Weight Loss Bible Study - Day 12

Welcome to Day 12 - Hopeless Eating

From Barb's Blog:
"Have you ever thought, 'I'll never get over this, I'll be struggling with my weight 'til the day I die?'"
(me: raises hand.)
She tells us that it isn't hopeless if we fight the lies with truth.
Go read her blog post for today.
https://barbraveling.com/2012/07/10/weight-loss-bible-study-day-12-hopeless-eating/

Hopeless Eating Bible Study:
Read Luke 4:1-13
1. What did Jesus do every time Satan tempted him?
    He quoted scripture to him.
2. Why do you think He did that?
    For strength, to fight off the temptation and to remind Satan of God's rules.
3. What do the following verses say about Jesus and temptation?
  Hebrews 2:18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
  Hebrews 4:15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin.

Hopeless Eating questions
1. How many years have you been struggling with your weight and eating issues?
    Most of my adult life.
2. How many years (or weeks) have you been diligent about applying truth to the lies that are feeding your habit?
   Not until this study began.

"Taste for Truth:"
In today's chapter, "When You're Not Good Enough," Barb tells the story of a daughter who's father is critical of her weight.
Bible Study:
1. Do you have anyone in your life right now who is critical of your weight?
   Yes.
(The rest of question 1 is too personal to answer here.)
2. If you're a child of God through faith, how does He see you and feel about you?
1Samuel 16:7
Isaiah 62:4-5
Jeremiah 31:3-4
Jeremiah 31:20
Zephaniah 3:17
Luke 12:6-7
Romans 3:23
Ephesians 2:8-9
Ephesians 2:10

(I love #5!)
5. Will God still love and accept you if don't lose weight?
Barb answers this for us. ("You better say yes to this one!")
Assignment
Insecurity Bible Verses on her blog:
Get comfy and spend 5 minutes praying the verses above and the Insecurity verses on her blog.
https://barbraveling.com/2012/09/21/insecurity-bible-verses/
As you pray, picture God doing the things He says He'll do in those verses.

Verse Mapping

Today I chose the verse from yesterday that touched my heart so deeply.
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have troubles.
But take heart!
I have overcome the world."

Click on the picture for a larger view.

Gratitude
1. A God who loves me no matter how I look
2. A God who understands temptations
3. You, my friend

Blessings,
Deborah

Weight Loss Bible Study - Day 9

Welcome to Day 9 - Evaluation

Always a good idea to evaluate during the process to see what is working and what is not. I need to be better about stating my "Renewing of the Mind" on a daily basis, as I've said before. Still struggling with that one.

Let's start out by going right to Barb's blog today.
https://barbraveling.com/2012/07/05/weight-loss-bible-study-day-9-evaluation/

Under her personal evaluation questions I'd like to look at #5 and #8.
5. Do you eat for any of the following emotions?
   I circled boredom, excitement, discontentment, insecurity and added loneliness.
8. On a scale of 1 to 10, how diligent have you been with renewing of your mind.
    I have to say 4. I really need to work harder on this. I'm sure it would really help me.

Other ideas I liked are to write scripture on cards to read throughout the day, (I made 5 of them) and I took challenge #2.

Bible verses from "Taste for Truth," to help today:
Psalm 120:2
2Corinthians 10:3-5
1Thessalonians 5:6
1Thessalonians 5:21

And the homework assignment from "Taste of Truth:"
Be honest about every bite that goes in your mouth today.

Are you saying "I love boundaries!'
If not, go back to Day 6 and answer "I'll start tomorrow" questions.

I made a mistake when I looked up 2Corinthians 10:3:5 and looked up 2Corinthians 3:5 instead.
Tell me if you think it was a God thing or just a typo. I'm feeling God was involved. *smiles*
2Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves,
but our competence comes from God.

I decided I should Verse Map that one.

I put some fish stickers on the bottom to help me remember to eat more fish. Not that I would eat Koi. lol

Gratitude

1. Reminders

2. Old friends

3. My cat

Hebrews 13:5

I will in no way leave you,

neither will I in any way

forsake you.

Blessings, 

Deborah

Weight Loss Bible Study - Day 7

Welcome to Day 7 - Failure Eating

Food Fact - I like to eat mini bagels for breakfast. Did you know that butter is 11g of fat for ONE Tbsp. and Chive and Onion Cream Cheese is 7g of fat for TWO Tbsps? Let's hear it for cream cheese!!

I've lost weight this week (5lbs), but put back on two as of this morning. I will NOT be discouraged! This happens. Yesterday, I had to leave early to go out of town, so I did not do my exercise routine. Then I sat more that I usually do traveling and I broke my boundaries and had a soda when I had a low blood sugar moment in a store. Bad planning. Has this happened to you? Let's take a deep breath together...and get back on track. We are Princess Warriors and Daughters of the King! We can do this!!

Failure Eating

In "Taste of Truth," Barb talks about more is better. When you are talking about food that is a lie. "When we try to fill ourselves up with things that never fill us up, (food, for example), we're never  satisfied. We are far better off if we fill ourselves up with God," she tell us.

(Me) So when is more better? Exercising, drinking more water, reading more scripture to help us get where we want to be!

Scripture to help us along the way:
Proverbs 23:20-21
Matthew 6:33
1Corinthians 10:31
Colossians 3:2
1John 2:15-17

On Barb's blog, she talks about self-condemnation.
Do you do this if you mess up and go out of your boundaries? I have.
Please go read her blog for Day 7:
https://barbraveling.com/2012/07/03/weight-loss-bible-study-day-7-failure-eating/

I love the part where she realized God could help her change in the area of eating!
Did you look at the Truth Lie charts and Truth Journaling? I bookmarked those for later reading today. Looks very interesting.
I also suggest checking out her other blog "I Deserve a Donut." Good info there, too.
Under the Failure Questions let's look at #2.
2. Since you can't go back and change what you ate today, what do you think God wants you to do now? (multiple answers - I chose #3)
  3. Remember that you are in spiritual battle. Continue to fight the battle with spiritual weapons; know that you'll fail at times. Be extra diligent with your weapons in the next 24 hours so you don't break your boundaries again.

Verse Mapping
Today I chose Matthew 6:33

NIV
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

KJV
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

seek - attempt - strive - request - look for

kingdom - area - domain - realm

righteousness - virtuous - noble - ethical

Commentaries

Elliot's Commentary

"Seek" is referring to prayer in this context.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus warns his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life.

Nelson's Bible Commentary

This means to desire God's righteous rule on this earth.

I added pictures of the tools we are using to help us study: exercise, scales, Bible study and Barb's book, "Truth of Taste."

Gratitude

1. Tools to help with our goals

2. A sunny winter day

3. Fruit of the Spirit

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you,"

declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you 

and not harm you,

plans to give you hope

and a future...

You will seek Me

and find Me

when you seek Me

with all your heart."

Blessings,

Deborah

Weight Loss Bible Loss - Day 6

Welcome to Day 6 - Entitlement Eating

Raise your hand if you have ever said to yourself, "I deserve (am entitled) to eat this."
*raises hand*
Another one of the many lies we tell ourselves.
We really do need to be nicer to ourselves.

Before we get into Barb's study I want to talk to you about:
Water.
Are you drinking enough? At least 6 - 8oz per day? I'm trying very hard to do this.
It has been proven it helps with weight loss.
Sometimes people think we only need it in summer when it is hot, but that is not true. Most keep their houses pretty warm in the winter and it is just as important to keep hydrated, especially if you are exercising. My Day Planner has little bottles at the bottom that I am coloring in as I drink them, You can set up any method that will help you remember to Drink Your Water. Many health benefits are involved, too but you already know that. :)

Back to the study.
Have you made your boundaries yet? Barb asks us to do so today if you haven't already. I made mine, have you?  Without boundaries it is harder to stay on track. It's all about boundaries, commitment and sacrifice.

Quote from Taste of Truth:
"One of the reasons we don't like boundaries is we are afraid of failure."

So true. Failure is a scary word and thought. Nobody wants to fail, least of all me! So why do we sometimes set ourselves up to fail? Let's make a commitment to keep our boundaries. Day by day re-commit to them. Today, I WILL keep my boundaries. Pray about it.

These verses will help you accomplish your goals and keep your boundaries.
Romans 13:14
1Corinthians 6:12
1Timothy 4:7
James 4:6
1Peter 1:14-16
Choose one to memorize and call it your own.

Entitlement Eating - Barb's blog
https://barbraveling.com/2012/07/02/weight-loss-bible-study-day-6-entitlement-eating/
Go read Day 6. I'll wait. :)

Barb says, "Give up the whole idea of entitlement."
Really? That's a tough one in the culture we live in today, isn't it? Barb shows us how to do that by getting a biblical perspective. Read Mark 10:35-45 and answer the questions under Bible Study. James and John really didn't know what they were asking, did they?

Entitlement Eating Questions
Let's look at 1, 8 & 9
1. What do you want to eat? Chocolate.
8. What will your life and body look like a few months down the road if you develop the habit of consistently following your boundaries? Thinner and healthier
9. When you think of all you'll gain, will it be worth the sacrifice? Absolutely!!

I'm sorry there is no Verse Mapping and the post is late today.
I was called out of town unexpectedly.

Blessings,
Deborah

Weight Loss Bible Study - Day 5

Welcome to Day 5!!

Day 5 - "I have to be skinny" eating

With this new year/beginning I have added living intentionally and mindfully to my list of goals. I think it will help me keep focused on my dieting and health as well as other areas of my life.

Intentional living - I will eat healthy and exercise
1. Menu planning
2. Exercise daily

Mindful living -
1. I will eat sitting down and concentrate on eating.
   A. This is important. So many times I eat on the fly and think about other things and I forget that/what I have eaten.

Quote from "Taste of Truth."
"We are lawless and rebellious when it comes to food."
Are you?
I know I am. That's why I need to diet. lol
What does say Paul about rules/laws in 1 Timothy 1:8-9?
"...that the law is not made for the righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious."
That would be me. Lawless and rebellious when it comes to food.
Go read Barb's blog for Day 5.
https://barbraveling.com/2012/06/29/weight-loss-bible-study-day-five-appearance-eating/

I related to "You feel like you have to lose weight. Not just for your health, but for your over all state of acceptability and enjoyment of life."
Bible Study questions
1. Why do you want to lose weight?
  For my health and to feel better about myself
2. Do you feel you have to be skinny to be acceptable?
   Not skinny, but I need to lose weight to feel better about myself.
3. I answered this one privately, but I do have someone in my life who does not like me being overweight. It makes it hard to have a good self-image.

Verse Mapping

1Peter 1:14-16
(NIV)
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:
"Be holy, because I am holy."

(KJV)
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust in your ignorance:
But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Because it is written;
"Be ye holy; for I am holy."

obedient - compliant - dutiful - law-abiding - duteous

conform - obey - observe - follow - accept

ignorance - unenlightenment - foolishness - idiocy

holy - sacred - hallowed - saintly - pious

Commentaries

~~Barnes' Notes on the Bible
As obedient children - That is, conduct yourselves as becomes the children of God, by obeying His commands; by submitting to His will; and by manifesting unwavering confidence in Him as your Father at all times.

~~Nelson's Bible Commentary
Believers should not pattern their lives after the desires that control them when they did not know God's ways.

On the left side I added some pictures of cookies and donuts with the partial verse from Psalm 73:26 - God is my portion forever. 

On the right side is a picture of fruit with the words: whole grains, veggies, lean meats. 

Always need the reminder. :) 

Gratitude

1. Supportive friends and family

2. Supportive scripture

3. A sunny day after days and days of fog!!

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you,"

declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you

and not harm you,

plans to give you hope

and a future...

You will seek Me

and find Me

when you seek Me

with all your heart.

Blessings,

Deborah

Weight Loss Bible Study - Day 4

Welcome! Glad you're still with me.

Weight Loss Bible Study - Day 4 Indulgent Eating

I love to eat.
I didn't get to the point of needing to diet, because I hate food. I like it "too" much! I am an emotional eater, not a stress eater. When I am really stressed I can't eat, but emotional times, oh yeah.
The biggest problem with me is that I am a very emotional person. There lies the rub. I take on other peoples stuff, too. I am very empathic. I also suffer from depression  occasionally. Another trigger for reaching for food. I believe my life is better with boundaries in all areas, but I seem to fail most often in the area of food.

Quote from Barb's book, "Taste for Truth:"

"I'm far happier when I live by design rather than by desire - even when I'm standing at the counter of the Dairy Queen ready to place my order."

I think we all are when we apply our boundaries and commitments.
One thing nice for me living in a small town in the mountains is there are no fast food places.
Heaven only knows what I would look like if there were.
No will power with those places. lol

Please go read Day 4 on Barb's blog:
https://barbraveling.com/?s=weight+loss+bible+study+Day+4

Let's look at question #4 under Bible Study.
If you were to eat "what you want, when you want," 100% of the time, would you be happy?
My first reaction was, "Sure I would!" But then, not really, because I'd be too fat to fit through the door and I'd probably be in the hospital for diabetic complications. I do keep some boundaries. I do stop, but not soon enough. My diabetic brains does stomp on the brakes, but most times not soon enough.

How did you feel about the Indulgence questions?
Barb makes you think, doesn't she?
I don't eat a lot at one sitting, but I eat too much throughout the day. Too many high calorie snacks and not enough healthy ones. I have stocked my fridge with veggies and sliced them up so they are ready to eat. I wanted to make them a quick grab when I am hungry so I wouldn't grab something else out of laziness or low blood sugar moments.

I chose to Verse Map Hebrews 12:11 from the "Taste of Truth," book today.

Verse Mapping

Hebrews 12:11
(NIV)
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained in it.

(KJV)
Now no chastening for the present seemth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterwards it yieldth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

(AMP)
For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God's will and purpose].

righteousness - the quality of being morally right or justifiable.
                          ethical - virtuous - noble

chastening - subdue - humble - deflate - correct

discipline - control - training - direction - order

Commentaries

People's New Testament

It is never pleasant to endure the discipline, but it afterwards benefits by the holier life it insures. In sorrow we naturally cling closer to God.

Nelson's Bible Commentary

The peaceable fruit of righteousness suggests that the result of God's chastening is peace and righteousness. Renew your strength so you can endure the race of faith.

At the bottom of my verse mapping I wrote "believe you can."

If we believe we can lose weight, we are half way there!

Gratitude

1. Menu planning

2. Exercise

3. Being intentional

Jeremiah 29:11-13

"For I know the plans I have for you,"

declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you

and not harm you, 

plans to give you hope

and a future...

You will seek Me

and find Me

when you seek Me

with all your heart."

Blessings,

Deborah

Weight Loss Bible Study - Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of our Weight Loss Bible Study!

Day 3 - Justification Eating

Boy, does this one hit home.
How are you doing?
I miss sugar.
I almost took one bite of my SIL's homemade buttermilk pie last night. BUT, I didn't. :)
When I gave up sugar a couple of years ago it took about 2 weeks and then I didn't want it anymore.
But it was hard at first and when the craving hit, I would read Psalm 73:26 - My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Later, I condensed it down to just, "God is my portion forever," when I felt the cravings hit. It really helped to say that.
I have decided that I am not going to say I will lose a certain amount of weight by a certain date. That just sets me up to fail. I'm going to lose weight. However long it takes, dealing with the set backs and never giving up.

The following are excerpts from Barb's book "Taste for Truth."

I'll start tomorrow.
It will be easier tomorrow.
I'll feel more like sticking to my boundaries tomorrow.
I will stick to my boundaries tomorrow.
TRUTH -
It won't be easier tomorrow and we will never feel like sticking to our boundaries.
Go read Day 3 on Barb's blog. I'll wait.
https://barbraveling.com/?s=weight+loss+bible+study+Day+3

So we don't really mean to break our boundaries, but we tell ourselves little lies. (She gives a list of the lies in the link above.) I've said them all to myself and I bet you may have, too.
Why do we do that to ourselves?! *sigh*

She asks some great questions, doesn't she?
Let's look at #4.
What does the Bible say about this subject?
Romans 13:14 - Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

1Corinthians 10:31 - So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1Peter 2:11 - Dear friends, I urge you, ....to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul.

Let's hang onto these scriptures and read them throughout the day whenever we feel ourselves wanting to break our boundaries or lie to ourselves.

Verse Mapping 
I chose to VM :
1Corinthians 10:31

NIV
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it for the glory of God.

KJV
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do,
do all to the glory of God.

AMP
So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of [our great] God.

eat - consume - devour - ingest - food - snacks
drink - swallow - guzzle - imbibe - sip - absorb
whatever - what all - whatnot
glory - praise - honor- worship - exaltation

Commentaries
By Elliot's for English Readers
These words embrace all life. The definite acts of eating and drinking are mentioned expressly as they are the subject immediately under consideration. They are, however, to be regulated by the same principle which guides all true life.
(I love that!)

Forerunner Commentary
In all our activities, our emphasis should be honoring God, rather than ourselves.

Link in case you would like to read more commentaries on this verse.
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_corinthians/10-31.htm

Verse mapping in my Faith Journal. When I was working on this, it came over me strongly to add the names of God. I added as many as I could fit at the bottom of page one. I used washi tape to make the star on page two.

Good luck in this journey to weight loss. Please comment below if you are struggling or need prayer for anything.

Gratitude

1. A gracious God to glorify

2. God's mercy

3. God's redeeming Grace

Jeremiah 29:11-13

"For I know the plans I have for you,"

declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you,

plans to give you hope and a future..

You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart."

Blessings,

Deborah

Weight Loss Bible Study - Day 2

Happy New Year and welcome!

We begin our Weight Loss Bible Study today, but before we begin I would like to share some things with you.
I'm not comfortable in my own body. I haven't been for quite some time. It's time to stop the madness.
I stand at 5'2" and I am carrying about 40 extra pounds. I don't like what I see when I sit and look down. My muffin top has grown into a full on bundt cake! As I said in my last post, I am diabetic and that's not good.
Also, whenever I have dieted in the past, sometimes there are set backs. Not always, but sometimes. Maybe the scale doesn't move or it goes up a little or maybe I don't feel well. Let's make a deal that we are going to love ourselves through these set backs and not give up! We will keep our eyes focused on the goal and remember God loves us and is rooting for us, too.  Okay? Okay!
Let's get to it!

Weight Loss Bible Study - Day 2
Careless Eating

How many times have you put something in your mouth and thought, "OMG! This is not on my diet.!"
Yeah, me too.
It's called Careless Eating.
I'm going to remember "My Renewing of the Mind" goal when I get up each morning and before I eat anything.
My goal is to think before I eat anything and meal plan.
It will become my mantra.
I will say it over and over.

Go to Barb's blog and answer the "Careless Eating" questions. I'll wait. Go!
https://barbraveling.com/2012/06/26/1565/

What are the *myths about food?
1. Can we eat anything we want whenever we want? NO!
2. Does taking one bite  "out of our boundaries" hurt us? YES!

Quote from Barb's book "Taste for Truth." Day 2
"..in the back of our minds we're holding out the hope that this Bible study will be the answer to all our problems and we won't have to cut down on our eating. If only that were true."
Question #10 at the end of the chapter:
Do you think God wants you to have boundaries in the area of food? Why or why not?
My answer: I think God does. He gives us boundaries for other areas of our lives so why not food. He wants us to be healthy spiritually as well as physically and overeating does not keep us physically fit.
 Psalm 73:26

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

WE can do this, with God's help and if we help each.
Comment below with any questions or suggestions on what you would like to see here that would help you meet your goals.

Verse Mapping

The scripture verse today is:
1Timothy 4:7 (KJV)
But refuse profane and old wives' fables,
and exercise thyself rather with godliness.

(NIV)
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales;
rather, train yourself to be godly.

myth* - legend - tale - story - fable
train - discipline - control - direction - order
godly - devout - pious - holy- prayerful - spiritual

Commentary by MacLaren's Expositions
"Exercise thyself unto godliness"
Make a business of living your Christianity. Be earnest about it by keeping the crown and the prize often in clear view.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our prize = a thinner us
It also reminds me of the saying that our bodies are God's temples. Do we really want to be putting unhealthy food into them on a regular basis? I also think of God trying to swim through all my fat. Not a pretty picture. *smiles*

My verse mapping in my Faith Journal. 

Okay. I'm off to go do a little exercise and weigh in.

Gratitude

1. A God who loves me

2. God's word to help me

3. Diet help

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
"For I know the plans
I have for you,"
declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you
and not harm you,
plans to give you hope
and a future...
You will seek me
and find me
when you seek me
with all your heart."

Blessings, 

Deborah

Intro to Weight Loss Bible Study on this blog:
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=890894412556683945#editor/target=post;postID=3885513466251684408;onPublishedMenu=template;onClosedMenu=template;postNum=1;src=postname

Weight Loss Bible Study

Welcome!
Hope you enjoyed your holidays.

I've been thinking about goals for 2018 and the one I need to do most is what most people resolve to do in the new year...
lose weight.
How many times have we all made this resolution?
More than I can count.
Being diabetic, it is very important for me as well as people with many types of health issues.
So, I have the goal again to begin Jan. 1 and try to lose some weight.
I have found a new plan to follow on Barb Raveling's Blog called,
Weight Loss Bible Study. Here's the link:
https://barbraveling.com/2012/06/25/weight-loss-bible-study-day-one/

(Link below)**

Following Barb's plan, I have made my:
1 ."Renewing of the Mind Goal"
2. Set my boundaries
3. Stated the Truth

My "Renewing of the Mind Goal" is to think before I eat anything and plan my meals.

My "Boundaries" are:
1. Eat smaller portions
2. Eat more fish (not hard since I love the stuff)
3. No sugar for the first three weeks. (I will look at this boundary again at the end of the three weeks and will decide if I need to continue with this.)

My "Truth Statement" is I need to lose weight to be healthier.

Barb's plan is not a meal plan, (we all know how to lose weight) it is a spiritual plan set up to help us keep our goals through Bible study. There are scriptures to help us remember that God is on our side and he has a plan to prosper us. *

I will also be verse mapping some of the verses and probably adding art, because that is what I like to do. *smiles*

I will be posting about this for the first three weeks of my journey.

Barb also has a couple of books to go with the study.
I bought this one: **
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Truth-Weight-Bible-Study/dp/0980224314/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467823884&sr=8-1&keywords=taste+for+truth

This one is also available:
https://www.amazon.com/Deserve-Donut-Other-Lies-That/dp/0980224306/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2RT4J4BTGC73HFR39TMP

She also has an app you can download for your phone that you can find on her website.

Okay! Who is with me?
Leave a comment below if you would like to join me.
See you Jan. 1, 2018!!

Gratitude
1. Our Savior
2. God's plan to prosper us
3. Biblical help with goals

*Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord...
plans to give you hope
and a future....
You will seek Me
and find Me
when you seek Me
and find Me
with all your heart.

Blessing,
Deborah

Proverbs 31 - Lesson 21

Welcome and blessings on this chilly Thursday morning in the mountains!

Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceitful,
and beauty is vain,
but a woman who
fears the Lord
is to be praised.

Woman of the Bible - Rachel

This story is really about Rachel and Leah, her sister and sister-in-law.
Jacob, who we met in our last story of Rebekah, meets Rachel and falls madly in love with the beauty. He asks her father, Laban, for her hand in marriage and Laban says yes, but tells Jacob he must work for him for seven years first. Jacob complies and marries Rachel, who is really Leah covered in veils. Laban has tricked Jacob. Laban is not a very nice man. When Jacob realizes what has happened, he demands to marry Rachel and Laban tells him he must work another seven years to have her. Jacob complies once again. Finally he marries Rachel and then takes all that is owed to him and runs away from Laban. Rachel steals her father's idols, which Laban comes after and Jacob denies having. Rachel sits on them and covers them with her skirts so they cannot be found.
Between the two sisters, the 12 sons of Israel are born. Leah gives birth to several sons before Rachel finally conceives Joseph. (The story of Joseph is one of my all time favorite stories in the Bible.)
If you have never read the story of Rachel and Leah I highly recommend you do. You can find it in Genesis 29 - 48:7.
The story takes place in Mesopotamia and Canaan.
Mesopotamia is a historical region in West Asia, in modern days roughly corresponding to most of Iraq plus Kuwait, the eastern parts of Syria, Southeastern Turkey and regions along the Turkish-Syrian and Iran-Iraq borders.
Canaan, the biblical name for the area of ancient Palestine, west of the Jordon River, the Promised land of the Israelites.

Once again, teacher Robin has provided beautiful background pages and graphics, lessons rich in tradition and information to enhance the story. You can find the link to her website in the last post.

Gratitude 

1. Biblical stories filled with mystery and intrigue.

2. History

3. You, my dear readers.

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,

Deborah

Proverbs 31 - Lesson 20

Welcome and Happy Tuesday!

Proverbs 31:29 (NIV)
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.

Woman of the Bible = Rebekah

Rebekah's story in an interesting one to me. First of all, any woman who will leave the home she has always know and travel to places far away is very brave. It takes her 20 years to conceive her twins, Jacob and Esau. She then favors Jacob and plots with him to deceive his father, Isaac, and cheat his brother Esau out of his birth right and blessings. The plot works, Esau gets very angry and says when their father dies he will kill Jacob. Jacob leaves for his mother's homeland to escape Esau and his plans.

Robin, the teacher for this class, believes that God gives us examples of imperfect characters so we see how God can use us in our imperfectness. I tend to agree. What do you think?

I used Robin's beautiful graphics to create this two page spread, adding some washi tape and a little verse mapping. 

Here is the link to the Proverbs 31/Women of the Bible class by Robin Sampson.
https://biblejournallove.teachable.com/p/proverbs-31-bible-journal-class

Gratitude
1. Imperfect Bible characters
2. Hope in God
3.Family coming for Thanksgiving!!

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.

May I pray for you? Please leave a comment and I will add you to my prayer list.

Blessings,
Deborah

Proverbs 31 - Lesson 19

Welcome and blessings.

Proverbs 31: 28
Her children rise up and call her blessed
her husband also and he praises her.

The most appropriate woman of the Bible to fit this verse is Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
Some aprocryphal accounts say Mary was betrothed 12-14 years old and died when she was 41.

Twelve to fourteen years old.
Sit with that a moment.

The angel, Gabriel, comes to her and tells her she is to give birth to God's son.
Sit with that a moment.

If you had a daughter that age and she came to you and said an angel told her she was going to give birth to God's son would you believe her?
I wonder if her parents did at first?

The Bible doesn't say an angel visited them, like an angel visited Joseph and told him everything would be okay and to go ahead and marry Mary.
How would you feel?
Would you believe her?
Interesting question.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

Other questions to ponder are asked in the song, "Mary Did You Know?"
Above is the link to my favorite version by Pentatonix.
The song makes me cry and makes the hairs on my arms stand up.

The wonders and mysteries of this story are amazing in the least.

Scripture verses to reference this story of "The Incarnation" are:
Betrothed to Joseph - Luke 1:27
The Annunciation - Luke 1:30-31
Mary visits Elizabeth - Luke 1:42-45
Mary's Song - Luke 1:46-55
Jesus' birth - Luke 2:4-16
The Flight to Egypt - Matthew 2:14

Have you ever realized that if we only had the Gospel of Mark, we never would have heard the story of Mary and the birth of Jesus? Mark picks up the story with the baptism of Jesus.

I used vellum to copy the Song of Mary and used it as a tip-in. 

Gratitude

1. Mysteries and wonders of the Bible

2. Thoughts to ponder

3. God's promises

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,

Deborah

Proverbs 31 Lesson 18

Happy Sunday and welcome!

Proverbs 31:27
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Jochebed, mother of Moses, is our featured woman of the Bible in this lesson. We find her story in Exodus 1:22 - 2:1-10. Imagine Pharaoh making a law that all Hebrew boys were to be killed and you had a son!! This happened to Jochebed, so she took a basket and laid her baby son, Moses, in it and placed it in the Nile river. Pharaoh's daughter found him in the reeds and had her maid pull him out. She raised him as her own. There is much more to this wonderful story that you can read for yourself in these verses. We all know the wonderful story of Moses being called by God to set His people free. What a proud Mother she must have been.

As usual, I have done a verse mapping with the story, added some washi tape and used Robin's beautiful graphics she provides with the lessons. The link below will take you to her website where you can sign up for this class. It is self paced.

https://biblejournallove.teachable.com/p/proverbs-31-bible-journal-class

Gratitude
1. Biblical inspiration
2. God's influence
3. God's laws

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,
Deborah

Proverbs 31 Study - Lesson 16

Good morning and welcome!

Proverbs 31:25
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
~~~~~~

She can laugh, because she is prepared.

Luke 1:5-80 is our story today. It is about Elizabeth, Zachariah and Mary. Elizabeth is old in years and she and Zachariah are childless. Zachariah is visited by the angel, Gabriel who tells Zachariah that he and Elizabeth will have a son. The story is similar to Sarah and Abraham, who were also in advanced years and like them, Zachariah found it hard to believe it could happen. God made him unable to speak until the baby was born. In the meantime, the same angel visits Mary and tells her she will have God's son. Some time later, Mary goes to visit her cousin, Elizabeth and when Elizabeth sees Mary coming she feels her baby move for the first time and has a revelation that Mary will give birth to the Messiah! Pretty heady stuff.
Once more, God has rewarded people who are righteous and faithful.
Elizabeth's son grows up to be John the Baptist, a prophet who tells of the coming of Jesus.
Elizabeth was of the daughters of Aaron. She is revered as a saint in the Catholic Church as the patron of pregnant women.

 

I just love the llamas Robin provided in this lesson! Aren't they cute?

Gratitude

1. Everyday heroes in our country

2. Creative days

3. Crisp, sunny Autumn days

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,

Deborah

Proverbs 31 Challenge - Lesson 15

Welcome and Blessings!

Proverbs 31:24
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchants.

The Widow of Zarephath found in 1Kings 17:7-24 is our story for today. Zarephath was a small Phoenician town, now Surafend, about a mile from the coast. God told Elijah to go there during the great drought and He directed a widow to supply him with food. When he came to the gate, he saw the widow and asked her for water and a piece of bread. She was very poor and told him she barely had enough oil and flour for her son and herself. Elijah told her to not be afraid that the Lord told him if she does this the flour and oil would not run out until God sent the rain. She did what Elijah told her to do and she fed him, her son and herself everyday until the rains came. The flour and oil never ran out. She became a believer in the God of Israel.

Sometimes it hard to remember that "the Lord shall provide," isn't it?
I remember several years ago I was always stressing about having enough money to cover everything. Stress. Stress. Stress. Worry. Worry. Worry. Then one day, while reading Matthew in my Bible, I came across verses 6:25-27:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to you life?"

Since that day, I turned my finances over to the Lord and I have never been unable to pay my bills and put food on the table. He is our Provider!

Gratitude
1. A Lord who provides
2. Art
3. Crafts

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,
Deborah

Two Challenges, One Story

Welcome friends! Hope you are having a blessed Sunday.

I was doing my Proverbs 31 Challenge and was all caught up and thought to myself, "You really need to get caught up in the Deeper Still Challenge!" So I checked the lesson and, lo and behold, it was the same story!

Proverbs 31:23
Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.

When you think of this verse, who comes to mind? Sarai/Sarah? Yes. She is perfect for this verse.
This story is found in Genesis 18 and is about the time when three men/angels come to visit Abraham. One of them tells Abraham that this time next year Sarah will have a son. Sarah is listening and laughs, for she is an old woman beyond child bearing years. The man asks Sarah why she laughed and she denies having laughed. He tells her she did laugh and to believe all things are possible with God. Sarah had a son and they named him Isaac.

The Proverbs 31 Challenge, Lesson 14:

The Deeper Still Challenge , Lesson 6:

As usual, I verse mapped the story.
I used all my brown washi tape to make the tree. I love how it turned out. We were supposed to paint the tree, but that is not my cup of tea. :) 

Gratitude

1. A Lord who provides

2. My job

3. My marriage

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,

Deborah

Proverbs 31 - Lesson 13

Welcome and Blessings!

Proverbs 31:22
She makes bed coverings for herself:
her clothing is fine linen and purple.

As I mentioned yesterday, today we will learn about Mary of Bethany. Mary was Martha and Lazarus' sister. We find her in Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-44, Matt 26:6-10 and John 12:3 Today we focus on Matt 26:10 and John 12:3. They are the same story.
In this story, Mary takes a very expensive perfume, pours it on Jesus' feet and washes Jesus' feet with her hair. Some of the disciples are angry with the waste of money. "Jesus said to them,' Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.'"
It is believed by some that this act is symbolic of the oils used on his body when he dies.

The only thing I have added to Robin's beautiful graphics and backgrounds is my own never ending supply of washi tape. :) 

Here is the link once more to Robin Sampson's beautiful lessons on Proverbs 31 and women in the Bible. It will be available for one year.
https://biblejournallove.teachable.com/p/proverbs-31-bible-journal-class

Gratitude
1. RAIN!!!!
2. God's grace
3. Robin Sampson

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers

May I pray for you? Please leave a comment below and I will add you to my prayer list. <3

Blessings,
Deborah

Proverbs 31 - Lesson 12

Hello! I'm so glad you stopped by today.

Proverbs 31:21
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

I read that the color scarlet was believed to be a warmer color for winter.

For lesson 12 and 13 we will focus on Martha and Mary.
The first story about them is found in Luke 10:38-42. In this lesson we learn that Martha has invited Jesus to their home and begins to prepare a meal, while Mary sits by Jesus and listens to him teach. This angers Martha that Mary is not helping her and she asks Jesus why He is allowing Mary to just sit while she does all the work? Jesus says to her, "Martha, Martha you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:40-42)

I will admit I'm a Martha. The difference between me and the original Martha is I am shy and would have loved the fact that Mary was occupying the guests, keeping them out of my kitchen. lol. It is not that I wouldn't love to hear Jesus speak, but I would have to feed Him and clean the kitchen first. Of course, now I know who Jesus really is, so I may react a bit differently. *smiles*

Another story about the sisters is found in John 11 and is about Jesus raising their brother, Lazarus from dead. Lazarus had been dead for four days before Jesus got there. Jesus loved Lazarus very much and wept when he learned he had died. The sisters were so distraught and it was Martha's belief that Jesus was the Messiah and that God would give Him whatever he asked. Mary also believed in Him and He was moved in spirit by her grieving and rose Lazarus from the dead. This was done for God's glory and so that the Son may be glorified through it.

Gratitude

1. Lessons about believers

2. Biblical role models

3. Less smoke in our area today

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,

Deborah

Proverbs 31:20 Lesson 11

Welcome! I pray you are safe from fire or flood.
I have a wildfire close to my home. Please keep my community in your prayers.

Proverbs 31:20
She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.

1 Samuel 25 tells us the story of Abigail, Nabal and David.
Abigail was the wife of Nabal. David and his men had been keeping watch over Nabal and his vast flock and when David sent messengers to Nabal asking for food. Nabal refused. This angered David and he was coming with some of his men, 400 of them to be exact, to kill Nabal and all he owned. Abigail was told of this by a servant and acted quickly. She brought him and his men food and drink and talked him out of killing Nabal. David changed his mind, because of what Abigail had done. A short time later Nabal died and David married Abigail. They had a son and named him Daniel. He is the Daniel from the Book of Daniel in the Bible. Abigail certainly is a Proverbs 31 wife and fits this verse very well.

I love the graphics Robin provided in this lesson, especially the animals. 

Gratitude

1. Large tanker planes fighting fires

2. Cal Fire

3. Helicopters

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,

Deborah

Proverbs 31 - Lesson 10

Welcome! Hope you are having a blessed Sunday.

Proverbs 31:19
She puts her hands to the distaff
and her hands hold the spindle.

distaff - a stick or spindle onto which wool or flax is wound for spinning.
spindle - a slender rounded rod with tapered ends used in hand spinning to twist and wind thread from a mass of wool or flax held on a distaff.
(see photo) Click on image for larger view.

One of the women in the Bible who fits today's verse is Lydia. You will find her story in
Acts 16:14-15.
Lydia was the first documented convert to Christianity in Europe. She was a merchant who sold purple cloth and dye used by the Jews in the temple.
When she hears the Apostle Paul preach by the river, God opens her heart and she converts to Christianity. She offers her house to Paul, which indicates she is either a free woman or a widow.

I'm really enjoying reading and learning about all these women in the Bible.
If you would like to join us here is the link to Robin Sampson's lessons:
https://biblejournallove.teachable.com/p/proverbs-31-bible-journal-class
The lessons are available for one year.

Gratitude
1. The color purple
2. Firefighters
3. Family

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.

Blessings,
Deborah