods  2 Chronicles 2:5

“But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal.

Job 33:12

If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything  I John 3:20

H - Holy

Let them praise your great and awesome name— he is holy Psalm 99:3

Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? Psalm 77:3

J - Jealous

Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Exodus 34:14

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24

K - King

For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. Psalm 47:7

But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. Jeremiah 10:10

L - Love

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. I John 4:8

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.  I John 4:16

M - Merciful

For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath. The Lord Is God

Deut 4:31

N - Near

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? Deut 4:7

When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

Joshua 2:11

O - One

A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. Galatians 3:20

“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. Mark 12:32

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.  Deut 6:4

P - Peace

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. I Corinthians 14:33

The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 15:33

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Phillippians 4:9

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Thess 5:23

Q - Qualified 

(able)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20 - 21

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. II Corinthians 9:8

And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.  Romans 11:23

God is able to make all grace abound to you… having all-sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised… Romans 4:21

R - Righteous

God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. Psalm 7:11

The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. Daniel 9:14

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity  Romans 1:17

S - Strength

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. Psalm 54:4

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. I Corinthians 4:20

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 62:8

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  Romans 8:31

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. II Samuel 22:3

T - Truthful

Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. John 3:33

Truth

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:17

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free John 8:32

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

God is not human, that he should lie,

not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

Does he promise and not fulfill?

Numbers 23:19

U - Unequaled

No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

Jeremiah 10:6

Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”

2 Chronicles 14:11

How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

2 Samuel 7:22

There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.

I Chronicles 17:20

V - Venerable

(worthy)

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.

2 Samuel 22:4

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. I Chronicles 16:25

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 96:4

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3

W - Working

Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?  Exodus 15:11

There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work I Corinthians 12:6

In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17

How great are your works, Lord, how profound your thoughts! Psalm 92:5

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. Psalm 103:6

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Phillipians 2:13

God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. Psalm 47:8

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

X -  Xenial

(Hospitable, especially to visiting strangers or foreigners; Of the relation between a host and guest; friendly)

“God shows love to the foreigners living among you, and gives them food and clothing. So, you too, must show love to foreigners.” Deuteronomy 10:18,19

“In Jerusalem the Lord ... will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear well aged wine and choice meat. There [in Jerusalem] he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears...”  Isaiah 25:6-8

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink – even if you have no money! Come take your choice of wine or milk its all free!”  Isaiah 55:1

Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:7

Y - YahWeh

(I am)

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Exodus 3:14

"You know the name Yahweh best from its shortened form Yah at the end of Hallelujah, which means “praise Yahweh.” I love to think about this when I sing. When I sing, “Hallelujah,” I love to really mean, “No! I don’t praise you Bel, or Nebo, or Molech, or Rimmon, or Dagon, or Chemosh. I turn from you with disdain to Yah! I praise Yah. Hallelu Yah!”"

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/yahweh-is-the-sweetest-name-i-know

Z - Zoetic

(of or pertaining to life)

I am the bread of life. John 6:48

yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:40

For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

John 5:26

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:9

And this is what he promised us—eternal life.  I John 2:25

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Acts 2:32

Verses to Pray - Children

update - the next morning, Priscilla Shirer sent a tweet with a link to this post she wrote, with affirmations she speaks over her children.  I'll be making my own list for in my prayer notebook (Mobile Knee app - I'm pretty much all digital) using all of these great resources!

http://www.goingbeyond.com/blog/speaking-gods-word-over-our-kiddos

The MOB Society hosted a #PrayingForBoys Twitter party tonight.  Two of the questions involved scriptures to pray, and since praying scripture is one of my big goals for this year..  I took notes!

Colossians 3:23 
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, "

Jeremiah 17:7
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.

I Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Psalm 92:4
For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Proverbs 22:6
Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Deut.  11:8
Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,

Luke 2:52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Pray that our sons would grow the same way)

Philippians 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Psalm 16:8
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

I Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


Isaiah 61:3
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

The Ox Makes The Crib Dirty, But it's Worth It.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean:

but much increase is by the strength of the ox

.~ Proverbs 14:4, KJV


I downloaded this book (booklet?)  this while it was free this month: 

Do The Funky Kitchen 

 It's short, and VERY basic.  I think it would be a great read for a new, or struggling homemaker..  but for someone who cooks and cleans regularly,  nothing really new here.   

The most thought provoking part of it for me was when I asked on my fb page how often everyone typically cleans their fridge, and found that I was pretty much alone in emptying it and cleaning it out every single week.   Every.  Single. Week.  

 I started wondering if I just make myself work (back to the stay at home mom guilt trip..  should I get a "real" job?  Am I just making busy work for myself here at home to justify being home?) but then I settled into the realization that I cook 3 meals a day, in a home with FOUR teenagers, 3 of them growing boys, and a variety of drop ins..  Nineteen meals (I only cook once on Sundays)  a week for 6+ people, plus baking, and that is a LOT of food in and out of the pantry, fridge, and freezer each week.  We don't eat pre-made or boxed foods, and we rarely eat out..  that means more work not only in the preparing of the food, but also in the storage and cleaning of the food storage areas.  

Then last night I was reading The Good Wife's Guide: Embracing Your Role as a Help Meet by Darlene Schacht and at the beginning of the chapter was this verse:

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean:

but much increase is by the strength of the ox

.~ Proverbs 14:4, KJV

The NLT Says:

Without oxen a stable stays clean, 


but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

It's not about oxen, it's not about teenagers..  it's the principle.  Life that is full will be messy.  
Put that way, I'm ok with the extra work of cleaning my fridge every single week.  Our lives are full - overflowing - and I am so, so thankful for this season of life.  I wouldn't change it for anything - not even for a clean crib.  :-)

Dietrich Bonehoeffer's Morning Prayer

The entire InTouch magazine, AND additional resources, are now in a great app - 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=r2i.InTouch.Android&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsInIyaS5JblRvdWNoLkFuZHJvaWQiXQ..

This morning I read a very short article on Dietrich Bonehoeffer's thoughts on prayer, from the October InTouch magazine (which I read through the app) and that lead me to look up this prayer:

MORNING PRAYER

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.

Help me to pray

And to concentrate my thoughts on you:

I cannot do this alone.

In me there is darkness,

But with you there is light;

I am lonely, but you do not leave me;

I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;

I am restless, but with you there is peace.

In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;

I do not understand your ways,

But you know the way for me…

Restore me to liberty,

And enable me to live now

That I may answer before you and before me.

Lord, whatever this day may bring,

Your name be praised.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I use the task list app on my phone, to organize my prayer requests..  I'm adding this to my list of morning prayers.

Homiletics Worksheet

One of my favorite seminars at BSF was on Homiletics.  I love the process of studying the bible through Homiletics.  Recently my friend Natalie taught our Sunday School class how to do homiletics, and again I found I really enjoyed the process, and I decided I wanted to use it more frequently.

There is a great "Crash Course In Homiletics" here - http://www.christinakline.com/homiletics-crash-course/

Earlier this summer our Pastors wife suggested, in our Womens Sunday School Class, that we choose one epistle and read it every day, for a month.  I love this bible reading plan.  I have used many plans over the years, and have read the bible cover to cover a few times now, so the idea of really learning one epistle at a time felt like a good next step for me.

For the month of August, I am reading Colossians every day.  It is only 4 chapters, a quick, easy read every morning.  I decided the 4 chapters made it perfect to use homiletics for my weekly study, doing one chapter each week of August, as well.  

All of that lead to the creation of this worksheet.  I am very digitally minded - I like to be paperless as much as possible.  I do keep a notebook by my bed for some studies, but often I am not in the same place each day, and carrying one more thing around just does not work for me.  The more I can do on my phone, the better.  This worksheet, created in Google Drive, I can type right into from wherever I am - in bed, on the front porch, on the recliner in my living room..  in the parking lot of the school waiting to pick up children from sports.  It's always with me.  Some day I will most likely have a serene, set schedule where I can do my bible study in the same spot, at the same time, every day..  but that will most likely be in my empty nest years, not in my "4 teenagers with insane schedules" stage.  Then again, with the farm, I probably shouldn't count on my empty nest years being completely serene either.

To see the worksheet, go here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dpTshGapqBdePUL4WJt3Qawl4nig7mtH2PLG_xohRPk/edit?usp=sharing

When I am using this worksheet, I choose file/make a copy and then I rename the copy.  I do not always work from this digital copy - sometimes i use this just as my outline to follow, and I write in my notebook - it truly depends on the week.  I prefer to use a notebook, it's just not always convenient to do so, I do not always have one with me.  Sometimes I work on scrap paper, then add the scrap paper to my notebook..  it all depends.  The worksheet just gives me the format - how I use it varies.

One of the things Natalie taught me was that this does not have to be done all at once!  There are 5 steps, and 5 week days.  Breaking it down to one step a day really works for me.

When I finish up Colossians Chapter One I will post my work here, so you can see an example.  There is no right or wrong - I could do homiletics on the same chapter 5 times in one year, and end up with 5 different aims, learning something different each time!

Talking to Much & Meddling In The Affairs Of Others

From our BSF notes this week (last notes for our study of Acts)

"Peter states that when we are reproached for the name of Christ or falsely accused, we are to rejoice (1 Peter 4:12-16).  However, we are to be careful that the charges are not because we talk to much, or meddle in the affairs of others."

I've been watching so much strife on facebook lately, and this has me thinking about the division between standing up for what you believe, and meddling in the affairs of others.  Social media makes meddling so much easier today- every status begs for a response, that is the purpose of posting, right?

But maybe not.  Just because someone declares their beliefs in their status does not mean we need to respond at all.  We can disagree without words, but simply by how we live our own lives.  Unconcerned by the choices of those with whom we have no power to change, we are freed from so much strife. 

1 Peter 4:12-16 NIV:
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. "

Tyranny Of The Urgent

On Tuesday mornings at our church,  we are doing the book Faithful, Abundant, and True

I have done Kay Arthur Studies before.  I have done Beth Moore Studies before.  I had never heard of Priscilla Shirer, and was nervous about her section in this.  (I lead the Tuesday morning group)  Wow.  Apparently she is the daughter of Dr. Evans (Sorry, I really don't know who he is either) and her brother was on the tv show The Voice just last week?  Others in our group knew this.

What I know, is that she has an amazing gift for speaking to moms.  We just finished the 4th video segment, so next week we move on to Beth Moore..  and I'm actually really sad that we won't be hearing more from Priscilla next week, as much as I love Beth Moore.

She shared from this book in her first video segment.  I went online and downloaded the book to read - it is awesome.  Now any of you who know me know that I use my phone for EVERYTHING (well, except phone calls..  I really dislike phone calls!) and it is always with me.  For me, it wasn't the phone that is the "urgent" in my life..  I still believe my phone makes my life run so much smoother.  I struggle more with the cleaning and day to day running of this home (and farm) being the "urgent".   And it was a confirmation for me, a reminder, that I want to spend more time with people this year.  It was my goal last year, and I made progress, but even more so this year, I want to invest my time with people, not just in keeping the house from being condemned.  (It's a mystery to me how 4 teens can make so much mess when they are all hardly home any more!)  

Any way, how it all applies in my life is irrelevant - you should read it for yourself.  It's really a fantastic book!  The version I linked to below has questions at the end, I am working on them today.

Tyranny Of The Urgent PDF:
http://my279days.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Tyranny-of-the-Urgent.pdf

"Gordon Govier, a journalist working with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship wrote, "When Charles Hummel wrote his classic essay 'Tyranny of the Urgent,' in 1967, he identified the telephone as among the worst offenders against our peace and complacency. And that was before we carried the offending instrument with us everywhere and embellished it with email, computers, cameras, downloadable ring tones and music files.


"The issue," Hummel said, "is not so much a shortage of time as a problem of priorities." Or, as a cotton mill manager once told him, "Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important."  "


There is another book by Hummel - Freedom From The Tyranny of the Urgent, but I have not yet looked at it...

BSF Seminar - Becoming A Servant Of God

I usually attend the BSF seminars when they are offered, they are often VERY informative.  I signed up for this one not really knowing what it was, and when I heard what it was...  I almost didn't go.  But I had committed to going with a friend, it was her first seminar..  so I was "stuck".  I'm glad - this turned out to be my favorite seminar so far!  (Homiletics would be my second favorite)


It was 20 minutes in group, and hour and a half of personal quiet time, 10 min group closing. Not a normal BSF seminar. And group quiet time made me nervous- I didn't know what to expect.

But I should have known BSF would do it well. We each received a 4 page hand out for our quiet time, and it took me an hour to read all the scriptures, answer the questions, do the personal reflections, and pray on the specifics. The last half hour I spent adding some of the verses to my flashcard app for memorization, cleaning up the titles on some of my you version bookmarks, and reading this weeks regular BSF lesson notes.

The topic today was on being a servant of God. Specific categories included:

-what the bible says abt servants- 7 verses, find 1 word from each verse to descibe a servant

-attributes a servant should NOT have (5 verses)

- what may be required of a servant (5 verses)

- whom are we called to serve? (4 verses)

- what specific goals does the bible tell us servants should have? (6 verses)

- what results does the bible say I may expect if I serve God? (6 verses)

As I went through these, I highlighted all the verses in a pale green/blue and labeled them servant in my youversion app, and I titled each bookmark based on my answers. I love that feature of youversion!

The last 2.5 pages of our work was personal evaluation with questions regarding our biblical education and training, our regular communication with God (quiet time), our spiritual gifts, places of service God has prepared for me (prayer, then questions about areas where I may see a need), ending with what my response to God is and 5 more verses to examine to help guide us in how to pray to be a servant (fruitful service is preceeded by fervent prayer)

It was so practical, and applicable- I absolutely loved it!

BSF Starts Soon!

This year, we'll be studying the book of Acts.  Classes start a week from Wednesday, on September 14th.

Each week we receive notes and questions.  The questions are broken into daily assignments for reading and answering.  When we attend the next week, we start in full group - all of us meeting together to hear announcements and sing praise songs.  Then we split into our assigned small groups, to discuss our answers from the daily assignments, and take prayer requests.  After that we return to the sanctuary where all of us will sing a couple more songs, then hear a lecture on the text.    On our way out, we'll receive the notes and questions to work on for the next week.

It's an amazing way to study the word of God!

From the BSF website - http://www.bsfinternational.org

During 2011-2012, BSF classes around the world are studying the Acts of the Apostles

For 33 weeks, class members have the opportunity to learn how this important book speaks to our daily lives in the 21st Century.

Each class session features BSF's Four-Fold Approach to Bible study.

While the Acts of the Apostles study lasts the full BSF year (33 weeks), new members can join throughout the course of the study — space permitting.

The classes offered (in order) are:

1. Genesis (2012-13)
2. Matthew (2013-14)
3. The Life of Moses (2014-15)
4. Romans (2015-16)
5. History of Israel and the Minor Prophets (2016-17)
6. John (2017-18)
7. Isaiah (2018-19)
8. Acts of the Apostles (2020-21)

To find a class near you and to see if it has space available for new members, click here.

The Application of the Martha & Mary passage

A  woman I know had a practical "today" application for the Martha/Mary discussion.  She helps a lot in the kitchen at our church, and she said (NOT naming names) that there are some women she will not ask to help, and if they are signed up to help, she makes sure to line up additional help to cover for them.  Because when they are supposed to be helping in the kitchen, they end up spending the time talking, then apologizing because they "just wanted to check on so and so" or "say hi to so and so that was visiting".  She equated this to Mary - seeking the spiritual, and a GOOD thing.  But the reality is, someone needs to do the work, and when  you are signed up to be the Martha that week, you need to let someone else be the Mary. 

I thought that was good.  :-)

Another online friend mentioned that she sees the story as a heart issue only - that Martha should have been happy to do her work, not focussed on what others were not doing.  "Do everything as unto the Lord".

In the NLT (which is a paraphrase of the bible, not the whole bible, but I sometimes like to check when I'm having trouble with the subjective meanings) says
 "41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”"

So based on that, maybe it's about not sweating the small stuff - more about perfectionism and lack of proper priorities? 

This makes me wonder if Mary JUST sat at Jesus feet, or if she did the work that truly needed to be done, then went to sit and hear Jesus..  and maybe Martha was a bit more concerned about everything being "just so" ?  Obviously pure speculation..  but it doesn't actually say that Mary didn't help at all, just that Martha was "cumbered" about it. 

Cumber - 1. To weigh down; burden: was cumbered with many duties.

The KJV says -

"40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

My husband sometimes tells me that I make work for myself - worrying about unimportant household tasks and details.  I wonder if that is what Martha was doing?