A heart that loves God's Word

Thanks for reading my blog! Grab a your book, your Bible, and a pen and let's get started!

I can still remember the my husband, Jim, and I planted 13 ivy vines in our backyard with the hopes that these baby plants would one day grow strong enough to cover our bare and oh-so-ugly(!) cement block walls. well three months later, my dream was coming true.... except for one of the ivy plants. It was absolutely dead! So Jim and I went to work. He purchased a replacement plant, got out his shovel, bent over the dead vine, and to his surprise, it slipped right out of the ground. In a glance Jim could see what was wrong. This plant had failed to grow because it had no roots! Although the plant had enjoyed all the right conditions above ground, something was missing beneath the surface of the soil. It didn't have the root system that is vital for drawing the needed nourishment and moisture from the soil.

This is a perfect example for us. we all want the grow in the lord, but if we don't have a healthy rootsystem our relationship will die. Our hearts desire:
to flourish.........................not fail
to thrive............................not die
to blossom.........................not wither
We should thrive to have a strong rootsystem deep in the Lord, and the Bible.

ROOTS ARE UNSEEN
Where is a thriving rootsystem grown? We know the answer, don't we? It's grown underground. So I want to challenge you to disappear from the public scene for a period of time each day. I want to encourage you to drop out of your friends' sight for a portion of your day. I want to invite you to withdraw from the distractions of TV and the Internet for a time of solitude. Why? So you can tend to your secret life, your hidden life, the life you enjoy with God. When you and i are faithful to do this one thing each day every day, wow!, what a difference it makes.
Christians often thing life is made up of people. Actually, the less time you spend with people, spending in quiet time, the more you have effect on people.

ROOTS ARE FOR TAKING IN
When we do the time to study God's word an pray, we receive and taking in. this is the time to give God what He wants and take what He wants to give. It replenishes you and readies you for the day.

ROOTS ARE FOR STORAGE
Roots serve as a reservoir of what we need. As we stop to (like Mary in the previous chapter) and regularly send down into our roots into God's word, into His springs of living water, we begin to collect His life-giving water. Then what happens?

The Bible makes a "reservoir" of hope ans strength in God. So that when things get hard, we won't give up. Another thing that God's reservoir gives us; when bad things come our way, we can draw strength from our reservoir whenever we need it. How cool is that!

ROOTS ARE FOR SUPPORT
Here's another reason to make sure you spend time in God's Word. Without a well developed rootsystem, you and I can become top heavy. "Top heavy" is a vivid term used to describe a plant that has lots of leafy, heavy foliage above ground, but nothing to support it from underneath. In other words, there are only a few scanty roots, but not enough to hold it up. So, when times get tough (and remember, they will!) and the winds of adversity begin to blow (and they will), we topple. You see, without a network of strong roots, we have to be staked up, propped up, tied up, and straightened up... until another wind comes along and we go over again!
If we want to be strong in the Lord, we have to have a strong rootsystem.

FROM GOD'S WORD TO YOUR HEART
Let's pause know and read the verses below. Several describe the characteristics of a plant-or in our case, a woman- whose heart is rooted in God's word. As you read, be thinking about several things that stand out in your mind and heart from these picturesque verses and the stamina portrayed in each.

Psalms 1:1-3
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Isaiah 58:11
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

YES, BUT HOW?
Now, how does a woman draw nearer to God's heart? How can you and i put ourselves in a position where God Can grow each of us into a woman of remarkable endurance?

1. Develop the habit of drawing near to God - Notice the habits of these men of remarkable endurance. Think about what you can learn from each of them.
Abraham-Genesis 19:27
David-Psalm 5:3
Jesus-Mark 1:35

2.Design a personal time for drawing near to God - If you're like most busy women-young or old- your time with the Lord could use a little work. So let's set about to design a better time.

When? Did you notice that the three men above had a time when they met with God? As you review your daily life and look into your heart, what would be the best time for you? Or put another way, when would you like it to be?

Were? And did you notice that each of these people of God had a place for meeting with God? Do you have a place? If not, were would you like your place to be?

3. Detail your daily progress - One picture is truly worth a thousand words! So I am asking you to do what I do. Start today to use the chart in the back of your book, "Quiet Times Calender" to keep track of your all-important devotional life.

Thanks again for reading this GIANT blog! Sorry I got it out so late. I hope it spoke to you as much as it did to me. I am thinking about adding my own Bible studys to this blog. Keep a lookout for more details! Love you!
Kaylee