Tag Archive | jesus

A Spring Prayer of Petition and Blessing adapted from Psalm 20, 25 & 77

Apr5

Jehovah-Hoshe’ah – Lord Saves

O God, Your ways are holy and Your timing is perfect. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders!  You save me when I call Your mighty name.

I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I thought of God and I moaned, overwhelmed with longing for His help. This trouble still robs my joy and my sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! I think of the days when things were good; those days have long since ended, when my days were filled with joy and my nights were peaceful. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will He never again allow goodness to be in my life? Is His unfailing love gone forever? Have His promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He slammed the door on His compassion? Where is He?

But then I recall all You have done, O Lord. I remember Your wonderful deeds and have realized that I have moved from Your presence. You, Lord, are always near.  I will constantly keep You in my thoughts. I will not stop thinking about Your mighty works.

Your ways are holy. You are the God of great wonders!

Please answer me today in my hour of need! May You, the God of Jacob, keep me safe. May You send me help and give me strength. Grant me the desire of my heart according to Your riches and glory and make all my plans go well according to Your will in my life. I will sing for joy when You answer. In Your name, I will lift up my hands in praise.  May You grant me all that I need.

Now I know that You save Your chosen one. You answer me from Your holy heaven, with the saving power of Your right hand. I will trust in Your name, my God. Your ways are holy. You are the God of great wonders!

Good and right are You. You teach sinners in Your ways. You lead those without pride into what is right, and teach them Your way. All Your paths are loving and true for those who keep Your agreement and keep Your Laws. For the good of Your name, O Lord, forgive my sin, even as big as it is.

I lift up my soul to You, O Lord. I trust in You. Show me Your ways.  Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me. For You are the God Who saves me. I wait for You all day long. Keep me strong, remembering to bless with Your loving kindness. Please do not remember my sins from when I was young, or my sinful ways.

By Your loving kindness remember me, for You are good.

The faithful ones who fear You will be taught in the way they should choose. Their soul will live a rich life and their children will be given the land. Let that be in my life, Lord. Turn to me and show me Your loving kindness. Forgive all my sins.

Keep me safe, save me and set me free. Let what is good and what is right keep my mind stayed on these things, because I wait for You. Your ways are holy. You are the God of great wonders!

Find the collection of Spring Prayers of Petition and Blessing in the new series of guided devotional journals; Journaling through the Seasons: Spring&Spirit. Amazon.com

https://a.co/d/a7BVg9Z

A Spring Song of Worship and Praise adapted from Psalm 21 & 64

Apr4

Jehovah-Mephalti – Lord my Deliverer

O Lord, I delight in Your strength! Yes, How great is my joy in Your saving power!

You bless me with the desires of my heart, keeping nothing from me.  For You meet me with gifts of good things, crowning my efforts with success. You give me life, a long life forever and ever. You make me glad with the joy of being with You.

 Please hear my voice when I pour out my heart. Keep my life safe from the fear of those who hate me. Hide me from the secret plans of the sinful and from the noise of those who do bad things. Their tongues are sharp like a sword. They use poison words like darts and shoot at me without blame. They are quick and are not afraid to hurt me.  For their heart and inside thoughts  are deep and pursue sinful things. These things rob me from the joy I feel when I am with You.

Because of Your loving kindness, I will not be shaken. I will pray as written in the book of Isaiah: 

 

“Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness;

Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together…”

For Your hand will find all who fight against You. Your right hand will find those who hate You. They will be made to trip and fall. Their own tongue is against them. But for the one who is right and good, they will be glad in You and will give You praise.  

O Lord, our deliverer, Your righteousness will prevail. In Your strength, I am glad! Yes, How great is my joy in Your saving power!

You continue to bless me with the desires of my heart, keeping nothing from me.  For You meet me with gifts of good things, crowning my efforts with success. You give me life, a long life forever and ever.  You make me glad with the joy of being with You.

PRAYER: Lesson 11 Bonus Content

Apr1

 

 Adjusting prayer time to quiet moments alone was so out of my comfort zone.  When I came to the realization that prayer is not dictated by place and time; that it’s place is everywhere, it’s time is any time, this revelation was the beginning to a pray life of truly knowing Him and experiencing His presence in my life.

Scripture Memorization:   “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.”  Jeremiah 29:12

 I see how my life was similar to the struggle of Martha in the story of Luke 10. I was so busy serving, working and doing that I was not spending time daily preparing my heart for service by having conversation with God, listening to God, spending time in worship and singing praises, and reading God’s Word.

Read the story of Martha and Mary. Are you a Martha or a Mary? Read their story in Luke 10

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were considered good friends of Jesus, often hosting him in their home in Bethany on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Martha is said to have run the household, although she was the middle child—Lazarus was the oldest and Mary the youngest of the three siblings.

Early historians believed Martha to be the daughter, wife, or widow of Simon the Leper, and that the house became hers when he died. This has not been substantiated, but what is clear is that Jesus did not return to his own home for rest and relaxation during his three years of ministry. It was to the warm, hospitable home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus at Bethany He retired. We also know that their home was large enough to host Jesus and his followers, and we suppose the family had means because the Bible does not mention a family trade, although they were never noted as being wealthy.

All we know about Martha and Mary come from two encounters with Jesus that were documented in all four Gospels. The first is a visit from Jesus to Martha and Mary’s home during one of his many trips to Jerusalem. We realize that because of the casualness of their visit that Jesus visited their home often. On this day Jesus arrived in time for dinner and Martha became angry that she was doing all the work in preparing for the meal while her sister was simply sitting around listening to Jesus. Martha insisted that Jesus tell Mary to get up and help her. Jesus rebuked Martha and told her that her sister had it right—she was focused on what was important (Luke 10:38-42). The next encounter comes after Martha and Mary’s brother fell ill and they’d sent word for Jesus to come, but several days had passed. Lazarus died. Martha meets Jesus outside their home—her brother had been dead four days. After complaining about his tardiness, Martha affirms her belief that even now God will do anything Jesus asks. Jesus says that he is the “resurrection and the life” and asks if she believes this. Martha confesses, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world” (John 11:27). Her words are similar Simon Peter’s reply to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15-16). Martha was a woman with managerial talents, the gift of hospitality, and a woman of means. Once she recognized Jesus as her Messiah and confessed her faith in him, her whole world changed. She found new meaning, purpose, and life.

Have you found success in this world and yet still wonder if all your hard work here amounts to anything? Have you been frustrated that God was not there when you needed him most? Martha can speak to you:

  • Martha was doing what she thought God was calling her to do—serve him with her gifts and talents, but when Jesus rebuked her, she learned a great lesson. All of her ‘doing’ needed to be balanced with time for ‘being.’ You can’t work your way into God’s favor. He is already impressed with you, so take time to sit at his feet and allow his approval to shine upon you.
  • Martha’s disappointment in Jesus was great. Have you been disappointed in God? Yet, Martha didn’t hide her disappointment from Jesus. Instead she took her anger, fear, and belief directly to him. Then, in spite of her doubts, she declared her faith. Great was her reward, and great will be yours, too, when you have the courage to share even your disappointments with God. Then declare your belief in spite of your doubts and new life will come to you, too. He is your resurrection and your life.

The Study                                                                            

study mockupComplete page 53 in Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study. 

If you have no format for your daily prayer life, please take the opportunity this week to use this simple format from Nehemiah. These will be the beginning steps to having a Mary heart. A.C.T.S.

Adoration

 It is a time of praising God for Who He is, His attributes, His Names, and His character.

Exalting the Name of Jesus Christ “If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me.”

I challenge you to select one of Jehovah’s Name each week and praise Him for that particular attribute and character.

Jehovah’s Name (prayertoday.org)

  • Jehovah – The Lord – Exodus 6:2-3
  • Jehovah-Adon Kal Ha’arets- Lord of Earth – Josh 3:13
  • Jehovah-Bara – Lord Creator – Isaiah 40:28
  • Jehovah-Chatsahi – Lord my Strength – Psalm 27:1
  • Jehovah-Chereb – Lord the Sword – Deut. 33:29
  • Jehovah-Eli – Lord my God – Psalm 18:2
  • Jehovah-Elyon – Lord Most High – Psalm 38:2
  • Jehovah-Gador Milchamah – Mighty in Battle – Ps 24:8
  • Jehovah-Ganan – Lord Our Defense – Ps 89:18
  • Jehovah-Go’el – Lord My Redeemer – Is. 49:26, 60:16
  • Jehovah-Hamelech – Lord King – Psalm 98:6
  • Jehovah-Hashopet – Lord My Judge – Judges 11:27
  • Jehovah-Helech ‘Olam – Lord King Forever Ps10:16
  • Jehovah-Hoshe’ah – Lord Saves – Psalm 20:9
  • Jehovah-Jireh – Provider – Gen. 22:14, I John 4:9, Philip 4:19
  • Jehovah-Kabodhi – Lord my Glory – Psalm 3:3
  • Jehovah-Kanna – Lord Jealous – Ex 34:14
  • Jehovah-Keren-Yish’i – Horn of Salvation – Ps 18:2
  • Jehovah-M’Kaddesh – Sanctifier – I Corinthians 1:30
  • Jehovah-Machsi – Lord my Refuge – Psalm 91:9
  • Jehovah-Magen – Lord my Shield – Deut. 33:29
  • Jehovah-Ma’oz – Lord my Fortress – Jer. 16:19
  • Jehovah-Mephalti – Lord my Deliverer – Psalm 18:2
  • Jehovah-Metshodhathi – Lord my Fortress – Psalm 18:2
  • Jehovah-Misqabbi – Lord my High Tower – Psalm 18:2
  • Jehovah-M’gaddishcem – Lord my Sanctifier – Ex 31:13
  • Jehovah-Naheh – Lord who Smites – Ezekiel 7:9
  • Jehovah-Nissi – Banner – I Chronicles 29:11-13
  • Jehovah-Rohi – Shepherd – Psalm 23
  • Jehovah-Rophe – Healer – Isaiah 53:4,5
  • Jehovah-Sabaoth – Lord of Hosts – I Sam 1:3
  • Jehovah-Sel’i – Lord my Rock – Psalm 18:2
  • Jehovah-Shalom – Peace – Isaiah 9:6, Rom 8:31-35
  • Jehovah-Shammah – Present – Hebrews 13:5
  • Jehovah-Tsidkenu – Righteousness – I Cor 1:30
  • Jehovah-Tsori – Lord my Strength – Psalm 19:14
  • Jehovah-Yasha – Lord my Savior – Isaiah 49:26
  • Jehovah-‘Ez-Lami – Lord my Strength – Ps 28:7
  • Jehovah-‘Immeku – Lord Is With You – Judges 6:12
  • Jehovah-‘Izoa Hakaboth – Lord Strong -Mighty – Ps 24:8
  • Jehovah-‘Ori – Lord my Light – Psalm 27:1
  • Jehovah-‘Uzam – Lord Strength in Trouble – Is 49:26

CONFESSION

Scripture says that God is faithful in forgiving us and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

THANKSGIVING

God requires us to believe and to be thankful. Be thankful in all things. Offer a prayer of praise each morning using the words of the psalmist. Note that I have 2 categories of adapted prayers from the Psalms that you can access Worship & Praise and Petition & Blessings. Simply use these prayers daily to offer your words of admiration to our wonderful heavenly Father.

SUPPLICATION

Scripture says we have not because we ask not. Share with God your needs and your heart’s desires. As you are faithful to His call on your life, watch how He blesses you. Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for me?” Again if you feel you lack the words, please use the adapted prayers found on this blogsite http://www.bonnieliabenow.com and http://www.facebook.com/bonnieliabenow The petitions to God is our ‘want list’ the adapted prayers from the psalms titled Petitons and Blessing will launch you into His presence and into a meaningful personal time with God.

“Pray without ceasing”

Just like many of you there are situations that I have no control.  It is in these moments that have driven me to pray.                                    My life as a Christmas tree farmer lead me to pray often as farms are vulnerable to environmental attacks.  The days of summer of 2013 had brought extreme heat, dry weather and sunny skies to Michigan which is unheard of up north. And of course the fraser fir farm suffers greatly in these weather conditions. No problem! I will turn on the irrigation system.  But the irrigation didn’t respond. No water! Equipment breakdown!  This can’t be happening and the worse news was it could not be fixed for several days. “Lord, what do I do?” PRAY! I walked thru the fields asking God to protect these trees and to send rain soon.

My Psalm reading for that day– Psalms 65 “You take care of the earth and send rain to help the soil grow all kinds of crops. Your rivers never run dry, and you prepare the earth to produce much grain. You water all of its fields and level the lumpy grounds. You send showers of rain to soften the soil and help the plants sprout.”

The next day–Rain, 50 degrees and cloudy skies! Thank you Lord for taking care of my “bit of earth”.

Complete pages 54-55 in The Study.

Are you excessively critical of the language and style of your prayer? Do you find yourself stumbling along and groping for words? I always felt my language was too simple, kinda uneducated far from sophicated so I didn’t prayer much. But I have since grasped the understanding neither God nor others are concerned with eloquent words, only that genuine communication takes place. Paul assures us in Romans 8:26 that” In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us where we are weak. We do not know how to pray or what we should pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays to God for us with sounds that cannot be put into words.” Many times the best prayer is the one most difficult to express,coming from the heart and reflecting genuine concern. As John Bunyon said. “In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”

The Lord’s Prayer is the model of prayer that Jesus taught us, as recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke consider beginning with this prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen
 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen
The Lords prayer, or the “our Father prayer” is prayed daily by thousands of Christians, and can be seen both as a model for prayer, and as to be repeated as part of our daily prayer. It starts by addressing God as our Father in heaven, that although His name is honored, and above all other names, we are His children. As such, we occupy a place of privilege, and He wants us to spend time in prayer with Him. The Lords prayer then moves on to pray that God’s Kingdom, or rule, will become the norm on earth, replacing human rules and governments, which too often are driven by greed and power. Only then do we turn to our own needs, and ask our Father for our basic human needs to be satisfied, and that He would forgive the wrong things that we have done. We ask for God’s guidance and protection as we journey through life. Finally we turn back to God, and acknowledge His supremacy and position as the Almighty ruler.
Pointers for Prayer : Pray the Lords Prayer through, and then take one of the phrases. Spend a few moments reflecting on that phrase, for example, imagining what it means for God’s Kingdom to come, or how we forgive those who sin against us. Then use these thoughts for further prayer, finally coming back to pray through the Lord’s Prayer again.Promise“Ask…, Seek…, and Knock, and it will be opened to you”Blessing“May the LORD grant all your requests”

 Excellence with Simple Elegance

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THE HEART OF EXCELLENCE: Lesson 10 Bonus Content

Mar20

 True beauty comes from the inside. It comes from the heart. This is an everlasting beauty which is most precious to God. It’s a beauty that is gentle and of a quiet spirit. In God’s sight this is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it.                                                                         1 Peter 3: 3-4Maggie

God is most concerned with what 1 Peter refers to as the ‘hidden person of the heart’. Our heavenly Father understands that out of our hearts, our inner-being, flow the issues of life. He has a way of equipping our hearts for each season of our lives. There are three specific God-given elements to the heart of a woman of excellence: prayer, grace, and forgiveness.

Scripture Memorization

“A sound heart is life to the body” Proverbs 14:30 NKJV

Several winters ago I read RC Sproul’s book, “The Holiness of God”.  In his writings, Sproul reminds his readers that…The task that is given to us, mankind, is to bear witness to the holiness of God–to be His image bearer. As a image bearer we are made to mirror and reflect the holiness of God. Essentially we are made to be His ambassadors.

In this pursuit of excellence we embark upon, Matthew 7:14 tells that the gate is narrow, the path is difficult and only few ever find it.  So this speaks to us, that living God’s way and being His reflection is not easy, especially when life experiences brings constant hurt, emotional turmoil and disappointments. So we must draw from the elements of the heart of prayer, fasting, worship, unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness. To be motivated to do this, you have to be passionate about your faith and intentional about living God’s way. In 1 John 5:3 says living God’s way and keeping His commandments are not troublesome to those who truly adore and love Him.
Living out our faith in love and commitment is seen in the way we conduct ourselves; in our family relationship, our work relationships and our community relationships.

The StudyThe Study (workbook)

Complete pages 51-52

Even with our incredible drive, our energy and among our successes we get off track. We are experiencing exhaustion, discontentment, unfulfillment, maybe even depression and discouragement. I know this has happened to me. Just the other day, I must have experienced every emotion that a person can experience.  Instead of laying my concerns at the feet of Jesus, I did the opposite I held on to every obstacle and every worry.  Thinking I could control others and the situation I was facing, my misguided path only successfully put me on an emotional roller coaster ride.

Distracted and Riding an emotional roller coaster?

 In this lesson you have the opportunity to write one of your stories where you were distracted, maybe treated unfairly and hurt.  As you write this story, take time to reread the words you have committed to paper. As you read , you will gain clarity of your struggle then pray for God’s healing. Give it to Jesus.  Lay it down daily.  Allow God’s divine strength to move you pass the brokenness. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Read Ephesians 6. And Once again experience emotional health knowing truth.  God has it in His hands.

Between our work lives and our home lives, we all have moments that are chaotic, crazy, stressful, unpredictable and uncomfortable. This is reality. This is life. Life happens and it throws us off track. In all this chaos, there is one thing that I know is true: Women, we desperately need God and His healing touch. There is only One who can steady your heart.  Take time to Worship, Read God’s Word, Pray, Seek His Grace and His Forgiveness. And when you have experienced God’s love, grace and forgiveness; then in His strength you will freely extend love, grace, and forgiveness to others.

“Humility is the mother of all virtues; purity, charity and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted and ardent. If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint you will not put yourself on a pedestal.”
―    Mother Teresa,

  Promise

“a glad heart has a special supper all the time”

  Blessing

   “May He give you the desire of your heart”

 Excellence with Simple Elegance

 

 Available at http://www.Amazon.com  The Links are provided below

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A Winter Prayer of Petition and Blessing adapted from Psalm 115,140, 142 & 143

Mar20

A Prayer for Help

Jehovah-Ma’oz – Lord, my Fortress, my strength and my strong-place, my safe place in the day of trouble.   Jeremiah16:19                                                 

O Lord, You are faithful, kind and loving. You are my strength. Bring light where there is darkness, heal where I am weak and love where my heart fades. Let my life bring glory and honor to Your name and not to me, O Lord, not to me.

 Hear my prayer, O Lord. Listen when I ask for help. Answer me because You are faithful and right. Do not find me so guilty where there is no forgiveness, for no one living is right and good in Your eyes. This world is cruel and the one who hates me has made it hard for my soul. This torment has crushed my life to the ground and I live in darkness. My spirit is weak and my heart fades.

I cry with a loud voice and pray with my voice to You.  I talk and complain, telling You all my trouble.  When my spirit grows weak within me, You know my path. My enemy has hidden a trap for me in the way where I walk.  There is no one who thinks about me. There is no place for me to go to be safe. No one cares about my soul. Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to You once again.

O Lord, You are faithful, kind and loving. You are my strength. Bring light where there is darkness, heal where I am weak and love where my heart fades. Let my life bring glory and honor to Your name and not to me, O Lord, not to me.

You are my God. Listen to the voice of my prayers, O Lord.  You have covered me with Your grace. Please do not give the sinful what they want. Do not let their plans work, or they will be honored.  You are my safe place, my share in the land of the living. Listen to my cry, for I am brought down. Save me from those who make it hard for me, for they are too strong for me.  Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Your name. Those who are right and good will gather around me for You will give much to me.

You have been mindful of me, O Lord. I know You will bless me along with those who fear You, both small and great. May You give me increase more and more as I choose rightness and goodness. I will be thankful, as You are my strength.

O Lord,  let my life bring glory and honor to Your name and not to me, O Lord, not to me.

 

If you have enjoyed the Prayers and Songs inspired by the Psalms, you will be delighted to know you will find them in my New Series: Journaling through the Seasons.  A series of 4 guided devotional journals are available for purchase at http://www.amazon.com.

When days get quiet and hearts turn reflective, Winter & Word invites readers to slow down and sit with Scripture. Each section opens with these beautiful Songs and Prayers from the Psalms and prompts that lead gently from reading to response–gratitude, confession, hope, and next steps–plus space to pen personal reflection. Winter & Word helps readers anchor their season in God’s voice–and keeps them coming back for the full set. The journal has three sections; Response writing, Reflection writing  and Note writing. I invite you to experience the power of journaling in faith today.

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COMMUNITY: Lesson 8 Bonus Content

Feb22

The Great Commission

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16: 15Public domain image, royalty free stock photo from www.public-domain-image.com

Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally. Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age. Matthew 28:16-20

Your career and community service can be your outreach or mission field that will give you a platform to put your faith foundation into action. Having a job affords you room to challenge yourself, to exercise your God-given talents, and to share God’s love.  The commitment to community is the third step in building the foundation that leads to a life of excellence.

Scripture Memorization

“Love your neighbor”

As a woman of faith, community should matter to you.  Jesus said to the scribes in the passage of Mark 12: 28-34, “The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Why should community matter to you? Because Jesus said there is no other commandment greater than loving the Lord your God and loving your neighbor. In obedience to our heavenly Father, we are compelled to love others. And so this is why we serve in our community.

The Study

Complete pages 43-44 in Excellence with Simple Elegance: The Study.  The Study (workbook)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Become a mentor page 45 in The Study.

“God did not call us to have lots of friends, but to be a friend” Dr. Bill Anderson

As a mentor and a life coach for 20 years, I am totally convinced that we can positively affect our community one person at a time.  We  must first realize our need to have a lifestyle that reflects the excellence of God. We must actually live out our faith putting God first in all areas of our life. It is imperative that the actions of life model the words spoken.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
―    Mother Teresa

Mentoring is defined in the Merriam-Webster as “a trusted counselor or guide”.  A mentor is a coach, a tutor, or an advisor. One who speaks encouragement and wisdom to the one being mentored.  A mentor is an individual, usually older, always more experienced, who helps and guides another individual’s development. This guidance is not done for personal gain. To mentor, you must be sincerely interested in someone else’s growth assisting in goals setting and holding them accountable.

Be mentored page 45 in The Study,

Women’s ways of mentoring in the business world call it “wo-mentoring”.  It is a refreshing new approach that’s more about commitment and learning.  Women’s mentoring is about personal growth and development. You should pair with someone who, by her very nature, will challenge you.

New Rule of Mentoring: Everyone needs mentors. The old school taught that mentoring was for the young. The new style adamantly rejects such an antiquated notion.

The most important lesson that the women’s approach to mentoring has to teach: It’s not about a mentoring relationship. It’s about a mentoring mentality. You don’t need a single mentor. God can use different mentors during a lifetime. What you need is a mind-set that allows you to learn from those around you. My husband’s saying is “you are the average of the people you hang with” so with that in mind choose mentors who will challenge you, who are passionate about life, and foremost women who are in pursuit of living God’s way.

Please let me know your progress. I want to hear your stories. Take time to comment on this blog site.

Our pursuit of excellence demands that we have a routine of sharing our faith.  We have been called to share the biblical truth  about eternity with those we love. It is wonderful that we have the certainty of heaven but how much more joy we would experience  knowing that we are taking our family and friends.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” Matthew 28:19

I believe we are not bold when it comes to sharing the Good News, the plan of salvation. Why? Is it a possibility that we truly don’t believe that hell is for real or that a loving God would condemn good people to a life of eternal damnation. And if there is hell, an eternal separation from God, then it must only be a mere annoyance and mild displeasure. It certainly cannot be fire!

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” Rev 20:15

When we truly understand the nature of the Holiness of God, we then will understand how unrighteousness and unrepentant violates His Holiness, insults His justice and be littles His grace. Jonathan Edwards is known for the most famous sermon preached in America titled, ‘Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’. In that sermon he says,” almost every natural man who hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for his own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is doing, or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail.” God’s wrath is divine, fierce and everlasting. But God provided a way to escape His wrath by way of the cross.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.

In your pursuit of excellence, make a routine that includes sharing this good news with your community.  Women of faith your community’s eternal fate should matter because Heaven is real and so is Hell.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16  
 

Promise

” His love never fails”

Blessing 

“Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.”                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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FAMILY: Lesson 6 Bonus Content

Jan17

BLESSING THE FAMILY

Heavenly Father, we pray that the blessing spoken to our family will be an outpouring of love from the heart that truly adores You. May the blessing of our loving touch be a blessing to our children and  to Your glory. In Jesus name, Amen.                                         

“He has blessed your children” Psalm 147:13                                                                         “Train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6

A sincere commitment to make your family the first priority above all human relationships is the second step in building the foundation that leads to a life of excellence. Commitment is an agreement or a pledge to do something in the future. It is a state of being obligated or emotionally impelled. (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary)10476045_10152618983616532_3411331249855560867_o

“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.” Kenneth Blanchard

Scripture Memorization
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16

The StudyThe Study (workbook)

Return to the story of Ruth. Note Ruth’s commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi.  Ruth was emotionally impelled to meet the physical and emotional needs of Naomi. Note that  this commitment wasn’t convenient or easy. Identify the actions that demonstrated commitment.  Also identify the sacrifice endured by this princess from Moab that led to results of divine blessing and favor.
Complete pages 33-34  (workbook). 

BLESSING OUR CHILDREN

Blessing our children is as vital in today’s world as it was in biblical times. As women of faith and  excellence, the commitment to passing on the blessing to our family must be a priority. Throughout the Bible, we find evidence that the God of Israel was a God of blessing. The words bless or blessing is found in scripture 700 times. The people of the Bible needed and desired the grace, mercy, power, and encouragement that could be poured into their lives through God’s blessing.

What is a blessing?

The Old Testament word for blessing is berakah.  Berakah was the endowment of the power of God’s goodness and favor. The blessing was delivered through a spoken word and often laying hands on the one being blessed. The spoken blessing was commonly spoken by fathers to their children. In the New Testament, the word “bless” is the Greek verb eulogeo  which we get our word eulogy. It means “to speak well of” or “to praise”. (New International Exhaustive Concordance)

Why should we embrace the act of blessing?

As parents, our ultimate goal is to help our children know and love God with all their heart. What better way than to help our children experience God by giving them a daily concrete encounter with His power and favor by laying hands on them and speaking a blessing. Secondly, the blessings brings security. The blessing has the ability to convey God’s love to children by our parental attention. Children desperately need our undivided attention. Thirdly, the act of blessing creates an atmosphere of openness and honesty. And lastly, when we continue to bless our children especially through difficult times in their life, it demonstrates to them an element of faith that they might never see otherwise. This steady, unwavering demonstration of confidence in what they’ll become helps them mature in accordance with those positive expectations.

In Mark 10:13-16, Jesus blesses the children.  This story allows us to know the depths of Jesus’ concern for children and clearly demonstrates to us how we are to treat our children.  Read this account in Mark 10.

How to bless  your children.

Identify and use  the five key components to bless your child.  Choose the time of day in which you will routinely bless your child. Mornings were perfect for me and my husband chose bedtime. Refer to p 54 in Excellence with Simple Elegance.  These elements are the tool to bless and to enhance the way you communicate love and acceptance to your children. Make a  commitment to bless daily.

Numbers 6:24-25 “The Lord bless you, and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; The Lord life up His countenance on you, And give you peace.”     This is the priestly blessing the Lord gave to Moses for Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel.  All Christian parents say “Yes” to the idea of showing God’s goodness to their children. Yet we are keenly aware of our failures to help them love God as we ought to love Him.  So where are we going to go with that sense of failure? We must not go to guilt, but go to God for the grace to love Him as we should and as well as to show God’s goodness to our children. Begin using this written blessing to speak over your children nightly.  Also explain to your children what a blessing is and why you are choosing to speak a blessing over them beginning tonight.

Complete pages 35-37  (workbook)

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

The Deuteronomy text is definitely for those who are serious about passing the blessings of God to their family. God calls us to frame the entire day with talking to our children about the ways of God. Obviously, presenting God’s glory and goodness to our children is an essential part of our calling as parents. If God’s power, mercy, and grace has not melted your heart, shaping in you a profound love for Him, it will be difficult to impress His glory on your children. God’s Word must be precious to you for it to be important to your children.

Passing the blessing to your children begins with being dazzled by God and His truths  filling your heart.  God’s goodness and love must fascinate you so much so that it’s the very pulse of your heart. So these elements of meaningful touch and kind words will be expressed to fully meet the need of the one to which you are bestowing the blessing. These acts of selflessness are expressed from a servant’s heart that truly comes from loving God. Simply living and blessing your children daily will impress upon them the excellence of God’s ways.

A mother’s devotion & prayer to her children
“To my grown children, you awoke a part of me I did not know existed, you are the greatest gift given to me by God.
I gave you life, but I cannot live it for you. • I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn. • I can give you directions, but I cannot always be there to lead you. • I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe. • I can teach you right from wrong, but I can’t always decide for you. • I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you. • I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish. • I can advise you about friends, but I cannot choose them for you. • I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can’t achieve them for you. • I can teach you about kindness, but I can’t force you to be gracious. • I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make your morals. • I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God’s Family. • I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God. • I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Him your Savior. • I can teach you to obey but I cannot make Jesus Your Lord. • I can teach you how to live, but cannot give you Eternal Life.”
I love you, mom                     SmileFMquote

Promise

“Train up a child…he will not depart from it”

Blessing

Excellence with Simple Elegance

“I will pour out My Spirit on your children and bring good to your children’s children.”                                                                                     

Both books can be purchased at Amazon.com

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PUT GOD FIRST: Lesson 5 Bonus Content

Jan15

“In everything you do put God first, He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”   Proverbs 3:6               

Scripture Memorization

We, women of faith are fully aware that our value comes from God. Everything that is good within us is a direct result of His mercy and favor. As women of faith, we are passionate, intentional about living God’s way, and actively pursuing God.

 Happy are all who search for God and always do His will.

Psalm 119:2 promises blessing for those who keep His testimonies, and who seek Him with their whole heart! So our commitment to seek Him grows strong, because we love Him.   We are also reminded of the tremendous sacrifice Jesus made for us. We are so thankful, and our passion becomes to live God’s way and this commitment is seen in the way we conduct ourselves: in our family relationships, our work relationships, and our community relationships.

The task of mirroring and reflecting the holiness of God is difficult.  This world is full of challenges. In the midst of crazy chaotic moments, we often compromise our conviction to bare the image of God.  We discover this path of ‘putting God first’ is lonely at times, scary, uncomfortable, unfamiliar and requires sacrifice.

Continue reading →

FAITH: Lesson 4 Bonus Content

Jan14

 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
 
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THE FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE: Lesson 3 Bonus Content

Jan10

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

https://a.co/d/dJlm5zG

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