Stay connected —> check out my new blogs over at… Book Club Bible Study and Find Joy In The Journey
Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter – There is always a reason to be joyful!
Stay connected —> check out my new blogs over at… Book Club Bible Study and Find Joy In The Journey
Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter – There is always a reason to be joyful!
Change requires adjustments…
Change can be awkward and uncomfortable…
Opposition arises…
Will you quit?
Will you do whatever it takes to BE READY?
As Jesus approached the end of His life, He was purposeful to prepare His followers for the changes that lay ahead. Review the chart “Life of Christ Showing Coverage by Luke” on page 1710 of “The New Inductive Study Bible.” Over a brief three year span notice how Jesus has transitioned from obscurity to popularity to increasing opposition.
This week we will see how Jesus continues to offer instruction, correction and encouragement to his followers.
Things to Do this Week
Read Luke chapters 16-18 on pages 1688-1694 in “The New Inductive Study Bible.” (Or use the Bible of your choice.)
Make an effort to read and interact with a portion of Luke each day.
Main Events – Luke 16-18
Verses 1-12 Whatever we have, the property of it is God’s; we have only the use of it, according to the direction of our great Lord, and for his honor. This steward wasted his lord’s goods. And we are all liable to the same charge; we have not made due improvement of what God has trusted us with. The steward cannot deny it; he must make up his accounts, and be gone. This may teach us that death will come, and deprive us of the opportunities we now have. The steward will make friends of his lord’s debtors or tenants, by striking off a considerable part of their debt to his lord. The lord referred to in this parable commended not the fraud, but the policy of the steward. In that respect alone is it so noticed. Worldly men, in the choice of their object, are foolish; but in their activity, and perseverance, they are often wiser than believers. The unjust steward is not set before us as an example in cheating his master, or to justify any dishonesty, but to point out the careful ways of worldly men. It would be well if the children of light would learn wisdom from the men of the world, and would as earnestly pursue their better object. The true riches signify spiritual blessings; and if a man spends upon himself, or hoards up what God has trusted to him, as to outward things, what evidence can he have, that he is an heir of God through Christ? The riches of this world are deceitful and uncertain. Let us be convinced that those are truly rich, and very rich, who are rich in faith, and rich toward God, rich in Christ, in the promises; let us then lay up our treasure in heaven, and expect our portion from thence.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-concise/luke/16.html
Verses 13-18 To this parable our Lord added a solemn warning. Ye cannot serve God and the world, so divided are the two interests. When our Lord spoke thus, the covetous Pharisees treated his instructions with contempt. But he warned them, that what they contended for as the law, was a wresting of its meaning: this our Lord showed in a case respecting divorce. There are many covetous sticklers for the forms of godliness, who are the bitterest enemies to its power, and try to set others against the truth.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-concise/luke/16.html
Are you willing to do whatever it takes to be ready?
Write out a prayer of confession and thanksgiving. Ask God to help you with the difficult and challenging areas of your life. Give all glory and honor to God the Father and thank Jesus for the example that He has provided for you.
As a guide for prayer consider the words of Jesus from Luke 12.
All things that are hidden will be revealed.
Do not worry or be anxious about how or what you should speak in your defense.
The Holy Spirit will teach you what to say when you need to say it.
Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed.
Seek God first and He will provide what you need.
Be ready, Jesus will return unexpectedly.
Doing whatever it takes,
Ginger
Out with the old, in with the new…
What is your priority for 2011?
Do you need insight at work or home?
Need help with relationships, marriage or parenting?
Do you need to get your physical body or spiritual body in shape?
As Jesus approached the end of His life, He was purposeful to prepare His followers for the changes that lay ahead. Consider the words of Jesus from Luke 12.
All things that are hidden will be revealed.
Do not worry or be anxious about how or what you should speak in your defense.
The Holy Spirit will teach you what to say when you need to say it.
Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed.
Seek God first and He will provide what you need.
Be ready, Jesus will return unexpectedly.
Are you willing to do whatever it takes to be ready?
Things to Do this Week
Read Luke chapters 13-15 on pages 1683-1688 in “The New Inductive Study Bible.” (Or use the Bible of your choice.)
Make an effort to read and interact with a portion of Luke each day.
Main Events – Luke 13-15
Are you ready? Jesus will return unexpectedly.
Are you willing to DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BE READY?
Repent…
be blessed by inviting others to join you…
rejoice with heaven because one who was dead and lost has been found and has begun to live!
Thank you dear friends for sharing this journey with me.
Whatever it takes,
Ginger
In the pre-dawn darkness a blog post is made at 4:39 a.m. “Hitting the wall can be quite painful. I have reached that place often lately and find myself retreating. It is hard to face my friends because they see and hear it in my voice. I am not supposed to be weak! The last few weeks have been overwhelming and difficult to wade through and I am just tired.”
The pre-dawn blog ended with these words, “I want to live near the altar! I want my heart set on the pilgrimage! My goal is to go from strength to strength till I stand before God and I want my legacy to be that in all things… I trusted and praised the One that created me!” (The complete blog post can be found at http://jennysue1538.blogspot.com )
The hours tick by and the pre-dawn blogger makes a Facebook post at 2:11 p.m. “Experienced an angry Christmas shopper that told me to get my ugly bald head out of his way before he came over and —– slapped me. Poor guy must have been having a really bad day!”
My heart aches for my friend as I see into her life through these brief social media posts. I sense the warrior rising within me as I hear her goal ring true in my heart. I marvel at her ability to see into the life of the angry Christmas shopper who insulted her on an already difficult day.
In our study of Luke last week, we see that Jesus knew difficult days were coming. He spoke truth to His followers and encouraged them to press on confidently.
The followers of Jesus were increasing. In Luke 9 the chapter begins with Jesus sending the 12 out to “proclaim the kingdom of God, and to perform healing.” In Luke 10 we see Jesus appointing 70 others to go out ahead of Him into every city and place where He was going to visit. Jesus could see that the harvest was plentiful, but the laborers were few.
This week as we study Luke 10-12, let us purpose to SEE…
Things to Do this Week
Read Luke chapters 10-12 on pages 1676-1683 in “The New Inductive Study Bible.” (Or use the Bible of your choice.)
Make an effort to read and interact with a portion of Luke each day.
Main Events – Luke 10-12
In Luke 3:16 John said, “I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” In Luke 12:49 Jesus says, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth…” Keep this in context with everything you have been learning about Jesus. Remember Luke 9:52-56 when the disciples were not received and the disciples said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them… “for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Grace and opportunity for men to be saved from judgment is provided by Jesus first. It is followed by judgment by fire. God is both perfectly loving and abounding in grace and He is also just and will bring judgment. In Luke 12:52-53 families will be divided. Matthew 10:21-22 gives insight into why this division will happen. “And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”
Do you see what I see? More importantly, do you see what God sees?
Let us purpose to SEE…
Learning to see,
Ginger
Searching for Something? Do you need answers for real life…work, marriage, parenting, money, God, the church?
The good things God has for us are more exciting than a clearance shoe sale and a box of chocolates put together. Discover how to search the true Answer Book for answers to real life questions. In 28 days you can learn to study the Bible for yourself and understand it correctly. God has not reserved the Bible for the intellectually superior. You can find encouragment and solutions for everyday challenges. Will you join me tomorrow, Tuesday June 23rd? This summer commit 10-20 minutes per day for 28 days to learn how to study the Bible for yourself?
When: Tuesdays, June 23 – July 21
Where: Lake Hills Church – Warehouse
11431 FM 2244
Austin, TX 78738
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Cost: $25 – Childcare Provided
Grab a friend and join me Tuesday, June, 23rd at 6:30 p.m. at Lake Hills Church.
Fun, laughter and encouragement guaranteed!
Sign up at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/341097231
For more information and details go to www.lhc.org/women or contact Ginger Craddock at UcanFindJoyInTheJourney@msn.com