The Confident Planner

The Lord will work out His plans for my life - for your faithful love O Lord, endures forever. Do not abandon me, for you made me. Psalm 138:8

As a new Christian, one of the many challenges I had to overcome was being confident (and comfortable) knowing God is working His plan for my life, even if  I don't know the details.  Early in my college career, and not unlike some of you, I had no idea who or what I wanted to be when I grew up. Some of my classmates knew exactly what they wanted to do, where they wanted to go, and who they wanted to be, right down to  the number of children they would have and what type of house they would live in. Not me. I did not have a clue about tomorrow, much less 5-10 years later.  But God knew. He knows all. And what is even better, He is working it all for your good.  Looking back, my college days were years ago, and years before my "encounter" with the Lord when I received His gift of salvation. And while it took me some time to see how He was working His plan in my life, I now know and have confidence that He is, even though I still don't have all the details.

It took me spending time with the Lord, learning His promises, trusting Him daily, and seeing how He carried me from situation to situation to really know that He is in control. This pattern has repeated consistently over the years, so much so that I now have confidence, not in myself or my plans, but in Christ Jesus, who is ultimately working His plan in my life. His plan is better than anything I can think or imagine, and I'm glad He didn't allow me to do it myself!  Once I "let go and let God" as they saying goes, I saw what He was capable of accomplishing in my life and what I was not. For the person I am and for how rich and fruitful my life is, I could not have created something so wonderful and perfect for me. Not perfection, because that is only Christ, but perfect for my situation, my personality, my talents, and my passions. 

Practice:

So whatever you are planning, or not, seek Christ first. Pray over whatever you are doing or want to do. Then stand in confidence that He will work His perfect plan for your life. 

Prayer:

Father, thank you! Thank you that you think of me the way you do. Thank you that you authored all of my days before I even came to be. My life is yours, and because you love me so much, you will only give me your best. You gave me the ultimate gift which was your son Jesus Christ, and now there is nothing else that you will not give me, for my good and for Your glory. Thank you for loving me so. In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen. 

~ Stacey
Women of Grace Member

And we know God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:38

The Year of Sevens

2014—is a year of Sevens (2+0+1+4=7 & 14/2=7)

 What significance does the number seven have for Christians? Well, many! Here’s just a few:

In the bible, the number seven represents fullness, completion/finality, rest, and spiritual perfection (Gen 1:31 & 2:1-3; Dan 9:2, 12: 5-7; Rev 10:5-7, Rev 16:17—consider reading the amplified (amp) version of these verses).

http://www.biblewheel.com/Topics/SevenfoldLight.php --discusses the Menorah and some of the other articles/furniture pieces (totaling seven) in the Arc of the Covenant and how they are built on the concept of sevens. This is great because as we get ready to do the Daniel fast and delve deeper into the Books of Daniel and Revelation led by Harold we can see God bringing all of this together for us. The discussion on this site will also bring to mind some of the things God led Harold to reveal to us when he first visited our class and instructed on the contents and meaning of the Arc of the Covenant.

As we’ve also been learning more about the Jewishness of our savior via “Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus” the following excerpt may also strike as interesting and relevant to where God is leading our studies:

"In the Hebrew, 7 is shevah. It is from the root savah, to be full or satisfied, have enough of. Hence the meaning of the word "seven" is dominated by this root, for on the seventh day God rested from the work of Creation. It was full and complete, and good and perfect. Nothing could be added to it or taken from it without marring it. Hence the word Shavath, to cease, desist, rest, and Shabbath, Sabbath, or day of rest."

It is 7, therefore, that stamps with perfection and completeness that in connection with which it is used. Of time, it tells of the Sabbath, and marks off the week of seven days, which, artificial as it may seem to be, is universal and immemorial in its observance amongst all nations and in all times. It tells of that eternal Sabbath-keeping which remains for the people of God in all its everlasting perfection.
In the creative works of God, seven completes the colors of the spectrum and rainbow, and satisfies in music the notes of the scale. In each of these the eighth is only a repetition of the first.”

This excerpt can be read in its entirety at:
 http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible/7.html
where there are other significance of the number seven mentioned such as the seven fold blessing of Abraham, God’s seven part covenant with Israel, and the seven sprinklings of the temple.

Scriptures to Ponder and Apply: Psalms 12:6 (amp) says, “The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over”. Now, read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3:19-30 (amp). In the second half of verse 19 Nebuchadnezzar “ordered that the furnace be heated seven times more than it was usually heated [emphasis mine]”.  When the whole ordeal was over (finished) in verses 28 and 30 King Nebuchadnezzar “Blessed” God and “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon”. 

What can we learn from these verses that should be directly applied to our lives in this year? If you’ve been praying about a situation for awhile, have gone through what seems like trial by fire, have been trusting God and holding out, then your circumstances and barriers will begin to bless God and you’ll be promoted to the next perfect level God has planned for you. God’s word/promises that He has made to you personally will be refined/realized/perfected in this year of sevens. 

My Humble Prayer for Us:  Abba, your word says that you will perfect that which concerns us (Psalms138:8) and again that you know the thoughts you have for us—thoughts of peace to give us hope (Jer 29:11); therefore, thank you for gathering our concerns, bottling our tears, dispelling our fears, addressing our needs and perfecting your WORD in our lives in this 2014 year of perfection. You instructed us to be perfect because you ARE already perfect (Matt 5:48)—thank you for perfecting us to affect others for your glory. 

In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Keisha Blackwell

Women of Grace Member

Community Bible Church

Confidence NOW in Christ

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? 
The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 NKJV

I had an aunt that used to say, "how do you know, that you know, that you know?" 
Basically, what she was asking was, "how do I know for sure, without an iota of 
doubt, that this is true"? Reading God's Word and His promises daily gives us 
the confidence we need to cast our cares on Him and find refuge in His presence. 
When you made the decision to accept Christ as your savior, in that instant, you 
also supernaturally changed who is fighting your battles. No longer are you 
alone, now you have the power of Christ to protect you. And long before you 
accepted Christ, He was there. In Psalm 139, David says " where can I go from 
your spirit? If I ascend into heaven you are there, if I make my bed in hell, you are there also...

"Even there you hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me".  

Contemplate:
Think back to a time when you were not sure whether you were going to overcome a 
challenge or survive a situation. How did that make you feel? Afraid? Alone? 
Helpless? Defeated? And how did you feel when you were victorious? Was your 
faith strengthened?
Scripture:
Psalm 27 says, "The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" 
When you meditate on this scripture and put it in perspective, is there anything 
or anyone who can compete with God? Romans 8:38 and 39 explains succinctly
how wide, deep, and powerful God's love is for us. 

When you have someone who loves you this much, how can you doubt anything He says? 

Practice:
A great practice for building your confidence is to remember and praise. Remember all 
that He has brought you through, remember how He delivered you, remember how He 
made a way when you didn't know what to do, and remember that He alone is God. 
Praise Him for the accomplishments, the favor, the battles won, and the 
resources He provided. If you like to write or journal, this is a great way to 
capture your thoughts. Going back later and reading your account of how God 
delivered you will encourage you every time you read it.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for helping me to see that ultimately you are in control 
of all things. Give me the ability to cast my cares on you and to trust you. 
Help me to NOT lean on my own understanding but on the One who understands all. 
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain 

that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. - Martin Luther 

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!