No Other Gods Bible Study

Sweet Girlies,

    “No Other Gods, confronting our modern-day idols” by Kelly Minter is the selection for Life Journey’s Women summer bible study. 

    Having completed two weeks of this study, perhaps we can honestly admit that Kelly has posed a number of things to seriously consider.  She has defined idols, referred to them as a “functional god” and titled them as our “personal pharaohs”, having “power” over us.  Ouch!  She has encouraged us to take the time to be introspective as we walk together with the goal of uprooting and eradicating those things that “steal, kill and destroy”.  We can MAKE ROOM in our hearts and lives so God can live supremely in our hearts. 

    Day One of the second week was quite interesting.  A reason she posed for choosing an idol is because we, women, are caught in an endless pursuit to discover our identity.

     Consider the New Living Translation’ rendering of 1 Peter 2:9-12:

     “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

 “Once you had no identity as a people;
    now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
    now you have received God’s mercy.”

^“ Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.  Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.”

     How do these verses speak to you?  What do they say to you?  What do they say about you?  Whose are you? 

      

    

Scripture Memorization #20 - Oh Come, Let us adore Him!

Beloved and precious Daughters of the Most High God,

You made it!  YOU made it!  Ring the bells! Ring the bells!  Can you hear the Hallelujah Chorus reverberating all around you?  There is excitement in the air and hearts filled with gratitude that we have been brought this far!

Memory lane!!!  It isn’t time to wrap the year in a beautiful package and tie it up with a fancy bow!   We get to participate in the beautiful season of Christmas loving the Father and enjoying His Presence.

Participating in Christmas family traditions like attending the Nutcracker, the Galaxy of Lights, Santa’s Village, the upcoming Living Christmas Tree, Christmas cooking/baking and the many other events trigger a flood of memories.  These memories are timeless to me.  “Time never changes the memories, the faces of loved ones, who bring to me all that I come from and all that I live for and all that I’m going to be.  My precious family is more than an heirloom to me.”  Heirlooms by Amy Grant

Christmas trees are decorated with lights, ornaments, tinsel.  Stockings are hung on the mantle.  Christmas cards have all been sent.  Packages are wrapped, adorned with bows and under the tree.  The smell of Christmas is in the air.  Christmas carols are playing bringing memories of Christmas gone by.  Hear the sounds of children laughing!!!

“Love has come for the world to know as the wisemen knew such a long time ago.  And I believe that the angels sang that hope had begun when the God of Glory Who is full of mercy sent His Son.”  Love has come by Amy Grant

“For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  2 Corinthians 4:6  (ESV)

God Came….”Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Lord of Life, Lord of all, He’s the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Holy One, Emmanuel, Emmanuel”  Emmanuel by Michael W. Smith

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him!

Scripture Memorization Buffs, now it is your turn!  Just do it!

            Post your name, verse/verses, reference and translation as well as your comments.

            The Father lavishes you with His extravagant, immeasurable, incomparable love!

Merry Christmas!

I love you!

Olda

Scripture Memorization #19.... O Christmas Tree

Sweet Sisters,

Just think…..today marks the selection of the next to the last segment of Scripture for meditation/memorization for this calendar year!  The Father has brought us this far.

The Latin word Advent means “the coming”.  This season we celebrate Christ’s first coming by enjoying His Presence in the present and prepare for His second coming to earth.  We do so with our involvement in activities leading to Christmas Day.  We get to enjoy Immanuel, God with us.

Let us consider the symbol of some things with which we decorate our homes during this festive yet tender season.  The Christmas tree is an evergreen.  The everlasting nature of the evergreen reminds us of the eternal life we have in Christ as well as a reminder of the Father’s everlasting love.  The tree’s triangle outline represents the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The lights are a reminder that Jesus Christ is our hope and light in a dark world.  The star that tops our trees is a reminder of the Magi’s who were seeking the King.  The star led them to the manger where Christ, our Savior, laid.  The angels, of course, were heard on high.  The words of the German Christmas Carol, O Christmas Tree – O Tannenbaum, came to my mind…..

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

You are the tree most loved!

How often you give us delight

In brightly shining Christmas light!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

You are the tree most loved!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

Your beauty green will teach me

That hope and love will ever be

The way to joy and peace for me.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

Your beauty green will teach me

“Let love be genuine.  Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection.  Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not be slothful in zeal, fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”  Romans 12:9-13  ESV

Sisters, now it is your turn!  Just do it!

           Post your name, verse/verses, reference and translation and your comments. 

I love you,

Olda

Heart of Gratitude - Scripture Memorization #18

Sweet Scripture Memorization Buffs,

We have made it!  We have made it to November 15^th!  We have 2 more segments of Scripture to add after this selection!  We all now get to bask in all that the Father has taught us in and through the selections of Scripture for memorization/meditation as our hearts and minds lean forward with great anticipation to the holidays.  We treasure them while still embracing those new lessons and segments.

November brings time change, the beauty of God’s hand in creation, and the celebration of Thanksgiving as well as other events.  The celebration of Thanksgiving comes with a myriad of traditions as families of origin as well as spiritual families and friends set that day aside to celebrate and appreciate one another and the many blessings bestowed on us indiviually and as a family. 

Heart of gratitude….  A number of friends and relatives have dedicated time each day in this month of November to reflect and consider something for which each has been thankful.  For several that is done daily and others have done so weekly.  Their actions have spurred me on to consider within my heart the many things for which I am thankful.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.   Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”  Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV)

Scripture Memorization Buffs, now it is your turn!  Just do it!

           Post your name, verse/verses, reference and translation and your comments.  Review, review!!!

I love you,

Olda

Scripture Memorization #17 Re-post

Hey Sweet Scripture Memorization Sisters!

     The days and seasons of 2011 seem to have peeled off the pages of the calendar.  We have strapped on 16 Scripture memorization/meditation selections.  Today we consider the 17th.  We are nearing the goal of 20 selections.  I applaud you for your diligence and tenacity.    

     Sight is a gift that we often take for granted.  My heart is filled with thanksgiving and praise as I have been afforded the gift of sight which has allowed me to take in the beauty of fall.  The brilliance of the colors is enhanced with drops of dew. And refraction is the reason we can see a rainbow of colors on those red, russet, brown, orange leaves glistening with dew.   

     May we take the time to enjoy and bask in the beauty of fall and all that comes with it.  Next Sunday the clocks will be set back an hour.  We will get an extra hour of sleep.  The smell of pumpkin, apples, cinnamon and the like are characteristic of this time of the year.  This is a time that we are intentional with thanksgiving and sensitive to those around with whom we can share.

     “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)

      Scripture Memorization Sisters, now it is your turn!  Just do it!

     Post your name, verse/verses, reference and translation and your comments.

I love you!

Olda

Scripture Memorization #17

Hey Sweet Scripture Memorization Sisters!

       The days and seasons of 2011 seem to have peeled off the pages of the calendar. We have strapped on 16 Scripture memorization/meditation selections. Today we consider the 17th. We are nearing the goal of 20 selections.  I applaud you for your diligence and tenacity.          

     Sight is a gift that we often take for granted.  My heart is filled with thanksgiving and praise as I have been afforded the gift of sight which has allowed me to take in the beauty of fall.  The brilliance of the colors is enhanced with drops of dew. And refraction is the reason we can see a rainbow of colors on those red, russet, brown, orange leaves glistening with dew.   

     May we take the time to enjoy and bask in the beauty of fall and all that comes with it.  Next Sunday the clocks will be set back an hour.  We will get an extra hour of sleep.  The smell of pumpkin, apples, cinnamon and the like are characteristic of this time of the year.  This is a time that we are intentional with thanksgiving and sensitive to those around with whom we can share.

     “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)

      Scripture Memorization Sisters, now it is your turn!  Just do it!

     Post your name, verse/verses, reference and translation and your comments.

I love you!

Olda

Scripture Memorization #16

Precious Sisters,

     Waking to crisp mornings bring a sense of excitement and expectation.  Events continue to roll out on a red carpet on our behalf:  women’s retreat, barn dance, activities involving Simon and Aggie, college football, McDonnell Elementary Fall Festival, Trunk and Treats with pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns, candy, beautiful eyes peering up and soft voices requesting treats, Heaven’s Kitchen and much, much more. 

     We are three weeks into fall when the temperatures begin to drop and the days are shorter.  And, we anticipate an extra hour of sleep when the clocks are set back an hour.

     As I was thinking of my life barreling into these next couple months filled with the wonder and beauty of the season, the verses provided for pondering, meditating and memorizing is so timely for me.

      “Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without complaining. Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:8-11 (The NET Bible)

     The word fervent captured my attention.  According to Merriman Webster that word means very hot, exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling. 

     Now it is your turn, Precious Sisters!

     Post your name, verse/verses, reference and translation.   Review, sweet sisters!  Review your previous verse/verses.  That is a critical element of retention.

I love you!
Olda