WOW-Women Opening the Word-Week 3, Days 1-4

 We were created by GOD!  None of us are exactly the same.  Each of us is loved by OUR MAKER and given special characteristics for our journey on this earth.  John, "the apostle of love" wrote in his gospel these words of JESUS... 

John 13:34-35

“A new command I give you;

LOVE one another.

As I have loved you,

So you must LOVE one another.

By this everyone will know

that you are my disciples,

if you LOVE one another.”

How many people do you interact with on a daily basis?  At home? At work? At school? In your church family? At the store?  On the highway?

My husband and I had/have 4 children, each one very different in personality, interests, and gifts.  We love/loved each of them deeply!  Yet, our love for each individual may look a little different than our love for the others, based on their differences.  

We often considered, is this child...

• Extroverted or Introverted?
• Intuitive or Sensing?
• Feeling or Thinking?
• Judging or Perceiving?

We often reminded ourselves what each child's "love language" was:

• Acts of service?
• Gifts?
• Physical Touch?
• Quality time?
• Words of affirmation?

In my last blog post, I shared what 3 gospel writers shared about JESUS' 2 greatest commandments.  All three of them said, "Love your neighbor as yourself."  So, how are you doing at loving yourself?  What about your closest neighbors (those you live with)?

Days 1-2:  Try putting your name in the blanks of this 1 Corinthians 13 description of GOD's LOVE.  Meditate on how you are doing with loving yourself with each of these.  

Days 3-4:  Try putting a "neighbor's" name in the blanks.  A neighbor at home, work, church, or more?   

My LOVE for ____________is patient.

My LOVE for ____________ is kind.

My LOVE for ______ does not envy.

My LOVE for ______ does not boast.

My LOVE for _______ is not proud.

My LOVE does not dishonor _________.

My LOVE for ______ is not self-seeking.

My LOVE for _____ is not easily angered.

My LOVE for_____keeps no record of wrongs.

My LOVE for ______ does not delight in evil.

My LOVE for ______ rejoices with the truth.

My LOVE for ______always protects,

My LOVE for ______always trusts,

My LOVE for ______always hopes,

My LOVE for ______always perseveres

My LOVE for ______never fails.

Maybe loving would be helped if you knew a little more about personality and/or love languages.  Here are 2 links to find out more about yourself and others:

1)  Personality link:

https://www.humanmetrics.com/

2)  Love languages link:

https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language

Let's talk more later in the week!

In the meantime, enjoy learning more about loving yourself and others.  

BTW:  I'm having computer challenges, so I could not post a few pictures that I was planning on posting.

WOW - Women Opening the Word - Week 2, Days 6-7

     This week we've been talking about "The Greatest Commandments".  Here they are in 3 of the 4 Gospels:  Matthew, Mark, & Luke, but not in John.  Why not John?  Well, as someone said this week in our in person WOW class, "John was the apostle of love who talked about love all the time!"  Someone else said, "Yes!  Just read the 4 books that John wrote:  the Gospel of John and 3 letters, 1 John, 2 John, and 3rd John."  

     Not only do the 4 Gospel writers tell us how important loving GOD is, but let's look back in the Old Testament at Deuteronomy.  In the chapter before this, Moses had just gone over the 10 commandments with the Israelites, reminding them of those 10 laws that GOD had given them about 40 years before (as told in the book of Exodus).  Moses, himself, had had trouble obeying GOD all the time and he was not allowed to cross the Jordan River as they were about to do.  

So, here goes!  These are Moses' words after reminding them about the 10 commandments...

 

Deuteronomy 6:1-7 and verses following: 

1"These are the commands, decrees and laws THE LORD YOUR GOD directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 

2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear THE LORD YOUR GOD as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 

3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as 

THE LORD, THE GOD OF YOUR ANCESTORS, promised you.

4 Hear, O Israel: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.

5 Love THE LORD YOUR GOD 

with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 

7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up..."

It's interesting that Moses basically shared "The Greatest Commandment" in Deuteronomy 6, while encouraging the people to love GOD by obeying HIS commandments.  

As a child, I learned the 10 commandments, but I did not memorize them until my mother-in-love taught me a little 10 point story to help me remember them. Here's her "memory hook story" followed by how to use it in memorizing the 10 commandments all wrapped up in loving GOD.  

Memory Hook Story (going through the day):
1)  Your alarm clock wakes you up. 
2)  You put on your 2 legged pants.
3) You sit on a 3 legged stool to put on your socks/shoes.
4) You eat breakfast at your 4 legged kitchen/dining room table.
5) You do a quick 5 minute read of the news.
6)  You get in your 6 cylinder car.
7) You see a policeman holding up his hand to stop people, with his finger to toes forming the shape of a 7.
8)  You go through the revolving doors into the Post Office, that remind you of a figure 8.
9)  You get your mail out of a mailbox that looks like one of those in the shape of a 9.
10)  You go to the "old timey" Post Office window that has 10 bars between you and the clerk. 

Now, enjoy meditating/memorizing the 10 commandments via this Memory Hook Story!  Then, I'll meet you back here for Week 3!  We love because HE first loved us!

WOW - Women Opening the Word - Week 2, Days 3-5

 

When we began our "in person" WOW class a few months ago, a lady who had been coming to church meetings for the first time in her life was very interested in learning more and asked,

 "So you said that GOD loves us.  What does GOD's love look like?  Can you explain?" 

This lady was genuinely interested and was not "testing me" like the book of Matthew says the lawyer tested JESUS when he said the following words...

 *****************************************

Matthew 22:36-40

36 “TEACHER, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 

37 And JESUS said to him, 'You shall love the LORD YOUR GOD 

with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'   

38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 

39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

40 Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.'"

   *****************************************

So, was JESUS really saying that all those 613 laws in the Old Testament don't matter anymore?

Well, not exactly!  It's just that when someone really loves GOD's WAY, they are following HIS laws.  The next week or so, let's look at really loving GOD's WAY. 

We just looked at what Matthew, the first gospel writer shared about the 2 greatest commands of JESUS.  Now let's consider here what Luke shares that JESUS said.  See anything different?

Luke 10:27

Now, that you've looked at what Dr. Luke wrote in the 3rd gospel, what about the OT?

Moses gave the 10 commandments in Deuteronomy 5.  Then, in Deuteronomy 6 he followed with some powerful words, which we'll refer to more at the end of the week.  

The next few days, let's just do 3 things:

1)  Memorize Luke 10:27, using this to practice:

2)  Look at and meditate on what the letter written to the church at Corinth says about what GOD's Love is (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)...

3)   Look at and meditate on what the letter written to the church at Corinth says about what GOD's Love is not (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)...

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

4 "Love is patient, 

love is kind. 

It does not envy, 

it does not boast, 

it is not proud. 

5 It does not dishonor others, 

it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

6 Love does not delight in evil but 

rejoices with the truth. 

7 It always protects, 

always trusts, 

always hopes, 

always perseveres.

8 Love never fails."

Enjoy the journey of considering how you love!

WOW – Women Opening the Word blog – Week 2, Days 1-2

We started this new series, for Week 1, on Friday and Saturday.  That was Week 1, Days 1-2.  We are now on Week 2, Days 1-2.

We talked about the Bible being 66 books, starting with Genesis and ending with Revelation.  The Bible is divided into 2 large sections called the Old and New Testament (NT).  The Old Testament (OT) includes stories about the creation of the world all the way to prophets of GOD prophesying about JESUS coming to earth 400 years or more before HE actually did come to earth.  So, the end of the OT was written about 400 years before JESUS came to earth at the beginning of the NT.   

The OT is full of GOD explaining the victorious way to live on the earth, yet giving people choice about whether to live HIS way or their own way.  We learn that the word “sins” refer to the things that are contrary to how GOD designed us to live.  Yet, HE doesn’t force us to live HIS way; we each make our own choices. GOD’s way is just the right way (righteous way) to live. 

Since we've already talked about JESUS being there at creation, let's consider these 2 names of JESUS.  HE is:

• Alpha and Omega
• Beginning and End

Many people have only heard of the 10 commandments given by GOD in the OT, but in fact there are a total of 613 commands in the OT.  Bible scholars have divided those 613 commands of GOD into 2 categories of positive and negative commands.     The 248 positive commands tell of good things to do and the 365 negative commands tell what not to do.  They are all found in the first 5 books of the Bible, called “The Books of Law”. 

In children’s Bible classes, I usually teach kids to remember the books of the Bible in this way:

5-12-5-5-12:

·         5 books of Law  (as described above)

·         12 books of History (History of GOD’s people)

·         5 books of Poetry  (diverse books of encouragement)

·         5 books of Minor Prophets (minor refers to shorter books)

·         5 books of Major Prophets (major refers to longer books)

 

4-1-21-1:

·         4 Gospels (telling of JESUS life on earth from 4 different people/perspectives)

·         1 book of History (JESUS’ return to heaven and the beginning of the church)

·         21 Letters (written to encourage new Christians and local churches)

·         1 book of Prophecy (the end times and our future after this world)

This visual might help you grasp how the 66 books are divided:

Day 1 Assignment:

1)    Spend some time trying to internalize/memorize the 5-12-5-5-12 pattern and what it stands for.

2)    Spend some time trying to internalize/memorize the 4-1-21-1 pattern and what it stands for.

 

Day 2 Assignment:

1)     Become familiar with the pictures in this OT Timeline that I compiled many years ago. 

2)     If you have the time and motivation, see if you can eventually internalize/memorize the 16 pictures, in order, that tell the overview story of the OT – Enjoy!:

a.     GOD

b.    Creation

c.     Given choice

d.    Covenant

e.    Tower of Babel

f.     Family of Abraham

g.     Family of Jacob

h.    Tribes of Judah

i.      Plagues/Passover/Red Sea

j.     Ten Commandments

k.    Tabernacle

l.      Pleasing GOD in the wilderness?

m.   Promised land/Judges

n.     Kingdom United

o.     Kingdom Divided

p.    WAP: Prophets Warn, Announce, and Point to JESUS 

WOW - Women Opening the Word - Week 1: Days 1-2

 Today, I am choosing to begin writing on this blog again.  Hopefully, I will be able to post 3-4 times a week, giving you material to internalize WHO JESUS is and learn to know HIM intimately.  I'll continue to highlight names of JESUS and if a name is not on our list on the right, I'll make sure it is added.   

Currently, most weeks I meet with a group of ladies who get together for WOW, which is the acronym for...

Women

Opening the

Word!

We look at the word "Word" from two different perspectives:

• The written word of GOD, called the Bible.
• The LIVING WORD, JESUS.

How much do you know about the library of 66 books compiled into one book, the written word of GOD, called The Bible? Years ago, I had a conversation with a well known editor who was encouraging me to write books. She said that she would only consider reading a complete book if the first and last chapter connected well. She said that would be one indication to her that it would be a great read.

Genesis is the first part (first book) of the Bible and Revelation is the last part (last book). Enjoy the connections!

Not only does the Bible make marvelous connections, but it fits together like a giant puzzle that needs to be understood by fitting pieces together. The first verse of the Bible says,

"In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth."

It's important to know WHO our GOD is!

It's explained really simply in this kids book that you can easily buy,

GOD is "3 in 1":

GOD the FATHER
GOD the SON, JESUS
GOD the HOLY SPIRIT

In the Bible, when we see the word GOD, sometimes it refers to THE FATHER, sometimes it refers to THE SON, sometimes it refers to THE HOLY SPIRIT, and sometimes it refers to our 3 in 1 GOD.

Let's take a look at the first chapter of the book of John and let him explain a few things. The book is written by the apostle John, who spent many days with JESUS, while HE lived in human form on the earth.

John's first verse says that "THE WORD" was not only "with GOD" in the beginning, but HE was GOD.

Let's spend the next 2 days meditating on

the Genesis/Revelation chart above and John 1:1-18 below.

1 In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with GOD, and THE WORD was GOD.  

2 HE was in the beginning with GOD. 

3 All things came into being through HIM, and apart from HIM not even one thing came into being that has come into being. 

4 In HIM was LIFE, and THE LIFE was THE LIGHT OF MANKIND. 

5 And THE LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.

The Witness John the Baptist

6 A man came, one sent from GOD, and his name was John. 

7 He came as a witness, to testify about THE LIGHT, so that all might believe through him. 

8 He was not THE LIGHT, but he came to testify about THE LIGHT.

9 This was THE TRUE LIGHT that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. 

10 HE was in the world, and the world came into being through HIM, and yet the world did not know HIM. 

11 HE came to HIS own, and HIS own people did not accept HIM. 

12 But as many as received HIM, to them HE gave the right to become children of GOD, to those who believe in HIS name, 

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of GOD.

The Word Made Flesh

14 And THE WORD became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw HIS glory, glory as of THE ONLY SON OF THE FATHER, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH. 

15 John testified about HIM and called out, saying, “This was HE of whom I said, ‘HE WHO is coming after me has proved to be MY SUPERIOR, because HE EXISTED BEFORE ME.’” 

16 For of HIS fullness we have all received, and GRACE UPON GRACE. 

17 For the Law was given through Moses; GRACE AND TRUTH were realized through JESUS CHRIST. 

18 No one has seen GOD at any time; GOD THE ONLY SON, WHO is in the arms of the Father, HE has explained HIM." 

Questions to meditate on:

Day 1:

1)  So, on the chart, it refers to Genesis 1:16 saying that GOD made the 2 great lights (sun and moon).  Can you explain another "Great Light" from your John 1 reading?

2)  By reading these verses in John, could we also call JESUS, CREATOR? Why or why not?

3)  Can you name up to 14 names of JESUS used in John 1:1-14?

Day 2:

1)  As you look back over the Genesis/Revelation chart, are there some words used there that make you think of other names of JESUS?  What are those names?

2)  The chart refers to THE TREE OF LIFE in Genesis 3. If you have time, read Genesis 3 and consider what happened in that chapter.

May you be blessed by the time you send with THE LIVING WORD in The Word!