Tuna is not something that I have ever given much credit to other than to say that I don't like the smell when the can is opened so I just knew I could not make a meal out of it. However, I got short on ingredients one night and had some on hand and had seen someone else post about making some and theirs looked good. All of that together convinced me to give it a try and I have to say they were really good!! Easy, cheap and great tasting!! A triple threat. Here is a recipe below that you can use and feel free to leave out the spicy if you like. The great thing about these recipes is you can modify as needed how it works for you. Try them and see what you think! The link is below. I would serve this with a salad and sweet potato for super easy sides. Enjoy!
Tasty Tuna Cakes
Monday, May 30, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
Open Your Bible- Week 7
We have made it!! This is the last installment from the Open Your Bible study guide. This has been a really great study. It has challenged me and I hope you too! It has shown me that my bible is not only relevant to me today, tomorrow and the next but it is a vital part of learning and growing in the spirit.
The last week talks all about SHARING the TRUTH. I want to shout that from the roof tops because the truth is that all this good stuff we learned to be true over the past few months about our bible is not just for US. It is for everyone and everyone should have the opportunity to know such joy and peace that comes from knowing the God that is in the pages of scripture and what he did for us that allows us to live and walk in freedom, love, grace and glory.
A few things to think about is that now you have all this great information it would be easier to just keep it to yourself but I am challenging you to reach out to one person. That person that seems discouraged or is going through a tough time. You do not have to cram a bible at them and say I need to tell you what I just learned to get your point across. In fact it is just the opposite. Take what you learned and go love people around you really well. So well that they see the Spirit reflected in the way you talk, love and walk with them through whatever they are facing.
I am also challenging us all to keep this going. Pick up your bible every day and read!!! Once I end a study I am so on fire and filled up and I tend to let it fizzle for a while before picking back up. Please don't let that happen....again I am preaching more to myself than anyone. We literally have the ability to directly impact people and lives with the knowledge we have.
And thirdly I would say just pray more for God to make you bold in being his child. Whatever that looks like just pray for boldness and obedience. Sometimes that is taking dinner to a friend going through a tough time when you have a lot going on and God puts it on your heart to do that. I take that as an urging that he needs you to stop and sit for a minute with this person. A phone call or a card. I pray where ever he leads we are willing to follow....every day of our lives.
My husband is a big music guy and one of his many favorites is Mumford and Sons. They have a song called awake and these lines echo in my head. Where we choose to invest is where our hearts are. I pray we can invest together in each other, in our community and in loving each other well! It has been an absolute pleasure sweet friends xoxo -Bri
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
And where you invest your love, you invest your life
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker
The last week talks all about SHARING the TRUTH. I want to shout that from the roof tops because the truth is that all this good stuff we learned to be true over the past few months about our bible is not just for US. It is for everyone and everyone should have the opportunity to know such joy and peace that comes from knowing the God that is in the pages of scripture and what he did for us that allows us to live and walk in freedom, love, grace and glory.
A few things to think about is that now you have all this great information it would be easier to just keep it to yourself but I am challenging you to reach out to one person. That person that seems discouraged or is going through a tough time. You do not have to cram a bible at them and say I need to tell you what I just learned to get your point across. In fact it is just the opposite. Take what you learned and go love people around you really well. So well that they see the Spirit reflected in the way you talk, love and walk with them through whatever they are facing.
I am also challenging us all to keep this going. Pick up your bible every day and read!!! Once I end a study I am so on fire and filled up and I tend to let it fizzle for a while before picking back up. Please don't let that happen....again I am preaching more to myself than anyone. We literally have the ability to directly impact people and lives with the knowledge we have.
And thirdly I would say just pray more for God to make you bold in being his child. Whatever that looks like just pray for boldness and obedience. Sometimes that is taking dinner to a friend going through a tough time when you have a lot going on and God puts it on your heart to do that. I take that as an urging that he needs you to stop and sit for a minute with this person. A phone call or a card. I pray where ever he leads we are willing to follow....every day of our lives.
My husband is a big music guy and one of his many favorites is Mumford and Sons. They have a song called awake and these lines echo in my head. Where we choose to invest is where our hearts are. I pray we can invest together in each other, in our community and in loving each other well! It has been an absolute pleasure sweet friends xoxo -Bri
In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
And where you invest your love, you invest your life
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
Awake my soul
For you were made to meet your maker
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Open Your Bible- Week 6
This week is about living in truth. The basic gist of this whole week is living in community. I feel like this is a hot topic right now with all the political and social ordeals swirling about. How do we live in community with others? What does that require of us?
The author opens the study this week by saying this about community in Hebrews 10:19
"The context of this passage shows a community of believers made up of both Jews and Gentiles. That was groundbreaking business at the time. If Jesus was their admission into this faith community, shouldn't this also define who is welcome in our community of faith?"
The areas of discussion this week are:
Reach Up
Reach Down
Remind Each Other
Close Your Bible (What?!?)
REACH UP
When I say mentor who comes to your mind? If I had to guess all of us have that one person or people that we look up to. They may be older or they may be younger. You just know that this is the person that if you need help is there and they will know "just what to do or say". It feels SO good to have those people in our lives. WHO is that for you? Are you that person for someone else? How would things have been differently had you not had that person for advice and counsel? Here is the kicker of a question we all knew was coming. Have you ever been that person for someone and as they called you just ignored the call because of the investment of time and energy you knew was about to need to be extended? That is tough and if we are all honest sometimes we may have done that to someone or had this done to us. Folks, we cannot take this type of relationship lightly. We will all be in one of the two positions at some point or another and NOTHING hear me say that is more important than loving our neighbors. I am sorry but nothing trumps that. We have one goal in this life and that is to love others.
The truth is we were meant to form these types of relationships. We were meant to reach UP to those who have walked before us. Those who have lived through things we have not. The bible tells us that we do not have to go this life alone. We were meant for this deeper community whether we are walking through something simple or severe I guarantee there is someone around you who has been there and done that. Not in a bragging way but someone you can reach your hand up to and say pull me up too! Tell me what I need to know to get through this season. It is ok for our lives to be personal but it doesn't all have to be so private. We are all running towards the same goals and though our struggles are different NONE of them are new. How does this look in your life? Who mentors you? Who do you mentor? Who do you see around you that may need help reaching up? You can only come to these relationships through fostering a sense of community and being willing to share experiences with one another. Reaching up and out is not a sign of weakness or defeat it is a victory cry that you really get what this life is all about. It is about rallying your people and saying let's do this!
Open Your Bible and take a look at the suggested scriptures about Reaching Up
Proverbs 13:20
Proverbs 27:17
Hebrews 13:17
James 5:16
REACH DOWN
"Jesus modeled reaching down for us his entire life. It isn't an act of condescension, judgement or pity and it isn't an offer based on one's faith status. It is the hand of Christ simply saying "Let me help."
Reaching down is being hospitable. We take the time to allow other people into our lives and our spaces even the messy parts. We have a chance to show unconditional love. What we have to offer others is not hinged on what they have or do not have.
Read Luke 14:13-14 & contemplate these questions
What does Jesus teach us about extending invitations?
Is there anyone you're currently reaching down to or could be?
What have you learned that could benefit someone else?
What has stopped you from reaching down in the past? Fear that you did not have anything to offer? That you were too young or too old?
Something that I have heard discussed many times is how Paul uses the language older and younger when he speaks of a mentoring type relationship. Many times age does bring a perspective and a wisdom that younger people just don't have BUT it doesn't mean that has to be the case. We are not taking about a certain number here. We are just talking about someone mentoring a person who is younger in their faith than you are. That will look different for all of us because we are all at different points in our walk.
Open Your Bible and read these passages about sharing our time, energy and resources with others. Make notes and think about how it applies to you.
Proverbs 22:6
Romans 10:15
Romans 12:13
2 Corinthians 2:14
1 John 4:21
The authors share their top 3 reaching down stories that happens in scriptures and I will list those for you to read and dig in deeper to see the connections that happened.
Jethro and Moses Exodus 18:1, 5-27
What was unexpected about this exchange?
Moses was already an established leader of Israel when this happened. What does this tell you about our need for mentorship?
Was the exchange successful and what does it teach us?
Elizabeth and Mary Luke 1:39-56
What are the similarities in their situations?
How important are similarities and differences in a mentor relationship?
What does this tell us about how God uses reaching up and down to prepare and bring forth leaders?
Paul and Timothy 1 Timothy: 1:1-2, 12-17
How does Paul refer to Timothy?
What is Paul telling Timothy in verses 12-16.
What sticks out to you through all of these examples? WHO sticks out to you in your own life? What can you do to be more aware of opportunities to reach down?
Remind Each Other
If you are like me what comes to mind is that moment when my kids are literally screaming like banshees in Target (yes I still shop there...thats a whole other conversation) and someone so sweetly offers up the idea that I will miss this phase. My blood pressure is raised and I have less than an ounce of patience left and I might be loosing hair as we speak but yes....I will miss this. If you are a mama of littles as I call them you get that a lot. It is true and so well intentioned and we just can't take it for what it is sometimes. Outside our community it feels like maybe we are being talked at or down to and not to.
However, inside the community of faith these words have an undertone of love and peace and are meant to be a strategically placed life preserver rather. Have you ever just gotten a random text or scripture on a super hard day? How did it make you feel? Certainly it did not make you mad. It reminded you of something you already knew and somehow in that moment just lifted your spirits. Right? Are you afraid to remind people?
One of our love languages with one another that we are in community with should be regularly exchanging scripture. The scriptures are for all of us and for all times and there is nothing wrong with reminding each other of that. Sometimes the burdens get too heavy and we can't see past them to what we know is right there so when someone reminds us it shifts our perspective and we can see over or around that burden.
Open you bible to 2 Peter 1:12-15
Is the writer delivering new information or reminding them of what they already know?
According to the second half of verse 13, what is the reminder intended to do?
Why is it important to reiterate gospel truths?
When we spend time together as a community in small group, sunday school class or around tables and in homes we have intimate relationships that allow us the ability to speak life giving words into tough situations. The things that seem so cliche coming from a stranger carry a different meaning with those we "do life" with. They have the ability to anchor us in the truth that we already know.
While I cannot abide for your or your for me we can encourage and champion one another to stay the course. Stay firmly rooted in the life giving words of the scriptures and the communities in which we invest in and invest in us. Commit to put that fear or whatever is getting in your way and sharing these truths with others on a daily basis.
Close Your Bible
This is exactly as it sounds. Sometimes we can spend so much time in the word and in prayer to prepare us to go out and do good things that we miss what is going on around us. Have you ever been so busy doing things and sometimes even church related things that you missed a person in need or an obvious opportunity to help? The writer of the bible study said that once she missed an entire season of one of her close friends being sick because she spent so much time reading, writing and praying. Granted she does that for a job but it is a lesson for all of us and the overall big picture applies. I want to be involved in church and so many other things but I also want to leave a little room for the Holy Spirit to lead me as well. That requires some time in my schedule each week for where ever he leads and a willingness to just go and live out the scriptures I love so much.
Sometimes we are just more comfortable in the pages of scripture where we do not have to make ourselves vulnerable to anyone or anything. Sometimes when you offer help it may be turned down and maybe when you listen you will be burdened with others problems. We hurt and rejoice together so that feeling you have is how it is supposed to be. That is living in deep community with people. It is real and it is not always pretty but what is beautiful is the picture it paints of us going pulling up beside one another to listen, love, serve and commune in whatever that looks like. That is living our faith out loud except sometimes we don't even speak a word for the point to come across loud and clear.
The author opens the study this week by saying this about community in Hebrews 10:19
"The context of this passage shows a community of believers made up of both Jews and Gentiles. That was groundbreaking business at the time. If Jesus was their admission into this faith community, shouldn't this also define who is welcome in our community of faith?"
The areas of discussion this week are:
Reach Up
Reach Down
Remind Each Other
Close Your Bible (What?!?)
REACH UP
When I say mentor who comes to your mind? If I had to guess all of us have that one person or people that we look up to. They may be older or they may be younger. You just know that this is the person that if you need help is there and they will know "just what to do or say". It feels SO good to have those people in our lives. WHO is that for you? Are you that person for someone else? How would things have been differently had you not had that person for advice and counsel? Here is the kicker of a question we all knew was coming. Have you ever been that person for someone and as they called you just ignored the call because of the investment of time and energy you knew was about to need to be extended? That is tough and if we are all honest sometimes we may have done that to someone or had this done to us. Folks, we cannot take this type of relationship lightly. We will all be in one of the two positions at some point or another and NOTHING hear me say that is more important than loving our neighbors. I am sorry but nothing trumps that. We have one goal in this life and that is to love others.
The truth is we were meant to form these types of relationships. We were meant to reach UP to those who have walked before us. Those who have lived through things we have not. The bible tells us that we do not have to go this life alone. We were meant for this deeper community whether we are walking through something simple or severe I guarantee there is someone around you who has been there and done that. Not in a bragging way but someone you can reach your hand up to and say pull me up too! Tell me what I need to know to get through this season. It is ok for our lives to be personal but it doesn't all have to be so private. We are all running towards the same goals and though our struggles are different NONE of them are new. How does this look in your life? Who mentors you? Who do you mentor? Who do you see around you that may need help reaching up? You can only come to these relationships through fostering a sense of community and being willing to share experiences with one another. Reaching up and out is not a sign of weakness or defeat it is a victory cry that you really get what this life is all about. It is about rallying your people and saying let's do this!
Open Your Bible and take a look at the suggested scriptures about Reaching Up
Proverbs 13:20
Proverbs 27:17
Hebrews 13:17
James 5:16
REACH DOWN
"Jesus modeled reaching down for us his entire life. It isn't an act of condescension, judgement or pity and it isn't an offer based on one's faith status. It is the hand of Christ simply saying "Let me help."
Reaching down is being hospitable. We take the time to allow other people into our lives and our spaces even the messy parts. We have a chance to show unconditional love. What we have to offer others is not hinged on what they have or do not have.
Read Luke 14:13-14 & contemplate these questions
What does Jesus teach us about extending invitations?
Is there anyone you're currently reaching down to or could be?
What have you learned that could benefit someone else?
What has stopped you from reaching down in the past? Fear that you did not have anything to offer? That you were too young or too old?
Something that I have heard discussed many times is how Paul uses the language older and younger when he speaks of a mentoring type relationship. Many times age does bring a perspective and a wisdom that younger people just don't have BUT it doesn't mean that has to be the case. We are not taking about a certain number here. We are just talking about someone mentoring a person who is younger in their faith than you are. That will look different for all of us because we are all at different points in our walk.
Open Your Bible and read these passages about sharing our time, energy and resources with others. Make notes and think about how it applies to you.
Proverbs 22:6
Romans 10:15
Romans 12:13
2 Corinthians 2:14
1 John 4:21
The authors share their top 3 reaching down stories that happens in scriptures and I will list those for you to read and dig in deeper to see the connections that happened.
Jethro and Moses Exodus 18:1, 5-27
What was unexpected about this exchange?
Moses was already an established leader of Israel when this happened. What does this tell you about our need for mentorship?
Was the exchange successful and what does it teach us?
Elizabeth and Mary Luke 1:39-56
What are the similarities in their situations?
How important are similarities and differences in a mentor relationship?
What does this tell us about how God uses reaching up and down to prepare and bring forth leaders?
Paul and Timothy 1 Timothy: 1:1-2, 12-17
How does Paul refer to Timothy?
What is Paul telling Timothy in verses 12-16.
What sticks out to you through all of these examples? WHO sticks out to you in your own life? What can you do to be more aware of opportunities to reach down?
Remind Each Other
If you are like me what comes to mind is that moment when my kids are literally screaming like banshees in Target (yes I still shop there...thats a whole other conversation) and someone so sweetly offers up the idea that I will miss this phase. My blood pressure is raised and I have less than an ounce of patience left and I might be loosing hair as we speak but yes....I will miss this. If you are a mama of littles as I call them you get that a lot. It is true and so well intentioned and we just can't take it for what it is sometimes. Outside our community it feels like maybe we are being talked at or down to and not to.
However, inside the community of faith these words have an undertone of love and peace and are meant to be a strategically placed life preserver rather. Have you ever just gotten a random text or scripture on a super hard day? How did it make you feel? Certainly it did not make you mad. It reminded you of something you already knew and somehow in that moment just lifted your spirits. Right? Are you afraid to remind people?
One of our love languages with one another that we are in community with should be regularly exchanging scripture. The scriptures are for all of us and for all times and there is nothing wrong with reminding each other of that. Sometimes the burdens get too heavy and we can't see past them to what we know is right there so when someone reminds us it shifts our perspective and we can see over or around that burden.
Open you bible to 2 Peter 1:12-15
Is the writer delivering new information or reminding them of what they already know?
According to the second half of verse 13, what is the reminder intended to do?
Why is it important to reiterate gospel truths?
When we spend time together as a community in small group, sunday school class or around tables and in homes we have intimate relationships that allow us the ability to speak life giving words into tough situations. The things that seem so cliche coming from a stranger carry a different meaning with those we "do life" with. They have the ability to anchor us in the truth that we already know.
While I cannot abide for your or your for me we can encourage and champion one another to stay the course. Stay firmly rooted in the life giving words of the scriptures and the communities in which we invest in and invest in us. Commit to put that fear or whatever is getting in your way and sharing these truths with others on a daily basis.
Close Your Bible
This is exactly as it sounds. Sometimes we can spend so much time in the word and in prayer to prepare us to go out and do good things that we miss what is going on around us. Have you ever been so busy doing things and sometimes even church related things that you missed a person in need or an obvious opportunity to help? The writer of the bible study said that once she missed an entire season of one of her close friends being sick because she spent so much time reading, writing and praying. Granted she does that for a job but it is a lesson for all of us and the overall big picture applies. I want to be involved in church and so many other things but I also want to leave a little room for the Holy Spirit to lead me as well. That requires some time in my schedule each week for where ever he leads and a willingness to just go and live out the scriptures I love so much.
Sometimes we are just more comfortable in the pages of scripture where we do not have to make ourselves vulnerable to anyone or anything. Sometimes when you offer help it may be turned down and maybe when you listen you will be burdened with others problems. We hurt and rejoice together so that feeling you have is how it is supposed to be. That is living in deep community with people. It is real and it is not always pretty but what is beautiful is the picture it paints of us going pulling up beside one another to listen, love, serve and commune in whatever that looks like. That is living our faith out loud except sometimes we don't even speak a word for the point to come across loud and clear.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Open Your Bible Week 5- Part 4 (Last Installment)
If you have been following along great! If not you may want to check out the other 3 parts that go along with this 4 part series on abiding. Today as we wrap up we will be looking at how abiding in truth makes us new and wrapping it up with a few words again as we end each section with on returning in prayer. The authors of this study will continue to drive this point home.
The study this week begins by saying once we approach, engage and apply truth it its time to set a pace. It is time to make God's word no longer "what we do" but "who we are." Last time we looked at Mary of Bethany and we learn from her interactions with Jesus that there is such a thing as active stillness. That means going to where ever Jesus is and knowing that we need that relationship more than we need anything else. In that hoping and waiting our spirit is refreshed. So how does renewal com from that and what about it makes us new?
Open your bible to John 15:1-4
What happens to branches that do not produce fruit?
What happens to every branch that produces fruit?
Circle the word every above. Does that make you uncomfortable?
What are we talking about here? We are talking about pruning. Don't we prune even the things that are growing well? Even if just a snip here and there. We do because it will make it grow even better. It will be a better producer.
"The vine dresser does not leave any branch untouched, but if we are abiding, He renews us. He lovingly and expertly pares us back so that we will be even more fruitful.
Open your bible to Isaiah 5:1-6
Read through the passage called Song of the Vineyard and think on these questions.
Who is the owner?
Who does the vineyard represent?
When his well kept vineyard doesn't produce what does the owner do?
Abiding in truth transforms us-it makes us new creations. (2 Cor 5:17) Pruning isn't always removing good for better or bad for good. Rather in any case pruning is an act of preservation.
The authors ask you to read the following passages and mediate on them:
John 16:33- What 2 promises does Jesus make?
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 underlining and circling the promises
Finally, we always end with prayer. It is not surprise. It is one of the easiest ways for us to commune with our Father but one that so often just easily gets put off to the side. Abiding in prayer just simply means returning.... returning daily no matter what the circumstances look like in your life. God does not care about what you have or have not done he cares for YOU. He wants YOU. He pursues YOU.
David is described as a man after God's own heart not because he lived a perfect life but because he RETURNED. Even when the chips were down and the circumstances were bleak for him. He returned in prayer. He came daily to abide in prayer. For all the things he did that were not so great he got one of the most important things in this life we live right. Prayer is one of the keys to living out a daily walk in relationship to our Father.
The study this week begins by saying once we approach, engage and apply truth it its time to set a pace. It is time to make God's word no longer "what we do" but "who we are." Last time we looked at Mary of Bethany and we learn from her interactions with Jesus that there is such a thing as active stillness. That means going to where ever Jesus is and knowing that we need that relationship more than we need anything else. In that hoping and waiting our spirit is refreshed. So how does renewal com from that and what about it makes us new?
Open your bible to John 15:1-4
What happens to branches that do not produce fruit?
What happens to every branch that produces fruit?
Circle the word every above. Does that make you uncomfortable?
What are we talking about here? We are talking about pruning. Don't we prune even the things that are growing well? Even if just a snip here and there. We do because it will make it grow even better. It will be a better producer.
"The vine dresser does not leave any branch untouched, but if we are abiding, He renews us. He lovingly and expertly pares us back so that we will be even more fruitful.
Open your bible to Isaiah 5:1-6
Read through the passage called Song of the Vineyard and think on these questions.
Who is the owner?
Who does the vineyard represent?
When his well kept vineyard doesn't produce what does the owner do?
Abiding in truth transforms us-it makes us new creations. (2 Cor 5:17) Pruning isn't always removing good for better or bad for good. Rather in any case pruning is an act of preservation.
The authors ask you to read the following passages and mediate on them:
John 16:33- What 2 promises does Jesus make?
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 underlining and circling the promises
Finally, we always end with prayer. It is not surprise. It is one of the easiest ways for us to commune with our Father but one that so often just easily gets put off to the side. Abiding in prayer just simply means returning.... returning daily no matter what the circumstances look like in your life. God does not care about what you have or have not done he cares for YOU. He wants YOU. He pursues YOU.
David is described as a man after God's own heart not because he lived a perfect life but because he RETURNED. Even when the chips were down and the circumstances were bleak for him. He returned in prayer. He came daily to abide in prayer. For all the things he did that were not so great he got one of the most important things in this life we live right. Prayer is one of the keys to living out a daily walk in relationship to our Father.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Friday Fast & Easy Meals- American
One of the easiest things in the world to fix is a sloppy joe. Kids love it and adults for the most part love it but that stuff in the can just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I am FAR FAR from perfect but when I see an opportunity for an easy swap to something homemade as far as a sauce or spice is concerned I take it. Any little bit of pre processed stuff you can cut out is great and again it is an EASY one which is the most important thing to remember.
I found this recipe on Gracious Pantry. It is a newer go to site for me. I did not use the recipe exactly as it is but I will post the modifications I made and the original recipe and you can play with it and see what you think! Serve this up with a salad and a sweet potato on a whole wheat bun and dinner is served! Link to the recipe is right below.
***The changes I made were that I did not have organic ketchup on hand. However, I do buy the Heinz simply. If you read the ingredients it only has a few things in there. Also, my husband despises green peppers and in general is not a big fan of peppers in dishes at all so I just left it off all together. On the spice portion it has a full tablespoon for each listed. I did not do quite a FULL tablespoon. I did about a half of each and then mixed and taste tested. I added a tad bit more but not the full tbsp recommended. You can do however you choose though. Follow the recipe exact and make changes next time if needed or take the modifications. It is rare that I ever just take and follow a recipe as it is but you may always follow one. No right or wrong way to approach this one. The taste is excellent and you won't miss the manwich can.
Monday, May 2, 2016
Open Your Bible Week 5- Part 3
Abiding means remaining in truth. Remaining in HIM is a way of life. We are not to be behind or in front of but IN HIM. Just saying that is like a drop the mic moment. It is so true and it is the way we are meant to live. Fully invested in remaining in HIM. What does that look like and what does that even mean? Let's see what this week's study has in store.
When we go to put this into practical application for our lives it may be a bit difficult to even picture or put a finger on what remaining is because it is so opposite of how we live our lives most of the time. Always on the go from one place to another for this and that. Some of us moving frequently to different houses or even different cities. We like to explore and make an adventure out of this life we live. Sometimes we don't even really know what or where to call home because our time is so divided and frantic. Time and life pushes us further forward but Jesus is urging us just to stay a while.
A great way to get an up close look at this concept is to go back to Mary Magdalene. The writer of this bible study says that Mary Magdalene is her favorite remain-er of the bible. Much like the other Mary she clings tight to Jesus and his words. She continually goes after the Lord and holds on to his promise no matter what the situation looks like.
Open your bible to John 20. Read verse 1 and then 11-16 and answer a few questions.
When does this story take place and what was her reaction when she cannot find Jesus?
I got a sense of her being panicked and frantic wouldn't you say with all the weeping going on. I almost can feel for her that pit in her stomach that must have been there just not knowing where Jesus was. HE was genuinely her home base in all the craziness of her life. She remained in him so well that when he wasn't in her line of vision that she panicked. She felt like she wasn't even sure where to go next. She remained in HIM time after time even when things around her changed.
The writer of the study says this:
I wonder if Mary Magdalene would correct me if she knew how often I misread that famous "abide" passage in John 15 as delivering a mandate to fruitfulness, a command to produce. Because if I look at the passage more closely, I see the true command is to remain.
Read John 15:4
The point the author is trying to drive home is that you cannot do anything apart from HIM. When you remain steady in the word and promise for your life in all circumstances you will be fruitful. You will naturally grow and fruit will naturally be produced as a by product of you remaining.
The study provides the following verses below for you to read and copy down. Taking special note of the instructions to stay close to Jesus and what it teaches us about what it looks like to remain.
John 8:31
John 10:27
John 13:35
Colossians 3:1-2
Some of these verses I would read in a few different translations to help you sort it out as far as what you put down for these answers for yourself.
The main point of this week is this. Do WE feel so much like Jesus is our home that when we stray away that we do not know what to do? Or are we just walking around adding in a little here and there but for the most part thinking we have got this whole thing figured out and not even realizing when we are far from home. What are we remaining in? If it's not Jesus then chances are the fruit we are producing is the wrong kind or short lived. Not fruit that will live on forever in the generations to come. Mary Magdalene sought Jesus because HE was her home. Many times when we think of home it is a way of defining who we are and where we came from. It gives other things in our lives meaning and not the other way around.
Jesus Christ is and should be our home in this crazy busy world and in the words of bible is one place we can surely encounter HIM. Remaining in truth does not mean an occasional visit or a bible on a shelf or even 10 bibles on a shelf. IF you are like us we have several around but are we using them? It is life well lived when you return every day to the words that give you life, hope, encouragement, truth that we need to hear. When we faithfully return it helps us to remain in HIS presence.
When we go to put this into practical application for our lives it may be a bit difficult to even picture or put a finger on what remaining is because it is so opposite of how we live our lives most of the time. Always on the go from one place to another for this and that. Some of us moving frequently to different houses or even different cities. We like to explore and make an adventure out of this life we live. Sometimes we don't even really know what or where to call home because our time is so divided and frantic. Time and life pushes us further forward but Jesus is urging us just to stay a while.
A great way to get an up close look at this concept is to go back to Mary Magdalene. The writer of this bible study says that Mary Magdalene is her favorite remain-er of the bible. Much like the other Mary she clings tight to Jesus and his words. She continually goes after the Lord and holds on to his promise no matter what the situation looks like.
Open your bible to John 20. Read verse 1 and then 11-16 and answer a few questions.
When does this story take place and what was her reaction when she cannot find Jesus?
I got a sense of her being panicked and frantic wouldn't you say with all the weeping going on. I almost can feel for her that pit in her stomach that must have been there just not knowing where Jesus was. HE was genuinely her home base in all the craziness of her life. She remained in him so well that when he wasn't in her line of vision that she panicked. She felt like she wasn't even sure where to go next. She remained in HIM time after time even when things around her changed.
The writer of the study says this:
I wonder if Mary Magdalene would correct me if she knew how often I misread that famous "abide" passage in John 15 as delivering a mandate to fruitfulness, a command to produce. Because if I look at the passage more closely, I see the true command is to remain.
Read John 15:4
The point the author is trying to drive home is that you cannot do anything apart from HIM. When you remain steady in the word and promise for your life in all circumstances you will be fruitful. You will naturally grow and fruit will naturally be produced as a by product of you remaining.
The study provides the following verses below for you to read and copy down. Taking special note of the instructions to stay close to Jesus and what it teaches us about what it looks like to remain.
John 8:31
John 10:27
John 13:35
Colossians 3:1-2
Some of these verses I would read in a few different translations to help you sort it out as far as what you put down for these answers for yourself.
The main point of this week is this. Do WE feel so much like Jesus is our home that when we stray away that we do not know what to do? Or are we just walking around adding in a little here and there but for the most part thinking we have got this whole thing figured out and not even realizing when we are far from home. What are we remaining in? If it's not Jesus then chances are the fruit we are producing is the wrong kind or short lived. Not fruit that will live on forever in the generations to come. Mary Magdalene sought Jesus because HE was her home. Many times when we think of home it is a way of defining who we are and where we came from. It gives other things in our lives meaning and not the other way around.
Jesus Christ is and should be our home in this crazy busy world and in the words of bible is one place we can surely encounter HIM. Remaining in truth does not mean an occasional visit or a bible on a shelf or even 10 bibles on a shelf. IF you are like us we have several around but are we using them? It is life well lived when you return every day to the words that give you life, hope, encouragement, truth that we need to hear. When we faithfully return it helps us to remain in HIS presence.
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