I loved that we got to learn in this class aspects of God’s character, but then Pastor Michael followed it up with worship. Head knowledge about who God is and his character is one thing, but then entering into a place of worship and asking God to reveal himself took it to a whole other level! It took our relationship with God from our heads to our hearts. I think everytime we study the Bible, we should practice this. For me, it connected what I read to what I feel in my heart and it was powerful!

My 2 biggest aha observations in this passage are: 1. Good Heart=Good Soil. Jesus says he talks in parables so “though seeing they may not see, though hearing they may not understand”. This theme is repeated several times in the NT that God will only reveal himself to those who are willing to receive. Being willing requires having a good heart. An open heart. 2. I observed that Jesus explains reasons that might prevent a person from receiving the word of God into their heart and they all involve destruction, a known tool of the enemy. “Take away”, “Fall away”, “choked”… but the good soil example has to do with producing a crop 100 fold and speaks of abundance! This ligns up with John 10:10, “The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I have come that they may have life and life abundant”.

I LOVED Becky Johnson’s talk! It is impossible not to feel convicted of spending time daily with God after this talk. I was questioning my recent decision to get off of social media after finding out late about a friend’s tragedy. After 2 months of it, I found myself asking if I was being irresponsible, ignorant, or unnecessarily guarded…all Becky’s message did was deeply confirm for me that for the specific callings on my life, it requires this deeper level of obedience. Social media is not healthy for my walk with God, and he has shown me that. I’m learning to use it sparingly and replace massive amounts of scrolling time to put towards writing, singing, and working on my gifts. 💖

@Lorraine Cardenas Wow Lorraine! Powerful testimony!!! I can clearly see how God has redeemed your story! 🥹

Observations: 1. This passage is General to Specific. 2. There are several Cause and Effect sentences within Paul’s words 3. Both paragraphs use lists to fully describe his message 4. The audience is “brothers and sisters” 5. Paul is giving us the antidote to anxiety Questions: 1. Why does Paul choose the word “gentleness” to describe as being evident to all. Is this an overall demeanor, or how we are to approach God with our requests? 2. Is Paul saying that if we still experience anxiety, it is because we prayed but only once? Or prayed but forgot to be grateful? His formula is very direct and seems we need all 3 components: Prayer, Petition, Thanksgiving. 3. Consider the difference in promising the “Peace of God” in the first verse, and the “God of Peace” in the second verse…are they the same thing? 4. What caused the urgency in Paul’s message for him to use so many absolutes? “All”, “every”, “will”, “anything”, “always”. What was going on during this time? 5. Where else in the Bible is Peace talked about in regards to being promised from God? Perhaps it could lend a deeper understanding of God’s desire for us to have this precious gift!