Genesis 3

Genesis 3:8 When the heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the garden at the breezy time of day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 

O: this verse shows how Adam and Eve were young in th faith: like young children, they hid from thir father because they knew they had done wrong.

A: how many times dome hide from God? How many times do we have something on our conscious that prevents us from being open with him? We too hide from God when we are ashamed. 

P: God, I don't want to hide from you. I want to avoid the serpent from the get go, but if I fall, please give me the courage to face you, so that I may be forgiven. Amen.

Genesis 2

S: Genisis 2:2-3 Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. 

O: God worked hard for six days to bring the world to life. And then he rested the next day. The great, almighty God had to rest. And then God blessed the seventh day, making it holy. 

A: we all think because we work in such a busy world, we have no time to eat. And a lot of people don't rest. Our world is no more busy than then world of our great grandparents. They were up from sunrise to sundown doing chores, picking the garden, diong manual labor. And yet, they knew to rest on Sunday. We are In a fast paced world where it is thought "If I don't get X done, someone will get my job." We have forgotten what it means to rest and be with God. I know not everyone can do such on the Sabbath because of shift work, but we all can give one day to rest. Our bodies were made and need to rest a little. We need to make ourselves sit down and enjoy our family,friends, life, and be thankful to God for giving us this great big world.

P: Lord, help me to see that giving rest and grace to you is mor important than that batch of clothes, or scrubbing that toilet. Help me to prepar myself for a day of rest each week, so that I might enjoy the world you have given me. Amen. 

Genesis 1

Good morning y'all.

S: Genesis 1:27-28 God created man in his image, in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the east and subdue it."

O/A: It is very plainly written here that God made us with a purpose. He made us for a purpose. He created man and women to be together and fill the earth. There is no arguments. 

P: Dear God, I know in these days, we as a people are falling from your teachings more and more. Please help guide us, and help us to guide others. Helps our leaders to see the truth that you have written. Help our fellow Christians to stand up for what is right, for what you have taught us. Amen

In my bibles,there is a picture of what the Hebrews thought of the world. I will try to attach it.

 

Psalm 1

S: Psalm 1:3 They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers.

O: They, the men talked about in verses 1-2, who follow God's law are strong and plentiful. God will reward them with generations of propensity. 

A: if we can be like the people in verses 1-2, God will reward us in His way. But we must remember, God rewards how he sees fit. It's not a "I'll be good if you let me -----." God answers our prayers in the way they should be answered, according to his will.

P: God, let me always be steadfast like the tree planted near the water so that my leaves never with. Lead me, and I will follow. Amen.

3 John

3 John 3-4 is almost repetitive of the verse I journaled about yesterday. The presbyter has written I another letter, talking of how pleased he is to see the children walking in truth. I can only hope that when looking at my life, Jesus is also pleased in my walk with truth. I pray that I continue to walk in truth and faith, and I am thankful for the ability to do such every single day.

2 John

2 John 4: I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father.

O: The author may be talking about some of the new Christians who have joined in the walk with Jesus. He uses the words "your children" indicating their young faith, not necessarily young in age. 

A: This letter is directed to a chosen lady and is about the people in her village. The author is so happy about the new Christians he found when he visited. What a joy it is to see new Christians in their walk. As we read in Peter, easily Christians can be easily faltered by evil. We need to, as this author puts, walk according to his commandments, which is walk in love with our fellow Christians, and help them along their journey. 

P: Dear God, help guide me along my journey. Pleases be always at my side as I seek to help others. Let me only lead through your grace and will. Amen. 

1 John 5

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possess the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.

This is another message John proclaims a lot in this book. If you believe, profess, and walk with Jesus, we are with him. We make this choice. We choose daily to be with Jesus. I'm not sure why anyone would choose otherwise. I find since I have started my walk with Jesus, and truly devoting myself, I am happier. My husband can tell. My children can tell. There is less arguing, less hostility, less frustrations. I pray that each and every day I make the conscious and subconscious choice to be with Jesus. And I pray that hat you do to. Amen

1 John 4

1 John talks a lot about love. The love that God has for us and the love that we should have for each other. In 1 John 4:9, he talks about the greatest love "In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only son into the world so that we might have life through him." God gave us his son for free so that we might have life with God and be free from sins. We need to reciprocate this love to one another. Unconditionally. God didn't say he would give us Jesus if we did this or that. He gave us Jesus so that we could be free from sin. How many times have we thought, "I'll do this for so and so if they ______________"? Countless. We need to stop thinking that we and give ourselves freely. It only takes one unconditional action for someone to see (not that we should do it just for someone to witness) that could change that person's life for the better. 

Lord, please help me to put away my foolish pride and love unconditionally. I want to be able to reach my hand out to those who need without expecting something in return. You gave us Jesus so we could be with you. I want to give myself so that others can be with you also. Amen. 

1 John 3

S: 1 John 3:4-6 Eveyone who commits sin commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who remains in him sins; no one who sins has seen him or known him.

O: To truly commit a sin, consciously and deliberately, means one is choosing to turn away from God. If one continues down that path, he will never know God.

A: I think John is saying here that those who commit sin purposefully are not with God. I would like to think that if we sin accidentally, realize it, and then repent, we could still be with God. But to deliberately commit a sin is like slapping God in the face. 

P: Lord, I don't even want to "accidentally" sin against you. Please help me stay aware in all situations of my actions and responses to others so that I do not sin against you. I want to know you, God. Amen. 

1 John 2

Morning sickness is for the birds.

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but from the world. Yet the world and it's enticement are passing away. But whomever doss be will of God remains forever. 

This is a tough verse to understand. I don't think if you say "I love my car," you are not with God. I think this more means if you think you are better than other people because of your car, making you prideful, means you are not with God. If someone has arrogance in their earthly style, that can show independence from God. 

When I was in my first year of college, I had received a chain email that send "send this to all the people you love to say luv ya." I sent it to my dad, and got a response that I have not yet forgotten. He replied telling me how different "luv ya" and "love" were. That we are not called to love objects, pets, houses, clothes, etc, so we shouldn't say " I love my car." He said love should only be expressed to  people, thieves that if they were suddenly taken out of our life, we would be devastated, we wouldn't want to go on. He was trying to instill in me the importance and the strength of the word love. This isn't to say you shouldn't show love to the kid down the street that you don't even know. He was trying to get me to see the bigger picture about not loving material things.

 Two years later, we, and three of our family members down our road, as well as most of south Losiana, lost our house and everything in it from a tidal surge from Hurricane Rita. It left 48" of water I our house for three days. Coming home from college, seeing all our possessions on the front lawn covered in mud (my family had already been trying to remove stuff to see if anything was salvageable) was terrible. But we weren't devastated. Why? Because we were all still alive. We had each other. Our earthy possessions had be taken away in a single moment. We overcame this with God and the help of good neighbors (most of which has also been flooded). 

When our time comes, our earthly possssions won't matter. We can't take them with us. The only thing that will matter is the love we have shown to others and to God. So we should focus more on love than on our "things" now. I thank God everyday for what I have because I know that it is through him I have been blessed, and through him they can be taken away. 

1 John 1

We have completed another book! I don't know about y'all, but this excites me because it feels like an accomishment.

1 John 1:9-10 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say,"We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

We should not try to be better than we are. We are sinners. We should ask for forgiveness, and  God will forgive. If we try to hide our sin, our failures, we are lying to ourselves and others. Regardless if someone has caught you in the sin. In that case, if we still lie about it, we are saying that what we did was excusable and it's a slap in the face to Jesus. 

There is a line we need to set for ourselves, and we need to work hard not to cross it. With certain things, we as humans like to see how close we can get to the line without crossing it. For instance, allowing foul language in everyday conversation. I had a stance against it for a long time. Then people around me started using it more, and after a while, I found myself slipping a word into the conversation. Foul language may not be a sin, but rather a personal conviction. But, for me, allowing myself to be in the situation and saying a word here or there was a slap in the face of Jesus. I had worked so hard to get away from things like that because it can lead to other bad traits. And the fact that I would have myself believe it was ok because of the situation was as bad as saying I had not sinned. 

P:  Lord, help me to keep my convictions. You and I know what they are. I strive to be a woman of God, who is honest with herself and you. Amen

2 Peter 3

S: 2 Peter 3:8-9

But do ignore this one fact,beloved, that with The Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay," but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

O: God is allowing us time to repent before the second coming of Jesus. He could come at any time God chooses, and the world could be be "dissolved by fire" at any time. But God is allowing us the time now to repent because he wants us to be in the new heavens with him. 

A: God formed us. Why wouldn't he want us to be with him forever? Three are people who say that Jesus second coming should have already happened because ancient articles posed the time to have been years ago. But as it was in Genesis and here in Peter, to God, a day is like a thousand years. So no one can really tell when He is coming. And we shouldn't worry about when he is coming. We should be prepared for that coming every single day.

P: Lord, help me to not be fearful of the day Jesus comes and the world ends. Because I know that it is only this world, and your children will continue on with you in heaven for eternity. Help me to not hold on to earthly things in a manner of fear. Lord, help me realize I need to repent when I need to so my heart is prepared every single day for you. Amen.

2 Peter 2

S: 2 Peter 2:20-22 For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of [our] Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first. For it would have been better  for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down to them.

O: Once you knowJesus, and you decide to turn your back on him, you will be worse off than before. 

A: Verse 18 mentions "those who have barely escaped," and it is talking about newfound Christians. If is a lot easier for those new to Christ to be turned back to their old ways of thinking by false teachers. I would think it would be more difficult to pull an older Christian back to their previous ways because of the amount of time they have spent with The Lord. And I believe it is the job of older Christians (and by old, I do not mean age, but how long you have been with Jesus) to watch out for the newer Christians and help them on their path. They need guidance so they do not fall again. 

I have read once that it is easy to pull one person off of a table, but if there are two people on a table, they can stand firm against the one pulling them down. We need to be the second person on the table for our brothers and sisters so they don't turn away from Christ. We need to help them see the greatness of his glory, and that his glory continues and never fails. If they fall away from Christ again, it will be harder to get them back. It is our job to keep them from falling.

P: Lord, I know you want to use us to help our brothers and sisters in Christ from falling away from you. Please give me the courage to take on this task. Thank you for giving my fellow Christians the courage for the same task when I was new. Without them, I may be lost. Please give me the strength to continue to stand up for them. Amen.

2 Peter 1

A new day, a new week, a new book. I hope you other ladies are enjoying this bible study as much as I am. I look forward to getting my bible out, sitting down with God and a cup of coffee each morning. I'm choosing to do my study at 5 AM (hence the early emails most days) because everyone else in the house is still asleep. So it really is my quiet time before the day begins. If I could just get this iPad to stop trying to autocorrect my typing, I could get the posts done. It could just be the keyboard is smaller than a computer. I tried the voice over feature. It doesn't understand my accent apparently... :)

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power.

O: it is by God's mercy that we get to be here today. God has given us everything we need to survive this life to make it to heaven. It is not by man alone that we find our way to God.

A: It is through God's a allowing that we are doing the bible study. That little thought in our mind or curiosity about participating in this journey through the bible came from him.  God has given us what we need to do daily devotions. We just need to make the small attempt each day to appreciate that God has called us and continues to call us. 

P: God, please help me to hear your calling. When I try to make excuses, put a little more angst in my heart so I know I should give in to your will. By your will I am saved. Amen

1 Peter 5

S: 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you younger members, be subject to the presbyters. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: "God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble."

O/A: Peter is calling us to be humble. We as humans have an issue with pride. I know there are times I have to fight it. There are so many ways pride can show up, and we need to be prepared for all of them. Whether it be a task we completed at work, something our children acheived, something we achieved, etc, pride can sneak in. We need to always give our accomplishments up to God  and thank him for our gifts. 

P: Dear Lord, I ask for your help to fight the pride that can show up in certain areas of my life. I want gone a humble servant. Moreover, I want to show my children the right way to act and show humility. I know I can only do that by being humble myself. Humble me Lord. amen.

1 Peter 4

S: 1 Peter 4:11 Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

O: Peter tells us here that we should peach and serve, but we should do so only with the words and strength from God. With our gifts from God, we should always glorify God.

A: The best way to bring others to Christ is to show them Christ through our actions. Christians can get a bad rap from those who preach the gospel but don't live it. There are people willing to watch Christians just to point out their flaws, and the second a Christian stumbles, the people will spread it like wildfire. We are human and we will stumble. But we need to see that in only our works, with every gift a share, we do it to glorify Jesus. Because it is through Jesus that we can find God. 

P: Dear God, help me to continue to glorify you and Jesus in all I do. In my "preachings" and in my service to others, may it always be through your word. I want others to see you through me. Amen. 

1 Peter 3

What an amazing chapter this is! There are so many verses that jumped out at me. I am also doing a study on Proverbs 31 at the same time as this Good Morning Girls study, and coincidentally, the verse I focused on today in Proverbs was "Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the 

Lord is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

Peter says in verses 1-3 here that wives should obey their husbands even if they are not in the word. Even when our husbands don't "deserve" our respect, we should give it to them as we would give respect to God. This is a tough pill to swallow I know personally. But we should seek to give respect to our husbands out of our desire to please God. 

Peter goes on to say women shouldn't adorn themselves externally, but their beauty comes from within and shines through their love of God. This verse correlated to the one in Proverbs. It is a great thing to read and have our children (sons and daughters) understand. This shows them how we (as daughters seeking husbands) should present ourselves and what they (our sons) should look for in a future wife. This is not talking about woman being a subordinate mouse that never leaves the house, and doesn't try to make herself appearing. This is showing that the appealing we should try to do is through Christ. Instead of makeup, fancy clothes, hairdos, and jewelry, we should be focused on purifying our hearts to show let our love for Jesus pour out. Because the beauty will fade. We all grow older. Modern technology can slow the outward aging a little, but then women just start to look fake. If we can make ourselves appealing by our reverence to Christ, and through that, our respect for our husbands (or future spouses), that will an unfading beauty that will last all eternity. 

P: Dear Lord, help me to remember that it is not outward appearances that make a good woman. Help me to remember thos magazine covers are mostly enhanced by computer and my beauty should come from within. Help me to guide my children to understand this as they grow older, so they may want to find a Godly spouse, with beauty that lasts forever. Amen.

1 Peter 2

S: 1 Peter 2:23-24 When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin,me might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

O: Jesus lived by the word because he was the word. He showed us how he wants us to live in the word by him in this verse. He wants us to return no insult, to not threaten, to be more Christlike.  He gave his life for OUR sins. He hurt for US. 

A: How powerful is this verse? Jesus lived a human life here on Earth, knowing that he would die for us. To save us from out sins. Would we be able to do that? Peter is telling us how Jesus acted with those who hated him. He wasn't hostile. He wasn't hateful just to spite them. He is showing us how to be better. We are not being asking to die upon a cross because Jesus already did that for us. We are being asked to be good Christians in this hostile world because of Jesus. Because he gave himself up for us, to save us, we need to love others as Jesus did. He gave his life for us. The least we can do here on earth is act more Christianly towards other people.

P: Dear God, please help me to see others the way Jesus did. He did not have to die for us, but he chose to. Help me to be worthy of this sacrifice. Help me to show how awesome his sacrifice was through my actions. Help me to love like Jesus. Amen.

1 Peter

So, now we are on a new journey. We have finished the book of Esther, and now go to the New Testament to Peter. This first chapter is a very uplifting one to all Christians.

S: 1 Peter 1:8-9

Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls.

O/A: our love for Jesus is powerful because we do not have to see to believe. We do have to have seen his miracles first hand to know that he is our Savior. As Christians, we believe in him and therefore love him. Our love for him will help us to achieve our goal of salvation and our destination of eternity in heaven.

P: Dear Lord, thak you for the gift of Jesus, so that we may know salvation and true love. Please help us keep our hearts guided in the direction of that love so that we can come to know you through our love for Jesus. amen!

Esther 10

Sorry I miss chapter 9 yesterday. I did ready it and study on it, but there's some things going on here that kept me busy. Here is the final chapter in Esther

S: Esther 10:3 "...in high standing with the Jews, popular with many of his kindred, seeking the good of his people and speKing out on behalf of the welfare of its descendants."

O: Mordecai had succeeded in what he wanted. But instead of how Haman acted when he was next to the king (always prideful and always seeking to destroy his enemy), Mordecai is focused on what is important: his people. 

A: It is easy in good times to forget those in need. It's so easy to see 'nobodies' rise to success, whether it political, educational, business, etc, and then forget all then"little people" that helped them get there. Mordecai is a great example of someone quite the opposite. He is still seeking the good of his people. Not that I plan to jump into the limelight anytime soon, but I hope that I can continue to always keep my family and my people first.

P: Dear Fod, it's so easy to be distracted from you when we fall into riches of the world. Help us to see that we acheived those great successes because of you. Help us to remember to gie back what is yours and to always seek out the good in our people. Amen.

Esther 8

I'm trying to get this completed before the baby wakes,but is already hear him talking to himself in he bed. As long as he doesn't get loud enough to wake his sister, all is good :)

S: Esther 8:11 In these letters the king authorized the Jews in each and every city to group together and defend their lives, and to kill, destroy, wipe out, along with their wives and children, every armed group of any nation or province which should attack them, and to seize their goods as spoils...

O: Haman had originally sent out a letter from the king telling everyone to destroy the Jews. Mordecai dictated a new letter saying for the Jews to stand firm and destroy anyone who came to do them harm. 

A: As Christians, we are not called to kill those who want to do us harm, but we are called to stand firm against those who wish to taken us down. We are called to put on our armor (Ephesians 6:11) to "stand firm against the tactics of the devil." This is a daily battle and we can see it now as there are those wanting to take God out of everything, and many other religious issues are trying to become political. 

P: Dear God, help me to be ready when I am attacked by someone wishing to take me down spiritually. Help me to remember to put on my armor and be able to stand firm with you. This is a daily battle we fight against those who wish to destroy Christianity, Lord, so as I wake each morning, help me to remember to be strong according to your will. 

Esther 7

Morning eveeyone. I would have had this out this morning, except a little boy woke up at 5:30 AM and wanted to play with my iPad. So here we go:

S: Esther 7:10

So they hanged Haman on the gibbet which he had made easy for Mordecai, and the anger of the king abated.

O: This is the second time we can see how the king's anger (and alcohol) makes him do some terrible things. The first is when he banished Queen Vashti. 

A: We are quick to anger and even quicker to act on that. How many times have we yelled at our children, or got snippy with our husbands withouth even thinking about it? And then felt bad about our reactions? I will put my daughter in time out when she gets angry, but I never thought about putting myself in time out so I don't lash out. It's probably something to consider. 

P: Dear God, please help me to pause when I feel angry before I react. Help me to see that I need to take a "time out" so as to not lash out in anger. Amen

Esther 6

S: Esther 6:1-3

That night the king unable to sleep asked that the Chronicle of notable events they brought in.  While this was being read to him, the passage occurred in which Mordecai reported Bagathan and Teresh, two of the Royal eunuchs who guarded the entrance, for seeking to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. The king asked, "what was done to reward and honor Mordecai for this?" The Kings attendants replied, "Nothing what's done for him."

O: This passage doesn't talk about God specifically, but it can be thought that the king couldn't sleep because God was calling to his subconscious.  

A: how many nights do we struggle with falling asleep without thinking God could be weighing on our minds? I know there are several nights I remember struggling to fall asleep, and once I started praying to God about opening my mind, the next thing I remember is waking up refreshed in the morning. 

P: Dear Lord, help me not to aimlessly struggle through situations without turning to you. Help me to always remember that in any situation of uncertainty, I should turn to you first for advice. Also help me to remember that when a friend asks me for guidance that we should both turn to you in prayer first. amen

Esther 5

Woohoo finally caught up! I am amazed at the other ladies responses with their SOAP. It just reiterates by many people can take different perspective of a passage.


S: Esther 5:11-13 "He [Haman] recounted the greatness of his riches! the large number of his sons! and just how the king had promoted him and placed him above the officials and royal servants. "Moreover," Haman added, " Queen Esther invited no one but me to the banquet with the king; again tomorrow I am to be her guest with the king. Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I continue to see the Jew morse air sitting at the royal gate." "

O: Haman was a very greedy and self serving man. He was very bold about his riches, but so he said, none mattered to him as long as Mordecai still refused to bow to him. Even all his undeserved riches couldn't make him happy enough until Mordecai was gone.

A: there are times in our lives that no matter what greatness we have, we are still burdened by something. Haman was a bad man, and his selfish burden is nothing like what I have, but my own burdens are out so selfishness. How many times I think "if I could just get a moments rest," as I hear my two beautiful children chatter. Instead I should be thanking God for the beautiful gifts he gave me.

P: Dear God, please help me to see the many gifts you have given me in true light. Help me to let go of the selfish burdens I hold in my heart. I know you could have given these gifts to anyone, but you chose me for a reason. I love the gifts you have bestowed upon me. Let me not take them for granted. Amen.

Esther 4

S: Esther 4:16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I am my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

O: Though it did take Mordecai to prompt the young Queen Esther, she willing said she would possibly sacrifice herself for her people. She was willing to go in front of the king without permission in hopes that she could bring the promised destruction to an end.

A: I want to give myself up to God wholly, and unconditionally. I find it hard to so such in the world we live in. We are such a “flesh” people, always with strings. We need to stop holding on to the world, because nothing in the world is promised to us, and nothing will come with us once we die.

P: Dear God, help me to cut the strings that I hold here on Earth. Help me to see that you promised us grace in heaven, and help us accept that without prompting. I want to be able to make time for you, Lord, without the thoughts of all the chores to be done. Help me to empty myself of the worldly things.

Esther 3

S: Esther 3:9

“If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.”

O: Haman was a sneaky man, who took advantage of the king’s greed. He told the king about a “people” who was not following the king’s rule, and offered 10, 000 talents to the king for permission to destroy the people. The king didn’t ask about the people, didn’t ask any details. He just wanted the money so he agreed to Haman’s offer.

A: How many times in a week or much less, a day, do we take people at their word instead of gathering our own information about the source? How many times do we get blinded but money or promises of goodness and ignore the bigger picture?

P: Dear Lord, I pray that you help me to open my eyes to the big picture. Do not let me get blindsided by money or evil promises of good. Please help me to always seek the truth.

Esther 2

S: Esther 2:20 (NABRE)

"Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him."

O: this obedience meant a lot to Esther and Mordecai. If Esther was not obedient, and let it be known who her people were, she and her whole family could have been killed.

A: Her obedience to her uncle is just as obedience to a parent should be. Just as out obedience to God should be. I want to be obedient to God that way. I know I need to work on that.

P: Dear God, I want to be obedient to you as Esther was. I want to be patient and listen and understand what obedience means. I want to follow your will immediately each day. Open my heart to the possibilities. Amen.

Esther 1

So again, this is my bible study following with a Good Morning Girls group fronm the Women Living Well website. We are using the SOAP method to record our notes from the passages. Here are mine from the first four days

Scripture
Esther 1:20 (New American Bible) Thus when the decree that the King will issue is published throughout the realm, vast as it is, all wives will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least."

observation/ application:
Queen Vashti deliberately disrespected her husbands wishes. He wanted to show his people his beautiful wife, but she didn't want to go. We are called in several places in the bible to respect our husbands as the head of household. Regardless of who is the breadwinner, regardless of whether we think they deserve our husbands deserve our respect. Why? Because regardless of our sins, God still loves and respects us.

Prayer:
Dear God, soften my heart so that I may show respect to my husband as you would. Help me not to hold any faults of his against him. I want to respect him as your Church respect you. 
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For some reason my computer is giving trouble about posting all on one post, so i will have to make separate posts. Sorry

Way too long!

Oh my, it has been way too long since my last post. It's funny (and kinda sad) how life gets in the way of little things we want to do. Here is a quick update of the family:
Jeanne started preschool! We'll, technically she started in the preschool room with preschool curriculum at her daycare. The preschool she was going to go to at the public school she will attend next year was closed because of the amount of people moving to this area to get their kids in the k-5 classes. No biggie. She is doing great!
Hunter is almost 11 months. It is so hard watching him grow, but so amazing at the same time. He is pulling up and walking along furniture. He is sting almost the same things we are eating at the dinner table. He has even more hair. I am not planning on cutting it until a year, and people love to give their opinions on that. Yes he may look girly, but I promise if you listen to his (already) deep voice, he isn't.
My husband and I are doing well here in Little Rock. We both still enjoy our jobs, but enjoy being at home with the kids in the evening more. I am so proud of how hard my husband works to keep our family fed.

I started doing two bible studies. One is reading Proverbs 31, and focusing on one verse each day, trying to see how I a can be more like the mysterious Proverbs 31 woman. The other is with the Women Living Well ladies. I shod have started posting here too, and I will today so you can be my accountability partners also :) I will do days 1-4 in another blog so this one doesn't get too lengthy.
Happy reading!