Just Show Up

Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Have you ever gone somewhere and not known why you were there, but you knew you should be there?

Saturday morning, I maneuvered my Jeep into the church parking lot filled with a lot of cars. I had planned, for the first time, to attend the women’s breakfast. In my retirement, I spend most of my time at home, with Tim, or with my family, but a few weeks ago God nudged me to fellowship with the  women in my church, most of whom I didn’t know.

Blessing #1. When I arrived, my usual anxiety about meeting with a large group of people didn’t exist. I felt safe to go in. At a table, I gave them my name and a young lady, holding her young son, handed a name tag sticker and then guided me to a lovely array of breakfast foods. In line, I chatted with Liz, a young woman I knew through my daughters.

Blessing #2. Once I filled my plate and grabbed a coffee, I wound my way through a few tables and a sweet lady invited me to sit with their group. One of the women at the table had been my neighbor for a few years, and I met several kind-hearted women.

Blessing #3. Three women of various ages talked to us about prayer. How to pray, when to pray, and why pray. The one thing that struck me was the humbleness of every one of them. By the time we finished, I understood why God wanted me there.

Blessing #4. A young lady who used to serve on the church’s worship team, and is now in a different church’s ministry, closed the event with a beautiful song of thanks to God.

God had not asked much of me, except to simply show up and be blessed. I’m thankful I listened and obeyed His nudge. To be blessed means to be happy, and I experienced great happiness and even deeper joy fellowshipping with like-minded women.

Has God asked you to go somewhere? Meet with someone? He has a plan, listen to His call.

She Washed His Feet With Her Tears

Luke 7:44-47
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Washing another person’s feet is a humbling experience.

At church camp, the counselors and teachers taught us to experience the times that Jesus lived. In Jesus day, folks wore sandals or walked barefoot on the dusty roads. They didn’t wear the latest model of tennis shoes or work boots. As a greeting and welcome to visitors, the host provided water and washed the feet of their guests.

Our camp teacher paired us up, and we removed each other’s shoes and rinsed each other’s feet. I’ll admit as a teenager I thought it a bit weird, but the act increased my understanding of the ancient times.

When a Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner, he failed to provide water for Jesus’ feet. Jesus never complained or questioned, but when the woman who stood in the shadows approached him, he welcomed her. She bowed before him and cleansed his feet with her tears. The tears may have been carried in a jar where she collected them, or she may have cried over him. Either way, she humbled herself before Jesus and as an act of worship poured perfume over his feet.

The most beautiful part of the story is Jesus’ offer of forgiveness. Because the woman humbled herself and believed in Jesus as Savior, he forgave her sins on the spot. She walked away free of the burden of her past into a life of gratitude and love.

She loved much, because she was forgiven of much.

Jesus arms are open to invite you in. He loves us so much and wants nothing more than for us to believe and live for him.

Be the person who loves much.

Bible Review: The Woman's Study Bible (NKJV)

About the book: 

The Woman's Study Bible poignantly reveals the Word of God to women, inviting them to receive God's truth for balance, hope, and transformation.

Special features designed to speak to a woman's heart appear throughout the Bible text, revealing Scripture-based insights about how godly womanhood grows from a woman's identity as a Christ-follower and a child of the Kingdom.

Now with a beautiful full-color redesign, 

The Woman's Study Bible reflects the contributions of over 80 women from a wide variety of ethnic, denominational, educational, and occupational backgrounds. Since the publication of the first edition of The Woman's Study Bible under the editorial guidance of Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley, this landmark study Bible has sold over 1.5 million copies.

Features Include:

-Beautiful full-color design throughout

-Detailed biographical portraits of over 100 biblical women

-Thousands of extensive verse-by-verse study notes

-Over 300 in-text topical articles on relevant issues

-Insightful essays by women who are recognized experts in the fields of theology, biblical studies, archaeology, and philosophy

-Book introductions and outlines

-Hundreds of full-color in-text maps, charts, timelines, and family trees

-Quotes from godly women throughout history

-Set of full-page maps of the biblical world

-Topical index

-Concordance

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the publisher:

In business since 1798, Thomas Nelson is one of the oldest Bible publishers in the world and the largest publisher of the King James Version. Their mission is to inspire the world by using our talents, assets, opportunities, and influence to engage and equip people with Scripture and draw people to a deeper study and understanding of God's Word.

Find out more about Thomas at https://www.thomasnelsonbibles.com.

My Review:
As reviewers we were asked to look at a profile or study feature of a particular book of the The Woman's Study Bible . I chose the book of Colossians. To highlight the messages in Colossians the authors have inserted beautiful text boxes filled with wisdom. The insert for "Creativity: Expressing Your Gifts" caught my attention. I've always considered myself to be a creative person, delving into many crafts over the years. But what I love about their insight here is the talk of creativity beyond arts and crafts and how we can be creative in so many other ways. Some they include are: solving a problem, stretching a budget, hatching an idea. God has given each of us gifts. What a joy to know we can use them for Him. Other inserts in Colossians include "Identity in Christ: A Member of His Family," "Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness," and "Employment: The Rewards of Work." These are all beneficial and encouraging in our walk with Jesus. One other insert I love is the one called "My Identity in Christ." The writers list who I am "As a Christian" with "Scripture Reference." Along with the uplifting messages, there are footnotes that explain the scripture's meaning. The Woman's Study Bible is a lovely rendition filled with interesting and useful information that will encourage and uplift women as we study God's word. I also love the colorful flowers on the study cloth cover and pink tint to the gilding on the pages. The attractive cover invites me to open God's word and dig in. I highly recommend this beautiful Bible. I received this Bible from Thomas Nelson.

Colossians 1:29-2:1-3 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Nonfiction Book Review: A Friend in Me by Pamela Havey Lau

  

About the book:
Women’s Nonfiction (David C. Cook)

Young women long for relational connection. Yet, without realizing it, more mature Christian women often distance themselves from the younger generation because they use different language to talk about God or have different views on church and theology.

In A Friend in Me, Pam Lau shows readers how to be a safe place for the younger women in their lives. She offers five patterns women need to internalize and practice for initiating relationships and talking about issues such as faith, sexuality, and vocation. Most significantly, she reminds readers that when generations get together, they can have a global impact— and experience a deeper personal faith than they’ve ever known.

Pam Lau shares hauntingly beautiful stories of sorrow as she fiercely questions the global impact women’s relationships can make when we pattern our lives after Jesus’ example.  A Friend in Me leaves the reader free to love and serve the women closest to them.

My Review:

A Friend in Me is filled with heart-changing advice every woman should read. So many of us are so busy with day to day life, we forget to seek out help from women who have experienced life. On the other hand so many young ladies aren't sure who to turn to. This book is essential for women who follow Christ and wish to make a difference.

I love the five patterns Pamela points out to encourage women to be a more Christ-like influence on one another. She digs into each one with great examples of women she's mentored or ladies who mentored her. She even delves into areas that are hard to talk about, in a way that brings to light the great need for woman to woman conversations. This is not a work book. It's a heart book that can make a difference to the reader and anyone the reader encounters. I recommend A Friend in Me for a women's Bible study group because it would open faith building conversations. 

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of A Friend in Me in exchange for an honest review.

Pamela Havey Lau is the author of A Friend in Me, Soul Strength, and numerous articles for such publications as Christian Scholar’s Review and Christianity Today. A graduate of Liberty University and Colorado State University, she has taught writing at George Fox University and speaks around the country at conferences and retreats. After her three daughters were born, she began teaching writing at private day schools until 2010 when she started her own business, Real Life Real Image, where she writes, edits and speaks. Pam is married to Dr. Brad Lau, a college administrator. The two make their home near Portland, OR with their three daughters.