Amos: An Ordinary Man with an Extraordinary Message

I just took this class in SWI with Dr. T.J Betts, author of the supplemental text with the title above. Recently God has given me a passion for studying the Old Testament, and it was a privilege to sit under this teacher and learn more about Amos. Though it is a Minor Prophet and only 9 chapters long, there is a lot of information and much to be learned from this book. The commentary helped in understanding the text and the context of Amos. The questions at the end of each chapter also guided me in thinking in depth about God, His nature, and what He teaches us today. In this study, God opened my eyes to see how this applies to His Word as a whole and points to Christ. It was quite convicting and I hope and pray God will continue to work on my heart as I study the Bible and learn it better.

I encourage everyone to read Amos, and if you are looking for a commentary I highly recommend this book to read along side or to do in a group Bible study.

In the course of the class we had some challenging thoughts and questions that I would like to share.

God is patient, but His patience has a limit.
Are we trifling with God's patience?

God judges the pagan nations based on what they know. God judges Israel based on what they know, and they know the truth of God's Word and have His law.

How can we bless the nations for God's glory when we are not blessing each other.

Have we been faithful to the Gospel by word and deed?

Where is your security?

Those who reject the Lord are dead.

Does your future truly hold what you think it holds?
Am I truly living for Christ? Is that my heart?
Is your worship of the Lord truly worship of the Lord?
Why do we do what we do? For ourselves or for Christ?

God is against the pride of humanity.

What does it mean to be humble?

A "whoa is me" attitude is looking at ourselves too much and is false humility.
Humility is complete dependence on God.
Confidence comes from our relationship with Christ and who we are in Him.

If there were really a famine of God's Word, how much would we miss it?
How long would you last on what you know of God's Word right now?

Reading to Write

When I returned from the writing retreat I was so on fire for my writing. I am still strongly desiring to write, the passion is still there. But as life as continued to get more exhausting and I have written what I planned to write I have gotten discouraged and will go days without writing. I may write in my journal and I can usually manage to do that most days, but my book is a struggle. This is frustrating as my goal is to be finished with it by March and I will be adding a new family member in the middle of that time.

So Thursday afternoon as I sat in my kids room I decided instead of writing I would read a book I borrowed from the library and it was like a breath of fresh air. Do not ask me why, but it helped me to relax and the next couple of days I was able to work on my book, even though I am not sure of the next specific steps I was able to plug through. I have limited hours in the day right now it feels as I am requiring more sleep currently and have 3 kids and a husband to care for as well as a house to run to the best of my capability. But I am realizing that reading helps to inspire writing and I need to do both more in the midst of preparing my home for baby number 4.

Blessings
661. Having a family fun day
662. Getting needed emails written
663. Watching the kids play together on the playground
664. Jamey wanting to help Reuben
665. Talking through my next classes with Jim
666. Target!
667. Relaxing in the afternoon
668. TV shows
669. Playing games
670. Watching the kids play horse for each other
671. Church!
672. Catching up with Kristen
673. Brothers and Sister we can connect with and love on even when we do not get to talk often
674. Kids resting
675. Getting to read some
676. Laughing with my family
677. Laughing with my kids
678. The honesty of children
679. More time with the family
680. Kids in bed early
681. Jim letting me sleep until 8!
682. Still getting school done
683. Lillian comforting Reuben when he was upset
684. Reuben allowing Lillian to comfort him and hugging her
685. Grocery store without kids
686. Sticking to the list!
687. Quiet afternoon
688. Taking a hot shower just because
689. Teacher's tournament on Jeopardy
670. Going to bed early
671. Everybody sleeping until 7:30!
672. Another lazy day at home
673. Getting lots of laundry done
674. Taking a nap (even if by accident)
675. Prayer time at Sojourn
676. Meeting another worker and connecting with her
677. New brother at Community Group
678. Knowing Satan is threatened by what God's people are doing
679. The Holy Spirit sustaining me in all things
680. God's faithfulness

A Baby is a Coming

If Mama "neediness" is a sign of a baby coming, this baby should be born next week. The last couple of weeks the need of and cling to me has increased greatly, especially of Jamey and Lillian. In fact, my 3 1/2 year old has reverted back to about 18 months! He is always whining, wants me to be everywhere with him and "needs" me to help him eat. It's insane. Some of Lillian's antics I associate with being 2, but she picks the strangest things she needs help with but then thinks she can do things she cannot. Reuben has moments of clinginess, but he is more attached to Daddy at the moment, which is nice so I am only wrestling with 2. I do love it when he wants to snuggle though.

So anyone familiar with kids regressing prior to delivery?

Blessings
641. Kids wanting to snuggle
642. Hearing Jamey sing Bible verses in the back seat
643. Jamey and Lillian asking to listen to Bible verse songs (can learn a lot from this)
644. Reuben clapping while we sing
645. Excitement about school
646. Reuben being in school and enjoying it
647. Jamey and Lillian saying Scripture and learning character definitions
648. Continuing to learn about God as I study Amos
649. Meeting new people at water aerobics
650. Seeing parallels to Israel and myself (not in a good way but eye opening)
651. Catching up with Ashley Wells (love this girl and her story)
652. Being awake to greet Jim
653. MOMStogether!
654. Meeting a former worker in Russia
655. Getting an afternoon nap
656. All 3 kids napping
657. Making holiday plans with the family
658. Having family come to us this year
659. Kids in bed on time with little fight
660. Getting to sleep early

Blessings

601. Hearing from a brother from England on Sunday morning
602. Learning about the warning of judgement being a blessing
603. Lazy Sunday afternoon
604. Being able to keep the kids up to help get them back on schedule
605. Kids going to bed without any fight or getting up half a dozen times!
606. Going to bed at 7:30!
607. Feeling sort of rested after the time change
608. Kids begging to do school
609. Getting done with morning routine including school by 8:15
610. Growing in meal planning
611. Going to the grocery store without kids
612. Kids being excited to see us
613. A cuddly Jamey
614. Jamey and Lillian "reading" their Bible and knowing that John 14:6 is in the Bible
615. Watching Jamey and Lillian "journal"
616. Jamey loving to journal
617. Reuben's playful spirit and laughter
618. All 3 kids taking a nap
619. Jim being off from work
620. Getting to watch some TV shows
621. Women's prayer- great time of prayer and fellowship
622. Living in a nation that can vote
623. Living in a nation that where I am free to serve God as He leads
624. Becca not having class and going to playgroup with us
625. Catching up with sisters I have not seen in a while
626. All 3 kids napping again!
627. Being able to journal and write
628. Getting a little down/rest time
629. Going to prayer time at Sojourn
630. Talking to one of the interns interested in going overseas
631. Community Group
632. Going to bed before 10
633. More eagerness to learn from the kids
634. Going to the store to get fun stuff for little money!
635. Making lunch!
636. The kids eating up their tilapia, sweet potatoes and broccoli
637. Lillian serenading us with "Jesus Loves Me" (signs included) and the ABCs
638. Jamey cheering Lillian on
639. Lillian being everyones cheerleader
640. Strength to endure even in fatigue

3 Days of Blessings

571. Getting things done
572. Making cookies with the kids
573. Learning to make cookies from scratch
574. The cookies turning out yummy
575. Talking with sisters at water aerobics
576. Being there to help a sister who passed out
577. Teachers who speak truth into your life
578. Being reminded that it is only by God's grace that I can fight sin
579. Talking with sisters after class
580. Free ebooks and great deals
581. 8 Ladies at women's prayer!
582. Wonderful time of worship, prayer, fellowship and snacks
583. Seeing God answer prayer
584. Jamey making us laugh with his funny sayings
585. Seeing a friend at McDonald's we have not seen in a while
586. Watching a few new TV shows
587. Nice family evening
588. Teaching the kids to play Risk
589. Kids having a decent attitude about staying up to prepare for time change
590. Women's Conference at Sojourn
591. Seeing many sisters at the conference
592. Having lunch with Rachel and Melanie
593. Melanie treating us to lunch
594. Sitting under Biblical teaching on Biblical womanhood
595. God teaching me more about Biblical womanhood
596. Watching Jamey and Lillian "take turns"
597. The kids wanting to sit sit me and snuggle
598. Hearing Jamey make connections
599. Hearing Lillian make connections
600. Just talking with my kids

Jamey Quotes

Jim put Reuben on his head and said "Do you like my hat?"
Jamey: "It's not a hat, it's a shlapa!" (Russian for hat)

Jamey singing "He is the Truth, the Life, the Way" repeating
Me: "Who are you singing about?"
Jamey: "Jesus is the Truth"

In the back of the car today: "I want to go to Moldova and Russia"

Walking to playgroup this week: "I want to go to earth"

His imagination coming out- He says regularly that he is Lillian, a Monkey, Cow, Horse-Duck (from one of his toys), Mr. Incredible, Jafar, Prince Ali, Lion King, Wart Hog, and many many others

Women's Prayer

I cannot believe we have reached the last 2 times of women's prayer for 2012. With the baby coming in December and the holiday season we will not be meeting at the beginning of December. It has been a  great year getting to know our workers and learning more about prayer. I hope that God will continue to grow me in this area and will also grow others.

So Sojourner Women come join us for out last meeting of 2012 to pray for those serving the Lord in other countries!
This Friday- November 2 at 10 am
Next Monday- November 5 at 7 pm

At my house (please email for address at EmmieBeth13@gmail.com)

We will be praying as well as preparing Christmas cards for our workers
Feel free to bring a holiday treat to share!

Hoping to see many for this great time of worship, service and fellowship!