Short & Sweet: She Sat

Nourishment for the Soul

Nourishment for the Soul

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’  feet and heard His word.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42

I am a list maker; a task oriented kind of girl.

I like getting things done. But, I also know how to take a break and rest. Mary of Luke 10, is that kind of woman as well. She also had her priorities straight – Jesus.
Mary didn’t always have it together, her past is kind of sketch. Her name literally means “their rebellion.” After meeting Jesus, however, she gained a new reputation: the One Who Sat at Jesus’ Feet.  She sat.

She sat.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be so connected to Jesus that in order for people to describe you they’d have to mention, “Oh, that’s Mary-who-sat-at-Jesus’-feet. She sat. What did Mary do while she sat? She heard the Word. She heard the Word from The Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God, and the Word was with God.
Can you imagine?

Martha tells on her.

Martha is busy with much serving …on her feet … distracted.
Mary is busy with God … at His feet … filled.
She sat.
“Mary has chosen the good part, and it will not be taken from her.”
We get to choose too.

Action Points

  1.  The key to life is spending more time at His feet than on your feet. How can you make time to sit at His feet?
  2. What gets in the way of spending more time at His feet?
  3. What phrase characterizes your life now? _______________ How would people describe you? She/He ____________.

Life is sweet.

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1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith, Part 16: The Quiet Life

DOve JPEG 10 edtI love the quiet. As a busy teacher, who spends much of the school year with noisy, energetic children, I long for peace and quiet. The quiet life. God also loves quiet and wants us to live the quiet life. In the stillness of the quiet life, we can hear God’s voice speak words of life and hope.

Even though God calls us to live the quiet life, that doesn’t mean we are to be silent. In season and out of season, we need to be ready to tell everyone we meet about the grace we have found in Jesus Christ.

So how do you live the quiet life, and yet speak loudly of the kingdom of God? God’s Word contains the answer. To continue your study of 1 Thessalonians, A Life of Faith, please click on the link below.

1 Thessalonians Part 16: The Quiet Life




Short & Sweet: Shadow of His Wings

Nourishment for the Soul

Be Merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
Psalm 57:1-3
David wrote this Psalm while he was fleeing from King Saul. Where did David take refuge? In the shadow of God’s wings. It is very comforting to me to know that I am safe in the very shadow of His wings. Think of it …  He is so powerful and holy, His shadow keeps me safe.
What does it truly mean to hide in the shadow of His wings? I was talking this over with God earlier this week. What does hiding in the shadow of Your wings look like? God’s answer came to me: obedience. Obedience leads to protection; it is taking the truth of God’s Word and acting on it.  When I am obedient, I follow exactly in the footsteps of Jesus, so close that I walk in His very shadow… the shadow of His wings. When I am in the shadow of His wings, I can live my life boldly and courageously because I know my God has me covered.
What do we do when we are in the shadow of His wings? We continue to live, breath, serve, minister, fight, stand, pray, love, and rejoice.

Action Points:

  1.  What calamities are you facing right now? Are you hiding in the shadow of His wings or are you just hiding?
  2. What steps of obedience do you need to take today?
  3. Pray and ask God to help you access the strength and power He has already provided for your victory over this situation.

Life is sweet.

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To-Do List by Mary Kane

 

I am a list maker. I like to start out my day with a list of tasks I need to complete. I feel great satisfaction in accomplishing and crossing items off my to-do list. God is a list maker as well, the 10 Commandments is perhaps His greatest to-do list.  In 1 Peter 4, God gives us another list: four things to do when we are suffering.

Please take a moment and go before God in prayer. Confess to Him any sin, and ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Please read 1 Peter 4:13-16, 19.

In verse 13, what is our first to-do when we are suffering?

 

How deeply are we to rejoice?

 

The word for rejoice used in verse 13 is chairo, which means, “to be well, to thrive, to be glad.” It also means, “let the hope of future blessedness bring you joy.” So while we are suffering we must focus forward, knowing God has a great blessing for us. To the extent we have suffered, we will be blessed!

Verse 16 names another suffering to-do. What is it?

 

The word glorify means “to praise, to honor, to make renowned.” If God wants us to praise Him through our suffering, there must be some thing praiseworthy in our suffering.  If we can’t see anything praise-worthy at the moment, let’s praise by faith.

Verse 18 names two more to-do’s when suffering. Please name them.

 

We are to trust God is good, and continue to do good. The temptation when suffering is to become self-focused. When our attention is completely riveted on our pain, it intensifies. Doing good brings healing to our souls, encourages others, and glorifies God.

Name one item from the to-do list you will do and how you will accomplish it.

 

Thank you for joining me today for Bible study!

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1 Thessalonians Part 15, A Life of Faith: Operation Sanctification

DOve JPEG 10 edtInsightful  … cute … smart … funny … quixotic!

Think of words you’d use to describe yourself. Would you ever consider describing yourself as a “most holy thing”? Me either, but God does. Because of the cross, we have been washed clean (sanctification) by the blood of Christ. The process of sanctification is not a quick fix. Sanctification continues as long as we continue to draw breath.

Thankfully, we are not responsible for our sanctification. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit work together to wash away every sin and stain. Our sanctification is accomplished by His word, circumstances, prayer, and discipleship. Operation Sanctification … God’s going deep!

To do 1 Thessalonians A Life of Faith, Part 15: Operation Sanctification, please click on the link below.

A Life of Faith, Part 15: Operation Sanctification




Close Bible Study: Ruth Part 2 by Mary Kane

Ruth 2Close Reading method is a popular reading strategy used by teachers in classrooms throughout the United States. Repeated readings and systematic analysis of the text provided by the Close Reading method, greatly impacts the comprehension of the reader. As readers use Close strategies, they are drawn deeply into the text as they mark, diagram and highlight the text in meaningful ways. When readers interact rigorously with the text, comprehension and retention sky rocket.

In part two of the book of Ruth Close Bible Study, we add an additional Close study method–reader generated questions. Today, you have the opportunity to ask and answer your own questions as you study God’s word. If you enjoy doodling as you study, you will love Close Bible study.Gather you Bible, makers, highlighters, and colored pencils and lets dig in!

To download a copy of today’s study, please click on the link below.

Close Bible Study: Ruth Part 2

 

For additional resources on Close Reading, please access the following  link.

Harvard College Writing Center

Scholastic Close Reading