Bible Literacy: Understanding the Old Testament in the Context of the New Testament

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Old Testament is often unread but referenced continuously in the New Testament. Refining ministry has devoted 2023 to walk alongside others in reading the Bible chronologically. We want to dig deeper into the understanding of the Old Testament to see God’s story from the beginning of its inception.

We are using the one-year Chronological Study Bible (NLT). It has provided a daily guide to understanding, reading, and meditating on Scripture through the fourteen eras. I love the verse stated on the first page: “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” Romans 15:4 (NLT).

I have enjoyed the website entitled CBT-Chronological Bible Teaching established as an extension of the Chronological Study Bible. Here is a direct quote from their website: “One of the grand themes of the Bible is the need for God’s people to read His Word and know it well. Bible literacy makes or breaks God’s people spiritually. They prosper when they treasure His Word, and they fall into sin and judgment when they neglect it.” WOW! What a profound statement.

If you would like to read more about their philosophy on understanding the Old Testament in the context of the New Testament, here is a direct link to the article: Why Bible Literacy Matters (chronologicalbibleteaching.com)

CBT offers many resources for readers from daily devotional to podcast. If you would like to use your own Bible, the website has a one year reading plan just for you. My favorite resource they offer is articles on their blog. Here is an example: https://chronologicalbibleteaching.com/blog/posts/god-at-work-through-common-means

What a wonderful time to be living on earth-it is truly a gift to have resources at our fingertips. Think about how far we have come in the past three decades. God wants each of us to treasure Bible literacy and know Him like never before. In Deuteronomy 30:6 it states, The LORD your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love Him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!

Come join us on Monday nights from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. (CST) via Zoom as we continue the journey through the fourteen eras. We are just a group of ordinary Christians wanting to know Almighty God better, keep His commandments, cling to His promises, define key terms, and allow the Holy Spirit to provide understanding and discernment. Day-by-day we are discovering the contents of the New Testament through the understanding of the Old Testament.

March 26, 2023 0

How do you engage with God’s Word?

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT)

Scripture tells us the Bible is the very expression of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16, we read all Scripture is God-breathed. His Holy Word is not just a furnished resource. His intonation and declaration of assurances and support assist our spiritual walk. We see this to be true in Romans 15:4. “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (ESV).

However, the basic knowledge of His Word only scratches the surface of properly handling this precious treasure (2 Timothy 2:15). Take the Pharisees, for instance. They were top scholars of the Word and had a precise academic understanding. Would you agree? Who knew the Torah better? They devoted their lives to memorizing and interpreting Mosaic law with its conformity and ceremonial acts. The Pharisees allowed their scholarly status to take a legalistic stance, leading them to believe works trumped God’s mercy and grace.

Quite frankly, this contradicts the accurate message of Christ Jesus, our Savior. In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Bible states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (NIV). Our obedience in following God’s law is from a heart of love and respect for Him, who saved and called us to live according to His purpose. Pursuing God’s prohibitions has nothing to do with redeeming ourselves from eternal damnation. We are not capable of this miraculous task.

How you read, engage, and understand the Bible can affect your conduct as a Christian.

Scripture is a gift from God, so you can know Him as He reveals His love, goodness, truth, and redemption. God wants to extend very precise knowledge unique to you and so much more.

What is your vision of Scripture engagement?

Have you ever wondered what the Lord visualizes for you? What does He picture you doing? How does He want the story of your life to unfold?

God’s Windowpane of Transparency

He envisions you:

embracing Scripture independently with Him
reading and studying His Word as a beginning to move forward
believing the Bible is living—not just text
seeking ways to go BEYOND an educational knowledge of verses
committed to growing in relationship with Him and His voice
inviting His ways and perspective
treasuring His voice as life-authority
welcoming His refinement for a lifetime
going BEYOND head knowledge to full life-saturation
allowing the Bible to change your life completely (heart, mind, body, and soul)
slaying all obstacles and barriers keeping you from going BEYOND
feasting on Scripture as your sole substance with an eternal mindset

I pray as you ponder over this list, a couple of envisions will spark a revival in your spirit to engage with Scripture on a deeper level this week. May the Lord increase a hunger within your soul to infuse God’s Word into your life more than ever and through the journey you are transformed to be more like our beautiful Savior.

Go BEYOND surface level and live out God’s Word! The Lord envisions your life saturated with His love. Embrace the journey.

February 27, 2023 0

Can Scripture Become 3D?

Biblical text will remain flat as long as we allow it. Its two-dimensional design presents itself as a welcoming invitation to draw us in. God graciously allows us to freely choose if the altitude level of His Word will escalate in our lives.

Scripture’s Purpose and Our Identity

Promoting Scripture to the height God has intended requires us to understand two facets: the purpose behind the Bible and who we are in Christ. One might say it entails placing importance on the treasured treasure and deeming it as such.

The purpose behind the Bible.

What is its role?

There are hundreds of scholarly answers. Permit me to share my basic one with you.

The Bible is a living document freely awarded as a transformational powerful weapon to defend against the enemy. It is an effective mighty sword, waiting to be crowned as a prized possession if we choose.

The Lord gave us His Word as a gift of engagement with His very voice—the voice of love, hope, joy, peace, kindness, forgiveness, understanding, etc. He designed it to fully equip and expose us to the strength of Scripture and the life-changing experiences it documents. As a helpmate, alongside the Holy Spirit, the Bible can render a spiritual makeover: a life reflecting Him.

Reading God’s Word and boldly applying it supplies inspiration. Each story, miracle, and testimony produce the motivation to carry out life the way God envisioned. His words bring the dead to life, allow the blind to see, and heal the lame—all in an instant. Remember, God’s life-changing powers are limitless—no expiration date can be detected.

The Father furnished Scripture as a universal extension of Himself so we can encounter Him on each page. As we involve ourselves verse-by-verse, it can change our perspective. We perceive problems differently, hearts soften toward sandpaper people, deep-rooted joy launches overshadowing pain and sorrow, and unshakable peace ignites a vision of eternal hope.

Who we are in Christ.

God invites each believer to partake in the Bible—His Holy Word.

He aspires the advancement of each and every passage to be represented in a three-dimensional object—YOU—a life permeated with Scripture. The Lord considers you a living stone and has awarded you His very voice to mold and shape your life for the precise position in the wall of His church.

For us to adopt who we are in Christ, we must also intentionally foster a relationship with God’s Word. The Lord wants us to cherish and love it in the same manner in which we adore Him. God yearns for continual growth with Him in our spiritual pathway to maturity, therefore He grants us the Bible as a guide in life.

Scripture aids to distinguish who we are in the Lord and assists in deeply grasping the character of whom we deposit our trust. God deliberately utilizes Scripture to reveal Himself. It is through this discovery, we find His attributes, cling to His promises, and uncover His advice to build our faith and develop an unshakable hope in Him. The Bible can firmly solidify who we are in Christ.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” Luke 12:31-32 (NLT)

How would you describe the purpose of Scripture and how it defines you?

February 26, 2023 0

Taking Scripture Meaning to New Heights

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Have you ever been stumped by a verse while reading through the Bible? I know I have on many occasions.

What about your attention? Have you ever been drawn to a particular verse as you read through a chapter? This is one of my favorite ways of knowing the Holy Spirit is guiding my understanding and directing my pathway. I love “attention” verses. I often write them down and focus on one a week to get a full picture of God, His attributes, and what He is personally saying to me.

This month our church is reading through the book of Mark – a part of the Gospel Era showcasing the fulfillment of the promised Seed God spoke of in the Creation Era. The book is a narrative filled with the life of Jesus, His mighty miracles, delivery of parables, and His death and resurrection. Over and over, each chapter reveals the love story of God which gives us all hope and “good news” to share with the world.

During this time of reading, several verses have captured my attention and deepened my understanding of the Lord. Over and over, I see God’s hand working to reveal His goodness and love in markable ways during Christ’s earthly life. I particularly love how Christ addresses the “legal” acts of the pharisees as He separates the difference between head knowledge/rule followers and a heart of love devoted to living by faith in God.

As many of you know, I am a large advocate of elevating God’s Word to the highest level of understanding and saturation. Many of Refining ministries’ workshops, Bible studies, and retreats are geared to helping followers discover ways to absorb Scripture to the fullest. So, I was captivated by this week’s sermon at our church when Chris Lopez shared a simple way to dig deeper into a focal verse.

He directed his thoughts to Mark 6:2 (NLT)

The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?”

Then, Chris shared how he narrowed down his view by noting words that stood out to him: amazed-wisdom-power-perform. He carefully discovered the Biblical definition of each word and then rewrote the verse using the definitions as a substitute for each word. Here’s the video clip.

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx2GzEzbikZVf4sgqUp4p493zXjxaFJw3h

What a great tip!

I decided to give it a whirl and revisit the key verse for Refining ministry: “I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” Jeremiah 24:7 NLT

recognize means acknowledge

return means come back

wholeheartedly means completely and sincerely devoted

Defined to read: “I will give them hearts that acknowledge me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will come back to me completely and sincerely devoted.”

WOW! What a wonderful way to dig deeper into God’s Word and search for true understanding. Thank you, Chris, for sharing!

I hope this tip helps you take your Scripture comprehension to new heights.

January 24, 2023 0

LIFE: How did Judah fall so far away from God?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Have you ever asked yourself this question: How have I drifted so far away from God? I know I have and more than once.

In the book of Jeremiah, we see Judah with a terminal disease-sin. They refuse to turn to the Lord and do everything within their so called “Human-power” to heal themselves only finding it to spread and eventually destroy.

Jeremiah spent forty years trying to convince these people of the consequences of their actions. However, they let their pride get in the way. Killing children, abusing others, having many gods, engaging in false worship, being self-centered, and loving self-indulgence were just the beginning of the many items they placed as a priority over holding true to God’s principles. They refused to listen and seemed to categorize Jeremiah’s messages as nonsense.

How did God’s people end up in this place?

As we studied part two of Jeremiah, I began to ponder this question. What caused them to drift so far away? Why did they refuse to turn back? Could the end results have been different for them?

Then I reflected on my own life. (OUCH! I think the Holy Spirit made me do it!)

Pride-yes that word-the source of my drifting much like the people of Judah. Let’s be honest here: pride, arrogance, haughtiness, fear of man, etc. can decrease our level of honor for God and His Word at times. Pride has a way of clouding our judgment. Therefore, we ignore the warnings, disregard the consequences/truth, and often pretend there isn’t a disconnect with us and the LORD.

In Jeremiah chapter 35, we are introduced to a group of nomads, the Rekabites. They were known as “principled people”-a stark contrast to those in Judah during this time. These tent dwellers were faithful and steadfast. They had an exceptional quality of obedience and remained true to their set principles and values. Regardless of the temptation, they kept their promises. Their word was backed with follow through. WOW! God could count of them-what a beautiful display of a high level of respect. The Rekabites were far from haughty nor filled with self-pride.

Going back to my own assessment- God loves me so much to allow me to be broken and struggling many times over. Why?-because of self-reliance, portions of pride, and “what’s in it for me” approach to life. Oh, how I could easily become like Judah, but my heart cries out for a different life. I want to be a principled person, living as a nomad in this world, with an outstanding level of discipline and obedience for my precious Lord and Savior.

What about you? What about the legacy you are leaving behind? Where do you find yourself in life? What stands in your way of being 100% committed and faithful to God?

The Lord is definitely refining me and sharpening my motives to live a life more reflective of the Rekabites. I know the lie of self-sufficient and believing God’s truth and help isn’t needed 24/7 is directly from the enemy-pure evil. I boldly ask Jesus to be my war club and break the bondage held by the enemy. I crave true rest and complete presence of the LORD in my life.

May we each strive to be heroes of faith as we walk through this LIFE by digesting God’s Word on a personal level. I pray Scripture stirs your heart and opens the door to closeness with the Father. What a humble privilege to be encouraged by the mighty principled people found in God’s Holy Word-even the simple nomads.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

Hebrews 11:32-34 (NIV)

December 26, 2022 0

JEREMIAH: Part 2-Bible Study online

Our 2nd series of Jeremiah Bible study is now available! We start Monday, November 7th. We are so excited about the second half of this amazing online Bible study!

If you truly want to experience the power of God’s Word with a small group, this is the place! Each week is filled with wholesome learning in a safe environment surrounded by women desiring God’s lead.

This study is designed to be FLEXIBLE so you can tailor it to the time you have available each day.

WHAT: A seven-week Bible study Jeremiah (Chapters 29-52)
WHEN: November 7th-December 19th (Reading plan starts Nov. 2nd)
WHO: Anyone ready to dive deep into God’s Word through Bible study
WHERE: Online via zoom, Monday nights 6:00-7:00 p.m. (CST)
HOW TO JOIN: Contact us via email to get started. The study packet (pdf) is $10. We will send the Zoom link and study packet after receiving your completed registration. (NOTE: You are welcome to join without purchasing a study packet)

THROUGH THIS ONLINE CHAPER-BY-CHAPTER STUDY YOU WILL

Gain a better understand of the book of Jeremiah
Get a deeper look at God’s character and patience
Receive discernment and direction for your own spiritual life
Enjoy a committed community of women sharing like desires to walk with God and dive deeper into Scripture

If you are interested, email us at refiningjourney@gmail.com prior to November 7th.

We hope you can join us!

October 26, 2022 1

Hungry for God’s Word?

Happy October! What a beautiful change this week. Our highest temperature was in the 50s yesterday. I am sure the first freeze is upon us soon, but for now I have enjoyed the cooler weather.

It seems this time of the year makes me really think about food. Pumpkin pie, zucchini bread, homemade soup, quiche, flavored coffee, etc. All things warm and cozy. Comfort! I can feel the fall hunger within me. The question is what will really satisfy my seasonal craving?

As we continue our fall study in Jeremiah, the subject of hunger appeared this past week. Jeremiah introduces a hungry soul and what can satisfy it. In Jeremiah 15:16 he states, “Your words are what sustain me; they are food to my hungry soul. They bring joy to my sorrowing heart and delight me. How proud I am to bear your name, O Lord.” (Living Bible)

Jesus encouraged followers to feast on God’s Word. (John 8:31-32) He clearly wants us to not only build a relationship with the Trinity but with Scripture as well. Why? Because there is power in the word and He clearly illustrated this with His encounter with the enemy.

I think I can safely say we know an essential element in our spiritual walk is interacting with the Bible. Over and over, we are reminded of the substance it delivers. It gives us insight to the character of God, His desire for our daily living, and a multitude of sweet promises for His children. In chapter 20 of Jeremiah, we find Scripture can even ignite a fire within us to boldly witness without worry of persecution.

Do you crave God’s Word? Is it something you cannot live without? Do the words comfort and satisfying come to mind when thinking about your relationship with Scripture? Does it seems like a lot to take in much like the image above? Is it hard to “take a bite” on your own?

Much like discipleship training, we all need biblical literacy guidance. Often our Bibles are underutilized because we are unsure how to independently interact with God’s Word. I know this was very true for me.

Rick Warren once said, “…hungry Christians need to be taught how to feed themselves from the Word of God.” It takes time and training to grow in proficiency when building a relationship with Scripture. There are tons of strategies and methods, but regardless they are useless if they don’t resonate with you.

The main factor is consistency and commitment. Then read with purpose. Start with three areas of focus:

Who is God?
What does He want me to do or stop doing?
What promises does God make?

These three areas alone can furnish us with a firm foundation to interacting with Scripture. This approach is an open invitation to carry out James 1:22-becoming a doer of the Word and stepping out in faith more and more as you get to know God deeper, discover His commands and cling to His promises.

Challenge yourself to read with intentionality. Spend time digesting books of the Bible by taking it one chapter at a time. I read this week that it is beneficial to read a chapter a week and read it at least five times during the timeframe. WOW! Also, it was suggested to set aside an hour twice a week for deep study. What great advice especially when we take God’s Word bite-by-bite, verse-by-verse.

So, what will you do differently this week as you grow in Scripture proficiency and biblical literacy? What can you add to your daily or weekly routine? How can you incorporate the three areas: Who is God? What are His instructions/reproof? Are there promises made in the passage?

We would love to hear from you. If you are seeking for an online group to assist you in Bible study skills, let us know. We meet online every Monday night via Zoom for one hour starting at 6:00 p.m. (CST). We will be happy to share the group link with you! We would love to have you join us as we learn how to grow in relationship with the Word of God together.

October 9, 2022 0

Are you Intense-Red Hot-Ever Present?

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Hello friends. For all of those out there experiencing true summer heat, fall should be here in about 65 days. Yes, that does seem so far away when the average temperature is around 105 or higher! Global warming has become front and center for many this year.

Intense-red hot-ever present

Refining ministry just completed the series entitled “Major Wisdom through Minor Prophets” this past Monday night. We have been on a journey studying each minor prophet for quite some time and would like to thank every person who joined us throughout this timeframe. The depth of understanding, sharing, and growth has been outstanding on many levels. (And to think we only meet online for one hour each Monday night!)

Our last study was over the book of Zechariah. The Read Scripture overview describes it as a roller coaster ride. It is filled with visions, prophecy, harsh judgment, and direct commands to name a few. Yet, Zechariah is intense-red hot-ever present in all that he delivers. He is known as the most apocalyptic and messianic of all minor prophets.

For me, Zechariah was a book which had to be digested one bite at a time. Symbolism, terminology, customs, prophetic aspects of the second coming of Christ, interpretations of visions, rituals, and the list goes on. There were times when even the commentaries and study resources were overwhelming. However, I am so thankful for Zechariah on many levels. It made me reflect on my life with the main question:

Are you intense-red hot-ever present for the LORD?

Zechariah presented his audience with hope, encouragement, warning, instructions, and the glimpse of a future King. Over the past seven weeks, I went chapter by chapter looking for direct instructions of how I could increase my spiritual walk and intensify my relationship with God. Zechariah allowed me to reevaluate my spiritual priorities and take a closer look at my daily habits.

Today, I would like to share the list with you. As you read over each item, let it wash over you and encourage you in your personal walk. Allow the Holy Spirit to highlight a couple of areas where you can crank up the heat for the LORD then take it to God in prayer. Enjoy!

Exercise the listening muscle
Be still to hear God’s voice
Watch out for worldliness (externally & internally)
Learn from your mistakes
Return to God quickly when you stray
Embrace the fire (life trials)
Rely on the Holy Spirit
Stay in God’s Word
Encourage others to invest in Scripture
Recognize sinning religion (a state of spiritual disobedience)
Only God is holy to judge
Have diligent obedience
Worship is more important than performing a religious ritual
Have a sincere desire to know God
Fully surrender your heart to the LORD
Carry out His commands with a joyful spirit
Speak truth
Live peacefully
Exercise justice
Love God’s ways
Seek only the approval of the LORD
Do not be afraid because God is your defender
Deal with sin barriers
Stay under the LORD’s authority
Intentional spend time with the father
Find your identity in God
Connect with like-minded Christians
Carry out God’s work at all costs
Stay dependent upon the LORD

Thank you, Zechariah! I loved the summer message:

God is intense-red hot-ever present for each of us!

July 19, 2022 3

Wisdom when you hear yourself say, “OH NO! I have Bible study tonight!”

Have you ever attended a Bible study feeling unprepared? Have you skipped out because you were not able to get everything read? How about those Bible study groups where you just quit showing up because the workbook was never cracked open or a big life crisis reared its ugly head? Or maybe you had to miss one, so you used this as an excuse to miss the rest. “Sorry, I’m Busy!” (This is probably only the beginning to the ones I have used over the years!)

Whatever the case, let’s be honest, the enemy wants you to NOT participate! Did you hear me? He doesn’t even want you thinking about it nor remembering you were even a part of a Bible study. Why else would you have all these outs or excuses?

If you want to be very intentional about seeking the LORD, there will be roadblocks. AND, some good wisdom must be coming from the discussions in your Bible study group or the enemy would not try so hard to keep you from attending. God is there and He desires for you to be there too!

Relax-we all have excuses & outs. However, we must address the source. SO, when you feel behind or less of a participant STOP YOURSELF and claim these five truths over your situation:

God loves me PERIOD!
God sees my efforts when I just show up to class
My pace of learning and reading is my own
Every step I take in seeking the LORD is valuable
The LORD is always with me regardless of where I find myself in the progression of a Bible study

Then take ownership of you:

Keep showing up to class
Read at your pace
Ask God to help you stay committed & moving forward in His Word

Remember, those excuses and roadblocks are not from God.

If you are in a Bible study currently or beginning one, pray! Pray for focused, intentional time. Ask the LORD to clear your calendar for those meeting times (even if you didn’t finish the weekly work or readings). Pray for a hedge of protection over your entire participation in the study. If you can, call someone else in the study group and ask them to be your accountability partner. Prepare ahead of time for the obstacles because they will come!

Then-commit. Pray for the leaders of your Bible study. Make an action plan and get started. Remember, you can succeed, and you are never behind if you are showing up and making small steps every day by staying in His Word and building relationship with HIM!

Change it & Claim it-

“OH YES! I have Bible study tonight. I cannot wait for the wisdom God will reveal.”

June 6, 2022 4

Is TRUE GRIT in the spiritual growth equation?

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“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
Psalm 86:11

What do you think of when you hear the words “True Grit”? Your mind might go directly to the movie or possibly a particular person. Regardless, I think we can all agree it is defined as passionate perseverance committed for the long haul and at all costs. True grit has its ups and downs, difficulties, celebrations, failures, and even stagnation, yet somehow success comes in the end.

Take the human body. How physically evident can true grit be seen when someone changes their eating habits and begins an intensive workout plan. Over time the sweat, dedication, and effort become a reward. The body starts to reflect the hard work and success is seen.

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.” Proverbs 4:25-26

Well, what about our spiritual growth? Does God require true grit? Can we have a close walk with the LORD without it?

As I have been studying the minor prophet books, I am seeing over and over that a walk with the LORD takes work and dedication. It is difficult at best to stay committed to the LORD. Being in God’s remnant goes beyond faith. It requires us to find ourselves in His plan and dig deep within to stay committed and steadfast when everyone around is doing the opposite. Let’s be honest, worldly ways are appealing and have been through human existence.

Personally, I have found studying the Word of God requires sincere true grit. I haven’t always felt this way though.

It took a deep valley to make me evaluate my core and what made me tick! Yep-getting honest and asking myself, “Are you going to keep living for you or get serious about following the LORD’s road map?” It took some major humility, surrender, and many years of getting it wrong before I realized the importance of living life under the authority of God’s Word.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.'” Lamentations 3:22-24

SO, when I was finally ready, I realized I could not carry out my spiritual journey without truly knowing God’s Word. Now I don’t mean just reading, being exposed, and listening. I mean having true grit to find God in the pages. It took me placing value on this incredible gift-the Bible and realizing I needed help simply studying God’s Word on my own!

Bit by bit, I am learning. I am not by far a scholar! As I gain knowledge, I am slowly realizing this fact: Scripture is supplying the breath in my spiritual walk and God doesn’t want me living without it.

You and I are on a pathway of life my friends. No matter the distance we have come or still must go, our sanctification requires commitment, dedication, work, time, perseverance, encouragement, community, sweat, tears, a humble heart, and so much more. It all starts within…a word of faith in Christ’s saving grace and then…TRUE GRIT!

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

How committed are you to studying Scripture? Do you crave it more than the air you breathe? If you knew for a fact it was the only supply of oxygen for your spiritual life, would you learn how to tap into it more?

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

Success begins with doing-and yes failing too. Don’t be discouraged my friend. Go ahead-take the next step on the pathway. Keep moving forward. Seek ways to stay motivated, keep learning, and continually growing in relationship with the LORD. And above all-REMEMBER, God loves you far beyond your wildest imagination. He even left His love story written in a book for you to know Him more.

Embrace His Word with TRUE GRIT!

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

June 3, 2022 0