Good-bye Until September 2018!

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere."  - 2 Corinthians 2:14

As many of you who have faithfully followed our ministry blog know, every year about this time we embark on our annual summer hiatus. This break allows our wonderful writers and staff time to pursue other endeavors, both, personal as well as spiritual.

For some, it gives them the opportunity to work with other ministries and organizations where they may continue the Lord's good work. Others teach, lecture, and study. But in any case, all have time to enjoy with their families and friends.

It is important for me to stress, however, that even though we are away from this blog only temporarily, we will still be actively and lovingly disseminating the Word of God throughout the world.

I want to thank all of the beautiful, talented, and Spirit-filled ladies who work tirelessly throughout the year to help make this all possible. Thank you, ladies!

Whether you have followed us for years or just discovered us yesterday, it is by no accident or coincidence that we have been brought together.

Mark 16:15 commands, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry acknowledges and embraces this great responsibility. We pray that our ministry demonstrates this.

God indeed has been most generous in his blessings toward our ministry, for which we are eternally grateful; and among these many blessings, we earnestly include you!

As always, our blog archives are always available for you to use as God moves you. We will return in September, fully refreshed and ready to go. Until then, on behalf of everyone here at The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry, may you all have a safe and healthy summer; and may God watch over you wherever you go and whatever you do!

~Eve

*** We will return in September!***

Bible Study Snacks - 2 Timothy, Chapter 4 (End)

Hi, everyone!

Welcome again to Bible Study Snacks! I'm excited to journey through another Bible study series with you. Those of you who have followed our other studies know I like to keep them short, informative, but to the point.

This week, we conclude our series on the The Second Epistle of Timothy, or 2 Timothy.  As always, I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, positive in energy, and strong in faith!

Although brief, the studies presented here are packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. It is my ultimate hope that they might inspire you to an even deeper study of Scripture!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

This Weeks Objectives: Participants should be able to...

* see the need for diligence in preaching the word of God.
* note the satisfaction Paul had in looking back over his service to Christ, and the confidence he possessed as he looked forward to the Judgment Day and the heavenly kingdom.

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 2 Timothy, Chapter 4...

The final chapter begins with a charge for Timothy to preach the word at all times. The time was coming when people would not listen to sound doctrine, but instead follow teachers who would tell what they wanted to hear. Timothy was therefore to be watchful, to endure what afflictions might come his way, and to do the work as an evangelist as he fulfilled his ministry (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

Knowing that his own end was near, Paul expresses personal satisfaction that he has fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. He is confident that there is laid up for him that crown of
righteousness which the Lord will give to all who have loved His appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Timothy is then told to be diligent to come quickly. Only Luke is with Paul as he writes, for Demas has forsaken him and others have left to go to other places. Requests are made, one related to getting Mark and bringing him along, followed by a warning about Alexander the coppersmith.

A reference is made concerning those who forsook Paul at his first defense, for whom Paul prays it might not be charged against them. During that time the Lord stood by Paul, and he is confident that the Lord would deliver him from every evil work and preserve him for the heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:9-18).

Timothy is then asked to relay greetings to Paul's dear friends. Brief references are made to Erastus and Trophimus, followed by a plea for Timothy to come before winter. Finally, Paul sends greetings from various brethren and closes the letter with a prayer that the Lord will be with Timothy (2 Timothy 4:19-22).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) When will Jesus judge the living and the dead? (2 Timothy 4:1)
2) How was Timothy to carry out the charge to preach the word? (2 Timothy 4:2)
3) What would some people not endure? What will they do instead? (2 Timothy 4:3)
4) What will they turn away from? What will they be turned aside to? (2 Timothy 4:4)
5) What four-fold exhortation is given to Timothy in view of such things to come? (2 Timothy 4:5)
6) What did Paul know was drawing near? (2 Timothy 4:6)
7) What three phrases does Paul use to describe his life as a Christian? (2 Timothy 4:7)
8) What did Paul expect to receive from the Lord? Who else would receive it? (2 Timothy 4:8)
9) What does Paul ask of Timothy? (2 Timothy 4:9)
10) Who had forsaken Paul, and why? (2 Timothy 4:10)
11) Who alone was with Paul when he wrote this epistle? (2 Timothy 4:11)
12) Why did Paul want Timothy to get Mark and bring him with him? (2 Timothy 4:11)
13) What else did Paul want Timothy to bring? (2 Timothy 4:13)
14) Of whom did Paul warn Timothy to beware? (2 Timothy 4:14-15)
15) What did Paul desire for those who had forsook him at his first defense? (2 Timothy 4:16)
16) Who stood with Paul during his first defense and strengthened him? (2 Timothy 4:17)
17) What two things was Paul confident the Lord would do for him? (2 Timothy 4:18)
18) Who did Paul want Timothy to greet for him? (2 Timothy 4:19)
19) When did Paul want Timothy to come? (2 Timothy 4:21)
20) Who sent greetings to Timothy by way of Paul? (2 Timothy 4:21)
21) What did Paul pray for in behalf of Timothy as he closed this letter? (2 Timothy 4:22)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As always, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until our next time together...

God bless you!

Sheri

Video - Sheila Walsh: What Are You Wrestling?

Christian speaker, teacher, and author Sheila Walsh explains why it's scriptural to fight for your faith and hold on until you are blessed. Advice we all need to take to heart!  ~Eve

We Must Value Christ Above All

"Christ is not valued at all unless He is valued above all."  - Augustine

In light of the current turmoil, upheaval, and unrest which is so unmistakably clear in our world today, it is good for us to discuss Christ and the many things that make him so relevant and necessary now more than ever.

One of the most attractive qualities in the character and life of Christ is the early and unrestrained development of his social nature under less than ideal circumstances.

And though he may have been shunned by some, he never neglected anyone. As a matter of fact, His birth would have been considered lowly by some, and his early education not very extraordinary.

Indeed, to the great movers and shakers of the day this barely made an impact. Yet He who was greater and mightier than all voluntarily assumed that position, not for the purpose of dragging anybody down, but for raising all up instead.

Kings, princes, and priests; Sadducee, Pharisee, and Essene; all sects, orthodox and unorthodox, may have made great efforts to make their respective followers bow and mold themselves to their own doctrine.

But He, the lowly and loving man of the people, the Son of God, the Son of Man, everywhere and in every condition, would let His mighty heart swell under a distressed and abused race.

This in order that He Might lift them above oppression by bestowing to the soul a power and deliverance which discrimination and tyranny can never rip from its grasp.

Christ ventured from place to place where the great crowds struggled with poverty and mistreatment. Drudging through long periods of fruitless toil, he managed to enjoy a few flickers of home joy.

All this while their oppressors wasted their entire lives in unruly and unrestrained behavior. Therefore, it is easy to see how He constantly yearned to be their Redeemer, and make others redeemers, as well.

Having them spread ideas and emotions far and wide that were made to make men Divine; to undergo all hardships, danger, and pain, to love where He was hated; and to die that humanity might live in loyalty to the greatest affection and the highest truth.

Thus, generation after generation has been graced, liberated, and blessed with patriots, sages, martyrs, prophets, and apostles; with men gladly facing the dungeon, the sword, and fire rather than abandoning their loyalty and faithfulness to the interests of the majority.

One can only conclude that this is undoubtedly God manifest in the flesh. A Deity full of justice, wisdom, and benevolence who came down from heaven to earth, so that He might raise earth to heaven.

And it's this essence of being human, along with His divinity that the Savior provides His religion with its wonderful gentleness and compelling power that is so graciously provided for any who sincerely desire it.

Scripture: John 1:14; John 8:12; Colossians 2:9; Matthew 16:15-16; 1 Peter 3:18

Prayer: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope, amen.   - Romans 15:13

May the Lord bless,

Shawna

Pardon Me, God

"To confess your sins to God is not to tell [God] anything [God] doesn't already know. Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you. When you confess them, they become the bridge."  - Frederick Buechner

According to Wikipedia a pardon is described as, "a government decision to allow a person to be absolved of guilt for an alleged crime or other legal offense, as if the act never occurred. The pardon may be granted before or after conviction for the crime, depending on the laws of the jurisdiction."

As sinners, or offenders of God, can be pardoned of sin? I mean, it's one thing to appeal a case to a court of law, but are we eligible to plead before God? If you have never considered this before today, maybe it's time you did.

For our discussion today, I will use, who I think, is an excellent example from the Bible: David. He was a man who was as guilty as they come. And even though he was guilty of murder and adultery, after admitting his guilt and repenting, God pardoned him.

I think you will find, as David did, that no greater happiness awaits a person than forgiveness. And how does one gain this happiness through forgiveness? Let's begin with contentment (Psalm 32:1-2).

As you read through this Psalm the word "blessed" jumps out at you. It is the equivalent of the term "happy." David was filled with overflowing joy and contentment as a result of what God had done with the evil in his life.

What does God do? He forgives sins; He covers sin; and He does not charge a person with sins. Name just one earthly court of law that can do that! Moving along, David must have tried several different ways to get rid of the memory and guilt of sin.

But, the only thing that worked was when he made an open and honest confession to the Lord. As David found out, carrying sin around is not an easy thing to do. We see some of the effects of the burden of sin in Psalm 32:3-5.

Unconfessed sin can lead to rotting bones. The grief of his sin robbed David of his strength. Then there is Gods heavy hand, whereby God brought the facts of sin to David's recollection. Let's not forget sapped vitality. David's mind ate away at him because of the conviction of sin (Psalm 32:3-4).

But once he confessed his sin things turned around. Through confession of sin there is an acknowledgment. David confessed the fact of his sin to God (Psalm 32:5). There is an uncovering of sin. David resolved not to hide his sin any longer. And by his confession David placed the responsibility on himself and opened his life to the Lord.

Thus, we find as a result of confession that God is willing to listen to a sinner's confession, and forgives a penitent sinner. But is contentment and confession the end of it?  After David's forgiveness, he made some commitments to the Lord (Psalm 32:5-11).

Forgiveness is not something that is transactional or negotiable, it's much more than that. It's transformational, or as they say, "life-changing." I guarantee that you'll never be the same afterwards. That's how powerful it is.

One of these commitments was that David was able to share from experience. He urges everyone to call on the Lord (Psalm 32:6). You see, David once felt insecure, even shut-off from God. But he testifies that forgiveness brings a sense of belonging to God.

There is also a responsibility on the part of the forgiven individual to teach others about the terrors of sin and the joy of forgiveness (Psalm 32:8). A forgiven man will simply know what to do and then do it, unlike a stubborn animal that has to be trained what to do (Psalm 32:9).

What will be clearly evident is a definite contrast between the miseries of the wicked and the joys of the penitent. Which one of these describes the state you are in right now? Are you tired of the guilt of sin? Do you notice a similarity between your experience and David's?

I have some good news for you! A generous and glorious pardon awaits penitent sinners. When you admit your sins to God and ask for forgiveness, he will wholeheartedly and abundantly pardon you. What are you waiting for..?

Scripture: 1 John 1:9; Mark 11:25; Philippians 3:12; Ephesians 4:30–32; Matthew 6:12

Prayer: Dear God, who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.  - Micah 7:18-19

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Bible Study Snacks - 2 Timothy, Chapter 3

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday and welcome again to Bible Study Snacks! I'm excited to journey through another Bible study series with you. Those of you who have followed our other studies know I like to keep them short, informative, but to the point.

This week, we continue with our series on the The Second Epistle of Timothy, or 2 Timothy.  As always, I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, positive in energy, and strong in faith!

Although brief, the studies presented here are packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. It is my ultimate hope that they might inspire you to an even deeper study of Scripture!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

This Weeks Objectives: Participants should be able to...

* learn about the moral decline that will occur in the last days.
* appreciate the value of all Scripture, including the Old Testament.

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 2 Timothy, Chapter 3...

From exhortations to steadfast service in the first two chapters, Paul now proceeds to offer exhortations to sound doctrine in this chapter and into the next. He warns of perilous times to come in the last days, describing the condition of the people during these times. Such people Timothy was to turn away from, for they would be just like Jannes and Jambres who resisted Moses in the Old Testament (2 Timothy 3:1-9).

Reminding Timothy of how he had carefully followed Paul's doctrine and manner of life up to that point, Paul warns of the persecution to befall those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus. While evil men and impostors will grow worse and deceive many (being deceived themselves), Timothy is exhorted to continue in those things he has learned.

Paul has special reference to the Scriptures Timothy had known since childhood, which like all Scripture is inspired of God and has the value of making one wise for the salvation which is by faith in Christ, instructing one in such a way as to make him complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:10-17).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) When will perilous times come? (2 Timothy 3:1)
2) During these perilous times, what three things will men love? (2 Timothy 3:2-4)
3) What sort of godliness will they have? (2 Timothy 3:5)
4) How will such men gain followers? (2 Timothy 3:6)
5) What is said about their learning? (2 Timothy 3:7)
6) What two men will these individuals in perilous times be like? (2 Timothy 3:8)
7) What had Timothy carefully followed in regards to Paul? (2 Timothy 3:10-11)
8) What did Paul say about those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus? (2 Timothy 3:12)
9) What will happen in regards to evil men and impostors? (2 Timothy 3:13)
10) In what was Timothy to continue? (2 Timothy 3:14)
11) What had he known from his childhood? (2 Timothy 3:15)
12) What was the value of those things he had known since childhood? (2 Timothy 3:15)
13) What two things are stated about all scripture? (2 Timothy 3:16)
14) What are the scriptures designed to produce? (2 Timothy 3:17)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As always, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until our next time together...

God bless you!

Sheri

Make the Lord Your Trust

"Seeing's believing, but feeling's the truth."  - Thomas Fuller

We are familiar with stories about how people used to be more truthful or trustworthy back in the day; how you used to be able to trust another's word. I, personally, think that our level of trust has not changed. People have always been the same; some being more trustworthy than others.

Now, with so many different sources of media at our disposal there are more ways to stretch and distort the truth. Diligence and research cannot be stressed enough when sorting truth from fiction. We must do our homework. Plain and simple.

Yet, if this is the case, then can we believe anything anymore? Yes, we can! We can believe in the Scriptures. Of course, there are those who would argue this point, perhaps even some of you. However, there are many persuasive arguments for the Bible.

Perhaps the most important is that every individual who takes the time, and makes an effort to study it, discovers that it reveals the truth about the human soul. For example, in mathematics we know that one plus one equals two. We don't stop to question why this is so. We instinctively know that this is true (Luke 24:27).

Thus, when you or I sincerely study the Bible we find that it is packed with truths about ourselves. The Bible tells us that we are sinners, and we know that this is true. It makes God known to us, and we discover a deep conviction within our hearts that He does exist.

The Bible lays forgiveness at our feet, which is something that we know we desperately need. We are shown by the Bible, in slow, unhurried steps, what we are and what we require; directing us to discover the fulfillment of our needs and desires.

We encounter within its pages help for enduring our trials, the power to stand up to temptation, and the promise of immortality and friendship with God. If you or I had never seen the Bible before, after reading about God, we'd come to the realization that we always needed and had a hunger for Him; even though we had no idea how to find him prior to this.

More importantly, it shows us how to recognize God in Christ. And this, after all, is the principal objective of the Bible; to lead us to Christ. In regards to the Bible as literature, we see that it holds up quite well. It also upholds, without assistance, the proof of its truth.

The apostles Paul, Peter, James, Luke, John, for example, were good, intelligent, and honest men who were familiar with Christ. Because of their personal experiences with him, we can believe that what they wrote was true (2 Peter 1:21; Deuteronomy 29:29).

In addition, we discover that Christ was descended from a culture whose history is written down in the books of the Bible, and whose prophets proclaimed messages from God (Romans 15:4). In the end, we can trust the Bible as the great divine-human affirmation that declares him to the world.

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:2; Proverbs 3:5; Psalm 37:5; Psalm 9:10; Psalm 118:8

Prayer: Dear Lord, I express my faith in Your ability to achieve Your promises to me. Help me to strive and be victorious in life's battles, amen.

May God bless you,

Kaye

Video - Lisa Bevere: Go After Your Dreams

In this video clip, Christian speaker and author Lisa Bevere says that, "God has planted within you dreams and ambitions that may feel out of reach or impossible. When you don't know where to go, He will be the one to guide you on the journey.

You may not always see where you’re going, but God knows where He’s leading you. He promises to show you the way—step by step, moment by moment. Trust His process. Take the next step!  ~Eve

Live by Faith in the Son of God

"Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the windows which hope has opened."  - Charles Spurgeon

Hacking has become prevalent in our 21st century information age. Sadly, the breaching, corruption, and even theft of supposedly secured data and materials occurs on a fairly regular basis. But "hacking," of sorts, has occurred within the Christian church, too.

Let me point out one big example. Referring back to the days of the apostle Paul, there was a problem with Judaizing teachers that had pervaded the churches of Galatia. These were the same churches that Paul had founded earlier (Acts 16:6).

They were wrongly teaching that along with the requirement of having faith in Jesus Christ, a Christian was expected to observe the Mosaic law, as well. However, Paul reiterated that an individual "is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 2:16).

Those who were led astray were probably not totally clear on the justification by faith alone doctrine that Paul had taught them. To be honest, it was probably hard for some of them to come around. After all, the old, tried and true ways were familiar and comfortable to them.

A little background information might prove most helpful at this juncture. The Mosaic law was specifically given to the  nation of Israel from God through Moses after God had freed them from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 19; Leviticus 26:46; Romans 9:4).

The Mosaic law consisted of laws that included the Ten Commandments, various societal mandates, and directives for worship (specifications for priests, sacrifices, feasts, the temple, etc.). God had a purpose for providing these laws to His people.

In the Bible itself we may recognize no less than four reasons why the laws were given to the people. They can be condensed as: for their own benefit; so that God can reveal Himself to them;  to set them apart in order to show Himself to others; and to display man's need for a savior.

The law was useful in that it revealed God's will so that we could see our own sins. On the other hand, it could not make one righteous by simply following them. But it was never meant to be permanent. It was a place holder, if I may, until the coming of our Savior "that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24).

Thus, Paul felt it necessary to perform damage control. That's why he wrote the epistle (Galatians). In it he stressed our deliverance in Christ, and to respond to the distortion of the gospel that was being pushed by the Judaizers.

I must stress that while I'm being very brief on this important topic, I would encourage anyone who is interested to look into this further. I guarantee that It will be well worth your while to do so. But before I end today, I would like to point out a few things to you.

We can't save ourselves by merely following the Law. And thinking that we could renders grace null and void. More importantly, if that were true, then Jesus died for nothing (Galatians 2:21). Without question, we are saved by faith (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8–9), and as believers in Christ we live our lives through faith, both, in him and by him (Galatians 2:20).

Faith is a gift from God but we mustn't keep it to ourselves. We need to demonstrate our faith and share it with others.  Let them see our example and be inspired to follow. If not, then we run the risk of "hackers" permeating the church body as they did long ago in Galatia.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:5; Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Luke 17:5; 1 John 5:4

Prayer: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope, amen.  - Romans 15:13

Have a blessed day!

Genevieve

Be A Part of the Plan

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

In life, it's not always the star players that make the biggest impact. Many times it's the lesser-knowns who can breakout and leave lasting impressions, too.

This applies to the numerous characters in the Bible who although not "major" names, nevertheless make big, long-lasting impacts on their own. Interestingly, many of these "minor" characters just happen to be women.

Jochebed was one such woman. We can read about her in Exodus 1; 2:1-10; and Numbers 26:59. As is common with characters like hers, not a whole of information is given. But what little we do know about Jochebed I will share here with you.

She was an Israelite, in other words, one of God's chosen people. She was also the daughter of a Levite. If you recall, the tribe of Levi was that from which came the priests and those who took care of the duties of the Tabernacle, and then of the Temple after it was built.

Jochebed was married to Amram, another Levite (Exodus 2:1). We can safely assume that they must have been very dedicated and religious people.  An interesting sidenote is that  Amram was her nephew; which basically made her Amram’s aunt as well as his wife (Exodus 6:20).

However, these types of marriages were prohibited later on (Leviticus 18:12). But this is just one of those little juicy tidbits that make the Bible such a great read! Now getting back on track, Jochebed probably led the quiet, nondescript life that was among most married women at that time.

Yet, Jochebed's mark in history was not due to any remarkable thing that she did on her own, but rather as a result of her marriage. You see, she was the mother of three children whose names must certainly ring a bell: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

At the time of Moses' birth, the Israelites, were an enslaved minority. Their numbers were gradually increasing which greatly worried the Egyptian Pharaoh. His main concern was that they would increase and join forces against Egypt with their enemies.

The Pharaoh, however, had a plan up his sleeve. He ordered all of the midwives to kill any Hebrew boys when they were born, but to spare the girls (Exodus 1:8–16). Human plans, however, have no bearing on God's master plan, as we shall see.

Not everyone was thrilled with Pharaoh's murderous decree. The Hebrew midwives chose not to participate in this infanticide; fearing God, they disobeyed his order. Instead, they told the Pharoah that the Hebrew women were giving birth faster than they could get to them. (Exodus 1:19).

When this plan didn't work out, Pharaoh gave orders to drown all the newborn male children of the Hebrews (Exodus 1:22). This was the hateful environment unto which Moses was born. Thus, for three months Moses was hidden by his mother Jochebed (Exodus 2:2).

By her loving actions to save her baby Jochebed, a "minor" player in the Bible, was about to become a "major" star in God's eternal plan. Moses was growing and it was getting more difficult to keep him hidden from Pharaoh's warrant of death.

One day, Jochebed made a decision to coat a papyrus basket with tar and pitch, set the baby Moses inside, and hide it in the thick reeds that grew along the bank of the Nile (Exodus 2:3). His sister Miriam watched from a distance to see what would happen.

By the guiding hand of God, Moses was discovered there by the Pharaoh's daughter who secretly arranged for him to be cared for until such time when she would adopt him as her own son. Little did Pharaoh's daughter know that the woman who raised Moses for her was his actual mother (Exodus 2:9-10).

I will not go any further into Moses' life from this point on because that's another story altogether, and any more information about Jochedbed is not to be found. But I think we can all agree that Jochebed's fear of God, along with her loving, motherly instincts played an integral part in God's plans.

Her story illustrates how God can use each one of us. By our love, devotion, and obedience to Him we can make just as big an impact as any of the major characters in Scripture. As Philippians 2:13 says, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

Scripture: Psalm 32:8;1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 3:20;  Isaiah 14:24; Psalm 138:8

Prayer: Teach me, Lord, what you want me to do, and I will obey you faithfully; teach me to serve you with complete devotion. I will praise you with all my heart, O Lord my God; I will proclaim your greatness forever, amen.  - Psalm 86:11-12 (GNT)

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Bible Study Snacks - 2 Timothy, Chapter 2

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday and welcome again to Bible Study Snacks! I'm excited to journey through another Bible study series with you. Those of you who have followed our other studies know I like to keep them short, informative, but to the point.

This week, we continue with our series on the The Second Epistle of Timothy, or 2 Timothy.  As always, I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, positive in energy, and strong in faith!

Although brief, the studies presented here are packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. It is my ultimate hope that they might inspire you to an even deeper study of Scripture!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

This Weeks Objectives: Participants should be able to...

* appreciate the need for endurance and faithfulness to the will of Christ.
* note the warnings against profane and vain prattle, foolish and ignorant disputes.
* consider how the servant of the Lord can be a vessel for honor, useful for the Master and prepared for every good work.

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 2 Timothy, Chapter 2...

Paul continues with exhortations to Timothy in this chapter, with an emphasis on endurance and diligence. Encouraging him to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, Paul then charges Timothy to commit what he has learned to faithful men who can pass it along (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Using the illustrations of a soldier, athlete, and farmer, Paul exhorts Timothy to endure hardship, to be faithful, and to work hard. Writing of his own endurance in hardship, Paul stresses the need to be true to the Lord (2 Timothy 2:3-13).

The last half of the chapter is devoted to telling Timothy how to be "useful to the Master," a worker who does not need to be ashamed. With warnings to shun profane and vain prattle, and avoiding foolish and  ignorant disputes, Paul reminds Timothy of things he should flee (youthful lusts) and what he should pursue (righteousness, faith, love, peace).

Properly handling the word of truth, and correcting others with gentleness and humility, Timothy can truly be a servant of the Lord who is prepared for every good work, especially when dealing with those who have been ensnared by the devil (2 Timothy 2:14-26).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) In what did Paul want Timothy to be strong? (2 Timothy 2:1)
2) What did Paul want Timothy to do with the things Paul had taught him? (2 Timothy 2:2)
3) What three illustrations does Paul use to encourage Timothy to endure hardship and to work hard? (2 Timothy 2:3-6)
4) What did Paul want Timothy to remember? (2 Timothy 2:8)
5) What did Paul suffer in behalf of the gospel? Did it hinder the gospel? (2 Timothy 2:9)
6) Why was Paul willing to endure all things? (2 Timothy 2:10)
7) What encouragement is given by "a faithful saying?" (2 Timothy 2:11,12a)
8) What warning is given by "a faithful saying?" (2 Timothy 2:12b)
9) What was Timothy to charge others? (2 Timothy 2:14)
10) What was Timothy to be diligent in doing? (2 Timothy 2:15)
11) What was he to shun? Why? (2 Timothy 2:16)
12) What two individuals had been guilty of spreading such things? (2 Timothy 2:17)
13) What had they taught? What was the effect of their teaching? (2 Timothy 2:18)
14) What is the "seal" of God's solid foundation? (2 Timothy 2:19)
15) What will a "vessel of honor" be? (2 Timothy 2:21)
16) What was Timothy to flee? What was he to pursue? (2 Timothy 2:22)
17) What was he to avoid? Why? (2 Timothy 2:23)
18) List what must be true of a servant of the Lord (2 Timothy 2:24-25a)
19) Why must a servant of the Lord be this way to those in opposition? (2 Timothy 2:25b-26)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As always, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until our next time together...

God bless you!

Sheri

Learn to Listen to God

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;" - Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

Talk, talk, talk. There's certainly no shortage of talk in the world. Most of us have been blessed with the ability to express ourselves through the use of our voice. Sometimes we even reach the point where we seek refuge from talk. There's no denying that we love to talk!

But in order to have fair and balanced communication between each other we must be able to stop talking and listen, too. And therein lies the problem for many of us. We love to talk, but don't really listen. When there is too much talking, and not enough listening, it makes for rather boring conversation.

We've seen this played out many times in our lives. Most of these so-called "conversations" are strong-armed by individuals who love to hear themselves speak, but don't particularly care to listen to what others have to say.

This can easily apply to our Christian lives. Yes, we may talk to God, but do we really listen or allow him to respond. He could be talking to you right now, but you're not listening to him. One might say, "God never talks to me" or "He never answers me," but this isn't true.

There are many reasons that could contribute to our thinking this way. The way we communicate with God is not that different from the way we would talk to a good friend. One talks, while the other listens. But sometimes this doesn't happen. We become frustrated and our feelings get hurt.

Consider the situation at the time that led up to these feelings. Maybe you were too angry to listen or wait around for a reply. Or, perhaps you were not very clear in what you were saying to God. The same courtesies and rules of conversation that apply to you and I also need to be applied in our talks with God.

But what if we deliberately choose not to listen to God? Then I'm afraid that we have nothing to complain about. Each of us, as adults, are not under any obligation to listen to God. We are free to choose whether we want to or not. I, however, would not advise anyone to go down that path.

The Bible serves up a variety of illustrations that demonstrate negative results of not listening to God. One such example is that of Amaziah, the king of Judah in 2 Chronicles 25. After experiencing some initial successes during his reign, he was eventually seduced by idolatry despite God's warnings that were conveyed through a prophet (2 Chronicles 25:14-16).

I don't have to tell you that it did not end well for him (2 Chronicles 25:27). Another example is Lot's wife in Genesis 19. Lot, his wife, and two daughters were ordered by angels to flee from the soon to be destroyed city of Sodom.

The angels gave them a clear warning not to, under any circumstances, look back toward the city (Genesis 19:17). Lot's wife, even though hearing the warning, did exactly what she was warned not to do, she looked back. She paid with her life for not following God's instructions (Genesis 19:26).

Thus, whenever God speaks to us we need to listen, I mean to really stop and pay attention. You probably know that he doesn't always respond immediately, but he will answer. Especially as humans living in the 21st century, we expect instant results. We click on a key, or slide our finger on a screen and we are presented with a response.

God doesn't work in this impersonal, artificial way. He prefers the tried and true method he has always used to communicate with us. That is, to speak to our hearts. We just need to learn how to listen to his voice. He isn't going to shout out or send an electronic message. He doesn't need to.

You and I are built to listen to God. We have everything we need. We just need to learn how to use it properly. It isn't that difficult to hear God. You see, God speaks to each of us personally, and how he speaks to you might differ from the way he speaks to me.

Whether by prayer, through the Bible,  a situation or another person, God will find a way to get through to us. We just need to learn when to stop talking and let Him talk to us. God is a great listener, in fact, the best you'll ever find. But we need to reciprocate in kind when He speaks to us. We need to listen.

Scripture: Mark 4:24; Romans 10:17; 1 Samuel 3:10; Jeremiah 33:3; Deuteronomy 13:4 

Prayer: I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.  -Psalm 116:1-2

May your day be blessed!

Blake

Video - Sheila Walsh: Christ's Perspective

Christian speaker and author, Sheila Walsh, uses a famous painting to illustrate how a position of worship changes how we see the world. Sometimes a change of perspective is just what we need! ~Eve

Love, In a World of Hate

"Learning how to love your neighbor requires a willingness to draw on the strength of Jesus Christ as you die to self and live for Him. Living in this manner allows you to practice biblical love for others in spite of adverse circumstances or your feelings to the contrary."  - John C. Broger

It's no big secret that "hate" has become more glaringly evident in recent years. It appears to ebb and flow throughout history, but it never truly disappears. The dictionary defines hate, as: to dislike intensely or passionately. 

We've been told that hate is a strong word; that we shouldn't toss it around haphazardly. We use it to describe our disdain for certain things, for example: inconveniences, taking medication, foods, clothing, etc. Hate may even be described as the main driver of war. 

But it is most destructive and hurtful when we use it against one another. How about you? Do you have an issue with hate? Do you find it difficult to engage in a spirit of goodwill toward others?

If we are honest we will admit that it can sometimes be easier to feel hateful toward others than to show kindness. Somehow we must deal with our hatred and replace hostility with love, or our world will crumble like a house of cards.

Christianity does not follow the path of hate. It is built on love. And at its heart, is the affirmation that God loves us. He requires his children to love him supremely and to love their neighbors as themselves. 

Jesus took the teachings of Moses and the prophets and condensed them into two great commandments (Matthew 22:35-40). Through further refinement of the total teachings of the Old Testament, we are presented with three great truths.

Before all else, we are obligated to love God supremely and faithfully. Next, we are obligated to love ourselves appropriately so that we might have a proper measure by which to love others. Lastly, we are obligated to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

The command to practice love in a world of hate in quite obvious. We should love God, ourselves, and others. We must love others even though they are displeasing. We must like those whom we do not particularly care for. But how can any of this work?

The Scriptures tell us that God not only requires that we love, but that he also provides us with the ability and the frame of mind to love. After all, God is love (1 John 4:8). He has manifested his love toward unloving people in the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9-10).

And because God loves you an I (1 John 4:10), we are both obligated and enabled to love each other. The Holy Spirit, who came to us the moment we were converted, took up residence in our hearts (Galatians 4:6-7), and poured out within our hearts the love of God (Romans 5:5).

Thus, God, who is described as love, "has given us of his Spirit" (1 John 4:13). In describing the function of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers, Paul declared that the Holy Spirit has entered our hearts to produce the fruit of love (Galatians 5:22).

You might be wondering how you'd ever find the strength to make this happen. God doesn't expect us to love in human strength alone. For this reason he has put his Holy Spirit within us to make it possible for us to love God supremely, ourselves accordingly, and each other as we love ourselves.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32; Proverbs 10:12; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Colossians 3:14; Romans 5:8;  

Prayer: Dear Lord, may Your love be manifested in me; and may Your love also be distributed by grace through faith to everyone I meet, amen.

May the Lord bless,

Shawna

The Word Of God: Trending for Over 2000 Years!

"If the universe is so bad, how on earth did human beings ever come to attribute it to the activity of a wise and good Creator?"  - C.S. Lewis

Have you noticed lately how many high profile people have been getting into trouble because of their social media posts? It seems that hardly a day goes by without some celebrity or other public figure posting something they probably should have given more thought prior to, or not posted altogether.

I was talking about this with some friends over coffee when one of them brought up this interesting question, "If Jesus were alive on earth today would he use social media?" You have to admit, that is an intriguing question.

Another of my friends said that he probably would since it is such an effective way to communicate. Another said that Jesus, being who he is, would have no need for such things because he would still be able to spread his message no matter what.

I tried to wrap my mind around Jesus using Twitter or Facebook, for example, to help teach and preach his message to the world. I suppose that one would first have to take it all into the context of our modern day and age.

Without question, things were a lot different over 2000 years ago. The only effective communication among the common poeple back in Jesus' time was word of mouth, or oral communication. Only the priests and members of the privileged few had access to written manuscripts, as they were pretty much the only ones who could read then.

Needless to say, the options of communication were quite limited. Yet, this is what Jesus had to work with, so he did. Can you imagine if Jesus had to compete with the 24/7, non-stop cacophony that exists in our world now? One can only guess if it would create problems, or not.

Personally, I think Jesus liked rubbing elbows with the public. He liked the personal interaction from those who listened to him teach and preach. In this way, he knew that his message was getting across without being distorted or misinterpreted.

As you well know, there really is no guarantee of trustworthiness of what we read online. On the other hand, the people were getting his message straight from the source, by Jesus himself. What could be better than that! (John 17:17)

Jesus knew that his message was far too important to be entrusted to just anybody. That's why he hand-picked his own disciples. Yes, there was Judas Iscariot, but he was a necessary part of the larger picture. None of what Jesus said or did was by pure happenstance.

Jesus didn't send his disciples out into the world to spread his word before they were prepared. Every step of their discipleship was purposeful and preordained. Nothing was left to chance, and nothing was left out. The stage had been set by Jesus, and the disciples were quite ready to get his message out there.

Now in terms of longevity the word of God has been around a lot longer than the internet. In terms of authenticity, credibility, and faithfulness His word wins hands down (John 1:14). Amazingly, God has managed to do something that the internet, social media, or any other mode of communication hasn't come close to.

He has touched the heart and souls of humans with his love, compassion, and wisdom down through the centuries. The Bible, which contains God's words to humanity has no need for things like updates, or protection from hackers. His word is immutable (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17).

If Jesus were to come to earth tomorrow, would he use social media? No one can really say for sure. But what we can be sure of is that His word has stood the test of time. And civilizations will continue to rise and fall, generations will come and go, but God's word will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8).

Scripture: Psalm 119:89; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 24:35; John 1:1; Psalm 136:26

Prayer: Dear Lord, may we all bring out the best in each other, and grow in the way we look at ourselves and others, amen.

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Bible Study Snacks - 2 Timothy, Chapter 1

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! I'm excited to journey through another Bible study series with you. Those of you who have followed our other studies know I like to keep them short, informative, but to the point.

The new study series that starts this week is on the The Second Epistle of Timothy, or 2 Timothy.  As always, I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, positive in energy, and strong in faith! Before we start, a little background information is in order.

The very first verse of 2 Timothy (2 Timothy 1:1) tells us that the author of the book is the apostle Paul. 2 Timothy was written around A.D. 67, not too long before Paul was put to death. Feeling lonely and forgotten, Paul wrote this book while he was being held as a prisoner in Rome.

As he wrote this he felt that his time on earth was drawing to an end. Thus, we can look at 2nd Timothy as some of Paul's last words. Even so, he managed to look past his own troubles and show his concern for the churches, and especially for Timothy.

Paul desired to use his final words to encourage Timothy, and the rest of the believers to press on in faith (2 Timothy 3:14); and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:2).

Although brief, the studies presented here are packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. It is my ultimate hope that they might inspire you to an even deeper study of Scripture!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...

This Weeks Objectives: Participants should be able to...

* notice the great love that existed between Paul and Timothy.
* consider the exhortations to faithful service given by Paul to Timothy.
* compare the people who abandoned Paul, with a faithful friend like Onesiphorus.

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 2 Timothy, Chapter 1...

The apostle Paul begins this letter to his "beloved son" with a prayer for grace, mercy and peace in his behalf. Thankful to God for the unceasing memories that he has of Timothy in his prayers night and day, Paul greatly desires to see the young man. Seeing him again will bring great joy as Paul is mindful of Timothy's tears and his unfeigned faith (2 Timothy 1-5).

Paul's purpose in writing begins in earnest with a series of exhortations toward steadfast service. He encourages Timothy to stir up the gift of God which was in him by the laying on of Paul's hands, to neither be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord nor of Paul His prisoner, and to hold fast the pattern of sound words which he had heard from Paul, keeping it by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Timothy is then reminded of those who had forsaken Paul, but also how Onesiphorus had proven to be a true friend and brother by virtue of his courage, diligence, and service (2 Timothy 1:6-18).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) How does Paul describe Timothy in his salutation? (2 Timothy 1:2)
2) How did Paul serve God? (2 Timothy 1:3)
3) What two things came to Paul's mind when concerning Timothy? (2 Timothy 1:4-5)
4) What two women had this genuine faith before Timothy? (2 Timothy 1:5)
5) What did Paul remind Timothy to stir up? (2 Timothy 1:6)
6) What had God given Paul and Timothy? (2 Timothy 1:7)
7) What two things did Paul not want Timothy to be ashamed of? (2 Timothy 1:8)
8) How has God saved us and called us with a holy calling? (2 Timothy 1:10))
9) What has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ? (2 Timothy 1:10-11)
10) What two things has Jesus done according to 2 Timothy 1:10?
11) To what three functions had Paul been appointed relating to the gospel? (2 Timothy 1:11)
12) Though Paul suffered, why was he not ashamed? (2 Timothy 1:12)
13) What was Timothy to hold fast? (2 Timothy 1:13)
14) How was he to keep that good thing that was committed to him? (2 Timothy 1:14)
15) Who had turned away from Paul? (2 Timothy 1:15)
16) What four good things are said about Onesiphorus? (2 Timothy 1:16-18)
17) What two things did Paul desire of the Lord? (2 Timothy 1:16,18)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As always, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until our next time together...

God bless you!

Sheri