The ‘We-Stories’ Remain in Our Hearts!!

 –And the [threshing] floors shall be full of grain and the vats shall overflow with juice [of the grape] and oil. And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten–the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and and the crawling locust, My great army which I sent among you.-
(Joel 2:24-25)

Hey Neighbor!

Pictured above, is a photo of my brother Tony, and Yours truly.

Tony had just graduated from basic training and our entire family drove up to Chicago to celebrate and support him.

It was another great day to add to our ‘We-stories.’

What is a ‘We- story?’

Well, I tend to create words sometimes, if you haven’t caught on to that yet!!😂

Let me try to break it down…

Well, first of all, it’s a plural ‘made-up’ word…not like your singular ‘His-story’ or ‘Her-story.’

And Tony and I had tons of we-stories, because he and I were really close, as kids!! We weren’t allowed to play with the neighbors’ kids, so We were each other’s playmate.

We played, fought, and made-up and played and fought…and so on…It was great💕

So, when the Lord showed me that Tony and I had those precious ‘we-stories,’ together, from our childhood…and that they could never be taken away, because they would forever remain in my heart…I decided to share it…

Hopefully this story will help someone who is mourning or grieving, due to the separation from, and the difficult loss of their loved-one.

Here is another ‘oldie’ about Tony, and myself…from March 2015.

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First, I want to say ThankYou!!…for Your Prayers and Condolences.

Losing my Brother has certainly been different than losing my Dad 14 years ago.

I didn’t realize how much of my own identity was wrapped up in being Tony’s ‘little sister.’ I think I lost a little bit of Myself…in loosing him.

Don’t get me wrong…I know that My identity in Christ has not changed…

I am still going to heaven- but ONLY- because Jesus died for Me, and for My brother…saving Our sin-sick Souls.

I will just have to wait until I see my brother, and childhood friend again…in heaven, in order to laugh with him and discuss another…

Hey! Do you Remember when ‘WE……Story.’

And Yes!!

Our ‘WE…Stories’ remain alive, in my heart…but the other participant…the other half of my ‘WE’ Story is gone…and because nobody else was there…together with Us…in that moment…No other person in this world, will ever be personally acquainted with our ‘We…Stories.’

Wow!! Tony and I lost so much time, walking in unforgiveness‼️

How is it that we can spend so much of Our lives ‘mad’ at Somebody…for whatever reason…

Remembering everything that He/She did to Offend Us.

We willingly, get into agreement with satan and find ourselves open to any and all of his reasonings, theories, and justifications for continuing that feud…and for adding fuel to that fire!!

And yet when that person has passed on…Suddenly, it’s the sweet ‘We…stories’ that fuel us…and bring us peace, as we begin to move forward in life, without them.

I can only praise God, because He begins to soften Our cold, hardened hearts…

And He begins to fill that space left vacant, by the One who has passed on…

With the sweet memories that We once shared with Our Loved Ones.

God begins to negate all of those sad, cold, and painful Years…lost in Bitterness…With His Glorious Grace and His Marvelous Mercies!!

Our God is So Amazing!!

Thanks For Stopping By, Neighbor!!

God Loves You and So Do I!!

💕Tam

Don’t forget to Be a Blessing…
Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Loved-Ones, Friends and Your Neighbors –
Loving Them As You Love Yourself!!

Holy Spirit =Your ‘Tag-Team’ Partner!!

-But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me- (John 15:26)

Hey Neighbor!

Here’s another ‘Blast from the Past’ for you!!

This one was written in January 2017 and it’s just perfect for those of you who have made New Year’s Resolutions and are currently in a Loosing Battle!

So, My advise to you is this:

TAG-IN The Holy Spirit!!

He Wants to help you win this Fight!!

I Hope this Helps!!…….

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I’m doing my best to start this year off right, but it has not been any fun. I was ill for several months in the latter part of 2016 and so my Acupuncturists suspected that I may have a wheat/gluten sensitivity and recommended that I modify my diet, by eliminating those food products from my diet for about 30 days and see if I start to feel better.

We’ll, as of Day 4, I am already feeling much better…that is after I eliminated coffee from my diet, AGAIN!!

I bought my husband the cool new Ninja coffee maker for Christmas and I thought I was a regular brewista, for a few days there. I had been making my husband a caffeinated cup and then I made a decaf for myself, but I just wasn’t able to digest it very well, so I made the difficult decision of adding my tasty morning coffee treat to the dreaded Elimination List...along with sugar!!😩

Well, Although my ears still feel full, and they’re still bugging me in the evening, making it difficult to sleep, I haven’t experienced any dizziness or lightheadedness and my blood pressure has been great…120/80 and lower!!

YAY!! Praise God for His Holy Spirit, as He is my most necessary helper, empowering me to get through these difficult days…teaching me what foods are tolerable for me and giving me the willpower to resist those that aren’t.

What are You planning to eliminate from your diet, or lifestyle for a healthier, happier life??

Is it a trigger food…like my delicious coffee or a longstanding habit like smoking, or maybe your goal is to just drop a few pounds…someone might even want to ‘eliminate’ an individual from your life who has been dragging you down…

Well, whatever the case may be, You are definitely going to need the The Holy Spirit to get You through this thing.

Remember He is Our ‘Tag-Team’ Partner in this thing called Life.

He’s there…just outside the ring of Your Soul, with His arms stretched out over the ropes waiting for You to realize that You cannot win this thing all alone.

Can’t you hear him??…cheering you on, and also reminding you that He wants to help!!

He says:

Hey!

Don’t forget Me!!

I’m Your Comforter…ready to bandage you up when life has knocked you around!!

Your counselor…when you need advice!!

Your Helper… cause you can’t do it all by yourself!!

Your Advocate… when you need someone to speak for you!!

Your Intercessor…because I’m praying for You, and seeking Out God’s will for your life!!

Your Strengthener…there to encourage you when your faith falls short!!

Your Standyby…and I’m tired of standing by over here on the other side of this ring!!

Would You Please Tag Me In!!

I Got You and We are definitely going to make it through this thing together!!

Remember,

In the End…We Win!!

Thanks For Stopping By…Until We Meet Again,

God Loves You and So Do I!!

💕Tam

Don’t forget to Be a Blessing…
Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Neighbors, Family, Friends, Co-Workers, and Loved-Ones –

Loving Them, As You Love Yourself!!

 

 

 

Article of Armor – The Shield of Faith

-So let’s do it – full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.-
(Hebrews 10:22) Message Bible

Hey Neighbor!

Once Again, It’s Oldie but a Goodie Friday and Today We are Putting on the Shield of Faith from Our Armor of God series from 2014.

Enjoy, Guys🤩

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When my kids were smaller, they loved to play video games with their Dad. They played pac-man, racing games, and spaceship games, but their favorite was what we called the ‘fight game.’

In the Summertime, they would sometimes stay up all night ‘fighting.’.

From time to time, they would beg me to come and play along…but I didn’t know what buttons to push. They had been playing so often, that they had memorized the buttons and had even learned special button combinations that gave their fighter
‘super-moves.’

They tried to teach me some of the combinations, but the only button I could remember quickly was the shield button. So when their fighter came against me, with all his/her super- moves and battle combinations…the only way I knew to hold my Ground was to firmly, press my Shield Button until I could build up enough courage to fight back.

Now, of Course We know that the battle that we face..is no game!!

This thing is for real…so God has Armored us with A Real Shield…
The Shield of Faith!!

-Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you CAN quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].-
(Ephesians 6:16)

We are in a Real Life-or-Death Battle with a real devil and his real demons that are mercilessly, trying to take Our Lives…So when the enemy comes against us, in hot pursuit, with everything he’s got…employing his demons to team up against us, throwing his fiery darts and arrows at us continuously, We Must Stand our Ground – Holding up Our Spiritual Shield of Faith!!

Donnie McClurken, says…After You’ve done All You CAN…You just Stand!!

But here is what We Can Not Do!!

We Can Not let the enemy push Us back, after We’ve made much progress and gained spiritual ground. We Can Not get ‘punked’ again and turn back and run!!

Although We are temporarily, at a stand-still…We Can Still…Stand!!

Now is Not the time to entertain thoughts of fear and unbelief!!

Now is Not the time to give-up or faint!!
There is no white flag attached to Our Amour…So surrender Is NOT an option!!

The Apostle Paul tells us,
-IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off-
(Galatians 5:1)

Now is Not the time to accept defeat or submit to Hell’s captivity.
We are Not the property of Satan…so We Can Not retreat back into his filthy hands and back into the sin that enslaved Us and controlled Our lives.

We are the Children of God…His Property…dressed in His blessed Armor…So We Must Stand on God’s Promises…Raising Up Our Shields… Pressing forward, by Faith!!

When the devil is coming against you with everything he’s got…Will You Hold Fast to God’s Promises??

Will you Still…believe God promised that – No weapon that is formed against You shall prosper??
-(Isaiah 54:17)

Will You still believe that God said -He will never fail You nor forsake you?? -(Joshua 1:5)

Will you still believe that God said- You have the favor of The Lord and it surrounds You as a Shield??
-(Psalms 5:12)

Will you continue to believe, with confident expectation that the Battle is Not Yours, but it’s God’s??
-(2 Chronicles 20:15)

NOW Is the Time…and This is What We CAN Do!!

Now, Is the time to hold fast to your profession of faith…without wavering back and forth between hope and fear….and between trust and unbelief!!

If Faith is the substance of the things we hope for and the evidence of the things we Can Not see..and if We are hoping to see God’s Deliverance, then…

NOW Is the time to take title to It…

Believing on God’s Promises from
‘The Word’ with All of Our heart…with All of Our Soul..and with All of Our Might…That’s Your Shield!!

We Must believe that God is Coming Through with Deliverance…Sending His Angels to Accompany, Defend and Preserve Our Lives!!
-(Psalms 91:11)

So Be Encouraged in the Lord!!

Hold Fast and Firmly, to Your Shield…Gripping it with everything You’ve got…and keep Pressing Forward, By Faith!!

We Can Win this Spiritual Battle…and if You Peak to the end of the story…We Do Win!!

Would you like to Follow the CareBibleStudy Blog??

If So, You can automatically receive an email, whenever there is a New Lesson Posted.

How??

Just Click on the word: ‘FOLLOW’ at the top of Your Screen and type in your email address.

It’s Just that easy to stay updated with CareBibleStudy!!

I really appreciate You!!

Don’t forget to Be a Blessing and share the Blog with a Friend!!

Remember…

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

🙏🏾Tam

Super- Faith Sunday Challenge 4/24 – Who Is She??

Hey Neighbor! 

Today is Sunday, 4/24/2022 and for Us…

It’s another Super-Faith Sunday, where each Sunday, we feature one of the ‘faith-full’ females from the Bible. 

Today we are in Exodus, with a ‘faith-full’ young girl, hoping and praying that God would rescue and spare the life of her little brother, who had been born into a time when a man child was seen as a threat; and therefore a evil millstone had been placed about his neck. 

Here is Her Story.

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Month after month she had helped her mother keep the child’s cries concealed. She was dutiful and obedient in every way to help keep her little brother quiet and content – and unnoticed!!

You see, her baby brother was an unwanted child. 

Not unwanted by her mother and father, for he was indeed a beautiful baby, and her mother had adored him instantly! 

Not unwanted by her, nor her other (older) brother, because they were both ecstatic about the arrival of their baby brother. 

But this child was unwanted by the government!!

In fact, many of the expectant mothers were worried sick, having heard rumors that the midwives had partnered with the government to injure and kill the Israelite newborns at the birthing stool. 

She remembered watching Shiprah so closely, when her mother’s time to deliver the child had come. 

Her mother was in great pain, but instead of holding the cool towel to her mother’s forehead, she seemed paralyzed, she was unable to take her eyes off the midwife. 

She watched as Miss Shiprah’s eyes filled with tears. She noticed how intently the woman stared at the newborn…she saw how the midwife studied the infant…she saw her reluctance and noticed her long hesitation, before she had finally cut the male child’s umbilical cord.

They had successfully hidden her brother now for 3 months, but today her mother seemed very sad and she was behaving very strangely toward the child. 

She watched her mother wrap the child up and put him in a basket. How perfectly content her baby brother seemed, as he lay inside the basket… 

It was obviously a difficult day for her mother…

Her head was hung so low, and she heard her mother’s repetitive sighs and tearful groaning. Her mother left with the baby in the basket, slowly closing the door behind her…

But she secretly followed behind her mom, watching her and pondering…

Why was her mother in such despair??

Why had she hidden her brother in this strange basket??

And why was she taking them both toward the river??

Again she watched her intently, but from afar.

She needed to see what her mother had intended with that basket, and most of all, she wanted to see what would become of her beautiful baby brother. 

She watched as her mothers fingers released the basket, and as the downstream current caught hold of it – and now he was off and away – down the Nile River!!

She followed him from the shoreline as the basket progressed downstream.

She felt her little heart pounding in her chest, as she looked all about for crocodiles and other predatory animals…but what could she do??

She listened for his cries, as she continued to watch and follow him. 

Still walking along the shoreline, sometimes running alongside, but all the while praying that no evil would befall her beautiful little brother. 

What else could she do for him now??

She was just a little child!! 

Only God could save her baby brother now!! 

Who Is She?? 

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Grab Your Bibles and Have Fun!!

I will post Your Answer on Tuesday, 4/26/2022. 

Thanks For Stopping By!!

Until Then, 

God Loves You💕 And So Do I!!

-Tam

Keep the Faith and Carry On With God!!

-But without faith it is impossible to please him (Hebrews 11:6)

Hey Neighbor!

As I was making dinner a few weeks ago, my youngest son, Hubie, who is now 11, and also the ‘king of inquisitive’ asked me, “If there was anything that You could be or do…what would it be?” Well I hesitated for a moment, because as a young girl, I had always hoped to be a wife and a mother, above all other things. Having accomplished those feats in my life- and after nearly 27 years of marriage and having raised 4 children, three of them now adults- My answer now is that I just want to spend the rest of my life pleasing God!

I don’t think that was quite the answer my son was looking for, yet After thinking it over, He amazed me because he agreed that that was also the thing that He also strives for!

Well, how do we go about pleasing the Lord?

The great thing is…this is not a difficult or complicated task. After all, Jesus has already accomplished every imaginable feat and has sent his Holy Spirit to help Us with our daily walk, but He just asks Us, as believers, to trust in Him and His Word!!

The Writer of the Book of Hebrews reminds us that ‘without Faith, it is impossible to please the Lord!” But what exactly is Faith? Well again, in Hebrews we learn:

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. (Hebrews 11:1)

Now that’s scripture from the Amplified Bible, which may still be a little difficult to break down, but what the writer is telling Us is that Faith is trusting in God and the declarations of His Word…and because we believe that He exists and that His declarations are equivalent to promises to the believer- although not visible, we take spiritual hold of them as Truth…while we pray and wait for the physical, proof to manifest itself.

I remember my husband and I were a very young married couple when we began to get serious about investing in real estate. We had finally accepted the Lord’s will for our lives and began to follow his Lead. We would seek out properties to rehab, and when we found the right one, we would drive by that house every night and sit out in front of the property declaring what our intentions were for cleaning, painting, and repairing, although our offer had not yet been accepted by the sellers. We called it a ‘claim-by!’

We believed The Lord for our House!! And We just carried on as if we had already held the keys to the front door in our anxious little fingers. We believed buying that house was in-line with God’s plan for our lives and We trusted that God was preparing those who He loved to come and talk shelter (as tenants) in our home and to receive His blessings – manifested through our hands into theirs.

What Are You Believing God For?

Is that ‘thing’ in-line with God’s Word?

Are You Believing God and Claiming that ‘thing’ as Yours- Before it Arrives?

Are You Believing God’s Word for your healing- Before the Test Results come Back??

Are You Believing God for Your husband – Before He kneels down to propose?

Are You Believing and Expecting Your Prodigal Child to come home- Before you actually hear the knock on Your Door?? I Am!! Lol!!

If So, God is Well Pleased with you Neighbor!! –

-You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight (Luke 3:22)

So Just Keep the Faith and Carry on with God!!

Your Blessing is Forthcoming and It will Eventually Come To Pass, because He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him out!!

-For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out (Heb 11:6)

Thanks For Stopping By!!

Until Next Time,

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Don’t forget to Be a Blessing…
Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers, and Your Neighbors – Loving Them 💕As You Love Yourselves!!

30 Pieces of Silver!!

Hey Neighbor!

Recently, I was asked by one of the ministers of my church to participate in a new online outreach program called ‘Thirty Pieces of Silver.’ 

During Covid- Our Membership at Bethany had drastically declined and 30 pieces was initiated as an attempt to reach out to the members of the church who were hindered from attending Sunday Services in person. 

We were also hoping that 30 pieces would appeal to the online listeners- who have not yet visited the church, but still had a desire to come out. These are the folks on our radar- The Silent Membership- those that have been watching the Sunday Morning Message, but would like to gain more information about the individual members of the congregation, before they take their next step. 

We are about 3 months in now and 30 pieces is thriving and we are successfully reaching our target audience, so I thought I would share a couple of the messages with you. 

We are first-time Facebook amateurs, so please be patient with Us!!

My girl-friend, Kim and I were the first of the members to take the baton for 30 pieces and our first Lesson was 2/8/2022. Our Topic was on The Holy Spirit. 

https://m.facebook.com/BethanyColumbiaIL/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0

This is Our Second and Most Recent Video dated, 3/29/2022. Our Topic was on Friendship and Support For Our Disabled Adult Children.

https://m.facebook.com/BethanyColumbiaIL/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0

Thanks For Stopping By!!

Don’t Forget Tomorrow is Trivia Thursday!!

Until Next Time, Remember…

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –

Loving 💕Them As You Love Yourselves!!

Super-Faith Sunday Answer (3/27)- Who is She??

 -He charged them and said to them, I am to be gathered to my [departed] people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, In the cave in the field at Machpelah, east of Mamre in the land of Canaan, that Abraham bought, along with the field of Ephron the Hittite, to possess as a cemetery. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I (Jacob) buried Leah (Genesis 49:29-30)

Hey Neighbor!

It’s Tuesday 3/29/2022 and I have Your Super-Faith Sunday Answer From 3/27:

Who is She?? 

She was Leah and Here is her Story!!

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In the dark of night, she was smuggled into the marriage bed by her Father, Laban.  But what would be her new husband’s response, at daybreak when he found the ‘other sister’ lying next to him instead of Rachel?? 

In the morning, Jacob was angry and he took his wrathful complaint to Laban, who promised him his youngest daughter to wife also – the sister that Jacob adored and had labored 7 years for. Yes!! Rachel was that sister that Jacob’s heart yearned for- She was the much prettier, and preferred sister. 

Now Scripture tells us that Leah, the older sister, had ‘weak eyes,’ yet they were strong enough to look upon her husband adoringly. You see, Leah loved Jacob, but he despised her. She had been humiliated by him, causing the light in her eyes to grow dimmer – day by day; But God saw her affliction and blessed Leah with a strong and fertile womb.

Rachel was indeed beautiful, but she was yet barren. God had closed her womb and Rachel could not understand this. She was quite unhappy and she blamed her husband, quarreling and faulting Jacob – even calling for death upon herself!!

 -WHEN RACHEL saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister, and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I will die!  (Genesis 30:1)

Instead of approaching God in prayer for deliverance, Rachel made undue demands of her husband, but Jacob emphatically reminded Rachel that it was God Who had prevented her from bearing children- not him!! 

Still, Rachel grew more and more envious of Leah’s fruitfulness and She was tormented as Leah bore Jacob more children – one after the other!!

First came Rueben- See a Son! 

Then came Simeon- God hears!

Still seeking to acquire Jacob’s love and attention, as her true marital partner, Leah then bore him Levi- Companion! 

Unfortunately, Leah was yet despised and still humiliated!! 

Next came Judah!! 

Why Judah?? 

• Again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, Now will I praise the Lord! So she called his name Judah [praise]; (Genesis 29:35)

Judah means Praise!! 

You see Leah learned to redirect her focus- she had been desperately seeking the love of her husband, which had not profited her. 

So now, Leah sought after God!! 

The One who had Seen her tears in the dark and Heard her cries in the night!!

In her Praise, Leah found that she had now acquired contentment, and she was able to focus on the joy of motherhood!! 

For those who are familiar with this story- these two ‘sister-wives’ go back and forth – in the spirit of competition, trading and exchanging Jacob like he was a Breeding Stud!! – even exchanging their handmaids as surrogate mothers.

From that union- Jacob produced 4 more sons. Two each, with his wive’s handmaids- Bilhah and Zilpah. These sons were named, Dan and Naphtali (Bilhah); and Gad and Asher (Zilpah).

Leah once again returns to the Lord in prayer, and the Lord blesses her womb and she bore Jacob a 5th son- Issachar (Hired) 

Where did she get that name?? That’s another story for another day- Yes! We will need hot tea for that one…🫖

Now, at some point in the marriage, Jacob begins to spend more of his evenings, after work in Leah’s tent with the boys.  Maybe God had begun to soften his heart towards Leah.  

Jacob had obviously taken more of an interest in Leah- beyond her beauty- or lack thereof, because Leah become pregnant again!! 

She bore Jacob a 6th son, and she called him -Dwelling (Zebulun.)

Still Jacob must have continued on, hanging around @ Leah’s tent. Was she beginning to grow on him?? 

Well maybe so….because Leah was pregnant again!! This time with their 7th child!! 

Together, Leah and Jacob finally had a baby girl. They called her Dinah!! 

Yes! The Lord does finally open Rachel’s womb and gives her a son by Jacob. This was Jacob’s beloved son, Joseph-‘the son of his old age,’ and Rachel called him- ‘May He Add.’

God does indeed add one more son to Rachel, at her pleading- but unfortunately, Rachel dies in childbirth, having their 2nd son, Benjamin whom she calls- son of my sorrow!!

Jacob and Leah grieved and mourned for Rachel and they buried her in Bethlehem.

Rachel had lived her life threatening and demanding that her womb be filled- even desperately using her maid as a substitute and a surrogate so that she might bear Jacob a son and to finally prevail against her sister, Leah. 

Leah copied Rachel’s ungodly tactic, but Leah had been watching her husband on those days when he dwelled in her tent.  And through those ‘weak eyes,’ she saw Jacob’s prayer life and she learned much about Jacob’s God. 

Through Jacob, Leah learned how to pray and how to Bless God for His overflow!!

She realized that God had blessed her with each of her 7 children, and she was grateful to Him. She even remarked, after Asher and Gad were born; that she was Happy that Victory and Fortune had prevailed in her life!! 

 -And Leah said, I am happy, for women will call me blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied); and she named him Asher [happy]. (Genesis 30:13)

Leah believed that God had called her, Blessed!! 

And she believed that others would call her, Blessed of Women!!

Indeed she was- and though Leah was not directly listed as a Matriarch of the Messiah, she was the Mother of ‘Praise’-Judah, through whom the The Christ Child, called Savior would someday descend and thus Bless the World!!

Leah had fought a long and arduous battle for the love of her husband, Jacob…and we may never know if she truly won that battle, But instead, and Better yet- She Indeed Gained the Love of God!! 

Leah fought the Good Fight of Faith!!💕💕

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Thanks For Stopping By!!

Until Next Time, Remember…

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –

Loving 💕Them As You Love Yourselves!!

God’s ’Faith-full’ Servant- Hagar!!

And He said, Hagar, Sarai“s maid, where did you come from, and where are you intending to go? And she said, I am running away from my mistress Sarai.  (Genesis 16:8)

Hey Neighbor!

Yesterday we unveiled our ‘Faith-full’ Female of the Week – Hagar.

First, I have to say thanks to Beverley, from her blog – ‘Becoming the Oil and the Wine’ for submitting another correct answer to our Super Faith Sunday Challenge- where each week – we highlight 1 ’faith-full’ female from the Bible.

Beverley is 2 For 2!! 💕💕

Thanks so much, Beverley👏👏👏👏

Now when we first meet Hagar she was simply an Egyptian servant girl, gifted to Abram in exchange for Sarai. 

Now this is of course before God sent Abraham (father of a multitude) and Sarah (Princess) down to the Social Security Office to document their official name changes.🤣 (Genesis 17:5, 15)

You do Remember that God changed both of their names, but that’s a story for another day…today we are focusing on Hagar, Abram, and Sarai!!  

Now while Sarai and Abram were temporarily living in Egypt, Pharaoh had taken Sarai into his harem, convinced by Abram that Sarai was nothing more than his beloved sister!!  

I know- Abram and Sarai were ‘extra,’ as the kids like to say!! 😂 

I guess that’s why God changed their names – to settle those two down – Lol! 

So Anyway, Let’s try to stay focused on Hagar- She was a handmaid gifted to Abram in Egypt, as a sort of dowry from Pharoah to Abram, in exchange for Sarai joining his harem. 

She (Hagar) accompanied Abram and Sarai and their caravan of sheep, oxen, he-donkeys, menservants, maidservants, she-donkeys, and camels departing from Egypt…After a plague-afflicted Pharaoh ran them both out of town for their ‘tall tales!’- 🤯I will spill tea on this another day🫖

So at this point Abram remained childless, and Sarai remained barren. 

But Sarai had a bright idea 💡 

She decided to give Abram her Egyptian  Handmaid, Hagar to wife (secondary), in hopes that Hagar would conceive a child by Abram and thus, she would serve as a surrogate mother for Abram’s son and heir.

This was not a God-Approved Idea!! 

Well, Sarai didn’t have to exert too much effort in order to convince Abram to go along with her hair-brained scheme and before you know it…Hagar is pregnant!! 

Now after Hagar conceived, as my mother would’ve said, “Sarai had gotten beside herself!’

She looked down her nose at Sarai- forgetting her place- She was still just a servant and only a secondary wife, but Hagar was exalted in her own eyesight. 

Now when Sarai complained to Abram- the two of them played the blame game for a while- Until a vengeful Sarai, once again takes matters into her own hands. 

Now after being harshly afflicted by a ‘wrath-filled,’ overly-impassioned Sarai, Hagar runs as far as she can from home- hoping to run as far as Egypt!! 

But no matter how far Hagar had attempted to run to get away from Sarai- She could not outrun God!! 

God saw Hagar!! 

And although she felt inclined to run from her mistress, in her self-exalted mindset, God had not approved of Hagar’s misguided departure. 

God spoke to Hagar, calling her, “Sarai’s maid,” Reminding her that for 10 years, she had been blessed and favored in Abram’s household as a servant, until she permitted pride to overtake her. 

The Angel of the Lord admonished her and encouraged Hagar to repent- and to turn away from Egypt, and the Godless, idolatrous lifestyle that she had once known and instead….now take up His yoke of humility and return to her husband Abram, and submit to her mistress, Sarai!  

Trusting that He had seen her tears, and had heard her complaints about her mistress, if she would receive Him as her Lord, He would watch over her and give her a hope for the future and a prosperous outcome for her offspring. 

• See now, you are with child and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael [God hears], because the Lord has heard and paid attention to your affliction.  (Genesis 16:11)

God had called Hagar out of Egypt for a purpose, and her future was pre-destined for God’s plans and purposes!! 

Hagar Believed God’s spoken promise, taking  hold of it as an undeserved gift!! 

After she had returned to herself, Hagar realized how blessed she had been in God’s presence. The very same God, whom her husband Abram had worshipped daily, He had now seen and acknowledged her- showing His love and concern for her, a lowly Egyptian handmaid. 

In recognition of her transformational encounter with God, Hagar memorialized the well of water where she had met The Angel of the Lord as, ‘Beer-lahai-roi’- A well to the Living One Who sees me (Genesis 16:14)

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Thanks for Stopping By Today and Don’t Forget Tomorrow – Trivia Thirsday!!

Until Then-

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –

Loving 💕Them As You Love Yourselves!!

Super Faith Sunday Answer- Who is She??

-So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulders, and he sent her and the youth away. And she wandered on [aimlessly] and lost her way in the wilderness of Beersheba- (Genesis 21:14)

Today is 3/22/2022 and I have Our Super Faith Sunday Challenge Answer:

Who is She??

Hagar

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“What is Troubling You?”

These are the words that Hagar heard from heaven after she had been thrown out… banished…and abandoned…both her and her little boy…
-from her husband, her home and all that she had become familiar with and accustomed to-

Her husband, Abraham, had put her away…
Her son, Ishmael had been turned away by his father…
It appeared that they were all alone…and scripture tells us that Hagar and the young boy wandered in the wilderness, aimlessly.

Where would they Go?

What would they Do?

Who would open their doors to them and have mercy on this homeless mother and her fatherless child?

Hagar was hopeless and afraid!!

Abraham had sent her away with only bread and a bottle of water. He placed it upon her shoulders early that morning, before bidding her farewell.

She had been a ‘thorn in the side’ to Abraham and Sarah…stirring up strife in their marriage and stirring up jealousy in her son, towards his brother Isaac.

Sarah had finally reached her breaking point…Demanding that this bondwoman and her son be cast out and away from her sight.

Abraham loved Ishmael and reluctantly acknowledged his wife, Sarah’s request. It was only because God had spoken to Abraham…confirming that he must do what Sarah had asked, that Abe grievously sent them away.

So as Hagar wandered aimlessly in the wilderness, with no real destination in mind…she lost her way…and had run out of water.

How could she and her son survive or sustain themselves in the blistering conditions of the desert with no water and no refuge??

Hagar could see no hope in sight…as her eyes were likely, filled with tears and her head hung low in despair…But God saw Hagar and God loved both Hagar and Ishmael…and showed them His mercy and His lovingness.
He called out to Hagar from Heaven and He opened Her eyes…revealing a well of water.

She had nearly given up…having distanced herself from the boy and placing him under a shrub…fearing that he would be overcome from by the sun and the heat…Ishmael’s Mother could not bear to watch him wither away and die from dehydration.

Hagar treaded off and sat down in despair, away from Ishmael and raised up her voice and wept…as her young son also lifted up his voice and cried out…probably for his mother…Then God heard them both!!

God had not abandoned them…He was with Hagar and Ishmael and He quenched their thirsts…and spared their lives and fulfilled His promise to make Ishmael into a great nation.

-Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the [empty] bottle with water and caused the youth to drink. And God was with the youth, and he developed; and he dwelt in the wilderness and became an archer. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt- (Genesis 21:19-21)

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Thanks For Stopping By Today!!

Until Next Time, Remember…

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –

Loving 💕Them As You Love Yourselves!!

Bible Trivia Tuesday-Who’s That Lady??

Hey Neighbor! 

Did You Miss Our Super Faith Sunday Challenge?? 

The Good News is, No!! – You did Not!! 

Instead I posted, ‘A Little Sunday School Humor- Lol!’ 

This was actually a pretty cute story-and very short….if you want to backtrack and check it out- I think you will enjoy a nice chuckle!! 

But for Today, I have a Tuesday Trivia Question for You!!

We’re still in the book of Genesis, where we’re highlighting the lives of the ladies in the Bible, and re-discovering some of the tests and trials of the ‘lesser’ known females in the Book of Genesis.

Last week we featured Tamar in our Super Faith Sunday Challenge. She was Our ‘Woman of the Week,’ and we learned how she stubbornly refused to accept ‘No!’ for an answer- from the men in her life. 

This week we find that in contrast, it was the obstinate young man in _____________’s life, who refused to accept ‘No!!’ for an answer. 

Here are Your Hints*****

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• __________________was an Israelite girl- born to the union of a man with a ‘great name’ and to his ‘lesser loved’ wife. 
• __________________was her father’s first baby girl, amongst his 13 children; and she was her mother’s 7th child- and the last of her mother’s children, after she had given her husband 6 sons. 
• __________________walks onto the pages of the Bible as a teenager, traveling to visit her new girl-friends, in her new town. 
• Unfortunately, _________________was traveling alone and suffered a most undeserved fate, before her name eventually disappears from the pages of the Bible. 

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Who is This Lady??

Grab Your Bibles and Have Fun!! 

Until Next Time, Remember…

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam

Thanks for stopping by!!

Don’t forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also –

Loving 💕Them As You Love Yourselves!!