Count It All Joy

I spent the last nine months studying the book of Isaiah at a Precept Bible Study at one of the local churches. It was a great group of women of all ages and I learned so much from the study and from them.

I was trying to figure out what to next because our group won't meet again until the Fall. I wanted to keep up my studies. The leader of our group sent an e-mail to all of us suggesting Kay Arthur's Philippians study Count It All Joy.

I went to the website and downloaded and printed a free study guide.

Go to www.precept.org

Then click on Precepts for Life tab and find Current PFL Downloads.

This will take you the free downloadable study guide.

You can also view Kay Arthur's teaching video on http://www.lightsource.com/ . When you go to that website you will have to type in Count It All Joy in the search box to find it. You can view these videos for free too.

Just wanted to let you all know about this great resource. If you decide to do the study let me know. I'm on lesson 2.

Getting Back to Basics

I have been blessed to be a part of a Precepts Bible Study this Fall. I went to www.precept.org and found this note from Kay Arthur this morning. I wanted to share it with you in light of this election.

Our country has changed—now, are we headed for revival or judgment? You could be part of God’s sovereign plan for the United States of America. Join Kay Arthur and thousands of believers across our nation who are taking up the spiritual battle by getting active. Active in repentance. Active in getting back to the Truth of God’s Word. Active in reaching out to a country that needs truth, love and redemption more than ever.

Kay Arthur

This is the time for Christians to truly be Christ-followers. Our commitment to God does not change with election cycles. Let's get back to the basics of prayer, Bible Study and sharing God's love with others.

Remember......

You are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do His work and speak out for Him to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you - from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when He arrives.

Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritiual family, Revere God. Respect the Government.

I Peter 2:9-12 (The Message)

Isaiah 1 & 2

Today was the first day of my Fall Bible Study. This summer I felt God leading me to do a Kay Arthur Precepts Study this year. One of the local churches was offering Isaiah by Kay Arthur so I signed up. A couple of girlfriends also signed up so that makes it even better. This summer I did a 40 minute study by Kay Arthur not one of her inductive Bible studies so I'm very new to Precept Bible studies. I watched the video today on Isaiah chapter 1 & 2. I love Kay's style. She pretty much reads the scripture straight from the Bible and constantly references other related scriptures throughout the Bible. She doesn't offer her own "take" on scripture. She let's scripture interpret scripture.

There is so much, but today the lesson I took home was regarding idols. We hear that word a lot these days with sports idols, American Idol, political idols, etc. Isaiah 2:8 reads ...Their land has also been filled with idols. They worship the work of their hands. That which their fingers have made.

We can point at America, Washington DC, Wall Street, Hollywood or anyone, but really it starts individually, looking inward. What are my idols? Where do I spend my time, money and priorities?

Psalm 135:18 reads...Those who make (idols) will be like them.

Isaiah tells us what will happen to idols (2:20) In that day (the last days) men will cast them away to the moles and the bats. So those things we cling to won't be there for us in the end.

I also learned there are 2 direct command in Isaiah:

(2:5) Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

(2:22) Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed.

Occassionally I'll share some of my Isaiah experience this year. Kay told us that Jesus and the Apostles quote more from Isaiah than any other Prophet. So there is a lot to learn from Isaiah. And one thing is...it's definitely more current than you think.