Regarding Mary, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:
1-What are some things that stood out to you that made these people ordinary?
2-What were their main challenges?
3-Like Abraham, are there any age related barriers set up against you in your life that you are currently experiencing?
4-Do you have any uncertain choices that need to be made like Abraham? Do you need to take a step of blind faith in obeying a task that God has given you? Explain.
6-OR If your married are you giving proper respect to your husband? If you are a man are you showing proper love to your wife? Give examples.
8-How are you handling this situation?
10-Do you have any doubt that you were hand chosen by God for this generation?
Why or why not?
11-What do you sense your purpose may be for your generation?
20 comments:
Angela, thank you for hosting and preparing this study! I have already been blessed by digging deeper into the lives of these couples! Personally, I struggle with questioning and doubting why I was created and what for. This week through the study I was encouraged by the fact that God chose each of these people for a reason and I am no different! I was also convicted regarding my role as a wife and areas that I need to work more on! I look forward to seeing what God has in store for me next week!
Blessings,
Victoria
Angela,
You had to be led of God to present this particular Bible study as far as I am concerned. This new world of sudden widowhood can be most frightening. One of the main reasons is because of finances and knowing that there is an age bias when it comes to seeking work.
When I was the "type" age, size, etc.that employers desire I was unavailable for a career. I knew my place was at home with husband, children and aging parents.
Now when I have time and skills, etc. the challenge will be great, BUT like Abraham, God has not forgotten me. He knows what He has designed from ever for me in this hour.
Your exact question was:
Like Abraham, are there any age related barriers set up against you in your life that you are currently experiencing?
I am filling out resumes as soon as I finish this posting. I have faith that all of you that read this will be praying with me. I pray that God connects me where He has an assignment in the Kingdom for me that Him will work through me, for His glory; and all the resources I need will follow.
I will post in a moment from the notes I have been compiling each day. What a blessing!!!
Regarding Mary, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:
1-What are some things that stood out to you that made these people ordinary?
Mary seems to be a simple young commoner in her time. As I understand the culture of Mary's day, being a young female Jew put her in the lower rung of society.
Her sweet openness to the miracle conception of Jesus Christ, in light of her possible execution, has always blessed me. She knew that many would
* pity her
* shun her
* gossip about her supposed fornication resulting in her pregnanc. She would forever have to see her son, Jesus, treated like an illegitimate child. She had the fear of Joseph abandoning her and all her dreams of their marriage smashed.
When her life stopped still with Gabriel's proclamation. But...her utter willingness for whatsoever Father God desired is encouraging to me when I'm facing my "whatsoever's."
2-What were their main challenges?
Each of these men and women came to a crisis of belief. They had to leap with such faith that they believed they cleared a huge abyss, or they fell to their ruin.
I've had a few of these "abyss" leaping moments in the last few years. Doing the right thing can look like possible ruin.
I call it the Nestea Tea plunge. There was a commercial years ago with someone on a high diving board set to do a backward dive. They didn't know if there was water in the pool or not. When they dared to jump it was full of liquid to catch them.
Now, I look at these highs and lows of life as a part of the adventure of living a dramatic awesome God has invited me to join Him in living. Once I catch my breath after a faith filled leap,and all is well, I sing my praises to a Mighty Loving Merciful God.
The question about showing enough respect for your husband struck me.
I absolutely do respect my husband-I've been very blessed that God brought us together. It was driven home though when he was gone on this mission trip to Guatemala. There are so many things- big and little that he does for our family that are easy to take for granted. Him being gone was a good reminder to appreciate every day God gives us.
It was a great first week of study!
Ladies! I am so excited to log on here and see these comments. It ignites the spirit of God within me! I just love God's word and discussing it together. My soul is stirred to see the different things you all are getting out of this. This is the most fun part for me. I love learning from each of you.
I too am with you Victoria and Cheri about the conviction in my role as a wife and even as a mother. Sometimes it is easy for me to have a bad attitude or speak in a disrespectful tone to my man. Oh and I feel so grieved when I do that. Then, it is so easy to favor others who are nicer to you. Even my own children but God is so good at convicting me of that and helping me find common ground. I love that when we are surrendered to Him He makes all these things work out. When I feel that conviction I know I have not truly chosen to die to myself in whatever area and know it is needed. That is probably why God said we have to die daily (Luke 9:23).
Kay, I love those examples you leave. My father too had to start life over at 50 with a new job and man was it hard. But his perseverence paid off and he is exactly where God wanted him to be at this stage. That "plunge" was so difficult. I LOVE your analogy. I love that when we look at life as the adventure as a whole how we are so much better off.
Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE how God did use those normal people so He does chose to use us too. So humbling and amazing to me. AND it makes me want to look at people more like that than I tend to do.
Cannot wait to see what others post! THis is so much fun. We have 30 now signed up some who are shy about this blog thing but maybe we will hear from them too.
Much love and I am praying for each one of you.
Angela :)
Everyone else has had such wonderful insights so far. I am going to broach the following question:
4-Do you have any uncertain choices that need to be made like Abraham? Do you need to take a step of blind faith in obeying a task that God has given you? Explain.
While the other studies are things I deal with on a daily basis, such as God's call for me, or respecting my husband - this number 4 seems to be weighing on me so heavily. I know that God calls us to tithe - but our budget has been so extremely tight these last few months that if I give 10% I don't know if we will make all our necessary bills (this does not even include groceries or any extra things that might come up for the month). I know that I should just give the 10% right off the top and then trust that God will provide - but I am struggling with letting go. This study has certainly been pushing on my convictions...
Thank you.
Thanks for this stuy, Angela. and for bringing the blog community closer through bibl study!
I will say, regarding #4 that I am currently in a season of walking by faith. Just as God told Abraham to 'go', He has told us to put our house on the market...still not sure if it will actually sell or not. But it is our offering of sacrifice to the Lord and our act of obedience.
Thanks for shining the spotlight on these lives.
Dorothy,
I will certainly pray for your situation. This economy has made it even harder to just give when everything else is rising in cost around us-gas-food-etc. Yet it is by faith that we believe God but remember it is mostly about the heart. So God wants us to be a cheerful giver because He doesn't need our money just looking for hearts of obedience that want to give to Him. You are so precious and thanks for keeping it real. Real struggles is more of what we need to be talking about.
Mariel,
Girl I also will be praying for you. I can just think that our ways are not God's ways and your obedience is a blessing no matter what God has in store. I just love how He will show you exactly what you need to know when He wants you to know. Thanks for your example. You bless me.
I have read the Genesis 22 passage many, many times, but something particular hit me clearer this week. We always say, "The Lord Will Provide" and Amen, He certainly does. However, it struck me anew that the scripture reads "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." On the mountain....Abraham had to be willing and obedient to go up the mountain, THEN he saw the Lord provide.
The Lord spoke to me that I too have to be willing and obedient THEN the Lord will provide on the "mountain" He has asked me to be obedient to climb.
Hey girl! What a week. :) I've been so blessed, but at the same time, my feet have been walked all over. You just went and got all up in my business!!
I was very convicted that I don't always SHOW respect to my man. Oh I love him and respect him overall, but there are some areas that I'm not as respectful as I should be...oh boy did that hit home. You see...last Sunday's sermon was on the same Eph. passage and was geared to the wives, this week will be geared to husbands. How fitting that God would begin LAST Sunday to tender my heart and then continue this week through our study together...man He is good!
jenmom-I LOVE that insight. It is so true we sometimes have to climb that mountain before us first in obedience. Great point and observation. LOVE that.
Steph,
LOL that is too funny! Of course you know I will be up in your business there is no other way! :) I just love too how God works timing out on things like this! He is so awesome.
I am loving this interaction-Please comment again and let's keep this discussion going on. It is a blessing.
I like knowing (and being reminded) that God has a good plan for our lives, no matter how old we are or how old we feel, all things are possible with Him.
Angela, I am really enjoying this study. I praise God for your servant heart to study and prepare this material.
God Bless,
Sanya
I just briefly skimmed the others' comments, and I must say that I feel terribly unqualified to even be here. However, that's part of His amazing grace for us.
Here are part of my answers. I'll need to get my notebook and head together in the same room to post the others. :)
1-What are some things that stood out to you that made these people ordinary?
Jacob wanted to please his mother... which is ordinary.
As for Isaac, he seems ordinary because he was like most parents... he had a favorite child.
I'm trying to remember what I thought was ordinary about Abraham. (I don't have my notebook in front of me.)
Mary was an ordinary girl... she didn't come from a "noble" nor from a "royal" background.
2-What were their main challenges?
Jacob's main challenge was obtaining the birthright and blessing from his father... even though he wasn't the firstborn.
Isaac's main challenge was dealing with the realization that he'd given the birthright and blessing to the "wrong" son.
Abraham's main challenge was to show enough faith in God that he was willing to sacrifice Isaac, his only son.
Mary's main challenge was trusting that the angel knew what he was talking about when he told her she'd be the mother of a king.
Sanya,
Thank you! I too am glad to know God does always have a plan.
hsb suzanne,
You are so qualified to be here! Yes that is grace that any of us are, Amen?! :)
Great responses. I often wonder when I study these people what I would have done in their situations. Then I am thankful I was not the one in the situation-another measure of grace,huh?! :)
You all are so precious! I love discussing God's word with you!
I just have to say, Jenmom's comment is so true! The Lord is faithful to often ask us to climb the mountain and lay our Isaac down BEFORE He provides the ram!
But praise the Lord, He DOES always provide!!
I did not receive this study. Can you please e-mail me the one for tonight? Thank you.
Thanks Angela for hosting this study! For me, the first week wasn't so much about the bible characters as it was me being nudged over and over to work on my relationships. First with God, then my husband, my children and then family and friends. I've been struggling in all of those areas lately. So I might have been getting the secondary message but it was the message God sure seems to hitting home with me from all different angles.
My first goal was to get back to making my relationship with the Lord a priority and that is why I signed up for this study. Look forward to this week's lesson.
Thanks again!!
Ann
Ann,
So glad to hear this getting God back to number one priority. We all need to do that from time to time. It is so easy to slip off course. Those are my prayers for you this week. You got the best thing out of the study that is what the Holy Spirit is teaching you. Our relationships with God are the most important! :)
Blessings,
Angela
I am going to focus on quest 11 because this is something I have struggled with in the past. I got saved when I was 7 months pregnant with my oldest child. And in our church, they kept pounding the whole "what is your purpose" thing and everyone was doing "The Purpose Driven Life". I was excited about my God given purpose being revealed, but 2 months later I found myself drowing in diapers and spit up, with my quiet times quickly turning into nap times. I felt like such a failure. It took me a few years to understand two things: First, God knows what season of life I am in. And he knows all about the demanding little creatures he blessed me with. Second, I was looking for some big, grande purpose that would lead people to Jesus in droves, but ya know what, right now these little darlings are my purpose. I need to be focused right here on them. Who knows? Maybe one of them will be the next Billy Graham, and it wasn't me after all who would bring others to Jesus in droves, but my influence can help them be that person instead!
Jodi,
That is so true! I want all new moms and old moms to know that. Seasons are no surprise to God and our family is our most important ministry. LOVE that. Thanks for sharing this.
Post a Comment