Rest is something that I say a lot. "Mommy's tired, she wants to rest JUST a little while!" "Why are you up so early? Just go back and rest for another hour or two." "I worked really hard today - I can't wait to rest on the couch tonight." Anyone else relating to any of these???
A few weeks ago on a Friday afternoon I felt prompted to send out a prayer about rest to my school's staff. OH MY! Can I do that? Well, I did. Like I said, I felt PROMPTED! And, to me, that meant the Spirit's prompting. I'm learning to respond to those promptings/pokings/pushings when I feel them.
I decided today that, instead of cuddling up and taking a short "rest" this Saturday afternoon, I would follow another prompting to work on another Bible study for y'all. So here's our next one... about REST! :)
I found three verses that really spoke to me about rest and peace in the Lord and Father. So I hope you can find encouragement to rest in Him at all times, in any occasion! xo
Mark 6:31
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Hebrews 4:9-10
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
Psalm 116:7
Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
Bonus (totally free, I'm throwing it in just because I love ya):
Matthew 11:28
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
**Don't you LOVE how this video froze on this exact frame???? Ugh - no I'm not crying or picking my nose!!! hahahaha I don't know how to change this frozen frame so I'm just going to accept this and laugh it of. Ha... Ha... Ha. ;)
Intense title, I know! But let's be honest - we have all had moments when our pride has taken over... and then we've all had moments when our pride trips us up and causes us to fall head first into the pavement at the corner of Humility and Grace. You know that corner?? Me too!! I camped out on it this past week. Ha! (hey, just being honest, y'all!) This was DEFINITELY a refining week for me and I'm thankful for it.
I hope you can find a moment to watch this little Bible study I recorded. The verses I shared in it are found below.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 13:10
Pride breeds quarrels; wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Proverbs 27:2
Let another praise you and not your own mouth; someone else's lips, not your own.
Romans 12:3
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself.
James 4:6
He gives us more grace. Scripture says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up!
I know that is a bit strange of a title, but it comes directly from the Bible. James 2:19 says that "even the demons believe (in Jesus) - and shudder."
Today our pastor shared a sermon he titled "Different Ways to Believe in Jesus". He didn't mean that there are different ways to get to Heaven -- no, there's only one way: through Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He was talking about different ways people believe and what each one looks like in our lives. There is uncommitted believing, discontinued believing, and lack of confession believing.
Have any of you ever read through the book of Proverbs? I did during my "Read the Bible in a Year" plan. But I've wanted to spend more time in it. A dear friend of mine studied it recently and I meant to jump on that study with her. Instead, I missed the saddle. Then, I found out a church that we love to follow online (North Coast Church http://www.northcoastchurch.com/) is starting a focus study on the book of Proverbs. They are chunking it out by topics. That'll be so exciting! You can follow along online, read the notes, and even have follow-up conversations using their Growth Group homework sheets.
Anyhow, I was thinking the other day... July has 31 days and Proverbs has been chunked out to 31 chapters. LIGHT BULB!! Read a chapter a day, read the book in the month. I wanted this to be more than just reading -- I wanted to include studying and reflecting.
So my plan (and I totally want you to join me)...
Read the chapter that correlates with the date. Choose a verse or two that really sticks out and resonates with me. Write it down: post on Facebook, use a pretty image/pic with the verse written across it, write it on a Post-It note, Sharpie it on an arm, get a local tattoo artist to add it to a sleeve... ok, I might be getting a little extravagant with these ideas but do you get the point?? If we read and study God's word and "write" it on our hearts, it's with us. That's HUGE!
So check out the little video attached. And if you are in, let me know!! You'll see me start posting my Proverbs verse(s) of the day. And, yes, we are starting a few days late but you can either play catch-up or get going from here. I promise, it'll be worth the time and effort you put in to this -- wisdom and knowledge are worth the work!!
After a wonderful little trip back to North Carolina to visit some friends (unfortunately I couldn't cram all of them in this time around), I sat reflecting on true friendship: what does it look like and feel like. Give me a break... I teach Kindergarten and we talk about feelings a lot! :)
Below you will find examples of good friendships from the Bible as well as verses about healthy friendships and false friendships. I hope a few of these really stick out for you and they become ones you hold tight. May this study help you reflect on your friendships!
David and Jonathan – “as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1-3) Naomi and Ruth – “I will follow you” (Ruth 1:16-17) Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:2) Job and his friends (Job 2:11) Jesus and Peter – “I will lay down my life for you.” (John
36:37)
Friendship verses:
Choose wisely
Proverbs 12:26 - The righteous choose their
friends carefully, but
the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Better than alone
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - Two are better than
one, because
they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one
can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and
has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will
keep warm. But
how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two
can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Affection
Romans 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in
love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Guidance
Proverbs 27:6 – (NLT) Wounds from a
sincere friend are
better than many kisses from an enemy.
Proverbs 11:14 - Wounds from a sincere friend are
better than many kisses from an enemy.
Strength
Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so
one person sharpens another.
Advice
Proverbs 27:9 – (NLT) The heartfelt counsel
of a friend is
as sweet as perfume and incense.
Not forsaken
Proverbs 27:10 - Do not forsake your friend
and your father's friend, and
do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than
a brother who is far away.
Partnership
Philippians 1:3 - I thank my God in all my
remembrance of you
Support
Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with those who
rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Encouragement
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage
one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Closeness
Proverbs 18:24 - A man of many companions
may come to ruin, but
there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Company
Proverbs 25:17 (MSG) - And when you find a friend, don’t
outwear your welcome; show
up at all hours and he’ll soon get fed up.
Unconditional love
Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all
times, and
a brother is born for a time of adversity.
False/Bad Friends
Reflect: would I want this friend for my
child, whom I care dearly for?
Bad morals 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Do not be misled:
“Bad company corrupts good character.”[
Worldly
James 4:4 - You adulterous
people,[a] don’t you
know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone
who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Anger and wrath
Proverbs 22:24-25 - Do not make friends
with a hot-tempered person, do
not associate with one easily angered, 25 or you may learn their ways and
get yourself ensnared.
Liar, untrustworthy, insensitive
Proverbs 25:18-20 – (NLT) Telling lies about others
is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
19 Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of
trouble
is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a
lame foot.
20 Singing cheerful songs to a person
with a heavy heart
is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather
or pouring vinegar in a wound.
Gossip
Proverbs 16:28 - A troublemaker plants
seeds of strife; gossip
separates the best of friends.
Lack of knowledge (fool)
Proverbs 14:7 - Stay away from fools, for
you won’t find knowledge on their lips.
Harmful
Proverbs 13:20 - Whoever walks with the
wise becomes wise, but
the companion of fools will suffer harm.
John 15:13-17 - Greater love has no one than
this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.14 You
are my friends if you do what I command you.15 No
longer do I call you servants,[a] for the
servant[b] does not
know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I
have heard from my Father I have made known to you.16 You
did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the
Father in my name, he may give it to you.17 These
things I command you, so that you will love one another.
C.S. Lewis quote
“Is any pleasure on earth as great
as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?”
Which close friends would you choose to go on a week-long trip, stuck on a boat? :)
Here's the next video study. It covers forgiveness. This can be a very tough topic for believers, but it is one that seems very black and white in the Bible.
As promised, I will type out the verses here for you to view and reference. I am so thankful God prompted me to look further into this topic instead of just reading through my notes from Sunday. Though the sermon was great, God called me to a deeper study. Y'all, I can't say it enough: when He prompts you, pay attention and be obedient!! It's amazing what can come out of something God has led you to - He is all good, all righteous. What flows from His is lovely!
Focus verses: Matthew 18:21-35
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.[b]24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.[c]25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.26 So the servant[d]fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,[e] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[f]until he should pay all his debt.35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Psalm 103:12 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.
Luke 6:37-38 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Colossians 3:13 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
How many times has God forgiven me of my sins? LIMITLESS!
Matthew 18:35 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Romans 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Isaiah 1:18 18 “Come now, let us reason[a] together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Matthew 6:14-15 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Luke 23:34 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”[a] And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Romans 12:2 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Ephesians 4:32 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
After being discharged from the hospital, I sit in a quiet house and have time to think over the events of the last 24+ hours. Am I resting? Of course! If resting includes sitting on a comfy couch, searching Bible verses that talk about being alone and loneliness. I hope you can take the time to listen to this little study: Alone.
Don't mind the oily hair and the outfit from two days ago. hahaha!!!! :)
The two focus verses for this study are Matthew 28:20 and Isaiah 41:10. Look them up. Underline or highlight them. I'm sure they will come in handy in your life at one time or another! xoxo
And here's a song by Meredith Andrews. I like it better than the one I mentioned in the video (by Amy Grant). This is the lyrical video.
