Saturday, December 16, 2006

Peace, Not as the World Gives

Luke 2:10,11, "Don't be afraid, because I am bringing you some good news. It will be a joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in David's town. He is Christ, the Lord."

Luke 2:13,14, "Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel. All the angels were praising God, saying: 'Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please God.'"

Isaiah 9:6, "A child will be born to us. God will give a son to us. He will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace."

John 14:27, (Jesus answered,) "I leave you peace. My peace I give to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don't let your hearts be troubled. Don't be afraid."

Satan offers a counterfeit peace to the world, and many times Christians are deceived into accepting this idea as Truth from the Lord. However, let us not believe the lie that our cunning enemy forces upon us. The Bible tells us that there will always be wars and rumors of war (Matt. 24:6), and that we are not to be afraid. No, peace between nations is not the peace the Lord came to give.

The source of "Peace on Earth Goodwill Toward Men" that the Bible talks about is none other than Jesus Christ, Who is the Prince of Peace. God sent Jesus to us in order to reconcile the people of the world to the Father. As we are reconciled, we receive the peace that the holy angels announced on that hillside so long ago. True peace in this world only exists through Christ Jesus, the Son of God.

Be a reconciler. Take every opportunity during this Christmas season to share your peace with others. Be ready to give account of the hope that lies within you. Our hope is only through Jesus, Whose birth we are celebrating, and our expectation is eternal life.

Love, Karen

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

A Brief Reminder: We Are in a Battle

I would like to review again the central theme of this study. Eve was deceived in the Garden of Eden and as women we, too, are susceptible to the lies of Satan. The same enemy offers the same luring technics to us as He did in that garden so long ago.

As we are well aware, Satan will drop a subtle idea into the mind of even the most thriving Christian woman. Be sure to note that the idea is not from the Lord if it produces doubt and fear. You must recognize it for what it is -- a lie -- and you must deal with it the way in which we have been learning in this study. The following is a simplified version of the steps we must take every time as we do battle for the Truth:

1. Pray to the Lord.
Ask the Lord to protect you from the Lies of this world. Humble yourself before Him and acknowledge that you need God's grace in order to walk in Truth.

2. Learn to Recognize the Truth versus the Lie.
Anytime we receive input that is not consistent with the Word of God, we can be certain that Satan is trying to deceive us.

3. Go to the Word of God.
The Bible is God's Truth and as we read, meditate, and memorize, we actually are able to push out the Lies. It's vital that we go to the Word daily and continually fill ourselves with His Holy Scriptures.

4. Apply the Recently-Learned Truth.
Accept God's grace and choose to take action on the Truth you have learned.

Pray This Prayer.
Lord Jesus, as I continue to study and apply myself to wisdom, give me the strength to do what you want me to do. I don't want to make excuses, or blame others for my behavior; instead, I confess that I am to blame for my iniquities. I am asking you to fill me with your Spirit and produce in me a deep desire to walk in your ways. Forgive me, Lord, for my pride and selfishness and cleanse me of my sin. I need you, Jesus. I cannot walk in Your Truth if I don't know it, and I cannot know it if I don't read Your Word. By Your grace, help me to break loose of the lies and live in freedom, for apart for You, I can do nothing. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Love, Karen

Friday, December 8, 2006

Sufficient to Cover All of Our Sins

Christmastime seems like a very appropriate season to discuss a sinner's need for Christ. Are you ready to go hunting for treasure? Good. Let's have a look at some Scriptures:

Isaiah 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

John 1:29, "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'"

Romans 6:10, "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God."

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

These verses should be wonderfully comforting to us, for the Truth of them makes the prince of this world cringe and cower with fear. We must understand that the devil will do all that he can to deceive us and cause us to believe that our sin is too big for God to forgive. Nothing could be more untrue.

At the right time, God sent His only son in the form of a tiny Jewish Baby. He was delivered in a small, cave-like dwelling that housed the inn-keeper's farm animals. In this humble way, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords arrived to be cared for by human parents, who were full of faith in their God. May we never forget the Truth of the Gospel.

But, why? Why did He have to come?

The arrival of Jesus interrupted the sure consequence of sin. The plan of our Heavenly Father began its fulfillment the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The long-awaited Messiah finally came to this earth, and His mission was to die and shed His blood so that every one of our sins would be erased. He came for you; He came for me.

The blood of Christ is sufficient to cover all of our sin. There is need of nothing else. He has forgiven every sin that we have ever committed and all we have to do is receive it.

What does God's forgiveness of your sins mean to you?

It means that you can live your life with no fear. Your burdens can be lifted, and you can walk joyfully with your God. As you humbly submit yourself to be God's "slave of righteousness," you will actually experience a freedom you have never known before. "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life."

Lord, to walk in your holiness is something I could never have attained, except through Jesus. Thank you for sending your son to die that I might walk in freedom and have eternal life. Amen.

Love, Karen

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Consider the Law of the Harvest

Lies come to us in varying degrees of subtlety. However, our enemy knows how to make even the most obvious lie into a palatable idea in our minds. We will mull over a thought and eventually be convinced that a blatant untruth is really an acceptable conclusion, even in the sight of God. This is deception. The source of deception is always Satan, and his goal is to ensnare Christian women into acting on the lies that we have been tricked into believing.

Let us address two similar lies that we may have faced:

1. "I can sin and get away with it."

2. "My sin isn't really that bad."

If we have believed both or either one of these lies, it reveals that, foundationally, we have built our thoughts around a mistaken understanding of God's Law. Let me show you what I mean by having us read the following passage in Galatians 6 (Phillips Translatioin) :

"Don't be under any illusion: you cannot make a fool of God! A man's harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows. If he sows for his own lower nature his harvest will be the decay and death of his own nature. But if he sows for the Spirit he will reap the harvest of everlasting life from that Spirit. Let us not grow tired of doing good, for unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured."

The above verses describe for us the reality of God's Law of the Harvest, a law that was established at creation. It is as true and evident as the law of gravity, which says, "what goes up must come down."

The serpent lied to Eve in the garden by making light of God's instructions and by minimalizing the consequences of disobedience to Him. We must understand that sin has grave results and we must never be fooled into thinking otherwise. Another truth that we should prepare for is that we will reap the consequences of forgiven sin, also. It is the Law of the Harvest.

When we make a mistake, when we trip and fall, we are vindicated. The Lord Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins, and we must run to Him as just David did. We must go to Him with a sincerely contrite heart, and He will restore our fellowship with Him.

1 John 1:9, "But if we freely admit that we have sinned, we find him reliable and just -- he forgives our sins and makes us thoroughly clean from all that is evil."

Lord Jesus, make me know the gravity of sin, so that I might walk away from temptation. I want to be aware of Your Truth and walk in it. Please, guard my mind and help me desire only Your righteousness. Amen.

Love, Karen

Sunday, December 3, 2006

Defining Sin

As women who desire a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father, we must understand the meaning and nature of sin. We must learn what sin really is and call it by its true name. For instance, we must recognize that at times our "concern" is actually "worry." We know that, according to the Word of God, to worry is sin, but we tell ourselves that to be concerned is only compassion! When we fail to recognize and call sin by its true name, then we will not be alarmed by the evil of it.

David knew the severity of sin, and understood that his offenses were truly against God. When He looked at His sin through God's eyes, David began to hate it and he grieved over his actions. His only relief was to beg for his Heavenly Father's cleansing and forgiveness.

Psalm 51:

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight -- that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart -- These, O God, You will not despise.

Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your alter.

In our Books
For the next two weeks, we will be reading and studying chapter four, "Lies Women Believe About Sin." Therefore, it is going to be very important that we define "sin." We will find that the Scriptures, God's Word of Truth, gives us the best definitions:

1 John 3:4
"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness."

1 John 5:17
"All unrighteousness is sin..."

James 4:17
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

May the Lord guide us this week as we face the reality of the sin in our lives. May we realize the seriousness of it. May the Lord give us the wisdom to see sin the way He sees it, and may He grant us mercy.

Love, Karen

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Looking to the Lord for Fulfillment

At the end of chapter three in our text, we find a lie that we must consider before proceeding to chapter four. The lie is, "I should not have to live with unfulfilled longings."

We will counter this lie with the following Scripture that speaks of our future glory with Christ. This is Romans 8:22-25 and we will read it the New Century version:

"We know that everything God made has been waiting until now in pain, like a woman ready to give birth. Not only the world, but we also have been waiting with pain inside us. We have the Spirit as the first part of God's promise. So we are waiting for God to finish making us his own children. I mean we are waiting for our bodies to be made free. We were saved, and we have this hope. If we see what we are waiting for, then that is not really hope. People do not hope for something they already have. But we are hoping for something that we do not have yet. We are waiting for it patiently."

Don't you see that we want God alone to be the object of our deepest longings? In the flesh, we see something that we must have, and then we find ourselves striving toward the goal of obtaining it. Our desires, our wills, and even our prayers are directed to fulfilling this particular longing. When we cannot achieve it, when our prayers go unanswered, then we become disappointed, disgruntled, and depressed.

I like to think that when I asked Jesus into my life, He came to dwell in my heart. When I asked Him to be the Lord of my life, then He sat on the throne in my heart. As I bow before Him as His servant, He maintains His rightful place in my life. Then, I find that there are times when I shift my focus to myself. I care only about my needs, my wants, and my own unfulfilled longings. Do you know what has happened then? I took the Lord's place on the throne! What happened? Where is the Lord? Well, He is still there in my life, but not where He should be. It is then that I stand, turn around, and kneel before the throne and ask Jesus to be Lord once again.

The Lord Jesus Christ points us toward our future home, where we will never be disappointed. People and things will fail us, but our Lord will not. It is true that our very insides groan as we wait for the purposes of God to be accomplished. Our challenge is to hold on and be patient as we give the Lord all of our expectations. "...you should try as much as you can to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add the ability to hold on; and to your ability to hold on, add service for God." 2 Peter 1:5-6.

God has a purpose for everything He allows or does not allow, including not giving us every heart's desire. He is doing something much greater in our lives, and we must learn to trust Him for it. He is building character and guiding us to be more Christ-like.

Thank you, Lord, for building into my life the qualities You know that I need. Thank you for pointing me in your direction, and give me the grace to always focus on You. Please take your rightful place in my life, and help me to look to You only to fulfill my longings. I love You, Lord. Amen."

Love, Karen

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

The Allure of Outward Beauty

The Word of God has much to say about a woman's lasting beauty. Let's take a look at some of the verses and take heed of the instruction.

1. Proverbs 31:30, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."

2. 1 Timothy 2:9-10, "in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing."

3. 1 Peter 3:3-4, "Do not let your beauty be that outward adorning of arranging the hair, of wearing gold, or of putting on fine apparel; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

The Bible teaches women to show moderation and not to be extravagant in their appearance, whether in their hair or clothing. In this world, we are surrounded by the lies "shouting" out to us that we must conform to the "perfect" standard of outward beauty. This outward beauty comes by way of the right hair product, diet, clothing style, cosmetics, and expensive jewelry. A great deal of time and money can be spent on maintaining this ideal, but, you see, it is all temporary. It does not last, and as the flower that fades in the winter, so does this kind of beauty.

What is this inward beauty that we have read about? It comes from an inward strength of character that we have already defined as meekness. The beautiful glow of a countenance comes from the transformation and the renewing of the mind. When we know our identity in Christ, we are secure and have nothing to fear, and it shows in the very expression on our face.

As women who want to learn more about the Truth of God's Word, we must reject the extremes of the world around us. Satan hates our bodies because they are created in the image of God. Our enemy wants to destroy us, and he always lies to us first and tries to deceive us into believing that we are ugly, or that we do not fit in because of our outward appearance. He convinces us that we must correct the way we look, and as we know, some have taken that to extremes.

One Truth that we must face is that our bodies are dying. These "tents" of ours are temporary and are not eternal. However, our spirits and the Word of God will last forever. As we feed our spirits with the Word, God will adorn us with incorruptible character that is precious to Him. And if we know we are beautiful to the Lord, we are at peace within. Just like Moses, others can tell when we have been with the Lord, and it is a beautiful sight.

May we spend our time with the One Who loves us.

Love, Karen

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Time to Set Our Eyes on the Lord

Romans 12:3, "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God as dealt to each one a measure of faith."

This Scripture cautions us not to spend a lot of time thinking about ourselves, but when we do, we should have a sensible estimation. We have learned that the Lord thinks highly of each one of His children. He also thinks of us often, views us through eyes of love, and even guides us to success. If God thinks in these ways about me, then why do I concentrate so much on myself? Aren't the Lord's thoughts enough for me?

Pray This Prayer
Lord, may I use the measure of faith that You have given me to trust you with my present and my future. Please take my hand and walk with me. Teach me about what is important to you, and help me to recognize the lies that have held me back. Show me Your Truth and guide me as I commit to walking in them. Help me focus on You alone as I take my eyes off of myself. Thank you, Father, for Your grace and love.

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Love, Karen

Friday, November 17, 2006

To Be a Living Sacrifice

In our weekly meetings, we are constantly reviewing Romans 12:1-2. These verses are the main theme of our study, and as we meditate on the passage, the Lord enlightens us with deeper meaning. The following is the J.B. Phillips translation of these verses:

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable to him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God is good, acceptable to him and perfect."

In ancient Bible times, the priests would place the sacrificial lamb on the alter. He would kill the animal, and blood flowed freely as atonement for sins was made. You see, the Hebrew law stated that the blood "covered" the sins of God's people and made them clean once again. They were forgiven their sins. This ceremony had to be held often, because the people would sin more, which made them dirty again.

Then, at the appointed time, something marvelous happened. God sent His only Son to earth to live among us. The full intention was that, again at the right time, Jesus would die on the cross and shed His blood one time only for the sins of the people of the earth. The Son of God, pure and sinless, came to be a sacrifice for you and me. Because of Him, all of our sins -- past, present, and future -- are forgiven, and we are made clean before the Father. Before we claim this truth for our own lives, there is one thing we must do: we must receive the Lord as our Savior. We must realize our need and we must ask Him to come in to be the Master of our lives.

What we see today in Romans 12 is that now the Lord, through Paul, is imploring each of us to place ourselves on the alter; but, you see, it is so different from ancient times! Since we are a living sacrifice, we can jump right down from the alter, if we want to. It is as if Paul is begging us to stay because he knows, through Christ, that it is the very best place for us. When we give ourselves fully to the Lord, we are in the hands of the Almighty.

The choice, then, is ours. Will we be squeezed into the mold of this world? Or will we let God re-make us and change our minds so that we can view life from God's perspective?

God has a plan for our lives. He has always had a plan. It is never too late to turn our lives over to Him. There is no bondage in Christ; there is only freedom.

Love, Karen

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Gaining Abundant Peace

Psalm 37:1-11
Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret -- it only causes harm.

For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look diligently for his place,
But it shall be no more.
But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Each one of us has a tendency to look at those of the world and to be drawn to their prosperity. We may find ourselves imitating their ways that we, too, may gain wealth or renown. The psalmist calls them "workers of iniquity," and because God knows their end, He kindly warns us against joining ourselves with them.

Instead of fretting, which causes extreme uneasiness in our spirits, the Lord encourages us to look ahead in faith. He then commands us to rest in Him and be patient. Yes, it is a command. This contentment will lead to a secure place where He promises to care for us.

Again, we are looking at more ways that might have made us to be conformed to this world. Remember, deception is a lie that has blind-sided us. It is subtle and camouflaged as truth. Have you picked up the habit of fretting over others? Do you realize that as a result you have become discontent with your own life? Allow the light of God's Word to shine as you examine your situation.

Prayerfully, commit your way to the Lord and trust Him. Commit your way to the One Who loves you with perfect love. Ask your Heavenly Father for His abundant peace and be wholly at rest in Him.

May you know deep joy as you delight in your Lord.

Love, Karen

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Meekness is Gentleness of Strength

I have been reading in our text and particularly in pages 73-76. I am convinced that the "I-have-my-rights lie" has performed its work on Christian women today. Many of us have an attitude that speaks boldly, "Don't violate my rights!" Some of us are searchers, keeping a look-out for potential rights violators so we can pounce first. This takes a lot of energy, creates suspicion, and keeps us on the verge of anger, just in case it is needed! As I search the Scripture, I find the Truth that I need to refute this particular lie. It is found in James 1:20, "For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

So, it is clear that wrath does not produce God's righteousness, but what does? Instead of my insisting that I have rights in any particular area of my life, the Bible teaches me to give up, or yield, my rights to God. He is the One Who ultimately holds all rights.

Here is some more Truth: "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" Matthew 5:5. My commentary tells me that Jesus is the One speaking here in His Sermon on the Mount. He specifically chose the word meek in this verse to denote gentleness of strength. We have found the answer to our question, then. Gentleness of strength will produce the righteousness of God. We are happy and blessed when we are meek, but we are moody and depressed when we hold on tightly to what we think we deserve.

The Lord Jesus is doing great things in our hearts. He is opening us up to trust Him more, and He is showing us how to walk according to His ways. He wants the very best for our lives, and He is teaching us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Love, Karen

Monday, November 13, 2006

Walking in Godly Counsel

The Lord is equipping us in one major way as we continue our involvement in this Bible study. He is teaching us the importance of filtering everything we see, hear, or read through God's Word. We must remind ourselves again that the ruler of this world is the father of lies. His only interest is to deceive and destroy God's children, so it is vital that we know how to distinguish the difference between a lie and the Truth.

Psalm One gives marvelous insight as we endeavor to learn more of God's ways, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

God gives no allowance for his daughters to walk in the counsel of the "pretty good guy that mostly has it all together!" We know of "Christian" counselors who will give advice such as, "you have to love Number One," or "take time to pamper yourself." We are to be very cautious of partial truth in counseling, because we know that there is only one Source of spiritual truth, God's Word.

Galatians 5:7b-9 asks a question and then gives a warning, "Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump."

The essence of the Christian life is not to focus on "self" at all. We are to be vessels and channels that the Lord might love others through us. Resist your "pity party" and allow the Lord to love you, and to be your caretaker, and then use your energy to serve Him by loving others.

Isn't that a challenge for the week!

Love, Karen

Sunday, November 12, 2006

The Good Shepherd Looks for Us...

...Until He Finds Us.
Have you believed the lie that you are of no value to God? Let's to go back to the Bible again and read what Jesus Himself has to say about the subject. We're in Luke Chapter 15:

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the niney-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

We can identify with the lost sheep in this parable because we have all wandered from the flock at one time or another. We wander because we are attracted to an area where the shepherd is not leading. We might be lured by the looks of the lush grass or the cool shade tree. Just like Eve, we are first tempted to believe a lie, and then we forget about the One Who loves us, and finally, we cannot find our way back on our own. But wait, the main focus of the story isn't the sheep! Instead, let us concentrate on the Man Who is the Good Shepherd. The Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep so He can rescue the straying one. He looks for him, finds him, and carries him home on His shoulders. In fact, notice the pleasure He takes in bringing back that lost lamb. He truly rejoices in His treasure and even calls to friends and family to join in the celebration.

As we apply this great teaching to our own lives, we realize that each one of us is of great value to the Lord. He wants us back. He wants us to reject the lie that has deceived, and He wants us to walk in His Truth. He knows that when we return, we are able to enjoy fellowship with Him and with our brothers and sisters once again.

May you find tremendous comfort in the Truth of God's Word.

Love, Karen

Friday, November 10, 2006

My Father Knows Me and Loves Me

This is how the Lord regards you and me:

"O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it."

David goes on in Psalm 139 as he prays to the Lord, "For you have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."

Because the Word of God is Truth all on its own, it does not require your believing it to make it Truth. However, you must accept it as Truth for your life. If you choose not to, it will be impossible for you to know the freedom that the Lord has for you.


We should all meditate on the rest of the passage. It is as if David cannot contain himself any longer. He must praise God for this wonderful reality! "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You."

May this new, or re-newed, Truth sink deep into your heart and carry you. May the knowledge of His intimate love for you cause a response of praise and worship as you go about your day today.

Love, Karen

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Time to Make it Personal

As we close another week of intense reflection (Bible study comes tomorrow!), we will be completing Chapter 2 in our books. On pages 60 and 61 in the texts, we are challenged to take what we have learned thus far and make it personal. We all agree that we have at sometime in our lives believed one or more lies about God. Let's take some time now and respond to the Truth in five different ways:

1. Agree with God.
What lies have you believed about God? Perhaps you would like to read once again one of the past posts that ariculate the specific lie that you have believed. Perhaps you know the lie now without having to go back. Pause for a minute now and agree with God that you have believed it.

2. Accept responsibility.
How has believing the lie(s) manifested itself in the way you live? Perhaps you have noticed an attitude of ungratefulness toward the Lord. Perhaps because of this attitude you have stopped reading your Bible. If this or something similar is the case, it would be good for you to confess this to God right now.

3. Affirm the Truth.
The best way to affirm God's Truth is to read it and embrace it.

Psalm 100:5: "For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."

Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anount my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

4.
Act
on the Truth.
What specific action must you take to align your life with the Truth you have seen about God? The Scripture exhorts us to, "..be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Don't you see that if you don't take action after knowing the Truth, then nobody deceives you but yourself?

5. Ask God to help you walk in the Truth.
When you humble yourself before the Lord, you will experience a closeness with the Him. He waits for you to talk to Him, and He loves you very much. You can trust Him.

Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit (humble), for theirs is the kingdom of God."

James 4:6, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"

As you receive God's grace to humble yourself, your eyes will open to see a new perspective of Him. The "fresh vision of God" will then produce hope in you, the hope that you can experience freedom from deception. We must keep walking toward that freedom because there is Christ, the Hope of Glory! God bless you.

Love, Karen

Monday, November 6, 2006

With Wisdom Comes Understanding

One definition of wisdom is seeing life from God's perspective. I know that God is way ahead of me in this area. First of all, He is God and knows all things. He knows what is behind me and He knows what lies ahead. The Lord understands woman because He lovingly fashioned her for His good pleasure. God knows me and comprehends my needs; therefore, He also knows, in His great wisdom, what is the very best for me.

Still, the Lord admonishes each of His children to gain wisdom. Read with me exerpts from Proverbs 3:

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. And happy are all who retain her.

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. My son, let them not depart from your eyes -- keep sound wisdom and discretion."

What follows here is a question that we should all be asking ourselves: How do I gain this wisdom, this ability to see life from God's prospective? The answer is found in James 1:5-7, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

From this Scriptural rationale then, we understand why God sometimes allows us to experience an unanswered prayer, problems and trials, even pain and suffering. Wisdom tells us that what we want may not always be what is best for us. We must pray that the Giver of all good things will continue to grant us the wisdom to accept what He is not giving us, trusting that He knows what is best. It becomes apparent then, that we also must accept the Lord's perfect timing.

A double-minded man is attracted to the world and attracted to the Kingdom of God. He has one eye on the things of God and the other eye on worldly desires. He is truly unstable in all his ways. As daughters of our Heavenly Father, we must look only to Him, eager to know His character and at peace as we view the path ahead.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Love, Karen

Saturday, November 4, 2006

It Truly is for Our Own Good

"'And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. Then it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to observe all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us'" (Deut. 6:24-25).

Look at what we've just read! God commands us nothing but what is really for our good. It opens our eyes to the nature of our Heavenly Father when we understand that it is in our interest to walk in righteousness. The enemy deceives us into believing that obeying God's law is too restrictive and burdensome; but, in this passage, we are enlightened to the truth that obedience brings blessing.

The Spirit within you is bearing witness right now to these words. When you delight in the law of the Lord, when you receive the implanted word with meekness, and when you are not a forgetful hearer, but an obedient doer...you will blessed in all that you do. These are promises from our Heavenly Father.

As we summarize some of what we have studied so far, we know that God is good; we also know that God is loving; we know that He loves us with a perfect love; and we know that God's perfect law brings freedom.

Then why do we do what we do?
If we know the above to be true (and it all is true), why do we continue to hold on so tightly to the things we think will make us happy? We hold on because we believe the lie. It is interesting that maybe one particular lie really makes us miserable, but it's familiar, and it's always easy to go back to the familar, even when it makes us miserable. Besides, someday maybe we'll be happy with it. Isn't that a crazy way to think? It's not logical. I am certain that it takes faith and courage to completely let go. But we can do it! We can release the sin that has entangled us. We must refuse the lie that keeps coming to our minds, then refuse it again. It takes practice. Always remember that we can do all things through Christ Jesus Who gives us strength.

As we meditate on these truths, may we find our Father's heart and receive His limitless grace to obey His Word.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love, Karen

Thursday, November 2, 2006

Is God Enough for You?

Let's take some time right now to read Psalm 78.

Now, I would like you to read verse 3 again, "For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked."

The psalmist begins his writing by declaring the goodness of God. However, he admits in the third verse that when he looks around at the people of the world, he sees their wealth and is envious. They seem to have it all together, and are prospering and the evidence is their possessions. On one hand, he looks at the Lord and knows His goodness, but on the other, he's wondering if maybe he could just have something more to add to the Lord, then he could prosper just like the world. He complains that he follows the Lord for no profit whatsoever. In fact, the writer has fretted himself into a downward spiral and has even called his life plague-filled.

Then, he enters the sanctuary of the Lord, into God's very presence. There, he worships and in pain lifts his condition to the Lord of mercy. God opens his eyes, and he begins to understand the consequences of those who trust in their possessions. He recognizes his sin of coveting and ungratefulness before the Lord and confesses his foolishness and ignorance. The Lord forgives the repentant man, and then he comes full circle. He looks to the heavens and praises the Lord with the following words, "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

The writer concludes his psalm with verse 28, "But, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works."

The Lord is enough; the Lord is more than enough. Because He is good and because He loves, He will also make sure that His children have everything they need. This is the truth for us to dwell on as we continute our studies.

Love,
Karen

Monday, October 30, 2006

Be Assured of His Love

"How can God love me? I've done so many wrong things, and I just don't deserve His love."

Is this something that you have thought or said? Well, maybe we all have at some time or another. Let me tell you right now that none of us deserves His love. God does not love us for who we are or for what we have done. He loves us because that is His nature. He is love. God loved us before we loved Him. He loves us now and will love us forever.

I have a deep desire to get to know this kind of love in a way that I have never known it before. Don't you? I want to be sure of God's love, and if that takes time and study and prayer, then I want to make that effort. We are going forward together, so please don't stop now. We are searching for a treasure more valuable than gold. Since God truly loves me like the Scripture says, then I want to know that love. I want to have no doubt.

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

Some Housekeeping
By now, you should have read to page 55 in the text book. After you have read, then answer the questions through Day 3 in the companion book. Bible study is Wednesday, so see you then! If you're not attending, don't forget to leave me a comment on some of your insights. They're so helpful. I hope your study time is inspirational!

Love, Karen

Sunday, October 29, 2006

God is Loving

Never believe the lie that God does not love you!

Where does this lie come from? It comes from our natural tendencies to allow our emotions to rule us. In other words, we tend to believe an idea based on how we feel. It's true that, especially as women, we will look inward and nurse our poor hurt feelings and question the love of God for us. But what have we done? We have taken our eyes off the Father and focused them on ourselves.

The Truth is that God does love you and me. He loves us with a love incomprehensible! For the sake of our well-being and spiritual health, let us try to understand it right now.

Ephesians 3:14-19 -- For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Our spirits immediately lift as the truth of Scripture penetrates our being. Whether we've lived with this lie for years or for weeks, for months or for minutes, the very Word of God is able to set us free. Again, God loves you and me.

Romans 5:8 --But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:7-10 --Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might love through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

This, then is a matter of trust. We must set ourselves to trusting God and His Word and we must walk away from the temptation of thinking that we can trust our feelings. This may mean a change of lifestyle for many us, and we need the Lord to help us. It could have been a habit of several years, but with the Lord's strength, it is possible to change our wrong thinking.

You only have to ask Him. May you be strengthened with might through His spirit in the inner man.

Love, Karen

Friday, October 27, 2006

The Goodness of God

Let's read Ephesians 1:3-14:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth -- in Him, in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

This passage is food for my soul; it fills me to overflowing with the information that God is good, and out of His goodness He blesses me! I think that we should all read it a couple more times. Notice how God uses Paul, the writer of this epistle, to reveal to us the work of the Trinity. He tells us that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because He wanted to and it pleased Him, blessed us using His possessions in Heaven. He decided to make us His daughters through His Son Jesus. He planned this from the beginning of time, and at just the right time, He executed His plan. Then, He sealed His plan by giving us the Holy Spirit, his special mark that proves we are recipients of His blessings. The Holy Spirit is also a sign of the promise, a guarantee, that we will receive in the future the foretold blessings.

Why did the Maker of the Universe do this? He did it because He is good, and because He loves us beyond measure.

So, meditate on these things over the weekend.

Love, Karen


Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Receiving the Word with All Readiness

"Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men." (Acts 17:10-12)

Number ten on page 22 in the companion book asks two questions:
What did the people in Berea do in order to discern the Truth? How can we avoid being deceived and become more discerning about the input we receive?

After Paul and Silas explained about Christ in the synagogue, the Bereans went to the Scripture that was available to them at the time. They eagerly studied daily to see for themselves whether these men had told them the Truth. When they saw for themselves that Paul and Silas preached according to the Word of God, they believed.

These things are written that they might be an example to us today. Our Bible is extremely valuable and contains a treasure that is worth our daily study. Doesn't it make sense that we could avoid being deceived by really getting to know the Truth by studying it? I think that's a wonderful idea! This week as we search out the gems in God's Word, let us thank the Lord for His unchanging, absolute Truth. Also, let us remember that God is good and everything He does is good.

Have a great week!

Love, Karen

Monday, October 23, 2006

Moving From Bondage to Freedom

Let's see what the Bible says about Truth in the following verses:

Psalm 33:4
For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth.

Psalm 51:6
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth.

2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Page 40-41
Our book lists three steps to keep in mind as we begin to deal more specifically with the lies that put us in bondage. Remember, these steps will lead us out of bondage. And where are we going? We are on our way to freedom!

1. Identify the area(s) of bondage or sinful behavior. It's so important to see these areas and call them what they are. What are the issues in your life where you are not living in freedom as a child of God?

2. Identify the lie(s) at the root of that bondage or behavior. This step is also important because it's the one that will "pull the bush out from the roots." But, we need the Lord to help us see which things we have been believing that are not true. In the weeks ahead, we'll examine forty lies that many Christian women have allowed to take root and produce in their lives.

3. Replace the lie(s) with the Truth. Satan is a powerful enemy, and his primary weapon is deception. Fortunately for us, God is more powerful, and there is no lie in Him. The light dawns as we saturate ourselves with the Truth of God. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." The lie (darkness) must flee when exposed to the Truth (light).

I'm so proud of you for hanging in there through the first chapter of our Bible study. I know this is intense, and maybe not a very happy subject for most of us. Let's remind ourselves once again that the Lord loves us. We are His daughters, and He wants each one of us to live joyously, and with a deep faith in Him. He'll lead us through these times of conviction, confession, and repentance. In other words, we will realize the lie we've been believing, give it a name and admit our condition, and then turn the opposite way and walk in Truth. As we go through these motions, may the Father of Heavenly Lights, with Whom there is no shifting sand, pour His grace out upon us and give us peace.

Love, Karen

Saturday, October 21, 2006

The Progression from Deception to Bondage

Pages 37-40

1. Listen to a Lie
Do you think that Eve knew where those lies in the garden would lead her and her family? I don't think that she even stopped to think about it. Maybe it didn't seem dangerous to only listen to the devil's lies. Perhaps that's our situation today. It doesn't seem dangerous to listen to the world's philosophies. After all, we live in this world... But we must repeat the premise of our Bible study once again: There are no harmless lies.

2. Dwell on the Lie
Dwelling on the Lie is actually like sowing the seed of untruth into our minds and hearts. The Law of the Harvest is unchanging and was established by God at creation. The truth of it is that the seed that planted grows in the same likeness. If we sow to our flesh, and not to the Spirit, the harvest is destructive and not life-giving. "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life," (Galatians 6:8).

3. Act on the Lie
Now the seed that has been sown, cultivated, and watered has taken root. It's growing, and like a blueberry bush, will produce fruit; but, this fruit is the fruit of deception. It's interesting to note that the fruit here is not just one "berry," it's an entire harvest.

But, We Have Hope...
We must not forget that we are in a struggle. And as the Scripture states, it is not against flesh and blood. If it was a "flesh and blood" struggle, then we could easily change our minds, think about something else, and walk away from a lie. But, the philosophies of the world appeal to our very souls. We're drawn in and enticed by these thoughts, because we are carnal. We are not naturally inclined to walk in the Spirit and to make Godly decisions based on the purity of our hearts. Sorry to say, that's not naturally us. But, the good news is we have an Advocate that goes to bat for us. The Lord Jesus saved us and made us new the minute we asked Him into our lives. We wear the robe of righteousness because of His sacrifice for our sins. We have victory in Christ. We also have the plumb line of God's Word, and when we meditate on it, then we walk in truth. Again, we reap what we sow, and the seed of the Word of Truth produces life.

More later -- Have a great weekend.

Love, Karen

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Walking Away From a Faulty Pattern

Satan deceived Eve by causing her to make her decision based on what she could see and on what her emotions and her reason told her to be right, even when it was contrary to what God had already told the couple (page 31).

Genesis 3:6 states, "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it."


Eve made the one mistake that also causes every single one of her offspring to stumble: she made a decision based on what she could see, how she felt at the time, what seemed logical, and what she desired. As she lifted her hand to the fruit, she had already experienced temptation and deception. The result of her sin brought bondage. How did she get there in the first place? She had listened to a lie.

Turn to page 19 of your Companion Guide and let's read question number three together.

3. As long we live in this world, we cannot completely isolate ourselves so that we never hear any lies. What is the difference between "hearing" and "listening to" lies?

Please ponder this question for awhile. Read the question a couple of times and really think about it. And then read Philippians 4:8-9.

4. Why is it so important to be selective about the input we allow to come into our minds and to consciously choose to expose ourselves and listen to the Truth?

There are no harmless lies. We cannot expose ourselves to the world's false, deceptive way of thinking and come out unscathed (page 38).


So, we're learning that the pattern goes something like this: First, we expose ourselves to worldly thinking and philosophy, and then, when we're confronted with a decision, we choose according to what seems or feels right. What seems or feels right turns out to be exactly what we have been listening to. In other words, we make our decisions, and they seem oh so logical, based on the "lies" we've heard because somewhere along the line we started listening and being influenced by those lies.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Know Your Enemy

John 8:44 -- Your are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

2 Corinthians 4:4 -- ...whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2 Corinthians 11:14 -- And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

Ephesians 6:11-12 -- Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

1 Peter 5:8 -- Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Think on these things:

1. Anytime we receive input that is not consistent with the Word of God, we can be sure that Satan is trying to deceive and destroy us.

2. There is power in truth, because it is the very essence of God. When we are deceived, we lose our power.

3. We will accept a lie because it appeals to our human reasoning. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12

4. We are in a battle and the battle is for our minds. Our enemy knows that if he can make us believe a lie, then it won't be very long before we act on that lie.

5. We have a choice of what to input into our minds. The strength to help us make the right choice is called "grace," and that comes from God.

May your Bible study time be especially blessed in these days.

Love, Karen

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Realize, Reflect, and Respond

As I read the Prologue on pages 27 and 28, I found myself relating to Eve, the real person, in a way in which I have never related. God created her and she was the first of our gender. Doesn't it make sense that she would have thought and felt in her day similarly to how we think and feel today?

These "Dear Diary" entries begin each chapter of the book. We'll be discussing them during our Bible study time this Wednesday. For those of you without the book, go back once again to Genesis 3 and read carefully. Think about Eve's position before and then after her sin. Absolutely everything changed! For example, her peace changed to turmoil; her closeness to the Father digressed to separation. List for me some other "before" and "after" words as a comment to this post. I'll take your thoughts to the Bible study, and let you know how the discussion went.

Love, Karen

Monday, October 9, 2006

Let's Begin at the Beginning

Every lady at the Bible study receives the two books this Wednesday! We're going to spend some time previewing them so that we can know what is expected of us in the weeks ahead.

Last week, we took some time to read Genesis 3:1-13. Much like a river that begins as a mountain spring, this Scripture is the "source" from which we start our journey through "Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free." By the time we "spill out into the ocean," we will be full of truth and know assuredly how to recognize the lies, and how to utilize the weapons we own to combat them.

Let's look at the first verse now, and disect it a bit. "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And He said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" The very first time that Satan turns up in the Bible, and he does what he continues until this day to do best: He lies!

This verse is like all verses in the Bible: it is God-inspired. We learn from the first sentence of the devil's deceitful character, and this evidence is backed-up by his very own lying tongue in the second sentence. God did not instruct Adam and Eve not to eat from every tree of the garden. In fact, these are God's words according to Genesis 2:16-17, "...Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

As women, it's vital that we understand "the lie" that surrounds us everyday. If we believe it, we step into bondage. Bondage is the opposite of freedom. Jesus came to set us free, and if we're not experiencing that freedom right now, then we are not living the abudant life that the Lord died to give us.

If you've received your books, please flip through the pages and familiarize yourself with them. Read the Acknowledgments, Foreward, and pages 15-23. Take a few days to do this, because I want you to be pondering and praying about what you've read.

I'm praying for you as you begin this study. Satan will attempt to hinder you in some way because that's his mode of operation (MO), but keep steadfast. "We are more than conquerors through Christ..."

Love, Karen

Thursday, October 5, 2006

The Blessing of Blindness

Elvira is a dear friend of mine who lives in Mexico. She's a single mother with one daughter who still lives at home. She used to make a very modest living for her family by crocheting fine lace on linens. Unfortunately, it's very difficult at the present time for her to make any kind of living at all. As she approached her fortieth birthday, Elvira discovered that she was losing her eyesight. She had always suspected that this might happen because it's a genetic condition, and she had watched a brother and a sister experience it.

Elvira hasn't always been a Christian. Today, she loves the Lord Jesus and serves Him only, but earlier in her life she worshipped idols and served tradition. She tells me now that that was when she was really blind. At first, when she learned that physical blindness was inevitable, she searched for spiritual help in her church. Elvira was looking for the light, but all she found was darkness. Then, she met Jesus, and the True Light shown. She says that now she can "see" clearer than she's ever seen before.

She walks on the dusty roads in a small village in Mexico with one hand on the shoulder of her daughter who walks in front of her. It's interesting to me that she cannot see in order to influence her daughter as to where she should go. Elvira must trust her little girl completely. She must listen to the child's soft voice as she speaks caution and encouragement, and she must follow in the girl's footsteps to get where she needs to be.

Have I mentioned Elvira's smile? Seldom have I seen such joy in a countenance.

Elvira is my hero and I want to be like her. She a living illustration of how it should be to walk with the Lord. I want to place my hand on the shoulder of the Lord, and I want to follow Him without question, and without suggestions from me on a better route. I desire the blessing of "blindness" that I might see the True Light.

Friday, September 29, 2006

The Beginning of a Bible Study

Wednesday, October 4th, is the target date as we begin our local women's Bible study. Seven or eight of us will meet together at Jenny's house for an hour and a half, and Darren will be in charge of the children.

Cassidy is helping me set up this blog for the convenience of any of you who might be interested in participating from long distance. We're going to try something that I've never attempted before, and there might be some bugs we'll need to work out, but I'm excited about the possibilities! Simply click on the book, and you'll be linked to a site where you can actually buy the set that we'll be using every Wednesday morning. Once you've received it, you'll be able to keep up with us through this blog. The book is called, "Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free." The "Companion Guide" to it completes the set and is the reason this blog is called what it is.

I'll be ordering the books today, and will distribute them at our first meeting. If you cannot make the meetings, but would still like to be a part, please feel free to join us and keep up by communicating your thoughts and insights through comments. Your participation would really require you purchasing the book set and reading and answering the questions along side of us. I'll try to post a few times a week, and hopefully, we'll learn and grow together.

Since all of us are busy with home, work, family, children, and even some home schooling, I would like to assure you that I have no plans to race through this study. We're going to take it easy and be prayerful and sensitive to the needs of the women.

Well, this is all for now. Your feedback would be nice, but not necessary. May the Lord bless you with His will and direction as you consider this opportunity. Have a wonderful day!