*************UPDATE-The new week four podcast is now up.***************
You guys are doing a great job continuing on with this study. I just love the rich truths we are learning from each of these lives. God is so good.
Regarding Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, and Asa:
1-What are some things that made them ordinary?
2-What were their main challenges?
3-Are you starting to see the picture of God using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things?Explain.
4-Does this give you hope?
5-If you could ask God for anything, what would it be and why?
6-How can you prevent your heart from being led astray like Solomon’s?
Psalm 119:9 may help you answer this question.
7-Does it surprise you that consequences of your choices could carry on to the next generation?
8-Do you see how the father’s (or mother’s) sins carry on to the next generation unless someone breaks the cycle?What needs broken in your family cycle or what has been broken?
9-List some ways you can make your heart fully devoted to God.
10-Is there anything in your life that keeps you distracted from God?
If so, what will you do about it?
11-Since nothing is impossible with God, give an example of something that was made possible in your life only by the power of God.
12-Share with the group what person in this week’s lesson stood out the most to you and why. Can you relate to any of them?
13-Notice how Solomon and Asa both took down the foreign altars in the beginning of their reigns but left the “high places.”What impact do you think that had, if any?
Sorry guys about this showing up in black-not sure how to fix it. It makes it hard to read.
I think this week what stood out most to me was that our choices make a HUGE difference to those around us. Especially our children. It makes me what to pray every decision through! :)
I just love God's grace through it all as well. He is so patient with us. It just drives me to love Him even more.
Just wanted you to know that I wasn't able to participate this week because I just spent the last week as a counselor at Middle School camp with my daughter. It's always an experience to see how kids watch other kids and how important it is to tell ours to always be an example. I'll be starting up again next week. Thanks!
I will address your profound question: What do I want? My favorite Bible chapter holds this answer and points to my favorite character in this week's study.
Psalm 27: 4-5, "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock."
King Asa started his reign wonderfully. I can identify with him on being the great starter. When the new wears off I have to watch my staying power. I pray daily for resolve to finish well.
For many decades I have looked at King Asa with sobering awareness that initially and for many succeeding years, he earned the approval of the Lord by tearing down pagan altars, building up the cities and the military. He proclaimed words of faith and trust and he was a good humble King who looked to the Lord.
But after 30 years of obedient and humble service to the Lord, Asa slacked off on his focus of holiness and seeking the Lord for all things; especially security. Oh ...how sad.
Resolve to finish well; no matter what is my daily cry. Our pastor is friends with Bill Wilson with the largest Sunday School in the world of Brooklyn, New York. He shared with us recently that he asked Bill what he desired as he is getting older. Bill very thoughtfully said he prayed that he wouldn't lose his heart and enthusiasm for the ministry to children who need God's help. Amazing....a prayer not for his legacy and remembrance; but a prayer for fortitude to keep his heart in alignment with God to finish well.
We are all aware of the "Asa's” who began ministry well, but backslid to shame. I think of Bill Bright and Ruth and Billy Graham as mighty saints who maintained their resolve to the finish. Billy is still with us, but oh his heart is still one with Almighty God for souls.
Poor ole Asa got so caught up in his own greatness he lost the discernment to know that Prophet Hanai had his best interest at heart when he warned him not to seek compromise with a pagan king for security. King Asa had him arrested in his fury. The Bible tells us that the king then arrested others and oppressed many. Sin is like that, once we give into it; things go from bad to worse. God was swift in removing Asa from the scene. He developed a disease in his feet and died.
I'm in my sixties and I know that we are never safe from being deceived by Satan. No one ever gets "there" where we know it all. This brings me back to my opening of this post. Resolve to finish well is what I want. My Bible verse of Ps 27:4 gives me hope that I will hear "Well done my good and faithful servant." When I dwell in my spirit in the house of the Lord....my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit... I am In Christ...all the days of my life.. I may seek the wisdom of the Lord for all things at all times; and I can finish well.
My resolve and wisdom are in direct proportion to my awareness of how real the battle is for my resolve. So...........may God continually keep me His will and may His grace redeem me and mercifully He will be present with me forever.
I can echo Kay's post - oh to finish well! I think for me that my main thing is to keep the right focus all the time. The things that I do are good things but some times I am too busy doing too many good things and being more broad than deep. I think that now, the main things that I need to be about should have me being more deep than broad. So, I have to realign my focus to get fully in synch with God's focus for my life so that I can get to the riches that He has for me by digging a little deeper instead of being so spread out.
Sorry I was not able to post last week but I did complete the study. Great job.
Honestly, if i could ask for anything it would be for my family's salvation and for my husband and i to live in holiness and godliness- now i think these things are truly my heart's desire, but God really challenges me if I am like Jesus, who was concerned with God's will in God's timing and the means by which God choose. So I am challenged to take my requests to the example of Christ.
When i find something seems to be a distraction, i choose to fast that thing- like coffee, the internet, desserts, certain amounts/types of exercise- i spend this time instead with God and it has always proven at the end of the fast to no longer be an issue.
Regarding generational sins of the father's passed to the sons- my husband experienced a great deal of this in his life. Although his grandfather and father are believers, there are patterns of mediocre Christianity in their lives that they settle for. My husband has had to and continues to fight against these strongholds. When he spoke with his dad about these things, his dad admits they exist but said, "You can be the one to break the cycle." My husband and I were so disheartened that his believing dad is choosing to continue in a life not fully devoted to all God has revealed. This is an example of how serious it is to take all God reveals to us, to commit ourselves to Him fully each day and be quick to humble ourselves and be willing to change- let us not be people who settle in any way!
Now my baby is screaming, so this is all i can share :)Blessings to you all! Katie
6 comments:
Sorry guys about this showing up in black-not sure how to fix it. It makes it hard to read.
I think this week what stood out most to me was that our choices make a HUGE difference to those around us. Especially our children. It makes me what to pray every decision through! :)
I just love God's grace through it all as well. He is so patient with us. It just drives me to love Him even more.
Hope you all had a good week too.
The podcast will be up tonight.
Much love,
Angela
Just wanted you to know that I wasn't able to participate this week because I just spent the last week as a counselor at Middle School camp with my daughter. It's always an experience to see how kids watch other kids and how important it is to tell ours to always be an example. I'll be starting up again next week. Thanks!
Angela this was a thought provoking Bible study.
I will address your profound question:
What do I want? My favorite Bible chapter holds this answer and points to my favorite character in this week's study.
Psalm 27: 4-5, "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock."
King Asa started his reign wonderfully. I can identify with him on being the great starter. When the new wears off I have to watch my staying power. I pray daily for resolve to finish well.
For many decades I have looked at King Asa with sobering awareness that initially and for many succeeding years, he earned the approval of the Lord by tearing down pagan altars, building up the cities and the military. He proclaimed words of faith and trust and he was a good humble King who looked to the Lord.
But after 30 years of obedient and humble service to the Lord, Asa slacked off on his focus of holiness and seeking the Lord for all things; especially security.
Oh ...how sad.
Resolve to finish well; no matter what is my daily cry. Our pastor is friends with Bill Wilson with the largest Sunday School in the world of Brooklyn, New York. He shared with us recently that he asked Bill what he desired as he is getting older. Bill very thoughtfully said he prayed that he wouldn't lose his heart and enthusiasm for the ministry to children who need God's help. Amazing....a prayer not for his legacy and remembrance; but a prayer for fortitude to keep his heart in alignment with God to finish well.
We are all aware of the "Asa's” who began ministry well, but backslid to shame. I think of Bill Bright and Ruth and Billy Graham as mighty saints who maintained their resolve to the finish. Billy is still with us, but oh his heart is still one with Almighty God for souls.
Poor ole Asa got so caught up in his own greatness he lost the discernment to know that Prophet Hanai had his best interest at heart when he warned him not to seek compromise with a pagan king for security. King Asa had him arrested in his fury. The Bible tells us that the king then arrested others and oppressed many. Sin is like that, once we give into it; things go from bad to worse. God was swift in removing Asa from the scene. He developed a disease in his feet and died.
I'm in my sixties and I know that we are never safe from being deceived by Satan. No one ever gets "there" where we know it all. This brings me back to my opening of this post. Resolve to finish well is what I want. My Bible verse of Ps 27:4 gives me hope that I will hear "Well done my good and faithful servant." When I dwell in my spirit in the house of the Lord....my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit... I am In Christ...all the days of my life.. I may seek the wisdom of the Lord for all things at all times; and I can finish well.
My resolve and wisdom are in direct proportion to my awareness of how real the battle is for my resolve. So...........may God continually keep me His will and may His grace redeem me and mercifully He will be present with me forever.
Oh to finish well.
I can echo Kay's post - oh to finish well! I think for me that my main thing is to keep the right focus all the time. The things that I do are good things but some times I am too busy doing too many good things and being more broad than deep. I think that now, the main things that I need to be about should have me being more deep than broad. So, I have to realign my focus to get fully in synch with God's focus for my life so that I can get to the riches that He has for me by digging a little deeper instead of being so spread out.
Sorry I was not able to post last week but I did complete the study. Great job.
Sanya
Yes-great input ladies. I too have been thinking of that too. Finishing well. It is so important. It does break my heart over Asa's change in the end.
Lord, please give us all the grace to obtain that staying power in Him alone.
Love ya all!
Ang
Honestly, if i could ask for anything it would be for my family's salvation and for my husband and i to live in holiness and godliness- now i think these things are truly my heart's desire, but God really challenges me if I am like Jesus, who was concerned with God's will in God's timing and the means by which God choose. So I am challenged to take my requests to the example of Christ.
When i find something seems to be a distraction, i choose to fast that thing- like coffee, the internet, desserts, certain amounts/types of exercise- i spend this time instead with God and it has always proven at the end of the fast to no longer be an issue.
Regarding generational sins of the father's passed to the sons- my husband experienced a great deal of this in his life. Although his grandfather and father are believers, there are patterns of mediocre Christianity in their lives that they settle for. My husband has had to and continues to fight against these strongholds. When he spoke with his dad about these things, his dad admits they exist but said, "You can be the one to break the cycle." My husband and I were so disheartened that his believing dad is choosing to continue in a life not fully devoted to all God has revealed. This is an example of how serious it is to take all God reveals to us, to commit ourselves to Him fully each day and be quick to humble ourselves and be willing to change- let us not be people who settle in any way!
Now my baby is screaming, so this is all i can share :)Blessings to you all! Katie
Post a Comment