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UPCOMING BIBLE STUDY
WOMEN OF THE BIBLE
January 2022 – May 2022
An Introduction
It’s been two long years. Too much death. Too much confusion. Too much heartache. Too many outside noises disrupting my spiritual peace.
I want a new beginning. For that to happen, I must get rid of my god-complex.
You see …
I’m a deep thinker. I don’t take things lightly. Don’t know how. I’m serious most of the time. Sensitive. Always problem-solving. Always gathering information from what’s going on around me. Proactive most of the time. If I miss something, as I often do, it’s because I’m focused on a perplexing issue I must get under control. (OUCH! There it is! That god-complex again. We’ll discuss this later.) Needless to say, I like puzzles–piecing unfamiliar things together as if I’m smart enough to see the whole picture. I also love wearing four different hats at once. BUSY.Busy.busy is the name of the game, right? I enjoy finishing your sentences—even if I do so inside my head. But I like surprises. Love giving.
Am I saint?
Absolutely.
Why?
Because God constantly cleanses me from my sins and purges me from my egotistical attitude … humbling me … warning me that he’s the one who planned out my salvation … not the other way around. He tells me through his Word — I AM. NOT. HIM.
I’m not, you know.
There’s only one God.
And I’m not him.
Like Eve, I want to be. I want to be one step ahead. I want knowledge. To be “in the know.” I want to scold and manipulate and correct and encourage to the nth degree so people will do what’s right. Did you catch that narcissistic need to control? I wear myself out trying to be what I’m not—perfect. I know I can never do enough … that my works won’t get me near the heavenly gates. I’m in a terrible predicament. I want to save the world, but sometimes find myself bumping into walls and unable to find a way out.
I thought I knew it all. I thought I was GOoD. I never used that exact language, but the end result to my pathetic and vigorous struggle speaks louder than words. (If you don’t believe me, count the number of times I’ve used “I” in this blog.)
Recognize my dilemma? Flesh v. Spirit?
Why does everything need to center around me?
Why can’t I be more like Christ? To serve rather than be served?
It’s a battle, isn’t it? Flesh v. Spirit.
We all fight it.
How did this fierce war for our souls begin?
It first occurred in the garden … initiated by the serpent … the evil one.
How do we win the war?
WE FIGHT!!!
STRATEGIZE.
GET EQUIPPED for it. Put on spiritual armor and prepare for war.
We don’t sit in a corner and pretend we are not in the fight for our spiritual lives. We don’t cry day in and day out and do nothing. We don’t wave our hands in despair, as if we have no hope.
NO!
We prepare for battle, STAND OUR GROUND, and FIGHT.
But how?***
- Know the scriptures one chapter at a time.
- Surround yourselves with god-fearing people.
- Know your weaknesses because the enemy sure knows them.
- Pray without ceasing.
- Obey. OBEY. OBEY. Scriptures were not written for entertainment. They were written to reconcile you to God and encourage you to stay in the fight.
Beginning Wednesday, January 19, 2022, we will study WOMEN OF THE BIBLE here on my blog.
This study is a repeated lecture from our Ladies’ Wednesday Morning Bible Class which I will co-teach every two weeks through May 4th.
I will pull back the curtain and help you imagine standing in the middle of the ancient world to experience what these women went through. By doing this, you will quickly discover they were no different than you and me. Their lives will provide more encouragement than you ever imagined. I will dig deep and ask thought-provoking questions in hopes of getting you to self-reflect—to take inventory of your spiritual walk with the Lord and seek his guidance to get closer to him.
Prepare your hearts and minds by reading scriptures on the following seven women:
January 19th Eve
February 2nd Leah
February 16th Abigail
March 2nd Gomer (through Hosea’s eyes)
March 23rd Mary, Mother of Jesus
April 6th Anna (the prophetess)
April 20th Woman at the Well
May 4th Summary of what we’ve learned
At the end of this written lecture, there will be a section for comments. Feel free to express your likes and dislikes about the lecture. I will use the information as a learning tool to improve my lectures.
More than ever, we are in for the fight of our spiritual lives. Time is growing short for the evil one and he’s desperate to snatch us from God the Father. At the very least, he’s determined to make us miserable (diseases, heartache, disappointment).
DON’T LET HIS TACTICS WORK ON YOU!!
STAND FIRM.
“… If God is for us, who can stand against us?” (Romans 8:31)
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)
Together, we will encourage each other to stay in the fight.
After all, in the end, we know who wins!!
Amen.
by Donna B. Comeaux
one of many women who love the Lord our God
December 30, 2021
***More details will be given in the first lesson to help equip you for this spiritual battle for our souls.
Self-Sufficiency
(in other words, I don’t need anything or anyone)
Daily Devotional
October 10, 2020
At times I wonder what will get me out of my chair, away from my home to intermingle with those in spiritual need; to become more active in the body of Christ. In order to confront this dilemma, I must face some hard truths about myself.
Why would I not want to share my life?
To be honest, fear. To be honest, I’ve been there; done that. To be honest, I have what I need.
But isn’t God’s idea of sharing our lives with one another more about you … more about other people?
“7On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children. 8 We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.” (I Thessalonians 2:7-8)
WOW!
Are you kidding me?
You mean I’m to care so deeply about you that I should be “delighted to share myself?”
As I look around my home … at my things … at my lack of need, I’m ashamed to say that I often feel like the rich man in Luke 12:16-20. Let’s read it.
“And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.’
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” (Luke 12:16-20)
What we store up and prepare for ourselves on this side of heaven offers no keys to God’s kingdom. My home, much like yours, is filled with everything this life can provide. And one day I will die, leave it behind, and in the end, it will all BURN UP!!
God’s goodness is evident in our lives today. Each of us is rich to whatever level God has chosen for us. Though it may be unsettling to step out of our comfort zones to fulfill the needs of others, it is no less demanded of us.
Obedience is a command. Obedience should not be determined by your mood, or hinged to the few minutes that remain at the end of your day. God will not be shy in keeping his promises to you—either to bless you, or to punish you for your complacent behavior.
I have been complacent. Pray for me.
Let’s encourage each other to remember God’s commands; to spur each other forward to do and to act out his will for our lives, regardless of how we may feel toward the task in front of us or how we may feel toward our sisters and brothers.
Prayer: Oh, God, please begin with me. Mold me. Shape me in any way necessary until your will is fully magnified through your mercy and grace.
Challenge: Search your hearts to find the most uncomfortable thing to do for someone else. Pray to God for help. Then, pick up the phone, get in your car, write a note, or do whatever is necessary to fulfill God’s commands for your life. And remember, it could be that you need to let others do for you. Hard, isn’t it?
Amen.
Donna B. Comeaux
No other credentials other than
being a child of God.