Royal Blood...

Today was Bible study day. I have SO enjoyed this Beth Moore study. One thing that I am also discovering is that I also LOVE planning and leading worship! As I work through the study each week, I jot down whatever songs come to mind and then try to incorporate them into the worship order somehow. Today I introduced the Keith Getty/Stuart Townend song "Holy Spirit" (yes, I finally found a great Holy Spirit song!). It is the perfect song for this study.

I feel like Beth's analysis of the Holy Spirit is really sinking in. I continue to be awed by her insights. The past two weeks we pondered JOY-- what a study! She causes so many thoughts to rattle around my head-- too many to put into words... but, here are a few things I picked up from her on joy.

• The Greek words for "joy" and "grace" come from the same root. (chara, charis) God is telling us, "If you only understood what grace means and what you have received by way of it, you would never cease to rejoice!"
• "Though you have made me see troubles many and bitter, you will restore my life again" (Psalm 71:20). The presence, purpose, and power of God is best discovered through difficulty. God allows us to experience troubles because he desires to reveal His joy to us through restoration.
• Beth spent a great deal of time in the video portion on joy discussing how Christ went to the cross and endured suffering because of the "joy set before him" (Jude 24). The joy before him was "bringing many sons to glory" (Hebrews 12). Just as he kept his eyes on the eternal picture, so should we. We should "fix our eyes upon him." Any suffering we go through now is just for a time and for some purpose. Those who "sow in tears" will "reap with songs of joy" later (Psalm 126). "Though weeping may last for a night, joy cometh!" (Psalm 30).
• Beth also asked us to think about what joy physically feels like when experienced. She referenced Isaiah 60:5 where it is described as when the heart "will throb and swell with joy." She went on to elaborate about a book signing she had done for her children's book "A Parable about the King." She said the children all came dressed as princesses, knights, and princes. She said she felt overwhelmed at the scene that day and made a parallel about us all being "royalty" in God's Kingdom. "Royalty knows it's royalty." That is what allows us to humble ourselves and to serve. We don't need to have others validate our royal status because the KING already has! "You have royal blood-- act like it!" As little girls, we all believed that being a princess was a reality and a right. Somewhere along the way life intervenes, and we lose that sense of importance. She wanted us to rethink that. She asked us to ponder Jesus calling us to be as little children-- when we believed and trusted that we could be "royal." One day, we will wear joy like a crown on our heads (Isaiah 35:8-10).

And so much more... What a blessing Beth has been in my life.

Our fall family photo proofs are in! They are cute! If I get time tomorrow, I will post a few.