New Bible Study Available: I John

There have not been many new Bible journal posts here in recent months, but I have been very busy studying the Bible in spite of the lack of blogging about it. For instance, I recently completed compiling some of my research into a study on I John called That Ye May Know. This is the first of several studies that I hope to develop and share with the ladies of my church and here On A High Hill.

This study was specifically written for women's Bible study groups but it is "not feminine" (to quote my husband who offered that insight as a compliment) even though it has a few references to females in it. For instance, it contains an assignment where the student is to underline a certain key word in pink because "we are women . . ." but men could certainly choose a different colored pencil like camo green to underline the word in the text if they so desire. They would also need to ignore the reference to women on the cover. In essence though I believe my husband's assessment to be correct.

If you are familiar with Jen Wilkin's book Women of the Word and the formula that she proposes then you will understand how this Bible study is packaged. The complete text of I John is included for the reader to mark.* The question format includes question and answer, fill in the blank, charts, and more complicated issues to ponder, as well as research projects designed to help the reader learn to use a Greek concordance and a lexicon whether online, within Bible software, or in book form. 

This study is available for purchase in pdf format. For the cost of $3.99 the buyer will receive a file via email that may be printed for self and everyone else in the buyer's Bible study group. (Please be honest about this. I will not be watching you, but God always is.) The only other cost your group would incur is that of printing the manuscripts.

Payments should be made through Paypal. If you are interested in purchasing a copy for yourself or your group please contact me at Karabeth6 [at] gmail [dot] com with subject line "I John Bible Study" (quotes not neccesary in email) and we will share all information needed to complete the transaction.

May God bless you as you study His word!

*The included text is KJV. If you prefer another version you can easily find it online, copy and paste it into word processing software, print it and place it in the manuscript in the same location.

To Those Using the 2016 Bible Reading Plan

Update: A link for the newest book(s) encountered on the schedule will also be shown on the left sidebar as the "Featured Post."

There is a tab located at the top entitled "Bible Timelines" which contains links to introductions for each book of the Bible. Most links will lead to articles that highlight more than one book. For instance, here is the link for Genesis, John, and Job because that is what we read first in chronological order in the Old and New Testaments each new year. (Click here)

My apologies for not pointing this out sooner for the benefit of new readers.

The Reasons Why I Cherish This Season

I was the typical American child. Treasures found under the tree on Christmas morning were the focal point of my holiday season. I have fond memories of our little family - Dad, Mom, and I - going to purchase a real tree in preparation. Then came the fun of decorating it with our treasured ornaments and tinsel placed one strand at a time. (I hated that part! Why couldn't I just put it on one handful at a time?! Patience was never my virtue.) We also decorated each other and our dog, the black poodle that ran around us like a maniac as she sensed our excitement.

I remember getting up in the early  morning hours and being mesmerized by the gifts under the tree. Being an only child meant that things did not need to be wrapped or labeled. If they were suitable for a child they obviously were for me. There was always the latest baby doll and her accessories there. After a few years I had quite a large family of children in my downstairs playhouse and I dutifully and lovingly cared for each one while playing. (Hmm. Talk about foreshadowing!)

An only child, her treasured spouse, and two generations of doll babies

I knew as a young child about the Christ-child coming as a baby. And I loved Him. I just didn't have a firm grasp of how everything fit together. Still, the scriptural seeds were planted and watered. One Christmas season they bore fruit.

When I was 14 years old my pastor took us to a retreat at Tennessee Temple University. It was there on the night of December 28th I trusted the baby born in Bethlehem as my Savior. (Oh, look! Today is my spiritual birthday!!!!!)

I saw the real treasure of Christmas was the truce offered to me by the Eternal Father! I laid down my arms. The battle was over. That is the image I see whenever I read Luke 2:14.

". . . peace, good will toward men."

The treasure offered is peace. Oh, how I needed it! Spiritual turmoil had been mine for several years. "Good will toward men." Toward me. The God of glory offered me His good will and I took Him at His Word. 

I'm so happy that God came in the flesh! From that night forward I have treasured the gift of the Son that came as a baby, lived a sinless life, died for me, and was resurrected three days later as the payment for my sins so I could experience eternal peace with the Father.

A few years passed. . .

I found myself in another Baptist college, this time as a student. It was there that I met the young man that was to be my husband. We began dating in mid-October and during that Christmas season in 1977 he told me that he loved me and hoped that we could be married sometime in the next year. If you paid any attention at all to the Yule Moon phenomenon last week you know that its last occurrence was in 1977. Now you know why Pastor Dad confessed his love for me when he did: He was moonstruck.  :)

Like all great marriages, ours has had its ups and downs, its joys (example: see picture above) and its heartaches, but since it is built upon a firm foundation of faith it has endured all hardships and celebrated all happy events with eternity in mind. I treasure the gift God gave me when he gave me my husband.

Thank you, God, for making me part of your family that Christmas season when I was 14 years old. Thank you, Pastor Dad, for promising to make me part of your family when I was 18 years old. As much as I loved Christmas when I was a child, these treasured relationships are why I cherish the season even more now. 

Journal Through the Bible: Week 106 Wednesday

source

Psalms 11 and 12


Psalm 11

Does God issue any commands?

• No.

Does God make any promises?

• Upon the wicked God will rain snares, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest. He promises that this shall be the portion of their cup.

Does this psalm teach anything about Jesus?

• The LORD is in His holy temple in heaven beholding the children of men. (Jesus is at His right hand.)

Does this psalm teach anything about yet-future events?

• God will behold the countenance of the upright. And conversely the upright shall behold His countenance, too.

Psalm 12

Does God issue any commands?

• No.

Does God make any promises?

• The LORD will cut off those with flattering lips and tongues that speak proud things.
• The LORD promises to arise for the oppression of the poor and for the sighing of the needy.
• The LORD will set the oppressed in a safe place.
• The LORD will preserve His words.

Does this psalm teach anything about Jesus?

• The LORD will preserve his words. Jesus is the eternal word of God. 

Does this psalm teach anything about yet-future events?

• God watches and waits in patience but the day will come when He will arise and rescue His oppressed.