Good Stuff

Well where do I begin to brag on the good Father I have in God. Those closest to me know that 2015 has been a year of suffering and blessings. I've learned this year more than ever before that God is good and He will never leave me. That is the phrase I quoted to myself while going to doctors appointments, while experiencing excruciating pain, mourning the death of my pastor at Fellowship Memphis, rejoicing in the faith of the believers I met in China, getting countless medical bills in the mail, walking away from my wrecked car after an accident and lastly when I spoke to a dear friend about the frustration I was experiencing.  God's desire is that we glorify Him or bestow honor on Him. Well in order to do that we have to know Him. He allows different trials, afflictions, and seasons in our lives that we may know Him, glorify Him and make Him known to the world.  Philippians 3:10, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,...

A few months ago I was asked to speak at a women's retreat and the theme  was Fearless. That theme made me seek the scriptures concerning fear. I was amazed to find these 3 examples of fear in the bible. In Joshua 1:9 the term used is terrified. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” In this passage God is specifically talking to Joshua after the death of Moses. He is telling him what was commanded, the word tremble is also afraid, terrified, or frightened. This type of fear is paralyzing, it doesn’t allow you to move because you fear the outcome, process and people involved. How many of us have ever felt this kind of fear? You were afraid to make a decision because of all it would entail. Or you were afraid to follow God into unchartered waters because you didn’t know what to expect. Well in the Hebrew/Greek study bible it states that, those who are living in obedience to Him have no ne...

This is the last portion on the lesson of a Woman worth following. I pray as you disciple women and look for women to model your lives after that we take a close look at the attributes of these women. Read Luke 23:55-24:12 I just love that they are referred to as the women, the committed the few the fearless. It’s like the commercials for the Marines, the few the proud. Luke makes sure we realize that these are the women from Galilee. It states that they saw where He was laid and then went to prepare the burial spices and perfumes. They were so committed to Jesus. Note that they prepared well so that they could still rest on the Sabbath, they  weren't  so religiously focused that they  didn't  rest. Rather they obeyed the commandment which Jesus I’m sure modeled for them in His frequent times of getting away and resting. These women then go to the tomb and see that the stone is rolled away but they are convinced that Jesus was laid here so they go int...

We are going to look at "The Women" as Luke describes them in the bible.  Their story is found in Luke 8:1-3. Jesus has recently left Capernaum where He had healed the Centurions servant and confirmed to John that He was the Messiah. Also in this place He had ministered to the lives and hearts of many women. Capernaum was the place where Jesus resided as stated in Matthew 4:12-17,” Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Napthali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zepulun and the land of Napthali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” T...

I hope this lesson is encouraging your heart so far. Let's keep going Read John 4:16-24 Jesus calls her to be honest before He will grant her this living water. He exposes the sin in her life. It’s the stuff we don’t want anyone to know about. But Jesus is not afraid to expose those things which we keep hidden. Jesus tells her to go get her husband which lines up with the culture it would’ve been improper to speak to a woman without her husband present especially dealing with scriptural things. She states that she doesn’t have a husband and then Jesus tells her everything she has had and what she has now. It is possible that she had 5 husbands that have died or divorced her. However currently she is living with a man that is not her husband. She responds with knowledge that Jesus must be a prophet because only God could have told Him that. Never the less she doesn’t respond in repentance but rather continues the conversation. Note how she turns the conversation to religious a...

Our first example is the Samaritan woman Her story is found in John 4:7-30; 39-42. Read John 4:3-8 A little history this story takes place after Jesus leaves Judea because of unrest with the Pharisees. He was on His way to Galilee. Side note take great care to look at the ministry the Lord Jesus does while He is on His way somewhere. He always leaves a margin in His schedule to talk, heal, or comfort others. We can learn a lot from that common practice of Jesus’. Ok back to the story, it was about the 6 th hour depending on if this is Roman time or Jewish time it’s between noon and 6 pm. From the text I think we can assume it was closer to noon. Tradition states that women would come early in the morning or in the evening, when the weather was cooler. I’ve been in countries where women draw water from wells and they are usually all there together so it’s interesting that this woman is there alone. Now this woman is from Samaria, this was the place that was established by the d...