Week 27

O.K. here's the new verse.  Sorry to be a slacker, but I am so glad to hear that you have been faithful when I have not.  Thanks for keeping me accountable!

James 1:2-3

Consider it a great joy, my brother, whenever you experience various trials.  Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 

Week 26

In my personal study, I have begun to study the book of James.  I am using a method of study that I recently learned at a Going Beyond conference and slowly moving through the book a few verses at a time.  So, that being said, I am still in the first few verses of chapter 1.  In James, the Bible says that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God and He will give it to us.  The only thing we have to do is have faith and not doubt.  James says that if we doubt, we should not expect to receive what we have asked because we are as a wave tossing to and fro.  The verses for this week go hand in hand with these from James.  I John 5:14 - 15 tells us that we can be confident that God hears our prayers and will answer them.  We only need to have faith, believe, and ask according to His will.

I John 5:14-15
Now this is the confidence we have before Him:  whenever we ask anything according to His will, he hears us.  And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.

Week 25

Is the Bible relevant for my life today?  That is a question that is frequently asked by people today.  How can a book that was written thousands of years ago apply to me today?  The verse that we will learn this week answers this question.  The Word of God is relevant today because it is living and active.  It is the voice of God still speaking to us from the pages of scriptures. How awesome that we serve a living God who loves us and still wants to commune with us through His wonderful Word.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as to divide soul, spirit, joints, and marrow; it is a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

Week 23

Well, it has been two eventful weeks since last I posted.  During that time, I have been to GA Camp with Abigail, and then to the mountains for a week of vacation with the family.  We have had a lot of fun, but I am exhausted!  Now I am trying to get back into the swing of things before school starts up again in just a couple of weeks. On one hand, I am looking forward to the routine that comes with starting back to school, but I have enjoyed the summer and the fun I have had with them, even if I have been a little crazy at times. The verses we are learning this week come from Deuteronomy and they speak of having God's Word in your heart and passing it down to your children.  You know, as a mom, there are many things that I want for my children.  But the greatest thing that I could ever give to them and they could ever learn in this life is to love the Lord with all of their hearts, love His Word, and serve Him each and every day of their lives.  In the end, nothing else will matter.  Not all of the things we felt were soooo important at the time.  No, my biggest hope and prayer for my children is that they will grow into Godly men and women who love the Lord with all of their hearts and live their lives to serve Him.  This will not happen by accident.  It will take guidance, patience, and much prayer.  And as a parent, I have the awesome responsibility to talk to them about the Lord at all times, pointing them to Him and the truth of His Word.  Yet, I cannot effectively teach them these principles, if I do not have them in my heart.  This week, I am determined to diligently begin again planting seeds of truth in my own heart that can them be passed down and planted into the hearts of my children.  I hope you will do the same.

Deut. 6:6-7
These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children.  Talk about them when you sit in you house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Week 22

This week I want us to begin learning verses from a section in Morgan's book entitled, Listening:  The Word of God and Prayer.  Maybe this section caught my attention because school had been out for a few weeks now and I find myself constantly saying, "Listen!"  I get so frustrated with my children who never seem to listen to what I am saying to them. At least they never hear it the first time I say it.  After about five times and many threats later, they finally hearken unto my voice and grudgingly give in to my request.  Wow, I wonder where they get these traits.  I am sure that I never acted like that as a child, must be from their dad's side. Then I realize, I still exhibit much of the same behavior when it comes to listening to the voice of my Heavenly Father.  Why is it that I never seem to listen and obey the first time I am ask?  Why do I insist on ignoring His Word and His commands until it is convenient for me?  So for the next few weeks, we will learn verses that will help us to remember why it is important for us the listen and obey the Word of God.  And remember, if we never read the Word, it is difficult to hear it clearly.

2 Timothy 3 :16
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.

Psalm 119:11
I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.

Weeek 21

This week let's finish up the verses we began last week and continue to look for opportunities to share the good news of Christ everywhere we go.  Remember the secret is at the end of verse 20, he is always with us.  He will give us the strength that we need along the the words to say if only we are willing.

Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Week 21

I love VBS!  Last week was a wonderful week of Vacation Bible School at FBCZ.  We had the opportunity to share the gospel with upwards of 250 children each day and the joy of seeing some of them come to accept Jesus as their Savior.  I was so touched to see their eyes light up as they realized a new truth from God's Word.  But, I was also convicted to see the concern on some of their faces as they realized perhaps for the first time, that if their family members and friends do not hear about and accept Jesus, they will spend an eternity separated from Him.  This gives me an entirely new prospective on the Great Commission.  The hour is nearing, the signs are clear, we have a message to share and an urgency with which to share it.  As we focus on Jesus' last command to us, let's take it seriously and tell someone about Him this week.

Matthew 28:18-19
Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.