A Bible Study Blog
Depending on who I am with and what my role is I may be a quiet person of few words or someone who always contributes to the discussion.
Often, the larger the group I am in, the quieter I will be and the smaller and more comfortable I am with the people around, the more talkative I may become.
While I was still in my undergraduate studies, I was busy practicing secrecy.
The reason I was practicing secrecy resulted from a desire along with my siblings to plan a surprise 25th anniversary party for our parents.
We decided the best way to keep our parents unaware of the party would be to secretly invite extra guests to a party our parents had already planned to host for family on the 4th of July.
Their wedding anniversary is near that date, so this was a great cover in our minds.
Since I lived the closest to our parents, I was tasked with sneaking photos out of their house to put together a photo album and manage the secret invite responses.
My siblings and I were practicing secrecy because we intended to bless and honor our parents.
We all laugh about how our parents hosted their own 25th wedding anniversary surprise!
And yes, I especially receive some ribbing because of frequently calling them before the party to say I had invited some more friends that they had to feed. š
The reward for practicing secrecy in this case is we did bless our parents, family, and friends with a great memory to share with each other in celebration of their marriage.
Did you know practicing secrecy is also encouraged by Jesus in Matthew 6:6?
Continue reading “PRACTICING SECRECY”
What is the motive behind your daily routine?
What is the motive behind your work performance?
What is the motive behind your spiritual disciplines?
What is motive?
What does Jesus in Matthew 6:5 have to say about motives and prayer?
Continue reading “MOTIVE”
Have you ever asked someone to teach you?
What was the skill you wanted this person to teach you?
Why did you want to learn this skill?
How were you taught the skill?
Did you know Jesusā disciples specifically asked him to teach them something?
Continue reading “TEACH US TO…”
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”
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”
What word or words would you use to describe the powerful contrast in the image above?
Have you ever used the word ābutā to draw a powerful contrast?
For example:
āThe 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.ā
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 ā usually used in plural
Compare the phrases āat homeā versus ābroken homeā.
Many of us would agree that the word home is initially meant to reference where we physically reside or dwell.
But in the phrases āat homeā versus ābroken homeā many of us would also agree that the word home becomes more significant than a simple residence or dwelling location.
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
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.