The New Normal



-552450438150The New Normal00The New Normalleft000right0Women’s Ministries Live Online00Women’s Ministries Live Online624840013970000Session Five: Back to the Future Our fifth session pivots backward to give us strength for today and hope for tomorrow. In session four we synthesized the broad topic of standing firm, checking the scriptures and other resources to support this important element of the new normal. right508000Remembering: the good in recalling the pastThis week we remember--because we must, because we should and because we are commanded to do so. As we have been helped in past lessons by a fuller understanding of both simple and complex words, let’s take concentrate on remember: As in other cases, the word remember has a more detailed meaning than might first be evident in the daily use of the word. Let’s investigate the detail to respect the full meaning of the word. As the definition and related scriptures are listed, please tick off the elements of the word which are most thought provoking for you: ElementMeaningScriptureIdeaTo have in the mind an idea which recurs to the mind without effort.John 14:26: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.EffortWhen we use effort to recall an idea, we are said to recollect it. Deuteronomy 32:7: Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.AttendTo bear or keep in mind; to attend to.Hab. 3:2: Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.PreserveTo preserve the memory of; to preserve from being forgotten.Luke 12:6-7: Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrowsMentionTo mentionJer. 20:9: But if I say, "I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannotRemindTo put in mind; to remind; as, to remember one of his duty.Micah 6:8: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.ThinkTo think of and consider; to meditatePsalms 63:6: On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.EsteemTo bear in mind with esteem; or to reward.Ecclesiastes 9:15: Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.CelebrateTo bear in mind with praise or admiration; to celebrate1 Chronicles 16:12: Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronouncedFavorTo bear in mind with favor, care, and regard for the safety or deliverance of any onePsalms 74:2: Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—Mount Zion, where you dwelt.Reward or PunishTo bear in mind with intent to reward or punishJeremiah 31:20: Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LordConfidenceTo bear in mind with confidence; to trust inPs 20: 6 Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right handAssistTo bear in mind with the purpose of assisting or relievingGalatians 2:10: All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.ReverenceTo bear in mind with reverence; to obey.Ecclesiastes 12:1: Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”SacredTo bear in mind with regard; to keep as sacred; to observeExodus 20:8: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy51517441193810050609501426845Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1 Matthew Almy: The Ebenezer Stone0Figure 1 Matthew Almy: The Ebenezer StoneThe Ebenezer Stone: I Samuel 7:12 states “then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” In preparation for our discussion in the live study, please listen to Chuck Smith’s audio on the Ebeneezer stone. In “Come though Fount of Many Blessings”, a hymn sung in churches throughout the world, we sing “ Here I raise my Ebenezer; Here there by Thy great help I've come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure; Safely to arrive at home, Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God, He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood. In our session, we will discuss our imperative to remember.History tells talesJust as we grow in our understanding of the need for remembrance, we can also grow in our perspective. Lamentations 3:22-23 states “because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”. Based on this scripture, Thomas Chisholm wrote his poem “Great is thy Faithfulness” another great standard in Christian hymns. William Runyan, from Moody Bible Institute wrote the music. Read more about the story of the hymn from Moody’s Archives. 1695457874000ChisholmNews editorNervous breakdownMethodist ministerIll healthLife insurance salesWrote poems2514609207500RunyanBecame a Methodist Minister A traveling evangelistLost his voice (yelling sermons before microphones)Became deafTried to become a salesmanDisabilityCopy editorBoth of these men suffer tragedy. Both had personal failures, but, both recognized the grace of God as they were resilient in faith. At any point, these men could have stopped and given up, but like Peter, they got back up and God did more in their lives then they could have asked or imagined. We discussed last week that the Lord has a longer view than we do. We saw that in the story of the Ephesians, were they overcame conquest, floods, earthquakes and idolatry and were encouraged to stand firm. This leads me to remember from Lesson 1 that: Pestilence is usually a sign of God’s judgment on a nation or people group (Deuteronomy 32:24; 1 Chronicles 21:12; Ezekiel 7:14–15); 2) The God who protects and blesses is also the God who sends disaster and pestilence when it accomplishes His righteous purposes on earth (Isaiah 45:7; Ezekiel 5:16–17; Amos 4:10); and 3) Pestilence is promised as part of God’s final judgment on the world in Revelation 18:8.-3175083820000The Lord has much deeper, wider, broader and complex intentions than we can imagine, as we learned in the story of Job. I mention Pestilence and Job again, because it is valuable and advantageous to remember God’s faithfulness in before, during and after major tragedies of human existence. Check out this timeline of major worldwide pandemics:There is little place in this bible study for belabored sociological analysis of the positive impacts of pandemics. There is a place to remember a few things that followed on the heals of the black death:TopicWhat got betterWealthA smaller population meant more wealth across all classes and because the same land was in use and it was now plentifulTechnologyMiniaturization (useful in science), improved mining technology to resurrect depleted silver mines and printing press in 1454TravelAvoiding the Spice Route (overland) forced Europe to create the three-masted ship Food productionThe heavy plow was invented to improve food production with limited labor, the three field system was an improvement over two but the discovery that a properly shod and harnessed horse was better than an ox and more intensive exploitation of the land resulted in a huge improvement in living standards for most people.EducationIn 1348 the literacy rate for Europe and the Near East was under 5% but by 1800 it was over 50% in Europe. In Turkey during that time the literacy rate remained at 5% - they didn't even get a printing press until 1726.Middle ClassWealth across the population allowed for new opportunities for many workers who would have been just Serfs previously. It created what we now call a Middle ClassSometimes good things result from very bad things—in the case of the plague—the west became the standard bearer for culture, discovery and technology for the next few hundred years because of the necessity of optimization that all those deaths brought. This is just perspective, and I am not arguing that God allowed 75-200 million to die so that life would get better for the remainder. No, instead I say the world has always been in decay and that sickness is part of that story. Our redemptive God uses these realities to spur us on, activate our fine minds, our tenacious spirits, strengthen our weak knees and run the race before us. In our session this week, we will discuss a bit more about God’s faithfulness in our histories.Strength for todayIf God has a long view of history, does He also really give us “strength for today” as is posited in the hymn? I have listed many of scriptures below under the topics related to God caring for us today. Please pick at least three from each column, and then write a few key words which might help you remember the Lord is with you today. Where Do We Find Strength?Don’t Worry or Fear, Find Your Strength in HimGod Gives Us A Spirit of Strength and PowerHe’s Here with Us Through Hard TimesPsalm 46:1-3 Proverbs 18:10 Nehemiah 8: Isaiah 41:10 Exodus 15:2Isaiah 26: 3-4 Psalm 32:7-8 Exodus 33:14 Deuteronomy 33:27 Psalm 34:17 Isaiah 43:1-3 Luke 12:25-26 Philippians 4:6 John 14:27 Psalm 34:4 Psalm 27: 1-3 Joshua 1:9 Psalm 145: 18-19 1 Peter 5:7 Isaiah 12:2 2 Timothy 1:7 Psalm 138:3 Psalm 16:8 Psalm 62:1-2 Psalm 112: 1, 7-8. Psalm 91:1-2 2 Corinthians 12:Philippians 4: 12-13 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Isaiah 40:291 Peter 5: 10 Hebrews 4:16 Deuteronomy 31:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Key words that help me remember God is my strength today:In our session, I will discuss more about remembering God’s stength for today. 290131526289000Hope for tomorrowSimilar to the last session, it is useful to remember how the Lord gives home for tomorrow. In Session 2 two, we looked at the antithetical principle of Live today and focus on tomorrow. Reread the scriptures in Matthew and 2 Corinthians. How do you balance living today with “what is unseen…eternal”?There are an embarrassment of scriptures offering hope for tomorrow, but I have listed my top 5 favorites: Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Psalm 71:5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”What are your top 5? I have listed my top five, and have also listed a lot more scriptures below. Read them over, add any that come to mind for you, and list our your top five below:Romans 8:25: But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.1 Peter 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,Romans 8:24-25: For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.1 Peter 3:15: But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,Proverbs 23:18: Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.Psalm 31:24: Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!Psalm 71:14: But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.Psalm 71:5: For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.Psalm 33:22: Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.Lamentations 3:24: “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”Psalm 43:5: Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.Psalm 33:18: Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,Proverbs 10:28: The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.Hebrews 10:23” Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.2 Corinthians 4:16-18: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.Psalm 119:114: You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.Zechariah 9:12: Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.Titus 2:13: Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,Psalm 9:18: For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.Your Top Five scriptures about having hope for tomorrow: 5. ______________________________________________________________________________________4.______________________________________________________________________________________3.______________________________________________________________________________________2.______________________________________________________________________________________1.______________________________________________________________________________________Our friends at Good Reads have curated a list of quotes from literature, music, and poetry that inspire hope. Can you choose one and use it in a text, email or even a letter to someone you love this week? In our session, we will discuss how we can influence others to hope. ................
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