Keep on Keeping On

Hello Bible Study Buddies! We are currently at Week 5 in our study ... and this week we are reminding ourselves to "...forget none of His benefits". This is an egg-cellent time to deliberately place GOD smack in the center of our thought closets! What with Easter eggs and spring break trying to steal our attention ... let's make a deliberate effort together, shall we?

Girlfriends, I encourage you to keep on keeping on in the bible study! Only one more week to go after this lesson. The enemy would love to have an opportunity to wiggle into your mind just enough to make you feel defeated. I pray, for the love of Jesus to keep us going strong! If you find it hard to finish your lessons during this busy season ... don't get discouraged ... come to class anyway! We'll do it together! Ladies, do not let the enemy in. Satan is the father of lies and he will do whatever he can to keep you away. I'm praying hard for you, and for the victory that we girls are going to receive through the teachings in this bible study!

Now then, in this weeks lesson I love love love the exercise on page 122 where we were asked to write statements all over the walls of our thought closets based on scriptures that describe how God values each one of us. That's SO very cool -- "art" on our very own closet walls! In case you don't have your book (or if you are visiting us here on the ole' blogaroonie) here is a list of the suggested scriptures:

Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 43:4; Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 15:7; 1 Cor. 6:20; Eph 1:4; Eph 2:10; 1 Peter 2:9. Let's speak those truths to ourselves today! They are not "feelings" ... they are facts!

1. God calls me by name.
2. He honors and loves me.
3. He has unfailing love for me.
4. He accepts me as I am, not for who I wish I was.
5. Jesus bought me for a very high price.
6. He chose me.
7. He created me as a masterpiece!
8. He chose me as royalty.

I am so humbled when I meditate on these verses. So much so, that I've turned it into a letter written to me from God - see below. I hope you, too, will allow God to craft His letter to you during this week. Meditate on His Word, girlfriends, and spend time at His letter-writing desk. See you Thursday evening!

LETTER FROM GOD:

My Dearest Kay,

The fact that you've come to Me shows that your heart is responsive, and I love you for it. Because love is so central to who I am, it must be central to who you are as My child. I will help you live out My definition of love.

Kay, I love you so much that I could not bear to be without you for eternity. So I sent my only son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for your sins. It was a high price that was paid for your salvation ... Jesus endured the painful death of the cross and the separation from Me that came with bearing your sin. My dear child, I love you that much.

In order to tap into My incredible strength, all you must do is come near to Me. When you take just one step toward Me, just as you are, I will run to meet you with open arms and a loving heart. You are my masterpiece! I made you and all of creation!

How pleased I am that you are learning the true meaning and source of joy. As you take My Word into your heart, My teachings will always be a source of joy to you. My power and My Word are at work in you this very minute. I chose you, Kay. You are worth everything to Me, My child.

Your God of Love

A Blog is Born: Grace 4 Today

There's just something so special about going to your computer-mailbox to find that you've got mail ... not a bill, not a piece of advertisement ... but a real letter written just to you from someone who cares about you.

This blog and its author desires to bless you with just that. Filled with thoughts and letters from someone like yourself about the very best friend of all -- your Heavenly Father. It is my hope and prayer that a community of women will be born as we identify with the prayers, needs, emotions, feelings, and struggles that life presents to us on a regular basis. Let this little blog bring you closer to the heavenlies and to the living loving breathing word of God that will guide us today, tomorrow, and into our eternal destination.

GRACE 4 TODAY:
Words of encouragement from God (excerpt from Heavenly Mail by Philis Boultinghouse):

A LETTER TO HEAVEN:

Dear Father,
I come to you needing your calming peace. Lately, my heart has been all tied up in knots, and my head has been full of worry. I don't know how long its been since I've felt truly at peace. It's as if there's a huge boulder in my life, and it's my job to carry it. I've got it up on my shoulders, but I'm crushed by its weight and I'm going nowhere. The peace I once knew has totally left me, and it's been replaced by nagging worries and self-doubt. I've thought and thought about what I can do to fix this mess, but it seems to be out of my control. It's too big for me. I've prayed about it -- oh, how I've prayed! But that big boulder is still up there. This burden is with me in everything I do. I carry it with me everywhere I go. I can't get free of it. I long for your peace. I ache for your comfort. Hold me in your arms. Take this burden from me.
Your Fretful Child

A LETTER FROM HEAVEN:

Dear Fretful Child,
The burden you are trying to carry is not yours --- it belongs to me. Have I not told you to cast all your anxieties on Me? If you will throw your cares on Me, I will sustain you. I never let My righteous ones fall. If you will but let Me, I will remove the burden from your shoulders and set your hands free. Though you have prayed about your worries, you have not left them at My feet. Everytime you leave My throne-room, you pick them back up and take them with you. Instead of trying to figure all this out on your own, you must trust Me with all your heart. If you will acknowledge Me and My power, I will make your paths straight. Whenever you find yourself beginning to worry, re-direct your worries into fervent prayer. Pour out your heart to Me, for I am your God of refuge. Bring everything to me -- all your requests and petitions, and bring some thanks too. If you will learn to substitute prayer for anxiety, you will find that My peace will begin to fill your heart and your mind. Whatever troubles you, you can look to Me and know that I will rescue you. I have never forsaken those who seek me.
Your God of Rescue

From 1 Peter 5:6-7; Psalms 55:22; 81:6-7; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 62:8; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 9:10