The year of hope study, rebooted!

[birdofthunder]

http://www.christianforums.com/t6777222/

the short version is this: i've had a lot happen since i last posted in the study that was done before, and wasn't able to go back to it to really get into the book some more, etc. it looks like it got closed out for some reason??? ssssoooo, since i'm in need of "starting over", i'm posting this now, with a link to the "first" study, and am going to restart things in here.....

 

[birdofthunder]

ok, things are just obnoxious for me offline, and i'm finally back after 2 months! will do what i can for the next 3 weeks, and then fully start this over the summer!

 

[birdofthunder]

ok, i'm off on this now, thanks to finally being done with my major vacation and the move afterwards. any questions, please post them here or PM me!

 

[birdofthunder]

I'm sorry I haven't been here. The summer was suppose to be slow, but that didn't happen at all! ugh! I'm going to be busier than bees for at least 2 more weeks, and then will see what I can do after that for us all here! God bless your patience w/ me!

 

[birdofthunder]

i haven't forgotten this place! i'm dealing w/ work issues due to management not dealing well w/ their own junk, for starters. going over my notes from my work here before, so things are looking up! shooting for a start w/in 2 weeks or so. any questions, or whatever, please post anyway, and i'll see what i can tell ya! and....i may be doing another study w/ another member here, so things will telling, indeed, w/in 2 weeks. if nothing else, i'm gonna redesign things here to be more on a weekly basis, ok?

 

[birdofthunder]

ok, got myself together only to be sidelined by a friend's death and all that entails. will be back by next week for a new start here.

 

[TheGr1MM]

I just want to say hi to my new community. I am an alcoholic before and now I am a renewed christian. Hope it will continue this way.

 

[birdofthunder]

thanks for dropping by, thegr1mm. pray you continue in the walk you're on.

 

[birdofthunder]

ouch! i haven't been in here some time! i do apologize for that! i will do my best to be here from now on!

 

[birdofthunder]

ah, bannanas!! i'm so very sorry i didn't get back in here since may! i hadn't thought it had been that long!! my offline life is a mess still, but i refuse not to do this anymore!! (i'm in heavy need of doing this, among everything!) now, i'm gonna see if i can rehash an overview, and then go from there, ok?

 

[birdofthunder]

What are we studying?
​

Each week we will study a different topic, ranging from "The Love of God" to "Angels" to "Letting Go". There are 5 meditations per week, plus one day where we just focus our minds and hearts on prayer and gaining more hope in our lives.

Book Information
I would like to invite you all to purchase a copy of the book called "The One Year Book of Hope" by Nancy Guthrie (that would make studying it alot easier) and you can find out more information here: http://www.nancyguthrie.com/books/oneyear_book.shtml It's not an expensive book (only $15) and I'm sure you can look elsewhere (like amazon.com) for cheaper copies. If you need help, please pm me.

Disclaimer: I am NOT making any money off of mentioning this book---I honestly just came across it, thanks to angeldove97, and thought it was a great book. I wanted to study it with other friends though so that is why I am starting this thread.

Please pm me with any of your questions or suggestions!! Thank you

Calling Group Leaders!!

I, of course, don't want to lead every week--- so if you are interested in taking a week to present the meditations and lead the group, please pm me.I just need to have 2 weeks notice before hand!!!

Please if you are interested, sign up in this thread or send me a pm. Please be serious about this study--- we are here to learn from each other and from God. While I don't expect us all to make it every week---just pop in a share your thoughts at least every two weeks. The more people we have in here, the better it'll be!


​

 

[birdofthunder]

Opening Quote:
Comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth--- only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair."

~C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity​

 

[birdofthunder]

from the orginal thread, from tati:

I just read the introduction to the book. The author made it a point to let us know that she's writing it for those who are in pain--- for whatever reason it is in our lives--- based on what she has gone through in her life. She and her husband lost two babies (a boy and a girl) around 6 months after birth due to a rare genetic disease. So she'll include her painful story through out the meditations that she's written for us to read.

But there's hope offered in the introduction as well. She was to always remember that each of us needs Manna every day in our lives. If you remember in the Bible, the Hebrews lived off of this Manna that God provided--- but they had to go out and get it every day (they couldn't store it for more than 24 hours). So it is the same in our lives. We need hope every day that we live through these struggles or past painful events in our lives--- but the hope that we had yesterday wasn't meant for today... so we must renew it every day.

I'm personally trying to look at all the small blessings in my life and focus on them through out the day--- plus make sure I am very clear with God about what is afflicting my heart. I give it to Him and I leave it with Him--- or I at least try to (Still working on it...) But if I can personally give Him my problems and ask Him for a solution, I can go through my day alot easier.

I thought to repost this here, as a good start to this one!

 

[birdofthunder]

ok, i'm trying to reorganize what i have, as i'm dealing w/ the book, the previous study, and my notes! i should have the first week up by the weekend! thank you for your patience!

 

[birdofthunder]

wow! never say you'll help out w/ your sibling's wedding!! my brother got married right soon after that post, and it derailed me mightly! i'm back, and off w/ what i have now....i'll try to post what i've got done w/in a week, then carry on w/ the rest of the study!

 

[birdofthunder]

week 1

Brokenhearted

Brokenhearted. Crushed in spirit. Does that describe the state of your soul? Are you wondering if you will ever feel good again, joyful, ever feel hope again? Are you desperate to find a salve to sooth the searing emtional or physical pain that has invaded your existence?

Your feelings may tell you that God is very fay away from you right now, or won't hear you. But the reality is that He is drawn to you, and is with you. If you have invited God into your life, He is especially near to you now because you need Him so desperately. He is closer than you think.

You may feel that no one wants to be around you, or have anything to do wtih you. Deep down we know it is not a lot of fun to be with someone who is sad, or depressed, or down. But God loves brokenhearted people. He doesn't avoid them. At All. He is closer to you now than ever, waiting to talk with you, comfort you, and offer you hope and healing as you face the future. Starting right now.

This week's passage for meditation

Psalm 34:18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.​

 

[Zhang]

book

 

[birdofthunder]

true, and it's not stupid, zhang. thank you for posting in here, but i'm not sure you're aware you posted in a book study? i'll welcome further posts from you - if you're still interested in it. otherwise, there are whole areas of this site just for meeting other members!

 

[birdofthunder]

This is quick run through of what we'll be looking at for the week. I'll post later with further thoughts on each day.

Monday

Guard Your heart

read Philippians 4:6-7

read Hebrews 3

What lead to the Israelites' hearts being hardened? What were the ocnsequences? From verses 12-15, what do you need to do or refrain from doing to avoid hardness of heart?

Leader's quetions to group:
How do we keep ourselves from hardening our hearts?

Why do humans do this and how can we we watch over each other to make sure this doesn't happne to us?

Have you realized that your heart was hardened against a situation and that it prevented you from doing God's will?

Please feel free to post your answers/thoughts on this in the thread as you can. (for any of these questions or any part of these posts)

Tuesday

Bitter beyond words

read Lamentations 3:13, 19-22

read Lamentations 3

What phrases can you relate to in verse 1-20? What does the writer choose ot do and to believe in verses 21-66 that generates hope?

Leader's questions to group:

How can we (every day) remember to "dare to hope" against the fears and stresses in our lives?

How has God helped you in the past to get over your grief or at least work through the pain?

Wednesday

Telling yourself the truth

read Psalm 119:28-30

read as much as Psalm 119 as you have time for (I'd rather see you read all of it!), noting the benefits of studying and knowing God's Word when you're hurting. What does the psalmist ask God for that you also wanted to ask of God?

Leader's questions to group:

Discuss a situation where you knew you were "lying to myself." Why did you allow yourself to do that and how did you come to realize it was just a lie?

Thursday

Your tears matter to God

read Psalm 56:8

read Psalm 56

Make a list of what David determined to do despite his tears.

Leader's questions to group:

God cares so mcuh for us that He even wipes away our tears - He collects every one and knows why each one has fallen (Psalm 56:5). Knowing that God knows this, how can this comfort us in our lives?

What is one way we can remove the sorrow in our lives and let in a little bit of sun shine in our souls today?

Friday

But I am trusting

read Psalm 31:10, 14-15

read Psalm 40

On what did the psalmist base his choice to trust God? What kind of impact did it have on the people around him? What were his circumstances? What are the benefits of trusting God?

Leader's questions to group:

What would you tell a friend who is depressed and suffering in order to comfort them? Have you eer said these same words to yourself and have you believed them?

Have you ever reflected on something bad that happened in your past and how it shaped your future life in a positive way?

How has pain and suffering effected your walk with Jesus?

Weekend Reflection

week 1 - Brokenhearted

Reflection

What are some untruths you hear from others and from your own mind that you need to confront with the truth?

Have you determined to trust God with your future? How is that evident in your life?

Meditation

Psalm 34:18
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit."

Quiet yourself in the presence of God, and meditate on the comforting promises of this verse.

Express your brokenheartedness and crushed spirit to God, laying it all before Him.

Ask God to make the closeness of His presence known to you, and open yourself to His resue.

Prayer

Praise God that His hands are big enough and strong enough to hold you and your future, no matte what happens.

Thank God for loving you enough and caring deeply enough to keep track of your sorrows and treasure your tears.

Intercede for those you love, that God would use the hurt in their lives to soften them toward Himself and keep their hearts from being hardened.

Confess your tendency to focus only on the bitterness of your suffering and to forget God's unfailing love and faithfulness.

Petition God to replace the lies you have told yourself with an ever-flowing foundation of truth.​

 

[birdofthunder]

zhang, no problems at all, i promise! i realized what you were looking for, and hopefully, sent you in the right direction! if you are still lost, ask me what you're looking for, and i might be able to get you there! i do know there is also a section for regional areas of the globe, and am thinking there is a thread for those in Asia, if that's a good place for you to start.....