Tag Archives: Bible

Bible Study, How to Guides, Life Issues, Most Recent Post, The Bible

How To Recharge Your Bible Reading Habits: Catalogs and Bible

How To Recharge Your Bible Reading Habits: Catalogs and Bible / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti

Do you read your Bible like you read catalogs?

I’m an expert on catalogs—at least I feel like I am. Catalogs swamp my snail mail. A fleeting look at the front cover and I know immediately whether a catalog ends up in the trash, in my bathroom, or on my coffee table. Many times, particular catalogs deserve my immediate attention!

In my email, I receive so many advertisements that I know whether to delete them, file them, or order from them immediately. I know which ones run out of items quickly, which ones have the best sale section, and which ones are not worth ordering from because their shipping is horrendous.

It has to be a very trendy catalog or an impressive advertisement to warrant my attention nowadays.

Do you read your Bible like you read catalogs?
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Some of the marketing headlines that enticed me with last week’s group of catalogs and advertisements were:

Elegant accents to add to your bathroom!

Wrap Yourself in the Beauty of Authentic Irish Knits!

Look for the Jumbo Almond Butter Crunch Buttery Toffee That’s Twice as Thick, Ten Times as Tasty!

Have a CHUCKLE—Then Try to Keep a Straight Face!

Safari and African home decor will unleash your wild streak!

True Classics that Never Go Out of Style!

September Classy Shopping Spree

Guaranteed Forever!

All these appeal to my sense of want, comfort, and style. If I like the color, the layout, the design, and the uniqueness of special catalogs, I look forward to those special catalogs coming! When I open those kinds of magazines or emails, I anticipate feelings of joy and comfort from perusing the pages, whether I eventually purchase from that catalog or not.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we read the Bible with the same anticipation as our favorite catalog? What if we couldn’t wait to sit down and pore over God’s Word. What if we were anticipating God’s love, comfort, and support? What if we knew we would find the perfect gifts and direction in the Word of God?

The Bible is not a dull book. It is a book filled with God’s love, guidance, and purpose for our life. His Word also lays out how He wants to involve each of us in the lives of others.

How To Recharge Your Bible Reading Habits

  1. Make opening His Word a habit. “But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.” Psalm 88:13
  2. Find a quiet place [away from distractions] to read and meditate upon His Holy Word. “I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:12
  3. Open the Word with anticipation that God has something to tell you today. “But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.'” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
  4. Look at the subheadings within the various books of the Bible. “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” Proverbs 18:15
  5. Ask Him to enlighten you by the power of the Holy Spirit. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore, I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-15
  6. Ask Him to show you any shortcomings for which you may need help or forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
  7. Make a decision to read God’s Word and pray for specific things. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
  8. Have a journal or notebook to write down what impressions you receive as you delve into the Word. They may be certain verses or prayer requests that come to mind. “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:2-3
  9. Close the Bible with anticipation on how it will affect you today. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

When I receive my Touch of Class catalog, I want to get away by myself, browse the catalog, dog-ear the pages, circle what I need (or like), and/or possibly buy.

My prayer is that we may all open the Bible with even more excitement and awe as we do our favorite catalog. The entire Bible was written for us. I heard someone say that if God gave us the entire Bible, let’s read the entire Bible. There is something we can learn from every word, every sentence, every chapter, and every book of the Bible.

Just as we may browse our favorite catalog looking for those snappy gadgets or voguish apparel, let’s peruse the Holy Bible looking for God’s truth, wisdom, and spirit.

Bible Verses:

See above.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father. My heart’s desire is to read Your Holy Word with all the enthusiasm I can muster. I am busy. I get tired. And, sometimes I just don’t want to pick up my Bible or pray. Lord, I need the desire to spend time with You more than anything else. Please take away all distractions. Communicating with You and listening to You and Your words need to become the major priority of my life. But, I need Your help. Thank you for listening to my honest cry for help. I love you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

God Bless,

PATTIGREENE.eps-2000x655

Headlines from Ballard Designs, Current, Grandinroad, Touch of Class, and The Vermont Country Store.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It is an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! Moreover, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store. You may order an autographed copy by clicking on SHOP on this site.

devotional prayer journals
Devotional Prayer Journals by Patti Greene

Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback)

Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback)

Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.

To Order:

Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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Christian Living, Doctrine, Faith, The Bible

When You Don’t Understand, Faith Matters!

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When You Don’t Understand, Faith Matters! / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti [From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

There is so much I don’t understand. Over the past few months, I have been making a list of things I don’t understand. These items just popped into my mind during my daily routine. I would think about them for a few second and then say, “that’s life,” and move on.

I have been languishing over this post. Not that it is complicated, but because what I want to share is so simple that I am afraid I will make it too complicated. Writers feel that way occasionally. The simple message is: When you don’t understand something, faith matters! Having FAITH that God knows what to share with us and what not to share with us is his prerogative. He has the exclusive right to enlighten us or not in both secular and spiritual matters. There will be things we will not understand ever! But, we can inquire of God. He listens to our pleas for understanding and direction. No matter what we do or do not understand, our hope is from him and we should trust in him at all times. He will sustain us. He has provided his Word to sustain us.

The natural man cannot accept the things of the Spirit, but when God’s spirit is within us, we can see and discern the mind of Christ, but there still may be some things we do not know and may never understand. This is where FAITH comes into play.

From a Human Perspective, I Do Not Understand

How new windmills work;

Why someone would want a pet pig;

Why someone would want a gold shirt that costs $250,000.00;

Why Justin Bieber quitting Instagram is news;

Why people use the words ‘over-exaggerated’ or ’embellished’ when they should use the word ‘lied’;

Why someone would want to buy a building that looks like a Longaberger basket;

How someone can make more money not working than working; and

How spell check could change my instant message from, “Get well my choo-choo boy” to “Get well my choice-chop boy.

From a Spiritual Perspective, I Do Not Understand

How bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman; (Ecclesiastes 11:5)

How God’s Holy Spirit can indwell us; (Titus 3:5)

Why Bible prophets hear from God with such accuracy; (Jeremiah 28:9)

How we can speak God’s wisdom; (Psalm 49:3)

How two can become one flesh; (Mark 10:8)

How God could say, “Let there be light, and there was light; (Genesis 1:3)

How Christ rose from the dead; (1 Corinthians 15:4)

It’s easy to overlook things we don’t understand in the secular realm, but it’s not so easy to overlook things we don’t understand in the spiritual realm without FAITH. Many people when evaluating or questioning the mysteries of God tend to feel they need absolute answers before moving on in their spiritual walk—Not so!

The New Testament book of Hebrews is a comprehensive discussion about FAITH.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

Men of FAITH include Abel, Abraham, Moses, the individuals who crossed the Red Sea, Gideon, Barak, Samson, and the prophets. By FAITH, they trusted God and obeyed him.

You may wonder if your child is really saved? You might wonder why his/her death was so sudden? You might wonder why you didn’t get accepted to the college of your choice? You may wonder why your business went bankrupt when you worked so hard. You might wonder how to proceed in your career. Instead of thinking we can’t move on in our Christian FAITH without knowing the answers or absolutes, we should act in FAITH because God always has our best interests in mind.

But how do we get more faith? We should ask God for it and talk to him about our questions and concerns. In addition, we should read and study the Scriptures to learn more about God’s nature and character. It is sad to see someone stifled in their Christian walk because they are hung up on one thing or another, one unanswered prayer, or one questionable doctrine. It is up to us to take the initiative and talk to God about these things and work things out under the umbrella of his love, his protection, and the supernatural leading of the Holy Spirit. Ask him for FAITH. Ask him why. Ask him how. Ask him. Ask him. Ask him.

Ask God for FAITH. As Nike says, “Just Do It.”
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God is the one who reveals his mysteries to us. It is totally up to him to reveal a matter to us. He can open our mind to understand the Scripture. He can (and will) provide wisdom and knowledge to us when we read the Bible. However, there are still things that God conceals—maybe until His timing—maybe until we are ready to absorb the truth—or maybe until we have enough FAITH to accept a matter. We can always call on our heavenly Father and ask him for the answers. That is perfectly acceptable, but it is still up to the Lord to choose if and when He will share his secrets and/or knowledge with us.

We will not understand everything in this life. We will not understand everything in the Bible either, but by prayer, Bible study, and growing closer to Jesus we will most likely find that we do possess more knowledge in the things of God than others. While God does choose to conceal some things to us, He does choose to share some secret things with us. And when that happens, we need to be discerning as to whom and if we share it with. We need FAITH to mature in Christ. God always knows the big picture. Praise God we have a God who cares about everything in our lives.

I hope the point I made at the beginning of this blog has made sense. It’s so simple, I am repeating part of the first paragraph. “When you don’t understand something, faith matters! Having FAITH that God knows what to share with us and what not to share with us is his prerogative. He has the exclusive right to enlighten us or not in both secular and spiritual matters.”

When we add FAITH to our ‘not understanding’, we eliminate confusion and have the opportunity to give full allegiance to the Lord’s will for ourselves.

God Bless,

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

Bible Verses:

Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.  Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
 He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding;
he reveals deep and hidden things;
    he knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with him.
 To you, O God of my fathers,
    I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
    and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
    for you have made known to us the king’s matter.” (Daniel 2:17-23)

If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all. (Isaiah 7:9b)

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Prayer:

Dear LORD, help me to understand you more and more every single day. Give me wisdom and understanding so I can fulfill your purposes in my life. Give me faith so I can have confidence in all you choose to reveal to me and those you don’t. My life is in your hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It is an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! Moreover, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store.

devotional prayer journals
Devotional Prayer Journals by Patti Greene

Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback)

Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback)

Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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Bible Study, God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, God's Will, Politics and Current Events, The Bible

Pokemon Go: What No One Else Will Tell You

Pokemon Go: What No One Else Will Tell You [From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

The Pokémon Go  phenomenon is everywhere — in the streets, in the malls, and in the news. The following headlines will be outdated by the time this blog posts, but for those unaware of this physically active walking-running game, being aware may be eye opening.

“Cy-Fair fire station dealing with Pokémon Go” Click2Houston

“Florida teens, mistaken for thieves, shot at playing Pokémon Go” BBC News

“Pokémon Go is getting everyone to exercise.” Yahoo News

“Men fall from cliff playing Pokémon Go” CNN

“Pokémon Go crashes and hackers claim responsibility.” money.cnn.com

“Pokémon Go; Sex offender caught playing game with child.” BBC News

“Gump: How one game is bringing everyone together” Montgomery Advertiser

“Man in New Zealand quits his job to play Pokémon Go full-time.” BBC News

“Crazy right-winger believes that Pokémon Go was created by Satan to locate and kill Christians.” Daily KOS

“Drug dealers selling Pokémon ecstasy pills to target youngsters and cash in on computer game craze.” Mirror News-UK

“Pokemon Go T&Cs [Terms and Conditions] trip users of legal rights.” Drudge Report

Janissa Delzo at CNN defines Pokémon Go as, “a free-to-play app that gets users up and moving in the real world to capture fictional ‘pocket monsters’ known as Pokémon. The goal is to capture as many of the more than hundred species of animated Pokémon as we can.” ¹ In terms a little easier to understand, Pokémon Go meshes real life and virtual life together to create a game where Pokémon are captured and used to fight other Pokémon held by other players. Many are calling it fun technology at its best while others believe it is just creating a bunch of people walking all around looking at their phones like zombies.

Since the “fad” has only been around for a few weeks, I am not here to go either way on the spectrum as to its greatness or insignificance. However, informing my readers about how to react to ANYTHING that distracts us from the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit is my goal. Spending too much of our time on anything can become an idol in our life. As we seek God’s will, ask him how we should be spending our time and do not get suckered into a life of chasing things of the world. Set limits and be obedient to God.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Hebrews 3:12

As in other cultural idols or distractions, Nintendo’s Pokémon Go may distract people from what really is important in life – taking care of our families, creating distractions at work, and/or filling our time with hours of meaningless activities.

Satan’s goal is to distract us from walking in the Spirit. It happens every day. We sit down to read our Bible and the phone rings or a bill needs to be paid, taking us away from staying in God’s Word. Satan wants to steal our time. The bottom line is that Satan wants to distract us from trusting in Him, spending time with Him, and having a relationship with him. Those distractions are idols.

King Solomon’s claim to fame in history involves his reputation for possessing Godly wisdom. He honored God and built a magnificent house for the Lord. However, when he became older, he gave into his worldly desires and married women who worshipped idols and he succumbed to the same idol worship. This idol worship distracted him from worshipping the most-high God whom he served so faithfully for God in his younger years.

Anything that distracts us from God can become idol-worship. That includes spending an inordinate amount of time on anything — including Pokémon.

Anything that distracts us from God can become idol-worship – that includes Pokémon.
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What Does the Bible Say About Idol Worship?

What Does the Bible say About Satan?­­

If we find that Pokémon is distracting us or taking up too much of our time, there are Bible verses to help keep us focused on what is important.

Time for God

Join Greene Pastures:Inspiring Stories about Bible Study and Prayer by subscribing to its blog and newsletter at www.GreenePastures.org
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Distracting us from God’s will is Satan’s job. Just remember that however Satan “steals” our time away from God, he is not going to show up fashioning a pitchfork, wearing a little red outfit, and sporting a “twist and bend craft tie” tail.

Moreover, as of this moment, I do not know what to think about these little Pokémon characters. The phenomenon is too new. The fact that people are exercising and having fun together “outside” is not debatable. However, we must be aware of our safety and the possibility that the game might become a ‘time distraction’ for us.

Whatever we do . . .

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8

After reading this article, do you think you are spending too much time playing Pokémon Go?

All things considered, Pokémon Go Plus will be launched soon,  so if you think you might be tempted to spend even MORE time on the upcoming game, start now asking God if its involvement will be a wise use of your time AND YOUR MONEY!!!

God Bless,

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1png-300x9

Bible Verses: See above.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to make the best use of my time. Give me wisdom. Do not let anything distract me from giving you the time you desire from me. I want to serve You. I do not want to be “addicted” to any idols. Guide me to always acknowledge You in everything I do. As I read your Word, bring your words alive. If I am spending too much time doing anything that draws me away from You, give me the strength and courage to change my ways. I love You LORD. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

¹ Delzo, Janissa. Men fall from cliff playing Pokémon Go. 16 July 2016. Web. 16 July 2016.

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It is an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! Moreover, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail bookstore.

devotional prayer journals
Devotional Prayer Journals by Patti Greene

Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers.

Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide.

Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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Bible Study, Life Issues, Politics and Current Events, The Bible

Qualities of a Bad Leader from Proverbs: Part II

Qualities of a Bad Leader from Proverbs: Part II

[From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]

Bad leaders come in many varieties. There are bad military leaders, bad dictators, bad bosses, bad presidents, bad labor leaders, bad church leaders, bad business leaders, bad parents, and more. The Book of Proverbs mentions good (wise) leaders and bad (evil) leaders all throughout the Old and New Testament. If you missed my last blog on the Qualities of a Good Leader from Proverbs, you might want to check out the following blog link.

https://greenepastures.org/2016/06/qualities-good-leader-proverbs.

When my youngest son was in 5th grade, he joined the YMCA’s basketball class. It was his very first encounter with team basketball. He was a novice while some of the other boys were very experienced in the game. I will never forget one Saturday morning game. The two teams were running up and down the court acting as if they were big shot basketball players playing like their win would get them into the Basketball Hall of Fame. [I might mention that my son was skipping up and down the court.] Actually, it was somewhat cute to me. Long story short is that my son just happened to get his hands on the ball during the last few seconds of the game and he dunked it good! His surprise dunk won the game for his team. He was the hero. He got the applause, the high-fives, and the pats on the back.

Then, the fireworks began. There was a more experienced and aggressive fifth grader on the team whose father felt his son should have made the winning dunk. Out in the lobby of the YMCA, this father could be heard hollering and seen hitting his son for not getting the ball away from my son and making the winning points himself. I will never forget the look on that little boy’s face as he was belittled, hit, and humiliated by his own father. The next thing we saw was his father being pushed in the back of a police car in the YMCA parking lot. Someone must have called and reported him. Now, this is a real-life example of a poor leader. Not only did he belittle and embarrass his son, he exhibited jealousy, violence, and arrogance.

Some commentaries call the Old Testament King Ahab one of the most wicked kings Israel ever had. Even God said that King Ahab did more evil than any other king before him. King Ahab was the king of Israel around 869 to 850 BC. While he was an able warrior, he was completely disloyal to God and embraced his wife Jezebel’s paganism. The LORD gave Ahab a chance to redeem himself through the Prophet Elijah, but he refused. His legacy is intermingled with his wicked wife Jezebel, but even his father King Omri taught him to be wicked and as such he is remembered as an evil and corrupt king. In Richard R. Losch’s book All the People in the Bible, Losch describes Ahab as being “one of [Scriptures] more notorious scoundrels.” ¹

Join the Greene Pastures Community to be sure you don’t miss meaningful posts on issues, such as Life, Bible, Christian Living, Friendship, God’s Will, and More! Go to www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe.
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Some of the traits Success Magazine mentions about a bad leader in 15 Traits of a Terrible Leader are:

  • Lack of transparency
  • Dismissing ideas others than your own
  • Ego
  • Lack of empathy
  • Poor communication
  • Closed-mindedness
  • Inconsistency, and more. ²

In Biblical history, Herodias, Jehoram of Judah, Abimeleck, Herod, and Judas Iscariot were leaders in the Bible known as bad leaders. In Worst Presidents: Warren Harding (1921-1923) by Jay Tolson, President Warren Harding was mentioned as being one of the worst Presidents of the United States because he was more concerned with his womanizing, poker, golf, and mistress. ³ Even Harding admitted it. He said, “I am not fit for this office and should never have been here.”

I hope the basketball father mentioned at the beginning of this post made a turn-around. Watching ‘bad leadership’ is not a nice scene to witness. Ever!

Do you think leaders should be enriched personally or should they enrich others?
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Qualities of a Bad Leader: Book of Proverbs [Not exhaustive] ⁴

When you think of a bad leader, what word or words come to your mind?
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God Bless You.

PATTIGREENE.eps-(1

Bible Verses: See above.

Prayer: 

LORD, help me to recognize bad leadership. Let me discern between good and evil. As I evaluate others, let me look for their integrity, character, and their relationship with you. Let me always remember that just because someone is a leader that it does not mean that they are good leaders. O LORD, let me also remember that Scripture commands us to pray for all those in authority over us.

¹ Losch, Richard. All the People in the Bible: An A-Z Guide to the Saints, Scoundrels, And Other Characters in Scripture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.

² “15 Traits of a Terrible Leader.” Success 13 Jan. 2015. Web.

³ Tolson, Jay. “Worst Presidents: Warren Harding (1921-1923). U.S. News and World Reports. 16 Feb. 2007. Web.

⁴ The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001.

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It is an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! Moreover, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store.

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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Life Issues, Testimonies, The Bible

Searching for the Word of God – Literally!

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Searching for the Word of God – Literally!

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My wonderful father passed away recently. His life was defined by the vast book collection he possessed – probably why I became a librarian as an adult! When the monumental task came to clear out his books, the “religion” section, which included the Word of God, was NOT supposed to be touched.

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Dad owned an old, dusty Bible with a bumpy leather black cover. It sat on a shelf in the three homes my parents owned throughout their lives. I remember as a child, living in Pennsylvania, sneaking into their bedroom to open this Bible. I would do the old “open the book and point” to see what God might want to tell me.

Feeling safe that the books in the “religion” section would not be touched, I let the other books be boxed up and taken away. I really did think about pulling the Bible out for safe keeping, but I did not.

If you could only imagine my grave chagrin when I looked at the bookshelves and I saw an empty space where this Bible was located. This book was the ONLY book I wanted to keep out of the entire collection. I asked my brothers if they took it; I asked my nephew if he took it; I asked everyone, but no one knew what had happened to the Bible.

Weeks later, I was still thinking about that Bible. All the loads of books that were packed up were taken to three different Goodwill stores. Therefore, taking a chance it might still be at one of the stores, I journeyed to each Goodwill store this week in search of “The Word of God.”

At the first Goodwill store, I told my husband that the chances were one in a million the Bible would be there. It was not. At the second Goodwill store, I deeply hoped for the book’s presence. Nope, it was not there either, but I left feeling maybe God will give me GOOD WILL at the last store. As I spotted the third Goodwill store, excitement filled my soul because the store was called “Select Store and Donation Center,” so I went in more hopeful than ever I would find the Bible. Sadly, it was not there. However, I felt better knowing I at least searched for my father’s Bible. And come to find out, after the fact, all three stores I searched were called “Select Store and Donation Centers.”

Why did one book out of all the books my father owned create such strong feelings that resulted in this search? Maybe it was because that book was the beginning of God starting to touch my soul, maybe it was because the Holy Spirit was starting to fill my heart to prepare me for my future trust in Him, or maybe it was just the holiness and power I sensed attached to that book. I would like to think it was all of the above.

Why the Bible is Special

[This list is not exhaustive.]
  • Divinely inspired [from God];
  • The world’s bestselling book;
  • God’s Word to us;
  • Relevant to us today;
  • Teaches us about Jesus Christ;
  • Changes lives; and
  • Influenced the world for centuries.

Personal Benefits of Searching the Word of God

[This list is not exhaustive.]
  • Leads us to Christ and eternal life;
  • Strengthens our faith;
  • Gives us hope;
  • Teaches us God’s ways;
  • Keeps us from temptation;
  • Gives us peace;
  • Makes us more usable for his service;
  • Guides us in our decisions; and
  • Gives us wisdom.

Yes, I was disappointed the Bible was not in any of the three stores. As I drove away, I pondered my deep disappointment, but then I remembered something. Dad’s next-door neighbor was in the house perusing the shelves taking books before the unwanted books were hauled off. Maybe, just maybe, he has the book. I will be sure to ask!

At least I have HOPE now – but isn’t that just like God to give us hope when we are searching his Word.

Isn’t it just like God to give us hope when we are searching his Word?
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God Bless,

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Bible Verses:

But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,  knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Prayer:

Gracious Heavenly Father. Let me search your Word. Sustain me by the wisdom you provide in your Holy Bible. Let me obey and follow your instructions at all times. Give me peace, security, and love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It’s an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! And, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

Web Page: www.PattiGreene.com

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

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Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment in this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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Bible Study, Prayer

10 Quotes on Prayer

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10 Quotes on Prayer

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It has been a very busy week for me. I am care-taking my mom in my home. I am the primary person in charge of remodeling my parent’s home. I am trying to make some headway in writing my next devotional prayer journal. I attended a retirement party for a wonderful librarian friend. I spent much needed time getting my hair dyed, and I met and had my picture taken with actress Renee Zellweger! [Yes, she is charming!] So, instead of pressuring myself to write a “real” blog this week, I decided to share 10 quotes on prayer that I ran across as I was researching PRAYER for my upcoming book. I hope you enjoy them!

  1. How can we know whether or not our requests are in line with God’s will? Ultimately, the only sure guide in this, as in every aspect of the Christian faith, is the divine revelations disclosed in Scripture. Stanley J. Grenz in Prayer: The Cry for the Kingdom
  2. Prayer is a time when we should balance our resignation to God’s will with humble expectations resting on His goodness. Richard L. Pratt, Jr. in Pray with Your Eyes Open
  3. Pray that your adult child will have the wisdom to always seek the counsel of godly and wise people. Stormie Omartian in The Power of Praying for your Adult Children
  4. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to His will. That puts the center of prayer where it belongs — not on the things we ask for, but rather upon God and His will. Charles L. Allen in All Things are Possible Through Prayer
  5. I wholeheartedly believe that if you genuinely desire to follow Him, He will move heaven and earth to show you His will. How can I say this for certain? Because in order for you to accomplish the good goals God has designed for you to achieve, you must know what He has called you to be and do. (Ephesians 2:10). Charles Stanley in Waiting on God: Strength for Today and Hope for Tomorrow
  6. That which is gained speedily by a single prayer is sometimes only a second-rate blessing; but that which is gained after many a desperate tug, and many an awful struggle, is a full-weighted and precious blessing. Charles H. Spurgeon in The Power in Prayer
  7. At its base, prayer is talking with God. We can pray alone or in a group: silently or aloud; using a written prayer or a spontaneous one. But to be in prayer is more than just speaking words. Scripture portrays a life of continual prayer, meaning a kind of openness toward God in all we do (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Our entire lives should be prayers to God, exhibiting the praise and love of our Creator and Savior. Rose Publishing in What the Bible Says about Prayer
  8. Prayerlessness . . . could be defined as that state in which one prays less than he ought, less than the Father desires, and less than that one himself knows he should. Jack R. Taylor in Prayer: Life’s Limitless Reach
  9. When the answer to our prayer does not come at once, we should combine quiet patience and joyful confidence in our persevering prayer. Andrew Murray by With Christ in the School of Prayer
  10. When you wait on the Lord, you can know for certain that the best is yet to come . . .  always. Charles Stanley in Waiting on God: Strength for Today and Hope for Tomorrow

God Bless.

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Bible Verses:

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Matthew 21:22

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. James 5:13

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Matthew 6:9-13

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It’s an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! And, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

Web Page: www.PattiGreene.com

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

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Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment in this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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Bible Study, People in the Bible, Test Your Knowledge

Test Your Knowledge [Women in the Bible]

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Test Your Knowledge [Women in the Bible]

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I just LOVE making up tests. Ever since I was a 2nd-grade teacher, one of my favorite ‘educator activities’ was designing tests, quizzes, and worksheets!

Since Mother’s Day is around the corner, I wanted to make up a little fun activity about Women in the Bible. Try it just for fun. Not a test taker? That’s okay.  Just forward it to a friend who is!

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day whether it is celebrating your mom, your grandmother, a friend, or just celebrating YOU.

I’d love for you to honor a special woman in your life by putting a 1 or 2-word description of them in the comment section of this blog, i.e. Mom-So kind; Grammy-Fabulous cook.

True or False Trivia Quiz – 5 points / question.   TOTAL SCORE: __________%

Women in the Bible

  1. _____ Hannah prayed specifically for a son.
  2. _____ Eve was created from a rib.
  3. _____ Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother, was the reason Jesus performed his 1st recorded miracle.
  4. _____ Deborah was one of Israel’s most charismatic judges.
  5. _____ Anna, the prophetess, was childless.
  6. _____ Abishag was a beautiful Shunammite woman who tended King David in his old age.
  7. _____ Salone, Herodias’ daughter, was responsible for John the Baptist losing his head.
  8. _____ Ruth was a Jewish convert who passed her faith on to her grandson Timothy.
  9. _____ Abishag had a son named Obed.
  10. _____ A well-known woman in the Bible said, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.”
  11. _____ Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas) was a seamstress and made tunics and other garments.
  12. _____ Rachel was the woman Jacob was tricked into marrying by a deal connived by her father Laban.
  13. _____ Mary complained to her sister Martha because Martha was just sitting around talking to Jesus.
  14. _____ Naomi was the great-great-grandmother of Israel’s most revered king – King David.
  15. _____ The servant Rhoda saw Jesus when she answered a door, so she ran to tell others.
  16. _____ Deborah, daughter of Jacob and Leah, was raped and her brothers wanted revenge.
  17. _____ Gomer was the prostitute that God told Hosea to marry.
  18. _____ The Queen of Sheba traveled to see King Solomon to test his wisdom.
  19. _____ Mary, Jesus’ mother, said “How will this be since I am a virgin?”
  20. _____ Lydia was the mother of Mark.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS

Flower on bamboo. Isolated on white

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
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Quick Answers:

  1. T
  2. T
  3. F
  4. T
  5. T
  6. T
  7. T
  8. F
  9. F
  10. F
  11. T
  12. F
  13. F
  14. T
  15. F
  16. F
  17. T
  18. T
  19. T
  20. F

Detailed Answers:

  1. True; 1 Samuel 1:11
  2. True; Genesis 2:22
  3. False; Mary, Jesus’ mother, was the reason Jesus performed his 1st recorded miracle John 2:1-10
  4. True; Judges 4
  5. True; Luke 2:36-37
  6. True; 1 Kings 1:4
  7. True; Matthew 14:8
  8. False; Lois was Timothy’s grandmother. 2 Timothy 1:5
  9. False; Obed’s parents were Ruth and Boaz. Ruth 4:22
  10. False; This quote is attributed to Corrie Ten Boom – a Dutch Christian who, along with her father and other family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II.
  11. True; Acts 9:36-39
  12. False; Leah was the woman Jacob was tricked into marrying by her father Laban. Genesis 29:14 – 29:30
  13. False; Martha complained to Mary because she was just sitting around talking to Jesus. Luke 10:38-42
  14. True; Ruth 4:17
  15. False; Rhoda saw Peter when she answered the door. She was so excited she left Peter standing outside while she ran to tell others. Acts 12:12-16
  16. False; Jacob and Leah’s daughter’s name was Dinah. She was raped and her brothers did take revenge. Genesis 34:1
  17. True; Hosea 1:2
  18. True; 1 Kings 10:3-4
  19. True; Luke 1:34
  20. False; Lydia was a Christian Thyatiran woman and a seller of purple goods. Rhoda was the mother of Mark. Acts 12:13

God Bless.

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Bible Verses:

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22
Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Proverbs 31:29
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Prayer: 

My heavenly Father, I am so grateful to you for giving me everything I need to get along in this life. Thank you for my mother, my grandmother, and all the women influences I have had in my life. You truly are my LORD and Savior. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It’s an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! And, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.

Web Page: www.PattiGreene.com

Order now for Mother’s Day!

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

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Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment in this blog or email me at [email protected] for confidentiality.

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Bible Study, Christian Living

Surprising Proverbs

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 Surprising Proverbs

As a teenager, I had a healthy, holy regard for the Bible from afar. But, once I began to read the Bible at the age of 16 years old, I was awed that this HOLY BOOK contained some of the funniest and most profound things I had ever seen. One of the funniest proverbs I read as a new believer was about how it was better to live in the corner of an attic than with a crabby woman in lovely home. [Proverbs 21:9] I pictured my future husband hanging out in an attic because he couldn’t stand to be around me. Of course, it was funny because I wasn’t married at the time. Then, I read about a dog who returns to his vomit, just like a fool repeats his folly. [Proverbs 16:31] Finally, I read about how white hair is a crown of glory and is seen most among the godly. [Proverbs 26:11] — It made me think of my Grammy! Once I read verses like those, I was hooked into reading more of these surprising Proverbs. Believe it or not, those verses were what God used to get me interested in reading more of the Bible!

I love the word “PITHY.” My definition of a proverb is, “a brief, pithy statement voicing a wise truth regarding how we should live or how we should not live.”

The Book of Proverbs is an Old Testament book. Many of the proverbs come from King Solomon who spoke these words in the 10 century B.C. Solomon’s 3,000 wise sayings and 1,005 contains wisdom sayings for everyone — from the very young to the aged. God wants to instruct us on how to be a better person. He does this through this little instruction book by discussing the fear of God, reckoning, human speech, human sexuality, and more.

‘The purposes of the book of Proverbs are stated in the prologue to the wisdom collections in Proverbs 1:2-7.” They include:

  • Know wisdom and instruction
  • To receive teaching in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity
  • To help the simple gain prudence and the youth to gain knowledge and discretion
  • To increase learning and to acquire skill in understanding
  • To understand proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles, and
  • To learn the fear of the Lord.¹

I can’t help but encourage all of you to read this awesome book. Reading the Book of Proverbs will make you laugh, cry, inspire, and convict you. Today, let’s look at one proverb or phrase from each of the 31 chapters of Proverbs. Hopefully, these will excite and motivate you to read the entire chapter. Determine to read one chapter of Proverbs each day for a month. What a wonderful way to study this outstanding book. And, for all you women reading this blog, check out Proverbs 31 – It’s written just for you!!!

Determine to read one chapter of Proverbs each day for a month. #GreenePastures.org
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Surprising Proverbs: Verses from The Living Bible

Proverbs 1:7-9 How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord! Only fools refuse to be taught. Listen to your father and mother. What you learn from them will stand you in good stead; it will gain you many honors.

Proverbs  2:1-5 Every young man who listens to me and obeys my instructions will be given wisdom and good sense. Yes, if you want better insight and discernment, and are searching for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure, then wisdom will be given you and knowledge of God himself; you will soon learn the importance of reverence for the Lord and of trusting him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

Proverbs 4:24 Spurn the careless kiss of a prostitute. Stay far from her.

Proverbs 5:18 Be happy, yes, rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 6:10-11 “Let me sleep a little longer!” Sure, just a little more!  And as you sleep, poverty creeps upon you like a robber and destroys you; want attacks you in full armor.

Proverbs 7:1-3 Follow my advice, my son; always keep it in mind and stick to it. Obey me and live! Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down, and also keep them deep within your heart.

Proverbs 8:33-34 “Listen to my counsel—oh, don’t refuse it—and be wise. Happy is the man who is so anxious to be with me that he watches for me daily at my gates, or waits for me outside my home!

Proverbs 9:6 Leave behind your foolishness and begin to live; learn how to be wise.

Proverbs 10:4 Lazy men are soon poor; hard workers get rich.

Proverbs 11:13 A gossip goes around spreading rumors, while a trustworthy man tries to quiet them.

Proverbs 12:20 Deceit fills hearts that are plotting for evil; joy fills hearts that are planning for good!

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth from gambling quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows.

Proverbs 14:17 A short-tempered man is a fool. He hates the man who is patient.

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels.

Proverbs 16:3-4 Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed. The Lord has made everything for his own purposes—even the wicked for punishment.

Proverbs 17:27-28 The man of few words and settled mind is wise; therefore, even a fool is thought to be wise when he is silent. It pays him to keep his mouth shut.

Proverbs 18:17 Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.

Proverbs 19:21 Man proposes, but God disposes.

Proverbs 20:13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Stay awake, work hard, and there will be plenty to eat!

Proverbs 21:14 An angry man is silenced by giving him a gift!

Proverbs 22:1 If you must choose, take a good name rather than great riches; for to be held in loving esteem is better than silver and gold.

Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father’s advice and don’t despise an old mother’s experience.

Proverbs 24:17-18 Do not rejoice when your enemy meets trouble. Let there be no gladness when he falls— for the Lord may be displeased with you and stop punishing him!

Proverbs 25:2 It is God’s privilege to conceal things, and the king’s privilege to discover and invent. You cannot understand the height of heaven, the size of the earth, or all that goes on in the king’s mind!

Proverbs 26:17 Yanking a dog’s ears is no more foolish than interfering in an argument that isn’t any of your business.

Proverbs 27:1-2 Don’t brag about your plans for tomorrow—wait and see what happens. Don’t praise yourself; let others do it!

Proverbs 28:5 Evil men don’t understand the importance of justice, but those who follow the Lord are much concerned about it.

Proverbs 29:20 There is more hope for a fool than for a man of quick temper.

Proverbs 30:5-6 Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Proverbs 31:10-12 If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! Her husband can trust her, and she will richly satisfy his needs. 12 She will not hinder him but help him all her life.

I hope you enjoyed this little trip through the Proverbs.

If you have a favorite proverb, I would love to hear it in the comment section!

God Bless.

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Bible Verses:

See above.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I want to be a wise person. Please show me what I need to do and what I need to learn to be more like you. Help me to read through your Holy Scriptures with an understanding given from the Holy Spirit. I need you in my life and I need to be constantly close to you. Give me power to be committed in Bible study and prayer. If I don’t have you by my side, my life will spiral out of control and I don’t want that. Thank you for who you are and how you are going to lead my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

To receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please subscribe at www.GreenePastures.org

Web Page: www.PattiGreene.com

To order Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

To order Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer (A Devotional Prayer Journal) by Patti Greene, click here.

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Comments are always welcome. And, I would love to see you subscribe to my blog. To sign up for Newsletter and/or blog, click here.

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¹ Hill, Andrew and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 2000.

Bible Study, Prayer

Reading, Reflecting, and Studying the Bible

The Bible – We should all be reading, reflecting, and studying the Bible because it is God’s gift written especially for us. God uses this book, also known as “God’s Word” or “The Scriptures,” to proclaim his deep and abiding love towards us by showing how we can live a Godly and glorious life.

Written by different authors and editors, the Bible is our guidebook for living — our main source for clear guidance on His will for our lives. Many themes are within the pages of the Holy Bible, such as redemption, forgiveness, judgment, Holy Spirit, instruction, and faith. The Scriptures consist of 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. The Old Testament covers the creation of the earth, the lives of Israelites throughout history, many prophecies about the coming of Jesus Christ and more. The New Testament covers the life of Jesus and the writings of his early apostles and disciples through the prophecies regarding the end times in Revelations. Below is an easy breakdown of the 66 books of the Bible.

Old Testament

  • The Pentateuch [The Law]: Genesis – Deuteronomy
  • Historical: Joshua – Esther
  • Poetry and Wisdom: Job – Song of Songs
  • Major Prophets: Isaiah – Daniel
  • Minor Prophets: Hosea – Zephaniah

New Testament

  • The Gospels and Acts: Matthew – Acts
  • Paul’s Letters: Romans – Philemon
  • General Epistles – Hebrews – Jude
  • Revelation

The Bible answers big questions about God, i.e. where do we go when we die, why is there so much evil in this world, how do I know who to marry, what house should I buy. But, it also answers our everyday questions like — how can I pass this test; where should I go to college; and how can I stop sinning. Many people do not think the Bible is relevant in their lives. In 2013, Religion News took a poll and discovered that “more than half of Americans think the Bible has too little influence on a culture they see in moral decline, yet only one in five Americans read the Bible on a regular basis.”¹

Many believe that the reason why the Bible isn’t meaningful to people is because they just don’t read the Word of God. Biblical values and teachings can help us tremendously in our spiritual walk, but they cannot help us if we don’t read the Word and know what it says. And, this is why we need to know how to read it, reflect upon it, and study it.

There are different ways to view the time one spends in God’s Word. And, it is necessary to understand the differences.

Reading the Bible

This is where one reads the Bible for personal enlightenment. Many read the Bible during their daily quiet time or devotional time. When one is reading for their personal edification, reading is usually at a quite leisurely pace. However, it can turn into an intense pleading or calling out to God for answers.

As a rule, sitting around with a bunch of concordances, Bible dictionaries, or Christian theological books is not the preferred reading here. Reading to see what God is saying personally and getting to know God better should be the goal during this reading time. It is an occasion to learn more about God, his precepts, and character, and how He desires to mature you in your faith. This is the reading time that allows God to speak to you personally through His Word.

Tips for your devotional time

  • Try to sit in the same chair/place each sitting;
  • Use a Bible reading plan so you will already know where in the Bible you are going to start reading;
  • Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your reading;
  • Focus on verses or chapters relating to what is going on in your life or the life of family and/or friends;
  • Have a journal or notebook handy so you are ready to write important verses, thoughts, or promptings down;
  • Have a pen, pencil, and/or highlighter readily available;

On a personal level, I like to use a Bible without all the study notes and footnotes during my quiet time. I have found the notes distract me from just plain old reading God’s Word. I want the Word to speak to me and not feel obligated to read what someone else has said about the verses I am reading; although, I have had to look up a few things along the way. But, that is a personal preference. There is no right or wrong way to have a devotional time – personalize it to fit your likes and personality.

Reflecting on the Bible [Meditating]

Reflecting on God’s Word is the time one spends just contemplating what you have read or heard. Giving time to think about what has been read or presented is powerful. During meditation time, one should remain in a prayerful mode internalizing the Scriptures so it can become ingrained in our life. Don’t allow yourself to be hooked into any special technique or program during this reflective time. These can easily become so legalistic that one could have difficulty absorbing the significance God has for your time here. Remain in a prayerful spirit and as 1 Chronicles 22:19 states, “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God.” In your spirit, listen to the Lord. It is here where we can really internalize God’s Word so it becomes so ingrained in our life that the Bible principles and God’s values and His character become our own. It is quite possible that during this time, one will be prompted to involve themselves in benevolent activities, i.e. calling someone in a nursing home, writing a letter, offering your time or service to someone in need.

Studying the Bible

A comprehensive study of the Scriptures is what is involved here. This can be achieved by spreading out all your commentaries and Bible study tools on the dining room table and studying a person, character trait, or historical event; attending an in-depth Bible study program; participating in a Bible seminar; and many more such things.  Studying the Bible and trying to understand it in the correct context is applicable in this kind of studying. The Bible covers a long period of history and many cultures and ages. During a study such as this, one should plan out their study and decide if a group study or individual study is best for the purpose desired. Being organized is the key to developing a productive study time. Pastors and Sunday school teachers frequently spend hours at a time studying and developing their sermons or classes respectively. Studying God’s Word this way requires a lot of research skills, concentration, and prayer. It is very important that you become familiar with Bible doctrine if you are studying deeply, especially if you are studying to equip others, so you take care not to lead others astray.

Studying the Bible Photo Credit: Thinkstock
Studying the Bible
Photo Credit: Thinkstock

Whitney T. Kuniholm, President of Scripture Union/USA says, “Be careful not to be arrogant in the course of studying. It’s so easy to boast of your findings rather than prayerfully meditate on the. Studying extensively is good. Remember even those who are illiterates can have a deeper understanding of the Word and deeper relationships with God than you because they meditate on it. Simply knowing names and things is not good enough. You must practice and preach what you practice.”²

This information might be overwhelming to you. Being a student of God takes time. Your style develops over time. When I was younger, I never wanted to write because I felt like there were so many good writers out there and that I could never compare to them. It was only through my devotional time and Bible study that I began to realize that God makes us all different and even our writing styles vary. Your Bible study times should be geared to your personality. Maybe you like to sit outside on your back porch and read your Bible; maybe you like to participate in an in-depth Bible study at someone’s home; maybe you like to reflect in the park. Whatever works for you, do it. Don’t put off being taught by the Word of God. Get organized and get going.

As for me, in 2016, my serious Bible study time will take place at my dining room table, but for my quiet and reflective time, you will find me in my upholstered recliner in our downstairs library with my freshly brewed Folger’s Classic coffee placed neatly on the marble table next to my chair. How about you?

Blessings Always,

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Bible Reading Programs [You may need to sign up]:

Bible Gateway – Reading Plans

Bible Study Tools – Reading Plan

Bible Verses:

God’s Word is profitable to mankind. The Bible . . .

Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father. Let me start the New Year with a deep desire to know you more and more. Allow your Holy Spirit to infiltrate my life so that desire stays strong and active all the way from January through December. Help me to organize a plan for reading my Bible every day and give me the stick-to-itiveness to follow through. It is my earnest desire to become more Christ-like as I read your Holy Word and pray this year. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

¹ Bell, Caleb. “Poll: Americans love the Bible but don’t read it much”. Religion News. April 4, 2013.

Web. December 27, 2015. www.religionnews.com.

² “How to Study the Bible.” Wikihow. Web. December 27, 2015. http://m/wikihow.com/Study-the-Bible.

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Bible Study

The Bible and Windows 8

The Bible and Windows 8 – I have just spent the last two hours of my valuable life seeking help for my newest problem: That problem is Windows 8. So, how do I handle the frustration and anxiety I am feeling right now? The only way I know how is to be creative by putting my thoughts into words through this post. However, that may be a monumental task as it has taken me four minutes already just to type what I have already typed due to the cursor changing on me, the keyboard keys are not typing, and for some unknown reason things appear that I don’t want to appear. I am so frustrated by even typing this paragraph. Does anyone know why in the middle of typing I can’t type and have to hit the lower left bar to be able to type again? And why when typing does it sometimes not work when I hit the space bar to makeaspace (oops) as it did right here.

Yes, I understand that some of this might be user error because I sit in a chair with my laptop on my lap and type. But, SO DO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. Do you hear me Microsoft? The “soft” of what I just typed ended up in first paragraph. I just repositioned it.
I am learning the new basic navigation. But, what was wrong with the old one? If I wanted pictures, I would have bought a Mac. And, I hate going into corners for everything. It is so annoying guys! I really don’t want to learn how to group apps with pics, I just want to put my apps in plain ‘ol alphabetically order. I want to just scroll through my app titles in alphabetical order and with ABC letters. Okay, that might be because I am a former librarian, but please…I hate pictures being forced n – oops, the o didn’t type – being forced on me.
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But, I don’t hate pictures. I have over 10,000+/-  of them. But, I can’t figure out how to click on a picture, and open it into Photoshop.* I know, all you pro Window 8 people are thinking what an idiot, but if you know – oops, a screen just popped up saying, “Close programs to prevent loss.” To finish my previous sentence…if you know how to do it, please let me know. And to the “Close programs….” comment, I would be happy to, but, I will have to go to the help screen to figure out how to do that. Oh shoot, I don’t know where the help button is, but I bet if I go through my 65 page print out, I may be able to read something about it.
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And here is an interesting thing about my informative print out…I went through it, made a few changes on Windows 8, only to get to the end of the instructions and read, “If you can’t figure something out, updates are available.” Come on folks, updates when I can’t even figure out the simple things, and shouldn’t the updates be mentioned first?  And why did the right side bar just come out and show its face?
Now, I will say that I did learn some things in my two hour self-training. I learned that…
–        Windows X is my new best friend.
–        I can click the space bar tolog (oops) to log in.
–        I can click the home and end keys to see from one end of the tile apps to the end of the tile apps. (I am sure a teenager on drugs would love this feature…back and forth, back and forth, back and forth – in color no less.) See the picture above.
–        The minus sign at the lower left makes the screen zoom in and out, but why does it zoom in and out when I least expect it?
–        Windows Q shows all the apps.
–        Windows I will power off the computer.
–        Windows E opens Explorer.
–        Windows C shows the right side bar.
–        Windows F shows the Search screen.
–        Windows D launches the desktop.
Obviously, you can tell I am not really a shortcut person. But, I will be now. I have survived most of my computer life without shortcuts, but I can learn.
I do apologize to Microsoft for any misjudging of their product…I realize that my new HP might be part of the problem, but the bottom-line is I am still frustrated and anxious!!!
Yes, I did learn a few things today, and I do realize I have to take more hours out of my valuable future Saturday afternoons to do that, but why is it so difficult?
I cringe when I think about my 85 and 87 year old parents. They want a new computer. They need a new computer, but how in the world can I train THEM on Windows 8? Hmmm….Ah, great idea. I will leave that to my brother. Nothing like revenge!
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But, then that leaves me to something else…
The Bible says not to be frustrated, anxious, or revengeful! If I would have stuck with Windows 7, I wouldn’t be facing these trials – Windows 8 trials.
So the second bottom-line is that I am going to memorize these verses before my next Windows 8 self-training, so maybe it isn’t so bad after all. But, God sure has a funny way to get me to memorize scripture, doesn’t He? So, be prepared for Bible training when you purchase Windows 8! It comes with the territory.
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Verses to Memorize BEFORE learning Windows 8:
Frustrated with this trial: “Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2
Anxiety: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
-a different version! NLT
-a different version! NLT

Revenge: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge…” Leviticus 19:18

* By working on this blog, I learned how to put my pics in Photoshop. Actually, it was the same as before, but I was all confused!!!!

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