BRAVE! Week 2: Thorns Summary

Thorns nobody likes them, however I have come to acknowledge that I can not grow closer to God if I am constantly holding on to this thorn trying to "fix" it myself.  



Day 1:  The Pain of a Thorn


The problem with thorns is that they can hide unseen, and no one wants to feel the jab of their pain. 

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

 ⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Day 2: The Barbs of a Thorn


~Cannot be removed by your own Power~

2 Corinthians 12:8 Three times I begged the Lord to take it away.

~The originator of the thorn is satan~

2 Corinthians 12:7  Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

~A Thorn torments the soul with pain and doubt~
KNOW THIS: God may allow a thorn, but scripture teaches us  that what Satan means for evil, God can use for good.  (Genesis 5:20)


Day 3: The Barbs of a Thorn (Part 2)
~A thorn leaves discouragement into your heart~

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Philippians 4:6-7

 ⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus

1 Peter 5:7

⁷ Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

~The Piercing of a thorn produces weakness~

2 Corinthians 12:9

⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

~God decides when to remove a thorn~

Day 4: Humility

Philippians 4:12-13

¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less!

Accepting our thorns leads us toward true humility

Day 5: Sufficient Grace

Maybe the ability to accomplish  God's tasks does not rely on our adequacy or even our comfort but in God's ability to perfect His power in our weakness

Ladies It's my prayer that your will embrace your thorns even when they feel like their is no relief in sight.  And that God's Grace will be enough!

Have a Beautiful Day! 

Christina

BRAVE! Week 2: Thorns

Ok Ladies this week we are talking about the thorns in our life. I have lived with a thorn for several years with no relief in site but I find encouragement in God's word. This song also brings me encouragement to know that eventhough I have this one particular thorn God's got a good handle on it! I am not alone! Even though its been a rough road I know God is with me! I'll be back later to summarize the week! Know God Loves you! He hasn't allowed the thorn to punish you, but to grow you closer to Him!

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina

BRAVE Week 1: Worn Out Summary

Ladies I hope you are enjoying this weeks study as much as I am! Boy did week one speak directly to me.  I am exhausted, worn out, tired!  But I have hope, and a reassurance, that God will give me a rest! 

Day One: I am not Superwoman!  I can not do it all! <3 

~The truth of our humanity is that no superwoman exist on this earth~

~Facing my limitations and weakness forces me to do a few things.  First, I have to put my faith in God. 

 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus Philippians 4:19

Day Two: We will all become tired in some way, in some season. No one is exempt!

~God knows that good work makes a good woman good and tired.  

She has wearied herself with toil. Ezekiel 24:12

It is so easy to let our perspective slide. Lord knows, we just flat-out forget.  Before we realize it, our heart has fallen into anxiousness, our work has become anxious, and our focus has turned from God.  We are just exhausted.

Day Three: We need a rest only God can give.

~Where do you go  with your weary?  Where do you turn when you're tired? 

Many of us are doing great worldly things to care for ourselves and yet not living with an inside strength to counter our soul weariness.  What's a woman who loves God supposed to do?  ~TURN TO GOD FIRST!~

Isaiah 40:28-31

²⁸ Do you not know? 

   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom. ²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak. ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall; ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

A hope firmly centered on the Lord renews our strength.  

Day Four:  A Brave Woman receives God's gifts for her weariness .

~Your creator gets you.  He understands your crazy life.

~God's compassion towards us is not consistent and faithful but it is unfailing.  With out interruption. Steady. Reliable. Promised and Sure.  

1.  The presence of God restores

Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

2. Many times we experience A Divine Wait before refreshment

We wait in hope for the Lord.  Psalm 33:20

Sometimes He desires that we wait in His presence  until we receive His refreshment, we wait for strength, guidance, and healing

3.  The sabbath rest is God's gift to us

To observe the sabbath we should worship the Lord and rest from our work.

What will you do to observe a time of sabbath?

4.Jesus did not heal everyone or go to every town

I can't do everything! 

(I want to shout this from the mountains!) 

God is calling me to go only as He guides.  

Day Five: God has made a way for us!

5.  Jesus required physical, mental, and emotional rest.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.   1 Corinthians 11:1

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. Mark 6:31

6.   Repentance leads to refreshing

~Being cleansed of our sin gives refreshment to our weary souls over and over all throughout our journey.

7. If you walk in the good way, your soul will rest

-Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.  Jeremiah 6:16

~ I want all the rest that a good life will bring.

8.  Godly friends refresh your soul

Do you have a soul-refreshing friend?  I sure hope so!  I have a few and I thank God for them! 

I am praying for you, that if you are weary, worn out, that you will find rest in God! 

Have a Beautiful Day!

Christina

P.S.  It's not to late to join us!  Monday we will discuss week one, watch the video and pick our next weeks topic!  Hope to see you there!

Brave: Week 1! Worn Out!

Are you Worn Out? 

 Thought You might like this Video from Angela Thomas. 

 Check back tomorrow for an overview of the first weeks study! 

 How do you complete this sentence?

 I am Worn Out because.....

 

Brave Bible Study! Coming Soon!

Join us as we begin a new bible study called Brave by Angela Thomas.  We will meet on Monday Nights @ 7 p.m. beginning Monday September 12th.  Check out the Facebook event page.  


 This Bible study for women looks at the heart of what women are thinking and feeling. Angela speaks to participants about deep feelings that all women have at one time or another. She looks boldly at some of the fears and struggles of being a woman, and she helps us see how we can be brave in the face of those challenges.
Common Struggles:

I am worn out.
I am suffering with a thorn.
I am undisciplined.
I am trembling inside.
I am invisible.I am broken.

Check out this Video: 

Life Condensed!

Read 2 Kings 22: 1-20

Condensed Milk, Condensed Soup, Condensed Books. We like all sorts of things that are condensed, consolidated, compressed, abridged or abbreviated.  Make it short. make it quick. Whatever saves time. Whatever gets to the bottom line. The condensed version of King Josiah's life is found in a single sentence.  Thirty-one words in one verse sum up the essence of his entire life: He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or the left."  Amazing! Concise! Josiah walked the path of righteousness with out swerving.

Josiah became King at age 8 (3rd grade!) and reigned until his death at 39.  His father and grandfather both reigned over Judah before him.  Both did "evil in the eyes of the Lord" (2 Kings 21:20).  Despite his evil legacy, Josiah turned his heart toward God.  And although Judah, the nation he ruled had turned to worship false gods, Josiah did not waver in his allegiance to the one true God.  No other king before or after him stayed on course like Josiah.

If you life were condensed into a short synopsis-one brief sentence-what would be said of you?  How our lives are summarized depends on the choices we make each day.  We have the tendency to become distracted with the cares and responsibilities of life.  Laundry piles up.  Bills need to be paid.  Children get sick.  As we care for our families and do our work, it's easy to become sidetracked form our primary purpose: pleasing God.  It is easier to give lip service to spiritual things than to stay on the course, keeping in step with the Spirit. ( See Galatians 5:25).
How will you be remembered? Eventually someone will write your obituary or eulogy.  Your life will be abridged into a few brief sentences and paragraphs.  What will be said of you? More important, how will God summarize your life?
Let it be said of you " ________(fill in your name) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the way of truth, not turning aside to the right or to the left."

Some related reading:
Want to read more about Josiah?  Check out 2 Kings 23:8-25.
Psalm 26:1-3  Isaiah 30:19-26  Galatians 5:25

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When I read this devotion this week it one reminded me of Pastor Terry's Sermon and two made me think a little.  What will be said of me when I am gone.  Do I do what is pleasing to God?  I hope it will challenge you as it has challenged me!  

Have a Beautiful Day!  

Christina

Because I am Loved

Because I am Loved Lysa TerKeurst

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5: 6-7 (NIV)

My friend, Kathrine Lee, once challenged me with this question: Are you doing this because you are loved or so that you'll be loved?

Her question is a great one.

Doing something "so that we'll be loved" is a trap many of us can get caught in. When I do something because I'm trying to get someone else to notice me, appreciate me, say something to build me up, or respect me more, my motives get skewed.

I become very "me" focused. I put unrealistic expectations on myself and the other person. And I can get stinkin' angry when I don't feel more noticed, appreciated, or respected.

I can get all twisted up and take my frustration out on myself and that person in an unfair way. I typically sabotage my own efforts and bend to discouragement and defeat.

But, doing something because I am loved is incredibly freeing.

I don't view the relationship from the vantage point of what I stand to gain. Instead, I look at what I have the opportunity to give. I am "God focused" and love directed. I keep my expectations in check. And I am able to lavish the grace I know I so desperately need. I live free from regret with clarity of heart, mind, and soul.

So, how do I know if I'm doing things because I'm loved or so that I will be loved? See how easy or hard it is to apply this Scripture:

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (1 Peter 5: 6-10 NIV)

Because I am loved, I can humble myself.

When I'm trying to be loved, I must build myself up to look better.

Because I am loved, I can cast all my anxiety on Him.

When I'm trying to be loved, I cast all my anxiety on my performance.

Because I am loved, I can resist Satan and stand firm in my faith.

When I'm trying to be loved, I listen to Satan and stand uncertain trying to rely on my feelings.

Because I am loved, I know God will use this to make me stronger - and I want that.

When I'm trying to be loved, I don't want to be made stronger - I want life to be easier.

Indeed, I want to pursue life, relationships, and the goals I set from a healthy and free vantage point — because I am loved.

Dear Lord, I don't want my motives to get skewed today. Help me to not be so 'me' focused. I want to live each day knowing that I am loved. Living because I am loved is freeing. I long to stop trying so hard. I know You love me, Lord and that You are making me stronger. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen