WORD up!

Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes on the Song of Songs (also known as Song of Solomon), although they are a bit better formatted than former efforts. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses and encourages you through this material. I’m not sure of the condition of the world at the time of this publication. But at the time of its writing, late spring 2010, things are looking increasingly bleak with the economy, health care and unemployment, there are allegations of racial profiling in Arizona and a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Are these the first stages of birth pains? The last? God only knows. And He is very busy these days. Seek His wisdom. Encourage each other. Pray. Jesus is coming to deliver His people and judge the wicked… Stacey Take a few minutes to pray and savor chapter 8 of the Song of Solomon. Then return here and ponder ...

Sit Down to Walk Sit down to walk?   What?   In a nutshell, am I “doing” under my own power or God’s?   If I’ve been transformed by God, why do I sometimes revert back to old behavior patterns?   Who is winning the spiritual battle in me?   What is the believers’ vantage point of spiritual battles?   Since we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, we have an aerial view of the battle – and it’s won! God loves us so much!   He gave us life.   He raised us up.   He gives us grace.   I recently heard the term “grace” as an acronym:   God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.   Awesome.   Accurate. I can’t earn my salvation.   But God planned for me to do good works.   If those works aren’t payment for my salvation, what is their purpose?   According to Matthew 5:16, John 9:1-3, Ephesians 1:12, 2:10 and Titus 3:8, those good works are so those who see them being done will praise God.   They are also...

Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes on the Song of Songs (also known as Song of Solomon), although they are a bit better formatted than former efforts. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses and encourages you through this material. I’m not sure of the condition of the world at the time of this publication. But at the time of its writing, late spring 2010, things are looking increasingly bleak with the economy, health care and unemployment, there are allegations of racial profiling in Arizona and a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Are these the first stages of birth pains? The last? God only knows. And He is very busy these days. Seek His wisdom. Encourage each other. Pray. Jesus is coming to deliver His people and judge the wicked… Stacey Take a few minutes to pray and savor chapter 7 of the Song of Solomon. Then return here and ponder ...

Sit and Pray This week it’s time to sit and pray.   The Bible teaches us to live in an attitude of prayer.   That can be easier said than done on many days.   How often do you “really” pray?   Are you like me and find yourself praying so you can check that activity off of your “to do” list for the day?   Or maybe you pray because you know it’s expected, not because you want to encounter the Lord?   I’ve been there, too.   What keeps you from living the life of prayer God intended for you? Knowing God is the greatest treasure.   This was one of Paul’s top prayers for the Ephesians.   What do you pray for your siblings in Christ?   How well do you know God?   How has prayer helped you to know Him? Being filled with God’s fullness is to have all that God makes available to us so that He can show off His power on earth. God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work ...

First of all, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to Jason DeRouchie and his publisher for sending me a copy of " What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About:  A Survey of Jesus’ Bible " to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me. What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About:   A Survey of Jesus’ Bible edited by Jason DeRouchie is a full-color textbook housing valuable insight into the Scriptures of the Old Testament.   Shining the light of the gospel message onto Jewish traditions and the Law given to mankind in the earliest   Scriptures reveals the blueprint of God’s original plan for His people.   This book illuminates the shadow that is the Old Testament, refreshing these books for the palate of the New Testament student. This book is visually engaging and formatted for ease of use.   Digestible like a coll...

Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes on the Song of Songs (also known as Song of Solomon), although they are a bit better formatted than former efforts. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses and encourages you through this material. I’m not sure of the condition of the world at the time of this publication. But at the time of its writing, late spring 2010, things are looking increasingly bleak with the economy, health care and unemployment, there are allegations of racial profiling in Arizona and a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Are these the first stages of birth pains? The last? God only knows. And He is very busy these days. Seek His wisdom. Encourage each other. Pray. Jesus is coming to deliver His people and judge the wicked… Stacey Take a few minutes to pray and savor chapter 6 of the Song of Solomon. Then return here and ponder ...

Learn To Sit The epistle of Paul to the Ephesian church is an appropriate study for any Christian, whether brand new to the faith or seasoned over years.   This New Testament book not only teaches the basics of the Christian life, it is the quintessential spiritual warfare handbook.   Sue Edwards has based this Bible study on three postures.   In this first week of study, we begin by learning to sit. Are you aware that we are seated in Christ RIGHT NOW?   That’s what Scripture teaches us.   The Christian life only works when we rest in Him.   That is how He works through us.   Everything else is done under our own power. Resting in Christ brings us to several conclusions.   The believer’s identity in Christ blows my mind! ·          We’re blessed with every spiritual blessing ·          We were chosen before the creation of the world to be holy and b...

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Lesley Ann McDaniel and the book: Saving Grace CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (July 27, 2013) ***Special thanks to Lesley Ann McDaniel for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: LESLEY ANN MCDANIEL is a lifelong lover of words, and theatre. While earning a degree in acting, she fell in love with theatrical costuming, and pursued that as a career while nurturing her passio...

Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes on the Song of Songs (also known as Song of Solomon), although they are a bit better formatted than former efforts. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses and encourages you through this material. I’m not sure of the condition of the world at the time of this publication. But at the time of its writing, late spring 2010, things are looking increasingly bleak with the economy, health care and unemployment, there are allegations of racial profiling in Arizona and a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Are these the first stages of birth pains? The last? God only knows. And He is very busy these days. Seek His wisdom. Encourage each other. Pray. Jesus is coming to deliver His people and judge the wicked… Stacey Take a few minutes to pray and savor chapter 5 of the Song of Solomon. Then return here and ponder ...

First of all, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to Antioch for sending me a copy of "Our God Comes" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me. “Our God Comes” is a terrific worshipful CD by the worship team at Antioch Church in Waco, Texas.   The live album gets the blood pumping and the heart engaged through all 14 praise tracks.   The uplifting first offering, “Come”, will have you dancing, clapping and singing along with the band.   “God and King” inspires the redeemed to glorify our heavenly Father.   “One Hundred Three” is a slower song that encourages worship of the Savior.   There are messages of hope, wonderful instrumentals featuring piano and guitar.   The CD also contains three instrumental tracks that enhance meditation or present an opportunity to sing yourself. I’ve been playing this CD in my car almost non-s...

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Lesley Ann McDaniel and the book: Big Sky Bachelor Love Inspired (October 1, 2013) ***Special thanks to Lesley Ann McDaniel for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: LESLEY ANN MCDANIEL is a lifelong lover of words, and theatre. While earning a degree in acting, she fell in love with theatrical costuming, and pursued that as a career while nurturing her passion for writing on the side. Throug...

Our Eternal Home:   Revelation 21-22 What a breathtaking picture of our future!   God dwells with men!   He will wipe away every tear from our eyes.   There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.   Heaven will be brilliant and colorful!   There will be no need for a temple because the Lord and the Lamb are the temple!   There will be no other light source because they are the light! There will be no more curse…no more pain…no more man ruling over man…no more hard labor…no more thorns and thistles…no more death.   There will be no manipulation or bullying, just honest interaction.   Life will be all about celebrating and worshiping God!   We will serve God and the Lamb.   We will see His face.   We will reign with Him for eternity. How are you fulfilling the final command in the Bible?   We are told to worship God.   Time is short.   Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and teach me to wait well wh...

Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes on the Song of Songs (also known as Song of Solomon), although they are a bit better formatted than former efforts. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses and encourages you through this material. I’m not sure of the condition of the world at the time of this publication. But at the time of its writing, late spring 2010, things are looking increasingly bleak with the economy, health care and unemployment, there are allegations of racial profiling in Arizona and a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Are these the first stages of birth pains? The last? God only knows. And He is very busy these days. Seek His wisdom. Encourage each other. Pray. Jesus is coming to deliver His people and judge the wicked… Stacey Take a few minutes to pray and savor chapter 4 of the Song of Solomon. Then return here and ponder ...