The Ten Commandments

How long has it been since you took a look at The Ten Commandments? Do you even know where to find them? This blog begins a study on The Ten Commandments. Let your friends know! Invite your family to be a part of the study! Let's revisit The Ten Commandments together as we grow.

What you always wanted to know about the Bible but were too embarassed to admit you might not know...

Do you know what Bible you have? I mean, do you REALLY know? Do you have the best one for you? Do you have a good and reliable translation? Do you have an interpretation that might not be so good for study, but okay to read in the bubble bath?

Over the course of the next few weeks, we'll look at different translations, interpretations, and adaptations. We'll see which are closest to the horse's mouth (closest to the original manuscripts) and those which are a bit too close to the other end of the horse to be reliable in your studying.

We'll also look at kinds of Bibles. For example, do you have a Life Application, a Study, a Devotional Bible? Which kind do I want? How do I figure that out?

Third, we'll look at reference materials, and how to use them to grow in your faith. We'll look at the difference between studying and reading. We'll learn how to study and how to apply God's Truth in our lives.

Join in! Invite your friends and family! Let's ask those questions we have without embarassment...and with God's help, we'll discover the answers.

His, thanking Him for YOU!
Lee Ann

Christmas--how well do you know the Christmas Story?

Luke 2 is a great start! :-)

Just a few questions for you about the Christmas story--fact or fiction? True or false?

1. There were three wise men. True? False? What do you think? What does scripture say?
2. The wise men were from the Orient. True or False?
3. The wise men brought their gifts to the manger. True or False?
4. Mary rode a donkey to Bethlehem. What do you think? What does scripture say?
5. The shepherd hesitated before heading to the manger. True? False? What was his reaction?


Some thoughts to think about...

• Do you think the stable where Mary and Joseph stayed, and Jesus was born was clean? Freshly "mucked out?"
• Do you know how far Mary and Joseph traveled to get to Bethlehem? How long a trip do you think it may have been?
• Do you know what frankincense and myrrh are and where they come from?
• What is a "heavenly host?"

As we celebrate the reason for the season, just how much do you know from scripture about the Christmas story?

Let me know what you discover!

Blessings and praises for you this Christmas!

Lee Ann

Week Six of "dare to be different..."

This week we're looking at Proverbs 31:10-31---That IMPOSSIBLE Proverbs 31 woman!

Keep this in mind as you read...King Solomon wrote the Proverbs for his son. He had 300 wives and 700 concubines (also considered his wives).

Now, with 1000 wives, this is a compilation of the best of all their qualities! We'll look at each verse this week, and see how this impossible woman is truly possible. Trust in Him! He'll reveal this truth for us!

Lord, be with us as we tackle what we think is impossible! Helps us to trust that with YOU all things are possible! Matthew 19:26. Amen!

Week Five of "dare to be different"

Week Five already! WOW! Thank you, God for how much we're learning and growing!

This week I want us to look at mentoring. What is a mentor? According to www.dictionary.com, a mentor is a wise and trusted counselor and teacher. Titus 2:3-5 talks about older women teaching and setting a godly example for younger women. Elizabeth, an older woman and relative of Mary, shares her wisdom with Mary when she comes to see her. Elizabeth is pregnant with John the Baptist, and Mary is of course pregnant with Jesus. Find their story in Luke 1:5-60.

Paul and Timothy also set a great example for us of a mentoring relationship in 1 and 2 Timothy.

Let me know what you discover!

Lord, be with us as we uncover Your Truth about our faith relationships with one another. Help us to find our mentor, as well as to equip us to mentor others. Help us to learn from Elizabeth's example, and to become Titus 2 women of God. Encourage us with a desire to grow and learn from someone who has walked just a few more miles in their faith journey. AMEN!

Week Four of "dare to be different"

This week we're looking at some of the "Wonder Women" of the Bible. I'm going to list their names. I'd like you to begin to write down what you know about them! We're going to see how real they are...just like us in so many ways...flawed, challenged, sometimes feeling like a fish out of water! Yet, God uses each of them in mighty ways! Just like He uses each of us. :-)

1. Sarah
2. Rahab
3. Esther
4. Ruth
5. Mary, Mother of Jesus
6. Lydia

Do some of your own reading about these women. List some of what you discover! Share it in your postings. And we'll begin to see how God gifted each of them, how they used those gifts, and what we can learn from their lives.

Lord, as we look at this list of women this week help us not just to look at the big and mighty things they did. Help us also to see their reality, to see their less-than-the-best choices sometimes, sometimes their hesitancy to step up when called, and even sometimes their willful impatience in waiting on You. Help us also to see when they answer You in faith, stepping up to their calling with trust and confidence in Your promise. And help us to know when You call, confident in our spiritual gifts which You gave us, knowing when to say, "Yes, Lord. Here I am." AMEN!

Love and prayers to all of you!
Lee Ann

Week Three of "dare to be different"

Can you believe we're in Week Three! This week, we're going to look at our calling. Who am I?--Week One...a child of the utmost King, created in His image, to be just who I am! Why am I here?--Week Two...creationally crafted to be unique, specifically adapted to complement and encourage, support and love.

And here we are in Week Three--What is my calling?

Let's review first:
1. Why was I created? Look back at Genesis 2:18, and 2:21-22. Remember our spiritual equality to Man (Genesis 1:27). Remember our creational crafting is unique and different, specific to our purpose as women.

Let's look at our calling by first identifying what a "calling" is:
A calling is a divine appointment to a vocation or service. In a nutshell, a calling is that, gifted to us by God, as our divinely appointed reason to exist...our divine purpose. Now that we know what a calling is, let's try and figure this out!
2. What is my calling scripturally?
Look at the Amplified Version (www.biblegateway.com) and read Ephesians 5:33. And 1 Peter 3:2. Make a list. (I love lists!)

What is my calling, specifically and unique to me? How will I know?

What are my spiritual gifts, and how do they fit in? Do I know what they are? How can I find out?

The last question we'llask this week:
3. How do I answer His call? What is my first step?

Remember in Week One when Lynn shared SMART? We'll incorporate some of our discussion from Week One, the vision--mission--scriptural goal for our lives with Lynn's SMART idea! :-)

Lord, as we work on Week Three, help us to hear You clearly. Help us not to feel frustrated, but to feel excited to begin that which You divined! Help us to know our spiritual gifts, our talents, and how to use that which we are to be that which You designed and called to serve. Precious Father, be with each of us as we grow into the woman You want us to be. AMEN!