Strength To Do What Is Necessary

In my earlier Bible reading I was reading in Genesis about the "fall of man."  A very well known story to my ears and eyes, but trying to see it through the word "strength" made some things pop out at me.

God gives us the ability to tap into His strength every day.  It is our job to do it.  This is not an easy job like some might think it is.  It is a job that requires humbling yourself to realize you CAN'T do it without Him.  It requires putting other things aside and picking up what matters.  Two jobs many of us just don't want to do.  However, if we don't tap into His strength, we ARE going to fail.  Look at Adam and Eve.  They were in the garden and God was walking around with them, (Genesis 3:8) and they fell.  If they can fall with all the strength they needed RIGHT THERE BESIDE THEM, how much easier will it be for me to fall?

The same day I read about Mary and Joseph and realized what strength both of them must have had in order to do all they were asked to do at the beginning of their marriage.  They could not have done any of what they did without the strength from Him.  We don't study Joseph a whole lot, but what a man of God and a man of strength he must have been to take Mary as his wife, to take Jesus and protect Him - doing whatever it would take.  They were both people who tapped into the strength God afforded them daily because they were willing to do whatever God asked of them in order to protect their (and HIS) Son.

Be Still My Soul

I know I have not done very well posting.  Hence the reason I did not make any resolutions!

However, I am going to try to do better posting what is going on in our lives as well as what I am learning tapping into God's strength as I am on this journey here on earth.

As the last post mentioned, I have a problem being still. 

The first Wednesday of the new year, we sang this song - 

an oldie but a goodie!

Be Still My Soul

by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

I just love this song and the words that encourage me to be still and not forget HE is there.  Through Him, I have the strength to get through whatever comes my way!

"Be still and know that I am God . . ."

Psalm 46:10

His Strength is With Us

My Bible reading from the first took me to Genesis 1-2 and Matthew 1.  Reading from my NKJ study Bible, I was able to glean some ideas from this well known and well read part of the Bible.  Reading in order to find strength from His word, I came across 2 different strengths of God.

1.  In Genesis 1, the Hebrew word for God means Mighty or the Almighty.  That, in itself, shows strength that He has.  In reality it is a plural form of God - showing His fullness and emphasizing the God head or the Trinity.

2.  In Genesis 2, the Hebrew word for God changes to Yahweh, a personal God, who created man and woman, a place for them to leave and a relationship with them.

This God whose strength created our world and our bodies had tremendous strength - a strength that I want to gain part of this year.  However, even HE rested!!!!  Lesson number 1 for Becky!  Anyone who knows me well knows that I don't rest well until I am in the bed sick.  So, already, I have learned that this year I need to rest.  That is one way I will have the strength to be the wife, mother, daughter, friend I will need to be this year.  That is one way I can tap into HIS strength - is to rest.  I will admit, that is going to be tough for me, but it is something I must do - we must all do.  We must rest.

Appropriately, my reading ended with Matthew 1 and a reminder that I have a constant strength with me because I have been baptized and have been given the gift of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  The reminder is that Jesus is with me!!!!  That is what His name Immanuel means "God with us." Knowing that He is with me wherever I go and He is watching me ready to give me the support and strength I need is such a gift that I needed to be reminded of today and days in the future.

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth

that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NASV)

Gift:

1.  God is with me wherever I go and watching me ready to give support.

Happy New Year 2013

I am sitting here really putting off the fact that I go back to school tomorrow and have not even looked at my school stuff for the last two weeks (thankfully, the kids don't come back to us until Thursday).  However, I as I am sitting here, the fact that a new year is upon us is hitting me more and more.  I have never been one for resolutions, but this year I do have some goals I want to reach.  As I have been sitting, the kids and Damon having been playing football in the living room while watching football while I am trying not to get hit with the football as I catch up on blogs I usually read.

As I read these blogs, I realize the reason I have never made resolutions is because I don't like failure.  I want to succeed in all I do, and, let's be honest, resolutions don't hold up more often than not.  I am VERY OCD and had thought during the few quiet moments I had over Christmas break that I wanted to have certain goals for each month and work on things in my life over the months in the year.  I mean they tell you it take 21 days to make a form a habit, but here it is January 1st and I have not made the list I wanted to. Therefore, thanks to the OCDness in me, I already fill like a failure.

Our elders at church gave us the challenge Sunday at church for our theme to be Strength for the Journey.  Each family was given a devotional book with that same title to read on a daily basis and scriptures were given to encourage us in our walk on our journey to heaven.  So, I think I have decided that for the year 2013,

I am not going to make any resolutions.

I am not going to set myself up to fail. 

(although I will on a daily basis)

I AM going to rely on strength.

Strength that can only come for my Father in heaven.

Strength that can only be found in His word.

Strength that can help me be the best wife, mom, daughter and friend.

Strength that can help me get through whatever 2013 may bring our family.

I am not going to make resolutions - I am going to choose a word and dwell on that word this year.  And that word is 

STRENGTH.

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 (NKJV)

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him,

for He shields him all day long, and the one the 

Lord loves rests between His shoulders.

Deuteronomy 33:12

My gifts today (for more on this check out Mrs. Ann):

1.  LB's best friend, Madlyn - I love how she just fits in with our family and accepts us as we are.  

2.  My family accepting Damon as one of us - We have been married for 13 1/2 (GASP!) years, but it never ceases to amaze me how they just take him in as if he has always been there.  Bub made red beans and rice for part of our New Year's meal just because it was Damon's favorite!

3.  My children reading and discussing God's word - We are going to be doing the Strength for the Journey devotional together and reading one chapter a night as a family.  I loved hearing LB read Genesis 1 to us and then having them ask questions from this well-known chapter of the Bible.

Devotional Thoughts on Scrapbooking

A few months ago, I did a devotional for a college dorm after we had done a scrapbook activity.  I found it the other day, and, as I am trying to cut down on the papers all over my house, I thought I would share it here. . . .

I love my scrapbooks.  I love my kids looking at scrapbooks.  I have been accused of trying to scrapbook everything, especially now that I have my blog.  However, I want to remember it all!!! I want my kids to know it wasn't always easy with sunshine and rainbows.  We look at our scrapbooks and we see how our family has grown, but, also, how our family has lost.  We see our college kids and how the group has changed over the years.  We see so many changes in ourselves - the kids getting older and changing so much, but there is One constant through it all. One who sees it all and that is God.


In our scrapbooks when we see that we were alone (or at least felt alone),  GOD WAS THERE!

• Matthew 28:20 - " . . . lo, I am with you always . . ."
• Hebrews 13:5 - ". . . I will never leave you . . . "

In our scrapbooks when we see we were at our saddest, GOD WAS THERE! He is our strength to get through whatever comes our way.

• Nehemiah 8:10b - " . . . the joy of the Lord is your strength . . ."

When we see in our scrapbooks that we just felt hopeless, GOD WAS THERE! He will deliver us and surround us with His love.

• Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor death, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to celebrate us from the love of God . . ."

When we were at our happiest, GOD WAS THERE!  He gives us all good things to make us happy.

• James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above . . ."
• Matthew 7:11 - " . . . how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"

When we don't know what will fill the future pages in our books, GOD IS THERE!  He see the big picture while our sight is limited.  

He wants us to come to Him.  Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayers and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

He wants us to trust, ask and let Him direct.  Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

He has great things planned for YOUR scrapbook.  Jeremiah 29:11 "'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.'"

JOYfilled Life - "Y" is for You

Continuing this look at JOY (before I forget to complete it at all!), we want to look at the Y - YOU!

When you start with Jesus and then add others, YOU will be a joyful person.  We are not promised an easy road but you can be joyful in any situation you face.

"In this you greatly rejoice, 

though now for a little while you may

have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

These have come so that your faith -

of greater worth than gold, 

which perishes even though refined by fire -

 may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus is revealed. . . . .

you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy . . ."

 - Philippians 1:6-9

"But He knows that way that I take

when He has tested me. I will

 come forth as gold."

- Job 23:10

We must remember that God has a purpose for everything He puts in our lives and we should look for His will in all we do.  Then, be joyful for what God has done and is doing in our lives.

"For You make me glad by Your

deeds, O Lord;

I sing for joy at the works of Your

hands."

- Psalm 92:4

No matter what we are experiencing at this moment, it will not last forever. 

" . . . weeping may remain for a night,

but rejoicing comes in the morning."

- Psalm 30:5b

A joyful person, no matter what their situation is in life, will . . .

"Shout with joy to God, all the earth!"

- Psalm 66:1

Even Jesus put it in these terms in John 15.

"As the Father has loved Me,

so I have loved you. Now remain in My love.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in My love,

just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and

remain in His love."

- verses 9-10 (emphasizing JESUS)

"My command is this:

Love each other as I have loved you.

Greater love has no one than this,

that he lay down his life for his friends."

- verses 12-13 (emphasizing OTHERS)

"I have told you this is that My joy

may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

- verse 11 (emphasizing YOU)

Cassandra Martin, in her book Echoing His Heartbeat: The Life of David, says it best in conclusion.

God is here.  He loves you.  He will never leave you.  He wants you to draw deeper in His presence and find job.  Psalm 118:24 declares, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." We aren't called to rejoice because everything in our lives is good.  We rejoice because every day our GOD IS GOOD!

JOYfilled Life - "O" is for Others

I can't believe I never finished this devotional on here!!!! Shows you how my life has been!!!!  In case you need a refresher course, JOY stands for Jesus, Others and You.  If you put this in your life in this order, you will have joy in your life.  I ended with J, so we are going to look at "O" now.

While we find joy in Jesus, becoming closer to Him, we will enrich our joy by becoming more like Jesus serving others.

". . . . then make my joy complete by being like minded,

having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests,

but also to the interest of others."

- Philippians 2:2-4 NIV

Our joy is COMPLETE when we do what Paul and Jesus have instructed us - serving others, putting them first!  When you do for others, you will feel better and will

" . . . shine like stars in the universe . . ."

- Philippians 2:15b NIV

Sing and Be Happy

Why should we sing . . . .

But you are a chosen people,

a royal priesthood,

a holy nation,

a people belonging to God,

that you may declare the praises of Him

who called you out of darkness into

His wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9

and because . . . .

The Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you.

He will quiet you with His love.

He will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

I pray I give my God reason to rejoice over me with singing today and every day. I know I will be singing His praises today for ALL He has done for me!!! 

What is your favorite praise song?

JOYfilled Life - "J" is for Jesus

I always tell my children that when they want to have JOY in their lives they need to think about what Jesus would do in that situation.  For their minds at this time, that works.  However, as we get older, we are able to find joy IN Jesus through many different things.

WE HAVE JOY IN HIS WORD

Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

How do we know His word unless we read it?  How else are we going to develop an intimate relationship with God if we don't spend time with Him?  David found joy in God's word and he hid it in his heart so it would always be with him.  When we are in His word we find out what He wants us to do, so we can live a life pleasing to Him.

WE HAVE JOY IN SALVATION

From finding joy in His word, we learn what we must do to gain salvation as well as forgiveness.

Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Psalm 51:8, 12

Because of God's willingness to cleanse us from our sins - not just once, but daily, should give us great joy!

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:18

We should work in gaining complete confidence in God and it will continue to grow as our relationship with Him deepens - just like Habakkuk.  We can have the same confidence he had in our "God of (our) salvation."

WE HAVE JOY IN HIS PRESENCE

For You have made him most blessed forever;

You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.

Psalm 21:6

Just being in God's presence gave David joy.  How are we in His presence?  Do we find joy in going and being there?  Do we look forward to it?  Do we seem glad when we are there singing praises to Him?  It's during this time that we are able to find a few things only found in Christ.

You have put joy in my heart . . . .

Psalm 4:7

And I will go to the altar of God,

To God my exceeding joy;

Psalm 43:4

We realize that our hearts can be full of His joy and that we aren't able to live without Him.  He and He alone is our exceeding joy.

The joy of the Lord is your strength . . .

Nehemiah 8:10b

We also realize when we are with God that He becomes our strength to overcome anything that comes our way.  What a joy to know that we can be "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37) because of Him.  

JOYfilled Life

Recently, I was asked to give a devotional to the PKA girls on campus.  They have been studying the fruits of the spirit and my fruit was joy.  I was first relieved because usually I get the outrageous topics and really struggle, myself, with what I am going to say to them.  However, with this one I knew exactly what I was going to say.

What is joy?  It is one of those words that you define using the word itself.  There are two definitions:

1. Earthly - emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; fleeting; will disappear eventually
2. Spiritual - result of faith and obedience to God.  The amount of joy you have is in direct proportion to how close you are to God as well as how steadfast your walk with Him is; this can endure; sin can make our joy diminish but we can always be restored to our complete joy.

We want the kind of joy that has the potential to last.  It is the TRUE JOY!!!  We are going to use the word JOY to help us learn and, hopefully, remember how to have this true joy in our lives each day.

Come back tomorrow to see the "J" in joy.

The Why's and Where's of Hospitality

I am sorry it has taken me forever to get this hospitality series done.  Life has been  . . . . well, crazy! I loved this study and believe there is so much else we could learn!!  If you want the rest of the lessons, go down to my labels and click on "Hospitality" to see the rest of the posts.  If you want the worksheet that goes along with these lessons, you can click here to print it.  As for the drawing, my sweet and VERY hospitable friend, Kristen, is the winner!! Thanks, Kristen, for all your support! I will get it to you on Sunday, Kristen!!!

For now, I am going to keep the post like this - sorry it is not as read friendly, but I wanted to at least get it up. I will come back later and fix it!!!

WHY SHOULD WE BE HOSPITABLE?

1.      To be obedient

a.     Romans 12:10-13 – “given to” – something we are prone to do; a tendency; something we automatically do because it is part of our nature

b.     Elders and families are to be (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8)

2.     To minister to lost souls

a.     Don’t show hospitality to only those who will return it (Luke 14:12-14)

3.     To be good stewards of what God has given us

a.     Deuteronomy 8:17-18

b.     1 Timothy 6:17-19

4.     To be like Christ

a.     He served others – we should as well

b.     John 13:34-35

c.     He was hospitable even though He did not have a house (Matt. 8:20)

                                               i.     He showed compassion (Matt. 15:32-39)

                                             ii.     He watched out for all needs of all people (Matt. 25:36)

d.     Jesus received hospitality as well

e.     Giving hospitality is very easy for me. I love taking people food, and helping people clean, or whatever they need. I LOVE giving hospitality. However, I am very bad at receiving hospitality. Jesus received hospitality all the time yet I have a hard time doing just that. You can learn so much by receiving hospitality too. This is probably another discussion for another time but it has been on my mind.

5.     To encourage other Christians

6.     To develop friendships

WHERE CAN WE BE HOSPITABLE?

Kristen mentioned “Your Turf” – this is where you can be hospitable.  What is your turf?

1.      In God’s church family –

a.     Wherever God’s church meets anyone should have a home – no matter how far away their actual home is

b.     My friend, Jennifer, mentioned this on her blog.
I have actually gone to a different Bible class in the past because no one said anything to me when I came to the class.  I am not blaming anyone, because I could have been more out going and I was not exactly a new face...but if I was a new person or if I were visiting, I would not have felt welcome. 

I remember Valerie Watrous introducing herself to someone, and she saying, " I don't think I have met you yet".  That way she  even the person was not new...no biggie.  She had not met them before!  I have used that line many times, now.

Here in China, we meet on Sundays in our home.  Sometimes folks come for the first time.  It is important to make people feel welcome and a part of the "family" here.  The culture does not really support what we do, so we have to make them feel a part of a family.  If they do not feel comfortable in my home, I might not be able to develop a relationship with them, and then I will not have a chance to share Greater things with them.

2.     In our home –

a.      What are you doing to open your home?

b.     Do you invite “strangers” into your home? You may be entertaining angels – Hebrews 13:2, Genesis 18

3.      In our workspace –

4.     In your family –

5.     On your facebook page/blog page

6.     In your community

AM I BEING HOSPITABLE?

1.      Am I as hospitable as I can be?

2.     Am I showing the love of Jesus to others?

3.     Am I friendly on and offline?

4.     Do others see Christ in me everywhere I go?

5.     Am I showing hospitality in my facial features, my words, and my deeds?

Playing the Waiting Game

My God does know what I need.  Even when I don't know what I need - HE does.  Why?

Because I am HIS child.  

He love me.  

He cares for me.  

He watches over me.  

He provides for me.  

He shelters me.

As I am writing this, the future is a bit unclear for us.  I chose to spend some time this afternoon in God's word to find the peace, wisdom, confidence, and strength that I need at this time.  Our ladies' Bible class is studying Cassandra Martin's book Echoing His Heartbeat: The Life of David.  When I was sick, I got behind and I felt like I should use this afternoon to catch up.  The lesson I was working on was about Saul from 1 Samuel 13:5-14.  This is the story where the Israelites are about to battle the Philistines and they are waiting on Samuel to offer a sacrifice.  Samuel is later than they want him to be, so Saul takes it upon himself to offer the sacrifice.  Just as he is finishing up, Samuel arrives and calls him out on it.  Specifically, he says, "You have done foolishly."  Because of acting foolishly while waiting, Saul has the kingdom taken away from his family and is given to a man who is described as "a man after His (Lord's) own heart."  All of this was taken away from Saul because he refused to wait on God's timing.  

My family has been waiting on God's timing for awhile now.  It has not been easy.  It has not been a smooth road.  It has surely not been an easy road.  I have tried to surrender to God, to give it over to Him, but I have failed at times.  Mrs. Martin says,

Waiting aligns us with His timing and proclaims our desire to live under 

His authority.  When we wait, we relinquish control of our circumstances,

hearts and future steps to God.  In waiting, we honor His goodness,

rest in His love and depend on His power.

I pray that God has not found me foolish during this time.  I pray that I have and will always "align" myself to His timing and His authority.  I know I will have to wait on Him, but He has it all under control.  He knows what I need and He blesses me daily.  I pray my life is one that brings glory to Him while I wait on and for Him.

Therefore the Lord will wait,

that He may be gracious to you;

And therefore He will be exalted,

that He may have mercy on you.

For the Lord is a God of justice; 

Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

- Isaiah 30:18 NKJV

The "What's" and "How's" of Hospitality

I am sorry I have been away and have not finished the hospitality series.  It has taken longer to get over my sickness than I had planned.  The past week in the afternoons have been spent resting/napping aka not on the computer.  I do plan on finishing, Lord willing, this week and the drawing will still go on until I finish this series.

Here is the worksheet for this part of the hospitality series. You can use this blog post and the ones in the next few days to help you fill in the blanks.  If you missed the first lesson, it is here. These are the same handouts I used in the class when I taught.

WHAT IS HOSPITALITY?

Hospitality is the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors and strangers. 

It is what you do 

with what you have 

for people you meet!

Many people come up with excuses for not showing hospitality.

 

Lydia could have offered many excuses:

1.      She was a business woman so she had a busy schedule.

2.     She had just met Paul and Silas – they were strangers.

3.     She could have feared for her safety

What are our excuses?  "My house is not clean"  Mrs. Debbie shared this story with me for the class and I thought it was great and very applicable!!!!

The most hospitable friend I've ever known often invited people to her house after church on Sunday nights. One Sunday night John and I were the first to arrive and I asked what could I do to help. She told me to go into the living room and kick anything that was in the floor under the couch! She never cared that her house wasn't "company ready." She just wanted you to come, relax and enjoy being together.

My house just is not big enough for a lot of people.  My Aunt RoRo shared two of her favorite sayings from people in Scotland, where they have taken numerous college students on campaigns.

"There is always room for one more!"

 "Our walls are elastic."

Hospitality is something we can all do.  My friend, Jennifer, is living in China at the moment with her husband and three children.  I thought she summed it up in a great way on her blog.

A friend of mine, Becky, is teaching a lesson on hospitality and asked for some stories, recipes or thoughts on the subject.  This is really something I have thought a lot about.  Hospitality is one of those things that I CAN do.  I am not a great leader, I don't sing well, and I am not even a great conversation starter.  However, I can be hospitable.  

I think that being hospitable could also be defined as being welcoming.  Some of the details are different, but it is the same in most cultures. It is often the small things that really matter.  The small things are the details that are different in other cultures.  We pay attention to what has been done to us, and keep an open mind.  

                 

HOW CAN WE BE HOSPITABLE?

It is not just about opening your home – it is opening your heart to someone.

Your attitude is what is important. 

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

1 Peter 4:9

No matter what you do – visit, open home, call, go on an outing – pray for the people you interact with because while hospitality does meet physical needs; it more importantly meets emotional and spiritual needs.

Go to this link, to enter the drawing that will be done at the end of the series.  Be sure to check it out anyways because I forgot to add a few links from my friends - sorry, girls!!!!

Meeting Lydia

You can go here to receive a printable worksheet that accompanies this post.  You can fill in the worksheet from this post and using your Bible.

Open your Bibles to Acts 16:6.  This is where we are going to begin.  Paul is on his second missionary journey at this point in Acts.  

Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, 

they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

He was in Galatia and really wants to go to Asia, but God has said no to this plan. 

Acts 16:7 - 

After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia

but the Spirit did not permit them.

He tries to go to Bithynia, but, again, God says no.

Acts 16:8-9 – Paul is in Troas.  

So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night.

A man from Macedonia stood and pleaded with him saying, 

"Come over to Macedonia and help us."

That night in Troas, he gets a vision from a man of Macedonia.  This man pleads with him to come to Macedonia to help them.

Acts 16:10 – 

Now after he had seen the vision, immediately, we sought to go to 

Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to 

preach the gospel to them.

I love how it says "IMMEDIATELY" they went to Macedonia to preach the gospel to them.  There was no whining, arguing, complaining - they went! “They” now becomes “we” – so we assume that Luke is with him on this part of the journey since he is the author of Acts.  Therefore, what we are about to read is a FIRST hand account!

Acts 16:11-12 – 

Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, 

and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, 

which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. 

Paul sails from Troas and goes to Philippi which is the foremost colony of Macedonia.  We need to learn a little about the city of Philippi so we better understand what is going on in this account.

1.      Named for Phillip II – Alexander the Great’s father – it’s founder

2.     Greek city

3.     Gold bearing mountains were to the north of the city.

4.     Was a prosperous Roman colony on the Egnatian Way – linking eastern providences to Rome

5.     Many Roman soldiers lived there

6.     There were not enough Jews to have a synagogue – have to have 10 reliable males; River Gangites was were the “place of prayer” was in the city

Acts 16:13-15a – 

And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside,

where prayer was customarily made, and we sat down

and spoke to the women who met there.

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us.  She was a seller 

of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God.

Then the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

And when she and her household were baptized,  . . . .

On the Sabbath day, they went to the river to pray and there they met Lydia.  Who is Lydia?  There are some things we need to know about her as well.

1.     She was a lady. (vs. 13)

2.     She worshipped God. (vs. 13)

3.     She was a successful businesswoman selling purple. (vs. 14; Proverbs 31:13)

4.     She was from Thyatira in Asia Minor. (vs. 14; Rev. 2:18-19)

5.     She was a Gentile. (vs. 14)

6.     God opened her heart to hear what Paul had to say. (vs. 1 4)

7.     She was head of her household. (vs. 15)

8.     She was hospitable. (vs. 15)

9.     She was first convert in Europe. (vs. 15)

Acts 16:15b – 

 . . . she begged us saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful

to the Lord, come to my house and stay."  So she persuaded us.

She urged them to stay with her - begged them; some versions say “constrained."  This word “constrained” – in Greek means she was met with hesitation and objection – she had to urge them to stay. The same word is found in Luke 24:29 – when the two men on the road to Emmaus urged Jesus to stay with them.

But they constrained Him saying,

"Abide with us, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent."

And he went in to stay with them.

On a personal note, when I think about hospitality, I think of Uncle Charles and Aunt Marydel who insisted that we live with them until our furniture arrived. Uncle Charles said that he couldn't sleep at night if he knew we were sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor at our house while they had empty beds.  Uncle Charles "constrained" Daddy to let them do this.  We stayed with them 10 days while we waited for our items to come from Tennessee, San Antonio and Korea.  They became our "family" there.

The story does not end there when it comes to Lydia.

Acts 16:16-18 – Paul and Silas drive a demon out of a slave girl; her owners are not happy about it

Acts 16:19-24 – Paul and Silas are thrown in jail

Acts 16:25-37 – Paul and Silas are thrown in jail; this is where they meet the Philippian jailer and convert his house

Acts 16:38-40 – Paul and Silas are “let go” because they are Roman citizens. 

So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia,

and when they had seen the brethern, they encouraged them and departed.

From jail they go back to Lydia’s house to stay and encourage the church there before they left

There are many lessons we can learn from Lydia.  The one we are going to look at specifically is her hospitality and how we can learn hospitality from her.  Many people believe that the church in Philippi met at Lydia's house.  This seemed to be a logical place to many showing us that Lydia had always been a hospitable person to the people of Philippi.  The church at Philippi must have been a huge source of encouragement to Paul while he was in prison.  Later on in the study, we are going to look at the book of Philippians to see what we can learn from this hospitable and encouraging congregation.

Come back tomorrow for a look at what hospitality is as well as what we can do to begin making hospitality a priority in our lives.  Don't forget the giveaway as well!!!!

Hospitality Helps

I am so thankful to all of you who helped me prepare for my lesson on hospitality last week.  I pleaded for wonderful recipes, ideas, stories, etc. and wound up with so many treasures! Thank you so much for sharing your ideas and thoughts with all of us.  The class I taught has been so kind in dishing out compliments galore on the lesson and the things you shared.  I wanted to share three of the blogs who wrote about hospitality on their blog.  Please visit each one - they are each a treat and a treasure!

Jennifer - Hospitality

Kristen - Pretty Sweet - Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Muffin Recipe

Kristen - Pretty Sweet: Heavenly-Minded - The Art of Hospitality

Kimberly - Go Into All The World - I am Appalled

Brittany - The Lew Crew - New Recipes

I gained a lot from each of these ladies and shared something from each blog entry in my class.  With that being said, Jennifer, from the Hardin Clan, is my winner for the plea entry!!!!!!  YAY, Jennifer!!! I wish you could all know sweet Jennifer.   Jennifer, you will be receiving a box of "goodies" in the mail as soon as I am closer to 100%!!!!!  Be looking for a message to see if there are any "must haves" at this point!  Thanks to all who helped me!!

If your name was not drawn this time, don't you fear!!!!!!  We are going to have ANOTHER drawing at the end of this Hospitality feature next Friday.  What can you do to enter yourself in this drawing?

1.  Become a follower of this blog and leave a comment HERE saying you follow me.

2.  Become a follower of Blessings for Bible School Teachers and leave a comment HERE saying you follow that.

2.  Become a fan on facebook and leave a comment HERE saying you now "like" Slipping Through My Fingers and Blessings for Bible School Teachers on facebook.  One entry for each website "liking." ( I tried to link it to here, but can't do that right now.  If you search for the title of the blog, you will find it under websites.)

3.  Mention it on your blog with a link back to THIS POST and leave a comment HERE saying you did this.

4.  You can even get an extra entry by writing your own hospitality post and comment HERE saying you did this. (Kristen and Jennifer - you don't have to do another one - leave a comment saying you have done this.)

Please do a separate comment for each thing you do - makes it easier to "draw."  Also, if you already follow and are a fan on facebook - go ahead and leave your comment(s) saying so!  Come back tomorrow ready to learn about a lovely lady who was the inspiration for this whole hospitality thing!!!

To Be Hospitable: Why and How?

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!



Next Wednesday night, I am teaching one of our ladies' Bible classes about Lydia and hospitality.  I have had some great personal studies getting ready to teach this class, and I feel I have been blessed as well as challenged!!!!  However, I want to make this study one that challenges those in the class to be more hospitable to  ALL kinds of people (guests, sick, strangers, etc) as well as show them how "easy" it can be. So, what do I need from you?  Please do one or more of the following for me:

1.  Tell of a time when someone's hospitality helped you in your life.

2.  Share a recipe (or 2 or 3) that is a crowd pleaser (and relatively easy).

3.  Give any ideas, comments, etc. you have on how hospitality has worked for you.

Please write a post on your blog and link it to mine.  Then, leave a comment with me so I know to go and find you!!!  Encourage your readers to do the same thing.  If they do this, have them leave a comment with your name, so I know who sent them to me!!!  On Sunday, February 20, 2010, I will announce a winner based on how many people you sent my way (1 entry per person) and ideas you sent my way (1 entry per idea/recipe/story etc).   Thanks so much for helping me out!! After class on Wednesday, I will share my lesson with you on the blog!!!! Thanks!

A Charge

My amazing friend, Kristen, has recently branched out in the blogging world - adding her second blog, Pretty Sweet: Heavenly Minded.  I am so inspired by so many blogs I read that DAILY include scriptures from God's word and encouragement to me (and I am sure the thousands of others who read them).  As part of her blogging experience on this new blog, each week she is going to issue a challenge.  The challenge includes a set of verses and then our job is to study those verses for the week; blogging about them on Thursday or Friday.  I can't tell you how excited I am about this!  The method of Bible studying we are using is called Inductive Bible Study (hence, my title: IBS).  You can read the details here.  I added another step. I have been very interested in different versions of the Bible lately, so each day, I read and wrote these verses in a different version. On Thursday, I sat down, reread them all again, wrote it in my own words and made application.  I am new at this on more than one level! So, without further rambling, here is mine for the week:

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ

who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom

Preach the word!

Be ready in season and out of season.

Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but

according to their own desires, because they have itching ears,

they will heap up for themselves teachers,

and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions,

do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,

and the time for my departure is at hand.

I have fought the good fight, 

I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith.

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,

the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,

and not to me only, but also to all who have loved

His appearing.

2 Timothy 4:1-8 (NKJV)

IN MY WORDS:

Always be ready to teach someone, correct someone, encourage someone with patience and love.  There will come a time to all three because people are looking and listening for what they want.  They will try to suit their wants and desires - not God's.  They will turn away, but you stand firm.  Don't be led down their path.  Be led down the narrow path and do what God has called you to do.  Give all you have to the Lord and His work - from now until the very end!!  Be able to say, "I fought . . . . I finished . . . I stayed with God to the end."  Then, on that day, I will get my eternal reward!  Me and all who have fought beside me!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME?

I need to always be ready.  Who knows when I will have the opportunity to reach someone, help someone, encourage someone. I need to have myself grounded in the truth, so when others start to waver and lean towards their own thinking (Proverbs 3:5-6), I won't.  I can stand firm and try to bring them back.  I should live my life as Romans 12:1 - a living sacrifice. Giving myself fully, completely, whole-heartedly to God and His will for my life.  I want to live for Him fully each and every day of my life from now until the end.  I want to be among those in the end who can stand and receive a crown of righteousness!! Take me, mold me, use me - wear me out for YOUR glory!

Check out the rest of the participants on Kristen's blog!

What An Awesome God We Serve . . .

"For He says to the snow,

'Fall on the earth . . .'

He seals the hand of every man,

That all men may know His work."

Job 37:6-7 (NKJV)

"Lift up your eyes on high,

And see who has created these things . . .

He calls them all by name,

By the greatness of His might

And the strength of His power;

Not one is missing."

Isaiah 40:26 (NKJV)

"Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,

Give unto the Lord glory and strength.

Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Psalm 29:1-2 (NKJV)

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

Psalm 51:7 (NKJV)

a gentle reminder that . . .

" . . .'Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow; . . .'"

Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

I Am Going To Do It

Last year, when I was on the internet here and there, I remember my blog friend, Jennifer, saying she was doing a Bible memory challenge for the year.  Being off and on, I did not keep up with it and really forgot about it.  This year, I remembered about it when she said she was going to do it again.  I thought, "I need to do this." I have never been one to memorize Bible verses although now I see the purpose for it as well as the benefits that come with it.  So, I have begun - a few days late, but I have started anyway.  I am excited about what this year holds with this project.  I can't wait to see what God has planned for me, wants me to learn, and wants to write on my heart.  If you think you might be interested, check out this post, and join in as we all grow closer to God this year.  My first verse of the year:

"I waited patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me,

 And heard my cry"

Psalm 40:1

What is your favorite verse?

Learning to Trust

In my Bible study this morning, I was reading Psalm 40. 

"I waited patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me,

 And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Our of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps."

verses 1-2 (NKJV)

This spoke to me because I have felt like I have been in a pit for the past two years. Some who have been around me might think I have handled things pretty well, and I have tried to put on a good face. I have also tried everything in MY power to get out of the pit, but I am still in it.  I have taken on job after job to make up for what was taken away from us.  No matter what I have done, nothing has helped. I am tired, cranky, whiny, worn out and sick of it all.  That is why I was slapped in the face with this verse.  I have not been waiting patiently.  I have not even REALLY cried out to the Lord.  I mean, I have, but not really.  What does this verse teach me?  It is not about ME!!!  Isn't that what I tell my kids? I have to turn my selfish, self reliant person over and put my trust in God.  That means crying out to HIM when I want to cry into my pillow.  That means waiting for HIM to provide when I was to rush out and take care of things myself.  That means waiting on HIM and knowing He will take care of me on HIS time.  I don't know when that time is, but I know what will happen when it arrives - He will lift me up!  He will set me on the rock. He will continue to guide my steps.  It's not about me and what I do. It is about Him and the amazing powers He has to do what He sees fit for my life.  Until then, I wait, and I don't like waiting.  However, I will wait.  I will cry out.  I will remind myself COUNTLESS times that He has a grand plan for me according to His time and purpose. 

The Bible study ended with 2 Corinthians 2:14:

"Now thanks be to GOD who always leads us in triumph

in Christ, and through us diffuses

the fragrance of HIS knowledge in every place."

This is what I have to look forward to - God will LEAD me in triumph.  Just as the Roman general led his army in a victory procession.  God will lead me in a victory procession, and that's not all.  He is going to use ME - to diffuse HIM everywhere I go.  Again, when a Roman general would lead his army, they would carry vials filled with sweet smelling fragrances that would follow the general.  I will be stronger coming out of this.  I will be better coming out of this, and I will be used for HIS glory when I get out of that pit.  But until then . .

I will wait.