Last night we watched the video "Isaiah 9:10 Judgment" by Jonathan Cahn who talks about the judgments prophesied by Isaiah and how he believes they relate to events in America surrounding 9/11. This seemed very fitting after completing "Expecting to See Jesus".
Isaiah 9:10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.” REMINDER: No Bible study next week due to the Memorial Day Holiday. We will reconvene on June 1st where we will begin the 4 sessions (8 hours) of Masada. Barbara asked for personal prayer to help her eat healthy - everyone else agreed they needed the same prayer.
Judi asked for prayer for herself as she processes the changes she has seen in her brother, Bobby's, illness; Because he cannot remember, he feels left out of discussions and often replies "I'm always the last to know". Judi asks for continued prayer for him as he copes with this disease and for Kathy as she lovingly cares for him. Lois lifted up a praise to our Lord that Charlie was able to participate in three outings without the awful flare up of his migraines. They were able to enjoy each other's company and the company of their friends. Praise the Lord! Judi asks for continual prayer for the REC (Residents Encounter Christ) of Orlando - join in on their prayer request for the Woodlawn Baptist Church to turn over their property and buildings to the jail ministry. We need to lift up our precious sister, Anna, as she continues to deal with severe back pain. She is receiving an injection on Tuesday and then will receive another one immediately following to see if they can't provide her with relief. Judi asks for continual prayers for a precious little 4 year old boy, Titus. He and his family have been undergoing extensive medical treatments for his leukemia. This little boy has been such a trooper as he has been poked, prodded, received injections in his spine for chemo and so many other treatments. He spends most of his time in the hospital with an occasional weekend home. Please continue to lift up his Mom and Dad and other family members as they must bear witness to all of his pain. Please Lord - put him in remission and take away his pain. Please let him live the carefree life of a little boy. In Jesus' precious name we ask. Amen Last night we got together and shared our treats with each other as a celebratory time after completing our study "Expecting To See Jesus".
We started off with a wonderful song some of us knew and the rest learned. Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One! Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ His Son! (Repeat) And now let the weak say, “I am strong!” Let the poor say, “I am rich!” Because of what the Lord has done for us! (Repeat) Give thanks! Our prayers requests are included below this post - please remember to include these in your daily prayers. Even though Anna was in pain with her back again, she and her husband came to our room early and decorated it beautifully with shells, fish, mermaids, and other sea creatures ;-) We also found drinks and ice waiting for us! Thank you Anna for your faithful commitment to your role as entertainment coordinator. We are saddened by your pain and sorry you weren't able to stay and enjoy the time with us. The food choices were plentiful from shrimp cocktail, Swedish meatballs, finger sandwiches (tuna or ham), sausages (with mozzarella or spicy), sliced chicken fingers, deviled eggs with okra, red potato salad, nuts and the absolute winner of the night . . . Hibiscus hor d'oeuvres!!! Then, of course, we had dessert . . . the cake pictured above (whipped cream icing covering a marble cake with raspberry filling), brownies with nuts and huge strawberries dipped in chocolate. Jane was able to join in the fun and festivities after she finished working at the book fair at her school. We are sorry you and Anna are not in our pictures ;-( We had a great time chatting and spent a LOT OF TIME LAUGHING!!! The "Women Journeying Through The Bible" really know how to enjoy themselves!!! Next week we start at 6p.m. again and will watch Isaiah 9:10. BYOPSD's!!! (BRING your own popcorn / snacks / drinks) - whatever you would like! Thank you Ladies for making this study another time of deepening our love and relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for the questions asked, the knowledge shared, the testimonies given, the requests for prayer. Each night we spent together enriched all of us. I look forward to continuing our journey together. Eucharisteo!!! I am thankful for each and every one of you. JUDI is praising God because of how well the visit with her brother and other family is going. It has been an answer to prayer.
BETTE is praising God because she is feeling so much better. Another answer to prayer!!! The doctors think her extreme pain was a musculo-skeletal issue. Please pray for a definitive answer and no recurrence! There is not much change in the situation of Polly and Truman. The problem was an abdominal anurism and it is still very serious. LOIS reports Charley had three really great days but is now back down with migranes. BARBARA L. had a praise tonight! When she fell recently she hurt her hip and it has continued to cause pain. Today it was discovered that she had put a bone out of place in the fall and the doctor popped it back in. Her pain is greatly reduced. LUCILLE, BETSY and JUDY are all traveling to Ohio this week and request traveling mercies. ANNA had been so great but has re-injured her back and is again in a lot of pain. Please pray for quick healing. JUDY asks us to continue to pray for Beth, especially that her house would sell. Please pray JAN would get a colonoscopy!!!!! It's time girl! Please continue praying for the WORLD! The horror and terror continues in many countries in the MIDDLE EAST and AFRICA - especially to women and Christians. Please continue to pray for the people in NEPAL - especially the children who have become orphans. Please pray that our aide reaches them and can provide some comfort during this tragedy. Please pray for the RESIDENTS in Sumter County Detention Center - God has already chosen those who will attend the 3-day weekend (June 5, 6, and 7th). Please pray for the TEAM making ready to go into the jail for those 3 days. Please pray for the OFFICERS who will facilitate the weekend by ensuring safety for all. Do you ever notice how we read Scripture and then something we have previously read really affects us? Praise God for the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes and ears and reveals the Truth to us.
This morning I was working on a study Design For Discipleship. I am required to complete this prior to serving on the weekly "Master Mentor Ministry" at the Sumter County jail. Two questions in the section "The Deity of Jesus Christ" really spoke to me, especially in light of similar discussions we've had in our weekly Monday night classes. "What does Jesus promise to those who follow him" and "How does that make you feel?" What I love about the Bible is that it provides all the answers for us!!! John 10:27-30 tells us that Jesus said "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." I love knowing that NO ONE can snatch me away from Jesus, once I chose to follow Him. He will never tire of me - He will never let me go - someone better will not come along to replace me - I am His forever and ever and ever. I feel GRATEFUL, BLESSED, WANTED, LOVED, JOYFUL, FANTASTIC, FABULOUS (and the list goes on). How does this make YOU feel??? Yesterday I attended an all day meeting (called Formation) for our upcoming REC in June. At the end of the day our Spiritual Directors and Clergy lead us in three rituals - Dying Moments, Communion and Anointing. In Dying Moments we "die to ourselves" and turn our sin over to Jesus. This is done directly before Communion where we take . . . eat and drink . . . the body and blood of Christ who died on the cross for our sins.
Our Spiritual Director pointed us to a Scripture that is often missed and not often spoken about or part of a Communion service. I, too, have missed this and wanted to share it with you. In 1 Corinthians Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. In 11:27 - 29 he writes these words: 27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. What does this mean? We should take an inventory of ourselves / our sins (examine) before we take Communion. We should lift them up (our sins) to the Lord before we go to the altar to take Communion in remembrance of Jesus. Many of our denominations offer Communion weekly / monthly or even daily. It is important that we do not take this for granted or turn it into a thoughtless routine. Reading and understanding this Scripture was very meaningful to me and I hope it is to you as well. This is the final chapter in our Participant's Guide. With mixed feelings, we end our study of "Expecting to See Jesus" on May 11th. We have been led through an extensive study on the necessity of our preparation. I pray you will take heed - there is no time like the present!
But . . . not to worry - the next study has been planned and you will LOVE IT!!! "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy With God in the Busyness of Life" = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = We were to read Nehemiah chapters 1, 2, 6 and 8: Nehemiah was a contemporary of Ezra. He led the nation of Israel to a religious reform and spiritual awakening. The lessons we can learn from him are:
What do we know about Nehemiah?
To give you a visual of real life pictures of gates and walls in Jerusalem I have included the pictures below I took in May/June 2014. You will see that the Golden Gate has been sealed and cemeteries have been placed in front of it. Leviticus 21:1 tells us the law that "The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: 'A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean for any of his people who die," and Leviticus 21:11 tells us "He must not enter a place where there is a dead body. He must not make himself unclean, even for his father or mother," When the Muslims claimed this area they sealed the gate and strategically placed their cemeteries in front of it to prevent Jesus' second coming. WE all know that there is NOTHING man can do that will ever prevent our Lord from fulfilling His plan! BETTE sent us the following request. I have a prayer request for tonight please…me!
I have been having severe groin/pelvic pain over the weekend, putting me in the Shands emergency room this past Saturday and again yesterday (Sunday). On Saturday I was diagnosed as prolapsed uterus needing surgery that was causing the pain. Came home with pain meds and a referral to a surgeon at Shands. The unbearable pain continued and was much worse on Sunday, such that by that time I was completely immobilized and unable to even take a step due to extreme pain. So back to the Shands ER on Sunday. All of this pain had been slowly building up during the last week, getting a little worse every day. So on my second trip to the Shands ER on Sunday, they concluded (after a CT scan this time) that prolapsed uterus was NOT the primary cause after all. Now they are treating me with muscle relaxants, lots of ibuprofen and heavy duty pain medication, believing the issue is nerve/muscle/ligament/tendon related but really still not sure exactly what is causing it. I can now walk very slowly with a cane, and the pain is much improved with these meds, but I am still just resting on the couch most of the time. Basically, please pray that the medications I am taking will remove all groin/pelvic pain and that a cause will become known so it won’t happen again…I want to get back to my active Villages lifestyle! It’s hard for me to sit still!! Sad that I had to miss our golfing girlfriends trip to the beach, was really looking forward to that. Love you guys! Feel free to read or just summarize this email for the bible study group tonight (and Mary Ann, feel free to let our vacationing friends know the update also). JUDI told us about a jail ministry that was needing space and was praying boldly for the Woodhaven Baptist Church to donate their property in its entirety to the ministry! Talk about praying big! ESTHER is undergoing tests to determine what is going on with her heart. She is meeting with her PCP tomorrow and her cardiologist next week. She is praying for answers! JUDI's brother Bob is coming for a visit. Please pray that Judi will know what he needs in terms of her interaction with him. Please pray for peace for her and their deep love to overcome all the obstacles that may be present. LOIS prays that all of us will be sensitive to the call God is placing on our lives. Let us hear the message, pray and respond at we have been learning to do! BARBARA's friends Polly and Truman are still struggling with the life and death illness Truman has. They are very private but we can pray without knowing lots of details. LUCILLE has no update concerning her son's recovery after a car accident in his police car. She has reached out and will again, Lord we ask you to open the doors for her to hear from him. BALTIMORE! Please pray for the entire situation there and all over our country. NEPAL! Lord please help! JUDY is asking for clarity with a medical situation and for God's wisdom and leadership in her relationship with her grandson. Also, Lord, please put Godly, wise people in his path in every way. Help Judy to be obedient in whatever God shows her!!! During our study group session we learned that Isaiah saw the Lord. This occurred after King Uzziah died, around 740 B.C. The king died as a leper - he tried to take over the high priests duties (2 Chronicles 26:18-21) and this was not pleasing to God. He was credited of being a good king, but many of his people turned away from God during his reign. We learned it was important for Isaiah to see God in his holiness - morally perfect, pure and set apart from all sin. Isaiah was commissioned to be God's messenger. He had a difficult message to give them . . . He had to tell the Israelites - the very people who were blessed by God - that God was going to destroy them because of their disobedience to Him. In Isaiah 6:6-8 we learn that a seraph (angel of the Lord) flies to Isaiah with a live coal - which he has taken from the altar using tongs - and touches Isaiah's mouth with it. We learned that the "coal" represents the blood of Jesus. In verse Isaiah says "then I heard the voice of the Lord" - we learned that it DOESN'T SAY . . . God started speaking but that perhaps Isaiah just started listening. WHEN his lips were cleansed - his ears were also opened and he could hear God. Hearing: God has equipped us with spiritual sensors to know when He is speaking to us. Each person is different and receives it in the way God chooses to send His message. But first . . . we need to get the clutter out of our lives and mind and make time to be still. Hesitating: We tell God why we can't and He tells us what He can do. We need to see that He is taking the focus off of ourselves and putting the focus on Him. Heeding: What happens when you say no? Sometimes you may not hear the call from God again or not for a long time. When we say no we may just be missing out on the life God planned for us. Time doesn't wait on us. God calls when He wants us - not when it is convenient for us. He is going to go on with His plan - whether we go with Him or not. Here am I: Isaiah said "Here am I" - not as we would think or say ourselves "Here I am". "I am" says "this is what I bring to the table" versus "am I" says "if you can use me - send me!" Praise God! Obey God! Give the Glory to God. Amen??? Amen!!! - During the week begin Session 9 "Move Your Feet!"
- Include prayer requests in your daily prayers. - Before each day's Scripture reading, invite the Holy Spirit to lead you and reveal God's truths in a deeper way - Read Nehemiah 1, 2, 6 and 8 in one sitting - Complete pages 115 - 123 in your participant's guide - Read the Chapter "Move Your Feet" in your book - Listen for His voice - give Him a chance to speak to you (I talked about "drive by prayers" where we are praying on our way to our next task and not allowing God time when we are done - I am very guilty of this!) - Be prepared to discuss in our group setting - Have a blessed week - reach out and touch someone - with LOVE as Jesus would. God bless You for all you do In His Name |
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April 2018
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