Grateful.
Hopping on to write a short blog of gratitude, I find my teaching notes from I Peter 5 unpublished. In the midst of "life," the idea of publishing my weekly teaching notes vanished. Since I didn't hear from anyone, I trust that this is not a big loss! Any Simply Bible teaching video is posted on YouTube.
However, as I looked over the notes for that lesson, I am reminded of God's heart:
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29.
Gentle and lowly. If you were to design God, is this how you would imagine Him? I'm sure I would not. But God's ways are so far above my ways. His gentle and lowly heart enters into our suffering with us. So much so that God Himself took on flesh and blood.
So this Thanksgiving, my gratitude belongs to God. Thank You, God, for Living Hope!
I can't say it any better than Peter does in the Bible:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I Peter 1:3
Friends, my gratitude also goes to you who have been on this Simply Bible journey with me. We are meant to study God's Word in community. I love knowing God through His Word with you. You ask amazing questions and "stir up" both my heart and mind to better know God.
Thank you for continually encouraging me in Living Hope.
This past week concluded digging into the letters of Peter via weekly Zoom meetings with women. A number of you have yet to finish the study. That's okay! Please continue on at your own pace. Please finish. Why? Because the final week looks at Peter's life again... after the resurrection. After the gift of the Holy Spirit. The study reaches a crescendo here. So many women have been touched to see God's good work in Peter. Myself included! What a transformation from day one to the final day of study!
Seeing the Living Hope at work in Peter's life fills our hearts with hope.
We have seen this living hope arise in the pages and pages of feedback from women. So far,100% have responded that they are thinking or living different because of studying Peter.
Here are a few responses:
More thankful, especially for the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit.
No longer afraid of change. Seeing the “Simon to Peter” transformation, I know we experience change and are changed for God's purpose.
Learning to rely on the Spirit. In my own strength, I mess up, but in Gods power I can do what I need to do operating through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peter started out with rough edges, we watched his growth. The encouragement experienced in this study has led me to share my faith. The Holy Spirit took away my doubts and fears. Loved this study! Thankful for Zoom & for growing closer to God through this.
This study changed my life! Peter felt very personal to me. I feet like I know him.
This study encouraged me in forgiveness, perseverance, Gods mercy, grace and HOPE! So perfect for such a time as this.
I am growing and entrusting my cares to God. Peter instructs not to focus on the trials, but on Christ. Not to just get through and survive, but grow during our trials. This study was so timely. Such good instruction to place our hope on eternal things rather than the temporal, politics or even a vaccine. He is our living hope and we can entrust our souls to the faithful creator.
My faith has been strengthened as I meditate and study the small sections of scripture! I’ve also been corrected, rebuked and see how much the Father has loved us through his Son and provided all we need as is clearly stated in II Peter 1:3-4. Amazing love and provision for this life and for the next!
I am reminded what a privilege and honor it is to be a child of God. I pray for boldness to share with others.
Suffering is a gift that I need to open my hands wider to...
I hope to be a person proclaiming how Jesus called me into his light. A person full of hope so much so that people ask why. I hope to be a quiet-spirited blessing to my husband and family.
I am confessing my anger and leaning on God to fight this spiritual battle for me.
More confident in the FACT that this world is NOT MY HOME! I want to be more available for God to use me in whatever way He wants to.
Peter was BOLD. I want to be more bold!
Peter's letters were so pertinent to where I am spiritually. I was encouraged to fix my mind and prayers more on more on heaven and the transformation Jesus wants to do of my character rather than on circumstances in my life. I was encouraged.
Let's make that a resounding YES! Of all the Simply Bible studies we've done so far, this one has been the most meaningful to me. I feel born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus! I'm not trying to act in my own power all the time. I'm taking it all to the Lord and oh, what a relief!
Did you catch that?
I feel born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus! I'm not trying to act in my own power all the time. I'm taking it all to the Lord and oh, what a relief!
Friends, this thanksgiving my heart overflows with gratitude for the privilege of knowing God with you through the Bible. This semester we have seen that the letters of I & II Peter remain just as applicable to our lives today as to the exiled believers of the first century. God uses His Words to help us know Him and then to transform our hearts to be more like His. Oh, the joy! The joy.
Thank you for being a part. This Thanksgiving know that I will be giving thanks for you and praying that we continue to crave more of Him and His Word.
Our next study, Simply Bible Psalms, begins January 13th, 2021. Please join us! Together we'll learn to sing a new song and get real with God. For more details, please view our events page. If you are leading a group of women through Psalms and would like support, consider our weekly Zoom meetings for leaders. Books available now on Amazon.
A Christmas surprise! Friend, we have a FREE gift for you. This Simply Bible study of Jesus's birth according to Luke and Matthew provides the perfect place to know Him. Already women are seeing details of the Christmas story they have never noticed before! Download your free, printable guide today!
