Women's Bible Study: Grow More In The Lord - Using God's Gifts

Women's Bible Study - Grow More In The Lord

Using God's Gifts

Oct. 17, 2013 Lesson & Worksheet

Recap last Meeting: Fear

If you missed it CLICK Here

Welcome

How many times in a day do we hear negative things? Either about us or about someone else?  Do you try to turn it around or do you tolerate it?  (section 1 worksheet)

Have you ever thought about your gifts? We all have physical gifts and spiritual gifts. (section 2  worksheet)

Spiritual Gifts - gift supernaturally bestowed on Christians to edify the Body of Christ. Such as on the day on Pentecost. Most typically the Laying On Of Hands to heal or comfort.  Mark 16:17-18, Acts 8:17, Acts 19:6, 1 Timothy 4:14    (section 3  worksheet)

Gifts Can be a pretty broad term - a physical present you give to someone (Gen 25:6, Gen 34:12)

- gift given for a service (Numbers 18:6,9)

- to gain friends ((Prov 19:6)

- gift to the poor for tax purpose or not

- gift to enjoy life (Eccl 3:13)

* We're talking abut both spiritual (Exod 28:38), Redemption (Eph 2:8) and Physical

The three main gifts are Men to Men, Sacrifices to God, God Gives To Men

(lets discuss this)  (section 4 worksheet)

Have you every evaluated your gifts from God? We need to use these gifts given to us, by God, and share them with others.

Build on your strengths & Team up with people

Trigger God's blessing in all we do with generosity

The more generous you are the more God blesses your life!

God places you with your talent, in your church, place of work, etc, because he wants you to use it to help others. Don't waste it or let it rot.

To find out how to use our gifts let's discuss section 5 on the worksheet:

God has taught us that the more we give, the more we receive!

If you give your gift and use your gift with your heart it is not bragging, or self serving, it is what God intends for us.

Remember there is nothing Satan wants more than to give into our Fears and self doubt and not serve God.

(section 6 worksheet)

1 Corinth 13 - stresses that without love, Spiritual gifts are worthless.

• vs. 1-3 has 4 examples (what are they?)
• vs. 8-9 make a point of temporary gifts

(section 7 worksheet)

What gifts (strengths) can you share?

• think out of the box
• patience, prayer, sing, help someone write a resume

Prayer - Lord show me that your plan is always greater. I may not understand, but help me to accept your plan.  Help me to always choose service because I want to show your love to the world! We ask for God's help and guidance to lead us in using our talents wisely in the service of others.

Final thought

Be thankful to God for your gifts and talents. Practice and share them, even if your are not sure people will appreciate them. Use them for serving and helping on another and to help in your home and church communities.

Verses to meditate on:

Rom 5:15-18

Mark 16:15

1 Peter 4:10

1 Corinthians 12:18

G.M.I.T.L: Using Your Gifts To Help Others

Worksheet

Oct. 17/13

On Oct. 3/13 our discussion was on Fear. Godly Fear and Human Fear. The only way to overcome your Fears is to Love Him and serve Him (Duet 10:12)

There are two verses I would like you to memorize or meditate on this week:

Psalm 147:11 

-  the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

and 1 John 4:18

- There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1) How could our fears hinder finding our gifts?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

2) What are some things you are good at?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

3) Have you ever received or experienced Spiritual Gifts? How did you feel?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

4) What are a few examples of the three main types of gifts? How would they make someone receiving them feel?

• Men to Men
• Sacrifices to God
• God Gives To Men

5) MY ABILITIES ARE TO BE USED...

1.  Use my gifts to Honour God

"… whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31 (NIV)

2.  Use your gifts to Serve Others "God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings."1 Peter 4:10 (LB)

3.  To Make a living

            "Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth…"Deut. 8:18 (NIV)

4.  To be an example to others

"Put these abilities to work; throw yourself into your tasks so everyone may notice your improvement and progress." 1 Tim. 4:15 (LB)

5.  To have money to share

"Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need."      Eph. 4:28 (NLT)

6.  Build up the Church

"Why is it that God gives us these special abilities to do certain things best?  It is that God's people will be equipped to do better work for Him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity." Eph. 4:12 (LB)

"Take the talent from him (who didn't use it) and give to the one who has ten talents." Matt. 25:28 (NIV)

If you don't use them, you loose your reward in heaven and your talent! 'If you don't use it, you loose it'

God has the right to take away our talents if they are not used or used to his purpose.

6)  1 Corinth 13 - stresses that without love, Spiritual gifts are worthless.

• vs 1-3 has 4 examples (what are they?)
• vs 8-9 make a point of temporary gifts

7) What gifts (strengths) can you share?

• think out of the box
• patience, prayer, sing, help someone write a resume

Prayer - Lord show me that your plan is always greater. I may not understand, but help me to accept your plan.  Help me to always choose service because I want to show your love to the world! We ask for God's help and guidance to lead us in using our talents wisely in the service of others.

Verses to meditate on:

Rom 5:15-18

Mark 16:15

1 Peter 4:10

1 Corinthians 12:18

Grow More In The Lord: Fear

I have had the pleasure of hosting a Women's Bible Home Group. Our first meeting was on Oct. 3, 2013 and was really fun and interesting.

Here is the notes and a Worksheet I designed for the meeting:

Women's Bible Study: Grow More In The Lord

Fear - Oct. 3/13

I took this picture in Millet, AB in 2012

Vision: To have a small group bible study to learn more about God and improve our relationship with Him. To make a support and prayer network where we can feel comfortable.

This is not a closed group. I am the leader, but I'm also a student.

-give out slips & pen to women. What is your greatest fear? Don't sign them. Give each an envelope to put the slip in. Put them on the coffee table and pray over them. Take them home to pray about their fear and bring it to the next meeting.

          Every woman struggles with Fear in one form or another - pain, loss, what others will think of us?  There's a stigma that if women admit their fear, then they are needy, clingy or insecure.

          We can't let the Demons of Fear fill our minds with dread and doubt. This is Human Fear.

          There is another Fear - Godly Fear - This a spiritual attitude that will draw us deeper into our relationship with God.  God's word makes it clear that fear is the proper response to a holy God.

          The Hebrew word for Fear is Yare: meaning 'standing in awe'. This fear evokes Faith, but the Human Fear revokes it.

          Human Fear causes us to ask 'What if... " - we need to change that question to 'What now...'. So we are in a position to hear from God.  Its up to you to build walls or build roads.

          -Now think about what your approach to following Jesus is? Do you view Him a Jesus Lord, Master and Owner? Why or Why not?

          God asked His disciples to drop everything and just follow Him. With what was in their pockets and the cloths on their backs.  If He came to your tomorrow how would you feel? How intensely would you listen? How seriously would you take His words? Could you drop everything and follow Him?

          -Do you think you could go up to someone and talk about God? Why or why not?

Are these excuses or Fears?

          Whom has God placed in your life that can teach you to follow Jesus? Can they help you also face your fears?

1 John 4:18 (there is no fear in love)

Psalm 119:120 (I stand in awe of your laws)

Psalm 103:11 & 17 (great is His love for those that fear Him)

Luke 8:37 (Have we sent Him away?)

The only way to overcome your Fears is to Love Him and serve Him (Duet 10:12)

(Psalm 33:18)  (Eph 6:10-11, armour of God)

There are two verses I would like you to memorize or meditate on this week:

Psalm 147:11  and 1 John 4:18

Prayer: Ask God to work in your heart and prepare you for what's ahead this week.

Remember: You don't need all the answers - He calls you to follow wherever He May Lead!

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Women's Bible Study: Grow More In The Lord

Fear - Oct. 3/13

Worksheet

Vision: To have a small group bible study to learn more about God and improve our relationship with Him. To make a support and prayer network where we can feel comfortable.

What is your greatest fear?

1. What is Human Fear: ___________________________________________

2. What is Godly Fear: ______________________________________________

3. I will work on taking my 'What If' questions and making them into 'What Now' questions

4. What your approach to following Jesus is? Do you view Him a Jesus Lord, Master and Owner? Why or Why not?  ______________________________________________________________

5.     If He came to your tomorrow how would you feel? How intensely would you listen? How seriously would you take His words? Could you drop everything and follow Him?

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

  6. Do you think you could go up to someone and talk about God? Why or why not?

Are these excuses or Fears?     ___________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________         

     Whom has God placed in your life that can teach you to follow Jesus? Can they help you also face your fears?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1 John 4:18 (there is no fear in love)

Psalm 119:120 (I stand in awe of your laws)

Psalm 103:11 & 17 (great is His love for those that fear Him)

Luke 8:37 (Have we sent Him away?)

The only way to overcome your Fears is to Love Him and serve Him (Duet 10:12)

(Psalm 33:18)  (Eph 6:10-11, armour of God)

There are two verses to memorize or meditate on this week:

Psalm 147:11  and 1 John 4:18

Prayer: Ask God to work in your heart and prepare you for what's ahead this week.

Remember: You don't need all the answers - He calls you to follow wherever He May Lead!

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Our Group is located in Calgary, AB and is an open group. We will be meeting the First and Third Thursday of every month.  This is also a floating group, it will be hosted in different homes and announced at which home on Facebook (privately).

Our next meeting will be at my home, Valerie, and Our topic for this study is Discovering our God Given Gifts and How to Use Them!

RSVP Today https://www.facebook.com/events/348059688663907/  If you do not have a facebook account, please email me at valhobbywest@shaw.ca for info.

Thanks, and Grow More In The Lord, Everyday!

Valerie

   

What Inspires You?

With today's 'run around like a chicken with their head cut off'' world, we sometimes forget about what may keep us going.  Is it your kids? Your spouse? Is it a special quote or photo?  Please share with me:

What Inspires You?

Today it was all the great things happening to me. I would get emotionally charged when I had a good sale at the store, got a hug from my kids (they come to work with me on Fridays), Then I got a phone call that wasn't so nice, after I got good news about an acquaintance, then hubby surprised me by 'cooking' supper. A down moment when I realized I ran out of Vanilla for a cookie recipe, only to find out you can substitute Maple Syrup for Vanilla (I have lots of that!)

I believe it also matters how you look at what life throws at you as to weather or not you can be inspired. If you're in a fowl mood, it may be much harder to find that inspiration.

My biggest inspirations are my renewed Faith, my hobbies and finding/sharing great pictures, jokes or quotes I have found online.

So How Do You Find Inspiration? Please share some of us just may be Inspired by YOU today!

God Bless and Keep You!

My Soul - Longing For More

     Like so many of us, I have been 'wanting' and 'searching' for more. It has almost been like I can't find something. I'm not referring to something physical, but something inside me.

     I have started finding it in the Church I attend and getting more involved in the church. I have made so many new friends and Love being a part of our worship team, teaching Sunday School and being a part of the choir.  It came to me the other day what I've been missing......  I want to Worship Him All Week, not just on Sundays; and I want to share Him with my Family!

     So, I've been searching. I was watching 100 Huntley Street in July and they were promoting a great book by Rich Melheim called Holding Your Family Together. I had talked to my husband about this book and why it would be helpful to the spiritual nourishment of our family. Last night, it was in my mailbox - my husband ordered it for me so we can strengthen the souls of our children and our family!

     On August 4, 2013 I started doing the online bible study Yes To God and it has been amazing for me. I hope you will check out the link and sign up yourself.  I was on their Facebook page and met so many interesting women, from the infancy of their faith to women that can quote whatever verse suits the moment. It inspired me to start a private Facebook prayer circle. (if you are interested in joining please leave a comment and I will contact you).

     The verse for the week of the Yes To God bible study is: 

Deuteronomy 6:5   Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

I don't know my bible very well (and I'm working to fix that), but I do know my worship songs. And Love The Lord on YouTube is a song played frequently at our church and in my home!

Not only have I encountered this verse in the Yes To God bible study, it has presented itself in the Multiply Course (making disciples) I have been taking with a good friend, Wendy, it has been on 100 Huntley Street twice in the last two weeks and in another book I have started re-reading 'The Purpose Driven Life'.

So today I hope you will look inside yourself and really ask yourself, is my soul needing spiritual nourishment?  If its more than that, please find someone to talk to and if it is spiritual uplifting I hope you will check out some of the things I've mentioned above.

10,000 Reasons - Please view this song, it really talks to your soul!

Please keep in mind that I am not promoting anything on this blog, I am just giving my opinion on what has been great for me as a person!

Mercy

Its a heavy and multi meaning word.

Mercy can mean different things to people. I have three recent examples in my life:

1. I locked my keys in my car (I never do this- ever!) and my husband had my spare set, but he was in Maryland, USA (I'm in Calgary, AB-Canada). I had only a little over an hour before I had to go get my kids. The tow truck driver arrived in minutes and he turned out to be a friend of one of my co-workers. The tow truck driver didn't charge me!   I think his mercy was hearing of all the bad things that were happening to me that day - although the Lord balanced those things out too!
2. A regular customer in our store loves to talk hobbies and sometimes we talk scripture and I have even prayed with him in some hard times (yep, right in the store).  He came to me a couple of days ago and said that he hadn't been in for a while as he was depressed.  Then he shared that he remembered me praying for him and he started praying for himself. It came to him during prayer - "I free you from your chains as the Lion of Judah".  He then said he felt a great weight off his chest.   ~for reference click here~  He came to me here at the store, the next day to say that he believes the Lion of Judah was indeed Jesus, taking his giant paw and slicing the chains that were tightening around my friend! 
3. This last example is a true miracle and act of Mercy from our Savior. A family member decided to bring a financial lawsuit against my husband, myself and our business. We had no dispute we owed him some money, we just had none to reimburse him with and we asked him to wait until our strong sales season. He would not wait and his lawyer gave us two weeks to come up with a plan.  We were panicking! My husband and I were beside ourselves, until a couple nights later when the Lord spoke to us both telling us to go back from 1994 to present day and record every deposit and payment on a spreadsheet.  We took 12 and a half hours and went through Every Scrap of paper (I'm glad I never threw any of it away!) and we found out that we had written this family member a rather large cheque that neither of us remember writing.  So it looks like we don't owe him anything!

Two great songs come to mind: Lord, Have Mercy and Once Again. I hope you watch them!

In what ways has the Lord shown you Mercy or have you seen the Mercy of His works?

Please leave your comments!

Finding My Purpose

Have you ever had one of those periods in life where 'someone' keeps trying to tell you something?
Lately I have been finding a renewed strength in my faith. Faith in my family, spirituality and in myself.

I have been hearing a little voice inside me saying 'start up a Women's Bible study'. Not just for me, but for others who are just starting in their journey, rekindling their faith or are just not sure where to turn.

I have also started to realize that my life needs to be just more than running my family business, looking after everyone's needs and wants at home = I need to make time for me.
(After I make dinner, settle the kids and find time to sit at the computer)

Now don't get me wrong, I love being the boss, the Mum, the wife, the get 'er done gal, I just need to find out where I fit in to this daily cacophony.

~~ as I try to write this I end up getting sidetracked into starting plans for the family vacation in September~~

Going back to the Women's Bible study: I have some local women interested in a small home group (if you have tips for this I'm all ears!).  I would like to touch on the subjects of Fear, Pride, Finding Your Gift and more.

As I was trying to decide if I was really being called to do this study for others, I came across two bible verses that keep showing up in the oddest ways and places:

1. Psalm 119:114 - the word of God will encourage you and give you hope
2. Psalm 119:18 - open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law

I also have a goal this week: to talk to someone in the hopes of opening a conversation to lead to disciple

I hope others will comment and follow these posts, let's see what kind of journey we can create together!

God Bless and keep you!

Val

August Healthy Choices

Over the last 6 months I have not dieted, but vowed to make healthier choices. Its making a difference in my life. When I get stressed at work I go out for a walk and if its too cold or raining I put the Weightwatchers Walking Kit CD in my computer, tell the guys I'm unavailable and do the 15 minute 'walking' program. It helps to destress and isn't too bad for my waistline either.

Every evening I have been reading a passage from my daily devotions book. My hubby likes it too, something other than work to talk about. This has helped strengthen my faith in God. Something that has made a dramatic impact in my life lately!

Now to step up my game and what better time than the first day of the month?



Peaches, I love them! The smell, the texture, the taste.. something that has more fuzz on its face then me.. lol. This amazing fruit has inspired me to put more fruits and veggies into my daily diet. Right now I get about 2 servings a day, this month I up it to one to two servings per meal and at least one for a daily snack. It doesn't sound like much... but its a start.

I'm trying this recipe - let me know what you think about it when you try it: http://www.canadianliving.com/food/grilled_fresh_peach_salsa.php

Exercise - yes, I groan at the word too, but we gotta suck it up and do something. That's why I have kids.... during this warm weather I am taking the kids to the park or a walk through the neighbourhood once a week. This month I'm bumping it to 3 times per week. When the kids play at the park, instead of sitting and watching them, I am bringing a book on CD and listening as I walk at least 5 times around the park- then I'll sit.  Oh, and the occasional rainy day? Dancing around the living room with my daughter to Katy Perry or Lady Gaga! Last month I taught my daughter how to do the Jive. This month Bunny Hop and The Twist.

Now a tricky one..... Sleep... those that know me, know I don't sleep well. Either its insomnia or its being forced awake by something going on outside, hubby snoring, kids nightmares, cats going crazy and a few others wonderful nocturnal curses.  I am told the excercise and drinking tea (decaffinated) an hour before bed will help.... I'm gonna try. (I love the fruit teas from the Fairmont Hotels)

Eating dessert - I don't have it every night and I don't go too crazy, I'm Considering it a mental health break. The important thing? I'm makeing sure to enjoy every mouthful.  So savour your pie, pastry or ice cream sundae, and if you can, make it healthier: use some whole wheat flour when baking, pick fruit desserts over creams and custards, and top your ice cream with heart-healthy walnuts or almonds.
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking_and_desserts/maple_apple_and_blueberry_crisp.php

Do nothing once a week. I may have a problem with this. I have always thought I have to be busy. At work, home, errands, whatever. I am going Give my brain a time-out by taking time to do nothing. Sit or lie in the sun and watch the clouds go by. Let my mind wander. Do scrapbooking, reading or cross stitch if I'm a bit restless, but something to just make the mind zone out (not the TV).

Well I hope that you will comment on this blog and let me know what changes you have or are making to improve your life and/or way of living.  I would love to hear from you!