We give and God blesses...

The title of the chapter we were on Tuesday in the book What Happens When Women That Say Yes to God was

Giving Up What Was Never Ours...We are managers, not owners, of God's resources

Two significant things happened in class:

One, a lady shared that although she loves blessing others she has never been blessed in a tangible way.

The second thing was that a lady asked for prayer for their finances.  She had to leave class early so she told me the request before leaving. As we were going to prayer another lady in our group felt that we were to help supply the financial need. How fun to reach into our purses and give to this precious lady. A card would be purchased and we would give her the card with the money in it the following week.

Eight of us went to lunch after the study. As we were preparing to pay our bill the waitress told us a man in the restaurant paid for our lunch. He paid the bill for ALL of us! We could not believe it...it was our lesson.  It was saying yes to God.  It was receiving a blessing when we give what is not ours.  We began to reach into our purses to bless the waitress.  As we left that day I looked at the pile of money laying there on the table and wished I could see her eyes when she came to clear the table. I could hardly wait to share this story. I wonder if the waitress is telling someone this story?  And the man that paid our bill must be filled with joy for blessing us. I have a card with a large sum of money ready to give to the lady with a financial need and can hardly wait to see her smile. 

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.

1 John 3:18-19



I am keeping my eyes and my heart open for opportunities God places in front of me to give, to bless another and to say YES to God! 

It's a choice...

Today's devotion from Jesus Calling really spoke to my heart!

Romans 8:38-39

 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Exodus 33:14

And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest."

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME;nothing can separate you from My Love.

Since I have invested My very Life in you, be well assured that I will also take care of you.

...Each moment you can choose to practice My Presence

or to practice the presence of problems.

I am thankful that nothing can separate me from His love!

I choose to practice the presence of the Lord and receive His rest!

Say yes...

 

Ladies Bible study has started!!! Lisa TerKeurst says, "Do you want to experience life in extraordinary ways? Then see what happens when you say yes to God! Embrace simple obedience and watch it transform your life into a remarkable journey.  Say yes and discover the blessings God has planned for you." As I was encouraging the ladies at the first class I told them we would all have stories to share of times that we said Yes to God and how our lives would be changed through this. I left thinking that I sure hoped I would have some stories but could not imagine what they might be.

The title of the first chapter is A Soul That Longs for More...Whatever God Says Do, Do It!

This morning on the way to church God brought a young man's name to my mind. This young man has been looking for a job for some time. I knew I was to pray for him. As I prayed I thought I wished I had brought some food to give him.  Immediately I heard the Lord speak to my heart. This was our conversation:

God: Give him $20

Me: Lord I really don't have an extra $20 to give.

God: Give him $20.

Me: I have enough money to pay the bill I owe.

God: Give him $20.  You will have enough left.

Me: I don't think he will even be there this morning.

God: Give him $20.

Me: Ok, if I see him I will give him $20. (totally doubted that I would see him)

I walked into church and began talking to a friend. Up walked the young man I had been praying for. My friend was called away and I was left standing with him. I knew what to do. I reached in my purse and pulled out $20. (rarely do I have cash). As I handed it to him I told him the Lord told me I was to give it to him. I also told him that God loved him and cared about his situation and that I would continue to pray for him to find a job. I know he was blessed but I was too. Hearing God and doing what He said this morning brought me peace and joy...and excitement to see what else He is going to ask me to do. 

I am anticipating wonderful stories from the ladies in class who are willing to say YES to God!  What is your story?

Psalm 16:7-9

 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,

Life in a Bag...

 Thanks goes to my dear friend Linda for suggesting this!
Every Tuesday morning at our Ladies Bible Study we do

Life in a Bag

before we begin our discussion of the lesson.  The week before I ask three ladies to volunteer.  The following week each lady brings a bag with 5 things (often they put more than that, as it is so hard to choose what to include) in the bag. They are to tell who they are and then as they show the things they brought tell something about their life. The last thing they are to tell is what God is doing in their life right now. These times have been deep and the sharing heart felt. I learned how one of our ladies traveled from her home in Africa to several other countries before coming to American. She spoke of the faithfulness of God through all the moves. I heard another lady tell of how her heart is still hurting from the death of her sister last summer and I knew how I should pray for her. I learned that one of the ladies has had many heartaches in her life. As she finished she held up a picture that said, 'Rejoice Always' and told us that is what God was teaching her. Another lady shared of all the fun things she has done with her grandchildren. We all smiled as we heard about her teaching her grandchildren to roller blade. We had no idea she knew how to do that. We have cried and we have laughed. Each lady is a gift from God and their lives reflect the love of the Lord. I believe this, as well as our discussion time, is bonding us together! Let me know if you try this with a group you are a part of!

More Fresh Brewed Life

We just finished our third week of studying the book Fresh Brewed Life.  I am blessed to be studying this with 28 ladies.  As we sit around the table each week and share our hearts and what the Lord is speaking to us through our study I am learning so much.

Each week I read this verse from the Amplified Bible to the class before we begin discussion.  This is the life God intends for us!

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
John 10:10

Last week our chapter was on writing in a journal.  I had fun choosing one.  I love the cover.

Then when I opened it I was so happy to see quotes as well as scripture on each page. I love the pen I chose to use.  It was given to me by Stephanie, my sister who is a missionary in Honduras.

One of our assignments was to read Psam 130.  Wait for the Lord and if He tells you something, write it down.  If He asks you something, answer Him.  If He directs you to do something, do it.  I did and it was a meaningful time for me.  

Why don't you try this today!

Fresh Brewed Life

Tomorrow is the first day of our fall Ladies Bible Study.  I had no idea the number of ladies that would sign up.  Believing there would be 12 I ordered that many books. I ordered more and more books each week as the ladies signed up.  I am so excited that we have 30 ladies in our group. Tomorrow these beautiful ladies will sit around the tables and open up their hearts as we begin our study Fresh-Brewed Life, by Nicole Johnson. I am so excited to see what God is going to do in each of our lives.

This is what she says about her book:

"Living a Fresh Brewed Life requires that women encounter a beautiful awakening in three areas. First, to God as they respond to His tender, passionate love for them; second to themselves as they embrace their identities as women, their gifts, and their dreams; and third to others as they learn to love and communicate in ways that bring joy and closeness."

Are you involved in a Bible study?  What are you studying?

May calendar!

Isn't this the cutest calendar for your computer desktop?  I just love it.  It came from a blog I follow.  Want one? Visit the160acrewoods and you can dowload it for free.

Happy Mother's Day!

Memorizing verses..

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

How do you feel when someone tells you to memorize a scripture?  Is your first thought that you can't do that?  That is mine.  And almost every Bible study I have ever done encourages me to memorize scripture.  So why do I panic?  Maybe I am looking at it as a test and if I don't get it right I am in trouble.  This seems a little funny to me right now since I am doing a study on God's grace.  I have nine verses to memorize.  There is one each week.  I am asking the sweet ladies in my class to do this too.  I haven't asked them, but from the look on their faces I think they may be feeling the same way as me.  Another funny thing is that as I sit here writing there are many verses that are coming to my mind that I know from memory. I don't feel any pressure sitting here alone.  I am asking the Lord to let me remember why I am memorizing. 

I am doing it so I will know Him and 

I will know how to live. 

Last week's verse was:

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth

were realized through Jesus Christ.  John 1:17

This week's verse is:

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace

with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom

also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this

grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the

glory of God.  Romans 5:1-2

This is the year continued...

The  grass withers ,

the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8

How is your Bible reading coming along?  I have been reading every day with my journal and pen beside me ready to write down a scripture that the Lord speaks to my heart for the day.  It has been fun, exciting and a blessing each day.  I love how the Lord knows my needs and a verse will just pop out at me and it is what I needed for that time in my day, life or someone's life I am praying for. 

Besides comments that were made on this blog I have had friends tell me they read my blog and they too are reading the Bible.  Last Sunday a friend encouraged me to keep on reading as she had done this last year and what it meant to her.  I love when friends come along side us to help and encourage us in our daily walk with the Lord.

It is not too late to pick up your Bible and start reading.  It doesn't matter to God that it is not Jan 1. In fact one person commented on my blog that the Lord led her to read through the Bible in 40 days during a fast her family was doing. I know God blessed her obedience.  We read books all the time, but do we read the most important book?  Looking forward to hearing how you are doing!