Today’s memory verse Today is the third day of Making Your Home A Haven Bible study. My gratitude and prayer list. There are so many verses to pick for my SOAK today.I particularly liked this verse, Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord , and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily […]
Making Your Home A Haven Bible Study-Week 1, Day 3 —
https://womenlivingwell.org/2020/11/how-to-delight-in-the-lord-delight-in-the-lord-week-1/
Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
{Cue the Confetti!!!}
It’s time to begin the 11th Annual Making Your Home a Haven Bible Study! This week’s spiritual focus is to Delight in the Lord! Join me for Week 1’s video as we discuss How to Delight in the Lord —then pull out your journals and begin!
https://womenlivingwell.org/2020/11/how-to-delight-in-the-lord-delight-in-the-lord-week-1/
Week 1 – Delight
When our schedules are full and our to-do lists are overwhelming, it’s hard to stop and enjoy life to the fullest. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross and the forgiveness of our sins, we have a personal relationship with God. Not only should we delight in God as our savior and friend, but God is also a giver of good gifts, that he wants us to delight in!
So how do we delight in the Lord and the good gifts he has given us?
We must stop.
We must stop and open our eyes to the generosity of our God. When we sit still in his presence and simply enjoy the Lord, we find that our souls can be satisfied in him. He is a delight to know!
Once we are still in God’s presence and delighting in him, the fullness and richness of all God has given us, comes to life. Suddenly we see God’s hand in everything. We see God’s love in the chirping birds, a crispy apple, a hot cup of coffee, a bouquet of flowers, a hug from a friend, a beautiful sunset, a powerful storm and the changing leaves on the trees.
People who work too much, don’t delight in life. Instead of experiencing freedom in Christ, they lack the self-control and faith to simply stop, rest and delight.
Every evening the sun sets, signaling it is time to rest. And on the seventh day of creation, God rested. Rest and delight are God given, built-in needs for our souls.
So, it’s time! It’s time to take 15 minutes a day to stop and be grateful, pray, meditate and delight in the Lord and then go forward with the day, delighting in the good gifts God has given us to enjoy. Let’s get started.
https://womenlivingwell.org/2020/11/how-to-delight-in-the-lord-delight-in-the-lord-week-1/Week 1 – Challenge
Start a daily gratitude list!
Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. Each time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye, let it remind you to say a prayer of thanksgiving and a prayer for peace in your home.
I will be starting mine in the morning but you can start yours at dinner time or whenever is convenient for you. I will be placing mine in the kitchen – the main hub of my home. Let’s make our homes feel like a warm hug and a sweet haven all month long!
You see when we do not take the time to tend to our own souls – we have nothing left to give to others. So many times I have found myself busy and running on empty and then I snap – in a moment of frustration and weariness I say or do things that I would never do if I was more rested and connected with the Lord.
And so this month – let’s be intentional!
Begin your gratitude list now.
Pull out a pen and paper and begin. As you set your pen to the paper – wait on the Lord. Seek God and ask him to show you all the ways he has shown himself to you lately.
Give thanks to God for both the big and small blessings in your life.
They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:31)Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
(Psalm 136:1)
https://womenlivingwell.org/2020/11/how-to-delight-in-the-lord-delight-in-the-lord-week-1/
This Week’s Bible Verses:
MondayTuesday
Wednesday
ThursdayFriday
October 4, 2020 https://womenlivingwell.org/2020/10/introducing-the-11th-annual-making-your-home-a-haven-bible-study/
“Welcome to the 11th Annual Making Your Home a Haven Bible Study! 11 years ago, we began this series and never could I have imagined how much it would resonate with so many women around the world!
So many times we try to mask our struggles, pain, confusion or emptiness by keeping busy and distracted, eating food, going on vacations, seeking success or elevating certain relationships. While many of these things are blessings from God, they are not good substitutes FOR God.
This Bible Study is going to help you slow down.
It is going to force you to pause every day and enter into the presence of our Almighty God.
God’s pace is much slower than this world’s pace.
We must slow down to catch up with God.
We must create calm moments in our day because it’s in the unhurried moments, that we can clearly see and hear the voice of God.”
https://womenlivingwell.org/2020/10/introducing-the-11th-annual-making-your-home-a-haven-bible-study/
So, let’s take care of our souls by intentionally creating a physical environment, as well as a spiritual environment, in our homes that brings us closer to God. As a result, we will experience peace and a sense of calmness inside our souls, no matter what we are facing.
October 21, 2020
https://womenlivingwell.org/2020/10/resources-for-the-delight-in-the-lord-bible-study/
The Study Guide is optional, as I will provide for you the daily Bible Reading Plan and many free resources each week here on the blog. BUT I highly recommend the Study Guide. It provides space for your daily gratitude list and daily prayer requests, plus a place to keep all of your Bible study reflections/SOAKs and video notes.“
https://womenlivingwell.org/2020/10/resources-for-the-delight-in-the-lord-bible-study/
Go buy an extra-large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. Each time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye, stop, pray and give thanks.
Keep your candle going and add to it soft music everyday in your home. Choose worship, classical or another form of peaceful music that helps you focus on the Lord.
Keep your candle burning, the music playing and purchase a small bouquet of flowers for yourself. Let that bouquet be a daily reminder of God’s love and presence with you.
Rest is a need not a want. Rest is not optional and it is a blessing from the Lord. So, seek out a place of solitude to rest and pray. Get alone with God outside or in your home. Be still with God and take a much needed bubble bath, nap or still time with the Lord.
Candles are an important part of the Making Your Home A Haven Fall Challenge. Do you have to have a candle lit in your home to take the challenge? Of Course not. Why wouldn’t you want to have one lit? I do understand there might be those of you out there that for some reason, […]
via Candles In The Home – Making Your Home Cozy — Sarah’s Attic Of Treasures
These are unprecedented times, when everyone in the world is being encouraged to stay at home as much as possible. This can create a lot of anxiety for everyone. So it’s important that you create a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere, whether you have returned to lock-down or if you’re just practising self-quarantine or shielding. These […]
Making Your Home a Haven — Created Curated by Sara Brown
Welcome to the Third Sunday of Advent. The third Candle is pink, a symbol of joy. It is also called the Shepherd’s Candle, for when the angels announced that the savior was born, the shepherds were filled with great joy. The faithful believers wait in joyful anticipation of the coming of the Lord.
via Third Sunday of Advent — Rosemarie’s Kitchen
From Sarah :
Here are the first two weeks posts.
Week 2
https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/135140624/posts/16320
Week 1
https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/135140624/posts/16299
By Deseret News Nov 25, 2011, Eric D. Huntsman, For the Deseret News
“Advent is an important tradition in Germany and Scandinavia as well as being part of the Christmas worship of many branches of Christianity, including the Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist churches. The name “Advent” comes from the Latin ‘adventus,’ meaning “coming, appearance, or presence.”
As early as Pope Gregory the Great (A.D. 590–604), Advent was established as a four-week preparatory period that anticipated the celebration of the birth, or advent, of Jesus Christ as the Babe of Bethlehem. But as observed today, Advent also celebrates Christ’s presence and importance in our lives now, and, just as importantly, looks forward to his future return in glory when he will reign as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
Although some Christian communities celebrate it differently, a common feature of the Advent celebration is the Advent wreath, a simple or decorated evergreen wreath with four candles set in the circle and perhaps a fifth, white candle set in the middle.”
The first Sunday of Advent: Hope
The second Sunday of Advent: Love
The third Sunday of Advent: Joy
Daily Christmas devotionals about Jesus Christ
Eric D. Huntsman is an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University and is the author of “Good Tidings of Great Joy: An Advent Celebration of the Savior’s Birth” published by Deseret Book
