Some famous people are known by one name. Elvis, Madonna and Beyoncé come to mind. Even Jesus, the name above all names and the name that when called every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, is just a noun. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Our Lord is so great His name is a sentence. I AM. A simple declarative sentence that is packed with power to humble, to heal, to rescue, and to resurrect. "This is my name forevermore, and this is my name by which all future generations shall remember me." Exodus 3:14-15
Thinking upon the great I AM and his attributes grows my faith.
I AM enough.
I AM provision.
I AM trustworthy.
I AM love.
I AM all you need.
I AM _________________ .
I am thankful my name is written in the book of life (Revelation 21:27), and I can call upon I AM.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Saturday, November 22, 2014
One thing lead to another
Our summer Bible study lead into a summer series. Our little group and four guests dove into a second study by Hayley DiMarco. If you think you can't learn something from a study for teenage girls, think again.
Obsessed: Making Christ the Desire of Your Heart is a 6 session Bible study written for teenage girls. Author Haley DiMarco challenges teen girls to confront their obsessions through Scripture and allow Jesus Christ to redeem the desires of their hearts. Because with the right desire, obsession can be a good thing. We were made to be obsessed — with God and His call on our lives. Yet, so often, we give our hearts to lesser gods — guys, appearance, popularity, grades, goals, sports, and even friends — rather than Jesus.
Summer then changed into fall and our ladies group began meeting to journey with Beth Moore and the apostle Paul.
We have room for more if anyone would like to join us on Sunday nights!!!
Summer then changed into fall and our ladies group began meeting to journey with Beth Moore and the apostle Paul.
To Live Is Christ: The Life and Ministry of Paul by Beth Moore provides a personal study experience five days a week plus viewer guides for the group video sessions of this in-depth women's Bible study on the life and ministry of Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul served faithfully, loved heartily, and demonstrated what it means to die daily, crucified with Jesus Christ. Join Beth Moore in a journey to discover a greater appreciation for his unflagging faith and undying devotion to servanthood.
We have room for more if anyone would like to join us on Sunday nights!!!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
More Studies on the Horizon
May has brought the end of our study of the patriarchs. Once again, it was never a minute wasted. Learning through God's word brings such joy, and conviction sometimes. It is well worth the journey. In the fall we will move on to a study of Paul.
June is bringing a unique study. A friend and I along with our four daughters with be completing Simple Surrender by Nashville's own Hayley DiMarco. I am so excited to pass along the excitement of Bible study to the next generation. The knowledge gained is worth more than gold.
The Bible study will examine how six women in the Old Testament surrendered their lives into the larger picture of God's sovereignty. Some became heroes found in the Book of Hebrews' Hall of Faith (Heb. 11). Others were minor characters whose lives ended in obscurity. Girls will discover the sweet joy that comes with a life fully surrendered to God, willing to play a role in God's plan, large or small. Girls will be challenged to defy culture's pursuit of prominence and power as they seek God's fame and glory, not their own. In the end, they'll discover that such surrender results in ripple effects that they may never see this side of eternity.
June is bringing a unique study. A friend and I along with our four daughters with be completing Simple Surrender by Nashville's own Hayley DiMarco. I am so excited to pass along the excitement of Bible study to the next generation. The knowledge gained is worth more than gold.
The Bible study will examine how six women in the Old Testament surrendered their lives into the larger picture of God's sovereignty. Some became heroes found in the Book of Hebrews' Hall of Faith (Heb. 11). Others were minor characters whose lives ended in obscurity. Girls will discover the sweet joy that comes with a life fully surrendered to God, willing to play a role in God's plan, large or small. Girls will be challenged to defy culture's pursuit of prominence and power as they seek God's fame and glory, not their own. In the end, they'll discover that such surrender results in ripple effects that they may never see this side of eternity.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Old Words Worth Eating, Not Reading
Once again I am having to eat my words. These words are 2 years old. But God remembered me writing them in a year end ministry letter, and he used a book entitled Friendship at the Margins by Christopher L. Heuertz and Christine D. Pohl to teach me.
Heuertz and Pohl show how friendship is a real Christian vocation that can bring reconciliation and healing to our broken world. They contend that unlikely friendships are at the center of an alternative plan for mission, where people are not objectified as potential converts but reached through a relationship of mutual giving and receiving.
I have seen that up close and personal here in the hotel. But I hit a pitfall. Heuertz and his ministry, Word Made Flesh, did not fall into that trap. He wrote that a challenge to "faithfulness and friendship emerged" when people wanted us to publish success stories. They resisted. "These were friends, beloved friends. Some still in the throws of working things out in their lives." (p. 37)
I didn't completely resist. Here is what I said two years ago in that letter. "The opportunity to privately pray for or to pray with individuals as we cross their paths and learn of their lives has been a privilege. We have encountered the unchurched and children, struggling believers and non-believers, gays and grandmothers, verbal abusers and controllers, college students and tourists, mothers and fathers, Wicken members and singles, as well as, drug dealers and exotic dancers."
Why didn't I resist? I remember having some wisdom to not give specifics, but why did I have to negatively characterize my fellow hotel dwellers? Some were strangers, others acquaintances. But some were friends. Friends, I still pray for today because I care for them.
Why did I have to point out their shortcomings when I have my own? All for the sake of trying to prove we were doing a good job here in the land of ministry that is why. I was wrong. I judged myself better than them and even put myself on a pedestal. That too was WRONG!
Lord, thank you for continually teaching me.
Heuertz and Pohl show how friendship is a real Christian vocation that can bring reconciliation and healing to our broken world. They contend that unlikely friendships are at the center of an alternative plan for mission, where people are not objectified as potential converts but reached through a relationship of mutual giving and receiving.
I have seen that up close and personal here in the hotel. But I hit a pitfall. Heuertz and his ministry, Word Made Flesh, did not fall into that trap. He wrote that a challenge to "faithfulness and friendship emerged" when people wanted us to publish success stories. They resisted. "These were friends, beloved friends. Some still in the throws of working things out in their lives." (p. 37)
I didn't completely resist. Here is what I said two years ago in that letter. "The opportunity to privately pray for or to pray with individuals as we cross their paths and learn of their lives has been a privilege. We have encountered the unchurched and children, struggling believers and non-believers, gays and grandmothers, verbal abusers and controllers, college students and tourists, mothers and fathers, Wicken members and singles, as well as, drug dealers and exotic dancers."
Why didn't I resist? I remember having some wisdom to not give specifics, but why did I have to negatively characterize my fellow hotel dwellers? Some were strangers, others acquaintances. But some were friends. Friends, I still pray for today because I care for them.
Why did I have to point out their shortcomings when I have my own? All for the sake of trying to prove we were doing a good job here in the land of ministry that is why. I was wrong. I judged myself better than them and even put myself on a pedestal. That too was WRONG!
Lord, thank you for continually teaching me.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Family Business
Read another good book ... The Duck Commander Family by Willie and Korie Robertson.
I don't watch the show but was curious about the business knowledge I could gain from it. I requested it a long time ago via the Nashville Public Library. There were 19 holds ahead of me, but I finally received the e-mail to pick it up this last week.
What I learned and liked?
1) God is still alive and well in the business world. I needed to see that right about now as we are in our off season with our family business. I could relate to many things they said since their business was seasonal.
2) I liked how they talked about what value each family member brought to the business. I liked that they valued working with family and friends. I enjoyed how they enjoyed their extended family. It reminded me of my growing up years.
I am glad I read it on this cold weekend. It helped me appreciate my family and business more.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
The Ladies and Jesus
The ladies and I concluded the study of David in December with a feast fit for a king. Who knew a bible study group that began in a hotel gym could complete seven studies in just two years.
A new study looms on the horizon come February. Join us for The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by (you guessed it) Beth Moore.
"Patriarchs is a 10 week journey through Genesis 12-50. Discover God's pursuit of a relationship with man, and marvel as His plan to bless all people unfolds. Full of twists and turns, ruin and redemption, revelation and mystery this Bible study keeps participants captivated by the God who stars in it! Explore concepts such as blessing, covenant, and promise, and the bearing each has on a New Testament believer's life today. Group members will also study the Hebrew names of God introduced on the early pages of Scripture. Many of the most profound and enduring concepts in the whole counsel of God's Word are initiated in this marvelous book of beginnings." (Source: LifeWay)
On another note, I finished Swindoll's book on Jesus. I see why I was not ready to read it until now. I needed to have the Cycle 1 Foundations and Essentials curriculum from Classical Conversations under my belt to fully understand the historical information he gave.
On several occasions I read passages to my daughter because it gave facts we were familiar with through her homeschool work. I understood things about the times in which Jesus lived that I never did before. I just did not have that ancient history background from my school days.
There was something else I wanted to tell you about the book, but I can't remember. I so wish I could remember more from the books I read. I enjoy and learn from them for the moment, but they soon wash from the memory.
Is that the way it is suppose to work?
A new study looms on the horizon come February. Join us for The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by (you guessed it) Beth Moore.
"Patriarchs is a 10 week journey through Genesis 12-50. Discover God's pursuit of a relationship with man, and marvel as His plan to bless all people unfolds. Full of twists and turns, ruin and redemption, revelation and mystery this Bible study keeps participants captivated by the God who stars in it! Explore concepts such as blessing, covenant, and promise, and the bearing each has on a New Testament believer's life today. Group members will also study the Hebrew names of God introduced on the early pages of Scripture. Many of the most profound and enduring concepts in the whole counsel of God's Word are initiated in this marvelous book of beginnings." (Source: LifeWay)
On another note, I finished Swindoll's book on Jesus. I see why I was not ready to read it until now. I needed to have the Cycle 1 Foundations and Essentials curriculum from Classical Conversations under my belt to fully understand the historical information he gave.
On several occasions I read passages to my daughter because it gave facts we were familiar with through her homeschool work. I understood things about the times in which Jesus lived that I never did before. I just did not have that ancient history background from my school days.
There was something else I wanted to tell you about the book, but I can't remember. I so wish I could remember more from the books I read. I enjoy and learn from them for the moment, but they soon wash from the memory.
Is that the way it is suppose to work?
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