April 28, Colossians 1:3 Bible Study Notes
Welcome!
This blog is used to share some of our notes from each day’s journaling while we were in Bible study with The Holy Spirit. At the bottom of each blog page, you’ll see which Bible we used and additional resources that may have informed our thinking and learning. We are curious and humble #Biblenerds. Each day we GET TO use the Word of God to learn more about His never-changing character, how much Jesus loves us and how The Holy Spirit guides us through a heart transformation one verse at a time. The Bible reads us just as much as we read It.
We hope these perfectly imperfect notes help you as you join us weekday mornings 8:00 - 9:00 EST via Facebook & Youtube. And, of course, we welcome you whenever and wherever you get a chance to learn along with us!
In His Love,
Joy Lee & Tara Ouellette
Joy’s Notes
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” NIV
when Paul prayed for the Colossians, he FIRST thanked God for them (RIGHT ORDER)
It would of been easier to grumble about their waywardness & foolishness to add another god + Jesus!
But he thanked God for them BEFORE he “told on them.”
What if I did that with every person I prayed for??
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E V E & S A T A N
The first time we see Satan enter into the scene (Gen 3) he tries to distract Eve from a heart of gratitude for all the trees she GETS-TO eat from— & manipulates her into a heart of ingratitude for the one tree she cannot partake in.
When we venture into a heart of ingratitude, we’re actually entering into a demonic realm
Satan works overtime to take us from a spirit of gratitude to ingratitude
BUT... God transforms our grumbling into praising..
Psalm 16:11
“In his presence there is fullness of joy.”
Gratitude journals:
theyre popular.... but Paul knew the ultimate “Gratitude Journal” was PRAYER — as Paul says here in v1:3 “I thank God for you!”
Prayer is the key, doorway & path to authentic gratitude
when we pray, acknowledge we’re coming into His presence!!!
Cut out distractions & know you’re entering into His holy courts.
Psalm 100:4
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.”
“(WHY?) For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” (WOW🙌)
👉can’t give what you don’t have!
When I’m not praying, I’m not receiving the “fullness of His joy,”
an Explosion of His underserved love
& not able to receive an abundance of GRATITUDE
👉 where you find a praying mama, you find a thankful mama
(Fill in blank)
——————
Christians should be the most grateful human beings on the planet.
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Five scientific benefits of gratitude by Christian cognitive neuroscientist, Dr. Caroline leaf
A THANKFUL HEART IS:
A free anti-depressant. When we express gratitude our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions that make us feel good. (They enhance our mood immediately making us feel an internal joy & happiness
A natural and free pain reducer. A study conducted indicated that 16% of the patients who kept a gratitude journal reported reduce pain symptoms and were more willing to cooperate with the treatment program . dopamine fills us with more vitality, thereby reducing feelings of pain🙌
Gratitude improve sleep quality. a heart of gratitude activates the hypothalamus- which regulates all bodily mechanisms, including deep sleep.
Gratitude aids in stress regulation. Theres a marked reduction in the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, when he are thankful . - & They had better cardiac function and were more resilient to emotional setbacks and negative experiences.
Helps build and improve relationships. Showing gratitude can help in relationships according to a 2014 study published in emotion. The study found that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing vulnerable genuine & authentic friendship.”
Paul (through the Holy Spirit) KNEW what science is just now recognizing !!
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Tara’s Notes
I read in my March 15 devo*: “As they followed, they were afraid…” Mark 10:32
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished,while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.
(Isaiah 50:7)
Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience
(“Servant” will come up again in my time with the Lord thru Col 1:3!)
50 This is what the Lord says:
“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce
with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
did I sell you?
Because of your sins you were sold;
because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
2 When I came, why was there no one?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Was my arm too short to deliver you?
Do I lack the strength to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea,
I turn rivers into a desert;
their fish rot for lack of water
and die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with darkness
and make sackcloth its covering.”
4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
I have not been rebellious,
I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths will eat them up.
**(Who do I fear? Who do I serve? Who am I a slave to AKA who’s my master? Who do I follow?)
10 Who among you fears the Lord (I do!)
and obeys the word of his servant? (I’m trying but at times can be scary/difficult.)
Let the one who walks in the dark, (So the dark and the unknown can be good.)
who has no light,
trust in the name of the Lord (in these times, I love that I TRUST in the name of JESUS)
and rely on their God. (and know that God has nothing but good planned. I’m dependent on God for EVERYTHING!)
**If we go along without serving the Lord first, praying, being thankful THEN we are destroying like wildfire! Who do I serve?
11 But now, all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches,
go, walk in the light of your fires (ohhh…this is bad when the light is coming from me, as man, and not from God!)
and of the torches you have set ablaze. (This prideful, self-seeking, self-protecting, self-promoting way of life will DESTROY….)
This is what you shall receive from my hand:
You will lie down in torment. (and, there are natural consequences from this behavior and acting like the light comes from me as the “little g” God)
***
I forget that there are times Jesus goes on ahead of us and we don’t feel the companionship and friendship, instead we feel dismay. They were amazed at what they saw, but it was also normal for them to feel dismay at what we’re witnessing as followers/disciples.
There’s no intimacy because he’s gone on ahead of us. We don’t know where he is going and the goal is strangely distant. ~Oswald. And we see that Jesus “sets his face like flint.”
I can feel dismay while I follow & serve Jesus and then allow Jesus to serve others through me. It can be scary to be someone I don’t think I am, BUT GOD has made me to be FOR A TIME SUCH AS THIS. Following Jesus isn’t easy. So I’m THANKFUL I depend on PRAYER as I follow Jesus wherever He takes me. I pray. Even if I don’t feel equipped. I pray. Even if I’m afraid. I pray. Even if…I pray. It’s not about me, it’s 100% about God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit. His Kingdom come thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. I’m so incredibly thankful God is God and I’m just me - your humble servant.
***
Bible Study focus: Colossians 1:3
“We always pray for you,
and we give thanks to
God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
My first thought was to type a crafted prayer showing how I’d like to pray for Barn45 comeUNITY, but this morning what came to mind was how I pray all the time without ceasing b/c I DARE NOT act without praying AKA talking to God and getting His permission before I serve or respond.
I finished getting ready and prayed over the day…
I read devo (above) and saw something that confirmed one of the things God told me while I was getting ready. (my thoughts are his thoughts)
I realized God drew my attention to being a devoted servant of our God. Paul is setting the example of how important it is to:
1. Know my ID in Christ
2. Who I serve 1st: God through Jesus
3. With whom I serve: human partnerships
4. Who God has asked me to support/serve, in what ways and with what giftings?
5. Always focusing on God/Jesus and his grace & peace
6. THEN…I dare not serve/support/work without praying and starting from a place of Thanksgiving.
My prayer-life is a process that I continue to strengthen, just like being a good communicator with others. So I speak out what I learn and try new things, with the hopes that I grow closer to God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit throughout.
Joy & Tara’s Primary Source: The Holy Spirit
Secondary Source: Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndal, 1996.
Tara’s March 15th, devotional My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers:
https://utmost.org/the-discipline-of-dismay/
https://drleaf.com/blogs/news/want-to-be-successful-have-an-attitude-of-gratitude
https://www.facebook.com/140182336077/posts/gratitude-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-to-improve-your-mood-mind-and-mental/10157461392856078/