Where do you dwell?
Do you dwell in a big city?
Perhaps you dwell in a country home in a remote place?
What does it mean to dwell?
Where does the Lord dwell according to Joel 3:21?
Continue reading “DWELL”DWELL
FOREVER
What comes to mind when you hear or read the word forever?
Does a person, place or thing come to mind?
Or a combination?
Do you consider forever to be a serious promise with serious consequences if not upheld?
Or do you think forever is something we are incapable of comprehending?
Why and how does the Bible, and Joel 3:20 in particular, use the word forever?
Continue reading “FOREVER”A POWERFUL CONTRAST
What word or words would you use to describe the powerful contrast in the image above?
Have you ever used the word ‘but’ to draw a powerful contrast?
For example:
“The images above are of the same location. The one on the left shows a time of well-being but the one on the right shows a time of tragedy.”
- Having read the above example which image are you finding your mind focusing on? The one on the left or the one on the right?
- Why?
- How does this discussion of a powerful contrast using the word “but” intersect with our study of Joel 3:19?
PROVISION
Consider the following definitions of the noun provision:
1a: the act or process of providing
1b: the fact or state of being prepared beforehand
1c: a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need or contingency
2: a stock of needed materials or supplies especially: a stock of food – usually used in plural
- What do you personally due to insure you have provision for today?
- Do you also have a plan for insuring you have enough provision for the future?
- How far in the future are you preparing?
- What type of provision do you deem most important to secure for daily and future needs?
- Have you benefitted from others provision on your behalf?
- What does Joel 3:18 have to say about provision?
HOME
- What images does the word home bring to your mind?
- Are these images of home positive or negative? Maybe a combination?
Compare the phrases “at home” versus “broken home”.
Many of us would agree that the word home is initially meant to reference where we physically reside or dwell.
But in the phrases “at home” versus “broken home” many of us would also agree that the word home becomes more significant than a simple residence or dwelling location.
- Where does the desire for a “safe home” come from?
- What does Joel 3:17 have to say about the meaning of home?
REFUGE
- How would you define the word refuge?
- Can refuge be a place, person, or thing?
- What qualities are essential for a place, person, or thing to be deemed a refuge?
Consider the following definitions:
1 : shelter or protection from danger or distress
2 : a place that provides shelter or protection
3 : something to which one has recourse in difficulty
- Do these definitions change or reinforce your own for refuge?
It is raining where I am at today.
Having one of the umbrellas in the picture above while outside would certainly provide a refuge from getting drenched.
- Is there a refuge that can meet all the above definitions?
BE ROUSED!
What does it mean to be roused?
Some synonyms for be roused include, be aroused, be awake, and be awakened. (See Merriam-Webster.)
- Which way do you prefer to be roused from slumber?
- With the rooster or other birds chattering or from an alarm clock of some sort as shown in the picture above?
- Do you use an alarm type sound or some sort of musical tune?
- Is it easy for you to be roused, meaning you get up before your alarm or immediately upon hearing it?
- Is it hard for you to be roused, meaning you repeatedly ignore sounds intended to awaken you?
- What does it truly take for you to be roused?
- What does Joel 3:12 have to do with these questions?
Pleasure
Genesis 2:9
I’m blessed to have a balcony at my home that is protected by tall evergreens and deciduous trees on the easement between our development and the adjacent high school parking lot. This area is a great place to spend time “defragging” my mind when the weather is conducive. And it affords me a cozy, private feel.
At times, when I think there are no breezes around I’ll still see a leaf or branch shimmy to a breeze that is too high up for me to personally feel. I believe my love of trees stems from my childhood home. My parents still reside where I grew up so every time I get the opportunity to visit there I’m reminded of all the beautiful trees on their property and surrounding neighborhood that I would spend time gazing at or climbing in as a child.
So, what’s the point of this study today? My previous post focused on the provision of trees that yield food for our sustenance. Did you notice in the quote from Reference.com that less than 1% of plants are food bearing? What is the purpose of the other more than 99%? Let’s read Genesis 2:9 again:
And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Gen 2:9 ESV)
Did you see it? “Pleasant to the sight” is part of God’s purpose for trees. We’ll look at other purposes for trees as we continue to travel together but right now simply focus on the fact that God appreciates and desires beauty. He purposely decorated the earth with all kinds of vegetation for our enjoyment and His.
As I write this post it just happens to be the fall season when the leaves are turning from their summer shades of glorious greens to a cornucopia of bronze, gold, and earthy reds. Other seasons provide interesting textures and colorful flowers from new growth, or nothing but the barky structure that stands firm year-round.
A little over a year after moving to South Carolina our dog, Bear, passed away after many ups and downs. I was grieving the loss of this precious pet as I drove the same route to work I’d been traveling for months. As I stopped for a red light my eyes glanced to the left to see a tree I’d seen many times before. At that moment though something about that tree wowed me more deeply than before. It shook me from my grief into a moment of praising God for His amazing creation.
Have you ever experienced a moment when a part of God’s creation moved you to praise and adoration of your creator? Or are you too busy grumbling that you need to clean leaves out of your home’s rain gutters or some other task that involves assisting the plants around you? Yes, nature can create work for us. (See Genesis 2:5, 15). But God also intended for the trees and other vegetation to generate pleasure and sustenance for us.
I’d love to hear your stories of how God’s landscaping efforts have impacted you towards awe and wonder. May you experience the pleasure of God’s creation today!
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn