A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place.....Questions for Weeks 9 & 10

Well, we have made it all the way to the end. YAY!!! So proud of you all. I know this study has challenged and stretched you. Thanks so much for seeing it through to completion.

So let's get into our questions..... The study on the Mercy Seat was so wonderful and poignant. On page 183 Beth Moore writes: "The mercy seat was the focal point of God's manifested glory to His people!" How awesome is it to know that Christ is our Mercy Seat?!! This is so appropriate as we are entering the Easter Season. Question 1: Knowing Christ died for me, knowing all that I would do, knowing how I would sin, knowing what a dissapointment I would be at times..........knowing, He came......dying, He saved me. I love the song by Sidewalk Prophets, "You Love Me Anyway", especially the part that says: "I am the thorn in Your crown, but You love me anyway.... I am the sweat on Your brow, but You love me anyway..... I am the nails in Your wrist, but You love me anyway..... I am Judas' kiss, but You love me anyway...... It reminds me of just how much we are loved by our Jesus. Right here is the link to that song...it is a powerful video as well..... On page 185 BMoore states: "Even at our best, our salvation rests only on God's great mercy. It rests between two cherubim on a golden throne called the mercy seat." Also on that page to the right is a quesion with a heart on it, lets answer that one. Question 2: I am a believer in absolutes. I believe that God is absolutely God and never changes and loves us always. I love what she says on page 192: "With all my heart I beilieve that human nature cries out to be stopped, to be saved from itself, to be confronted by a standard, to discover pure black and white, to realize the importance of absolutes." Dak and I had a similar conversation coming back from one of his college visits. Raising teenagers is hard work....just sayin' and we have to stand in a way that our children KNOW what we believe and stand for. This world is pulling them in a million different ways and trying to drag them down every.single.day. Satan is using whatever means he can to get into the minds of our children. Dak was saying "well, whoever's up there. I know He knows me and loves me just the way I am." Well you know this mama about pulled the car over and hyperventilated (that was what I was doing on the inside), but on the outside I was one cool customer. But I told Dak that there was something that I wanted him to know, God was the One "up there", not "whoever" and there were absolutes in this world with the biggest One being God. So he asked me what I meant by absolutes, (oh girls, you know I was about to come out of my seat.........I LOVE to talk about my God with my boy......and yes he is saved, and yes he is struggling......he is 18.....it has been a VERY hard season.....anyway.....) I told Him that absolutes were things you could count on in this world. Things that NEVER change, and God was the number one absolute in this life. I firmly believe that this is where Satan is getting to our kids. He is getting them to believe that God changes, or that God isn't really as real as we parents say He is. It completely makes me burn with a Holy anger. But I know that God is on the scene. He was with us in the car that day, and He was talking through me, to my beautiful son. We are a work in progress =) So tell me a little about what you think about absolutes. And have any of you read Ryan Dobson's book: "Be Intolerant: Because Somethings are just Stupid"? It's been a long time since I've read it, but he talks in this book about absolutes. This book started a HUGE discussion on this topic in the Christian world several years ago. Question 3: I am so glad on page 199 that Beth Moore has this question/statement on the sidebar. She asks us to share our salvation experience and describe our excitement in knowing that He is present with you. LOVE hearing others salvation experiences and how God has worked and moved in their lives. So this is a little testimony time to tell of the greatness of our God (another great song right now =) Question 4: On the top of page 206 Beth Moore talks about how the trek in the dessert should not have taken anywhere near 40 years, but it did. Why do you think this was? I mean we know that so much of it was caused by disobedience, but do you think that also that disobedience was spurred on by fear? Just a thought God is laying on my heart as I review this day. On the side bar she asks: "Has fear ever kept you from walking through a door God obviously opened for you? What have you learned to help you the next time God opens a door?" What thought-provoking questions. We know that God has NOT given us a Spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind, so why do we fear so much sometimes? Question 5: Page 211: "The Word became flesh and [tabernacled] among us." John 1:14 Did you not just love the fact that the word for dwelled in this verse is actually tabernacled? I LOVED this so much!!! He tabernacled here on earth in human flesh for us. He left the limitless space of heaven to come to a place with such limitations, but He did that for us. He was, is and will always be the ONLY way!! I just absolutely love this!! "What does it mean to you that Jesus had the power to escape His circumstances but chose to endure suffering for our sake?" Just a side note: I absolutely LOVED going back through the fulfillment of the tabernacle in Christ on page 212. LOVED IT!!!!! Great part!! Question 6: Christ was the fulfillment of God's promise to the Israelites. He came and conquered sin, death, hell and the grave, and He left with us His Spirit as the Promise. At the time of Salvation, the Holy Spirit took up residence in our hearts, so we are now the temple of God, the dwelling place of His Spirit, I Corinthians 3:16. Beth Moore states on page 214: "You are now the way He dwells among the people of this world. He dwells there in your tent!" Was anybody else convicted by this? I was like, ummm wow, I have GOT to do a better job!!!!!!!!!!! We are made up of three components, Spirit, Soul and Body. Each work to make the whole of the person that we are as we journey through this life. Our bodies are the temple that house the Holy Spirit of God, so I believe that it is vitally important that we take care of them, but it just can't be the most important thing. There is a balance to be struck. I was once very, very overweight and unhealthy. About 14 years ago I lost a lot of weight, and since that time, I have been trying to find the balance. It is hard and something that I talk to God about. I struggle physically in many areas, but I am no spring chicken anymore either (okay I'm 44, I know not old, but no longer young), but that balance must still be struck. There have been times when I've spent way to much time worrying about weight, and times when I haven't spent enough time thinking about it. But as I grow in the Lord, He is helping me to find that balance. It is having all three, body, soul and Spirit, completely committed to whatever God wants me to do. I must be present. Do ya know what I mean? In all areas, present, not just letting things happen. So have you found it hard to balance sometimes, and what have you found helps you in this area? *********************************** Ladies, It has been a complete joy and priviledge to serve you in this capacity over the past several weeks. Thank you for your commitment. God's Word does NOT return void. You will get a HUGE return on your investment to study His Word and to learn more about Him and how He loves you. I will be filling you in on my next phase of this journey that God has me on, tomorrow night. Thank you SO MUCH for your commitment and love. I love you so ~~ Dawn ~~ See you tomorrow evening at Chatzy.....

A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place.....Questions for Weeks 7 & 8

Ladies, It is time to get together and study God's Word tomorrow evening over at Chatzy at 6:oo PM (CST). We will be discussing Weeks 7 & 8 of our very fascinating study on the Tabernacle. So let's get started:

Weeks 7 & 8: In the last two weeks we have studied more in depthly on the priests and then we got our first glimsp "Beyond the Veil", into the Holy of Holies. Amazing!



A couple of things I realized while studying these two weeks: 1). Priests could marry. I didn't realize that. 2). A Nazerite vow could be taken by women. I had previously thought only men could take that vow.



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Question 1:

I'm taking this question right out of the book. On the bottom of page 138 there are three ways we can offer sacrifices to God:

Praise

Your "temple"

Faith



How did you answer this section?



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Question 2:



The whole section on pages 140-141 about the Nazerite vow and purity really got me to thinking. Beth Moore states on page 141: "God never called us to naivete. He called us to integrity."

What is the difference in the two?

And How can we, as Christians, have integrity without being naive?



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Question 3:



Read Hebrews 4:14-16. Then read I Corinthians 10:13.

In Hebrews 4:15, the writer tells us that Jesus our Christ was tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Christ knows what it is like to be tempted, for He was tempted just as we are tempted, yet He did not sin. Now we find in I Corinthians 10:13 God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, but when we are tempted He provieds a way out so we can stand up under the temptation.



Has there ever been a time when you felt like you couldn't bear the temptation and had to give in? (You do NOT have to be specific). Yes or No

In light of this verse, how do you feel about temption?

And in the future if we put this verse into action, how might the outcome be different?



On page 147 Beth Moore says: "Every door of escape has been unlocked. Christ made absolutely sure of it by unlocking it personally."



On page 148 she states: "Two things about a believer's temptation never vary: (I). We always have an open door, a way out. (2). Every door we refuse to walk through makes the next one even harder to enter."........"Because the Holy Spirit's job is to convict us of sin, and He is never late for work. Remember, being tempted is not sin; refusing to take the way out is sin. Either way, it is a matter of resistance. We resist either the sin or the Holy Spirit."



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Question 4:



On pages 163 & top of 164, Beth Moore lists 4 effects of God's glory in the life of one He invites (draws) to approach Him. I would love to discuss in depth all four of these, but because of time, I will ask you to pick one of the four to elaborate on from your own life experiences, which one speaks the most to you?



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Note: Everything we need to know about God and our relationship with Him is found in the Bible. Love that and it is SO true!!!!!



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Question 5:



Read Ephesians 3:14-19. I love that these verses describes the completeness of Christs' love for us. He reaches in every direction of our need: wide, long, high & deep is the love of Christ. His love toward us lacks nothing. It is complete.



What is the result of this love? (vs 19)



Given your current season in life, what does that mean to you?



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Question 6:



At the end of week 8, we studied about the beautiful Mercy Seat. I don't have a question, I just would love for you to listen to this song and drink in God's wonderful provision for us, by the precious Lamb of God, His son. I tried to load this song, but blogger wouldn't let me, so please go to www.youtube.com and put in the search Mercy Seat Vicki Yohe. It is such a beautiful song, and goes lovely with this part of our study.



I love you so ~~



See you Tuesday evening.....

A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place.....Questions for Weeks 5 & 6

Hello ladies,

Can you believe that we are getting ready to study weeks 7 & 8 in our study over the next two weeks. We're learning SO much!!! My heart is so full!!

So let's get started:

In Weeks 5 & 6 we are beckoned beyond the 1st curtain and into the Holy Place. Remember that the earthly Tabernacle was a pattern of the heavenly one. That is such a Blessed thought to me, but it is also what we need to keep reminding ourselves of as we study: Holy God wanting to meet with and have a relationship with sinful man. For that to happen, the pattern that God set out had to be followed exactly according to HIS plan and pattern, and when it wasn't there were grave consequences, which we encountered in week 6.

So let's come into the Holy Place ladies. He becons us to come near and learn.....

Question 1:

The Golden Lampstand:

The lampstand was hammered out of a 75 lb. piece of pure gold. AMAZING!!!

I love how Beth Moore ties the lampstand into John 15 on pages 99-100.

Read John 15:1-9. The pruning process hurts and is difficult, but why is it necessary?

Can you tell a time that God pruned a branch in you so that it could be even more fruitful?

Question 2:

On the top of page 103 Beth Moore states:

"We are the heavenly lampstand of this age to show Jesus to a dark world. He is no less present when we hide our lamp, but when we do this, we make it harder for those walking in darkness to see. Christ was the Olive Tree pressed to make available the pure oil of the Holy Spirit to fuel our lamps continually."

This paragraph was very convicting for me. I do not want to hide my light under a bushel. I need to ALWAYS display it for others to see.

We are lights in this dark world, but that came at a very high price to our Savior.

List 3 tangible ways that you can show your light to others that don't know Christ.

1.

2.

3.

Question 3:

I love how we can get such a visual, from the Word, of the Tabernacle and all the pieces. In Lev. 24:5-7, we get the picture of the bread on the Table of Shewbread. Notice that each loaf was to be made from the same amount of flour for each; 2/10 of an ephah of fine flour, so they would have been all the same size.

How were they arranged on the table? (vs 6)

In verse 7, what was placed along side the bread?

What was its purpose (Lev. 2:1-2)?

Question 4:

The Altar of Incense:

God has spoke to me so much through the Altar of Incense.

The Altar of Incense was as deep in the Holy Place as the priest could go on a daily basis.

I love how Beth Moore ties the Altar of Incense in with prayer through the Word.

On page 118-119, we read Luke 7:36-50, and the five points she makes there after.

Which of these speaks to you the most and why?

Question 5:

Where do you find yourself; are you a prayer warrior?

Or do you struggle with prayer?

If so, why?

Question 6:

As stated in the intro: Holy God wanted(s) to meet with sinful man, so He designed a plan that had to be followed exactly for that to happen.

What happened when Nadab & Abihu did not follow God's plans to spec?

What did they do that was not to God's specifications?

Where was the fire to come from?

What was the real issue with Nadab and Abihu?

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I always feel like I should apologize for the lack of questions. There is so much we could discuss, but please know that I ask God to lead me and to write these questions through me. I pray that we discuss what He desires us to discuss.

If you have questions that we do not cover, please e-mail me. I will do my best to help.

Stay in His Word my dear girls ~~ I'll "see" you tomorrow evening over at Chatzy ~~ I love you so,

A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place.....Questions for Weeks 3 & 4

Well ladies, it is once again time for our Bible Study discussion over at Chatzy tomorrow evening at 6:00 pm CST.

This Bible Study is so rich. That is the best way to describe it for me. It is so rich in heritage and so rich in meaning, tying the Old and New Testaments together. I am simple LOVING IT!!!

So let's begin:

We studied in week 3 how God prepared the Israelites for His dwelling, The Tabernacle.

There were so many preparations that had to be made. God gave the Israelites the opportunity to give Freewill Offerings. I find it so interesting that the people, as stubborn and grumbling as they were, gave from their hearts freely until finally Bezalel told Moses they had more than enough for doing the work the LORD had commanded to be done. Ex 36:4-5 Amazing!! I want to give like that. What about you?

Question 1:

On page 56, we were asked to read I Corinthians 3:9-15 and were asked what six materials can we choose to build on this foundation:
Gold - Silver - Costly Stones
Wood - Hay - Straw

What are some examples of these in our lives? What will last and what will not?

Question 2:

Let's discuss I Peter 4:19 "Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."

Beth Moore says: "You are looking at a classic freewill offering. No one can make you surrender your sufferings to God. Only you can decide how your fires will affect you. Will you be santified or scarred?"

This verse takes on even more significance if we consider Peter's life. We know he sufferend in his life, but also in his death. I'm sure most of us know that Peter was crucified upside down because he did not deem himself worthy enough to be crucified the same way his Lord Jesus Christ was. That is just amazing to me!!! But did you know that before he was crucified, he had to watch his precious wife, Perpetua, be crucified before him.

"In Edgar J. Goodspeed’s book, The Twelve, he quotes from the accounts of Clement of Alexandria in his Miscellanies and from Eusebius in his Church History: “They say that when the blessed Peter saw his own wife led out to die, he rejoiced because of her summons and her return home, and called to her very encouragingly and comfortingly, addressing her by name, and saying, `O thou, remember the Lord!’” Peter and his wife apparently were of one mind in regards to issues of faith, and they were both willing to give their lives, apart from one another or together, in order to serve their Lord."

So how do your fires affect you? Are you sanctified or scarred?

Question 3:

Beth Moore says on the top of page 62: "The key to wearing our new self, rather than allowing our robes of righteousness to hang in the closet, is found in Ephesians 4:23. Are you storing anything of the old self in the new mind? We are new creatures in Christ; but if we still think like the old creature; we will find it impossible to personify the new. Most of our wars are fought on the battlefield of the mind.

Why is what we think so crucial to our walk as Christians? How are some ways we can renew our minds every day? (Romans 12:2)

Week 4:

Now we are breaking ground on the Tabernacle. Let me encourage you to be drawing out your Tabernacle. is is such an important part of the study. I am not a sketch artist by any stretch, but I am really enjoying this part so much. It is very engaging.

Question 4:

First article in the Tabernacle: The Altar of Sacrifice

I love the way God lit the original fire. Beth Moore says: ".....God had lit the fire from His own holy hand. Only fire originating from Himself could truly purify and consume, or approve, an offering. Therefore, the fire must never be allowed to go out......God lit the fire, but humans had to fuel it."

What is your responsibility after God lights the fire in you? (2 Timothy 1:6-8) answer: To testify about our Lord.

Why is this hard sometimes? What are some ways that you overcome the fear of talking to others about Christ?

Question 5: The Bronze Laver

At the bottom of page 86 and top of page 87, are seven reasons we have difficulty following Jesus' command to wash one another's feet. Which one(s) resonated with you the most and why?

I'm looking so forward to our discussion tomorrow evening. Thank you for your patience in getting the questions up today. It has been an eventful day =)

I love you so ~~

Bible Study Questions: Session 2

Good Morning!!! I hope if you are joining our study that you are enjoying it as much as I am. It is ROCKING MY WORLD!!! Just sayin' =) If you are not joining along side us, I hope you are in God's Word on a consistent basis and learning more about our Amazing Father, His Son and Holy Spirit. I love learning more.

So tomorrow, we will be meeting at our ususal time and place in web-world: 6:00 PM, CST right here on Chatzy.



So let's get started.....



Isn't is a beautiful thing, that God wants to meet with man. He wants us to know Him, not because of who we are, but because of who He is. He is the One who draws us unto Himself. He, the Creator, wants to be with us in our everyday journey on this planet. What a beautiful and amazing Truth.



Beth says on the bottom of page 13: "...that is why God created us: not because He needed us but because He wanted us. The act was based on the pleasure of His will."



Question 1:

So in light of the above paragraghs, why do you think it was so important for the Israelites to build the Tabernacle exactly to spec?

_______________________________________



I love the word picture she constructs of building a bridge from the Garden of Eden to the Tabernacle. When you think about all the events, from God walking with Adam in the Cool of the day, to the fall, to the flood, the Tower of Babel, the covenant cut with Abram, all the way to Moses and the Israelites building the Tabernacle, you must conclude that God definitely had a plan and it was in motion.



Beth says on page 19: "According to Revelation 13:8, Christ is the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (KJV). God's breathing a soul into Adam signed His precious Son's death certificate. The moment the decision was made to create humankind, Christ was, in simple terms, as good as dead. We had to have a Redeemer. Although God grieved over people's sin, He was not surprised. The plan was intact prior to the people, and no one could thwart that plan!"



Question 2:



God has a plan, a specific plan for each of us and He built the bridge through Christ for us to get with His program.



What does that mean to you? How has the construction of that bridge changed you?

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In week 2, day 2 we studied about The Bitter Waters of Marah. As I studied this day, and particularly the bottom of page 36 and top of page 37 about bitterness, God reminded me of an especially painful time in my life that caused much bitterness for me in the years that followed.



When I was a Senior in High School, I was asked by my Senior Class to play the piano and sing a song I had written for graduation. It was a HUGE deal to me, because you see, in HS I was VERY unpopular and picked on. So to be asked to do this was a big honor.



Well, I practiced and practied AND practiced, until I know my family was sick of hearing the same song.



I might add that at this particular time in my life and all growing up to this point, I was a HUGE daddy's girl. My daddy did no wrong in my eyes. This girl loved her daddy like no other.



Well the day of graduation came and my dad was not home yet (he was a truck driver), but he assured me he was on the way and said he wouldn't miss it for the world. Well hours passed by and graduation got closer and closer and my dad kept calling and telling me he would be there.



Well the time for graduation came and I looked over to where my precious mama and family sat, hoping my dad would be there, and he wasn't.



Well, the worst part of this story is still to come ---- the reason he wasn't there ---- but you'll just have to join us this evening to find out what happens, and why bitterness set in and how God has healed that bitterness over the years.



Question 3:



Has there been a time in your life when you were bitter? Have you allowed God to heal you of it? What did that healing look like for you? If you are still bitter about something, cry out to God, He knows your heart dear one, and let Him put His healing salve of forgiveness on that wound child. He loves you so!!!



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NOTE: Everyday of this study holds a rich new Truth for me and also some familiar Truths revisited, and on day 4 week 2 at the bottom of page 43 at the bottom, I gave a hearty "OUCH & AMEN" off to the side. Anyone else?



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I absolutely love how she ties the OT in with the NT all through this study. Everything points to Christ. In fact, as I write this, I have heavenly bumps (goose bumps =) from just going back over day 5. I just wanna stop and praise Him ----- He is SO Worthy!!!!!



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Question 4:



(Bottom of page 46)



How is Christ clothed in Revelation 19:13?



"A garment of such expense has never existed in all eternity. An unfathomable price was paid for a garment of blood. Why did His robe have to dipped in blood?"



(Top of page 47)



What does Hebrews 9:22 say to this issue?



Given Jesus' sacrifice, what does Isaiah 61:10 mean to you?



Give another verse of Scripture that you love describing Christs' love for you.



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Well, here we go. Our first two weeks of study complete and hopefully your faith and love for the Father and all that He did to draw you unto Himself has grown exponentially.



I am SO loving this study. Be faithful to your homwork dear ladies. Nex week is going to Blow your Beautiful Minds!!!



Hold on for more soul searching times in the next week.....Beautiful!!




Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth."



I love you so,

Bible Study Questions: Session 1

Welcome to our New Year's Bible Study. I am so excited for and grateful for those who are joining us. This promises to be a very thought-provoking, heart-stirring study.

Let's dig into the Word this session ladies. This Word is going to move you and change you. It is just that good. God never changes and His Word is ever-lasting and will not return to Him void.

So let's get to our questions for the Introductory session:

Question 1: Where are you? Now isn't that an interesting quesion. The reason I pose this question is because it is asked of us in this study. It is so important for us to recognize the season we are in right now and just where this study finds us in life. So I am not looking for a one word answer here. Really think about this one. If you are in a hard place, then that is where you are. In studying this material together, we will find a safe place to land our feelings, hopes, dreams, and desires, and also the dreams that haven't been realized or hopes that were dashed. Here is a safe place to land with those feelings.

Question 2: What are your initial thoughts on the Tabernacle?

Question 3: I watched the Introductory Session with Beth Moore and she quotes Abraham Herschel: "A return to reference is the first prerequiste to the revival of wisdom. It begins with a revival of awe. Awe precedes faith." And that is where we need to begin. In total Awe of our God and His might.

Share two Scriptures that remind you of the Awe of God. And share your favorite verse on Faith.

Question 4: In our previous studies we have written a letter to the Lord or a prayer in the front of our study, and I'd like for us to do this again this time, and then read it at the end of our study. It is so good to see how the Father works from beginning to end. It truly is beautiful.

Our first session is tomorrow, Tuesday January 11 at 6:00 PM CST.

See you there,