{Sharing} Open Your Bible

I've got something exciting to share!

The She Reads Truth gals are actual published authors!!

Way exciting right?!

Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams have partnered with LifeWay Women to publish Open Your Bible, a 7 session study on The Word.

Here's some more info:..........

"Open Your Bible is the first Bible study partnership with She Reads Truth and LifeWay Women. This means that we are taking the best of both worlds and melding them into a study that we think women will love.
The study is seven sessions long (meaning, if you do this in a group, you will meet seven times). It has six weeks of personal study (or "homework," but who likes that term?). Each week of the study will have you diving deep into Scripture to discover truths about God's Word from God's Word. This is a print-only study. It will not be on the She Reads Truth website."

I love that you can do this as a group or by yourself.  I don't know about you but reading The Word consistently makes such a difference for me.  This new study sounds like a Word Enricher (ha! spell check doesn't like that word!) and we can all use some of that! 

And there's more exciting news....

....a Free Gift and Free Shipping!

All orders made by November 30 will receive a companion notebook and free shipping.

(That's a free notebook for every book ordered.)

Such a sweet deal!

Are you thinking Christmas gift yet? Cause my Secret Sister might be getting this!

I do believe this would make a great 'starting point resource' too!

Open Your Bible launches Monday November 2!  You can preorder now and still partake in the free goodies!

http://lifeway.com/OpenYourBible

Have a happy day!!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-She Shares Truth

Confession time....

I've been working more and I have yet to figure out a new routine! And I tend to be a night owl and it's so hard to break that habit! My husband works 2 nights out of the week and a long time ago when he'd be at work I'd just stay up.  So bad I know! Lil' Hunkie will be starting Pre K in August so I'm gonna have to figure out a new routine pretty quick!  So I've been doing my studying at night and have been loving the She Reads Truth study on Ruth. Today is a She Shares Truth day, I missed the last one and wanted to join in this one since I've been loving the study! 

And what I'm loving most is, the book of Ruth is not just about Ruth. It's so much about Naomi too!

God didn't leave her out, He wanted to redeem her too!

Naomi took a look at her circumstances and renamed herself.  What she was looking at was what she no longer had, not what was in front of her which was a daughter in law so devoted to her that she'd die the same place as her mother in law. 

I've done the same as Naomi.  In every instance I was focused on what I didn't have.

Being single it was a struggle keeping my focus on God and not my singleness, having a miscarriage I wanted to focus on the loss instead of how big God was, and in motherhood I tend to let my failures keep me from the bigger picture, that I am a good mom regardless.  

And in every one of those circumstances I renamed myself....Jennifer the failure. 

But God knew my heart and just like He knew Naomi's heart...that part that still believed God is God no matter what....and He brought forth "treasures hidden in the darkness." (Isaiah 45:3)

While I was single I helped start my church's youth mission trip and spent most of my 20s going on that trip.  That trip still goes on today! I actually get the team ready!

I didn't focus long on my miscarriage loss.  God directed me to name our baby and I have testified about that at church.  I then had someone come to me and tell me that she named her baby too and finally after 20 years she had peace. 20 years!

And motherhood, well I'm still a work in progress and that treasure is still being formed! But hearing "I love you momma", "I sure did miss you momma", "You're the best mom ever!" definitely keeps me thinking I"m Jennifer the good mom instead of Jennifer the failure mom. 

To God, I am and will always be Jennifer My daughter, My servant.

And knowing that helps me keep my focus where it should be, that God is my Redeemer no matter what. 

Happy Weekend lovelies! 

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Nehemiah

Well I've been a bad blogger lately! May has been so busy, can you tell?

I've got a few crafts I'd like to squeeze in and a few recipes I've wanted to share.....

We'll see how I do since tomorrow May is behind us!

Just finished a She Reads Truth study on Nehemiah and wanted to link up for She Shares Truth!

This study was great timing as my church has started a building project! We are building a new 400 seat (wowza!) sanctuary! I was able to pass along a few encouraging quotes to our leaders.

So for the She Shares assignment I'm going to answer a few questions....

Why does the book of Nehemiah end the way it does?

I think the ending is a great reminder....sometimes we need a Nehemiah in our lives.  What God found in Nehemiah was a focused, get the job, no one's going to stop me attitude.  Don't we all need that type of person in our lives? A positive influence who will help us to the finish line.

But. 

Nehemaih is awesome!

 But he's not Jesus.  

The children of Israel were in a pattern and the only person to get them out of that pattern is Jesus.

It's always Jesus!

What does God want us to see here about Himself and the Church?

I think God doesn't want us to forget what can happen when we join together and work towards a common goal. There's a lot of work to be done for the Kingdom.  There's no time to not be His holy people. There's no time to give the enemy place.  There's not time to be a lazy Christian and not do what you know is right. Jesus has come and is coming again soon!

Loved going through Nehemiah! I also joined Kristin Schmucker's 31 Day Scripture challenge and finished the book of Leviticus today! I will be sharing what I gleaned from that book soon!

Have a happy weekend lovelies!!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Our Remarkable God

Back today with a post for She Shares Truth. When I read the prompt for this last Monday I immediately knew I had experienced somewhat of a commissioned moment just the day before!

I got the opportunity to go to lunch after church with some of my family without my Hunks (Lil' Hunkie was at grandma's and Hunkie wasn't feeling good). My youngest brother has a fairly new fiancee and though she's been coming to church with my brother she's not been around church as long as my family has.  I've not spent much time with her yet and had wondered about her children. So I asked  about them.  Well she immediately started crying and I immediately felt bad to make her cry in public! She has 3 kids and doesn't have custody of them right now due to things that couldn't be helped and wasn't her fault in the past. She told me the whole story right then and there. 

God has been moving in her life. I mean it is plain as day what He is doing for her! She's got a peaceful home and a new job close to that peaceful home with an increase in pay!

And she mentioned that God had been blessing her.  But then came some words that I knew God had a response to in the form of my voice. 

"I just hope He'll work with my kids so I can have them back."

{It was something like that, I know for sure she used the word hope.}

Now first of all, I'm glad she is hoping. But sometimes there's one more step past hope. It's called faith. It's called belief.  

So when she said those words, the Holy Spirit was quick to respond with....

"No, no, God is not done.  He has began a good work in you and will finish it."

More wet eyes.

On both sides of the table.

And my red-headed sister in law saying "Get me outta here!"

Cause she knew God had just spoken and didn't want wet eyes in public too!

And do you know what? God moved in one of her children's situations this past week.

He is simply not done!

I believe God is constantly working but to get to actually see it, well it's remarkable!

Happy Weekend lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-It's Simple

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Amplified

 

"1 AS FOR myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom;

2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.

3 And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you.

4 And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],

5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God."

 

The bottom line of these verses..... Salvation doesn't need to be a mystery or some deep thought provoked idea or complicated even.  It's simple, Christ was crucified and we need to know Him as such.  And as Christians we don't need to have enticing and persuasive language to be a witness. What we need is the Holy Spirit operating in us, for the Holy Spirit will be the one to persuade. And when we are persuaded by the Holy Spirit our faith is strong and rests where it needs to...in the power of God.

I made the above graphic on Instagram yesterday and said it was my prayer for the day.  It's my prayer today and really always and I love that I found a prayer out of these verses. For some reason connecting faith with the power of God....resting my faith in the power of God....well it's just burning in my chest.  It's yes and amen. It's a simple prayer that really covers all that we might ever need.  And it's been in the Word all this time!

Thanks God!

 

Have a blessed weekend lovelies!

 {Linking up with SheSharesTruth.}



Vintage Gwen Chapel-The Lord's Charge

"The Lord's Charge to Joshua." 

That's the title to Joshua chapter 1 in the New Living Translation. 

But I'm pretty sure that what God tells Joshua is a charge to us all.

Sometimes to get a deeper meaning of scripture the proceeding verses need to be read. Moses is dead and a very important job is left to Joshua...to lead the Israelites into the Promise Land. And so God just lays it all out.... how this important job is to go...how it will be accomplished....only with trust in Him.

And when God says "Study this Book of Instruction continually, meditate on it day and night..." I can't help but to think He's really saying "have relationship with Me!" "Study and know Me!"

"Meditate on Me!"  See when God says 'study the Word' I take it to mean 'study Me'. 

{John 1:1 'In the beginning the Word already existed.  

The Word was with God, and the Word was God.'}

So right there, plain as day, in black and white, is the key to accomplishing life.

Read the bible. 

Continually. Ouch! Day and night. Ouch, ouch!

But it comes with reward!! Prosperity and success!

And the one thing we find easy to tell others but have a hard time believing for ourselves...

God is with us. Wherever we go.  

Isn't that easy to tell others but a task to convince our selves sometimes?

But God promised. And He doesn't break promises. 

Making the Lord's charge to Joshua my own today.

Happy Weekend!

{Linking up with She Shares Truth.}

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Just Like Jonah

Today's She Shares Truth prompt is Jonah 3 & 4.  And in these 2 small chapters is a lot of emotional ups and downs for Jonah. My favorite words Jonah speaks are the very reason we know of Jonah at all.....

....he knew this of the Lord and that's why he ran away! (And more than likely if Jonah hadn't of run away then we probably wouldn't have the book of Jonah.)  So he finally sets off to obey. But Ninevah is a big city...apparently so big that from one end to the other would take you 3 days journey! Jonah traveled one day in and then started to declare the word of the Lord. And I imagine that, that one day of travel was the reminder of why he ran away, just think of all the bad he saw and convinced himself that "Yep, this place is terrible and needs to perish!"

Now I have never wished harm against anyone.  As a matter of fact when I hear of people talking about what should happen to a criminal my mind usually thinks 'but they deserve a chance at salvation'. Didn't we read in one of the SRT readings that no one is too far gone for God? No one includes criminals. 

Now what I have done is this...

"Oh why is she so perfect? Why does she have to be pretty, and skinny, and talented?"

I'm thinking this is the same as wishing harm against someone. The same thinking as Jonah about Ninevah.

Ouch!

The bottom line is that Ninevah was given a chance at salvation. Took it. And was saved and better yet experienced forgiveness and not just any forgiveness....the God kind. 

Jonah was given a chance at salvation, took it and was saved and experienced forgiveness.

So why would God do that for Jonah and not Ninevah? Why would God do that for me and not Miss Perfect? I'm thankful He wouldn't! If He did, then that would mean that there'd be something I'd have to get right to be forgiven.  And there's not, there is not one thing anyone can do to deserve forgiveness.
Ephesians 2:8 NLT

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. 

And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God."

What we do have to do is believe. Believe God saves just like Jonah did,  believe Jonah 4:2...

"you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster." 

Be blessed!

  

Vintage Gwen Chapel- Oh Jonah!

Recap of Jonah 1 & 2

Don't you just love the story of Jonah? I sure do!

First of all, did you see the map that She Reads Truth shared? Wow! I mean WOW!

Looky here...

source

This puts it in perspective doesn't? And by "it" I mean that no matter where we go, where we try to hide....God is there. Even if there wasn't a storm on the way to Tarshish I truly believe God would have showed up in Tarshish! Man I'm thankful He pursued Jonah! Proof He pursues us!

Second of all, did you notice God work on the men on the boat? 

Amazing that in the middle of a storm, in the middle of what Jonah was not supposed to be doing that lives were still turned toward the Lord! See verse 16 of chapter 1....

"Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows."

And lastly, I'm sure you can relate to where we find Jonah in chapter 2....in the deepest, darkest place he's ever been. I recently heard a mother tell her story of losing her 3 year old daughter call this place a black hole. I've had my share of black holes...not many thankfully but I've felt helpless. So Jonah prays. God hears cause He's in the hearing business and out comes Jonah from his black hole. And he knows he's still got to go. And that's the importance of coming out of a black hole....that we go forward....away from the dark.  Action must be done, there's no point in camping on the edge of the black hole! 

Be blessed lovelies!!

Linking up with She Shares Truth.

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Psalm 38

Oh my goodness. 

Is Psalm 38 a downer or what?

It's the perfect example of the lowest of low especially if you read The Message version.  

Verse 17 sums up the whole chapter...

"For I am ready to halt and fall; my pain and sorrow are continually before me." Amplified

Halt and fall.

You know sometimes it takes getting to the place of 'halt and fall' before we realize just how much we need God.  How much He is the only solution to our pain and sorrow. 

And as long as we believe and say verse 15...

"For in You,O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God." Amplified....

then He will make good on Salvation. (Verse 22)

Amen? Amen!!

Linking up today with She Reads Truth for She Shares Truth.

Have a happy weekend!  

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Psalm 130

Joining with She Reads Truth today in their fun new experiment...She Shares Truth!

I am late to the game but that's ok! Basically, they give a scripture, you write/share what you think of that scripture and then you link up on Fridays during Lent. 

Should be inspiring and fun! 

Psalm 130 The Message

1-2Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life!

Master, hear my cry for help!

Listen hard! Open your ears!

Listen to my cries for mercy.

3-4If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,

who would stand a chance?

As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,

and that’s why you’re worshiped.

5-6I pray to God—my life a prayer—

and wait for what he’ll say and do.

My life’s on the line before God, my Lord,

waiting and watching till morning,

waiting and watching till morning.

7-8O Israel, wait and watch for God—

with God’s arrival comes love,

with God’s arrival comes generous redemption.

No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel,

buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

I love reading different versions of the Bible! For study purposes, I really like the Amplified and The Message versions. They are eye opening! I read Psalm 130 in what SRT uses...English Standard Version and then switched to The Message and found myself  chuckling just a bit at the first verse..."Help!...the bottom has fallen out of my life!"...and quickly agreed...yep, I've said that a few times! But I've also said and done the rest of this passage...

Cry, wait, hope, look, wait, and hope.  

And also found the same at the end of all that crying, and waiting, and looking and hoping....redemption.  And not just any redemption but plenteous (in the Amplified), generous redemption!! What a promise! Thank you Lord!

Be blessed today lovelies!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Scripture Spotlight

This past Monday SheReadsTruth started a new reading plan, This Is The Gospel. 

{SheReadsTruth is an online community where we study the Bible together, it's quite awesome!}

Man has it been good!

In Friday's reading one scripture just completely tore me up and I couldn't help but let the tears fall.

1 Corinthians 15:14

"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."

This is how the Amplifed reads....

"And if Christ has not risen, then our preaching is in vain [it amounts to nothing] and your faith is devoid of truth  and  is fruitless (without effect, empty, imaginary, and unfounded)."

Useless, vain, devoid of truth, fruitless, without effect, empty, imaginary, unfounded.

One necessary thing negated those words...

The Resurrection.  

He did rise! He didn't stay dead!

Just let that sink in.

It was probably more the Christ didn't stay dead words that led to the waterworks. I rely a lot on my faith to get me through....right now it's the struggle of being a good parent...it's rough business being a toddler let me tell ya! And so for me to read that my faith is not in vain because He is risen...well it was like a breath of fresh air...like God was saying  "It's all going to be ok".  And at just the right moment that I need to be reassured.  

Will you be reassured with me?

Go HERE to read Friday's devotion.

Be blessed!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-SRT Women of the Bible Part 2

Just finished part 2 of She Reads Truth's Women of the Bible series.  I loved it!  Just like in part 1, I gleaned a common thread.  That women are some of the best, devoted servants of the Lord.  And no matter how much we have on our plates as long as we keep Him first we can accomplish much!

I really want to encourage you today to join this community or at least make it a habit to do reading plans in the bible app. And I mean when you're done with one take a day or two if you need a break and then get right back in.  It truly, truly makes a difference!  And want to know an amazing thing? I felt the anointing of the Lord through Instagram! I had already been studying and didn't realize how much I was in the presence of the Lord when I shared my Mary Magdalene post that I read another lady's post on the same day of the plan and man what God spoke to her was so powerful it was all I could do hold the tears!  That's what being in this community can do I tell ya! Nothing but beneficial!

I'm not sure when the next SRT plan is up....in the next few days I'm positive....so get prepared...buy ya some pens and a journal if that's your thing.....and join me!! I'd love to interact with you on Instagram!

Ahhh....God is good!

Happy Saturday!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-SRT Women Of The Bible Part 1

Just finished She Reads Truth's Women of the Bible Part 1 devotion Saturday and I've got to say....it was sooo good! After the first few days I decided to make these images (below) to share my thoughts on Instagram. 

I noticed a common thread through some of the ladies's lives...we all mess up, no one is perfect and God recorded their lives so we'd know what not to do. And then with Leah to the end the common thread was that God's love for us is unconditional and He has specific plans for each one of us. 

Besides providing these great reminders this plan did something else for me that I didn't really see coming....it reminded of my Granny Brown.  When I was growing up she had some bible card games she'd play with us.  One of them was called Bible Daughters.  Rachel, Rebekah, and Leah were all in the game and as I read about them I thought of how I already knew a little about them because of my Granny. This really meant a lot to me...she taught me so much!  And I still have the games!

Part 2 starts today (Monday) and I encourage you to join in.  

In the You Version Bible app look under plans.  Or visit the (all new!) She Reads Truth website.

Be blessed lovelies!

#SheReadsTruth's 1 Year Anniversary!

Hey lovelies!!

Got a little something different today!

In honor of #SheReadsTruth's 1 year anniversary I joined their link up party and made a vlog!

Woowee! 

I really tried to get this posted before now but I'm not familiar with video stuff at all! I made the video on my cell phone and boy was it difficult getting it from phone to computer! And it's funny to me that you have to download to upload! Ha!

So bare with me as I was nervous and can't even tell you how many times I hit the stop button!

If you are searching for a way to help  you read the bible everyday then I encourage you to check out #SheReadsTruth!! A new plan just started! 

Have a Happy Day!

Good Friday This & That

First of all the winner of the #ReadyDoneClean Giveaway is Dana!! 

An email has been sent!

 Congrats!!

And second of all....

I sat down to write this post about Easter clothes but just wasn't feeling it.  Perhaps it was because I was tired or perhaps it's because today is Good Friday.  You know the day that was bad for Jesus but good for us. And so Easter clothes just wasn't as important to me as me recognizing this day is. 

I've been reading the #SheReadsTruth Holy Week plan this week and it's been oh so good. Even though it's almost over it's not too late to read through.  Or even do this.... if you're an Instagram user....go to the search function and search #shereadstruth and just look through the pics.  I do this through out the week and am blessed at how others interpret the same reading. 

{These are mine for the week!}

And lastly I did want to share probably one of my most favorite manicures that I have come across to date.  I can't stop thinking about it! Why? Because of the cross.....

I like it all but funny how I think I need that cross!

This awesome mani is by Trina  and Julep featured her on their Facebook and Instagram this week! I'm so glad they did! I like girls who love nail polish and Jesus!!

So I'll be reflecting on the cross today and spending time with my guys. 

And maybe figure out how to get my hands on some studs! ☺

Happy Good Friday lovelies. 

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Proverbs

Happy Saturday!

Today I am retreating!! This weekend is my church's annual Fall Ladies Retreat.

  We have our largest group yet! I'll recap next week!

This past Thursday I completed another #SheReadsTruth plan....a study of Proverbs.  

It was awesome! A basic truth I learned: a wise person is also a sensible person.  And a sensible person is slow to anger. Ouch.  Since becoming a mom I've 'flown off the handle' more times than I should have. Motherhood is trying that's for sure! Proverbs is a great reminder to constantly seek God for His wisdom.  

In everything. 

There's also several verses on well basically a nagging, quarrelsome wife. It isn't good or beneficial to anyone to be one! And if God repeats it, He's mean business!  I can say that I don't nag.  But I need to work on the quarreling, not that I do it all the time but my mind gets the better of me usually and I think things that aren't true which leads to misunderstandings.

I honestly can feel a difference in my Spirit and in my knowledge. 

Look at that! The Word of God doing a good work!

☺

Happy Weekend!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Journaling

I am loving the #SheReadsTruth community! {I think I've said that already somewhere!}  It has really helped me with my devotion time and the latest study really is keeping me charged.  I have never been one to journal.  I know it can be very beneficial but it just never really appealed to me. One aspect of the #SheReadsTruth community is sharing.  And there are some ladies out there that have been sharing their excellent journaling skills! Well I got inspired and was ready to give journaling a try starting with the current plan to see what kind of difference it would make. 

Got this cute notebook and colored ink pens from Target, spent about $5.

This was my first day and day #6 of the Photo A Day Challenge I do.

 4th Day, I collaged with "focus" from Textgram in Diptic.  

How about that eye & foot! Ha!

I'm not going to lie...journaling with colored ink is like adult coloring!  It has been very calming!!

It has been a week now and I can tell a huge difference!  Journaling and creating a pic to share what I get out of the day's reading is really speaking to the creative part of me. And I love that I'm connecting God to what He's blessed me with!

Here's today's share...

What helps you with your devotion time? What's your take on journaling?

Happy Sunday!

Vintage Gwen Chapel-1st #SheReadsTruth Plan Recap

About 21 days ago I joined the #SheReadsTruth community and have completed the 1st reading plan.

I'm not sure if I'll recap all the plans but I wanted to the 1st one because I enjoyed it so much!

One of things I enjoy about this, is how people share how they're going through the plan. Several ladies journal and then share photos on Instagram and my favorite so far has been Her Southern Charm.

She is so artistic with her journaling!  It inspired me to try and find a journaling app and I found one I really liked...Penzu (and just looking briefly at it online it looks cool!) but my silly old phone doesn't have enough storage for it! So I found Textgram and used it about 9 days out of the 21.  If something really stuck out or ministered to me then I would create the Textgram then share it on Instagram.  I'm still not sure if I like it.  Maybe I need to use good ole' pen and paper.  All this technology is amazing and it really helps you feel like a community but at the same time there is a line that can be crossed where it seems like I'm more attached to the technology then to God.  And I need God more than I need technology.  The reading plan was awesome and reminded me of some truths. *See Photos Above*

The current plan started on Thursday so there's still time to join.  It's on prayer...something I don't do enough of.  I'm liking where being part of the #SheReadsTruth community is taking me even if I'm still trying to figure out how to share!
{How you share is up to you! A lot, a little, how it best fits you.)

Here's this week's truth in lock screen form courtesy of Victoria in Kansas....

Happy Weekend!