Tag Archive | bible

FAITH: Lesson 4 Bonus Content

 Faith

“[To have Faith in Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Scripture Memorization

Ruth 1:16 “Your God will be my God…”
Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:13 “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
 
These foundational verses of our Christian faith state that our faith is a belief, a trust and a loyalty to the God of Israel.  Our salvation is in Jesus Christ who died on the cross and that God raised Jesus from the dead. Our faith promises us eternal life in heaven.
 
John 3: 16 ” For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”
 

The Study complete p 19-20 The Study (workbook)

Are we living with a confident faith? Are we so confident in who God is and what God has said through His Word that it genuinely never crosses our mind to doubt God?
May the remembrance of  your first commitment to God motivate you to live God’s way.  Living God’s way is a lifestyle that reflects the holiness of God, and those around you will know that God  has saved you.  They will see the gleam of Heaven inside of you.
In our story of Ruth, Ruth’s new-found faith and  commitment to God required something from her. ( The story is found in the Old Testament in the book of Ruth)                                                                        Ruth’s story: Remember this Moabite princess Ruth became acquainted with this Jewish family who had relocated to Moab. Now we don’t now all the details of the story. But I believe that Ruth is drawn to this family. She loves being in their company for reasons at first she just doesn’t quite understand yet. She falls in love and marries one of the sons. In my studies, it is believed that Ruth was a Moabite princess; one who probably had all her needs met, but it was apparent in her story that there was one need not met. A spiritual need…for a living god. The gods of stone and of wood did not provide an unconditional love. Hanging with this Jewish family, who loved and worshiped the God of Israel and being mentored by Noami, her mother-in-law, Ruth got just a taste of God’s extravagant unfailing love. She wanted More; but it required sacrifice.  Note the three points of sacrifice.                       In our own commitment we will experience sacrifice, share what God has required of you.  How has your commitment to faith made things all new for you? Use this study to share how your faith in the God of Israel has changed you.
Commitment to faith takes an act of renewing your mind daily to the things that God has called you to.  Daily read and memorize God’s Word, pray without ceasing, worship, and sing His praises.
When we renew our mind daily to things of God, I believe we restore the newness and freshness of faith that we felt when God first touched our life.
 
In Hebrews 11, you will not only find the definition of faith, but what faith will require of you. Please read and study this chapter in the book of Hebrews.
(vs. 4) A woman of faith gives to God.
(vs. 5) A woman of faith pleases God.
(vs.7) A woman of faith fears God and recognizes His wisdom.
(vs.8) A woman of faith obeys God.
(vs.9) A woman of faith stays with God.
(vs.10) A woman of faith waits on God.
(vs.11) A woman of faith receives from God.
 
 

“Your God will be my God”…this simple, foundational statement lead Ruth to a life of purpose and fulfillment. Your commitment to faith in the God of Israel will also bring purpose and fulfillment in your life.

 

 
Promise
His loving-favor has saved you, it is a gift of God
 
 
Blessing
May God bless you and grant you long lives
 
 Excellence with Simple EleganceBoth books can be purchased at Amazon.com or Order at paypal.com  Purchasing The Study (workbook) for $8.99 and Excellence with Simple Elegance will be Free.  https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GNJUG5QAZ2EGW
 

THE FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE: Lesson 3 Bonus Content

Heavenly Father, good morning. I love you. Thank you for your mercy and grace. I ask for guidance as I establish a strong foundation in which to live. Lord, I desire to be committed, consistent, unwavering, and unshakable in my walk with You. In Jesus name Amen.

Scripture Memorization:   John 3:16 The Message (MSG)“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”

Establishing a solid unshakable foundation keeps you focused, and clearly defines your priorities. Here is where you will develop the spiritual aspect of your life. “Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (The Message) 

 Faith is your moral compass that you draw guidance, strength, and protection. It is your beliefs. It is your loyalty and commitment to God. It is what you put your trust in. Faith is something, which is believed with strong conviction. Hebrews 11:1: “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen“.

Leahann Pearson shares her statement of faith for you today.

My faith is unshakable because of the faithfulness that God has shown me through every season of my life. Despite my wind-whipped faith at times, He has always remained unchanging and has loved me unconditionally.  Even though I have had vast obstacles in my life (including being on my death bed at the age of 15), the joy of the Lord has been my strength.  He has remained faithful and brought rain in season, at just the right time, EVERY TIME. When I begin to feel dry again, He speaks truth into my heart, that He will bring rain (provision) just like the former rains He has supplied (Joel 2:23).  It is not always easy walking by faith not by sight, but the Lord also shows His faithfulness and unconditional love through the unwavering support of my family and mentors around me.  Through this community of supporters, what I would rather refer to as the Body of Christ functioning as it should, my faith has remained rooted and built up in Him (Colossians 2:7). This group of believers has encouraged me daily and given me a pool of multiple counselors to draw wisdom and insight from to help establish my plans (Proverbs 15:22) This has allowed me to run with endurance the race set before me. Indeed, He is Faithful and True (Revelation 19:11).

Family being our number one priority when comes to human relationships. The word family is one of the most loosely defined terms in the English language; because it means something different to everyone. While one person may define family as the relatives who share their home, another may consider family to include extended relatives residing near and far. Still, someone else views their beloved circle of friends as family. Families are vastly different, but they all function under one single premise: shared love and commitment.  Family structure has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. The Leave it to Beaver family is no longer the standard, and several variations on family have been created. The nuclear family is the traditional type of family structure. This family type consists of two parents and children. The nuclear family was long held in esteem by society as being the ideal in which to raise children. Children in nuclear families receive strength and stability from the two-parent structure and was God’s design for a family. But in America today, only 22 percent of families live in a nuclear family.                                                                                                                               The single parent family consists of one parent raising children.  One in four children is born to a single mother. Single parent families are generally close and make up 25% of our homes today.          While most people think of family as including children, there are couples who either cannot or choose not to have children. The childless family is sometimes the “forgotten family,” as it does not meet the traditional standards set by society. Many childless families have extensive contact with their nieces and nephews. As a result of a marriage where both married partners have children from previous relationship this creates a blended family.  When they join their lives together they create a new family dynamic.  Blended families are about as common as the nuclear families. They tend to have unique challenges.

For many people, family extends far beyond parents and siblings. Extended family refers to the many relatives connected by a person through DNA. In-laws, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles might be a part of someone’s extended family. Many family units, especially in other cultures from around the globe, live with extended family members under the same roof. Extended families can also live far apart, but remain connected through their common history, heritage and tradition, and commitment to each other.

Many people consider friends to be as close or even closer than extended (or immediate) family. People who have lost close family members or have become removed from them may create a family unit of friends with similar interests and goals to become replacements or enhancements to a lacking family structure. This type of family unit, while nontraditional, can be just as close, if not closer, than a traditional structure. You can’t choose your blood relatives, but you can choose your friends! In having the option to decide who to bring into your friends-as-family unit, you have the ability to draw in only positive and supportive beings. In addition, some people who have supportive families also have an extensive network of friends who they consider a second family or as additions to their blood or legal relatives. They have the best of both worlds; and highlight the notion that lives are made richer by the loving and supportive people you surround yourself with.                                          family.lovetoknow.com

God calls us to care for family with upmost urgency and priority.

Community is the activities that take you out of your home: career, work, philanthropy, and more. Community is friends, neighbors, and people that you share common interests.

As humans, we all crave interaction with others and have a deep desire to be loved and respected. Feeling alone can be one of the most heart-wrenching emotions a person can experience, but sometimes it seems hard to build relationships with others due to different backgrounds, among many other factors. At times, it may not seem worth it to try and make the connection with someone, but community is important to both our physical and mental well-being. There can be different reasons for keeping to yourself, but ultimately it’s the fear of being rejected that keeps one from taking that step forward.

According to Wellbeing People, belonging to a community has several benefits, such as support or exposure to positive influences. Feeling as though you can count on others for support can take a lot of stress off of a person. Having someone to vent to or a shoulder to cry on can influence us to better ourselves and support others as well. When you’re surrounded by support, you’re less likely to relapse into old habits that you’re trying to get away from. People can hold you accountable and you can do the same for them.

Many people do not realize the importance of community, but a community is often what makes a home feel like home. It’s a place where we can share experiences and stories with one another, or simply ask how a neighbor’s day went.

Also, our strengths may be someone else’s weakness within a community. That provides an opportunity to reach out and get to know someone else, to make them feel welcome and at home the same as you do. Not only can you provide strength for someone else, but by making that connection, you’re also increasing their level of health as well as your own. Community is important for our entire well-being, whether it is by relieving stress or finding a partner to go on runs with. Community is a place of acceptance and sharing.

The Center for Public Impact defines community as “a group of people who share an identity-forming narrative.” No matter what your background or ambitions are, there’s a community out there for you.                                                                                                  Benefits of Community written by Archway

THE STUDY

This is a short but significant lesson. It is an opportunity to write your statement of faith. What do you believe? Who is a priority? What is important to you? I want to encourage that you share your statement of faith with a friend or by posting on this blog site,  www.bonnieliabenow.com or on the” Excellence with Simple Elegance” group page,

www.facebook.com/excellencewithsimpleelegance. I believe your statement will be an encouragement to others.

 

Take time today to Search for a life verse in God’s Word. Pray for God to lead in this search. You have the option to Use one of the scripture verses given in this study.

Stories shares truths; reveal life lessons. I love stories of women. Especially women in the Bible. Every time I read these stories, God is so faithful to give a refreshing perspective; bringing with it a lesson that is so timely and personal.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

One of my favorite stories is this story of Ruth; a Moabite princess who lived simply, lived passionately, intentionally and with conviction.

 Read the story of Ruth.   I would suggest reading the book of Ruth in three different translations.  www.biblegateway.com   It is a wonderful resource.

It is a wonderful story that gives a clear picture of how God orchestrates events in our lives to bring about His purpose.

 The orchestration of events began in Bethlehem. “Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.”(A Jewish family)

 Elimelech and Naomi and their 2 sons traveled to this neighboring country.

The Moabite princess, Ruth, became acquainted with this family. Now, we don’t know all the details of this story.  I believe that Ruth is drawn to this family for reasons she just doesn’t quite understand yet.    Ruth married into this Jewish family becoming Mahlon’s wife. We are told that they all live there in Moab together for ten years.

 As a young Moabite princess, she may have had all her needs met, but it was apparent in her story that there was one need not met; a spiritual need that the heathen gods of Moab did not satisfy. An urgent need for a living god. The gods of stone and of wood did not provide an unconditional love. Hanging with this Jewish family, who loved and worshiped the God of Israel—I believe Ruth got just a taste of God’s extravagant—unfailing love.  And she wanted more…Series of events orchestrated by the one true God, the God of Israel. In this story, it is evident that Ruth experienced the love of the Father. And from that encounter came a simple…simple statement of faith.

I will go where you go, I will live where you live,
                                                              your people will be my people, your God
                                                               will be my God, I will die where you die.
                                                                                                                —Ruth 1:16–17, CEV

Promise

“In Christ you are a new person. Your past is forgotten, and everything is new.”

 Blessing

“May the Lord bless you and keep you.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Excellence with Simple Elegance

Both books can be purchased at Amazon.com

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WHEN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IS MERELY A PURSUIT: Lesson 2 Bonus Content

Have you ever come to the end of a season in your life that you believed you have worked very hard, you were sincere in your efforts, and believed you were productive but to find no gain or reward? Then you know how it feels when the pursuit of excellence is merely a pursuit.

Heavenly Father, we ask for humble spirits. As we study your Word may we gain wisdom. May our heart and mind desire to pursue what is good and acceptable to you, Lord. May we always be thankful for your many blessings. In Jesus name. Amen.

 

Really in this life what pursuit is profitable?
Jesus asked this question to his disciples. In Matthew 16:24-27 Jesus is explaining the paradox of discipleship; to lose life is to find it; to die is to live. To deny oneself is not to assume some false, external self-discipline, but to put the interest of God’s kingdom first and foremost in one’s life. To take up the cross does not mean to endure some irritating responsibility, but to give up self-centered ambitions. Such sacrifices result in eternal life and the fullest experience of kingdom life now.

The Study The Study (workbook)

Complete p.7-12 which gives insight to the motivation that drives one to excellence. This is a tough lesson. I discovered things about myself….well lets just say God is not finished with me yet. Many things are not easy, there are few things in life you really enjoy doing that don’t require practice to be proficient. So don’t be discouraged. Be motivated to be the woman of Proverbs 31, a woman of excellence. 

Identify what inflated expectations, unrealistic dreams, difficult seasons and unfair consequences that have emerged into your life  hindering you from experiencing the abundance that God has for you. A life of purpose, hope, and fulfillment.

Read the story of Eve in Genesis 1-3.

Identify what motivated Eve. What did Eve hope to gain? Author Anne Graham Lotz wrote a devotional thought titled ‘Consider the Consequence’. She speaks of Eve’s sin and the consequence she endured.
“ There are serious consequences to sin. Always. Without exception. Adam ate the forbidden fruit his wife had offered, ‘Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked’ (Gen. 3:7, NIV).
Satan had told Eve her eyes would be opened and she would be like God, knowing good and evil. In one sense he had been right. Eve’s eyes were opened, but in a grotesque way. She knew good, but also that she was separated from it. She knew evil because now she was saturated in it. She knew good and evil in a way God never intended her to know — through her own experience. And she was deeply ashamed.”

Scripture tells us that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We have to concede that many times it is our actions, our choices and our reaction to life’s experiences that bring about disappointment, lack of purpose and unfulfillment in our life.

Excellence, Simple Elegance       Write their definitions down, and grasp the impact these principles can have on your life when fully embraced.

The principles of Excellence will change your perspective, your outlook, your plan and how you operate on a daily basis. This commitment to excellence can shift your thinking and bring about drastic change, not only in your own life, but in the lives you serve.

  1. Identify your day-to-day activities
  2. Identify the big things that matter to you and God.
  3. Are the activities that occupy your day taking you away from what really matters?
  4. Are you using your influence to further God ‘s kingdom?
  5. Are you truly experiencing the kingdom life in your day-to-day activities?

“If you know God’s purpose for your life and focus your energies into fulfilling it, you will run your spiritual race with excellence.” John Osteen

Promise       

“delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desire of your heart..”

Blessing
“The Lord bless you, and may you see the prosperity all the day of your life.                                                                                                                                                                                   

Both books can be purchased at Amazon.com 

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https://a.co/d/5G6L0Rq

  

 

 

ONE WOMAN, FOUR PARTS: Lesson 1 Bonus Content

Good Morning. I am so excited to begin this study with you.  I know for certain that it will be a good day when the morning  welcomes you with a good cup of coffee and God’s Word.

Dear Heavenly father, I pray that you will guide us and provide strength and wisdom as we pursue to live a holy life, one of excellence. You have called us to be holy, because You are holy. We are made to mirror and to reflect Your holiness. We are made to be Your ambassadors.  Holy Spirit, we recognize that we need you to accomplish this in our life. And we welcome you in this moment of learning and sharing. It is my desire that everything written would be honoring to You Lord.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

If you have not had a chance to glance at the study please do so now. Briefly glance at the table of contents noting there are 24 lessons (these blog posting are a supplement to your workbook), which you may complete at your own pace. So if you desire, you can complete 2 lessons per week with me and we will finish in 12 weeks. After the completion of 12 weeks, I encourage you to lead this study mentoring others in the principles of excellence.

My purpose for leading this study online is to provide an opportunity for many to participate, to accommodate everyone’s busy schedule, to give insight and to encourage.   It is my prayer that your participation in this online study will provide you with some guidance so that you may lead this women’s study with ease.  This little study can be a tool for mentoring others. As the introduction states, this is a companion workbook to my first book, Excellence with Simple Elegance. It is best to have read the book first before tackling the study or at least read the chapter from the book  first that relates to the lesson. Welcome to the the journey of pursuing of excellence.

One Woman four parts11114757_1836230479936465_1824943306766704853_n

God uniquely made us with four parts: spiritual , emotional, mental and physical. These four parts need to be healthy for us to experience and to live in excellence. This study will assist in showing us how we can accomplish it simply.

Scripture memorization

Memorization of literature is a wonderful exercise that develops new synapse connections in the brain. It promotes higher level thinking and intelligence. This practice of memorizing sustains a healthy brain.

Scripture encourages us to hide God’s word in our heart so that we may not sin against God. The Word of God guides, strengthens, and protects.

Memorize 1Peter 3:3-4.

In this verse we have 2 key words: merely and precious.

Merely means that our physical adornment exists. Absolutely, our physical presence and appearance should be attractive but  merely means its not the only thing that exists. There should be more to us than our outward appearance.  This scripture says that the most important is a gentle and quiet spirit which flows from the heart. A woman of excellence keeps her clothing, jewelry, and hair appealing because it is a reflection of a beautiful heart.

When I read this verse five years ago my reaction was ” Oh my goodness, Lord, gentle I am but there isn’t anything quiet about me.”

Precious in the sight of God.  The condition of heart, my inner person , needs to be gentle, it needs to be quiet Why? because it is so precious to God. We woman of excellence will strive for this gentle quiet inner person because we so want to be all that God desires for us. But what are you willing to sacrifice to be there??? Mathew 7:14 tells that the gate is narrow, the path is difficult and only few ever find it. This pursuit of excellence we embark upon is not easy–but so worth it. 

I am  drawn to the stories of  women especially women of the Bible.  I love reading and learning from their life’s story.  The lessons are timely and personal. Mary’s, mother of Jesus, story is a one of those stories worth reading. Lets learn one thing from Mary today.

Luke 1 (The Message)

“the angel assured her, ‘Mary, you have nothing to fear, God has a surprise for you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus’.”

“And Mary said (listen to this ladies) Mary says Yes, I see it all now. I’m the Lord’s maid, Ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say.”

Lesson–We desperately need to have a willing heart.  We need  to be a willing vessel to bring about God’s purpose in our life and in our world.

THE STUDY                                                                                              Complete  pages 1-5

Here is where you will identify your responsibilities, needs, disappointments, successes, scriptures, and desires. You need to know where you are at so you can take measured steps that will lead to living a life of excellence.

You will discover what an undesirable woman looks like according to scripture(Proverbs 11:22) and what a woman of excellence looks like(Proverbs 31).

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

As a woman of faith, I cannot accommodate myself to the patterns and model of this world. Even apparent or superficial conformity to this world or any accommodation to its ways would destroy the consistency of my walk of faith.

Scripture instructs us to be transformed. This means we are to rise above the form or patterns of this world. RC Sproul shares in his book,The Holiness of God, that we are not to follow the world’s lead but to cut across it and rise above it to a higher calling.

This pursuit to excellence demands that we live intentionally. We must live having a routine that has a higher standard of discipline and a commitment to living God’s way.We need to value the things God values. We need to despise things God despises. We need to have the same priorities as He has. But we cannot possibly know God’s ways or His good acceptable, perfect will unless we commit to reading His Word.

Don’t be satisfied with a superficial understanding of God. Read God’s word daily and be transformed by knowing who God is. This is a call to excellence.

It would be beneficial for you to read over the Author’s Premise for writing Excellence with Simple Elegance.

I truly love you and care for you, my treasured friend.  My desire is for you to experience the abundance that God has for you in a life that lives intentionally and lives under the Lordship of our Heavenly Father.

Promise: Each promise is a promise from your heavenly Father who adores you.  Biblical promises are usually preceded with instruction that guides to a promise.

Be very careful to act exactly as God commands you…you will have a good life.” 

Blessing :  Speaking a blessing over children is a Jewish tradition. It is a tradition that  we should embrace.  Use this blessing that God spoke over Abraham as act of love, an expression of  favor and adding value upon your family.

 “I will bless  you and you will be a blessing”

ps. don’t forget to comment here on this blog site or on the facebook group page  titled ‘excellence with simple elegance’. Ask questions? Have conversation with others. For private conversation  with me,  email at bliabenow@live.com   I will answer.

Both books can be purchased at Amazon.com

https://a.co/d/dJlm5zG

https://a.co/d/5G6L0Rq