That moment.

The one where an unexpected sucker punch from life leaves you on your knees breathless.

Have you experienced that moment?

I’m not talking about stolen credit cards, four flat tires, late bills or air conditioners going out on the hottest summer day.

I’m talking about the knock you off your feet explosion that makes your insides liquefy.

I’ve experienced this more than I care to admit.  And every time I have tackled the situation with a series of well thought out strategies (insert sarcasm)!  After curling up into a ball and allowing the pain and grief to consume me, I proceeded to spend money like water on various completely worthwhile purchases (eye roll).  Oddly enough, the problem still existed and I didn’t feel any better.

Several weeks ago, that unwelcomed moment stormed in again.  However, this time, I tried a new approach.  Reminded of the words in James, to consider it all joy, a new strategy emerged.  Instead of succumbing to the pain, I put on my earphones, laced up my tennis shoes, and headed out the door to walk.

And I walked,

And walked,

And walked….

And while I walked I praised God.  I praised Him for the situation.  I praised Him for His faithfulness in the past.  I praised Him for the creation around me.  I praised Him for the music in my ears.

I sang to Him.  I cried to Him. I told Him I was ready for the battle.

And I felt good!

Yes, there was still pain.  Yes, I still had to face the situation. Yes, there was a lot of work to go through.

But I was entering  the battle ground with a different strategy this time.  I allowed Him in from the beginning – not when I had exhausted all my fixes.

That’s all He desires – to be in from the beginning.  He knows the way through the situation.  His path is straight.

Consider

• Read 1 Samuel 13: 1-14
  • Write down characteristics you see in Saul. Do any of these apply to your own life?
  • What caused Saul to sin?
  • Reread 1 Samuel 13:12
    • What is Saul’s excuse to Samuel for committing the sin?
      • He had to force himself….
      • The word for force is aphaq which means restrain.

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    • Read the following for other verses aphaq is used:
      • Genesis 45:1
      • Esther 5:10
      • Isaiah 42:14
    • Can you think of a situation in your own life where you had to “force” yourself to do something you knew you shouldn’t?
  • How might the outcome have changed if Saul had been obedient?
  • Saul’s disobedience received a grave consequence. How often do we jump the gun waiting on God by taking matters into our own hands? Describe a time in your life you have been impatient with God.

Feeling ambitious?

Read the following sets of scriptures:

James 1:2 and Matthew 5: 10-12

James 1:4 and Matthew 5:48

James 1:5 and Matthew 7: 7-12

• How does James incorporate the words of Jesus in his letter? What influence did Jesus have on James even when James was an unbeliever?

I sit staring at my calendar wondering how the schedule seems busier now than during the school year. With camps, activities and trips, it is hard to pick and choose which events are calendar worthy and which ones to take a pass on this year.  So I consider each neatly printed entry (written in pencil) on the dated blocks. How will this particular event benefit my children? Me? Is there enough time for each activity? How does this impact our family time?

But I’m asking the wrong questions – considering the lesser things.  The only real question of value is whether or not the activities are something the Lord wants for our family.

Consider 2 Timothy 2:1-7:

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, ² and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,^[a] who will be able to teach others also. ³ Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. ⁵ An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷ Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (ESV)

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This summer I desire a bountiful harvest for my family. So I will approach our summer calendar with a single-minded focus.

I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. (Psalm 119:10; MSG)

What is your single-minded focus? Does your calendar reflect it?

That moment.

The one where you find yourself face to face with someone’s true character.  Not the pretty façade they’ve normally displayed; the one that is covered. The one hidden from judgmental eyes and catty tongues.

And all you know to do is walk away – for a time.

To process the hurt.

To pray for guidance.

To heal a little.

And when it’s time to return –

a little wary

a little wiser

you try again.

To love and disciple the way God leads.

In Depth

Read John 15: 1-8

• How do we bear fruit?  What does v. 3 tell us?
• How does v. 6 relate to Mark 11:21?

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Read James 1: 22-25

• Spend some time asking God to reveal where there is hearing, but no doing.  What steps are needed for action?

Feeling Ambitious?

Read Jeremiah 8:13, Jeremiah 24: 1-10, Hosea 2:12 and Micah 7:1

• What do these verses say about the fig?  How do these verses apply to your life right now?

Read Jeremiah 33:3

There’s a song by Don Henley – “The Heart of the Matter” – where the chorus says:

“The more I know, the less I understand

All the things I thought I knew, I’m learning again

I’ve been trying to get down to the Heart of the Matter

But my will gets weak

And my thoughts seem to scatter

But I think it’s about forgiveness

Forgiveness”

Some random thoughts on these lyrics…

The more I study the Word, the less I understand my reluctance to share Christ with people I encounter.

I am in a daily process to relearn life His way instead of my way.

And the heart of the matter is this, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

But God understands it.  He knows the secrets of my heart (Psalm 44:21).

And when I am weak, then I can be strong in His strength and guidance (2 Co. 12: 8-10).

Scattered thoughts are made obedient to Christ (2 Co. 10:5).

And it is about forgiveness.  God’s forgiveness of me (and you) through His Son on the cross.  His sacrifice makes everything else possible.

In Depth

• Read Romans 1: 18-25
  • What is unbelief?
    • The word for unbelief is [apistia]
      • Faithlessness
      • Unbelief of Christian faith
      • Disobedience

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    • What is the unbelief in these verses?
    • Where are you struggling with unbelief right now?
      • Find scriptures to begin praying over this area of unbelief.
  • Create 2 columns – one for man’s actions and another for God’s actions
    • Circle any actions you see in your life right now. Either an action from yourself or an action from God. (Or possibly both…)

Feeling Ambitious?

Read Matthew 26:24

Read Luke 22: 54-62

Read John 21: 1 – 17

What do these scriptures teach about forgiveness?

Spend some time pondering the emotions Peter must have experienced during this time.  Write out the emotion/action combination.

Example:  fear/denial

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We all have an answer key at our fingertips…

Look familiar?

The answers we need in all areas of our lives are found within these pages.  Are you using the answer key He has provided?

In depth

• Read:
  • Romans 12:10
  • 1 Thess. 4:9
  • Hebrews 13:1
  • 1 Peter 1:22
  • 2 Peter 1:7

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• How do these verses relate to the Church of Philadelphia?
  • List what these verses tell us to do. Specifically write out how you obey each of the items on your list or how you can start obeying.
• In His letters to the churches, Christ follows a similar pattern with each:
  • Recipient
  • Lord describes Himself
  • “I Know..” section (commendation/criticism)
  • Exhortation
  • Listen
  • Reward
• Using this pattern, dissect the letter to the Church of Philadelphia to see how it fits this pattern. Choose one other letter in Revelation to dissect also.

Feeling ambitious?

Read the following writing by C S Lewis.  How does this article relate to the topic of keys?  How does it relate to the church?

http://www.lewissociety.org/innerring.php

I took my girls to the park this week.  I am embarrassed to admit it had been a long time.  A really long time!

And as I was swinging with them, emotions overwhelmed me.  My girls are big now and don’t need me to put them on the swing or push them.  Somehow, over the course of time, I have waited myself right out of some precious memories with my babies.

I waited for the weather to get cooler.

I waited for the weather to get warmer.

I waited for my girls to accomplish their to do list.

I waited for my schedule to have an opening.

I waited until I felt like it.

I waited.

And in the waiting, I missed the giggles between cries of,  “Push me higher mama.”  And the constant pleading, “Watch this mama, watch this!”

I tell them I’m sorry we haven’t done this more.  I promise to get better creating these moments.  Because I don’t want to wait myself out of moments anymore.

In depth

• Read 1 Samuel 15
  • Who are the key players in this chapter?
  • What are the major events?

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• Reread verse 5 (1 Samuel 15:5)
  • The word wait here is
    • Riyb rub – to grapple/wrangle
    • It is the same word used In Gen. 26:20 (strive) and Exodus 17:2 (chide)
  • How does this idea of waiting tie in with the lessons on waiting from Esther?
  • What parallels are there between Saul/Agag (Agag is most likely a title for the leader such as Pharaoh) and Mordecai/Haman?
    • What lesson can we apply to our lives from the relationship of these men?

Feeling ambitious?

• Read
  • Joel 2:28
  • Matt. 3: 11-12
  • John 14:16
• What do these verses have in common?
• What are the circumstances surrounding these words?
• How do these verses relate to Acts 1:4?

What’s on your mind?

I love Trump/I hate Trump

Immigration

Build a wall

Hollywood’s political insights

It’s a made up theme day

Here’s a picture of my kid

Here’s a picture of my food

Here’s a picture of my dog

Join me in Thriving – It Works – Plexus – Rodan and Fields – Younique…..

I just ran 70 miles

Here’s me at the gym doing 5,000 burpees

Here’s a cute meme

Type Amen and be blessed in the next five minutes with a zillion dollars

Marilyn Monroe will play you in your life movie

Htown Superbowl

Bipolar weather

You are now completely caught up with Facebook.  And your mind is free to focus elsewhere.  Take the time you would spend scrolling people’s walls to have a real life conversation with a friend.  Or take someone a cup of coffee and a donut and visit with them.  Spend time in prayer seeking what actions the Lord wants you to take today.  I promise you won’t miss a thing online, but you will gain a huge blessing!

In Depth

• Read Matthew 8:27. Consider the power of Jesus that even the winds and sea obey Him.
  • Obey – [hupakouo] – listen attentively/heed or conform to a command
  • How can we come along side one another to produce this kind of obedience to His commands?

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• Consider the same question with Mark 1:27
• Read Luke 17:6. What does this verse say about us? Why do we struggle with believing this?
  • Find at least three verses to support the authority we possess in His Spirit. (Please share what you find)

Feeling ambitious?

Read Leviticus 19: 9 – 37.  Make a list of the laws given in these verses.  How do these verses tie in to the greatest commandment? (Mark 12:29-31)

Forsaken.

Such an ugly word.

Even uglier when experienced.

Many years ago I received a text from a friend of two decades.  It simply read, “I can no longer be your friend.”

Devastation flooded through me. What had I done wrong? How could I fix it? I replied through text. I sent letters and cards.

Silence.

Throughout the entire grieving period of the lost friendship, God made it clear that this was His will.  Though I was forsaken by this person, He assured me that I was never forsaken by Him (Deut. 31:6).  He is the constant companion who calls me friend (John 15:15).

In Depth

• Choose Isaiah 53 or Genesis 22. (Both if time permits)
  • Compare your chosen chapter to Psalm 22 and Matthew 27.
    • What are similarities and fulfilled prophesies?

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  • Read Deut. 28:20 and 29:25. Forsaken is used here for the first time in the Old Testament. (Forsake is first used in Deut. 4:31).
    • What is the who, what, when, where, why and how of these verses?
      • How do these verses apply to us today?

Feeling ambitious?

Create a chronology of Christ’s crucifixion with the four gospels.  (Try not to just print this off the internetJ).  Compare your chronology with Psalm 22.  Are there more parallels between the Psalm and the gospels?