Thursday, April 2, 2020

The God Who Feeds Us -chapter 6

Group Discussion: Imagine a person coming to the end of their life. What kind of life experiences would a person  near the end of life most likely describe as deeply satisfying? 

Personal Reflection: Reflect back over the past week or two. What experiences have left you feeling empty? What experiences have been deeply satisfying emotionally and spiritually? 

Psalm 23:5 - "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

Isaiah 55- 
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
    listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
    my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
    a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not,
    and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendor.”
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”
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Each question from the book is posted in the comment section. You can then reply with your answers, if you so desire, as well as reply to what others say. : )

35 comments:

  1. 1. Psalm 23:5 tells us that God prepares food for us. What responses do you have to the thought of God wanting to provide you with nurture?

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    1. (this is Melanie-no idea why it's saying "unknown" for me, lol)
      this verse makes me think of the Lord's Prayer: give us this day our daily bread, and also Luke 11:11-13 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
      God will give us all that we need daily.

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    2. Just as a parent wants to make sure their children have what they need, the Lord wants that for us perfectly.

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  2. 2. Psalm 23:5 states that God feeds us in the presence of our enemies. What enemies (perhaps spiritual) are you aware of in your life?

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    1. (Melanie) my enemies are my fears surrounding the coronavirus.

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    2. The unknown in "normal" circumstances causes fear - add a pandemic and its intensified.

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  3. 3. Isaiah 55:2 asks us why we would spend money on what does not satisfy. How do your enemies tempt you with things that do not satisfy?

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    1. (Melanie) My enemies tempt me through tv, FaceBook, Pinterest, lies of the media creating fear, etc...

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    2. I think of temptations as things that are too easy, too fast, momentarily satisfying and filled with false promises (like Eve and the apple) and like Unknown said (ha) we all face temptations like that daily thru social media.

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  4. 4. What would it be like to think of yourself eating peacefully and richly at God’s banquet table, aware that God is protecting you?

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    1. (Melanie) Comforting, feeling safe, being satisfied/full (not worrying about whether or not the store has specific ingredients).

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    2. A feeling of contentment so profound that there are no words.

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  5. 5. What does Isaiah 55 tell us about God?

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    1. He has everything we need, go to Him (and don't think, "I can handle this on my own")

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    2. The very first line says, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.." The body can only survive 3 days without water,- We need it for our very survival - He provides it. Whatever we need, comes graciously from Him.

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    3. His thoughts & ways are not the same as ours (His are always better). His Word will not return empty.
      ~ Kellie

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  6. 6. What are we invited and instructed to do in this text?

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    1. (Melanie) Listen to God, seek God

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  7. 7. Describe a time when you were aware of God providing emotional or spiritual nurture to you.

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    1. (Melanie) right now, in so many areas.

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    2. For the last year I have reached out to God daily, several times a day sometimes, for guidance and peace with everything going on. It is my nature to "do" and "fix" and at every turn I felt God telling me to "be still." Once I stopped resisting, it became my daily prayer - help me be still.

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    3. Several years ago I started journaling during my Bible time and I think that's helped me to be much more aware of His nurture. I think His nurture and care was always there; I just wasn't as aware of it. ~ Kellie

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  8. 8. What is the “good” that God wants to feed us (Isaiah 55:2)?

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    1. (Melanie) God's Word, Christian friends, godly "entertainment" (tv, books, social media)
      Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

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    2. And the peace that those things give us. ~ Kellie

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  9. 9. Isaiah 55:7 describes God’s mercy and pardon. How is the experience of receiving God’s mercy part of the experience of being fed by God?

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    1. (Melanie) We are undeserving wretched sinners, but God in His mercy and love provides for us daily and eternally (body and soul).

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    2. Even the unsaved are provided water and food and other sustaining things. But only the saved received soul nourishment.

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  10. 10. Isaiah 55:12 describes gifts of joy and peace. In your experience what is the connection between experiencing joy and peace and being nurtured by God?

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    1. (Melanie) When we recognize all of God's mercies and blessings we can sing out in thankfulness, He then gives us ....(Philippians 4:7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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    2. I think also remembering how He has cared for us in the past gives us confidence that He will continue to care for us, which leads to peace and thankfulness. ~ Kellie

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  11. 11. Isaiah 55:2 God invites each of us to come to God and to experience our “soul delighting in the richest of fare.” Take a minute to quiet yourself in this picture and to reflect on this image. What thoughts and feelings do you have as you reflect?

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    1. (Melanie) I am reminded of the hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness...

      Great is Thy faithfulness
      O God my Father
      There is no shadow of turning with Thee
      Thou changest not
      Thy compassions they fail not
      As Thou hast been
      Thou forever will be
      Great is Thy faithfulness
      Great is Thy faithfulness
      Morning by morning new mercies I see
      And all I have needed Thy hand hath provided
      Great is Thy faithfulness
      Lord unto me
      Pardon for sin
      And a peace that endureth
      Thine own dear presence to cheer
      And to guide
      Strength for today
      and bright hope for tomorrow
      Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

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  12. Prayer Requests~

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    1. Ernie's mom and dad (as he cares for her in their home/isolation)...she is weak but was able to go get iv and is doing a little better. April 9 she will be consulting with a surgeon. Pray that her body can handle it (she will be 87 in June).

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