Mission Accomplished!

Ok, so I just know what you have been thinking. I wonder how our Bible Study leader is doing with her verses. Did she recite them yet? Did she follow through with her commitment? Did she finish well?  Knowing what a gracious bunch of women you are and how you would never actually ask the question out loud, I thought I would update you on my progress.  Well I am pleased to inform you the answer to all those questions are a resounding "Yes!" A few days ago I sat down and recited all ten of them to Linda.  As proof, I submit the coveted invitation here.  

I hope you are as proud of me as I am of you. I echo here the words of Paul (incidently a verse I am memorizing) "that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus" (2 Corinthians 1:14)

Looking forward to celebrating our achievements in the Lord together!!  You have all blessed me unimaginably as you joined me in this project.  You rock!

Last Days of Women's Bible Study 2011

With all the talk in the media recently of "the last days" I thought that I would join in, sort of, and jump on the blog and let everyone know what will be transpiring in these "last days" of Women's Bible study.

We are fast approaching the end of our Bible Study year and there are several different venues that are winding down and some that are starting up. It has been a whirlwind of activity these last few weeks with not more then a few God interventions and surprises. I just love it when Jesus decides to come in and take over.

Firstly, the Bible Memorization project is coming to a close. We have been blessed and overwhelmed by the response of you ladies to the Lord’s call to memorization these last few months. I can’t tell you the joy it brings me when I see those worn out cards with God’s word scrawled on them. I am provoked by some of the verses that you have recited to me and find myself wanting to go further. It has been a blessing memorizing with you.

For those of you who haven’t recited them yet, and I emphasize yet, you can still do that until June 8th which is a Wednesday night. We have already a diverse bunch of spirit filled, fun loving, sword wielding women of God attending the reward brunch. You won’t want to miss out on this opportunity of fellowship. The food promises to be excellent and what better way to spend some down time. We so want you to be a part of this. So if you haven’t reached your goal yet, I have one word for you CRAM! Spend the next two weeks everyday working on those verses, the rewards are worth it and go far beyond the brunch.

Secondly, as many of you know we will be doing a homework driven Bible Study over the summer called “No Other Gods”. We have decided to borrow the author’s abbreviation and just call it “NOGS”. You can read about it here. When I saw the number of you that responded to this invitation, I confess I was stricken speechless. And that is saying a lot. I am never speechless. Isn’t there always something to say? I don’t mind telling you that my heart was literally pounding out of my chest. This one thing I know, when there is that kind of unanticipated move, God is up to something. I can not wait to see what He does during our time this summer. Now it isn’t too late for you to jump in on that action if you haven’t yet, the last day to sign up is May 31st which is this Tuesday. We would be honored to have you be a part of what God is doing.

Lastly, as God would have it, yesterday during Women’s Bible study there was a disruption in our schedule. One of my prayers is that Jesus would come in and interrupt our agenda any time that He sees fit. Well to be honest, I never actually expect Him to take me up on that prayer. But yesterday He did! Our regularly scheduled teacher had an emergency and was unable to make our Tuesday morning time. This urgent situation erupted on Monday about noon time and I didn’t receive the information until three o’clock of that same day. She asked if I could jump in and take her place. Well I guess she esteems me in such a radical way that she sees me as some kind of like special ops teacher that you can call in a pinch and is ready. As much as I would like to keep that dream alive, I wasn’t prepared. But praise God for technology. I had a back up plan.

Yesterday we watched the first of a three part series taught by Beth Moore titled “Measureless Love”. Wow, did the Lord bring ministry to us. We studied Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians church found in the third chapter of that letter. We learned in scripture that God is very particular about measurement. He has precise measurements for land allotment, for building the tabernacle, and even what the New Jerusalem will be like in the Millennial kingdom. We also learned how He has measured all the galaxies and where all the planets would land. He also positioned the earth so precisely that it would be able to maintain life. It was a stunning lesson on the wonder of God’s magnificent creation and His intimate and precise design.

But contrast that with what Paul teaches about God’s love for us in Ephesians 3:16-19. We can not grasp, without the power of God poured into us, the fullness of His love. It is measureless in our own ability. We women were reminded a fresh of the immeasurable love of God towards us. We found ourselves staying long past our time together not only musing over that kind of love but spilling a bit of it on each other as well. It was a shot of bright light into some shadowy places.

The next two weeks we will be closing out Women’s Bible study by continuing through the final two sessions of this teaching. If you missed the first one you can still attend since all three sessions, while they build on each other, can be viewed separately. I hope you can make it out.

One last thought. I want you to know that it has been a privilege serving you as your Bible Study leader this year. Even through the highs and lows of my on the job training, I don’t think I could find a greater bunch of women to learn with. You have been a constant source of encouragement and grace as I blundered my way through seeking His will for you. I hope that I did it in a way that both, when all is said and done, enriched and blessed you. How I prayed that I was able to pull off the focus of His will  for you, that you would be more in love with Him and His word then when we started.

God loves you so much and He is well pleased with you.

Me too!

Your servant in Christ;
Arlene

Psalm 8

Taught by Janet
Notes by Linda

Today Janet continued the theme that Toby presented last week from Psalm 18 - the glory of God in creation. Janet began by having us imagine the majesty of God as revealed by the world around us. She asked us to think of a sunrise as a painting of the Lord on a massive canvas. She also asked us to reflect on the constellations and the largeness of the moon as it rises. Janet expressed how hard it is to comprehend that people could view these things and not believe in the existence of God. Janet then broke down the psalm down into four sections.

Psalm 8:1

"LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens".

Janet gave us a picture of David walking through the desert mediating on the Lord. She mentioned that the first name of God used is ‘LORD’ – this is Yahweh. The second name was ‘Lord’, as our sovereign ruler. Janet quoted Exodus 3:14, “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.” She used this to emphasize the excellence of God’s name. She pointed out that we are known by our first name yet our family name is important. What we do will reflect back on our family name and reputation.

Psalm 8:2

"Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger."

Janet referred to Matthew 21:16b “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise". She pointed out that Jesus used the Old Testament in His teaching.

Psalm 8:3-8

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky,and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas."

Janet reflected on a few points in this passage. She spoke of our need to fall before the Lord in humility. She spoke of the truth that God knows us by name. Even when we make wrong choices He still loves us. She went on to speak about how God has given dominion to man over His creation. Janet expressed that God has crowned us with glory and honor because we represent Him. She referenced Genesis 1:26-28, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Janet asked us how we see ourselves in the creation narrative. She asked us if we ponder God’s creation.

Psalm 8:9

"LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Psalm 8 ends with the same words as it began in verse one.

Psalm 19

Taught by Toby
Notes by Linda

Today Toby taught on Psalm 19. She began by giving us two aspects of this psalm that may be puzzling at first glance. The first item was the progression of the themes that unfold as it is read. The psalm begins with nature, then transitions to the Law, and ends with a passage on personal reflection. The second question is ‘how can the Law be sweeter than honey and better than much gold?’. In her lesson, Toby gives us insight to both of these things. (*Throughout today’s teaching Toby referenced several internet resources. The links to these resources can be found at the end of these notes.)

Psalm 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

These verses speak powerfully to the glory of God. Toby emphasized that the evidence of God’s presence surrounds us. Toby referred to a book by John Piper called Don’t Waste Your Life. In this book Piper writes of the vastness of the Grand Canyon. It seems to have no beginning or no end. It brings us to a place of self forgetfulness. To think otherwise would be ‘pathological’. Toby explained that the focus should be on the greatness of God not on the insignificance of man. Although we are created in God’s image He is so much beyond us.

Next Toby focused on a section from verse 2 through 4. The thought that Toby brought into the spotlight was how could there be speech without words. This seems to be a contradiction. She brought us to Paul’s words in Romans, “But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Romans 10:16-18). Toby pointed out that we all can ‘hear’ the same message of creation yet we all do not ‘hear’ it.

She pointed out something interesting from verse 4. In this verse, the word ‘voice’ can also be translated as ‘line’, as in plumb-line. A plumb-line is used to determine a true vertical, 180 degree line. Because of the force of gravity on the weight of the plumb-line it will always hang true and straight. In construction this is used to measure the structural accuracy of created angles – with the plumb-line used as the ‘true’ standard. Toby pointed out in the same way, these verses tell us that God’s creation is the unchanging standard. It will always point to the glory of God. Even if a person has never heard the Gospel message the stars themselves are evidence of our awesome God.

Toby next focused on the imagery present in this passage: “In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course” (Psalm 19:4b-5). An interesting difference between our modern wedding ceremonies and those of biblical times is the focus. In modern ceremonies the bride is the focus of all the attention – the star of the show. In the world during biblical times, everyone waited for the appearance of the groom. His entrance was met with joy and celebration. The New Testament also shows this in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (see Matthew 25:1-13). How anxiously do we await the appearance of our Bridegroom – Jesus Christ!!

Psalm 19:7-11

7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

The focus on the next section of scripture is on the Law or Torah. Toby explained that an important aspect of Hebrew poetry is the repetition of thoughts using different words. This style can be seen in this passage. Toby gave us something to think about. Many of us would agree that there are many, many attributes of God that we can delight in – His mercy, His goodness, His power. Yet the focus of this passage the wonder and joy of God’s Law – His Commandments. Verse 10 says that His Laws ‘are more precious than gold and sweeter than honey’. This might be hard for us to imagine. Toby mentioned the following verse that also speaks of this: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2).

Toby pointed out another interesting point in these verses. These verses emphasize the rightness of God’s commands. The question is ‘how can a command be true?’. A command is not a fact. This idea is mentioned in the following verses: “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy” (Psalm 111:7). In addition, Psalm 119 refers to the Law being ‘true’ in several verses. Toby explained that the point is that God’s commands are the ones that are to be trusted and right when compared to the many beliefs of the foreign gods and idols that were worshiped at this time. The law of the Lord tells us much about His character – it reflects His nature which is radiant, true, and wise. Going back to the plumb-line, His Law is our plumb-line. By following it we are on firm footings.

Psalm 19:12-14

12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

This final section of Psalm 19 focuses on the human heart. Sometimes it is hard for us to see our own short comings yet God is faithful in helping us in our weaknesses.
In concluding Toby explained that the greatness of this psalm (or poem) is that there really is not a logical connection between the three parts in a cursory reading. Delving deeper, she showed us that the psalm is a wonderful and brilliant narration that begins with the hugeness of the universe and ends with the private thoughts of our hearts. From the beginning to the end – the Glory of God is manifest!

*As mentioned, Toby took her teaching from several sources. She used the following: C.S. Lewis, Reflections of the Psalms; John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life. In addition, she accessed the following web resources:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HK6_vntzpI&feature=related

http://books.google.com/books?id=NlHeb0jwSisC&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=Pathological+at+the+grand+canyon&source=bl&ots=V98wtW5uUp&sig=Td2c8LSxX8pbDaOl97m0YZlu6V8&hl=en&ei=q-nHTcfSC8bZ0QGZ6PjvBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Pathological%20at%20the%20grand%20canyon&f=false


http://www.religion-online.org/showchapter.asp?title=378&C=74

http://prayerbookproject.blogs.com/Psalm_19_SERMON.pdf

"No Other Gods"

Anyone looking for Bible Study fellowship over the summer? I don’t know about you but the three month break that we take between the close of one Bible study season to the opening of the next can be barren and lonely without the regular fellowship that you women bring me. About one month into it, I find myself thirsting for a little female companionship with all the laughter, tears and drama that only we women can really appreciate when we come together. I find myself missing the enthusiasm and encouragement that you bring to each other and the absolute tenacious spirit that says “we are going to handle life God’s way”.

Since I am who I am, you know that I was going to find a solution to this recurring problem in my life so I am setting out to find a group of women who feel the same. To that end, I am introducing a new challenge for this summer. I thought, for those who were looking to connect over the break that maybe we could do a Bible study together only separately. Sound confusing, allow me a moment to explain.

The study is called “No Other Gods” and it is by Kelly Minter. Read this description from her website.

No Other Gods: Confronting Our Modern-Day Idols by Kelly Minter is a distinctly relational study for women and is Kelly's first study as part of the unique Living Room Series. The study includes recipes for meal ideas, song suggestions, and an accompanying website. In this eight-session Bible study, Kelly encourages women to make room for God by dethroning the functional gods that clutter and claim their lives.

Anyone interested in dethroning some functional idols to make more room for the true and living God? Are you looking for an opportunity to have a nosh around a small group where you can be interactive in studying God’s word with other like minded women? Then this is the study for you.

“No Other Gods” consists of a workbook with eight weeks worth of homework. We will do two weeks of homework then meet together. Then we will do another two weeks of homework and then meet and so on. When we do meet there will be no teaching. We will gather together and fellowship around the word by journeying through the homework together. We will also be enjoying some kind of early morning menu item.

Here is how it works. You can order the workbook for a cost of $10 until May 31st.

Then the homework and meeting schedule will run as follows.

June 21st – start week one homework

June 28th – start week two homework

July 5th – meet at church to go over weeks one and two

              - start week three homework

July 12th  -start week four homework

July 19th – meet at church to go over weeks three and four

                - start week five homework

July 26th   – start week six homework

August 2nd – meet at church to go over five and six

           - start week seven homework

August 9th – start week eight homework

August 16th – meet at church to go over weeks seven and eight

Now the beauty of this schedule is if you miss a meeting you can still come to the next one since you will be doing all the work at home. When we meet, we will be discussing what God has taught us personally through our one on one time with Him while completing the homework.

If the calendar seems confusing, there is no need to worry because we will be posting on the blog and on facebook what week we will be working on every Tuesday so no one will get lost.

I hope you come out and join us as we embark on this adventure with God. I am very certain that He has something prepared for all of us this summer. God bless you all! It has been a blast studying with you this past year.

Childcare is available and we will continue to meet at 9:30 am.

A Bitter Route

It was pure happenstance. There I was roaming down the aisle of a trendy natural food store, minding my own business, when a woman captured my attention while giving me this enthusiastic instruction “you have to buy this, it is great”. My husband standing nearby heartily agreed. I was hesitant and far from sold on the idea; you see this kind of thing has happened before without great success, but I filed it away in the “things to consider” portion of my intellect to be re-visited at a later time.

You can only imagine my surprise when low and behold the very next morning a facebook friend was making the very same pronouncement. Well this couldn’t be anything less then an invitation from God. Rather then ignoring what would seem like a divine decree, I set out to give it a whirl. I purchased my first box, ever, of Cream of Wheat. I know you must be wondering “you have never had Cream of Wheat”? Not that I can recall. But if I did, it certainly didn’t impress me quite the way it did this woman, my husband or facebook friend.

The next morning, I took out the box and read the directions twice (I wanted to make sure I would experience the fullness of what Cream of Wheat had to offer with out any of my customary cooking blunders) and I made the stuff. I sat down filled with anticipation and joy over the discovery of new things, lifted the spoon to my mouth, took that first savor and “Blah!!!!” Cream of Wheat is now at the top of my least favorite, never want to have again, food list. I don’t mind telling you in all my years of breakfasts, I glad I never wasted even a one (aside from this one) on Cream of Wheat. I was so disappointed, you see, I really wanted to like Cream of Wheat. The people who were touting its virtues must be superior cooks and theirs must have been better then mine. I must have prepared it wrong. After all it isn’t like I hadn’t done that kind of thing before. Let’s face it, mine must be worse. Cream of Wheat just didn’t live up to my perceived expectations. I was left bitterly disappointed.

Can you relate? Have you ever been so excited about something and left feeling bitterly disappointed? I am not just talking about breakfast cereals here. Anything in life left you feeling let down? Maybe it didn’t live up to your expectations or you thought that your situation was worse then the next guys. Has life seemed to be harder for you then most? Do you have that yucky Cream of Wheat taste in your mouth? I know a woman who felt this way.

“No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has gone out against me!” Ruth 1:13c

Meet Naomi. Let me share a little of her back story. It happened in the days when the judges ruled and there was a famine in the land. Naomi resided in Bethlehem with her husband and two sons. Now because of the famine, Naomi, her husband and two sons decide to relocate to Moab apparently where there was provision. Biblically speaking, this action characterizes their choosing to do what they thought was best rather then trusting God.

While in Moab, Naomi’s husband dies and her two sons marry Moabite women. Also not a good thing. After they had lived there about ten years both her sons die as well. “When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughter-in-law prepared to return home from there.” (Ruth 1:6)

As they advance on their journey Naomi suddenly has second thoughts. She encourages her daughters-in-law to return for “it is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has gone out against me!” (Ruth 1:13c) What is that Naomi? You left the land of God’s provision and protection and decided to go your own way and this is your response? What about these two daughters-in-law who lost their husbands and probably the possibility of ever having another husband and children in that culture. Why is it worse for you I ask? You walked away from God, what did they do other then marry you sons? Why is your loss so much greater? What did you expect to happen when you walk out from under the umbrella of God’s protection?

But Naomi comes to her senses and repents and returns to Bethlehem, only she is bitter. I believe that Naomi’s bitterness has two primary roots. First, she thought her situation was worse then her daughters-in-law. “It is more bitter for me than for you”. Have you ever felt that you had it so much harder then everyone else? Have you ever thought that God had forsaken you and that particular situation was so much more to handle then someone else’s? I bet if you had you can taste Naomi’s bitterness. When you start to think that everyone’s life is more blessed then yours watch out, because you are planting a seed of bitterness.

The second root of bitterness comes with her expectations not being realized. She lost her husband and both her sons. I am pretty sure that is not what she had envisioned for her future. Have you ever had a vision that fell flat? Have you ever expected a situation to go a certain way only to have it crash and burn? Have you ever thought that God was against you rather then for you? Beware bitterness is about to take root.

God never promises that everything will go the way that we had planned but He did promise that He would be with us in whatever we go through. Perhaps our theology has been misguided. Do you think because you are a Christian that nothing bad should ever happen to you? Be careful, Jesus warned us “in this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33b)and Paul confessed “we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Acts 14:22) Don’t allow the pressures and difficulties in this life to throw you into doubting God. No one is immune to them. While yours could very well be difficult, I challenge you to spend some time with someone who has it worse. I can assure you your perspective will change.

My Cream of Wheat experience didn’t pan out the way that I had hoped but maybe that came from setting some unrealistic expectations on the outcome. I was listening to those few who were Cream of Wheat fans rather then going with my own instincts. It wasn’t necessarily that my ineptitude in the kitchen was the cause of the unsuccessful interlude; it was probably just that I had expected my experience to parallel theirs. It resoundingly didn’t. Rather then hold it against them, I think I will avoid the bitterness trap, trust that I and cream of wheat are just not meant to be and let it go… how about you? Do you have some bitterness that you need to let go? Is it time for you to move on?

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Hebrews 12:15

Bible Memorization Project Round-Up

We did it! After almost twenty weeks of sustained intellectual commitment focused on ten specific scriptures, we stand on the brink of our Bible Memorization Project round-up. How did you do? Did you make it? If you did, give yourself a well earned spiritual pat on the back. If you have never done this kind of thing before perhaps a kicking of the heels in midair with a hip hip hooray might more be in order. Whatever the case take a moment to savor in the satisfaction of reaching an aspired goal.


As you know, we have a reward for those of you who have labored towards this end. Linda and I have planned a delectable brunch to be shared with those who co-labored with you in attaining this same goal. The date for the brunch is June 14th and it is by invitation only. Why by invitation only? I will borrow words from the apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthian church “such men deserve recognition” or in this case women. You ladies labored hard and deserve acknowledgment for your efforts. We applaud your tenacity and we want to bless you.

However, it isn’t going to be as easy as just telling us that you have accomplished your goal. You are going to have to spend a little time showing off to us. As soon as you have memorized all ten verses, what you need to do to receive your invite is to grab either Linda or I (whether it be after Bible study, after Sunday’s late service or even after Discipleship classes on Wednesday evening) hand us your index cards and recite away. By now you’re probably a pro and have worked your scriptures into every day language. I know you will be stunning in your recitation. After you recite your verses, you will be given the invitation that will tell you what time and where. (Please note, if you want to recite the verses on any Sunday give us a heads up in advance so we can look for you. You can email us or give a call at home to let us know when)

If this is causing some of you to get nervous, DON’T! Linda and I will be more then gracious in our listening. For me, just seeing the worn out index cards from memorizing all these weeks will make my day. I am not as much a stickler for the references as I am about the words. I want you to know what you have memorized and not necessarily where it is. Please, please, please don’t let this one thing keep you from showing us what you know. Part of reaching goals is keeping accountability with others and this is one of those times. I just know that you will do great!!

One more thing, the last day to recite verses will be June 8th. We need to have a deadline so we will know how many people will be joining us. It will be a fun time fellowshipping with like minded memorizers like yourself. You won’t want to miss it. You ladies have been an extraordinary bunch of women to embark on this project with and I look forward to brunching with you on June 14th.

(By the way, in case you were wondering….yes Linda and I will be reciting our verses to each other and Linda will be doing most of the cooking. I did say the food would be delectable…:-)