#10, GOD CALLS US TO OBEDIENCE

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GOD CALLS US TO OBEDIENCE

“The strength and happiness of a man consists in finding out the way in which God is going, and going that way too.”  Henry Ward Beecher

What good is it to hear God’s voice if we aren’t going to OBEY?  God blesses OBEDIENCE.  God expects obedience with a good attitude.  In Isaiah 1:19 we find that the willing and obedient eat the good of the land.  We must take up our own cross and follow Jesus every day.

If we choose to disobey God, it can directly affect us and our families in a very negative way.  How many times has God spoken to you in His still small voice and rather than obeying what God was telling you to do, you justified your actions?  We may have a seemingly good excuse, but disobedience is disobedience.  When we are disobedient, we are actually in REBELLION and find that we need achange of heart. 1 Samuel 15:1-9 Saul justified what he wanted rather thanobey what God was saying through the prophet Samuel.  His disobedience cost him the throne!

To know and love God incorporates obedience.  We are not servants, we are heirs and his children.  As we grow in Christ, it’s imperative to “listen and obey,” when God speaks to us.  Luke 22:42 Even Jesus prayed, “…not my will, but yours be done.”  Philippians 2:13 One of my prayers is for the Lord to work in me to will and to do of His good pleasure.

When a parent corrects their child and the child continues to wine, beg, and even throw a temper tantrum, then that child is being rebellious and disobedient.  Quick correction can take care of that attitude and God does the same with us. Let’s listen and obey choosing God’s will over ours!

If you have to miss a lesson, you can find it here on this blog.

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

Cindy Black Bice, Aloha Garden Bible Study

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

#9, GOD CALLS US TO KNOW AND LOVE HIM

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GOD CALLS US TO KNOW AND LOVE HIM

Aloha!

The first four chapters were about Hearing God’s Voice.  The second four wereabout the ways God Speaks.  The last four chapters are on the Wonder of God’s voice.  Threaded throughout the book is God desires a close relationship with us. 

What do you do when you hit a road-block in your life and it seems like there’s no answer in sight?  There are different seasons in our lives and the winter seasoncan be quit bleak at times.  We may feel like the heavens are brass.

Mark Batterson pastors a congregation in D.C. came to such a road block in his life.  Needing a place for his growing congregation to meet posed many challenges for him.  He was greatly discouraged and needed breakthrough.  Batterson took 40 days to seek GodHe read a new Bible through cover to cover and prayed. He went from God seeming very distant to where God spoke to himthrough the scriptures.  Through this time, he realized that God doesn’t want us to do things for Him, but wants us to thankfully receive what He’s already done for us.  We can in turn be like a mirror and reflect that love to others.  He was unable to purchase a building, but with the Lord’s help, came up with the idea to use theaters to meet in.  Today many churches also do this. Batterson observes that God doesn’t call us to be religious where we focus on doing things for God.We as Christians receive what Jesus has done and respond by reflecting His love to others.  God desires a close relationship with each of us.

TAKE TIME FOR GOD!  Just a few moments every day can make life-changingdifferences for each of us!  JESUS wants to be our FIRST LOVE.  Step away from everything that’s distracting and pulling at you and spend quality time praying and reading your Bible. SEEK GOD, you will be so thankful you did!  Scriptures:  Titus 3:5, 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, Matthew 6:33, Revelation 2:4

If you have to miss a lesson, you can find it here on this blog.

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

Cindy Black Bice, Aloha Garden Bible Study

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

#8 – GOD WHISPERS

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GOD WHISPERS

When telling a close friend or loved one something specifically meant for them to hear, you may lean close enough to whisper it to them.  How does God talk to you?  I have found that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman and treats us respectfully as ladies and gentlemen.  Most of the time, God speaks to me in a still small voice that could be considered a “whisper.” 

1 Kings 19:1-18 Elijah had been a powerful prophet, who with God’s help, defeated the pagan prophets.  He now ran for his life in fear of Jezebel.  Elijah’s eyes were on his own inadequacies and on Jezebel.  He was focused on how powerfully wicked she was and he feared for his life.  ~When our focus is on ourselves, others, or overwhelming circumstances, we are fretful and hopeless.  Thank God, He has mercy on us and intervenes in spite of ourselves!~ When Elijah could run no more in his own strength, he fell asleep and awakened to an angel who fed him.  Elijah became hopeful and yet complained to the Lord of his miserable circumstances. ~His eyes still weren’t focused on the Lord.~

God told him to wait for Him to pass by.  I imagine Elijah was desperate andwaited for God with great expectation.  He heard many loud sounds as he waited to hear God’s voice:  there was wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but Godwasn’t in any of these.  He didn’t give up and leave, but stayed and kept listening because he knew God would speak to him.  Then, in the sheer silence, God spoke in a gentle whisper that captured Elijah’s attention.

God let Elijah know that he wasn’t alone and met his needs on many levels:  spiritually, physically, emotionally, and in relationships.  He does the same with us.  God desires a relationship with each of us and cares about every detail in our lives. God speaks to us in a comforting and loving way, in a whisper.  Weneed to be still and expectantly listen for Him.

If you have to miss a lesson, you can find it here on this blog.

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

Cindy Black Bice, Aloha Garden Bible Study

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

GOD’S GOT YOU!

Rain Forrest

“You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile.” Ps 65:9

We can learn from God’s design and care of the Earth, and be encouraged that He will take care of us.

I find it fascinating that God’s Word is literally true. And when I discover some of the actual mechanisms that God has engineered into His Creation that cause these things to happen, I am humbled that I ever doubt His wisdom.

How does rain water make the earth “rich and fertile” as Psalm 65:9 declares? I am sure there are many reasons, but two I am aware of are the effects of lightning, and also the atmospheric transport of dust from one continent to another. Really? Read on.

Science has discovered that lightning produces reduced phosphorus in the atmosphere that is carried by the rain to the earth for use by microbes. In other words, lightning helps fertilize the ground. Worldwide, lightning occurs 40-50 times per second, or about 1.4 billion flashes per year. The word “amazing” doesn’t even begin to describe our awe.

Here are some source texts I ran down for those interested.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spark-for-life-lightning/

http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v2/n8/abs/ngeo580.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning

Now if you think lightning is crazy-amazing, consider how God has engineered dust in Africa to fertilize the Amazon rain forest in South America. Really!

Basically what happens is dust is picked up by winds from a dry lake bed in Chad that contains huge deposits of dead microorganisms that are loaded with phosphorus and other fertilizers. Then a southern Jetstream transports it across the Atlantic Ocean where rains then deposit it into the Amazon, about 22,000 tons per year, which roughly matches the amount that the Amazon loses from rain and flooding.

Is this not mind-blowingly cool, or what?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150224102847.htm

So here is what I got out of this one short verse in Psalms 65:9…God has placed you and me on a planet that is alive with His wisdom and divine engineering. AND ALL OF THIS is to let us know that if He takes care of watering the earth in such a way as to make it rich and fertile, how much more will He take care of you and me.

GOD’S GOT YOU!!!

Matt 6:25-34 NLT ““That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

GWB

#7 – GOD’S PERSONAL TOUCH

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GOD’S PERSONAL TOUCH

“Faith is like radar that sees through the fog the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see.”  Corrie Ten Boom

Our hope, strength, and peace come from GodHe personally makes himself real to us especially when we need him most!  Each one of us has our own story to tell.  We can share testimonies of our loving God and his hand in our lives!  The testimonies shared today were heartfelt and inspiring!  God is not superficial, but He is real in every way!

We read a story of J. C. Penney and how he met God in a profound way.  In 1929, he was hospitalized due to being extremely ill.  Penney had given up hope and thought he wouldn’t survive the night so he wrote farewell notes to his family expressing his love for them.  He made it through the night and as he was going to the chapel the next morning, he heard the hymn “God Will Take Care of You.”  He felt the power of God in a very tangible way!  His hope was restored.

There are times when we all feel overwhelmed and are tempted to give up hope.  It’s at those times we discover how close God is and how much He truly cares!God has a way of meeting us right where we are and ministers to us in a very personal way that speaks directly into our situations.  He may use songs, hymns, scriptures, prayers, a sermon, or thoughtful words from a friend.

God has met me at critical times in my life and I’m so very thankfulDrawclose to God in times of devastation.  Psalms 23:4 He promised to be with us.  The responses we make in those times can directly impact others’ lives.  Acts 7-9Just look at Stephen and the profound life changing impact that was made onSaul’s life!

If you have to miss a lesson, you can find it here on this blog.

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

Cindy Black Bice, Aloha Garden Bible Study

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

#6 – GOD’S COLORFUL EXPRESSIONS

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“God’s Colorful Expressions”

We know the sun is shining even when all you see are dark clouds.  Eventually the storm begins to pass and you see the sun’s rays shining through. Even in our darkest hour, God is with us.  He is speaking to us and continually communicating with colorful expressions!   Even when we mess up, He still desires a relationship with us.  God loves us so much that He continually reaches out to us in communicating using colorful expressions.   As we learn to know and recognize His voice, we will realize He was there all the time!

Don’t limit God and put Him in a box!  Look at the many different ways He communicated with those in the Bible!  Our extraordinary God is creative and miraculousGenesis 6:13-21 God told Noah to build an ARK even though it had never rained before.  Exodus 3 God spoke to Moses in the form of a BURNING BUSHGenesis 37-50 He spoke to Joseph through many DREAMS.  God also gives people VISIONS.  Look at Ezekiel and Daniel in the Old Testament and Paul and John in the New Testament.  Luke 1 He used an ANGEL to announce the birth of Jesus.

God speaks to us in many ways communicating His love for us.  Do you only expect to hear God on Sundays?  That’s a good start, but what about everyday anywhere at any time?  1 Corinthians 2 We read about how God leads and guides us by His Spirit.  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  The Holy Spirit reveals God to us like a light bulb being turned on1 Corinthians 2:10-12

Hearing from God is essential in knowing what God has for you!  God is faithful and He will speak His word to us and give us understanding by His Spirit!  He’s not limited in any way.  Expect God to reveal Himself to you in colorful ways by His Spirit through His word.

If you have to miss a lesson, you can find it here on this blog.

Mahalo,

Cindy Bice

Cindy Black Bice, Aloha Garden Bible Study

“TIMES OF REFRESHING” Garden Bible Study in Hawaii

Please contact me via my Facebook for more information:

www.facebook.com/cindy.b.bice

THE POWER OF EASTER

The Power Of Easter

The Power Of Easter Is The Greatest Power In The Universe

See video of this message by clicking here.

Listen to the audio message by clicking here.

 

Opening Scripture:

Matthew 16:21-25  “From that time on, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God but the things of men.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

 

 

  1. The power of Easter is the most powerful force in the universe.

Nothing in the universe has to the power to raise someone from death to life.

Jesus had bled out.

He was dead for three days.

The Bible says His spirit had left his body.

No one has ever had the power to bring someone back from this kind of death.

Fiction writers have speculated.

The Frankenstein story written by Mary Shelley took us into a lab with incredible power being generated by a lightning storm as a means of reanimation.

The modern Zombie books and movies talk about the undead, but who are never really alive again.

If someone is only dead for a few minutes they can sometimes be resuscitated with CPR, or Defibrillators can be engaged, but when there is no oxygen to the brain for 7 or 8 minutes, its over. The brain has already begun to die.

But Jesus didn’t go through a mock death, or a temporary death, the body of Christ was stone cold dead for three days, locked in a stone tomb with a massive boulder rolled over the door.

WHAT HAPPENED THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO COME BACK TO LIFE.

 

Ps 84:11 NKJV “For the Lord God is a sun and shield…”

 

The Creator of the universe is saying he has harnessed the very power of the stars…

 

Acts 1:3 NJB “He showed Himself alive to them after His Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days He continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God.”

 

Rom 1:4 LB “By being raised from the dead He proved He was the mighty Son of God, with the nature of God Himself.” 

 

Eph. 1:19-20 LB “I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him.  It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.”

 

1 Cor 15:3-8 NKJV “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”

 

 

  1. This power of Easter paid the price for our sins so we don’t have to.

God sent Jesus to redeem us from the fall shouting “Paid in Full!”

 

Rom 6:23 NLT  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Heb 1:3 NLT  “The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven.”

 

  1. How should I respond to the death of Jesus Christ for me?

 

  • I should love Christ more.

1John 4:19 NIV “We love because He first loved us.”

 

  • I should turn from my sins.

Rom 6:6 NCV “Our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us and we’d no longer be slaves to sin.”  

 

  • I should tell others about God’s love in Christ.

2 Cor 5:19 NLT “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.  This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others.”

 

  • I should prepare for His return.

Jn 20:1-7 NLT ““Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!’ Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in.Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.”

 

The story of the  folded napkin:

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed separate from the grave clothes.
Was that important? Absolutely!
Is it really significant? Yes!
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.
When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.
The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now, if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.
The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done’.
But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because……….. The folded napkin meant,
‘I’m coming back!’
HALLELUJAH!  HE’S COMING BACK!!!