Day 3: When The Good News Gets Even Better

Read and compare the two encounters with Gabriel and the difference between Zacharia's and Mary's response.

Zacharia responded with fear, Mary was shaken but not afraid. Zacharia responded with disbelief, Mary responded by promising she would do as it was said.

There is a sidebar about the prophesies about the Messiah's birth. Then there is a question:
What would have been the one prophecy about the Messiah that would probably have caused Mary to think she would not be the one? (see Mic. 5:2) This one talks about how the birth would come from Bethlehem, but that was not where she lived.

Take a guess from the following options at what age a young man and a young woman would be considered ready for marriage.
A Jewish girl: 12, 12 yrs. + 1 day, 13, 14 1/2
A Jewish boy: 13, 14, 16, 18
The correct answer would be girl: 12 years + 1 day and boy: 18 yrs.

An interesting tidbit on the sidebar: The angel Gabriel is highly regarded in Jewish theology in Jewish theology as a messenger from God. He is pictured in rabbinic writings as standing before the throne of God. For Gabriel to be send specifically to Zacharias implies that he was a major topic of discussion in the "board room" in heaven, an incredible honor for him.


In the next section, we're asked to stand in Mary's sandals.

*You will have to entrust yourself to God for your relationship with your fiance. Describe your emotions after you begin to process what you have been told.

Wow. As a mom I know what emotions I went through each time I discovered I was expecting, and once even as I found out that I'd been given a blessed surprise kind of like Mary. But to know how I would be scrutinized, how hard life would be for me the next several months?? I would have been scared and apprehensive, and feel as though I had nowhere to turn. Being as that she didn't explain things to her family, there had to be times when they chastised her. She was experiencing new emotions and physical sensations and wasn't able to fully share and embrace them because she could not share from which they came. She had to feel frustrated at times over this, I would think!

You will have to trust God to protect you from slander within your community. How will your child be viewed as He grows up?
I would think that knowing that He was going to be the Messiah brought her comfort and hope that He would be accepted and loved by all. I would think she would feel that her current frustrations and pains would be worth it once everyone knew that she had been chosen to carry the Messiah!

You will have to trust God for your personal safety. The penalty for a betrothed virgin found with child was ......death! (Lev. 20:10)

Something to consider: Often God does things that may seem illogical to us at the time because He thinks so differently than we do.

Can you think of a way God has does this sort of thing in your life or in the lives of others?

We were just talking about this last night at United Methodist Women..a friend of ours had recently quit her job due to lots of problems coming up there, and it was very difficult and painful for her. She recently found out that her mother may have cancer. We agreed that maybe God had helped relieve her of her job so she could be free to care for her mother.

Day 2: When the Good News Gets Even Better

Some interesting tidbits from day 2:
On Herod:

He suffered from paranoia, always fearful that his crown would be stolen from him. Ruthless and bloodthirsty, he put to death anyone he even mildly suspected of usurping his authority. He had 3 of them (his wives) and at least 3 of his sons killed for that very reason...He was deeply hated by the Pharisees because of his contempt for the laws of God and by the Sadducees, who resented him for severely curtaining their power and influence....he supposedly converted to Judaism but was never considered a true Jew...he was well aware of his unpopularity among the Jews and feared that no one would mourn on the day he died. He ordered that prominent families (men, women, and children) be gathered together and herded into the Hippodrome (a large stadium area) and put to death the moment he died so that there would be mourning throughout the land on that day. Upon his death, his wife mercifully released all of the people, subverting his evil wishes...Herod the Paranoid may be a more fitting title for him at the end of his life.

On Zacharias:

Because no one but the priest may enter into the Holy of Holies, a rope would have been tied around his waist in order to pull him out in the event that he died performing his duties...where the angel stood was the cause of his great fear...if the priest entered the Holy of Holies and an angel appeared at the right side of the altar, God was displeased with the offering and the priest would die. Though there is no record of this ever happening, the possibility was always on their mind...

This little quiz was included....which of these quotations are from the Bible?
--"Charity begins at home."

--"Above all, to thine own self be true."

--"God helps those who help themselves."

--"Never a borrower or a lender be."

--"Cleanliness is next to godliness."

--"The Devil can cite Scripture for his own purpose."

(For the record, none of these are found in the Bible!

Can you think of any Christian traditions that are more cultural than biblical?

Many of our traditions surrounding Christmas are cultural. Anything related to Independence Day is cultural, of course.

On Elizabeth:

Consider the fact that Elizabeth is childless. Her barrenness would have been considered a great shame in first-century Jewish culture. This cause-and-effect mentality would foster the natural assumption that she and her husband had secretly sinned against God and were paying the price. many believers still think that way today.

Imagine being saddled with this kind of guilt all your life. Consider for a moment what God is doing here. This faithful couple painfully accepts their plight of childlessness. At the point where they have finally given up the dream of having children, God comes through against all odds. What does this say to you about learning to give up? We are taught always to persevere and to persist however, it is often when we finally give up our desires and dreams that God comes through in miraculous ways.

Question: Write what it means to "die to your dreams."

I think that this means that when we finally realize that we can't do it on our own, that we can't reach that goal in our life by our own might and power, that God is able to work. When we give up control and stop focusing on the GOAL instead of GOD, that He shows us that our faithfulness is really what He desired to see in us all along!

Thus ends Day 2...let's not even talk about how many days it took for me to get this one done!

Web Ministry class

I'm doing a course through the United Methodist Board of Global Ministry called "Web Ministry". It is interesting stuff! I hope to put my new knowledge to use in helping our church create more of a presence on the web. I have found some statements in the reading that I'm doing today that I'd like to keep track of, hence this blog post! :)

The title of this reading is "Defining Moments"

The word “communication” has its roots in “commune” or “common ground.”
Communication involves using tools to “push” information to people and/or “pull” people in by the information we share...With the Web, we are able to combine the “push” and “pull” of communication to achieve a dynamic experience for listeners and viewers...Our intent in communicating the gospel is to determine how the message we communicate should be focused for the people of our time...we are concerned with the question, “How can the gospel be communicated to make the message heard and seen, and then either rejected or accepted?”...The Christian gospel is a matter of decision … All that we who communicate the gospel can do is to make possible a genuine decision.”...But our objective should always be to present the gospel in ways so clear and self-evident that the recipient will have an Aha! experience and the good news will make perfect sense to his or her inner world...Because communication, and more specifically communication of the gospel, is a matter of participation, we who communicate the gospel must understand the others to whom we are communicating. We must find a common ground upon which to communicate...When we communicate the gospel, we seek to make vital connections that:

*
Tell the church's story.
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Touch people's lives.
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Support one another along the spiritual journey.
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Reach out to those who are hurting, in need and suffering.
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Put faith into action.
Whether you are ready for it or not, the Internet is the new mission field and the place to engage people in meaningful relationships with one another and with God.

So there's today's interesting tidbits! :)

When the Good News Gets Even Better

Yes, I'm doing it again, starting a new Bible study. Since I'm now DONE with studying for school, maybe I'll actually complete this one!

Have any of you done this study? I'd love someone to discuss this with, if so!

So today I begin!

Interesting thoughts:

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel is called the "bride of God."...They, like each of us, have loved God and yet have disobeyed Him, often trusting in their own abilities rather than in His faithfulness and sovereignty. God's beloved bride sought other lovers, yet He continues, even to this day, to pursue them with His unfailing love.
But God had been strangely silent during the four hundred years from the end of the writing of the Old Testament until the beginning of the New Testament...At the right time, He wraps Himself in human skin and pitches His tent in the midst of humanity and lives among those He created, identifying with every human emotion and every human hurt. Never again would a man or woman be able to say,"God, you don't understand what it's like to be me."

Did you know Luke was the only gospel writer who was not a Jew? I didn't! He writes to the fellow Gentiles, specifically Greeks, who were consumed with the concept of the "ideal man."

On the sidebar of p. 11...

You may wonder how these men could have remembered exact conversations and teachings of Jesus 30-60 years after the fact....Every word is from the very breath of God. How can we know they were accurate? In John 14:26, Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit will give them perfect recall. (He will "bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.")

Write a brief definition of the "gospel" as it is typically used today. ("We left our former church because the minister didn't preach the gospel.")

I wrote: gospel = teachings on life of Jesus

If the Word is a person and not simply doctrinal information, can we not properly conclude that the "gospel" is also a person?...We will never all agree on every point, but we can agree that the gospel IS this unique, God-man, Jesus Christ, fully and completely, and believe if He is lifted up as the centerpiece, the whole world will feel welcome to gather around Him, explore His free gift of life, and become His companion.

From the sidebar on p. 12: "...Doctrine is a tool that god uses to change our perception of reality, but only the person of Jesus can change teh heart. Everything was intended to revolve around this person. Life is a person (Col. 3:4); Truth is a person (John 14:6); Love is a person (1 John 4:16). A particular theology may draw some, but only the person of Jesus can draw every human being. If we gather around the centrality of Jesus, our theological differences will slowly dissipate because our desire will change from wanting to be right to wanting only Him."

Also from p. 12 sidebar: 5 women appear in Matthew's genealogy of Christ: Tamar (a Jew), Rahab (a Gentile prostitute), Ruth (a Moabite), Bathsheba (a temptress who brought down a king), and Mary (a simple peasant girl)
Matthew is telling us that a new age is coming; a time when Jews and Gentiles, men and women, saints and sinners will all be on equal footing with God. the Messiah will make no distinctions. This would have been revolutionary.

Finally finished with Day 1...only took me 3 days! LOL

Found a new Bible Study!

I'm so excited! It looks like this sweet lady posts something three times a week, so I'm gonna try to get in on it and participate! Maybe knowing that others are doing it at the same time will motivate me...I'm so bad about falling by the wayside when I'm not accountable! Here is the blog: On Topic Bible Study

So the word for the week for us to motivate upon is belong. We're encouraged to find a scripture containing the word for the week, too. I'll work on that in a few.

Some questions were posed that I'd like to respond to:
Most members are proud of the group / organization they belong to - what groups do you belong to and what brings you joy in belonging to this/these groups? Are you a member because of the perks?

I'm not really a member of any groups other than those that are church related anymore. Yes, I am brought joy in these groups--praising the Lord, sharing the faith with others, teaching children about the Lord--and I don't look for the glory in them, I want God to get all the glory! I certainly don't do it for recognition, I do it because it is something I feel called to do.

Can you finish this sentence: I enjoy belonging to God because _________!

...I know He loves me no matter what!

I'll be back to answer...baby needs some attention!

OK, back! Here is the Bible verse I found: Galatians 3:29
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

I'll answer the above questions there underneath the actual question, so scroll back up to see my thoughts!

I AM Bible study: Lesson Twelve

I am so bad. I started this Bible study literally years ago, and still haven't finished it! However, since I am currently reading my friend Lisa's first book, You Can Still Wear Cute Shoes, I decided today to go back and do some more of her I AM So You Don't Have to Be Bible study. I know I've said this before, but in case someone else happens upon this post, I will tell you again that Lisa and I went to high school together. We weren't necessarily 'friends', but we were on annual staff together which means that we did have one class together my sophomore/her senior year. She was someone that I was in awe of, to be honest. She was beautiful, had the perfect 80s hair down pat, and seemed to have a Devil may care attitude. We realized when I started visiting her blog that we had lived in the same town, and then it dawned upon me that I remembered her! I actually graduated with her sister Christi. Though we haven't seen each other in years and years, I am so very proud to call her my friend, and am extremely proud of the work that God has done in her! Her book is WONDERFUL, and I highly suggest it not only to preacher's wives, but to laypeople as well. As a preacher's kid, I can relate to much of what she is saying. We had some....interesting, shall we say?....experiences as a parsonage family, and I really need to write down stories as I remember them, cause they really are funny! Of course, I would never share incriminating evidence or names...but truly, there have been some things that, looking back, were totally unexpected and some that were very life-affirming. Though I have no great desire to go into full-time ministry myself, nor to be part of a parsonage family again, I now realize how much growing up as a part of my father's ministry shaped me, and prepared me for the types of ministry that God wanted ME to be in as an adult.

OK, enough said about that. Shew! Back to the Bible study!

Background reading for today's lesson, "A Face With a Name", comes from Exodus 33 and John 14.

These verses from The Message translation absolutely crack me up! verse 5-6:

"God said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You're one hard-headed people. I couldn't stand being with you for even a moment--I'd destroy you. So take off all your jewelry until I figure out what to do with you."....

Somehow it makes me feel better to think that even in Biblical times, other people could do such silly things that God couldn't stand to be with them. So that makes me think I'm not the only person who does dumb things. Also, since I really didn't want to be in the same room with my sons last night, it makes me feel better that God felt/feels that way about His children, too! Maybe I'm not a terrible mommy after all!

Lisa's words strike me here:

"There is one thing God will always be and that is the One who fills the Universe with marvelous light. God's eternal, transcending glory is never compromised."

Amen and Amen!

and this:

"Many believers set themselves up for disappointment by becoming what James MacDonald calls 'Wonder Junkies'. They are so transfixed on the huge displays of God they can't cope during the days of small things."

Very true!

And now for the questions!

1. We discussed how we are God’s fame and He is ours. Have you ever been in a situation where you are applauded for your ministry and had to fight back the idol of pride? Ever been tempted to believe your own press? It’s okay to admit it! Your testimony will help others in their resolve!

Hmm...maybe??! I can't think of a time, but I am sure, being a prideful human, that it has taken place. Moreso, I think of times that my 'fame' brought shame to the Lord instead, and I had to come to terms with the pain that this brought to me. Times when my behavior and actions did not shine His light on my dad's ministry, times when my behavior and actions did not shine His light on my own ministry, and times that my behavior and actions show ME--the human, ugly, selfish me, not the person I strive to become in His eyes!

2. Did it ever occur to you in the 3-way drama of God, Job, and Satan that Satan was the only one outside the loop as far as Job’s reactions would be? Does this encourage you in resolving to make a fool of him when he attempts to use you to defame the Name?

No, honestly, it didn't! It brings me comfort to know that Satan was the only one in the dark in this! It does encourage me to make a fool of him. I can remind myself when I am feeling discouraged by him that God and I both know that we will make it through the rough times together and that the Lord and his Goodness will prevail!!

3. Are you in a situation now where you feel you are being overcome? Better yet, are you in a situation where you should have been overcome but are not?

Oh yes. I'm feeling very much overcome right now. I'm physically tired all the time with this pregnancy. I haven't admitted it out loud, but I believe that the fibromyalgia is rearing its ugly head, making things more difficult. The tears are threatening to overflow just writing this down. I want so much to defeat this syndrome that the Devil has placed up on me, but truly....I've known with the particular types of pain that I've been feeling over the past few weeks that I'm fighting THOSE pains again. I don't know why it feels like a weakness to admit it, but it does. I want to be stronger than the pain, but I can't be, at least not on my own. I feel like I get so little done that is productive and helpful. I just cleaned the toilet bowl, and had to sit back down because I was short of breath and my back hurt. I don't want to be a whiner, but this is HARD! I've tried to 'enjoy' this pregnancy, but honestly, I'm counting down the days. Yes, things won't be easy when he gets here--sleepless nights, relearning all those baby things that you think you'll never forget, but at least I will have a little more control back of my own body. I loved nursing Adam and didn't feel 'tied' to him with it. Right now I feel as though I am not my own.

Add to that the stinkin' situation with school....they changed the nature of this class we're taking right now, and we are the official 'guinea pigs' for this one. Given the snow we've had this winter, I'm nervous about getting things done for this class before the baby comes. I know that God is in control, and that does bring me peace. Now if only I could remember that ALL the time!!

4. Have you failed in a Satan-designed trial? Can you recognize God intends for this failure to refine and resolve you for next time? God is not out for your destruction but your perfection!

Interesting question. At first I want to say no, because if I'm still alive I haven't failed. But thinking more about it, yes I have. I think that the times that I have had to totally rely on Him and cling to Him have been Satan-designed, esp. those where I have suffered major depressive episodes. Though I don't wish to go through such trials again by ANY stretch, I know that they have helped to make me who I am today, and that through those trials, I have and can continue to show His glory!!

5. Can you describe yourself as a Wonders Junkie? Found yourself in spiritual highs and lows depending on whether you perceived God was doing wondrous things or not?

When I was younger and less mature, sure. I believe I've grown past that now, though. God is good ALL the time, even in the days when I struggle. When I think of how much worse it could be if He WASN'T there...oh man! Unfathomable! Scary! Thank you, Lord, for being here and in control!!

6. Have you ever been like Philip and had God right in your face and not recognized Him?

Oh yes. Most definitely!

7. Journal a brief prayer asking God for His Glory. Let it be the thing we all desire above all else…..

Lord, shine through me through it all. Show your Glory through this pregnancy and through me fighting this fibromyalgia. I know that YOU are in control, now let me show this to others through how I respond to difficulties! Thank you, Lord, for your many, many, many blessings!! Amen

Hagar Day 2: Why Should I?

When studying Abraham, we encounter a complex relationship between the patriarch, his wife, and a legal concubine. Bear in mind that at this time there was no written Law or Ten Commandments denouncing polygamy....When God gave Moses the law, he forbade adultery. Adultery is defined as any sexual relationship outside marriage.

Trials have a way of bringing out either the best or the worst in us. That's because they have the uncanny ability to expose our hearts. ...What springs out of your mouth when things don't go your way?

1. Compare Sarah's response to unexpected consequences with those of Adam and Eve.

When things didn't go the way she had wished, she started complaining instead of looking at what she'd done wrong. When Adam and Eve did wrong, they hid instead of owning up. Both began blaming others.

2.a. How did Sarah bring God into the equation?

He told Abraham that she wished for the Lord to judge between he and Sarah.

b. Have you ever done the same thing? If so, when?

I can't think of a specific time, though one might come to mind later!

3. Explain how Abraham responded to the conflict.

He pretty much wiped his hands of it and said for Sarah to deal with it. In that way, he also judged Hagar by refusing to help her.

4. What was the outcome of Abraham's approach?

Sarah then treated Hagar abusively, and Hagar ran away.

5.a. Who did Hagar encounter as she "fled"?


An angel of the Lord approached Hagar.

b. Recount their conversation.

The angel asked her why she was there. Hagar explained why she was there, and the angel told her to go back and to submit to Sarah.

6. Describe the internal conflict that Hagar may have felt in response to the Lord's command.

Hagar didn't want to be mistreated by Sarah, but she also knew she needed to do what the angel told her to do. She didn't want to submit since she was bearing Abraham's child, but again, that was what she was told to do.

7. Sin caused Sarah to behave irrationally, from an untamed tongue to an uncontrolled temper. Place a check in the boxes below to note the ways you have behaved irrationally. Then ask God to check your heart and cleanse you from these sins.

CHECK: Gossip and backbiting
CHECK: Outburst of anger
CHECK: Cold shoulder
CHECK: Physical violence
CHECK: Overeating
CHECK: Overspending

8. Hagar bore the brunt of Sarah's wrath. Have you ever come out on the short end of the stick? If so, journal about a situation where you were blamed for something you did not do. How did it make you feel, and what did you do about it?

I don't know that this is exactly the same thing, but at work I once felt as though my 'team' was being punished for actually stating what we desired during the school day. It was very frustrating, and I agonized over how to get my point across. I only wanted the best for the children, but our suggestions weren't always taken as such. Over time and continued dedication, I feel like we all overcame the situation, though it wasn't always easy.

9. Hagar received a difficult request--return to a scornful woman and submit. Do you know somebody in a painful place? Rewrite the following verse into a prayer of comfort on that person's behalf.

Father God, I give you all the praise for the kindness and caring that exist in the world. Please give my friend comfort during this difficult time and help me to also offer comfort to her. Let me give her the love that You have given me, Heavenly Father. Though we feel real pain just as Christ felt, we also feel the comfort He brings. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV

Here is a fantastic quote by Joni Eareckson Tada:

You don't have to be alone in your hurt! Comfort is yours. Joy is an option. And it's all been made possible by your Savior. He went without comfort so that you might have it. He postponed joy so that you might share in it. He willingly chose isolation so that you might never be alone in your hurt and sorrow.