***Note***Dec. 17th, 2010

I really wanted to do this twice a week, but I can't right now. Working too many hours. I will try to get on here Mon. but might have to wait til after Christmas peak. It usually takes me close to two hours to read, type, and post this study and that is not me putting my answers in I usually go back later and do that. So I really don't have two hours in the morning right now. God Bless, and if I don't get back on here til after Christmas I hope you all have a merry and blessed Christmas remembering His birthday! ~Judy

Farewell Dec. 13th, 2010

Prayer is a simple strategy with profound results....pray. Don't stop. My friends, pray. Next time we meet we will talk about strategy number two. What is it you might ask? Well, check back on Thursday at 10:00 for the answer to that question and God Bless.

Question #8

If Christ Himself saw prayer as a primary strategy against the schemes of the Enemy, you and I should never do less.

Ephesians 6:18 says the armor of God is completed with...

• positive self-talk
• constant prayer
• staying alert with perseverance
• praying only when you have issues
• praying for others
• isolating yourself from others

Ephesians 6:18 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Question #7

Knowing is part of staying alert, tuning in. Never let the Enemy be more aware of your weakness than you are. When you become alert to your temptation trouble spots, pray, pray, pray. Prayer is our best defensive and offensive weapon. My friends, speak truth to your soul, but never let it become a substitute for prayer.

What did Jesus say He did for Peter in the following verses to protect Peter from the Enemy?

Luke 22:31-32 (New International Version, ©2010)

   ³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
 

Question #6

Your prayer is most effective when you are spiritually alert to your own weakness and the Enemy's schemes.

Jesus could have said, "Pay attention and speak truth to your soul, lest you fall into temptation." But He didn't. Being alert to the Enemy and telling yourself the truth is imperative, but it isn't the same as "be alert and pray." Sin is tempting, and the Enemy knows it well! Do you?

Seriously, do you recognize your temptation trouble spots? 

• Yes
• No 
• Never thought about it

Take a moment to consider your response. If you said "no" or "never thought about it," then think about it!

What are your temptation trouble spots?

Question #5

So we have been trying to tell our souls to AWAKE! In the following days we'll consider three essential strategies to staying tuned in! These help protect and fortify our thought closet and provide what we need t prevail over the father of lies.

Strategy 1: PRAY
Lisa Whelchel did one of the most generous things anyone has ever done for me. She and I became friends several years ago and began to walk together with honest accountability and closeness. One day she told me how much strength she was receiving from praying warfare prayers that she read from John and Stasi Eldredge's Captivating. I sighed in interest and she said, "Let me read you some." Curled up on my couch in the living room, I remember I listened and prayed along with her, holding my cell phone to my ear. After she finished, she said, "These aren't on audio, but I want you to have them. I'm going to type these out for you so Baby Dell (my computer) can read them."
"Aren't there alot?"
"Yeah, but I'll pray as I type."
More than 1,300 words later, Lisa had tired fingers and an energized soul! She really beat up the Enemy and kept God's attention as she stood in the gap, prayed, and typed.
Two important things happened with her gift of typing. First, she prayed. That is the primary strategy for fortifying your thought closet. 

What did Jesus tell His disciples in the following verse? Why?

Matthew 26:41 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Question #4

My friends, check out the useless graffiti you just wrote on your thought-closet door! Let it remind you to not just throw something in the closet because you constantly hear it. Loser. Idiot. Airhead. Worthless. Refuse these thoughts entry. Those ill-fitting thoughts don't come from within you. At least not until you give them shelf space. So don't let them in. 
You can't always control which thoughts pop up, but you can control, through God's Spirit, what you do when one knocks. Be alert and say "no entry."
Oh girls, just because the lion keeps roaring all day---just because the destructive thoughts keep assaulting your mind---doesn't mean you have to become desensitized; and it certainly doesn't mean you have to open the door! In fact, put a big smackin' X across the door! Those phrases and words are poison, unacceptable, and unwelcome!
Let the lion roar outside the door all he wants. The more he's ignored or reprimanded with truth, the sooner he will take his dumpster designs elsewhere.
Here's something I want you to prayerfully consider today: To accept lies is to reject truth. You must tell your soul to awake to sin and the Enemy. It is sin to believe lies when God equipped you to recognize and receive truth. Ponder that today.  
Formulate a prayer asking for God's help and post it here.

Question #3

For me he steals my confidence and kills my peace one word and one lying thought at a time. I'm not good enough....I can't do anything right....I'm just going to give up....Idiot!
Sometimes we assume that every thought we think is our own, but these destructive, lying thoughts don't necessarily come from within unless you've already given then shelf space in your thought closet. Snarly, ugly lies come from the roaring lion, our Enemy. They're  his primary plan for stealing your peace and killing your joy. He knows how to drop the thought off at your thought-closet door dressed up just like something you would feel or think.
The reason I still get the urge for name-calling from time to time is because Satan knows the "idiot" word used to have prominent shelf space inside my mind. He knows it feels familiar to me, and if he growls it when I'm vulnerable, I just might grab it and shove it in my closet! Do you see his scheme?
Not every thought knocking on your thought-closet door is yours. Your Enemy is crafty and if you're not alert to his voice, you may assume those familiar words and phrases are yours. If you really start embracing truth and rejecting his lies, he'll likely get mad and desperate! Don't be surprised if he uses people to help with his sinister plan. Don't be taken aback if you hear hurtful words or insinuations hurled your way by those who have no idea the Enemy is using them to try to get lies into your thought-closet. Recognize truth and recognize your real Enemy.


Post the words or phrases the Enemy most often tries to throw into your thought closet.

Question #2

When it comes to the words you speak to yourself and the thoughts on which you meditate, how does the thief implement his plan to steal and kill?

Question #1

Let's pick up where we left off when we last met, and that is with our Enemy. 

The Enemy is tricky, and we must always be alert to his voice and ways. 

What did Jesus call the Enemy in the following verse, and what are his dual intentions?

John 10:10 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 

Good Morning Prayer Dec. 13th, 2010

Father, Please bless the little bit of digital time I have doing this study today. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength, and our redeemer. Amen.

Note Dec. 13th 2010

Okay on second thought Friday's was not a good idea! I have two mom's who don't drive and who wait for me to have an off day to do stuff with them (or shall I say for them!) So this week we will try Monday and Thursday. That might work better for me. Sorry I missed Friday completely. Feels like I haven't done this in forever!

Farewell Dec. 7th, 2010

Sometimes we can grow dull when we hear the same things over and over. Just as a sleepy teenager can tune out the blaring alarm clock in the morning, you can condition yourself to tune out the lion's roar. But to tune out his lies is to risk continually falling for them. That's why you and I still struggle from time to time with destructive self-talk.
We have heard Satan's voice for so long that we often just assume it is our voice. Stop and ask God's Spirit to counsel you with truth about this. Do you recognize the voice of the Enemy? Are you tuned in? Do you just assume the voices you hear in your head originate with you and you exclusively?

Journal your thoughts about recognizing the Enemy's voice and what God shows you about it, and Friday we will learn just how tricky our Enemy really is.

Question #7

Why do you think Peter said to be alert to a hard-to-ignore roar? Even if you're a little hard of hearing, busy, or mentally distracted, wouldn't you still notice when a lion roared?
Wouldn't his threatening snarl cut through your distraction and alert you to danger? Contemplate that.

Why do you think Peter warned us to be alert to something that should be obvious?
 

Question #6

Remember how I used to get so frustrated with myself, calling myself "idiot?" Even though I have tuned in and even replaced that lie with the truth, it still pops out from time to time. Why do those kinds of things still happen to us?
It happens because we have a lion at the door of our thought closets, and his impact can be devastating!

Who is the lion according to the following verse?

1 Peter 5:8 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 

Because our Enemy is like a roaring lion, also post how Peter tells us to behave.
 

Question #5

We must have a thought closet full of truth to fight lies, avoid sin, and stay tuned in. We must also be alert to the Enemy at the door of our thought closets. He complicates everything. Let's assess his impact by considering these questions. 

Do you tend to...

• naturally speak truth to your soul, or
• find yourself grabbing lies and shoving them into your thought closet every now and then?

 If you still grab lies from time to time, what triggers you to do so?
 

Question #4

The Greek word for "confess" is "homologeo," meaning "to assent, acknowledge." The purpose of confessing our sin to God is not to inform Him of something He doesn't know!
My friend, it's to tell God and affirm in our own hearts that we think the same way about sin as God does. It doesn't belong in the thought closet of His daughter. It just makes things dirty.
First John 1:9 tells us He forgives and cleanses. So accept His Word. The next time your feelings start to condemn you for what God has already forgiven, send those mendacious (dishonest) meditations to the Island of Misfit Thoughts!
When we tell our souls to "awake," we become alert to our own grime and are amazed by God's grace. To stay spiritually alert, you can't have a dimly lit thought closet. There's too much to risk for dirt to gather, and it won't ever show if it's too dark in there. The light must be bright in your thought closet.

The following verses tell us what light we need in our thought closet. Post what they tell us about the light.

Psalm 119:105 (New International Version, ©2010) 

 ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet,
   a light on my path. 

Psalm 119:130 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
   it gives understanding to the simple.

Question #3

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if something in your thought closet doesn't belong. Do you have some sin hanging around? It could be a still-growing root of bitterness; it could be an unwillingness to embrace pure thoughts. Maybe it's self-slander. Don't post them here! Tell God, write them in a private journal, or confess them to a Bible study buddy, or accountability partner. 
Asking God to search your heart is a way to be spiritually alert. It is like telling your soul....AWAKE!
The Hebrew word translated "awake" means "wake, lift up (self), stir up (self)." I like to think of it as "tuning in." With a Spirit-controlled thought closet, the Holy Spirit alerts us to the dirt in our thought closets. He convicts us of our sins.

What is the action we are to take when we become aware of our sin (1John 1:9)?

1 John 1:9 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

 

Question #2

Speak that truth to your soul right now. Tuck it away into your thought closet. Now pray Psalm 139:23-24. Ask the Holy Spirit to search you and show you if what you usually say to your soul about your sin is truth. 

Psalm 139:23-24 (New International Version, ©2010)

²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
   test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting. 

Post what He shows you.

Queston #1

Picking up where we left off, in the Psalms.

Psalmists all throughout the collection of poetry and wisdom talked about their sin. Post a phrase to describe what they said in these psalms: Copy and Paste the following for your answer.

Psalm 32:5-

Psalm 38:18-

Psalm 39:1-

Psalm 51:3-

Psalm 32:5 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
   and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
   my transgressions to the LORD.”
And you forgave
   the guilt of my sin. 

Psalm 38:18 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁸ I confess my iniquity;
   I am troubled by my sin. 

Psalm 39:1 (New International Version, ©2010)

Psalm 39   For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

 ¹ I said, “I will watch my ways
   and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
   while in the presence of the wicked.” 

Psalm 51:3 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ³ For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is always before me

Also, post the phrases from these verses you most need to speak to your soul when you talk to yourself about your sin.

Good Morning Prayer Dec. 7th, 2010

Good Morning Father God, We come to You in the name of Jesus asking that the words of our mouths, and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength, and our redeemer. Please bless our digital time together. Help us, O Lord, to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to You and Your Spirit within us today and every day. Amen.

Good Morning Dec. 6th, 2010

Unfortunately all I have time to do today is get my answers in to Friday's lesson. I will put up a new lesson tomorrow! God Bless, Judy

Farewell Dec. 3rd. 2010

It's easy to grow dull to our own sin habits. When we aren't alert, what God made "new" can become dingy and neglected because of our sins. Sin shows up in self-loathing, negative attitudes, and accepting lies as truth, just to name a few ways. That's why we must tell our souls to be awake. When we are tuned in and alert to our sin, we can speak truth to our souls and to God about our sin. 

Have a great weekend Ladies, Next week and the following weeks until January we will only meet on Monday, and Friday because of my hours picking up immensely at UPS. On Monday we will continue our look into the Psalmists collection of poetry and the wisdom of talking about our sins to God. God Bless, Judy

Question #7

Friend, here is your lesson in ancient Hebrew for the day: a  miktam was most likely a musical notation or title for psalms of penance for sin. Do you find it interesting David told his soul to "awake" in the midst of a psalm potentially about his own sin?

Why do you think he did?

Question #6

What is the inscription at the beginning of Psalm 57?

Psalm 57 (New International Version, ©2010)

    For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

Question #5

Now, if no one is around, just go ahead and say the things you posted out loud! Talk to yourself! If people are around, just speak silently to yourself the phrases you posted. That's how we keep our thought closets new and clean.
We must tell ourselves the truth about who we are and what we have in Christ. If apathy builds up, sin can crowd in. Our shine can dull and our thought closets can get awfully cluttered. We even need to talk to ourselves about our sin like the psalmist did.

What did the psalmist say to his soul in the following verse?

Psalm 57:8 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁸ Awake, my soul!
   Awake, harp and lyre!
   I will awaken the dawn. 

Question #4

New heart, new song, new mercies---what a beautiful life wardrobe.

Do you lack or have you neglected any of the "new" belongings you posted previously? If so, post which ones in a new post. After each one you posted, type a truthful statement you can say to your soul to reinforce what God has given you.

Question #3

God declares all has become new! That means the old, grimy gunk is gone and you are clean, renewed, fresh...what a lovely way to think of your thought closet!

Scripture says that accessories come with your "newness."
What are they according to these verses? 

Psalm 40:3 (New International Version, ©2010)

³ He put a new song in my mouth,
   a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
   and put their trust in him. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness. 

Ezekiel 11:19 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁹ I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 

Romans 7:6 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁶ But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. 

Ephesians 4:24 (New International Version, ©2010)

²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 

Copy and paste:

Psalm 40:3-

Lamentations 3:22-23-

Ezekiel 11:19-

Romans 7:6-

Ephesians 4:24-

Question #2

Sneak a peek into Patsy Clairmont's thought closet...

Patsy Clairmont is a beloved speaker and one of the finest authors I know. When I told her about this study, she murmured an interested...hmm. So, I asked when she discovered her self-talk was damaging. 

"So many people were saying things to me that conflicted with what I was saying to myself. One of us had to be wrong! So I had to stop and say, Everyone can't be wrong. Do I trust their judgment? Am I willing to receive what they are saying is truth? If I am, then I have to change the messages in me...the Enemy is a liar and a thief, and he comes in to set a lie in place and steal your joy."

AWAKE, MY SOUL. TUNE IN!

Here is a secret from my thought closet: I have an obsession...with the burners on my stove. I'm driven to keep them spotless. Now that I own a gas stove, this dysfunctional issue may not require therapy, but it wasn't always that way. I once hovered over the burners on my electric range---the pans, rims, and surface beneath were all targets of my compulsion. 
Before you put me on your prayer list, let me explain. For the first 13 years of marriage, we lived in homes with cook tops corroded by years of careless cooking and half-hearted cleaning. I valiantly scrubbed but to no avail. I replaced old burner pans with new ones, but I was never satisfied because under those gleaming burner pans lurked the grimy gunk from decades of apathy and neglect. Then in 1999 we moved into a 20-year old home with a 20-year old stove.
Oh girl, thoughts about those burners filled me with dread. They probably hadn't been cleaned since 1979!
I had a responsibility to my obsession---I mean, my family----so I lifted the coils to inspect. When I felt the rims, the pans, and the surface beneath, I was stunned. There was another woman as obsessed as I was! Surgery could have been performed on that stove---spotless!
So grateful, I ended every cooking excursion by lifting the coils to clean them. I removed the pans and decontaminated underneath each time, even when I only boiled water. (OK, from my former obsession, though: Keeping something clean is easier when you tend to it daily.

The same is true of our thought closets. They need daily attention to keep them in the condition Christ intended!

What does the following verse say about your status now that you are in Christ?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New American Standard Bible)

 ¹⁷Therefore if anyone is ^(A)in Christ, he is ^(B)a new creature; ^(C)the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Question #1

Hey! We are in week 4!!! This week is called:

Guarding the Door of Your Thought Closet....and here is the verse to go with it!
(Going back to posting the verses cuz my sissy might be joining us from work!)

Matthew 26:41 (New American Standard Bible)

 ⁴¹"^(A)Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; ^(B)the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

 

Good Morning Prayer Dec. 3rd, 2010

Father, I continue to ask that you would be with Drew and his family in their time of medical needs. I ask that you would bless our digital time together. I also ask that right now you would give both my sisters divine wisdom, and discernment. Show them that you have a wonderful plan for their lives and that you are waiting patiently for them to come to you and develop their relationship with You! Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength, and our redeemer. Please help us to take our thoughts captive when the Holy Spirit shows us they are not His thoughts for us. Amen.

Farewell Dec. 2nd, 2010

Before you shut down the computer today, look at yesterday's notes you posted and glance back at today's notes. Ask the Holy Spirit to counsel you, remind you of truth, teach you, and lead you today. Remember, no matter how crowded your thought closet may be, there's always plenty of room for God's Spirit!

Thoughts to ponder as you go through the day...

Are you relying on your self-control or the Spirit's control in your life?

Which of the four roles of the Spirit do you need most in your life? 

Question #5

Snapshot 4: God's Spirit Reminds us of Truth.

I sat in front of a little girl and her dad. We'd been on the tarmac 45 minutes when the captain pierced our collective irritation. "Folks, we appreciate your patience. Maintenance assures me we should e ready to roll in about 15 minutes."
Fellow passengers groaned, and I agreed. For the past 45 minutes, I'd been compiling a mental list of all the things I didn't like about this particular air carrier. I'd been dwelling on all the bad experiences I'd had in airports lately. We'll just see, I thought. It'll be a miracle if this plane takes off in 15 minutes. But I really wasn't looking for miracles. From a dark corner in my thought closet I was pulling out things that were interrupted by the little girl in the seat behind me.
"Daddy" she chimed. "I spy something blue" Determined to be cheerful, the father guessed, "Is is that bug?" And so the game went. 
"Daddy, I spy something good."
Her dad laughed. I figured he laughed for the same reason I did. It was pretty hard to spy anything good in our caged predicament. 
"Is it a bag of M&M's?" he asked.
"No," his daughter giggled.
"Is it your new shoes or your sweet smile?"
A tenderness washed over me as I eavesdropped. Their words cut through my complaining and frustration and reminded me to fix my thoughts on "something good."
In that moment, I decided to "4:8" my thoughts. That's Philippians 4:8. Find it in your Bible and review the standards of our meditation. 
I began to let my thoughts dwell only on what was true, lovely, and of good report. I spy something lovely. Father, I prayed. You have provided opportunities for me. You have opened doors and made my path straight. I reminded myself delays were simply some of the bumps along the road.
Once I fixed my thoughts on truth, I was able to enjoy the rest of my journey. When I chose to place "praiseworthy" thoughts in my thought closet, the motionless airplane became a sanctuary of peace. My issues of delays and frustration were made easier as I prayed and told myself the truth. 
Who led me to that truth? Was it the sweet little girl and her daddy? No, it was God's Spirit. His role is to lead us into all truth. When I was guiding my own thoughts, I was headed for a train wreck. I was quickly derailing and leading myself down a path that would further complicate my issues.
I need a better guide than my thoughts and emotions. I need God's Spirit to lead me to truth, and so do you. 
Take part in your own "I Spy" game with Philippians 4:8. What is troubling in your thought closet today? What thoughts or situations are dealing with today? Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of truth as you fill in the following activity. 

What do you spy and why? Let me start you off. I spy something true because: I can embrace God's promise to give me strength no matter how tired I am. Copy and paste for your answers.

I spy something true because:
I spy something honorable because:
I spy something right because:
I spy something pure because:
I spy something lovely because:
I spy something of good repute because:
I spy something excellent because: 

Question #4

What actions will you take based on what you have learned about the Holy Spirit as your teacher?

Question #3

What is your response to this role of God's Spirit?

Question #2

The Holy Spirit is a mentor who teaches us to know truth God, and His ways. That means if you are relying on faulty assumptions, He will reveal the roots to you. He exposes wrong thinking and enlightens us to the truth.

Before I owned an audio Bible, I was able to recall much of its truth. Of course, I read it as a child and listened to countless sermons. but I marvel how I was and am able to know and remember so much Scripture, especially as my eyesight began to fail and Scripture intake was severely limited several years. I am convinced God's Spirit was my teacher. 

My friend, do not tell yourself you're not smart enough, young enough, or studious enough to know and remember God's truth. Stay in the Word, and the Holy Spirit will teach you and remind you of truth. I am so grateful for this role He plays in our lives. Learning from Him is the only way to deal with the issues that threaten to crowd our thought closest. We need a Teacher who stamps out the ignorance that pervades our thoughts and assumptions. We need a mentor who can offer wisdom that reaches beyond our own. 

How have you benefited from the Holy Spirit's teaching?

Question #1

We've seen that God's Spirit counsels us and represents Christ and the truth. Today we will see how He teaches and reminds us of truth. So pour your tea, grab your Bible, and settle in. 

*This will save me a little time by having you look up your Scriptures in your Bible. Or you can open another tab and keep Bible Gateway open like I do! At first I was copy and pasting because I knew, when we started out on facebook, that there were ladies doing this from their job site. But, sadly those ladies did not make the switch from facebook to blogspot with us so I will ask you and Betty to look up your Scriptures to save me some time!!! :)

Snapshot 3: God's Spirit is our Teacher
I call my husband "Dr. Phil" partly because he really is Dr. Phil---he has his Ph.D. I figure after six years of grad school and getting that dissertation done, he deserves the respect.
It's pretty cool that I have my very own Dr.Phil. (Mine isn't the famous therapist with a TV show, but he does have hair!) He's a professor; so with briefcase in hand, he playfully proclaims his motto as he leaves for campus: "Going to stamp out some ignorance."
That's what teachers do.They enlighten and instruct; they replace ignorance with knowledge. God's Spirit performs that same task in our lives. He stamps out ignorance, replacing it with wisdom and discernment light years beyond our own. 

The following verses reveal why we need a teacher. Match the verses to lessons we can learn.

Psalm 86:11
Psalm 90:12
Psalm 119:33
Psalm 119:66
Psalm 143:10

• I must be taught good judgment and knowledge.
• I must learn God's way so I can walk in His truth.
• I want to learn to do God's will.
• I need to learn the way of God's statutes.
• I must learn to number my days so I may get a heart of wisdom.

Good Morning Prayer Dec. 2nd, 2010

Father we come to You in the name of Jesus our Lord. I ask that You be healer in the Rowland and Crowely home today. We need healing for sickness and hurts. Also, I continue to lift up Drew and his family, and thank you for progress made so far. We ask for continued healing in this child and strength for his parents. Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Help us to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking truth to us today as well as when He counsels us. Amen.

Farwell Dec. 1st, 2010

Ponder those two pictures of the Holy Spirit and be sensitive to His voice in your thought closet. More tomorrow....

Finish our time today by asking God's Spirit to counsel you and reveal who Christ is. Bless you.

Question #7

Sister, if your thoughts don't concur with Scripture, they're not from the Spirit---and they don't belong in your thought closet. 

Post your response to this role of God's Spirit.

Post what actions you will take because of this truth.

 

Question #6

The Spirit is the truth and never leads us in ways that oppose Scripture. He won't; He can't, because Scripture is truth. He represents and lifts up the person of Jesus. He gives illumination to the character and ways of God. 
So when you sense the Spirit is guiding you, use this test: Does this match up with the truth of the Bible?

What is your most problematic self-talk? Ask God's Spirit if it matches Scripture's truth. Post what He tells you:

Question #5

Snapshot 2: God's Spirit Represents Christ

As a junior at Palm Beach Atlantic University, I joined the Ambassadors who represented our institution at community events. I never imagined I would end up at the exclusive Breakers Hotel in posh Palm Beach at an international gala...greeting none other than the Princess of Wales!
The contributing philanthropist asked our school to provide students to help at the gala. So in a borrowed evening gown, I arrived with my fellow starstruck coeds. My job was to welcome guests, ask them whether they were patrons or benefactors, and direct them to the proper dining room.
I knew this was important because of how our advisor coached us (OK, threatened us). We were told our actions would directly reflect on the university. Our duty was to represent the college well. I also figured out how big of a deal this was when security cordoned off the entryway---and the paparazzi crowded behind my partner, Jamie, and me.
The guests arrived ---Bob Hope, Victor Borge, Merv Griffin; Then a hush fell. There she was. The princess. 
Jamie provided colorful commentary as the much-loved royal shyly lowered her head and walked through the door to cheers and flashing cameras. Princess Diana sauntered past in her dazzling fuchsia gown, and security whisked her away.
I was mindful I represented my university. Even if I wanted to scream, "Diana, I love you! Can I borrow your dress?" or though I may have wished to foxtrot with Bob Hope in his tux and tennis shoes, I would not because my role was to represent the character of my college.
The Holy Spirit is God's representative. He mirrors God's truth because He is the third Person of the triune God.  If you sense the Spirit leading your thoughts or guiding your actions, His guidance always lines up with the truth of God's word.

What does 1 John 5:6 disclose about God's Spirit? He is:

 

1 John 5:6 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ⁶ This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

Question #4

If you aren't aware of His counsel, ask God to reveal the Holy Spirit's work in your life, and commit to listening for His voice.

What has God shown you about this role of His Spirit?

• I am fully aware of God's counsel through His Spirit.
• I need to work at chiseling out some quiet time for allowing God's Spirit to speak to me.
• I need to pay more attention to what God's Spirit says to me.
• I wasn't aware of God's counsel through the Holy Spirit and will commit to listening to Him now that I know.
• Your own answer  or comment here________________________.

Question #3

The Holy Spirit will not shout down the noise of our busy world to counsel you. He won't try to silence all the racket in your thought closet to be heard. To hear His counsel, we have to quiet ourselves and truly listen.
I know sometimes when I hear His gentle voice counsel me  I am hesitant. I can't always distinguish His voice from my own thoughts and intuition. Do you ever feel that same uncertainty? When we are walking with Christ, though, I believe God's Spirit speaks to us more than we realize. He counsels us through the words of Scripture  and the remarks of others.

Can you think of a time when you received counsel from the Holy Spirit? If so, describe it:

Question #2

God's Spirit challenges us to hear, admit, and embrace truth.

Which action do you most need in your thought closet?

• hear truth
• admit truth
• embrace truth

 Ask God's Spirit to empower you to commit to that.
 

Question #1

Snapshot 1: God's Spirit Counsels Us

As Phil and I prepared to celebrate our fifth anniversary, we concluded we didn't need celebration; we needed counseling. We fought about the same things all the time, though neither of us was ever wrong! 
We loved each other but we didn't like each other much. So with our pride pushed aside, off to counseling we went.
After months of hearing, admitting, and embracing truth, we had a stronger, happier marriage. We not only loved each other but finally liked each other again. Larry, our counselor, was wise and objective. He listened and made us think. He was safe and committed to our good, so we trusted him.
All of us need a counselor from time to time, and the Holy Spirit is the perfect Counselor. He is safe, wise, objective, and absolutely committed to your ultimate good. My friend, you can trust Him never to lead you off course.

Which of the preceding qualities of the Holy Spirit mean the most to you right now and why?

Good Morning Prayer Dec. 1st, 2010

Good Morning God, Thank You for the snow this morning. I ask that You heal me quickly from this bronchitis/laryngitis thing I've got going on. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Help us to take out thoughts captive today and please bless out digital time together. Father please be with Drew as You know he is in the hospital with swelling on his brain. Be with his parents Beth and Danny and guide the physicians in his care. Amen.

Farewell Nov. 30th, 2010

The Holy Spirit is a Counselor, a representative of Christ, a Teacher, and the One who will remind us of truth. So what does that look like?
How does God's Spirit help guide and control our soul talk? Tomorrow we will look at four snapshots of the Spirit. As we do we will ask God to reveal truth to us, and be ready to post our thoughts and questions!

Question #7

Jesus identified the Holy Spirit as a Helper (NASB). The Greek word used is parakletos (paraclete). The apostle John recorded Jesus' using the word four times to classify the Holy Spirit's work. Paraclete carries an assortment of meanings: Advocate, Defender, Helper, Comforter, and Counselor.

List the activities of the Holy Spirit in believers as revealed in the following verses.

John 14:16 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—

John 14:26 (New International Version, ©2010)

²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 16:13 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Copy and paste for your answer...

John 14:16

John 14:26

John 16:13  

Question #6

Another thing we will do today, my friend, is to look at some word pictures that the Bible paints for us. These snapshots will show how the Holy Spirit can help you deal with your issues and keep control in your thought closet. When we receive Christ, we receive His Spirit. 

Ephesians 1:13-14 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 

1 Corinthians 3:16 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 

How does Jesus identify the Holy Spirit in the following Verses?

John 15:26 (New International Version, ©2010)

The Work of the Holy Spirit

    ²⁶ “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

John 16:7 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

 

Question #5

Now my friend, what I am about to say next is one of the most important statements of our study. Let these words sink in. 
Jesus never said her soul talk made her well. He said it was her faith. 
Her faith invited healing. Her soul talk contributed to her faith, but it didn't replace her faith. She spoke truth to her soul in the same way you and I  need to speak truth to our souls. By faith we receive truth. By faith we believe truth. And by faith we act on truth. 
Soul talk can never substitute for faith. The woman could never have talked herself into healing---not in a hundred years. But she did talk herself into seeking Jesus, and that was what she needed. Soul talk is faith's companion, not it's replacement. 
Our issues can dictate our beliefs, color our actions, and affect our attitudes, but so can faith. It's essential we have a thought closet full of wisdom and center our soul talk on the truth of Scripture and on our faith in Christ.
Now lean back, relax, and listen to this story....

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a desperately unhappy woman who talked to herself. 
She might have said any number of things. She might have told herself to cheer up, to walk on the sunny side of the street, to whistle while she worked, or to simply accept her lot in life. She might even have told herself that her problems were illusions; she was really healthy and whole.
But those aren't the sort of things she said when she spoke to her soul. What she did say led her to an act of faith more daring than anything she could have imagined. When this woman talked to herself, it initiated an encounter that brought immediate healing to her body and soul. It was all because of what she had in her thought closet during one of the most important conversations of her life. She told herself the truth, and that led her straight to Jesus. May you be that woman.

Is there anything causing you to be unhappy today? What will you speak to your soul? What truth will you say to yourself? Will it lead you to Jesus? Can you share with us what you will say to yourself today? 

Question #4

Few Biblical stories validate my own soul talk more than this story about a hurting woman. Psychologists might say she was merely an example of the power of positive self-talk, but that's an incomplete rendering at best and an untrue conclusion at worst. The most important thing isn't that she talked to herself. It's what she told herself that matters. She didn't mouth a bunch of happy talk or feel good phrases. She spoke words of wisdom to her soul. 

Counseling ourselves to act on truth and coaching ourselves on to make good choices are healthy and wise. Wise soul talk helps us overcome our issues. The woman with the hemorrhage clearly benefited by telling herself she would be healed if she touched Jesus' robe.

According to Mark 5:30-34 what brought her healing? 

• her tenacity?
• her self-talk?
• her faith?
• her desperation?

 
 

Mark 5:30-34 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ³⁰ At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

 ³¹ “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

 ³² But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Question #3

There it is: She talked to herself. She confronted her issue and practiced some soul talk. (And she hadn't even done this study!) She told herself if she touched Jesus, she would be healed. She encouraged, counseled, and advised her soul. 
Her wise words prompted her action. She extended her arm through the middle of a crowd to touch her fingers to the  hem of Jesus' robe. With that brush of homespun cloth across her fingertips, her great need ran head-on into His limitless provision. In that instant, her courage met His compassion. Her hopes met His holiness. 

What does Mark 5:29 tell us about her encounter with Christ?

Mark 5:29 (New International Version, ©2010)

²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

  

Question #2

Now we want to focus on what she said to herself. According to this verse post what she said to herself.

Mark 5:28 (New International Version, ©2010)

²⁸ because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

Question #1

Picking up right where we left off yesterday...According to this verse, what did the issue laden woman do?

Mark 5:27 (New International Version, ©2010)

²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,

Good Morning Prayer Nov. 30th 2010

Lord, let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Help us this day to take our thoughts captive. Some people I know have been posting on facebook, Father, that they deserve to be happy. That is their goal. I pray for them to receive Joy. Joy that comes from knowing You and Your Son Jesus. Help them to find Your Joy. Help them to turn to You and find real Joy. Amen.

Farewell Nov. 29th, 2010

So what are we to do? Is a steady conversation of wise and truthful self talk enough to remedy our issues? No, a time comes when you must speak a word to your soul that prompts action resulting in healing. 

Tomorrow we will continue to talk about the Woman who had issues in Mark 5 and find out what she did and what she said to herself!

Question #8

We often face one defining circumstance that becomes the headwater from which other issues flow. The issue of being overweight, for instance, can lead to low self-esteem, shaky confidence, and poor health. Maybe you grew up hearing and believing messages such as "You aren't good at anything," or "You were an accident." If you've endured defining words like those, you may battle with issues of self-worth or depression. 
For me, blindness is a big issue that opens the door to a host of others. Some of the biggest daily stressors I face are not being able to drive, read, or enjoy independence. And stress, as you know, can morph itself into monster issues such as anger, isolation, or identity crisis. Our issues come with accessories that take up room in our thought closets!

What complications result from your primary issue?

Question #7

Her "issue of blood" (KJV) created a load of other issues. What were they according to the following Scriptures verses?

Mark 5:26 (New International Version, ©2010)

²⁶ She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 

Leviticus 15:25 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ²⁵ “‘When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period.

Question #6

This woman had a single insurmountable issue, and she had endured it for 12 long years. It had challenged her physically, strained her emotionally, drained her financially, and ostracized her socially.

Which of her descriptions best expresses the result of your issue?

Why? 

Question #5

Let's get to know this woman in Mark 5. What was her primary issue? 

Mark 5:25 (New International Version, ©2010)

²⁵ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.

Question #4

I don't know her name, but she had a thought closet full of wisdom. Mark 5 gives us access to it, and after a quick peek, I'm convinced she, you, and I have a lot in common. 

First of all, the woman talked to herself. I like her already. And secondly, she had issues!

I've got issues, you've got issues, all God's children got issues! Issues like illness, financial troubles, insecurities, relationship conflict, fear, and sadness. Our thought closets are jammed with tricky stuff.

What kind of issues are crowding your thought closet?

Question #3

You will become well-acquainted with wisdom when you simply request it, revere God, and receive wise counsel. 

When you do, wisdom will not only be the watchman at your thought closet door, but it will become one of your best friends. 

Say to wisdom, "You are my sister, what would she say to you on a casual morning walk along the river? If understanding actually happened to be your best and most intimate friend, what would she say to you in earnest conversation at a corner table in your favorite cafe'?

You can count on one thing. You wouldn't want to miss a single word. So invite her into your thought closet by requesting, revering God, and receiving counsel. 

My friend, remember these three Rs to wisdom: Request it, Revere God, and Receive counsel. As you apply yourself to wisdom, your thought closet will be well guarded and you will be clothed with truth. Oh, you look marvelous!  
Post/ type out the three R's to wisdom as a way of remembering them.

Question #2

Maybe you are a wise guide. You have received wisdom from God and you reverence Him. You will keep growing in wisdom as you continue to or begin to give.

Do you know someone to whom you can/should impart God's wisdom ? If so,who?

Ask God what you should do about the person He laid on your heart. 

Question #1 Nov. 29th, 2010

Okay, we will start where we left off....Wisdom. "When we walk with wisdom, it will wear off on us."

Once again, the Book of Proverbs advises us that "Wisdom is with those who receive counsel," and "a wise man is he who listens to counsel." (Proverbs 13:10; 12:15)

Often we need to take time to listen to others, learn from their mistakes and experiences, and recognize they struggle too. That's why we occasionally peek into another woman's thought closet. They can become wise guides in our lives. Do you have a wise guide (and it should be a female unless it's your husband, father, or brother)?

Describe your wise guide or the woman you will ask God to bring into your life to serve in this capacity.

How does she encourage wisdom in your life? 

Good Morning Prayer Nov. 29th, 2010

Father, we come to You in the name of Jesus. I thank You that I am off from work today because we have had such a busy week and holiday with it's share of family drama. On top of all of that we finally had Lynn's dad's Celebration of Life Ceremony. He died back in July and he didn't have a funeral per his wishes we had this celebration months later. All the responsibility for every thing fell on us. I thank You that the time came and went and it was a success. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Please help us to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to you. Amen.

Farewell Nov. 24th, 2010

Until you revere God most highly in your life, you will never find true wisdom.  Okay, everyone have a safe and fun Thanksgiving and don't pig out too much! God bless, and I will see you all again on Monday. That means you are off tomorrow (Thanksgiving) and Friday, then the weekend and then we meet back here on Monday.:)
When we come back we will talk about the third way to fill your closet with wisdom!

Question #8

Measure your fear of the Lord by the way you answer the following questions. 

1. Do you say the name of God casually? For example, "Oh, Lord!" or "Oh my God!" *Never *Sometimes *Often *Always
2. How do you feel when you hear someone say God's name as profanity? *don't notice *doesn't bother me *bothers me a little * bothers me a lot * breaks my heart
3. Do you consider your clothes an act of worship? *never think about it  *sometimes * depends on the place I'm going * always
4. What times or places do you consider sacred? *church only * Christian gatherings * patriotic events only *everywhere
5. Does your conversation reflect reverence for God? *never *sometimes *often *always
6. Do your entertainment selections reveal that all of life is sacred? *never *sometimes *often *always
7. Does your life demonstrate the character of God? *never *sometimes *often *always

Notice how you responded to the questions above. Are you satisfied with the answers you gave? Ask God to lead you to repentance and/or greater dependence on Him concerning the areas where you lack reverence for Him. If you feel comfortable posting your answers you may. If not, make this a self assessment between you and God. 

Question #7

Examine your own heart and mind. My friend, do you fear the Lord? *Yes or *No

Whose truth do you elevate most highly---yours, our culture's or God's? Why?

Question #6

To fear the Lord means we revere Him and show deference and respect. It's acting toward God as if approaching a king who invited us into his royal chamber. We are keenly aware of God's high position and the honor of approaching Him! To fear God means we esteem His truth more highly than our feelings or perceptions of truth. To fear the Lord means holding His knowledge and truth in higher regard than our own. 
Hebrews scribes meticulously copied the text of the Old Testament to preserve Scripture for future generations, and they wrote the name of God countless times. The consonants "YHWH" denote His holy name. Biblical scholars are not sure what the vowels are for the divine name of God known today as the tetragrammaton. "Yahweh" is our closest guess.
Before a Masoretic scribe would write the name of God, he would first wash himself and then use a new pen. This was to show respect for the name of God and to carefully keep from breaking the Third Commandment (Ex. 20:7)
A Jew never uttered the name of God when reading Scripture aloud out of fear of the Lord. Instead, he would substitute "Adonai," which means  "Lord" or "Master." This may be the reason the disciple Matthew most often used the phrase "kingdom of heaven" instead of "kingdom of God."
Now, don't misunderstand. Faithful men and women throughout the Bible spoke the name of God. God is our Father, and we should speak His name. But we should do so with fear or reverence--never casually or crassly. We could all benefit from having a little of the Jewish people's fear factor.
We should guard ourselves against using God's name without respect or "in vain," as the Third Commandment says, "God" is not a stand-in for "Wow!" So how about your fear factor? Think about how you regard and revere God. 

For your post, copy and paste something that was new to you, or something that stood out to you in the above paragraphs. Feel free to comment on them as well.

Question #5

What do you think it means to fear God?

Question #4

Without wisdom we act emotionally, think with our feelings, and don't recognize truth--with catastrophic results. Why would we babble reckless words to ourselves based on our feelings when Christ offers wisdom just for the asking?


Let's look at some MORE ways we can fill our thought closet with wisdom....

I know some of our days of study have required a double shot, fully loaded, venti-size coffee!  And I know some days have left you worn our from digging deep into your thought closet and Scripture. 
Today you can pour an herbal tea or a decaf and relax!  We will explore two more ways to receive wisdom, and they will delight and encourage you. Yesterday, we learned about the primary way to receive wisdom--ask for it. 


Now look in the following Scripture verse and post the second way you can receive the wisdom you need.

Proverbs 9:10 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
   and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Question #3

Sarah - 

Because Sarah thought with her feelings, she didn't wait on God's timing. The result was Ishmael, the son of her maidservant, Hagar. Although he became a great nation (Gen. 17:20), he was at odds with his brothers (16:12) Muslims consider themselves children of Ishmael, so the conflict continues today. 

Question #2

David - 

The actual result of David's feeling-driven thoughts and actions were guilt, adultery, murder, the death of a child, and family strife. Oh, how wisdom would have protected him from heartbreak and regret. (2 Sam. 12:5-7, 10-11, 15-18)

 

Question #1

Picking up where we left off yesterday. What would have happened if God's wisdom was applied to the situations we studied yesterday with Esau, David, and Sarah? 

Post next to each name what the potential outcome could have been if they had pulled from the "Wisdom Bin" in their thought closets.  No right or wrong answer here....just use your imagination. 

Esau-

Esau became a nation called Edom, which remained one of Israel's greatest enemies and consequently experienced God's judgement. God stated Edom would never be rebuilt. Just as Edom had perpetual hatred  for Israel, their country would remain perpetually empty. Various countries have controlled the territory that was once Edom, but Edom as a nation disappeared. What a sad result of an emotionally charged, wisdom-lacking initial act. (Num. 20:14-21, Jer. 49:17)

 

Good Morning Prayer

Father God, We come to You in the name of Jesus Your precious Son. We ask that You would please bless our digital time together. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and redeemer. Please help us to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to You. Help us find an answer to some of these questions when we don't have one come to mind. Thank You for Your Son and Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for making a way for us sinners to come be with you in Heaven. Thank You that we don't have to pay the penalty for our sin on the cross because Jesus paid it for us. Thank You that some day soon we will be with you in paradise! Thank You for this study and for how it has changed the way we think and speak to ourselves even if it is just a little....for now!! Amen.