When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor- sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Mark 2:17

We are in day 2 of “Mark, a chapter a day for Easter here at Refocused Bible Study” here at Refocused Bible Study. You can find out about  the plan here. We’d love for you to join us! Today we are reading and discussing Mark chapter 2.

Oh, how I wish I would have been at Levi’s dinner party with Jesus. The guests were not the ones who looked as if they had it all together religiously. They were “notorious sinners,” known for their impurities and looked down upon by the Pharisees.

When Jesus is confronted about his decision to eat with “such scum,” he responds with a phrase that should shake us believers again today, making us double check and make sure our righteousness is in our faith in Christ alone.

Do we know we are sinners?

Although as believers, we may not have the lifestyle or be known for our sins like those eating with Jesus that night, it is important to remember that we will fall short every single day of the perfect love God lavishes on us. Everyday we need to ask him to search our hearts to see what sin may be taking root in there, underneath the surface, so he can pull the weeds up and keep the soil in our hearts soft and keenly aware of our need for him.

Are we clinging to Jesus and what he did on the cross? 

Even Jesus said himself that there is nothing good in him but God himself. Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. The only thing good in us is God. If we think for a moment that what we “do” for the Lord makes us worthy, then we are lying to ourselves.

Do we see all people as God’s children, worthy of our Savior? 

Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees here is recorded for us to remember. Absolutely everyone is welcome to be introduced to Jesus. Whether they choose to follow him, is up to them. God makes it clear in scripture that he is being patient and desires to see everyone come to salvation (2 Peter 3:9). Make sure you are not writing anybody off. Start by praying for those around you who don’t know him. Love them and tell them about the Savior who doesn’t want them to “clean up” before calling out to him. Just as we are, he invites us. Thank you, Jesus.

Share your verse of the day below in the comments! Tomorrow we discuss chapter 3!

If you missed the post aBout this online Bible Study, find the details and join us here:

A Chapter a Day: the Book of Mark for Easter Plan

Before Daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35 NLT

It’s day one of the series “Mark, a chapter a day for Easter” here at Refocused Bible Study. If you missed the details, you can find them here.

Whatever way you came across this post, I’m glad you are here and I pray you’ll join us! There is so much good stuff in every chapter, it is hard to pick one verse to focus in on! However, this one about Jesus going off to pray by himself made me fall in love with him all over again.

Jesus was fully God and fully man, yet still went off by himself to intentionally cultivate a connection with the Father through prayer. Did he do this to model spiritual discipline for us? Maybe. Did he do this because

HE LOVED THE FATHER AND WANTED TIME ALONE WITH HIM?

I think so. The day before, Jesus had been healing people and casting out evil spirits. Ministry was busy. He knew another busy day of serving and healing was ahead of him. So he got up while it was still dark to go spend this time one on one with his heavenly father. If Jesus did this, how much more do we need to do this? He was one with The Father, and yet he still carved out time from the rest of the day to go and talk to him one on one. Do you know what I’ve been telling myself instead of waking up early to spend time with The Father?

YOU NEED SLEEP, AND THE LORD KNOWS IT. YOU CAN PRAY LATER DURING THE DAY.

But, ladies, how I’ve been missing this time with Him! Time alone with God in the morning just cannot be replaced. There is nothing like it. Plus, it’s easy to see that Jesus sacrificed sleep to go and be alone with God, even in the thick of a very busy few days of ministry.

During the days leading up to Easter, let’s follow Jesus’ example and set our alarms just 30 minutes earlier. Let’s go and pray to Him and see how it changes our hearts and our days. Following the pattern for prayer that Jesus shows us is a good place to start: “This, then, is how you should pray:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:9-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I look forward to hearing what your verse for chapter 1 is! Let me know in the comments below. ❤

Did you miss the first post about the Mark Study? Find the details and print out your goodies HERE!

Easter, Mark

Today is April 1st, a new month and a new opportunity to have a fresh start, especially with spring greening up under our feet, reminding us God is still in the business of making all things new. In just over two weeks, the pinnacle day of our Christian faith, the day our Savior conquered death, will come and go. Between now and then, a group of women connected through this blog will be reading Mark, a book of the bible, a chapter a day, ending on Easter. It beautifully coincides with the timing of this special day, and we want you to join us!

Mark Reading Schedule

April 2nd – read Mark 1, April 3rd- read Mark 2, and so on- a chapter a day, and you will read the last chapter on Easter, April 17th! If you want to journal through it see below for a FREE print out!

Plan Options

I want to journal through it

Hello, fellow journaling friend! I love to journal too. I find power in recording what I hear the Holy Spirit speak to me. I also focus better if I am writing my prayers down on paper. Finally, if I write down one verse a day from my time with the Lord, it sticks better. I meditate (think on it, pray God will help me apply it) the rest of the day, and my time with God continues on after I close my bible.

Having a structure to your quiet time or bible reading time can be very helpful. I like to use acronyms to help me pattern my time with Jesus. Below is an option for this reading plan. As I am reading through the chapter, I pick a verse that really speaks to me. (Don’t get too caught up in this, just pick a verse!) I write that verse down.  Then, I study that verse, and write how I can apply that verse to my life right now. For this study, next we will “review” – write out the context ( the setting, what was happening, who said the verse, and maybe a little about the entire chapter). Last, I write out a prayer to close my time with God. If you so choose, you could  also pray out loud or stop writing at this point and pray quietly to the Lord. You could also write down a few prayer requests and then go to the Lord in prayer. The important thing is to PRAY TO END YOUR QUIET TIME! ❤

I just want to read

Go for it, girlfriend! I have some ideas to help you succeed in this very important endeavor over the next sixteen days. First of all, decide what time of day you will read the chapter. Next, decide how this will be a priority. What will you refuse to do until you have read the chapter for the day? This REALLY helps me make time one on one with God a priority. For example, you may decide you will not get on social media, watch Netflix, (basically any mindless time-sucker) until you have read your chapter. This really helps me! Let me know if it helps you, too! Sometimes quiet time isn’t so quiet, and you have to “just do it, ” (think Nike). DECIDE to  drop perfectionism and read the chapter on the bible app on your phone while you rock your baby. Decide to listen to the chapter on the app through your earbuds in the car rider line or while you are working out. Just do it! 🙂 Even though you are not writing it down, pick one verse to take with you throughout the rest of the day until your next reading session so you can think on it and let God continue to speak to you through it. (Yes, He still speaks to his people)!

Accountability

Let’s link arms, ladies, and encourage one another on this short journey the next sixteen days. I want you to share your “My verse” with me. How can you do this? 

Here on the blog, in the comments. Yes, I will try to send an email everyday between now and then, so make sure you follow this blog.

The Facebook Group. Click here to be added.

Instagram. Comment on the daily post. Click here to follow me. 

I just know we are going to see Jesus more beautiful than ever through this journey. I will be reading it with my children. This is a lot of scripture for them to digest at once (even at the ages of 11, 12, and 14) so I’ll be pressing into Jesus asking him to help me not stress over it and them falling in love with his Word the priority for them. ❤ I make it fun as possible. We are having special breakfast every morning and listening to the chapter through the Bible app together at the table each morning. Then each of us shares our favorite part of the story or favorite verse. Then we pray together. It can take as little as 7 minutes or the conversation can get deep and last 3 minutes. These are the best days!

That is my prayer for all of us, that we would fall more in love with Jesus and his Word as we journey with him this Easter season. 

Let me know you are joining us! I want to hear from you!

Invite your friends!!!

Here are some helpful links to a series I wrote on Back to the Basics of Bible Study if you want more inspiration and direction: 

Bible Study & Prayer 101: How To Read The Bible 

Bible Study & Prayer 101: Back to the Basics

Bible Study & Prayer 101: Meet the Teacher

Share this post and invite others to join us! ❤

Amy

Comment below and tell me which plan option you chose!

“One sister thinks she has to have everything perfect for her King. The other one knows that there is absolutely no way she will ever get everything perfect and so she just sits there, mesmerized by the most beautiful sight she has ever seen, her Savior, her Maker, the Lover of her soul. She has already forgotten about all the imperfections in her home. Jesus says she has CHOSEN what is better. How I praise God that it is better to sit and adore him than to run around like a crazy woman making everything perfect.” – excerpt from Refocused Bible Study, page 135

The projects I listed out on this page of the study will be year long tasks for me. I have many things I want to do in my home that I feel like I never get around to! Who’s with me on that? However, I knew that we had to, I mean had to study this passage to end our week on home and as a farewell passage to this whole bible study.

Luke 10

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I have studied this verse many times. Because I am a Mary. Yes, I have found that sitting still and worshipping Jesus is my ONE THING. But what I have had to learn through the years is how to stay in a position of worship and fellowship of my sweet Jesus in my heart and mind as my hands and feet work hard in my home and in every good work he sets before me. Jesus knew all that frettin’ Martha was doing was not necessary. Can you hear him gently, lovingly confront her:

“All those are details Martha! I’m what’s important, and you are loosing sight of it!”

How often I do get sidetracked, worried over all the little details that will not matter for eternity as I push my Savior aside and try to do it all. Be it all. Have it all perfect. Especially during this season where I have starting writing daily. Everyday I must refocus on Him and make sure I know He is my ONE THING. What easily sidetracks you from Jesus being your ONE THING? I pray that we will all remember his sweet, FREEDOM FILLING reply to Martha:

“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be take from her.” Luke 10:42

Mary is awestruck at Jesus’ feet. This is it girls. The only thing that is necessary. The better portion. Don’t miss it. Don’t miss his mesmerizing LOVE! I have a little parting download to help you continue to put into place the principles we have learned in #Refocused. #Refocused Prayer Journal & Goals Template

Parting with a prayer: As we come before Our ONE THING, I pray over all your daughters who have participated in #Refocused during the month of January. We close our books asking you to help us walk with you daily to put these truths into practice, to help us refocus our eyes daily on YOU, everyday in 2021 and everyday until we see your eyes in clear sight. In the Mighty Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

✨New Here? This is the last day of this study! I’ve been blogging through my Bible Study, “Refocused: Fixing your eyes in Jesus for the road ahead.” Resources: Download the study free HERE OR You can can buy the study here: Refocused Bible Study

Starting Monday, February 5th, I’m hosting “Love Letters from God: a prayer journey through God’s love” here for the month of February! It’s a 4 week study through Ephesians 3:18. I hope you’ll join me!

Praying for you,

Amy

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

Proverbs 24:3-4

“I need to get more laundry baskets, and shelving for them to stay organized in the laundry room,” I told my friend over coffee one day. I started there and I made this long list of things I needed to buy in order to get our house in order. Looking at the list, I got overwhelmed, realizing how much money and time we would need to buy and install all these systems for organization of all of our stuff. After a few minutes of fretting, I did what I should have done all along.

I brought the Holy into Housework and asked the Lord what to do about this situation of our messy closets.

It sounds kind of silly, right? Like, I could have just gone to the closet and started chunking things. But this Jesus who died to give us relationship with Him actually loves for us to talk to Him about everything, even mundane chores and housekeeping. When my mind was reeling, thinking about how we really needed (LoL!) a larger home with one more bedroom and larger closets,

His wisdom whispered, calm down, daughter, I give you everything you need when you need it.

A few days later, my tune changed to this: “We spent the day cleaning out our closet and now I don’t need baskets or shelves anymore!”

LOL! Did you see that, friends? How the enemy had me anxious, feeling like we didn’t have enough, and the Lord whispered and showed me we were holding onto too much. All we needed to do was get rid of the things that weren’t precious and pleasant riches so we could better care for all the wonderful real precious and pleasant riches we already had (i.e. enough clothing to wear something different everyday of the week, which many people in the world would be honored to have).

Maybe you are like me, struggling to see how Wisdom Himself has already blessed your house richly with precious and pleasant riches, but you have too much junk to see and appreciate it. Or maybe you really do have a need in your home right now. I can’t tell you how many times the Lord has blown my socks off by his timely provision after I have asked Him for what our family needed. Go to Him, and he will provide what you need.

Whatever the situation, He holds all knowledge to help you rid your house of unnecessary, life-snatching clutter and replace it with valuable, life-giving treasures. The Lord delights in helping us build and establish our homes, so I encourage you today, to:

1 Thank the Lord for the precious and pleasant treasures in your home

2 Think about how you can care for them today as an act of worship to Him, the Giver

3 If there are any needs, pray and ask Him to meet them (He may surprise you like He did me, and answer in an unexpected way, but TRUST He will answer!)

And remember, sisters, the most precious and pleasant treasure is Jesus himself, alive and present in our homes! The last day of Refocused on Home is tomorrow, sweet friends! Praying you will finish strong as we look at two sisters and Jesus blessed as most important in homemaking.

✨New Here? I’m blogging through my Bible Study, “Refocused: Fixing your eyes in Jesus for the road ahead.” Resources: Download the study free HERE OR You can can buy the study here: Refocused Bible Study

Praying for You,

Amy