The way this new curriculum works, it doesn't work through the entire book of 1 Samuel chapter by chapter. But, I don't want you to miss out on any of the wonderful verses! So, on the weekends, I will give you some reading on your own to prepare for the coming week.
This reading will not be applicable to Sunday's lesson...it is in preparation for Monday and the week following. It will just be like getting ahead! Monday - Friday's devotions are to prepare you for discussion on Sunday...the weekend reading is just if you want to read through all the material!
Read 1 Samuel 2.
Enjoy...
Thrive!
Frances
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Frances Is In Prague
Hello dear friends. Frances and her team have safely arrived in Prague at 5:30 (11:30 AM Eastern time). All is going as planned.....so far, so good! Please keep her team in your prayers and I will post updates as I receive them.
1 Samuel 1:20-28
Good morning girls! Start your time with prayer. Concentrate today on your family in prayer. Take special time to take the needs of each member before the Lord. Share all your hopes, desires, concerns, and worries with God this morning.
Read 1 Samuel 1:20-28.
List a few things that really speak to you today in these verse.
What do these things say to you...how will your life be different because of what you read today?
What is God saying to you about your own family?
There is so much in this passage! It would take us a week to look at all the wonderful things in these verses. But today, we are going to focus on how Hannah literally gave over her only son to God's service. She gave him to full time service at the temple with Eli.
Can you imagine that? Can you imagine leaving your only child...the one you had desired and prayed for so deeply? Can you even begin to think about how Hannah felt as she walked away from the temple leaving her little boy there...for good?
What an example to us! Even if you don't have children, we all can glean from this passage. God has to be the one who completely fills us...not our families, husbands, children, co-workers, or friends. We must be willing to leave those people in the Lord's hands and trust Him with their care. He loves them far greater than we could imagine. His love is perfect for them. His love satisfies them completely.
The greatest way we can truly love those around us, is to trust them to a perfect God. Hannah leaving long prayed for son at the temple, is an example of how we should leave those we love the most in the hands of God. We can trust Him to do the very best. Though, many times it doesn't LOOK best to us! Each day, I'm sure Hannah didn't FEEL like leaving her beloved son was best. But, she knew that he was where God wanted Him.
Are there people in your life that you are holding back from God in your heart?
Do you trust Him with those precious people?
Take time right now to release your lack of faith right now. Believe what God tells us in His Word...that He loves us all so much that He sent His only Son to die for our sin! What an example of love and pain. Thank Him for those relationships, but allow God to be your only source of satisfaction today!
Read 1 Samuel 1:20-28.
List a few things that really speak to you today in these verse.
What do these things say to you...how will your life be different because of what you read today?
What is God saying to you about your own family?
There is so much in this passage! It would take us a week to look at all the wonderful things in these verses. But today, we are going to focus on how Hannah literally gave over her only son to God's service. She gave him to full time service at the temple with Eli.
Can you imagine that? Can you imagine leaving your only child...the one you had desired and prayed for so deeply? Can you even begin to think about how Hannah felt as she walked away from the temple leaving her little boy there...for good?
What an example to us! Even if you don't have children, we all can glean from this passage. God has to be the one who completely fills us...not our families, husbands, children, co-workers, or friends. We must be willing to leave those people in the Lord's hands and trust Him with their care. He loves them far greater than we could imagine. His love is perfect for them. His love satisfies them completely.
The greatest way we can truly love those around us, is to trust them to a perfect God. Hannah leaving long prayed for son at the temple, is an example of how we should leave those we love the most in the hands of God. We can trust Him to do the very best. Though, many times it doesn't LOOK best to us! Each day, I'm sure Hannah didn't FEEL like leaving her beloved son was best. But, she knew that he was where God wanted Him.
Are there people in your life that you are holding back from God in your heart?
Do you trust Him with those precious people?
Take time right now to release your lack of faith right now. Believe what God tells us in His Word...that He loves us all so much that He sent His only Son to die for our sin! What an example of love and pain. Thank Him for those relationships, but allow God to be your only source of satisfaction today!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
1 Samuel 1:17-18
I am leaving in mere hours for Poland and am ready to get on the plane so I can stop packing! I am going to miss my family so very much during this week, but look so forward to meeting them in 10 day at Disney World. Please continue to pray for our travel, health, boldness to speak Truth, and a servant's heart.
Today, start out by resting in this time with God. Allow His peace to take hold of those anxious thoughts and worries. Take them to Him today and allow His Spirit to give you peace.
Read 1 Samuel 1:17-18.
What are you own personal thoughts on this passage?
What words or phrases really interest you or stick out in your reading?
What do you think God is saying to you personally through these verses?
Hannah has poured her heart and deepest hurt out before the Lord. She has prayed from the depth of her pain. She took the feelings of rejection, anger, disappointment, and sadness to her Lord in prayer.
Then, the priest Eli tells her to "go in peace." Those words really stick out to me! How our world, society, and churches need peace! She has poured her heart out to the Lord and now...her job is to trust in Him and go in peace. She must let the peace that passes all understanding guard her heart!
We know that she did this, because she went on her way; she ate and no longer appeared downcast. She continued to walk her daily life (remember she didn't miraculously become pregnant that day!), but with a peace in the Lord.
Have you ever experienced the peace of God in a situation?
Peace is a fruit of the Spirit! It's a sign that we are not lovers of this world, but of God. It's a way this world will know that you are not like the rest of them! A lost and dying world is looking desperately for women who take their needs and cups to God to be filled...and then live their daily lives in victorious peace and joy!
Take time right now to confess those areas you are living in worry, fear, anger, discouragement, and doubt at ask God to fill you with His peace. Trust Him with those areas and allow His peace to guard your heart.
I love you girls...
THRIVE!
Frances
Today, start out by resting in this time with God. Allow His peace to take hold of those anxious thoughts and worries. Take them to Him today and allow His Spirit to give you peace.
Read 1 Samuel 1:17-18.
What are you own personal thoughts on this passage?
What words or phrases really interest you or stick out in your reading?
What do you think God is saying to you personally through these verses?
Hannah has poured her heart and deepest hurt out before the Lord. She has prayed from the depth of her pain. She took the feelings of rejection, anger, disappointment, and sadness to her Lord in prayer.
Then, the priest Eli tells her to "go in peace." Those words really stick out to me! How our world, society, and churches need peace! She has poured her heart out to the Lord and now...her job is to trust in Him and go in peace. She must let the peace that passes all understanding guard her heart!
We know that she did this, because she went on her way; she ate and no longer appeared downcast. She continued to walk her daily life (remember she didn't miraculously become pregnant that day!), but with a peace in the Lord.
Have you ever experienced the peace of God in a situation?
Peace is a fruit of the Spirit! It's a sign that we are not lovers of this world, but of God. It's a way this world will know that you are not like the rest of them! A lost and dying world is looking desperately for women who take their needs and cups to God to be filled...and then live their daily lives in victorious peace and joy!
Take time right now to confess those areas you are living in worry, fear, anger, discouragement, and doubt at ask God to fill you with His peace. Trust Him with those areas and allow His peace to guard your heart.
I love you girls...
THRIVE!
Frances
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Devotion: 1 Samuel 1:12-16
Oh, this one is going to be good for our souls! Let's get started...
Read 1 Samuel 1:12-16.
Follow the example of Hannah in these verses and take time right now to pour out your heart to God. I want you to write Him a letter...or email. I did this a few nights ago and was amazed at what was truly on my heart. I wept before the Lord bringing Him all the worries, thoughts, hurts, doubts, sin, and gratitude that was in my heart. Relish this time. Let Him in. Allow Him to break down the walls around your heart. Allow Him to minister to your broken heart.
Look at Hannah's statements to Eli. She says that she is a women with a broken heart. She is taking her hurt and her resentment (verse 16) to the Lord. Think about that right now.
Where do you take your hurts? Do you run to a friend? Do you call your spouse? Do you bury it deep within yourself and build more walls? Do you ignore it and live in denial of any hurts at all? Do you let it become a grudge or bitterness towards whatever or whoever hurt you?
Or...do you follow Hannah's example here and pour your broken heart our before the Lord?
My parents divorced when I was young. When my mother remarried my stepfather, my dad felt like he should just leave. I didn't see him...until I was married...and not since. He's never seen my children. He has never wanted to see me. I felt abandoned and very worthless for most of my life. It flowed into my marriage, parenting, friendships, family, and most of all it bled into my relationship with God.
As I began to pour my broken heart out to my Lord and read of His precious love for me...I received healing. Day by day. Moment by moment some days. Breath by breath. It was a slow journey that required I trust Him with my whole heart. It wasn't easy to trust anyone with my heart. But, as I read His Word daily...I began to learn about who He really is. I began to love Him and His Words. Then, slowly I trusted Him with my heart and my hurts. It was a deeply personal journey for me. But, daily I love and trust Him more as I journey life breathing His Word in each day. It's the only way I survive.
You've been hurt. We all have...because we live in a fallen world filled with sinful people. The question this morning is where will you go with that hurt today? In the depths of your pain, hurt, and even resentment...pray. Talk to Him. literally pray from the depth of you heart and receive His healing.
I love you girls...
THRIVE!
Frances
Read 1 Samuel 1:12-16.
Follow the example of Hannah in these verses and take time right now to pour out your heart to God. I want you to write Him a letter...or email. I did this a few nights ago and was amazed at what was truly on my heart. I wept before the Lord bringing Him all the worries, thoughts, hurts, doubts, sin, and gratitude that was in my heart. Relish this time. Let Him in. Allow Him to break down the walls around your heart. Allow Him to minister to your broken heart.
Look at Hannah's statements to Eli. She says that she is a women with a broken heart. She is taking her hurt and her resentment (verse 16) to the Lord. Think about that right now.
Where do you take your hurts? Do you run to a friend? Do you call your spouse? Do you bury it deep within yourself and build more walls? Do you ignore it and live in denial of any hurts at all? Do you let it become a grudge or bitterness towards whatever or whoever hurt you?
Or...do you follow Hannah's example here and pour your broken heart our before the Lord?
My parents divorced when I was young. When my mother remarried my stepfather, my dad felt like he should just leave. I didn't see him...until I was married...and not since. He's never seen my children. He has never wanted to see me. I felt abandoned and very worthless for most of my life. It flowed into my marriage, parenting, friendships, family, and most of all it bled into my relationship with God.
As I began to pour my broken heart out to my Lord and read of His precious love for me...I received healing. Day by day. Moment by moment some days. Breath by breath. It was a slow journey that required I trust Him with my whole heart. It wasn't easy to trust anyone with my heart. But, as I read His Word daily...I began to learn about who He really is. I began to love Him and His Words. Then, slowly I trusted Him with my heart and my hurts. It was a deeply personal journey for me. But, daily I love and trust Him more as I journey life breathing His Word in each day. It's the only way I survive.
You've been hurt. We all have...because we live in a fallen world filled with sinful people. The question this morning is where will you go with that hurt today? In the depths of your pain, hurt, and even resentment...pray. Talk to Him. literally pray from the depth of you heart and receive His healing.
I love you girls...
THRIVE!
Frances
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Devotion: Tuesday, September 2
Start today by asking God to guide you in this time. Allow Him to guide and move you through His Word and bless you!
Read 1 Samuel 1:3-5.
Journal some thoughts that you have on these verses.
What really speaks to you about this story so far?
How do you relate to Hannah?
What are your thoughts about God closing Hannah's womb?
God does allow "deserts" into our lives. He isn't shocked by them. He isn't holding his breath wondering what's going to happen to you next. He is in control of all things!
God had an amazing plan for Hannah's life through this desert. She may have had a closed womb at this time, but God provided for her in such tender ways. Her husband gave her a double portion at the time of sacrifice.
Look at Isaiah 61:7:
"Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs."
God gave this promise to His people through the prophet Isaiah years ago, and we know that it is ours in Christ! Instead of the shame and wages of sin, we have been given a double portion...the very best part of the sacrifice! Everlasting JOY is our in Christ every day!!!
Though you are going through an earthly desert at this time, know that God gives us everlasting JOY through Christ during them. Hannah is about to experience the power of answered prayer and an amazing miracle in her life. But, even in the midst of this trial...when she didn't know the ending of her story...she continued to travel with her family to worship the Lord. She knew who could fill her cup!
No matter what we face in this life, God will use it for good. It may not be our definition of good, but He provides peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, love, goodness, and self-control in the midst of our daily lives and that allows us to THRIVE! The world looks closely at those women who endure great pain, yet have great JOY. We can have this everlasting JOY because of the gift of Jesus Christ! He is our double portion! He is our everlasting JOY!
THRIVE!
Frances
Read 1 Samuel 1:3-5.
Journal some thoughts that you have on these verses.
What really speaks to you about this story so far?
How do you relate to Hannah?
What are your thoughts about God closing Hannah's womb?
God does allow "deserts" into our lives. He isn't shocked by them. He isn't holding his breath wondering what's going to happen to you next. He is in control of all things!
God had an amazing plan for Hannah's life through this desert. She may have had a closed womb at this time, but God provided for her in such tender ways. Her husband gave her a double portion at the time of sacrifice.
Look at Isaiah 61:7:
"Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs."
God gave this promise to His people through the prophet Isaiah years ago, and we know that it is ours in Christ! Instead of the shame and wages of sin, we have been given a double portion...the very best part of the sacrifice! Everlasting JOY is our in Christ every day!!!
Though you are going through an earthly desert at this time, know that God gives us everlasting JOY through Christ during them. Hannah is about to experience the power of answered prayer and an amazing miracle in her life. But, even in the midst of this trial...when she didn't know the ending of her story...she continued to travel with her family to worship the Lord. She knew who could fill her cup!
No matter what we face in this life, God will use it for good. It may not be our definition of good, but He provides peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, love, goodness, and self-control in the midst of our daily lives and that allows us to THRIVE! The world looks closely at those women who endure great pain, yet have great JOY. We can have this everlasting JOY because of the gift of Jesus Christ! He is our double portion! He is our everlasting JOY!
THRIVE!
Frances
Monday, September 1, 2008
How do we start?
Girls, it was so great to be with you all yesterday! I love Sundays for so many reasons, and you each are one of them. I know that the class yesterday was different and more informative, but I wanted to share with you that there are resources to help you glean from God's Word in a way that will speak to you personally. We all will learn and study differently. I wanted you to have an overview of just a few of the resources out there that you might want to know more about as you begin to study the Bible daily.
I struggled with doing that yesterday, so I pray that those who were new will stick around and see what our regular class is like! I pray also that something spoke to you. I have also prayed that you left knowing that studying God's Word is for all of us!! Pastors, Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, Billy Graham and others are using the resources that I showed you yesterday. Jay has been to seminary, and those are a few of the main things he uses in sermons and teaching. It's not complicated or mystical...but it is powerful to be in a personal and growing relationship with Almighty God!
Renee, you had my most favorite question of all...how do we start? Let's start right now...
Take a few moments today to quiet your heart in prayer. Find a quiet spot that you can steal away and focus on God and what He wants to say to you today. Open up to God as you would a loved one sitting with you over a steaming cup of hot tea. Rest in these moments knowing that God loves you and desires you.
Read 1 Samuel 1:1-2.
What sticks out to you in these verses?
Look at the words..."And Hannah had none." How do you think Hannah felt? What are your thoughts on this situation?
Hannah didn't have children while her husbands other wife did. We know that in Biblical times barren women were ridiculed and seen as less important than those who could give their husbands children. But, even today as women it would be difficult to not have children if we desired that in our lives. Can you feel the weight of those words now..."and Hannah had none"?
You may have children today, but there is something in all of our lives that we desire. Perhaps we desire love from a parent that we have "had none" growing up. Maybe we desire a godly marriage that doesn't exist right now. We might desire a thriving spiritual life.
What do you deeply desire that you do not feel that you have right now in your life?
We must take that opportunity in that desire and need to fellowship with God in prayer over that. We will see the passionate prayer that came from a desperate desire in Hannah's life. We will see that Hannah took that desire to God with a groaning so deep that others thought she was either insane or drunk.
Take time today to those deep desires to God. He will answer you. He will change you. He will give you the desires of your heart...either through a "yes" or by filling your heart with Himself so that your desire is met.
Journal a few moments on your own personal thoughts. What is God saying to you right now? What desires do you need to share with Him? Allow Him to fill your cup today!
Share your thoughts with us! We want to hear from you today. Encourage us with what God is saying to you!
I love you all and will miss you terribly! Thank you for being in this class and for sharing your life with me. I am so glad God has brought us together for this journey in thriving everyday!
THRIVE!
Frances
I struggled with doing that yesterday, so I pray that those who were new will stick around and see what our regular class is like! I pray also that something spoke to you. I have also prayed that you left knowing that studying God's Word is for all of us!! Pastors, Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, Billy Graham and others are using the resources that I showed you yesterday. Jay has been to seminary, and those are a few of the main things he uses in sermons and teaching. It's not complicated or mystical...but it is powerful to be in a personal and growing relationship with Almighty God!
Renee, you had my most favorite question of all...how do we start? Let's start right now...
Take a few moments today to quiet your heart in prayer. Find a quiet spot that you can steal away and focus on God and what He wants to say to you today. Open up to God as you would a loved one sitting with you over a steaming cup of hot tea. Rest in these moments knowing that God loves you and desires you.
Read 1 Samuel 1:1-2.
What sticks out to you in these verses?
Look at the words..."And Hannah had none." How do you think Hannah felt? What are your thoughts on this situation?
Hannah didn't have children while her husbands other wife did. We know that in Biblical times barren women were ridiculed and seen as less important than those who could give their husbands children. But, even today as women it would be difficult to not have children if we desired that in our lives. Can you feel the weight of those words now..."and Hannah had none"?
You may have children today, but there is something in all of our lives that we desire. Perhaps we desire love from a parent that we have "had none" growing up. Maybe we desire a godly marriage that doesn't exist right now. We might desire a thriving spiritual life.
What do you deeply desire that you do not feel that you have right now in your life?
We must take that opportunity in that desire and need to fellowship with God in prayer over that. We will see the passionate prayer that came from a desperate desire in Hannah's life. We will see that Hannah took that desire to God with a groaning so deep that others thought she was either insane or drunk.
Take time today to those deep desires to God. He will answer you. He will change you. He will give you the desires of your heart...either through a "yes" or by filling your heart with Himself so that your desire is met.
Journal a few moments on your own personal thoughts. What is God saying to you right now? What desires do you need to share with Him? Allow Him to fill your cup today!
Share your thoughts with us! We want to hear from you today. Encourage us with what God is saying to you!
I love you all and will miss you terribly! Thank you for being in this class and for sharing your life with me. I am so glad God has brought us together for this journey in thriving everyday!
THRIVE!
Frances
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