I’m back with another writing challenge to get us through the rest of the summer! I’ve been off the map so to speak these last few months, lots going on in my life. I’m trying to navigate this new normal, some days are better than others, some days I am more productive, and some days I’d rather not relive. I have much to learn still in this life and there is no other place to learn, than from the Word of my God, not the lies that the world shouts constantly!
One day Jesus was by the Sea of Galilee sharing the Word of God to the crowd around him. There was a boat of Peter’s there and Jesus got in and asked him to put out a little from shore so he could teach from the boat. After Jesus finished speaking, he said to Peter, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” But Peter answered saying that they had worked hard all night and hadn’t caught anything, but because you say so I will let down the nets. After he obeyed the Lord, they caught such a large number of fish that the nets began to break! They had to call over another boat to help get all of the fish into the two now sinking boats.
Peter then fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!” He and his friends were astonished at the catch of fish! Jesus then said to Peter, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. What faith they had! That’s the type of faith I want to have.
Click here for a Free PDF printable:
In the darkest hour of Christ’s life as he struggled in Gethsemane about his coming task, Peter fell asleep. At one point Jesus came upon His dozing disciples and asked, ” Why are you sleeping?…Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation” ( Luke 22:46) The consequences of Peter’s prayerlessness were both immediate and tragic. In the ensuing hours, as all the forces of hell were unleashed, the disciple ironically nicknamed “the Rock” discovered that good intentions are not enough to withstand great temptation.-Stormie Omartian
This Writing Challenge is broken down into small three to four verses a day and only takes minutes to complete! I thoroughly enjoy my time in the Word as I read, write, and reflect on what the text is saying to me that day! What is says and teaches me, may be different than what you get from it. Remember that the Word of God is living and active and is speaking to each reader differently depending on your needs as you read that day! Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
If you would like to help me out, please share this blog post, the graphics, and the Writing Challenge with your friends and family! Who doesn’t need more of the Word?? I’d also be honored if you would add your email address to the subscription box at the bottom so you know when new post and challenges are posted!
Click here for a FREE full size printable pdf of the challenge: Colossians Scripture Writing Challenge
Therefore, I am going to end with this verse, it has been a comfort to me in so many situations. Most recently the passing of my best friend Tiffany.
This is the second scripture writing challenge I have written, the first was the book of Ephesians and was rather long but oh so good! First John is shorter and will only take mere minutes each day to complete. It is set up with 5 daily assignments a week, with two grace days for you to catch up if needed or reread the previous weeks scripture or write ahead! Reading the Word of God, writing the Word of God, praying the Word of God, or just sharing about the Word of God are all life changing habits. It’s never too late to start to make better choices and by choosing the Word, you will be storing up treasures for yourself in heaven friend.
Isn’t that us all now in 2017? People left and right, shouting out the newest breakthrough in this and that. Buy this book, download this app, buy this piece of clothing, this system, that new pill or powder and it will change your life! Therefore you will be so much happier and life will now have satisfaction. All you need is this new product and all your troubles will be taken away and real stress-free, pain-free, drama-free, you-name-it life will begin. The truth is, any thing besides Jesus, does not have true value! He is all that we need. He is the only true Satisfier, Life Giver, Savior!
Back to the subject of 1 John, it is a very simple letter to follow about real life but has awesome content for all Christians. Those more seasoned, or the new believer seeking wisdom and direction. John calls readers back to three basics of Christian life: true doctrine, obedient living, and faithful devotion to Jesus. In fact, we ALL can use more and more of that!
Above all,
Click to print a FREE PDF plan:
1 John Scripture Writing Challenge Weekly Assignment
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Before we get there, we have to stand here. Stand strong. There is a spiritual battle going on around each and every one of us! You may or may not sense it but believe me there is! Each of us have to be prepared for this battle. It needs some strong weapons, not weapons made of metal, or any man made material. We need the “big guns.” We need Godly weapons because we are in a spiritual battle on earth. We need prayer, we need praise, and we need the Word of God! We need it daily, multiple times a day! We have to be intentional about these weapons. In Ephesians six, we learn of the other pieces that we need to put on daily to be prepared for battle! Really concentrate on these and their purposes. Our minds need protection, our hearts do, our hands and feet need to be ready with the Word of God and ready to share with others during the battle.
Chapter six starts with a commandment with a promise! Paul says children obey your parents in the Lord so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. God always keeps his promises, He isn’t wishy washy like us. He doesn’t change his mind depending how He feels that day or whether He’s in a good mood or not. God is love, He is gracious, He is merciful, He is kind, He never changes. God is sovereign over and in all! v 1-3
Parents do not treat your children too harsh but lead and guide them in the ways of the Lord. v4
Verses five through nine speak of slaves and masters and that isn’t something that we deal with in today’s society but I think it does speak to us as servants of the Lord. Whether it be in a work environment, a home environment, or a volunteering environment, we need to do all things unto the Lord as if He is our boss and watching us work. v5-9
All that we have learned in the past several chapters has been teaching us how to live, how to love, how our walk should be before the Lord. We have to remember who’s we are and who we are to become. Holy and righteous children of God. That is not an easy task. There is an enemy of our souls that wants us living in defeat, in fear, and in doubt of God’s huge love for us. Chapter six, verses six through twenty is preparing us for the battle that all believers will be in once we come to know Christ.
We are to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. We must daily wake up and acknowledge who we are, who God is, and confess that we need the Lord’s help and intentionally put on His armor to protect ourselves. I once heard a sermon on the armor and it’s not just good enough to say that we have it. We have to put it on and let it do its job. It would be like having a motorcycle and helmet but leaving the helmet at home each time you go somewhere. The helmet doesn’t do you any good sitting at home when you are out driving around without it. Put it on, so we can take a stand against the devils schemes and tricks. We also have to be mindful and know that we are not fighting again flesh and blood, but against the devils many cohorts and the powers of this dark world we live in. v 10-12
We must be so very intentional and protect our whole bodies, from our head to our feet! The days are evil and we have to have every piece of the armor to help us resist the devil. We must put on the belt of truth around our waist so that we know the True word of God so we will not be fooled by the lies that will come our way. We have to strap on the breastplate of righteousness that protects our hearts and have our feet fitted with good news of the Gospel of Jesus. He is our peace as we walk with Him. We also have to take up the shield of faith that can guard us from the fiery darts from the devil that are aimed at our hearts.
Next we have to pick up our helmet of salvation to protect our minds but it’s almost like a sign or symbol to the world that we are Christ’s! Just like wearing your favorite teams logo on your hat or shirt, we wear the logo of God’s love to let the world know we are different and we are His! We also have to have the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God with us! We need to know the Word to give us knowledge, instruction, and faith to stand in this battle. v 13-17
Verse eighteen through twenty speak of our prayer life. We are to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. We have to stay alert and be persistent in our prayers to keep us strong as well as interceding for other believers and those who have yet to hear to Good News of Jesus.
Paul asks for prayer for his boldness as he sits in chains for preaching the good news. We also should ask for prayer when we need it. If Paul can humble himself and admit his weakness, we should be able to do it too. If you do not have a prayer partner, I highly suggest reaching out to one or two close friends that you can go to for prayer and Godly counsel. It truly is a blessing to know that you can share needs and concerns and someone else is seeking the Lord on your behalf and vise versa. v 19-20
Paul’s final greeting to the Ephesians is very similar to his opening of the letter! Peace, love, and grace. He began with grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:2. He ends with peace to the brothers(and sisters), and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. 6:23-24 Remember, it is peace from God. His lasting peace, not earthly/world peace. Peace that we know that God is in charge of all things. He uses all things together for the good of those who love Him.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28
Grace has saved us, not any work that we have done. Grace also sustains us day by day. This is grace for living as we keep our eyes on God and are totally occupied with Him.
Today is my birthday and it is also the two month anniversary of my miscarriage. While my flesh wanted to stay in bed, pull the covers over my head and have a big fat pity party and cry why me and wallow in my misery; I let His light and truth shine on me. I got up to a very excited and loving nine year old boy whom I adore. He greeted me with lots of love and kisses. Then my biggest boy greeted me with a hug and a well wish! Then the girls came down and hugged and loved on me. I’ve gotten many texts and messages of love from my sweet husband and dear friends already! I truly am blessed in so many ways. So many heart treasures in this house. Yes, our baby is gone on to heaven and I miss the thought of bringing him/her home I know that the Lord is good. I know He is in control and knew best. Just as my Tiffany says, heaven is just that much sweeter.
I pray that each of you reading this is blessed this week by the peace and presence of the Lord. I pray that you would feel His love as you seek Him and get to know Him better.
I’m going to take a slight break here and say that the above is how I lived most of my life. I didn’t grow up in a Christian home but did know there was a “god” and he was a higher power over us. It wasn’t until the winter of 2007 that I came to the end of me and submitted to the Lordship of Christ and asked Him to save me. I had tried so many things, so much had went wrong and I knew I needed something supernatural to help me. I had messed up over and over and felt like I had wasted enough of my life trying to do things my way.
I still do mess up and make mistakes but now I know who can and will help me. All I have to do is call on His name and confess my sin and my great need for Him. I do that on a regular basis. Daily in fact. The same goes for you sweet sister. Are you in need today? Are you carrying a burden that was never meant for you to carry? Are you struggling to get through the morning because of the lies the enemy is feeding you, trying to keep you down? Whatever it may be, Jesus is big enough! He understands! He loves you! He is calling your name now! Answer His call and ask for help now.
What the Light shines on, is now visible.
Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you. v14
Up until this point Paul is speaking to us as individuals but in verse twenty-two he shifts and is now speaking to us as husband and wife or as households and speaks of how we are to walk in our households. Eugene Peterson I think says it best in The Message.
21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
22-24 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.
25-28 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage.
29-33 No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That’s how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become “one flesh.” This is a huge mystery, and I don’t pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.
Friends I know this was a long stretch of Scripture but I pray you are able to get through it and gain much knowledge of the Lord and how He wants us to live out this things called life. Life is tough and life is hard! Being a woman of faith makes it even harder because the enemy of our souls doesn’t want us living victoriously for Jesus! Seek Him and press on sweet one! If there is a something I can pray for you, please leave me a comment. Let’s storm the gates of heaven together!
Good day friends! We made it to week two of our study. Congratulations! I pray that you have been blessed by your time spent reading and writing through the beginning of Ephesians! I sure have. It has been a very tough, emotionally draining week yet at the same time so many treasured moments. So many pockets of God’s grace and mercy shown to me and the ones around me.
One of my dearest friends back home is dealing with some very heavy physical, mental, and spiritual issues and I slipped out of town to love on her and her family for a few days. While there, I was able to celebrate my oldest friends birthday(from 3rd grade), my Mom’s birthday, my mother-in-laws birthday, my youngest son’s birthday, and mine as well! Just one of the many blessings of homeschooling, being free to travel when needed. Even with all that went on, I was obedient and I stayed in the word every day in some shape or form. Prayer time was a constant, minute by minute, tear filled, plea unto the Lord. He has been so faithful through it all! How has he He blessed you and spoken to you this week? Please share.
Enough about me, let’s get into why you are here! This week we are in the last verses of chapter two, all of three, and into four! So many wonderful truths to think and pray over. Remember from last week’s post, do not get bogged down if you get behind, just keep plugging away and stay strong. Link to last weeks post.
Please feel free to share with family and friends if you have been blessed by this journey. Subscribe to the blog so that you will get an e-mail update when new blogs are posted! God bless you sweet friends!
I recommend that you start each day with prayer. Pray as the spirit leads or pray this with me. Lord Jesus you are good and you are all that I need today! Please forgive me of my sins and wash me clean so that I can be more like you. Lord please speak to me, teach me, and give me great wisdom and insight so that I may know you better! Lord help me love and serve others like you do. Use me today for your honor and glory! I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.
This week we will be reading and writing all of chapter one and the first twenty verses of chapter two. So 43 verses in all but they are some of the best verses of the book. Please do your best to do each daily assignment and get into a good habit. If you are up to your eyeballs with work, kids, life; give yourself some grace and add a few extra verses on another day. Please do not give up and quit if you get behind. Just start-up where you stopped and keep plugging along. Like I’ve said before, time spent in the Word with God is never time wasted. We are using our spiritual muscles and storing up blessings for the days and years to come!
Here is a little background on Ephesians. The writer of Ephesians is Paul, once Saul the persecutor of Christians.He was a bad bad man, sought out and killed Christians. You can read this commentary of his conversion to Christianity if you feel led: https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Acts/Pauls-Conversion or read Acts 9:1-19. He wrote this actual letter/epistle to the people of Ephesus about 60 years after Christ’s death and resurrection. The audience is the saints, those set apart, holy, or believers, who were in Christ. He also wrote the letter while he was in jail to encourage and unify the new young believers.
Here is the pdf of the actual reading/writing plan:
noteworthy-november_writing-the-book-of-ephesians1
I’m going to be very open and honest with you guys, okay?? I’m going to share a secret that’s been weighing on my heart in preparation for Noteworthy November: Ephesians.
I am admitting right now that I am not perfect, I am no genius or scholar, I’ve not been to school or been formally trained in bible teaching. But, I am a born again Christian, a sinner just like the rest of the world, trying to be obedient to the Lord and sharing what He has taught me. I am trying to share what He has placed on my heart with you! I will make mistakes and say things that are wrong, but it’s your job as a reader to check what I say against the Scripture. Use your bible, ask your spouse, ask a friend, or your pastor if something doesn’t sound right. Then come back and share with me!
While I was reading through some of my notes, I found this from a ladies retreat last year…Remember fear is usually just false evidence appearing real. Not all fears, but most of the time there really is nothing to fear.
Another not so secret secret, I am really so incredible excited to be on this journey with you. My prayer is that someone who is reading and writing with me becomes closer to the Lord during this journey. Also, I pray that someone learns more of Him and his love, and something shifts in your soul and you make meaningful bible study a daily discipline.
Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the blog by adding your email to the subscribe box to the right so you know when new blog posts are up! Also please do me a favor and share the blog with a friend or two, the more the merrier.
Noteworthy November is almost here!
I am so very excited to start this journey with you to write, learn, meditate, and know God better by studying the book of Ephesians. Ephesians is one of my favorite books of the New Testament because it has so many awesome promises to remind us who we are in Christ and how to live out those promises.
The book of Ephesians is a relatively short book, six chapters and 155 verses in total but they pack a very powerful punch of goodness!
I have broken down the verses into daily assignments and they vary from 5-7 verses or so a day. I have added in some Grace day, meaning you have a free study day or a day to catch up if you got a little behind in your writing. I suggest not skipping days in your writing, just go to the next group of verses so that in your journal you have it all in order for when you go back and reread your notes. A simple spiral notebook, binder with loose leaf paper, or a fancier journal will do. I have a new beautiful journal my best friend gave me that I will be using!
Studies show that you are seven times more likely to remember what you wrote down compared to things you just read.
Did you know that when you write, you are using parts of your brain that involve thinking, language, and working memory? There are many types of reading, two main ones being: passive and active. We will be doing more of the active, “hands on” reading by not only reading the scripture but also writing it down and reflecting on what we read and wrote. Let’s do this to write these scriptures and promises on our hearts, not just on the paper.
Proverbs 2:1-5 says, ” My son(daughter), if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
Friends, let us band together and turn our ears to the Lord, apply our hearts, call out to Him, and search like we have never searched before!
I know we will be blessed by this. I feel it in my veins.
Time spent reading, copying, and thinking on or meditating, the Word of God is one of the best things you can do. There is no such thing as wasted time if spent in the Word with God. Even if you read and you do not fully understand the passage, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and give you clearer understanding in your day-to-day life.
1 Timothy 4:8 says “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Basically this says that physical training of the body has value, but the training of your heart and mind for godliness and holiness far outweighs the training of your body.
Be all about God’s word!
Seek Him in all that you do and put Him and his Word as a priority and He will reward you greatly, not only in this life but also come eternity. There are countless benefits for learning God’s word, but for now let’s concentrate on knowing Him better! The more we know, the better we can live out what He has called us to.
Next Monday, October 31st I will post the schedule of our writing plan that you can print out or save on your computer/phone. Then every Tuesday I will post a new blog pertaining to the reading we will do for the following week. Please, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to post!
Subscribe to the blog via e-mail so you will know when the new post is available and please INVITE YOUR FRIENDS to join us.
