Week 3 Day 1

Praises be to God Sisters and Brothers...been homeworking, cooking, folding clothes...and fellowshipping. It has been a full day of the Lord's blessings. I will post today and tomorrow's blog tomorrow...until then, Ask and Ye Shall Receive; Seek and ye shall Find; Knock and the Door will be opened to you. Love and peace, Sister Lisa

First Place Week 2, Day 7

Week 2 Day 7

This week we learned a lot about prayer. Our memory verse stated that if we believe, whatever we ask we will receive. We know this means we need to pray in accordance with God's Will and open our hearts to the possibility that our Heavenly Father knows what is in our best interest better than we do.

Jesus wasn't happy nor excited about being crucified; he even asked the Father to let his task pass from him. But, he knew enough to say to God, "Not my will but thine be done." And THANK HIM for that--where would we be? We would be lost without a Savior, still searching for how we could connect and have a relationship with God. Thank God that Jesus was obedient to the Cross.

Are you ready for His Will to be done in your life? Delight yourself in Him, commit your ways to His. If you fall, get up and ask the Father to order your steps according to His Word. Trust in the Lord.

Humble yourself and ask Him for faith, strength and answers. They are all to be found in His Holy Word. God, turn my head toward you and away from the statues and distractions of this life. I fail you daily Lord but know that all things are possible with You. I ask you to cleanse me, prepare me and give me all that I need to do your Will. Father, turn my eyes from wickedness, competitiveness and trying to 'please man'. I know that perfection only exists in You and I will stop striving for it.

Answer me when I call, relieve me of distress, be merciful to me and my family. Give me faith Lord and confirm my heart with your promises. I know you want me to earnestly seek you and I seek you with all my heart, mind, soul and body. Say your scripture memory verse and meditate on these truths: Believing, Receiving, Faith, Praying, Hoping, Humbling---they are all good for the soul. Beloved, another new week tomorrow Sister Lisa

Week 2 Day 6

Week 2, Day 6

Bible study requires discipline and priority! I struggle with discipline...I get going on something and then I lose interest or I find other things to do. I constantly over schedule, overcommit and think I can do all things. Well, what to do about it? I can only do ALL things through CHRIST. That much I must remind myself of everyday, sometimes more than once a day or hour.

Are you struggling with discipline? Wonder what will happen if you commit and then slip? We are so hard on ourselves to be perfect (well, I know that I am on myself)--sometimes we don't commit or start to avoid the inevitable disappointment. What I am learning from this is that I really, really need to believe and act as if God is totally in control. I must give up my pride that I can do all things by myself, that I can be perfect.

Lord, please take this pride from me and let me know that I can commit, each day, to you. If I believe, asking from You, I will receive. Let me remember to pray on the four dimensions that we learned about Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Let me pray for others and take the focus off of me. Help me to overcome my need to control and perfect things. Let me not give-up on my dreams, my obedience, my hope in you.

Read Psalm 98:4; James 5:16; Psalm 106:1 and Ephesians 6:18. Follow the Word! Get up now, do it now, make a new day NOW! God is in control, God is Omnipresent and He will heal us, hold us and help us. Let your peace Lord, that passes all understanding, permeate my soul and my life. Let me guard my heart by hiding your Word in it and trusting that ALL things work together for good.

Praise your holy name Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit for teaching me and thank you Most High Jehovah for pulling me close to you in love and peace. Sister, Lisa

First Place Week 2 Day 5

Week 2 Day 5

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

Prayer Protection
Do you think that God just rains down things and answers from heaven upon us? Is He more like Santa Claus than a Holy and Just God? Well, lest you believe that any type or thing is for the asking we will examine other verses on prayer today that show us the proper perspective on praying God's Word and His Will!

STUDY VERSES:

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Matthew 26:39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

STUDY QUESTIONS:
1. What do these verses say about God and prayer?
2. What condition and promise does God give to us in these verses?
3. Do you think that God's will is a limitation on your prayers?
4. Would you want God to answer every prayer from everyone without limitation? Why or why not?
5. How does Jesus' example help us with our prayer life? Will you use His example?

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Beloved, how marvelous our Father is! He has given us all we need for life and godliness in the gospel! Prayer is so freeing; thank Him that He doesn't give in to all of our immature, wicked and petulent requests. The world would be far more wicked if He did! He has all wisdom and all power and all knowledge. To pray for His will is a privilege. Seek Him first, ask believing and let His will be done. I pray for us to continue in faithfulness and to give mercy to the wicked, to forgive the unforgivable, to love the unlovable and to mke peace with those who would persecute us. Love, love love Beloved, that is the answer! Praise Him, Sister, Lisa

First Place Week 2 Day 4

Week 2 Day 4
More Than Words

Memory verse: "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer." Matt 21:22

Does praying to God make you nervous? Are you reluctant to pray outloud or in a group because you don't have scripture memorized? Or you haven't attended "Bible school"? Do you have doubts about your effectiveness when praying? We all can experience fear and reluctance at times--but God tells us to "fear not"!

If you really meditate on the Word and look back at the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament along with the Apostles in the New Testament--you know what they all had in common? Not much! BUT, they all believed God. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, Our Comforter and Our Teacher-let Him do His work.

My favorite prophet is Jeremiah. He is known as the Weeping Prophet. He had to deliver a very harsh message during a sinful time. When God called Jeremiah, he had no training, no faith in his ability to speak for God. Look at God's call:

The Call of Jeremiah
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you;I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”
7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,declares the Lord.”
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down,to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Jeremiah had no formal training, he was young, he was full of fear, and God asked him to deliver a harsh message about sin to a people who had abandoned and denied God. Sound familiar?

I share this with you to give you confidence! God will provide and guide. Use the power of prayer to form a relationship wtih God.

Read Romans 8:26-27 and let it sink into your heart. Know that God understands our weaknesses, the Holy Spirit helps us to pray, God hears our thoughts and longings, we can silently pray before God and He listens!

Read the following verses and write down what God promises us:
Matthew 6:8 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him
Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Now commit to your time, place, and daily promise! Be wonderful and full of peace today, Beloveds, Sister, Lisa

First Place Week 2 Day 3

Week 2, Day 3
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

Four Dimensions of Prayer
Do you think that prayer is merely requesting God for things? That is not what the Word tells us. There are at least four dimensions of prayer: ACTS

Adoration - Express your love to God for who He is
Confession - Seek God's forgiveness for sin in your life
Thanksgiving - Express your thanks to God for what He has done
Supplication - Seek God's answers for your need and the needs of others

STUDY VERSES:
Psalm 9:1-2

Psalm 100:4

1 John 1:9

1 John 5:14-15

STUDY QUESTIONS:
1. What do each of these verses show you about prayer?
2. How do you express your adoration to God?
3. Have you asked God for forgiveness today? Do you routinely ask Him to forgive your sins?
4. Do you keep a gratitude list, journal or prayer? If not, will you start today?
5. Do you bring needs that are not your own to God? Do you pray for more than your family? Do you pray for persecuted Christians around the world? World leaders? Oppressed people? Dying children and elderly?

Father, help me to express my love for you and my belief in you through my prayer. Guide me to a righteous and lively prayer life. Give me the discipline and strength to pray on a regular basis. You said in your Word that through prayer and fasting You will break the strongholds of sin and evil in our life. Let me develop a routine prayer life that is filled by your Holy Spirit. Praise You Jesus, Thank You Jehovah Jireh, Glory to You YAHWEH, Guide us Holy Spirit in love, obedience and patience. Until tomorrow Beloveds, Sister, lisa

First Place Week 2 Day 2

Week 2 – Day 2
Prayer-A Priority in Your Life

Memory Verse: If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” Mark 1:35

Jesus gives us three principles of prayer:
1. Commitment to pray
2. Time to pray
3. Place to pray

STUDY VERSES/QUESTIONS:

Mark 1:21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many

29 v And immediately he [1] w left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now x Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and y took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or z oppressed by demons.

33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.

34 a And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And b he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

STUDY QUESTIONS

Mark 1:21-34 describes what Jesus did the day before He rose to pray.

1. After reading these verses how do you think Jesus felt?

2. Are you surprised He rose early to pray after such a tough day? Would you be willing to do that?
Why or why not?

3. Jesus prayed in the morning and other times He prayed in the evening and sometimes all night. What is the best time for you to pray?

4. Jesus found a place to pray. Do you have a place to call your own? A place where you can meet the Father and be free to pray?

Make a commitment today to spend time each day in prayer. Ask yourself if you are willing to make the following commitments:

Yes/No – I commit to pray each day
Yes/No – I commit to pray at _______________ time each day for _________ minutes
Yes/No – I commit to pray in _________________room or space to be alone with God

Did you make a commitment? In my study downstairs I have an altar. I can shut the door, I have a few icons—an angel my mother gave me, four tea candles and incense, the Lord’s Prayer on a Cross and pink rose that my mom-in-law gave me and both my grandmother’s rosaries. It isn’t the icons that I pray to—it sets the ambience and takes my mind away from all the other things and people I need to finish, please, quell, etc.

I have a small cushion for my knees to rest on so I can kneel before the Lord. When my knees creak and start hurting I contemplate the Cross and the pain that Jesus felt for me and I feel that it is a joy to experience some of that pain to be thankful for all He did for me. I also kneel at night and cleanse my conscious, lift my family in prayer and think of three things for which I am grateful for that day. Sometimes it is seeing a bird, other times it is the answer to a serious request. Many times, it is for the strength to brush my teeth! Start small but stay with it and your will reap the rewards from our Most High God.

Be blessed Beloved until tomorrow, Sister, Lisa