GMG Intentionally Focused Study Week 2 Day 5

Psalm 63:3-5

S:  Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I will praise you. I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 

O:  Unfailing love, without error, reliable, constant

Satisfy, meet the expectations, needs or desires of. Fulfill, provide, adequately meet or comply. 

Richest, plentiful, abundant, valuable. 

A:  There is nothing in my life worth more than God's PERFECT love. I need to praise Him with all my being for all he has done for me. Praise him for everything. Big and small. Good and bad. All day long. The more I meditate on the gifts he bestows on me, the more I will be able to be his witness for others to see how great our God is.  

P:  How great your love is for me, Father!  Unfailing. I know you are there no matter what. In all areas of my life, you never leave me. Never let me down. I will sing of your love forever. Through all the stuff this life throws at me and even though here are times I've been angry over things, I know you love me anyway. Thank you for bringing me through the tough times. I still don't understand but I know you have never left me.  Be with each of these girls as they go throughout this weekend. Give them health, understanding, wisdom and the ability to praise you in all of what comes our direction. 

~Amen

GMG Intentionally Focused Study Week 2 Day 4

Hebrews 4:12 

S:  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitude of the heart. 

O:  Alive and powerful, operative, energizing, effective, quick, penetrating. 

Sharper than the sharpest. 

Judges, exposes innermost thoughts and desires. Purposes of the heart. 

Sifting and analyzing. 

Discerned of thoughts and intents if the heart. 

A:  This is certainly convicting. It makes me realize that God knows my inner most being. No hiding anything. Not even a thought. My deepest most secret thoughts. He knows them all. 

P:  Father thank your for your conviction. Thank you for your forgiveness. I ask you to forgive me for the same sins over and over and you know it even before I commit the sin.  We all have our favorite sins. Those ones that we don't think are 'that bad in comparison....' yet they are sins. I am so sorry Father and ask for your strength and guidance. Send your Holy Spirit to me in those times when I am too blinded by my flesh to even realizing that I'm sinning.  In Jesus' precious name. 

~Amen

GMG Intentionally Focused Study Week 2 day 3

John 4:13-14

S:  Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.  It becomes a fresh bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."

O: Bubbling=welling up=over flowing=continually=ARTESIAN
Water of the world is something that can be taken away.  Dried up.  Shut off.  Run out.  Jesus will never leave us.  Will continually fill us.  Never run out.  The Message describes the water Jesus gives as ARTESIAN: Wells made by boring into the earth till the instrument reaches water which from the internal pressure, flows spontaneously like a fountain.  They are usually small in diameter and often of great depth.

A:  This scripture again reminds me that this world is not my home.  That if I belong to the world my thirst will never be quenched.  As long as I am here in the flesh, I will always thirst and need water.  However, I can be filled with an everlasting, over flowing, life giving water.  A water that will quench my thirst for eternal life in Christ.  The Message describes this as ARTESIAN water.  (see definition above)  It reminds me of the verse in Matthew 19 where Jesus tells us it is easier for a camel to to through the eye of a needle than someone to enter the kingdom of God.  The artesian well is a small path of great depth and flows from an internal pressure.  I think of myself as digging deeper and deeper into God's word.  Continually digging into that life giving water, to quench my thirst.  Water that spontaneously flows because of internal pressure.  That pressure is my constant communion with God and His word and the Fountain is Jesus springing forth life giving water to quench this earthly desire of my thirst for Him.

P:  Father, thank you for this life giving water in your son Jesus Christ.  Thank you for loving me so much that you quench this thirst with your word.  Thank you for giving me your word so I can learn and follow you to this Fountain of water.  Thank you for your forgiveness and ever growing grace and allowing me to come to your well again and and again.

~Amen

GMG Intentionally Focused Study Week 2 Day 2

John 15:5 NLT

S:  Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.

O:  Remain=Abide=Join=Live   -   Produce=Bear (abundantly)   -   Apart=Without=Separated

A:  I used to think of fruit trees when I read this passage and think of being pruned and bearing fruit.  For some reason, I couldn't hear God's voice this morning.  So I stopped and prayed and asked for his guidance.  This is what He spoke to me today.  Today I saw the word VINE.  Jesus is the vine.  When I envision a vine in my mind, I see the intricacy of a vine and how it grows.  If the shoots stay tightly knit to the core of the vine they bear the fruit or flower.  If they shoot out away from the core of the vine they wither, die and break off.  It is so important to stay tightly knit and woven into Jesus and bear fruit for our inheritance with Him.

P:  Precious Father, Thank you for opening my heart and mind this morning to what exactly you wanted me to gain from this passage.  I love how you speak to me.  I am so grateful to hear your voice. Forever I wish to cling to the core of the vine, which is your son, Jesus Christ, tightly woven and ever bearing fruit for your glory and yours alone.

~Amen.

GMG Intentionally Focused Study Week 2 Day 1

Mark 1:35

S:  Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

O:  Before the day begins.  Alone.  In a private space.

A:  I need to continue to start my day with Him.  His word.  And our conversation.  Alone.  Quiet.  Devoted.

P:  Father be with me each day.  My prayer is that you keep this desire within me to spend time with you in your word and in communion with you.  Keep this fire burning, burning, burning in me.  I love you Lord.

~Amen

GMG ~ Week Two - Let's Be Intentional

Week Two Challenge:  Open to Revelation Chapter 1 and read what John saw when he saw Jesus in all his glory.  When you close your eyes to pray - pause and imagine what John saw.  Then begin praying.  I believe it will change the power of your quiet times this week.

Week Two Memory verse:  John 15:5  I am the vine; your are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Week Two:  This week I'm going to be intentionally focused on:  My prayer time.

Your Spiritual Life  "God created us to walk with Him, to know Him, and to be loved by Him."  ~Courtney Joseph, Women Living Well

~Peace

GMG Week One ~ Focused Questions

1. Life is a marathon-not a sprint.  We are all in the race.  What are you willing to lay aside to be a more effective runner for God in your race?

• Wasting time
• Choose a better/healthier lifestyle
• Stop complaining

2.) Compare Psalm 90:12 with Psalm 39: 4-5.  Life is short.  We need to not neglect the things that are truly important.  List out some things that are truly important.  Write out some small steps of how you can be more intentional in those areas this year.  Ask the Lord to confirm these areas and the steps you should take.

Psalm 90:12  -  Teach us to realize the brevity of life so that we may grow in wisdom.

Psalm 39:4-5  -  Lord remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered how fleeting my life is.  You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.   My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best each of us is but a breath.

• Daily spending time in God's word
• Prayer - Ask God to direct our path, realizing how short life is
• Making better choices not just in my eating/lifestyle, but in all areas of my life.  Each small change makes a difference.
• Sharing God's love by being a better example through learning His word

Father, guide my life.  Help me in my choices.  You have and continue to remind me how short life is.  When I look at my hand I am reminded every time.  Help me make the most of each breath you give me.  Forgive me for wasting precious time.  I love you.  ~Amen