Living The New Life

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Col 3:1-4 NLT

2014 is another great opportunity to live the new life you were given when you accepted Christ as your savior, so what are you going to do different, better, more of, and less of? And how will you hide your life in Christ so others can experience you as a Christian? Allowing others to "experience" you is not defined only as in what you say, but also in your beliefs, motivations, attitudes, and actions. As people get to experience you over time, and every time you are in their presence, you make a positive or negative impression that accumulates to who they say you are. While you might think this is a difficult feat to accomplish, know that God gives us the grace to do what we are doing now and so much more. 

Contemplate This: When Christ is revealed to the whole world, and we get to share in all His glory, who will you be on that day? What will you have accomplished in His Name? Will you be excited and relieved? Or will you be anxious and nervous? Where will you be and who will you be with? Ponder this scene in your mind and let your beliefs, motivations, attitudes, words and actions all represent your life that is hidden in Christ. Now is the time to get rid of the old nature and walk in this new life that Christ has given you. 

New Life 2014

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of The Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Col 3:17 NLT

Are You Really Losing The Battle?

As the holiday season is upon us and we start to reflect on what we are most grateful for, the Women of Grace used this topic as a round table discussion to draw out not only what we were thanking God for, but also the load we are still carrying. As the conversation progressed, each woman told of situations, circumstances, struggles, and current challenges that continue to hold us back from truly surrendering and being the Godly women we all aspire to be.

During our talk, we encouraged each other through scripture references, personal testimonies, and recommendations for books that spoke to the challenges we are facing. Before the session concluded, the Holy Spirit gave revelation to us that the very thing we think is defeating us, He is using for our deliverance! Hallelujah! How can you not be in love with the God we serve?

In John 16:33, Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world".

Jesus makes this statement shortly before going to the cross. If you review the events after this statement, they are as follows: He prays for Himself, He prays for His disciples, the arrest happens, He goes before the high priest, Peter denies Him, Pontius Pilate allows Barabbas (the robber) to be released instead of Jesus (as the Jews wished), He is mocked, tortured, and crucified. 

How bold is our Savior, to make this statement (John 16:33), knowing what was right before Him! Jesus told us we will have tribulation while in this world. This should not be a surprise when we are facing a crisis, unfavorable situations or circumstances, but then the question becomes: How are you dealing with the tribulation? 

• Prayer - Jesus prayed, shouldn't you?
• Purpose - Jesus knew His purpose, do you?
• Power - Jesus overcame the world, are you leaning on His power?

We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, but we have to lean on His Power to carry us through. To the world, Jesus was losing the battle, and our Father turned this world upside down with His victory on the cross! Do whatever you need to do to remind yourself daily who is really in control despite what it looks like.

Stacey
Women of Grace Member

What Is Your Image of Jesus - Then and Now

While each of us have had different experiences with religion growing up - one thing is certain: We all sought Truth. The "Sitting at the Feet of Jesus" Study Guide from Chapter 2 asks: What was your image of Christ growing up? We discussed our different experiences from childhood, good and bad, and discovered that after unpacking our foundational religious beginnings, we all experienced different sects of Christianity:

• Catholicisim
• Pentecostal
• Baptist
• Methodist
• Holiness
• Episcopal
• Non-Denominational
• "CSO" - Church on Special Occasions

At best, these religious groups, we found, shared a common denominator: We did not find Christ through it, but rather, He found us. To those who may be struggling with the rules of religion, working to feel good enough, waiting until the "right time" to give your life to Christ, or any other thing that keeps you from accepting Him, our recommendation is simply this: Focus on a relationship with Christ. That's it. 

When you remove the rules, laws, policies, and self-inflicted ideologies about what it means to be a Christian, it's all about knowing Christ, and that is Truth. The authors said it succinctly in "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus", "I realized a trip to Israel isn't necessary - wonderful insights are as close as your own bible".  Knowing Jesus and developing your relationship with Him is as easy as studying the bible and seeking to know Him. As a matter of fact, in Chapter 2 of "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus", the authors state that Rabbis thought that study and not prayer, was the highest form of worship, "They pointed out that when we pray, we speak to God, but that when we study the scriptures, God speaks to us."

Women of Grace, ask God to give you the grace to see beyond the religious activities and to simply experience Him. Having a relationship with Christ is far better than anything you can imagine. Today when we discussed what our image of Christ was "Then" (when we were growing up), and "Now" (today, as we reflected on where we came from), because religion influenced our perception, we found that He was not what we thought, He was so much more! His Goodness kept us close, even when we were not aware, and at the right time, He revealed Himself to each of us, in a way only He could. His friendship has proved to better than any riches, better than any fun we thought we were having, and better than any person who had our time and attention. It is only His Love that makes us want to do His Will, and even more, He will give us the Grace to do so.

"So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me." Colossians 1:28-29

For more information on experiencing God, find Henry Blackaby's book "Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God" on Amazon.

Stacey
Women of Grace Member
Community Bible Church

WWYA - What Would You Ask? Sitting At The Feet Of Rabbi Jesus

Women of Grace:

This week's study guide for "Sitting At The Feet Of Rabbi Jesus" asked a very poignant question: If you were sitting at the feet of Rabbi Jesus, what would you ask?

The conversation among the Women of Grace Members sparked more thought-provoking questions:

• Why won't people believe You are the Son of God?
• What's next - How can I get more of you?
• How can I truly make You (Christ) a priority in my life amidst my other  priorities?

Other comments were revelations from the Holy Spirit and changed the lens through which we view our lives:

• Christ was there from the beginning of my life - through all the tragedies and sufferings - and I would not change a thing.
• Asking for a change in others allows the Holy Spirit to work a change in you.
• Once you commit your life to Christ, your past has nothing to do with your future.

Women of Grace, thank you for committing to mini-challenges this week in an effort to focus more on Christ:

Mini-Challenges

• BE HUMBLE - Give an hour this week to Christ, giving up an hour of TV, Internet, or (your choice here) and study the Word during that hour. Psalm 25:9

• BE PRESENT - Allow God to show you He is with you. 1 Corinthians 4:20-21

• BE PURPOSEFUL -  Start your day with Him. John 6:38

• BE GRATEFUL - Reflect on your life and see how God has been with you the whole time; see how His grace has carried you. Psalm 92:1-2

Our Prayer 
Father God, this is our prayer for the Women of Grace everywhere:

"For this reason also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be the partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." Colossians 1:9-12

In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!

 

The Aroma of Christ - Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus - Chapter 1

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ (the Anointed One) among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." 2 Corinthian 2:14-16

Woman of Grace:

Are you the Aroma of Christ? As Jesus' followers, we spread the Aroma of Christ everywhere we go!

In Chapter 1 of "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus", the authors discuss the importance and the significance of Mary's action of anointing Jesus' feet with perfume. While the average response would be that she was showing love to Jesus by washing his feet in expensive perfume, the authors (Spangler & Tverberg) reveals through the understanding of the Jewish Culture that God was really preparing His son for his place in the royal lineage of the Israelites. In the Middle East, the majesty of a king was not only expressed by his wardrobe and jewelry, but also by his "aroma". God used Mary's willingness to serve Christ to deliver a powerful message to those who came in contact with him that they were in the presence of a King, even days later! The authors set the scene by discussing how amazing our God is when he allowed Judas and the guards to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and how they must have sniffed the air and wondered who was before them! What a Mighty God we serve!

Assignment: Read Luke 10:38-42 (Mary makes Jesus her priority) and 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (Paul discusses the Aroma of Christ).

Meditation: Are you the Aroma of Christ? Do you spread His Aroma everywhere you go? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal this to you and show you how you can.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for your Son, who entered this world and bore my sins so that I may have eternal life and the ability to take my place in your family as your daughter. I praise You for Your Goodness and Mercy, no one or nothing can ever separate me from your love (Romans 8:38-39). I pray that you give me the grace and wisdom to spread the Aroma of Christ everywhere I go. In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!

-Stacey
Woman of Grace Member
Community Bible Church

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus - Introduction

Women of Grace:

As we explore the book, "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus", there are goals we identified as a group that we want to accomplish:

• Understanding what the Jewish Culture was like in the 1st Century when Jesus taught
• Deepening our knowledge of the bible through the Hebrew language and customs
• Discovering the "real" role women played during this time and their contribution to Christianity
• Getting a rare look at what it was like to be a disciple of Jesus
• Expanding our focus from "me" to "we" using love as the foundation for our actions
• Growing in our spiritual relationship with Christ through this study

Margaret Echols, Women of Grace Facilitator

 Sets the Tone for Chapter 1:

This week we plan to complete Chapter 1: Joining Mary at the Feet of Jesus. During your study, take the following approach for a fuller learning experience:

• Ask God to give you revelation as you read and study this book
• Highlight in the book or make notes about topics that make an impression on you
• Cross reference in your bible the scriptures outlined in the chapter as you move through the book 
• Use ancillary aids such as an amplified bible or commentary to give more context and information
• Meditate on any scripture references of interest and capture any observations
• Journal after each session for what you uncovered, noting any special thoughts or feelings

Come next week prepared to share your experience. For those who would like to share their journals on this blog, send an email to cbcwomensgroup@gmail.com, with your name, contact number, blog title, and the complete text of the article you want posted.

It is our prayer that this group exponentially benefits from this exciting study, and the Lord uses each of us as a vehicle to continually spread the Good News far beyond what any of us can think, ask, or imagine.

Have a Blessed Week!

-Stacey

Women of Grace Member

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus - New Bible Study Starting 9/8

Women of Grace:

One of the desires the Holy Spirit has given this group is to know Jesus more and one of the ways we will accomplish this is by studying the Jewish Culture so that our bible study is a more richer experience. The group has selected the book Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith, written by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg.

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus is a rare look at what it must have been like to be a disciple following Jesus. Not only does this book explore the customs, beliefs, and traditions of the Jews, the very first chapter titled "Joining Mary at the Feet of Jesus" delves into the role of women in the synagogue. The writing style is one that gives you a front row seat of what it must have been like to be a disciple following Jesus when he walked this earth, exploring his lifestyle and teachings as he fulfilled his Father's will for his life. There are many scripture references to use in your personal study, and one of the great features of this book are practical exercises at the end of each chapter to help you gain practical understanding of what you read. The authors have also provided an appendices that covers the prayers Jesus prayed, various feasts and customs, recommended resources, and a glossary of terms.

Over the next several months, we will incorporate the study of this book into a curriculum that will give  you a richer experience for learning, understanding, and ultimately applying in your life to help you become the victorious Christian.

The curriculum will include:

• Two Chapters of study per month, allowing everyone time to incorporate it into busy schedules:
• First Session: Chapter discussions from reading
• Second Session: Chapter assignment and user experience from individual study and journaling
• Individual journaling per chapter that can be shared via our online ministry (Blog, FaceBook)
• Guest Speaker who is a subject matter expert on the Jewish Culture - TBD
• Field Trip to a synagogue to experience a ceremony applying what we learned through study and to explore other questions and topics - TBD

This interesting study will culminate near Easter 2014 (April 20), giving you a deeper understanding and reason to celebrate and be grateful for the rich traditions that have been preserved and shared from generation to generation.

You can purchase the book at any bookstore but here is the link to Amazon for book and author info:

Join us for this exciting study! Email us at cbcwomensgroup@gmail.com if you have questions.

Stay Strong in Christ!

Stacey

Women of Grace Member