” I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:10

Jane and I welcome you to Week Six of  Simple Thanks! Remember to count it all joy when you fall into various trials,blessings-it’s the key to living fully in the moment with God! Life is a gift–rejoice and give thanks.

Introduction to Week 6 Studies

Weekly Homework

Each week we will add your assignments to a password-protected post. Look for the password every Tuesday evening in your email. Below you will find homework for each level of study. Feel free to change from Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3  as your schedule allows! Remember, there is no pressure to complete every activity. These are just options for your growth. They can be accessed at any time, even after the study ends.

Level 1, Study: Weekly Goals 

• For Week 6 please watch SESSION 5: Empty to Fill
  
• Complete the study guide  and between sessions homework PDFs.
• Add to your 1000 Gifts List.
• Feel free to do any of the other activities from Levels 2 and 3 as your time allows.

Level 2, Community: Weekly Goals 

• For Week 6, please watch SESSION 5: Empty to Fill
• Complete the study guide  and between sessions homework PDFs.
• Add your 1000 Gifts List.
• Answer the question on the Speak Your Mind comment section at the bottom of this post.
• Join the Community Call, Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. EST on Talk Shoe (Information on TalkShoe is in your weekly email.)
• Listen to the Podcast  above for information empty to fill.

 Level 3, Opportunity: Weekly Goals 

• For Week 6, watch  SESSION 5: Empty to Fill
• Complete the study guide  and between sessions homework PDFs.
• Answer the question on the Speak Your Mind comment section at the bottom of this post, join the Community Call on Wednesday night on TalkShoe, and listen to the Podcast at the link provided above.
• Don’t forget to check out our private Facebook page. Leave your comments about this week’s study,post your prayer requests, or share any insights/questions you may have. Only members of our Bible study group will see these posts.
• In the evening, do devotions 21-25 the One Thousand Gifts Devotional journal.
• Read chapters 10-11 in One Thousand Gifts trade book by Ann Voskamp.
• Take advantage of the Extra Simple resources by clicking on the links below:

Extra Simple Resources

Joyce Meyer Complaints Part Two

For your listening pleasure, please enjoy Mannheim Steamroller’s beautiful Stille Nacht

 Questions of the Week (Please respond in the Speak Your Mind section at the very bottom of this page).  What is something God has given you that you can regift and pass on to others?

What can we learn from those God called to play a part in the birth of Jesus? Mary, the Magi, the shepherds, Joseph, and Jesus all have important gifts to give us as we seek to understand their roles in the story of the Nativity. Join Mary Kane and Jane VanOsdol of OnlyByPrayer.com as they explore The Gifts of the Nativity in today’s podcast. Prepare your hearts for Christmas as you delve more deeply into the birth of Jesus. Be sure to download your free viewer guide. This podcast is available as both an MP3 and in video format.

To listen to the MP3 audio version, click at the top of this post.  To watch in video format, click below.

For over 40 years, Voice of the Martyrs has worked tirelessly to help the cause of persecuted Christians around the world. Sunday, November 3, is recognized as IDOP, the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church. While it is important to pray everyday for those suffering for their faith, VOM is hoping to unite many churches and people to pray in unity.

In this videocast, Jane VanOsdol of OnlyByPrayer.com and Todd Nettleton, director of media development at Voice of the Martyrs (Persecution.com), discuss how VOM’s resources can help you pray for the persecuted church on IDOP as well as all through the year.  This short, 20-minute discussion is available in both video and as an MP3 so that you can download and listen to it at your convenience. Todd outlines several resources that will help you pray effectively and take action on behalf of those who are suffering for their faith.

Prayer and Action Resources:

• Persecution.com
• Persecution.com/IDOP
• Icommittopray.com
• Facebook page
• Twitter

Here is the videocast of the interview:

Here is the podcast of the IDOP interview:

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“Image courtesy of hyena reality / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

Thank you for joining us in our Colossians series. Today Mary Kane and I (Jane VanOsdol) will be discussing Colossians 1:13-17. This session finds us exploring how we were each created for God.We also learn that God is involved in every facet of our lives.

For such a small book of the Bible, Colossians is loaded with information. So, grab your Bible and a pen, and let’s get started!

Feel free to pick up our Viewer Guide to get even more out of this podcast session. Some sessions also have additional resources available for download, which you will find on the Viewer Guide page.

We pray that this series blesses you. Feel free to add your comments and questions below.

Pray on!

Join Mary Kane and me this Holy Week as we discuss the poem True Lenten Discipline on our podcast. We’ll look at each of the seven stanzas to see what we can learn from them to apply to our lives as we prepare for Easter.

Be sure to check out the accompanying blog series, where each stanza is discussed in greater depth. We’ll add a link to each post as they are added to the blog throughout the week. Feel free to leave your comments on the blog. Just click on the sideways triangle above to listen to the podcast.

Links to the True Lenten Discipline Blog Series

Monday: Judging to Christ Dwelling

Tuesday: Bitterness to Forgiveness

Wednesday: Darkness to Light

Thursday: Illness to Healing

Friday: Polluting Words to Purifying Words

Saturday: Discontent to Gratitude

Sunday: Anger to Patience

Happy Easter!

As we head into Holy Week, I’d like to share an poem/excerpt that gives us much to focus our hearts and minds on as we walk through the sorrow and joy of this week. Being that this version of the poem True Lenten Discipline has seven suggestions, it works out perfectly to look at one each day during Holy Week. On Monday we’ll begin with a brief devotion to encourage us and start a discussion on the first topic in the excerpt–judging. We’d love to have your participation–a conversation is always better with more two or more people! If you’d like, please add your comments each day at the end of the devotion.

Feel free to adapt this to your life. Perhaps you want to spend a meal or a day in fasting. Maybe you want to take an afternoon and set aside some time for prayer to prepare your heart for Easter. Whatever you decide, I pray this blesses you.

(I received this poem in an email from my friend a few days ago, and the author was credited as “Anonymous.” I Googled the title  and several versions popped up, some much longer, but I wasn’t able to ascertain the true author. If anyone knows, please let me know.)

Here’s the version we’ll use this week:

TRUE LENTEN DISCIPLINE

FAST from judging others;  FEAST on Christ dwelling in you.

FAST from bitterness;  FEAST on forgiveness.

FAST from apparent darkness;  FEAST on the reality of God’s light.

FAST from thoughts of illness;  FEAST on the healing power of God.

FAST from words that pollute;  FEAST on phrases that purify.

FAST from discontent;  FEAST on gratitude.

FAST from anger;  FEAST on patience.

Author Unknown

You may also be interested in a podcast Mary and I will be recording tomorrow evening on this topic. I’ll insert a link to it as soon as it is up. We’ll see you tomorrow!

Pray on!

Image courtesy of lamnee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net