Thursday, June 5, 2014

New Online Bible Study With Proverbs 31!

Online Bible Studies (OBS) are a great way to participate in a study when getting away for a consistent weekly, in person get together is not an option. Even if you are able to attend a small group in person, OBS is a good way to enrich your own quiet time.

I previously participated in A Confident Heart.  I didn't blow my way through it because I felt I could dig a little deeper if I just journaled my thoughts along the way.

This time the study is called Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future. We started on May 25, but it's never too late to join. I'm a little behind myself, what with migraines and all. This week we are reading and discussing (or blogging or journaling) chapters 3&4.

The verse of the week is: "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the things He planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:20)

The challenge this week is to do one or more of the following:


“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10) - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/current-study/page/2/#sthash.wQTXvmJ1.dpuf
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10) - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/current-study/page/2/#sthash.wQTXvmJ1.dpuf
Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/#sthash.BBsTmXit.dpuf
Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/#sthash.BBsTmXit.dpuf
Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/#sthash.BBsTmXit.dpuf

I'm going to share how this verse resonates with me today.

God is moving in me lately. It started when we discovered our new church home. It has progressed as I've been spending more intentional time with the Lord, in the Word, and in prayer.  I believe that He has given me Zumba and a few other things as tools...tools to improve my inner and outer STRENGTH. They're also tools to help others.

Obesity is now a world wide epidemic. Obesity is more than being a little chubby, overweight, fluffy, or whatever other euphemism we want to apply to it. Obesity cause a variety of other health complications that can be prevented. Dear readers, I am speaking from the heart. I am speaking from experience. I have topped 200 pounds and picked up a few of the obesity side effects along the way. It's not fun. It's expensive.

Let's break this verse down and do a little mapping..."For we (that includes ME) are God's masterpiece," that means I am perfect in His sight. I am beautiful. To borrow from another verse, I am fearfully, wonderfully made. I wasn't born fat. God didn't intend for me to become obese. I've done this to myself.

I'm not beating myself up over this, don't get me wrong. There's no point in that. If you're doing that to yourself right now, I want you to STOP IT! This is where "He has created us ANEW in Christ Jesus" comes in. "Us." That means ALL OF US. You, me, anyone who wants to accept this gift of a new life!

Let's keep going:  "So we (this includes ME again!) can do the things he planned for us long ago." He has plans for me. He has work for me to do. He has given me gifts, talents, abilities...that He wants me to use! More and more lately I feel like it is more than just "my idea" to help people become the best version of themselves, inside and out. I can't help but feel like this is God's plan for me.

What about you? Do you believe this verse? Do you believe and embrace the fact you are His masterpiece? That he has plans for you and work for you to do? I'd love to hear more about it! Please comment below, drop a comment on my FaceBook page, or Tweet me!


Next Study: Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/#sthash.9zB3iFd2.dpuf
Next Study: Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/#sthash.9zB3iFd2.dpuf
Next Study: Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/#sthash.9zB3iFd2.dpuf
COMMUNITY – What does community mean to you? What do you need from community? What can you give to community? - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2014/05/22/blog-hop-101-community/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+P31OnlineBibleStudies+%28P31+Online+Bible+Studies%29#sthash.666FG8u6.dpuf
COMMUNITY – What does community mean to you? What do you need from community? What can you give to community? - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2014/05/22/blog-hop-101-community/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+P31OnlineBibleStudies+%28P31+Online+Bible+Studies%29#sthash.666FG8u6.dpuf
COMMUNITY – What does community mean to you? What do you need from community? What can you give to community? - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/2014/05/22/blog-hop-101-community/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+P31OnlineBibleStudies+%28P31+Online+Bible+Studies%29#sthash.666FG8u6.dpuf
P31 OBS Blog Hop

4 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for sharing your heart :) It is so true...God has work for us to do!! It's time to keep going! :)
    Sarah Travis (OBS Volunteer - Conference Call Community Leader)

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  2. This is great, thank you for sharing. I always love breaking down a verse and personally applying it to me. You've done that very well here.

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    1. Thank you, Lisa! At first I didn't think I was doing it right...then I realized...uh there's not really a right and wrong way! Silly me! Thanks for stopping by.

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