Hey, Sister Chicks!

Okay . . . So I didn't post on Friday like I was supposed to do. I have been very sick with a summer cold. 3 days of fever and a trip to Urgent Care later, and I'm finally feeling like myself again. Not 1 week ago I let the words come out of my mouth: "I never get sick." Ha! Haven't been sick like this in a long time!

Anyways . . . Seems like we all need a little encouragement. Unfortunately, I'm ill-prepared right now to say something inspiring and motivating. Just give me a little time . . . or post something AMAZING for us all!

Week 4: Bible History is Definitely Not Just for Nerds!

Okay, so when we get to reading chapter 7 we may think that this feels more like a research project than a Bible study. But I thought that Jen pointed out valid reasons why we need to know a little Bible history when delving into God's Word. The personal history of the author is very important to me, because it helps me understand why he says certain things. But I really like how she says we need a "State of the Union" when digging into a book in God's Word. I love finding out what was going on in the world at the time the book was written. It helps even the oldest of books become more relatable because many of the world's issues back then are similar to what many nations are going through today.

So share with us what you thought about digging into Bible history. Where did you find your information? Did you use a study Bible or some other resources that our book suggested?

And then what about the scriptures in Nehemiah? Who was Nehemiah? Did you notice anything historically significant in those verses? Did digging into history make it easier or harder for you when studying these scriptures?

I love journaling! I was blessed, when I got saved that I had some strong "prayer warriors" that helped me grow in the Lord. One of those sweet ladies taught me to journal. So I have been journaling for a few years and I am excited to learn more about journaling through this study.It is so exciting to go back on my past journaling and write "answered prayer" beside my petitions to the Lord, and write "confirmed" next to something that He would tell me, (most of the time in the the middle of the night when I would argue with Him and say "cant you tell me in the morning") So even when you think it sounds crazy or you just want to ramble, journal it and be sure to date it. You will be so blessed to go back in your journal and see how far you have grown or how you have seen God work in your life. I often think when I am journaling that when the rapture comes and they ramshack my place some lost soul will find my journal and read it and want to know my Jesus (my brain can go waaaayyyy out there). I happen to come across this in my journal and I want to share it since we are all beginning to think about summer and the beach.

Sept 03,2009 4:00 am
Anytime I go to the beach I love to look for shells. I call them my "treasures from God". I found a scripture that describes just that

Deut 33:19 For they shall partake of the abundance of the sea and of treasures hidden in the sand.

Isnt that cool!!! Everytime I would find a cool shell and I would thank the Lord and know in my heart that He put that there just for me to find. I thought I might have been stretching it a bit until I came across that scripture. God is so into His children! He delights in His Bride. He loves you my sister chicks and He is interested in EVERYTHING about you.

Psalm 68:5-10 -- God Our Savior . . . and Refreshment?

I know this is my 3rd post on this week, but the Spirit was moving me and making so many connections the week I completed this part of our study. Not only were the first few days amazing with the Romans scriptures, but I eventually had any amazing insight when I read these verses as well. Plus, my devotional for one of the mornings was entitled "Father to the Fatherless". . . The Holy Spirit was really driving home this concept for me!

The first day, I followed what the study guide said and discovered the main idea: God is our Savior! Whatever our problem, God is going to be there for us to helps us and provide what we need. I examined the various translations of verse 6 and what really stuck out for me was about setting prisoners free and giving them joy. I really appreciate this because that is exactly how I feel since I have come back to the Lord. I am free from being a slave to the world and am now a slave to Jesus (I know I sound like Brantlee's echo). The part in the verse about the rebels made perfect sense to me, too, because that was where I was at only about 8 months ago. They "dwell in a parched [or sun-scorched] land", "an unproductive land", and for them "there is only famine and distress". To me this signifies how these rebels will be separate from God in 2 ways: 1. On Earth they will be without God's protection and therefore will have to deal with the distress that comes from that, and 2. After death, they will be separate from God because they will not be with Him in Heaven.

As great as it was to relate to verse 6 in such a personal way, I had an even more wonderful discovery on the next day when I examined the meanings of some of the words in the verses and looked at some synonyms for some of the words as well. I chose to look more closely at verse 9 specifically "refreshed" and "inheritance". Again, the word "refreshed" perfectly describes how I feel! It means "to revive . . . give new vigor or spirit to", or "to give new freshness to; restore", or "to fill up again; replenish". God has certainly revived me and given me a new spirit. I feel restored and replenished! But what about inheritance . . . I thought of the actual thing that an heir would inherit, but this verse is calling the heirs "His weary inheritance". How many of us have been weary? Some before discovering God, others who had become spiritually dry, and God came along and refreshed us all!

I read this verse right after Robbie (a pastor from our sending church Riverbend) gave a sermon demonstrating how River's Edge should follow the example of the first century church as described in Acts 2:42-47. He said that River's Edge is a fresh start for many people. He challenged us to see God like we had never seen him before! He said with a church plant like this there is a newness, a freshness. When I read the Psalm, that word "refresh" really stood out to me, and that is why. The Spirit was trying to show me how, yes . . . Right now . . . God is refreshing His weary inheritance right here in BL. How powerful is that?!

You are Free...

Sisters...It is with the Will of the Spirit and a prayer for your understanding that I digress to a subject matter that does NOT pertain to "The Modern Girl's Guide" for this blog entry... I just must share with you the amazing morning that I had in front of the TV(For Heaven's Sake!) prior to visiting at Gary's home Church(Pond Branch Methodist) this morning.
While laboriously getting ready for Church and constantly saying "Fill in the blank with your choice of name_____...where are your shoes, are you dressed, did you brush your teeth...don't eat THAT...and etc..." I was able to catch the evangelism channel in the bedroom in the middle of all this chaos... It started with Taffi Dollar... Now, do not even think for a minute that I really know who these folks are... I have not watched these channels for very long and other than Joyce Meyer, whom I simply adore, I REALLY do not know these other folks... But, I have begun to listen to them and try to catch the scripture that they refer to, to read on my own to see what the Lord has to say...
Taffi(Lord I do hope I have spelled her name correctly) provided agreement for me with her words... Yes, I could nod and express a symbiotic relationship with what she had to say... but then, a gentleman came on next... His last name was Osteen... Can not remember the first, maybe Joel? He appeared rather young and referred the beginnings of his message to his Father whom was also a Pastor.. (You have to understand that if I have offended anyone that I do not know this man, I am amazingly sorry... I am very new at this and very green...Please forgive me.) The next part is the message for me today....
LABELS
The referral back to this man's dad, was to relay that in his dad's younger years, He was a Pastor at a Church. He married, but quickly realized a failure of discernment and the marriage ended....He was therefore a divorced Pastor... The Church where he led, no longer needed him due to this "failure" He was now the labeled FAILED Pastor. So, that is what this dad embraced...(the world has placed this label on me...so it must be true. This is what I am and this is all that I will ever be.) This man stopped fulfilling the will of the Father because of an earthly label.
Now, for all of you who know this man, you can complete this story better than I can. I believe that He became an outrageous TV evangelist, Married the love of his life, had children and lived happily ever after serving his Lord...due to ONE important step................................

He was finally led to the fact that the only person who could truly LABEL him is God.

God is the one who has already decided what YOU can do for Him....what His will is for you in this lifetime.

What other people think about you, say about you, expect of you is truly meaningless if you are in the Will of the Spirit.

The TV Evangelist gave the example of the biblical prostitute who changed her choices, accepted the will of the Father and became exactly who she was supposed to be... loved and respected.
He went on to say "can you imagine the things that everyone had to say about her... Oh, she will never be anything...I know where she has been, Don't look to her to be a leader, she has made the worst choices ever, what can SHE possibly do to promote the kingdom......BUT, look what happened when she communed with the will of her Father...
Another example of being labeled is Jabez(his name means pain and suffering...) He was labeled from the very beginning...but look at the lovely attitude of gratitude that Jabez used with his prayer to the Lord(He could have said...well I mean nothing, my life will be nothing, I will just cause suffering where ever I go...), NO, Jabez asked... Bless me Indeed!!!!

God's ultimate plan is so freeing... so liberating and so down right exciting. To know that Really, He is the only one with an opinion of you that matters... He is the only one who we should seek to satisfy... He is the only one that gets a say in the choices that are best for us....

Ladies, I hope that you are free... I hope that you are not limiting yourselves or the work in the kingdom because of labels that someone placed on you, other than your loving Father... I pray that you will no longer allow the enemy to deny you the abundance that our Lord has in store for you...

We are slaves to something in our lives...we choose to be a slave to work, shoes, opinions of others, food, sex, drugs and rock and roll...sorry, really, we are all a slave to something....

I PRAY that YOU are a slave to Jesus. This is the only truly freeing way... and remember this week when the world tries to stick you with a label....tell them, No thanks... I've already accepted my label....the one that Jesus died to give me.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

I thank you again for your allowance of such liberty with the blog... and I hope that my thoughts in the Will of the Spirit bless you beyond measure.

Week 3 (cont'd): "Sincere Love"

Romans 12:9-21: When I read this passage, I reflected on what was said about loving your enemies and I was reminded of something my Mama always said about how to treat someone you knew didn't like you: "Kill 'em with kindness." But I knew that is not what this scripture is telling us to do. We have to show them kindness and it must be sincere. As I read the footnote she provided about hospitality, I immediately thought about "Southern hospitality". As Southern women, we are always supposed to be gracious to guests . . . Offer them something to drink (preferably some sweet tea), feed them a delicious home-cooked meal followed by decadent home-made desserts, all the while doting on their every whim and just being "as sweet as pie".

In contrast, the hospitality that this scripture is talking about is Christian hospitality and not entertaining. I like how the footnote suggests that hospitality can occur in a messy house or around a table where canned soup is being served. Christian hospitality has nothing to do with presentation and everything to do with the motives of that hospitality. They must be sincere! Now the epitome of a Southern woman MAY take in her enemy and feed them and "kill 'em with kindness", but would probably not have a sincere motive. But the epitome of a Christian woman will feed her enemy and give him something to drink and pray for him and not be vengeful.

Now on the morning of Day 4, I did my devotional in the morning as usual and it was centered around Psalm 131.

My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty;

I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

After I read it, I immediately thought about Hebrews 5:12-14 (from Week 1 Day 4) because of the image of the soul being like a weaned child. I couldn't remember the exact verse at the time, but remembered the comparison of milk and solid food to our level of spiritual maturity and how we are being fed. I also thought about the previous evening's study into Romans 12:9-21, and made a note in my journal to compare all 3 scriptures in that evening's study.

Imagine my delight when I opened up Jen's book and saw that the cross-reference for Romans 12:16 ("do not be conceited") was Psalm 131! When I originally had read the Psalm, I thought the part about not being proud or haughty to mean that there are some things that are a part of God's purpose that we are not meant to understand. But when I compared it to v. 16 in Romans 12, I felt a little differently about it. The verse in Romans is telling us to not be too proud to "associate with people of low position."

So what I ultimately took away from the study of this scripture is this: We have all had an experience where we felt like we were out of our league. Maybe with a group of people who were smarter, richer, more sophisticated, etc., than us. We must realize that we may find ourselves in the company of someone who feels that way about us. We must not be too proud of what we know and understand because we certainly don't know it all, even if we have been weaned from the milk (Psalm 131:2 and Hebrews 5:12-14). We may be more spiritually mature than some individuals, but to show them sincere love, we must never show ourselves to be too proud of this.

(Sorry this is sooooo long, but this week was really good for me!)

Week 3: Chapter 6 Bible Study Tools

So . . . how did you like Chapter 6? I never realized there were some many tools available to me to aid me in my Bible study. With the internet, we have so many aids at our disposal. I suggest using the ones the author mentioned or other reputable ones you know. I got my study Bible yesterday. I bought the MacArthur Study Bible NKJV at Lifeway for $20! I suggest that y'all get one if you don't have one already because you will definitely need it for Week 4! I'm really excited about using it for the cross-references, footnotes, introductions, etc! I used it for the first time last night, and the footnotes do seem very scholarly (I used my thesaurus for that one!), but I'm sure I'll get use to it. Have all of my Bible study supplies in a cute little basket by my bed so that I am organized when it comes time to sit down and study. The only thing I don't have with my other study tools is my computer, but I rarely use it, and now I have my study Bible I hope I have everything I need at my fingertips!

So share with the rest of us what you thought about the study tools Jen Hatmaker suggested? Are there any that are your favs, or do you find some sort of challenging? Also, have you organized your study space?

Hello Again-
I hope that God is doing some cool stuff in your midst. Of course as you know I am running behind in our study. I read this morning 1 Cornthians 13....the love chapter. As most of you, I have read this many times, heard it preached and heard it recited at weddings. But today for me was different. As I was reading what love is, the question came up.... Is this kind of love being shown by the churches today? Sadly....sometimes its not. As I was reading I journaled on what love should look like.
Love should look like this.....nice, not jealous, not arrogant, not haughty, not rude, not selfish, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrong doings (who did what to me and remember other people's sin) forebearing (puts up with stuff because of love), believes, hopes and endures. My thought process was this.... If there is someone in your life that shows, jealousy, or rude to you and acts haughty.....they can't love you. When they continue to treat you like this it's not love, the kind of love that we as Chrisitans are capable of giving. In Matthew Jesus warns "beware of false prhoets who come to you in sheeps clothing but inwardly they are reavenous wolves" and in chapter 10:16..."Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves". What I'm saying is there is so many people that say they are Chrisitans and show NO LOVE at all. They are haughty, arrogant and selfish and don't mind throwing those "firey darts" that Paul talks about and using their tongue to stab you when they feel insecure about what God is doing in your life. The Bible is very clear on this area, there is no grey area here. I'm tired of false people in church! I pray that the body of Christ rise up above the "false witnesses" and show the true love that Jesus shows us. As sisters in Christ let's stand and pray that we LOVE at all times and remember that we are representing Jesus our Lord and Savior. (Lord start it with me)

Renewed Hands

I have really been taking my time with the Isaiah scripture...sorry for the length of time from my last blog. This has been a challenge for me and did not come as easy as the "a ha" moment of 1st Corinthians. Never the less, it is just as life changing.
I completely agree with Ashley's friend's insight that this scripture is about God's design... I even titled one of my journal pages "Gods Ultimate Control" I just love to think about that... Even though I tried my best to control EVERYTHING in my entire life, I have been "relieved" of that responsibility by the One who can meet every need with a simple heavenly breath...I am so thankful that the stress this one issue caused me, is finally, over. That I am now fully relying on the Maker's hands to mold me(even a mere potsherd) into the Perfect Brantlee that He wants me to be. The Girl that He is working on to carry out His plan.
I loved the unspoken tone of "Exactly who do you think you are to doubt or Question Me(the Lord) about any of My children or My choices for them... He is the Potter and we are not even worthy to be called the clay.
But, in Verse 8, He tells us that He RAINS down righteousness for the earth to open wide and allow salvation and righteousness to spring back up....a lovely image of renewal and rebirth, a cyclical relationship where He constantly gives us what we need by raining down and we give Him what He is so worthy of! HE created everything...who are we to do anything but LOVE His creation and Praise the Creator.
I am awe struck that the very Hands that "stretched out the heavens and the starry skies" were the very ones that knit me together....the very hands that knit my children together in my womb...the very hands that hold me together now, that lead me through the Word and string my thoughts together in structure. I am amazed at how loving our Lord is, in a world that chooses itself over the Creator.
My prayer is that one person at a time will be touched with the light of Jesus and that His Salvation will CHANGE every heart. Are you being changed?
Brantlee

I am a chapter behind. I have just finished Chapter 4. I want to share what stood out for me. She uses the Scripture Ecc 4:9-10,12...."Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For either of them falls when there is not another to lift him up...and if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of threefold strands is not easily broken".
I have always loved this scripture and two months ago a lady was praying over me and she prayed this scripture.So when I was doing my study and came across this scripture, my ears opened and I listened. Well this is what the Holy Spirit taught me....The scripture talks of 2 people walking together in unity but look at the last verse of this, Solomon uses a "threefold cord" in the closing. Well when 2 people walk together wheather it is a husband & wife, sister & sister in Christ, brother & brother in Christ, there is something that happens when God's people bind togther. 3 fold is for 3 persons, who is the third person .....Jesus of course! In Matthew 18:20 Jesus says "For where two or more are gathered together in My name I AM there in the midst of them" and Jesus in our midst is something we definately want! When we walk together and love one another, Jesus is there in our midst and that "threefold cord" can not be broken! WOW....how powerful we are in Christ when we love and hold each other up. That is what I want us to do. Let's bind togher in LOVE and see Jesus work in our midst!!!!

Week 2: Chapter 5/1 Corinthians 13 and Isaiah 45:8-12

Okay, I hope everyone is enjoying the studying and journaling and blogging! I know this has been a very rewarding experience for me, and I can only hope y'all get as much out of it as I have. This week you read some strategies for study and then got right in God's Word. (That's what this study is all about!!!) What were some strategies that you learned that you didn't know before? What things stood out to you? (Brantlee had an "Ah Ha!" moment. Anyone else?) Also, was anything confusing? Always blog the things you don't understand, too. Maybe the Holy Spirit was talking to someone else differently, and she may can provide an insight you didn't have.

I, like Brantlee, saw 1 Cornithians 13 in a brand new light. Because it is about "love," we often hear it read at weddings. Most of us probably had it read at our weddings. But this love is WAY beyond romantic love. I didn't truly understand exactly what Paul was saying until I did what the author suggested and really looked at the characteristics of love that he included. I began to realize that this is the kind of love Jesus shows us each and everyday. We are being admonished to show that kind of love to the people we encounter in our lives.

I didn't have quite the same reaction to the scriptures in Isaiah, but my Bible study friend Nicole had a wonderful response to it. She said that the big picture isn't for us to see. We are supposed to do what God wants us to do, even if we don't understand. Don't fight how he is using us! I was so amazed at the insight she gave me that I didn't get on my own. That is truly what the sisterhood of a Bible study is all about! We are very blessed to have each other!

You LOVE Who?

Sisters... the most excellent way..... TO LOVE.
As I have read 1 Corinthians 13 for what seems like the very first time, I have captured the "skirt tail" of the Holy Spirit... I feel as though my eyes have been opened to THE LOVE, the AGAPE LOVE, the LOVE of JESUS. While confident in my ability to understand this scripture(for Heaven's sake, it was read at MY wedding), I have found myself in an "A-Ha" moment of how I interpret this text.
What did I get....I got another dose of "dying to self." When I have everything else in the whole world, even a spiritual gift of prophecy(which is ranked 2nd behind apostleship), but don't LOVE the world, I have NOTHING. If I have the faith to move an entire mountain, burn my body for goodness sake, and give all things to The Christian Ministry Center, but do not LOVE, then I have gained nothing!
When you truly LOVE, it is a GIVING away of energy to what you love....True Love denies Self seeking...True Love is a gift that you give AWAY completely...That is how my Jesus loves me. Even in the times that I disappoint Him and choose the very wrong decision...He LOVES me. Praise God!!
And, verse 8 tells us assuredly, "Love NEVER fails." It is the right choice, the right focus everytime.
The text also SPEAKS that when perfection comes(Jesus), the IMPERFECT will disappear... the only thing left will be Christ and His beautiful love. All the other things that we worry about, stress about, get angry about....REALLY don't matter. Really....
Christ will make manifest in us HIS PURE LOVE....a Love that knows no ending...

SO, do you love... Really? The world teaches us to love "ourselves" over anything. We live in a world of getting ahead and always winning....when sometimes by soaking ourselves in this mentality, we miss the mark of spiritual growth. We miss the lessons that our Spiritual Guide is trying so desperately to teach us... yet, isn't this why we are here. To carry out the plan that our Lord has for each of us?

To truly LOVE takes US out of the equation and opens our eyes and hearts to the Holy Spirit.

Does this take a conscious effort? Yes, I think at first...but after long enough, it becomes who we are. It becomes how we are made. It becomes our path to Christ...

Let us LOVE one another Sisters...the most EXCELLENT way.
Brantlee

My First Blog TOO!

Hello my sister chicks! It has taken me since Friday to figure out how to "blog". So after many tries and kicking the devil out.......I figured it out!!. I have started the study. I love the authors humor. I journaled some fears that I didnt really realize I had....My biggest fear is missing the mark that Christ has set before me. I fear that I will mess up so bad (like having a bad attitude or not being patient enough and get off tract) that I will miss the reason I was created. I dont want to miss what He has prepared for me, it is what I hope for and long for everyday. I think maybe today it will all come together all the lessons, all the prunning, all the prayers...it will finaly come together and I have that moment that it clicks and I see Him so glorified that I fall to my knees in awe. But that might not happen until I go home with Him. So in the meantime, I will rest in His arms and know that if I fall....He will catch me. He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I look forward to learning and sharing with my sweet Sister Chicks! Brantlee you thrill my heart....Ashley you inspire me.....Sharon I cant wait to see what God has in store for you...Kim C cant wait to meet you and my sweet Autumn.....thank you for letting me be me and I love you dearly.
In Love with My Jesus-
kim jackson