We are excited to start back with our Monday Musings Blog after the holiday break. The New Year hits us all in different ways. Some of us are exhausted from the holidays, fighting sickness and just trying to get through till spring comes. Others of us face the New Year excited about the opportunities and challenges ahead. Personally, I love cold weather, but the days of little sunshine tend to close in on me and I often struggle with my health this time of year. I’m a planner, so I ordered my pretty new planner and got it all organized, made my list of all the things I want to accomplish during the year and find I’m already behind, and January isn't even over yet! Regardless of our personalities, circumstances and check list of things to accomplish, there is one thing that will help us focus and make this a year that has purpose and significance for our personal spiritual lives and those with whom we engage in relationships and community. Choosing to spend time in the Word, studying and meditating on the beautiful stories and lessons in Scripture will give your days purpose and guide you as you make decisions for your life. Our desire at Restore Ministries is to give you some devotional blogs this year that go a little deeper than the typical blog. You will need to devote more than a minute or two to take in the truths, but our prayer is that they will encourage and challenge you in your journey of faith. Today, we continue in the Feast for Your Soul Bible Study teachings with a three part series entitled “The Women of Bethany.” We are learning so much this year as we travel through the gospels to study some of the Scriptures where Jesus feasted with the people and taught us so many wonderful faith lessons. As part of this blog series, I encourage you to listen to the audio below of the drama Sherry and I wrote. It is a live recording, so please pardon the background noise. Our hope is that listening to the drama will help you enter into the Scripture and better understand the hearts of the women who lived in Bethany. In the drama we give our interpretation of lives and encounters these women had with Jesus. If your days are really busy you could choose to listen one day and then read each part of this series over several days. These Scriptures hold rich truths to guide our lives if we will simply give them some time for study, reflection, and prayer. My experience has been that it takes more than a few minutes to soak in truth in a way that brings transformation in my life and it's always worth the time and effort! We will present the audio of this drama in three parts in the weeks ahead. We hope that you enjoy the audio version of The Women of Bethany, Part 1, a drama based on the familiar story of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10:38-42. It is the first time we meet these intriguing women of the Word who loved Jesus and welcomed them into their home. We had so much fun writing and trying to imagine what it might have been like to be Mary and Martha in the small village of Bethany in the home that Jesus loved to visit. The role of Martha is played by Sherry Barron and the role of Mary is played by Kathy Drake. Here is the link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSXq0TYjzZ8&feature=youtu.be Luke 10:38-42 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” This is such a beautiful story in Scripture, one that most of us know well. There is a common thread in the passages I will be posting in the weeks ahead. Over the next three blogs we will explore three powerful stories in Scripture that all took place in the little village of Bethany just two miles from Jerusalem on the carriage road to Jericho. Bethany is located on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives. It is known as a place of almond, olive and fig trees, a place where travelers could find rest in the shade. Jesus visited Bethany often.The women and their brother Lazarus were all part of the stories, faith building lessons and miracles that took place there. This is a family whose hearts were forever changed and interwoven together with Jesus. So what are the faith lessons we can learn from the women of Bethany? These are women with whom Jesus often feasted, visited, and taught. It is interesting that so many significant Scriptures took place there in the three years of Jesus ministry while living on earth. As I studied the stories, I began to ask myself, why Bethany? What do we have to learn from what happened in this little village for our own lives? So let’s look at the Faith Lessons of the Women of Bethany from our first encounter with them in Luke 10:38-42. Bethany was….. A place of love Bethany first and foremost is a place where Jesus is loved and loves His own. Jesus came so often to Bethany because He was loved there. He was despised in so many other places where He traveled. As we go through the faith lessons of Bethany, we see a beautiful picture of what it looks like to love Jesus and be loved by Him. In the weeks ahead, keep that in mind as we walk through the encounters with Jesus in one of His most favorite places on earth. It all ultimately comes back to love. A place of feasting and welcome The hospitality offered in Bethany came from that heart of love. Jesus and his disciples were offered meals and lodging there. Physical and emotional needs were met in Bethany. They knew they would be welcomed. Jesus valued the hospitality He was given there. That is one of the reasons He returned to that beloved place so often. Bethany was a place of feasting, a place where Jesus broke bread with dear friends and his disciples. From this story we learn that to welcome others into our lives and homes requires a heart that welcomes others and is willing to serve. A place of service We will learn some valuable lessons throughout the encounters in Bethany about what a servant heart should look like through the life of Martha and Mary. The most glaring lesson is that there is a time to serve and a time to sit at the feet of Jesus, and we must be careful to discern the difference. Martha thought that her worth before the Lord lay in her good motives, her gifts, her hospitality. She wanted to prove her value to the Lord. She was so grateful for what the Lord had done for her and her family and wanted to give him something in return. But for Jesus, inviting Him in means focusing on who Jesus is, not what we want or who we are, even when it is a good thing that is an expression of our love. Our service should flow from communion with Jesus. When it doesn’t, it’s easy to become bothered, anxious and worried about many things like Martha. The word for distracted in Luke 10:40 in the Greek means to be preoccupied, pulled in different directions, mentally driven about. Have you ever felt that way? I know I can totally relate! When we are distracted our nerves get frayed and we lose our tempers in ways we wish we could take back. Her distraction leads her to blame Jesus for not caring. But Jesus is kind in his response to Martha. He doesn’t belittle her, but calls her name twice in tenderness and directs her to the most important thing, the One thing, Christ himself. I’ve definitely been a Martha. It is a dangerous thing to be so busy for the Lord, even in ministry, that you don’t make time to seek His face or wait on His direction. Most Mary’s have been a Martha at one time in their lives. I can remember a time in my ministry years ago as a young wife and mother when I became so exhausted from doing the Lord’s work that I came to a place where all I had left was to cry out to God. I was experiencing a season of loss in the death of my father, trying to care for my mother, my children, trying to be a loving wife and work a full time job in ministry. In the demands of the “job,” I lost sight of the priceless value of simply sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His voice and seeking His truth to guide my life, my choices, and my ministry. My heart was to serve and give Him the best of my gifts and life, but the temptation to do it on my own strength in the mad rush of my life and “to do” lists had crept in. It was all so subtle that I hadn’t noticed until that day when there was simply nothing left to give. The tyranny of the urgent needs and demands of people had taken over my life. In the middle of the night I fell on my face on my living room floor and cried out to God, “If this is all there is, it’s not enough.” That night before the Lord was the turning point for my life and ministry. He had been waiting for me to come to the end of myself. The Lord spoke into my heart that He was more the enough to carry me through if I would be faithful to give Him the best of my day and sit at His feet. Of course, I knew this truth in my mind. But I had to come to a place of complete surrender in my heart. The power of the Holy Spirit took over and my life has never been the same. Unfortunately, at times I have let the pressing demands take over again, but He is faithful, always there waiting for me to choose the “One thing” I need for my life. At His feet, I have learned to find my rest in Him. I wonder if you’ve been there too. It is communion with Christ, listening to His words of truth that transforms you into a Mary. Both women served as women did in that culture. Women still do today. The difference is found in the heart. Jesus needed and wanted a different kind of service. He wanted disciples who pursued the One thing. Jesus is seeking an intimate moment, not an elaborate meal. Charles Spurgeon says, “Martha was preparing a feast for Jesus, Mary was feasting on His words. Both are good, but only one is indispensable.” Psalm 27:4 and Philippians 3:7- 8 are wonderful verses to memorize and cling to: A place of listening Mary is always seen in Scripture at Jesus’ feet. She is a woman of few words. She is a listener. In this Scripture, we see Mary at the feet of Jesus in utter delight, drinking in His words, a disciple of His truth. A disciple in the day of Jesus was one who did more than just listen to teachers give lectures and take notes. A disciple was like an apprentice, learning a way of life. For Mary to sit at the feet of Jesus in a public room was totally scandalous in that day. It simply wasn’t done by women. But she boldly took on the posture of a disciple. As always the ministry of Jesus was radical, and that was the case in Bethany. Women were welcomed with the same privileges to be disciples as men, something unheard of. Imagine the delight of Mary to be honored and welcomed to sit at the feet of the Teacher. And we have that honor and privilege every day of our lives, yet how often we become so worried and bothered about many things that we miss the opportunity. Don’t miss it! Open the Word of Jesus and let His Words of life speak into the depths of your being! Charles Spurgeon writes, “Every time we open our Bible, we sit at Jesus’s feet. All of Scripture bears witness about him (John 5:39). God’s Word is the good portion that we can hide in our hearts, never to be taken away.” The psalmist says, “The Lord is my chosen portion” and, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” ( Psalm 16:5, 11). This is what Mary knew.“ Jesus wanted to pour out His heart on those who would listen and Mary was willing. In the weeks ahead as we look at other “Bethany” Scriptures you will see that Mary’s choice to listen had a powerful effect on her life, the disciples and Jesus! A place of transformation Bethany is a place where our temperaments and motives are exposed and transformation is possible. We see that especially in the character of Martha. She is outspoken with a gift and heart to serve. She was probably a first born, and definitely a take charge kind of woman! In our first encounter with Martha she is worried and troubled about many things and Jesus gently leads her to choose the better. He doesn’t scold her for serving. He simply redirects her to consider her priorities. In the weeks ahead we will see how this transformation continues in the life of Martha. As we close our devotional on the Women of Bethany today, I encourage you to make it personal for your own life. Consider the following questions. 1. Which of the faith lessons or spiritual characteristics of Bethany and the women who lived in that small village have the most application for your life today? (love, welcome, feasting, service, listening, or transformation) 2. What are the distractions or worries in your life that keep you from sitting at the feet of Jesus? 3. Do you relate most to Mary or Martha? What changes do you need to make in your life to choose the “One thing” that Jesus says is the better portion for your life? Prayer Gracious Father, forgive us when we are often so distracted by our preparations that we miss the privilege of lingering in Your presence. Forgive us for the times when we are so diligent in our service that we neglect our devotion. Thank you that you desire to make your heart and home with us. Thank you for the beautiful stories in Scripture that teach us how to live. Father, thank you for your love for Bethany and the family that lived there. Thank you for the lessons we have learned from your heart of love for them. Draw us out of the kitchen Lord and bid us to come and sit at your feet. By your grace, help us to always choose the better portion, the “One thing’ that you desire so that we may we enjoy the feast of your presence and find our rest in You. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen. Please join us in two weeks for Part 2 of the Women of Bethany Series. This is our way of giving you the opportunity to journey with us in our Feast for Your Soul Bible Study. You can receive them directly in your inbox and we never share your email address. See instructions in purple below. In this New Year let's celebrate Jesus as the Feast! When we choose to rest in Him and seek His truth and presence in our lives we will discover that He will nourish and strengthen us for all our days. Seeking the One Thing, Kathy When we presented this drama at our "Feast Study" we sang the beautiful song Captivate Us by Watermark. The lyrics and beautiful melody capture the heart of this Scripture. Below is the youtube link if you would like to listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO6uyJcBclw I have also created a Feast for Your Soul Playlist on Spotify if you are interested in other songs of worship that will encourage you in the themes we are studying in our "Feast" series. Simply go to marykathryndrake on Spotify and follow Feast for Your Soul Study to enjoy several hours of beautiful vocal and instrumental songs of worship. It's free. Resources: Sermons and writings by Charles Spurgeon, Ann Graham Lotz, Frank Viola, Ken Gire, Images Pinterest If you are reading this blog through social media we would suggest that you sign up to recieve the blog each week in your email inbox. It will come directly to you to read at your leisure. Just enter your email in the subscriber box on the right at the top of this blog page on the website, then REPLY to the invitation email you will receive in your personal inbox. Your email address is safe with us! Follow ALL directions to completion! Feel free to share our blogs on your social media or email them to a friend.Just follow the instructions carefully
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We'd like to take a moment to wish you and yours a blessed Christmas season and the happiest New Year! Please take a moment to view our Christmas Video Card. You may view it below or click on the link: https://youtu.be/66L11g9Pbgs We are so grateful for how the Lord has blessed us this year in ministering to hundreds of women through our retreats, Women's Night of Worship, blogs, and home feasts and Bible study! We also thank you for your prayers for us and the ministry, and the love gifts that you so generously give. It truly helps sustain the administrative costs of this ministry and supports women in attending many of our retreats, studies, and events. If you are seeking to make a year end tax deductible contribution, we pray that you will consider Restore Ministries. Click on the button below for more information on the ways you may contribute. We are grateful for you and are looking forward to the upcoming new year. Please continue to pray with us as we seek out creative ways that the Father would have us minister to the needs of you and the many other women who benefit from Restore Ministries. She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means "God is with us." Matthew 1:23 Blessings of Hope for a Blessed Christmas and a Wondrously Happy New Year! Rejoice! Immanuel has come...Immanuel is here! Immanuel [God] is with YOU! Love, Kathy and Sherry If you are just joining us or missed the pass two postings, you may view the retelling of the story on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/9oa439_ctgw To catch up or review the last two posts, you may find Part 1 HERE and Part 2 may be read by clicking HERE. Feeding of the 5000 – Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:10-17; Matt. 14:13-21; John 9:12-17 34“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.42 And they all ate and were satisfied.” Mark 6: 34,41,42 There are 3 points that I believe the Lord has spoken to me to share with you concerning this Biblical account:
I don't know about you, but during these holiday seasons I find myself more tender-hearted. Just eating in a restaurant can sometimes cause me to tear up! I think about what the life of the waiter may be like and how they need to leave their family to work and provide. I wonder about the lives of the other patrons who are eating and what causes them to be away from family...or if they even have one! I'm talking about the people that carry a certain look. Surely you've seen them, too! You can see in their eyes, a loneliness, pain, frustration, or burden. They move and carry their body distinctively with expressions that are rather hollow and distant. I try to sink my watery eyes deep into the menu and swallow back my own emotion. Since childhood, I occasionally experience these sudden, out of the blue, tender-hearted moments...I guess I'm weird that way. One would probably call it compassion, but compassion is something that moves us to action. And that is exactly what Jesus does! Compassion is far greater than sympathy or empathy. Compassion produces action – it’s a type of love fuel that moves us to acts of kindness and mercy when confronted by those who are suffering or vulnerable.
There are many other scriptures that tells us of the compassion Jesus had for others. I encourage you to do a personal search about this topic. It is quite uplifting to learn of His compassion for us. Here are just a few examples: When Jesus saw the people, with lavish compassion he….
God is moved with Compassion when He Looks at you! Likewise, Jesus is our example of offering Compassion toward others.
In my own life, I have noticed that I have selective compassion. Some times prejudices or presuppositions sink in. Oh, to have a heart like God’s. Does our heart break for what breaks the heart of God? 1st John 3:17, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” When we take on the challenge of demonstrating authentic compassion, we will be transformed! “Compassion needs to be nurtured and practiced or even this basic love response can grow dull and cold.” ~David Engelhart Even when Jesus, needed rest and a time to grieve, holding nothing back, He moved ahead of his own physical need and moved toward others with a gaze of compassion…not just for their physical need, but for their spiritual need as well. I love this paragraph from one of D.L. Moody’s sermons: “Did you ever hear of one coming to Christ that he did not accept? He doesn’t care what position in life you hold. No matter how low down you are; no matter what your disposition has been. You may be low in your thoughts, words and actions; you may be selfish; your heart may be overflowing with corruption and wickedness; yet Jesus will have compassion upon you. He will speak comforting words to you, not treat you coldly or spurn you, as perhaps those of earth would, but will speak tender words, and words of love and affection and kindness.“ Even in the midst of the storm, Jesus saw His disciples struggling against the torrential waves. With lavish love and a heart of compassion, He walked out to them. He offered words of encouragement, and once He entered in with them, their hearts were calmed. Do you recognize when He climbs into your storm tossed boat? Do you recognize it as a heart of compassion for your life? Pause now and thank Him for His tender compassion toward you. You may wish to make a list or write in a journal. I encourage you to think about the emotions that are linked with compassion and remember that healing fell hand in hand with His compassion for others. Let Him heal your hurt, frustration, or physical need right now by wrapping yourself in His Word, through prayer, and believing that He desires to be with you. PROVISION The feeding of the 5K story doesn't end when the disciples picked up the left-overs! Be sure to read through Mark 6:45-56 as Jesus walks on the water and calms the storm. List the ways you saw Jesus providing for the people throughout this full Biblical account Mark 6:30 - 56. Here are just a few that I came away with:
It seems that our Lord is always providing! From the beginning of the world in the garden of Eden, He provided food and fellowship with Him. He has also provided manna from Heaven, not only for the Hebrew children of Moses' time, but Christ, our manna from heaven, who takes away the sin of the world so we can fellowship with the most Holy. He is Jehovah Jireh, The Lord who provides! Matthew 6:8 "Your Father knows what you need before you ask." Philippians 4: 19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” Matthew 6: 25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” When Jesus received the boy's lunch, He did 3 things that I believe are important to examine. Looked into Heaven, Blessed, & Broke Communication with God does not require a certain physical position, but postures do give expression to the attitudes of our hearts. I have thought about the way I often pray. Mostly, my head is bowed…in reverence and my eyes closed. Looking toward heaven in prayer seems to display a more boldness in coming to the throne. I should do that more often! Looking a person in the face indicates confidence and honesty. It is indicative of an open, trusting relationship. The Gospels record many instances when Jesus prayed, looking up into heaven. Like a small child looks to his/her parents for help, this position of prayer reflects purity of heart and expresses the following attitudes:
My come away with this phrase is two-fold: First, I can look Abba Father into the face with my hands raised, showing my dependency on Him. I thank Him for all things – the good, the bad, and the ugly – In faith, I offer Him what I have – He breaks me so that I know it is He that does the amazing and astonishing work with which to declare His glory, apart from any actions of my own. His faithful hand of mercy touches and miraculously takes what is broken and multiplies it for good – and His Kingdom purposes. The second is this, the story of the Feeding of the 5K is a foreshadowing of things to come for him. He is the Bread of Life, He was wounded and broken for our transgressions and bore the iniquity of us all. Jesus is our Bread, He is the feast…He distributes Himself and gives freely for all. He that eats is satisfied and hungers & thirst nevermore. Let me leave you with this thought as I close out this 3 part mini series: Evening approached (the end of daylight) – In your life, you may feel like you are moving into a time of darkness. Storms are on the brink. You fill out of control. You cannot find your way. You sense Jesus calling you to come away…be still…Come to a remote place – This remote place represents your witts end. It is barren and desolate, but you know that God has you in this place for a purpose. You long to feel His tender arms carry you on. You, like the crowds are searching for answers, wisdom, healing…you are hungry & fatigued. Do you hear Jesus inviting you to sit on the soft green grass? His eyes and heart of compassion are heavy for you. He desires to satisfy your longing soul. He invites you to eat and be fully satisfied. And Your hungry soul - He will fill with good things, if you but feast on the abundance of all of His provisions. He will calm the storm and carry you safely to shore. Trust His heart for you and your need! With a compassionate heart, He will provide! Finding His Compassion and Provisions new every morning, Sherry Resources: Sermons- John McArthur (gty.org) & Dr. R.C. Sproul (Ligonier Ministries), Desiring God -John Piper, Articles/Blogs from Faithgateway.com, Sally Clarkson, Commentaries: Matthew Henry, Oliver B. Greene. Logos Software, Lexicon, Strong’s Concordance "For He satisfies the longing soul and the hungry soul He fills with good things." Psalm 107:9 ESV
Feeding of the 5000 – Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:10-17; Matt. 14:13-21; John 9:12-17 34“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.42 And they all ate and were satisfied.” Mark 6: 34,41,42 There are 3 points that I believe the Lord has spoken to me to share with you concerning this Biblical account:
“Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) Mark 6: 31 NASB Used more than 3,000 times in scripture, we find the word “Come.” This invitation is used about 1300 places as a word of encouragement. As bookends, we hear God in Genesis inviting Noah to a "Come" to place of safety in the ark. In the Song of Solomon, the call is to “Arise my beloved and "Come" away.” We are beckoned throughout the Bible to “Come.” It is His characteristic word! Upon Jesus entering his earthly ministry, he invited the disciples to “Come and see” and it is one of the last words we hear Him speak from His place in heaven, The Spirit and the bride say, "Come". His invitation to “Come unto me” is His message to all of us. We can only find our rest for our souls in Christ alone. You should RSVP daily to this invitation from Christ. Then show up! His desire for us is to find our rest in Him. He loves us so much! At the heart of Restore Ministries, our message has always been that of what Jesus so purposefully beckons of us. To Come Away! We believe that the Lord wants to restore and redeem the brokenness, the wounds, and the weariness of our souls, as we find our wholeness in Him. The value of rest should never be underestimated. It is essential for fruitful labor. A quiet secluded place is necessary to recharge the mind, heart and body. Rest was just what Jesus had in mind for His weary friends, the disciples. They had spent much time "doing ministry" when Jesus sent them out two by two. On this particular day, they reconvened to report all that they had done in Jesus' name. When Jesus saw them, I believe he saw a weariness, a heaviness, and tired bodies. They had just heard the news about the beheading of John the Baptist, their friend, and there was also an emotional drain. Not only were their spirits depleted, but scripture tells us that they didn't even have time to eat! So their physical bodies were also depleted. They seemed to be in such a hustle and with constant hurry. Jesus' invitation to them was to come away to a secluded place and rest a while. Can you relate? Do you find yourself hustling...and with good cause? How long has it been since you took some time to restore, replenish, and rest? Pulling away to be refilled is crucial to the many acts of kindness, love, and the out-pouring of our heart. Ministry is often draining. There is not only a physical exhaustion that takes place with much doing, but a spiritual exhaustion as you pour out and into the lives of others. We must remember that we can only pour out what has been placed within. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 Unrest leaves us in a state of chaos and confusion. Our soul cries out for peace. The Bible says, “The wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt” (Isaiah 57:20). “In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!'” (Deuteronomy 28:67). We are being slammed on every side! Everyone wants a piece of us. Deadlines quickly arise and we find ourselves grasping for every single minute. I don’t need to tell you what it’s like. You are very much aware. We hunger for just a moment to breathe! It’s sad that I have to remind myself to BREATHE! And I’ll admit my fault, I’m the queen of unrest, but I do know it’s value. I am an example of “a work in progress” as I seek quiet times for restoration. There is also something to be said about stillness and solitude.
I believe REST is something that everyone seeks. We hunger for it! "Unrest" seems to lie at the core of a hungry heart! As I move about my days and decisions I face, there are times I find myself being hijacked. What is it that is being taken? My peace. My rest. My ability to keep my mind focused on Kingdom purposes and opportunities to display God's glory. Even my joy is often stolen. And I ask myself, how is this possible? Most often, it's because my battle plan is weak. I have not taken to heart the seriousness of resting...and resting IN HIM! Rest also comes with being still…when we quieten our body, mind, and spirit, it is then that we experience great communion with God. He commands us to Be still and know that He is God. We need to remember to GO INTO OUR CLOSET and SHUT THE DOOR! Communion with the Father provides rest for our hungry soul. He fills it with good things as is stated in the Psalm 107:9 verse.
Passover celebrated one of Israel’s key stories, the moment that God took a bunch of Hebrew slaves, liberated them from oppression and started to build them into a nation. Suddenly a whole narrative starts playing into this miracle – after all, didn’t God feed his people when they were in the wilderness? And, when they were in the wilderness, weren’t the people arranged in administrative units of hundreds and fifties, just like Jesus commands in verse Mark 6:40? Jesus notes in verse 34 that the people were “Like sheep without a shepherd”, and again this is linking to a whole other narrative, the Old Testament idea that leaders – kings, priests – had a duty as the shepherds of their people, and yet many of them had completely failed in this. Again, we can go back to the birth of Israel to see where this idea comes from – In Numbers 27:15-17, Moses asks God to appoint his successor so that Israel won’t be, you’ve guessed it, sheep without a shepherd. This idea recurs throughout the Bible – Ezekiel 34 is an extended attack on the bad ‘shepherds’ and points out that God himself will act as a good shepherd, which is also a very famous description of Jesus. And you know it from what scripture? God mentions green grass, shepherding, and provision? Psalm 23!
Suddenly the feeding of the five thousand is linked with one of the greatest expressions of God’s love and support ever committed to paper. This miracle is about God supporting his people, protecting them, looking after them, loving them. And it’s tied into a bigger story, that of God’s rescue plan for humanity that culminates in Christ’s death and resurrection. And even this story is a foreshadowing of yet another account in scripture when Jesus serves His disciples in the upper room. Even in Ezekiel 34:15 The Lord declares that He will have them lie down! God has a way of making you lie down if you don’t take time for yourself! When you find yourself in a "Holy reclining position," God’s compassion runs warm like a blanket tucked in. Then, you are ready to receive His wondrous provisions! So listen to God's invitation to you today. Come...find rest! I promise you won't be sorry, but encouraged as you find in Him ALL that your hungry and longing soul seeks! Strengthen your battle plan. Call together an army of close friends that will pray for you and remind you look toward the Good Shepherd who will restore, revive, invite you to rest, and will lead in you paths of righteousness...for His name sake. The Good Shepherd - Psalm 23 The Passion Translation 23 David’s poetic praise to God[a] 1 The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd.[b] I always have more than enough. 2 He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.[c] His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. 3 That’s where he restores and revives my life.[d] He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness[e] so that I can bring honor to his name. 4 Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace.[f] The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near. 5 You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit;[g] you give me all I can drink of you until my heart overflows. 6 So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you! In our next blog, I'll share a little insight about His Compassion and His Provision as we finish up the short series of The Feeding of the 5K. It is our prayer that you will accept His Invitation to “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while” and allow the Lord to restore and redeem the brokenness, the wounds, and the weariness of your soul, as you find your wholeness in Him. Sharing in His Feast, Sherry
Greetings! Thank you for joining us today. To receive the best benefit of this blog, we always encourage you to click the title and view it from your browser. This blog contains video that will not display on some devices. We are continuing our study of A Feast for Your Soul ~ Celebrating God's Abundance in Community by sharing with you our teachings of the Bible Study that we are writing and hosting each month. This is not your typical blog! It has been written in a way that will supplement your quiet time with the Lord. It is not a quick sip or nibble of heavenly nourishment for your soul. It is intended for you to take a little more time to sit, rest, chew and reflect on His goodness and faithfulness in our lives. So pour a cup of tea, a mug of coffee, and sit in your soft chair. Enjoy today's Monday Musing!
Hunger is one thing that moves us to action! When we are physically hungry, we begin our hunt to quench the craving. We look for something to satisfy. Something good! When we are hungry for peace and quiet, we seek it out in various places. I typically find my "happy place" on my front porch, until the neighbors yardman comes to tidy up the grass! Everyone finds themselves hungry! I'm sure you are visiting this blog because deep within, you are hungry too! You hunger with curiosity, you hunger for more of God's word, you hunger for fellowship or even to identify/associate with Restore Ministries as a part of this blog following. Perhaps there is a real need in your life right now and you are just grabbing at anything that will help pull you out of the mire - or mundane. You hunger for peace in the midst of a storm that you are passing through. You need strength. Words of wisdom...or just something to give you a taste of Hope...or direction in your life. You need to know that satisfying a hunger in your soul costs something! It will cost your time and effort. But let me tell you right now, it is ONLY JESUS that can satisfy the longing of your soul - and to fill it with good things. And yes, even that cost. It cost Jesus His life! He gave it because of His great love and compassion for each of you reading this! If you've never made the wonderful discovery of having Jesus in your life, the true Bread of Life, the One who loves your soul and delights in filling you with the abundance of His treasure and ALL that He is, then please contact us directly. We would love to share with you how to have an incredible love relationship with Jesus Christ, because, once again...it is ONLY He that can satisfy your soul, and quench the hunger and thirst within. There are 37 miracles recorded in the Holy Scriptures and the story of the feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle, before the Resurrection, that is reported in all 4 of the Gospels! That in itself should call its importance for us as there are many spiritual lessons, truths, and information that lead us to the closing of Jesus' earthly ministry. 34“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.42 And they all ate and were satisfied.” Mark 6: 34,41,42 The story of the Feeding of the 5K is also a story of "hungry" people! This story bears the marks of seeking solace & respite, pressing demands, and a table of abundance. I see 3 groups of individuals who are all hungry for something! And as I have studies this story, over and over, each time God reveals more to me, and my own face is mirrored in many of the characters. It is my prayer that as we journey through this story, that you too will recognize yourself.
So with those things in mind, let me tell the story... Below, is a link to the YouTube that I have created to enhance the retelling of this story. It is just under 14 minutes. I encourage you to invest time and watch it on your television if you have the technology to do so. This is Part 1 of this short blog series of "Hungry Soul? Feeding of 5K Reveals Solutions!" It is my prayer that you will be blessed as you hear the story of this great miracle. (I have included the link incase the YouTube is not displayed on your device. Click below) This blog has been designed to set the stage! It is a precursor or introduction to the 3 points that I believe the Lord has spoken to me to share with you concerning:
If you have not yet subscribed to receive Restore's Monday Musings Devotional Blog straight to your email inbox, please consider subscribing. Your email is safe with us as we do not share it with third parties. Just enter your email in the subscriber box, then REPLY to the invitation email you will receive in your personal inbox. Follow ALL directions to completion! Feel free to share this on your social media. Sharing in His Feast, Sherry Today, we continue our new “Feast for Your Soul” series where we will look in the gospels at some of the feasts in which Jesus participated. The lessons that He taught at the feasts and the people whose lives He touched offer rich truths we can apply to our own lives. This week’s Monday Musing is a study of Luke 7:36-50. This story was the first feast of our study, so for those of you unable to attend you can join us in the journey through the blog and for the rest, we pray that you will enjoy revisiting the powerful truths in these “Feast” Scriptures. The blogs in this series are designed to lead you in devotional study of a Scripture where Jesus feasted with the people in His ministry and leave you with some thoughts and questions to ponder in your personal life. In this story, Jesus sets on the table His theology of grace. The setting for our feast is Simon the Pharisee’s house in Galilee. This dinner probably took place around dusk. The people would have been reclining to eat on cushions surrounding low tables. When a teacher was invited to dinner, the doors to the courtyard were usually left open so that uninvited guest could enter and stand around the perimeter to hear the teaching. As you read try to imagine the scene… the oil lanterns flickering, the smell of the food, the lively conversation. Notice the difference in the way Simon performs as a host to Jesus and the way the sinful woman greets him. Read the Scripture below and try to enter the scene yourself as you observe the characters involved. Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman - Luke 7:36-50 36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”“Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” There are different kinds of hosts in our world and in this story. There are those who invite someone into their lives and homes out of duty and those who invite someone in out of delight. Jesus was causing quite a stir in the area. There was a growing uneasiness among those in power, the Pharisees. Simon was probably curious himself. Could this man really be a prophet? He didn’t look any different from all the rest of the strangers you might pass on the street. What was it about him that drew so many into HIs teaching? He was performing miracles and Simon was skeptical. And so Simon invited Jesus into his home. It was his duty after all. This Jesus needed to be investigated. It’s likely that Simon was chosen from among the Pharisees for this task and pride probably also crept in. He could be trusted to check Jesus out on this fact finding mission. And so the table is set. Jesus arrives, but isn’t given a place of honor at the table at the inner area of the courtyard and instead is seated around the perimeter. Simon makes a place for him, but can’t bothered with giving him water to wash his feet or having a servant wash the dust from his feet of travels. Jesus head isn't annointed with oil. Their eyes meet, but he certainly isn’t greeted with a kiss. These were all common courtesies defined by the community and time in which they lived. Then the sinful woman enters the feast. This woman has invited Jesus into her life and has invited herself to the feast. She becomes a host for Jesus and is filled with delight in contrast to the hosting that Simon offered out of religious duty. Jesus calls the woman the more gracious host. She attends to the needs of the guest in the way that Simon should have offered. I think verse 44 is so interesting - Jesus turns his gaze toward the woman, but speaks to Simon. Simon saw only a prostitute, a sinful intruder into his home. He didn’t see her as a person, and He certainly didn’t recognize her extravagant acts as offerings of worship to the Savior. But Jesus saw her, really saw deep into her soul. For once, a man, a man named Jesus, looked into the depths of her soul and saw her need, not what he could get from her for a price - but what He could give her for a price that He was willing to pay. He saw beyond her sordid past and into her glorious future. And in humility and love, she comes to this feast to honor Him in her present state of forgiveness. It’s important to note that this woman enters the scene already forgiven. John McArthur explains in his commentary on this passage - “Notice that little statement, "I say to you, her sins which are many have been forgiven." That's perfect tense. It didn't happen right there then. That's past. Perfect tense, something happened in the past with continuing effect. She had already been forgiven. She had been forgiven some other place, some other day, some other time. She came there already forgiven, in a state of forgiveness, to find Jesus to thank Him. “ Jesus has transformed her life. We don’t know the details of how, but we see the evidence of it in her lavish display of love and gratitude, her deep humility. She is silent at the rebuke in the room. Imagine how she felt while people whispered about her reputation in the room. But divine grace has moved her to love and love has given her courage to serve Jesus. What she gave cost her in finances and in public rebuke. She pours out all of her costly perfume on His feet. She has brought it as a gift of her love to the One who has forgiven her. I love the word that describes the tears that fell from her eyes. The Greek word for her tears that wet His feet is “brecho” which means rain. She literally rains tears on His feet. Luther describes her weeping as “heart water” like an emotional damn that has broken into pieces. She had no water, but heart water and that was sufficient to wash the feet of her Savior. In contrast, Simon was a religious leader. He had done his best to live a respectable life. His sins were tucked away, maybe he didn’t even recognize them himself. But he had given himself permission to judge and size up others, putting a wall around his world and his heart. His life was all so orderly, so under the law that he couldn’t see the unpredictable power of grace. The Scripture says Simon thought - “If this man were a prophet he would know what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner. I love how Jesus reads Simon’s mind and answers him with the parable in verse 41- 43. This Master teacher is trying to get Simon to understand grace through His parable. Simon and the woman both owed a debt that neither of them could pay. She is the 500 coin debtor who couldn’t pay and Simon was the 50 coin debtor. Simon, the Pharisee was so certain that he was on a road that would lead him to heaven - that road of an orderly, moral life. He had followed the rules, kept himself ritually clean. And yet, heaven walked right in through his door, sat down at his table and Simon didn’t even recognize Him. In contrast, the woman knew how desperately lost she had been and she found heaven at the feet of Jesus and her heart broke open with tears of love. The evidence of her forgiveness is in her lavish love. She has invited Jesus in and she hosts Him into her life with utter delight. This is worship - pure and holy. Look again at the words of Jesus in verse 47 - Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” I would imagine the room went silent when Jesus spoke these words. This is such a significant truth for us. We will love God to the degree that we recognize the magnitude of our sins and the immensity of God’s grace to forgive them. And then we worship as worshippers the Father is seeking - in the beauty of our brokenness and repentance over our sin and the passionate love that flows out of us as a result of His grace. Lavish love comes from lavish forgiveness. Jesus has seen the sinful woman in Luke 7 with the gaze of the soul and the name He gives her is forgiven. At last, she can experience peace. For so long she has searched for someone to fill the deep hunger and thirst in her soul and that search has led her down a dark and broken life of sin. Perhaps you also have experienced the same brokenness that a life of sin can bring. Jesus reveals Himself to be the Bread of Life and Cup of Salvation in her life, the One...the only One who can finally satisfy her hunger and thirst. And so as we look at the stories in Scripture where Jesus ate, drank and taught we must ask some questions about what we can learn for our own faith journeys. For me the greatest lesson in this story is that no matter how sinful, how broken, how deeply entrenched our own lives have become filled with error, or how hidden the sin is in our lives, we have the hope of forgiveness and peace, just like the woman and Simon.
We may not feel worthy of His forgiveness, but that doesn’t change the fact of it.
1. How are you hosting Jesus in your life? Do you greet Him in the morning with prayer, reading His love letter to you in His Word, anointing Him with praise? We can approach Him like Simon, tightly holding on to unspoken questions, treating Him as a question to be answered, a resource to be mined or we can approach Jesus with a heart of gratitude and worship, a Savior to whom we can pour out our love because we know that we are deeply loved and forgiven. We can choose to be like this woman and host Him with the delight of your hearts. Our love, like hers may not be tidy and orderly. We certainly may not have all the answers. But, if we turn our hearts toward Him, we too will be healed. 2. Can you think of someone in your life who needs the compassionate eyes of Jesus from you? 3. How can you break open the alabaster jar of your love for Jesus in the days ahead? 4. What acts of gratitude can you pour out at His feet? When we choose to believe, forgiveness is etched on the wounds of our hearts. It is written in His boundless grace and sealed by His love. Forgiven and loved, Kathy . Resources: Sermon by Charles Spurgeon, Articles and Teaching by John Piper, John Bloom, John McArthur, Moments with the Savior by Ken Gire, Sally Clarkson, Leonard Sweet, Commentary by Matthew Henry, If you are reading this blog through social media we would suggest that you sign up to recieve the blog each week in your email inbox. It will come directly to you to read at your leisure. Just enter your email in the subscriber box, then REPLY to the invitation email you will receive in your personal inbox. Your email address is safe with us! Follow ALL directions to completion! Feel free to share our blogs on your social media or email them to a friend. Restore Monday Musings is excited to be back! We have spent the summer and early fall studying and planning for a wonderful year for the ministry. We hope that you will join in the celebration as we share what the Lord is teaching us through the blog in the months ahead! Special note ***This blog has lots of pictures and a slide show. Please click the Restore butterfly to take you to the website for viewing. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. Psalm 36:8 Jesus was all about the table. Throughout the Scriptures He was forever feasting with His disciples, the religious leaders, the tax collectors and the sinners. Last spring when I was reading through the gospel of Luke I came across this verse spoken by Jesus in Luke 7:34, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors, and sinners. But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” I wondered, what is the real meaning behind that verse? And so began my journey in Luke through the lens of feasting in the gospels. Recently, I was visiting with a woman about Restore Ministries plans for this year and she asked me how we came up with the idea of “A Feast for Your Soul” for our Women’s Night of Worship and Home Bible Study theme. I told her about my experience and how Sherry and I had spent the summer exploring how we might engage in the "Feast." I think Jesus believed that celebrating life around the table is one of the greatest ways to share the gospel message and I agree. He loved a good party, He attended a lot of feasts in His ministry! Around the table we tell our stories, build memories, and share our faith journeys. But we’re in danger of losing the connectedness, community and faith building power of life around the table in our fast food, grab and go culture in America today. In Genesis, God commands human beings to “Eat freely...” (Genesis 2:16) and in the final chapter of Scripture He says, “Drink freely....” In between these two bookends of the Bible, throughout the Scriptures, God lays out for us a table where He serves us a life-course meal. It is a meal where we have the privilege and opportunity to feast in our hearts on the very Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation: Jesus Christ. We must let our hunger take us to the Bread of Life. Sometimes, don’t you feel like you are just living to check off your to do” list. I know I do. It’s so easy to get caught in that trap of just surviving the days, as if that will satisfy. But Jesus offers so much more...He offers us Himself! We are to drink freely of the water of life, Jesus, the living water for our souls for He alone can satisfy. Around the table we build community that nurtures our faith within our families and among believers and those who don’t yet know the Savior. Throughout the Old and New Testaments we find the thread of redemption leading us to Jesus. Our salvation comes through a God who comes to eat with us at a table and to feed us with His very presence. The Scriptures are written to exalt and reveal the glory of God, to bring us a revelation of His worth, beauty and excellence that we might bow our hearts in worship of Jesus as our Savior and Lord. As we choose to feast on Jesus as Savior, we learn how to live our lives for His glory, transformed by the power of His Spirit and grace. We have the privilege of exploring the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Ephesians 3:8) As we draw near, we learn the beauty of surrender in the worship of Jesus as His beloved Bride! This beautiful story of redemption is one that we should read, see, and savor! The stories in Scripture are designed to shape us, if we will only allow ourselves to enter in, use our minds, our imaginations, and our senses to taste, see and smell and feel the stories. For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things. Psalm 107:9 ESV God willing, throughout the year, in our blog we hope to take you along with us in our "Feast" study as we travel with Jesus and his disciples through the pages of God’s pursuing love story. We’ll use our imaginations and visit places like Galilee, the little village of Bethany, Jericho, and Jerusalem as we enter into stories of feasting in Scripture and explore the amazing truths and lessons the Father has for us. The locations of these meals move from the homes of Pharisees to followers of Jesus and tax collectors, to hillsides and shores by the sea. Wherever Jesus gathered for a meal with the people, He filled them with the wonder of His transforming truth. In the course of the meal He shares life-giving lessons for us all. Our prayer is that as you read along with us, you will feel like you have joined with us in the Feast in your hearts even though you may live far away or cannot attend our monthly “Feast” gatherings. It will be a great joy to savor together the nourishing words of Scripture and in the process we will “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Psalm 34:8 These beautiful pictures were taken by the amazing photographer, Sage Veach during our Women's Night of Worship Feast on September 7th at Community Bible Church. Over one hundred women from at least twelve different churches came to join in our celebration. I think the photographs capture the hearts of the women as we gathered to worship, fellowship, and feast on the Word of life. We enjoyed a pretty amazing Mediterranean meal too! Our hearts and tummies were full! We are so grateful for the serving teams that helped to make it such a glorious night. In the future we will gather with about fifty women once a month in my home for our "Feast" study. We are expectant that the Lord will move powerfully by His Spirit as we seek His heart for us in community. I hope that today’s blog has been like an appetizer for you. In the months ahead we will endeavor to celebrate the abundance of the feast of Jesus as He reveals Himself in Scripture. We are praying that as we engage in some of the stories of His life and ministry, the menu will nourish our spirits and restore our souls. Meanwhile, why not schedule a “feast” in your own home?
Feasting on Jesus and His abundance in our lives, Kathy Resources: John Piper, John Bloom, Sally Clarkson, Leonard Sweet If you are reading this blog through social media we would suggest that you sign up to recieve the blog each week in your email inbox. It will come directly to you to read at your leisure. Just enter your email in the subscriber box, then REPLY to the invitation email you will receive in your personal inbox. Your email address is safe with us! Follow ALL directions to completion! Feel free to share our blogs on your social media or email them to a friend. God is so Good! All the time! But especially for us as we prepare for the our monthly study and community Women's Night of Worship. We have been Feasting on His Word! It's just a couple of weeks until our Feast For Your Soul ~ Women's Night of Worship. Women from all over the Baton Rouge area and representing many different churches are registered. It looks like we will have a delightful number of ladies seeking to feast on the Word of Truth, to be transformed by the renewing of their mind, to find rest for their soul, and to bask in the abundance from the house of God, celebrating His goodness with wholehearted worship! We hope that you will come and join us: A Feast for Your Soul ~ Women's Night of Worship & Dinner September 7, 2018 at 6pm Location: Community Bible Church 8354 Jefferson Hwy. Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Online Registration Required. Psalm 145 7bThey celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 13 The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.[c] 14 The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. 18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. As we are making final preparations for you, we hope that you have already registered. If not, there are still places available ONLY for the Women's Night of Worship. We have reached our maximum capacity for the monthly Home Bible Study, but a waiting list has been set up should someone need to cancel. We will contact you in the order in which we receive your contact information. You may click HERE to be placed on our waiting list; and who knows, maybe we will offer it again next fall! We thought you'd like to take a look at just a little of the preparations that are taking place! See YouTube Video below: https://youtu.be/LyFgztfDtCU Please note: a Donation Basket will be available for you to make a contribution to help cover the cost of the meal. Reservations are Required for the Women's Night of Worship. Won't you join us? "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." Psalm 107:9 English Standard Version (ESV) Looking forward to feasting with you!
Kathy & Sherry Dear Friends, We are inviting you to participate in our upcoming events: WOMEN'S NIGHT OF WORSHIP and A FEAST FOR YOUR SOUL HOME BIBLE STUDY SERIES (space limited for the study) Below you will find our Informational YouTube Video so that you will know what to expect and all of the particulars! Here is the link incase you are unable to access it from your device: https://youtu.be/Z27jfluWy3Y
WOMEN'S NIGHT OF WORSHIP KICK-OFF for A FEAST FOR YOUR SOUL FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 Time: 6:00pm Dinner will be served! Please register Here Location: COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH 8354 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 There is no fee for the Night of Worship. We only ask that you PLEASE register so that we will know how many tables to set up and how much food to prepare! Suggested donation for dinner - $5-$10.ONE TIME REGISTRATION FOR WOMEN'S NIGHT OF WORSHIP and/or A FEAST FOR YOUR SOUL HOME BIBLE STUDY SERIES Friday Night Study dates AFTER our September 7th Night of Worship Kick off in the CBC sanctuary are:
Greetings Everyone! We just wanted to let you know to be watching for some things that are upcoming! Here is a glimpse of a new event that will take place each month (except Dec.). Beginning September 7, 2018, we will gather women from across the body of Christ on one Friday night each month to come together for a feast. A literal feast of food, but also a feasting on the living Word, Jesus Christ! Restore has always been a ministry in which women from many different churches have participated together through our retreats, nights of worship and teas. We would like to offer an opportunity to experience this amazing community of women more often. Meeting only once a month allows you time to participate in studies at your local church, but also gather with women from across the community and the body of Christ. We have much to learn from one another in the work the Father is doing within us. We will come together to share our hopes, our dreams, our struggles, our questions, and seek God's truth as we delight in the words of Jesus. We also will explore and study some of the feasts in the New Testament in which Jesus participated and the lessons He taught us at those feasts. For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things. Psalm 107:9 ESV Registration is not yet open, but keep watching, waiting, and praying for us as we continue this summer to prepare for our time together! We ask you to SAVE THE DATE for our Women's Night of Worship kick-off for the study. WOMEN'S NIGHT OF WORSHIP KICK-OFF for A FEAST FOR YOUR SOUL FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 Time: 6:00pm Location: COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH 8354 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 We hope you will join us and bring a friend! Friday Night Study dates after our September 7th Night of Worship Kick off in the CBC sanctuary are:
October 5 November 9 January 25 February 15 March 22 These meetings will be held at the Drake home. So mark your calendars, invite a friend and plan to join us. Registration opens soon! |
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