Phil. 2:13-Be Energized!

"It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

This is the verse for today. Before coming to work this morning I wrote this verse over and over again in my notebook as a way of trying to memorize scripture in hopes that it will take root in me and be available whenever God puts me in the path of someone who just might need to be reminded of His Word for their situation.

I want to try and understand the best that I can so that I can apply it to my life. When looking a little closer at the original word for "work" which is "energeo (en-erg-eh'-o). Looking at the original word we see the word "energy". One of the definitions is, "put forth power". The word, "will" comes from the original word, "thelo" (thel'-o) which means, "to have in mind, intend." The original word for "pleasure" is "eudokia (yoo-dok-ee'ah) which means, "will, choice 2) delight, pleasure, satisfaction 3) desire; 3a) for delight in any absent thing easily produces longing for it." I loved this part of the definition.

So, making it personal and applicable, It is God who is putting forth His power in you and me because He intentionally chooses to use us to bring Himself delight. Just think, God of all gets satisfaction and delights in us, His chosen and all along He's the energy behind it all. Talkin' about coming full circle!

The Message puts it like this... "Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure."

I get energized just thinking about the Energizer who is at work in me!!!

Blessings,
Kim

Week Six-"Responding to God's Voice"

Can you believe that we are at the end of this outstanding study? It has been an amazing journey, one that I pray we will never forget.

I will continue to post on my blog so I hope you'll stick around for awhile.

Speaking of "hope", don't forget, Hold On Past the Evidence! It's not about what is evident, it's Who we hold on to past the evidence! He's a sure thing!

Notes from Priscilla's commentary:

Week Six-“Responding to God’s Voice”

2 Kings 5:11
Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, (we do too much thinking and have too many preconceived ideas) He will surely come out to me (PRIDE) and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.”

Notes from Priscilla’s commentary:

God does not speak simply to be heard BUT obeyed.

What do I do with the responsibility of doing what I’m told? Naaman felt like there were better rivers to bathe in than that of the Jordon.

Am I committed to obedience?

We think we know how God will communicate to us. We present ourselves to God as if we deserve different than what He chooses for us.

Boxes limit our awareness of God. They don’t limit God—they do, however, confine us. Am I so full of pride that I can’t be filled with the Spirit?

You won’t always get goose bumps—instead you might be upset by what you hear from God. Sometimes we miss out on God because we’re expecting signs and wonders more than we anticipate His words. Am I more enticed by the wonders of God than the Word of God?

Delayed obedience: Delays God’s power and supernatural results. Obedience will yield supernatural results.

She made reference to 1 Kings 19.

Still, Small Voice

Lora Fuller gave me this and I wanted to post it as it relates so much to Discerning the Voice of God. Thanks Lora for sharing!

"God speaks in all sorts of ways. Sometimes He reveals His will to us by an impression. Sometimes He speaks by an inner voice. Sometimes we can hear Him speaking through the voice of a stranger, a friend, the words of a song, a thought from a book, a verse of Scripture.
Rushed urgings are usually of the enemy. God's Spirit may "hound" you by softly and repeatedly bringing something to mind, but be suspicious of anything that makes you feel driven or in any way obsessed. The voice of the Good Shepherd is gentle, familiar sounding and loving. It leaves you with a sense of spiritual uplift and rejoicing, never fright (John 10:3-5, 14-16, 27-28)."

God's Voice:
Stills you
Leads you
Reassures you
Enlightens you
Encourages you
Comforts you
Calms you
Convicts you

Satan's Voice:
Rushes you
Pushes you
Frightens you
Confuses you
Discourages you
Worries you
Obsesses you
Condemns you

Excerpted from Choosing God's Best by Don Raunikar

From LPM

Atlanta - Women of Faith

By Amanda

Here's the Atlanta commissioning for all you Georgia Peaches.

My Dear Sister,
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
Has His hand on you.
Don't trade what He has for you
For the comforts of this world.
Let the love of Christ compel you
And infuse you with courage.
God, even God, who created the heavens
Is the One who comforts you.
Hey girls, I thought you would enjoy this. I subscribe to the Living Proof Ministries blog/Beth Moore and I wanted to share this with you. Enjoy!

Whatever you do,
Don't refuse it!
His grace will guard you from bitterness
And Christ will turn your pain
Into Holy Passion.
Pour your life lavishly into others.
Humble yourself and share your hardships
That others may also share your comfort.
Live till you die!
Then live like there's no tomorrow!
For the King enthroned in Heaven
Is worthy of your all.
Now, go, Girl!
For the Father of Mercies
And the God of all comfort
Goes with you.
Bless be God
And bless be you!

Week 5- "God's Voice Reveals His Plan"

Week Five-“God’s Voice Reveals His Plan”

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Notes from Priscilla’s commentary:

When I hear the voice of God it is because He’s inviting me to join in with His purposes for this generation. Hearing God’s voice is about listening for His invitation.

God meets us at our level. The God of the Universe knows me. (Exo. 3:1-7,10).

The smoke signal of His greatness often appears when things are not what you would like them to be. When things get bad-don’t look at the circumstances—look up!

It often takes our uncomfortable spot that we’re praying to get out of for God to get our attention. The key to seeing God’s plan while I’m in the desert season in my life is for me to take my eyes off the season and refocus my attention on His activity in this season. (Exo. 3:3) Redirect my attention on the bushes that are burning. Bushes don’t burn in the desert. Am I so consumed with the circumstances that I forget He is there?

Right now I am gaining the necessary tools for me to accomplish the task that God has in mind for me. (Exo. 3:1)

While Moses was pasturing and leading the flock, this wasn’t the career of his dreams. He was learning dedication to lead people who didn’t want to be led at times. Focus on what He’s given me now—He will lead me to what I can’t yet see. Moses led the sheep, west-toward God. He led them to the mountain of God. This mountain was where he received the 10 commandments, where the presence of God came down on him like a thick cloud, the mountain where he would be equipped and prepared.

When God makes a normal thing abnormal—ask Him to open your eyes to notice when He’s in something—giving you an awareness when He is showing up in the normal stuff of your life. Then, JUST WORSHIP! What is it about us that we have to explain everything away? Don’t try to explain it! Why can’t it just be that the angel of the Lord was in it? Supernaturally! Join Him in it!

Intimate fellowship is His desire for me. Exo. 34:14 (NLT), Ps. 25-“I hear you…” Zep. 3:17; James-“Draw near to me…” Hear the passion in His heart?

Buckle your seat belt (Exo. 3:10)—your plans will change!

God’s plan for my life is tucked under His plan for the Universe! When He speaks He is inviting me to join Him.


Passages used outside of those given in outline:

Exodus: 3:1-7, 10 (NIV)
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up." 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
And Moses said, "Here I am." 5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

Exodus 34:14 (NIV) Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Zeph. 3:17 (NIV)
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

John 4, the story of the woman at the well.

Acts 9, the story of Saul.

Week Four-"God's Voice Reveals His Character"

Hey girls, I'll miss you this week but as you know my daughter is having surgery and I'm sure you understand that my place is with her. Please keep her in your prayers. I normally don't post these notes until after the video but I wanted to go ahead and make sure these were posted for you. I know some of you want the words that she'll be using to describe each book of the Bible. Love and Blessings to you! Enjoy!

Week Four-“God’s Voice Reveals His Character”
Notes from Priscilla’s commentary:

When we read the Word of God—don't read it as a duty, but as if He has our face cupped in His hands, looking at us squarely in our eyes and saying, “Would you trust me? I will do everything that I say I will. I am Who I say I am!”

Get your priorities straight—Press into Him—get close to Him. Ask yourself, Am I using God for what I want Him to give me? We’ve gone looking for what He will provide.

Priscilla made reference to a book called, “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Bro. Lawrence (I think this was his name)

Press into God! He will speak so clearly you will not doubt that you are hearing from Him!

We’re not hiding anything from Him. Any path He asks you to take—you are better off in that spot you feel uncomfortable in with Him than you would be if you stayed out of it because He’s good and love.

The words that she used describing each book of the Bible came from a song entitled, “He Is”. I found the lyrics and posted them for your convenience.

HE IS

In Genesis He's the Breath of Life
In Exodus the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus He's our high Priest
Numbers the fire by night
Deuteronomy He's Israel’s Guide
In Joshua He is Salvation's choice
Judges Israel’s Guard
In Ruth the Kinsmen Redeemer
First and Second Samuel
Our trusted Prophet
In Kings and Chronicles
He's Sovereign
Ezra a True and Faithful Scribe
Nehemiah He's the Rebuilder
Of broken walls and lives
In Esther He is our courage
In Job the timeless Redeemer
In Psalms He is our Morning Song
In Proverbs Wisdom's cry
Ecclesiastes the Time and Season
In the Song of Solomon
He is the Lover's dream
In Isaiah He is Prince of Peace
Jeremiah the weeping Prophet
Lamentations the cry for Israel
Ezekiel He's the call from sin
In Daniel the Stranger in the fire
In Hosea He is forever Faithful
In Joel He's the Spirit's power
In Amos the strong arms that carry us
In Obadiah He's the Lord our Savior

Verse 2
In Jonah He's the great Missionary
In Micah the Promise of Peace
In Nahum He is our Strength
And our Shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah
He brings revival
In Haggai He restores that which is lost
In Zechariah our Fountain
In Malachi
He's the Son of righteousness
Rising with healing in His wings

Verse 3
In Matthew Mark Luke and John
He is God Man Messiah
In the book of Acts He is
The fire from heaven
In Romans He's the grace of God
In Corinthians the power of love
In Galatians He is freedom
From the curse of sin
Ephesians our glorious Treasure
Philippians the Servant's heart
In Colossians
He's the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians our coming King
In Timothy Titus and Philemon
He's our Mediator
And our faithful Pastor
In Hebrews
The everlasting Covenant
In James
The One who heals the sick
In First and Second Peter
He is our faithful Shepherd
In John and in Jude
He's the lover coming
For His bride
In the Revelation
He is King of kings
And Lord of lords

He is He is He is
The Prince of peace
The Son of man
The Lamb of God the Great I Am
He's the Alpha and Omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
And when time is no more
He is He is

Passages used outside of those given in outline:

2 Cor. 11:14- And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Ps. 119:10, 18 (Amp) – With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments. 18- Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.

2 Chron. 15:15- All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.

Deut. 4:29- But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Phil. 3:8— What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Prov. 3:5-6- Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Phil. 3:15- All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

Phil. 2:13- for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Ps. 34:14- Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

"Just for the Girls"

Hey girls, mark your calendars for an exciting two hour event that will be held at Highlands Fellowship in the Cafe on Saturday, August 25 from 10:00-12:00. Please register on line at www.highlandsfellowship.com. T-shirts will also be available beforehand so be sure and get your order in. We're thinking the cost of the white T-shirt will be between $10-11 each but will be confirming that in the next day or so. I'd love for all of our small group to come wearing one that morning and then we can continue to wear them for our weekly time together.

We will be having a light breakfast, Praise and Worship and sharing about how you can participate in an upcoming church-wide event. Grab a girl, anyone who is in your small group, someone you know who isn't participating in a group, a sister, neighbor, friend, mother, grandmother, and/or aunt and invite them to come with you. Be sure and register them as well.

See you there!