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A women's free Bible study on God's love
with commentary, homework, and
audio devotions
Dearest Ladies,
When I first decided to do this study on God's love some years back, I was going to look up every Bible verse on love and go from there. However the Holy Spirit made it very clear to me to write about God and what He has done for us. This is because God’s actions scream of His love for us!
In reality true love, which is God’s love, doesn’t depend on what a person does or who she is but on the one loving. In this study I felt getting to know the One who loves us so very much and His actions of love towards us was a must. So the purpose of this study on God’s love is to enable you to get to know Him and His acts of love. One of the ways we will do this is to study God’s characteristics.
Why is it so important as a Christian, to truly know God and His love? It is because God asks you to have faith in Him and love Him. And how can you possibly trust in and love someone whom you don’t know? God also asks you to believe that He loves you so very much! And how can you believe that He loves you if you don’t know that He does? As Christians, the more we get to know God and comprehend His love through His Word and what He has done for us, the more passionately we will want to trust and love Him. In reality the more we trust and love God, the stronger and more mature Christians we will be.
As you will see in this study the foundation of God’s love is Jesus Christ! So you will study Jesus Christ and what He has done for you. You will hear about His love starting before eternity past, how He created you to love you, how His love stood unyielding even after the first sin, and how and why He was born, lived and died for you. You will understand why He pursued and loved you to be His. You will see that He died for you when you were His enemy. You will learn how His love gave you eternal life and made you His Bride. You will hear how and why He redeemed you from slavery to sin to make you His Father’s beloved daughter. Rejoice ladies, you are truly His loved princesses!
because of God's love - Gini
Course outline
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Bible devotions for women
posted 5/10/2008
revised 5/6/2013
My daughter used to dress up with my high heels on, a hat that almost covered her face, and my long string of cheap pearls hung around her neck. In her childish fashion, she would clunk around the house saying, “I am being like Mommy”! I still remember how cute she looked.
Have you heard the song “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin? It is a hard song to get through without shedding some tears. This is because all the little boy wants to do is be with his father, so he can be like him. Yet, the father never seemed to find the time his son needed. The song lyrics tell us that the son does become like his father when he grows up - too busy with life to spend time with his father.
On the same theme but on a humorous note, here are 11 very cute answers below to questions given by elementary school age children about their mothers. In the humor of these answers, we can see and hear how children very much learn from their families.
How did God make mothers?
- “He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.”
- “Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.”
- “God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.”
What ingredients are mothers made of?
- “God makes mothers out of clouds, angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.”
- “They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string. I think.”
Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
- “We're related.”
- “God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.”
What kind of little girl was your Mom?
- “My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.”
- “I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.”
- “They say she used to be nice.”
Who's the boss at your house?
- “Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goofball.”
- “Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.”
- “I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.”
What's the difference between moms and dads?
- “Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just got to work at work.”
- “Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.”
- “Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.”
What does your Mom do in her spare time?
- “Mothers don't do spare time.”
- “To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.”
to continue go to Mothers and fathers can be a godly influence on their children
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Mothers and what normal is
5/7/2009
revised 5/5/2013
I recently read a statement about being a new mother. I am sure a man wrote this, because the assertion was so misstated it was funny. Below is the statement along with my take on it:
The man stated, “It takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you’ve had a baby.” To be fair to the man I am sure he meant physically. But as mothers, we all know to well, what was normal (even physically) before the baby was born, changes forever! My hips gained an inch, and have never returned to their original size. I do believe what happened is, my bones must have stretched. What’s your analysis? My feet got a bit longer, and I was mighty thankful they didn’t expand like my hips, because they were too big as they were! I could also mention a few other alterations in my life but I think all mothers understand, so why go on. I must admit though, these changes did bother me at first, but after decades these physical changes have become quite normal for me, and yes, even beautiful, because they were the changes that gave my babies to me.
Then there is our lifestyle - what was normal before the baby, becomes down right abnormal, as life pans out. This life adjustment starts as the nine months tick away, and you start looking (and feeling) like a basketball is growing inside of you. When you first see your little one, that old saying, “it was love at first sight,” becomes oh so true for you. It still amazes me how such a small object can bring forth such strong feelings of love. You now understand what every mother has felt throughout the ages, “Do any harm to my baby no matter how old she or he is, and you will have to deal with me.” (Go mother bear!)
Then there are those sleepless nights - thank God most babies do start sleeping through the night, yet those nights never seem to completely go away. This is because no matter how old your children are, there are always many concerns about them. Will they survive their pre-school years or should I say, will you? Will they adjust to school without mom there, or will you have to get a teaching degree and go to school with them? Will they make decent friends, or have friends that could be in a scary movie? Will they make it through high school, or drop out and want to live at home? Will they go to college, or join the military and really keep you on your hands and knees for their safety? Will they be happy and healthy, and love God and others through out their years and so on? I must confess, no matter what the trials are as a mother, I would never want my life to be that so-called (before baby) normal again! How about you?
Yet as life is, mothering isn’t for cowards. In truth, it can be darn hard, tiring, and frustrating, but it can also be the most rewarding job in the universe. I know as mothers there are those times we would like to temporarily give up our title, especially when we want to escape an out-of-control pre-schooler or high schooler. (There really isn’t a big difference between them, except one drives a car and the other one a tricycle.) Some of you have also gone through such heart wrenching situations with your child that it gives you some regrets about even being a mother.
However dear mothers, there is hope! When those times of desperation hit and they always do - remember, God is your Father, and He certainly understands children who are out of control (Hosea 11 & Hebrews 12:1-11.) I don't know about you, but I certainly have been God's out of control child! So call to Him, and out of His love for you He will empower you to endure all situations, and be the Mom you want and need to be.
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:14-20 (NLT)
Because of His love, we can be His super Moms! I love you dear ones! Happy Mother’s Day! Gini
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