Oh friends.
That was a good one. Boy did God have a lot to teach us in the book of Hosea. And man, was He faithful to walk our community through good and hard and unchanging truths. Thanks be to God!
(one of our own: @Brookeechambers sitting in Hosea 14 yesterday)
Tomorrow and Sunday we’ll have the treat of enjoying two community testimonies, and on Monday we will dive back into the Old Testament, this time in the book of Nehemiah! This new study is 17 days long and, though it’s hard to believe, will drop us off just one day before the SheReadsTruth 1-year-anniversary!
Seriously, how can this be?
We serve an amazing God, whose vision will always be greater than ours and whose faithfulness will always surpass our own. We look forward to reflecting together on what He has done among our vast and diverse community on June 1st.
Following Nehemiah, the anniversary and a few more community testimonies thrown in for good measure (because really, how great is it to get to share how God is changing us as we seek Him together!?), we’ll switch gears for June and part of July to begin a study in 1 & 2 Peter.
Good stuff ahead, loves.
Good stuff behind us.
And a good God all around us!
I encourage you to take this day to share here with your sisters in Christ:
How has the Holy Spirit used this study of the book of Hosea in your life?
What truth has grabbed you and won’t let you go?
Can I also encourage you to share what God is doing with someone in your physical life? He is at work and His name is to be praised!
Have a blessed Friday, loves!
Hey gals! Am I confused? I thought we were having testimonies today? Just wondering…
funny how lost I feel without a SRT post!! I want to hear from my sisters EVERYday! ;)
Guess I’ll check back, and hope we’ll have something tomorrow too. Hope everyone’s having a good Saturday- Blessings to all!
me,too, Ellen… yet reading through all of the comments is like a testimony from each one. But as for me, I have yet to ponder long enough or hard enough to write my own feedback on Hosea (cuz it would be longer than my Day 16).
I too came on, looking for them and felt compelled to read SRT like normal. Instead they were many beautiful words and prayers that I stand in agreement. In fact, I prayed for each of you as I read your comments or replies and gave ya' a thumbs up … as I lift your spoken or unspoken needs to the Throne of God, as He listens and hears each one.
Have a blessed weekend SRT community and thanks so much!
(if I can find a way to briefly sum up how God and you all spoke to me through the prophet Hosea, I'll be back – yes, the RETURN for the REDEEMED by His Relentless Redeeming Love, I am being restored, refined, renewed, as I learn to focus on my own repentance and love others as Jesus has poured His love and amazing grace on me! [maybe this is my statement of how Hosea has changed me and is changing me, as we remember that at first it was God asking Homer to be yoked in relationship with Gomer, forgive and restore her to right relationship with him, then it was God with Israel (their relationship or lack therein), showing us that we each need to come to Him, lay down our idols, our "redeemable" sins, (I love how Krysta said "spirit of prostitution") WOW-that sure turned on the lights for me, our selfish ways, our looking at other's rather than ourselves ("for we have all sinned and fall short"-boy, does that come through clearly in this like never before), whether we will give others the benefit of grace, love, mercy, justice, forgiveness as God has given us. I say Amen and thank You Lord! for each of your reflections and the inspiration of SRT. Thanks Ellen for your honest comment above also!!! I loved that part on "after all we're talking about our souls" and God speaking to us and banging us and Israel over the head to 'get it' finally. Oh that we might understand more fully the pursuit of God for us as prodigals and realize the price paid so that we would fully rejoice and receive God's eternal plan and purpose for each of us. Praise God! SRT … I think I summed it up after all! (thanks Holy Spirit)
Blessings and soak in the Son this SONday (after all we are His Beloved, and He is ours)!!!
Peggy
Are y'all laughing at how I messed up the names? I am…oh well!
Hey ladies! I think the server must be down today. That's what I am guessing anyway. I am no genius, lol! Peggy, meant to mention you should write a book!! Not because of the length but because of all the good things you had to say!!
Hopefully it will be back up and running tomorrow….just in time for Mother's Day.
And speaking of that…I wish a blessed one to both of you! Ellen, I hope you are feeling well enough tomorrow to make it to church with your children! God bless you friend! I hope you received my card!
Much love and prayers ladies! ♥
Diana, thank you for your beautiful prayer. I'm feeling the love and I know Suzanne is feeling the peace that only our Father in Heaven can give.
Have a great weekend!
Thank you ladies for your prayers they are definately appreciated.sending a bunch of internet Hugs:-):-):-) God Bless you!!
I am praying for you too! God is able! :)
Ellen MR, Carolymimi & Lauren,
AMEN &'Thank you for your beautiful prayers, encouragement, and for sharing your own experiences you've dealt with with your loved ones. Suzanne & Mark were flying out today to the Mayo Clinic to get a 2nd opinion. I am thankful they are and will be anxious to visit with them tomorrow. I will keep you updated. God bless you sisters
Goodnight sisters..a quick prayer request for strength.when I cry out to the Lord He fills me with his holy presents. When people reject me He accepts me. But I’m asking that you all pray for my strength and that I could always hold on to His promises even when my flesh wants to act out. Going through something but I’m believing in God:) thank you all.a lot can change in a couple of hours…
Precious Lord, I ask that you be with Monique now. Lord, fill her with your peace. Give her the comfort & strength only you can give.
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
—Psalm 56:3–4
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. –Philippians 4:13
Hang in there sister, He knows your heart. HUGS
Praying for you Monique, that God will grace you with the strength sufficient to meet your needs. Our God is all-powerful and all-knowing. All we need to do is reach out, like the woman who touched the hem of his garment in faith, believing, and Jesus will restore us. I am believing he will restore you. Lord, I am asking you to surround her in the fullness of your strength. Amen
You know, there is a definite reason that I was lead to click onto SRT tonight, sooo late. He hears your cries and he answers. He is our peace.
I thank SRT for your commitment and dedication to the Kingdom of God and the people of God.
I have enjoyed this series of devotionals on Hosea. Although I have not been commenting much, I have read the Word and many of your posts. I have also prayed for those requesting prayer for themselves and others.
It is so good to see the community growing in number, unity, and love. Looking forward to Nehemiah! God is truly faithful and His mercy AND love endures forever.
I'm just getting on here late today, but I had to jump in after reading all of these heart-warming comments today. I'm glad to read that I have not been alone in feeling like Hosea was a lot of chew on sometimes. Some mornings the reminder of how heavy my sin is felt like too much to bear. The law has a way of revealing how much we need to be rescued from ourselves. Even our good intentioned plans can lead us down paths of destruction. My pride doesn't like to admit that, but the proof is in the pudding.
And here I stand, rescued indeed. I'm captured by how God's love relentlessly calls His people back to Him. Then He laments over the rejection, the betrayal, the sin that separates. The Father's deep, deep love, we cannot run from. The story of His love and plan for redemption is weaved throughout the entire bible and continues to weave itself inside the hearts of His people who love Him. Oh, to be completely clothed in His love like one of our dear SRT sisters (I can't recall who) described this week as a warm blanket.
Thank you to all the SRT writers for taking us on a wild journey through the scriptures. What a great way to study the Word and walk through it all with some amazing ladies. What an unexpected (for me) event to feel so close and unified with a group of ladies with such diverse backgrounds and experiences. I've grown fond of many of you and look forward to reading what God is doing in our community. Love and blessings to all of you!
As we all have stated, this has been an amazing journey thru Hosea! All I can say is it was really intense for me and I'm thankful to take away a deeper knowledge of God and His word. Ive always been one of those people who has to have everything spelled out for me time and again (sorry for the monotony of needing repetition and confirmation continually..) and want to know I'm getting it right, because, well, we're talking about our SOULS here! Can't be making mistakes, right? So i just have to have it banged into my head. Like Israel apparently did too. Guess we're more alike than I would've thought, considering there's hundreds of years between us! That's why the Old Testament is daunting, but it's teaching the same principles and knowledge of God regardless. Thank you Father for speaking to me and making the big picture clearer! How I've needed that…
Blessings to all of you Ladies! Thank you SRT for the beautiful, challenging studies you all work so hard to provide. How wonderful your 1 year Anniversary is approaching! I've been around since Dec. and can't imagine NOT participating in daily studies without you now- I'd be lost without you all!! As always looking forward to our next book, and i love the testimonies! It's a joy to read about each other's journey with the Lord, how He's working in our lives. It's reaffirming to see Him thru all of you- a work He has prepared to shine His light thru to all who may be in the dark or lost… awww, how awesome!!! :)