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Gathered Up:  Bible Study "Having a Real Relationship With God"  |
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buffypuff
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Claudia
Deer Park
WA
USA
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 Posted - Mar 01 2012 : 4:13:44 PM
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This bible study was written a few years back by Kay Arthur. I have always wanted to investigate it and become closer to God. Maybe you would like to join me.
Each week or 10 days, a new chapter will begin. There are different scriptures to support each chapter. I would appreciate your comments and understandings, as we all can grow from others.
CHAPTER 1: Romans 5:6-11
1. What is our culture seeking today? What does our society advertise will make us happy?
2. What is the dictionary definition of relationship?
3. Are there different types of relationships? with parents? children? co-workers? friends?
4. Was or is there a relationship that changed your life (good or bad?)
5. What is your current relationship with God? Are there barriers?
6. Read Romans 5:6-11 Circle the words we and us.
7. Underline the word(s) love.
How does God see us? Really in our heart of hearts, how do we see ourselves? What is a sinner?
These are enough questions. These points are for your meditation and if you care, your contribution. For many reasons, we sometimes feel very distant to God. What is holding us back or keeping us from Him.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to write. Blessings!
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
3537 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 01 2012 : 4:57:05 PM
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Claudia...thanks for doing this study. I just photocopied it and will work on it the next
few days.
blessings,
peggy
Farmgirl #1326
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
"Leave Your Cares Behind...Join Us On The Porch"
"I'm only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hair-spray I use and the Girlfriends that I have."
When I was a lonely wallflower, Jesus asked me to dance. Then he asked me to be His! |
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buffypuff
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Claudia
Deer Park
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 01 2012 : 5:48:32 PM
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Thanks Peggy. There may even be some questions that need to be asked that would fit right in with the study. I look forward to what you have to say. ;0)
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1194 Posts
Deb
Chicago
IL
USA
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cheryl keyes
True Blue Farmgirl
369 Posts
cheryl
millinocket
maine
USA
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Posted - Mar 02 2012 : 07:05:05 AM
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I feel that our society today is so far off track. I think people are seeking instant gratification, fame , money and sex is advertised and talked about everywhere.. the commercial we see on tv are so explicit years ago they would never have been allowed on tv.
Yes we all have many different relationships with different people. I personally have had relationships that have changed my life.
My relationship with God is nowhere near where i want it to be. I feel that i need to study more and develope my fatih stronger.
My thought is God sees us as his children and loves us all and wants the best for us so we can all have eternal life with Him.We are so lucky he is an all loving and forgiving God, and has written the Bible as a guide book for us to follow to get us through our lives. we are all sinners saved by the Grace of God.
I'm a bit shy being the first one to comment on the study, as im sure many of you have much more to add. I look forward to hearing what the rest of you write. thanks for putting this study together.. cheryl
http://plumkrazy.etsy.com
http://plumkrazyvintage.blogspot.com |
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buffypuff
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Claudia
Deer Park
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 02 2012 : 10:28:37 AM
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Cheryl, don't be nervous about being the first, because what I hope this study becomes is one that has no "pat" answers...boom..we move on. I hope it becomes one in which we not only scratch the surface, but dig down into not only what God has for us, but Who He is and who we are, and why we may not be as close to God as we should. I hope we become detectives, and see what these scriptures really contain and hold for us. I don't think there are any wrong answers, but hopefully this becomes a study in which we choose to become more vulnerable to Father God and choose to remove the barriers we may have put up for protection etc that hold us back. May God reveal His heart and our hearts to us. Blessings to you Cheryl.
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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cheryl keyes
True Blue Farmgirl
369 Posts
cheryl
millinocket
maine
USA
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
3537 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 02 2012 : 6:28:33 PM
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The thing that stuck out the most to me was that at just the right time...when society and self was the weakest...God sent his son Jesus to reconcile us back to God. To put us in right relationship with God.
He didn't wait for us to clean up our act, get our "stuff" together, quit sinning, or quit flirting with the world and all it's allure. I have heard so many people say over the years...I will go to Church once
I get my act together, quit doing this or that and can be totally serious about following God...but I am
not there yet. Yes, You are! Yes I am! God didn't give us a laundry list of bad behavior that he wanted us to work on before we were good enough for Relationship with Him. He met us at our greatest point of need...our inability to do anything for ourselves...that has any lasting affect. I looked up the word "Relationship" - it means having a connection, association or involvement with. A connection by blood or by marriage. An emotional or other association between people. and the last was being sexually involved.
Jesus is our connection to The Father through his blood.
He wants us to be emotionally connected to The Father, Son, Holy Spirit and each other.
And we are called the Bride of Christ (the body of believers).
God wants Relationship with us...a day to day time of being in His presence.
He wants us to know that we can't accomplish anything in life on our own, apart from Him.
He doesn't expect us to clean up our lives and get rid of our "stuff"...he wants us right
where we are at...so that we know How Great is His Love, How great was His sacrifice,
and How we can find strength in Him through our weaknesses. He wants Relationship not Religion.
And Cheryl...there are no pat answers. Our Relationship is intimately personal with the Lover of
our Souls...and everyone is different. And He loves us like we are the only one He died for. That
if it had only been our sinful sorry self...He would have layed down His life for one as well as
for many.
Thanks for doing this Study Claudia.
Live Loved,
peggy
Farmgirl #1326
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
"Leave Your Cares Behind...Join Us On The Porch"
"I'm only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hair-spray I use and the Girlfriends that I have."
When I was a lonely wallflower, Jesus asked me to dance. Then he asked me to be His! |
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buffypuff
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Claudia
Deer Park
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 02 2012 : 7:15:47 PM
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I love what has been said so far. So much meat to chew on for weeks. I want to go into what y'all think about the word relationship. I'm throwing in another word with relationship. VULNERABILITY!! How does that affect our various relationships...back to quest #3. It is important for us to understand the meaning of those words and how it affects us personally. I will share my own thoughts about that tomorrow.
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
8602 Posts
Louisiana
USA
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Posted - Mar 02 2012 : 9:25:46 PM
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Claudia: Seven powerful questions to think about. The first question really got me thinking. I was going to say that I could answer that with one word, falseness. However, I will take time to think and write out exactly what I mean by that. Like Peggyann said, I'll make a copy so I will be able to not be too harsh at my comments. I like your thread.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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buffypuff
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Claudia
Deer Park
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 06 2012 : 07:53:05 AM
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Good morning! I hope you are finding time to pray and think about your relationship with God. Personally, my heart was dying as I listened to the survivors of the tornadoes say that whatever they did to survive as it came over, most were calling out to God to protect them...and their children. Others did not survive and I can't imagine the deep pain they are all in now. When interviewed, some "thanked the Lord" for being there. We here in our area, without all the bad weather complained because our favorite team did not win in their basketball class. A small disappointment compared to the loss of others worldly goods and loss of life. I feel ashamed.
I thought I would add some of the things I have been thinking about with the Bible study. I agree with the definitions given. To me words like vulnerability, respect, and place of honor come to mind. We react differently when we nail down just what our relationship is with a particular person or group.
I feel that some may have a relationship with God that can just be a culteral experience..a social event just to go to church. Amy Grant once said that"we all have cultural experiences, but that isn't the 'real thing.'" Our time with God should be extremely personal. I grew up in a the same church where my parents went, but it wasn't til later that I heard this....God doesn't have grandchildren...only children. He wants us to be called sons and daughters...to be born of Him...not from another. Others can help, but it must come to a time when we say something like...I want you as my heavenly Father...I want a personal relationship.
However, I think our relationship with God as Father is often dependent on the relationships we have fostered here on earth. It is the grace of God that gives us the right relationship with Him, because some of us may have a remote (holding back our heart)relationship with our parents. Maybe it was based on how we performed in their presence....not being able to share what we felt. Were we one who might have been ignored or lost in a crowd because of other siblings or situations needing their time etc.? Were our relationships affirming, parents being there for you...were there hugs, smooches,a feeling of securit?. Was there divorce in the family affecting how we reacted with one parent or the othe? These are all things that may affect how we "see" our relationship with our Heavenly Father. This may be a time of reflecting about what barriers we still have with those primary relationships... that may affect how comfortable we are with God. Remember, just as God came daily to The Garden to have that relationship and sharing with Adam & Eve, He is still waiting to have that time with us. It wasn't until Adam & Eve sinned and sewed leaves together to hide themselves, did it affect their time with God. To me, those leaves reflect what we may have in our lives that protect and cover-up our hearts from God & others. May we do better than Adam & Eve.
Anyway, if you feel any of my thoughts may hit the mark with you in your life, it may be time to talk to God and give Him permission to show you what leaves you have that may be keeping you from the perfect relationship with Him.
Blessings Ladies.Asking God to give you a double portion of His grace to you today!
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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Edited by - buffypuff on Mar 06 2012 08:01:00 AM |
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buffypuff
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Claudia
Deer Park
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 08 2012 : 1:25:17 PM
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I don't know if there are any more comments, but I will continue on. We are still rereading through Romans 5:6-11.
1. According to verse 8, when did God demonstrate His love to us and how?
2.What was our status when God demonstrated His love to us?
3.What was the state of mankind when Christ died for us?
4.What questions come to mind? Why are we helpless? What is a sinner? Whose enemy are we & why?
5. What is the definition of justified...and how does it pertain to us?
6. What is reconciliation?
The question we need to ask ourselves is...where do we stand in our relationship to God if the Bible is true?
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
3537 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 08 2012 : 3:05:43 PM
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This past Sunday at Church our pastor was preaching on Relationship and using the Scripture..."There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Then at the end of the message he had an alter call for those who are still hanging onto "stuff" that hinders their relationship with God because it causes them feelings of guilt, shame, regret,sin, loss, anger, etc. ~ When we had first came in to Church we were given
pieces of paper and told only that we might need them. So, our Pastor asked us...what issue, sin, or stuff
is condemning you and keeping you from Authentic Relationship with God? Then he said to write it on the pieces of paper we were given. And when we filed back to take communion there were 5 or 6 big Crosses by each communion table (remember I go to a Mega Church)...with hammers and nails available...so that you could nail those "Issues" or "Your Stuff" to the Cross and leave it there once and for all. And walk away feeling that truly There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. As I took my communion back to my
seat and started praying...in the background I heard continual hammering going on. And it made me weep...knowing that so many people had the head knowledge of that Scripture but they had never taken it to
heart and believed it was meant for them. I also felt such JOY because I knew they were going to leave
church that day "Free In Christ"...free at last. Nothing hindering them from a Relationship with the one
who came in to the world...to heal and not to condemn. It was BEAUTIFUL! And so goes along with what we are
studying here and what I am also teaching in my Thursday Night Bible Study Group.
Live Loved,
peggy
Farmgirl #1326
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
"Leave Your Cares Behind...Join Us On The Porch"
"I'm only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hair-spray I use and the Girlfriends that I have."
When I was a lonely wallflower, Jesus asked me to dance. Then he asked me to be His! |
Edited by - LadyInRed on Mar 08 2012 7:33:39 PM |
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buffypuff
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Claudia
Deer Park
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 08 2012 : 4:37:00 PM
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Peggy, that was really cool. Sometimes we all need something physical to do, to impress upon us what really needs to happen in our hearts. For me personally, my Dad had a terribly stressful physical job, and he would come home and sit down and read the paper. I was an only child, so as I told Dad what had happened at school that day, I had this picture of my Dad listening behind the paper. It took me years to realize that I thought God the Father had too many other important things to consider (behind a spiritual paper) to answer my prayers or consider me worthy. When I realized it, I was able to repent of my misconceptions of God and also realize that my dad was wonderful and gave me his attention in other ways than what I thought he should. It wasn't until I admitted it (confessed it to God) and asked for forgiveness that I felt a closeness to God. It made my relationship with my own Dad even better. I think nailing those thoughts on a cross would have helped so much. Thanks again. By the way, as I approach 67 in a couple of months, I realize all the wasted time I had not really sharing my heart with God or my Dad. Thankfully, Dad & I were very close before he passed away.
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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prayin granny
True Blue Farmgirl
1641 Posts
Linda
Kansas
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Posted - Mar 15 2012 : 7:58:27 PM
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I have been out of the loops on Mjf lately. Been busy with gkids and family situations. If its ok? Let me think on these questions some and comment this weekend? I don't want to throw things off a bit?!
Love the questions......much to ponder on.
Hope each of you are having a good evening
Farmgirl hugs,
Linda
Country at Heart |
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buffypuff
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Claudia
Deer Park
WA
USA
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Posted - Mar 15 2012 : 8:38:22 PM
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Linda...there has been little response, so whatever you have to offer is welcome. I figure that some of us need different things at different times, and whoever is here is supposed to be here. You are never too late or throw things off. Big hugs!
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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Gathered Up: Bible Study "Having a Real Relationship With God" |
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Bible Study "Having a Real Relationship With God"
