New Look, Same Focus

What is your purpose?

This question was asked at the beginning of our first study here at Woman of Faith Study. Since then
our Bible studies have been engaging and insightful! Because of you I have been encouraged to continue our studies. My focus for this blog remains the same; to encourage Women of Faith to Study God's Word Faithfully.

If you are still asking yourself this question, 'what is my purpose'?  Please know that you are not alone. No matter what season of life you are in, Jesus is always nearer than you think. He is ready to walk with you and guide you through whatever it is that He has called you to do. You have a purpose. By daily growing in faith I believe God will reach out to you and reveal the noble characters within you.

With that said I will be taking this summer to put together our next Bible Study focused on the 'The Noble Woman'.

In the mean time I will be keeping you posted on how things are progressing. I will need some much needed feed back from you along the way. So, please subscribe to this blog and share with your friends who might be interested in learning more about revealing their noble characters.

My goal is to post once a week, check in with me and see how things are going. Thank you all for the encouragement and prayers. You are much appreciated!

Blessings!

Katie <><

Valuing Self-Control

Taming the Tongue

James preaches self-control in our use of God's gift of language. We often don't think twice about gossiping, using God's name in vain, telling "little white lies," or using foul language.

James warns his readers that teachers of the faith (particularly including pastors) must be aware of the fact that they will be held strictly accountable for what they say. Since people (including teachers of the faith) stumble in life, including in their speech, a teacher (pastor) must be constantly in control of his tongue.

Listening and Doing

My dear brothers(/sisters), take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James 1:19-21

 

 

 

Read the book of James in your Bible.

* How do these verses in James encourage you to gain self-control and tame your tongue?

* How have these verses helped you speak God's promise of
Salvation?

* How can the book of James help your prayer life?

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

Gentlness

Approaching Gentleness

 

When we hear the word meek, we may well think of weakness and timidity. We might imagine a person who cannot stand up and deal with the problems in life or someone who has low self-esteem or is just plain shy. This is definitely not what Jesus has in mind. Meekness and gentleness describe an attitude of humility and self-restraint. The gentle man might be very powerful, physically strong, or socially empowered, but he interacts with others out of love and compassion.

 

Peter's Advice

 

In 1 Peter 3:1-6, Peter offers a case study in gentleness as an exercise of love and Christian concern. Imagine a situation where a Christian wife is married to an unbelieving husband. How shall she win him over to Jesus?

 

     * What non-verbal witness can a wife make to her husband?

 

     * What does the world define as "beauty"?

 

     * What does God see as beautiful?

 

     * Does what Peter say in these verses sound offensive to modern ears?

 

 

 

Words to Remember

 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23

 

To prepare for "Maintaining Self-Control," read Proverbs 25

Faithfulness

The Messiah, Faithfulness Incarnate  

The prophet Isaiah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, looked forward to God sending a Savior who would bear the sins of all people. In Isaiah 11:1-5, he describes the coming Messiah.

   * List the seven characteristics of the Spirit that rest upon the coming Savior (v.2).

   * List the three characteristics of the Messiah (vv. 3-5).

   * How will the Messiah demonstrate His faithfulness? How does His faithfulness impact you?

   * Dig deeper into God's Word this week and learn more about Faithfulness.

   * Share an example of God's Faithfulness with someone you care for this week.


 
 

Blessed Lord, who has commanded us to love one another, grant us grace. Having received Your undeserved bounty, may we love everyone in You and for You. We implore Your mercy for all; but especially for the friends whom Your love has given to us. Love them, O Fountain of love, and make them to love You with all their heart, that they may will, and speak, and do those things only which are pleasing to You. Amen

(Anselm of Canterbury, 1033-1109)

Goodness

Goodness of God

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  Galatians 6:9-10

     * What is Good or should I say Who is Good?

Good and upright is the LORD; ... Psalm 25:8a (read Psalm 25)

You are forgiving and good, O LORD, abounding in love to all who call to you. (Psalm 86:5)
  
    * How can you show goodness?

 He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it. (Proverbs 11:27)

Test everything. Hold on to the good.  (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

On a human level we use different criteria for determining whether or not practically anything is good. The label good, as we apply it in our daily lives, depends oftentimes on whether or not we like someone or something. Psalm 34:8 reminds us that, ultimately, "The LORD is good." He alone determines what is good and what is evil. Practically anything He has created and determined "good" (Genesis 1, specially v. 31) can be abused and become bad for us. But even in such cases, the Lord's forgiving goodness is palpable---it can be "tasted"---in the One whose body was broken for us, but whose bones remained untouched (Psalm 34:8, 20).

Kindness

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Would you be so kind as to forgive someone who hurt you and humiliated you in public?
Or would you repay evil for evil?

Joseph had made a choice to forgive the wrong done to him by his brothers.
Because God showed His kindness to Joseph (Genesis 39:2-3 & 41:39) he then was able to show kindness to his brothers.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:20-21

Another example of kindness is found in the book of Ruth.

  How does Boaz show kindness in Ruth 2:16?

  Why do you think Boaz is showing kindness in this way?

  What does Naomi mean when she says; "The LORD bless him!... "He has not stopped showing      kindness to the living and the dead." (Ruth 2:20-21)

James 1:22 reads, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

So then how do we show Love, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control? By your actions! We must be doers of the Word!

Share a time you have shown kindness to someone in need after forgiving them.

Christ the Ideal

Patience

We find no greater example of patience, especially in the face of suffering, than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Throughout His ministry, Jesus showed tremendous patience with His followers (see Mark 8:14-33, for example). The one place where His patience shines most brightly, of course, is Calvary. If God's patience can be defined as delaying punishment and showing mercy, then the cross stands as the purest and strongest example. Read John 18-19

* Does Jesus have the power to stop the proceeding? Why does He choose no to do so? (See John 18:11)

* What indignities does Jesus suffer during the religious trial, and why does He endure it so patiently (18:19-24)?

* What did His enemies accuse Him of in the religious trial? In the secular trial?

* In light if Deuteronomy 21:22-23, how does the cross provide the perfect and ultimate example of longsuffering?

Dear God! Grant us also peaceful hearts and good courage in our struggle and unrest against the devil, whom we cannot endure nor finally defeat. We desire to have peace, and to praise and thank You, and not to grumble nor become impatient against Your divine will. Grant that peace in our hearts wins the day, so that we hold nothing against You, our God, nor against our fellow man, because of impatience. Rather, help us to remain calm and peaceful, both inwardly and outwardly, to You and to all people, until the coming of that final and eternal peace.

(Martin Luther, 1483-1546)

 

Know this, my believed brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. James 1:19-20

To prepare for "Kindness in Action," read the Book of Ruth