Upcoming Study

 Our spring study, The Truth Project will begin on March 13. The Author, Dr. Del Tackett, has some interesting articles on his blog. https://www.deltackett.com/blog

The Truth Project is designed to help participants learn to integrate the biblical message with the big questions of life. To develop a biblical worldview and how to apply it to every aspect of life, instead of bringing a secular worldview to bear on the issues of the day.

Biblical foundations are laid for the various important spheres of life: law, politics, economics, history, science, the arts, sociology, education, and the media. All of these crucial areas are examined in terms of the biblical worldview, and participants are taught how to apply biblical principles to all these key fields.

Participants will learn how to organize and evaluate various opposing ideas that all claim to be the truth. But our ultimate goal is not simply to gain knowledge It is to "look upon the face of God" - and be transformed in the process.

Grace

 Dictionary definition of Grace: God's favor toward the unworthy or God's benevolence on the undeserving. 

Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving. BB Warfield 

Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues. John Stott

Grace is unconditional love toward a person who doesn't deserve it. Paul Zahl

Grace is God's best idea. His decision to ravage people by love to rescue passionately, and to restore justly - what rivals it? Of all his wondrous works, Grace, in my estimation, is the magnum opus. Max lucado

Gracious, the Hebrew word channun, in its verb form, means to be considerate, to show favor. That God is gracious would mean that he is favorably inclined toward us. That He wants to show favor to us. and to do what is best for us.

The concept of grace is a fundamental and a vital concept that is central to Christian belief. Grace is often defined as the unmerited favor, kindness, and mercy of God. It is God's freely given, undeserved love and assistance to humanity, particularly in the context of salvation and forgiveness of sins.

Grace is most needed and best understood in the midst of sin, suffering, and brokenness. We live in a world of earning, deserving, and merit, which result in judgment. That is why everyone wants and needs grace. Judgment kills. Only grace makes us alive.

Grace is “mercy, not merit” it is the opposite of karma, which is about getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve and not getting what you do deserve. Christianity teaches that what we deserve is death as the price of sin, which separates us from God, Who is life.

Christians live every day by the grace of God. Grace transforms our desires, motivations, and behavior. In fact, God’s grace grounds and empowers everything in the Christian life.

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-grace.html

 

Prayer Journaling

Have you ever kept a prayer journal? while preparing a presentation at church, I've become an even more ardent supporter of prayer journals. Quiet time in prayer with God teaches you about Him and gives you the opportunity to practice listening to Him. Prayer is a deeply spiritual experience that needs time to grow and mature. Through prayer you learn to distinguish between thoughts that are yours and those that come from God. It's one of the ways the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Prayers can have a powerful impact on your spiritual life. However, there is something about writing down prayers that can make them feel more real or tangible. Prayer should not just a request line to God. We are dearly loved by God and He wants to spend time with us. That's why He created us, to be in fellowship with Him. By extending our prayer topics to things other than what we want, we are entering into fellowship with God.

A prayer Journal can take many forms, from a simple notebook to a more elaborate Journal with prompts and sections for different types of prayers. It's just up to you to decide what works best for your needs and preferences. Whatever format you choose, using your prayer journal to connect with God and document your spiritual journey is key.

Benefits of a Prayer Journal:

• Enhances & encourages a consistent prayer practice by making your prayer life more meaningful and intentional. This practice can lead to a stronger connection with God and a more fulfilling prayer experience.

• It increases focus during prayer. Writing down your thoughts and feelings helps you stay focused and engaged during prayer time, It encourages a consistent prayer practice by making journaling a part of your daily routine. You are more likely to stay committed to your prayer life.

• It offers clarity. Writing down your prayers and thoughts lets you see them more clearly and objectively. It also helps you organize your thoughts and identify the things weighing heavily on your mind so that as you write, you may also gain new insights or perspectives you might have missed had you not taken the time to reflect and document your thoughts.

• Allows reflection on God's blessings and the expression of gratitude to him. It allows reflection on God's blessing and the expression of gratitude to him. As you record the things you are grateful for, you will begin to see the hand of God at work in your life. Just as Thessalonians 5:18 says give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you.

• Helps you keep track of your spiritual progress and growth. It promotes self-reflection and allows you to reflect on past prayers, see how God has answered them, and recognize growth areas in your faith journey. This helps you identify areas where you have grown and where you need to focus your prayers more.

• Helps you overcome spiritual fatigue when you feel spiritually disconnected, journaling can be a powerful tool to help you process your thoughts and emotions. By reflecting on your relationship with God, you understand your walk with God and renew your faith. Keeping it prayer Journal can also be a helpful way to get out of your spiritual rut and find a new sense of purpose and meaning in your spiritual life.

The Discipline of Prayer

 A Couple Familar Things...

I recently read about the need to renew our minds on how to pray, how little time most Christians spend in prayer, and the reasons behind the lack of time spent in prayer.  After reading that some people feel that prayer is boring and that we just keep repeating ourselves, I realized that my prayer life needs a boost.

I remembered a method of prayer that Rev. McClendon taught it to us a few years ago in church. It involves praying with scripture! 

Turning the Word into prayer includes ACTS, adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, supplication. Using scripture in prayer ensures:

1. You'll never have to say the same ole' prayer about the same ole' things. Always fresh, always new.

2. God will respond, you can interact with God. He can say something and you can say something.

3. Your soul will be satisfied

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Oh Father, I want to thank you today that Jesus is my Shepherd. Thank you for the privilege of being one of your sheep. I pray that you will make me an obedient sheep. Oh God, make me a good shepherd of the the people that you have entrusted into my care. Prayer for other shepherds.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Father I pray today that you might enable me to be led beside quiet waters, may my soul rest in you, Lord, satisfy my soul with you.

He restoreth my soul:

Lord, I know that so often I am prone to wander. I feel prone to leave the God I love, oh Lord restore me.

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Keep me in the path walking righteously. Guide me along the path you would have me follow, not the path the world follows.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

Lord, help me feel your presence daily as I walk in the world's shadows. Help me not to fear troubles I encounter.

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Jesus, you are my shepherd, please help me feel your love and comfort. I love you for providing comfort in this world of trouble.

Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

My cup is not just full but runs over with joy at the prospect of what you have prepared for me in heaven

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Lord, as a believer, I know that you will guide and protect me here in earth and when I live in perfect goodness with you in heaven. I'm so thankful to have you with me on my journey through life.

What I've Been Reading:

https://www.valmariepaper.com/7-reasons-prayer-feels-boring/

https://www.toolsformentoring.com/resources/small-group-helps/prayer-ideas.php

Luke and Matthew Beatitudes

Both start with a series of Beatitudes (Latin for blessing)

Luke 6:17 Sermon on the Plain

• may be Luke's account of the sermon that Matthew records in Matthew 5-7, or it may be that Jesus gave similar sermons on different occasions.

• called the beatitudes from the Latin word blessing describe what it means to be Christ's follower, give standards of conduct and contrast Kingdom values with worldly values, showing what followers can expect from the world and what God will give them. In addition, they contrast fake piety with true humility.

Matthew 5:12 Sermon on the Mount

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December 5, discussion 9, 11, 12 and music

December 12, discussion 14, 20, 21 and music

Since the book didn't cover all of Luke, we will spend the next two weeks with some great chapters that we missed along with some music.

Bite Size Bible Study

Shortly after retiring, I discovered this blog and was immediately captivated. The author, Gail Burton Purath, has a talent for being brief and to the point while still imparting deep truths about God and scripture. I've continued to read her blog over years, often finding passages that spoke to my sould and answered my questions.  

Gail Burton Purath: who is a former missionary with a Master's degree in Discipleship and Evangelism from Columbia Biblical Seminary. Since 2011, she's been posting five Bible Love Notes each week, and periodically she posts a Bible study on her sister site: Bite Size Bible Study. It's a short study "so you don't bite off more than you can chew."  Her first book was published in 2023. It's called Wisdom for Life and it features one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs.

Blog: Bite Size Bible Study: https://bitesizebiblestudy.blogspot.com/

Blog: Bible Love Notes: https://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/ 

Book: Wisdom for Life: https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/wisdom-for-life-devotional/