Tag: Bible Study

Thoughts on Reopening

Post author By Lori
Post date October 20, 2020
4 Comments on Thoughts on Reopening
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I have seen more and more businesses reopening during these pandemic times. Churches have also started bringing back portions of in person gatherings with outdoor services. While the doors of the church have always been open, one thing I noticed was some people’s Bibles were still closed. Mine was too at one point. All of a sudden I got that lazy worship going on. At the onset of the pandemic I was focused on staying connected to God, my church, friends and family. As things around me started to close and then reopen, I noticed I was just sitting back and waiting. Opening my Bible for personal prayer, devotion and study time takes some work. It’s much easier to keep the Bible closed rather than open it , seek first and search for God’s wisdom. Waiting on the right time to reopen a building or a venue is wise and should be done with precautions. I am not against that. Waiting to read, hear and study Gods word strikes me a little differently. I thought about it and realized closing my Bible and keeping it closed for too long can cause viral attacks on my spiritual health and wellness. I won’t be able to disinfect or inspect if I don’t open up God’s word. So are you waiting for approval to reopen your Bible? Friends, you don’t need it. Trust me. Are you waiting for this phase of global pandemic to end to renew your mind, grow spiritually and become more deeply rooted? There’s no need to wait any longer. Reopen your Bible and let’s stay spiritually healthy as well during this time.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Open my heart as I open your Word. Amen.

Tags Bible Study, Encouragement, pandenmic, prayer, reopening, spiritual growth

DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS Pandemic Times

Not Like This

Post author By Lori
Post date October 12, 2020
2 Comments on Not Like This
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Photo by Kevin Menajang on Pexels.com

I have good news to share today. I want you to know it won’t always be like this. I didn’t think I would be out of a job for so long or not be able to find work after being laid off. That’s my “this”. So what is your “this”? It could be homeschooling and working from home, loss of a spouse’s income, the loss of a loved one, lack of connection and human touch, experiencing financial distress, worry and increased anxiety or fear that things won’t get better. Every season is different. Winter doesn’t look like Fall and Spring doesn’t look like Summer. Can you imagine if it was still snowing in April? Or if it was extremely hot in December? We could not sit by the fireplace and enjoy our warm latte or even bear having a reason to call it “sweater weather.” Just as I go through different seasons in my life, I’m often reminded by reading the Bible that God’s promises are true and I will get through my “this”. So don’t allow what you see happening today in this season to hold you back. You can go from a Damascus road to a life changing conversion. Paul wrote many letters from prison and continued doing what he was called to do despite the circumstances. I think he knew it wouldn’t always be like this. He comforted people, wrote instructions, sent greetings and encouraged churches while he was still in chains. Now that’s what I call living on pitch.

Prayer: Lord help us keep going and keep believing, knowing it won’t always be like this.

Tags Bible Study, hope, pandemic, Seasons

DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

What I’m Learning from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Post author By Lori
Post date March 22, 2020
3 Comments on What I’m Learning from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Giving (1)

As you know we are in uncertain times with the corona virus ( COVID-19) pandemic that is happening around the globe. I’ve watched the news reports, watched the shelves empty as people shop for basic needs, and watched how we all have become more aware of our hygiene and are cleaning responsibly. This time of pandemic has grabbed our attention, changed our focus to mini retreats of being at home with one another. It has brought a whole new meaning for me to the staycation, the stay at home, the telecommute, and the overall virtual experience. I’m learning the real value of quiet time and solitude, but even more the value of gratitude. I’m learning to pull over, turn off, be still and listen to God speak. I’m learning to dial in, plug in, connect and reach out in various communication forms. My takeaways are becoming giveaways. I’ve lost some things materially but I’ve gained much more spiritually. Maybe God has to take away our jobs and the stress, in order for us to give away words of comfort, encouragement and hope to others. Maybe God has to take away our consumption of time spent focusing on mindless activities in order for us to be more mindful of Him and who He is. I’m learning God is still in control of my life and I don’t have to quarantine the gospel. I’m learning to just share it. I may have to stay at home but the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t have to. The messages of hope found only in Christ Jesus have the power to overcome anxiety, hopelessness, panic and fear. Here are a few scriptures to help us meditate on and share with others. (John 3:16, Romans 8:28-31, Luke 12:22-24)

Tags Bible Study, COVID-19, faith, fear, Gospel, hope, lessons, quarantine, scripture, Stay at home, Trust

DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

Study Habits

Do you have good study habits? Do you know where you get them from? Sometimes learning from other people requires spending time with them and watching how they act and react. I’ve learned a lot from watching my parents do different things. I’ve been in their classroom a long time. I discovered learning and developing good bible study habits requires spending time in the Bible. I’m learning more to watch how I act and react as I spend time in God’s word. Watch and learn, now that’s what I call Living on Pitch.

Tags Bible Study, discipline, Encouragement, FAMILY, good habits, Reading, scripture, spiritual growth

DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

Hit the GYM

Post author By Lori
Post date April 13, 2018
2 Comments on Hit the GYM

It can be a real challenge to workout especially for me on Fridays when I’m looking forward to the weekend not hitting the gym so much. One place I love and can work out for a long time is in the Word. God’s word is our personal training ground and it’s where we can go to strengthen our core. We can pray for Guidance, learn how not to Yield to temptation and Meditate on the promises of truth. Are you working out in the Word yet? Now that’s what I call living on pitch.

Tags Bible Study, Fridays, gym, workout

DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS Uncategorized

In Case You Missed It

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ICYMI is a popular acronym used these days for updates, news flashes, rewind, etc. I missed watching my show The Voice, but saw the highlights on the website. I missed the political news about Hillary and Donald, but caught up by reading CNN’s website , I missed that cute family photo my friend posted but Facebook updated me. I even missed church on Sunday but got updated by members and listened to the sermon through online replay. Please don’t miss this: God doesn’t miss anything we go through in life. He doesn’t need a recap, doesn’t need to see it again, or revisit anything. He is everywhere, knows everything and has all power. I realized my best resource for ICYMI is the Bible. I have missed a lot. Somehow I keep missing the mark, I feel like I am missing God sometime. I feel like my spiritual acronym should be YYMIA for yeah, you missed it again. But thank God for being the same, yesterday, today and forever. The Bible is better than social media sites, news feeds, entertainment websites or any app on my phone. God gives constant updates and reminders in the Bible to recap, go back, hear it again, listen to His voice then keep on doing what it says.

Tags Bible Study, Encouragement, God's grace, ICYMI, love, Restart

TWO WORDS

Two Words of Encouragement

Post author By Lori
Post date August 30, 2015
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Two Words for Today are : JOY COMES

No matter what happens in our lives, we know that our joy is coming in the morning. You may cry at night, you may not get much sleep, you may feel tired and weak but hold on because joy is coming! Press on and look forward to morning joy because it is sure to come.

Tags Bible Study, Favorite Psalms, hope, joyful

DEVOTIONAL WRITINGS

Building Strength

I ventured out recently on a hiking trip. It was a challenge and I didn’t know if I had enough strength to endure but I made it through many ups and downs in the hills and on the trails. I saw many bikers, runners and hikers building up their muscles and strength training.

Tags Bible Study, hiking, Strength training

TO THE CHOIR MASTER

Daily Challenge-Growing Up

Post author By Lori
Post date March 19, 2015
No Comments on Daily Challenge-Growing Up

Living on pitch is not an easy task. There are daily challenges and often pride gets in the way of us staying in tune with the Master. I’ve learned to be aware of issues of pride in my heart and often say to myself, “warning: The power and control you think you have may be too much for you.” I just finished a Bible Study series at my church on the 6 things God hates and it was so powerful. There is so much I need to work on and I am grateful for being challenged by the Word of God and the people of God.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for warnings, stop signs and detours every day.

Proverbs 6: 16-19( ESV) There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.