Haunted by Fear?

 

Have you ever been to a haunted house, spooky night at a theme park, or a horror film? Why did you go? Do you enjoy being terrorized? Did you get pressured into going because all your friends went? Did you regret it? Or did you stand against the peer pressures and stay home, or go to see "The Wilds" with your little siblings instead?

Why do people want to do things or go places that will make them afraid? Fear is not of God. The Bible says, "God hasn't given you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, power, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) Why would you want to expose yourself (or others) to things that will make them afraid?

Fear is not of God, so let's avoid things that will make us afraid...

Please check out these verses on fear:

Psalms 56:11

Psalms 91

Proverbs 3:24

Isaiah 12:2

Philippians 4:4-8

James 4:7

These verses have helped me through a lot when it has come to battling fear.  We do not have to live in fear.  God has sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us so that we may be His children forever.  Children of God have no need to fear: "What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies!" (Psalm 118:6-7)

What verses do you use when battling fear?  What other tactics have you come up with to defeat the devil?

I have found that praising God is a great way to get the devil to leave you alone.  Every time you think of that thing that scares you, or every time you think about that sickness or disease in your body, give thanks and praise to God for what He has done for you.  He is our Healer; He hasn't given us a spirit of fear!  We don't have to live with these things, for God has sent the ultimate Redeemer, Jesus Christ!  Let's choose not to live in fear anymore!!

Blessings!

~ S*

Witchcraft

Witchcraft... Some of you may be wondering what is witchcraft? Is there such thing in today's world? What qualifies as witchcraft? What things in this world (toys, movies, books, etc...) depict or encourage witchcraft? Does the Bible really say that witchcraft is bad?

Definitions*:
Witchcraft:1: a : the use of sorcery or magic b : communication with the devil or with a familiar 2: an irresistible influence or fascination

Witch: : one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially : a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar : sorceress.

Divination: : the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers.

Sorcery: : the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining

This Week's Scriptures:

Exodus 22:18, "Do not allow a sorceress to live." (NIV)

Pretty obvious...

Leviticus 19:26b, "Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft." (NLT)

Can't get much clearer than that...

Leviticus 19:31, "Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God." (NLT)

Consulting mediums or witches can separate you from God; it puts your relationship in jeopardy.

Leviticus 20:6-8, “I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community. 7So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy." (NLT)

Do what God says, and He will protect you. Don't jeopardize your relationship with Him for a whimsical fortune telling...

Leviticus 20:27, "'Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense."' (NLT)

If we did this stuff now a days (putting sinners to death for capital offenses the real capital offenses), we wouldn't have near as many problems in this world as we do... You can't go wrong when following God's Word!

Deuteronomy 18:9-14, “'When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. 10For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. 13But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.'” (NLT)

If we would stop sinning against God, we would be a nation safe and blessed by Him. But instead we follow or engage in the detestable things, and we pay for it. All the things listed in the above scripture are things God hates. Why would you want to do something that dishonors Him; something He forbids?

1 Samuel 15:23, "'Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.'" (NLT)

If you think about it... Witchcraft is rebellion... Along with a lot of other things...

2 Kings 21:6, "He [Manasseh] sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger." (NIV) (Repeated in 2 Chronicles 33:6)

It makes God angry when we practice evil things.

Galatians 5:19-21, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (NIV) (emphasis added)

I think they are obvious, but a lot of people in this world don't know right from wrong. Look in the Word and learn what God blesses and curses.

Revelation 9:21, "And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts." (NLT)

Guess what's going to happen to them? (read the next scripture)

Revelation 21:8, '"But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars--their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."' (NLT) (emphasis added)

Pretty serious stuff... I don't think we want to be practicing witchcraft. I personally wouldn't get near it with a ten foot pole!

What things are witchcraft that might effect you? Anything with sorcery or revolving around death probably isn't a good idea. Including some of the following: Harry Potter, Twilight, Wizards of Waverly Place, Ouija boards (pronounced weegie board), Tarot cards, Horoscopes, etc... Let's face it... The only one who knows the future is God. We don't need to waste our time trying to figure out what tomorrow will bring, for God knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). I encourage you to put your trust in the Lord, not in a Ouija board. He will bring the best out of you!

Extra Scriptures to look up: Isaiah 47:9, Micah 3:7, Micah 5:12-13, Nahum 3:4, Revelation 18:23

Blessings!
~ S*

*definitions came from merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

Halloween To Participate or not to Participate?

A lot of people want to know what the Bible says about Halloween... Should they participate in the dress up day at work?  Should they let their kids go door to door to get candy?  What about those "Halloween Alternative" parties that churches put on to keep kids "safe"?

While I was growing up I wasn't allowed to trick or treat.  I had some Christian friends who did an annual "Halloween Alternative" party at their church, but I wasn't allowed to go to that either...  Is dressing up in costumes bad?  Some of my friends would say, well, we only dress up as Bible characters... As if to justify it...  I didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but I never participated in anything on Halloween... So in the end, I guess I didn't really care.

Now that I am older I have adopted my own, personal, point of view on the holiday, based on what I have read and learned from the Bible and other sources.

I personally am against any form of participation in Halloween.  This includes those church alternative parties.  Let me be clear on something... Dressing up in costumes isn't bad... Playing games for candy isn't in itself bad...  Carving a face in a pumpkin isn't bad...  A lot of the activities or things that people do on Halloween or "Beggar's Night" aren't in themselves bad, but what they represent on this night in particular, to me, makes it bad...  "Why does doing it on that night make it any worse than doing it any other time?" you may ask...  

It's what they represent...

After researching the history of Halloween and some of the things that are done on or around this holiday here is what I have come up with:

Bonfires were used to drive Satan away...

Bobbing for apples had to do with superstitions regarding who a girl would marry...

Costumes were originally worn by people to make themselves appear dead so, in turn, evil spirits wouldn't bother them...

Black cats are historically associated with witchcraft and evil; at one point in time, they were considered to be reincarnated witches...

The Jack O' Lantern originated with an old story of Jack tricking the devil into a tree. He traded the devil's freedom for his never going to hell.  So when Jack died he just roamed around the dark places of the earth with a carved turnip lit by an ember from hell.  People used these vegetable lanterns (now usually pumpkins) to ward off evil spirits (especially Jack's)...

Other words and phrases associated with Halloween: voodoo, mischief making, ghoulish visitors, bribe with candy, ghost stories, satanic rituals...

Here are some of the most common costumes that people dress up as this time of year and their meaning*:

Witch: a woman thought to have magic powers (wears back and rides a broomstick); a woman practicing black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil; sorceress

Warlock: a man practicing black arts (male version of a witch)

Ghost: an apparition of a dead person that is believed to appear or become manifest to the living; spirit of a dead person; demon or spirit; a returning haunting memory or image

Devil: the chief evil spirit, Satan; a subordinate evil spirit; a demon; a wicked or malevolent person; an outstanding example, especially of something difficult or bad

Zombie: originally a snake-deity of west Africa or Haiti; a soulless corpse said to be revived by witchcraft; a snake god of voodoo cults; a supernatural power or spell that in voodoo belief can enter into and reanimate a corpse

What the Bible has to say:

1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (KJV)

Ephesians 5:8-11, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (NIV)

(For more on Witchcraft please visit my previous entry by clicking here!)

Everything about Halloween is negative to me...  Everything I have listed above has something to do with witchcraft, evil spirits, or the dead.  Why would we want to condone or associate with anything like that? 

And as for those "Halloween Alternative" parties that churches throw...  I think their intentions are good, but to me those parties represent the church accepting the holiday or condoning it.  Just look at some of the things I listed above... Do you want to participate in what all of those Halloween oriented things represent?  I know I don't.

What are some things we can do to be the best example we can be this Halloween season?  If I choose not to wear a costume to work, that may bring a lot of attention to myself...  But what better way to be an example and shine God's light to others!?!   I look forward to hearing from you!

Blessings!

~ S*

*some definitions taken from google.com and thefreedictionary.com

God's Chisel (Part 2)

Scriptures this week:

Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

Are you willing to let God do whatever it takes to make you into His masterpiece?

What would God chisel out of your life? Lust, pride, anger, laziness, business, idols, etc...

Are you trying to control your life by telling God what you are willing to chisel out? 

What is your insanity?  What do you keep doing over and over again expecting a different result?

Inspirational lines from the clip:
God doesn't make junk...
God is a name above all names.  It is more than a Name and more than a saying.
A father disciplines the ones He loves.
YOU are an original masterpiece.
You'd rather play God in certain areas of your life than for Me to be God over your entire life.
You are either moving toward me or away from me, you never just stay.
It's not a sprint it's a marathon. That's what you keep your eye on: heavenward.
You were never holding Me up.  I hold you up!

Blessings!
~ S*

God's Chisel (Part 1)

Below is the video we will be discussing at the Bible Study this week!  I encourage you to watch it and be encouraged!  Discuss it with your friends!  And don't forget to share below what you have discovered in your walk with God through this video!

God loves you!  He only asks you to give up the sinful things in your life because He loves you and wants you to become more like Him! 

Blessings!
~ S*

Questions to Ponder...

At this week's Bible study, I asked a few thought provoking questions... Listed below are the questions and my scriptural answers from my life in this moment.

1. How has God been leading you?  Jeremiah 29:11, Psalms 37:4,9, Isaiah 40:31

2. How do you listen to God's voice and obey His leading and direction for your life?  How does He communicate with you? 1 Kings 19:10-12

3.  How important is a strong relationship with God in your future spouse?  What kind of relationship must he have to be considered by you?  Luke 11:17, Matthew 12:22, Mark 3:23

4.  How do you think you will make your relationship with the Lord stronger when you are married?

I encourage you to look up the scriptures listed and find some of your own that you would apply to these questions...

In my walk with God, I have been waiting to hear from Him to see what He has in store for me.  I know I am where I am supposed to be currently, but I have been starting to get a little restless.  Recently a new opportunity arose, and I have done my part in accepting this opportunity if that is what God wants... We shall see where it leads.  During this period of pause/waiting to see what is next, I have learned to trust in the Lord more than ever (Proverbs 3:5-6).  I have an amazing peace about where I am because I know I am following God's plan for my life.  (even if it isn't exactly how I would have planned it myself...) 

My relationship with God is very important to me.  And I want my husband's relationship with God to be ultimately important to him.  So this photo/saying is what I am longing for:

Who are you waiting for?  I am waiting on God, and if He decides to bring a husband along in our journey together, so be it!! 

Blessings!

~ S*

Graduation!

It's that time of year again!  Weddings and Graduation parties galore!!!  The time to celebrate all of the amazing blessings in our lives... Yes, you may have gone through a few bumps to get to these accomplishments, but that just makes them all that much more exciting! 

My questions for you this week are: What drove you in this accomplishment?  How was your success obtained?  Who cheered you on, and who thought you could never reach this point? 

What scriptures were your foundation?  One of my favorites is: "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."' Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Following God's plan for you is not always the popular choice.  Maybe He told you not to go to college, and you get lectures monthly telling what a horrible idea it is not to go for a "higher" education.  Maybe you felt led to go into a field that others think is crazy.  Or maybe you haven't figured out what your next step is.  That is okay!  When we wait on the Lord, and trust in His perfect plan, there is nothing to worry about (Psalm 37, Isaiah 40:30-31, Psalm 59:9) 

Take it from me, you don't want to let others decide what is best for you.  Let God decide.  "For I know the plans I have for you... Plans to prosper, to give you hope and a future." He knows what's best, and I encourage you to follow His lead. 

Congratulations to all who have accomplished those diplomas, degrees and/or marriage licenses!  May God bless each of you in all that you do!

Blessings!
~ S*

Time for a Laugh!

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..." Proverbs 17:22

What gives you a good laugh?  My sister and I stumbled upon a family who puts up YouTube videos every week... They always give us a good laugh, and I thought you might enjoy them as well: Below is one of my favorites and you can click Here to visit their YouTube channel and check out more.

I hope you all have a great week!  Enjoy a good laugh, and SMILE!  It is amazing how contagious that is!

~ Blessings~
~ S*

What are YOU Saying? (Part 2)

It is amazing how powerful your words are.  Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat it's fruit." (NIV)  The New Living Translation says, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."


Everything we say has a consequence.  Most recently I personally have been trying to evaluate common phrases/sayings.  I'll give some examples:


1. Holy crap (Holy cow, etc...)
2. Darn (Oh man, oh crap, dang, shoot, frick, etc...)
3. Worked like a charm ( Third time's the charm, lucky charm, etc...)
4. I'm getting a cold (flu, headache, etc...)
5. I could never do that...
6. _______ is genetic, so I know one of us is going to get it.



1. There is no such thing as Holy crap.  Or holy anything for that matter.  When something is Holy it is sacred and set apart for God.  We should be striving to be Holy. Not calling worldly things holy when they are far from it.


2. Darn is just like saying a curse word.  So are the other examples.  When you say "Oh dang it. I should have had that." Technically you are cursing what ever it is you were doing.  You are not speaking in an uplifting or encouraging way.  (Philippians 4:8)

3. I used to say these all the time until I learned what a charm was.  A charm is something people make to ward off evil spirits.  It is a hocus pocus kind of thing.  Almost demonic in itself.  We have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  We have the Bible the Word of God.  We don't need a charm, for "The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalms 27:1, NIV)

4.-6. "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies." (1 Peter 3:10, NLT)  What ever you confess over yourself will happen.  Confess health, life, and prosperity over your life not sickness, death, and poverty.  "The tongue can bring death or life..."


Blessings!
~S*

What are YOU Saying?

This Week's Scripture:  Proverbs 18:21 (In this lesson we will be using the NIV and Message translations)
  
A lot of people underestimate the power of their words.  The Bible says in Proverbs 18:21, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (NIV)  The Message gives an even clearer interpretation, "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--you choose."  (Message)  I was blessed to learn this early.  When I speak bad/negative things over myself (sometimes even jokingly) they often happen.  However, when I speak life and healing over my body, that is what I reap.


I can give you and example: Remember the rhyme: "Don't step on a crack or your mom will fall and break her back."  We all step on cracks, even if we don't at the time that we might be saying the rhyme.  I know of a person who said that, and their mom did hurt her back.  "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit--YOU choose." (The Message emphasis added)


When it is cold outside we shouldn't say things like "you'll catch your death of pneumonia."  Or when something is really funny it is great to laugh and laugh hard, but we shouldn't say things like "that kills me."  "That was so funny I about died." or "stop it you're killing me."  "The tongue has the power of life and death..." (NIV) Don't prophesy over yourself (or others) negative things.  If we do we are just opening up a door for the devil to use against us. 


"What if people say bad things to me/about me?"  Well, if someone says to you "you'll catch your death of pneumonia." (or something of the like) The first thing I do is say, "No, I won't."  You are already resisting it that way.  Then usually in my head I resist it from happening, and thank God that I am healed and no weapon formed against me shall prosper!  If my friend or someone I am talking to says something like: "I about died" or "_______ will kill me" I always try to speak life over them by saying: "I hope not. Or "No it won't."  And you can always try to share with them what you have learned about the power of your words.


Another example: I know of someone who had a cold and some else said "your going to get pneumonia." That person did get pneumonia.   


So please keep in mind how powerful your words are.  And I challenge you to memorize the Bible verse for this devotion.  Pick a version of your choice; it doesn't have to be one used in this lesson.  Choose what kind of words you are going to use.



Blessings!
 ~S*

You Are Healed!

Do you know what you are saying when you say you are healed?  Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines heal/healed this way: 1. a. to make sound or whole. b. to restore to health. 2. a. to cause (an undesirable condition) to be overcome: mend. b. to patch up. 3. to restore to original purity or integrity : to return to a sound state. Synonym = cure.  Wow!  It always amazes me how different a word you "know" can look when you read the definition.  Today we are going to focus on definition number two above.
 

The Bible is an excellent source of healing scriptures and stories!  Let's look at what the Bible says about being healed.  Psalms 107:20b says, "He sent forth His Word and healed them."  We know God/Jesus is the "Word" because of John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Isaiah prophesied healing because of Jesus when he said, "4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried away our sorrows, yet we consider him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds* we are healed." (*Some translations say stripes.)  1 Peter 2:24 says, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

We are also redeemed from the curse of the law.  Galatians 3:10 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'"  If you want to know what the curse(s) of the law are, check out Deuteronomy 28:15-68.  If you don't think your particular sickness/issue is listed there remember in Matthew 16:19b Jesus says, "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." And in Deuteronomy 28:61 it says, "The Lord will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law until you are destroyed."  In other words, we are redeemed from every kind of sickness or disaster.

Jesus always healed the sick.  The bible says many times that "He healed them all."  For more encouraging healing stories you can look up the following: (some of these deal with the "healing"/redemption of sins along with physical healing.)

1. Jesus heals a paralytic Matthew 9:1-8
2. The healing of two demon possessed men Matthew 8:28-34
3. Jesus heals many Matthew 8:14-17
4. Jesus heals the sick Matthew 4:23-25
5. Jairus's Daughter brought back to life Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56
6. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead John 11:1-44
7. Jesus heals a man who was born blind John 9:1-41
8. Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43

 These are just a few examples of God's healing power.  It didn't stop when the Bible was done being written; god is still Jehovah Rafah our healer today.  The Bible also says in James 4:7, "Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  Or as the Doughnut Man says, "Submit to God (Say Yes Sir!). Resist the devil (Hold it right there!). And he will flee from you (And he will run away)."

Blessings!

 ~S*

 PS. You are healed!!!

Should I Feel Guilty?

 
Scripture This Week: Hebrews 10:22

http://www.freewebs.com/girlbiblestudy/Guilt for GBS.doc    *

We can learn a lot from the study lesson above.  I didn't use to realize that I had a problem with guilt until relatively recently.  And when I read the lesson above I was excited to learn that there was a difference between God telling me something via the Holy Spirit and my flesh.  So just because you are asked to work a longer shift, come in on your day off, babysit when you don't want to, or give someone a ride, doesn't mean you have to do it.  Yes, the Bible does tell us to consider others ahead of ourselves, but in some instances I believe there are times when we don't have to do everything we are asked to do.  Now, I am not saying to tell your mom no next time she tells you to do the laundry.  But we do not have to feel guilty if we say no while being obedient to God.

Got it?  I made the study in a word document so that you could print it out.  It will have you answer a few questions and look up a few verses.  Please don't just write "yes" or "no" to the questions.  Be descriptive.  Let it all out.  And please feel free to share things you learned, questions you may have, and comments below.  Challenge us too.  If you don't want your question or comment on the site then please e-mail me at girlbiblestudy@hotmail.com.
Blessings! 
~S*

*Directions/Lessonby Jeff Adams, PHD
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Am I Ugly?

This Week's Scripture:  Genesis 1:26-27 
 

Okay guys, how many of us, at one time or another, have thought that we were ugly?  Be honest now.  I have definitely thought that of myself.  How many of us have wanted to change something about our appearance?  We have all been asked the question: if you could change on thing about yourself what would it be?  We all think of things: a smaller nose, whiter smile, thinner hips, tanner skin, etc.  We are beautiful just the way we are.  God made us in His image (Gen. 1:26-27).  Instead of wishing we were different or "prettier" than we are, we should thank God for our beautiful bodies.  We are created in HIS image!  What could be better than that?  If you still have trouble shooting yourself down with discouraging thoughts about yourself, try this.  Every time you begin to obsess or think about your body in a negative way, catch yourself and begin to thank God for the qualities you do like.  Or do this; lets say you begin to think about your legs again.  "I wish they were straight, I wish they were tan, I wish they were more flexible, etc."  Turn that around and thank God that you have legs that work properly, that you don't need crutches or a wheel chair to get around.  If you begin to form this habit, eventually Satan will stop torturing you with those depressing thoughts because you turn it into a good thing. 

Another worry could be that my future husband won't think I am beautiful after we get married.  First off, that is absurd.  God Himself has planned out whom I will marry.  I don't think God is going to make a mistake.  In Songs of Solomon the word beautiful is used countless times.  I don?t think God placed this book in the Bible for kicks and giggles.  He had a much better reason than that.  One reason could be to show us how beautiful we are.  Chapter one verse fifteen says, "How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!  Your eyes are doves."  That is the Lover (male) speaking to the Beloved (female).  I believe God will send me a man who thinks beautiful things of me like the Lover does in Songs of Solomon.  (For a bigger list of beautiful things read chapter four.)

Always remember that we are created in the image and likeness of God.  So we cannot be ugly, especially to Him.

If you have anything to add or have additional questions or comments please leave them below.

Blessings!

~ S*

True Love Waits!

This Week's Scripture:  Songs of Solomon 2:7, "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field:  Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." (NIV)

Many of us have heard or even spoken the phrase, "true love waits."  I have a purity ring that says that very thing.  But what does it really mean?  Some of you might say it means exactly what it says.  Yes it does; however, let's examine each word closely.

True.  In the dictionary* true is defined this way: 1. real; genuine; 2. faithful; loyal; 3. right; proper; correct; exact; accurate; 4. rightful; lawful.  If you say "true love waits" by replacing true with one or all of the words above, does the phrase take on a new meaning for you?

Love.  Love is defined like this: 1. warm and tender liking; deep feeling of fondness and friendship; great affection or devotion; 2. have such a warm liking or deep feeling for; 3. a strong liking; 4. like very much; take great pleasure in.

Waits.  Wait or Waits is defined as follows: 1. stay or stop doing something until someone comes or something happens; 2. look forward; be expecting or ready; 3. delay or put off.  In other words, do not progress forward until you know it is God's will and timing for you.

Putting this all together may make it sound somewhat as follows:  [True]Genuine, faithful, and proper [Love] deep fondness, affection, or devotion to others [Waits] is expectant, ready, and looking forward to what God has planned for their life.  In other words, to truly love someone, you must wait for God's "yes" to move forward in that loving relationship.  A good way to do this is to listen to what the Bible says in Songs of Solomon 2:7b, "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." Or you could say it this way, do not allow love to wake up in you until God says it is the right time!

In the first part of that same verse Beloved (aka the girl in this book of the Bible) is charging (or placing under oath) the other women of Jerusalem to do this very thing.  In the same way we should not artificially stimulate love before God's perfect timing.  Flirting and the dating game are just a couple examples of "fake love" that many people participate in which really hinder their following God's path and plan for their future.

I hope that this has helped you ponder whether or not you are truly loving others by waiting on God's plan.

Feel free to leave questions and/or comments about this entry below.  If you have a private question you would like us to answer, feel free to e-mail us!  Please check back often for more polls, quizes, forum questions, and devotions. We would love to hear from you!

Blessings!

~ S*

Patience vs. Anger (Can they be related?)

As I was reading my Bible preparing for the Patience themed Bible study one week, I came across Proverbs fifteen.  In this chapter there are multiple verses on controlling or turning away anger.  I figure this isn't the typical way to go about studying patience, but these scriptures stood out to me.  For this is something I have been struggling with recently (also off and on in my past).  I used to get very angry when I was young.  I would get so mad at times, my entire face would become blood red and look like it was going to explode.  Since my younger years, I have become much more wise when it comes to controlling my temper.  But this does not mean I don't throw my control out the window at times.  The other day, for the first time in a while, I let my feelings run away with me; I acted very immaturely.

My patience that day was pretty much non-existent from the start.  Hormones could have had something to do with it, but I'm the one who spiraled out of control.  Do you ever have those days where it just seems to start off in an irritable way, which can lead to many impatient actions?

Proverbs 15 stuck out to me this particular week, and here are a few verses that I believe pertain to the topic we were discussing... (NLT)

Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare."

Proverbs 15:18, "A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them."

Proverbs 15:28,"The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil."

A lot of times, impatience turns into anger...  Frustration can be a form of impatience... We should work hard to develop our patience, so that we will not be easily angry or frustrated.

Patience Definition:

(Noun) The power or capacity to endure without complaint something difficult or disagreeable; forbearance; long-suffering.

(Adj.) Bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint; steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity; not hasty or impetuous.

After reading the definition of Patience, I felt pretty infantile; not wise at all.  Do you think people are born with patient tendency? Or does everyone struggle with it/have to develop it in similar ways?  On a scale of one to ten how would you rate your development of patience?  

Blessings!

~S*

What's Your Favorite Scripture (Part 2)

Another favorite scripture of the group was Matthew chapter five.  Also known as the "Sermon on the Mount".  I encourage you to read the entire chapter this week, but will touch on a few verses that stuck out to one of the Bible study's members...

While discussing verses 13-16, we began asking each other if we were the salt and light that we should be to those around us.  We also asked each other what this area of scripture meant, and how we could apply it to our lives.  One member mentioned that darkness is only the absence of light.  How we speak or what we talk about/call other people is our representation of Christ.  Reconciliation, forgiveness, repentance, and loving others are all ways we can shine our light in the darkness.

Verse 28 brought up a bit of discussion... We all agreed that, when we think of lust, we usually associate it to men.  Women are not as drawn in by the looks of a guy, while men can totally fall into sin just by looking at a woman.  We asked each other if, in society today, men fall prey to the lust of the eye as much as they used to, since provocative clothing etc... is all around them all the time.  One of the girls gave this great analogy: Dogs love treats.  A dog could be in a room surrounded by treats, and he could enjoy eating every single one of them.  But when tomorrow comes around, he will still love treats.  He will not get tired of them or say "Oh, I've had a lot of treats lately..." or "I can get a treat whenever I want, so why would I want one now..."  He would always want more treats.  Our conclusion... It doesn't matter how much we are surrounded by the provocative clothes or sexy advertising of this world... It is still tempting, and it always will be. 

Part two of this verse's discussion brought up the point of how we as women can help prevent lust.  Dressing appropriately, not flirting, etc... are great examples of how we can be a better sister in Christ to all of our fellow brothers out there.  One idea is to think of the people around you (especially guys) as true brothers and sisters.  This will help you put your actions and reactions to people in a better perspective. 

Verses 31-37 talk about Divorce and Oaths/Promises...  What great topics to put one after another.  One more downfall of our current world is not keeping our promises.  Don't make a promise that you can't keep.  When you say I do, that means for better or for worse, in sickness and in health...  Not divorce when: I don't feel the spark between us anymore, I see another person over there that I would like to get to know better, or you don't have any money anymore so why are we still together...  A promise should be a lasting covenant.  Also like verse 37 says so clearly, "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."  If you don't make promises, you can't break them.  Be a person of your word... Don't allow the words of your mouth to become unreliable.

Verse 48 is very humbling.  "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."  He wants us to strive for perfection.  This is a verse that gets overlooked a lot.  Yes, it is impossible for us to be perfect, but we should have the same attitude as Jesus had... We should strive for perfection as best we can. 

What are some of the verses of Matthew chapter five that really stand out to you?  Have you ever thought about what we discussed above?  What would you add to our discussion about these selected verses?

Blessings!

~ S*

What's Your Favortie Scripture? (Part 1)

At the Bible study one week we chose to share our favorite passages of scripture and explain why they are important to us.  Below are a few of the scriptures mentioned and some of the thoughts behind them:

1 Peter 1:3-9 This passage is a great reminder of how precious our relationship with God is, and how important our faith in Him is.  Verse seven talks about gold and declares that our faith in God is more valuable than gold.  If you really think about that... Gold is one of the most valuable things in the world today.  All nations use gold and consider it a treasure.  So how ultimately valuable is our faith in God!?!  Verse nine: "The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls."

Matthew 7:1-6 "Do Not Judge Others" This passage brought about a bit of discussion on 1 Corinthians 5 as well.  In 1 Corinthians it talks about expelling the immoral brother.  Verse 12-13a says, "It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside[of the church]..."  So what do you think?  Are we supposed to judge others or not?  After bringing up this question and our discussion, the conclusion I came up with is as follows:

There are times when judging others is appropriate.   We are not supposed to judge others with a prideful "I'm better than you" attitude.  Our judging them should be out of love and having that person's best interests in mind.  It was also brought up that the Bible tells us how to approach a brother who is sinning. (Matthew 18:15-17)  There are certain ways to go about telling the brother.  Don't do it with the intent of getting the person in trouble, but pull him aside quietly to address it in private.  If he refuses to listen, address it with a couple more witnesses.  If he still doesn't listen, it may be necessary to expel that person from the church.  But the intent is never to expel them, it is to save them from their sin.  Also, learn all sides of the story before making a judgment.  Don't be in a hurry to judge someone in a negative light.  They are "innocent until proven guilty".

More to come!  What is your favorite passage of scripture and why?  I'd love to read them below!

Blessings! 

~ S*

Even the Greatest Men Fell

In light of my last two posts I wanted to take this opportunity to say that even the greatest people are not perfect. I was chatting with a friend a few weeks ago, and we began to discuss how even the greatest men in the Bible fell. Not only did they fall, but a lot of those who fell were involved in some form of sexual sin.

Scriptures for this week's study:

Abraham: Genesis 16:1-16; Psalm 83:5-6

Samson: Judges 16

King David: 2 Samuel 11; 12; 16:15-23

Solomon: 1 Kings 11:1-13 (Ecclesiastes)

Abraham was credited with righteousness (Gen. 15:6); however, he was not perfect. God promised to give him descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky (Gen. 15) Abraham believed Him, but still tried to take matters in his own hands by lying with Hagar. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, and the Israelites always had trouble with the Ishmael's descendants (to this day). 

Samson was a great judge during the time of Israel's continual cycle of sin, repentance, redemption, etc... He was Israel's redeemer/leader at the time. But after multiple instances with women, Samson ended up with Delilah. Even though Samson family warned him, he still didn't listen. This not only cost him his life, but probably shortened Israel's redemption period by decades...

King David the "man after God's own heart" and one of the greatest (if not the greatest) kings of Israel. He served God well, but a couple wrong moves (lust, adultery, murder) and he not only lost a son(2 Samuel 12:18), but also suffered great humiliation toward the end of his reign(2 Samuel 16:22).

King Solomon had more wisdom than any other man before or after him, but even that didn't keep him from falling. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines... (Wow... I can't even begin to fathom that... He could have gone 2.7 years without sleeping with the same woman if he'd have wanted to... Anyways....) And the number of wives wasn't really the issue at this time in history. The problem was where the women were from and what they believed. In his old age Solomon was led to follow other gods because of his many wives... This may have been what started Israel's fall until Jesus came...

One mistake can cost you a lot, but that does not mean it is the end of the world. Jesus Redeemed us by dieing on the cross for our sins. We are forgiven of all of them. We are no longer under the old covenant, but are under the new!

John 8:1-11, "Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

11“No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”"

You are forgiven, but don't keep practicing the sin. And remember God truly does forgive and forget.

Blessings!
~ S*

Don't Settle!

Before reading this post, I encourage you to grab a notebook and your favorite writing utensil and use this post for your own personal study/benefit. I'm going to ask a lot of questions, so write down on your own piece of paper what you think the answers to these questions are... I pray that this post blesses you and gives you insight to your future and the relationships it may (or may not) hold! Blessings! ~ S*

Still looking for your future spouse? Beginning to wonder if they even exist? Do you have high standards? Are there specific Biblical characteristics you are looking for? If not, should there be?

I have always had my standards when it comes to finding a future husband. I am not going to settle for anything other than God's best for me. In the past I have struggled with "Letting Go and letting God." But recently I have moved forward in my trust in God.

I have witnessed in the past few years a few relationships. Some of the people settled, and some of them did not! I believe God has a specific person out there for me to marry. This is not to say I couldn't marry someone else, but I think God has that perfect plan. It is my job to trust in Him to bring that plan into fruition, and not get impatient and marry the first guy that comes along. Below are some examples for us to examine:

Example A: Bob has just graduated High School. He is a Christian guy, who has been raised in a Christian home. He finally found a girl he thinks could be the one. The only catch, she is a brand new (baby) Christian. Before I continue, let me ask a couple questions... What should Bob do? Should he date this girl? If so, what boundaries should he set up before moving on with the relationship? What scriptures come to mind?... Okay, well, Bob decides to date this girl. While doing so he proceeds to kiss her and cuddle with her a bit. After a few months have passed, the relationship between Bob and his new girlfriend begins to have some strain... What do you think would cause strain in their relationship? How do you think it could be handled? How do you think it could have been prevented? Well, this relationship ended in a break up... It left Bob a bit heartbroken. Why? You may ask... He really thought that this relationship could end in marriage. He really gave some of his heart away to this young woman. Now he has to live with the decisions he made while in this relationship. He will not be able to take back the kisses and physical actions he made towards this young lady. His future wife can no longer be the first to receive these actions. Does Bob regret them? Yes... Why did he do it? Bob wanted to be an example to this young woman... He wanted to help her relationship with the Lord grow and mature. What could he have done differently that may have produced a better outcome? Do you think there is anything Bob should do now that the relationship is over? If so, what? What does the Bible say about this kind of relationship? What can you learn from this example?

Example B: Steve glances back across the room to catch another look from Lindsey... "She is so beautiful..." He thinks as he watches her explain a function on the store's new exercise machine. She is constantly happy, and always makes me laugh... I wonder what she is doing on Saturday night?" Lindsey too has been noticing Steve. They have been holding longer conversations in the break room, and she is beginning to wonder if their relationship could be something more... The only catch... She is a born again Christian, and he doesn't' have a relationship with the Lord at all. What should Lindsey do? What should Steve do? How should these early feelings be handled? As time progresses, Lindsey decides to invite Steve to her church. He begins attending, and after a few months, he gives his heart to the Lord! Now what should Lindsey do? What should Steve do? Should they move on into a "beyond friendship" kind of relationship? Why or why not? Steve and Lindsey end up dating... The people around Lindsey begin to notice that she no longer has time for her church family. She is acting a little weird... Not herself... Steve tells Lindsey that he isn't really comfortable mingling with everyone after the service. So instead of staying after the service to fellowship, they get up together and head out almost before anyone has the chance to say hello... What is going on in this relationship? What should Steve do? What should Lindsey do? A few months later Steve and Lindsey announce that they are engaged! How exciting! After their announcement they are hardly ever seen at Lindsey's church... There are rumors floating around that they began attending another church a little closer to Steve's home. A few months later, wedding invitations are sent out, and the wedding takes place at a church that neither the bride nor groom attend. What are your thoughts on this relationship? Will this marriage last? If not why? If so why or how? Less than a year after the wedding, Lindsey's original church family begins to see her attend the services without her groom... More time passes and the news is finally announced that Lindsey and Steve are getting a divorce... What could have prevented this? What does the Bible say concerning this relationship? What can you learn from this example?

Example C: Lori is a wonderful woman of God. She is now in her thirties, and has seen her younger brother get married to a beautiful woman that their family has know for many years. She is also witnessing her younger sister in a wonderful relationship with a young man of God. "When is it going to be my turn, Lord?" She has asked a thousand times. She has wanted to get married since she was a little girl. Why the long wait? But she doesn't let this discourage her, instead she is excited and happy for her younger siblings! And she begins to use her single time to bring honor and glory to God. To follow His leading and direction for her life. Before she knows it a handsome man steps through the doorway of church one Sunday morning. She can't help but notice him. Yes, he is handsome, but even more importantly he has this look about him... What kind of look? How do you think Lori should proceed? What questions should be asked? After striking up their first conversation Lori can tell that she has found a man following after the Lord. Before long their relationship progresses to a courtship. They get to know each others families. They never put themselves in tempting situations, and possibly best of all, neither of them have given away their first kiss! Together they establish boundaries and make decisions for their relationship based on what they think God would have them do. What do you think about this relationship? How should it be handled? What should Lori do? What should the man do? What is their next step? After a while Lori comes home with a ring on her finger. She is absolutely glowing with excitement! Was is worth the wait? She will tell you it was, with out a doubt. So, does this story have a happy ending? Yes! After a beautiful first kiss wedding and honeymoon, this couple is enjoying a wonderful life together. A life in which they put God first, and follow His leading and direction for their life! Could this have turned out any better? Will they have struggles along the way? What does the Bible say concerning this relationship? What can you learn from this example?

Want more examples? If so let me know... I hope that you took the time to really go over each of these situations. Which situation do you want for your life? What outcome do you want to have? Have you lived in any of these people's shoes? What can you learn from your mistakes? Are you willing to change some of your standards? What kind of changes do you think need to be made for yourself? Why?

Please let me know if this post blessed you in any way. I would love to hear from you! Do you have a topic you would like me to post about? I would love to hear your thoughts! If you have any questions pertaining to this post (or any other), please send me an e-mail and I would be happy to answer. girlbiblestudy@hotmail.com
Blessings to you as you grow in your relationship with the Lord!
~ S*

Letting Go and Letting God

One of today's scriptures will be Proverbs 3:5-7, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil." (NIV)

Let me start by asking, what does this scripture mean to you? I know some of you are probably like... "Ugggh... Not this verse again. I've heard it like a thousand times!" But this scripture is very relevant to me at this point in my life. Have you ever had one of those life verses, or a verse that just goes really well with where you are in your life? For me this is one of them. ;)

Other key scriptures for this post:

Psalms 62:1 and 5, "1 My soul finds rest in God alone... 5Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." (NIV)

I want to find rest in God alone. He alone can provide what I need! "Every good and perfect gift comes from above!" (James 1:17)

Philippians 4:11-13, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (NIV)

I want to be content in every circumstance. Giving God all my burdens will help in this process. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

Colossians 3:15, "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (NLT)

God will give us the peace we desire if we just trust in Him!

I have recently given my entire collection of thoughts, worries, control issues, and future plans to God. This has been an extremely wonderful experience. I had been afraid that God might not ever want me to get married, so if I gave it all up to Him maybe I would be surrendering to a future as a single. But in giving all my thoughts and worries to God, I have found an amazing peace. I haven't been worried about my future. I am at peace that God will provide everything I need whenever the need arises. If that means that I will need to wait a few more years for a husband, then so be it. I am excited to let God have control over my future. He is definitely the One who should be in charge anyway. Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" I am trusting God with my future. Are you?

What things do you worry about? Do you want to control your future like I did? Do you believe that God has the best for you in your future? What can you begin to do to make a change and give God your worries, cares, and future plans?

As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

~ S*

How Much Do You Know?

This week I decided to share a personal experience of mine.  Let me know how you relate, or what you may have discovered through your own experiences!

Verses for This week:

Philippians 4:4-8

Psalms 91

2 Timothy 1:7

Proverbs 3:24

Psalms 118:6-7

I have struggled with fear a few times in my life.  I've had bad dreams, or just not been able to sleep at all because of certain circumstances that didn't allow it to be an easy thing for me...  I often times quoted these scriptures (listed above) while I was in bed getting ready to fall asleep. (my dad had a huge part in training me in these scriptures... Often times he would stay up at night with me if I had a bad dream or was scared for some reason.) Growing up, I learned very quickly how to quote these scriptures.  I also became pleasantly aware that the devil doesn't like it when we praise God.  So while I would lay in bed bothered by fearful thoughts, I would begin to praise God until I fell asleep. Believe me; it works.  Often times I would wonder why I continued to have a struggle with fear, little realizing that I had truly made a ton of progress over the years.  I was finally made aware of the progress/leaps and bounds I had made in my walk with God (especially when it came to resisting the spirit of fear.) one summer during my high school years...

I was talked into (aka conned) becoming a camp counselor that summer after attending a performing art's camp.  The leaders of the camp I had attended a couple weeks before needed counselors for the younger "creative art's camp" that would be held just two weeks after the camp I attended.  My sister should have been the counselor, but she wasn't old enough... Thus I was the "counselor", and she did a lot of the counselor activities with (or for) me...  (If any of you know me very well, you would know I'm not a kid person at all, so this was WAY out of my comfort zone...) Long story short the week went well.  We had a few drama queens (I and one other girl from the "performing art's camp were the counselors), but we managed pretty well to keep everything under control.  There were a few Awesome moments when God used us all to minister to the girls at opportune times!

Then the last evening came around... The creative arts campers (and counselors) were forced to attend the final event: a night hike followed by a bonfire... None of the girls wanted to attend, but we had to do it anyways.  A couple of our most dramatic girl had some issues and weren't feeling well, which led to our decision of leaving them to sleep in the dorm.  WE all had our flashlights and gathered around the leaders of the camp for our departing instructions.  They, in turn, made us give them all our flashlights.  So as we head off towards the woods to begin our night hike, the two youngest girls ask to hold my hands. (This is a highly unusual thing for me...) I, of course, let them; they were already scared about going into the woods in the dark.  (It was extremely dark in these woods... and raining with a bit of heat lightning...) As we began the hike I was already praying and asking God for wisdom and help for this "adventure" quoting scripture throughout..  Part of the way in a guy with a bright blue light saber popped out.  Tons of yelps and screams were heard all around.  The two girls were clinging to me, and I was trying to keep them calm and tell them everything was going to be alright.  In this "hike" you pretty much just followed the crowd of people in front of you.  I was in the back half while my sister and fellow counselor were in the front half.  Well, the back half somehow became separated from the front and got lost in the woods. We were finally stopped by someone with a cell phone (LIGHT) before walking into a swamp.  The girls were freaking out, some boys kept making scary noises just so they can hear the little girls terrified screams...  Well, the guy with the cell phone got us turned around and I followed that dancing little light all the way out of the woods... meanwhile dragging the little bawling girls behind me.

Somewhere in the middle of the screams, cries, and getting lost, I realized that I had complete peace and that I wasn't afraid.  I knew everything was going to be alright, and I knew how to convey this to the little girls clinging to me for dear life.

God is pretty Awesome!  He brought all of those scriptures on fear to my attention at just the perfect time, and I was prepared because I had put them into practice on a regular basis.

Blessings!

~ S*