Chapter 3

First off I want to invite any potential Women of Grace out there who are interested to come hang out and fellowship with us Saturday night! Get a hold of me if you need details.  We would love to have you even if you can't make it to our regular Bible Study.

It was exciting to see many praises in response to our prayer requests from group last week!  It is so cool when you can see God working and give testimony. :D

Our study this week talked about Shame.

It is easy to blame ourselves when life leaves us disappointed.

• It's important to know ourselves enough to know if shame is keeping us from God.  Pray for God to reveal to you any shame that is keeping you from His love.  Write whatever comes to mind.

Read Genesis 3

Before the Fall, Adam and Even didn't have any concept of shame.   Their sin caused them to loose their innocence.

• Compare Genesis 2:25 and Genesis 3:10.
  

  Gennsis 2:25- they were naked and felt no shame
  Genesis 3:10- they hid because they were afraid

• In Genesis 3:11, God asks Adam why he eats from the tree. Adam blamed Eve for giving him the fruit.  And God because He gave him Eve.
• What blessings did Adam and Eve walk in before they knew shame? They had everything, God walked with them in the garden everyday.  They had a perfect relationship with him.
• Who did God curse first?  What curses followed? The serpent, then Eve, then Adam.
  

  Adam and Eve on trial: Here we are confronted with how holy God is.  Before God pronounces His judgement on Adam and Eve, He asks them a series of questions.  The word naked appears repeatedly to communicate the shame they felt that wen far beyond what they felt in front of each other,  God didn't leave them in their shamed naked state.  God sacrificed life, the blood of animals, to cover them.  Even here we see the provision He made for His children to cover their sin., a foreshadowing of the blood He would shed on the cross.  (God Loves Broken People, pp 178)

• Read the following verses-
  
  • Psalm 25:2-3
  • Romans 9:33
  • Romans 10:11
  • 1 Peter 2:6
They all reiterate anyone who hopes/trusts in Him, will never be put to shame.

"It seems that in a world mortally wounded and disobedience and fatally infected with the disease of sin, shame has a role to play in god's redemptive purposes.  God intends to use even shame to bring us to Himself, where we can live free of shame forever. " (God Loves Broken People, pp 30). 

To find the kind of sactifying shame God intends for our good, consider the following--

1. Say the right things to yourself.
2. Feill your mind with the truth of God's Word.
3. Surround yourself with loving, godly people.

Fill in the blanks beloew with your own steps toward a balenced view of brokenness.

1. Today I will tell myself the truth and say:________________________________
2. I will meditate on the following scripture:________________________________
3. I will seek out ____________ this week because I know this person encourages me in my faith.

 Next WED will be at Amy's House :-) Bring something for our OCC box...

 We hope to see you at DD on Saturday Evening :D

PS What's you best Gift from this week...