"He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11b
I love how Kathy accepts that the man's lack of love for her was God's protection, because he wasn't God's choice for her. How has God protected you in that way (with any situation, not just relationships)? Do we always accept His protection or do we sometimes wallow in the rejection? (I know I tend to be a wollower.)
"The book of Ecclesiastes was written as a warning, a flashing red light to two groups of people:
1. To those who do not know the Lord and are trying with things "under the sun" to fill up those places only God can fill.
2. To those who do know the Lord but lose that "first-love" passion and then, like Solomon, try to find their way out of the wilderness. They look for love in places that will leave them lost, discouraged, and empty-handed."
What are some ways that you (recently or far in the past) have tried to fill up the emptiness in your life?
"Life under the sun is sweet, and we are to enjoy God's gifts of beauty, food, and sex - but none of them was ever meant to be abused. None of them was ever meant to meet our deepest needs. Phillip Yancy writes:
'Ecclesiastes endures as a work of great literature and a book of great truth because it presents both sides of life on this planet: the promise of pleasures so alluring that we may devote our lives to their pursuit, and then the haunting realization that these pleasures ultimately do not satisfy. God's tantalizing world is too big for us. Made for another home, made for eternity, we finally realize that nothing this side of timeless Paradise will quiet the rumors of discontent.'"
"The word translated "vanity" or "meaningless" in Ecclesiastes 1:1-3 means "something passing swiftly away." What do you learn about these things according to Proverbs 31:30 and Matthew 6:19-21?"
"Read Ecclesiastes 1:4-11. What word pictures does Solomon use in verses 5-7 to describe the monotonous cylcle of life? What are his conclusions, according to verses 8-11? What are his emotions?"
According to the first verse in this blog, what does it mean to have "eternity in your heart?"
"Read 1 Kings 11:1-13.
A. Why did God tell the Israelites not to marry the women from the surrounding nations? ? (vv.1-2)
B. Describe everything you can about Solomon's disobedience. (vv2-3)
C. How is the heart of Solomon contrasted to the heart of his father, David? (vv4-6)
D. What did Solomon do for Chemosh and Molech, two detestable gods? What do you think motivated him to do this? (vv 7-8)
E. Find as many reasons as you can in verses 9-11 for God's heartbreak concerning Solomon.
F. What was going to be the consequences of Solomon's attitude and behavoir? How did God's love for David mitigate the consequence? (vv 11-13)"
Name a favorite romantic place - it can be a place to be with the one you love or a place to be with the One you love.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Someday My Prince Will Come
Zephaniah 3:17
"The LORD your God is with you, he is might to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
A genuine Prince Charming of depth, sensitivity, and nobility who can take us into a wider world (a whole new world)! Jesus is such a sweet Prince Charming! Sometimes we may look at Him from afar, like amovie star or fairytale Prince, but we can have the most intimate relationship with Him who knows our very thoughts even before and better than we know them ourselves.
"Individuals, though they may not recognize Jesus, are often drawn to Him through His creation. The authors of Sacred Romance believe that everyone has a sense of this mystery through the music and beauty of the world. God says the same thing in His word."
Psalm 19:1-4 "THE HEAVENS declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork. 2Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge. 3There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard. 4Yet their voice [in evidence] goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world. Of the heavens has God made a tent for the sun"
So, how has God's voice gone out into the world? How far-reaching is this language, according to the psalm? Do you remember a way that God called to you, through His creation, when you were young?
I love that He does not give up on us! And I love that "best of all, He is not just some historical figure from the past - He is alive today"!
What have you been rescued from and how has He rescued you?
Psalm 34:4-8 "I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused. 6This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7[a]The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers.
8O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him."
Oh, how I want to be radiant and to never cover my face in shame! To shine the radiant light that reflects Christ!
Read Luke 1:5-7
What does blameless mean? Read Philippians 2:14-16 and 1 John 1:7-9 to help your definition.
Read Luke 1:8-25
Describe Zechariah's doubt and the discipline that followed. How might this discipline produce growth?
"Can you think of a time when God 'rescued' you through discipline? Think of a time when you suffered consequences because of sin, or missed a blessing because you didn't trust Him - but you learned, and changed, and grew stronger."
"I belong to the Lord, body and soul,...Let it happen as you say." Luke 1:38a - in the Amplified Bible Mary calls herself the handmaiden of the Lord. Confirm aloud to Jesus that you are His handmaiden, al l His, body and soul.
Let's practice the presence of God!
In Luke 1:46-50 we see Mary "dance to the song of her Savior God, and so can we. The euphoria that these women feel is the euphoria of women who have fallen deeply in love with the Lord, and they know, because they have passed through the stormy waters triumphantly, that their love is going to last. His love is going to last. They have reached the land of invincible love - not a land that is free of trouble, but a land that is full of confidence and joy."
"Can you think of a time in your life when God didn't come through with a miracle and yet, He did comfort you with His kisses: His presence, His prophecies, and His provisions?" That is the time that I'm in now. The specific miracle has not occured, but I am comforted only in His kisses.
I've always known that He is "I am" but I have never felt so profoundly affected by that until today while I was working through this study. He is. That's it. He is.
Meditate on our verse this week:
Zephaniah 3:17
"The LORD your God is with you, he is might to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
What is your favorite romantic book or movie?
"The LORD your God is with you, he is might to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
A genuine Prince Charming of depth, sensitivity, and nobility who can take us into a wider world (a whole new world)! Jesus is such a sweet Prince Charming! Sometimes we may look at Him from afar, like amovie star or fairytale Prince, but we can have the most intimate relationship with Him who knows our very thoughts even before and better than we know them ourselves.
"Individuals, though they may not recognize Jesus, are often drawn to Him through His creation. The authors of Sacred Romance believe that everyone has a sense of this mystery through the music and beauty of the world. God says the same thing in His word."
Psalm 19:1-4 "THE HEAVENS declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork. 2Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge. 3There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard. 4Yet their voice [in evidence] goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world. Of the heavens has God made a tent for the sun"
So, how has God's voice gone out into the world? How far-reaching is this language, according to the psalm? Do you remember a way that God called to you, through His creation, when you were young?
I love that He does not give up on us! And I love that "best of all, He is not just some historical figure from the past - He is alive today"!
What have you been rescued from and how has He rescued you?
Psalm 34:4-8 "I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused. 6This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7[a]The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers.
8O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him."
Oh, how I want to be radiant and to never cover my face in shame! To shine the radiant light that reflects Christ!
Read Luke 1:5-7
What does blameless mean? Read Philippians 2:14-16 and 1 John 1:7-9 to help your definition.
Read Luke 1:8-25
Describe Zechariah's doubt and the discipline that followed. How might this discipline produce growth?
"Can you think of a time when God 'rescued' you through discipline? Think of a time when you suffered consequences because of sin, or missed a blessing because you didn't trust Him - but you learned, and changed, and grew stronger."
"I belong to the Lord, body and soul,...Let it happen as you say." Luke 1:38a - in the Amplified Bible Mary calls herself the handmaiden of the Lord. Confirm aloud to Jesus that you are His handmaiden, al l His, body and soul.
Let's practice the presence of God!
In Luke 1:46-50 we see Mary "dance to the song of her Savior God, and so can we. The euphoria that these women feel is the euphoria of women who have fallen deeply in love with the Lord, and they know, because they have passed through the stormy waters triumphantly, that their love is going to last. His love is going to last. They have reached the land of invincible love - not a land that is free of trouble, but a land that is full of confidence and joy."
"Can you think of a time in your life when God didn't come through with a miracle and yet, He did comfort you with His kisses: His presence, His prophecies, and His provisions?" That is the time that I'm in now. The specific miracle has not occured, but I am comforted only in His kisses.
I've always known that He is "I am" but I have never felt so profoundly affected by that until today while I was working through this study. He is. That's it. He is.
Meditate on our verse this week:
Zephaniah 3:17
"The LORD your God is with you, he is might to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
What is your favorite romantic book or movie?
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