Studying through Isaiah {a nearly new Bible study}

I am SO sorry for not telling you about this sooner, but I am studying through a new Bible Study. I had fully intended to tell you BEFORE I started, but life kind of got "in the way". As before, if you want to join, we have a Facebook group where we are sharing our thoughts, daily, or whenever we are able.

Previously, I have studied through smaller books, such as an Epistle, and only read a few verses per day.  In recent years I have read through Isaiah, and thought about coming back to it, to write down my thoughts, and study it in a bit more detail. I thought now was as good a time as any!

I knew that there were many references to Christ, particularly in a prophetic way, throughout Isaiah. Springing from that knowledge, I decided to do two things, as I read a chapter a day. Firstly, asking, and noting down, how is the Lord challenging me in this chapter? Secondly, how can I see Christ in this chapter. I knew it wouldn't always be a direct reference, but just searching to see the Saviour in my reading. It's a valuable thing to do in ANY Bible reading. It may not be reading more into the meaning of the verses, than God intended in its literal meaning, but simply trying to remember that Christ is the theme of the whole of scripture. He's there, in many ways, all the way through.

So, we began last Monday, reading a chapter a day, Monday to Friday, with the weekend to do less of a formal Bible reading, or to catch up on the week.

Already, my heart is being blessed, as I see Christ afresh, in new ways, chapter by chapter.

Let me share some of the thoughts that have blessed my heart, and challenged me.

One thing that has struck me is the reference to conflict and enemies.  We live in a day and age where we see much conflict, and many enemies. It's SO like the times of Isaiah.

Chapter one challenged me to be DOING. There is a list, in verses 16-19, of verbs.

Wash, put away, cease, learn, seek, relieve, judge and plead.

Our Christian life SHOULD be one of action. We don't rest on our laurels, waiting for heaven. We should be working for the Lord - serving Him, in whatever way we can.  More importantly, the instruction to be "willing and obedient" is given. We are not to begrudgingly serve our Saviour, but with a willing heart, give of all we have and are. Obeying, with a happy heart.

Chapter 2 mentions two times (and any time something is repeated in scripture, it's worthy of note), that the loftiness of man will be bowed down, and haughtiness brought low.  Chapter 9 also spoke of pride. We need to send pride packing. We can not be anything other than humble in our Christian walk. To think that we are without fault, and never in the wrong, is sinful! Pride abased, the Lord lifted up. "He must increase, and I must decrease".

Chapter 3 reminded me that it is the righteous who eat "fruit". We need to seek righteousness, "and all these things shall be added" unto us.

Chapter 5 was a reminder that sin must be punished, and it angers God.

Chapter 6 was the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. Where is the Lord in MY life? Is He in the highest position, or am I allowing other things to come before the things of my Saviour?


I have especially enjoyed finding Christ!  Seeing my Saviour, has been the joy of my mornings, and a treasure worth seeking and finding.

Chapter 1 I saw him in scarlet and crimson, pointing me to His shed blood,.
Chapter 2 was Christ as a rebuker, as we remember Him doing so to the Pharisees, and even His own disciples.
Chapter 3, was pointing to THE righteousness, and my own unrighteousness before Him.
Chapter 4, Christ the branch, beautiful to us, and all glorious.
Chapter 5, Christ, arms outstretched to save, in love, as the antithesis of judgement, also needed.
Chapter 6, our sin purged, by the work of Christ alone, not by any works of our own.
Chapter 7, Immanuel, God with us! What a precious, yet awesome, truth!
Chapter 8, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence - but to us who believe, HE IS PRECIOUS!
Chapter 9, oh the thrill in that list of names - Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. SO much, in just a few names.

It's fascinating how much you can find.  The Lord has already truly blessed the reading of this book, to my heart and life.

Please join in this study, or plan to start it at some point.  You will not be disappointed.

I will be coming back to you, to share some more deeper insights, which the Lord has challenged me with.

You can find our study group if you search for Bible Study Blessings on Facebook. We'd love to have you join us!

You are Loved {A Good Morning Girls book study}

I have had a rather traumatic 24 hours. Yesterday evening, my cutie little Simeon got his hand caught in the hinge side of a door, and gashed his hand, and bruised it, too. It was an unavoidable accident, but was traumatic for all involved, not least of all Simeon.

I HATE it when a child gets hurt.  I desperately wanted to be the one to take him into the hospital to e checked, but I had Tabitha to care for, so I stayed at home.  After several hours of waiting, and being seen, Robert and Simeon arrived back home, at nearly 1 am. Simeon had his hand steri-stripped and glued, but there was no "major" damaged, which was an answer to prayer.

He's bounced back remarkably well today, and, in fact, we've had trouble keeping him still! Just his usual "Simeon" self! The challenge will be for us, trying to keep his dressings on!

Times like this emphasise just how much you love your children. Seeing them in pain, and not being able to instantly make it all better, is SO hard.  Seeing another child so sad, because she felt responsible for what she perceived to be her fault, and having to console her, and try and convince her hurting heart that it was an accident, with no-one to blame!  Trying to explain to the others what was happening, and reassure them it WOULD be ok.

I have also, recently, heard of some dreadfully sad situations, with children seriously ill, and dying. That, too, makes me hug my children closer, and love them all the more.

We simply don't know what a day will bring forth, and we need to just make every moment count - loving deeply, sincerely, unconditionally.  The love that you have for those closest to you, is almost indescribable.  It's a very special bond, which God has given us.

Loving our family, however, is NOTHING compared to how God loves us.  Our love is flawed by mortal imperfections, and doesn't hold a candle to the shining example of God's love.

Today, I began the latest Good Morning Girls study.  I have joined in others before now, usually based on a portion of scripture, or a book of the Bible.  This summer's one is a bit different.  It's based on the new book, co-written by Sally Clarkson, and Angela Perritt, called "You are Loved - embracing the everlasting love God has for you".

We have a question we ask OFTEN in this house.  "What's the most important thing?" to which, of course, the answer is "love".

Which one of doesn't need to remind ourselves of God's love for us?  Which of us doesn't need to learn more about love?  We are sinners, saved by God's grace, but often feel our sinfulness deeply.  It is tempting to feel that as we are so unloveable, that we are undeserving of God's love.  Yet, He DOES love us.  There may be times that we don't fully understand God, and His love for us, or how to love others, in the way God loves us. Perhaps we battle with Satan, trying to tell us we don't deserve God's love at all?

This 8 week study covers all of these issues, and more.  The chapters you read are not long, and are easy to read. There is a memory verse and a challenge for each week, a scripture portion to read daily, verses to use in a SOAP study method (as I explained here), and deeper questions to study. You can do as much or as little as your available time allows, and you will be blessed, I am sure, even if you were just to follow the reading plan.

If you want to follow along, find out more information at the Good Morning Girls page.  They will be sharing various helps and encouragements along the way, including video messages from the authors.   I will also be sharing something, every week, about what I am learning from the study.

As I have said before, reading and studying God's Word is always worthwhile.  I would also say that anything I have read by Sally Clarkson is extremely worthwhile, as she truly understnads the hearts of wives and mothers.

You can follow along very simply, or if you have more time you can be more involved.  Either way, consider joining in with this study, over the next couple of months.  I am sure your heart will be blessed.

I will finish y sharing this week's memory verse.  It's a good'un!

What blessed, precious truths!!

God is mighty - He will save - He will rejoice over you - you can rest in his love.

Resting in God's love.

, 

Letting go of all our earthly cares, sorrows, trials, and exhaustions, and simply REST, in the knowledge that we are loved by a mighty God.

I trust that you are able to join in with this study - you can buy the book as a paperback, or in Kindle edition. (If you are Amazon Prime customer, you can borrow it for FREE!)  Alternatively, you can just follow the simple reading plan each week.

Looking forward to learning and growing this summer. Will you join me?

A give-away!

Roll up!  Roll up!

Who would like to win something?

On my other blog, for my scripture memory challenge, I gave away a Journible.  I ordered it for the winner from one shop, where it was out of stock.  So, I got it from somewhere else for the winner, and forgot I had ordered the first one.  I had also bought myself one, when I got the winner hers.  So, I got an email the other day to say they were in stock, and it was on it's way!  So, I now have a "spare" copy, and I thought I would give it away!

They are a Journal, where you write out whole books of the Bible, with any notes you want to take as well.  On each double page spread, the scripture is written out on the right, and the notes on the left.  Learn more about them here.

It covers both the Epistle that I am memorising, Philippians,  (please, take up the challenge, and learn it in a year, like I am doing!), and the book that i am studying through with my Good Morning Girls, Ephesians!

They are a really great resource, and I am sure you would be blessed by using it in your Bible Study and devotions.

So, how can you win one?  You have an entry by simply commenting below (if you don't have a google account, sign in with the "anonymous" and then put your name in the actual comment).  You get another if you blog about it, then post the link in the comments.  You get another by sharing it on Facebook, and posting that you have done it, in the comments below.  You can get another for each person you refer to "like" the page on Facebook (they must tell me in their own comment here, that you referred them!).  So, up to 4 entires.  winners will be chosen by www.random.org.

I am willing to ship anywhere, so go on, have a try!

You have until midnight on Friday, 26th August 2011.  So, go ahead, spread the word, and try and win yourself a Journible!

How can we raise a godly generation? - Part 1

I mentioned in this post, about the warning we read of in Judges, about a generation who fell away from following after the Lord.

So, how can we raise a godly generation, you ask?  What should we be doing to lead them away from following after the world, and all it's allurements, and to follow after God instead?  I should also point out here, that we CANNOT save our children.  We can only guide them and train them in the ways of the Lord.

Also, before I begin,  I KNOW my children are still relatively young, so this is very much written from the "going through" point of view, not the "finished the journey" perspective!  I am just trying to live out a life that will raise my children to follow God's ways, and not man's ways.

I am going to cover this in a few posts, as I realised quickly that there was a lot to share about!

So, here are the first areas which I believe are important in raising a godly generation.

1.MAKE SURE YOU ARE OBEYING GOD FIRST

We cannot possibly teach our children how to walk in the right ways, if we are not doing so first.

Are we reading God's Word....seeking how to follow Him daily, and honour Him in our lives? - do you have a daily quiet time - immersing yourself in scripture - in learning how we are to live our life in a way that is pleasing to Him?  Are we following God's ways in our life? - are we living in obedience, or do we just have an empty profession?   Do we seek continually to make sure that our lives are being lived in accordance to God's Word?   - do we seek to weed out the sin in our life, and daily come in repentance for our failings before God?  Do we know about God - who He is - what He expects of us - what He does for us?  Do we know what the scriptures teach us about how to do be the wives and mothers that we should be? - do we seek to put it into practice?   If we don't do all of these things, then we simply can NOT teach them to our children!

There are many ways to study the scriptures.  As I mentioned here, I am methodically reading through the Bible in a year.  It's amazing how many truths you see afresh, as you read through lesser read parts of the Bible.

Do make sure you note down thoughts on the way through.  I currently have a page in my Prayer Journal titled "God....." and then I take a note of things I learn about who He is, and what He does for me.  There are many things you could pick out - promises, rebukes, prayers, instructions.  Don't overwhelm yourself with too many at once.  Keep your thoughts focussed, and you will remember them better.

You can also do a more detailed study, only studying a couple of verses each day. In our Good Morning Girls group, we studied the book of James like this, earlier this year.  We used the SOAP method, which I had never before heard of!

S - Write out the scripture for that day
O - take a note of a couple of observations you make from the verses
A - how does this apply to your life?
P - pray, and ask the Lord to plant these observations and applications in your life, and cause them to take root and grow.

We are thinking of studying through the book of Ephesians until the end of the year, using this method.  We were so blessed and challenged by the truths that we learnt, through studying God's Word this way.

There are also many Bible Study books, that study through a theme, or character in the Bible.  Elizabeth George has many good studies like that.

You could also use a programme such as e-sword, which is a free, downloadable Bible Study software, to search for instances of certain words or themes in the Bible, and just study through them one by one, to gain a better understanding on a topic.

Whatever you do, DO study God's Word.  Your heart will be blessed, and your life drawn into sweeter communion with the Lord.

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;"

Colossians 1:10  

2. DON'T BE A HYPOCRITE!

I know this is something that I need to work on more, and is VERY important.  You can NOT start telling your children about the way they should live, and not apply it to your own life.  Children can spot a hypocrite a mile off, and they will not respect your instruction if they can see your are not living it first.  I knew of someone who always said "Do as I say, not as I do".  I don't like that much. Yes, children need to obey us, but if our own actions do not match up with our instruction, that is a terrible example to our children.

"don't read your book until you have tidied you room, Johnny"
(whilst Mum sits with her book, dishes stacked up in the kitchen, not cleaned.....)

"don't get so angry with your brothers and sisters, Jane"
(spoken by the mother who just lost the rag with her children 10 minutes before)

"think before you speak"
(says the Mum, who just spoke to Dad in a less-than-patient tone)

"don't leave that job unfinished"
(with Mum's unfinished projects in the corner)

There are many more examples I could give, but better that you think of ones that apply to your own heart and life!  And, trust me, this is an area that I need to put a lot of work into...


 "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."

James 3:17 

3. THE POWER OF A GOOD EXAMPLE
As a flip side to not being a hypocrite, we NEED to be a GOOD example.  You want your children to learn Bible verses? - YOU learn Bible verses.  You want your children to read their Bible? - YOU read your Bible.  You want your children to be generous? - YOU be generous.  You want your children to be kind?  - YOU be kind.  You get the idea.....


"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

 Matthew 5:16

Please, PLEASE share about your experiences in these areas!  Some small thing that you do, or an experience you can share about, may be an unimaginable blessing and encouragement to someone else! 

Link up below, or share in the comments section below.   

(If you have trouble with the comments log-in, just sign in as anonymous, and then put your name at the end.  Signing up with google is fairly quick, though!)