Welcome to the Grace Ladies Blog! We are so glad you are joining us in this Bible Study and we pray this blog will provide an avenue for you to interact with one another.
Let's start at the beginning with our memory verses ... Colossians 3:1 & 2. Can you recite it by memory yet? Give it a try!
"Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God" (vs 1). This is a direct command to set our hearts on Heaven and the things of God. And to make sure we don't miss Paul says it in like manner in the next verse, "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things."
The Greek word translated "set your hearts on " is zeteo, which "denotes man's search or quest." It is a diligent, single-minded investigation. This verb zeteo is in the present tense, suggesting it is an ongoing process. Keep seeking heaven and the things above. The command and the repeating of it suggests not only it's importance but that it will not come automatically. Our minds are so much consumed by the things of this earth - both good and bad - that we are not used to heavenly thinking. So we must work at it! What are you doing daily to work at "setting your heart and mind on the things above?
"Set you mind (affections) on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:2
ReplyDeleteWhen I started this study last Tuesday I wasn't thrilled. I thought it would be difficult to go through a study of heaven and when I started to read the lesson for the week it occurred to me that my thoughts of heaven have been many in the past 19 months since my son died. Every thought of heaven has been related to him in some way, which I think is normal, but also pretty selfish.
ReplyDeleteTonight I realized that I was led to take this study course when I heard Beth Moore say that we all have our Exodus in our lives and we need to leave our Egypt to travel to the promised land. Like Donova, the one thing I heard loud and clear as a word from God was "DROP THE BALL". Couldn't stop crying as I realized that I have been carrying this ball around and I have to drop it to be free to hear and take to heart God's promises. Just so thankful tonight.
Our first week of our bible study “Thinking Heavenward” affected me so fast, I was amazed! As I studied the lesson at home on Tuesday evening, I didn’t realize at that time how God was preparing me for the weeks ahead. The very next morning on my way to work the song “Love Has Come” by Mark Schultz was playing on the radio. I have heard this song numerous times, but that morning there was so much more meaning to the words than I had ever heard before. I had tears rolling down my cheeks knowing that He is right there beside me, guiding my way.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome God we praise each and every day. Ladies, we are truly blessed to have the Grace Community family and the network of love and guidance He has placed before us. I don’t know about you, but I am so excited about the weeks ahead of us as we learn and grow together!
Good Morning! I have memorized my verse. I have a terrible time memorizing, but really wanted to do this and asked God to help me. I suddenly remembered growing up in the Episcopal church where we sang the psalms---actually chanted them---every Sunday and I remember them to this day! So, I "chanted" Col. 3: 1-2, and learned it in just a few minutes! Maybe that's why the Hebrews sang the Psalms!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I was blessed as I prayed for each sister this morning. I loved saying each name and knowing that our Father loves her so dearly. It brought me so close to each one. Thanks, Donova, for listening so well to God and allowing us to experience this richness.
Love,
Caroline
I have I am sure, read or heard the words, "who is, and who was, and who is to come", in different forms dozens of times and most times I thought of them in the context of His presence in the universe as a whole,that He had always been and would always be,never until last nights class did I see those words as applying to me personally that He was there for me yesterday, that He is here with me today and that He will be there with me tomorrow.Awesome reminder! Evelyn Humphrey
ReplyDeleteI hope that I can get this all in...I have been reading a book called Crazy love,(Francis Chan) and I am not very good at finishing a book right away.Every time I have seem to pick this book up it was as if God was talking straight at me. A part of the book said this,imagine going for a run while eating a box of Twinkies,besides being self-defeating and sideache-inducing,it would also be near impossible-you would have to stop running in order to eat the Twinkies. In the same way- you have to stop loving and persuing Christ in order to sin.When you are pursuing love,running toward Christ,you don't have the opportunity to wonder,Am I doing this right?or did I serve enough this week?When you are running toward Christ,you are runiing without guilt,worry,or fear. As long as you are running you are safe.But running is EXHAUSTING--- if, that is,we are running from sin,or guilt,or fear.However, if we train ourselves to run towards our REFUGE,towar LOVE,we are free-just as we are called to be.Now I love to run and did't at first, I had to build up to it.So we come to the video and all I can say is DROP THE BALL, AND RUN THE RACE.As it say's in Rev. 1:8 I am the ALPHA and the OMEGA says the LORD GOD who is and who was and is to come!!!!!!God is the same all the time and is running every leg of the race with us if we let him.....Think of the prize at the finish line!!!!!Thank you JESUS.
ReplyDeleteDid you notice in our lessons for this week that the word 'shameh', referring to heavens 1 (where the clouds move) and 2 (planets, stars), is used throughout the O.T., through Malachi 3:10, but as soon as we get into the N.T. and Jesus is baptized, it changes to 'ouranos', referring to the 3rd heaven (God's dwelling place). It changes at Mt. 3:16, where heaven opens and the Holy Spirit of God descends on Jesus. Because of Him, we now have access to God's home. Thank you, Jesus!
ReplyDeleteHaven's Light. Oh, Sisters, he held the answer in his hand and then laid it aside. I feel such an urgency to tell my unsaved friends. Pray that they will listen.
ReplyDeleteI love you all and I'm so thankful for you---
Caroline
Caroline I felt the same way... Just open the Bible and you'll find your answers... I don't want that to be one of my children or grandchildren so it also gave me a sense of urgency.
ReplyDeleteI want to make sure if someone does pick up my bible I leave notations to show them what the verses meant to me and how God revealed his love through his word.
Judy, I do the same thing. My poor Bible has so many notes that it's hard to read it in some places. It's a strange feeling to know that someone I don't even know will read it and, I pray, find Jesus.
ReplyDeleteAs I started my first week of the "Heavenward" homework and memorizing and meditating on Colossians 3:1-2, the first thing that happened was CONVICTION! I have to admit that I didn't set my mind on heaven hardly at all in my daily time in the Word and with God. The reason was because of my lack of understanding and fear of the unknown. Why didn't I research it? I mean usually when I don't understand something that is what I do. The answer is because of selfishness. I had this pre-conceived idea that heaven was a place where we would be floating aimlessly about in spiritual/non-human like form and we would be singing for eternity. That would be it. The end. To tell you the truth, it didn't excite me and I actually had thoughts that Heaven would be boring (insert akward moment here). Since I am on a roll with my confessions. I will also admit that unlike a lot of my brothers and sisters in Christ, I could not honestly say "I hope Jesus comes today". I have read thru Revelation once on my own and to tell you the truth, parts of it sound down right scary. Especially The Rapture! As much as I want to be excited about the day that Jesus returns. Fear holds me back.
ReplyDeleteWell, as you know by reading the "Heaven" booklet by Randy Alcorn, I am terribly wrong about Heaven. But regardless if I was right or wrong, when I meditated on Colossians 3:1-2, I was convicted. We have been raised with Christ!! And Christ is seated at the right hand of God in heaven! That alone should be enough to want to set my mind on heaven. Afterall, it is the place where He dwells! Wow! Our flesh sure can get in the way and prevent us from knowing the true God and ultimately keep us from glorifying Him! I am so grateful for this study and His word that is sharper than a double edged sword and judges the thoughts attitudes of my heart! I am so looking forward to learning more about how AWESOME it is going to be to dwell with our Father and to learn about Jesus in Revelation!
Good afternoon ladies (or morning or evening or whenever this entry finds you)! I have a testimony that I would like to share about what God has been doing in my life recently. I chose this avenue to share because as many of you know, I can be quite windy. :)
ReplyDeleteShortly after the Lord saved me, I began feeling a calling for ministry to young women, single moms, and/or women in struggling marriages. Any time I would express those desires, opportunities in children's ministry would open up. I would decline those invites for one reason or another always keeping my heart on the idea of serving with women. The thing was, I would read those inserts in our bulletins each week requesting helpers for one thing or another in the children's department; and, feel a tug from deep within to respond. I never did though, until recently. I saw the request for Sunday school teachers in the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes, the first week or two I did my normal thing and ignored it. By the third week, I really felt the Lord pulling me to sign up, so I did. I spoke with Mary Ellen Ballman and she showed me the ropes and asked if I could sub one Sunday in September then start with my rotation on the second week of October. Now, understand that I have been a Girl Scout leader, softball coach, and have 3 children of my own. I thought teaching 4 and 5 year olds would be a piece of cake.
Let me insert an advisory here... To any parents of children in the Pre-K class, please understand that what's to come has NOTHING to do with your child nor myself... This is, simply put, a demonstration of our Lord and how He pursues our hearts and sometimes lets us fall flat on our faces in order for us to recognize our need for Him.
The first Sunday came (the one that I subbed), and it was... Awful! The kids were SO loud and they all went in their own different directions. They wouldn't listen when I spoke, they didn't want to color, sit, play games, pray... Just run around! Not to mention the fact that of the 9 children in the class, 8 of them were boys. For a mom of 3 girls who has never had much experience with boys, that was trying enough. I was physically drained by the end of class, I wanted to cry, I felt completely useless. But... I am a VERY prideful person and kept most of that to myself, just let on very tiny tidbits of what I experienced.
I realized within a day or two that I had really been spiritually bankrupt before I taught that class. I had been praying about it beforehand, but not like I should have been. Like I said, I thought it would be a piece of cake, that I could handle it all in my own strength. What I had failed to understand is that I can do nothing without the grace of God.
To Be Continued...
Part 2
ReplyDeleteGod's sovereignty really comes into play here because He knew I would have a terrible time in my first class, He knew I would realize why I failed and He knew I would need time to rebuild my relationship with Him before I attempted it again. Over the course of the next three weeks before my scheduled four weeks of teaching began, I poured out myself before the throne. I laid all my pride and expectations before Him, I sought His hand in every aspect and decision for this class. Then the time came for me to teach. I was a little fearful and repeated "there is no fear in love" so many times to myself. I made the time to pray with my family over the classroom before church that morning and released it all into His hands (even my pinkie finger came off girls!).
I don't need to tell you (but I will) God is full of mercy and grace! He blessed that classroom beyond what I could've even imagined He would! He taught me that my strength is teaching about having a relationship with Him. I am not well versed, the Word is really important, but it is not the area I can teach most effectively. What I know, what I teach my own children... Is honoring and loving God, worshipping Him, and treasuring a relationship with Him. We prayed together, some of the kids sat in their seats with heads bowed, some stood with hands raised high, some knelt, some even laid face down... It was a powerful moment, God was SO noticably present. The next week, was even better! The kids were engaged, asking really good questions, remembering the Word, and they again took on different prayer positions. Now, today is Tuesday and I can't wait to get back there on Sunday and spend time with those children! I am excited to see their eyes light up with gained knowledge, not just about how to write their names, or color in the lines; but also, about what it means to KNOW God, to LOVE Him and to SERVE Him!
I am not about to discern the motives of God, I don't know if children's ministry is really where He wants me to stay or if He's just preparing me for what my heart desires... Either way, I know that this is where I am supposed to be right now! I can honestly say... I love it! I look forward to it! and I am SO blessed to have been chosen for this responsibility.
Amber, I don't know how I missed your comments, but I'm sure glad I found them! How neat our God is. Thank you for showing me that it isn't enough to just pray before we go into these areas of ministry, but that we have to get really serious and, as you said, pour ourselves out before His throne.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Caroline