“If we have a greater understanding of how much God loves us, we are going to have a greater and greater love for him in return. It is a natural response, an authentic movement of a heart to endear someone whom they know genuinely endears them.”

These words flowed from a place in my heart God had been stirring for a while. I just wanted to love Him more. I just wanted my family to love him more and more everyday. Then Jesus dawned it on me: “They need to understand more and more how much I love them Amy, and then they will love me more and more. Then you will love me more and more.”

So that became my starting prayer. That is the pinnacle of the “Love Letters” study I wrote. That is the goal of my life. My determined purpose. To know Him, to know His love more and more everyday, and for those around me to know it. It changes everything.

This ever increasing knowledge of His love especially changes your love for Him. You can’t help but love Him more as you greater understand this love that is so great, it is IMMEASURABLE. It’s lengths cannot be measured. But it can be contrasted. It can be studied according to His Word.

Today we are let’s consider  how long God’s love is for us, as we consider how long he will walk among us. This morning I read this chapter, and thought about it all day. All day while I homeschooled my kids, ran them to their different extracurricular activities, grocery shopped with all 3 of them in tow, and cooked them dinner.

The thing God kept reminding me was: He was there among us, in our midst during all of this everyday stuff.

He was there this morning when I felt like taking a day off the daily grind. (Thankfully I persevered 🙂

He was there when I wanted to ask my daughter how she couldn’t remember how to add her simple addition problems.

He was there when I wanted to yell at their bickering, helping me take a deep breath instead and kindly direct them to “pick out of the get along jar.”

He was there when I went over budget at the grocery store and helped me swallow my mistake with a gulp of grace for myself.

He was there when my daughter spilt milk all over my husband.

He was there in the fun times when we were writing out scripture together and smiling.

He was there when we were sitting around the table for dinner, laughing and joking.

(As you can see, my day got progressively better:)

The point is, He was walking among us every step today, seeing the good, bad and the UGLY. And he was loving us every single second.

Practice being aware of His loving presence!

Leviticus 26

9“I will look favorably upon you, making you fertile and multiplying your people. And I will fulfill my covenant with you.

10You will have such a surplus of crops that you will need to clear out the old grain to make room for the new harvest!

11I will live among you, and I will not despise you.

12I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.

13I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high.

<<<<Walk in His Love with your heads held high>>>>

This week I’m giving away a copy of “The Love Letters” Bible Study, based on the Ephesians 3 verse above. I’ll be posting about it this week, filling our hearts with reminders of how incredibly God loves us, so that starting next week on Monday, we can begin walking through loving God with more of ALL of ourselves. (Mark 12:30).

The new study based on Mark 12:30 (Loving God with ALL of you) will be available later this week!

So, how do I enter the giveaway?

If you haven’t yet, follow this blog.

Facebook:  Like Refocused Bible Study Page, like and comment on the giveaway post. Extra entry for sharing! (There is a post on RefocusedBibleStudyPage)

Instagram: Follow @RefocusedBibleStudy, like the giveaway post, tag a friend in the comments!

Extra entries for each of the above! Giveaway winner announced on Friday,

Check out the Study Here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542412846/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Journey through scripture to gain a greater understanding of God’s amazing love for you. This four week prayer journaling study will help you grow in your knowledge of how wide, long, high, and deep God’s love runs for you. Visit RefocusedBibleStudy.com (you are here now:) and go under “The Love Letters” tab you will find a blog post to guide you through each day of the study

t’s the perfect Valentine’s present for preteen girls up to grandmothers! ❤

The study on Mark 12:30 will be a downloadable study for purchase but there will also be a free reading/scripture writing option. We want you here to engage in God’s Word in a personal way and know Jesus more intimately!

Enter that giveaway, grab a copy of the Love Letters Study for you and a friend for Valentine’s Day, and enjoy walking the dimensions of God’s Love for you this week here at Refocused.

Praying for you,

Amy

How Wide is God’s Love? Is it wide enough to cover all my sin?

Is it broad enough to encircle all my insecurities and idols?

Does it reach far enough around to hold on to me when I’m puffed up with pride?

Let’s focus in on a passage that mentions the the latitudinal measurement of the earth, from the east to the west.

Psalm 103:12-18

12 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
17 But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!

When I went to the Lord this morning and asked him to rid my heart of the things that were on his throne there I really thought about verse 12 the rest for the next few hours. What does “as far as the east is from the west” really mean?

As I mediated on it, the Lord showed me a few things. For one, he couldn’t sit on his throne because something else was there already. Something else had taken his place in my heart.

Have you ever sat down on a chair without looking and sat right top of something? Ouch. Not really the experience anyone, especially the King of Kings is expecting in the heart of his daughter.

So I asked him to help me take that thing off his throne chair! I want him and him alone to be seated at the proper position in my heart. King. In charge. Calling the shots. Me- coming before him and bowing, as a servant, ready to receive her orders.

So as I thought about the opposite directions of the east from the west, I thought about turning around, repenting, REFOCUSING 🙂 if you will. I can’t keep going east with Jesus and go west on my own. IT ITSN’T POSSIBLE. Have you ever had a compass in the woods and gone both ways, east and west at the same time? No!

His love is wide enough. Wider than we can fathom. We could go off wandering on our own every single morning. Headed due west, all by ourselves. But his love is wide enough. He would walk all the way to California every single time we strayed and bring us back home to North Carolina (best state there is:)!

And he would ask us before we started walking back to NC,

“Are you ready to come back with me? Good, now, leave that heavy back sack of sin right there. Just drop it on the ground. I already paid your punishment for you to just leave it there. Doesn’t that feel better? Now, come, follow me the road home.

Let’s do that today! Give him your heavy backpack in the West and head East with Jesus.

Here is a little gift to help us all hide His word in our hearts this month: heart shaped weekly memory verse cards for the passage we are memorizing together, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Print out 1 or a few copies and post them on your bathroom mirror, your car dashboard, your kitchen window, your computer screen. Wherever! His Word is transforming!

A printable gift for you below:

Download Here: Love Letters from God Memory Verses<

In the 3 minute video below be encouraged > He loves you MORE!

Check out the Study Here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542412846/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

It’s a prayer journey through scripture to gain a greater understanding of God’s amazing love for you. This four week prayer journaling study will help you grow in your knowledge of how wide, long, high, and deep God’s love runs for you. Visit RefocusedBibleStudy.com (you are here now:) and go under “The Love Letters” tab you will find a blog post to guide you through each day of the study!<<<<<<<<<
rfect Valentine’s present for preteen girls up to grandmothers! ❤

Grab a copy of the Love Letters Study for you and a friend for Valentine’s Day, and enjoy walking the dimensions of God’s Love for you this week here at Refocused.

Praying for you,

Amy

Love is in the air February here at Refocused!

I am super excited to focus in on the Love of God. Sisters, it is so good!

This month we will be digging deep into two scriptures that are dynamite when you pair them together. One is a prerequisite for the other.

BETTER UNDERSTANDING HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:18-19

…which leads to….

LOVING GOD WITH ALL OF YOU

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:30

What if you could walk the expanse of God’s love for you through His Word? What if your eyes could see just the parameters those earthly pupils can fantom about how wide, long, high and deep his love is for you? Let me tell you, you would be moved to fall on your face in awe of how good he is. Your heart, soul, mind, and strength would be on fire for this God of Love!

So, this week I’m giving away a copy of “The Love Letters” Bible Study, based on the Ephesians 3 verse above. I’ll be posting about it this week, filling our hearts with reminders of how incredibly God loves us, so that starting next week on Monday, we can begin walking through loving God with more of ALL of ourselves. (Mark 12:30).

The new study based on Mark 12:30 will be available later this week!

So, how do I enter the giveaway? 

1. If you haven’t yet, follow this blog.
2.  Facebook:  Like Refocused Bible Study Page, like and comment on the post. Extra entry for sharing! (There is a post on RefocusedBibleStudyPage)
3. Instagram: Follow @RefocusedBibleStudy, like post tag a friend in the comments!

Extra entries for each of the above! Giveaway winner announced on Friday,

Check out the Study Here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1542412846/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Journey through scripture to gain a greater understanding of God’s amazing love for you. This four week prayer journaling study will help you grow in your knowledge of how wide, long, high, and deep God’s love runs for you. Visit RefocusedBibleStudy.com (you are here now:) and go under “The Love Letters” tab you will find a blog post to guide you through each day of the study!

It’s the perfect Valentine’s present for preteen girls up to grandmothers! ❤

The new study on Mark 12 will be a downloadable study with a free reading/scripture writing option. We want you here to engage in God’s Word in a personal way and know Jesus more intimately! 

Enter that giveaway, grab a copy of the Love Letters Study for you and a friend for Valentine’s Day, and enjoy walking the dimensions of God’s Love for you this week here at Refocused.

Praying for you,

Amy

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

Although I’ve been focused on what’s to come, my heart has been overwhelmed with God’s goodness as I have heard from some of you about the way He has spoken to you through his Word as we have walked through #Refocused together. I am seriously blown away at the fact that I had so many sisters to re-fix our eyes on Jesus together for the new year.

This week’s projects 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 2018 and everyday until we see your eyes in clear sight.

In the Mighty Name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.

Stay tuned for a NEW STUDY for the month of February! Details on Monday!!!

New Here? See what’s going on below!

Refocused Bible Study is a devotional ministry with monthly bible studies/reading plans with weekday emails to help you stay encouraged on your journey with Jesus! Join in the new study starting February 5th!

New Year Bible Challenge<<<<<<
I’ll be honest, I get sidetracked in life, how about you, friend? A few years ago, I was tired of spinning on a hamster wheel, feeling like I was making no progress in areas of my life. I prayed and God told me that this was not the way He desired for me to live. He showed me through His word that I AM His daughter, and that there is a better way. A refocused, narrower way.

We can ask God to make our vision clearer for our lives, more effective to know Him better and see Him more clearly right where we are. To have more peace and fulfillment in our relationship with Him, our marriages, our mothering, and our homes. He will flood those areas of our lives with new clarity and breath and life and beauty when we ask Him and meditate on His Word towards those areas in our lives.

His Word brings beauty to the most mundane parts of our lives! By the end of January, if you join us, you will be folding laundry, or reading to your children, or having a conversation with a friend, realizing you are standing on Holy Ground with Jesus, doing exactly what He created you to do, communing with Him and doing good work for His glory, right where He has placed you!

Join us here at Refocused Bible Study to REFOCUS through His Word! It started New Year’s Eve, but jump in anytime!

You can buy the study here: Buy Refocused Bible Study <<<<<<
an’t buy the study, no worries! Take the Reading/Verse writing challenge for FREE: Refocused Bible Reading/Verse Writing Plan<<<<<<
r online group on FB HERE: Facebook Group<<<<<<
NGE: Monday through Friday, before looking at social media,

Engage in God’s Word using the study or reading plan and prayer.

Then, comment on this blog, the FB page, or Instagram and answer the question I pose. If you don’t have time to say much, just say, “I did it!” And we will cheer you on!  Interact and be held accountable by myself and others to start this year out remembering WHO GOD IS, that YOU ARE HIS DAUGHTER, and the GOOD WORK HE HAS FOR YOU on the road ahead!

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? See whats going on below!

New Year Bible Challenge<<<<<<
I’ll be honest, I get sidetracked in life, how about you, friend? A few years ago, I was tired of spinning on a hamster wheel, feeling like I was making no progress in areas of my life. I prayed and God told me that this was not the way He desired for me to live. He showed me through His word that I AM His daughter, and that there is a better way. A refocused, narrower way.

We can ask God to make our vision clearer for our lives, more effective to know Him better and see Him more clearly right where we are. To have more peace and fulfillment in our relationship with Him, our marriages, our mothering, and our homes. He will flood those areas of our lives with new clarity and breath and life and beauty when we ask Him and meditate on His Word towards those areas in our lives.

His Word brings beauty to the most mundane parts of our lives! By the end of January, if you join us, you will be folding laundry, or reading to your children, or having a conversation with a friend, realizing you are standing on Holy Ground with Jesus, doing exactly what He created you to do, communing with Him and doing good work for His glory, right where He has placed you!

Join us here at Refocused Bible Study to REFOCUS through His Word! It started New Year’s Eve, but jump in anytime!

You can buy the study here: Buy Refocused Bible Study <<<<<<
an’t buy the study, no worries! Take the Reading/Verse writing challenge for FREE: Refocused Bible Reading/Verse Writing Plan<<<<<<
r online group on FB HERE: Facebook Group<<<<<<
NGE: Monday through Friday, before looking at social media,

Engage in God’s Word using the study or reading plan and prayer.

Then, comment on this blog, the FB page, or Instagram and answer the question I pose. If you don’t have time to say much, just say, “I did it!” And we will cheer you on!  Interact and be held accountable by myself and others to start this year out remembering WHO GOD IS, that YOU ARE HIS DAUGHTER, and the GOOD WORK HE HAS FOR YOU on the road ahead!

Praying for you!

Amy