Showing posts with label Blessings Counted: A Book of Gratitude and Thanksgiving. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

DAY 3 OF THE BLESSINGS OF PAUL DEVOTIONAL BIBLE STUDY SERIES: STRONG

Written 2014-11-18 11:01:34, Tuesday

The devotional Bible studies covered in The Blessings of the Bible blog will cover three main subjects:

1 The life of Paul (Life) (L)

2 The writings of Paul (Writings) (W)

3 The themes of Paul (Themes) (T)

So:

Life

Writings

Themes

for short. (LWT)

We have covered the first two in Day 1 and Day 2. Now, we will cover a theme of Paul's writings today in Day 3.

Today, we will look at the theme of STRONG/STRENGTH.

JOURNALING QUESTIONS AND PROMPTS

Please do not cheat and read ahead. Take a sticky note and cover the rest of this devotional Bible study if you need so you aren't tempted to read ahead. Answer these questions first. Do not skip them.

What is strength? Define it.

How are you strong? Explain.

What gives you strength?

Who gives you strength?

Now, read ahead.

The following verses are verses which talk aobut where our true source of strength should reside.

Colossians 2:7-8 Expanded Bible (EXB)

7 Keep your roots deep in him and have your lives built on him. Be ·strong [established] in the faith, just as you were taught, ·and always be thankful [abounding/overflowing with gratitude].

8 ·Be sure [Be careful; Watch; See] that no one ·leads you away [takes you captive; captivates you] with ·false [deceptive] and ·empty [worthless] teaching that is ·only human [L according to human traditions], which comes from the ·ruling spirits [elemental spiritual forces (demons); or elementary teachings] of this world, and not from Christ.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

Strength does not lie within. It cannot be found there. We are not strong--unless God gives us His strength. If we think strength comes from anywhere but from Him, we are fooling ourselves. Any strength that does not come from God as the main source is false strength.

We get our strength from God--through our faith, which is the source of our strength. God is the source of our strength and it is in Him we place our faith. In other words, faith in God is our strength. It isn't found in anything or anyone else.

JOURNALING QUESTIONS OR PROMPTS

Have you ever realized your faith in God and His Word is what makes you strong? Explain.

Where and who have you been trying to receive false strength from--and why?

How can you focus on your faith as the source of your strength?

Thursday, November 13, 2014

BLESSINGS BIBLE VERSES AND BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST NOVEMBER 12, 2014, CONT.

BLESSINGS BIBLE VERSES AND BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST NOVEMBER 12, 2014, CONT.

772 I am coming to realize how I really would like to make STORIES OF BLESSING a mainstream and secular (nonchristian) blog and blog post series, but I'm finding it rather difficult. After all, I know that the only way any of us receive blessings, it is from the Blessings Giver. Blessings are not given to us by random or chance. They are given to us purposefully. They do not come out of thin air. Moreover, blessings are not anything we deserve. We all mess up and fall short. None of us are perfect. None of us deserve blessing.

773 Romans 10:11-13 Expanded Bible (EXB)

11 As the Scripture says, “Anyone who ·trusts [believes] in him will never be ·disappointed [or put to shame; Is. 28:16].” 12 ·That Scripture says “anyone” because [L For] there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. [L For; Because] The same Lord is the Lord of all and gives ·many blessings [generously; (spiritual) riches] to all who trust in him, 13 as the Scripture says, “Anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved [Joel 2:32].”

Expanded Bible (EXB)

774 Romans 10:12 is a key verse. The Blessing Giver is generous in giving several spiritual blessings to those who trust in Him.

Not one blessing. Several.

The Blessings Giver is generous with giving spiritual blessings to whoever trusts Him.

His generous nature offers blessings that are spiritual to those who believe and trust in Him.

This is how easy it is to count several blessings a day.

775 2 Corinthians 9:8 Expanded Bible (EXB)

8 And God can ·give you more blessings than you need [L overflow/abound all grace to you]. Then ·you will always have plenty of everything [L in all things at all times you will have all you need]— ·enough to give to [abounding/overflowing in] every good work.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

776 Ephesians 5:20 Expanded Bible (EXB)

20 ·Always give [L …always giving] thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

777 Psalm 34:8 Expanded Bible (EXB)

8 ·Examine [L Taste] and see how good the Lord is.
·Happy [Blessed] is the person who ·trusts [finds refuge in] him.

Expanded Bible (EXB)

778 Psalm 40:4 Expanded Bible (EXB)

4 ·Happy [Blessed] is the person
who ·trusts [finds refuge in] the Lord,
who doesn’t turn to those who are proud
or to those who ·worship [go astray to] ·false gods [L a lie].

Expanded Bible (EXB)

779 Jeremiah 17:7 Expanded Bible (EXB)

7 “But the person who ·trusts [has confidence] in the Lord will be blessed.
·The Lord will show him that he can be trusted [L …whose trust/confidence is in him].

Expanded Bible (EXB)

I think Jeremiah 17:7 (EXB) is the most compelling verse of all regarding blessings (780).

Do you want blessing in your life? Trust in the Blessings Giver. Then, the Blessing Giver will show how he can be trusted.

(Image credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2014.)

BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST: AN INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME

BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST: AN INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME

Written 2014-11-13 09:40:56, Thursday

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: ALL THE TIME, FOR ALL AND IN ALL THINGS

The Bible tells us in multiple places to thank God for our blessings: all the time, in all things, and for all things (see Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18; Philippians 4:6-7; etc.). Therefore, the purpose of this blog is to help us do precisely that: Count our blessings.

Let's learn how to count our blessings all day and night long and keep a BLESSINGS COUNTED LIST and see how many blessings we can count each day, each week, each month, each year, each decade, and for the totality of our lives.

If you have not done this before, start off listing at least three blessings each day.

If you are up for more of a challenge, count at least 3, 10, 20, 25, and 34 blessings each day. (By the way, I call these Blessings Challenges.)

CARE TO JOIN ME AND DO A BLESSINGS CHALLENGE?

Would you care to join me for any of those Blessings Challenges? If so, attach a comment at the end of any blog post, or send me an email, and let me know. I would love for us to share Stories of Blessing, encourage one another, and hold each other accountable.

THE 34 x 365 BLESSINGS COUNTED CHALLENGE

Speaking of 34 blessings counted at least each day, let me explain.

Over the next year at least, I'm doing a 34 x 365 Blessings Counted Challenge, where I'm trying to count at least 34 blessings each day, which averages 1,000 blessings each month.

I want to see how counting at least 12,410 blessings over the next year will change/transform me, my life, and my faith.

I will keep you updated as to my progress and will share my Blessings Counted List.

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE STUDIES AND NOVELS
I will also share devotional Bible studies and my novels about the Bible on this blog as well. So, stay tuned.

I'm currently doing an intensive study of Paul and will share with you what I learn, as I learn. Then, I will turn the story of Paul into writings of historical fiction.

Have a blessed day.

(All three images credit: Stacy Duplease and Remembering Your Present, LLC 2014.)

*** Updated last on Nov. 13, 2014 a.m. ***