Don't forget . . . - to meet at 6pm Monday, 11/03 instead of 6:30 - we will fellowship and celebrate the conclusion of this study - don't forget what you have signed up to bring to eat / drink - to bring your Operation Christmas Box including your $7.00 check inside for shipping - to bring non-perishable items for the Church Food Pantry - your check or exact change for $8.50 for "The Women of Christmas" book - to lift up our prayer requests - to bless others as you are blessed. Jesus was living in Capernum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was an ideal place as His "headquarters" because of the access to a main highway and also the water for travel by boat. One of His disciples, Peter, had a house there that he shared with his family and mother-in-law. Jesus was making His way to a house of one of the leaders of the local synagogue. There was a large crowd of people surrounding him. Among those in the crowd was a woman who had been suffering with a prolonged menstrual flow . . . for 12 YEARS! She should NOT have been among the crowd. The laws of ritual purity would strictly have forbidden her from being away from her home during this period of time (Leviticus 15:19-31). For a normal period of time this could have been a welcome "time out" for the woman because she was relieved of her normal duties and could rest. BUT . . . for 12 YEARS??? This woman could not go out, she could not touch members of her family, they could not touch her. Any money she had was used up on doctors trying to cure her. Surgery was a last resort because people usually died during surgery 2,000 years ago. Then . . . she heard of a wonder worker whose name was Jesus. She was hopeful that He could do what the doctors could not. Breaking the purity laws - she pushed her way through the crowd until she was close to Jesus. She reached out and touched the fringe on his shawl. (This clothing tells us Jesus dressed as a devout Jew. See Numbers 15:37-40) She immediately felt a transformation in her body. She KNEW she was cured! At that very same moment Jesus felt power go out from Him - He looks around - He asks who touched Him. Peter reminds Him that there are throngs of people around - it could have been any one of them. But . . . that's not what Jesus meant. He looks around at the people near to Him. The woman is terrified. She has broken the ritual purity laws - any person she has touched is now declared "ritually unclean" requiring each of them to go through an extensive ritual cleansing. Can you even begin to imagine just how scared she was . . . as she came forth and told Jesus it was her. Anything could happen to her now that she has admitted her guilt. Jesus was gentle with her. He called her "daughter". He told her that it was her faith that cured her. In 1st century Palestine, many people believed in magic. Jesus wanted to make it very clear that there was no "magic" in His shawl, but that the faith of this woman is what has made her whole. A Hem: The Point of Saturation (Mark 5:30, 31, 33, 34)
I. Concentration: on how faith heals. 1. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” (v.30) 2. “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, “Who touched me?” (v.31) 3. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. (v.33) 4. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (v.34) II. Meditation: on how a most obscure touch reaches the saturation point. 1. As the anointing oil flows from Aaron’s head down to the edge of his robe (Psalm 133:1-3), so flows the power of Jesus, down to His hem, gathering at the saturation point. 2. Jesus asked for their benefit - He already knew His garment had been touched; this question grabbed the attention of the crowd – they were about to witness a miracle. 3. The woman had a bleeding illness, making her unclean; she shouldn’t have been out in public, let alone touching His garment – time to fess up! 4. Jesus shows the crowd how miracles can be borne out of pure faith – Halleluiah! III. Revelation: on how it feels to be touched. 1. As Christians, let us rejoice and be ever grateful that we have been saturated by the touch and love of Jesus Christ. 2. Let’s go out in the world and ask “what is it like to be touched by Jesus?”, not because we don’t know, but because we want to get the attention of others so that they too will know this glorious feeling. 3. Our salvation is not a secret, we should not hide from it; without fear and intimidation we should stand tall and proud and tell God’s truth about Jesus Christ, our Savior. 4. We are not called to have faith in our faith, we are called to have faith in our God and to never doubt Him – He is capable of doing anything He chooses to do. IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to: 1. Feel blessed that He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). 2. Use opportunities afforded me through the ministries where I serve God; help those people (needy, hungry, in prison) know what it feels like to be touched by Jesus. 3. Remember what it felt like to be “touched” by the Holy Spirit when I accepted Jesus as my Savior; like a love story – tell it to others so they want what I have. 4. Realize that faith is like any other part of my life – if not strengthened, it atrophies and deteriorates; strengthen my faith daily, by sharing it with others, staying in The Word, learning, studying and applying. The Faithful Touch Heals!!! (Matthew 9:22)
I. Concentration: on how powerful our God is.
II. Meditation: on how faith enables healing.
III. Revelation: on turning control over to God.
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
Tonight during our study, I shared news from my precious little girl in Ecuador, Lourdes Rosaura Cirino Villacreses. She was born May 19, 2003. This is a picture of her when I first "met" her in November 2012. As I shared, I was at a local church concert when we were told about Compassion International - packets were distributed to those in the audience to see if there was any interest in sponsoring a child. Since I have been attending Cotacachi Bible College in Ecuador I chose to sponsor a child from that country and I found Lourdes. I began writing to Lourdes right away. I usually send her a letter each month and I receive a letter from her each quarter. Her letters are written in Spanish and then translated into English. Mine are in English, translated into Spanish. For her May 19, 2013 birthday gift she chose to buy a mattress - THAT put a BIG smile on her face. The gift is provided to her through a Compassion International financial adviser in her community who sits down with the parents and child to determine how to best spend the money. I'm sure you will agree that she looks quite happy with the decision they made ;-) In her letter she let me know that she spent her Christmas 2013 gift on "some stuff like clothes, toys, shoes and I went to the beach, after that I went to the museum to the movies and after I entered again to school, we gave many gifts among friends." She always asks after my family (I send pictures to her each month) - asks if I am in good health - asks me to pray for her and her family. She tells me she is praying for me - my family - and my cats (I have sent her pictures of my cats ;-). She ended her letter with "I say goodbye with a huge hug and a big kiss." Who could ask for more than that?!?!?!?!?!? For her 11th birthday on May 19, 2014 she "bought a brown chest of drawer. It's very nice and serve me a lot." The second photo shows that she had a birthday party with some of her friends and she looks like she had quite a good time. It is fun to see the progression of her happiness and to hear her increasing warmth with each letter. You too can be blessed by a little one in another country. If you are interested in sponsoring a child or just interested in checking it out - I've included a link in the button below. You could share the expense with a friend or even a group to minimize the cost. If you have any questions or would like to talk to me about this further, please don't hesitate to contact me. It is truly a blessing. I often receive emails looking for sponsors for children who have been waiting longer than a year. May you be blessed as you bless others. Ladies - please access the above button (Update from Dr Dawn on Karmel Kids) to link to Dr. Dawn's website (dawncbcblogspot.com) to see how Jesus is being introduced to these precious children through the beauty of art. Let's keep them all in our prayers for their ears to hear and their eyes to see.
Remember I told you Dr. Dawn JUST started painting animals in August ??? Here is a reply to me from Dr. Dawn . . . "AND YES, this PAINTING IS DIRECTLY FROM THE LORD. I am not an artist, but I just had this deep desire. I started painting animals in August – never ever done them before. Then came the FISH, which I have just done. I AM ASTOUNDED AT HOW GOD WORKS. At the moment they have 15 children from ages 5 – 11. And more are coming. That is the count at the moment." Our God is soooo amazing . . . as we have said many times during our studies together "God doesn't send the equipped, he equips the sent". This is a perfect example of what He has done - through paintings of animals He is teaching these precious children ABOUT HIM . . . And . . . how to speak English. Praise God for His master plan!!! We missed Mary Ann G. tonight because she was suffering from a migraine, again.
Debbie S's mother has an offer on her house. Let's lift us our thanks to the Lord. She needs to sell it so she can go into a care facility. Please pray for the details to go smoothly. We haven't seen Anna B. for quite a while. Please continue to pray against her back pain. Marlene H. brings us a praise after a scare. Her daughter, Laura, had a bad mammogram, but after more testing she is okay! Lois B. is also praising God for bringing her to a more gentle, peaceful place in responding to Charlie's migraines. Let's keep lifting her up. Praise the Lord that Robbie M. did not have a heart attack and no heart damage. He did have a lung infection which is being treated. He is on oxygen and nitrogen patch for angina and feeling better. He did go home on Monday. Please pray for his healing and direction. Barb G's son's bronchitis is healing. Conditions in India are tough. There is very little food and kids in an orphanage are starving. Pray for encouragement, support and aid to get there quickly! Let's pray for wisdom for the decision makers everywhere in this Ebola crisis. Also for the medical personnel, for the volunteers who are giving of their time and work both here and overseas, for those exposed and quarantined. Lord your wisdom is needed. Let’s lift up our prayers for CBC (Cotacachi Bible College) and it’s Karmel Kids ministry - the Ecuadorian (Spanish-speaking) children who have begun their twice monthly Bible studies from Dr. Dawn and Yuli. R.E.C. continues to work toward the November and 2 in December 3-day weekends. Regulations at the prison make getting information difficult. Lord, we ask you to cut through the red tape so these weekends will accomplish your mission for these precious people. Please pray for the children waiting to be sponsored through Compassion International – that they will find a loving sponsor to bring their love and the love of Jesus Christ into their lives. At Monday night's Bible study, Judy D shared this beautiful prayer with us. It is one we should read often and ask the Lord to "Disturb Us" !!!
Ladies - I hope you will indulge me to tell you about something so very special to me. Last night I was talking to my BFF, Kathy, on the phone (she is also my sister-in-law). She told me that I would be receiving an email about my birthday gift from them (my brother and her). If you know me, you know that I'm really not a big fan of "receiving" gifts and I already have way more things than I need, but I thanked her in advance and we continued our chat. When I got to my email I received a letter from Heifer International. It said: Dearest Judi - This gift to Heifer in your honor is a driving force for change and will help to end hunger and poverty worldwide. A family in need will receive a gift of a sheep . . . and this message. Judi, we hope your birthday is wonderful. We have donated a sheep on your behalf to help end hunger and poverty worldwide. We believe that this is the best gift we can give you. All our love, Bob and Kathy This SHEEP is so significant to us. For those of you who studied "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" with us for 8 weeks - Kathy attended long distance from New Jersey. We often talked on the phone about the chapter of the week and how we saw ourselves in those sheep. I believe the study left a lasting impact and she still talks about those pesty old "nasal gnats". She also knows of my weekly ministry to collect food for those in need, which also gives me great pleasure. I am SO EXCITED with my gift!!! And I couldn't wait to share this with all of you.
The funny thing is . . . that just days before I had received a catalog from Heifer in the mail and was deciding what to do for Christmas. My BFF beat me to it . . . BUT the best part is how well she and my brother know me and how we are always on the same wave length. Thanks for indulging me. If you have a special someone in your life - who already has more than they need and would be blessed by a gift like this, here is their website. You can buy a chicken for $20 or you can buy a "share" of an animal - you don't have to buy the entire animal. This is also very cool because when you select an animal you can see how much is left to contribute to the "share". Once it is all in, the animal is given to a new family. May you be blessed as you bless others. We have another confusing family tree - see the photo above to help you follow along.
Who's Who and What's in a Name?? - Judah (father and father-in-law) means ‘give praise to God’ - Er (son of Judah, first husband to Tamar) Er spelled backwards in Hebrew is the word for 'evil' - Tamar (daughter-in-law to Judah, wife to 2 of his sons, mother to twin boys born from Judah) - her name means ‘date palm’, source of food, shade, life - Onan (son of Judah, second husband to Tamar) means ‘the virile one’ - (ironic, since he refused to give Tamar a child) - Perez (twin son of Tamar and Judah) means ‘he who pushes through’, the one who breaks through a wall; Zerah (twin son of Tamar and Judah) means ‘scarlet' Main themes of the story:
Tamar is one of the four female ancestors of Jesus, in Matthew's gospel. All four had irregularities in their marriages/sexual relationships. The story of Tamar:
Please read Chapter 7 in your book and review questions in your Workbook to prepare for our discussion on Monday (10/27) night. Please lift up prayers for those included in our prayer requests when you have your daily quiet time. Please remember to bring any non-perishable items as a donation to the Church food pantry. Please continue stocking your Operations Christmas boxes to be brought in November 3rd. Tonight three of our sisters are struggling with respiratory ailments. Betsy has throat, ear, nose and sinus infections and is on bed rest and meds to get her voice back. Lucille has a bad cold and cannot take some of her R A medicine. We pray things stay calm with that problem. Pam is sick with a recurring sore throat. Aren't colds a pain! Barbara G.'s son, Bill Jr. survived the category 4 storm in India. He was just 3 miles from the coast where it landed, but he and all in his building survived while 6,000 in the city perished. His neighbors thanked him for helping them prepare. Perhaps that will give him favor with them! He is now suffering with a sinus infection. The Pancoast's daughter, Elliot, who is seven, has just returned from the hospital. She had a very high fever. We pray she is completely healed. Judy D. has a neighbor, Ed, who was badly injured up in a motorcycle accident with many broken bones and a partially collapsed lung. Let's support him as he heals. Also, Judy D. asks us to pray for a neighbor's daughter, Holly, who will have breast cancer surgery tomorrow (Tuesday). Her anxiety level is increased by an astounding number of women in her family who have had terminal breast cancer. She is in her thirties. Several weeks ago, Barbara G. asked us to pray for a friend named Shelly. She recently had a double mastectomy. Now she is doing well in her recovery. Great news. Also a praise for Judy W.'s daughter who made it home from the airport with all her party. Praises for the way the airline took responsibility to get them shuttled to a hotel, get necessary medical supplies from a local pharmacy and get a plane the following day. Several in the party were in wheel chairs so accommodations were a little more extensive than usual. Judi C asks for prayers for CBC (Cotacachi Bible College) as it embarks on yet a new ministry - this one for the Ecuadorian (Spanish-speaking) children who will receive twice monthly Bible studies from Dr. Dawn and Yuli. Below is the response I received when inquiring about Christianity in Ecuador. Please pray for the doors to be opened (and kept open) so that the youth may hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. There are VERY FEW Christian churches. Here in Cotacachi, the Indigenous people with their pagan beliefs combine with the Catholic Church. Everywhere – stores, banks, buses – just everywhere, Mary is worshipped. There are shrines everywhere. Our Presidents believed that Christianity is a sect. Christian schools are at a danger of being closed down, and the last I heard was that no more Christian schools will be allowed to open. The school where Washo and Yuli work, are fully aware of the extreme difficulties, because of their faith. JW [Jehovah's Witnesses] and other sects are very active here, too. We had some missionaries here for many years, and they have left and gone elsewhere, so I am not too sure of how many are still operational. Please continue to surround Baby CLARA in your prayers for good living conditions and loving care. R.E.C. continues to work toward the November and 2 in December 3-day weekends. Regulations at the prison make getting information difficult. Lord, we ask you to cut through the red tape so these weekends will accomplish your mission for these precious people. Please continue to pray for Anna's back pain. Roxy and John need prayer for safe travel. And so do so many other snowbirds we're anxiously awaiting! Week 7 - PrayerDearest Father - to know that You have engraved each and every one of us on the palms of your hands is just so amazing and humbling. We love You so very much.
This week You taught us the dangers of greed and lust for power through the stories of Herodias and Salome. You taught us that we are always role models to those around us - whether we be good or bad role models. You showed us just how corrupting our negative actions can be on them. You taught us, through John the Baptist, how strong our faith can become when we remain close to You, study Your Word and apply it throughout our lives. We praise You for your magnificent plan and how You teach us Your ways. We ask that You continue to speak to us, open our ears - heart - and minds, bend us to Your ways. We love You and honor You and it's in Your Son's name that we pray. Amen. The last picture in the gallery above was taken during our trip to the Holy Land - Sebaste
Soon after the death and resurrection of Christ, Philip, who was one of the seven deacons, started to preach the Gospel in the principal city of Samaria - Sebaste. His mission was so successful that Peter and John soon joined him there. Many citizens of Sebaste were baptized and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8) From the earliest days of the Christian faith, tradition held that the body of St. John the Baptist was entombed alongside prophets Abdias and Eliseus in the town of Sebaste. The earliest written account about the tomb was mentioned in the documents of priest Rufinus of Aquileila (378 – 397 AD). There he writes that the body of John the Baptist was removed from the tomb and burnt by pagans who were against Christians. It is said that, fortunately, the monks from the Jerusalem monastery of deacon Philip rescued some of the relics. The identified site of the tomb is located in the middle of present day Sabastiya. The site also contains ruins of a Byzantine church from the 5th century, said to be built over the traditional place of John’s beheading – Church of the Head (Kniset el-Ras). This belief, however, contradicts, the writings of the ancient historian Josephus Flavius, who wrote that John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod Antipas in Machaerus, located on the eastern side of the Jordan river. Herodias (see Scripture references to her contained in Matthew 14:3-12; Mark 6:14-24 and Luke 3:19-20) Name Meaning—As a member of the Herodian dynasty, perhaps the most despicable dynasty history has known, the name Herodias is but the female form of Herod, the royal name for the political rulers during the time of Christ and the apostles. It was under the vile and cruel orders of the Herods that Jesus and His followers were often persecuted and punished. Herod means “heroic” - certainly not appropriate for this family. Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, son of Herod the Great and Mariamne, daughter of Hyrcanus. Her first husband was Philip I, son of Herod the Great and Mariamne, so she married her own uncle, by whom she had a daughter, Salome, whom her mother used to destroy John the Baptist. When Herod Antipas visited Rome, he was entertained by Philip and Herodias. Herod abducted his royal brother’s wife. His own wife, an Arabian princess, was an obstacle to an illicit marriage, so he divorced her, and Herodias became queen in her stead, and with her daughter was installed in the palace. “The corroding immorality of Herod’s race shows itself in his marriage with Herodias his brother’s wife and the wanton offense thereby given to Jewish sensibilities.” Among the female characters in God’s portrait gallery there are many wicked women as we are discovering, but surely Herodias stands out among them as one of the most vile and vicious. Amid the putrefying influence of the palace, however, there was one man who knew no fear, John the Baptist. Herod “feared” him and regarded him as “a just man” and whom “he heard gladly.” Herod found music in the preacher’s message until he sternly rebuked the king by saying of Herodias, “It is not lawful for thee to have her.” But such a warning bell was to toll the Baptist’s doom. For his faithful rebuke of Herod’s sin, John was cast into prison, and the evil, scheming mind of Herodias began to work. She was stung by the arrow from the preacher’s quiver and hated him for exposing her shame. “For Herodias' sake,” he was imprisoned and thus the greatest of the prophets was sacrificed for this lewd and vicious woman. But the hatred of such a vile creature was more to be desired than her affection (Matthew 10:23; Luke 6:26). Herodias, with her conscience in turmoil because of her accuser, planned to silence him. She did not want Herod to listen too closely and constantly to John’s forceful preaching. She feared her illegal husband—for her first husband was still alive—might repent, and her position as queen, imperiled. Herodias knew Herod only too well. He easily succumbed to sensual excitement, and as his birthday drew near her foul design was hatched. On the day when drink freely flowed, Herodias used her own daughter to inflame Herod’s passions. She was willing to sacrifice her child’s modesty in order to bend Herod to her will. Herod was overcome by Salome’s form seen through the flowing flimsy garment she wore, and influenced by the act of the dancing girl took a rash and foolish oath to give her whatever she asked, even to half of his kingdom. Approaching her mother, Salome said, “What shall I ask?” Without hesitation Herodias, the female hyena, replied, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.” Returning to Herod she presented her demand, and Herod was extremely sorry at such a request. Yet, because of his oath’s sake, he sacrificed the preacher whom he regarded as just and holy, and all because of his guilty love for a vile woman. No wonder he was smitten with fear when he heard of the fame of Jesus, thinking it was John the Baptist risen from the dead to torment his conscience further. One wonders how Salome felt when the gory dish of the preacher’s head was handed to her? (See href="/id/43464131-4537-4639-2D32-3945462D3341">Salome.) Herodias' Old Testament counterpart was Jezebel. What Herodias was to Herod, Jezebel was to Ahab. Both Ahab and Herod were wicked, and in both cases the woman was more wicked. Both Jezebel and Herodias fostered hate that became deadly against a prophet of God. Jezebel hated Elijah and sought to kill him—Herodias hated John the Baptist, the New Testament Elijah, and succeeded in his murder. What was the end of Herodias? Since she was the source of Herod’s sin, Herodias also became the source of his shame. According to Josephus, Herodias' ambition was the ruin of Herod. Jealous of the power of Agrippa her brother, she prodded Herod to demand of Caligula, the emperor, the title of king. Agrippa saw to it that this demand was refused, and Herod was banished and ended his days in shame and exile. The pride of Herodias forced her to be faithful to her husband in the disgrace and misfortune she herself had caused. Please read the referenced Scripture, Chapter 6 in your book, review and answer questions for Chapter 6 in your Workbook and be prepared to discuss Monday night when we meet again. Please remember to review the prayer requests and include them in your daily quiet time with the LORD. Gail M's pet scan revealed two spots on her lung just weeks after having a quarter of her lung removed. She will start treatment on Friday. Please pray for her to tolerate it well and for healing.
Barbara G. requests prayer for her son Bill Jr. who is a missionary in India. He posted some things during the storm but they haven't heard from him since then. Safety, protection, wisdom, peace, security - just a few of the things we pray for him. And Lord, uphold Mom and Dad until they hear! Lucille is rejoicing because thanks to God's healing and good medical care she can move all of her joints at the same time for the first time since April! Baby CLARA is still not in a good living situation but authorities cannot do anything unless danger is proven. Let's surround her with prayer. R.E.C. continues to work toward the Nov. and Dec. meetings. Regulations at the prison make getting information difficult. Lord, we ask you to cut through the red tape so these weekends will accomplish your mission for these precious people. Please continue to pray for Anna's back pain. (against!!!) Thanks, Lord, for Linda S.'s message that she is back! We welcome you, Linda! Roxy and John need prayer for safe travel. And so do so many other snowbirds we're anxiously awaiting! Jaye will not be wintering with us this year due to some medical issues of her husband. Let's lift both of them up for all their needs and whatever the Lord calls them to there this year. Thank you, Lord, for what you are doing in each of our lives as we seek your face together. Ladies - I wanted to share this with you so that you can see how planting a seed can grow into a beautiful relationship with the LORD.
Ladies, One of our wonderful volunteers was given a letter from a lovely lady in 33rd. She asked that the letter be shared with each of you. Please take a moment to read her words, and be encouraged. What you do matters! Whether you are a one on one mentor, a pen pal mentor, on the reGROUP team, getting ready to launch the women's worship service, pray for the volunteers and 33rd residents, or serve in some other way...what you do matters and makes a difference! Thank you!!!! Blessings... Abbie "Words cannot even express how thankful I am and how truly blessed I have been to be a part of the faith based program. You women have truly helped me change my life and are prime examples to me on how to live as a woman after God's own heart. I give God all the praise and the glory because it is He that has truly saved my life. I also have to give all the volunteers of this program praise and glory as well, because of your love and obedience to your Heavenly Father. It is through you I was able to receive His word that changed everything for me. For this I am forever grateful. I believe God has always known my desire to seek Him and to love Him but I just didn't know how. God has definitely blessed the broken road that lead me straight to you. When I first came here I was broken, lost, self-absorbed and angry. I knew I needed God more than anything at this point. In such a short period of three months I have learned so much about God and who I am in Him and what He wants for me in this life and most importantly in the eternal life with Him. I can't say its been easy, it hasn't. I've had to learn to surrender things I didn't want to let go of and have faith in God when all I wanted to do was give up. This program and the one on one mentors and others have truly taught me to express myself in all ways, sadness, anger, and joy and that all of it is okay. God wants all of me so he can help me in everything in my life. I can honestly say this has been the best therapy I've ever had, and I've had years and years of counseling and therapy. I came into this program with a broken and contrite spirit and the Lord has filled me with love and hope. He has forgiven me of my past, given me peace in the present, and a hope for my future. I know now what it means to have an intimate, loving relationship with my Heavenly Father. He has shown me more ways than one to just have faith and to believe in Him and He will take care of the rest. Because of my faith and spending time with Him reading His word, prayer, and fasting He has moved mountains for me. When I didn't think there was any hope, He found a way! But God! Powerful words! But God! Thank you so much for loving me enough to take the time to share with me God's word and His promises. You have truly changed everything for me. I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt when I walk out the doors of Orange County Jail that I am a different person physically, mentally, and most of all spiritually and I have all the tools to take on the world. My prayer to you all is that God continues to bless all you ladies and the ministry here. You women are truly blessed. I am forever grateful. I love you and may God bless. Your Sister In Christ - Shannon" A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago .. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush to catch the plane home and with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly-missed boarding........
ALL BUT ONE!!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her; no one stopping and no one to care for her plight. The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $50 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?" He stopped in mid-stride .... and he wondered. He gently went back and said, "No, I am nothing like Jesus - He is good, kind, caring, loving, and would never have bumped into your display in the first place. "The girl gently nodded: "I only asked because I prayed for Jesus to help me gather the apples. He sent you to help me, Thank you for hearing Jesus, Mister." Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?" Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye even though you, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked up you and me on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit. Bathsheba - her name means "daughter of" (Bat) and "abundance" (Sheba). We know that she was a young woman when she was married to Uriah, a Hittite, who served in King David's army. She was considered so beautiful that she aroused the desire of men who see her.
One night, while Uriah was away with the Army, David sees Bathsheba bathing, is aroused and sends his servants to get her - has sex with her and sends her home. Bathsheba becomes pregnant. This is a problem because her husband has been away fighting in David's army - so David recalls Uriah - expecting him to sleep with his wife and therefore hide the true lineage of the baby. But Uriah is so loyal to David and his army companions that he can't think about going home to comfort while the rest are experiencing hardships - he stays at the palace grounds. What's a King to do? He sends instructions to his general to put Uriah in harm's way - he does and Uriah is killed. The Bible does not state this, but for Uriah to have a house in Jerusalem within such close proximity to the palace (specifically "within viewing distance") he must have served the King when they were not at war - perhaps as a palace guard or a member of the court. He was a loyal servant of the King. Many believe Bathsheba is the seductress and blame her for David's sin. What do You think? 2 Samuel 11:1-4 David and Bathsheba "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war" - David should have been leading his troops but instead stayed in Jerusalem. "Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed" - Bathsheba was bathing at night, when one might have expected others to be sleeping. "And from the roof he saw a woman bathing and the woman was very beautiful to behold" - David could have turned away and respected Bathsheba's privacy, but . . . "So David sent and inquired about the woman" - David took the initiative - he learned that she was the wife of one of his loyal soldiers Uriah, the Hittite. "Then David sent messengers to get her" - Bathsheba was a woman - alone - her husband was away at war - He was the King - she was unable to refuse to go. "She came to him, and he slept with her" - this text makes it clear that the initiative came from David. The reality of the times of ancient kings was that they had the power. A woman of the royal court was relatively powerless - a King owns his subjects. Was Bathsheba a victim of David's lust or the seductress? Please - read this week's prayer - include those on the prayer request list with your daily prayers - read Chapter 5 in your book - read the associated Scripture - review and answer the questions in your workbook for Chapter 5 - be prepared to discuss at our study on Monday, October 13th Have a wonderful week! Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
Thank you for your continued generosity. We received 10 items for the Church Food Pantry last night. When you shop this week, please remember our little ministry. If you shop at Publix they always have a variety of items that are buy-one-get-one-free. Please consider donating the free item to those in need. Bathed In Lust and Murder . . .
(II Samuel 11:2, 11, 15, 27) I. Concentration: on lusting after another man’s wife. 1. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, . . . (v.2) 2. Uriah said to David, “The ark, Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” (v.11) 3. In it he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” (v.15) 4. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. (v.27) II. Meditation: on loyalty not being reciprocated . 1. While King David’s Israelite army was off to war, he remained in Jerusalem; on a sleepless night he finds himself on the palace roof; a distance away he sees a beautiful woman bathing; inquiries tell him she’s Bathsheba, the Hittite Uriah’s wife. 2. David sends for Bathsheba, sleeps with her and she becomes pregnant; he has Uriah returned from the war; if Uriah sleeps with his wife his sin will be hidden; Uriah is so loyal to King David he will not return to the comforts of home while duty calls. 3. King David gets Uriah drunk the next day, but again he stays with his master’s servants; David resorts to sending Uriah back to the war, this time to be set up to be killed. 4. A messenger reports the casualties of war, among them the death of Uriah; Bathsheba mourns her husband’s death, then David marries her and they have a son; God is very displeased – David has broken 3 commandments (Deuteronomy 5:17, 18, 21). III. Revelation: on taking responsibility for our actions. 1. Satan often show us things that should be out of our reach; as Christians, let us ask God to strengthen us so we will reject evil, regardless how enticing it might be. 2. Instead of trying to cover up our sins - let us repent, ask forgiveness and resolve not to repeat bad choices causing additional sins. 3. Genesis 17:1 tells us “I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless.”; therefore we should not to try to hide our sins by putting blame on others. 4. As Christians, we are blessed to have the Word of God available to us in every language and translation; we have no excuse for not knowing what displeases Him. IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to: 1. Follow God’s Way; not be so willful as to invite evil into my life. 2. Make good choices, but when I sin fall before God repenting and asking forgiveness. 3. Take responsibility for my actions and not shift focus to others by blaming them. 4. Continue my daily time in God’s Word; become a better person by pleasing God. Death To The Poor Little Lambs (II Samuel 12:4, 5, 9, 24) I. Concentration: on how the rich can oppress the poor. 1. “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” (v.4) 2. David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die!” (v.5) 3. “Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.” (v.9) 4. Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; . . . (v.24) II. Meditation: on not underestimating another’s love. 1. This poor man had a precious ewe lamb, a dearly loved pet; while the rich man had many sheep he took and slaughtered the poor man’s only lamb (II Samuel 11:4a). 2. When David heard this story he was extremely angry and vowed death to the rich man. 3. Imagine how difficult for Nathan to tell King David it was who did this to Uriah by taking his wife and putting him in the front line to be killed by the enemy. 4. God pronounced 3 judgments on David – one being the death of his son; God takes away David’s sin, allowing him to have another son with Bathsheba, whom He loves. III. Revelation: on a misuse of power. 1. Never think what we have is more important than what others have, nor underestimate the love and value they place on their own – family, friends, pets, possessions. 2. We need to consider that some of our actions could have lifelong effects on others. 3. We can be in a difficult situation when we have to deliver a tough message to a person of power or authority; as long as the message we are giving is supported by His Word we know we have Him standing beside us and supporting us. 4. King David is a perfect example of how God still loves and forgives us – even after we have sinned and then repented; remember . . . God chose us (2 Thessalonians 2:13) to serve him. IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to: 1. Respect what belongs to others; never minimize its important to them. 2. Make sure my actions do not cause cruelty to others; remember that what we do (good or bad) can leave a lasting impression. 3. Remember that a cruel person who has earthly power has no special authority under God to mistreat His children; stand up, stand firm, but be cautious and careful. 4. Be ever thankful to God for bringing me back from the precipice of darkness. MARLENE says thanks for the prayers for her knee. It is better now but seems to come and go. Please continue to pray.
BARB G. Is feeling better too. Thanks for praying and please pray for her again, also. JUDI C. has a praise concerning her god daughter. Their weekend together was a huge success. Please thank God for the fruitfulness of their study time and her great test grades. Also, let's ask the Lord to bless their relationship for her good as she matures. PAM has a cousin, Lisa, who has many health problems. Right now please pray for the results of a breast biopsy as she waits to hear. JUDI C. knows David who is the brother of a friend. He has stomach cancer and the suggested treatment is the removal of his stomach. Please pray for all his decisions and his treatments and all he is dealing with. Lord, please be with LOIS as she copes with her husband's migraine headaches. Give her your heart toward him and bring healing to him. BARB G.'s brother-in-law was injured in a fall during construction. His ankle and foot were injured and he needs healing. Residents Encountering Christ (REC) is in the season of planning for jail visitation weekends in November and December. Planning is comprehensive and involves many details and difficulties. Please pray for this important part of the ministry (including permission to get the shirts we want to give as gifts!) May the planning and execution be fruitful! Praise is in order for the good news that JUDI C.'s eye is healing well. Let's agree for the next three months to be continued good healing and for the annoying things she's noticing to disappear. ANNA continues to suffer with her back pain - she was able to go to church on Sunday, but was in pain the entire time. Now she is unable to do anything more than lay on the couch or the bed. Please pray for the LORD to send healing and comfort to her, along with wisdom to her medical staff to find a solution to remove this daily pain. And let's pray for ourselves! We're doing this study because we have a desire to grow in Christ-likeness. Lord, we ask your Holy Spirit to speak to each of us exactly where we are. Open our eyes and ears and hearts to hear truth. Bless our sisters who are not with us physically but, join us in our desire for you. We bow before you. Lord - we knocked and You opened our eyes last night as we discussed our study of Athaliah, a truly evil woman. You used her story to teach us. At first we asked ourselves "what could I possibly have in common with her?" As we talked, we mentioned her desire for power, money, possessions, jealousy and serving idols. Then many of us realized that while we don't have her evil tendencies to destroy people, we saw in ourselves some amount of these other characteristics. LORD, please guide us away from any of these tendencies - show us Your way - show us how You want us to live our lives - show us the way to take the focus off ourselves and put it on those who are in great need.
We ask that You continue to teach us through Your Word. Please help this precious group of women continue to grow Spiritually as we reach out to, love and bond with one another. You have blessed us with so much - all we need to do is open our eyes and look around us to see all Your gifts. Please heal those who are sick, comfort those who are suffering, strengthen those who are feeling weak in their faith. We love You, we praise You, we give You all the glory . . . in Jesus's name we pray. Amen. WOW!!! And we thought Jezebel was MEAN TO THE BONE . . . her daughter, Athaliah surpassed her ability to wreak evil havoc and cruelty. I know all the Grandmothers out there will have a difficult time believing any “Nana” could kill her grandchildren. I can relate to the “Auntie” who took and protected Johash until he was of crown-worthy age. Athaliah may have thought she was going to wipe out all the heirs, but God had his own plan and that was to keep the lineage to Jesus flowing through David’s line. NO ONE thwarts God’s plans!!!
Please read Chapter 4 and the Scripture referenced in the book, review / answer questions in the workbook. Be prepared for another deep discussion when we get together on Monday night 10/06/14. Please review the prayer requests and lift up your prayers for each of those included. Touch a new life this week - in a loving, Christian way. |
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April 2018
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