"REDEEMED... " Starts Today

April 20th through June 1st, 2017

(videos every Thursday at LifeWay)

(from the author of this)  AngelaThomas Pharr "Hey everybody!! I’m so excited to begin REDEEMED with you this coming Thursday, April 20th. If you don’t already have your member book, I hope you can get your hands on one soon. Check your local LifeWay store, LifeWay online or my website to get your member book. On Thursday, you’ll receive the link to Video 1. It’s my version of an introductory video to set up the content and style of the study, then we’ll begin the first day of the workbook on Friday. I’m gonna try my very best to interact with you everyday. I’m not sure I can respond to all your comments or questions, but I’ll do what I can that day! While we’ll be doing this study together, our daughter is expecting our first grandchild, one child will graduate college and three others will finish their spring semester (Read: Will need their mama to help them move home and then help them pack and get to their summer commitments). Just like you, we’ve got a lot going on! And with children, the month of May just seems to cave in on top of you. All the more reason to take a little time with our Redeemer everyday! Please don’t worry about getting behind, or not staying right with all of us. I’ll try to post my comments with a clear reference to the day of the study I’m referring to. LifeWay has tried to make this area easy for you to use, so that you can comment to one another, interact and encourage one another, etc. I’ll post my daily comments here and also on all of my social media outlets. This is my first-time hosting one of my studies online, so I’m excited to walk these next six weeks with you. Please know I’m praying for you. My husband, Scott, is praying for you. My friends who pray for me are praying for you! This is gonna be fun, but more than anything, I’m praying for God’s power as you spend time in His Word and in His presence. The Redeemer keeps redeeming our lives until we see Him face to face. May we all keep being redeemed. I love you so. Angela {taken from the comments of the sign-up post and also her blog}

I'm not sure how this all will work yet

even though I hold the book in my hands
but the first place 
I believe I need to begin 
(besides reading the Intro and viewing the first video)
is by defining

REDEEMED

1. compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something). "a disappointing debate redeemed only by an outstanding speech" synonyms: save, compensate for the defects of, vindicate  2. gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment.

(but Day 1, gets into this in her book)

And in case, you're not able or convinced yet  that this is a Bible Study you need and have not signed up
Please look at the rest of the title ... (or even the book description)
GRACE TO LIVE EVERY DAY BETTER THAN BEFORE

"The moment you accept Jesus as the Lord over your life, you are redeemed.  As the redeemed, we experience a lifelong journey  of being transformed into His image ..."


[image credit]

looking forward to the practical side of
REDEMPTION
<>
After the beautiful two page introduction, Angela begins her book with "Preparing for 40 Days"  - "I CAN'T" ... first let me go back a bit into her Intro ... the words that leaped off the page to this soul thirsting for change and a beautiful, grace-filled walk with Jesus - inspite of the disastrous day-by-day struggles, I want to live a life that's being "redeemed" and changed (her words) "to connect your very real, everyday life with the very, real presence and power of God". Angela continues: 
"Here's all I know: When those two things intersect, lives are going to change. Healing will happen. Prayers will be answered. You will know God even more intimately as Your Redeemer."
See the words that are meant for me or stood out! I know you do!
"HEALING WILL HAPPEN"
yes and that's what I pray for me, for you then I read the page with I CAN'T {in red, nonetheless} and the words on that page resonated over and over and the last words on that page
"...Too many years have been wasted spinning in circles, going nowhere." (p.7)
"How would you fill in this blank?" (top of p.8)
"I've given up trying____________________"

Romans 7:15, 18b-19
Romans 7: 24
and on and on
each word sinking deeper
striking nerves
thoughts
right down to the marrow of my bones
in my head, in my heart
page 8 - page 9
"Who will deliver me from my pain?"
"my regret, my habits, my choices, my secrets, my sin?"
"Who will deliver us from ourselves?"
of course, most of us, know the answer
but do we really?
all the other questions and words from Angela are just as
POWERFUL
Romans 7:25
followed by
... We have a Redeemer! And we shall be 
Redeemed!
 page 10
is just as powerful, reading Romans 7:15 to the end and Romans 8:1
page 11
GOD CAN
this I believe and really need to see
especially because I already knew
"I Can't"
but
"HE CAN"
or
this is not all
there is still so much more
like page 14
"When MY GREAT NEED accepts GOD'S GREAT LOVE, REDEMPTION BEGINS
I CAN'T, HE CAN" Angela Thomas-Pharr   (need an image for this one)
WEEK 1: WHEN LOVE MAKES A PROMISE
{yep, this one is a study meant for me}
video link
sample of book
and also
You Version has a 5 day reading plan of
"Redeemed"

{not to be confused with LGG's "Broken and Redeemed", which just finished}

No WOW ~ just a reminder

'US' (above) is LIFEWAY WOMEN
but I've signed up so why don't you?
starts tomorrow

but
in case you did not know

[image credit: CrossCards]

I'd love to be off for a bike ride

instead

of

my normal

Walk On Weds.

listening for

His Whisper

... but for many reasons, I'm not ... no bike (since I've moved home-not a priority and what I had is either gone, rusted or junked; my knees don't work like they used to and the weather is not cooperating right now, kinda dreary and weary) ... occasionally I do use that indoor kind, called an exercise bike, just to keep my knees functioning somewhat better than they do

and

my balance

has been off since last year

which was the reason

I found out inadvertently that I have

hearing loss

so

I'm still adjusting to this.

For this reason

I am leaning in even more

to hear

HIS WHISPERS

much more needed than the loud sounds that invade

my space and place

I choose to fill my head

with

Gods' Words

... my 'ice pick' headaches on my left side of my head have subsided since I went on an audio break and restarted adjusting to my hearing aides and had an MRI ... the headaches are not officially an ice pick headache because of their location but that is the best description for the ones I had, I still have some dizzy stuff when I roll to my left, and due to some problem with my right ear, which is my worst one, of my Eustachian tube not functioning (known as dysfunctional Eustachian tube) - opening and feels like you do on an airplane but it does not pop and stay open, just momentarily, with all the 'tricks' - from gum chewing to nasal spray to holding breath ... this is when more than ever, one relies on the inner person hearing and God's whispers, His Spirit alive in me, is all the more important, as I isolate more and more (of course, which isn't good or recommended) - it is what it is BUT GOD - yes, He is here and hears, I rely on this and His Whispers (wherever they come from) ... 

HAPPY BIKE DAY!

or

HAPPY WEDS! 

WOW

guess I'll try some

Worship On Weds.

with

Kari Jobe's "The Garden"

and

some others and others

Such a joy to see the birds and buds coming out

{just not the insects, like wood or deer ticks}

This was late today, but then you know that it's just been written and is new

A BLESSED RESURRECTION SONDAY!

[images credit: KTIS]

KTIS is my long-time Christian radio station in MN. I love my KTIS!
"Easter: A Preview of what is to come"


My personal preference is no longer to use the word "easter" since I have learned the origin of that word is pagan and I prefer to refer to this wonderful celebration of Jesus Christ as my title reads: RESURRECTION SONday (Sunday) because it is all about the Son of God and Man, who was resurrected on this day by His Father. And I truly believe what all these images proclaim. I'm so thankful that I'm REDEEMED by Jesus Christ!

"... BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED ..." ~ 4

[image credit: Time of Grace]

which comes from 

ISAIAH 53

Today's portion of Isaiah 53 is verse 5

"...But He was hurt because of us;  He suffered so.     Our wrong doing wounded and  crushed Him. He endured the breaking that made us whole.     The injuries He suffered became our healing. (The Voice)

Time of Grace's devotional for today with this verse is 
"Crucified"
(just a snippet)

"...The prophet Isaiah, seven centuries before Christ, was allowed to look into the future to see the strange way in which salvation for the human race would be won. “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). There is no longer any condemnation or punishment for those who believe in Christ. His precious body was pierced by dreadful nails; His precious wounds bring you healing."

{probably more fitting for tomorrow}
since today is actually
Maundy Thursday (as I shared yesterday at the end a great link)
where we generally focus on the
Last Supper
and the
preceding
"Crucified"
fits better with
Good Friday
tomorrow
because it's so hard for me to focus long
on the absolute horror and tragedy
but that it was necessary
and I'm so thankful
for Jesus' obedience and sacrifice!!!
(I could not even post parts from the devotional, I don't do well with graphic recollections)
{yes, I look away at those parts in "The Passion"}
<><><>
... there are so many momentous moments just for today ...
that I will stay away from; like betrayal, denial, suffering
yet I am connecting to "healing" for today
"...Loving One Another"
with the
"washing of feet" (John 13:1-17)
as Jesus did
at the 
Last Supper
because
for me personally
it is like the
cleansing of sin also
that
Jesus
completes on
Good Friday
with His own blood
<>
I remember Jesus today
I remember His body broken for me
to pay the penalty for something I could never pay
my sin - every one of them
I remember His blood spilled out
to wash and cleanse us
from iniquities
I remember this supper shared with those closest
as one day we hope to supe and share with
Our Lord Jesus Christ
I remember
those
present
I remember
those
who have gone before me
I remember the
eternal healing they have
I remember so many
significant people and the events
of this Holy Passion Week
I remember how
Jesus wept
and
I weep
without fail
every time I
remember
but I
remember
in obedience to
Jesus' own words
"Do this in remembrance of Me"
in  2016 I was moved by this
and believe Christians in America (USA)
should learn much from this
INDEED
"BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED"
CHANGED
FOREVER

WOW "... BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED ..." ~ 3

WOW

Worship On Weds.

[image credit: Time of Grace]

which comes from 

ISAIAH 53

Today's portion of Isaiah 53 is verse 3


[image credit: FaithLife]

The Message puts it this way:

"... He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at Him and people turned away.     We looked down on Him, thought He was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains He carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought He brought it on Himself, that God was punishing Him for His own failures. But it was our sins that did that to Him, that ripped and tore and crushed Him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole.     Through His bruises we get healed. We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.     We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,on Him, on Him. (MSG)

Time of Grace's devotional for today with this verse is 
"Crowned"

"... King Jesus was given a crown to wear as well, but there was no velvet, platinum, or jewels. The “obeisance” he received from the Roman soldiers was mockery and jest. The “scepter” he was given was a reed, and his “crown” was a strip of thorns twisted into a circlet. As a gesture of total contempt, they beat it into his dear head, intensifying the humiliation and agony. The idea that he claimed to be the King of the Jews brought only resentment--they wanted no further claims on their accountability. Isaiah had said it would be like this: “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3). It is the paradox of the gospel that Jesus’ path to glory lay through humiliation, that his path to delight lay through pain, that his path to victory lay through suffering, and that the way in which he could crush Satan involved letting himself be crushed first. It is the paradox of the gospel that it is through the wounds of Christ that you and I are healed."

"By His Wounds"

As I take a Walk On Weds. and Worship On Weds., with this song, my thoughts reflect on another "garden" - the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (an olive grove) being "In the Garden" ... 
can you picture this?
... yet this crown that is placed on Our Lord Jesus Christ on Holy Friday at His Crucifixion, is not a crown at all, however, the day is coming when we will see Him, seated on His Throne, in His Crown as He rightly deserves with all of our praise, honor, homage, gratitude and glory ... once again, "I can only imagine"  

"...The same crown of righteousness will be given to all believers who love the appearing of Christ Jesus."~Larry M. Jaynes

 I can hardly believe this -

yet still I wait for this glorious day!

BELIEVING

in our

RISEN LORD

",,,And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known. ..."

This is how I want to linger for this day

with

Jesus

walking and talking
praying
just
like He asked
His disciples that evening
 So I really should have saved this for Maundy Thursday
but I will tarry
reading and reflecting
on
"The Greatest Prayer"{fantastic article by John Piper}