Thursday, October 17, 2019
Oct 20, 2019 am-Eph 11-22
What was your nickname in grade school?
Ephesians 2:11-22
How are you different today as compared to a time when you did not have a relationship with God?
What have you learned about God since then?
How many times is peace mentioned in these verses?
What does peace mean?
What is God's purpose for peace building?
What do we need to do to cooperate with God to have peace?
How will Jesus bring peace to the groups we humans create?
How many groups does God see in humanity?
Oct 20, 2019 pm
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Romans 12:1-2
How has knowing God changed your life?
How has God show you mercy?
How should we respond?
How does the world think we should believe?
How does that differ from what God asks?
What is the benefit of choosing God's way?
How can we renew our minds? (You might want to read the next verses, Romans 12: 3-21, for suggestions)
Will our individual transformations make a difference in today's world? How?
Monday, October 7, 2019
October 13, 2019 pm
Describe one of your neighbors from your childhood neighborhood.
How well do you know your current neighbors? Why?
Read Luke 10:25-37
What jumps off the page for you?
What does it mean to love God with all your heart, mind, strength & soul?
Describe someone who loves a neighbor as well as themself.
How are these two commands related?
What prevents us from loving our neighbor in today's world?
This week, how can you "love your neighbor"? How can you make it a "beautiful day in the neighborhood"?
Why should we love our neighbors?
Who is your "neighbor"?
October 13, 2019 am
I'm in Seattle this week. See you next week.
What is the nicest thing someone has done for you? How did you respond?
Read Ephesians 2: 1-10
To mix it up, you have a choice or you can do both.
Here's a link to my favorite podcast, The Verb by Heather Holleman. Listen and discuss what "jumps out" at you!
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-verb-with-heather-holleman/id1463309633?i=1000447606110
and/or
What does Paul mean by "we are God's handiwork?"
What is our purpose? Do you feel equipped? Are you equipped?
Put Nov. 21 on your calendars for now. I'll keep you posted when the date for our meal for Strengthening Families is confirmed.
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Thank you after every single item
““A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’”
Malachi 1:6 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/mal.1.6.niv
"Lord, bless our customers not because we provide for them but because of what they give to us." I saw his prayer answered with a valuable learning that very day.
I volunteered at the local food pantry that day. My job was to assist the shoppers by pushing the shopping cart and bagging their selections. It has been enjoyable to watch the interaction of people. Our shoppers and volunteers show each other respect and care, demonstrate lack of greed, and exhibit gratitude. One particular day gave me insight into the verse in Malachi.
The prophet was delivering bad news. God was angry. The people had shown Him disrespect by challenging His love for them. Of course, the people are arrogant and, defensively, ask how they have shown contempt for God. The following verses detail the examples of ingratitude, of giving less than their best to God, of failure to show their love for God.
I grew up in The Show Me State, Missouri. So I respond when I see love lavished on me. The first question in our premarital counseling was "How do you know you are in love?" My response was a list of how my intended had showed me his love. He did and does well nearly 45 years later.
A soft spoken gentlemen showed me how to demonstrate love and gratitude. As he handed each one of his carefully selected items he murmured "thank you", not to me but just a quiet thank you in general. He did it after each and every item that went into his bags.
Do I say thank you for each and every blessing?
Is there a blessing so small that it doesn't merit gratitude? Apparently not.
We teach little ones to say please and thank you. This quiet man whispered a valuable lesson to me that day and Malachi loudly reminded me-- show my gratitude.
Malachi 1:6 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/mal.1.6.niv
"Lord, bless our customers not because we provide for them but because of what they give to us." I saw his prayer answered with a valuable learning that very day.
I volunteered at the local food pantry that day. My job was to assist the shoppers by pushing the shopping cart and bagging their selections. It has been enjoyable to watch the interaction of people. Our shoppers and volunteers show each other respect and care, demonstrate lack of greed, and exhibit gratitude. One particular day gave me insight into the verse in Malachi.
The prophet was delivering bad news. God was angry. The people had shown Him disrespect by challenging His love for them. Of course, the people are arrogant and, defensively, ask how they have shown contempt for God. The following verses detail the examples of ingratitude, of giving less than their best to God, of failure to show their love for God.
I grew up in The Show Me State, Missouri. So I respond when I see love lavished on me. The first question in our premarital counseling was "How do you know you are in love?" My response was a list of how my intended had showed me his love. He did and does well nearly 45 years later.
A soft spoken gentlemen showed me how to demonstrate love and gratitude. As he handed each one of his carefully selected items he murmured "thank you", not to me but just a quiet thank you in general. He did it after each and every item that went into his bags.
Do I say thank you for each and every blessing?
Is there a blessing so small that it doesn't merit gratitude? Apparently not.
We teach little ones to say please and thank you. This quiet man whispered a valuable lesson to me that day and Malachi loudly reminded me-- show my gratitude.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Don’t be overtaken by lax adherence
“But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? “Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’ ””
Zechariah 1:6 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/zec.1.6.niv
I learned a valuable lesson on adherence from a quilt block. I had finished one of my favorite quilt blocks for the block of the month project. I loved having a deadline. I admit to a bit of pride knowing I'd finished on-time, To my horror the finished block was the wrong size and would never fit in the finished quilt. My most dreaded remedy loomed--ripping it apart! I hate ripping and redoing!
The log cabin quilt block is a historical pattern. It predates the Civil War era when it became popular. Perhaps Abraham Lincoln's youthful residence in log cabins inspired its fame.
The assembly begins in the center. Traditionally, the center square is red to represent the hearth of the home, yellow to represent a welcome light or black to signal the safety of a spot on the Underground Railroad. Strips of equal widths but growing lengths are added in a particular order to complete the block.
My downfall is the many quarter inch seams. In the log cabin quilt there are many seams. If any seam deviates from this standard the final block will not be able to be joined to the remaining blocks to complete the quilt.
Zechariah reminded the people that lax adherence to God's decrees and commands caused the downfall of their forefathers. He urged the people to learn from their predecessors.
The verse in Zechariah inspired my sewing day project. I found a pattern for a log cabin quilt block. Found the box of 2 1/2 inch strips acquired from my quilt buddies-who are much better at adherence than I. I know those strips had been carefully laundered and cut with exactness.
I took care to measure my quarter inch seam guide.
I took exact care when cutting the individual strips-count twice,cut once.
Then consulted my pattern twice before sewing each strip. I only had to rip once!
Fortunately my block finished with an eighth inch overage. (Pretty good for me!) Abundance is often a good thing.
To fit into God's finished project of my life, I am learning that adherence to even the smallest of decree or command will affect the finished product. I'm not fond of ripping nor following rules in my life but as my quilt buddy reminds, "It could be the most important thing you do!"
Choose the center of your life wisely. The "quilt block of life" needs God at the center. Adherence with the addition of each "strip of adherence" will result in a life that fits....
Now I look forward to the mystery project where this quilt block will fit!
By the way, the second quilt block was constructed much quicker since I'd had a rehearsal!
Zechariah 1:6 NIV https://www.bible.com/111/zec.1.6.niv
I learned a valuable lesson on adherence from a quilt block. I had finished one of my favorite quilt blocks for the block of the month project. I loved having a deadline. I admit to a bit of pride knowing I'd finished on-time, To my horror the finished block was the wrong size and would never fit in the finished quilt. My most dreaded remedy loomed--ripping it apart! I hate ripping and redoing!
The log cabin quilt block is a historical pattern. It predates the Civil War era when it became popular. Perhaps Abraham Lincoln's youthful residence in log cabins inspired its fame.
The assembly begins in the center. Traditionally, the center square is red to represent the hearth of the home, yellow to represent a welcome light or black to signal the safety of a spot on the Underground Railroad. Strips of equal widths but growing lengths are added in a particular order to complete the block.
My downfall is the many quarter inch seams. In the log cabin quilt there are many seams. If any seam deviates from this standard the final block will not be able to be joined to the remaining blocks to complete the quilt.
Zechariah reminded the people that lax adherence to God's decrees and commands caused the downfall of their forefathers. He urged the people to learn from their predecessors.
The verse in Zechariah inspired my sewing day project. I found a pattern for a log cabin quilt block. Found the box of 2 1/2 inch strips acquired from my quilt buddies-who are much better at adherence than I. I know those strips had been carefully laundered and cut with exactness.
I took exact care when cutting the individual strips-count twice,cut once.
Then consulted my pattern twice before sewing each strip. I only had to rip once!
Fortunately my block finished with an eighth inch overage. (Pretty good for me!) Abundance is often a good thing.
To fit into God's finished project of my life, I am learning that adherence to even the smallest of decree or command will affect the finished product. I'm not fond of ripping nor following rules in my life but as my quilt buddy reminds, "It could be the most important thing you do!"
Choose the center of your life wisely. The "quilt block of life" needs God at the center. Adherence with the addition of each "strip of adherence" will result in a life that fits....
Now I look forward to the mystery project where this quilt block will fit!
By the way, the second quilt block was constructed much quicker since I'd had a rehearsal!
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
It’s futility to chase worldly pursuits
“You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.””
Haggai 1:6 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/hag.1.6.niv
Enough procrastinating! I've been wrestling with this scripture for too long! The word enough has consumed my thoughts.
"Enough" is a command I use often with my attention demanding pup. When I believe she has received the required amount of petting, I'll say "enough". Usually she lays down and lets me be.
Enough is too often a measurement of time, possessions, and self evaluation. We never seem to have enough time to prepare for a task or spend with each other. Too often we ignore the inner voice telling we've collected enough of the items of life. How many times have I felt like I wasn't enough for a task or position?
Haggai reminds me that worldly desires will never be fulfilling. That which the world offers will never satisfy. The hole in my being that I try to allow the world to fill will never be filled because there is only One who can fill it. This void in my heart is only satisfied by God. God is enough!
A follow up command for my determined pup is "Move On." When she is barking at that neighbor who walks by the fence every day at the exact same time, I remind her of the routine and tell her to "move on." I've reminded of the true source that will be enough for me yesterday, today and tomorrow. I'm ready to move onto Zechariah!
Haggai 1:6 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/hag.1.6.niv
Enough procrastinating! I've been wrestling with this scripture for too long! The word enough has consumed my thoughts.
"Enough" is a command I use often with my attention demanding pup. When I believe she has received the required amount of petting, I'll say "enough". Usually she lays down and lets me be.
 |
| This dog thrives on petting |
Enough is too often a measurement of time, possessions, and self evaluation. We never seem to have enough time to prepare for a task or spend with each other. Too often we ignore the inner voice telling we've collected enough of the items of life. How many times have I felt like I wasn't enough for a task or position?
Haggai reminds me that worldly desires will never be fulfilling. That which the world offers will never satisfy. The hole in my being that I try to allow the world to fill will never be filled because there is only One who can fill it. This void in my heart is only satisfied by God. God is enough!
A follow up command for my determined pup is "Move On." When she is barking at that neighbor who walks by the fence every day at the exact same time, I remind her of the routine and tell her to "move on." I've reminded of the true source that will be enough for me yesterday, today and tomorrow. I'm ready to move onto Zechariah!
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