A Woman's Heart Bible Study! Week 3: Prepared Hearts!

Week three!  You are awesome!  Keep it up!  (I know this post is late but things have been a little crazy around our house this past week! ) 


Day1: The Freewill Offerings


Today's Treasure: Exodus 36:3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.


Today we study the special instructions that God gives Moses for the tabernacle Read it here in Exodus 24-25  


God manifested His Glory before them by providing for them.  He gave when they praised Him.  He gave when they murmured. He even gave them the constant request of their hearts at the risk of leanness to their souls.  God gave not because of their faithfulness but because of His faithfulness.  


I believe the Israelite's knew the direct correlation between their willingness to prepare for God's presence and His desire to make evident His presence personally.  How often we expect big things from God without preparing for big things from Him! 


The motivation for an earnest freewill offering is the joy of giving.

Day2: Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones

Today's Treasure: 1 Corinthians 3:12-1 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 


Precious Stones, or jewels , appear to represent  God's saints--His Treasured possession, His Children--Complete with the gifts of the Holy Spirit!  


Today we had to list the ways we spent our energy in a typical week!  Then go back to that list and circle the tasks/activities that will stand the test of the fire.  The more i wrote the more I realized that I spend entirely too much energy on things that aren't eternal! 


1 Peter 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.


You are looking at a classic freewill offering.  No one can make you surrender your sufferings to God.  Only you can decide how your fires will affect you.  Will you be sanctified or scarred?  
Listen as He says to you: "My precious child, I bore My scares so that you would not have to !"  He has suffered enough for both of you.  


Day 3: The Colors of Love

Today's Treasure: 2 Corinthians 5:21  God made him who had no sin to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.


Ephesians 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your mind.  Are you storing anything of the old self in the new mind?  We are new creatures in Christ; but if we still think like the old creature, we will find it impossible to personify the new.  Most of our wars are fought on the battlefield of the mind.  

Day 4: A Worker Unashamed


Today's Treasure: Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”


You and I are not leaders, kings, and prophets over God's chosen Israel.  We are laborers just like Bezalel.  Names were very important to the Hebrew people, often expressing character and destiny.  The name Bezalel means in the shadow of God.  He was not taking a power hike or craving recognition.  He was happy to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.  God's name was enough for him.  God wants wiling laborers! 


Bezalel's job was out of his league.  God purposely assigned a task beyond Bezalel's capabilities so that He (God) could  fill him with His Power.  


God places us in positions beyond our capabilities so that we will be at His absolute mercy, realizing that only He can succeed.  




Day 5:  Waiting on the Lord

Today's Treasure:  Ezekiel 22:30  “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. 

Although Moses was out of sight, God was not.  He revealed Himself daily through manna.  Yet they still wanted/needed something tangible to worship.  (I really just want to shake the Israelites) 


How Typical of satan to steal the riches God has given us, melt them into golden calves, and beckon us to worship them.  God had other plans for those riches!  Divine plans!  Eternal Plans! As we so often do, the Israelites yielded to the temptation to worship the gifts instead of the Giver.  


A stiff neck hinders our looking far to the right or left and makes looking up nearly impossible.  Have you ever had a spiritual stiff neck and refused to look up?  

Wow! What a week! Girls I am praying for you!  

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina

A Women's Heart Bible Study! Week 2: New Starts and Barren Hearts

We have completed two weeks I knew you could do it! My prayers for you all this week will be again to have uninterrupted time to dig in and gleam as much as you can from this weeks study!  Praying that God will speak to you through the scripture you read and that you can see it in a new light!




Day 1: A Glimpse of the Wilderness
Today's Treasure: Exodus 14:14 The Lord will Fight for you, you need only be still.  


Our Own inefficiencies are only  invitations to experience the supernatural sufficiency of a universally powerful, personally responsible God!
Our Faithfulness, or lack of it, will have ans overwhelming impact on the heritage of our children.  
because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail Lamentations 3:22
Revel in a God  whose business is to come between  you and your enemies!


Psalm 139:1-6   v. 5 says, "you hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me." He goes before  us, follows behind us, and hems us safely inside the realm of His protection.


Isn't it after the lights go out that the cares of this world seem most overwhelming? Have you ever found it far easier to be strong and full of faith in the clamor of the day than in the quiet of the night? Doesn't the enemy seem closer?    The same God who made His presence known to the Israelites in their wilderness 
is just as Jehovah-Shamma, "the Lord is present", in ours!


Day 2: The Bittersweetness of Marah


Today's  Treasure: Exodus 15:27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.


On a tree at Calvary were cast the bitter waters of  all time.  Through the death of the One who bore them, the waters were made sweet.  Only when we invite the One who hung on that tree to be plunged into our hearts can we begin to know the refreshment of sweet water.
1 Peter 2:24


Bitterness is a spiritual cancer, a rapidly-growing malignancy that can consume your life.  After it consumes the soul , it begins to eat away at the body.  It is so contagious that we can pass it to our children, who are often oblivious to the source of their bitterness.  No amount of distractions or busywork-not even church work-can treat this spiritual disease.


Day 3: The Trouble with old appetites
Today's Treasure:  Exodus 16:4  Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you.  The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.  In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. "


Often our character is at greater risk in prosperity than in adversity.


When was the last time you fell on your face before Him and wept over the unfathomable fact that  He has chosen to take up residence in your very being?
Do you go to church on Sundays and work tirelessly for your church because it's what you have always done; yet secretly you have lost your fire?  Do you serve through boredom or for some future reward? Or do you  still expect to learn something new form your encounters with God?


If your heart has grown cold, it is because you have moved away from the fire of His presence, He wants your heart back home.  Cry our with the Psalmist,  Restore unto me the joy of thy  salvation (Psalm 51:12 KJV)  He will rekindle your heart if you let Him!


This verse was one of two from this weeks study that really spoke to me!


How often do we stomp our feet at God after He has delivered  us from the things of this world and say: "I want some of it back"? He would give us manna from heaven, but we demand to eat from the world's table too.  The Isrealites wanted both the riches of God and the perks of Egypt.


Day 4:  Glorious Morning


Today's Treasure:  Exodus 16: 6-7 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites , "in the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the Glory of the Lord, because He has heard your grumbling against Him.  Who are we, that you should grumble against us? 


Isn't it interesting that God let the Israelites see His glory through a small, almost indistinct object? (Manna) How very much like Him!


How deeply our Provider wants us to recognize  that He is our provision.  Our lives could never be sustained on a once-a-week meal, yet we often expect a hearty  Sunday serving to be enough to sustain spiritual growth.


Mark 6:34 Tell us not to worry about tomorrow


We need not worry about tomorrow.  All we need to know is that God is sufficient for today.


Lamentation 3:22-23 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. ²³ They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.


I finally understood the nature of God's mercy and grace.  They are always there, available  every day, prior to our need, and in direct proportion to every moment's demand; but we must gather them.  That part is completely our responsibility.  


Only God's  provision can satisfy a starving soul. 


God desires to teach you  His incomparable sufficiency.  Will you accept His provisions?  They are right outside your tent.  


Day 5: Clothes that Last


Today's Treasure: Isaiah 61:10   I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my  God.   For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns His head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  




God was training His people to depend totally on Him in every area of their lives.  


God revealed Himself to His children through His constant care and provision.  He still does.  


Too much it seems for me, You've done
That thieves and liars like me be won,
To stand adorned in righteousness,
Blood bathed from sin's own wretchedness.
Your royal robes You laid aside
That You might dress Your blessed bride,
A gift too precious to ignore!
Let me not rest till you're adored! 


Have a Beautiful Week! 
Know you are prayed for!


May you feel and know that God is with you pursuing you!  That His grace is enough.  He is ready and waiting you just have to step outside your tent!


Christina

A Women's Heart Bible Study! Week 1: Broken Hearts Broken Ties

What an incredible Week! My prayer for you this week was that you had uninterrupted time, and that your mind was opened to hear, and understand the scriptures you've studied this week!  Now many of you know that I have professed (maybe too much) that Beth Moore is not my favorite Bible Study Teacher, I do have to say that this Study at this time is really beginning to change my mind about Beth Moore's teaching! I have so enjoyed digging into scripture and learning new truths from scripture.  It's my hope that this will be the same for you! I thought I would pull a few things from each day that really spoke to me or stood out to me! Let me know what you think by commenting below! 

Day 1: An Empty Garden 

Today's Treasure: Exodus 25:22 There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.  

Through Christ God has given us the incomparable ministry of reconciliation.  

We read in Genesis 1:26-3:24 about Adam and Eve and why we needed the reconciliation.

Tony Evans (Pastor Oak Cliff Bible Church) says this about the events in Genesis 3 "It wasn't the apple in the tree that was the problem. It was the pear (pair) on the ground." 

Genesis 3:8-9   Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

I think of all the things I read in Day one this stood out to me the most!  God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden (regularly).  Can you even begin to imagine what that would be like to have God physically beside you, pursuing you.  It blows my mind to even try to grasp that.  God called out to them "Where are you?"  HE still does that today for us!  God seeks us out, pursue's us.  I Believe God appoints our journey's through His Word to correspond with our current life  season.   God is asking "where are you", the great thing about this is He knows and loves you enough not to leave you alone in whatever season you are in! 

Day 2: A Perfect Heart
Today's Treasure: 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.


Who am I? Why am I here? Have you ever wondered these things?  (I have many times in my life) 


Revelation 4:11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.
Isaiah 43:7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”


You are God's chief creation and you are here for His pleasure and His glory.  He created you because He delights in you! We were created to be God's abundance-estimations of His value.  
We are His treasure! 


Adam and Eve had everything and yet they still sinned.  Sometimes I think we blame our circumstances for our sin.  They had had everything perfect and still sinned.  Sin is not a product of haves and have-nots.  It is a product of the heart.  Hearts easily buy into Satan's lies.  Your heart often lies to you, just as mine does me.  For this reason, God exhorts us continually throughout His Word to give Him our whole heart.  We might occasionally be able to change our circumstances but only God can change our hearts.  


We must choose each day whom we will serve! 

Day 3: A People for His Name


Today's Treasure: Isaiah 46:9-11 
We begin day three with God commanding Noah to be fruitful and increase in numbers, and fill the earth (Genesis 9:1).  When we read a little further into Genesis (11:1-5) we see that the people did multiply and tried building a name for themselves and began to build a tower.  Why we as a human race do this baffles me.  Yet we do, try to make it our will and not necessarily God's. Isn't it far easier to cooperate with God.  We can be part of Hid program or part of the problem. As we read in today's treasure God's will, will be accomplished.  


God promised Noah he would never destroy the earth and all the people on it with flooding and He had held true to that.  


In Day 3 we learn that all people are decedents of one of Noah's three sons.  
Shem, Ham, or Jepeth .   Abraham is a decedent of Shem.  
Genesis 12:1-9   tells us the call of Abraham.  Have you ever noticed that God's call on our lives (like Abraham) often requires us to leave our comfort zone.  
 Genesis 12:1 God told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you.  


Colossians 4:17 Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it




Day 4: The Original Love Story
Today's Treasure: Genesis 22:2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”


Throughout God's  Word He progressively sheds light on the gospel revealed to Abraham. The test God  gave Abram in Genesis 22 is the Old Testament's most vivid portrayal of the avenue of  blessings.  


I love Abraham's response when Isaac asked, "where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" He answered "God will provide himself a lamb" (Genesis 22:8) To think how much faith Abraham had to have to believe what he was saying to Isaac.  It makes me wonder what God shared with him prior to going out.  


The very heart of the gospel is realizing that God did not simply provide a sacrifice for us but instead of us!  That is the good news.  There is only one way to receive it after we have  understood it-with profound humility and gratitude. Maybe even on our knees.  

Day 5: On the Move
Today's Treasure: The put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor... but the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread Exodus 1:11-12


Romans 4:20-22 says "Abraham did not waiver in unbelief at God's promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God because he was fully convinced  that what He had promised He was also able to perform.  Therefore it was credited to him for righteousness.  


Take this truth: In what ever your circumstances, your challenges, your doubts, or your pain, if you are in a covenant relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, the King of the universe is you Is-ing One and He's presently is-ing in every area of your life.  


Do you realize the price humanity paid for a taste of forbidden fruit?  God created us to enjoy His fellowship.  He walked in our first parents' midst, spoke aloud to them, communed with them, and came down to dwell among them.  But as a result of disobedience the masses would not experience the glory of God's presence.  Only a few would ascend this holy mountain and truly approach Hid Holiness.  
 We will not fully grasp this until we are at the feet of Jesus.  

What a week!  I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have!  Praying for you this week, to have directed uninterrupted time with God.  

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina

Breaking Bad Habits

Thought this was appropriate for the new year as many of us are thinking about resolutions! 


Breaking Bad Habits 
 
You can break up with your bad habits just like you can break up with a bad boyfriend or girlfriend. Bad relationships are one of the hardest habits to break, but if we choose to end them, we can spare ourselves a lot of trouble and pain. Let me explain.

For years and years, I had a habit of getting upset every time I didn't get my way. Maybe that's not your bad habit. Maybe you gossip or cuss or drink too much coffee or watch too much TV or spend money on things you don't need. Whatever your bad habit is, you can break it.

I'm not going to say that breaking a bad habit is easy, but it's God's desire for us to take authority over our bad habits. He doesn't want us to be "bossed around" by our emotions, He wants us to have victory.

Breaking a bad habit requires making a series of good choices, one after the other. Most of us will try to do that on our own without the help of the Holy Spirit. But eventually we figure out that we can't please God without God helping us. 

The Amplified Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as our "standby." He's always standing by in case you get into trouble and need a little help. But He won't just show up uninvited. You have to ask Him for help.

Romans 12:21 says we "overcome (master) evil with good." That's one of the biggest secrets in the Word of God. It's a lot easier to make the right choice when you're focusing on God and your victory instead of the fear of failure. 

Make the choice today to walk in the Spirit to overcome bad habits and live in victory!

Prayer Starter: God, I'm done living with my bad habits. I make a choice now to take the authority You've given me over temptations that want to boss me around. I will follow Your Holy Spirit into new and better life habits


Romans 12:21  Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.


Have a Beautiful Day!
Christina