The end of summer is approaching. I only have so many more weeks to eat all of the banana popsicles in the frig. They are a sign of summer! Only a few more weekends on the lake and then "fall fishing" starts at our house. We have a tradition every year of decorating our house, inside and out, for fall. Fall is our favorite time of year. Emily, our oldest daughter, celebrates big time on Labor Day weekend. She decorates, inside and out, fixes her favorite fall dinner and favorite fall dessert and gets out the fall candles. She goes all out. She will be visiting family in Detroit this year, so she is going to decorate early. Maybe she already has! I will wait until Labor Day or the week after. Fall is a big deal at our house. It is the beginning of football season, wienie roasts, burning leaves, golf cart rides to the lake which is now deserted until next summer.
So we wrap up our summer blog. It has been fun. It has kept me accountable. I have read every assignment even if I was late posting. Our small group will be meeting again at the mall after a get together at El Chicos to kick off the year and catch up. I'm not sure how many years we have met at the mall. It has evolved. God keeps bringing us together. This semester, we have a new person signed up. I hope she feels welcome. Jerry and I have signed up to host a Wagoner small group on Friday nights. I don't know where God will take that, but we want to be willing. So let's finish out this post with the rest of summer. If you "had" comments on Ruth (sorry I didn't get that one in) please comment. We will finish with Ephesians and Psalms 43-50. September will start our new list and we don't have that yet. So just keep posting and I will keep reading!!!
The only comment I had on Ruth is that I didn't realize they were buying back Elimech's property. Naomi was fully redeemed, family, property, reputation, everything. Cool!
ReplyDeleteI was excited to see how much I remembered from our study before. And it is exciting to have read about elimelech before in our daily readings, so we knew who he was ha!!
DeleteEPHESIANS 1
ReplyDeleteI love that God lavishes his riches on us.
I love that God works everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, even we make a mess of things. He is still working it out.
I love the MSG Bible says in v. 11 through end that He gives us endless energy and boundless strength. I have claimed that many times this week!
EPHESIANS 2
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine how the Gentiles felt being called fellow citizens of God's people, members of God's household, part of the holy temple. No longer outsiders.
I love that he abolished the law so that we can live in peace. So why do we out such restrictions on ourselves?
DeleteEPHESIANS 3
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite chapters in the Ephesians. I love, love, love v. 18 "that you may be able to grasp how wide, how long, how high, how deep the love of Christ is and to know (experience) this love that surpasses knowledge (you can't explain it). I pray that for myself and so many people. If you ever really "get" the love of Christ, it totally changes your life!
I love v. 20 also. He is able to do so much more than we could ask or think. I think sometimes we ask too small. I think we need to ask big and expect big things and have big faith!!!!
We must be rooted AND grounded in love before we may comprehend the love of Christ. Paul prays this for us, so we should pray it to others as well.
DeleteI really like chapter 4. If Jesus ascended when he died, it proved he descended when he came to earth.
ReplyDeleteThen verse 17-32 is how to live your new life in Christ. Put off your old self and be renewed in your mind and be created in the likeness of Christ.
Sometimes when you become a believer, your life doesn't change drastically. Habits have to be broken. You have to make different choices, surrender your will. It all takes time. It's not about the rules and the dos and don'ts. It's about walking with your Father in a new relationship and letting him reveal to you what needs to change and then him giving you the power and the want to to do.
DeleteEphesians 5&6
ReplyDeleteBe imitators of christ. Look carefully at your walk in life. Put on the armor of God. We are in a spiritual battle with the devil. The best way to be ready is to be in prayer and study.
I loved v. 1 "live a life of love". Walk in love, treat others with love, strangers and friends and family. Love is action.
Delete4 - Thanksgiving needs to be the priority of our speech, what comes out of our mouths
15 - be careful how you live, live intentional
31 - men need respect, women need love and security. There is freedom in submission
19 - your new lifestyle is speaking praise, singing praise, always thankful
EPHESIANS 6
Delete7 - the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does. I can't even imagine a world where we're all looked at equally and judged fairly. It is so opposite on this earth. Hard to imagine how God sees us all.
10 our walk should look like this: strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Armor helps you stand against the devil's scheme (his will for your life). Put it on before you are in the battle, be prepared. Your heart, your soul, your feet, your shield and sword. Then.....you stand firm. You pray and be alert to the tricks satan uses. The shield covers all of your weak spots. The only weapon satan has is fiery darts that he aims for your weakest spots, his targets. It affects you as soon as you are hit. It keeps burning and injuring until you extinguish with truth. If you prepared internally with the word and truth, then you have your faith externally and the word to us to have victory. You extinguish the arrows with your faith.
Psalms 43
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about being in psalms again! David is sad and feels like God has kind of abandoned him, but he still has hope and still praises him.
I am too Aimee! I love Psalms.
DeletePSALM 43 - Put your hope in God. I will yet praise Him. How many times I put my hope in things that can only disappoint. I will learn that lesson eventually!
PSALM 44
ReplyDeleteWe have victory because of God right hand, his arm and the light of his face, because He loved us.
Redeem us with your unfailing love.
He know the secrets of our heart. I love that because some things you can't even express to anyone, they are so personal and deep. But He knows, He understands, He cares about all of those things that you care about.
One thing I love about David is that he shows that it is OK to be upset with God and express it. He talks about how great God is and then talks about even though they are still praising him he has turned his back on them and they are loosing the battles. David even tells God to wake up! But we need to make sure we have a good relationship with God before wwe act like that.
DeleteThat is true Aimee, and that made me laugh!
DeletePSALM 45
ReplyDeleteGod anoints us with the oil of joy!
"The King is enthralled with "Aimee's" beauty. Honor Him , for He is your Lord." and that's how he feels about you!
Aww! Thanks :) I love the picture David paints with all the sights and smells.
ReplyDeletePSALM 45
ReplyDelete2 - we will not fear though the earth gives way...calamity. What would be the contemporary of that? the stock market crash, another recession, losing our jobs, sickness...would our response be:
"God is our refuse and strength, an ever present help in in trouble"?
Would our spirit be still and know (experience) God in the midst or would our spirit panick, cry and complain (so loud you can't hear God". The noise will be deafening around you, but your spirit is still because you know God is the Lord Almighty. I AM is with us and that is all we need to know for strength to endure. You are always loved and God is always good.
I can't add anything to that. You said it well. I hope I can remain calm and know that He is God. I think this year of reading the Bible has been awesome and taught me to know that he is my fortress and strength.
ReplyDeleteThat is good fruit!!!
DeletePSALM 47
ReplyDeleteGod is still king over all the world. Good to remember when you watch the news and see the chaos.
This chapter made me think software singing at church LOL!
DeletePSALM 48
ReplyDeleteMeditate on God's unfailing love.
PSALM 49
ReplyDeleteOkay I am weird bc this what this chapter said to me:
"no man can redeem the life of another of give to God a ransom for him - the ranson for a life is costly."
I can't save anyone from hell, from self-destruction, from themselves. People do what they want, have the perspective they want, say what they want even if it is self destructive. The ranson I give to try and save someone costs me my freedom. I take on their responsibility. I fight their battle instead of stepping back and accepting it is what it is.
I have to let people live how they want, non-resistant, let them be. You reap what you sow. If I sow rescue, I reap responsibility that is not mine. No payment is ever enough. Nothing I can do will cause change in someone else's life unless they make that choice!
You are not wierd. I agree and learned this the hard way. People have to make their own mistakes and you can't save them from themselves. You can only give them Godly advice and let God handle it (while you pray for them).
DeleteI also didn't know that verse 16 on was in the bible! Rich men can't take their fortune with them when they die.
Psalms 50
ReplyDeleteThe earth is God's and whatever you give or sacrifice is already his, so do it with thanksgiving. He knows your heart. If you do it out of habit or responsibility he know and won't be there for you when you need him. But if you give with an open heart he will help you
I like that the sacrifice is already his. Your heart is always the only thing that matters. It will determine your actions.
ReplyDeleteI liked that God knows every bird in the mountains. Since I spend every single morning outside watching the birds eat, I loved this verse. Every creature of the field are God's. The world is His and all that is in it. He knows every single thing that is going on intimately!
I SAMUEL 1
ReplyDeleteIn bitterness of soul, in great anguish and grief, Hanna prayed and kept on praying. She left it with God, believed Him and then got up and ate and was no longer downcast. Even though your circumstance doesn't change instantly, your perspective can and you can live in victory.
I can't believe that she wanted a son so bad and then willingly gave him back to God and kept her vow. That is obedience!!! He removed her reproach of being barren and that was the greatest thing God could do. She probably thought giving back Samuel was a blessing to her and the least she could do for God. God had shown her favor and given her joy. She also later had three other sons and two daughters). My take away: Life is about letting go!!!