Welcome to the final #SheSharesTruth of the Lent season. Can we just state the obvious here and say what a tremendous blessing these Fridays have been? You have opened your hearts and your notebooks, your blogs and your instagram feeds, and you have encouraged this community with your insight and vulnerability and love for God’s Word. We are so grateful for you!
If #SheSharesTruth is new to you, you can read more about the heart behind it here, and peruse the list of last week’s shares here.
The short version: As writers we’ve discovered that one of the most effective ways to learn from the Word is to study it and share it – to teach what we’ve learned to others. So each week during Lent, we’ve assigned a portion of Scripture (this week 1 Corinthians 2:1-5) for you to study and write about. And on #SheReadsTruth Fridays we share what we’ve learned by writing in our own spaces and linking to that here.
Here’s the plan:
- Write your devotional/reflections/response to 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 on your personal blog. (Or on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtags #SheSharesTruth and #SheReadsTruth; or even write the comments section here.) Use the graphics below in your post if you’d like!
- Link to this post so your readers can know about the #SheSharesTruth experiment too.
- Share the link to your post/Facebook update/Instagram below in the LinkyTool below.
- Visit each other’s links – at least one or two (maybe the two people who linked up before you?). Comment there – tell them you see them and hear them!
**Please share your heart, sisters. Our desire is not for this to be a time of comparison or sizing up writing abilities or spiritual maturity. Eloquence and insight are lovely, but we know that is not the thing our God calls us to. So, let’s not call each other to that either. Sister, if you feel ill-equipped – GOOD! If you feel like you have so much to learn – GREAT. SO DO WE! Every single time we sit down to write. And if we don’t, are hearts are not in the right place. Let this be a safe place to learn and share and love each other WELL.
Love the sharing. Mine for the day: http://thedaysgetsweeter.blogspot.com/2014/04/she…
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 #shesharestruth
In 1 Corinthians, we find Paul writing his second letter to Corinth—a Grecian island, located along the Middle Eastern trade routes—a superhighway for trade in goods, culture, and information. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was deeply misunderstood, which led Corinth down a path of moral destruction. The first letter, of which much is not known, was wordy and rather complicated in its preaching to the new believers in Corinth.
Realizing what had happened, Paul’s purpose for writing his second letter was to simplify his message to the Corinthians, to break it down so that they would understand that their faith should not rest in the wisdom of the world, but in the power of the Lord.
What I find interesting about the first part of Paul’s letter is v.3—and I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling. It’s possible that Paul is referencing his bodily presence, which was described as ‘a man of little stature, thin haired, crooked legs, unibrow, hooked nose…but FULL OF GRACE.’ (From a passage in the 2nd century document, The Acts of Paul and Thecla)
Paul is not physically an imposing or grand figure, yet God called him to preach an unbelievably important message.
As we near Holy Week, Paul’s letter to the Corinthians not only reminds me that my faith should rest solely in the power of God (a great power that we celebrate when His son rises on the third day), but also that He can use anyone to share His message. From a burning bush to a man of small stature and a hooked nose, for no rhyme or reason other than that He is Lord, and He is good. So very good. Praise be to God.
Beautiful! Isn't that encouraging? Many times I either get proud about something in me– and attractiveness I possess, any intellect or knowledge I have, any skill in writing I've been gifted with– and other times, I feel completely insufficient and unusable by God (usually when I have to speak up about something or actually act on something). But in both cases, we're only looking at ourselves! It's about Him. He can use whoever He wants for whatever He wants. Period. There is no other logic behind being used by God. Praise you, Lord, that NONE of this is about US!
I am totally going to miss the #shesharestruth assignments. Maybe I should keep it up on my own, would that be ok? It has been really powerful in helping me study and digest God's word. I hope we can do a fun assignment like this again. I missed a couple of weeks due to my own schedule but I am grateful for the assignments I was able to do. Thank you!
http://www.niasimone21.tumblr.com
Thank you all, sisters, for opening up and sharing your hearts here. There is true freedom in this place – we know we are daughters of the King & we love each other as such! I haven't been commenting as much during this devotional series of meditation & confession, but as always, the Lord's done a great work in my heart. I'm so blessed to be able to share these studies with each of you, knowing that even though we don't see each other face to face, we still share the same Scripture each day, & yet see a different piece of God's character & heart. That's why I love this – we see bits of our Father in each other that we wouldn't have otherwise seen. God's grace abounds!
My link is #24 above – an Instagram post – you can also find me @katsmith1026 there :)
"We see bits of our Father in each other that we wouldn't have otherwise seen. God's grace abounds!" That it does, Kat! The Lord never fails to show me something new about himself each day on SRT, here. You girls have been the answer to my prayers when I asked for friends/fellowship with girls/women who both Loved Christ honestly and loved me honestly. I look back at the countless studies we've all done together, how God changed me piece by piece each day… and how he is still doing that now. Lord, I thank you for the good work you've been doing in all of our lives using SRT! I thank you for bringing a group of women who seek you together, so that we could see you in a whole new way each day through discussion with each other! Be blessed, girls! Submit yourself to Him and be His vessel today. xoxo
Been such a blessing to share with you all in this way, and to have you share your stories and perspectives with all of us. My devo for the day: "It's About What You Say, Not How Well You Say It" http://alabamaheartindianasoul.blogspot.com/2014/…