As we were last week, we were joined with a few new ladies AND our Bette surprised all of us by joining us sooner than expected after her surgery. God is so good!!! While her hospital stay was extended by several days she has been healing nicely and thought "if I can sit at home I can just as easily sit here in Bible study." PRAISE GOD for His healing powers!!! OH!!!!! and in case you missed it . . . if you go back to our Session 1 blog where we were praying for Bette's upcoming surgery - one of the requests we made was to "return her to us quickly!" AND . . . HE DID!!! God is good, all the time . . .All the time, God is good!!!
I also want to thank all the ladies who have contributed to the clothing and toiletries for those incarcerated. What a treasure trove you have provided. AND we collected a record number of non-perishables for our church food pantry. You are all so generous!!! "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' " (Matthew 25:40)
We had a lively discussion about WORRY - thank you for all of your sharing and participation!
"Martha, Martha," Jesus observed gently, "you are worried and upset about many things." That observation had to stop Martha in her tracks - I know it would have me.
Jesus asks, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:27) The Bible tells us more than 350 times to "fear not".
Joanna said, "If anxiety caused God's closest friends, Adam and Eve, to hide from his face, just imagine what worry must do to you and me." When God tells us not to worry, it isn't a suggestion it's a COMMAND!
- "worry is like a rocking chair - it gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."
- the old English word for worry meant "to gnaw" - like a dog with a bone
I don't know about you, but when I worry I chew and chew and chew on it - it's amazing there's anything left by the time I'm done chewing on it! But, the bottom line is that when we are worrying - we are fixing our eyes on IT and not on our Lord.
- I MUCH prefer the visual for the word meditate which has been likened to "a cow chewing on its cud" - sort of like she's "pondering"
Our reading book provides a great list comparing concern to worry. Concern draws us TO God whereas worry pulls us AWAY FROM Him. Fretting magnifies the problem, but prayer magnifies God.
Jesus reminds us in John 16:33 "In this world you will have troubles" - He doesn't say . . . maybe . . . it's possible . . . you could . . . He says you will. No one is exempt - it is inevitable - we just don't know when or where or why.
I LOVE this comment from the author: "When we decide to pray instead of worry . . . then the peace of God comes and takes us into "protective custody"." What a wonderful thought!!! When we turn it over to God - when we let Him take charge (YES! we have to LET Him - because He gave us free will and He will never take that away from us) we can sit back and watch Him work on our behalf - as only He can!!!
The author Joanna reminds us that we, as Christians, complain about how hard we struggle to fight against sin BUT . . . "we secretly supply Satan with all the ammunition he needs." "If Satan controls my thought life, he controls me."
(Luke 12:7a, 22, 25-26, 31)
I. Concentration: on worry can’t buy you a minute!
1. “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (v.7a)
2. Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.” (v.22)
3. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (vv.25-26)
4. “But seek his kingdom, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (v.31)
II. Meditation: on how God cares for us.
1. Jesus tells the crowd how much God loves and protects them – right down to each hair.
2. He encourages His disciples; if God can do great things (like give life) He can certainly be depended on to take care of the smaller details.
3. He reminds them if they are not capable of doing the least by merely adding one hour to their lives, how could they possibly do the rest – therefore, trust in God to do it all.
4. He tells them to seek God’s grace – focus on getting admitted to the Kingdom of God.
III. Revelation: on spending time with God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
1. Look at how intimately He knows us; we should spend our lifetime getting to know everything about Him – ask the Holy Spirit to work within us giving us desire to study, pray, fellowship, teach and serve.
2. Let’s give it up to God and stop trying to take control; let’s revel in having such a powerful and almighty God who loves us.
3. Matthew 6:34 tells us not to worry about tomorrow, it will worry about itself; when we worry, aren’t we really telling God we don’t trust Him and His plan for us?
4. If we spend our time seeking God and focus on our service to Him, we won’t have time to worry about things we can’t change – an awesome Kingdom awaits us.
IV. Application: As a Christian, I need to:
1. Work on intimacy through time spent with Jesus; work on my prayer time; let the Holy Spirit guide me in gaining wisdom through study and serving.
2. Take joy in knowing that I don’t need to worry because He covers me with His feathers and protects me with His wings (Psalm 91:4); how awesome is that?
3. Know that He is my rock, my salvation and my fortress (Psalm 62:6); all I need to do is trust in Him and know that He has everything under control; He has planned out my life – worrying will not change one thing in my life.
4. Use every opportunity to show that God is my focus; use my teaching outlines to bring people to Scripture, especially when something is troubling them (today I used one that included Mark 6:31 with someone who needed a well-deserved rest after some very trying times); share how awesome my God is!!!
Follow through with your week 3 "Make a Plan" homework.
Read Chapter 4 in your book
Answer Week 4 study questions
Memorize James 1:5
Remember to pray for Debbie Smith's husband, J.B. scheduled for cardiac surgery on Wednesday.
Spend daily quiet time with the Lord enhancing your relationship with Him.
Bless those whose lives you touch.