Skip to main content

I'm Back!! :)

Image
By
Well, I've decided that life has calmed down enough (at least for the summer), so I want to post about my life with God and what He is showing me.  I will try to post at least 3-4 times per week (even if it's a short snippet).  My goal is to allow God to shine through His amazing miracles in my life.

 I have committed to doing a free online Bible Study on the Book of Joshua.  I really want a friend who has the time to do this with me (so I'm praying that God will bring me someone), but if not, I'm okay with just me 'n Jesus.  

 In case you're interested, here is the link to the commentary:  http://www.religionofjesuschrist.com/commentary/history/joshua.pdf 

 Here is the link to the questions:  http://www.biblestudylessons.com/classbooks/history/joshua-questions.pdf

 I don't find the study itself extremely insightful and inspiring, but the genius of this study is the conversations that it sparks among us women as we discuss the questions.  I learned SO MUCH when I did his Genesis study in our women's group.

 Some interesting thoughts and discoveries so far (I just finished Joshua 2 today):

  • The book of Exodus is about the Israelites' redemption OUT OF Egypt.
  • The book of Joshua is about the Israelites' redemption INTO the Promised Land
  • Likewise, our salvation is not just a "saving out of hell," but a "saving into" eternal life (and an abundant life here on earth)  These were insights by Dr. McGee.

  • The book of Joshua is a book of possession because it is about the Israelites finally taking possession of the Promised Land.

  • Dr. McGee uses Joshua 1:7-9 to give a "Formula of Faith":
    • be strong and courageous
    • obey God's law
    • meditate on His law continuously.
Sometimes God calls us to do things that are so scary, so completely beyond our capability.  The easy thing to do is to cower in fear and make up a million excuses why we can't or shouldn't do it.  The Israelites could have come up with a million excuses, too.  But they would have missed out on an incredible blessing.  The beauty of trusting Him is that when He shows up and helps us accomplish the impossible in our life, HE gets the glory--it is then that our lives can truly shine for him, and isn't that essentially what we're here for?!

I can't exactly explain it right now, but I feel a sense of anticipation--that God is getting ready to stretch me again, personally and spiritually.  I'm not sure exactly what form that will take, or when it will take place, but I feel like He's getting ready to shake things up.  Me, NOT being a risk-taker at all, I am shrinking from this feeling, trying to convince God that I don't need Him to stir the pot right now.  However, I have to admit that it's a little exciting, too, because every time God has shaken my world, He has given me INCREDIBLE stories and those situations and circumstances have increased my faith and love for Him in ways that nothing else could.

I hope that spoke to your soul today and encouraged you!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Missing You

By
We've been having internet problems since last Friday evening. It goes on and off sporadically. Someone should be coming today to fix it (and of course it's working perfectly right now, lol!). I don't usually blog in the middle of the day (too much house stuff to do) , but I gotta grab the internet while I can. I'm desperate! It has actually startled me to realize how connected I am to all of you--even you, Ronalyn, and I have never met you. I have so missed reading blogs, commenting on them, and posting. I have really felt disconnected to you all (yeah, I'm a "recovered hick" but I can't erase that expression from my vocabulary--however, I don't say, "y'all." I do draw the line there. Sorry if I'm offending anyone--as in my sister and brother-in-law, but I don't consider you guys hicks.) . So I hope the person who comes to repair the internet issue can perform a miracle so I don't have to miss you anymore :)
4 comments
Read more

Nehemiah: Sheep Gate (Symbolism)

By Carmela
hubpages.com http://www.prayfordetroit.com/ As I mentioned in my Nehemiah  post, God has nudged me this summer to study Nehemiah in depth because He has some things He wants to show me.  I am just starting Chapter 5, and I must say it is so exciting and interesting. I have to admit, though, that when I got to Chapter 3, it just looked like one of those boring chapters: it gave all the boring details about each section of the wall of Jerusalem that was being rebuilt, and gave countless names of the people who rebuilt each section.  I was going to skip it and move on to Chapter 4 when I felt the Lord nudge me to look deeper--that there was something here that He wanted to show me.   So I dutifully sought the Lord (and a research book, and the internet!) , and was ASTOUNDED at the incredible layers of symbolism in the names of the gates!  It has turned out to be my favorite chapter so far.  :)  God is incredibly amazing, huh?   The big pi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Genesis 1: Commentary for my students :) {Hi! I miss you already!}

By Carmela
These are my thoughts on Genesis 1.  If you were sitting in front of me in the classroom and we were reading together, this is what I would tell you.  :) So sit back, relax, grab a cup of water ... or Gatorade ... or a juice box ... or your Starbucks, and get ready to be fed spiritually! As you read, try to visualize (get a picture in your head) of what God created each day.  Imagine what it must have looked like to God--first there was nothing but darkness and water, then, slowly, each day, God could look at the new things He added to creation.  That must have been such a great feeling! Try to see it NOT JUST as a cool Bible story, but really try to understand that the AMAZING God we serve is really SO powerful that He could just use His words to make everything appear.  So, truly, NOTHING is impossible with God. Think about what you might be going through in YOUR life--some situation that seems almost impossible or truly impossible.  God CAN fix i...
Post a Comment
Read more