Bible Study  Isaiah 61:3 CEV Today when we think of inner beauty it’s often a combination of kindness, integrity, and loyalty. After all, aren’t those qualities we might look for in a friend? Deep inside we know that perfect people are unrealistic, but seeking someone who has some of those qualities is important. It helps us to feel safe (like they won’t attack without warning). Integrity is also often high on the list because if a friend isn’t honest and if they don’t have g

Proverbs 15:13 MSG When wise King Solomon spotted an attitude that set the tone of the conversation he recognized it immediately. Think about it…have you ever been enjoying a happy conversation with friends when a killjoy stepped in and literally killed the joy? For each proverbs in chapter 15 Solomon made a valid point. He compared the good with the bad sad mad comment. In Proverbs 15:13 he wrote, “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to ge

Bible Study Nehemiah 8:9-10 ESV We remember in 586 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed the Temple and broke down the city wall in Jerusalem. The brightest and best of Israel were taken into captivity. As today’s story opens the year is 539 B.C.E. and Cyrus the Great now conquered Babylon. The Hebrew men who had been taken captive were now free to return home. It was 5th Century B.C. Back home in Israel Ezra and Nehemiah had been given the charge to rebuild Israel’s i

Bible Study Proverbs 16:24 NIV The modern thought about gracious words (at least in some circles) can be misleading. In Proverbs 16:24 we are told: "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." The Hebrew translation to English is interesting. Looking it up made me do a “double-take”. I expected the Hebrew word ‘debar’ which is ‘word’. But the translated word is ‘debash’ which means ‘honey’. Some translators chose the verse to say ‘honey

Bible Study John 14:27a ESV In today’s crazy busy world there are times when peace is the greatest gift we can give and receive. It seems that is because peace…real peace from God is sometimes difficult to find. It’s not because God doesn’t want to give peace. We are simply not feeling it for one reason or another. In John 14:27a, the Apostle recalled the words of Jesus, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” As Jesus was preparing His disciples for His phy

Bible Study Give a Drawing Isaiah 43:2 ESV While sketching isn’t listed specifically in scripture we do see great evidence of artistic use of verse and beauty in Scripture. When we witness a breathtakingly beautiful sunrise or sunset it really is an artistic gift painted by God. As we read scripture, especially in the Hebrew we see God at work with vivid words that paint a picture. Isaiah 43:2 is a perfect example when the prophet heard from God and wrote: Isaiah 43:2: "Wh

Bible Study Mark 11:25a ESV If there is one single thing that stands out as being the most difficult commandment Jesus gave, it would be forgiveness…or the lack of it. In Mark 11:25a we read, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive.” It’s not given as a suggestion…it’s a command. We have to remember that Jesus WAS God and when He looked at someone (or looks at someone) He could see the soul and mind. He knew (knows) everything about you. Because He is God He can see ‘UN for

Bible Study Give Recognition /Honor Romans 13:7 ESV I don’t remember this scripture or concept being on my list of verses to memorize in Sunday School growing up but it was definitely part of my dad’s ‘important things to teach me’. Romans 13:7 tells us, “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” My dad did teach me if I borrowed something from someone or if

Bible Study 11.5.25 Acknowledge Jehovah Isaiah 42:8 YLT It may be somewhat difficult for everyone to understand the context behind Isaiah 42:8 if we don’t understand the relationship to all of scripture. In order to see the big picture it helps to know the name or names of God. In Isaiah 42:8 we begin with the name I AM Jehovah. In scripture there are over 900 names for God. “I [am] Jehovah, this [is] My name, And Mine honour to another I give not, Nor My praise to graven i

Bible Study hoda\'ah (הוֹדָאָה) Psalm 118:24, Ephesians 5:20 The Hebrew word for gratitude in the Old Testament is hoda\'ah (הוֹדָאָה), and we are reminded to be grateful or give thanks in some form 102 times. The same thought in the New Testament Greek is used 57 times. God knows the importance of being grateful. God knows the thought of being grateful changes the human brain…because God wired it that way. Modern psychologists have found that when we are grateful the brain

Bible Study Giving This time of year we have set aside to give thanks is a rich part of American history. I remember seeing pictures of the early settlers in America giving thanks. Only later in school did I understand the extent of their gratitude. They weren’t only thankful for the food and friends, they were thankful for their lives. The journey across the ocean was to unknown territory of unknown people who did not speak their language. For example, think about the Pi

Bible Study Diaspora James 1:1 ESV Matthew 28:19-20 ESV 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ESV When I woke up this morning I had in my mind a long list of things to do and accomplish today. Once I was dressed I grabbed my writing equipment and put those in my bag. I always that in case I get an idea. I headed for my car and started writing. It was cold last night so it took a minute for my car to warm up, so I started praying. To be truthful I was sitting with God to ask where to go and

Bible Study Holiness Leviticus 19:2 ESV Mark 16:15 ESV Holiness in the Biblical sense means set apart or consecrated. In Leviticus 19:2 the instruction given to the children of Israel said, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” We might wonder why God considered holiness to be a vital part of our faith. It actually makes perfect sense. The old saying, “you are what you eat” also applies to

Bible Study Numbers 6:24-26 ESV Several years ago I attended a church that practiced giving a blessing at the end of every service. While the sermons were relevant and helpful, my favorite part of the service was the blessing we were given at the end of the service. Numbers 6:24-24 tells us, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” This partic

Bible Study 1 John 2:27 ESV I Corinthians 12:7-11 ESV When we turn to God through Jesus we receive an anointing of and by the Spirit. The anointing we receive is the same anointing of the Spirit the disciples received on the day of Pentecost. When we receive the anointing we are called to utilize our gifts of the Spirit. Our anointing will not be the same as John or Peter received because the Spirit gives us what we need. I John 2:27 tells us, “But the anointing that you rece

Bible Study Hebrews 13:16 ESV There was a time when I was younger and had children at home when this verse really hit home. I read this verse and I accepted it but I didn’t expect God to give me a test on it. Hebrews 14:16 says, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” One evening about the time I was finished cooking dinner we had a woman drive up to our house and come to the door. We lived in a church parsonage and

Bible Study Psalm 4:1, Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV It’s been said by many that hearing God respond to our prayers is ‘do-able’ but it’s been my experience that it’s certainly not easy. It’s a time consuming process. I don’t think that’s because God doesn’t want to be heard. More than likely it’s because we don’t know how to listen. After reading volumes about praying and listening I’m convinced why the majority of people in the western world don’t know how to listen to God. We be

Bible Study Ephesians 2:8 ESV Grace is a gift and while believers don’t always agree on the extent of the grace, it IS grace. Ephesians 2.8 tells us , “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” I happen to believe the grace Paul refers to is every minute of every day for every year. Feel free to disagree because I will not be offended. Part of my very long Seminary journey (144 graduate level hours) was embracing w

Bible Study Psalm 34:8 ESV When we choose God we also choose goodness, for no man is consistently and inherently good. Only God is good 100% of the time. Psalm 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Think of it this way…when we take refuge in God we inherit God’s goodness. It seems easy, doesn’t it? I wish…but there is a conundrum. While we can say we want goodness, it’s not a one time choice. That’s because the circu

Bible Study Choose 3 Zechariah 7:9 ESV The Lord God gave the Prophet Zechariah three “take-away” commands. The words were in the form of a command. In the Hebrew the first word is שְׁפֹ֔טוּ (pronounced šə·p̄ō·ṭū) which translated means “execute” or give true. In Zechariah 7:9 he was told: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another. The three items on the list for Zechariah were all intended to be a person to person take-away.