Posted in I AM Bible Study
Lisa, over at The Preacher's Wife has created a beautiful online Bible study titled "I AM, So You Don't Have To Be." After reading her site and contemplating the content of this Bible study, I realized this is exactly what I need for this particular time of my life, and exactly what the Lord has been speaking to me about - for such a time as this. In the introduction Lisa shares some of the reasons she started this study, and some of the clues God gave her through her son, and in everyday living, that this is something He truly wants His people to know and understand. She writes:
" In Scripture, the gift God promised to the Israelites by covenant through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was the provision of the Land. Not just any land, but a land filled with homes they did not labor to build, vineyards they did not tend, a "land flowing with milk and honey". It was a place of rest and safety. A place where God would teach His children true worship of His name alone. A place where they experienced the abundance of God not to hoard, but to bid to those around them, "come enter our rest."
" In Scripture, the gift God promised to the Israelites by covenant through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was the provision of the Land. Not just any land, but a land filled with homes they did not labor to build, vineyards they did not tend, a "land flowing with milk and honey". It was a place of rest and safety. A place where God would teach His children true worship of His name alone. A place where they experienced the abundance of God not to hoard, but to bid to those around them, "come enter our rest."
If you are interested in joining this study with me, please head on over to Lisa's site, by clicking on the Bible study meme-graphic above. It is never too late to join! I pray you'll be as blessed as I have been through this time in God's word, with other Moms just like us, who want more of God's truth in their lives.
Here are my answers to LESSON 1 - "I Am Your Beauty"
I love this quote by Lisa regarding this study, and it registered STRONG in my spirit when I first read it:
"When God asks us to do something on His behalf, He is enough to accomplish the desired end. He delights in our 'yes' and how that spreads His fame. I want to be a girl with a 'yes' in my Spirit - don't you? When we can exchange God's I AM for our Am Nots, we'll proclaim as David, "With your help I can advance against a troop, with my God I can scale a wall." (Psalm 18:29) The most important thing I've learned? Unless the circumstances are dire, unless the situation hopeless, unless the task impossible, God is not assured the glory when the miraculous happens. He is still a God of Wonders. What a thrill when He asks us to hold the staff."
Can you honestly describe yourself as a woman with a 'yes' in her spirit?
YES! Wholeheartedly YES
Are you in an emotionally and spiritually healthy place today? If so, what will you do with your series of unrecurring events? Will you commit to ask for spiritual eyes to see opportunities to defend a weaker sister?
I can honestly say I am in an emotionally and spiritually VERY healthy place today, although three months ago I would have told you differently. I recently walked through the hardest experience I have ever been through (and let me tell you I've been through some doozies in my day - lol), but as I humbly submitted myself to the Lord during that time, and didn't seek vengeance, I saw Him become my defender, ROCK, refuge and provider in miraculous ways. I am a person who is adamantly opposed to injustice, and when I see it happening, especially to women I love and have covenant relationship with, I am like a Mama Bear ready to fight for her cubs. I've realized the best way to defend a weaker sister is to stand with her in prayer, and be patient for God's timing, command and orders, and be willing to walk with her through her journey. To be out of God's timing, even when dealing with injustice can do more damage than wanted, and I've found that even good intentions can kill you! We must wait patiently for God's timing and Defense. He is our Defender!
If no, are you taking steps to seek out wise counsel from a sister you admire or perhaps a Christian counselor if needed? If not, will you resolve to do so?
I am a firm believer in having Godly counsel around us, and firm accountability. Unfortunately there have been times when we have had the wrong people around us for counsel, and their counsel brought us into grave danger, and left us out there on our own without any support or help. Because of that we no longer just submit ourselves to anyone. We are careful to pray specifically now that God brings the right counsel for us at the right time, and in the meantime we stay very "covered" under our spiritual Father and Mother's counsel, and in the word of God, and Christ as our leader. As it says in Col. 1:18 "He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things HE might have the preeminence." Christ should always be our main counsel, but also having good mentors is a MUST. Our mentors and counsel have been tried and tested and have walked with us through many a fire. We know we can trust them to give us Godly counsel, and even chastisement when necessary. However, they are firm that when they are exhorting us that they walk through it with us and not just walk away to leave us in our pain. That is a true mentor - one who is willing to walk through the fire with you and see you to the other side. That is the kind of mentor I want to be for other sisters in Christ, and especially for my daughter.
"When God asks us to do something on His behalf, He is enough to accomplish the desired end. He delights in our 'yes' and how that spreads His fame. I want to be a girl with a 'yes' in my Spirit - don't you? When we can exchange God's I AM for our Am Nots, we'll proclaim as David, "With your help I can advance against a troop, with my God I can scale a wall." (Psalm 18:29) The most important thing I've learned? Unless the circumstances are dire, unless the situation hopeless, unless the task impossible, God is not assured the glory when the miraculous happens. He is still a God of Wonders. What a thrill when He asks us to hold the staff."
Are there any circumstances or relationships in your life where you can see God has intentionally placed you to be a light for Him?
Yes, absolutely and sometimes when least expected.
Yes, absolutely and sometimes when least expected.
Can you honestly describe yourself as a woman with a 'yes' in her spirit?
YES! Wholeheartedly YES
Are you in an emotionally and spiritually healthy place today? If so, what will you do with your series of unrecurring events? Will you commit to ask for spiritual eyes to see opportunities to defend a weaker sister?
I can honestly say I am in an emotionally and spiritually VERY healthy place today, although three months ago I would have told you differently. I recently walked through the hardest experience I have ever been through (and let me tell you I've been through some doozies in my day - lol), but as I humbly submitted myself to the Lord during that time, and didn't seek vengeance, I saw Him become my defender, ROCK, refuge and provider in miraculous ways. I am a person who is adamantly opposed to injustice, and when I see it happening, especially to women I love and have covenant relationship with, I am like a Mama Bear ready to fight for her cubs. I've realized the best way to defend a weaker sister is to stand with her in prayer, and be patient for God's timing, command and orders, and be willing to walk with her through her journey. To be out of God's timing, even when dealing with injustice can do more damage than wanted, and I've found that even good intentions can kill you! We must wait patiently for God's timing and Defense. He is our Defender!
If no, are you taking steps to seek out wise counsel from a sister you admire or perhaps a Christian counselor if needed? If not, will you resolve to do so?
I am a firm believer in having Godly counsel around us, and firm accountability. Unfortunately there have been times when we have had the wrong people around us for counsel, and their counsel brought us into grave danger, and left us out there on our own without any support or help. Because of that we no longer just submit ourselves to anyone. We are careful to pray specifically now that God brings the right counsel for us at the right time, and in the meantime we stay very "covered" under our spiritual Father and Mother's counsel, and in the word of God, and Christ as our leader. As it says in Col. 1:18 "He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things HE might have the preeminence." Christ should always be our main counsel, but also having good mentors is a MUST. Our mentors and counsel have been tried and tested and have walked with us through many a fire. We know we can trust them to give us Godly counsel, and even chastisement when necessary. However, they are firm that when they are exhorting us that they walk through it with us and not just walk away to leave us in our pain. That is a true mentor - one who is willing to walk through the fire with you and see you to the other side. That is the kind of mentor I want to be for other sisters in Christ, and especially for my daughter.
Posted by Becky
