Becoming A Student of His Word

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

"Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You've heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends."

The other day I was talking to my husband on the phone. He was letting out some steam about something that had really gotten under his skin that day so his voice was... well, a little loud. Right as he let out a "loud sound" (if you know what I mean :), his phone went dead. The first thing that came to my mind was, "Oh, no! Something is wrong! Did he get in a wreck?" My 10 year old looked at me and could see the concern all over my face. She said " Okay - let's just don't freak out now. Let's stay claim."

Oh, how I need that on a loop on a big speaker in my house.

It turned out that he was fine and there was no need to freak. However, that's what I often do. That is why I picked the translation from The Message for today's study. I love how it starts off with the words, "STAY CALM."

Staying calm, minding your our business and doing your own job can be hard things for us women to do. I know that on some days staying calm just does not happen to me. I wake up freaking out and go to bed freaking out. This is the day I need my loud speaker playing really loud! Or is it that I need things to quiet down and listen to the ONE in me? He can control all things if I let Him. The problem is letting Him.

"Mind your own business!" has been said across playgrounds and homes for years. Don't be a person that can be called "The 411." Don't be know as the person that knows everything about everyone - there is no glory in it. It will make you become more focused on their flaws than the things in your life that you need to work on.

Lastly, "do your own job." God has a call for you and your call is not the same as mine. There are times I dream of an out-of-the-home job but that is not what God has called me to do. So when friends are talking about how they stop by Starbucks before they went to work then later took a lunch break with a friend, I remind myself that if I was doing that I would not be fulfilled because God did not call me to do that. So I choose to be happy with where God has placed me for this season of my life.

By these thing you will find favor with people and people will find Jesus. So go be YOU today and feel good about it.

Lift me out of this pit

" Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

So many times I drown myself in my feelings. "I feel anxious. I feel out of control. I feel abnormal. I feel like something is wrong with me. I feel like a bad mother. I feel selfish. I feel, I feel, I feel..."

I tell my inner man this all day long. In my dialogue with myself I am persistant on pushing myself futher down. Do I want to do this to myself ? NO WAY! So why do I?

Why do I do it? Because there are days that I live by feeling and not by the Word of God. In the end it leaves me at the bottom of the pool trying to find my way back up for just one more life-giving breath. I have a desperate need to find freedom from my drowning feelings.

It's days like this that I bend my knee not to the one that can save but to the one that leaves me in a mess - myself and my feelings. Yes I bow to the idol of my feelings. How can I make it an idol? My feelings become an idol because I have made them bigger than God. Not that I mean to - one thing just leads to another and there I am on my knees saying "Poor me!"

So God, I must repent for I have been anxious for many things. Your Word does not say "Don't feel anxious." It says "Don't be anxious." The problem is when the feeling turns into a meditation, then an action. God, renew a right spirit in me. I turn from my feelings and turn to you and on my knees I go!

Becoming A Student of His Word

1 Thessalonians Chapter 1


I am doing my reading of this book from both the message bible and the Amplified Version. So today I am reading from the Amplified Version. My focus today is on Ch.1: 3. " Recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith and service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

SERVICE MOTIVATED BY LOVE.
So that is what I am thinking about today. Service motivated by love.

Becoming A Student of His Word

Our Study Of 1 THESSALONIANS

Chapter 1
The epistle to the Thessalonians starts with a list of three men - Paul, Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy. At first pass I just read the names and kept going, but the more I read this chapter the more I felt like God was wanting me to think about the names. I know I have not done all the thinking on this that God intends for me to do but I do have some thoughts rolling. I'll start with the first one in this post and add more later.

1. There was a leader.
I like the definition I found for "leader" at Reference.com. I feel like it fits Paul - "a guiding or directing head; a forerunner." Paul was a leader to both Silas and Timothy, but there was a little something different between Timothy and himself. He was like a father figure to him. Paul called Timothy "my beloved and faithful child in the Lord" (1 Cor 4:17; 1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2) Paul had the job of teaching Timothy how to serve the Lord.

Think about whom God has put in your life to lead, for whom you are to be a directing head and forerunner. As I thought about this question for myself I felt my heart moved toward my children. If I had the opportunity to write a book in the Bible it would start like this:

"Vanessa, Lexie, Zoe and Holton - to our family on Son Norman Road, grace and peace to you..."

If you are a follower of Christ you are leader to someone whether you know it or not. Sometimes the things I do as a mother, homeschool teacher and wife seems so mundane. I think, "God, can't you give me someone to impact, someone to lead? Can't I have an important job?" (Ok... I am just being real with you guys!) Then God says, "Important? I will show you important..." I look over to see my two-year-old calling her daddy in the room to worship God with her. It was all her idea! I hear my 10 year old pray prayers like they are coming straight from the mouth of God. I see a girl that so longs for her family and friends to be saved. I see them walking out the things I am sowing... then things go crazy again and toys are flying and kids are yelling. I sit back and I thank God for making me a leader to such awesome people.

Paul was a missionary. He had a big job that called him to go many places, but he did not have to go far to impact Timothy and Silas. Today you do not have to go far to have a ministry like Paul's... look at the people God has already given you to lead.

(I know what you're thinking, "She got all of that out of a list of three names?" Yeah, I did... and I have not told you the rest of it. Maybe that is for another time. :)

Becoming A Student of His Word

I have started my journey of what is thought to be one of Paul's first letters, 1 Thessalonians My heart is coming alive as I become a student of His Word." If you have really drunk the water of salvation, then rivers of living water will flow forth to those around us." John 7:37, 38 I pray as we drink of His living water(the word) that we would over flow to those around us. As we study His Word may light break in on dark places in our lives. I know there are some areas in my heart that are in need of a flash of light. May this be a great journey for all of us and may we allow ourselves to over flow on our blogger friends. blessings student.

It's not to late to join. We would love to have you and the wisdom God has given you. Becoming a student of His Word.

Becoming A Student of His Word

For the mouth of January I am studying the book of 1 Thessalonians. I very excited about digging deeper into this great letter penned by Paul. I would love for you guys to join me in this venture. There are five chapters in this book, so on one week we will do two chapters.

This study will be a great place for us to share what we feel God is saying to us about this letter at this time in our lives. Each of us is in a different place and it is amazing how God can use his Word to speak life in each situation. What you learn and post could be a major blessing and encouragement to another sister.

Questions to consider:
1. How does this passage apply in the original culture and context? Consider the author, the recipient and the circumstances surrounding them.
2. How does this passage apply in today's culture and context?
3. How does this passage apply to my personal life?

Things To Do In Jan.

1. Study a book in the bible(pray about which one)
2. Start on prayer book for my family.
3. Go to the Y 8 times or more.
4. Start 4th grade.
5.Do one scrapbook
6. Buy a gift for a friend
7. Pray with and for my husband more