DIVINE: Growing and Knowing God (Week 14)

 Hello, everyone! (No, in case you're wondering, I haven't sent anything out for the last few weeks. )

We're getting ready to conclude this first part of our DIVINE: Transformed by Knowing God series. My hope is to pick up the study again in the fall with more lessons that will continue to help us know God more deeply. Like I shared in the first study, there will never be an end to our journey of knowing God. We will never know everything or experience every aspect of God. There will always be more to know and there will always be more ways for us to grow. In this last email, I'm taking some time to reflect on this journey so far of growing in the knowledge of God.

Reflection on Knowing God - Why this study?

1. We want to grow. 2 Peter 3:18 (NLT) says, "Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen." Sometimes we grow quickly, but most of the time lasting growth is slow. Do you feel like you're growing slowly or quickly these days? Do you feel encouraged or discouraged by how you're growing?  

2. We will grow to be more like Jesus as we know Him more, not just as we try harder. Colossians 3:10 (NLT) "Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him." Are you trying to be more like Christ or more like other people you admire or the "perfect you" that lives in your imagination?

3. We experience God's grace, peace, power, and provision as we KNOW HIM. 2 Peter 1:2-3 (CSB) "May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." Why do you think knowing God is supposed to make such a big difference in our lives?

4. We know God more as we depend on Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 (CSB) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight." Our job is to TRUST and seek to KNOW GOD, God's job is to straighten out our paths. Where do you have the hardest time trusting the Lord instead of relying on your own thoughts and ability to figure things out?

Knowing God will help us experience God's Presence, Pleasure, Promises, Plan, Perspective, Provision, Purpose, Peace, Protection, Power, Perfection, and Purity.  And Patience.

Lord, God Almighty, please help us know You more. Help us know your presence, peace, and provision as our faithful, loving Shepherd. Let us know your pleasure as our Creator who made us with a plan and a purpose that we would know You and help others know You. God, our Deliverer, as we wait for you to answer our prayers, help us cling to your promises as we trust in your power, your protection and your perspective. Creator God, transform us more and more into the image of your purity and perfection as we KNOW YOU and YOUR LOVE and GOODNESS. And give us patience as we wait for the growth to come. In Jesus' name, amen.

SISTER CIRCLES THIS MONTH:

Want to join a group of sisters to talk about what we're learning and grow together? Join us...

TOMORROW Sunday 6/13, 9:30am at church

Wednesday 6/23, 10:00am at church

We'll be taking a break from the weekly studies for the summer. Stay tuned for further announcements about gatherings and other ways to connect with each other!

In His Love,

Melissa

If you've missed any posts from the DIVINE: Transformed by Knowing God series, you can find them all here.

DIVINE: Knowing God as Shepherd Video Reflection (Week 13)

"The Lord is my Shepherd." Psalm 23 is probably one of the most famous and loved passages in the Bible. Knowing God as our Shepherd is truly a comfort to our human hearts. As I have reflected on the verses that show how God shepherds us, I have been challenged over and over again to trust God more. (Click here for a PDF printable of all of the God our Shepherd verses Click here for the video and click here for the audio to hear them read to you.) In the video reflection on Knowing God as Our Shepherd I recorded this past weekend, I share the ways God promises to care for us as our Shepherd. 

DIVINE: Transformed by Knowing God as our Shepherd VIDEO NOTES

What is God saying about who he is and who we are when he calls himself our Shepherd?

1. God is always present, watching over, and protecting us. (Psalm 121)

2. God provides: rest, strength, guidance, comfort, abundance, honor, blessings, goodness, and unfailing love. (Psalm 23)

3. God is our shelter, refuge, and place of safety. His promises protect us. (Psalm 91:1-4)
4. God is leading us and helping us lead others. (Isaiah 40:11; Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 116:7)
5. God rescues us when we stray. (1 Peter 2:25; Isaiah 53:6)
6. God speaks to us. God knows us and helps us know him. (John 14:6-7; John 10)
7. God wants our worries and trust. (Matt 6: 25-34; 1 Peter 5:6-7)

8. God will never leave, abandon, forsake, forget about, or give up on us. (Matt 28:20; Hebrews 13:5-6)

9. God will help us do his will. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
10. Trusting God blesses our hearts. (Psalm 28:7-9; Numbers 6:24-26)

For Reflection or Discussion:

1. How often do you remember the promises listed here? Which of the 10 points listed above is the most encouraging to you in this season? Which do you want to hold on to and how can you remind yourself to do that this week?

2.  God wants our worries and trust.

In 1 Peter 5:6-7, we are told to humble ourselves before the Lord by casting our cares on Him because He cares for us. I studied that verse this weekend and the word for "CAST" doesn't imply gently setting something down. It implies throwing something, kind of like what I would do if I picked up a box and there was a big spider on it. I wouldn't likely set it down gently. My reflex reaction would be to get it as far away from me as possible as quickly as possible! I think that is how God wants us to treat our worries. As quickly as possible, God wants us to toss them to Him and let Him carry the weight of them. It's like a life changing game of catch or hot potato, and GOD WILL NEVER DROP THE BALL, even if He doesn't always answer in the way we want. We cast our worries on Him and He will carry them and us. We stay close to Him and obey Him, and He will lead, provide, and watch over us and those we love. 

This CAST/CARE prayer helps me remember that I CAST and He CARES. Fill in the blanks with whatever or whoever is weighing on your heart or mind. Trust those things and loved ones to God your Shepherd's loving hands. I'm NOT saying this is easy. I come back to God with my cares and concerns over and over. But with practice it does get easier, and it's so much better than carrying them on my own.

God, You Care About ____________. I Surrender ___________ to You. God, I Trust You to ...

Carry _____________,  Abide (stay) with me, Respond to my prayer, and Equip me to do Your will. (Heb. 13:20-21)

3.  Since we started this study, I have said knowing God will help us experience God's Presence, Pleasure, Promises, Plan, Perspective, Provision, Purpose, Peace, Protection, Power, Perfection, and Purity.

For you, which of these are most connected to knowing God as your Shepherd? 

Lord God, our faithful Shepherd, as it says in Psalm 28, You are our strength and our shield. Our hearts can trust You and we can celebrate and give you our thanks. Strengthen us, save us, bless us, shepherd us, and carry us this week and forever. Thank You for helping us to know You more. May we be transformed into people who walk by faith more and more. In Your name Jesus, amen.

COMING UP NEXT:

Two Sister Circles are meeting this week. One meets Wednesday (tomorrow) 5/19 at church and the other will meet on Sunday 5/23. (Contact me for more details.) For the next few weeks, I'll just be sharing a few more thoughts on being transformed by knowing God. I'll be reflecting on what we've learned so far but not introducing a new characteristic of God. Sister Circles will meet again the 3rd week of June and then in July we'll be taking a break from the regular weekly posts. Before starting again in August or September, I'll want to get some feedback from everyone to see what you have liked most or least about these studies, so watch for a survey next month.

May you be blessed by our faithful, always present Shepherd this week.

Trusting our Shepherd, 

Melissa

If you've missed any posts from the DIVINE: Transformed by Knowing God series, you can find them all here.

DIVINE: God our Shepherd Scripture Study - Part Two (Week 12)

 Hello, friends. I'm sharing the second set of the Shepherd scripture verses below. (You can find the first set here.)

I also wanted to share something I read earlier. Ann Voskamp shared an encouragement for mothers on her blog today that ties in so beautifully with what it means to know God as our Shepherd. She writes:

"Parent or child, we are no different, we are all wandering sheep, easily lured, who all need the rescue of the Shepherd from the lostness of lesser loves into the embrace of the greatest Love, Love Himself.

When a mother stops seeing herself as the shepherd who needs to be good enough to get her child safely Home, but instead sees her and her child both in need of a Good Shepherd, this is how she always stays safe in the home of God."

Whether you are experiencing Mother's Day this weekend as a mom or as a grandmother, or simply as a daughter, we can trust that we and all those we love are all in the care of our Shepherd. God protects us and guides us. He cares for us and carries us. He knows us and loves us and seeks us when we go astray and helps us shepherd and care for those around us. God our Shepherd is so, so good. I'll be sharing more of what I have been noticing as I've been paying attention to God as my Shepherd in the video reflection next weekend. I hope you'll watch and reflect with me.

Click below for...
   Video of the God our Shepherd (Part Two) verses being read
   Part Two - Audio only of the verses (with no music)
   PDF printable of all of the God our Shepherd verses

(Want to watch or listen to all of the verses together? Click here for the video and click here for the audio.)

Part Two

Psalm 116:7 CSB
7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

1 Peter 2:25 NET
25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Isaiah 53:6 NLT
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

John 14:6-7 NIV
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

John 10:7, 11, 14-15, 27 CSB
7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.

Matt 6: 25-34 NET
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? 27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? 28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? 31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Matt 28:20b NLT
20 ... And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Hebrews 13:5b-6a, 20-21 NET
5 … “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.”
6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid…"
20 Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus,
21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Psalm 28:7-9 CSB
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart celebrates, and I give thanks to him with my song.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people; he is a stronghold of salvation for his anointed.
9 Save your people, bless your possession, shepherd them, and carry them forever.

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This week, may you know the presence, blessing, and strength of God, your good Shepherd. He loves you so very much.

And Happy Mother's Day!

Peace to you,

Melissa

If you've missed any posts from the DIVINE: Transformed by Knowing God series, you can find them all here.