Category Archives: Bible Studies

Bible Studies

Aliens

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They were not invaders from Mars or Pluto.

They were not little green men who used ray guns.

Enemies didn’t view them through 3-D glasses.

Yet, the people of Egypt thought they were dealing with an alien population explosion.

“Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, ‘Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we (Exodus 1:8-9 NASB).”

The Egyptians made their lives intolerable.

“But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel (Exodus 1:12 NASB).”

 God witnessed the cruelty of the Egyptians. Then, and now, He hears the cries of aliens.

“He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt (Deuteronomy 10:18-19 NASB).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

Liberty

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‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’ (Declaration of Independence, United States of America)

Life…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16 KJV).”

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent (John 17:3 KJV).”

“Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world (John 11:21-27 KJV).”

Liberty…

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1 KJV).”

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32 KJV).”

Pursuit of Happiness…

Trust Him.

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content (1Timothy 6:6b-8 KJV).”


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Bible Studies, Family, Uncategorized

Biblical Genealogy

‘The Name Game’ was a tongue-twister novelty song recorded back in 1964.   

Families might invent their own versions of the name game.

The winner would find the number of times that a name has been used in their family and with extended relatives.

I don’t have a final count but I know the name Ashley tops the most used in the Davis family. It was first common as a male’s name. Remember ‘Gone With the Wind?’

My father-in-law was named A.N. (for Ashley Norman). My husband Norm’s official name is Ashley Norman Jr. Though our son goes by the name of Lee, his legal name is Ashley Norman III.

His son?

You guessed it Ashley Norman IV but that’s not all.

There are several female Ashley’s among our relatives.

Recently, I noticed something interesting when reading Biblical genealogy.

King David had a sister named Abigail.

“and Jesse fathered Eliab his firstborn, then Abinadab, the second, Shimea, the third,  Nethanel, the fourth, Raddai, the fifth,  Ozem, the sixth, and David, the seventh. Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail (1 Chronicles 2:13-16a NASB).”

There’s more; David had a wife named Abigail!

“Then David sent a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife. When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, ‘David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.’And she got up and bowed with her face to the ground, and said, ‘Behold, your slave is a servant to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.’Then Abigail got up quickly, and rode on a donkey, with her five female attendants who accompanied her; and she followed the messengers of David and became his wife (1 Samuel 25:39-42 NASB).”

I have always admired David’s wife Abigail.

If I had given birth to a second daughter, I would have named her Abigail Jean.

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Crucifixion, Devotionals, Redemption, Resurrection, Salvation

Three Days; I Believe!

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Three days…

“Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and I will raise it up in three days.’

Therefore the Jews said, ‘This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?’

But He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made (John 2:19-22 HCSB).”

I believe.

“As they were eating, He took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take it; this is My body.’

Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks, He gave it to them, and so they all drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many. I assure you: I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in a new way in the kingdom of God (Mark 14:22-25 HCSB).”

His body, His kingdom…

“Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10 HCSB).”

Three days…

“For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40 HCSB).”

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Bible Studies, Devotionals

‘If’ You Get My Drift

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I recall an incident when our Son, Lee, was two or three years old. We were shopping with his Grandmother and she pointed out a toy Volkswagen, asking him, “Can you say Volkswagen?”

In a matter of fact way, he answered that his mouth wasn’t big enough.

Words do not have to be long or difficult to pronounce to be powerful, “if” you get my drift.

The tempter tried to manipulate Jesus with ifology.’

“Then the tempter approached Him and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread (Matthew 4:3 HCSB).”

When that failed he tried to convince Jesus to jump from a temple high place.

“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

He will give His angels orders concerning you,
and they will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone (Matthew 4:6b HCSB).”

You must admit it; the devil is persistent.

Showing Jesus a worldly kingdom, he tempted Him again.

“And he said to Him, ‘I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me (Matthew 4:9 HCSB).”

The master of deception fell in defeat when he challenged the Master.

 Jesus reigns triumphant! He is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Go away, Satan! For it is written:

Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only Him.

Then the Devil left Him, and immediately angels came and began to serve Him (Matthew 4:10-11 HCSB).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Christmas, Devotionals, Salvation

Gift…Through the Generations

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“And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:16-18 KJV).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Worship

Great is the LORD!

Praise the LORD.

Be glad.

Rejoice.

We are His people.

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Give thanks.

Bless His name.

“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations (Psalm 100:1-5 NASB).”  

Oh, how great is the LORD!

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Redemption, Salvation

In HIM

 

blue and white metal fence

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“Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. (Psalm 146:1-2 NKJV).”

My help…

My hope…

My help, my hope is in the LORD; in HIM.

“How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;

Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free (Psalm 146:5-7 NKJV).”

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

A Heart Reality

three red heart balloons

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How do I define eternity?

Is it fact or fiction?

Eternity is a heart reality.

“He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NASB).”

God’s work spans from beginning to end.

Ponder eternity; can we comprehend it?

Micah did.

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.

His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity (Micah 5:2 NASB).”  

Days of mankind…

“So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to You a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12 NASB).”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals

The Reflection

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Mirror, mirror on my heart…

What does God see?

“As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the person (Proverbs 27:19 HCSB).”

Is my reflection in the mirror distorted by sin?

“Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was (James 1:23-24 HCSB).” 

Lest I forget…

“Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7 HCSB).”

 

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