Sunday, January 16, 2011

ABC Scripture Challenge {Word #2}, Bible

This week I saw a post asking if you pick and choose God’s rules to follow. It broke my heart to see the responses. As I read, prayed, and dwelled on the question, I realized that we really need to look at this Book called the Bible and how it is to be used to affect our lives daily. I touched on this topic in my very first Scripture Challenge in 2008. I encourage you to read that post also. You can find it here. Today I will share more of what the Lord has brought to me concerning His precious Word.

Challenge Word #2: Bible

How many of you remember this song? Here are the first two verses:

The B-I-B-L-E
Oh! The B-I-B-L-E,
Yes that's the book for me.
I stand alone on the word of God,
the B-I-B-L-E!

The B-I-B-L-E
I'll take it along with me,
I'll read and pray,
and then obey,
the B-I-B-L-E.


Is the Bible the Book for you? Do you know that His Word is absolute truth? Do you read it, pray, and then obey it? It seems like such a simple song but it is full of great instruction for us. The Bible:

• Should have an impact on our lives (2 Kings 22:11-13).
• Should teach us the difference between right and wrong (Joshua 1:7-8).
• Is God’s guide for us (Psalm 48:14, 2 Timothy 4:16).
• Is reliable, without error, and does not contradict itself (Numbers 23:19, 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 33:4, Proverbs 30:5).
• Its truths never change (Mark 13:31).
• Is relevant to all ages (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
• Reveals the living God, our Holy Creator (Deuteronomy 32:6, Luke 24:1-9).

Those are just a few ‘highlights’ of what the Bible is and should be to us. I encourage you to read each of the Scriptures listed above. As the inerrant Word of God, we cannot pick and choose what we think is truth and what is not. We either believe the entire Bible or we make the entire Book false. If we do not agree with that, then we need to pray that God help us align ourselves with Him because we are the ones with the faulty thinking.

I love the story of the midwives in Exodus 1 when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. The more the Israelites were oppressed by the Egyptians, the more they multiplied. Pharaoh feared the people would become so numerous that they would rise up against him. So Pharaoh devised a plan telling the Hebrew midwives to kill any Hebrew boys that were born but to allow the girls to live. Here is a short passage from Exodus 1:

Exodus 1:15-21The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, ‘When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.’ The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, ‘Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?’ The midwives answered Pharaoh, ‘Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.’ So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.”

Now the midwives fear was not that they were afraid of God. It was a reverent fear of Him. A reverent fear of God and courage is always the best response in a difficult circumstance. God protects and prepares those that He calls to serve Him. The midwives knew God, His Word had been passed through the generations, and they obeyed His Word. We are called to do the same. Do you allow the Word of God to govern your life? The truth of God’s Word transcends generations. It is powerful and effective, and it points people to who God is. I love this quote from my Life Application Study Bible “God’s Word is not just information to read but His Word should transform our lives.” Are your reading His Word and being transformed daily?

For my page today, I used a scripture from the Our Daily Bread Designs "Ask, Seek, Knock" stamp set. I also wanted to include the verses just before this particular verse so I handwrote those. The verses I used were Proverbs 8:32-34. The butterflies are from the Our Daily Bread Designs set called "Faith." They represent a new creation as I am transformed daily by reading His Word, obeying His Word, and trusting in His Word. And did you noticed I used the ODBD sketch from our first scrapbook challenge? There is still time to enter that if you want to play along! :) And now, here is my first 5x6 page for my 7Gypsies Photo Carousel. Papers: Basic Grey Marjolaine, Paper Trey Ink cs
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Ask, Seek, Knock (scripture); Our Daily Bread Designs Faith (butterflies)
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink walnut stain, Ranger Adirondack denim and clear ep
Embellishments: Scenic Route chipboard letter; Dymo labeler; L'il Davis chipboard heart; Maya Road pleated ribbon and organza roses; Tim Holtz tiny attacher; Paper Trey Ink buttons, just the ticket border die, and rustic twine


So, I hope you will enjoy your study and creative time! :) Please be sure to use Keyword ABCSCRC11 when posting in any galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of our previous lessons, please visit this post here.

And in closing for today, in hard times, draw on Him and His Word. In good times, draw on Him and His word. In everyday times, draw on Him and His Word. His Words should affect our lives daily. Are they? Have a blessed week ahead!

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7 comments:

Traci S. said...

Wonderful Writing, Patter. I remember when I was still a Jew, and I was looking into the Bible for the first time...He opened my eyes...and let me see things anew. It was amazing! It was impossible for me to see Him until He let me see Him.

I would just like to add, if you don't mind, that when we look at Scripture we look at the whole Scripture and the context. Many people are finding it handy to use a phrase of the Scripture on a card or something. When, I feel we really need to know the whole purpose...one that I see so often is "I can do all things through Christ." Do you agree? The meaning is changed when you look at the rest of the Scripture. I am interested in your opinion on this. Thank you, Patter.

He IS Able,
Traci S.

Patter Cross said...

Traci, I too believe that the scripture should be looked at at it's entirety not just a portion to fit our needs. I sometimes will see a snippet of a scripture but I always open my Bible to read the verses before and after to understand it fully as God intended. I think we truly need to be careful there. Thanks for that great reminder.

P.S. Our internet was out Wednesday and Thursday so I am STILL behind on e-mail now. I haven't forgotten ya girl! :)

EstherT said...

I just found your blog from your LO on Scrapbook.com. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, they fit in so well with what I heard at church this morning.

Queen Mary said...

Well Patter, this is REALLY an inspired post by you! I was reading an email this morning, it's an inspirational message that has a biblical quote attached to the end of it and sometimes I get it, but most of the times it seems a little random. Anyway, on of my struggles as a lawyer has always been "justice." Lot of people talk about justice, but they leave out the mercy and compassion part -- so what was this morning's biblical quote? Zechariah 7:9: "Render true justice; show mercy and compassion." So, here we have a pretty darn naked answer to my prayers! Right there! And I too go back and read the context when I hear a snippet!

Vanessa said...

Patter,
Thank you! Your thoughts are so very encouraging and true! Inerrant - YES! ABSOLUE TRUTH - YES!! Thank you for "making much of HIM!" and for turning our eyes to see His majesty and goodness once again!
I pray that God encourages YOUR heart today and provides you grace abundant to continue in the "good works He has planned for you to do". These postings and challenges may seem small to you at times, unnecessary or unnoticed, but you ARE truly used by Him to encourage hearts of those you do not know. I thank God for this technology that allows such a "ministry" (to me!) :)
Blessing to you, Patter! You are a faithful steward! <3

Anne-Marie said...

Thank you Patter for your words of wisdom.
I still have my ATC Carousel of my little pieces of art from 2008. It is a little dusty but sits up in the room here where my computer is.

Nancy said...

Wonderful lesson, Patter! Thank you so much! Your page is beautiful! It's fun to see you doing a different size! Maybe next year I'll try something different! ;o) I sure do appreciate you doing this challenge, my friend!...Nancy :o)

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