Wow!  I just want to tear this whole week’s lesson out of my notebook and paste it around my house, maybe in the kitchen or the bathroom mirror.  It’s like the Momma’s Handbook, and I was blessed upon reading each lesson. 

What really stood out to me this week was the importance of knowing God’s Word and praying God’s Word.  The Lord’s challenge to me during this entire study has been to memorize more of His Word.  I’ve purchased a spiral-bound set of notecards in an effort to document those verses I’m learning and to keep them on hand for constant review. 

So, why is this such an important part of the Christian life? Well, as we learned this week, God’s Word is essential for training and disciplining our children.  How can we “bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord” (Eph. 6:4) if we do know what forms of discipline and instruction the Lord has approved.  As we learned on Day 2, the book of Proverbs provides guideline after guideline showing us God’s design for raising up our children in the way he or she should go. 

Knowing God’s Word also helps us as we battle “not against flesh and blood” (Eph. 6:12) but against Satan, the ultimate deceiver. As we learned, evil desires lead to evil actions and evil actions lead to death (James 1:14-15).  By hiding the Word of God in our heart, we are more readily equipped to recognize those early sin thoughts and bring them captive to the obedience of Christ. 

Finally, I loved Jean’s title for Day 5, “Don’t Just Stand There; Pray Something.”  Philippians 4:6-7 are two of my favorite versus, actually some of the first scriptures I committed to memory early in my Christian walk.  So, why are they so hard to implement sometimes?  As I read these verses again in this week’s study, a washing of the Lord’s peace came over me as I was reminded that we truly can go to him with anything, and as a result He promises that perfect peace that passes all understanding.  So, let’s do it! Let’s pray about anything.  Let’s pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17).  And let’s be found faithful to pray for our husbands, our children and ourselves.  Draw near to God and He’ll draw near to you (James 4:8). 

Blessings and joy!

Did you get the theme for this week? Marriage! Yes, even in a Mom’s Bible study we need read and study what God’s Word says about marriage! Oh, did I need to be refreshed by these lessons this past week!  It is so easy to get busy with life, kids, and the other things on our to-do list that we must remember the blessings that God has given us through our husband.

Today I am not going to dwell on a specific day, but just share my heart with you in what I took away from this week, and I hope you will share with me the same. 

This is a diagram that my Bible fellowship teacher shared with me a few years ago (it may be a little different?). Anyway, if we look at our marriage like a triangle with three points, not just two, then that marriage will be perfect. The points on the triangle represent one for husband, one for wife , and one for God. If the husband and wife have their eyes focused on God, then God will bless over that marriage, in turn the relationship with the husband and wife will be wonderful because they are putting God first in their marriage. Simple, yet such a neat diagram in viewing God in our relationship with our spouse!

I was also taught this week that through our marriage we are teaching our kids what God’s picture of a husband and wife are. My girls are watching me and how I treat my husband, how we interact, and how we live. They are forming deep opinions in which they will take with them into their marriages. This is very convicting in that I pray that they things I do and say not only glorify God, but also put a sweet taste of marriage and love into my girls! In day one Jean talked about carbon copies and filling our shoes…..I sure want to set a Christian example from them to copy!!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

Let’s begin with day 1:  The Work of Service.  How many times do we sign up for things and ways to serve the Lord and then they turn into energy of the flesh.  Sometime, I know I sign up for things that sound great at the time, then I end up getting all stressed out with my enormous work load, that I lose the “Mary” in me and turn to the “Martha.”  Oh, to just slow down and sit at Jesus’ feet…how amazing!  I need to remind myself that I need to stop serving in the energy of the flesh because that energy is always running on empty. Question 2 reminds us that we can do nothing, apart from the Lord.  It is all toil and angst for nothing.  We must bear fruit and we do this by remaining in the Lord daily.  How?  By reading the Bible and through prayer.  Prayer is the way we talk to him and reading the Word is the way he talks to us.  Jean writes, ” The Lord is waiting to meet with us. While he waits, we have to make a choice.  We can be distracted by the lies of Satan, the world, the flesh or we can commune with Jesus.  Distractions are my #1 foe!  Jean reminds us to, “Feast on the Bread of Life, Drink Living Water, Walk Through the day energized in the power of the Holy Spirit.”  I have begun reading my bible with the kids in bed with me in the morning.  Yes, I may only get a tidbit of truth, but the Lord grows that tidbit in my heart all day.  I also feel it is a good example for my children to see me reading God’s Word.

Day 2: Grow Up! I am watching my little ones grow up before my very eyes and I cannot believe how fast things are going!  I hardly want to blink, in fear of missing something.  I love the way Mary, the mother of Jesus, held her baby treasuring each memory.  When I first viewed the movie, The Passion, I was not a mother, yet.  I wept in that movie for my sin that Jesus had to bear.  When I watched it again, as a mother, I gleaned a whole new perspective.  My heart ached for Mary, as she had to watch her son undergoing the horrific.  Jesus, as a child, grew in wisdom, grew physically and grew in favor of God and man.   We have to ask ourselves in question 2, what ways our children are growing in wisdom, physical growth and spiritual development?  Do you see any fruit on your children’s tree? Are they asking about Jesus, yet?  I can see many changes each day with both of my children, I have to pray for them and myself on how to train them for Christ.  And for God to show me ways to teach about him in all instances  ”Do not forsake your mother’s teachings; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to you head and ornaments around your neck.” Prov.1:8-9  My prayer is for us to teach these babies to rely solely on the Lord, one day.

Day 3: Dressed up in Jesus!  I found this study to be right up my alley!  My oldest child has been fighting me on the things she wants to wear, she is 4, mind you!  I struggle with giving up that control.  I want the monogrammed outfit with matching bow or that perfect seasonal smocked dress with mary jane shoes.  She, however, wants mismatched comfort with a headband and lip gloss!  One morning, as we were on our way to her school, she is crying about the outfit she has to wear.  I realized, it is not that important.  I need to care more about her little feelings than impressing onlookers as we walk to her classroom.  Jean reminds us that Christian life provides a new wardrobe.  I am now spending less time worrying about her physical wardrobe and more about her spiritual one!   In question 1, there are all the reasons to disrobe the flesh and dress up in  Jesus.  Without Him, life is dark, sin separates us from Him, we have hard hearts and are insensitive and lustful for our own desires.  Jean asks us to write about the degeneracy of humanity, how without Jesus we could be anyone of those things; involoved in homosexuality, idolatry, murderer, evil, greedy, disobedient, boastful, arrogant, God haters and slanderers.  Praise you, God for saving me from that and forgiving my many sins!  Paul instructs us to put off the old self & put on the new self, which is in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness and truth.

Day 4: The Character of Christ.  At conversion, our old self is crucified and the body of sin is done away with.  We are dead to sin, but alive in Christ.  I think that is just amazing.  I was baptized at age 7 and I remember feeling so new and clean when I came out of those waters.  I know it was the real deal!  This is the picture I hold in my mind when I read Romans 6:3-7.  Further down, still on question 1, we respond to offer ourselves to the Lord and our bodies so the we may be instruments of righteousness.  I love the thought of being a tool used by our Lord.  It is such a priviledge, yet I am so unworthy.  Jean writes, “In Christ we are new creations with new natures.  We are not patched up versions of our old selves.  We are brand new, fresh, clean and revived.  We have to remember this when we are tired and the world beats us up.  We can find peace and solace in Him.

Day 5: Wise words.  “When words are many, sin is not absent.”  That is a Proverb that is my mantra.  I am a talker.  And as I have gotten older the whole gossip thing doesn’t seem to be as exciting as it was as a teen.  I have surrounded myself with Godly women that watch their words, which in turn helps me to watch my words, too.  Even, with Godly friends, you still have to arm yourself with the Word and ask for guidance for your mouth and heart.  It is obviously very important if it is written about in the Bible so many times.  I love Proverbs 10:20-21.  The word “nourish” stood out to me.  Just as we feed our children with healthy foods, we also must nourish their minds and hearts with precious words, kind words that will motivate and uplift.  We will stumble, lose our tempers, say things we know we shouldn’t, but that is when we humble ourselves, apologize and be freed!  Just as Proverbs 6:2-5 tells us.  Question 4 tells us we gain wisdom though the studying of God’s word, being blessed with discernment, then we can instruct pleasantly.   I love how Jean encourages us, not only to use kind words with our loved ones, but also to study Proverbs for an entire month, focusing on scriptures that deal with words.  I am going to challenge myself to do this.  It will really help guide our hearts with what to and not say to our children, husbands, friends and family.  I have also found if I open the Bible to Proverbs, and leave it on the kitchen counter, sneaking a peek every time I can,  I can really meditate on a verse all day.  It is truly amazing to see how the Living Word is alive and will morph and change with you through each moment of your day!   I love you, ladies! Continue to be strong this next week!

I hope you all have been doing great! Don’t forget…Morgan will be back this week with a discussion of WEEK 6!  I have been enjoying each days homework, as I am sure you have as well! Several times now, I have been in the car listening to the radio and whatever lesson I have taken from that day’s homework has been taught to me again through song! Isn’t God so amazing how he speaks to us and how we can worship Him through song??  One of my most recent favorites was sung right before me, and I actually found it on You Tube.  I hope you will enjoy as much as I did!

Have a blessed weekend!

Much Love!

Ashley

Blessings.

Maybe you are also a little behind in your homework and need to revisit a few days or simply catch up.  So, with all that being said…lets take a few days to soak in what God has for us in this lesson by watching the videos and working in our workbooks.

Hopefully lesson 6 will be up soon too!:)

So….watch or listen to  lessons 4,5, & 6(when it becomes available) and catch up on your homework through week 6.  Morgan will be here on the 11th to discuss the homework for week 6.  Does that sound good??

Also, Listen to that song Jean posted a few posts below….it is AMAZING!

RESOURCES:

VIDEOS or PODCASTS

LESSON NOTES

Describe your life in Six Words Saturday.

I am growing in God’s grace.

My progress is slow. Turtle pace. At times, it is painful. Painful and slow. Painfully slow. Slow, I say. Slow and painful. But I am growing. I AM growing in God’s grace.

I am studying the Book of Ephesians and teaching it to a group of precious MOMMAS who indulge my maniac style of teaching. I talk fast. I talk with my hands. I pace. Alot. Alot of fast talking, hand waving, and pacing. It appears I don’t take a breath. Not one time. Not one time during my 45 minute lectures. Fast talking. Hand waving. Frantic pacing. No breath-taking. No time for it!

Frankly, I wouldn’t be able to listen to me with all the fast talking, hand waving, and pacing. Taking notes on what I am teaching is nearly out of the question. I wear out my audience. I wear down my listeners. But I am growing. I am growing in God’s grace.

Anyways. I am growing. My life is changing. The pace is slow. Like a turtle. But I am growing. I am changing. Because the Word of God and the indwelling Spirit of God has the power to activate change.

God’s Word is changing my life. Slowly. Painfully at times. But I am growing in God’s grace.

“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 NAS).

Blessings for today and the week ahead.

P.S. Ray-Ray and I did some painting and such while Mr. Stockdale was out of town for 9 days on business. If you want to read Ray’s post you can click here and there are pictures. Of course there are.

The oddest thing has happened to me as I have gotten older. My tears dried up! This would not be particularly troublesome except for the fact that I I used to cry easily and often. Seriously often. Tears. Lots of ‘em. But as I became a “woman of a certain age” my tears dried up.

I teach Bible study to a precious group of MOMMAS at Bellevue Baptist Church on Thursdays. I am teaching through the book of Ephesians called “High Stepping in Heavenly Places.” It’s about walking by faith while wearing great shoes! Anyways, yesterday (Wednesday) I was in my car by myself. I had my iPod playing. Mr. Stockdale downloaded 2 CDs by The Gettys for me. And I was meditating on the lesson I would bring on Thursday to those sweet MOMS on Ephesians 4 called “What Not To Wear.”

This song came on. It is a favorite of mine but I have heard it before a number of times. I began meditating on our riches in Christ (Eph. 1:3-14). And suddenly I was swept into the presence of God. And tears . . . well they came back.

Listen and worship along. And when you have time, read and meditate on Ephesians 1:3-14, which is one long sentence in the original language. We are adopted, accepted, blessed, chosen, forgiven, redeemed, sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. We were dead in our trespasses and sins but God was rich in mercy because He loved us so much (Eph.2:1-3). He sent His only begotten Son so that whoever believed in Him might not perish but would have eternal life (John 3:16).

Think about it. Meditate on it. Ponder these glorious truths! And that’s how I found my tears. Blessings.

Imagine a picture of a cute little turtle (I would have included one in this post, but I admit, I am a bit technologically challenged).  Do you feel like that little turtle?  Perhaps like you are trying hard to keep up yet maybe falling a little behind?  Well, don’t let that discourage you from continuing on in your Bible study and also from sharing what the Lord is teaching you. Whether you’ve done one day’s worth of homework or you zoomed right through the week, if you’re spending time with the Lord, I am confident He is speaking to you.  Please share and let the rest of us be encouraged too!

I needed this week’s lesson!  And I really needed the reminder that suffering has a place in God’s plan.  But oh how faithful the Lord is to use something even as distasteful as suffering to conform us into His image! When our faith is tested, our endurance has a chance to grow.  When that endurance has increased, we will be strong in character and READY for ANYTHING (James 1:2-4)!

I placed tons of stars around the following sentence: Living for Jesus requires dying to self (p. 87).  I know this, but I honestly don’t think I make a concerted effort every day to actually do it!  This was my biggest challenge point this week, especially in the realm of mothering.  Just like the soldier that Paul writes about in 2 Timothy 2:3-6, I don’t want to be tied up in the affairs of this world or in myself.  I want to be focused on Jesus, pursuing Him in an aggressive and diligent way. 

I love the verses in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 listing the benefits of studying God’s word.  These benefits are so important in my own life, and they are also proof to me that Scripture is one of the most powerful tools for teaching/disciplining our children.  Just a verse ahead of these (v.15), we read that Timothy learned the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they gave him the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes from trusting in Christ.  I know my children must accept Christ on their own, but I want to be found faithful to teach them the word of God.  After all, we know when His word is sent out, it will not return void (Isaiah 55:11).  This makes me want to diligently study the Word of God and also memorize it, so that it is quick in my mind and on my tongue as I teach my two little ones right from wrong and as we go about our daily life. 

Wow! I loved the analogy on page 92 of Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration demonstrating his deity through his humanity.  The truth that this is how, through a yielded life, we should be allowing Christ’s deity to shine through our humanity really stood out to me. Do others see Jesus in me?  Do my children see Jesus in me?  What a challenge! I want to experience the progression of a diligent pursuit of godliness as we read in 2 Peter 1:5-9.  I especially need the self-control, patient endurance and a genuine love for others. 

I also needed the reminder on Day 4 about just how much I need a Savior.  As I wrote out my testimony on page 101, I was reminded that although I came to know the Lord at a very young age (elementary school), I was still a sinner in need of a Savior.  Even as a young child, my life was not good enough to meet God’s holy standard.  “By grace have you been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). 

What stood out to you most this week?  I only touched on the big things for me, but I had notes, highlights and stars over almost every page.  Just take a few minutes and share at least one thing the Lord has shown you this week. 

Love and blessing to each of you!