New Year, New Pages.

 2 0 1 5 ~ Happy New Year! 

New Year is known for the party scenes and making unrealistic goals and resolutions for the year ahead but by the second week of January you've already broken them all.
I usually set resolutions and goals for the New Year and they usually involve, stopping the naughty foods, starting the gym, and being healthier... these are broken by day 5. So what's the point? What is the point in creating goals which are pointless and selfish.
So what's the point? Seriously? C'mon! Shape up, get your head in the game and do something amazing this year. Be the faith impactor you were called to be. 
From helping an elderly lady in the street to donating to a charity. From a smile to a stranger in the supermarket to a hug to a friend in need. 
Let's make your resolutions realistic. Be more Christ like and be a true 'Christian' Be all that you were called to be. 
Leviticus 26 : 12 - I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.
Jesus walks with us, so whenever your about to do something 'not Christ like' just think would Jesus have done that? If not, then don't do it, simple as that guys.

This year make a promise to yourself and a promise to your God! Promise to commit more of your self to him. No one is perfect so we can all admit that we can improve on our faith and stop holding back. Jump into your belief with hands reaching out. Take that leap of faith.

Personally I  think I need to spend more time studying the Bible. And praying.... I pray every day but sometimes I get lost in the days and sometimes I even forget a simple thank you for the things he encountered for me, just so I could live a day to day life.
We need to plug into our faith and endure the prejudice and opinions of others who don't understand our faith. Put your foot down and lay down the fact that we are proud to be the Lords children as we know that he loved us so that he gave his life for us. 

So while your eating those left over Christmas candies and chocolates, remember to make realistic resolutions and Christ like resolutions.

Let your resolution be connecting more... invest in Christ for your life. 

Have an amazing year! Thank God for the new year in which he has given you. He's added another page to your book of life. Don't waste your time.

New Year, New Pages. Get writing some memories, and be a world changer.
Love Jessica Louise Xoxo

www.bibleforwomen.co.uk
@bibleblogwomen

Studying Joel : Bible Study

Hey everyone welcome to the Studying Joel blog. 

I recently decided to write a study every month (hopefully) on a different person or book or theme. This idea came to me when I was reading through my bible and realised that even though I've read the Bible cover to cover I still don't understand certain things. Therefore I hope you enjoy these new blogs, they are written in a simple way so you can get a little information and hopefully leave the blog and do some scripture finding yourselves. I pray that these future blogs bless you and enriches you with wisdom and understanding. Thank you Amen.

Outline of the book of Joel.

- He didn't say that much about himself

- Resident of Jerusalem

- His message is timeless

- Disaster strikes

- Son of Pethuel

- Preached to the people of Judah

- The locusts he mentions in Joel 1:4; Joel 2:25 are best understood as real insects

The theme of this book is Restoration. 

- Restoration and blessing will come only after judgment and repentance.

Joel 1:1-12- An Invasion of Locusts

Joel 1:13 - A Call to Repentance

Joel 2:1-11 - The Day of the Lord

Joel 2:12- Return to the Lord

Joel 2:18 - The Lord Had Pity

Joel 2:28 - The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit

Joel 3:1-16 - The Lord Judges the Nations

Joel 3:17 - The Glorious Future of Judah

Joel 1:13

13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;
wail, O ministers of the altar.
Go in, pass the night in sackcloth,
O ministers of my God!
Because grain offering and drink offering
are withheld from the house of your God.

14 Consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly.
Gather the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.

15 Alas for the day!
For the day of the Lord is near,
and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.

16 Is not the food cut off
before our eyes,
joy and gladness
from the house of our God?

17 The seed shrivels under the clods;
the storehouses are desolate;
the granaries are torn down
because the grain has dried up.

18 How the beasts groan!
The herds of cattle are perplexed
because there is no pasture for them;
even the flocks of sheep suffer.

19 To you, O Lord, I call.
For fire has devoured
the pastures of the wilderness,
and flame has burned
all the trees of the field.

20 Even the beasts of the field pant for you
because the water brooks are dried up,
and fire has devoured
the pastures of the wilderness.

Confronted with this crisis, he calls on everyone to repent: old and young (1:2–3)

drunks (1:5), farmers (1:11) and priests (1:13).

He describes the locusts as the Lord’s army and sees in their coming a reminder that the day of the Lord is near. The locusts are known to be actual insects and not representations of the Babylonians, Romans etc.

The locust plague and severe drought was known to be the 'great and dreadful day of the Lord'.

The main idea throughout this scripture is ' Repent. for the day of the Lord is near'.

Joel 2:12-13 - Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love.

Define Boundless - Having NO Boundaries 

How amazing is that? His love has no boundaries. He is boundless in loyal love for us. Repent your sins, and return to him, your creator, your author, your father, your Lord Christ Jesus.

Christ in Joel

The coming of the Holy Spirit, who applies Christ's redemption, is predicted in Joel 2:28. Jesus Christ is the only one who judges nations but who also restores his people. [Trust me, I know this as a fact, I have been restored].

In Joel 2:18-20 Is Gods response, his agricultural blessing, his promise. He informs us of our glorious future. The people of Judah repented and God restored. There is no restoration without repentance. 

The promise of God follows in Joel 2:25-32 This promise is the greatest promise of hope in the Old Testament. Restoration is so important as a Christian. We need to leave the dignity and proud outer characters out of the picture and just be true to God and ourselves. And ask him for guidance and speak to him about your own pros and cons and he will help you be the person he created you to be. 

Define Restoration - The action of returning something to a former owner, place or condition. 

We need to be restored and returned to God.

Emphasis in the study

Joel 1:1- 2:11 Desolation

Joel 2:12 - 17 Exhortation

Joel 2:28 - 3:21 Restoration

This book shows that no matter what we go through in life, no matter how dark and challenging things might turn, God will always be there to restore you. In the future remember your past and when he has pulled you through a messy time and then have hope for the future as he's helped you before so why wouldn't he help you again? He wants your companionship, your friendship, your communication and obedience. He wants to be in a relationship with you and by repenting your old ways and habits, he can restore you 'The sins I haven't already forgiven, I'll forgive' God has moved into Zion for good'.

Scriptures to check out-

The book of Joel [it's not that long so if you have time, just sit and study, meditate this book, it's such a great book]

If not check out these:

- Joel 2:12-14

- Joel 2:18

- Joel 2.25-27

Thank you for reading this study I hope it helps you in your studies and bible reading. 

Enjoy your day. God bless

Love Jessica Louise Xoxo