Lonely Hearts – 10/13

Lonely Hearts

"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

 

Clearing out the cobwebs:

Do you like to spend a lot of time by yourself, or would you rather be surrounded by people?

 

1. In 2 Corinthians 11:27 Paul lets us know of the loneliness that he experienced. Does it seem strange that an apostle, a pillar of the faith, could feel this way? Paul is not exempt just because he was an apostle. All Christians can experience loneliness. It is a natural emotion.
   
2. In Psalm 69:20 David is wishing he had someone to talk to in order to share his troubles and sorrows with.
   
3. Genesis 2:18 talks about a man and a woman not being alone. But in general, God made us to need one another. Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 tells us that friends help each other up and keep them warm.
   
4. 1 Timothy 5:5 tells a story about a widow. She puts her hope in God and continues to night and day to pray and ask God for help.
   
5. Psalm 62:8 tells us what to do when we need an understanding ear to listen. The answer "TRUST in him at all times."
   
6. 2 Corinthians 13:11 and Philippians 4:9 tells us that we are not alone. The God of love and peace will be with you.
   
7. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 and 2 Timothy 4:22 tell us the Lord with be with you.
   
8. John 14:16,17 tells us the Holy Spirit is with us as well.
   
9. Three encouraging verses…what do they say is also with us? Grace, Mercy & Love. Read for yourselves.
   
   1. 2 Corinthians 13:14
      
   2. Colossians 2:5
      
   3. 2 John 1:3
      

 

 

TRINKETS to TREASURE

Your trinket for the week is a braided cord. A single strand of fiber might be fragile on its own, but it is strengthened when it is wound together with others. When our hearts are lonely, we realize how much the bonds of friendship mean. And when we have no other friends, how much more tightly we must weave our lives together with Jesus'!

As you ponder and pray over the week ahead, ask the Lord to help you to grasp Whose you are. Look for ways to reach out to others this week. Be that listening ear, be the one with the encouraging word, be the one to hear and know and understand.

Prayer Requests:

 

Linda's mom is in the hospital, they think that she had a mild heart attack. She is supposed to be released today. Pray for healing for her Mom and for Linda for strength as she is caring for her parents in her home.

 

Brenda - prayer for Christine. She has had multiple surgeries on her foot. Pray for God's hand to be with the surgeon and for a complete recovery.

 

Kathleen's daughter, Melissa, continued prayer for her health.

 

Monica's sister, Marcella, for God's guidance as she and her husband begin the process of reconciliation.

 

Joy – Prayer for job. Teaching music with no resources from the school. Continued prayer for the concert on 12/1 and 12/2. Prayer to remain in good health.

 

Prayers for those that are traveling this week.

The Green Eyed Monster – 10/6

The Green-Eyed Monster

"Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?" Proverbs 27:4

 

Jealousy is an emotion that doesn't fade as we grow into adulthood. We still have a tendency to declare "IT'S NOT FAIR!" when we don't get what we feel we deserve from life. Christians are not the exception. We are jealousy that God has blessed someone else with something that we would like. As women we've all said it at some time or another. I'm so jealous I wish I had curly/straight hair. It's not fair. A simple example but that is jealousy none the less.

 

In Proverbs 14:30 Solomon says that envy rots the bones but a heart at peace give life to the body. Jealousy can bring with it other emotions in subtle and not so subtle ways. Luke 11:39 says that greed is difficult to discover because it is on the inside and we cover it up on the outside. Psalm 101:5 says that we have slander come from our mouths from jealousy. Proverbs 25:23 talks about a sly-tongue, slander and 2
Peter 2:14 says that a sinner has a heart trained in covetous practices.

 

Jealousy, materialism as referred to in the bible, brings trouble to the family (Proverbs 15:27) and in addition to greed and envy lead to sin (Habakkuk 2:9). The alternative to jealousy is to turn your heart to Jesus (Psalm 119:36). In Proverbs 21:26 Solomon says ," the righteous gives and does not spare." By giving we look to others and meeting other needs therefore we are not looking at the interests of ourselves. (1 Corinthians 10:24,Philippians 2:4)

 

Mary and Martha are a great example of Jealousy. Martha was in the kitchen and Mary was out with Jesus and his disciples. Martha says, "What about me? Don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me." (Luke 10:40). Jesus responds in the next verse, "Martha, Martha you are upset and worried about many things but only one is needed". That one this thing is focusing on where Jesus is and where he wants YOU to be in your life.

What about her/him??? Peter asks that question of Jesus regarding John. In John 21:22 Jesus replies, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is it to you? You must follow me."

It must be our focus and purpose to not allow the green-eyed monster of jealousy to cause our eyes to wander from the purpose that God has for our lives. Paul says "The one who plants and the one who waters have one purposes, and each will be rewarded for their labor. (1 Corinthians 3:8). He goes on to say that "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to someone else, for each one should carry his own load." (Galatians 6:4,5)

 

These are powerful words concerning Greed. We must remember that it is God who put us on this earth. He knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) (Proverbs 3.5-6 KJV) "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." If we will lean on him, he will direct our lives as he has put us on this earth to do. We were created for his purpose with certain traits, characteristics and abilities that we use to grow his Kingdom. Granted we all might not like the talents that we have and wish that we had someone else's but in the end we are all working for one purpose and that is to bring people to know that God loves them, forgives them and wants to be their provider and protector.

 

TRINKETS TO TREASURE

Our trinket to treasure is Grass Seed. We need to keep our eyes from wondering and keep them focused on our own lawns. Grass seed is easy to grow, even in a small pot on the corner of your desk. Just remember to keep it mowed. While your "mowing" it remember that pruning and shaping take place in every life between that individual and Jesus.

 

And for laughs….Chuck Swindoll says " The grass may be greener in your neighbor's yard: Their water bill is probably higher!"

 

• Text taken from Managing Your Moods, Women of Faith
  

 

 

Managing Your Moods – Temper, Temper – Wk 3

Temper, Temper

Verse: "Better to Dwell in the Wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman." Proverbs 21:19

Clearing the Cobwebs:

What causes you to lose your temper? The big things? Or the little things?

For me…it is the little things that add up and become a BIG thing that causes me to lose my temper. I can saw that over the past 12 years I have made great progress in not losing my temper as easily. The greatest strides have been in the past 3 years as I'm learning more about Jesus and his desire for me and my life.

 

In the Bible there are many people that said words that they would regret in the heat of anger. Moses threw the tablets out of his hands after learning of the people worshiping the Golden Calf (Exodus 32:19). The man in Numbers 22:27 that beat his donkey with a stick while she was trying to avoid the angel in the street. David's brother called him conceited and said that he had a wicked heart in 1Samuel 17:28. David was called a son of a perverse and rebellious woman (1Samuel 20:30). David said that he deserved to die (2 Samuel 12:5). King Xerxes threw a temper tantrum when he didn't get his way (Esther 1:12). Jonah is angry enough to die (Jonah 4:9).

 

An angry man or woman stirs up dissension, a hot-tempered one commits many sins (Proverbs 29:22). A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays foolishness (Proverbs 14:29). These two passages tell us that people who can not control their tempers (angry people) are foolish and commit many sins in their anger. Solomon calls a person who is easily angered a fool (Ecclesiastes 7:9). "Your life is in the hands of any fool who can make you lose your temper."

 

Psalm 37:8, Ephesians 4:31, Colossians 3:8 all say that we should refrain or rid ourselves from anger. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't ever be angry. It is only a sin if you express your anger inappropriately. Psalm 4:4 "In your anger do not sin. When you are on your beds search your hearts and be silent. Selah"

 

Nehemiah 9:17 says that one of God's character traits is being "slow to anger". Proverbs 16:32 says "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city."

PATIENCE is the key.

Anger is not difficult to spot but it can be very difficult to let go of. Pray for God's mercy and help as you deal with the anger harbored in your heart. Ask the Lord to make you more like HIM – slow to anger and full of mercy.

 

TRINKET to TREASURE

Your little gift this week is a firecracker. Too often we'll use any excuse to light the flame on a short fuse. Even the littlest things set us off, and we explode before we even give a thought to what we're doing. Let this little firecracker remind you to watch your temper, because it can be a dangerous, little thing. When we do and say things in the heat of the moment, we can inflect a lot of damage.

 

Women of Faith, Managing Your Moods, Temper Temper

Bank Account

BANK ACCOUNT!!!   This is AWESOME ... something we should all remember.  

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each  morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved  perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.  His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After  many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled  sweetly when told his room was ready.   As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I had provided a visual description  of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.  I love it, he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just  been presented with a new puppy.   Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.  
 That doesn't have anything to do with it, he replied.   Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.   Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is  arranged . It's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.  It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice;  I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the  parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful  for the ones that do.   

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day  and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.   Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.   So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank  account of memories! 

  
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.   

_____

The above email was forwarded to me.  It is how I feel that Christians should lead their lives, by knowing God and trusting in him.  Hebrews 10:22 says " let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him.  For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."


God will take our worries and cleanse our hearts.  In turn, we are to wait for God to direct our paths.  By living within the means that he has provided.  By giving (of our time, talents and treasures) and not expecting anything in return.  We should be willing to give to others and expect nothing in return.  We should rely on God for our satisfaction and fulfillment.

Managing Moods - Week 2

Happiness at any Cost

"He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast" - Provers 15:15

This was a great study and we had great conversation about happiness and God's will for our lives.  
The opening paragraphs of the study suggest that we will do whatever it takes to be happy since happiness is the most esteemed of the emotions.  We will avoid whatever opportunities in life that we are presented with so that we will not be put in a situation that we could fail in our own eyes.  "We set up emotional comfort zones and stay within them.  No one can make us budge, not eve the LORD.  We create our own happy, little bubble - a safe haven, untouched by others. we take firm control so we can always be happy.  Happiness - no matter what the cost." 



It is apparent at the beginning of the study that our hearts are deceitful.  (Jeremiah 17:9, Mark 7:21-22). We will do what WE want to in order to be happy and it is our heart that will allow us to do that if we are not guarding it.  Solomon was wise.  In Proverbs 28:26 he says "If we follow our hearts along we are fools.  We must use our minds and heart to balance and walk according to his word." 


"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."  Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

Thankfully, God understands our hearts when they leave us confused.  God is able to see beyond the outward appears to the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).  God knows the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21).  The Lord can search the heart and examine the mind (Jeremiah 17:10).  God's word judges the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12).


God knows our hearts.  Proverbs 3:5 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not into your own understanding (NLT)."  Trust God and don't try to figure everything out on your own.  Psalm 34:18 says "The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent (repentant)."  


"Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit with in me" Psalm 51:10.  When I feel that I'm not feeling thoughts that would be delightful in the Lord's eyes I have this song on my iPod and I will listen to it over and over again until I feel that my heart will not lead me astray from the word of the Lord.   Ezekiel 18:31 says "to rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit."


Happiness should not be our goal.  We should be looking for God to make us new and give us a pure heart.  God promises in Ezekiel 36:26 that we will get a new heart and a new spirit.  He will take away our stubborn stony heart and give us a tender responsive heart.  Isn't that what we all want?  A tender and responsive heart. 


Trinket to Treasure - Bar of Soap

"Our heart is deceitful.  Sneaky as a snake.  Crafty as a fox.  Wiley as Wiley Coyote, and just as persistent in trying to get what it wants.  To remind us of this, this week's trinket is a bar of soap.  No matter how much we want for God to make us clean, our heart is as slippery as soap.  If we keep this in mind, we can be on guard against the whims of emotion.  When we are wise, we cannot be led astray by the wiles of the heart."

Depending on God to stir my heart and do HIS will...Nelda 

Managing Moods - Week 1

A Bundle of Emotions

" A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and a evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil."   Luke 6:45

As we began this study we started with clearing the cobwebs on page 1.  Which of your moods and emotions most trouble you?  We all used the contents as a guide to determine which one or ones trouble us most.  It is my prayer and hope as we journey through this bible study together that we are all able to make a positive step toward these emotions that trouble each of us.

The Foreword of the book by Mary Graham says "God has created us as emotional beings, capable of a wide range of feelings.  Obviously, His desire is that those feelings do not control us."......"God has given us His Spirit to control us, His Word to counsel us, ans His People to console and comfort us."  Who is it in your life that you rely on to offer you moral and Christ-like wisdom, consolation and comfort?  I think we all have that person in our lives that is willing to help us let our emotions take over.  My challenge to you is to find that person that will be your partner in Christ and helping you walk in the spirit of what God would want you to do.

This lesson focuses on our hearts and what can happen to them, and what they do and don't have in them.  There is a list of emotions in the introduction on page vi.  I'd like to see if we can add to this list.  Any takers for some new ones? 

Homework:
Read the Foreword, #1, Digging Deeper, Ponder and Pray.

Trinket to Treasure:  A Rubber Band Ball

"Our moods affect our actions, our attitudes, and the people around us.  Your gift this week is something to remind you about the complexity of the moods and emotions that are bound up in our hearts.  It's a rubber band ball.  Our hearts are just as complex - a bundle of emotions rather than those stretchy binders.  And it doesn't take too much to make either one a tangled mess!  Through careful study of God's Word, we'll attempt to unravel these feelings and avert a knotty catastrophe!"

-Quotations taken from Women of Faith Study Guide Series Managing Your Moods

When I say I'm a Christian

This was shared at the first night of the Women's Bible Study.  I thought it was quite appropriate to start the Blog.


When I say that 'I am a Christian', I am not shouting that 'I am clean living.

I'm whispering 'I was lost, but now I'm found and forgiven.'


When I say 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.


When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.



When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.


When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect.

My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.


When I say 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.


When I say 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Be Blessed, Be a Blessing