Follow Me Bible Study {Week 3} Delight in God

Hello Beautiful Treasures, how are you doing?  I am sorry I took  break without any notice.  It wasn't really planned but with birthday weekend, I needed a couple of days to catch up at home and do all that fun stuff we love, clean house, do laundry, cook, clean up and start all over again.

  

I did leave you with some great giveaways so I hope you have entered them. 

PIER 1 $50 GIFT CARD (ends 10/24) // $750 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/27) // $225 PAYPAL CASH (ends 10/31)

 I am behind on my reading for...

This is what I have so far for this week.

Week 3

"DELIGHT IN GOD"

 

This week’s Scripture Memory

source: Pinterest

This week in a daily break down

I usually will share what stood out to me the most from each day (There is a lot of good points throughout the days, from what I have read and l only share one but this week it will be different because I haven't read through the week or taken notes on all the days.

I hope that you will join us on this bible study and share with us what stood out to you, ask questions and/or leave comments.

 

Day One – Our Father

The creator of the universe is my Father, this chapter really spoke to me. It touches on "God Delights in Us" and "We Delight in God".  These are to two subtitles in this chapter. 

 

In the God Delights In Us section, David Platt says that in the Old Testament God is rarely described as Father; 15 times to be exact. He says in the New Testament, in the Gospels alone, we see God described as Father 165 different times and 164 of them occur when Jesus is teaching His disciples.  He uses the Sermon on the Mount, as an example, where Jesus is teaching His disciples how to pray.  You know the Our Father prayer right? David Platt says, "Amazingly, this is the first time in the Bible where anyone is encouraged to pray to God as Father.

 

~~"Jesus' words are both astounding and significant.  As Christians, we have the distinct privilege of knowing, worshipping, talking, and relating to God as "our Father.”  BY DAVID PLATT, page 66

 

What a privilege this is indeed to call the creator.  of the universe Abba Father! Jesus tore the veil and now we can now talk to directly to our Father in heaven.

 

==EVEN NOW RUN INTO HIS ARMS AND SAY, "MY FATHER."=

 

This is somewhat of a struggle for me.  My dad died when I was five.  I have distinctive memories of him and I and then one day we got the sad new that my died dad, even now it brings me to tears.  I remember that day so clearly.  I remember I was in my mom's room playing Lite Brite with my brothers and my cousins. I can still hear my mom screaming "NO, NO, NO"!!!! and banging on the wall while on the phone.

Although I was only five, I had a great relationship with my dad. I was daddy's little girl. My mom says when he would go out, all I would do was cry for him.  The void in my heart even now has me typing and crying.  After all these years it still hurts.  I use to think my dad abandoned me.  I was so young  I didn't understand. I battle or have battled a fear of abandonment because of this deep wound.  This also makes for a difficult time to fully embrace God almighty as my Heavenly Father.  Growing up without my dad was a challenge BUT the void in my heart and the pain deep within me affected me more than I care to admit. 

I want the wall removed so I can run into God's arms and say "My Father."  A part of me even feels guilty because all my life (well since I was five) I longed for my daddy's love and I searched for it. Oh let me tell you, I searched in ALL the wrong places.  encountering Jesus has helped me a lot BUT I am still a work in progress and I know the God reveals to heal.  As this stuff services and the ache in my heart becomes ever so real, I find comfort knowing that through this God is healing me and He promises to never leave me nor forsake me and I can feel safe with my Heavenly Father and hold onto the memories of my daddy.

Thank you for reading. I pray you were blessed.  This book has my attention. Please make sure  to stop by Satisfaction Through Christ’s to read  Christie's discussion on the this week’s reading and also check back with us every Wednesday for the next 3 weeks for the rest of this study.

God bless you and if you have any prayer requests please leave me a comment or send me an email and we will lift up your needs in Jesus name.



Follow Me Bible Study {Week 2} Be Transformed

Hello Treasures and welcome to Week 2 of the Follow Me Bible Study series with Satisfaction Through Christ.

This week’s Focus

Be transformed.

 

This week’s Scripture Memory

John 15:5 – Vine and Branches Wallpaper

This week in a daily break down

I will share what stood out to me the most from each day (There is a lot of good points throughout the days, from what I have read but I will only share one.  I hope that you will join us on this bible study and share with us what stood out to you, ask questions and/or leave comments.

Day One – United with Christ

What a blessing to be united with Christ, united with a purpose.  We get to unite with Christ and continue the work of God the Father, the work to further the kingdom of God.  United to share and fill earth with God’s love; with joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

~~ “If you’re a Christian, Jesus Christ lives in you and is with you. Moreover, you live in Jesus and are with Him.  That’s what He meant in John 15:4 when He told His disciples to “remain in me, and I will remain in you.”  BY DAVID PLATT, page 42

==TO BE A CHRISTIAN IS TO EXPERIENCE UNITY WITH CHRIST==

Day Two – Jesus  Changes  Everything

Oh boy, Oh boy, does Jesus change everything.  When we truly unite with Christ, we will be changed and transformed.

~~ “First, when we’re united with Christ, He begins to transform our thoughts.  He changes the way we perceive and process information so that, over time, we’re able to think more and more like Him.  Paul wrote about this transformation in 1 Corinthians 2:”

1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (VOICE)

12 You must know that we have not received the spirit of this rebellious and broken world but the Spirit that comes from God, so that we may experience and comprehend the gifts that come from God. 13 We do not speak of these gifts of God in words shaped by human wisdom; we speak in words crafted by the Spirit because our collective judgment on spiritual matters is accessible to those who have the Spirit. 14 But a person who denies spiritual realities will not accept the things that come through the Spirit of God; they all sound like foolishness to him. He is incapable of grasping them because they are disseminated, discerned, and valued by the Spirit.

Question

Read 1 Corinthians 2:16 (AMP)

16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

What does it mean when it says “we have the mind of Christ”?

I like the Amplified Version of this scripture.  It says we do hold the thoughts, feelings and purposes of Christ heart! This truth is enough to change us. If we really mediate on this, we will forever be changed. Think about it, we have the mind of Christ and hold thoughts and feelings and purposed of HIS heart! That is life changing. Join me on this life changing study.

David Platt goes onto say that Paul also wrote about the benefits of this transformation.  I love these cartoons from Joyful 'toons and I think this one depicts this well.

==THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BENEFIT OF CHOOSING TO FOLLOW HIM==

Day Three – From Internal to External

There are several sections for each day in the book.

On Day three, my favorite section was JESUS TRANSFORMS OUR RELATIONSHIPS. (This is big for me)

Here is what David Platt has to say,

~~ “As our transformation continues to progress from internal to external,  Jesus impacts more than our individual actions. He also transforms our relationships with others.  Specifically, He gives us the ability to love others as He loves them: (See John 15:12-15)

In this same section He goes on to say,

~~ “As we abide in Christ and Christ abides in us, He transforms our ability to love and relate with others. He enables us to love our neighbors as ourselves (See Matt. 22:39).  As a result, Christians should be distinguishable from the rest of the world because our relationships with one another and with those who still need Christ:

Question

In what ways do you express sacrificial love for those who still need Christ?

 

==YOUR WILL, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, EVEN YOUR ENTIRE PURPOSE FOR LIVING IS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AS YOU ABIDE IN JESUS AND AS HE ABIDES IN YOU==

Day Four – Abide in God’s Word

This was full of some wisdom for me. There were a few questions discussed on this day.
David Platt talks about believing the scriptures and believing through the consequences.

~~ "So part of what it means to remain in Jesus is to spend regular time reading the bible, which is His Word.  But we know from James that even the demons have an intellectual awareness of what God has revealed in His Word--and shudder (see Jas. 2:19),
Therefore, Jesus makes it clear that obedience is also part of the equation: 
John 15:9-10
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. (emphasis added), David Platt (page 53)
 

Questions

What part do we play when it comes to remaining in Christ?  What choices do we need to make in order to remain in Him? What actions do we need to take?

 

==BEAR THE FRUIT OF THIS WORD IN THE WORLD, EVEN IF THAT MEANS LOSING EVERYTHING ELSE==

Day Five – Personal Disciple-Making Plan:  Fill Your Mind with Truth
This one had me in tears for personal reasons but good stuff. Great questions to think about and advice on how to plan for filling our minds with truth.

~~ "As you consider a plan for reading, memorizing, and learning God's Word, don't forget that we do these things as disciples not for information's sake but for transformation's sake.  Once again, the words of James are helpful:  "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says" (Jas. 1:22)

As believers in Jesus, we're followers of Jesus , which means that we not only hear the truth of Christ;  we apply the truth of Christ.  Our goal as disciples is never just to believe God's Word;  our goal is to obey God's Word."  David Platt, (page 61)

Question

Are you satisfied or unsatisfied with your current plan for reading God's Word? Why?

No, No, No!!! I am not satisfied with my current reading plan for God's Word. I crave God's Word but it is hard for me to stick to a reading plan for some reason, so I usually just read random scriptures.  After reading this, I am following a reading plan and sticking to it and intentionally filling up my mind with God's Word, God's truth.

==THEREFORE, AS YOU PLAN TO FILL YOUR MIND WITH TRUTH, ALSO PURPOSE TO FOLLOW THE ONE WHO IS TRUTH ==

Thank you for reading. I pray you were blessed.  This book has my attention. Please make sure  to stop by Satisfaction Through Christ’s to read  Christie's discussion on the this week’s reading and also check back with us every Wednesday for the next 4 weeks for the rest of this study.

God bless you and if you have any prayer requests please leave me a comment or send me an email and we will lift up your needs in Jesus name.

My Current Reading List

Hey Treasures, how are you doing? This time of the year is so busy as we have lots of birthdays to celebrate (including mine) but here I am sharing a little about Life as Mrs. Aguila and what I am reading right now.

So last week we started what I am calling a Blog Bible study with Christie of Satisfaction through Christ and you can read my week 1 post here, Follow Me Bible Study by David Platt and be sure to check back tomorrow for week 2.

We are using a book by David Platt, Follow Me Bible Study. I have the regular book as well as the book we are using for the bible study. This book is a New York Bestseller, "A call to die.  A Call to Live."





This week I also started Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst.  This is also a New York Bestseller, "Satisfying your deepest desire with God, Not food." I received this book from my lovely friend Maria-Isabel in a swap we recently did and it was just in time to start with my fitness Coach and group.  We are reading through this together and support each other through prayer and encouragement on our fitness journey.

 

This weekend we had a guest speaker at our church and I have heard her before so I knew I couldn't miss it.  Her name is Jane Hamon and her church is in Florida.  This lady spits fire, the fire of God and just ignites my spirit.  The last time she was in town I got her book, The Deborah Company, becoming a woman who makes a difference.  I've said this before I want to be used of God to make a difference that is why I started this blog. Anyway, I started this book and never finished it so I brought it out again and really need to finish it.

 



Mr. Aguila asked me just now, "how many books are you reading?" and the other day, I posted on Twitter and Instagram.

What are you reading right now? How many books do you read at a time? #Books #reading #dailydevotions… http://t.co/7e7ib904O8
— Mrs. Victoria Aguila (@MrsAguila09) October 14, 2013

As you may already know, I LOVE TO SHOP which this Made to Crave book is really messing me up on, HAHA but anyway so I LOVE TO SHOP. I can hear about a good book or a good purse, or see some nice shoes, or some make up or anything and have no problem buying it.  I can buy books all day long. I love Amazon.com and Half.com for book buying.

Well this got me to thinking,  I can buy all these books and have an extensive library and even carry these books around with me from home to work, to my car, to wherever I go, have them nicely tucked away in my purse or my car (where I also have a big bag of books I still need to read) BUT if I don't take the time to actually read these books, it means nothing to have them, it means nothing that I bought them.  In order to benefit from these books I need to take the time to read them. If I want to blog about them or discuss them or share them I have to read them.  It reminded me of the Bible as well. We can have bibles, fancy ones, 10 of them, have them nicely placed HOWEVER, if we are not opening it up and reading it, we can't not gain the wisdom from the Bible.

I am on a mission to finish these books.  To open them up on a daily basis and complete them and not stop half way as I have done with so many books.  I want you to hold me accountable.

When is your favorite time to read? What books are you reading right now? how many books do you read at a time? Do you have books you started but didn't finish? Share with me, I'd love to hear from you.

Follow Me Bible Study {Week 1} The Call

Hello Treasures, so the Fall Bible Study using FOLLOW ME Bible Study by David Platt has begun with Christie at Satisfaction Through Christ.
So initially I had purchased the book not the bible study.

I begin to read it and I really liked it. Then I found out it wasn't the correct one and I heard about all the ways the devil tried to stop this and we pushed back the enemy and decided to go forward with the study and so I ordered the bible study version from Lifeway Book Store here in California.





The book is a 6 week bible study and each week has 5 days of reading.   I just got mine on Monday so its crunch time for me.  For the 6 weeks, Christie of Satisfaction through Christ , myself and others will blog about that weeks topics and we can comment, link up our posts and just discuss what God spoke to us.  I am late this week but still wanted to put something together.  I have never done this type of bible study so I am really excited to get into this with the group and we'd love for you to join us.

WEEK 1:  THE CALL

This week's scripture Memory
MATTHEW 4:19-20

“Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fisher’s of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

This week’s Focus

Was on that moment when Jesus first called His disciples, along with several more of their experiences and encounters during His public ministry.  Ultimately, we’ll find answers to this important question:  What does it mean to truly follow Jesus?

This week in a daily break down

I will share what stood out to me the most from each day (There is a lot of good points throughout the days, from what I have read but I will only share one.  I will share one paragraph and one question from the section plus share my answer and hope that you will join us on this bible study and share with us what stood out to you or ask questions or leave comments.

Day One - The Cost

Again there is a lot of good stuff in this section but this is something that really struck me.

David Platt shares Matthew 4:18-22 (NIV) {Note the subtitle for this section}

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers; Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Question

What strikes you as most interesting in these verses? Why?

What struck me the most on this was that when Jesus told Simon Peter and Andrew, Come, follow me, scriptures tell us that AT ONCE they left and followed him.  They had that blind faith and followed Jesus and they didn’t waver or contemplate or get prayer or ask for advice but AT ONCE they stopped what they were doing (their work, their lives, their agendas) and followed Him.

In verse 21, the same thing happens but with 2 other disciples, James and John, Jesus called them and scripture tells us that IMMEDIATELY they left and followed him.

I know for me there were many times that Jesus was calling me and I didn’t stop, drop and follow.

Day Two - Don't Invite Jesus into Your Heart

This day had my mouth dropping as I read.  David Platt uses a great analogy using his story of adopting Caleb Platt and the gospel.

He says, “Caleb didn’t pursue us, for he was utterly unable to do so.  Instead, we pursued him.

This is the heart of Christianity, and we're prone to miss it if we describe becoming a Christian as "inviting Jesus into your heart". We don't become followers of Christ by pursuing Christ or inviting Christ to do anything, for in our sin we're totally unable to do so. Instead, we become Christians when Christ pursues us and invites us to follow Him."  

Question

What’s your reaction to the previous paragraph? Why?

My reaction as I read was my mouth dropping wide open.  Reading through this day just really revealed so much to me about Jesus and His amazing love and how it wasn’t a prayer that was said or “inviting Jesus into my heart” but His love and His pursuit that has me on this journey of, FOLLOWING HIM.

Day Three - Understanding Salvation

This day was really deep for me.  There were two very profound sections for this day but I will share this one.

AWAY FROM ME

Here is part of this section…

“…Shouldn’t we who follow Christ be concerned that the Scriptures contain no references to people asking Jesus into their hearts or reciting a prayer of salvation? 

Yes this is exactly what multitudes of professing Christians have been encouraged to do. Worse, they’ve been assured that as long as they asked Jesus into their heart, invited Him into their life, prayed a prayer, raised their hand, signed a card, or walked an aisle, they’re Christians, and their salvation is eternally secure.”

Question

What’s your reaction to the previous statements? Why?

My reaction is that of surprised. I guess I really never thought about whether or not it was even biblical to do the “sinner’s prayer”.  It’s just what I have been taught all along. Each time the question was asked, “How many people have you lead through the sinner’s prayers?” I always shrunk back as I have never done it.  As time went on, I quickly realized it wasn’t as easy as saying a prayer. It took a lot more than that for my walk with Jesus. 

There is some other good things to ponder in this chapter but this post is already so long. (God bless you for sticking through this far)

Day Four - A New Creation

Another great section about Jesus making us a new creation and about superficial religion versus supernatural regeneration (read Ezekiel 36:25-27)

“Spiritual regeneration is the heart of Jesus’ call to follow Him.  When you become a Christian, you die, and Jesus becomes your life.  To paraphrase Paul, “You have died with Christ, and you’re not even alive anymore.  Instead, Christ is alive in you, and the only way you live is by faith in Him” (Gal. 2:20, author’s paraphrase).  In other words, Jesus died for you so that He could live in you.”

Question

Have you experienced supernatural regeneration? How can you tell?

I would say that I have experienced supernatural regeneration according to this that David Platt explains, “What Ezekiel wrote about (read Ezekiel 36:25-27) is exactly what Jesus came to do.  He came to cleanse us of our sin through His sacrifice on the cross; to wash us with “clean water” (v. 25).  And in doing so, He gives us something infinitely more valuable:  a new heart.  We’re born again! He gives us His Spirit to live in us and change us from the inside out.  This is what it means to experience supernatural regeneration.

Day Five - Make Disciples

So David Platt, closes up the week with this:

“Throughout the week we’ve explored what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  We’ve looked at several pieces of evidence we can use to confirm whether we’re truly following Jesus rather than going through the motions of cultural Christianity.”  He gives a recap of the week and then goes in to today.  He says, “Today I want to explore the final proof of what it means to live as a genuine follower of Jesus:  the reality that true disciples of Christ are supernaturally compelled to make more disciples of Christ.

He talks about being Fishers of Men and Moving Forward.

Question

Will you follow?

Yes I will follow. Yes I want to taste this pleasure as David Platt puts it.

“Follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘ and I will make you fishers of men’ “ (Matt. 4:19).  This isn’t a gently solicitation to tread a path of superficial religion.  It’s a call to taste a pleasure that can be found only in a supernatural relationship with Christ. ~~David Platt

Thank you for reading. I pray you were blessed.  This book has my attention. Please make sure  to stop by Satisfaction Through Christ’s to read her discussion on the this week’s reading and also check back with us every Wednesday for the next 5 weeks for the rest of this study.

God bless you and if you have any prayer requests please leave me a comment or send me an email and we will lift up your needs in Jesus name.

Fall {Follow Me} Bible Study

Hey Treasures and Happy Thursday!!!

Today has been an emotional day for me, not really sure why besides being a girl, if you know what I mean! So I took a day off from work because I am just not feeling myself today.  Praying to get out of this emotional/hormonal roller coaster.

So anyways, it is my favorite time of the year (which should have me in a joyous mood) and when the lovely Christie of Satisfaction Through Christ  announced a Fall Bible Study I was all for it. 
Have you done an on line bible study before?

Yesterday we did introductions and linked up our blogs.  You can check it out here:
http://www.satisfactionthroughchrist.com/2013/09/fall-bible-study-follow-me-introductions.html

The Book we are using is FOLLOW ME by David Platt.  The book says "A Call to Die, A Call to Live."  Have you read this book?  Do you have this book? 

Join us for a time to be together and get encouraged and grow deeper in the Lord. I am really looking forward to this.  I am not sure why but I know God is up to something. Christie asked us in the intro post above to "leave a comment below introducing yourself and telling us a little bit about why you signed up, what you hope to take away from our time together, and any prayer requests you may have."  I haven't commented because I am really not sure all I know is that when she announced it, I was all for it. Ordered my book on Amazon and I am ready to go.

***TURNS OUT, I AM NOT READY TO GO. I ORDERED THE BOOK AND NOT THE FOLLOW ME BIBLE STUDY MEMBER BOOK THAT YOU CAN FIND ON LIFEWAY OR ANYWHERE CHRISTIAN BOOKS ARE SOLD.***

To view the announcement and/or to sign up, CLICK HERE!

If you sign up, leave me a comment and let me know. This is going to be a great time in the Lord.