GOD IS FAITHFUL!

GOD IS FAITHFUL!  We can't hear it enough, or say it enough.  God is faithful to do what He has promised, to be who He says He is, to perform all the things He has said He will perform.  He is not a man that He should lie but His Word is His bond. (Num 23:19  19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.  Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?) NIV

When you think of your earthly father does faithfulness come to mind?  My father was a man who made promises.  He fully intended to follow through with every one of them but life would always get in the way. I remember being disappointed so many times that I began to realize my dad wanted to do the things he promised but his business came first; the car came first, the yard work came first, doing other things came first.

God is not man and we can always count on Him to fulfill His promises. In God's economy His faithfulness to us comes first.  Next time we gather we can finish the sentence Tom gave us on the last page of our study on God's Faithfulness.  Mine will read:  I plan to reflect God's faithfulness in my life by being faithful in what I say and what I do.  Can't wait to hear what you write!

We will meet at the Gillespie's December 4th.  I'll email instructions that week.  Blessings, Meribeth  

GOODNESS - GRACIOUS

We say it all the time! [GOODNESS - GRACIOUS!]  Yet to really think about and respond to what it means to each of us personally will take a lifetime. How did you finish the sentence: Because of God's amazing grace and tender mercies I plan to...?

Don't think that what you do or don't do will have an impact on how God treats you or how much He loves you because it won't. God's mercy is always undeserved, always unlimited and always available to you. Understanding His mercy should always evoke a "GOODNESS-GRACIOUS!" out of those who know Him.

Study 5 is being unveiled this coming Thursday at the Kehn home...be there and plan to learn a little more about "The Faithfulness of God". We only have a few more studies before Christmas - don't miss any!

Finally got the Master Notes for study 4.  Click HERE for the link.

God's Wrath is Reserved for Whom?

Our study on God’s wrath was an eye opening exercise.  I thought of all the ways God could punish his enemies and then I realized at one time I was one of his enemies.  He didn’t take any of the opportunities he had to make my life miserable, instead he loved me and nurtured me and sought me out to be his own. 

We learned that believers need not fear the God of Wrath because he is also a God of patience, grace, love and righteousness.  If any non-believer wants to sidestep the wrath to come they need only to accept the payment that was made on their behalf. 

We looked at questions many people have about God's wrath. I wondered about those people who say that if God was a god of love He wouldn't send anyone to hell.  Then I wondered how that person would feel if their child was murdered and the murderer was allowed to go on living as though they hadn't done anything wrong? They accept that punishment must be meted out to the evil in our society; why then don't they realize that God does not want evil to inhabit the heavenly kingdom?  ( Could it be veiled brain matter)?  Spend time going over your notes and ask yourself how Wrath fits into the Kingdom of God.  

Get ready for next Thursday it will be a time of rejoicing.  Our study will be on The Mercy & Grace of God, I feel a lot more comfortable there. Ha!  Also do the Making it Personal on the last page of The Justice & Wrath of God section for our sharing time. 

If you need to fill in the blanks: Here are the links to Tom's Master Notes for Studies 1, 2 & 3.

The Justice & Wrath of God

We were a small group on Thursday night. We missed, Michael, Amy and Jennifer! But that is not to say we didn't have a meaningful time, as always, it was rich in the Word.  

We started moving toward understanding The Justice & Wrath of God.  Did you know that God's righteousness always tempers His justice?  One day our righteousness will be complete and we will reign with Christ and will be part of His ruling Kingdom.  Paul gives us a glimpse into the part we will play:  

1 Cor 6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world?
NIV
1 Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels?
NIV

Now this is inspiring and brings us back to who we are in Christ. We don't understand His judgements now but one day all will become clear.  Now we see in a mirror dimly, then face to face.

Don't miss this coming Thursday. It will be at the home of Tom & Barb starting at 6:45 p.m..  If you have time, do the first page of Study 3. The Justice & Wrath of God, front and back.  If you have blanks left over you can fill them in Thursday.  Can't wait to be re-united.