Living like Jesus day 5

SOAP verses for the day Luke 1:74-79 "...to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him in all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." Write down one or two observations from the passage. 1. God doesn't want us to live in fear, nor does he want us to serve Him because of fear. 2. Didn't think about Zechariah prophesying his son's preparing the way for Jesus. I knew that Isaiah prophesied this but not that it was here as well. 3. Taking care of myself and my family is as much a ministry to the Lord as anything! How come I've never really thought about that??? Write down one or two applications from the passage. 1. I need to serve the Lord with joy and not out of obligation, because that is what makes Him happy!! 2. What can I do to shine a light in the darkness for those who don't know Jesus?? Share Him by my actions, at least!!!

Living Like Jesus day 4

SOAP verses of the day: Luke 1:63-64 "He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote,"His name is John." Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God." Write down one or two observations from the passage. I noticed that the verses say that his mouth was opened and his tongue was set free, as though before he had had multiplie reasons he coukdn't speak...almost as though God set up two ways to make sure he couldn't overcome one!! Write down one or two applications from the passage. Zechariah could have let pride and tradition get in the way of God and what he told him to do, since everyone expected his son to be named after him. But he obeyed God, no matter other's expectations. Oh, Lord, that I may have the strength to do the same...

Just Like Jesus Day 3

SOAP verses for today are Luke 1:45-50 Write Out Scripture: "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation..." Write down one or two Observations from the passage. I particularly was struck by the part of the passage that said,"...for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." Of course he is mindful of me, his servant! Sometimes I feel as though I am alone, but He is ALWAYS mindful of me. He knows what is going on with me whether or not I am filling MY mind with his presence! The other observation I have is the verse,"His mercy extends to all those who fear him, from generation to generation...." I am so blessed to come from Christian families for generations, and His mercy has certainly been extended to me and my family. For that I am truly thankful!! Write down one or two Applications from the passage. The applications are from these same verses in the passage. I need to be more mindful of Him at all times. I had an experience this morning to show grace to my oldest child instead of being angry with him, and I thank God for this opportunity. I am really trying to use Lent to give up my tendency to overreact and raise my voice at my family. Of course, I haven't been perfect with this, but I am MINDFUL of it, and that is making it better day by day. This is an area where I can change my life and start that change during Lent. This same child of mine is trying to change his life by worrying less and trusting God more in a particular area of his life, which again makes me so proud!!! What a wonderful gift he is to me, and I need to celebrate the gift of my children more!!! Second application: pray for those who have NOT have generation to generation of Christians in their life. I need to pray that those that are the first generation to come to Christ that they can continue to be faithful and witness to the generations to come of His grace and unconditional love. I have had it 'easy' in that way....to not have to BUILD the habit of going to church each week...that habit has been instilled in me from birth. I love that my youngest child LIVES each week to go to church, even though he attends daycare in our church building!! He knows the difference in 'daycare' and 'church', and talks about church and his friends from church all the time. I LOVE IT!! I WANT them to grow up loving church and wanting to be there, and I thank God for the opportunity I have each day to share Christ with them!!! Pray over what you have learned from today's passage.

Just like Jesus day 2

SOAP verses today are Luke 1:37-38 "...For no word from God will ever fail." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "And may your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her. Observations Mary was in a huge scary situation, and here she was a young teenager, being disgraced and probably being berated by her family, yet she had faith that the angel spoke the truth of the Lord. Oh, to have faith like Mary!!! Applications For no word from God will ever fail....but do I always trust that?? Do I give him my full trust, or expect to handle it myself?? I need to totally give everything over to the Lord!! Did this on Friday but forgot to post it!! Ooops!

Living Like Jesus Day 1

I'm doing a Bible study with my church, but I am so enjoying and getting something from The Word, that I decided to start an additional one with the Good Morning Girls called Living Like Jesus, based on Luke 1-8. There are specific things to do each day, but I am going to post them here instead of printing out paper, to be a better steward of the Earth! I'm not starting on Monday, so I'll have to adjust my days to have my week start on Thursday! Today's reading is Luke 1:1-25, and the SOAP scripture is Luke 1:1-4. S stands for write out the Scripture. Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myslef have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may knwo the certainty of the things you have been taught. O stands for Observation. Write down one or two observations from the passage. I had never realized that the letter was written to Theophilus....never read these verses closely, apparently! I alppreciate that these verses were first passed down by those who were eyewitnesses and passed down orally. A stands for Applications. Write down one or two applications from the passage. I need to be more diligent about telling the stories of my ancestors to my children, and most importantly, writing them DOWN before they are lost from my mind, and get my parents to tell me stories and write them down as well! P stands for Pray. Pray over what you learned from today's passage. Also, while I am writing things, I'll say that I am trying to 'give up' two bad habits during Lent: saying curse words, and raising my voice at my family. So far I've not done the best on raising my voice! I could blame it on the fact that I am in the midst of a horrible fibromyalgia flare and have sick family members on both sides of the family to boot, but that is really no excuse. I can do better, and with God's help, I will!!

Study: 1st Corinthians

Once again, I have more time and attention to do Bible studies in the summer...so let's see if I can actually work through one!!

Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

(The Message) "I, Paul, have been called and sent by Jesus, the Messiah, according to God's plan, along with my friend Sosthenes. I send this letter to you in God's church at Corinth, believers cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life. I include in my greeting all who call out to Jesus, wherever they may live. He's their Master as well as ours! May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours."

1. Who wrote this letter (book) of 1 Corinthians? (1:1) Paul & Sosthenes

2. To whom was it written? (1:2) the people of Corinth and any who call out to Jesus

3. Are the recipients of this letter Christians? (Believers in God / Jesus) (1:2) yes

4. What was the reason for your answer to question 3? (1:2) refers to believers cleaned up by Jesus and to those who cry out to Jesus, which makes me believe that the others would be ones who understood Jesus' purpose and power!

I read this page to learn more about Corinth in Paul's time.

Corinth was a city in what country? Greece

Approximately how many people lived in Corinth and its 'suburbs'? about 650,000

Thinking now about where YOU live, is Corinth larger or smaller than the town or city in which you live? much larger

Let's think about why Corinth was such a large city of over « million people (actually about 650,000):

Was it a "college" town such as Athens, Greece? No

Was it a big commercial center? Yes

Was it on a major trade route with highways and seaports? Yes

What was its predominant "culture"? Greek

Since Corinth's culture was based on the Greek way of living and thinking, what kinds of things were important and emphasized in Corinth? (Circle your answer from the choices below. ... Hint: More than 1 answer may be correct.)

............Greek Philosophy............Man's Wisdom.............Man's Knowledge.........
............Art and Culture................Intellectual pride...........Oratory.............
............Worship of many gods & goddesses.....................education......
............learning...........................sacrificing to pagan gods and goddesses...
............immorality.......................physical beauty.............Sports..................
............worship or adulation of men who are wise and knowledgeable............................

Read I Corinthians 1:1-9 and highlight in blue every time you see the word Jesus or a phrase that refers to him. I'll go back up and do that in the above verses.

I already typed out 1-3, so here is 4-9: "Every time I think of you--and I think of you often!--I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There's no end to what has happened in you--it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives. Just think--you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that."

Does Paul seem to have concern and love for the Church and its members? Yes

Does Paul seem to have concern and love for the Church and its members? Yes

How can you tell? What does he say to them that makes you think that he loves them and is very concerned and interested in their Spiritual growth?

He reminds them that God has given them everything that they need, and that He will never forget them. He wants them to be assured of this, and of God's presence in their lives each day!

Dwelling in His Presence chapter 2

Read Genesis 3:8-13. What are some of the ways that God uses to call us to come out of hiding?

Asking us directly, asking how we know what we did was wrong, asking why we did what we did

In what ways to do you tend to hide from God?

I hide in my busy-ness

Dwelling in His Presence chapter one

Using his words in Phillipians 3:7-8 as a guide, write out your desire to be intimate with the Lord.

I want to discard the things that the world sees as important and spend my time cultivating a relationship with the Lord, for that is much more important in my eyes. I don't need to follow the world's rules and policies--the only one I need to worry about pleasing is the Lord!

How does God's invitation to intimacy stir your heart?

It brings back to mind what I so often forget in the busy, fast paced world: that God loves ME for ME, nothing more or less. He created me and knows even my innnermost thoughts, and loves me anyway. He WANTS to spend time with me and thinks I am wonderful just the way I am. Why would I avoid spending time with one who loves me so completely and unconditionally??

What are some hinderances or distractions that keep you from consistently dwelling in His presence?

I'm 'too busy', I'm 'tired'...I spend time doing mindless tasks that could be discarded forever instead of taking the time to spend with the Lord. I have to make Him the priority He desires to be, and spend the time with Him that He so wants me to spend!!

Prayer: Dear Lord, I am humbled by Your invitation for intimacy. May I not be content just to stand in the door; I desire to enter in and stay in order to enjoy the richness of Your grace and love. Amen.

Made to Crave--Chapter One

1. One weight loss company personifies craving as a little orange monster that chases us around, tempting us to eat unhealthy foods. Take a moment to reflect on your own experience of craving, recently and over time.
If you could personify craving based on your experience of it, what form might it take? Would it be like the little orange monster or would it take a different shape? Describe what your craving looks like and how it behaves. If you could sit down and have a conversation with this imaginary craving, what do you think it might say to you? What questions would you want to ask it? How do you imagine it might respond?

I would see it as a little green devil on my shoulder, telling me all the Devil's lies about why I deserve to give in to my cravings. It sneers and jeers at me when I make healthy choices. I think it talks to me in smooth, soothing tones until I argue with it, and then it is nasty and smart back to me.

2. How do you respond to the idea that God made us to crave? Have you ever pursued a craving--a longing, passion, or desire--that made a positive contribution to your life? What do you think distinguishes that kind of craving from the craving that leads you to eat in unhealthy ways?

The thing that comes to mind is how with all 3 pregnancies, I physically craved ice water! It was what my body needed and the desire for it took place of all the cravings I might have had for sugar sweetened drinks. It was a good craving that felt empowering and positive to fulfill, unlike fulfilling the desires for bad for me foods, etc. I didn't feel guilt after consuming it like I do other things.

3. If it's true that we are made to crave, how might it change the way you understand your cravings? Do you believe there could be any benefits to listening to your cravings rather than trying to silence them? If so, what might these benenfits be? If not, why not?

If I use it as a stepping stone to pray instead of reach for the things I want to eat, it can definitely be a good thing! It will lead me to a closer relationship with the Lord!

There are other questions, but these are the ones that struck me.....I only shared my answers to these, and will do so for the other chapters as well.

Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Contentment

Starting a new Bible study or two for Lent...you know me, I don't always stick with these things! I found this e-book on amazon for free right now, and I think it was God sent!

Chapter 1: Webster's definition of perspective: looking through; seeing clearly; the capacity to view things in their true relation of relative importance." Therefore, an eternal perspective is God's way of seeing. When we have God's perspective, we view our lives and evaluate what is important from His viewpoint.

Positives:
healthy children
married to my best friend
job I love
healthy extended family
church family
house
food
cars
clothes
enough extra so we don't have to stress about each and every thing we spend

Negatives:
weigh too much
don't have enough 'me' time
feel like I don't have close friends at work, etc. anymore
would like to have more discretionary money to spend
house needs updating
need more space in house
would like the baby to be healthier..not as many cold, ear infections, etc.
would like more sleep!

Now the question is "Which list do I spend the majority of my time dwelling on?" I think I DO spend more time on the positives!!

Day 17: Jesus' First Tour of Galilee: Jesus Calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John a Second Time

Jesus arises early in the morning while His disciples sleep and goes off to a lonely place to pray. His disciples awake and search for Him. They tell Him the crowds are looking everywhere for Him. His response must have surprised them. Write His response (Mark 1:38):
"Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."

Decision: Does Peter trust his own professional expertise or does he trust and obey the command of Jesus? hat is always the issue. "I know my business," one man says. "I can handle it," or "I wasn't given a brain and talents for nothing," says another. "I can do this!" is the typical response of proactive, capable men and women. The question is, Will you trust your experience and expertise or will you trust God? This was Peter's decision.

Have you ever struggled with relying solely on God versus your expertise?

For sure! I have had several times when I wanted to follow what I thought was best, but it wasn't what God had in mind or what God was leading me toward. It is hard to lay aside my humanity and do what He says, but I will always be better for it!

Great list of God's opposites of man's thinking on page 60!


Jesus Heals a Leper and Sends Him to the High Priest

Jesus has been rejected in His hometown, has incurred the wrath of the Pharisees for cleansing the temple in Jerusalem, and has violated their oral laws regarding the Sabbath. He has healed many and is the new matinee idol of the multitudes because of the miracles He has performed. His ministry will now take a hard right turn. He will do something unprecedented in Jewish history. By performing a certain miracle, He will nonverbally, but unequivocally, announce that He is the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18:18 (the Messiah).

Leprosy was a dreaded disease and thought to be highly contagious. Lepers could not socialize with uninfected people and were banned from the synagogue. Considered unclean both physically and spiritually, they were forced to live outside the cities and beg for money to stay alive. As we saw on Day 2, because the Jews were cause and effect thinkers, they considered leprosy a punishment from God. The priests did not even bother to pray for their salvation or for their healing. Leprosy was called "the finger of God." It was God's curse on them for something in their past or the sin of their parents before they reached the age of accountability.

What is significant about this particular leper?

I looked up several internet resources about what was significant about this particular leper, but I am not getting it!

Thankfully the book goes on to say that the leper would have had to believe that Jesus was the Messiah because only the Messiah could heal him.

The leper was to tell _______________. no one

Moses had commanded this as a ______________ to them. testimony

This is the first of three messianic signs by which Jesus would validate Himself as the Messiah. Who better than the high priest to examine this man who was in the advanced stages of leprosy and have to testify that the leper was indeed clean and fully cured? In doing so, he would be indirectly saying that Jesus was truly the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:18

There was one problem. No priest had ever performed this cleansing because no Jewish lepers had ever been healed. Turn to Leviticus 14 and you will read about the eight-day, step-by-step procedure required in the law to be performed by the priest. The humor in this is that the priest would have no idea how to perform the cleansing. Can you imagine the panic in his face and the scrambling he would have done to look up the procedure in Leviticus as if cramming for a test?

Day 15: Jesus Arrives in Galilee and Begins Teaching

Jesus is welcomed in Galilee, but what appears to be acceptance of Him and His messiahship is really a rejection. They flock to Him for one reason His miracles--what he can do for them physically. How would they know He was the Messiah that had been prophesied for generations? how would they know that this was not just a charismatic rabbi with unique gifts? We must see this through Jewish eyes.

These would be the three signs that the Messiah was on the earth and should cause every Jew on the planet to fall down and worship Him.

Miracle #1: The Messiah would heal a Jewish leper. The Old Testament records the healing of Naaman the leper, but he was a Gentile. There was no record of any Jew ever being healed.

Miracle #2: The Messiah would heal a demon-possessed man who was also dumb (could not speak). There were exorcists in that day as there are today. However the demon would also be communicated with through the voice of the one who was possessed.

Miracle #3: The Messiah would heal a man born blind from birth.

Luke 4:15 tells us what three things about Jesus' teaching?
1. He taught in the synagogues
2. Everyone glorified/praised Him
3. ??? I'm not getting the third thing!

Be the Royal Official: Once again, this story will have great meaning to you if you study it emphatically or autobiographically by putting yourself in the scene. Just the small amount of information that has been mentioned is enough to understand and feel the drama of what this man and his wife must have been experiencing. Your son has become increasingly ill and no remedies are available. You are an official who works for one of the most powerful men on earth. You would have access to the best medical care, but nothing is working. You and your wife stay up night after night trying to bring the fever down. There is no ice, so cool water from a well is all you have. You cat nap while your wife watches him. She, in turn, does the same so you can rest. You must be at your job every day, but you can't concentrate. Your wife is becoming emotional, and as the fever climbs she cries, "Do something!"

Herod and his top officials are aware of a Nazarene named Jesus and have been monitoring his movements. The Rabbi has miraculously cured people of many illnesses and He is now in Cana, some seventeen miles away. Wit the dual emotions of fear of never seeing your son again and the hope of a miracle, you set out on your journey. A good day's travel in antiquity was about seventeen miles, but this is your son's life that quivers in the balance. You keep a breakneck pace, slowing down only to catch your breath and drink some water. Time is critical; your son may not have a day left. You reach Cana and ask where you might find Jesus. "Look for the crowd," they say. You come with desperate boldness as you burst into the front of the crowd that surrounds Him. You entreat Him to come to Capernaum and heal your son. You have memorized your speech for seventeen miles, but no convincing is necessary. He speaks to the crowds about needing a miracle in order to believe, then looks in your eyes and with no drama or emotion and calmly says,"Go, your son lives." He has no questions about the illness and there is no hesitation, only a firmness and confidence in His voice and compassion in His eyes. It was not what you expected. Would He not need to personally go to your home and touch the boy? You believe Him, but aren't sure why. It was some indefinable quality that you can't quite put your finger on. You can't explain it, but you walk away wit complete assurance that your son will be okay.

Could you have trusted Jesus that much or would you have had to first see the results? Why or why not?

I think in such a situation, I would have trusted Jesus, because what other choice did he have? He didn't know if his son was going to live, but he obviously thought by going there that he might get a miracle...I think I would trust that it had happened!

In verse 52, what day did the healing occur?

yesterday

Step back into his sandals for a moment: You have had little sleep in weeks. Because of the urgency of the situation, you have traveled seventeen miles in record time. You have survived on pure adrenaline and the love for your child. Jesus tells you he is healed. You believe it! But would you not rush back so you could throw your arms around that little boy as fast as you could, worn out or not? Instead, an afternoon and a night pass. The next morning he begins his journey. It is very likely that the royal official, assured that his son is well, went off completely at peace and got a good night's sleep before starting for home the next morning. Amazing confidence in Jesus!

Notes from" Prayers that Bring Healing"

Subtitle of the book is "Overcome Sickness, Pain, & Disease. God's Healing Is For You!"

I will be reviewing this book on my other blog soon, and am already impressed with the first page!

The word demand means "a seeking or state of being sought after." It means pressing forward despite obstacles to get to a place where the anointing is and expecting it to fall on you...Too often God's people do not receive miracles and healing because they do not place a demand on the anointing. They don't push forward because they don't expect that something miraculous will happen....Let me tell you this: Don't let the devil talk you out of your healing. Put your mind on God. You have to press through discouragement and frustration so that you don't miss your miracle.

In Matthew 9:36, the Bible says that "When [Jesus] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." Jesus cares very deeply that you are hurting and suffering. He doesn't want that for you.

Isaiah 53 is the redemptive chapter. Verse 5 talks about being healed by the stripes of Jesus. The Bible says that Jesus took thirty-nine lashes on His back and body. There are thirty-nine major categories of sickness and disease. Every stripe that Jesus endured took care of a different sickness and disease.

Healing Declarations that I especially like:

By the stripes of Jesus I am healed. He took my sickness; He carried my pain. I believe it is the will of God for me to be healed.

Every hidden sickness and every hidden disease, I command you to leave my body in the name of Jesus.

I command all pain to leave my body in the name of Jesus.

I come against nervous conditions, insomnia, and acid reflux. God had not given me the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind.

I speak to digestive disorders and allergies to certain food. You have no place in my body. You must go in the name of Jesus.

I thank you, Lord, that health and healing are coming now.

When people got word that Jesus was coming to their region, they made their way to meet Him...Their healing, deliverance, and hunger for the Word were so valuable to them that they put their lives on hold and safety at risk. They knew that if they could just get into Jesus' presence all their worries would be subsided and their needs met.

Passive, apathetic saints do not receive from the anointing. We cannot be passive and expect to receive from these gifts. We must be active with our faith.

A word about my decision...

...to no longer share this blog publicly on Facebook. I have been very hurt by someone who is supposed to be a Christian lately. I don't want to stoop to this person's level by being passive aggressive or whatever on there. I don't want those who don't know what is going on to speculate. I figure if you care enough to actually be reading this, that you're not as likely to gossip about me. I pray that I'm right.

I'm very blessed in that I have had several friends minister to me during this time that has been rough. Like many people, my self-esteem is not the greatest. When someone obviously doesn't want anything to do with me, it hurts. I know that my esteem lies only in mine and God's view of me, but the human in me wants to please people, too. I start wondering what is so offensive in me that this person can't stand me?? I need to remember that it is not something I can fix. It is not MY problem to resolve. I am to reach out in love, and that is all I can do. If I do that, and they don't respond, I have tried my best. At this point, it would be best for me to back off. And if they continue to be like this, well...oh well.

It bothers me that apparently this person feels like they no longer have to even pretend to like me or treat me in Christian love now that they don't live near me anymore. Well, now that I think about it, it isn't like she made that much of an effort when we did live nearby. She would walk right by me and not speak. She never spoke to me unless I tried to speak first. You and I know that this is not the way that God would have us behave. And SHE and God will have to deal with that. It isn't my 'thing'.

I've tried. I've honestly tried. I guess what also bothers me is that so many people I know are very oblivious to this side of her, and think she's some kind of saint. THAT is frustrating. But I'm not going there.

The Lord is gonna help me through this. A dear friend suggested a book to me that I'm going to look for that addresses my 'people pleasing' tendencies. If you are reading this...please pray that I continue to leave this in God's hands and stop worrying myself with such pettiness. God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!

Day 14: Jesus Travels Through Samaria

There are two verses here that are the basis of songs that I know...I love finding such verses!

John 4:13-14 "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." I' not sure of the name of this song, but it has a line in the chorus that starts "Spring up, oh, well..."

John 4:24

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

This song is from The 12 Canticles composed by Randall Thompson and dedicated to Emory & Henry's Concert Choir. We sang it as part of our tour(s) when I was in college.

~*~When I was working on this the other day, I got off on a tangent once I started researching these songs! Then we went out of town on a small vacation, so finally I'm back to the article at hand! ~*~

Here's some very relevant history that is important to understanding the relationship of the Biblical Jews and the Samaritans:

Jesus must make a decision that all Jews had to make when traveling between Judea and Galilee. The most direct route would forth them to go through Samaria. The alternate route would take them more than 2 days longer through an area called the Decapolis. This cluster of ten towns was mostly Gentile and extremely pagan. They had to pass by pagan statuaries and monuments that were very offensive to any Jew. However, to go through Samaria was also deeply offensive because of over 700 years of alienation.
It began in 722 BC. The Assyrians, under the leadership of a general named Sargon II conquered the northern kingdom and its capital, Samaria. they took Jewish captives back to Assyria, with the exception of some who hid in the mountains nearby. These stragglers stayed in Samaria and eventually intermarried with non-Jews who traveled through the area. Children were born as a result of those unions and eventually, a half-breed race developed. True Jews considered any marriage outside their race a sacrilege and would do anything to avoid contact with a Samaritan half-breed. Samaritans would not worship in Jerusalem and had set up their own temple on Mount Gerizim, the place where Moses had given a blessing to Israel as they came out of Egypt. They believed in the law, but only the first five books of the Torah (also called the Tanakh). They did not believe in the prophets.

Sidebar p. 50: Samaritans believed in the law but not the prophets. they also refused to worship at the temple in Jerusalem or attend the sacred festivals held there. They worshipped in a temple they had erected at the base of Mount Gerizim at Sychar. They even scratched through references to Jerusalem in the sacred writings and wrote "Mt. Gerizim" in its place.

What does Jesus' decision to go through Samaria tell you about Him?
I think it tells us that he loves them even though their ancestors had made some not-so-great decisions. He is willing to let bygones be bygones and embrace them as people who deserve attention and respect.

Having been trained in phariasaic Judaism, what do you imagine the disciples would have done if they had stayed with Jesus rather than going for lunch?
They would have told Jesus not to speak to her, or at least would have stood by and looked incredulous!

Step into the Woman's Sandals: You are coming to get water at noon rather than in the early morning or end of the day when all of the other women come. You have been unsuccessful in marriage five times. Wild rumors have circulated about the failed marriages, but only you know the reasons why. You are currently unmarried and living with a man. The gossip around town is unbearable, and you are shunned by the women. As this woman, would you not come at an hour when no other women would be at the well? Would you not be interested if someone told you He knows of a way you would never have to come back to this well again and feel the stares of the others critically boring into on you? Through Jesus speaks of a "Water that can refresh your soul forever," you are only capable at this point of thinking on a physical level.

Why do you think the woman continues talking to Jesus?
She wants to hear more about this living water that never runs dry. She doesn't really understand what he is talking about, but Jesus knows this about her and knows that this will get her listening!

Jewish tradition stated that a woman may be divorced a maximum of three times. Understanding the Jewish perspective is critical. Divorce was only the prerogative of the man, therefore we know that if a divorce occurred, it was initiated by her husband. However, we can't necessarily assume that she was a terrible wife. The school of Shammai stated that divorce was legitimate only in cases of unfaithfulness. The more liberal school of Hallel said that a man could divorce a woman for almost any reason, from burning his breakfast to seeing another woman at the market whom he thought was more attractive than his wife. She could well have been the victim of some egotistical morons who divorced her for selfish reasons. Also, the inability of the woman to bear children was the most frequent cause of divorce in antiquity; the woman was often considered to be paying the price for her past sins...This could well have been the reason for one or more of her divorces. But, what about the other husbands? For all we know, they may have died (without even asking her permission)...Keep in mind that the penalty for adultery was stoning, so had she been known as a promiscuous woman, as most people assume, she would have been executed long ago. Jesus was probably the only one who knew.

Sidebar p. 51: Though Jesus does not condone the fact that the woman is living with her boyfriend, He sees much deeper into the pain that drove her there. To understand and to empathize is not necessarily to condone (my emphasis added). When hope is lost, people tend to seek any avenue of retreat to assuage the pain. Jesus does not lecture her about her sin, He simply reveals Himself to her and everything changes.

Ooooh, so true! Some good stuff coming up here!!

ASSUMPTIONS! When we label someone, we put the person in a box from which it can be impossible to escape. It takes the potential of forgiveness and redemption out of the equation. This woman had undoubtedly made some critical mistakes, but have we assumed more negatives about her than the evidence supports? Jesus did not see a promiscuous woman. He saw a woman battered and scarred by her past, a woman who had lost hope. He longed to help her rather than write her off and label her as unfit for the kingdom (my emphasis added).

Have you ever had a personal experience like this or known someone who has been labeled or defined a certain way without people knowing the whole story?
Yes, yes, yes, yes!! I'm STILL dealing with ramifications of this instance that happened 16 years ago! 1 person in particular STILL has me in a box. Not that it matters in the scheme of my life, but sadly, she does.

Sidebar p.52: Many things can be learned from this encounter. Hopefully we will not miss the fact that Jesus neither condoned the woman's current indiscretion nor did He make her behavior the focal point of the problem. Unhealthy relationships are symptomatic of heart issues. Too often we define people by their behavior. This story screams out to us: "Deal with the person, not what the person has done!" (my emphasis added)

Doesn't this speak directly to what we in the church are dealing with today?? We are to LOVE the sinner and hate the sin. Too often all we see is the sin and not the person. We want to send them away, thinking their sin is greater than our own. We may not understand their situation or lifestyle, but ostracizing them is certainly not going to help them think we are anything but righteous and judgmental. Lord, help us to do better! Work in me, and let me live the way You would have me to live!!

Other than the woman running to tell the townspeople what happened to her, how do we know that something radical happened to the woman? Verse 28 says,"She left ___________." What does this indicate to us?

She left her jar! She was so excited that she forgot what that for which she came to the well!

Day 13: A Learned Law Professor Seeks Jesus By Night

Sidebar p. 47: As we study, keep in mind that this cleansing of the temple was much more than an "incident." It would prove to be a major contributing factor to Jesus' ultimate death.

Why do you think Nicodemus would be secretive about his desire to speak with Jesus?
It might not have been PC to talk to Jesus. He may have been intrigued and wanted to know more, but he didn't know how his peers would feel about it.

Another interesting sidebar: Whether then or now, men often have a difficult time coming to Jesus openly. Sometimes they will only come, in a sense, "by night," under cover of darkness. For a grown man, successful in his vocation, to come to Jesus, he will be admitting that all of his prior years on the planet have been lived in error.

VERY interesting and insightful!

Nicodemus's confusion when Jesus says he must be "born again" takes on new significance when we see it from a Hebrew perspective. The phrase "born again" was a very common Jewish idiom. There were at least six different avenues through which a person could be "born again":
1. When a Gentile converts to Judaism (and becomes a proselyte).

(I'm not sure what this word means, so I'll look it up here in a minute!)

2. When a man become king (not of the tribe of Judah or house of David).
3. When a male is circumcised at age thirteen (Nicodemus was was past that age).
4. Between ages eighteen and about twenty-five, a Jewish man would marry a Jewish woman and it was said of him: "he has been born again."
5. When a man becomes a rabbi around age thirty. (See 3:1, as a "spiritual ruler," Nicodemus was already a rabbi.)
6. When he became a leading teacher in a rabbinical school around age fifty.

Nicodemus asks, "How can a man be born again when he is ____________?" Old

This tells us that he has exhausted every avenue in his understanding through which this might be possible. Examine the list again. Can you picture this learned rabbi mentally checking off each of these as Jesus spoke. Finally he comes to the end, realizing that he has qualified at every level under Jewish definition and that the only remaining option is almost too ridiculous to even mention. Surely Jesus could not possibly mean the absurd notion of reentering his mother's womb, could He?

sidebar p. 48: Nicodemus is mentioned in rabbinic writings. His Hebrew name was actually Nakdimon Ben Bonai. He was one of the wealthiest men in Jerusalem and sometime after he became a believer in Jesus, he somehow lost his wealth. After that, he made a living as a well digger in Jerusalem.

Look at the following verses, and write in your own words four things John says to them in response:

Verse 27: nothing can be received by people except through heaven

Verse 28: you yourselves know that I said that I am not the Christ, but am sent before him.

Verse 30: he will become bigger, and I will become smaller

Verse 34: God sent him and he speaks words of God.

Sidebar p. 49: John Wesley said that a leader is not fond of his power. Such is the case with John. He knows his role and realizes that he must fade into the background, though his followers find this difficult to accept. John has great humility, something seldom seen in our present-day leadership, spiritual or otherwise. It has become the forgotten virtue, yet we will observe this great emphasis on humility throughout the Gospels. (I love the reference to John Wesley, founder of Methodism...and this isn't a Methodist-produced study! :) )

Why was John in prison? Herod Antipas had a brother named Herod Phillip. He divorced his wife, Herodius, and Herod Antipas married her. Leviticus 20:20 says that a man may not marry his brother's wife while he is still alive. John, not known for his reluctance to speak the truth, confronts Herod about his sin with all the subtlety of a meat cleaver and is promptly thrown in jail for his trouble.

OK, looked up meaning of proselyte. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, it occurs only in the New Testament where it signifies a convert to the Jewish religion.

Help me Lord....

help me to remember that what You know about me and what You think about me is the only thing I need to worry myself with. Beating myself up and questioning things that are out of my control are not what You want for me. I am sorry for the wrong I've done, Lord. I am human. I sometimes let my emotions get the best of me. I can certainly be stubborn. I can also be hypocritical. Take these things and change me, Lord. I am so very grateful for all that You do and have done for me and my family every day! I want to become more like You and to follow Your lead. Show me what You would have me to do. Remind me to speak in love and to follow my own advice. Bind my tongue when it is not speaking words that would be pleasing unto You. Remind me that a smile on my face goes a long way, and help me to be encouraging to others instead of tearing them down. Help me use my struggles, my strengths, my victories, my pains, my ALL to bring You glory. I do love You so much, Lord, and want my actions, thoughts, and expressions to be pleasing unto You!

And for little reminder that You just sent me? I got it! Thank you, Lord. I will focus on the ones who matter and who can love me in spite of my many imperfections! You've always got my needs in mind before I even share my thoughts with You! Amazing, awesome, humbling....You are all!

Day 12: Jesus' First Miracle/Jesus cleanses the temple in Jerusalem

Sidebar p. 44: There have been various ancient books claiming that Jesus did miracles as a young boy. John tells us here, very clearly, that the changing of the water into wine was Jesus' first miracle, invalidating the claims of other writings.

...He has the servants take six twenty-to-thirty-gallon clay pots, which were used mostly for foot washing, and fill them with water. (This water would have been unsuitable for drinking.)

Be the servants: You would, no doubt, swallow hard, look at each other in dismay, and consider your jobs as history when Jesus tells you to take a class of this nasty, brackish water to your boss to be approved for the guests. Imagine the absurdity of it all from the perspective of the poor servants, who are just trying to make a few extra bucks on the weekend. Imagine how you would hold your breath and brace yourself for that moment when he tastes this putrid stuff and spews it out on the ground. Only, it never happens. A smile comes over the wine steward's face, and he compliments the groom on continuing to serve high-quality wine even toward the end of the party. The following Monday morning, imagine trying to respond to the question,"Well, Sam, how was your weekend?"

There are many applications that can be made from this familiar story. Even at the end of the party, in our last days on this earth, the joy is meant to come with great intensity. But what happens when the wine runs out? What does a person do when their joy runs dry and their passion for life slows to a trickle? Aside from the cliches and five-step plans to restore your joy, what do you say to someone when the wine has run out in their life? What do you say to yourself?

This brings to mind an elderly person who is tired of being in pain, missing his/her siblings, spouse, etc. but finds him/herself still on this earth. I think I would try to make the point to him/her that he/she still has a purpose and job that God wants them to do here on earth, and to try to figure out and strive to do it well for the Master.

But it also makes me think about how I know I have felt when stuck in the mire of depression. No mere words will pull me out, even if I know that I have everything under the sky to be thankful for and to enjoy. It is a feeling that words cannot describe. That is when relying on the Lord and clinging to Him comes in! I think of how I felt back in the fall when I was off my meds (in the first trimester of my pregnancy) and I lost a loved one unexpectedly. I had nothing BUT the cross to cling to. No one else could say words that would bring comfort, especially those in my family who were also hurting. I wanted desperately to take those pills and get the chemicals flowing through my veins again, but my loved ones reminded me that I could do this, with Jesus' help, and follow my doctor's guidelines in order to keep my baby safe. Thinking back to that difficult time brings tears again, because it was so heart wrenching. It still is, not a year later! I miss her so much, and I know others do as well....especially her kids, her sister, her parents, and her boyfriend. But we have to go on. We have to cling to Jesus and trust in Him to carry us when we cannot rely on our own strength. I don't know how in the world people get through difficult times without Him!

Interesting! Good Friday (the Passover when Christ died) was the day of the Passover celebration and the day that the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. For the previous twelve hundred years, the priest blew the shophar (ram's horn) at 3:00 p.m. The moment the lamb was sacrificed, all the people paused to contemplate the sacrifice for sins on behalf of the people of Israel. On Good Friday at 3:00 p.m., when Jesus was being crucified, He said, "It is finished." At that moment the Passover lamb was sacrificed, and the shophar was blown from the temple. The sacrifice of the Lamb of God was fulfilled at the exact hour that the symbolic animal sacrifice usually took place.


Sidebar p. 45: When someone possesses a deep capacity for love and compassion, he often will posses a similar capacity on the other end of the emotional scale. He will be capable of hating that which negatively impacts the object of that love. (Hence, Jesus' anger at the temple!)

...The pilgrims were required to bring an animal to be sacrificed. The animal had to be an unblemished male. Most families raised a lamb from birth for the purpose of presenting it at the temple courtyard. However, Annas and his fellow priests seldom accepted the animal brought by the pilgrims. They often found some blemish that made it unacceptable for sacrifice. This problem, however, could be quickly remedied. Out back, temple sheep were kept, available for purchase at an outrageous fee. However, only Jewish coinage was accepted as payment. Moneychangers stood nearby, always happy to exchange the pilgrims' Roman coinage for a "nominal fee." In addition, a temple tax had to be paid. This is why Jesus was angry. The bartering and selling was in the outer courtyard, not inside the temple, yet the priests had turned this sacred place into a haven of opportunity to swindle the people, a "den of thieves."

Sidebar p. 46: If Jesus walked into your community of faith, what tables would He likely overturn? He would probably overturn us worrying so about paying bills but not about doing the ministry that Christ would have us to do, like with apportionments.

Why do you think Jesus intended to pass the disciples by?
They had spent years saving and raising this lamb, and it was truly unblemished. It was selfish and dishonest to say that it was not fit to be sacrificed, and even more dishonest to charge such a fee for a different lamb raised at the temple.

With whom is Jesus angry? Primarily, the priests who have encouraged this to take place in the temple. They are the ones that have changed this sacred place into a moneymaking venture.

Could He have handled the situation in a different way?
Yes, but it is unlikely that doing so diplomatically would have brought about any change!

What would you have done?
I'll admit it, I've been known to pitch some fits when I think things are being done unfairly or unjustly. However, I know that in MY position--I'm clearly not Jesus!--it would be more effective to 'catch flies with honey instead of vinegar'.

Does this justify violence on our part when our values are violated?
Justify it? No. But explain it to an extent? Yes. It is a definite rough spot in which to be!

Sidebar p. 46: In John 2:24-25, we see that there is a difference between being a critical person and a critical thinker. Write the difference below.

Being a critical thinker means to think about things objectively. Being a critical person is being judgemental and harsh to others, often when it is not warranted.

Summarize verses 24-25 in your own words.

Jesus didn't trust them with his life. He didn't need their endorsement, for he knew what they were made of.

Day 11: When the Good News Gets Even Better

Think about this: What do you want? What do you really want? Don't write down the nice, proper, politically correct answer. What are you really looking for? Is it success, financial security, personal fulfillment, a house in the Bahamas? Did you know that God is more interested in your wants than in your needs. This is not a prosperity statement! Your needs are guaranteed if you trust Him (Phil. 4:19). But what you want in your heart is what reveals your character. If you are unwilling to acknowledge what you really want and give a cliche answer, God will have to wait until you get real. There is no way to trick Him. So, what do you really want?

I really want financial security, and time with my loved ones.

Sidebar page 42: More than discipline, discipleship requires passion and desire. You have to really want to be a disciple. Some aren't ready, and sadly, some may never be. Many say that this is what they really want but find that the cost is to high.

Philip asks Nathanael to at least "check Him out," and Nathanael reluctantly agrees. Upon meeting Jesus, he is startled by His greeting. Write verse 47: Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Nazarenes were despised by Judeans. They were thought to be self-absorbed and only interested in money. Nathanael suffered from deep prejudice that he would later have to yield to the Savior.

When you think of someone in the Old Testament who was crafty, deceitful, and full of guile, who do you think of? _______________ (Hint for one example He tricked his brother and stole his birthright.) Jacob

Nathanael's immediate response is _____________. Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Day 10: When the Good News Gets Even Better

So true: How many times have you floated away on a spiritual high from a retreat or time with friends or family, only to be cut off at the knees by an avalanche of issues or temptations? Jesus was not exempt from such an experience. On a high mountain, He is tempted by Satan in the same three fundamental areas in which we are all tempted.

From 1 John 2:16, those three areas are the lust of the ______________, the lust of _____________, and the _________________.

flesh, eyes, and the pride of life

1. "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

This temptation appeals to the lust of the ___________. flesh

2. "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down" (for angels will catch you).

Satan appeals to Jesus' _______________ to fully reveal Himself. pride

3. Satan offers to deliver to Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for His worship.

Satan appeals to the lust of the ___________. eyes

In the first two temptations, Satan questions Jesus' identity ("If you are the Son of God"). If Satan can confuse us concerning who we are in Christ, then collapsing in the face of temptation is pretty much a done deal...game over!

Read John 14:10. Notice the last few words. Paraphrase what Jesus says.

Jesus says that if we should believe that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. The Father lives in Him, and does all the work!

Sidebar: The issue that tends to elude most of us as believers is that God's desire is not to take a weak person and make him strong so that he can operate in strength. God's idea is for us to realize that we are weak and yield ourselves to Jesus within us to be our strength and therefore overcome our weakness. Its all about Him...not about us being gallant and courageous on His behalf.

Something to think about: The secret of Jesus' life was that He didn't live it! How does that grab you? The truth is that every miracle He performed and every word He uttered was done by God the Father through Jesus the Son...You see the total dependence on His Father with every breath He took....The (1st) temptation rested in Satan's hope and desire to get Jesus to do a harmless deed through His own strength and energy rather than in total dependence on God the Father...give some thought to the implications of living by the life of another in terms of living your own life by the life of Jesus within you. Discuss what this would mean.

It reminds me, somewhat, of being an expectant mother...except that Jesus is the one calling the shots!

What do the following passages say about Satan's current position in the world?

Satan is ___________________ (2 Cor. 4:4). blind

Satan is ___________________ (Eph. 2:2).disobedient

Satan is _________________ (John 12:31; 16:11). cast out

On Day 1, we saw that "the Word [Jesus] became flesh and lived among us. "Word" here is logos, meaning "person". Read Romans 10:17 and write it below. Then try to put it to memory.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

"Word" is also used in John 1 but with a different meaning. The word used here is rama, which means "revelation". Now rewrite the verse using the word revelation.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the revelation of Christ.