Tuesday, July 15, 2014

blue yarn bracelets

Bookmarks with blue yarn bracelets from Believing God Bible Study
Sometimes it’s just the mention of a phrase from Scripture that brings the memories flooding back. Recently, it was the mention of “blue cord with tassels” from the book of Numbers that took me back to the first time I completed the online Beth Moore Bible Study, Believing God several years ago. I still have the bookmarks from Believing God, with blue yarn bracelets attached in my Bible. I wore the blue yarn bracelet during the Bible study as a reminder to be presently, actively, continually Believing God, focusing on Christ.
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘You must make tassels on the corners of your clothes. A blue cord must be on each tassel. You must do it for all time to come. You will have the tassels to look at. They will remind you to obey all of the Lord’s commands. Then you will be faithful to him. You will not go after what your own hearts and eyes long for. “‘You will remember to obey all of my commands. And you will be set apart for your God. I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.’” Numbers 15:37-41

The Believing God Bible study focus scripture is...
“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.” Isaiah 43:10

Over these past several years, I have incorporated the Five Statement Pledge of Faith shown on the bookmark as a part of my daily prayer life...
  1. God is who He says He is.
  2. God can do what He says He can do.
  3. I am who God says I am.
  4. I can do all things through Christ
  5. God's Word is alive and active in me.
    I'm Believing God.
 
God is Who He says He is.
You are Jehovah Ra’ah, You are my Shepherd, I lack nothing. You make me lie down in green pastures, You lead me beside the still waters. You restore my soul. You lead me in the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Even when I walk THROUGH the valley of the SHADOW of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your Staff, your Holy Spirit and Your Word, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  

SEVEN NAMES OF GOD
PAIRED WITH PSALM 23:1-6
JEHOVAH-RA’AH
The Lord, my shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
The LORD is my shepherd;
 
JEHOVAH-JIREH
The Lord, my provider (Genesis 22:14)
I shall not want.
JEHOVAH-SHALOM
The Lord, our peace (Judges 6:24)
He makes me to lie down in green pastures:
he leads me beside the still waters.
JEHOVAH-RAPHA
The Lord, my healer (Exodus 15:26)
He restores my soul:
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU
The Lord, our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
JEHOVAH-SHAMAH
The Lord, ever-present (Ezekiel 48:35)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
JEHOVAH-NISSI
The Lord, our banner (Exodus 17:15)
Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
JEHOVAH-RAPHA
The Lord, my healer (Exodus 15:26)
Thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runs over.
JEHOVAH-JIREH
The Lord, my provider (Genesis 22:14)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.


God can do what He says He can do
. Nothing is impossible for You, Lord Jesus, Absolutely Nothing!  I am casting all my cares upon You because You care for me. Supply the needs I have today to know You and believe You, to glorify You, to find my satisfaction in You, to experience Your peace, and enjoy Your presence...

Five Key Benefits
God Intends for His Children
Obstacles which stand in the way of the
Five Key Benefits God Intends for His Children
To Know God and Believe Him
Unbelief—I pray to roll away the obstacle of unbelief which is revealed in my doubt, fear, worry, and discouragement.
To Glorify God
Pride—I pray to roll away the obstacle of pride which is self-absorption, whether I am absorbed with how wonderful I am or how miserable I am. Forgive my self-focus. Worship is focus, help me focus on Jesus Christ alone.
To Find Satisfaction in God
Idolatry—I pray to roll away the obstacle of idolatry which is putting anything ahead of or instead of Jesus Christ.
To Experience God’s Peace
Prayerlessness—I pray to roll away the obstacle of praylessness. Prayerless lives are powerless lives; prayerful lives are powerful lives. Peace is the fruit of authority—let the peace of Christ rule. Christ brings His peace where He is Prince—the Prince of Peace.
To Enjoy God’s Presence
Legalism—I pray to roll away the obstacle of legalism with a heart which desires an intimate, personal relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ, not rules, regulations, and religion.

I am who God says I am. In Christ, I am blessed with every spiritual blessing, accepted in the Beloved Son of God, adopted as a child of the King, chosen before the foundation of the world, redeemed by the blood of Christ, forgiven by His grace, loved with an everlasting love and underneath are the everlasting Arms.

I can do ALL things through Christ Who gives me strength.
Lord Jesus, I cannot do this, but You can!

God’s Word is alive and active in me...I’m Believing God.

Take a moment to ponder these wonderful words of life from the old hymn, "Before The Throne of God Above," written in the 1800s by Charitie Less Bancroft...
Behold Him there! The risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless, Righteousness, 
The Great unchangeable I AM
The King of Glory and of Grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God


What is important is that you see Jesus. The main thing in the Bible is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ on a mission of salvation, on a mission of redemption, that He would save His people from their sins. If you are coming to the awareness that “I have never believed upon Jesus Christ. I have never committed my life to Christ,” you are invited to believe upon Christ today. He entered this world born of a virgin. He lived a sinless and perfect life. He lived the life that you and I could never live, and His perfect righteousness is what is credited to our account when we believe upon Christ. He was qualified to go to the cross, and there He was lifted up to die upon Calvary’s cross. God transferred the sin of all the people who would ever believe upon Him and He transferred that sin to Christ. And Christ, who knew no sin, God made to be sin for us. He suffered, and bled, and died upon that cross. He gave His life that you and I might have life. He shed His blood to make the only atonement for our sin. He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. They took Him down from that cross, having made the atonement for sinners. They buried Him in a borrowed tomb. And on the third day, He was raised from the dead, and He then entered into glory on the day of His ascension. He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. And the Bible says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

You must believe in this One who suffered upon Calvary’s cross. He suffered the wrath of God in the place of those for whom He bore their sin. And He has now entered into glory. And if you’ll commit your life to Jesus Christ, He will take you into glory one day, when He returns or when you die. There is salvation in no other name. “For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” There is one God and one Mediator between the Lord — One God and one Mediator which is the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His life a ransom for many. If you will commit your life to Jesus Christ; if you will deny yourself, and take up a cross, and become a follower of Christ, if you will enter through the narrow gate that leads into the kingdom of God, if you will take that decisive step of faith, and surrender and submit your life to the lordship of Jesus Christ, He will receive you. And one day, when you die, He will take you home to be with Him in glory. He is preparing a place for all those who will commit their life to Him.

This is the message of the entire Bible — that our all-loving, gracious God has provided salvation in the Person of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus, as He walked on the road to Emmaus with his disciples and looked into the Scriptures with them, He said, “They testify of me. And they speak of my suffering and my glory.” May you know what it is to enter into the kingdom of God and enter into His glory one day when He comes for you.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ in all of Scripture. We praise you that He steps out of the pages of even the Old Testament as the central message, as the object of our faith, as a Savior and Lord. Father, thank you that you have opened our eyes, that we might behold our need of Christ and see who Christ is. If there is anyone who has never come all the way to faith in Jesus Christ, oh God, we pray that they would surrender their life to Christ and enter in to the kingdom of God. Father, we are believing You, and we pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.


Look up – Meditate on Isaiah 43:10. Pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.


Look in – Meditate on Isaiah 43:10. Pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: “Because God is ______________, I will ______________.”


Look out – Meditate on Isaiah 43:10. Pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory. 


* If you liked this post, you'll love this book – Name Above All Names Devotional: Focusing on 26 Alphabetical Names of Christ

8 comments:

  1. 'Before the Throne of God Above' ... sometimes the old hymns touch places deep that nothing else can.

    Thanks, Beth ..

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    1. Yes, Linda! I so agree with you...not only the lyrics of that great old hymn, but the very compelling and passionate voice of Nicol Sponberg, singing lead in the original group Selah...draws me instantly to our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ every time <3

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  2. I so loved that study!!! It is amazing how the truths Beth Moore taught have stayed in my memory bank and been retrieved at just when I needed a fresh dose of belief. Glad I visited from Coffee For Your Heart today. Blessings!

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    1. Thank you so much for your comment! I have found the very same thing to be true in my life...those golden nuggets of God's Word that I dig for in a Beth Moore Bible Study truly do stay with me...seemingly coming to the surface along with the situations that need just that Word of Truth...amazing grace :)

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  3. Beth, I loved seeing this post once again. That study will forever be in my memories as probably my favorite of her studies. I am grateful that you shared the post on my site. Today I so appreciated reading your section under "God can do what He says He can do." Thank you for encouraging me today!

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    1. Joanne, thank you so much for your encouraging comments, both this year and 2014! This study has certainly been forever in my memories as my favorite, as well. In face, the section, "God can do what He says He can do," is a part of my daily prayer time. Many blessings to you!

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  4. Thanks for sharing... I especially like the Five Statement Pledge of Faith! Stopping by from #letshavecoffee

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    1. Laura, thank you so much for stopping by. The Five Statement Pledge of Faith has been a part of my daily prayer time since 2003, when I completed the online Believing God Bible Study. Many blessings to you!

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