Good Gracious! Be Like Him!

These dates  at the right sum up my life!  Two weeks late!

I printed this study before November 10, laid it aside with good intentions (of course), and, well, here I am!

If I focus on two scriptures a day, I can still finish before the end of the week of Thanksgiving...sounds like a good plan (hopefully, obtainable!).  What I truly love about Love God Greatly's plans?  When I get up early, spend that 15-20 minutes with God.  My days, weeks are just even more blessed!

Here Goes...

Week 1:  Day 1

Read Psalm 145: 3-8 and SOAP Psalm 145:8 (not sure what SOAP is?  Read on...I am completing an example of one!)

Write out the Scripture passage for the day.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love.

How beautiful is that!

Write down 1 or 2 Observations from the passage.

1. Gracious is one of my words I used in one of my goals for this study.  Wow!  Yes, dear Lord, you have my attention!  I took a moment to consult my Webster app and found these obsolete/archaic (really!?) definitions of gracious:
• Godly and pleasing, acceptable...ahhhh...yes!
2. All of these words from the scripture...gracious, compassion, love...and especially, slow to anger...all are characteristics of which I should have and and need much more!  Yes.  I. Really. Do.

Write down 1-2 Applications from the passage.

I like the second part best.  At first, I thought, "Oooohh, that's kinda negative in such a positive verse.  Slow.  Anger.  No, slowness in relation to anger is soooo positive.  Being slow to anger in a "hot" situation would abundantly express one's graciousness in such a time.  

Such times as...

• when technology refuses to work quickly when I so need it to at church.
• when students who just "rub" me the wrong way are creating friction in overdrive.
• when close family members don't move quick enough or have the same kind of want-to that I have for all my many projects and tasks...family members that are the most precious people to me.

Pray over what you have learned from today's passage.

Dear Lord, please help me...bring this scripture of You to my remembrance in situations when I am just too quick to anger.  May I instead slow down, breathe, think of you, and be just be gracious...as You would be. Thank you.

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Want to do as I did...print your booklet and get ready for the next study?  Here's a link to The Road to Christmas.  I am excited about this one, as I have always wanted to learn more about Advent and to participate in such a study.  Yay!  Join us!

Joseph, the Step-dad?

This week, as I have continued Karen Kingsbury's The Family of God, I have spent some time thinking about Joseph and the man of God he was.

I am sure you know the history, but please consider...

...your betrothed is pregnant...surely, the only answer is that she has been unfaithful.

...love her?  divorce her? 

...support her?  be a step-dad? 

...finding confirmation in meeting Anna and Simeon. 

...becoming the protector...the father-figure... 

...listening to your son Jesus say he has been about his "father's" business, knowing he is not referring to you...

Seeing these events through the eyes of Joseph has been interesting, soul-touching, maybe life-changing?  For I, too, have been in the step position.  Looking back, I wished I had studied Joseph about ten years ago.

Considering the roles of men and women during that time, Joseph's being the head of the house-hold remained even more significant, for he insulated Mary from what could have been a death warrant, a stoning, a harsh way to die. Instead, he heeded the voice of the angel, he followed his heart, he loved her...and Jesus as his own.

Karen Kingsbury's liberty with the story-telling of Joseph is so endearing.  I love the orchids.  The artistic renditions of the story are beautiful.

Yesterday, my daughter returned from an outing declaring, "I don't know why, but it's beginning to feel like Christmas."  Maybe the cooler air?  The falling leaves?  The candles burning, sending out fall scents?  For me, it's diving into these stories of the family of Jesus.

Yes, please consider remaining close to the real reason for the season.  Enjoy a blessed fall and Christmas season. Aren't you glad we are a part of that family, also?