R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me

Hello - it's good to see you again at A Good Bible Study! Let's pray and receive God's love and wisdom together:

Lord, so many things rush through my mind as I sit down to read your Word. Calm my spirit Lord, and help me to rest in the knowledge that You will order my day. In the name of Jesus, amen.

We talked about God's never ending love for you and for me. We talked about the fact that He loved us long before we ever became aware of His presence. He accepts our faults even as He helps us become aware of a desire to change. He knew what He was getting into when He created You, and when He called you.

If you are reading this, you have been called to His purpose. Don't freak out. It's o.k. Nothing changes until you ask for change.

Look at all the relationships in your life, in your past. How many did you walk away from when it didn't feel good anymore, when you didn't feel appreciated, approved of, or excited about? Think about the people for whom you turned off the love. Who were they and why did you end the relationship?
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As humans, there are times when it is loving to ourselves, and ultimately to others, to end a relationship, as long as we are honest about the cause. People can't change if everyone accepts their bad behavior or don't explain what it is they are doing to cause you to move on. That's what people do.

I am so glad that no matter how unloving I have been in my past, God has never had enough of me, and moved on. He feels the same about you!

The fact is, we can't cut off everyone who doesn't please us, or lift us up, or meet our needs all the time. Nor can we bring hurting people to know God's love if we won't accept them where they are at right now.

How can we be in relationship with people "in training?" By setting boundaries.

Boundaries define what we will and will not allow in our relationships. They are enforced not so much with words, but with our responses. When we are teaching a small child, so much of what they pick up is by watching us and observing our responses to their behavior. If I am pleased, I smile. If I do not want a behavior repeated, I say a firm, "No." and show what I want to happen, instead. People learn the same way as adults.

Letting others know our expectations for treatment, showing pleasure when we are treated well, and saying, "No" when we are not (then showing what we expect in the future) goes a long way in strengthening relationships. Like small children, adults will test our boundaries a time or two.

I have found that if I know what I expect, know how I will respond when treated with respect, and how I will respond when I am not treated well, there is no need to argue my case. I do what I say I will do with love, with compassion, and with resolve. People will learn the door is always open as long as respect is maintained.

We all want to be respected. We all gravitate towards people who respect themselves, and respect others.

The next time you are tempted to cut someone out of your life, pray about it first. Ask God to reveal any way you have allowed this behavior, even encouraged it by not addressing it before. Ask for the courage to speak up and make some new boundaries.

No one needs to approve your boundaries, and at first, no one is going to like them, either. Respect yourself enough to stick to your word, and soon others will not only respect you, but will try to follow in your example.

Read James 1:5

"If any of you lacks _________, let him as of God, who gives to all liberally and without approach." NKJV

The wisdom mentioned refers to insight as to how to learn from one's difficulties (Nelson Study Bible Notes)See Proverbs 29:15

""Correction and discipline (or the rod and rebuke) give wisdom." NKJV

Lord, as we begin to help hurting people, we realize that not everyone is going to know how to receive our kindness. We might be mocked, laughed at, or be met with resentment. Give us hearts that see past the anger to the pain. Instead of condescension, help us demonstrate true compassion. Let us help not to show others how helpful we are, but to show others how heart-broken we are for their needs. Give us a sense of self-respect, so we are not at the mercy of other's opinions. Help us stand strong, so others know they can trust us to help them grow. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Love, Karen

Photo by Luisafer, courtesty of http://www.photoxpress.com/

Can you feel the change?

Welcome back to A Good Bible Study - it's good to see you!

After a day of rest yesterday, I am excited to get back in the Word of God! Let's pray:

Father, thank you for giving us rest. Help us to take advantage of Your good commandment and obey. It is so important to recharge our batteries and love ourselves! We forget that without us, a lot of what other people enjoy in our homes, just wouldn't happen. So empower us Lord to obey You here. Thank you, and in the name of Jesus, amen.

As we near the end of our focus for this particular series, The Love Revolution Devotional Workbook and Field Journal, by Joyce Meyer,we are becoming, more and more, Love Revolutionaries. Can you feel the change?

It might have started out with a fervor and is now mellowing into a strong undercurrent of our daily lives. Perhaps for you it has been slowly building as you see the effects of loving God, loving others and loving yourself, in action. May be you came out of the gate with a new burning goal to put love in action and have not looked back since.

In whatever way the Love Revolution is working itself out in your life, I am proud of you. You've stuck with me and are allowing yourself to let love in and let love work in you, and through you. We are not done yet, but I want you to spend some time today thinking about the changes you have experienced over the past few weeks as a result of your time in this study. Share some with the rest of us in the comments. No one wants to feel alone.

The greatest change I have experienced is feeling more sense of responsibility for the way I love my immediate family. I want them to have my best love, my kindest tone of voice, my most sincere apologies and most immediate forgiveness.

For some of you that is an easy task, but it can be a challenge for me especially when I am under deadlines and have a busy schedule. Then I am quicker to bark orders than say please, much of the time. This has been a continuing journey for me over the past few years, remembering "Relationship First, Schedule Second" and the Love Revolution is helping me keep the heat under my heels.

In what ways are you changing, or seeing the need for change? Write out your answer, it is much more powerful when you do:
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Pray along with me:

Father, I want Your love more than anything else in this world. I can't even love myself without You, much less anyone else. Not in a way that fills me up, instead of slowly draining me dry. Lord, I just can't do it all without You. There is not enough of me to go around. Give me what I lack, Lord. I want to love You with all that I have. I want to love others because I have so much love I just can't stand not to share it. I want to treat myself with love, because I am the image of You, and I am worth loving. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Love, Karen

Photo by Dabobabo, courtesy of Photoxpress.com

Who loves you, baby?

Hello! Welcome again to A Good Bible Study - let's pray and get into the Word.

Dear heavenly Father, help us to set aside our busy plans for just  few moments and spend time with You. Help us to remember that when we give ourselves this time, our whole day goes better, our moods are more stable and peaceful, and our family is able to see us at our best. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Way back in the first chapter of The Love Revolution Devotional Workbook and Field Journal, by Joyce Meyer, we looked at Matthew 22:37-39. Let's re-read that passage now.

There are two parts of Jesus' instructions. The first has to do with much of what we have focused on in this study: actively loving God (and as a result, His people.) The other is equally important: loving your neighbor as yourself.

Was that more than yourself? Was that instead of yourself? No. It was as yourself, the same as yourself, like you do yourself.

If you don't love yourself, care for yourself, protect yourself, how are you supposed to do it properly for anyone else?

Joyce Meyer says it this way, "You have to spend time loving yourself. That doesn't mean being in love with yourself; it means to respect yourself enough to take care of yourself."

In our society, we are told we need to work (at home, in business, at a job, to help others) in order to be valuable. God says you are of value, and that is why you need to have balance between work and rest. The standard God set is 6 days of work, and 1 day of rest.

How can you plan your week so that you are taking the 7th day for your rest and recuperation?
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I take care of my family Sunday through Friday, and while I don't ignore them on Saturday, that's the day I am "off-duty." We all eat cereal or sandwiches or whatever we want that day, and no one is allowed to ask me to take them to a friend's, go to the grocery store, help with a project, or do a load of laundry, because it's my day off, period.

Sometimes I snuggle with the kids and watch family movies all day long. Other times I read, or sit outside and brush my dogs or watch the kids play tag. I do whatever I don't have time for the rest of the week and wish I did.

I encourage you to find a way to re-fill your tank on the 7th day. You will find you are more productive the other 6 days, too. Taking care of yourself also means you have the energy and the desire to give to others. Respecting yourself enables you to know when to say "yes," and when to say "maybe, later."

Try it this week and let me know how it goes. It might be difficult at first. When I implemented Mom's Day Off about two years ago, I had to shut off my phone ringer to stop my husband and friends from calling on that day to ask me for favors or to join them for activities. At first everyone thought it was a little weird.

But, you know what? I didn't care. I was tired. I was run down from always giving and doing for others and never giving or doing for myself. I have more balance now, and it started with loving and respecting myself . . . as I do others.

Lord, thank you for giving us a day off. Thank you for always going first and showing us the way. Help us to be good to ourselves, because You love us and we are valuable. I thank you in the name of Jesus, amen.

Love, Karen

Photo by Pavel Losevsy, courtesy of Photoxpress.com

A revolutionary is who you are, not what you do

Hello again! It is so good to see you here at A Good Bible Study. Let's pray and get right into the Word:

Lord, thank you for this time and opportunity to share Your love with each other through this study. I ask you to open the eyes, ears, and hearts of each of us reading these words right now. Give us a burning passion to learn who You are and who we are to You, and give each of us an unquenchable will to receive all the Wisdom You have to for us in this message, and in Your Word. Change us today - change us for the rest of our lives! In the name of Jesus, amen.

Do you remember last week when we explored our gifts, talents, and resources? We each came up with one idea to put into action. Have you followed through on that intention? Why or why not?
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Martin Smith, Delirious?, said, "When we think of worship . . . our minds go to Sunday morning in a church building . . . (but) you can't start a revolution with nineteen minutes of singing together. It has to be your whole life."

I say, it has to be who you are, not what you do.

When I do things because I "should," but don't really have a heart for, after a while, I start avoiding doing those things. I either have to get back to the heart of why I should do it, and get excited about that why, or I need to stop doing it and find something I do have a passion for instead. Does that make sense?

Paul said we are the church, not some building we meet in. The church (that's you and me) has got to love God and love each other every day, not just during the sermon or the hymns.

Read Ephesians 1:22-23 below, and also look it up in your own bible to compare.

"And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way." New International Version

Now read 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 below and in your own bible.

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." New Interntional Version

So, church . . . In The Love Revolution Devotional Workbook and Field Journal, Joyce Meyer asks us what obstacles we are facing in setting and taking action on our Love Revolution goals?
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Go back and re-read what you wrote about your gifts, talents, passions, and resources. Does the goal you set fit in with those abilities and desires? If so, what will you do this week to take one more step toward doing something to accomplish your plan?
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If what to chose is something you realize is not a good fit, right now, think of something you can do, no matter who grand or how small, today to make it a reality. Remember, every mountain is climbed by taking one step at a time, in one direction. Every day, it is just one step at a time.

I will do _______________________________________________ today as the first step in achieving my revolutionary goal of ___________________________________
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Congratulations! The first step is the hardest and you can do it!

Lord, thank you for helping me re-focus on letting my love be an action, not just a loft idea. Give me wisdom as I use the passions, the drives, the gifts and talents You have given me to enable me to enjoy helping others and showing them love. Make it clear to me who I need to contact. Show me what resources are available that I am not aware of. Open the doors for me Lord, and give me the will to walk through! I want to be excited about something Lord! In Your name, amen.

Love, Karen

Photo by Laurent Hamels, courtesy of Photoxpress.com

Q-TIP (quit taking it personally)

Welcome back to A Good Bible Study! I hope you have had as wonderful a week as me - if not, we are going to change all that right now. Let's pray:

Father, we thank you for the beauty you have created in our world - it helps to offset the evil that tries to ruin the good for us. Help us to keep our eyes on You, on Your beauty, Your love for us. Help us to remember that hurting people, hurt. Give us hearts so full of love that all we can see in those who can't seem to get along with anyone, is their need for, and fear of, love. Let us be the key to unlock someone's heart to love. Help us to remember to use Q-TIP when we are tempted to quit it! In the name of Jesus, amen.

Let's dive right into chapter seven of The Love Revolution Devotional Workbook and Field Journal, by Joyce Meyer. Read 2 Corinthians 11:24-28.

Sometimes all we get for our trouble to help others is mistreatment. Has that ever happened to you?
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Afterwards, are you tempted to just say, "forget you then, see if I care what happens?"
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In the above passage, Paul was not boasting about what a great martyr he was, in fact, he reluctantly boasted because he needed to remind his church of his true motives in defense of the charges false teachers were spreading about him.

There he was, having been beaten with whips five times, beaten with thick sticks three times, was stoned once (usually fatal), shipwrecked three times, and once survived a day and a night alone in the sea. Due to his traveling all around to spread the Word, Paul was always in danger from robbers, other Jews who sought to silence him, from wild animal attacks, and now false teachers seeking to profit themselves by discrediting him!

Could you continue to travel and preach under these conditions? Today, I think a lot of people would tell Paul that these hardships were a sign that God was not with him, didn't support him, or was trying to punish Paul for some kind of sin.

What would people tell you if all your efforts resulted in your being beaten, hunted, almost murdered, and frequently "torn apart" in the media, today?
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Paul was forced to recite all he had put up with in the pursuit of everyone else's happiness in order to demonstrate that he was not in this for money or for fame, and he really didn't care if it cost him his life, his freedom, or his health. He would not rest until everyone, even those who mistreated him, knew and believed in the love, the eternal love, of Jesus Christ.

Name one thing you believe in so strongly you would go through literally anything to promote?
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Would Paul go through all that if he didn't really, truly, in his heart of hearts, know that it was not only the truth, but it was worth anything to share? Otherwise, Paul would have sold us a feel-good bill of sale that would only break your commitment at the first disappointment. Been there, felt that, how about you?

Look, God isn't going to sell you a fairy tale. He doesn't lie to us and say if we believe in Him then He will take away all pain, all disappointment, and all critical voices . . . at least not during our earthly lives. Quite the opposite, in fact.

He promises others will laugh at our expense. He guarantees there will be hardships. He assures us there will be opportunities to take the easy way out in this life, and give up the life-altering rewards in the next. But He won't pull your leg and say do this, and everything will work out the way you have always wanted and everyone will just applaud your every move.

He does promise that with or without Him, life can be very hard. And He promises to be with you, and me, when it is easy and when it is unbearable. He promises that if we let Him, He will show us the way out. Finally, He promises to fill us up with hope, love, joy, and peace no matter what is going on in our lives if we ask Him, and if we choose to believe in His willingness to do so.

He even promises that no matter what happens, if we go thought hardships because of our dedication to Him, and others don't understand, others try to stop us, or in the worst cases, we or those we love lose our lives in order to stay faithful, it will . . . be . . . worth it.

But how can we help people that are not like us, or don't even like us? Read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 to discover how Paul was able to relate to so many different kinds of people and share the love of Jesus:

"For though I am _____ from all men, I have made myself a ________ to all, that I might win the more, and to the _____, I become as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the ______, as under the law; to those who are without law, as ________ law (not being without law toward _____, but under law towards ________), that I might win those who are ______ law, to the ______, that I might ____ the weak. I have become all things to _____ men, that I might be all means ______ some. Now I do this for the _______ sake, that I may be _______ of it with you." New King James Version

My Nelson Study Bible says this commentary about the above verse:

    ~Paul was willing to conform to the customs of other people, whether Jew or Gentile, in order to bring      them to Christ. For example, in order to relate to the Jews in Jerusalem, he made a Nazirite vow in the temple. Around those who were under the law-the Jews-Paul obeyed the (Jewish) Law (traditions.) Around those who were outside the (Jewish) Law-gentiles-Paul did not observe Jewish custom.

     Paul clarified this, in case anyone misunderstood his actions. He obeyed God's law through obedience toward Christ. This was actually a broader law than the Law of Moses (which the Jews followed;) this was the fulfillment of Christ's will. ~

Read 1 Corinthians 11:1; Romans 13:8; and Galatians 6:2.

Lord, help us to remember that our differences don't have to be a reason to separate us from one another. Help us to let go of our rules, and let only Your commandments be our law. To love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, souls and bodies and to love one another as ourselves, for these are the greatest commandments. If we do that, we cannot help but be welcome in Your eyes and be welcoming, to all others. And when others reject our love help us to Quit Taking It Personally, and get out of the way so You can do what we cannot. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.

Remember: Q.-T.I.P.

Love, Karen

The next week's study lessons

Hello - welcome back to A Good Bible Study!

I am going to be out of touch for the next week - a long awaited trip with my husband - so, I have some verses and lessons for you to do on your own for the next seven days. You can do it - this will be good for you to look through the bible and let the Holy Spirit move in you. Come back each day, and just work through this post. Let's pray:

Father, bless each person reading this now. Open Your Word to them in an awe-inspiring, heart-pumping, Holy-Spirit-praising kind of way. I mean, knock their socks off, Lord! Let each person experience the joy of your living Word in a fresh way this week. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Day One: From The Love Revolution Devotional Workbook and Field Journal, by Joyce Meyer:
"When Kristen Hendricks and Jamie Scroggs heard Joyce say, 'What you can't stand, you are called to fix,' they decided to use the abilities God had given them. They created Purse of Hope, a program to gather funds to rescue, educate, and heal victims of suffering worldwide."

"I've never cried that much in my life . . . the second the video started, I just started crying and I didn't know why. I was really in shock because I didn't really know that stuff was happening . . . just the fact that it was everywhere, and in America . . . I had no idea. That's when we came together . . . and decided to do something about it." - Michigan Teenagers

"Five teenagers started Relentless Ministries to raise money for world needs. They organized a walk-a-thon and a benefit concert, sold T-shirts, and more. As a result of all their hard work, they raised more than $24,000!

"At the end of the video stories, Kristen Ohlman, one of the teenagers, says, 'This changed my life by showing me that I can do something bigger than myself. When you just give your all to God and just say, "God, use me to do something," He will really use you.'

What does the above mean to you personally?
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Is there something you are being called to fix?
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Lord, help us to respond to your call to fix things, even if all we can do is make a phone call, pack up some boxes of extra clothes, or even organize a fund-raiser. Help us to not do . . . nothing. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Day Two: Pray with me. Lord, today fill me up with ideas and give me the courage to act on my inspiration! In the name of Jesus, amen.

Since yesterday, what opportunities have presented themselves to you to be a help to someone, to be a part of a "fix," or to get involved in a cause that tugs on your heart?
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How can you use your talents and gifts to help in these areas?
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Look up three verses in your bible that have to do with helping others and write them here:
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Father, as I read Your Word, and discover Your thoughts, I ask you to make it change my heart. Give me a desire to help others, an opportunity to help others, and the resources to help others, in Jesus name, amen.

Day Three: Let's open our bibles and pray for a fresh insight from God: Father, as we read Your Word, change us! In the name of Jesus, amen.

Read Ephesians 4:16

He makes the whole body fit together ________. As each part does its own special _______, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is _____ and _______ and full of _______ New Living Translation

What does this tell you about yourself as a part of the body of Christ?
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Lord, help me to be a healthy, working, part of the body. Make me useful and give me a glad heart about it! In Jesus' name, amen.

Day Four: Lord, this week I want to develop a love for all people. It has got to come from you, Lord. Let your Holy Spirit fill me with Your Love this week, like no other time in my life. Thank you, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Read Philippians 1:6

And I am certain that God, who began the _____ ______within you, will ______ His work until it is finally finished on the day when ______ ______ returns. New Living Translation

If God has begun to stir something in your heart, will He complete it and empower You to do whatever He inspires in you? _______________

Father, thank you for assuring me that if You put it into my heart, into my vision and into my spirit, it will be accomplished! In the name of Jesus, amen.

Day Five:  Lord, we meet again and thank You for being here with us. You say that whenever two or three gather in Your name, You are with us! Matthew 18:20 There are many of us reading this, meeting here, and so You are here. We thank you in the name of Jesus, amen.

Read Psalm 138:8
The LORD will _____ His _____ for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the _____ of your hands. New International Version

If God gives you a purpose, you will feel it in your heart. If He does, who is responsible to fulfill it, you or God? ____________

Does that mean you should do nothing? ____________

God says we should do what we can for today, and trust tomorrow to Him. So what can you do today?
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Lord, help us to be sensitive to what You have given us to do, and give us the will and the excitement to do it! In Jesus' name, amen.

Day Six: Lord, we are nearing the end of this week of searching Your Word and searching our hearts. Help us to find meaning in both. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, amen.

Read John 14:26

But the ________ (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the _____ _____, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will _____ you all things. And He will cause you to _____ (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. The Amplified Bible

You are not alone. When Jesus left His earthly body, He gave us a mystical, magical, marvelous gift! He sent God's Holy Spirit to our hearts, to communicate with us, to Love us, to teach us, and to remind us of His Word. You are never alone if you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins, and to guide your life. If you have never done that, do it now.

Just ask, out loud or in your heart. "Jesus, I want you to lead my life. I am so sorry for the way I have kept you out of my life, and I want you now. I can't do this on my own. I give you everything and want everything You have for me. Amen."

If you prayed this prayer, welcome home beloved in Christ! We are all celebrating with angels for you!!

Father, help us all to renew our love for You, and we ask you now to forgive us our sins. Help us to be aware of when we are drifting away from you, and bring us home. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Day Seven: Lord, I can't wait to see what is in Your Word for me today! Thank you for getting all distractions out of my mind and filling me up with all the patience and understanding I need for the day ahead. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Today is the first day of Chapter Seven of The Love Revolution Devotional Workbook and Field Journal, by Joyce Meyer. This chapter is about discovering what real love is about. Radical love, the kind that "God gives and Jesus lived." I like that!

Read Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own _____ toward us, in that while we were ____ sinners, Christ died for us.
New King James Version

God didn't wait to love us till we straightened up. Thank God!

How does this verse relate directly to The Love Revolution?
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How is this an example of radical love?
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God didn't have to send His willing Son to die for us. God doesn't have to love us. Jesus didn't have to give up His freedom for us. How did Paul respond to Jesus' act of love? Read 1 Corinthians 9:19

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. New International Version

Lord, give me the fervor of Paul to love those around me radically, so they might be won to Christ! In the name of Jesus, amen.

Love, Karen

Photo by Kavita, courtesy of Photoxpress.com

You've got talent

Welcome back to A Good Bible Study!

Today is an easy day, I think. We are going to talk about our gifts, talents, ideas, resources and skills! Hey, who doesn't like to talk about themselves, right? Let's pray and get right to it:

Father, we thank You for this day, the food we have shared, the friends and family we have around us, and the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We thank You for Your Holy Spirit directing this very study, and infusing Your Word into our thoughts and into our responses. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Think for a moment about your talents, gifts, ideas, resources or the skills that God has instilled into your being. What are you naturally good at, or deeply interested in? Who is around you daily, or in your circle of relationships? What education have you undertaken; jobs you have done; experiences that have increased your knowledge base? List them below:

My natural gifts, talents, and skills:
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My resources and possessions:
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My ideas and creative outlets:
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Now, which of the above have you used to serve God or help His children:
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Now that you have made your way through about half of this study, based on The Love Revolution Devotional Workbook and Field Journal, by Joyce Meyer, which of the above will you now use to reach out to others in everyday life? Explain in detail:
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Pick one of your ideas and decide now to implement it tomorrow. Which will you choose and how will you put it into action?
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Read Romans 12:9-13

What is God saying here? Don't just say you love people, like it is a feeling or a personal virtue. Love them like you cannot do enough for them - love them like you think they are the most important person in the world to God!

The word for love in verse 9 is agape. It means the highest form of love, a self-sacrificial love. "Let love be without hypocrisy" [hɪˈpɒkrəsɪ] n pl -sies
1. the practice of professing standards, beliefs, etc., contrary to one's real character or actual behaviour, esp the pretence of virtue and piety
2. an act or instance of this

I read this as: "Let love be without pretense of virtue! Hate evil, grab onto what is good like your life depends on it! Treat each other like your most beloved sibling, and let the others have their way instead of demanding your own all the time. Serve God with your kindness towards others with a passion!

Get so happy in the hope of Christ coming back and bringing you to heaven that you just about dance in joy! Keep thinking about God's love when things are difficult, hang in there and don't let yourself focus on disappointments because whatever it is, God is working on it! So, keep talking to God in prayer and keep on focusing on helping other people instead of complaining about yourself. Knowing you are important in their lives will lift you up and bring you joy."

We talked about getting real, remember? Stop being kind because it's the "Christian" thing to do, and start being kind because it's your thing to do. You are a kind person because God is kind to you.

If you are not feeling God's kindness, don't just assume His love is not for you, or that you haven't earned it. Get on your knees and tell Him you want His love and you are not moving until you get some of it! He loves you, do you hear me?

When I have not felt His love it has been because I wanted His gifts alone, I wanted money, I wanted things to work out my way, I wanted Him to do something for me. That is not love, that is obedience. God does not obey me, shockingly. But He does love me.

Ask Him for love, just love. Cry out to Him. Tell Him you need some Holy Spirit filled, angel-singing on mountain-tops, take-me-home-to-Jesus kind of LOVE!

Now, you better sit down . . . because it's coming.

Lord, help us to rejoice in our hope in You. Give us the ability to be patient in the middle of trouble. Give us a desire to pray, to help others when they need help and prayer, and an attitude of hospitality. Lord, make us excited to hang out with people who don't know you, but need to. When we feel slighted, let our first thought be to pray for that person, instead of ways we can hurt them in return.

(Now personalize this) Mostly, Lord, let every person who sees me say, "There goes a child of the Most High, for sure!" In Jesus' name, amen.

Love, Karen

What's your story?

Hello again! It's good to see you again in A Good Bible Study.

Lord, thank you for bringing us together to learn from Your Word and grow together. Help us to let go of distractions for just a few minutes and be with You. In the name of Jesus, amen.

As we begin chapter six of The Love Revolution Devotional Workbook and Field Journal, by Joyce Meyer, we are asked to think about our stories, what we have been through in the process of becoming who we are, today. "The power of your story, the reality and humanness of your life carries a great deal of weight and influence when you find opportunities to share it with others in their time of need."

Jesus used stories to help others see themselves in a new way. We can use our stories to do the same. Our stories help us to respond to someone in need with love and mercy, instead of judgement and condemnation. We can use our stories to show others that we understand what it is like to be alone, be afraid, be filled with regret, or to want to escape the mess we are in.

Your story can be a gift. Read Romans 12:6-8

Our personal histories can be a prophecy, a ministry, a teaching, an exhortation, a gift, leadership, and a mercy to those with whom we share them.

Think about your life, the mistakes you've made, the plans that didn't work out, and what made the difference. Decide to share part of your history with the person God brings into your life just for that purpose today.

Dear Lord, thank you for bringing us out of more messes than we would like to admit. Help us to bless someone else today with our history, our wisdom. Help us to learn from Your wisdom so we will make choices that bring us a joyful future. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Love, Karen

Get Real

Welcome back to A Good Bible Study!

Let's get right into prayer and into the Word!

Lord, we hear the term "Get real" all the time. Help me to be a "real" Christian. Help me to live what I say I believe. Help me to determine what I do believe and why I believe it, so I don't need to justify who I am to anyone, anymore. I don't need to say it, I can live it! In the name of Your Son, Jesus who gave His life so I might have mine, amen.

What does that mean to "get real?"
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I say it to mean, "Give me a break, don't try to fool me with that," or "Get the blinders off and see what is really happening to you or with this situation," or "stop joking around and be serious," or any number of things.

Mostly I think we say "get real" to either mean to be sincere in our behavior, or in our understanding of a situation, don't you think?

Do you think people in general think most Christians are sincere in our behavior or have a good grasp of their real life situations?
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Sometimes we are insincere by not being who we say we are. Other times we are insincere by not saying how we really are, inside.

Try these simple exercises. You will get more out of this study if you take a few minutes and write down your answers, look up the verses, and pray the prayers, I promise.

What is one thing as a Christian that you say you believe, but you haven't really acted out in daily life?
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Do you believe this thing, or not? Be honest, there is no right answer. ______

If your answer is yes, will you choose to take one action today to act out what you believe? _______

If your answer is no, why not?
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Either way, look in the back of your bible and find three verses that have to do with the subject and look them up. Write them here:
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Have you changed your mind? ___________

Either way, you know yourself better now than you did fifteen minutes ago. Now you are getting real.

When your behavior matches your true convictions, you feel genuine and others respond to you with trust and respect.

Try this with anything you find you are not acting out and see if you can determine if the problem is that you just have not taken action on your belief, or that you really don't believe it. Get to know the real you.

Love, Karen

Photo by M. Bartosch, courtesy of Freedigitalphoto.net

Get practical!

Welcome back! I am glad we are in the midst of A Good Bible Study, together.

Have you noticed anything different since you prayed the Love Revolution Prayer? Sometimes when you pray about something things will seem easier. Other times, it just seems like you have more opportunity to be aware of your need for God's intervention! It's like praying for patience, sometimes you feel more patient, sometimes you become aware of just how impatient you normally are!

Let's pray now: Father, thank you for being here with each of us in this study. Thank you for hearing our prayers. Give us the will to act on the desires you are placing in our hearts to help others. Open our eyes to who around us needs help. In the name of Jesus, amen.

We have discovered over the past weeks that there are people in our homes that need our love and appreciation, and there are people overseas who desperately need our resources. Who else needs help? How about the people we work with, sit next to on the bus, chat with at church - the ones who answer the question, "How are you?" with "Fine."

Who do you know who has not experienced a loss of some kind? Who do you know who is not secretly hurting about some relationship or other? Who do you know who is not worried about their finances, or their children, or their future?

What are some practical ways you can live out the Love Revolution with these individuals?
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Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 for some ideas.

How about giving someone the benefit of the doubt before biting off their heads over a mistake?

How about letting someone else have the last word, or the last one-up?

What if we sat down at lunch with someone outside of our circle of friends and asked them about their lives?

Can we excuse ourselves when others begin to gossip without condemning them, or simply smile and say, "I promised myself to not listen to, or say, one negative thing about anyone for one day so help me out and change the subject!" ?

Think of one person you can take an interest in today and write their name here:
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Now think of one kindness you can do for them today:
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Vow to focus on that person tomorrow, and any chance you get, do something kind for them. If they ask you why, say "Jesus told me you needed a friend today, so here I am."

Tell me how it goes in the comments - I can't wait to hear!!

Love, Karen

Resources: The Love Revolution Devotional Workbook and Field Journal, by Joyce Meyer
Photo by Dmitri Mikitenko, courtesy of Photoxpress.com