Learning and Studying

What are you currently studying?  

This may seem like a loaded question...

or possibly you may see it as a vague question....

can you specify the question please!

The bottom line is that we are all continuously in the state of learning...what you are learning makes up many different elements.  For example, just the other day I 'relearned' some history as I assisted my children in studying for their 9-weeks tests.   I am learning that just because potty training for my first five children went fairly smoothly, my circumstances are totally different with little number six...and pull-ups (that I used to fuss about people using) have become one of my best friends!  And I am learning about about my children, as individuals, daily.  As my girls and I played with the Mary Kay Virtual Makeover, I learned that my oldest is much like me - stays pretty safe in the zone of appearance...but Whoa, baby, my spunky little 7 year old...she is the one who will most likely want to dye her hair black (or silver!) with purple streaks when she's a teenager!

 I am in school at Liberty University, studying for my Masters in Management and Leadership, I have been learning about international business, organizational behavior...and a whole lot about myself as I have had to do nearly 50 personality assessments and write papers on the results of those assessments! (Leave a comment if you would like me to send you the link!) Now that was learning I didn't really want to do - but through that, God showed me the strengths He gave me, as well as those corresponding weaknesses He wants to work IN me.  Remember, He is in the process of making us perfect...He will not just leave us where we are!  :-) But, as I am learning in the Beth Moore study on James, of course we will not ever be perfect until we are with Him. 

Now...of those objectives above I am currently learning about...which ones am I studying?  Your first response may bed regarding my schooling and the Beth Moore study...but look deeper...

I am studying my girls when we spend quality time together, I am studying myself when I realize inconsistencies with 'how I used to do things', I am studying along with my children as I help them prepare for things in life - both for educational school and the school of life.

As we grow up, we aren't supposed to stop learning, yet many have that mentality.  The same is so true for our Spiritual life.  We should always be growing, learning....intentionally studying something new!  READ A BOOK, read a friend's blog, be proactive...what goes in those eyes and ears will affect you,  wouldn't it be wise to be intentional about what goes in then?

I pray you have a blessed day, and I would LOVE to hear what you've been studying and learning lately!  Maybe it's something someone else need to know as well!

The LOVE Chapter...Verse by Verse

He says...

"(Love is not) rude.

It does not demand its own way.

It is not irritable,

and it keeps no record of being wronged."

1 Corinthian 13:5 (NLT)

Oh, man, I hear...

"Love does not act ugly to anyone,
regardless of my mood or circumstances. 
Love does not demand things
always be done my way,
but allows (my children) to explore
and come up with their own God-given
creative ways to conquer the tasks
and difficulties He has given them to overcome. 
Love does not lose it's temper
when things do not go my way
(esp. with the children),
it does not act foolishly in the
process of instructing my children
to not act foolishly. 
Love does not get upset or
angry over 'spilled milk'. 
Love lets go
of past mistakes...Mine and Others..."

1 Corinthians 13:5

(My Interpretation)

All I can say is this is getting a little too close for comfort!  I praise God for the 'interpretation' He is speaking to my heart because He reminds me of it as I walk it out through the day.  I am a mom of 6 children from 10 down to 1 1/2, so my interpretation at this stage in my life has a lot to do with the children I am constantly with.  Your interpretation may be about going to school, going to work, or dealing with life while being single and alone.  Regardless of your life situation right now, I urge you to get a notebook and jot down your own interpretation of these verses. 

What we are doing here is in part what you call 'studying the Scriptures'.  God's word is timely and meaningful to everyone-regardless of where they are in life.  We have to apply His word to our life in the right here/right now.  Your interpretation will probably look a lot different than mine!  I encourage you, write it out!  Or, leave an anonymous comment with your version of one of these verses, wouldn't it be great to see all the various interpretations that could be pulled from this single verse of God's word?

I pray you have a VERY blessed day!

The LOVE Chapter...Verse by Verse

....He said....

"If I had the gift of prophecy,

and if I understood all of God's secret plans

and possessed all knowledge,

and if I had such faith
that I could move mountains,

but didn't love others,

I would be nothing."

(1 Cor 13:2)

....I heard....

"If I have the ability to explain verses in the Bible

 so it can be easily understood,

and an understanding of what God's plan is,

and gain knowledge through schooling and experience,

and exercise great faith to overcome any obstacle,

But do not love those around me,

Those words, understanding,

knowledge and faith will be for not;

because I would be nothing -

who would care what I have to say,

what my insight is, what 'my' faith could do."

(1 Corinthians 13:2 My Interpretation)

God gives prepares us for what He has us to walk through.  When we study God's word, He provides us exactly what we need:

He gives each of us an understanding of various verses so we may encourage/challenge others. 

He give each of us a small bit of insight to pieces of His will.

He provides us all with a multitude of life experiences to gain knowledge from.

He provides us all sufficient faith to endure those trials around us...

He does all this so we can later encourage others...  Don't waste it by not loving those around you.

Have a blessed day!

NO EXCUSES

How many times do we whiz through the day without even thinking about picking up our Bible and reading God's word?  Yet we have plenty of time to lurk at our 'friends' on Facebook...just to see what the rest of the world is doing. 

I want to challenge you, even while you are lurking at the unsuspecting friends on Facebook to go to Blue Letter Bible's web page (http://www.blueletterbible.org/reader/daily/generic.cfm) ...you can listen to God's word in a various selection of translations.  You can listen while doing other things, or you can listen intently expecting to hear from Him!

In this technologic time we live in, we truly have NO EXCUSES to not hear or read God's word daily.  We have smart phones - with the touch of a button we have God's word, we spend days at work on the internet, and even audible versions of the Bible available at our fingertips...

He is reaching out to you.  Will you meet Him?