Experiencing God (Week 3 Review & Session 4 Viewer Guide)

Week Three: Experiencing God

Every wilderness season increases the likelihood that we'll see God's supernatural power working for our good. 

Expect the Unexpected!  God leads us to places where His power shows up in new and astonishing ways. 
When God allows you to face a "Red Sea," don't become discouraged.  Don't whine and question the Lord's ability.  Expect that God is  positioning you to see Him work in your life in a unique and unusual way.

God's goal for our journey is that we not only see the miracle of His deliverance at our Red Seas but that we experience the miracle of His provision beyond them.  The Lord wants us to thirst not after a quick fix to our problems but after the life-altering refreshment of Hid provision.  Psalm 63:1

Scripture is clear that God hears and  responds to the cries of His people.

2 Samuel 22:7 (The Message)

7 A hostile world! I called to God,

to my God I cried out.

From his palace he heard me call;

my cry brought me right into his presence—

a private audience!

When you find in yourself a gnawing hunger that you can't fill with any relationship, success or earthly resources, know that God is leading you to an opportunity to know Him as your Sustainer.  God allows hunger so that you can  know the satisfaction of a full spiritual tank.   Matthew 5:6 says: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

They (the Isrealites) (us) became blind  to what God was doing in the now.  Isreal's faith in God and view of their journey grew distorted, so they ignored truth about God's love and faithfulness. 

We should refocus our attention on what He has accomplished and is accomplishing.  We must force ourselves to recall the promises He has made, proactively claiming those promises reguardless of our feeling.  Philippians 4:8 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

The wilderness is a blessing meant to help us see God more fully and completely, to help us to love Himmore wholeheartedly, and to show us the importance of committing to Him above all else.  
Salvation delivers you out of Egypt, but the wilderness is designed to work Egypt out of you and replace the prominence of its influence in your life.  We must trust that God will choose to work in a way that both brings Him glory and serves His purposes for our lives.  In the midst of our pain God makes a way for us to see and experience His greatness. 

Our Wilderness Prayer:  Lord this is what I desire.  Please do it or something better.

Session 4 Viewer Guide:
That what is frustratining you now. will be your greatest joy, on your way home.

It wasn't a mistake or an accident.  God wanted the wilderness to be a part of their story.  Exodus 13:17-18

We have a God who lives, who we can have a passionate, intimate relationship with Him.  Hosea 2:14-17,19,23 

The wilderness reveals to us :

1.  The Passion of God

Hosea 2:14

2.  The Power of God

Romans 8:18

3.  The Purpose of God

The same God who was willing to  pay a price for His beloved people in the Old Testament is the same God who loved us so much.  He was willing to pay a great high price in the New Testament.

Want to know more about Brian "head" Welch of Korn? Click on his name or watch  him share his testimony here: I am Second .  

Wow!  What a story. May you feel God's Blessings this week!

Welcome to the Wilderness (Week 2 Review) & (Week 3 Session Guide)

Week Two: The Wilderness

The Lord often chooses a wilderness experience for us because His goal is to make us more dependent on Him. 

    The Isrealites, didn't get lost and get stuck in the wilderness, their GPS didn't malfunction.  God led them there, directing their steps according to His divine plan.  He wants to do that for us, as well. 

1 Peter 1:6-7 says "You may have had to suffer greif in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith --of greater worht than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proven genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor."   

We (I) often don't understand why the wilderness is so important (until we are through it).  Thankfully, God always listens to our questions, even though sometimes He dosen't respond to them in the way we'd like. Instead, He cups our faces tenderly in His hands and whispers, "Follow me."   

Isaiah 55:8 "For my Thoughts are not your thoughts. Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord.  God wants to take us on the paths that fosters a deeper relationship with Him.  He wants us to lay aside our determination to do life our way and follow Him.   The wilderness fosters humility and strengthens our commitment to obedience.  In His grace and love for His feeble children, the Lord showed His presence so that they could be certain He was with them on the journey.  He still wants to make Himself fully known to us and does so by working through what He has created. 

God Loves you and has not forgotten you. And He will never lead you into a place that will not work toward accomplishing  His purpose for you.  

What are some verses that bring you comfort?  Here are some our favorite scriptures that bring us comfort:

Habakkuk 3:18-19  Romans 8:26-28  Deuteronomy 31:8 Isaiah 40:31 Isaiah 45:2-3 2 Peter 1:3-11

Week 3  (Experiencing God)

God is predictable in HIs character, but He is completely unpredictable in His activity. 

We are to:

BE FEARLESS 

 Philippians 4:6-7

BE STILL

Psalm 46:10

BE  WATCHFUL 

 (Open your eyes)

BE SILENT 

 (Be Quiet!)

The Isrealistes trusted God for their deliverence, but not their circumstances and that is evident in Exodus 14 as soon as they began to face a struggle they complained, they were afraid, and they wanted to turn back.  What they couldn't see was the the things that concerned them also concerned God. 

Abundant life, promised land living is not for tomorrow-- it is for today--watch for it.

Take delibert pauses and be aware of  God's activity in your life.  (He is active, Just ask Him to show you)

Praying you all will have an Amazing Week, Experiencing God!

Christina

One in a MIllion (Week One Review) & (Week Two)

Week One (Deliverance):



The Curse of Sin enslaves our souls; it is a lock and chain that keeps us from finding freedom. It guarantees every human a life of separation from God. But God Our God tells us in: Psalm 100:3 (NIV) Know that the LORD is God. It is he, who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. But, until we deal with the shackle of sin, we cannot cross the boundaries that keep us from experiencing an abundant relationship with God. Galatians 5:1 (MSG) 1 Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.


We have the ability (through Christ) to be free from the shackle of sin we have to choose it!


I don’t know about you, but I am not sure that I will be able to look at an Elephant again with out thinking about how we, like them are allowing ourselves to be shackled to something (SIN) that with Christ we are free from, we just have to move!


In days 3 and 4 of Week one Priscilla writes that: to accept God's call to journey onward means some things must also be left behind, even the things that tempt us to return to old ways. For the Israelites it was the food they had become accustomed to. They couldn't see that God's provision of Manna was to cleanse their palate and to show them what life with him would be like. God gave this meal as a gift to His people, not only to sustain them in their journey but also to wean the Hebrews off their accustomed tastes. He wanted them to be free from all that was Egypt in their lives. But in the end only two could do it.


Day 5: God's Work in us thus far isn't a box into which He will fit, but a slab upon which He will build. We must be willing to move out of our comfort zones and church routines if we are to break through to the abundant life Christ offers. Make this your prayer: Psalm 25:4-5 4 Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways. 5 Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren't you?


Week Two (Development):


I am excited for week two, God is going to show us how the desert places in our lives, the wilderness places (you know the ones, where you feel all alone, or abandon by God) are for our growth, to develop us into what we were created for. God purposely chose the wilderness for the people of Israel. *There are some things we don't know about ourselves until we are put in a position where we have to see God's power operating through us. God wants to develop us, and He uses the wilderness to do it. We have to choose to follow Him through the wilderness and trust that He will provide, or sit on the side whining and not receive the glory of His blessings. Job 4:25 I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees you. God wants us to see! You can't see the miracles unless there is an impossible situation you can't figure out for yourself.

Welcome to the Wilderness!

Hope you enjoy and are challenged by this weeks reading. Let us know what's on your mind.

(Leave a comment)

Have a Beautiful Day!


Christina

Week One: One in a Million

Yesterday was the first meeting(s) for the new women's study One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer What did you think? Didn't you just love it? Well I did, I really like Priscilla Shirer studies. Ok so Thursday's after both groups have had a chance to meet, I thought it would be fun to post some interesting things that came out of the study. Now I know that I will be in the morning study but feel free to let me know if something sticks out to you night study ladies (I will try to connect with some of you prior to leaving Wednesday night). So these are things that really came alive for me, feel free to add an comments or e-mail me and I will post your things here if you like!

~*~ It's time for the Pew to reach the Pavement!~*~
What does that mean to you? For me it really confirms that it's time to get up (stop hiding) and get out there and be open to where and with what God wants to do in my life. I need to stop hiding behind the pew and hit the pavement that's where the real work can begin, in me and for others!


~*~Have you Submitted to the Grace of God?~*~

This statement really hit me and made me really look deep at what it means to submit. So Dictionary.com says
sub⋅mit  /səbˈmɪt/ [suhb-mit] –verb (used with object) 1. to give over or yield to the power or authority of another (often used reflexively).
2. to subject to some kind of treatment or influence.
3. to present for the approval, consideration, or decision of another or others: to submit a plan; to submit an application.
4. to state or urge with deference; suggest or propose (usually fol. by a clause): I submit that full proof should be required.

To subject to some kind of treatment, such as God's Grace.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
God justified us without any cause or reason. It kinda leaves me speechless, and also wanting to find out more.

~*~Each of us must decide if we want to go where God is leading~*~

We have to choose to go, the Egyptians were released by Pharaoh but they had to choose to stay or leave. (Thanks Cindy) They could have just stayed there and Continued to do what they always did, and get what they always got.

Like we have heard a lot of lately: ~*~ You can't do what you've always done and expect different results~*~ or if you always do what you always done you will always get what you always got.

A few ladies in the morning study shared their life verses and so meditate on these this week or find one for yourself.
Priscilla's Life verse:
Galatians 5:1 1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Others:
Exodus 14:13 "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today
Isaiah 43:18-19Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.


Two Questions to Ponder this week:
1. Have you been freed from the person of the Enemy in your life?

2. Have you been freed from the places where the Enemy reigns?

Hope you all have a great week, and will dig into God's word this week! My prayer is that your Shackels will be released (So you can dance!)
Love ya
Christina

One in Million Bible Study

Calling all FBC Women: Hi Ladies! Please join us for One in a Million, a Bible study that will challenge you to conquer your wilderness living and teach you what it means to live free in Jesus Christ. This new 7-week study from Priscilla Shirer is a one-in-a-million opportunity to fully engage in the abundant inheritance God has waiting for those who are willing to follow Him into the promised land. Be prepared to dig into God's Word and gain prayer support from the women who will be walking beside you in this journey. We hope you have a great time of Bible study and fellowship in the weeks to come! Starting this week Wednesday January 6th The New Study One in a Million by Pricilla Shrier This study will be on Wednesday's 9am and at 6:30 p.m. Please Let Vicki Bowman if you are planning on attending. Hope to see you there!

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina