What floats your boat with the CST

August 3, 2026 by radioadmin Leave a Comment

What Floats Your Boat with the CST

A Conversation on Faith, Community, and Trust in God

As the final day of a memorable retreat cruise came to a close, the women of Magnificat gathered for one last inspiring conversation centered around a simple yet profound question: “What floats your boat?” In other words, what keeps you spiritually afloat through the storms and challenges of life?

In this heartfelt panel discussion, members of the Some Women podcast share personal testimonies of faith, healing, and transformation. Their answers reveal common themes that resonate deeply with every Christian journey.

For some, what keeps them afloat is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ—learning to surrender control and allow Him to guide the course of life. Others speak of the power of community, emphasizing that faith was never meant to be lived alone. Through prayer groups, friendships, and ministries, they have discovered the strength that comes from walking alongside fellow believers.

The discussion also highlights the importance of Scripture and the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, as essential sources of spiritual nourishment. Panelists share how obedience to God’s will, even during difficult and uncertain times, has carried them through life’s storms.

Several touching testimonies underscore the beauty of God’s faithfulness: overcoming fear, receiving answers to years of prayer, witnessing family members return to the faith, and experiencing the peace that comes through complete trust and surrender to God.

Audience members add their own reflections, speaking about the goodness of God, unconditional love, perseverance, forgiveness, and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. A special contribution from Fr. John reminds listeners that true intimacy is found not merely in human relationships but in a deep, spiritual relationship with God and one another.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that while everyone’s “boat” may look different, the source of our strength is the same. Whether through community, prayer, the sacraments, trust, or surrender, Jesus Christ remains the One who keeps us afloat.

Key Themes:

Trusting God through every season of life
The power of Christian community
The importance of Scripture and the Sacraments
Learning surrender and obedience
Persevering through trials with faith
Growing in intimacy with God
Recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit in everyday life

No matter what storms may come, this conversation encourages us to ask ourselves: What truly floats our boat—and are we allowing Christ to be our captain?

The Central Service Team (CST) talk was given on February 13, 2026, the 5^th day of the Water Walking Women Retreat on the Caribbean Visitation Cruise Jan.31^–Feb. 14, 2026.

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Filed Under: Magnificat Ministry Podcast, Shows, Water Walking Women Retreat Tagged With: Catholic Faith, Christian community, sacraments, Scripture, Trusting God

Magnificat Presents Some Women: Scripture as a Pathway to Holiness

January 9, 2026 by radioadmin Leave a Comment

Scripture as a Pathway to Holiness

In this episode, Angela, Jackie, Mary, and Pat share how scripture has formed them and contributed to their personal growth in holiness. Each describes instances of their personal diving into the scriptures and some of their most meaningful scripture passages.

SOME WOMEN

Who were the women that followed Jesus and his disciples? Why and how do we follow and serve Him today? In this SOME WOMEN podcast series, based on the Luke 8:1-3 reference to women who accompanied Jesus and His disciples, Magnificat® presents a lively panel discussion, with occasional guest panelists, on issues relevant to women today.

Various topics such as growing in holiness, community, living a Holy Spirit lifestyle, Spiritual warfare, nurturing a prayer life, and more, will be considered in the light of Sacred Scripture and teachings of the Catholic Church. Join us as we pray, learn, and experience what God can do in our lives if we let Him!

Founded in 1981, Magnificat®, A Ministry to Catholic Women, an international nonprofit with over 70 Chapters across the globe, exists to evangelize and encourage Catholic women to grow in holiness through opening more fully to the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

“My Soul Magnifies the Lord,” recorded in Luke 1:46, is the beginning of Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s joyful greeting. The entire scene of the Visitation is the inspiration for this Ministry.

Through quarterly gatherings that include a Chapter Meal, praise and worship, guest speakers proclaiming their testimonies as to how God has transformed their lives, and other faith-sharing experiences organized in a relaxed social setting, women (and men) are inspired and encouraged to grow in faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. Magnificat® is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, an image of the Church, and model for all Christians, especially women. Visit: https://magnificat-ministry.org

Watch on YouTube

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Filed Under: Magnificat Ministry Podcast, Some Women® Podcast Tagged With: holiness, Magnificat Ministry Podcast, Scripture, Some Women Podcast

The Presentation of Jesus with Anna & Simeon: Be Filled with Joy & Led by the Spirit

January 5, 2026 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

The JOY of Advent & Christmas #7: The Presentation

The Presentation in the Temple Painting by Philippe de Champaigne, 1648

The Feast of the Presentation

You can be filled with joy and led by the Spirit! Join the podcast today as we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation with Anna and Simeon. These two seniors, guided by the Holy Spirit and filled with joy when they recognized the Savior, will show us how.

Jesus Came to Fulfill All the Law

Today, we will discuss these points: (1) Forty days after Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary follow the Mosaic Law for the presentation of Jesus in the temple and Mary’s purification; (2) the meaning of the presentation and redemption; (3) the humble Blessed Mother offered “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” as prescribed in Leviticus 12:8; (4) although their lives differed, hope-filled seniors Simeon and Anna saw the Lord and had much in common; (5) Simeon prayed the “Nunc Dimittis,” now a canticle in the Liturgy of the Hours; and (6) you too can be led by the Spirit and filled with joy and peace.

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Links

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Advent, Anna, Bible Study, joy, Joy of Advent, Mary, Nunc Dimittis, Presentation of Jesus, Scripture, Simeon, Spirit-led, spiritual, Wrap Yourself in Joy

The Joy of Advent #6 ~ Jesus Christ is Born: Join the Angels & Shepherds in Praise

December 24, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

The Adoration of the Shepherds, painting by Domenico Zampieri, 1610

Jesus Christ is Born

Today, we return to the book of Luke. There, we join Blessed Mary and Joseph on their 80-mile trek to Bethlehem. When they arrive, they find it crowded with people who, like them, had come at the command of Caesar Augustus. We will encounter the Angels and Shepherds who have much to share. Connecting your heart with the Angel’s Gloria and the Shepherd’s praises will help you find more JOY and peace.

No Home for the Creator of Creation

Join us today as we discuss these points: (1) Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the City of David, prophesied over 700 years earlier by the Prophet Micah (Micah 5:1-3). (2) Emperor Caesar Augustus issued a decree requiring a public enrollment of his subjects. (3) Joseph, a descendant of King David, had to travel to Bethlehem because he was of David’s lineage. Mary also went along—she might have been required to register, or Joseph wanted her with him. (4) Finding no room in an inn, Jesus, God Incarnate and the Savior of the World, was born and wrapped tightly in cloth by His Mother Mary, then laid in a manger where animals eat. (5) We join the Angel’s “Gloria” (Luke 2:14-20), named because the first word in St. Jerome’s Latin translation is “Gloria,” and then visit the Baby in the manger with the shepherds. (6) This is the night to create a “manger” for Jesus in your heart by inviting Him to be your Savior and Lord now and forever.

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Bishop Fulton J. Sheen notes: Joseph “searched in vain for a place where He, to Whom heaven and earth belonged, might be born. Could the Creator not find a home in creation? … A stable would be the last place in the world where one would have looked for Him. Divinity is always where one least expects to find it”(Life of Christ, 1958, p. 13-24).

Links

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Advent, angels, Bible Study, Gabriel, Jesus, Jesus Christ is born, Joseph, joy, Manger, Mary, Scripture, shepherds, spiritual, Stillness, Wait on God, Wrap Yourself in Joy

The Joy of Advent #5 ~ Joseph Takes Mary as His Wife & Joyfully Embraces God’s Plans

December 23, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Joseph Dreams, Takes Mary as His Wife & Joyfully Embraces God’s Plans

The Dream of St. Joseph, Painting by Anton Raphael Mengs, 1773

Joseph’s Dream from God to Take Mary as His Wife

Today, we turn to Matthew’s Gospel and hear about Joseph’s dream to take Mary as his wife, and how he joyfully embraced God’s plan. Mary and Joseph often changed their plans as they listened to God. They serve as an example to us of how to trust in God’s plan rather than our own. Join the podcast today as we learn about an angel sent to Joseph in a dream and discover how God can help us most when we exchange our plans for His!

The Family Record & Embracing God’s Plans

Today, we will discuss these points: (1) the genealogical record or family tree, of Jesus through Joseph, (2) how Jewish lineages around the time of Christ often did not include women’s names, but Christ’s ancestry in Matthew mentions five women, (3) Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba were four women in Christ’s lineage who turned from sin or idolatry to God, (4) Joseph’s dream involving communication from an angel and his response to embrace God’s plans, and (5) how we can trust in God’s plan.

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Links

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Advent, Ancestry of Christ, Annunciation, Bible Study, Elizabeth, Gabriel, Jesus, Joseph, joy, Mary, Scripture, spiritual, St. Joseph’s dream, Stillness, Wait on God, Wrap Yourself in Joy, Wrap Yourself in Joy Advent

The Joy of Advent #4 ~ Joy at the Birth of John the Baptist & Zechariah’s Benedictus

December 17, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

The Joy of Advent #4 - The Birth of John the Baptist

The Birth of John the Baptist: “Zachariah wrote, His Name is ‘John’.” Painting by Jacopo Pontormo, 1526, USA

Celebration at Zechariah’s Home and Naming of the Baby

The Scriptures invite us to a celebration at Zechariah’s home. It’s time to name his newborn boy and perform the baby’s circumcision. You can imagine yourself as one of the neighbors who has come to help name the baby born to the old couple, the priest Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth. What would you say? Maybe this: “The boy is a miracle baby! What a blessing from the Lord for Elizabeth! Shockingly, Zechariah has been muted since the last time he served in the temple. I wonder if he will ever recover his speech.”

Zechariah’s tongue is freed

Today, we will cover these points: (1) John’s circumcision, (2) the neighbors choosing the name Zechariah to honor his father, (3) Zechariah wrote, “his name is John” and immediately, his tongue was freed, (4) Zechariah praises God for the promises that will be fulfilled in His son John and the coming of the Messiah, and (5) we can pray the Benedictus with joy every day of Advent.

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Links

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Advent, Annunciation, Benedictus, Bible Study, Elizabeth, Gabriel, Jesus, joy, Mary, Nothing is Impossible with God, Scripture, spiritual, Stillness, Wait on God, Wrap Yourself in Joy, Zechariah Advent

The Joy of Advent #3 ~ Filled with JOY: The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth

December 14, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

The Visitation Painting by Philippe de Champaigne, 1643-1648

The Visitation of Mary & Sharing Joy with Elizabeth

Do you need more JOY in your life this Advent? Today, Mary and Elizabeth will show you how to share and receive more joy.

In this podcast, we join Blessed Mary on her journey from Nazareth to the Hill Country of Judea, near Jerusalem. There she visits her old cousin Elizabeth. Both women are expecting, celebrating the upcoming births, and excited to see each other. Previously, we read that God supernaturally conceived His Son Jesus in the Virgin Mary and granted a child to be born to old Zechariah and Elizabeth. “For nothing is impossible with God!”

Today, we cover these inspiring events: (1) John the Baptist leaps for joy, (2) Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaims words of great joy, (3) Mary praises and skips with joy in the Magnificat Canticle, (4) and the two share joy-filled fellowship around stories of Gabriel and Scriptural promises about to be fulfilled with their sons, including Jesus, the Messiah.

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Links

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Advent, Annunciation, Benedictus, Bible Study, Elizabeth, Feast of the Visitation, Jesus, John the Baptist, joy, Mary, Scripture, spiritual, Virgin, Virgin Mary, Visitation, Visitation of Mary, Wrap Yourself in Joy

The JOY of Advent #2 ~ The Annunciation of Mary: With God, Nothing is Impossible

December 9, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

The Joy of Advent - Gabriel Announces, Nothing is Impossible with God

The Joy of Advent – Gabriel’s Annunciation to Mary & Nothing is Impossible with God

The Annunciation and Nothing is Impossible with God

With God, nothing is impossible! If God can supernaturally conceive the Son of God in a virgin and grant a child to an elderly couple, then He can make your impossible become POSSIBLE. Join us today as we travel to Nazareth. We will hear the Great Annunciation of JOY to Mary as well as Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy. “For nothing is impossible with God.” The episode is based on my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

Another Message from Gabriel and Mary’s Fiat

Today, we will cover these points from Luke 1: 25-38: (1) The powerful Archangel Gabriel brings the second annunciation– this time to a young girl in Nazareth, (2) The Baby would be named Jesus, [Yeshua in Hebrew] after His Heavenly Father [Yahweh God in Hebrew], (3) Mary’s Fiat [Latin for Let it Be], (4) The incarnation means God became man, reaching out to mankind, and (5) Mary’s example shows us to Listen, Dialogue with God, and Surrender.

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Links

The episode is based on a chapter from my book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

For bookmarks or prayer points from The Joy of Advent Podcast series, go to: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Advent, Annunciation, Bible Study, Elizabeth, Gabriel, Jesus, joy, Mary, Nothing is Impossible with God, Scripture, spiritual, Virgin, Virgin Mary, Wrap Yourself in Joy

The Joy of Advent #1: Zachariah ~ Keep Hope Alive, God Answers Prayer

December 1, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

The JOY of Advent: Journey with the People, Prayers, and Events at Jesus’ First Coming

Are you hoping for a Joy-filled Advent? Join our podcast series and celebrate the joy of the people, events, and prayers at Jesus’ first coming. You will meet Zechariah, Elizabeth, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, the Angels, the Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, and the Magi. It’s as if you will travel with them via Scripture and partake in the most meaningful events in their lives. In Episode #1, we will share the Joy of Zechariah and God’s answer to his prayers.

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Episode #1 ~ Zechariah’s JOY: God Answers Prayer

Are you waiting for an answer to prayer? Stay hopeful this Advent! In our Joy of Advent Episode #1, we meet Zechariah. He will teach us a joy-filled lesson in an unusual way: Don’t give up hope – God hears & God answers prayer. We will cover these points today: (1) the meaning of Advent, (2) the two annunciations in Luke 1: 1-7, (3) Gabriel, the might of God- no puny angel, (4) God was preparing Joseph and Mary while Zechariah had to wait a little longer, and (5) prayer points for a new and fresh encounter God, asking for new joy and everyday miracles.

Wrap Yourself in Scripture #1 ~ Hearing God’s Voice

November 24, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

WRAP fosters a personal two-way conversation with your heavenly Father through prayer and Scripture.

Hearing God’s Voice

Have you heard from God today? He wants to speak to you. Are you listening? Join the podcast this week and learn how to hear from God and “WRAP yourself in Scripture.” (Scroll Down to play the Podcast.)

Two-Way Conversation

You can have a personal two-way conversation with your heavenly Father. He wants to speak to you. Begin today to practice the original WRAP method for reading, reflecting on, and hearing God’s voice in Scripture with author Karen Dwyer. Karen, with husband Larry, created the WRAP™ acronym and the book WRAP Yourself in Scripture in 2009, and now it’s in a NEW 4th edition. We will cover these points:

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Method Promoted by the Church Fathers

WRAP is based on the principles of Lectio Divina (pronounced Lect-see-oh Di-vee-na), an ancient, yet rediscovered, method of reading, reflecting on, and praying Scripture.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes Lectio Divina as a method “where the Word of God is so read and meditated on that it becomes prayer” (CCC 1177). This method has been practiced for centuries by the Desert Fathers, the Benedictines, the Carmelites, and various Doctors of the Church, including St. Gregory the Great, St. Jerome, St. John of the Cross, and St. Teresa of Avila, among others.

Defined by the Catechism

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines Christian prayer as “a covenant relationship between God and Man in Christ” (CCC 2564). Inherent in this relationship is a two-way conversation.
The Second Vatican Council points out: “In the sacred books [of Scripture] the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children and talks with them” (Dei Verbum 21).

WRAP – Simplified Guide to Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina is Latin for “divine reading” of Scripture. It is much more than simply perusing the chapters of Scripture as if reading a novel or a newspaper or reading a history book.
The Latin word lectio means deeply consuming a reading.
The four steps of WRAP is a simplified version of Lectio Divina, which includes lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio in the original Latin.

WRAP, the Acronym

WRAP is an Acronym that stands for:
W=WRITE the verse(s) down when the words jump out to you.
R = REFLECT or meditate on the words, reread them, mutter them, and imagine the meaning in dialogue with Jesus.
A=APPLY by continuing to ask the Lord if there is an application and response.
P= PRAY & PRAISE, by making the verse your prayer. Praise the mighty name of Jesus your Savior, God your Heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit, your Guide
Enhance your joy by cultivating a deeper relationship with God.

Download the template and the 14 Days of WRAP bookmark from my website WRAPyourselfinJOY.com and start practicing WRAP with Psalm 103: 1-13.

Four Part Series ~ Related Links

Books

Download Bookmarks from the podcasts: WrapYourselfinJOY.com
Check out more podcasts here!
Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, blessings, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Gathering, daily prayer, prayer, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Wrap Yourself in Scripture #4 ~ Tips for Hearing God Every Day

November 24, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Tips for WRAP to help you hear God with a message just for you.

Tips for Hearing God Every Day

Have you ever thought, “Can I really hear from God every day?” The answer is, “Yes, you can!” But you have to pause. WRAP can help you hear Jesus Christ with a personal message meant just for you. With WRAP, you’ll discover that God’s Word is truly alive and that He wants to speak to you. But you have to pause and make room for Him. Being faithful in reading and praying the Word of God will transform your life forever! Join us today and discover the tips you need to hear from God every day, pausing for a message specifically for you. (Scroll Down for Podcast.)

Practical Council in the Holy Spirit

Fr. John Horn, in the foreword of our book, WRAP Yourself in Scripture, says, “WRAP provides a way of receiving practical counsel in the Holy Spirit and a new, intimate relationship with Jesus and the Father. This method of prayer will awaken your inner desire to become more and more ‘filled with all the fullness of God’” (Ephesians 3: 19). Today, we will cover these tips for hearing God every day, pausing, and being ‘filled with all the fullness of God.”

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How Much Time Does WRAP Take?

You can follow this method for as little as 10 minutes or much longer.
For example, you could take your Bible and journal with you to WRAP in Adoration.

Where should I WRAP?

Try to pause for a few minutes every day to practice WRAP.
To pause means to intentionally slow down and step away from the chaos of daily life.
Spiritually, it’s more than just taking a break; it means you take time to be with God in prayer-a time free of distractions, to pray and connect to His peaceful presence.
Go to a place where you can be alone to pray and listen for God’s voice; you may simply shut the door.

What Supplies Do I need for WRAP?

You will need an empty notebook to use as your journal, a pen or pencil and of course, your Bible.
Keep a zippered notebook or tote bag that holds these supplies so you will have them handy

How do I Select Verses for WRAP?

Choose a section from a daily or Sunday Mass reading.
You could choose a Psalm.
Choose a passage that’s about 5 to 10 verses.

How do I Begin?

Close your eyes and picture in your mind that the Lord is sitting with you, and you can sense his loving, sustaining presence.
Offer a simple prayer of thanksgiving and invite the Holy Spirit to guide and speak to you.

Personal Application

Grab a pen and a small, inexpensive notebook and call it your WRAP Journal, plus your Bible.
Turn to Psalm 27 in your Bible and WRAP with it.

Four Part Series

Books

Download Bookmarks from the podcasts: WrapYourselfinJOY.com
Check out more podcasts here!
Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, blessings, Christian Podcast, Hearing God, Karen Dwyer, Lectio Divina, meditation, prayer, Scripture, Waiting on God, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Wrap Yourself in Scripture #3 ~ Holy, Heavenly Meditation

November 24, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

WRAP Yourself Scripture #3 ~ Holy, Heavenly Meditation

WRAP with the “Four M’s of Christian Mediation” will guide you in Prayer and Reflection

Meditation & WRAP

Have you ever wondered if meditation could really be part of prayer? It can! Meditation on Scripture can bring you into a two-way conversation with God. Join us today to learn how to approach the Word of God with Holy Heavenly Meditation and prayer, guided by WRAP. (Scroll Down for Podcast.)

Distinctions Among Prayerful Meditation and Other Forms

There is a big distinction between prayerful Biblical meditation and other forms of meditation. Eastern or New Age meditations have an inward focus on the deepest self. Biblical meditation, on the other hand, brings us into a closer encounter with God and His presence around Scripture. We will cover the “Four M’s of Christian Meditation” and these points:

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Straightforward and Uncomplicated WRAP

Christian meditation “engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire” (CCC 2708).
You speak to God from your thoughts, feelings, and desires as you contemplate the message in the verse.
What does it mean for the way you act, live, and treat others?

The Bible Encourages Meditation

Joshua 1: 8: “You shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful
Psalm 1: 1-2: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;but their delight is in the law of the Lord.
Psalm 119: 97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
Luke 2: 10: Mary treasured all these words [the words from God] and pondered them in her heart.

The Old Testament Hebrew Words translated “Meditation”

HÂGÂH, translated “meditate,” means “to murmur or mutter or to repeat over and over,” “to ponder,” and “to deeply imagine” God’s word.
SIYACH means to meditate upon, study, ponder, to talk, to speak aloud, and even to sing.

The 4 M’s of Meditation

MULL OVER means positively pondering and intensely considering the meaning of the verse.
MUTTER means repeating the verse and words aloud and to yourself in order to chew them.
MENTALLY IMAGINE means to put yourself in a scene as you read it.
MEMORIZE comes easily after mulling over, muttering, and mentally picturing the verse or verses.

Personal Application

Grab a pen and a small, inexpensive notebook and call it your WRAP Journal, plus your Bible.
Turn to Psalm 1: 1-6 in your Bible and WRAP with it.

Five Part Series

Books

Download Bookmarks from the podcasts: WrapYourselfinJOY.com
Check out more podcasts here!
Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, blessings, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Gathering, Cup of Joy Women, Karen Dwyer, Lectio Divina, prayer, Scripture, Waiting on God, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Wrap Yourself in Scripture #2 ~ The Bible: “A Pharmacy Open to All Souls”

November 24, 2025 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

The Bible is: “A pharmacy open to all souls….with remedies just right for your cases.”

A Pharmacy

Did you know the Bible offers a “pharmacy open to all souls” with remedies for your worries and troubles? Saint Basil the Great tells us this and more. Join us today to learn how WRAP – the acronym for Lectio Divina- can help you discover the medicine just right for your body, soul, and spirit. (Scroll Down to Listen.)

WRAP – Simplified Guide to Lectio Divina

The WRAP acronym stands for Write, Reflect, Apply, and Pray.
It’s a simplified guide for the practice of Lectio Divina, which Christians have used in prayer since the third century.
Pope Benedict XVI recommended Lectio Divina for all: If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual springtime. … Lectio Divina should therefore be increasingly encouraged, also through the use of new methods, carefully thought through and in step with the times. It should never be forgotten that the Word of God is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (cf. Ps 119[118]:105). (International Congress on Dei Verbum (9- 16-2005).
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Four Stages of Prayer

The four stages of prayer described by Rev. Mark Thibodeaux (The Armchair Mystic) include: . Talking at God, Talking to God, Listening to God speak to your heart –through reading & reflecting on Scripture daily, Resting in God’s presence, enjoying His company.
Take the Self-report Prayer Survey in WRAP Yourself in Scripture, 4^th Edition, by Karen & Lawrence Dwyer, or download the bookmark from WRAPYourselfinJoy.com.

St. Basil the Great

“The Holy Spirit composed the Scriptures so that in them, as in a pharmacy open to all souls, we might each of us be able to find the medicine suited to our own particular illness…and in the Books of Psalms we can find… remedies just right for their cases.” (Spidlik, T., & Drake, P. (1993). Drinking from the Hidden Fountain: A Patristic Breviary, Liturgical Press.)
He reminds us that the Lord, encountered through the passages of Scripture, heals our cases.
Cases can refer to problems, worries, anxieties, rejection, and much more.

Personal Application

Grab a pen and a small, inexpensive notebook and call it your WRAP Journal, plus your Bible.
Select a Scripture passage WRAP with Psalm 103: 1-13 again.
Go to a quiet place to be alone for 10 minutes.
Pray, ask, and open your heart for God. Begin your prayer of thanksgiving. Acknowledge that the Lord is with you. Thank Jesus, that He wants to speak to your heart today through Scripture. Pray, Come, Holy Spirit, and enlighten my mind to Your truth.”
Spread out the W R A P in your journal over at least one page.
Download the template bookmark from the website WRAPyourselfinJOY.com and practice WRAP.

Five Part Series

Part 1 Hearing God’s Voice

Books

Download Bookmarks from the podcasts: WrapYourselfinJOY.com
Check out more podcasts here!
Find Karen’s books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, blessings, Christian Podcast, Karen Dwyer, Lectio Divina, meditation, prayer, Scripture, St. Basil the Great, Waiting on God, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Mirror of Scripture (Replay)

October 20, 2025 by radioadmin Leave a Comment

Mirror of Scripture Episode 261

When was the last time you read a passage in the Bible, and it was as if the Lord was showing you a mirror image? I call that the Mirror of Scripture! In this episode, we’ll look at scripture verses that highlight areas that need our attention.

Visit our sponsor – CTCMath.com, for information about this wonderful math curriculum for kids ages K-12

Everyone wants to hear, “Well done,” or “Great job,” or better yet, “You are on the right track!” Yet, often the response we get when praying is silence. A silence of mind and of our hearts. How are we doing in our spiritual walk, and what does the Lord have to say to us in the words of scripture?

When we least expect it we hear God, it can be in reading a Scripture verse that we feel is powerful or just for us. Or, it can be in the words of a friend or something we hear at Church, maybe in a sermon but often in the Word being read. At my church, we hear readings from the Old and New Testaments each week. The readings may be ones I’ve read many times before yet they are powerful, and more so when it hits me as if a mirror is held up and I see my reflection.

Spiritual Mirror

I can say with assurance that many of us do not like what we see in the mirror. In fact, we possibly avoid looking into it other than getting ready for our day, in the morning. A mirror shows all of our flaws, the spots on our faces, the bad hair day, or other things we’d rather not address. By looking in the mirror we see how we look to the world.

Having a good body image and being happy with our own worth, inside and out is important. The point I’m making is that as a mirror shows our flaws and imperfections so too does a spiritual mirror. It shows us areas of faith we should work on to gain a better sense of where we are going. Hopefully toward a deeper faith.

Mirror of Scripture

Matthew 5:14-18 (Read on air.) ¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

I love this verse! There is a Bible Song, “This Little Light of Mine,” we taught our children, and they sang it at Bible camp. It further illustrates that the light of Christ should shine through us to others. Alone we do not shine light but with God we do, and if we have this holy light we have work to do for the Kingdom.

If we hide our light we are not sharing the good news. God knows our situation, He knows what is happening in our lives. He understands our trials and He doesn’t call us to do anything He is not preparing us for ahead of time. A friend of mine didn’t want to embrace faith strongly because he was afraid God would send him to Africa on the mission field. He was a doctor, and he was seriously worried about this! But, when he finally opened his heart to the Lord, He was ready to go anywhere God called him. He and his wife lead our prayer group for many years, and they are some of our closest friends. God never did lead him to the mission field, but God allowed him to pray with his patients and at times allowed healing.

What is the weakness of our lives? Do we make excuses so that we don’t have to go to the mission field as well? Opening our hearts to God allows Him and only Him to work in our lives in a powerful way if we allow Him.

James 1: 22-24 (Read on air)

²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.^[a] ²³For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.

Powerful! We can be doers with the grace of God, and His providence. Friends, God so loves you. And we can spread that love to others. Today I was at a store and something I purchased was way cheaper than I expected. I told the lady checking me out that God was blessing me. I hadn’t paid too much attention to her, other than to say hi and ask how she was since I was busy loading up the items on the conveyer belt. When she smiled back at me after hearing me say, God was blessing me she said, “I wake up each day and thank God for it, each and every day.” As I looked at her, I was smiling and agreeing with a hearty, Amen! This lady was missing some teeth and fairly elderly, and working, but praising God.

Some of us have harder lives than others and yet if we can praise God in the midst of our trials that is using our lives in a positive way.

By looking at Scripture as a mirror, exposing our shortcomings and ways we have not pleased God, we can offer this to the Lord with a heartfelt purpose and that is to change. By continuing to show God we are dooers not just listeners we can better align our will to His. This week your challenge is to pray to the Lord before you read the Scriptures. Ask Him to use the Word to be a mirror. Let this help you grow closer to Him and in your faith. I will do this as well. May God bless you today and always.

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Filed Under: A Few Minutes With God Tagged With: a few minutes with god, faith, prayer, Scripture

Hold Things Loosely

October 5, 2024 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Sometimes our bad habits can be opportunities to assess, grow, and determine our next steps. When we hold all the important things of our life loosely it is a bit easier to let them go.

Bad Habits

I have a few bad habits:

I leave my shoes all around the house and then cannot find them when I am going out.
I remember one more thing I have to say as my husband is leaving the room after we’ve finished talking.
I often say yes to new ideas, projects, and opportunities without thinking about what else is going on.
I think I can do it all.

What to Keep, What to Let Go

A few months while talking to a good friend, I realized an opportunity might not turn out the way I wanted. She advised me to hold it loosely so that if it happened or not, I was prepared. This is very similar to detachment. Letting the things of this world not be what we hold onto. Rather, have open hands, ready to receive what God gives or able to let go of what God asks us to let go.

I have had some great new opportunities come my way and said yes to them, willing and with great excitement.

But I let go of nothing. And pretty soon, there was a feeling of overload, rather than peace. What did I need to let go?

It’s not Goodbye

I will no longer be recording this podcast. For now. Will I ever do a podcast again? Possibly. I have enjoyed it very much. I hope I have helped you in your faith life. The wide-ranging and numerous authors I have interviewed have been a great blessing. But at this time, I am turning my focus elsewhere.

Please do stay in touch with me. The best way is to subscribe to my newsletter. This will include a video series on praying with scripture and in the next few weeks I’m hosting a webinar about the Examen.

You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook. And of course, email me at deanna (at)livenotlukewarm(dot)com

Website link

Thank you for all your support.

Thank you to the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network for hosting me!

God Bless You all and do your best to

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: Catholic, examen, live not lukewarm, podcast, Scripture

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Transformed By God’s Grace ~ Ruth #7

September 5, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Ruth #7 Transformed by Grace

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Transformed by God’s Grace Episode #7

If your life needs transformation, consider reading the Book of Ruth, where God powerfully transforms each character and wants to do the same for you. God’s faithfulness can bring triumph out of tragedies, restoration from waywardness, and blessing out of loss. Join us today as we conclude our series on the Book of Ruth.

Finding Joy in Tough Times is a seven-part series. Today, we will cover these points. (Scroll down for the podcast.)

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The Family

The beautiful, gracious, and even joyous Naomi, according to the meaning of her name suffers great loss. (Ruth 1-3)
Elimelech and family left Bethlehem, meaning house of bread to find more bread during the famine.
Naomi’s husband died and the two sons married Moabite wives – Orpah and Ruth.
They lived in Moab about ten years, and both sons died.
In Ruth 1:16, Ruth made a declaration of loyalty to Naomi and the God of Israel -it changed her life forever.

Naomi Becomes Mara but returns to Naomi

Naomi said, “Do not call me Naomi [pleasant, gracious, joyous]. Call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. ²¹I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty…the Lord has afflicted me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” (Ruth 1: 19)
Ruth returned home after gleaning in Boaz’ fields with 30 pounds of grain.
Naomi praises and blesses the Lord again; joy returns.
Naomi sees God’s footsteps in their lives: Boaz to become the kinsman redeemer and agrees to marry Ruth and become her kinsman redeemer.

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Boaz, a Messianic Type of Christ

Boaz’s loving-kindness shadows God’s love sent to us in Jesus Christ.
As the kinsman redeemer, Boaz was a Christ-like figure.

Ruth, the “Worthy Woman”

Boaz described Ruth as one known as a “worthy woman” among the people. (Ruth 3:11)
These exact words appear in Proverbs 31: 10-31.
She is foremost “a woman who fears the Lord” and “to be praised” (v. 30).
Boaz, her husband, was “known in the city gates when he sits among the elders in the land” (v. 23).
“Her children rise and bless her; her husband too, her husband also, he praises her” (v. 28), as seen in the record of Matthew 1: 5 where she will be praised and remembered forever as a great-grandmother of King David and member of Christ’s lineage.

The Marriage, the Lineage of David and Jesus Christ

JOY multiplies for Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz as the town’s women pray a blessing over their lives and new life Obed (Ruth 4).
Boaz and Ruth are in the lineage of David (Ruth 4: 18-22) and of Jesus (Matthew 1).
Once a prostitute and Canaanite, Boaz’s mother was Rahab, who helped Joshua’s spies.

Blessings

Blessing Prayers are themes of Ruth, and there are seven recorded blessings.
Blessings are one of five types of prayer : 1) blessing or adoration, 2) petition, 3) intercession, 4) thanksgiving, and 5) praise .
A blessing for another proclaims God’s goodness, kindness, and power and it includes a petition asking God to share His goodness, power, compassion, and favor to change a situation.
Ruth includes blessings of Naomi praising God and asking for the daughters-in-law, Boaz blessing and praying for Ruth, the neighbors blessing and praying for Naomi, Ruth Boaz and Obed (Ruth 1: 17, 2:4, 12; 2:19–20; 3:10, 4:11-12, 14).

God is the HERO of RUTH!

Ultimately, God is the hero of the Book of Ruth.
God directs each detail and composes everything according to His divine purpose.
God’s grace leads us beyond the short span of our lives- He blesses us in our earthly lives and uses us to impact our immediate sphere and generation, as well as those in the generations to come.
Let’s remember to look to God in impossible situations and allow him to impact the next generation through our witness and loving-kindness.

Links

Seven Part Series Finding Joy In Tough Times

Cup of JOY

Karen offers Cup of JOY Women™ or Cup of JOY Gathering,™ which include FREE study guides to accompany every podcast in each series: Finding JOY, A Joy-filled Advent, Esther for This Time: Joyful Reversals, Nehemiah & Rebuilding Hope, Joyful & Battle Ready, Ruth & Finding Joy in Tough Times W or WRAP Yourself in Scripture. Sign up at Karen’s Website.

CUP of JOY Women or Gathering small group and sign up.
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Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, blessings, Boaz, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Gathering, Cup of Joy Women, God's Footsteps, Intercessory Prayer, Karen Dwyer, Naomi, New Beginning, prayer, Reflections on Ruth in the Bible, Ruth, Scripture, The Book of Ruth, Turnarounds, Waiting on God, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Final Blessings and Reversals ~ Ruth #6

August 24, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Final Blessings & Reversals: Episode 6 ~ If you need restoration or turnarounds in circumstances of pain, sorrow, or emptiness, look to the Book of Ruth. Join the podcast today as the Book of Ruth reveals God's offer to rescue, deliver, and restore you. #thebookofRuth #KarenDwyer #wrapyourselfinjoy #wrrapyourselfinjoypodcast #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast

Boaz Marries Ruth

Do you need restoration or turnarounds in pain, sorrow, or emptiness, look to the Book of Ruth. Join the podcast today as the Book of Ruth reveals how God offers to rescue, deliver, and restore you.

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Final Blessings and Reversals Episode #6

Finding Joy in Tough Times is a seven-part series. Today we cover these points:

Problem: Another Redeemer

Ruth asked Boaz to initiate the Levirate Marriage legal procedure and become her husband.
In reply, Boaz blessed Ruth and told her he would all that she asked
Another was closer kin and had the right to redeem her.

The City Gate (Ruth 4: 1-6)

The City Gate (Ruth 4:1) was the business district in ancient Israel
.Boaz was wise in his approach with the possible other kin and “goel”
The goel refused when he heard the stipulation that he must marry Ruth the Moabitess.
He turned his right over to Boaz.

The Legal Transaction (Ruth 4: 7-10)

Boaz chose 10 men to witness his conversation and exchange of a sandal.
Boaz agrees to marry Ruth and claim the land to maintain the Elimelech – Mahlon name on the inheritance.
Elimelech’s family name is alive in the community for all generations.

The Blessings (Ruth 4: 11-14)

The sixth blessing is a powerful prayer spoken by the elders for Boaz and Ruth – from the Bible.
Rachel and Leah were the mothers to the twelve sons or leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Tamar has a levirate marriage too; the witnesses prayed for Ruth to have a son and be famous in Israel.
In the final blessing, Naomi receives kin and a grandson.

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Personal Application

What impacts you most from Ruth 4?

God is a God of Reversals. He can do miracles. You too can have a reversal in circumstances. If you need one, ask the Lord in prayer, Stay faithful. Remember his promises, especially Ephesians 3:20
God is a Redeemer. He not only reverses situations, but He redeems them. A redeemer is one who rescues, saves, restores and delivers. Elimelech’s name has been redeemed. His land has been redeemed; the family name has been restored in Bethlehem. Ruth is no longer called a widowed Moabitess from a pagan culture, she is has become the wife of Boaz. She is no longer a barren woman, she is a mother. So if you need a redeemer for your life, call on Jesus. He will rescue, deliver and restore you. Remember: Jeremiah 30:17 and Colossians 1: 13-14.

Links

Seven Part Series Ruth: Finding Joy In Tough Times

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy small group study that accompanies each podcast series, especially this one. Read more (here) on hosting a CUP of JOY Women or Cup of JOY Gathering small group. It’s free, and I will send you the materials you need for the one-hour discussion and study.

CUP of JOY Women or Gathering small group and to sign up.
Download Bookmarks from the podcasts: WrapYourselfinJOY.com
Check out more podcasts here!
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Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Waiting in Peace ~ Ruth #5

August 16, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Waiting in Peace Episode 5 ~ Is waiting in peace for God to answer a prayer difficult? It can be challenging for every Christian. The Book of Ruth shows us that God is at work even when we don’t see the answers yet, so we can His rest in peace.. #thebookofRuth #KarenDwyer #wrapyourselfinjoy #wrrapyourselfinjoypodcast #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast

Ruth #5-Finding Joy in Tough Times-Waiting in Peace

Is waiting in peace for God to answer a prayer difficult? It can be challenging for every Christian. Join the podcast today as the Book of Ruth shows us that God is at work even when we don’t see the answers yet, so we can His rest in peace.

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Waiting in Peace Episode #5

Finding Joy in Tough Times is a seven-part series. Today, we will cover these points:

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Wait Time

Time has passed between Chapters two and Chapter three of Ruth—between two and three months.
Waiting often prepares our hearts to what’s ahead in life.
Time and love prepared Naomi and Ruth for God’s blessing and challenges that were about to come.

Wash and Anoint Yourself (Ruth 3: 1-5)

Naomi wants a husband and home life for Ruth.
She reminds Ruth that Boaz is the kinsman and landowner who just happens to be winnowing barley that night.
Naomi gives Ruth four instructions and Ruth obeys.
Uncovering his feet, was signaling Ruth wants to be his wife and he, her kinsman redeemer!

Boaz was Startled! (Ruth 3: 6-13)

Boaz was startled to find a woman lying at his feet.
By asking him to spread his cloak over her, Ruth was repeating Boaz’s words of Ruth 2 when he blessed her for seeking refuge under the wings or cloak of God.
In Ezekiel 16:8, God even uses the same phrase saying he will spread his cloak over Israel in covenant love to protect the nation and make the nation his forever just like the covenant commitment in a marriage.
Boaz says he will marry her and spread his cloak (meaning provision, protection and warmth) over her; everyone in the village knows she is a worthy woman (in Hebrew word haill) which means honorable, noble and excellent.

Problem: Another Redeemer

Boaz agrees to marry Ruth but says a closer kinsmen exists who legally has the first opportunity to marry her and claim the land of Elimelech that might have gone to Mahlon.
Boaz likely had been considering his obligation – he knew he was in line to be the kinsman-redeemer.

Provision and More

Boaz, in his display of hesed love, gives Ruth 60 pounds of Barley to take back to Naomi.
Naomi would understand the gift of barley to mean Boaz was giving his word in agreement with God’s laws.
She said to Ruth, wait my daughter, let your heart be peaceful, you can count on Boaz to work this out.

Personal Application

What impacts you most from Ruth 3?

Surrender & Trust. At one point on the threshing floor, Ruth came to complete trust and complete surrender to God and his laws. She did everything she knew to do and now would trust the rest to God. Proverbs 3: 5-6 reminds of the same: Proverbs 3: 5-6 reminds us we can count on God. Surrender you needs to him and trust he is leading you as you walk forward.
Wait in Peace, God is at Work. Remember that while waiting for God to answer but not seeing answers yet, God is still at work. We can pray with Psalm 27: 13-14 that reminds us God will answer, He is at work while we wait. Our Savior Jesus will “settle the matter for us” always. Even if you feel empty like Naomi did, wait on God and His son Jesus. You will see that He will settle the matters for you. Proverbs 16: 3 also assures us of this. Repeat these Scriptures daily, declare them to yourself and pray them.

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Starting Over & Noticing God’s Footsteps ~ Ruth #4

August 9, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Ruth Gleaning in the Fields. Painting by James Tissot, 1896

Are you starting over? Is it a new job, a new home or hometown, a new relationship, or a new phase in life? We all face times of change and even upheaval, but it’s a perfect time to return to God and prayer, forgive the past, and look for God to go before you. Join the podcast today as the Book of Ruth shows how to start over and notice God’s footsteps walking ahead of you.

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Starting Over & Noticing God’s Footsteps Episode #4

Finding Joy in Tough Times is a seven-part series. Today, we will cover these points:

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Ruth Gleans Forward (Ruth 2: 14-16)

Working in the fields was strenuous and hazardous(v. 9) but Ruth gleaned forward.
Ruth did not look back or hold on to the past. She gleaned forward.
She was not stymied by bitterness or self-pity.
With Boaz’s instructions, Ruth’s first day of gleaning was very successful!

Naomi’s Surprise & Bitterness Surrendered (Ruth 2: 17-19)

Ruth beat out an ephah (eefuh) of barley– hard work!
Ruth showed Naomi 30 pounds (5 ½ gallons) of Barley
Naomi notices God’s Footprints of guidance and blessings.

Changed Outlook – Our Nearest Kin (Ruth 2: 20-23)

Now Naomi has a change of mind and heart.
She is confident God has not forsaken them.
Boaz is the Goel (Deuteronomy 25: 5-10) – the closest male relative, the kinsman redeemer

Ruth Gleans for Three Months (Ruth 2: 23)

Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s fields for Barley & Wheat Harvest, which lasted three months.
A blessing can be a simple prayer asking God to share his loving kindness, guidance, and favor on another.
The Jewish Midrash “A widow or a female convert must wait three months before marrying to make sure she was not pregnant.”I Will Go Where You Go

Personal Reflection & Application

What impacts you most from Ruth 2: 14-23?

Start Over & Give God Your Bitterness & Receive His Joy. Do you feel bitter about anything? If left to fester, disappointment, grief, unforgiveness, and unresolved anger can lead to bitterness. Bitterness is a joy-zapper and will stop any new beginning. When life seems unfair, we are prone to turn from God and allow bitterness to take hold. Instead, ask the Lord where you have any bitterness or unforgiveness, then confess it and ask the Lord for his glorious grace to dispense bitterness and start over. (You likely need to forgive yourself or another person or God). Only by God’s glorious grace can you go forward. Naomi told her friends to call her Mara – the Bitter one. But she returned to God and the faith community. Declaring her bitterness was a confession at this time. She started over. Now, she notices God’s footsteps and you can sense the joy that come across her face. Remember Ephesians 4: 31-32 and pray Psalm 51:10.

Look for God’s Footsteps. God is with you. He is for you. He is guiding you. In Ruth 1: 20, she said that God made her life bitter and sent her trouble. But in Ruth 2: 20, she notices God’s footsteps ahead of them and how he provided abundantly for them via Boaz, so she exclaimed. “The Lord always keeps his promises to the living and the dead.” (Good News Translation). Do you need a change of heart? Ask God to help you see his footsteps in your life. He will show you how HE is guiding you and showering you with his loving kindness. Memorize and pray Lamentations 3:22-23.

Links

Seven Part Series Finding Joy In Tough Times

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy small group study with your friends. It’s free, and I will send you a study guide for discussion and Scripture reflection that accompanies each podcast.
Click here to read about hosting a CUP of JOY Women or Gathering small group and to sign up.
Download Bookmarks from the podcasts: WrapYourselfinJOY.com
Check out more podcasts here!
Find my books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, blessings, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Gathering, Cup of Joy Women, God's Footsteps, Intercessory Prayer, Karen Dwyer, Naomi, New Beginning, prayer, Reflections on Ruth in the Bible, Ruth, Scripture, The Book of Ruth, Turnarounds, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ New Hope, New Direction & Blessing Prayers ~ Ruth #3

July 26, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

New Hope, New Direction, and Blessing Prayers ~ Do you find yourself losing hope? We all face times of discouragement and sadness, but that’s when we need to turn to God. Join the podcast today as the Book of Ruth shows us new hope in tragedy, new direction as we look to Him, and how to pray blessing prayers. #thebookofRuth #KarenDwyer #wrapyourselfinjoy #wrapyourselfinjoypodcast #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast

Ruth Gleans and Boaz Prays a Blessing Prayer for Her.

Do you find yourself losing hope? We all face times of discouragement and sadness but that’s when we need to turn to God. Join the podcast today as the Book of Ruth shows us new hope in tragedy, new directions for the future and how to pray blessing prayers.

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ New Hope, New Direction & Blessing Prayers Episode #3

Ruth: Finding Joy in Tough Times is a seven-part series. Today, we will cover these points:

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Return to Jerusalem

Previously, we accompanied Elimelech, Naomi, and the family en route from Bethlehem to Moab to escape a famine. Disaster hits the family—Elimelech dies, the two sons marry Moabite women, and then, after ten years, the sons die. In grief, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem with her two daughters-in-law and then begs the women to return to their Moabite mothers and culture. Three essential details from the Book of Ruth emerge, including 1) Blessings-Naomi blessed her daughters-in-law, 2) Hesed (Hebrew for loving-kindness) – she prayed for God’s loving-kindness on the women, and 3) She remembers God but says she is bitter against God. How could Naomi be bitter against God for what happened yet still pray for the Lord’s loving-kindness? The answer is related to the opening verse of Ruth 1: In the days the judges ruled. Today, we cover the following points.

Mara (Ruth 1: 19-22)

Naomi is aware of the cycle when her nation fell into sin, servitude, supplication, and salvation stages from Judges.
Her return signifies her repentance.
She asks to be called Mara, meaning bitter, but in the Book of Ruth, no one ever calls her that.

New Hope (Ruth 2: 1-3)

Ruth gleans to support Naomi, and herself-it’s the barley harvest.
Gleaning provides for the poor ((see Deuteronomy 24:19 and Leviticus 19: 9-10).
Ruth” happens to” end up on a field owned by Boaz, who turns out to be a kinsman of Elimelech.

Divine Providence (Ruth 2: 4-13)

Ruth happened to glean in part of Boaz’s field. Boaz was Elimelech’s relative and a man of great wealth. Unlike Elimelech, he had stayed in Bethlehem during the famine, and God had taken care of him.
Divine Providence means God “watches over and governs all the things that He made, reaching from end to end with might and disposing of all things with gentleness” [The First Vatican Council (1869-70, Denziner, p. 3003) and “all events, even the most personal decisions of human beings, are part of God’s eternal plan” (Hardon, 1999, p. 448).

Hesed

HESED (loving-kindness and covenant faithfulness) becomes more apparent
Divine Providence means God “watches over and governs all the things that He made, reaching from end to end with might and disposing of all things with gentleness” [The First Vatican Council (1869-70, Denziner, p. 3003) and “all events, even the most personal decisions of human beings, are part of God’s eternal plan” (Hardon, 1999, p. 448).
God gave Ruth favor, and Boaz demonstrated favor and loving-kindness to protect Ruth.

The Blessings

Boaz speaks and prays the language of blessing: When Boaz came from Bethlehem, he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!”
He prayed over Ruth: ¹²May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!”
A blessing can be a simple prayer asking God to share his loving kindness, guidance, and favor on another.

Personal Reflection & Application

What impacts you most from Ruth 1: 19 – 2: 13?

Look for God’s providence, hope, and care in small ways. Naomi and Ruth approached Bethlehem at the start of the barley harvest, which meant food was plentiful again – new hope. Ruth just happened to land in Boaz’s field to glean, and he gave her favor—a sign of hope. Rely on 2 Corinthians 9:8-10.
Pray Blessings Over Your Friends and Family Today. Consider praying a blessing over another. Try to include 1) PROCLAIM GOD’S GOODNESS. Speak God’s goodness, kindness, and His power to change a situation, 2) ASK GOD’S BLESSING OVER A PERSON. Ask God to share this goodness, kindness, strength, favor, and joy with the person, and 3) DESCRIBE THE NEED. Pray what and why the person needs blessing. Why not share the blessing in a note, text, or email? They will be blessed.

Links

Seven Part Series Finding Joy In Tough Times

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy small group study with your friends. It’s free, and I will send you a study guide for discussion and Scripture reflection accompanying each podcast.
Click here to read about hosting a CUP of JOY Women or Gathering small group and to sign up.
Download Bookmarks from the podcasts: WrapYourselfinJOY.com
Check out more podcasts here!
Find my books:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, blessings, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Gathering, Cup of Joy Women, Intercessory Prayer, Karen Dwyer, Naomi, prayer, Reflections on Ruth in the Bible, Ruth, Scripture, The Book of Ruth, Turnarounds, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Weeping Forward, I Will Go Where You Go~ Ruth #2

July 19, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Weeping Forward, I Will Go Where You Go Episode 2 ~ Are you weeping forward or backward? Sometimes, we must weep, but we must also go forward, trusting that God is leading us on. Join the podcast today, where we focus on Naomi's blessing and Ruth’s words, “I will go where you go, and your God will be my God,” as they weep forward. #thebookofRuth #KarenDwyer #wrapyourselfinjoy #wrapyourselfinjoypodcast #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast

Ruth and Naomi Weep Forward to Bethlehem

Are you weeping forward or backward? Sometimes, we must weep, but we must also go forward trusting God is leading us. Join the podcast today, where we focus on Naomi’s blessing and Ruth’s words, “I will go where you go, and your God will be my God,” as the two weep forward.

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Weeping Forward, I Will Go Where You Go #2

Finding Joy in Tough Times is a seven-part series. Today, we will cover these points:

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From Moab to Bethlehem

Last week, we met the family – Elimelech, Naomi, sons Mahlon and Chilion who made the decision to leave Bethlehem to escape a famine. They left their faith community and their family and even overlooked God’s warning about living among those who worshiped idols. Soon, Elimelech died. The sons married Moabite women, and within ten years, they also died. So Naomi was left with the two daughters-in-law in Moab and they wept forward to Bethlehem. Today, we cover the following points:

Who are Moabites?

So, who are the Moabites?
All Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew.
In Genesis 18, Abraham asks God to refrain from destroying Sodom and Gomorrah.
God heard Abraham’s prayer and brought out Lot and his family before any destruction.
Lot’s daughters became convinced they would never marry and have children.
So, after getting Lot drunk, they seduced their father, and the relationship produced a son Moab and another son named Ammi.

God Remembers the Prayers

Moab became the father of the Moabite nation and Ammi the father of the Ammonite nation; both nations soon worshiped other gods that even required child sacrifice.
God remembered the prayers and, in His providence, brought one of Lot’s descendants—Ruth—into the ancestral line of David, the line of Christ.

The Journey Home to Bethlehem (Ruth 1: 6-11)

Somewhere en route, Naomi’s thoughts turned to what problems the daughter-in-laws would face in Bethlehem. The levirate law would provide them NO security or future..
This law assured a widow that a brother or relative of her dead husband would marry her and raise up children in her husband’s name and for his estate.
Naomi realized it was too late for her to marry again and have more sons. She begged them to return.

The Blessing (Ruth 1: 8-9)

Naomi blessed the women with the words in v 8-9, the first of seven blessings in Ruth, where blessing becomes a strong theme.
A blessing can be a simple prayer asking God to share his loving kindness, guidance, and favor on another.
Naomi asked the Lord to “deal kindly with them.” Kindly in the original Hebrew is “hesed.”
Hesed involves kindness, covenant-type love, faithfulness, and mercy – a deep commitment, devotion, and care. God himself, throughout Scripture, is the model for hesed.
God’s loving-kindness was sent to us through his Only Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins.

I Will Go Where You Go (Ruth 1: 17-18).

Orpah returned to Moab, but Ruth clung to Naomi
Ruth showed hesed “Don’t ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. May the Lord’s worst punishment come upon me if I let anything but death separate me from you” (v. 16-17, Good News translation).
Ruth used Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel in Hebrew, which means “I am who I am,”
Her profession of faith put her story in the Bible and give her a place in salvation history forever.
Together, they wept and walked forward to Bethlehem.

Personal Reflection & Application

What impacts you most from Ruth 1: 6-18?

Weep & Walk Forward. Sometimes, we must weep, even cry our eyes out over loss and disappointment. Share your tears with trusted friends and family and keep going forward. Keep looking for God to open doors. Psalm 56: 8-9 is a comfort: “O God, You have kept count of my tossings [wonderings]; [you] put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your record? … This I know, that God is for me.“God sees and remembers all your tears and the sufferings you. Rely on Isaiah 41: 10.

Speak Blessings. The Hebrew word for deep devotion and compassion is hesed, Even in great trial and pain, we can pray a blessing of God of God’s loving kindness for others. Naomi blessed her daughters-in-law simply by asking God to show his kindness, guiding love, and favor to them. For example, you can bless with others Numbers 6: 24-26 and bless the Lord with Psalm 104.

Links

Seven Part Series Ruth: Finding Joy In Tough Times

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy small group study with your friends, It’s free and I will send you a study guide for discussion and Scripture reflection that accompanies each podcast.
Click here to read about hosting a CUP of JOY Women or Gathering small group and to sign up.
Download Bookmarks from the podcasts: WrapYourselfinJOY.com
Check out more podcasts here!
Find my books:

[1] Pope Francis:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, blessings, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Gathering, Cup of Joy Women, I will go where you go., Intercessory Prayer, Karen Dwyer, prayer, Reflections on Ruth in the Bible, Scripture, The Book of Ruth, Turnarounds, weeping, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Finding JOY in Tough Times ~ Decision Making & Turnarounds ~ Ruth #1

July 10, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Decision Making and Turnarounds Episode 1 ~ The Book of Ruth reveals God’s goodness, God’s providence, and Godly relationships. Most importantly, it shows how God uses faithful women in Salvation history, especially Ruth, a refugee and convert who ends up in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Episode #1 focuses on turnarounds and finding new joy in difficult circumstances. Join the podcast today and uncover how a book written over 3000 years ago can speak to you!#thebookofRuth #KarenDwyer #wrapyourselfinjoy #wrapyourselfinjoypodcast #podcast #christianpodcast #catholicpodcast

Ruth Makes an Important Decision

Do you regret a decision you made? God can help you find a turnaround. The Book of Ruth is about turnarounds and finding new joy and purpose in difficult circumstances. Join the podcast and uncover how a book written over 3000 years ago can speak to you today.

Then and Now

Welcome to Ruth-Finding Joy in Tough Times and Trusting in God’s Goodness Episode #1. The Book of Ruth reveals God’s goodness, God’s God’s providence and Godly relationships. Most importantly, it shows how God uses faithful women in Salvation history, especially Ruth, a refugee and convert who ended up in the lineage of Jesus Christ. God’s Word is always alive and fresh (Hebrews 4: 12) and will speak to our hearts by the Holy Spirit and in this case, through the Book of Ruth.

Finding Joy in Tough Times ~ Decision Making & Turnarounds Episode #1

Ruth” Finding Joy in Tough Times is a seven-part series. You will be inspired. Today, we cover these points.

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My Journey

My journey with Ruth started when Pope Benedict XV1, in the summer of August 2011, encouraged the faithful to read the Book of Ruth. So I did and invited others to join me. Then, in 2022, Pope Francis called the faithful to study Ruth.[1] Others joined me again. We had fresh insights both times, and God spoke to our hearts in amazing ways, filling us with joy. So, even if you have read Ruth before, let’s read it again with a new heart and open mind to hear what the Holy Spirit may teach us. Today, we cover the following points.

Background for the Book of Ruth

Ruth is one of five Old Testament books (with Esther, Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Ecclesiastes) that make up the Megillah; each is read in the synagogue during a specific Jewish festival.
Ruth is about 1/4th of the way into the pages of your Bible, between Judges and 1 Samuel.
Ruth is among the historical books in the Old Testament; with the time period, “In the days that the judges ruled (v. 1),” which is about 1380 BC to 1050 BC.
It was a dismal time for Israel; the people would not listen to the judges God sent, turned away from God, and fell into idolatry and immorality (Judges 2: 16-17).

Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon & Chilion Move to Moab (Ruth 1: 1-2)

The family moved from Bethlehem to Moab because of famine, but problems arose from that decision.
Elimelech’s name in Hebrew means My God is King, but Elimelech did not look to God, just wanting out of the famine.
The family were Ephrathites. Ephratha is the former name of Bethlehem in Scripture and is about five miles south of Jerusalem.
God cautioned the Israelites about associating with their enemies, especially the Moabites because they hated Israel and led them to worship their idols.
God always gives his people choices (Deuteronomy 30: 19).

Ten Years Later & Great Loss (Ruth 1: 3-6).

Elimelech died, the boys married Moabite women, and after ten years, both sons died.
Naomi suffered emotionally, plus knowing legally, the family name and inheritance would be gone.
She was left ONLY with two daughters-in-law in a foreign country,. BUT GOD!!
Psalm 146: 9: “The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow.”

The Turnaround (Ruth 1: 6).

Grief-stricken, Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD came to help his people with food in Bethlehem.
Naomi rose and, with the daughters-in-law, started the return to her people, her faith community, and her God.

Personal Reflection & Application

What impacts you most from these first six verses of Ruth?
- Arise. Have you made a choice you regret? God will lead you forward. Arise. Don’t look back or stay in despair.
- Remember. Do you feel like God has forsaken you? Are you bereaved or lonely? Naomi remembered the Lord. Do you remember God’s goodness? Start today thanking God for how he has blessed and helped you, even in the smallest matters.
- Listen for him to speak to you, especially in the Scriptures.
God is with you always. God has a plan that can change devastation to joy.

Prayer Response

Read, memorize, and pray these verses:
- John 6:37. Jesus said, “I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.” (Good News)
- Hebrews 13: 5. The Lord God says, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (NRSVCE)
- Jeremiah 29: 11.“I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.” (Good News)

Links

Seven Part Series Ruth: Finding Joy In Tough Times

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy small group study with your friends, It’s free and I will send you a study guide for discussion and Scripture reflection that accompanies each podcast.
Click here to read about hosting a CUP of JOY Women or Gathering small group and to sign up.
Download Bookmarks from the podcasts: WrapYourselfinJOY.com
Check out more podcasts here!
Find my books:

[1] Pope Francis:

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Gathering, Cup of Joy Women, Intercessory Prayer, Karen Dwyer, prayer, Reflections on Ruth in the Bible, Scripture, The Book of Ruth, Turnarounds, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Esther for This Time #10 – Celebrating God’s Goodness & the Feast of Purim

April 15, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Esther for This Time #10: Prayer, Reversals, & JOY

Esther and Mordecai Writing the Second Letter of Purim, Painting by Aert de Gelder, 1685

Celebrating God’s Goodness

Do you celebrate God’s goodness? Reflecting on what God has done can inspire you to trust Him more and will strengthen your faith. For Esther and Jewish families, the Feast of Purim is an annual celebration that reminds them how God delivered them from their enemies and continues to do so. Join the podcast today to celebrate God’s goodness and review the many reversals in the Book of Esther.

Reversals Continue

Approximately two months and ten days after the first decree was issued, Mordecai wrote the second edict, empowering the Jewish people to defend themselves against their enemies. The turnarounds were astounding! Today, we share at least 15 reversals and cover these points:

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No Plundering (Esther 9: 1-17)

To plunder means to steal goods by force, often during a war and with an objective of making profit.
In Esther 9, the Jewish people remembered the violation of God’s commands in their heritage (1 Samuel 15) and acted in holy retribution for self-defense but took no plunder for their profit.

The Feast of Purim Established Forever (Esther 9: 18 – 10: 3)

Mordecai and Esther declared two days of celebration in an official decree to be remembered forever.
Purim means “lots” or dice which is what Haman used to pick the date for the Jewish annihilation.
The Book of Esther, also called the Megillah, is read twice during the Feast dated according to the Hebrew calendar.
Children “boo and hiss” and throw popcorn when they hear Haman’s name.
Today, Jewish families celebrate by bring gifts to the poor, giving gifts to each other, and eating fruit-filled triangular cookies called Hamantashens [haa·muhn·taa·shn] or Haman’s Ears. They are delicious! You can pick up a recipe card on my website WRAPYourselfinJOY.com or in my book.

Banquets and Feasts in Esther

Esther begins with a banquet and ends with a feast, all with great joy.
Four pairs of feasts celebrate the turnarounds and triumphs of God.

The Dream, Memory, and Plot (Esther 10 – 16).

Esther 10 -16 , the Deuterocanonical additions A – F, suggest Mordecai remembers a Dream. It foretold God’s deliverance relating to the main events in Esther. In addition, these chapters add a few details to the occurrences.

The Hero of the Book of Esther is GOD

God used the beautiful Esther, caused the sleeplessness of the king, brought down Haman, exalted Mordecai, and gave the Jewish people victory over their enemies.
God showed tremendous power on behalf of his people. Almost like fireworks, the reversals came quickly and spectacularly, fifteen in all.

Remembering God’s Goodness

The Feast of Purim, still celebrated yearly in the Jewish tradition, helps families remember God has delivered them and will continue to deliver them.
Psalm 77 calls us to remember God’s goodness.

Personal Reflection

Do you set aside time to remember, joyously celebrate and thank God for what He has done for you? How can you implement Esther’s example?
Do you call upon God for creative solutions or turnarounds when problems arise? Try it!
Are you encouraging others that God intervenes in history when his people seek him with prayer, repentance, and fasting? Please consider it!

Cup of JOY Women

Consider forming a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group. Brief study guides accompany this podcast series, and you can begin anytime. You will meet for only ten weeks and it’s free! Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea in your home or church.
For information, email Karen or go to Cup of Joy Women.

MORE ~Esther for This Time: A Ten-Part Series over the Book of Esther

Esther for This Time #1—The Backdrop & the Party ~ Esther will show us that God never abandons us; He was faithful 2500 years ago and is faithful to you today.
Esther for This Time #2 – The Queen, the Refusal & the Bad Advice ~ Pursue God’s true wisdom instead of worldly counsel from those motivated by power.
Esther for This Time #3 – The Spa & A New Queen ~ Hear how the attractiveness of the heart wins friends and favor and see God’s providence begin unfolding quietly.
Esther for This Time #4 – Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict ~ Only God can deliver a people from destruction; With prayer and resolve, He can and He will.
Esther for This Time #5 – Your Mission For Such a Time as This ~ View powerful examples of interceding for a nation in desperate times.
Esther for This Time #6 – Pray, Wait and Discern ~ Esther demonstrates the value of prayer, but also why it’s important to wait and discern God’s solution.
Esther for This Time #7 – God-Designed Comedy ~ Enjoy the change: God reverses calamity with a sense of ~ humor.
Esther for This Time #8 – Reversals Begin ~ God loves reversals and offers creative solutions to problems; He can make them happen for you, too.
Esther for This Time #9 – Creative Solutions and MORE Reversals ~ Watch the reversals unfold through prayer, and the nation’s deliverance brings a desire for conversion.
Esther for This Time #10 – Celebrating God’s Goodness & the Feast of Purim ~ Join the celebration and be reminded of how God delivers his people from their enemies and will do the same for you.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series: WRAPyourselfinJOY.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here to find the book Es ther For Such a Time As This: Prayer, Reversals, and JOY
Join my newest podcast Ruth – Finding JOY in Tough Times and Trusting in God’s Goodness.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Jesus, joy, Karen Dwyer, prayer, Queen Esther, Reversals, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Esther for This Time #9 – Creative Solutions and MORE Reversals

April 8, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Esther Reigns as Queen

Creative Solutions for Esther & Her People

Do you need some creative solutions for your life? It may look like there is NO way out, but God working behind the scenes can always give a perfect solution. Today, we watch the reversals in Esther unfold through a second edict as many watching Esther and the nation’s deliverance express a desire for conversion.

In this podcast, we will cover the following points.

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Mordecai Authorized to Write a Second Edict (Esther 8: 3-8)

Mordecai not only acquired Haman’s wealth and property but also his position. The king gave him his signet ring making him the second most powerful man in Persia.
However, there was still unfinished business! If Haman’s first edict issued in the king’s name was not overturned, all Jews would still be killed. Legally, a king’s edict was irrevocable.
For the second time, Esther appeared before the king, and using gentle leadership asked for Haman’s decree to be revoked.
The king had given Mordecai his signet ring allowing Mordecai to write whatever he pleased.

Reversals: Jewish People Empowered (Esther 8: 9-10, 13-17 & 16: 15-23[E])

Two months and ten days after Haman issued the first edict, Mordecai summons the king’s secretaries and wrote a second edict that counteracted Haman’s edict, empowering the Jews to defend themselves. At least six more reversals transpired:

Haman‘s edict was written and dispatched to kill the Jews (3: 13-15) The Reversal (8: 10-14): Mordecai’s edict was sealed and dispatched to give the Jews authority to attack those who would attack them.
Haman‘s edict becomes the law (3: 14) The Reversal (8: 10-14): Mordecai’s writ becomes a decree that all must obey.
Mordecai mourns in sackcloth, and ashes (4: 1). The Reversal (8: 15): Mordecai wears royal robes of blue and white, a crown, and a mantle.
Mordecai wails in disgrace at the king’s gate (4: 2). The Reversal (8: 15): Mordecai was honored as the whole city shouted and rejoiced.
The Jews mourn in sackcloth and ashes with fasting (4: 3). The Reversal (8: 16): They celebrate a time of gladness, joy, and honor with a royal festival and holiday.
The Jews were weak and dispersed in the culture (3: 8). The Reversal (8: 17): The turnarounds brought about such fear of the Jews that many Persians converted or said they were Jews.

Personal Reflection

Do you need creative solutions and more reversals? Don’t give up. Ask our Lord to show you creative solutions for your impossible situations. Invite the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and your ears to what you don’t yet see. Remember God loves reversals and His solutions are always the best solutions and they will bring JOY!! Principles from Esther to help guide you in difficult times might include:

When God defeats your enemies, they are vanquished.
Assemble with others for increased strength to defeat foes.
God can give gladness, joy, and honor to replace sadness, darkness, and despair.
When people observe reversals and empowerment on your behalf, it could lead to turnarounds, change of heart or conversions.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider forming a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group. Brief study guides accompany this podcast series, and you can begin anytime. You will meet for only ten weeks and it’s free! Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea in your home or church.
For information, email Karen or go to Cup of Joy Women.

MORE ~Esther for This Time: A Ten-Part Series over the Book of Esther

Esther for This Time #1—The Backdrop & the Party ~ Esther will show us that God never abandons us; He was faithful 2500 years ago and is faithful to you today.
Esther for This Time #2 – The Queen, the Refusal & the Bad Advice ~ Pursue God’s true wisdom instead of worldly counsel from those motivated by power.
Esther for This Time #3 – The Spa & A New Queen ~ Hear how the attractiveness of the heart wins friends and favor and see God’s providence begin unfolding quietly.
Esther for This Time #4 – Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict ~ Only God can deliver a people from destruction; With prayer and resolve, He can and He will.
Esther for This Time #5 – Your Mission For Such a Time as This ~ View powerful examples of interceding for a nation in desperate times.
Esther for This Time #6 – Pray, Wait and Discern ~ Esther demonstrates the value of prayer, but also why it’s important to wait and discern God’s solution.
Esther for This Time #7 – God-Designed Comedy ~ Enjoy the change: God reverses calamity with a sense of ~ humor.
Esther for This Time #8 – Reversals Begin ~ God loves reversals and offers creative solutions to problems; He can make them happen for you, too.
Esther for This Time #9 – Creative Solutions and MORE Reversals ~ Watch the reversals unfold through prayer, and the nation’s deliverance brings a desire for conversion.
Esther for This Time #10 – Celebrating God’s Goodness & the Feast of Purim ~ Join the celebration and be reminded of how God delivers his people from their enemies and will do the same for you.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series: WRAPyourselfinJOY.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here to find the book Es ther For Such a Time As This: Prayer, Reversals, and JOY
Join my newest podcast Ruth – Finding JOY in Tough Times and Trusting in God’s Goodness.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Jesus, joy, Karen Dwyer, prayer, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Esther for This Time #8 – Reversals Begin

April 1, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Painting: Esther reveals Haman’s plot to the King by Jan Lievens, 1623

God Loves Reversals

Do you need reversals in your life? Let Esther encourage you. God loves reversals, and He can make them happen for you.

Three Reversals

Today in our podcast, we encounter three reversals in Chapter Seven of the Book of Esther. This is God’s providence, bringing dramatic changes in circumstances in response to the prayers of His people. It can happen again, and it can happen in your life! Join us today as we cover these points:

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God’s Intervention

When King Ahasuerus cannot sleep, he reads his chronicles and discovers Mordecai’s service needs a reward.
The King asks Haman what he can do for the man he delights to honor.
Haman replies the man should wear the King’s clothes, ride the King’s horse, and be proclaimed for service throughout the streets.

A Peripety

Haman hates Mordecai and is humiliated when the King tells him to proceed with these actions for Mordecai.
It is a peripety – a significant reversal of circumstances or turnaround of intentions written in heaven.
When Haman told his friends and wife Zeresh about the Mordecai incident, they warned him: “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him.”

God Reverses Evil (Esther 7: 1-8)

Esther dishes up sweet words to the King.
She knew when it was NOT time to speak and when it was time to say her request to the King.
She used the exact words from the edict so that the King knew he was hearing the truth.

Persian Culture

In Persian culture,
- Diners eat at a table while reclining on a couch.
- Men could not come within seven steps of a woman in the King’s charge or harem.
Haman approached Esther’s couch to beg for mercy – he had overstepped his bounds by 7 feet.
To the King, he was assaulting Esther. So, he orders a face cloth draped on Haman.
In the Persian culture, a facecloth covers an enemy of the King so the King would not have to look upon the one he condemned.

The Lord Loves Reversals (Esther 7: 9 – 8: 2)

Harbona, one of the King’s chief consultants, appears to know of Haman’s hatred for the Jews and of the gallows he built in his backyard to execute Mordecai. He suggests Haman hang on these gallows.
Oh, how the Lord loves reversals! His divine providence reversed three evil events for today.
- The gallows built in Haman’s backyard for Mordecai are used to hang Haman.
- The King removes the signet ring, indicating “a second in charge” position, from Haman and gives it to Mordecai.
- Haman’s decree is reversed. Instead of plundering the property of the Jews, the King gives Haman’s property to Queen Esther.
What the study of literature calls peripety—an event that suddenly brings a reversal of fortune and dramatic change in circumstances, is what Christians call a miracle.

Personal Reflection

Romans 15: 4 reminds us: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” Let Esther give you hope. God can give you reversals too:
Which of the following principles do you find most helpful for you?

1. God can reverse the evils around us.
2. Gentle leadership with prayer and God’s discernment accomplishes much.
3. Teachers of drama or literature call a reversal “peripety,” but Christians call it a miracle.

What miracle or turnaround do you need today? Based on what you observed from Esther and Mordecai, how will you pray for one?

1. Read Psalm 37: 1-5 and notice all the phrases “do not fret” and “trust in the Lord” instead. Which will you do? The Lord will act as you delight in Him and commit your way to Him.
2. Ask Jesus to bring laughter and joy to your life as you pray for the reversal.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider forming a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group. Brief study guides accompany this podcast series, and you can begin anytime. You will meet for only ten weeks and it’s free! Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea in your home or church.
For information, email Karen or go to Cup of Joy Women.

MORE ~Esther for This Time: A Ten-Part Series over the Book of Esther

Esther for This Time #1—The Backdrop & the Party ~ Esther will show us that God never abandons us; He was faithful 2500 years ago and is faithful to you today.
Esther for This Time #2 – The Queen, the Refusal & the Bad Advice ~ Pursue God’s true wisdom instead of worldly counsel from those motivated by power.
Esther for This Time #3 – The Spa & A New Queen ~ Hear how the attractiveness of the heart wins friends and favor and see God’s providence begin unfolding quietly.
Esther for This Time #4 – Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict ~ Only God can deliver a people from destruction; With prayer and resolve, He can and He will.
Esther for This Time #5 – Your Mission For Such a Time as This ~ View powerful examples of interceding for a nation in desperate times.
Esther for This Time #6 – Pray, Wait and Discern ~ Esther demonstrates the value of prayer, but also why it’s important to wait and discern God’s solution.
Esther for This Time #7 – God-Designed Comedy ~ Enjoy the change: God reverses calamity with a sense of ~ humor.
Esther for This Time #8 – Reversals Begin ~ God loves reversals and offers creative solutions to problems; He can make them happen for you, too.
Esther for This Time #9 – Creative Solutions and MORE Reversals ~ Watch the reversals unfold through prayer, and the nation’s deliverance brings a desire for conversion.
Esther for This Time #10 – Celebrating God’s Goodness & the Feast of Purim ~ Join the celebration and be reminded of how God delivers his people from their enemies and will do the same for you.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series: WRAPyourselfinJOY.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here to find the book Es ther For Such a Time As This: Prayer, Reversals, and JOY
Join my newest podcast Ruth – Finding JOY in Tough Times and Trusting in God’s Goodness.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, Esther, Intercessory Prayer, Karen Dwyer, miracle, prayer, Queen Esther, Reversals, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Esther for This Time #7 – God-Designed Comedy

March 25, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Esther for This Time - Prayer, Reversals & JOY

Mordecai Led Through the City by Haman by Azor Masters, Painting, 1420 AD, The Hague

God-designed Comedy

God-designed comedy can reverse calamity! Don’t you wish every tragedy turned into a good laugh instead? Sometimes, we think God doesn’t have a sense of humor. Today in our podcast on Esther, we cannot help but see the comedy from the hand of God that reverses a tragedy.

In Between Dinner Parties

In our last study, Esther asked the king and Haman to a festive banquet dinner she prepared. At the end of the dinner, Esther invited the king and Haman to a second dinner the next day. She delayed the real request because her discernment through prayer and fasting told her the timing was not right. Between the two dinner parties, Haman bursts with pride to family and friends at being asked to dine twice with the king and queen of Persia. However, his joy disappears at the sight of Mordecai, who refuses to stand up in his presence. Today, we join the king, whose sleeplessness, ordained by God, leads to a reversal of circumstances. We cover these points:

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The Sleeplessness of the King Results in a Peripety (Esther 6: 1-12)

The King can’t sleep, so he entertains himself by reading his annals – large volumes that record the history and accomplishments of a king’s reign.
The King’s sleeplessness begins with peripety (pronounced “pe-rip-e-tē”). The term is used in dramatic arts to define a sudden reversal of fortune with a change in direction.
In a tragedy, the plot turns a lead character’s fortune into ruin.
In a comedy, the reversal changes tragedy into comedy.
In Esther Chapter Six, we see both kinds of peripety.

God’s Reversals (Esther 6: 12)

The king turns in his annals to an event that occurred five years earlier, only to discover that Mordecai’s service had NEVER been rewarded.
Just then, Haman arrives at the inner court after constructing a 75-foot-high gallows for hanging Mordecai.
Haman lusts for power and hopes to wear the King’s robe.
The ancients attached great significance to wearing a royal robe. It was considered a mark of great favor and honor.
Haman tells the king what could be done to the man whom the king wants to honor.

Haman Humbled (Esther 6: 13-14)

Haman hated Mordecai and was greatly humbled when he proclaimed his greatness while wearing the king’s robes and crown and riding the king’s horse.
God’s hand seems to create a peripety: Haman, once honored as second in power to the king, is humiliated, and Mordecai, in sackcloth and ashes, is exalted in the king’s robe and attire.
Haman’s friends and wife Zeresh realize that the Jews worshipped a God, who seemed to be intervening.
Haman did not know the warnings of Proverbs 16:18 and Matthew 23: 12.
Proverbs 16: 18. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. NRSV-CE or
Matthew 23: 12. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. NRSV-CE

The Greatest Peripety of All (Ephesians 2: 4-6)

The greatest reversal of all God planned since creation was our redemption from sin and eternal death through Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection.
It was the greatest REAL peripety of all.

Personal Reflection

In Esther Chapter 6, we see God’s hand at work reversing many situations. Which of the following principles do you find most helpful?

Wait for God’s timing and guidance: He can intervene in your life with a miracle that changes everything.
God intervenes in history when His people call out to Him with prayer, repentance, and fasting.
Jesus Christ is your reversal of fortune—He died out of love for you to forgive your sins and offer you eternal life. Now is the time to accept His forgiveness as His plan for your life.

Memory Verses

You will want to remember these verses about God’s ability to intervene in the worst of circumstances:

Isaiah 59:1. See, the Lord’s hand is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
Jeremiah 32: 27. See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? NRSV-CE

Cup of JOY Women

Consider forming a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group. Brief study guides accompany this podcast series, and you can begin anytime. You will meet for only ten weeks and it’s free! Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea in your home or church.
For information, email Karen or go to Cup of Joy Women.

MORE ~Esther for This Time: A Ten-Part Series over the Book of Esther

Esther for This Time #1—The Backdrop & the Party ~ Esther will show us that God never abandons us; He was faithful 2500 years ago and is faithful to you today.
Esther for This Time #2 – The Queen, the Refusal & the Bad Advice ~ Pursue God’s true wisdom instead of worldly counsel from those motivated by power.
Esther for This Time #3 – The Spa & A New Queen ~ Hear how the attractiveness of the heart wins friends and favor and see God’s providence begin unfolding quietly.
Esther for This Time #4 – Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict ~ Only God can deliver a people from destruction; With prayer and resolve, He can and He will.
Esther for This Time #5 – Your Mission For Such a Time as This ~ View powerful examples of interceding for a nation in desperate times.
Esther for This Time #6 – Pray, Wait and Discern ~ Esther demonstrates the value of prayer, but also why it’s important to wait and discern God’s solution.
Esther for This Time #7 – God-Designed Comedy ~ Enjoy the change: God reverses calamity with a sense of ~ humor.
Esther for This Time #8 – Reversals Begin ~ God loves reversals and offers creative solutions to problems; He can make them happen for you, too.
Esther for This Time #9 – Creative Solutions and MORE Reversals ~ Watch the reversals unfold through prayer, and the nation’s deliverance brings a desire for conversion.
Esther for This Time #10 – Celebrate God’s Goodness & the Feast of Purim ~ Join the celebration; God delivers his people from their enemies and will do the same for you.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series: WRAPyourselfinJOY.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here to find the book Es ther For Such a Time As This: Prayer, Reversals, and JOY
Join my newest podcast Ruth – Finding JOY in Tough Times and Trusting in God’s Goodness.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, discernment, fasting, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, miracle, prayer, Queen Esther, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Just the Way I Am

March 21, 2024 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Bare Bones Show Notes!

Here’s the thing: I love to speak, and I love to write, but for some reason, show notes. UGH! I might want to take some of the advice I give in this episode about the way I am and see if it changes. We shall see.

Scripture Quoted

Revelation 21: 5 “The one who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 : “So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.”

The main point

When we say, “That’s just the way I am,” we put ourselves in a box and deny the possibility of change, which we can do with God’s help.

Pray with this question: God, what do you want to make new?

Would you like to pray together or learn ways of praying to help you change with God’s help? Please contact me.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: change, Holy Spirit, Holy Week, lent, Scripture

Esther for This Time #6 – Pray, Wait and Discern

March 18, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Esther for This Time, Wait, Pray, & Discern

Image: Esther before Ahasuerus (1547-48) Painting by Tintoretto

Pray, Wait & Discern

Are you praying, waiting, and discerning? Have you ever prayed in a daunting situation? Were you looking for a quick solution? Sometimes a quick solution is not the best solution. In our podcast today, Esther shows us the value of prayer, but also why it’s important to wait and discern God’s solution.

Esther Puts Her Life on the Line

Esther’s name comes from the Hebrew root “SIT-UR seter,” which means “concealed.” It suggests her identity would be concealed for a time, but the time had come for her to reveal her faith. Mordecai asked her to go to the king to stop the edict against the Jews, but without an invitation, she could be executed. Esther finally agreed to put her life on the line for such a time as this. She knew she needed God’s intervention, so she called for three days of fasting from food and water for all Jews, and even her maids. Then she would go to the king with the conclusion, “If I perish, I perish.” In the podcast today, we will cover these points.

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The Third Day (Esther 5: 1-8)

The “third day” in the Jewish faith is significant. A Jewish commentary suggests believed God’s deliverance for Israel would come after prayer on “the third day” (Midrash Raba, Esther).
For example, in the Old Testament, Hosea 6: 2 says, After two days, He will revive us; on the third day, God will raise us up, that we may live before him. NRSV-CE
The third day also connects to the Christian faith and Jesus’ resurrection.

Esther’s Gentle-Discerning Leadership (Esther 5: 5-7)

Esther “stood” before the king, radiating inner strength and outer beauty from God.
Esther 15 (Deuterocanonical): the King invited Esther to him, saying: “Come near. ¹¹ Then he raised the golden scepter and touched her neck with it; ¹²he embraced her, and said, “Speak to me.”
Gentle leadership characterizes a leader who is kind, compassionate, loyal, and willing to listen to the needs of those around her.
A discerning leader prays and waits for God’s direction.
Queen Esther was truly a gentle and discerning leader. She leaned completely on God for strength and guidance.

Esther’s Discernment and the First Banquet (Esther 5: 9-14)

The fasting and prayers of Esther and God’s people changed the heart of the King.
On the third day of fasting, Esther abandoned herself in total submission to God, put on royal robes to show her authority as Queen of Persia, and became the leader God designed her to be.
Esther asked the king and Haman to a festive dinner banquet she had prepared.
At the end of the meal, Esther delayed and again asked the king and Haman to come to a second dinner on the following day.
God’s guidance and discernment indicated Esther needed to wait one more day.

Haman and His Prized Sons

Haman boasted to his family and friends (v. 10-12). He had 12 sons.
Historian Herodotus says the Persians prized a large number of sons, second only to great courage in war.
Haman’s pride burst with pride at being invited to dinner twice with the king and queen of Persia.
Only the sight of Mordecai, who would not bow to him, pricked his joy. His wife, Zeresh, suggested he build a 75-foot (50-cubit)- high gallows and hang Mordecai immediately.

Personal Reflection

Which principles on prayer, waiting and discernment will you apply?
I need to seek God with other pray-ers for support to stand firm in spiritual battles.
To become gentler and more discerning, I need to increase my time in prayer, repenting for myself and others, fasting, and waiting.
I want to rely more on God’s discernment. I must wait where God has placed me and invite his discernment and leadership.
I will try to remember this verse: Isaiah 40:31.“But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” NRSV-CE

Cup of JOY Women

Consider forming a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group. Brief study guides accompany this podcast series, and you can begin anytime. You will meet for only ten weeks and it’s free! Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea in your home or church.
For information, email Karen or go to Cup of Joy Women.

MORE ~Esther for This Time: A Ten-Part Series over the Book of Esther

Esther for This Time #1—The Backdrop & the Party ~ Esther will show us that God never abandons us; He was faithful 2500 years ago and is faithful to you today.
Esther for This Time #2 – The Queen, the Refusal & the Bad Advice ~ Pursue God’s true wisdom instead of worldly counsel from those motivated by power.
Esther for This Time #3 – The Spa & A New Queen ~ Hear how the attractiveness of the heart wins friends and favor and see God’s providence begin unfolding quietly.
Esther for This Time #4 – Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict ~ Only God can deliver a people from destruction; With prayer and resolve, He can and He will.
Esther for This Time #5 – Your Mission For Such a Time as This ~ View powerful examples of interceding for a nation in desperate times.
Esther for This Time #6 – Pray, Wait and Discern ~ Esther demonstrates the value of prayer, but also why it’s important to wait and discern God’s solution.
Esther for This Time #7 – God-Designed Comedy ~ Enjoy the change: God reverses calamity with a sense of ~ humor.
Esther for This Time #8 – Reversals Begin ~ God loves reversals and offers creative solutions to problems; He can make them happen for you, too.
Esther for This Time #9 – Creative Solutions and MORE Reversals ~ Watch the reversals unfold through prayer, and the nation’s deliverance brings a desire for conversion.
Esther for This Time #10 – Celebrate God’s Goodness & the Feast of Purim ~ Join the celebration; God delivers his people from their enemies and will do the same for you.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series: WRAPyourselfinJOY.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here to find the book Es ther For Such a Time As This: Prayer, Reversals, and JOY
Join my newest podcast Ruth – Finding JOY in Tough Times and Trusting in God’s Goodness.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, Discerning Leadership, discernment, Fastng, For Such a Time as This, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, prayer, Queen Esther, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy, Your Mission

Esther for This Time #4 – Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict

March 4, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict

Esther 3: 8 Painting: “Haman Convinces Ahasuerus” by Masters, 1420 AD

Do you ever have unwavering resolve? In relationships, we use compromise for cooperation and keeping the peace. Nonetheless, we must stand firm, determined, and unshakable in some situations. Join us today as Esther reveals the importance of unwavering resolve in difficult times.

https://media.blubrry.com/ucpn/media.blubrry.com/1468201/ins.blubrry.com/1468201/Esther-for-This-Time-4--Unwavering-Resolve-the-First-Edict.mp3

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Persia, 474 BC – Five Years After Esther’s Banquet

Welcome to Esther & Turnaround Joy Episode #4: Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict, where we encounter Esther and Mordecai five years after King Ahasuerus sponsored the beauty contest, crowned Esther as queen and celebrated with Esther’s banquet.

Next, we watch as the providential hand of God becomes more evident. We will see why God put Esther in a position of influence—even before the Jewish people faced the possibility of annihilation. It’s 474 BC, and we join Mordecai as he stands near the palace gate and overhears a plot to kill the king. We cover these points:

Mordecai at the Palace Gate & Assassination Plot Foiled (Esther 2: 19-23)

Mordecai is “sitting at the gate” checking on Esther and likely working in a government position.
Mordecai told Esther not to reveal her nationality.
While at the gate, Mordecai overheard a plot to kill King Ahasuerus and reported it to Esther, who told the king. He hanged the would-be assassins Bigthan and Teresh.
Acts of loyalty like Mordecai’s were officially recorded so the king could reward the hero.

Mordecai is Resolute (Esther 3: 1-6)

Mordecai stood firm with unwavering resolve, which means firm, determined, not shakable, and displaying unwavering loyalty. (Vocabulary.com dictionary).
Therefore, he refused to bow down to Haman because God had commanded the Jewish people not to bow in adoration to anyone (e.g., Exodus 20: 3-6).
Haman was the king’s top advisor and “an enemy of the Jews” (Esther 3:10).
Haman was an Agagite, a descendent of King Agag of the Amalekites, who was of a fierce nomadic tribe that made their living by raiding settlements, killing the men, women, and children, and then taking their possessions. They had a “blood feud” with Israel, which demanded total extermination of the Israelites (see Exodus 17 and Deuteronomy 25).

The Pur, the Plan, and the Drink (Esther 3: 7-15 & Esther 13)

The Pur

Mordecai stood firm in his faith and obedience to God’s law and would not bow to Haman.
Infuriated Haman in April 374 BC cast the pur – purim is the plural form.
The Purim were similar to our dice and were thrown to help make decisions and choose dates.
Esther 3:7 indicates the pur fell on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Aadar, March 7, 374 BC, for destroying all Jews.

The Plan

Haman offered the king 10,000 talents or about 375 tons of silver, which of course he hoped to acquire by killing Jewish families and plundering their homes.
King Ahasuerus gave Haman his signet ring, his signature used to stamp the wax on an official letter from the king.
Haman summoned the scribes to draft the edict on the day before Passover- April 17^th, 474 BC (Esther 3:12).
The announcement was sent out to the 127 provinces of the Persian Empire on Passover—the day Jewish families annually commemorated God delivering them from slavery (see Exodus 12). The date was chosen to dishearten and terrorize the Jewish people.
The Passover celebration with family and friends quickly became a day of confusion and weeping. How ironic! The day of the announcement would fall on a commemoration of God’s deliverance. Could God again deliver them from destruction? It would be only God who could!

The Drink

To Haman and the king, it was just another day to celebrate their power, so they had a drink.
Haman’s heart was hardened with generational hatred, so he rejoiced in the genocide of the Jews.
Hebrews 4: 13 reminds us: “before him [God] no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.”
Little did Haman know that the God of heaven was in control.

Personal Reflection: Unwavering Resolve

We witnessed a good example of unwavering resolve with Mordecai. He showed us there are times for unwavering resolve when we must follow God no matter the cost. We cannot deny God’s commandments ever.
Mordecai refused to bow in worship to anyone other than the God of heaven and earth. He followed Exodus 20, “You shall have no other gods beside Me…You shall not bow down to them…”
Psalm 119: 2-4 reminds us: “²Happy [blessed and joyful] are all who search for God and always do his will, rejecting compromise with evil and walking only in his paths. You [O God] have given us your laws to obey.
Unwavering resolve and devotion to God may be met with persecution. However, I can stay strong in the Lord and keep his commandments. 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14 says: Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Ask God, ”Where do you want me to have unwavering resolve?” Henceforth, ask God for help to be resolute. He will give it to you.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider forming a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group. Brief study guides accompany this podcast series, and you can begin anytime. You will meet for only ten weeks and it’s free! Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea in your home or church.
For information, email Karen or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series: WRAPyourselfinJOY.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here to find the book Es ther For Such a Time As This: Prayer, Reversals, and JOY
Join my newest podcast Ruth – Finding JOY in Tough Times and Trusting in God’s Goodness.

Esther for This Time: The Ten-Part Series over the Book of Esther

Esther for This Time #1—The Backdrop & the Party ~ Esther will show us that God never abandons us; He was faithful 2500 years ago and is faithful to you today.
Esther for This Time #2 – The Queen, the Refusal & the Bad Advice ~ Pursue God’s true wisdom instead of worldly counsel from those motivated by power.
Esther for This Time #3 – The Spa & A New Queen ~ Hear how the attractiveness of the heart wins friends and favor and see God’s providence begin unfolding quietly.
Esther for This Time #4 – Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict ~ Only God can deliver a people from destruction; With prayer and resolve, He can and He will.
Esther for This Time #5 – Your Mission For Such a Time as This ~ View powerful examples of interceding for a nation in desperate times.
Esther for This Time #6 – Pray, Wait and Discern ~ Esther demonstrates the value of prayer, but also why it’s important to wait and discern God’s solution.
Esther for This Time #7 – God-Designed Comedy ~ Enjoy the change: God reverses calamity with a sense of ~ humor.
Esther for This Time #8 – Reversals Begin ~ God loves reversals and offers creative solutions to problems; He can make them happen for you, too.
Esther for This Time #9 – Creative Solutions and MORE Reversals ~ Watch the reversals unfold through prayer, and the nation’s deliverance brings a desire for conversion.
Esther for This Time #10 – Celebrate God’s Goodness & the Feast of Purim ~ Join the celebration; God delivers his people from their enemies and will do the same for you.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Esther, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, miracle, prayer, Queen Esther, resolve, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Esther for This Time #3 – The Spa & A New Queen

February 26, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Esther for This Time #3: The Spa & the New Queen

Esther Bedecked by Aert de Gerder, 1684; The Painting shows Esther about to be crowned & bedecked in an ermine-edged coat

The Spa & A New Queen

Are you seeking attractiveness and favor with others? On the way to becoming queen, Esther offers us an example of attractiveness, God’s way. Join us today at the Spa, circa 479 BC, and hear how the attractiveness of heart wins friends and favor and witness the providence of God unfold.

Persia, 479 BC

Four years have passed between Chapters One and Two of Esther (see Esther 1:3 and 2: 16). According to Greek historian Herodotus, during that time, King Ahasuerus suffered a great military defeat by the Greeks and returned home to consume himself with overindulgence and sensuality.
He also missed the lasting relationship with his beautiful wife, Queen Vashti, whom he dethroned at his last party. The king’s advisors suggest a beauty contest with exotic spa treatments to help find a new queen. So today we are off to the spa to witness a new queen’s crowning.

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Mordecai Brings Up Esther (Esther 2: 1-8)

Mordecai was introduced as a Jew in the family line of Kish (King Saul’s family) of the tribe of Benjamin. (Calling him a Jew repeatedly suggests that he was somehow still a foreigner and not completely accepted into secular Persia.) A person’s family line shows his status in Jewish lineage. When the Scriptures mention Nebuchadnezzar carried away Kish, the verses refer to the Babylonian captivity, with a second forced removal involving King Jeconiah of Judah in 597 BC. Likely, Mordecai’s grandfather and family members were among those taken captive in 597 BC.
Mordecai was born in Susa of Persia after the defeat of the Babylonian Empire. He and his family had chosen not to return to Jerusalem when Cyrus the Great allowed the Jews to return home beginning in 539 BC.
Esther was introduced as Mordecai’s younger cousin (Esther 2:7) whom he raised because she had been orphaned. Likely, her parents died when she was young. So it would have been Mordecai who taught her the Hebrew Scriptures and the Jewish faith

Esther & The Spa Treatments (Esther 2: 9-12)

The beauty contest was not the usual Persian way to select a queen. Normally, kings took their wives from the families of the Persian nobles, which is probably how King Ahasuerus crowned Vashti. However, a self-indulgent and powerful king could choose any woman he wanted for a wife.
In Susa, Esther was given seven servants plus food, probably laden with oils to fatten her up and help her display the Persian ideal of beauty. The women were given oil baths of delicious-smelling flowers and herbs to soften the skin and add a fragrant aroma.
At Susa, Divine Providence – God unfolding his purposes – becomes more visible to the spiritual eye, as we notice Esther found favor with Hegai.

Esther is Crowned Queen (Esther 2: 12 -18)

After twelve months of beauty treatments, it was Esther’s turn to come before the king.
Esther pleased the king, even though we do not know the details or how this happened in one evening. Obviously, the king saw her inner and outer beauty—the first woman that pleased him since Vashti. It was Divine Providence behind the scenes that surely turned the king’s heart toward Esther, even if she was only cooperating with circumstances that were beyond her control.

Esther’s Banquet

When King Ahasuerus crowned Esther as his Queen, he. gave another party, calling it Esther’s Banquet. This celebration included both men and women, generous gifts, and even tax relief.

Personal Reflection

Today, our story teaches us:

The Lord can turn the heart of a leader. We can trust and pray that He does in our times as well.
God is at work even though we don’t see him right away. We can pray to see God active in the scenes of our lives, for he is surely there at work.
Ultimately it is God who turns the heart of the king. He gave Esther favor, and her inner beauty seemed to capture the king’s favor and love.

Personal Application & God’s Attractiveness Plan

Read Proverbs 31: 30 and 1 Peter 3: 3 to summarize God’s beauty plan.
Proverbs 31: 30. Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting, but a woman who fears [worships, honors, and respects] the Lord is to be praised. (GNT) Obviously, with age, beauty fades, but to worship, honor and respect God creates a lasting attractiveness that appeals to others too. God blesses all of our attempts to honor Him. So how is your attractiveness quotient when you consider spending time daily to worship and honor God is an important part of any beauty plan?
1 Peter 3:3-4. Don’t depend on things like fancy hairdos or gold jewelry or expensive clothes [outward adorning] to make you look beautiful.⁴Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet [with a calm temper and contented mind]. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special [precious in His sight]. (GNT) It’s not that God objects to putting our best foot forward, so to speak, or trying to look our best at any age, but His Word suggests an attractiveness plan.
Does your attractiveness plan include a gentle, quiet spirit with a calm temper and contented mind or demeanor? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Ephesians 5: 22 says, the fruit of the Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and more in our lives.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider forming a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group. Brief study guides accompany this podcast series, and you can begin anytime. You will meet for only ten weeks and it’s free! Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea in your home or church.
For information, email Karen or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series: WRAPyourselfinJOY.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here to find the book Es ther For Such a Time As This: Prayer, Reversals, and JOY
Join my newest podcast Ruth – Finding JOY in Tough Times and Trusting in God’s Goodness.

Esther for This Time: The Ten-Part Series over the Book of Esther

Esther for This Time #1—The Backdrop & the Party ~ Esther will show us that God never abandons us; He was faithful 2500 years ago and is faithful to you today.
Esther for This Time #2 – The Queen, the Refusal & the Bad Advice ~ Pursue God’s true wisdom instead of worldly counsel from those motivated by power.
Esther for This Time #3 – The Spa & A New Queen ~ Hear how the attractiveness of the heart wins friends and favor and see God’s providence begin unfolding quietly.
Esther for This Time #4 – Unwavering Resolve & the First Edict ~ Only God can deliver a people from destruction; With prayer and resolve, He can and He will.
Esther for This Time #5 – Your Mission For Such a Time as This ~ View powerful examples of interceding for a nation in desperate times.
Esther for This Time #6 – Pray, Wait and Discern ~ Esther demonstrates the value of prayer, but also why it’s important to wait and discern God’s solution.
Esther for This Time #7 – God-Designed Comedy ~ Enjoy the change: God reverses calamity with a sense of ~ humor.
Esther for This Time #8 – Reversals Begin ~ God loves reversals and offers creative solutions to problems; He can make them happen for you, too.
Esther for This Time #9 – Creative Solutions and MORE Reversals ~ Watch the reversals unfold through prayer, and the nation’s deliverance brings a desire for conversion.
Esther for This Time #10 – Celebrate God’s Goodness & the Feast of Purim ~ Join the celebration; God delivers his people from their enemies and will do the same for you.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Attractiveness, Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, Favor, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Ask, Seek, Knock

January 12, 2024 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Scripture

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9

Why Pray Each Day?

Because God has something to say to you, and you can’t hear him if you are not silent. Each day, spend some time with the Word, silence, and your journal. And by journal, it can be a sticky note on the page you re reading. Something to write what you hear in your time of listening to God.

What will your commitment be to God for quiet prayer, dedicated time just for him?

Need a Speaker?

Contact me and we can talk about it!

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: live not lukewarm, notlukewarm, notlukewarm challenge, pray, pray with scripture, Scripture

Seeking Consolation and JOY? Join Anna & Simeon at the Presentation – A JOY-Filled Advent & Christmas #7

January 1, 2024 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

A Joy-Filled Advent and Christmas with Anna & Simeon

The Presentation in the Temple, Philippe de Champaigne. 1648; Join Simeon & Anna at the Presentation of Jesus

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Seeking Consolation and JOY? Ann and Simeon Show Us the Way.

Are you seeking consolation or more joy? Join us today at the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, where Anna and Simeon show us JOY. They offer us ten ways the Holy Spirit can help YOU.

Off to the Temple

Welcome to Advent JOY Podcast #7, based on my book The Joy Of Advent: Journey With The People, Events, and Prayers At The First Coming Of Jesus Christ. Today, we travel with Mary and Joseph to the Temple and the Presentation of the Lord. There Anna and Simeon will join us at this very special event as we cover the following points:

Circumcised, Redeemed, and Purified (Luke 2: 21-23)

At the time of Jesus’ birth, the Old Testament Mosaic Law required every firstborn Jewish male to be circumcised at 8 days after birth
The naming of the baby took place at the same time as the circumcision.
Mary and Joseph by divine appointment knew what the Child was to be called. And so “He was named Jesus” which means the Lord saves- the name told to both Mary and Joseph via an angel (Luke 1: 30 and Matthew 1: 20).

Jesus Came to Fulfill All the Law (Luke 2: 23-24)

Now, forty days after Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary again follow the Mosaic Law for the Presentation of Jesus in the temple and Mary’s Purification. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus said He came to “fulfill the law,” which begins at His birth.
For Mary’s Purification, the sweet Blessed Mother of humble means offers “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” which Leviticus 12: 8 prescribed for a new mother who could not afford a sheep to offer.

The Presentation or Redemption of Jesus (Luke 2: 25-38)

This “redemption of the firstborn” meant that the parents redeemed Jesus or bought Him back from God. Isn’t it amazing that almost 33 years later, it would be Jesus who would pay the price for our redemption by dying on the cross?
The Catholic Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord on February 2 every year.

Simeon & Anna

Although their lives differed, Simeon and Anna had much in common.

Both Simeon and Anna were described as deeply spiritual people. They loved the Lord, practiced their faith, and did not allow themselves to become bitter or decrepit with the times.
Both were “senior citizens” active in serving God. Pope Francis says of the Presentation: It is a meeting between the young, who are full of joy in observing the Law of the Lord, and the elderly who are full of joy in the action of the Holy Spirit. It is a unique encounter between observance and prophecy, where young people are the observers and the elderly are prophets! (The Feast of the Presentation, Vatican, 2-2-2014).
Both knew the Scriptures.
Both believed in the Scriptures and were looking for the Messiah. Bible scholars and theologians say Jesus has fulfilled at least 300 Old Testament prophecies.
Both were looking forward with HOPE. The words looking for indicate they were actively waiting for the Savior with hope.
Both worshiped, prayed, and adored God. Their eyes went more to God than to the news of the day. That brought consolation.
The Spirit of God guided both.
Both Simeon and Anna recognized the Messiah.
Both received Jesus and were changed.
Both Simeon and Anna received a message about Jesus from the Holy Spirit, and they shared it.

Simeon’s Prayer – The Nunc Dimittis Reflects Isaiah’s Prophecies (Luke 2: 29-32)

Simeon’s prayer is one of the Church’s great prayers, or canticles (little songs). It is called the Nunc Dimittis because v. 29 in the Latin translation of the Bible begins with the words “Nunc Dimittis,” which means “now dismiss your servant.” In other words, Simeon was saying to the Lord, “Now I am ready to die; you can dismiss me, Lord; I have seen the Savior.”
Every evening, all priests, religious, and laypeople who pray the Liturgy of the Hours pray the Nunc Dimittis prayer.
Today and every day, you can pray the Nunc Dimittis from Luke 2: 29-30.

Our Response

Why not spend some time with these verses? Using your holy imagination, see yourself receiving Jesus from Mary’s arms as Simeon did.
- Look into the face of Jesus and give Him your shame and sadness.
- In exchange, receive His Love and JOY. He has come for YOU. You can’t help but be consoled.
- Then like Anna, praise God because you have seen the Savior of the World. He has come to give You peace, as John 15 says, Peace I give you, but not as the world gives. He has come to give the world peace as Luke 2: 14 says, Peace on earth, good will toward to men. He has come to give you His love.

Remember Lamentations 3:22-25. (ESV) … His mercies are fresh every morning. Great is His faithfulness 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.

Join me for my next podcast series, starting in February: Esther for this time: Prayer, Reversals, and JOY.

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy small group study that accompanies each podcast series, especially this next one: Esther for this Time: Prayer, Reversals, and JOY. Read more on hosting a CUP of JOY Women or Cup of JOY Gathering small group. It’s free, and I will send you the materials you need for the one-hour discussion and study. For questions, please email karen@wrapyourselfinjoy.com

You can download a Bookmark of prayer points from A Joy-filled Advent Podcast #1 at my website: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.

Check out more podcasts here!

Click here for the book: The Joy of Advent: Journey with the People, Events and Prayers at the First Coming of Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Advent, Anna, Bible Study, joy, Mary, Nunc Dimittis, Presentation of Jesus, Scripture, Simeon, spiritual, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Joyful & Battle Ready #8 – Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

November 20, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Pray at Every Opportunity (Ephesians 6:18)

Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

Is there a way to stay wrapped in Joy and Armored in God? This final podcast of the Joyful and Battle-Ready series focuses on the key to living in JOY and being protected with armor. So join the podcast today and discover how prayer secures your JOY and activates your armor. Join us today as we cover these points:

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True and Lasting JOY

As the Scriptures point out, prayer is the key to staying wrapped in joy and armored.
Psalm 16 reminds us that God offers the fullness of JOY in his presence.
In John 15 11, Jesus says, Abide in my love… I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
To abide in God’s love means we are always in communication with him in prayer.

Prayer and JOY

Essential points covered in the last eight weeks include: 1) receiving JOY from God the Father, Jesus our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our fruit bearer of JOY, 2) asking God to increase your capacity to receive His Joy and Love, 3) Praising and thanking God-two of the five forms of prayer associated with JOY, 4) Using the Prayer and Holy Imagery to defeat Joy Busters, 6) Rejoicing to stop worry, 7) Reading and Praying scripture leads to deep spiritual JOY.
Prayer is the path to JOY.

Prayer and The Armor of God

After the armor message of Ephesians 6: 17, verse 18 says: With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones (NABRE). The NRSVCE translation says: Pray at all times…
Interestingly, PRAYER isn’t called a piece of armor but is connected to the armor.
There was not any punctuation or separation of sentences in the original New Testament Greek manuscripts, so the need to pray at all times connects to the armor.
We have found that each piece represents Jesus, whom we come to daily, and, in a sense, we “put on Jesus daily.” So we put the armor on with prayer.

Pray at Every Opportunity in the Spirit

Prayer to Christians is like oxygen to life- live and breathe with prayer.
Many Christians say, “All we can do is pray.” We should say, “We will pray. God will hear, and He will change everything.”
When prayer is the atmosphere we breathe, and we keep breathing it, the Holy Spirit is released to work in unimaginable ways, and supernatural graces and gifts are poured out.
Heaven will even surprise us when we stay connected with the King of Kings and His Kingdom in prayer!

Pray at all times, Aware of His Presence

The Catholic Church defines prayer as a “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God” (CCC 2558). It is “Christian…insofar as it is communion with Jesus Christ” – ” a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ”(CCC 2565, 2564).”
Prayer is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. In relationship with a living God, we are continually communing with our Savior. God is with us always. He is for us. He is our Helper in all things.
Praying at all times means you are constantly connecting with your closest friend.

Praying at every opportunity

Praying at every opportunity, as translated in the NABRE, conveys that opportunities arise at various times of every day and evening. We need to pause momentarily and give that event or situation to Jesus.
For example, in Nehemiah 6:9, he prayed, “But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

Confidence in Prayer

Praying at every opportunity establishes a deep personal bond between you and your Heavenly Father in everything you do. It is always heart-to-heart with your heart speaking directly to the Heart of Jesus. He hears you.
Pope Francis says, “Prayer is more than just a physical, emotional, or intellectual act; it is an inner desire to encounter God with confidence. God has revealed Himself to us in His Son, Jesus Christ. So, the prayer of a Christian brings us into a relationship with God without any fear or trepidation. One can establish a relationship built on confidence with Him in prayer” (May 5, 2020).

Personal Reflection

Remember all that God taught you in Ephesians 6 about standing strong and firm in battle. Read Ephesians 6 often.
Visualize yourself putting on each piece of the armor of God—the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes ready to Proclaim the Gospel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation, the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Lord of God, plus, Praying at every opportunity in the Spirit. Act it out in your mind. Try it!

The Eight -Part Series ~ Joyful & Battle Ready

Joyful & Battle Ready #1 ~ Embrace the JOY and Stand FIRM!

Joyful & Battle Ready #2 ~ Drenched with JOY & Armored in Truth

Joyful & Battle Ready #3 ~ Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Joyful & Battle Ready #4 ~ Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Joyful & Battle Ready #5 ~ Defeat JOY Busters & Take Up the Shield of Faith

Joyful & Battle Ready #6 ~Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Joyful & Battle Ready #7 ~ The JOY of Scripture & Wielding the Sword of the Spirit

Joyful & Battle Ready #8 ~ Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

Cup of JOY Women

Consider joining a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s study for eight weeks. It accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime. It’s free!

Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea.
For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women. Read more on hosting a CUP of JOY Women’s small group OR Email karen@wrapyourselfinjoy.com

Download bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: wrapyourselfinjoy.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here for the book Wrap Yourself in Joy: find the Joy, fight the Fear.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Armor of God, Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, Joy Busters. Finding JOY, Joy Declarations, Karen Dwyer, prayer, Proclaim Declarations, Scripture, Sword of the Spirit, Wrap Yourself in Joy

The JOY of Scripture & Wielding the Sword of the Spirit (Joyful & Battle Ready #7)

November 12, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Did you know that JOY is associated with reading and praying with scripture? The Word of God promises a deep spiritual joy in interacting with God via His Word. Join the podcast today as we cover the pleasures found in the Word of God and how to use the Word as a Sword of the Spirit to protect your mind and emotions from attacks of the evil one.

Join us today as we cover these points:

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Deep Spiritual JOY

Happy in Psalm 1 (ASRAI in Hebrew) more closely means—a deep spiritual joy (Ross, A. P. (2011).
The BENEFIT is the deep, joyous pleasure and satisfaction that will come when you listen to the Lord in verses of Scripture and interact with Him around the verses.

Four Stages of Prayer

In The Armchair Mystic, Rev. Mark Thibodeaux describes four stages of prayer, summarized as: Talking at God, Talking to God. Listening to God speak in Scripture daily and Resting in God’s presence,
Stage 4 is the goal.

Joy and Healing

Another benefit of reading and praying God’s word: HEALING
Basil the Great said: “The Holy Spirit composed the Scriptures so that in them, as in a pharmacy open to all souls, we might each of us be able to find the medicine suited to our own particular illness… (Spidlik, T., & Drake, P. (1993).

WRAP – Simplified Lectio Divina for Reading and Praying with Scripture

WRAP is an acronym for reading, praying, and reflecting on Scripture, and it works best if you journal what you hear (from WRAP Yourself in Scripture, a book by Karen & Larry Dwyer, Institute of Priestly Formation,
WRAP aims to foster a personal encounter with Jesus in the Scriptures so that the words come alive and you hear God speak to YOUR HEART.
It’s a form of Lectio Divina— which the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines as reading to hear God speak to you and meditating on His Words so that it becomes your prayer (CCC 1177).

WRAP Method

W: Write down the verse that inspires you or seems to arise out of the passage.
R: Reflect on the principles/ ideas the verse is inspiring in you & record your thoughts. (Mull Over, Mentally Picture, Mutter, & Memorize.)
A: Apply the principles. Write down your response to the Scripture & how it applies to your life today.
P: Pray and praise. Talk with Jesus about what the verse opened in your heart.

The Sword of the Spirit

In Ephesians 6:17, Paul calls the Word the Sword of the Spirit.
The Roman soldier carried his sword in his belt (or girdle).
The Romans employed two types of swords: the “rpomphaia” (Revelation 1,2), a large, long, and broad sword that took two hands to wield, and the “makchaira” ( Ephesians 6: 17), a short 6” to 18” sharp and piercing dagger for hand-to-hand combat.

A Formidable and Sure Defense

Hebrews 4:12 describes the WORD of God as “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, …able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The Word brings truth where there is falsehood, light where there is darkness, and joy where there is sorrow. Psalm 119: 11, 105
Luke 4: 1-13 shows Jesus using the Word of God in defense all three times.
We can speak the Scriptures to help us stand firm against temptations, discouragement, fear, or other attack on our faith.

An Offensive Weapon

You can hide God’s Word in your heart to help identify and reject sin and strengthen your inner person.
When you share the Word with someone—especially a word that deeply moved you—it is a sword that pierces another’s heart.

Personal Reflection: Sword of the Spirit Declarations

You can WIELD THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT with these Declarations from God’s Word:

I will love and read God’s Word daily (Psalm 119: 11, NRSVCE).
The Word of God is “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119: 105, NRSVCE).
The Word of God is my defensive weapon as Jesus showed in his fight with the evil one (Matthew 4:10-11, NRSVCE).
When I gently share the Word of God with others, I can be confident that God’s Word is “living and active (Hebrews 4:12, NRSVCE).

The Eight -Part Series ~ Joyful & Battle Ready

Joyful & Battle Ready #1 ~ Embrace the JOY and Stand FIRM!

Joyful & Battle Ready #2 ~ Drenched with JOY & Armored in Truth

Joyful & Battle Ready #3 ~ Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Joyful & Battle Ready #4 ~ Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Joyful & Battle Ready #5 ~ Defeat JOY Busters & Take Up the Shield of Faith

Joyful & Battle Ready #6 ~Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Joyful & Battle Ready #7 ~ The JOY of Scripture & Wielding the Sword of the Spirit

Joyful & Battle Ready #8 ~ Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

Cup of JOY Women

Consider joining a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s study for eight weeks. It accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime. It’s free!

Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea.
For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Download bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: wrapyourselfinjoy.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here for the book Wrap Yourself in Joy: find the Joy, fight the Fear.

Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation – Joyful & Battle Ready #6

November 6, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation (Joyful & Battle Ready #6)

Are you ready to stop the worry and return to JOY? Worry is the big JOY thief that brings on fretting. In only a few dances with fretting, you will be exhausted. Your JOY will be sidelined. Join us today and discover how to stop the worry, return to JOY, and put on the Helmet of Salvation to protect your thoughts and reasoning about what God has done for you.

Join us today as we cover these points:

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Do You Worry?

You will find that worry is not only a joybuster but also a joy thief.
In Matthew 6: 25 34, Jesus talks directly to us about worry.

Worry Defined

The Cambridge Dictionary defines – to give way to anxiety or uneasiness, to allow one’s mind to continually dwell on difficulties and troubles, to think about problems and become distracted.

Even Jesus shows the anxiety and distraction connection.
Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but there is a need for only one thing (Luke 10 41- 42).

Fretting

The Hebrew word we translate as fretting includes firing up rage and kindling anger.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a fret as a worry, an annoyance, a discontentment that gnaws at you.
Fretting eats away at your peace.
Psalm 37 advises, Do NOT fret.

Actions Advised in Philippians 4: 4-7

Rejoice means to return to joy. Actively be glad, actively pursue joy.
In prayer and supplication, make your requests known to the Lord.
For every need you express in prayer, offer a thanksgiving about something related.
Receive peace. The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6:17 says we must “take the helmet of salvation.
Pope Francis says the helmet is “not so much that of acknowledging the Resurrection of Jesus — everyone believes in it — but of believing in the resurrection of the dead.”
The helmet of a Roman soldier called a galea, was designed to cover the head with thick leather enclosed in beaten metals of iron and bronze, protecting the head from weapons of warfare causing injury.
The helmet of salvation shows that Satan’s flaming arrows target our minds and are directed at our faith in Jesus, who paid the price for our salvation with his passion, death, and resurrection.
The devil will try to discourage you and destroy your faith.

Personal Reflection: Helmet of Salvation Declarations

Take the Helmet of Salvation in defense against the evil one who pushes doubts to divert you from the truth of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Starting today, say the Apostles Creed often.
Remind yourself of the Helmet of Salvation Declarations with the truths from Scripture:

Eternal life is in Jesus, and it’s for me (Romans 8: 12).
I will not be anxious about my salvation (Romans 5: 8-9).
I do not need to worry; I can know I have eternal life (1 John 5: 11-13).

The Eight -Part Series ~ Joyful & Battle Ready

Joyful & Battle Ready #1 ~ Embrace the JOY and Stand FIRM!

Joyful & Battle Ready #2 ~ Drenched with JOY & Armored in Truth

Joyful & Battle Ready #3 ~ Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Joyful & Battle Ready #4 ~ Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Joyful & Battle Ready #5 ~ Defeat JOY Busters & Take Up the Shield of Faith

Joyful & Battle Ready #6 ~Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Joyful & Battle Ready #7 ~ The JOY of Scripture & Wielding the Sword of the Spirit

Joyful & Battle Ready #8 ~ Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

Cup of JOY Women

Consider joining a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s study for eight weeks. It accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime. It’s free!

Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea.
For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: wrapyourselfinjoy.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click here for the book Wrap Yourself in Joy: find the Joy, fight the Fear.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Armor of God, Arrows of the Evil One, Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, Helmet of Salvation, Joy Busters. Finding JOY, Joy Declarations, Joy Plan, Karen Dwyer, Praising JOY, prayer, Proclaim Declarations, Scripture, Shield of Faith, worry, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Defeat Joy Busters & Take Up the Shield of Faith (JOYFUL & Battle Ready #5)

October 30, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

How are you at defeating Joy Busters? Everyone faces those situations that can steal their JOY. But you can develop a plan to stop their impact on your life. You can become AWARE of the JOY Busters, UNDERSTAND their sources, and TAKE ACTION to stop their influence. Join the podcast today to uncover the actions you can take to defeat JOY Busters and learn how to” take up the shield of faith to quench the flaming arrows” coming at you.

JOY Busters

Merriam-Webster defines a buster “as a person or thing that breaks up, overpowers, or eliminates something.”
A JOY buster breaks up, overpowers, or steals your joy and includes, for example, interruptions to plans, hurt feelings, discouragements, fear, family quarrels, busyness, complaints, and weariness. Today, we will cover these points:

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Joy Busting Responses

How do you respond to JOY Busters, called JOYBUSTING?
Joybusting happens when our emotions take over, and our responses leave us with more negative feelings and challenging relationships.
Joybusting includes, for example, angry outbursts, discouragement, fretting, gossip, negative thoughts, overeating, over partying, over drinking, over shopping, profane talk, procrastination, promiscuity, more quarrels, bitterness, and more.

Plan to Reject Troubles of the Heart

In Galatians 5: 16-26, St. Paul reminds us that to conquer the JOYbusting, which he calls “works of the flesh,” is to LIVE by the Holy Spirit.
Timothy Gallagher says each person needs an action plan to reject troubles of the heart (JOY busters and joy busting): (1) Be aware, (2) Understand, and (3) Take action. (The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living, 2018).

TIP: Three QUICK Actions to Defeat JOY Busting

You can take three simple actions to stop JOY Busting: thanksgiving, imagery, and persistence.

(1) Thanksgiving – immediately turn to Jesus with genuine thanksgiving

(2) Imagination- use holy imagination and picture Jesus with arms outstretched. You give him your joy buster.

(3) Persist – Persist in praising God and remembering the Thanksgiving JOY.

Also, consider getting a prayer partner to pray for more JOY for each other and to defeat JOYbusting.

The Shield of Faith

Ephesians 6:16. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Pope Francis, when speaking on this verse, tells us how important it is to take the shield of faith: The devil is a liar; he is the father of lies. And as St. Paul says, we must be girded in the truth, armored in justice.… Without faith, you cannot go forward; you cannot defend the salvation of Jesus. We need this shield of faith because the devil does not throw flowers at us but “flaming arrows” to kill us (General Audience, October 30, 2014).

The Roman Soldier’s Shield

In Roman history, at the time of Paul, a military soldier held a body shield to about 2.5 x 4 feet to protect himself from an enemy who hurled flaming arrows (dipped in pitch and set on fire) called “plumbata.”
Often, the soldiers interlocked shields in a “tortoise” formation – they raised their shields together overhead and in front so it looked like a tortoise.

Faith Defined

The word for faith used in New Testament Greek is “pistis,” which means to agree with, trust in, and live out what you believe.
Translated belief or faith, it appears at least 200 times in the New Testament
Hebrews 11: 1 defines faith, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” and then gives examples, including Noah, Abraham, and Moses.

Jesus is Our Shield

The Lord God says he is our shield. See Psalm 28:7, Psalm 33:20.
Proverbs 30:5. Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Take Up Our Shield of Faith

1) Read the Word of God every day and keep the Scriptures in your mind and heart. Romans 10:17.

2) Pray that moment. Hebrews 2:2 says.

3) Turn to a Prayer Partner or prayer group – In Tortoise Formation, you lock shields with others.

Personal Reflection –Shield of Faith Declarations

You can take up a shield of Faith against temptations, fear, and doubt.” Call on the name of Jesus and repeat these truths aloud and often.

When the devil sends the flaming arrow of fear, you say Psalm 56:3. O Lord God, ^“when I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” or Isaiah 41: 10. [the Lord says] … I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
When the devil sends the flaming arrow of temptation and doubts, you say Romans 8: 33-34. Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. He forgives us.
When the devil sends a flaming arrow saying you are getting old or God no longer cares and cannot use you, you say in Isaiah 46:4, The Lord says, even to your old age I am he, even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. Or Psalm 92: 13-14. The Lord says They are planted in the house of the Lord…In old age, they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap…

Finally, thank the Lord daily for your joys and for helping you defeat the JOY Busters.

The Eight -Part Series ~ Joyful & Battle Ready

Joyful & Battle Ready #1 ~ Embrace the JOY and Stand FIRM!

Joyful & Battle Ready #2 ~ Drenched with JOY & Armored in Truth

Joyful & Battle Ready #3 ~ Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Joyful & Battle Ready #4 ~ Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Joyful & Battle Ready #5 ~ Defeat JOY Busters & Take Up the Shield of Faith

Joyful & Battle Ready #6 ~Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Joyful & Battle Ready #7 ~ The JOY of Scripture & Wielding the Sword of the Spirit

Joyful & Battle Ready #8 ~ Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

Cup of JOY Women

Consider joining a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s study for eight weeks. It accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime. It’s free!

Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea.
For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE for the book WRAP Yourself in JOY: Find the JOY, Fight the Fear.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Armor of God, Arrows of the Evil One, Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, Joy Busters. Finding JOY, Joy Declarations, Joy Plan, Karen Dwyer, Praising JOY, prayer, Proclaim Declarations, Scripture, Shield of Faith, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes – Joyful & Battle Ready #4

October 25, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes (#4 JOYFUL & Battle Ready)

Are you singing for JOY? Did you know there is a connection between praising God and experiencing more JOY and Peace? Join our podcast today as we cover singing for JOY and slipping on shoes, ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.

JOY and PEACE

When we praise God, we surrender everything to Him and proclaim that He is God, and we are NOT. He has everything in our lives under control, and even when we do not see it, we can trust Him. Even in hardships, we can sing praises to the Lord, and he will comfort us with deep, calming JOY. In addition, we can put on shoes of Gospel peace as part of the armor we wear everywhere we go. In our JOYFUL & Battle Ready series, Podcast #4 will cover these points:

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The Praise-Joy Connection

Are your prayers primarily prayers of petition?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) #2644 encourages us to use all five forms of prayer: blessing/adoration, petition with contrition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.
There is a particular link of JOY with praise or thanksgiving prayers.

Enter God’s Courts with Praise

Psalm 100:3 says: Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise…
Pope Francis tells us to “NOT be formal Christians, prisoners of formality” (January 28, 2020).

A Garment of Praise

In Luke 4, Jesus said he was the fulfillment of Isaiah 61: 3- “to provide the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of discouragement.”
Jesus can give you a garment of praise, and it comes with the oil of JOY.

Paul and Silas Praise in a Desperate Situation, Miracles Happen

In Acts 16, at midnight and in the wretchedness of a Philippian jail, imprisoned Paul and Silas praised God as chains fell off and prison doors were opened.
CCC #2639 says, “Praise is the form of prayer…it gives God glory for his own sake, quite beyond what he has done, but simply for who he is.”

Praise Just One Minute

Praise God with the psalms, instruments, singing, shouting, and clapping hands (Psalm 150, 100).
Praise does not have to be complicated. You can tell Jesus you love Him and praise Him …
Spend just one minute of praise this week, and it will be life-changing.

The Armor of God – The Battle Shoes

Ephesians 6: 15: As shoes for your feet, put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
Roman soldiers wore shoes to avoid the battlefield’s rocks, sticks, and debris.
Shoes were a combination of heavy sandals and boots with soles of layered leather clenched together with metal studs that could grip the ground for traction.

Announce Peace

Isaiah 52: 7 says: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Peace means harmony and tranquility, without inner conflict, even amid chaos and upheaval.
In John 16: 33, Jesus said: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Proclaim the Gospel

In Mark 16:15, [Jesus] said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
The best way to start sharing your faith is to share your relationship with Jesus, including His answers to your prayers and your thanksgiving.

St. Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II in Catechesis in Our Time (1979) said the faithful must proclaim the Gospel message. The Gospel kerygma: – “ the initial ardent proclamation by which a person is brought to the decision to entrust himself to Jesus Christ by faith — is gradually deepened, developed,” and “channeled towards Christian practice in the Church and the world” (CT 25).
Remind your friend how much God loves her and wants her to experience His love and presence.
Invite her to entrust her life to Jesus, to give Him their baggage and shame, and to ask for forgiveness.
You can prepare yourself with a few words of Scripture about God’s love and how Jesus is the sacrifice for all sin. Invite the person to trust Jesus now.
Then, of course, invite your friends to church and keep helping them along the Christian journey.

Personal Reflection – Shoes of Peace Declarations

These Shoes of Peace Declarations from Scripture can help you stand firm in peace so that you are “ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.”
When the devil tries to make you afraid to proclaim, you can proclaim: The Prince of Peace lives in me. (John 14:23). I have his peace. I will not let my heart be troubled or afraid. I will stand firm in Jesus, my Lord, and my strength, my God in whom I trust. Repeat John 14:27.
When the devil whispers, you are NOT ready to proclaim the Gospel. You say: In Jesus, I am prepared and willing to share the Gospel with anyone. It is what Jesus calls me to do. I am not ashamed to talk about Jesus and my faith with family, friends, or others. Repeat Romans 1: 16. I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”
Finally, remember to praise and thank the Lord -just one minute of praising the Name of Jesus every day can be life-changing and joy-filling. You can find a free bookmark on my website to help you with ways to praise the Lord.

The Eight -Part Series ~ Joyful & Battle Ready

Joyful & Battle Ready #1 ~ Embrace the JOY and Stand FIRM!

Joyful & Battle Ready #2 ~ Drenched with JOY & Armored in Truth

Joyful & Battle Ready #3 ~ Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Joyful & Battle Ready #4 ~ Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Joyful & Battle Ready #5 ~ Defeat JOY Busters & Take Up the Shield of Faith

Joyful & Battle Ready #6 ~Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Joyful & Battle Ready #7 ~ The JOY of Scripture & Wielding the Sword of the Spirit

Joyful & Battle Ready #8 ~ Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

Cup of JOY Women

Consider joining a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s study for eight weeks. It accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime. It’s free!

Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea.
For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book WRAP Yourself in JOY: Find the JOY, Fight the Fear.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Armor of God, Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, Gospel Shoes of Peace, joy, Joy Declarations, Joy Plan, Karen Dwyer, Praising JOY, prayer, Proclaim Declarations, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness (JOYFUL & Battle Ready #3)

October 15, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Heaven Rejoices & the Breastplate of Righteousness

Heaven Rejoices and We Put on Righteousness

Did you know you serve a joy-filled God who rejoices over you? Join us today as we cover the rejoicing of heaven and the songs God sings over you. You will discover how to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness to protect your heart, keep the JOY, and stand firm against the devil’s lies of your unworthiness.

Heavenly JOY

Last week, we defined true and lasting joy, and with that in mind, we prayed with the More JOY Prayer Guide. We pursue JOY, invite JOY, and pray for more JOY! This week, we start with Heaven’s JOY. Today, we cover these points:

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The JOY of the Lord

“The joy of the Lord is my strength” is the source of our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
God and all of heaven are joyful and want to share it with us.
Some think God is a grump; if we follow him, we are destined for a life lacking any fun. That is NOT the truth.

Heavenly JOY

The Scriptures call our attention to God’s joyful creation (e.g., Psalm 61: 12-13).
The Lord takes pleasure in you and even sings over you (e.g., Zephaniah 3: 17).
God is a celebrating God (e.g., Luke 15: 20-24).
The angels rejoice when one sinner repents (e.g., Luke 15: 8-10)

Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness Over Your Heart

We put on the “breastplate of righteousness ” to protect our hearts (Ephesians 6: 14).
In spiritual language, the heart “refers to our inner orientation, the core of our being,” including our “thoughts, feelings, and desires.” (Fr. John Horn, S.J., Heart Speaks to Heart, IPF Publications).
Jesus is concerned for your heart (Matthew 15:19).
So is the devil, so you must guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23).

What is Righteousness?

The Catholic Dictionary of the Bible defines righteousness as “communion in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through which we begin a new life in the spirit –a life in which we live in Christ and Christ lives in us”( p. 743).
Righteousness can be summarized as the Right Relationship and Right Living (e.g., 2 Corinthians 5:15).

Jesus Christ, the Righteous One

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains Righteousness: “Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It was granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. …It is the most excellent work of God’s mercy” (CCC, 2020).
The Scriptures tell us we do not have to produce righteousness on our own; we can look to “Jesus Christ” (Romans 5: 17).

Personal Reflection: Breastplate of Righteousness Declarations

Lies: The devil will whisper lies to attack your thoughts, feelings, and desires, especially saying you are unworthy.

You cannot expect God to keep loving you and helping you.
You should be discouraged and fearful. You do not deserve His help.
You can never be holy; it’s too difficult to follow God and be righteous.

Truths: When faced with spiritual warfare, put on the breastplate of righteousness. In the mighty power of Jesus Christ, speak these Breastplate Declarations (inserting your own name in the verse).

In Jesus, I am the righteousness of God. (Repeat 2 Corinthians 5: 21).
I live in Jesus Christ. I am forgiven and free. I refuse to feel discouraged, downcast, or fearful. (Repeat Galatians 2: 20).
I will follow the ways of the Lord because they will bring JOY, not hardship. (Repeat Psalm 19: 9 and 14 aloud.)

The Eight -Part Series ~ Joyful & Battle Ready

Joyful & Battle Ready #1 ~ Embrace the JOY and Stand FIRM!

Joyful & Battle Ready #2 ~ Drenched with JOY & Armored in Truth

Joyful & Battle Ready #3 ~ Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Joyful & Battle Ready #4 ~ Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Joyful & Battle Ready #5 ~ Defeat JOY Busters & Take Up the Shield of Faith

Joyful & Battle Ready #6 ~Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Joyful & Battle Ready #7 ~ The JOY of Scripture & Wielding the Sword of the Spirit

Joyful & Battle Ready #8 ~ Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

Cup of JOY Women

Consider joining a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s study for eight weeks. It accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime. It’s free!

Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea.
For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com.
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book WRAP Yourself in JOY: Find the JOY, Fight the Fear.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Armor of God, Bible Study, Breastplate of Righteousness, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, joy, Joy Declarations, Karen Dwyer, More Joy Prayer Guide, prayer, Scripture, Scripture Declarations, Stop Anxiety, Stop Fear, Stop Worry, Truth Declarations, Wrap Yourself in Joy

An Infusion of Grace

October 6, 2023 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

“The gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. ” St. Rose of Lima

What is Grace?

A gift from God that helps us live out our Christian life
It is referenced in both the Old and New Testaments
In the Old Testament, grace is similar to mercy
Thanksgiving is the action corresponding to grace in a loving relationship
We have a loving relationship with the Father

Actual Grace

We want actual grace – that is, the grace supplied for a particular reason or purpose.

Consider reading scripture to find what you are looking for. God’s Word is the living word that lives in you!

Use your Bible

You can try this online concordance, BibleGateway. Set the version you use and then type in the topic to get results.

I prefer a Bible I can hold in my hands and write in and put notes in it. Make it yours!

Here are the verses I mentioned in the episode:

Exodus 14:14, Deuteronomy 7:6-9, Isaiah 43:1-7, 1 Samuel 17:41-54

In particular, 1 Samuel 17:50.

Pick a few verses that strike you and pray them when you need an infusion of grace!

I’d love to come and speak to your ministry or parish. This page on my website has information for you on talks I’ve done in the past and how to reach me.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: actual grace, Grace, habitual grace, Scripture

Embrace the JOY and Stand FIRM! JOYFUL & Battle Ready #1

October 1, 2023 by Karen Dwyer 1 Comment

Do you find it difficult to embrace JOY and at the same time stand firm in life’s battles? You are not alone. Daily, we all face challenges and fears. Join us today as we discuss embracing true JOY, standing firm, and being strong in the Lord when facing fears and struggles.

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Happiness and Joy are Not the Same

About 45% of 12,000 people surveyed say they have not felt true happiness since before the pandemic. Around 25% surveyed say they don’t know, or have forgotten, what it means to feel truly happy (Oracle). The natural question is this: Are JOY and happiness the same thing? We will find that happiness depends on external circumstances, while true joy is “a gift that fills us from within” and “is to be searched for and shared continuously (Pope Francis. May 10, 2013). Today, we cover these points:

You Are Made for JOY

If you allow God to give you His JOY, it will change your life.
It can even change the atmosphere around you!
Three Scriptures help you get started in your search for more JOY: John 15: 9-11, Psalm 16: 9-11, and Galatians 5: 22-23. JOY and LOVE are fruits of the HOLY Spirit, the result of the presence of the Holy Spirit living within YOU.
Jesus died for your sins and mine. When he arose from the dead, as promised (e.g., John 14: 15-26; John 16: 7), God sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to produce deep, lasting JOY in your life.

JOY and Love From the Trinity Declarations

Jesus, my Savior. You love me like the Heavenly Father loves You, and You want to give me your JOY—complete JOY. Thank YOU, Jesus, I embrace it. (John 15: 9-11)
Heavenly Father. You LOVE me and offer me gladness and fullness of JOY in Your presence. Thank YOU, Father, I receive it. (Psalm 16: 9-11)
Holy Spirit. You love me and produce the fruit of JOY in & through me. Thank YOU, Holy Spirit, fill me afresh today. (Galatians 5: 22-25)

It’s a Battle!

Now, we move to Ephesians 6: 10-14, where we are told by St. Paul we must be prepared for battle.
Therefore, when Paul wrote Ephesians 6, he was imprisoned “in chains” (v. 20) and knew hardships, challenges, and struggles.
Paul tells us to be strong in the Lord and stand firm.

Stand Firm, Stand Strong

To stand is a military term meaning “to hold a position” and “to resist an impending attack” (Collins).
To stand firm as Christians means we are prepared to resist an attack, and we look to our commander, Jesus Christ.
“To be strong in the Lord means to rely on God’s strength, God’s power, and God’s courage.

The Wiles of the Evil One

Paul calls the attacks we face the devil’s wiles (cunning strategies and ensnarement).
In the book The Devil You Don’t Know, Fr. Louis Cameli says there are many common wiles of the devil with which you will struggle, including Deception, Division, Diversion, and Discouragement.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (409) clearly speaks: This dramatic situation of “the whole world is in the power of the evil one” [1 John 5: 19] makes man’s life a battle.

Recognizing Spiritual Warfare

Recognize if you are in spiritual warfare and facing some arrows or wiles.
You may be facing what the Bible calls the devil, tempter, murderer, accuser, liar, stumbling block, and adversary.

Personal Reflection – The Rs to Stand Firm and Stand Strong

You can “strengthen yourself in the Lord” and not depend on your own strength to fight against the wiles, using the “3 R’s” to combat the devil in any of your struggles:

REMEMBER and Receive God’s Love and JOY. Daily, declare the JOY and Love from the Trinity declarations.
RESIST the devil, his wiles, and temptations. Don’t let the accuser win. Participate in the sacrament of reconciliation and go forward.
RENEW your mind with Scripture. God’s Word will give you strength to stand firm and resist the wiles and lies. See Romans 12:2.

Finally, be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6: 10). Weakness is no excuse to lay down and be spiritually slaughtered. The Lord wants to be your strength in weakness. Call upon the Name of Jesus. Try to memorize and declare every day this week: Ephesians 6: 10-14. Put your name in the words so you pray with Scripture.

The Eight -Part Series ~ Joyful & Battle Ready

Joyful & Battle Ready #1 ~ Embrace the JOY and Stand FIRM!

Joyful & Battle Ready #2 ~ Drenched with JOY & Armored in Truth

Joyful & Battle Ready #3 ~ Heaven Rejoices & We Put on the Breastplate of Righteousness

Joyful & Battle Ready #4 ~ Singing for JOY & Slipping on Gospel Shoes

Joyful & Battle Ready #5 ~ Defeat JOY Busters & Take Up the Shield of Faith

Joyful & Battle Ready #6 ~Stop Worry, Return to JOY and Put on the Helmet of Salvation

Joyful & Battle Ready #7 ~ The JOY of Scripture & Wielding the Sword of the Spirit

Joyful & Battle Ready #8 ~ Wrapped in JOY and Armored in Prayer

Cup of JOY Women

Consider joining a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s study for eight weeks. It accompanies this podcast, and you can begin anytime. It’s free!

Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by meeting with one or more friends over coffee or tea.
For information, email me or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book WRAP Yourself in JOY: Find the JOY, Fight the Fear

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Armor of God, Bible Study, Christian Podcast, confession, Cup of Joy Women, fight the fear, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, prayer, reconciliation, Scripture, searching for JOY, Wrap Yourself in Joy

NEHEMIAH & Rebuilding HOPE #11 – Nehemiah Recaps, “The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength.”

August 28, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Nehemiah Finale & Recap, “The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength”

Consider Nehemiah. Do you need more HOPE and JOY in your life? Nehemiah recaps: The JOY of the Lord is Your Strength.” God is waiting for you to come to Him. Join us today for the finale of Nehemiah where you will be reminded the Joy of the Lord is Your strength.

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Moving Day, Dedication & Praises

In our last podcast, covering Nehemiah Chapters 10 – 12, we joined moving day as many Israelites moved back to Jerusalem. Then they signed a Curse and Oath agreement, promising to support the temple, honor the Sabbath Day, uphold a religious marriage, and serve God in everything. After the priests purified the people, the gates, and the walls, they implored God’s presence at the dedication ceremony. Nehemiah appointed two praise processions on the walls. They praised and worshipped with thanksgiving, singing, rejoicing, and trumpeting so loud that all in neighboring towns heard them!

Twelve Years Later

Things change. After serving as Governor of Jerusalem for 12 years, from 444 to 432 BC, Nehemiah returned to Babylon to serve King Artaxerxes. Sometime later, he “returned to Jerusalem.” What a shock! Nehemiah found the people had fallen away from their commitment to God and covenant promises. Today, we cover these points in Nehemiah 13 and the finale of the Book of Nehemiah:

The Falling Away (Nehemiah 13: 6-9, 15, 22, 30)

What caused the people to fall away so quickly? They were not reminded daily of God and His ways.
When the high priest fell away from God, so did the people.
The Bible warns often about forgetting God (see Deuteronomy 8: 13-16)

Nehemiah Addressed Breaking God’s Commands (Nehemiah 13: 1-5, 22-30)

The Israelites gave their children in marriage to pagans who did not use the sacred Hebrew language.
They stopped obeying the commandments of keeping the Sabbath Day holy and paying tithe.
The high priest Eliashib allowed Tobiah to move into the temple storeroom, where the offerings were kept.

Remembrance

Remembrance was a theme throughout the book of Nehemiah: The people forgot God again and again, but Nehemiah kept calling them to remember God, his faithfulness, and his promises.
Nehemiah prayed: Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service (a common prayer, from Psalm 106: 4-5.)

The Finale

It is sorrowful to know that after all the building and recommitment, the people fell away from God.
It is good to remember Romans 15:4: For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. God is faithful and we all must return to him again and again. He offers us His strength, His JOY and His hope.

Nehemiah and Hope

The Book of Nehemiah has reassured us that prayer changes everything, that every obstacle can be overcome, and that every false accusation can lead to persistence, more prayer, and joyous victory.
Declare with Nehemiah: God is with us! God is for us! God is at work! God has a plan that changes everything!
With confidence, we can exclaim: The JOY of the LORD is my strength! (Nehemiah 8: 14).

Personal Reflection on the Book of Nehemiah

Let’s close with some reflection on the principles you can apply from the book of Nehemiah.

(1) Call on your LOVING GOD in the MESSY SITUATIONS (Chapter 1).

(2) SUPPLICATE (Chapter 1). You can use Nehemiah’s ACTS Model: 1) Adore God 2) Confess sins, 3) Thank God, and 4) Supplicate.

(3) Pray for FAVOR & depend on God to open doors. (Chapters 2-3).

(4) Become a Perfumer; All Vocations are Needed (Chapter 3). Become a perfumer and help build. Bring the sweetness of God’s spirit and a sweet aroma of prayer to every stinky situation.

(5) Face Opposition & Stand FIRM Against Insults (Chapters 4, 7). Nehemiah showed a 3-pronged approach to defeating opposition: 1) pray, 2) declare the truth instead of believing lies and 3) work together with others.

(6) When angered, step back first (Chapter 5) & Face Slander (Chapter 6): Pray, Speak the Truth, and Persevere. eep the sword of the spirit- the Word of God in one hand and your work tool or skill in the other.

(7) Declare the Joy of the Lord is My Strength (Chapter 8).

(8) Create a personal Prayer BOOTH! in your home (Chapter 8). Your corner of a room is like a spiritual booth where the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Booths to offer praise, and thanksgiving and read His Word.

(9) Remember God Will Never Forsake You (Chapters 9 & 13). After experiencing God’s great faithfulness, the people fell away into sin into the rebellion-revival cycle.

(10) Become a “Praiser” and Read God’s Word (Chapters 10-12). Nehemiah called the people to worship, to praise and to offer thanksgiving to God.

Personal Prayer Response

So, what will you do NEXT? How can you start building now? Nehemiah models personal intercession with the ACTS model.

Adore God and praise His greatness and faithfulness.
Confess your sins and those of your nation and families with a contrite spirit.
Thank God for His blessings and promises.
Supplicate or pray with a passionate heart for what you need and for others. Incorporate Scripture, when possible.

Remember: The JOY of the LORD is YOUR Strength!

Cup of JOY Women

Why not invite a few friends for coffee or tea every week for just one hour to discuss a one-page study guide accompanying every podcast in each series?
It’s called a Cup of Joy Women’s group and is a fantastic way to gently evangelize and encourage others. I will provide all the free resources and even Zoom meetings for facilitators.
In September, I start my fifth series called JOYFUL and Battle-ready. It’s a perfect time to form a Cup of JOY women’s group for the 8-week series.
For more information, go to my website com, and click under Cup of Joy Women on the menu, or email me: Karen@WrapYourselfinJoy.com

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find my

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, confession, Cup of Joy Women, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, Nehemiah, Nehemiah Chaper 13 praise and worship, prayer, Prayer Journal, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

NEHEMIAH & Rebuilding HOPE #10 – Do You Need an Uplift? Nehemiah Calls All Praisers!

August 21, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Do You Need an Uplift? Nehemiah Calls All Praisers! Adding praise and thanksgiving to your prayer can increase your faith, lift your spirit, help you recall God’s goodness, encourage you in hard tasks, and add much more joy to your life.

Nehemiah Calls Praisers & JOY Fills Their Hearts

Do you need an uplift? Becoming a praiser could change your life. Adding praise and thanksgiving to your prayer can increase your faith, lift your spirit, help you recall God’s goodness, encourage you in hard tasks, and add much more joy to your life. Join us today as Nehemiah calls all praisers and demonstrates the impact of praise.

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Rebellion-revival Cycle

In our last podcast, we joined the Israelites as Ezra read God’s Word aloud and they realized how disobedient they had been to God and his commandments, falling into a rebellion-revival cycle: (1) Rebellion against God and His law; (2) Warnings from the prophets and teachers, but to no avail, (3) Repentance from sinfulness and calling out to God; and (4) Intervention when God rescues them from the enemy oppressors. Today, in Nehemiah Chapters 10 -12, we follow the people as they sign a new covenant with God rededicating their lives and the walls and gates to Him. Today we cover these points:

An Oath to Follow God (Nehemiah 10: 29-35)

The curse and oath agreement meant “they could expect a blessing for obedience, or a correction from God if they did not follow through on obeying His Law.
They signed a public agreement promising to pay their tithes to support the temple, to honor the Sabbath by not buying or selling, and to uphold a religious marriage, not uniting with those who worship other gods or idols.

Moving into Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11: 3-35)

Nehemiah shares a long list of the people and the vocations of those who moved into Jerusalem, including leaders, warriors, Levites, temple gatekeepers, overseers, and singers.
Repopulating Jerusalem was essential because it would mean the more who lived there, the safer the city would be.
There was a special stipend for the singers who sang praises daily and led worship in the temple.

Dedication Joy (Nehemiah 12)

Chapter 12 opens with more names – but this time the names are those of priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel.
Nehemiah is recalling the history and heroes in public record who sacrificed much in returning to Jerusalem.
He wanted all to remember these good men as part of their heritage.
Nehemiah lists the Levites who were heads of households plus the singers who led praise and thanksgiving with cymbals, harps, and lyres.

Purification JOY (Nehemiah 12: 27-30)

It was time to dedicate the walls once they moved into Jerusalem and returned to worship and obey God’s laws.
They would seek God’s presence and blessings.
The Levites purified themselves, the people, and the walls. See Psalm 24: 3-6

Praising JOY (Nehemiah 12: 30-43)

Next, the praisers joined the dedication ceremony.
He sent one company of praisers in one direction singing and giving thanks (v. 35). They included the leaders and the young priests playing trumpets while others played and praised with all kinds of musical instruments.
Then the other company made up of Nehemiah and half of the people processed in the opposite direction on the walls singing, giving thanks, and playing trumpets too. Finally, they all met at the house of God and sang their hearts out to him. “They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away” (v. 43).

Offering JOY

The last activity of the dedication ceremony involved joyfully offering tithe to God – to support the temple, the priests, and those who led worship.
All of Israel gave the daily portions and tithe for the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Levites. The Levites even paid tithe to the priests.

Personal Reflection – Become a Praiser

Have you considered becoming a praiser? So how can you add more praise and thanksgiving to God in your life?
1. Become a singer of praises to God. Even if you can’t carry a tune, sing with online or CD worship music. Join others in singing praises. As you sing the words from your heart, they become your prayer.
2. Read Psalms of Praise. You can start with Psalms 145, 146, or 150 traditionally known as praise psalms.
3. Begin all prayer with thanksgiving and words of praise. Psalm 100:4 tells us to “Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.” So the way to come into God’s presence, the king of the Universe and the Savior of the World is to come with thanksgiving and praise. For example, you can say, I praise you, Jesus or I love you, Lord. Bookmarks for praise are available on my website.

One final point to remember is this.

Don’t forget the power of praise to defeat enemies and negative situations (e.g., see Nehemiah 2 and 3). Remember 2 Chronicles 20:21 when King Jehoshaphat followed the Lord’s counsel and appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy splendor. They lead the army into battle. As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the …enemies.., who had come against Judah, so they were routed. .. they all helped destroy one another. The Lord won a fabulous victory as the enemies were defeated and the army never even used their swords. If you are discouraged, or fearful and have pressing needs, consider praising God often. God will fight battles for you and lift you up when you turn your attention to him.

Cup of JOY Women

Why not invite a few friends for coffee or tea every week for just one hour to discuss the one-page study guide accompanying this podcast or others in my last few series?
You would be forming a Cup of Joy Women’s group, and it’s a great way to gently evangelize and encourage others. I will provide you with all the free resources. In September, I will be starting my fifth series called JOYFUL and Battle-ready--It’s a perfect time to form a cup of JOY women’s group with that 8-week series.
For more information, go to my website WRAPYOURSELFINJOY.com, and click under Cup of Joy Women on the menu or email me: Karen@WrapYourselfinJoy.com

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, confession, Cup of Joy Women, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, Nehemiah, Nehemiah Chaper 10, praise and worship, prayer, Prayer Journal, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

NEHEMIAH & Rebuilding HOPE #9 – Nehemiah Says, God Will Never Forsake You!

August 14, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

National Confession & Nehemiah Says, God Will Never Forsake You!

Consider Nehemiah Chapter 9. Do you feel forsaken by God ever? Always remember this: God is ready to forgive. He is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounds in steadfast love. Join us today as Nehemiah says, God will never forsake you.

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Celebrating God’s Goodness

In our last podcast, we joined the Israelites on Rosh Hashanah and the Feast of Trumpets. Many had stopped celebrating the feast days and gave up their faith because of the brokenness of their homeland, families, and lives. In Nehemiah 8, when Ezra read the Word of God aloud, the people wept loudly, mourning for their sins. Nehemiah and Ezra told them: “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Next, they celebrated the Feast of Booths when each family spent seven days in a booth remembering God’s goodness, reading the Word of God, praying, praising, and thanking Him to commemorate how God had delivered them from Egypt by parting the Red Sea, and cared for them in the desert for 40 years where they lived in simple huts. In Chapter 9, two days after the weeklong celebration of the Feast of Booths, the people are together again for a day of national confession. Today, we cover these points:

National Confession (Nehemiah 9: 1-3)

The people gather for 6 hours – three hours reading the words of the Torah and 3 hours confessing sin.
They were reminded of how far they had fallen from God and His commandments.
As Hebrews 4: 12 tells us, the Word of God had pierced their hearts and revealed their sins.

Remembering God’s Care and Praising Him (Nehemiah 9: 5-26)

Ezra called them to worship God and recall the ways that God cared for them since Abraham.
God gave them the Ten Commandments.
For 40 years in the wilderness, God cared for them so they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell.

Fasting, Dressed in Sackcloth, Dirt on their Heads (Nehemiah 9: 3, 26- 38)

The people stood in fasting – an act of penance to show remorse in skin-tearing sackcloth with dirt on their heads –all painful acts showing deep sorrow for their sins before God.
They cried out for ” stiffening their necks “and “not obeying the commandments.”

The Four-Stage Rebellion-Revival Cycle

After experiencing God’s great faithfulness of God, they fell away again and again.
The Rebellion, Warnings, Repentance, and Intervention cycle could be called the rebellion-revival cycle.
But before long the Cycle repeated, and the Israelites became “slaves to this day.”

God Did Not Forsake Them (Nehemiah 9: 17)

Verse 17 seems to be a turning point in the chapter: “But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and you did not forsake them. God will forgive us when we confess the sins of our generations and commit to changing directions.

Personal Reflection on Nehemiah 9

How will you respond to these verses of Scripture?
- Confess your sins. Nehemiah shows us where to begin when you want to be renewed in your spiritual life: Remember what God has done, confess your sin and the areas where you have fallen away, and praise and worship our glorious God again.
- Make a Change. True repentance and sorrow for your sins mean you want to change direction. Nehemiah 9:38 says the people made a firm agreement in writing to promise to change direction. What change in direction are you willing to make at this time?
- Read Scripture. All the chapters in the Book of Nehemiah remind us how essential it is to hear, read, and take the Word of God to heart. How will you find more time to read and pray Scripture? If you do, it will revive your spiritual life and the lives of those around you. Start today with just 5 minutes of scripture and form a prayer from your heart to God that responds to what you read.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime.
Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. It’s free, and I will help you get started. Go to Cup of Joy Women or email me at Karen@WRAPYourselfinJOY.com for information.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, confession, Cup of Joy Women, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, Nehemiah Chapter 9, prayer, Prayer Journal, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

NEHEMIAH & Rebuilding HOPE #8 – Need Joy in Your Life? Nehemiah Points to a Prayer Booth!

August 7, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Consider Nehemiah Chapter 8. Do you need more JOY in your life? Are you seeking a revival in your faith? Nehemiah will show you the way. Join us today as we cover creating a spiritual “prayer booth” for rejoicing, reading Scripture, recalling what God has done for us, and receiving new JOY.

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Wall Completed

Nehemiah and the Israelites completed the walls and gates in 52 days (Nehemiah 6).
Now Nehemiah begins restoring his beloved people’s faith (Nehemiah 7 & 8).

Fortification and Worship (Nehemiah 7: 1-5)

Nehemiah assigned gatekeepers to keep the city free from enemies so the people could worship without threats.
He appointed singers to praise the Lord day and night and to lead worship. It nurtured a close relationship with God.
He appointed the Levites to watch over all things holy.

Historic Memory

God put it into Nehemiah’s heart to register every person.
Historic memory is crucial to the survival of any nation or culture.
Nehemiah had to remind the people of their heritage and that God was with them as the returning remnant.

The Gathering – New Year’s Day (Nehemiah 8: 1)

It’s October 444 B.C., New Year’s Day, called Rosh Hashanah on the Hebrew Civil calendar.
The Feast of Trumpets on the Hebrew religious calendar calls for the people to prepare for the holy days to come (Leviticus 23: 23-24).

Hunger for God’s Word and Joy (Nehemiah 8: 2-8)

The people gathered to hear Ezra read from the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
The people stood up the entire time from morning to midday, starved and thirsty for the Word of God.
It takes only a few fallen-away generations to leave the next ones destitute and ignorant about God.
Ezra blessed the Lord. All the people responded, “Amen, Amen.” Thus, they (1) thanked God with their “Amen”, (2) praised God by lifting up their hands, and 3) bowed down in adoration and submission to God.

Weeping & JOY (Nehemiah 8: 9-12)

It took hearing and understanding God’s Word to begin the healing of broken hearts and dreams.
The Word of God revealed their sin, they were grieved, and they confessed their sins before God.
Nehemiah and Ezra told the people: “Don’t be grieved, for the JOY of the LORD is your strength”(v. 10).

The Feast of Booths – 444 BC (Nehemiah 8: 13-18)

The Feast of Booths, also called the Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot) was celebrated for seven days.
God called the Israelites to recall how they wandered the desert and lived in booths or huts while God provided for them.
The Feast of Booths commemorates God’s provision and guidance, and the Israelites must live in booths to celebrate it.
They read the Word of God, rejoiced, offered thanksgiving, and worshipped God with their families in huts/booths.
God’s Word led them to repent; God’s Word changed everything, and they were filled with much joy.

Personal Reflection – The Feast of Booths Application

How will you respond to these verses of Scripture? You Could
- Prayer Booth. Set up a Holy Place (call it a booth or secret place) in your home where you can pray, praise, read Scripture, and write in your prayer journal. Your booth is your secret place – it’s like a spiritual booth/or hut/where the people celebrate the Feast of Booths. It’s a place to put yourself in God’s presence in your home. You offer praise thanksgiving and worship.
- Listen. Take time daily to read Scripture and allow God to speak to you. You can ask the Holy Spirit to set the Words afire in your heart and help you understand as you read. Try to record a few sentences in your journal of how the Lord speaks to you.
- Receive the JOY of the Lord. “For the Joy of the Lord is your strength.” Ask Jesus for JOY as you read His word. (See John 15: 11 & Psalm 1.)

Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose another of my podcast series (e.g. Finding More JOY).
Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. It’s free and I will help you get started. For information, contact me, or go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, Nehemiah 6, prayer, Prayer Journal, Scripture, Stop Anger, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Nehemiah – Rebuilding Hope #7 – Facing Slander? Nehemiah Responds, Pray, Speak the Truth & Persevere

July 31, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Nehemiah reads slanderous letters from Sanballet

Pray, Speak the Truth & Persevere Always

Look to Nehemiah. Are you facing slander? Have mistruths been spoken about you? You can overcome the discouragement and discern the lies, deception, and diversion around you! Nehemiah will show you how. Join the podcast today as he shows us to always pray, speak the truth, and persevere. Today we cover the following points:

The Outcry of the People

In Nehemiah 5, the immoral and unlawful practices of the Jewish nobles and officials brought many families to poverty.
After he stood back in anger, Nehemiah demanded that nobles and officials follow God’s laws, or as a consequence, they would lose their possessions in God’s justice. The Jewish officials made an oath to do this and responded, “Amen,” and “praised the Lord.”

Three Attacks from the Opposition

In Nehemiah 6, the enemies from surrounding countries become fearful about losing authority and moneymaking practices.
They conspired to stop the building with a 1) Fake Meeting, 2) Slander Campaign, and 3) False Prophecy.

Diversion – The Fake Meeting Scheme (Nehemiah 6: 1-4)

They invited Nehemiah to a “fake meeting” in the hills of Ono, a day’s journey away (near Tel Aviv today).
It sounded like a neutral place, but he discerned it was a scheme to do him harm.

Division- Lies & The Smear Campaign (Nehemiah 6: 5-9)

In an unsealed letter, Sanballat accused Nehemiah of a treasonous plot to revolt and overthrow the king.
Sanballat knew that others would read the lies and slander would be spread everywhere.
The scheme had worked twenty years prior when the King of Persia shut down the rebuilding (Ezra 4).
Nehemiah declared the truth to confront the lies and prayed: But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

Deception –False Prophecy Trap (Nehemiah 6: 10-14)

Tobiah and Sanballat hired Shemaiah, likely a priest and prophet, to mislead Nehemiah.
He prophesied that he should seek refuge in the temple and make an offering.
Shemaiah tried to use tales of terror and “religious speak, saying the enemies planned to kill Nehemiah.
Nehemiah knew entering the temple would be a sin that the enemies would use to discredit him.

The Completed Wall

God blessed Nehemiah, answered his prayers, and helped the Israelites complete the wall in only 52 days.
This was a great victory for the people because of opposition from the same enemies over twenty years.

Personal Reflection

Today, Nehemiah reminds us how to respond to life’s assaults: Pray, Declare the Truth, and Persevere.

When you are facing discouragement, especially from diversion, division, or deception, pray like Nehemiah, Lord, strengthen my hands! and thus, ask God to help you discern the truth and persevere.
Declare the truth. Don’t be distracted by rumors or slanderous accusations. This is the devil’s way of making you compromise with evil. Instead, speak the truth in love. Declare the Scriptures. For example:
- Romans 8:15: For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” Declare: I am a daughter of God!
- Timothy 1:7: [F]or God did not give us a spirit of fear, but rather a spirit of power and of love and a sound mind. Declare: I don’t have a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and a sound mind.
Commit your work to the Lord and stay focused.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose any podcast series (e.g. Finding More JOY).
Pray about accepting this fantastic opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. It’s free and I will help you get started. For information, contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Nehemiah – Rebuilding Hope #6 – Angry? Nehemiah Says Step Back First!

July 24, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Angered While Rebuilding? Nehemiah Says Step Back First!

Consider Nehemiah. Do you get angry easily? Do you get riled up? Nehemiah shows us to step back before acting. It never works to respond with emotions. In Chapter 5, during their rebuilding, the people face opposition from within their ranks. It seems that if the opposition doesn’t hit us from without, it comes from within. Join the podcast today as Nehemiah reminds us to step back, then stand up and keep focus when facing opposition. Today we cover the following points:

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Fight for Your Families

In Nehemiah Chapter 4, the people were making progress when more persecution made them fearful.
Nehemiah prayed and encouraged the people saying: “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes” (Nehemiah 4: 14).

Outcry and Poverty (Nehemiah 5: 1-5)

Many were in poverty: inflation had become rampant and taxes were unbearable.
In order to pay the taxes, the families borrowed money from others using their own children as collateral.
If loans could not be repaid, their children, and even the wives and men, would be sold as slaves..

Step Back & Take Time to Think (Nehemiah 5: 6-7)

Nehemiah was very angry with the nobles and officials who took advantage of their kin.
Leviticus 25: 35-38 and Deuteronomy 23: 20 instruct them not to charge interest if they lend to the poor.
Nehemiah did not show his angst. He stepped back and collected his thoughts.
He gives us the first step in resolving conflict from within – step back.

The Symbolism of the Oath & Gesture (Nehemiah 5: 6-13)

Nehemiah confronted the nobles who were enslaving their own brethren and children.
He implored the officials to 1) repent of their sins and respect the Lord by following His Law, 2) stop charging interest, and 3) restore everything they took.
Using the Word of God (Torah at the time) and a conciliatory manner, he spoke the truth.
In one dramatic prophetic act symbolizing the solemnity of their oath, Nehemiah shook out the fold of his garment … In this, he emphasized that judgment would come to those who did not keep their oath before God. The assembly confirmed it with a passionate “Amen.” They “praised the Lord … and did as they had promised.

The Governor

Nehemiah kept his focus on building the wall.
He used his money earned as a cupbearer to support Jerusalem’s poor and suffering people. He worked more for God’s approval.
Nehemiah prayed: Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
He was asking God for continued grace in the work and most importantly, for the Lord to remember him when it comes to eternal life and rewards. We can pray with the same words.
The Lord promises He will remember you. Hebrews 6: 10—11 says this: God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians. (Good News).

Personal Reflection

Please reflect on the principles that Nehemiah models and we can apply:

Step back. Do not be led by anger. Collect your thoughts. It never works to respond with emotions. Ephesians 4: 26. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.
Stand up. In love, confront Christians with the Word of God when they are sinning against Him. Forgive always. 1 Timothy 5: 20 reminds us: As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.
Focus. Keep your focus on what God has called you to do. Keep building, pray always, and never give up. (Luke 18: 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged [give])
Remember the poor. Do not take advantage of the less fortunate. Instead, help them. Psalm 15: 5, Do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Pray with Scripture. Remember me O my God, all that I have done for your people. In this prayer, we also remind ourselves that our rewards are eternal when we choose to follow Jesus and as His disciple, we build up others in Christ.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose any podcast series (e.g. Finding More JOY).
Pray about accepting this fantastic opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. I will even join you via Zoom.
For information or to contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, Nehemiah 5, prayer, Prayer Journal, Scripture, Stop Anger, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Nehemiah & Rebuilding Hope #5 – Facing Opposition? Nehemiah Shows the Best Approach for Success!

July 17, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Work with the Sword of God in one hand and a trowel in the other.

Nehemiah 4 Shows the Best Approach for Success!

Have you looked at Nehemiah 4? Do you ever face opposition in the midst of a daunting task? How do you respond to insults or ridicule? In Nehemiah Chapter 4, the people face criticism, ridicule, name-calling, and insults as they try to repair the burned-down walls and broken gates. Opposition happens to all of us. Join the podcast today as Nehemiah shows us the best approach for success to overcome opposition and discouragement.

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Family by Family, Brick by Brick,

In our last episode, family-by-family and household-by-household and brick-by-brick the people started to repair the walls and rebuild the gates. The builders worked side-by-side, beyond their own giftedness or vocations to do God’s work and repair the walls and gates of their holy city. Of course, their enemies came to stop the progress. They face criticism, ridicule, name-calling, and a constant barrage of insults. This can happen to any of us. Today we cover these points as Nehemiah shows us the best approach to overcome opposition:

Anger Turns to Criticism (Nehemiah 4: 1-6)

Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the people: “Will they sacrifice” or “finish in a day?” (They are asking, will they call upon their God or how could their God help build anything in a short time?)
Criticism and ridicule only added to the discouragement. This sounds just like the devil, doesn’t it?
The people were doing God’s work and they did not need the troubling criticism. See John 14: 27.

Nehemiah Responds to Insults with Prayer (Nehemiah 4: 1-6)

Nehemiah did not return their insults with insults.
He responded with a prayer, likely aloud, as he went into the midst of opposition.
Based on Jeremiah 18:23, Nehemiah prayed aloud- they will face God and what they say will come back on them.

A Guard of Protection (Nehemiah 4: 7-9)

The people responded to the opponent’s increased anger with prayer.
Then, they set up a guard of protection around the clock to keep the enemy’s efforts from succeeding.

Nehemiah’s Three-Pronged Approach (Nehemiah 4: 9-20)

Nehemiah models how to face the opposition: (1) Pray first, (2) Declare God’s truth, (3) Work heartily.
Together with a sword in one hand and a tool in the other hand, they continued to build.

Join Together and Keep Working (Nehemiah 4: 21-23)

For Christians, we must join together by praying together, declaring God’s truth to each other, and working together.
God can use cracked, worn-out, old tools when we commit our work to Him.

Personal Reflection

Ask God where the broken gates are in your life—spiritual or otherwise. and what weapons you can use to rebuild the brokenness. You can follow Nehemiah’s model in overcoming the opposition. 1) pray, 2) declare the truth of God’s word instead of believing the lies and 3) work together with a sword of the spirit, the Word of God, in one hand and your work in the other hand. Use your prayer journal to record your action response:

For example, pray Nehemiah 4: 14. Simply insert your name for the “I” and “my.” AND Insert the names of your friends and family members in the places of kin, sons, daughters, etc.
For example, declare “God will fight for my family members, my community, my friends and my country.” Speak aloud with the truth of God’s Word (e.g., Romans 8:31. and Isaiah 41:10).
Work together with other Christians. Ask a friend to pray for your needs and for MORE JOY, and you pray the same for them. Use the ACTS acronym to intercede for the needs. *End your prayer time by sitting in silence and receiving God’s love and joy for you.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on Nehemiah. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime or choose another podcast (e.g. Finding More JOY).

Pray about accepting this wonderful opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea.
For information or to contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, hope, Intercesory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, Nehemiah, Nehemiah Chapter 4, prayer, Prayer Jounral, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Nehemiah – Rebuilding Hope #4 – Perfumers Needed! Nehemiah Calls for Your Help!

July 10, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Nehemiah Rebuilding Hope ~ Perfume-makers needed- Nehemiah calls for your help! This is a podcast of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network and talks about Nehemiah Rebuilding Hope. podcast, christian podcast network, catholic podcast network, Nehemiah

Become a Perfume-maker

Nehemiah Calls Perfumers

Nehemiah calls the Perfumers. All teams need workers from all walks of life with a heartfelt desire to build—even beyond their known skills. Most importantly, the “perfume makers” provide sweet-smelling assistance, even though their hands are soft and they are not seasoned builders. Join us today as Nehemiah reveals team-making skills and appoints the perfumers.

Let Us Start Building

In our last podcast, we joined Nehemiah as he secretly inspected Jerusalem at night time. He saw the many ruins but was inspired that God was leading the rebuilding. Although the ruins had accumulated over many years, he inspired the people, and they replied, Let us start building! Today we cover the following points:

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Nehemiah Rebuilding Hope ~ Broken Places

We all have broken places in the lives of our families, our communities, and our nation.
These areas of shame or ruin, physical or spiritual, need rebuilding so Nehemiah will encourage us.
In ancient cities, like Jerusalem, the gates were essential to the existence of a people. Gates were entrances to the city and provided military protection. The walls represented strength and defense.

The Gates

Outside the gates were stalls like farmer’s markets, where traders sold goods of all kinds.
Inside the gates, the leaders met and held court for those seeking justice.
If the walls or gates were broken, the loss of protection, commerce, justice, and meeting spaces would be devastating.

Meet the Workers (Nehemiah 3: 1 -8)

The high priest Elisheba with his fellow priests rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They started the example for repair plus they consecrated the doors and an entire area to God.
The men of Jericho came a long way to build and were included with everyone living nearby.
The Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles with status and pride refused. Keep building!!
The perfumers [perfume-makers] made repairs but had no building skill; they likely brought some sweet-smelling perfume. Making life smell good is an important skill too. Sweetness or perfume in attitude, speech, and effort is an essential contribution in itself.

More Workers (Nehemiah 3: 12-32)

Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs with his daughters offering an example of involving the family in rebuilding.
Anaiah and others made repairs beside their homes as they wanted their neighborhoods to be safe.
Merchants rebuilt the walls and gates, likely taking days off from their own work to build the community.
Nehemiah Chapter 3 lists those who answered the call to rebuild the brokenness. One by one they tackled all the gates in the city, repairing doors and adding bolts and bars.

Teamwork: Everyone’s Effort Needed ~ Nehemiah Rebuilding Hope

Teamwork was essential. The builders worked for the glory of God—for the place of worship, for the people of God and not for pay.
Hebrews 6: 10-11. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones- his people. We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, NABRE

Gates

Nehemiah mentions the names of each of the gates that were repaired.
There is symbolism for Christians in the Sheep Gate, Fish Gate, Dung Gate, Fountain Gate, and most other gates too. (See bookmark on my website for more meaning of the gates and symbolism.)

Personal Reflection

You can reflect on the principles that apply to your life. In prayer, using your prayer journal, consider these questions:

Where do you have burned gates or broken walls in your life (or family or nation) that need restoration?
For example, burned gates are open portals of darkness into our lives. They can include addictions, uncontrolled imaginations, extreme fears, emotional hurts, lack of forgiveness, unholy media, pornography, unrestrained tongue, or other sinful habits. God wants to heal you and help you rebuild gates or walls that need rebuilding. Ask Him.
Where does God want to strengthen you and give you joy? Ask Jesus to help you change hopelessness, discouragement, or procrastination attitudes into hopefulness and joy.
Become a perfume maker! If you feel you lack giftings, become a perfumer and set your mind to building anyway. Bring the sweetness of God’s spirit and a sweet attitude of prayer to every stinky situation. 2 Corinthians 2: 14-15: God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance. For we are like a sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who are being lost…

Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on Nehemiah. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime. It’s free!

Pray about accepting this opportunity to engage others and gently evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea.
For information or to contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: com
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.

Filed Under: Shows, Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, hope, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, Nehemiah, Nehemiah Chapter 3, prayer, Prayer Journal, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Nehemiah & Rebuilding Hope #3 – Need Favor? Let Nehemiah Encourage You!

June 25, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Nehemiah Inspects the Rubble in Jerusalem at night

At Night, Nehemiah Inspects the Rubble in Jerusalem, James J. Tissot (1896-1903)

Need Favor?

If you need favor, let Nehemiah encourage you. When you pray for favor, you are asking God to give a powerful person sympathy or judgment supportive of your needs or for help to turn a bad situation around. After Nehemiah prayed, God gave him favor with the king, and the king gave him everything he asked for. Join us today to discover how to trust God more and ask for favor when approaching challenges.

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From Susa to Jerusalem

It’s about two to five months after Nehemiah left the king’s presence, due to the time it took him to make the 500-mile journey from Susa to Jerusalem. King Artaxerxes of Persia granted his request to return to Judah and rebuild his city. Nehemiah said, [T]he king granted me what I asked, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me [also translated as “the favor of my God was upon me.” Today we cover these points:

Governors Displeased (Nehemiah 2: 8-16)

The land surrounding Judah was controlled by enemies of the Jewish people.
Sanballat the Horonite was governor of the province of Samaria and a native of Horonaim, a city of Moab.
Tobiah the Ammonite was the governor of the province of Ammon in Transjordan. Both were positions under Persian rule.

God Gave Him Favor (Nehemiah 1: 11, 2: 12)

God put the desire in Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2: 12).
God gave him wisdom and discernment as he went into the midst of opposition.
He prayed: Give success to your servant today and grant him mercy in the sight of this man! (Nehemiah 1:11). This man was the KING, and God gave him mercy and favor with the king.
Psalm 84: 11-12 encourages us to pray for favor: For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Encouragement (Nehemiah 2: 17-20)

Nehemiah first had to encourage his discouraged people and inspire them to rebuild.
The joy was infectious, and the people said, “Let us start building!” So they committed themselves to the common good.
Sharing what God had done in his own life motivates others to trust Him too. Calling others to come alongside you in partnership inspires them to work together and do God’s work.
The people had lost their identity as a people of God. We must remember our identity as children of God.

Obstacles & Opposition (Nehemiah 2: 17-20)

Sanballat, Tobiah, and later Geshem opposed a restored Jewish province, for it threatened their trade and authority.
The enemies confronted the people with lies, but Nehemiah refused to answer the lies. He stood his ground.
We too must stand our ground. We must seek the Lord first, pray, and do his work. God is with us. Romans 8: 31 says: If God is for us, who is against us?

Personal Reflection

Be inspired to ask God for these requests that Nehemiah has demonstrated. Write the answers in your prayer journal.

Ask God to put His desires into your heart as he did for Nehemiah.
Ask God for favor this week for a needed solution to your needs. God gave Nehemiah favor with the king and the king gave him more than he could imagine.
Ask God whom you can inspire with hope and joy this week. Nehemiah shared his testimony of how God was with Him, helped Him, and called him and his people to this work.
Use the ACTS acronym to aid in the elements for personal intercessions as Nehemiah displays.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women’s small group study on Nehemiah. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime.

Pray about accepting this wonderful opportunity to engage others and evangelize by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea.You can choose from among my four podcasts (The Joy Series, Advent JOY, Esther & Turn-around JOY or Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and JOY).
For information or to contact me, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Links

Download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com
Read more on hosting a Cup of Joy Women’s small group.
Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding Hope and Joy in Your Life.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, hope, Intercessory Prayer, joy, Karen Dwyer, Nehemiah, prayer, Prayer Journal, Scripture, Wrap Yourself in Joy

NEHEMIAH & Rebuilding HOPE #2 – Procrastinate or Supplicate? Nehemiah Teaches Intercession!

June 19, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

Nehemiah - Rebuilding Hope & JOY: Procrastinate or Supplicate? Nehemiah Demonstrates Intercession!

Nehemiah Demonstrates Intercession (St. Takla.Org)

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Procrastinate or Supplicate?

Do you procrastinate or supplicate when you face a broken situation or difficult task? To procrastinate means you put off doing something often because you don’t know where to begin. Do you feel stymied because something beloved to you seems shattered and you don’t know what to do or where to begin? Join us today as Nehemiah shows us how to supplicate to our God for restoration and new hope.

Intercessory Prayer

Nehemiah teaches about interceding for a people and a nation. Nehemiah demonstrates powerful intercession. The prayer of Nehemiah starts the process of bringing great solutions to great difficulties and a broken nation. Today, we cover the following points.

Five Forms of Prayer

There are at least FIVE forms of prayer. “The Holy Spirit is the one who teaches the Church and recalls to her all that Jesus instructs in the life of prayer, inspiring new expressions of the same basic 5 forms of prayer:” 1) blessing, 2) petition, 3) intercession, 4) thanksgiving, and 5) praise” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2644).
Intercession is simply “asking on behalf of another—it knows no boundaries and even extends to our enemies” (CCC #2647).
Nehemiah’s prayer in Chapter 1 is foremost intercession, but it also brings in the other 4 forms of prayer.

The Themes of Intercessory Prayer

The four themes of Nehemiah’s prayer teach supplication.
The themes model personal intercessory and fit the ACTS acronym.

The ACTS Guide for Intercession (Nehemiah 1: 5-11)

A = Adoration. Nehemiah praises and adores God first (v. 5). Praise God’s greatness. Begin prayer with adoration. (Psalm 100: 4: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!)
C = Confession. Nehemiah deeply loves and is devoted to God, yet he confesses his sins. He confesses his nation’s and his family’s sins as if they were his own (v. 7).
T = Thanksgiving. Nehemiah prays with gratitude for God’s mercy and promises (v. 8-9). (Philippians 4: 6: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.)
S = Supplication. Nehemiah asks God for his needs and for the needs of his nation and family (v. 11). In the process, he is changed.

Nehemiah’s Supplication to God is Answered (Nehemiah 2: 1-8)

Nehemiah’s four months of prayer, fasting, and waiting on God paved the way for God to make a way.
No procrastination. By grace via intercession, Nehemiah courageously made requests to the king.
The king was sympathetic because the King of Kings had opened his heart. King Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah favor, granted his request to rebuild the brokenness, and even gave him supplies and assistance.

Personal Reflection

Consider the following aids for increasing personal intercession.

Keep a prayer journal (e.g., a small, inexpensive notebook with lined paper).
Prepare to intercede: WRITE concerns, LISTEN to God’s desires, and include SCRIPTURE.
Use the ACTS guide with your prayer journal to record your personal intercession and answers.

Cup of JOY Women

Consider hosting a weekly one-hour Cup of Joy Women small group study. It accompanies this podcast and you can begin anytime. Contact me for free materials and help to get started.
Pray about accepting this wonderful opportunity to engage others and share your faith by hosting a small group of friends over coffee or tea. For information, go to Cup of Joy Women.

Nehemiah & Rebuilding Hope #1 – Messy Situations? Studying Nehemiah can help!

June 12, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

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Messy Situations?

Do you have messy situations in your life? The Book Nehemiah will remind you of God’s presence and power to transform brokenness and disappointment. You can overcome the fear and discouragement. Join our podcast today and allow Nehemiah to teach you to walk with God in new hope and joy.

Inspires Our Faith Today

I hope you were able to listen to my last podcast series – Esther and Turnaround JOY. If you enjoyed the book of Esther, I know you are going to love Nehemiah. The Book of Nehemiah speaks to our faith today, even though it was written almost 2500 years ago. It will inspire you and your family in times of discouragement, trouble or worry in the face of life’s difficulties. Nehemiah reminds us all how God’s presence and power are with us and can transform lives. Today we cover the following points.

History

The Book of Nehemiah is considered a historical book in Scripture meaning it is part of recorded history. It details the third return of God’s people from the Babylonian captivity, that occurred around 605 BC.
In 478 BC, during the reign of King Ahasuerus, Esther, and Mordecai, through God’s providential hand, helped save the nation of Israel from annihilation. The Book of Nehemiah follows the time after Esther.

Meet Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1: 1-3, 11)

Nehemiah lives and works in Suza, the winter home of the Persian kings. He was the cupbearer, who tasted every drop of wine and morsel before the king could consume it. We might call him a professional wine taster and food connoisseur in our culture. However, this position is much more. If the cupbearer dropped dead or would not eat in fear of poisoning by the king’s enemies, the king would know not to eat it either!

Talk to God First (Nehemiah 1: 4-6)

Our lesson here is that Nehemiah talked to God. The first thing he did in great emotional pain over the destruction back home was to turn to God. He took his emotional pain and heartbreak to God in prayer. He did not immediately try to fix the problems.
Nehemiah knew only GOD could bring solutions to such devastation so he worshipped the creator, the great and awesome One, the Holy One, and the loving faithful One. Nehemiah knew the situation was the result of the nation’s sin – it was not God’s fault.
In verse 5, Nehemiah gives us this example: Adore and Worship God before you intercede for a problem. Jesus taught us the same. When the disciples asked him to teach them to pray, he said, to pray like this, Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be the NAME.

Four Names for Praising God

“O LORD (v. 5) is the first name.” In the Hebrew, the word is “Yahweh.” Yahweh is the divine personal name that God gave in love for the people of Israel to use. Yahweh is the Lord God, the self-existent one who is always present. You can say: O Lord you are with ME. O God, You love me and never leave ME.
“O Lord of Heaven (v. 5).” In Hebrew, of Heaven is “Elohim” which refers to God, the creator of the heavens and earth and the judge of the universe. He reigns throughout all eternity and is unlimited in strength and time. You can say: O Lord of Heaven, the Mighty One, you are MY Creator.
“Great and awesome God (v. 5).” In Hebrew, the word translated great is “Hadol” which refers to the magnitude and importance of God. Psalm 48:1 uses this word in praise: Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. The word ” Hael ” translates as ” awesome” in Hebrew, meaning awesome and holy reverence expressed to God, whose deeds are Magnificent. You can say: God is MY great and awesome God.
“God who keeps covenant and steadfast love (v. 5). In Hebrew, the word used is “Chesedh” and it means the God who guards His covenant relationship by keeping His promises of steadfast love and unchanging devotion to His people. “Chesedh” is used in Psalm 40: 11: Your steadfast love and faithfulness keep me safe forever! You can say the Lord God keeps ME safe forever. He is MY loving, devoted God. (Note: Hebrew words are from Zodhiates Word Study Dictionary, 1992, #3069, #430, #410, #2617).

Personal Reflection

Which of the names for God that Nehemiah uses would you like to use more in your prayer?
How will you spend a few minutes adoring God with these praises?

Cup of JOY Women

If you would like to host a weekly one-hour “Cup of Joy Women” study on Nehemiah with your friends that accompanies this podcast, email me: WRAPYourselfinJOY7@gmail.com. I will send free materials and get you started.

Links

You can download Bookmarks from this podcast series at my website: WRAPYourselfinJOY.com

Check out more podcasts here!
Click HERE to find the Book: Nehemiah: Rebuilding HOPE and JOY in Your Life.

Filed Under: Wrap Yourself in Joy Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, Christian Podcast, Cup of Joy Women, hope, intercession, joy, Karen Dwyer, Nehemiah, prayer, Scripture, Scripture reflection, Wrap Yourself in Joy

Esther & Turnaround JOY #10 – Celebrating God’s Goodness & Purim

May 8, 2023 by Karen Dwyer Leave a Comment

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Are you looking for encouragement and JOY? Esther will help you celebrate God’s goodness. When you recall and celebrate what God has done, your faith is strengthened, you are inspired to trust Him more, and you are encouraged with hope. For Esther and all Jewish families, the annual Feast of Purim celebration helps them recall that God delivered them and will continue to deliver them. Join our podcast today to joyously celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness as we review the many turnarounds in the Book of Esther.

Reversals Continue

Approximately two months and ten days after the first decree was issued, Mordecai wrote the second edict, which empowered the Jewish people to defend themselves against their enemies. The turnarounds were astounding! Today, we share at least 15 reversals and cover these points:

No Plundering (Esther 9: 1-17)

To plunder means to steal goods during a war for your profit.
The Jew people remembered the violation of God’s commands in their heritage (1 Samuel 15) and acted in holy retribution for self-defense but took no plunder for their profit.

The Feast of Purim Established Forever (Esther 9: 18 – 10: 3)

Mordecai and Esther declare two days of celebration in an official decree to be remembered forever.
Purim means “lots” or dice which is what Haman used to pick the date for the annihilation.
The Book of Esther (also called the Megillah) is read twice during the Feast (the date in March is based on the Hebrew calendar). Children “boo and hiss” and throw popcorn when they hear Haman’s name.
Today, families bring gifts to the poor, give gifts to each other, and eat fruit-filled triangular cookies called Hamantashens [haa·muhn·taa·shn] or Haman’s Ears. They are delicious! You can pick up a recipe card on my website WRAPYourselfinJOY.com or in my book.

Banquets and Feasts in Esther

The Book of Esther shows us joy; Esther begins with a banquet and ends with a feast.
Four pairs of feasts celebrate the turnarounds and triumphs of God.

The Dream, Memory, and Plot (Esther 10 – 16).

Esther 10 -16 or deuterocanonical additions A – F suggest Mordecai remembers a Dream. It foretold God’s deliverance relating to the main events in Esther plus the chapters add a few details to the occurrences.

The Hero of the Book of Esther is GOD

God used the beautiful Esther, caused the sleeplessness of the king, brought down Haman, exalted Mordecai, and gave the Jewish people victory over their enemies.
God showed tremendous power on behalf of his people. Almost like fireworks, the reversals came quickly and spectacularly, fifteen in all.

Remembering God’s Goodness

The Feast of Purim, still celebrated yearly in the Jewish tradition, helps Jewish families remember God has delivered them and will continue to deliver them.
Psalm 77 calls us all to remember God’s goodness.

Personal Reflection

Do you set aside time to remember, joyously celebrate and thank God for what He has done for you?
Do you call upon God for creative solutions or turnarounds when problems arise?
Are you encouraging others that God intervenes in history when his people seek him with prayer, repentance, and fasting?

New Podcast Series

Join my podcast this summer, Nehemiah-Rebuiding HOPE. If you would like to host a weekly one-hour “Cup of Joy Women” study on Nehemiah with your friends, go to: https://wrapyourselfinjoy.com/ or email me: WRAPYourselfinJOY7@gmail.com. I will send free materials to help you get started.

Scriptures of Hope

May 5, 2023 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

For this last episode of the series on Hope, we turn to God’s Word. His word guides and sustains us like nothing else. I’ve chosen three passages to ponder and I highly recommend you read the entire passage, not just the one verse to get the full meaning.

The Verses

He set me free in the open; he rescued me because he loves me. Psalm 18:20

Say to the fearful of heart: Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Isaiah 34:4

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers,nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

What is God telling us?

He loves us. And in that love, there is the certain hope that he saves us, protects us, and is close to us. In Isaiah when it says that God comes with divine recompense, this means that our restoration will be beyond our expectations. It is divine and what GOd gives is always more than we expect.

In Romans, St. Paul reminds us that we cannot be separated from he love of God in Christ Jesus.

There is our HOPE!!!!! And, to quote a priest’s homily, Hope has a name. It is Jesus Christ.

I encourage you to pray with Psalm 18, Isaiah 35, and Romans 8:31-39. From those passages, choose at least one verse that reminds you to have hope.

Learn 4 Ways to Pray with Scripture and join the Live Not Lukewarm community!

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: Christ Means Hope, hope, Isaiah, pray with scripture, Psalm, Romans, Scripture

Are you participating in your faith life?

July 1, 2022 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Scripture

He entered a boat, made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” At that, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” Matthew 9:1-6

Do you accept what is offered?

Do ever feel as if you are not participating in your own spiritual or faith life? Maybe waiting for Jesus to do it all? In the passage, we can see that yes, Jesus is forgiving but the man accepts what Jesus does for him and acts on Jesus’ words. (I’m saying man, but it could be a woman.)

Do we ever sit there with a great idea, thinking, not me, nope, it’s for someone else? Let’s stop thinking Jesus isn’t offering us the best or the forgiveness or healing or a gift. Why can’t it be you?

Faith and Action

We can do both. And if our action seems daunting, pray this prayer, “Lord, I believe you have asked me to do what I am about to do, but if it is not what you want me to, please stop me.”

This week, pray to put fully participate in your faith life. If you get a direction from God, do it!

And, please, drop me a comment about how it goes or suggest a topic for discussion! I love to hear from listeners.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: faith, following Jesus, Jesus, Scripture

5 ways to Care for your Soul

May 6, 2022 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Our soul needs care just as our body does. This week, I’m offering 5 suggestions that help me be the Christian witness I want to be and live notlukewarm!

Five Ways

Start your day with a prayer.
Read scripture.
Spend time in nature, noticing the beauty of God’s creation.
Sit in silence for a short time.
Practice gratitude.

Why do this?

As the saying goes, “you cannot pour from an empty cup.” Our ability to give to others is often determined by our internal state. And while taking care of our body is important, we cannot forget about our soul. In fact, from my own experience, I will say that my soul comes first, then I can do the rest of what is needed.

The challenge this week? Do it all! I guess I’m feeling a bit motivated or in need of soul care? God knows!

Need a speaker

Take a look at LiveNotLukewarm for ways to connect and have me come to your group.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: Gratitude, nature, prayer, Scripture, silence, soul care

10 Reasons to Study Scripture

March 25, 2022 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Begin with Scripture

“Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.” Hebrews 4:12-13

10 Reasons

It is the Word of God. What’s better than that?
You will get the best advice.
Spending time in the Word helps you to slow down and live in God’s time.
Yes, the sword is sharp as St. Paul says, but it is for a reason. To reveal what God wants to heal, root out, change in you to become who He created.
God’s Word is deep, meaningful, real and honest. Often the interactions we have in real life are less than deep, meaningful, real and honest.
It will help you figure things out in life. The big questions that need time and space and discernment.
God’s Word shapes and fills us, so then we can share it with the world.
Spending time in the Word teaches us who God is and who we are.
It reminds us of how much you are loved and cared for by God.
By spending time with God in the word you become a better person, the person He created you to be!

This week, spend 15 minutes a day reading, studying, praying with scripture. Start here with the daily Mass readings.

Want to dive deeper into praying with scripture? Sign up for the Live Not Lukewarm newsletter to receive 4 Ways to Pray with Scripture.

Join the Revelation Bible Study with the Live Not Lukewarm Community.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, live not lukewarm, not lukewarm, Revelation, Scripture

All in with your spiritual life

January 21, 2022 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

What does ‘not lukewarm’ mean?

To me, it means being all in, first with my spiritual life so then, the rest of life will follow. Life will never be perfect, but when grounded in faith, especially prayer and scripture, we all stand a better chance of dealing with life.

Scripture points

^“but showing love down to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:6″The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.” Luke 16:19

“But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No,” that you may not incur condemnation.” James 5:12

A plan helps

As boring as it may sound, a plan helps. Commit to specific times to do certain things. And once you have made the commitment, stick with it. Don’t allow laziness or inertia to stop you. You have God on your side!

Not Lukewarm Challenge

Make a plan for your spiritual life. Contact me if you’d like to discuss some ideas or have a conversation.

And don’t forget, sign up for my email newsletter to stay up to date with Live NotLukewarm!.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: prayer, Scripture, spiritual life

You are valuable

January 14, 2022 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

It’s easy to get sucked in

New Year’s resolutions, goals, plans — good, especially if they work for you. What’s not good is coming away with the thought that you have to change because you are not enough or not quite up to the world’s standards. We are bombarded with messages of do it this way, be better, stronger, eat this, drink caffeine, don’t drink caffeine. Every day it seems, what is the best way changes.

What isn’t going to change – GOD

He does not change. And His word stays and is true. In Jeremiah 1:4-10, God speaks to Jeremiah and class him to be an oracle, a prophet. His prophet. God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…I dedicated you, a prophet…I appointed you.”

God does the same for each of us.

We are valuable

It can be easy to forget that our worth lies with Him who made us. God is calling us
to do away with whatever stops us from building and planting. It may not be quick or easy, but we can do it with his help.

Hold on to the truth that you are valuable to God because he created you!

Pray this week with Jeremiah 1:4-10. Ask God to reveal to you your value from His eyes.

And don’t forget, sign up for my email newsletter to stay up to date with Live NotLukewarm!.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: goals, improvement, Jeremiah, new year, Old Testament, Scripture, value

What does it cost?

December 10, 2021 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

We begin with scripture

“Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give” (Mark 10:8b).

Gratitude. Humility. Thankful. Sacrifice. Share. These are all words that come to my mind as I read those verses, Mark 10:6-8. And I ponder what I have received without cost. And then it hits me, everything I have I have received without cost. How can I say that? On the surface it does not seem to make sense. I, like most people, regularly trade my time and talents for money; it is called work, career, or ministry. Our talents and time though, are gifts that we received from God Most High.

At the service of others

We can choose to put those at His service and for the good of others. I often find myself at odds with the second part of the verse, “without cost you are to give.” In fact, I can spend lots of time thinking about how much it costs me to give. How much does it cost me to give love, care, concern, kindness, mercy? It costs as much as I want to believe it costs. When I remember that all I have received has been without cost then I can give without counting the cost. But when I start to tally up when I have given and what I want in return, I am not the person God created me to be or the person I want to be. Does that ever happen to you?

Make a list of all that you have received from God! It can include intangibles like faith and hope, people you love, your talents, material goods, where you live. Try not to judge your list. Then, each day, pray for a few people from your list, ask God to help you grow in talent or use material things for His glory.

It is not easy to give without cost but that is what we are asked to do. The Incarnation is the beginning of Jesus giving to us. By virtue of that gift, we receive salvation. My prayer is for us to embrace the gift of salvation that we have received and share it with others by the way we live our lives without counting the cost.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: cost, give, Gratitude, humility, Mark 10, Scripture

4 ways to pray with your spouse

September 3, 2021 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Why pray with your spouse?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Praying with your spouse leads to greater unity, that is communion, which is what Jesus calls us to, with each and him.

4 ways to pray with your spouse

You can pray rote prayers of the Church; the Rosary, Novenas for a special intention, go to Mass together
Short prayers of gratitude and intercessions
pray with the scriptures
pray specifically for each other’s needs before you leave for the day

Some links for more information

This week I encourage you to pray with your spouse or a close friend in one of the ways suggested!

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: daily prayer, prayer, Scripture, spouse

Answering God’s Call

August 27, 2021 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Hits all the high points!

Talking with Barbara Lee reminded me why Ignatian Spirituality is so important. It is relatable, easy to approach and helpful as you go through life, no matter what age or stage you are in.

A Way to Pray

Answering God’s Call: A Scripture Based Journey for Older Adults by Barbara Lee, published by Loyola PRess is for all of us who want to pray with scripture and have had life experiences that have pushed us out in=to the deep. Maybe we’ve wondered where God is in the difficulties, trials and changes of life? Wonder no more, pick up this book that contains the scripture passages to read and ponder, prayer starters and a reflection. It is truly an all-in-one book in that whatever you’ll need for your prayer time is right there.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: Barbara Lee, Ignatian, Loyola Press, prayer, Scripture

Special Replay: Scripture Reflections

July 26, 2021 by Felice Gerwitz Leave a Comment

Scripture Reflections

Scripture reflections should be a normal part of our study of the Bible. When we read the Bible it is more than just a book, it is the inspired and infallible word of Almighty God. How can you get the most out of reading your Bible, and do you have a personal agenda when you read? Do you go back to those tired and true Scriptures, reading and re-reading the same ones? Do you play Bible roulette where you “test” the Lord and pray for a particular thing and then open the Bible to see if God has answered you in His Word? Or are you willing to listen, to be drawn to the Bible and read through a particular book of the Bible stopping and reflecting?

There are many Scripture reflections already completed for you – these can be short Bible verse that has an accompanying story either a true account or a fictionalized account that gives you an understanding of the main points of the verse. These are great especially if you want a daily reading that is short for each day. I really like these for the children. Some of our favorite books were geared to specific things the children liked for example sports. My son’s favorite was one that had a sports theme. My daughter liked the shorter books that really pointed to the main emphasis of the Scripture in a heartfelt manner, Jesus Calling.

Thanks to our sponsor Media Angels, Inc. – Try the book A Few Minutes with God

Scripture reflections should be part of what we do each and every time we read the Word. Scripture is one way to get to know God better, to interact with the Holy Spirit because we should pray to the Holy Spirit to open our minds, our hearts, our eyes and our ears to what the Lord is teaching us during our reading.

When reading the Bible here are my top ten points.

Pray first. Ask the Lord into your heart. Pray for forgiveness for anyone who has hurt you or you have a hard time forgiving and focus on repentance.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom to understand the Bible verses you read or at the very least to teach you something you can apply to your life.
Try for consistency – each and every day plan to read.
Use a highlighter – or underline the verses that jump out at you. There are special highlighter pencils you can use on your Bible that won’t bleed through.
Write in your Bible – there isn’t much room, but sometimes a special note will help you in the future when you read this passage again.
Write a Scripture verse that moves you – or you feel is important.
Close your eyes and listen … is God speaking to you? Write what you feel.
Don’t jump around if you can help it. Try to read through a book of the Bible – you can begin in Genesis, in Proverbs. Or the book of Luke.
Keep track. Keep a list of the books you are reading.
Share with others. It helps me to remember and often gives me more insights when I share what I’ve read with my family or a friend.

Let’s pray –

Dear Lord, I ask you for an understanding of Your Word as I read the Holy Bible. I pray for direction on where to start, and for the ability to be impacted so that I want to change my life for the better as I read and learn more about You. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit, give me wisdom, understanding and the fortitude to read the Bible each and every day. I ask for inspiration as I journal about what I read and the ability to clearly express what I learn with others. I pray that the Bible becomes my resource and guide to learning more and growing in my faith and love of you, and I pray this in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Filed Under: A Few Minutes With God Tagged With: Christian, Holy Bible, reading the Bible, Scripture, Scripture reflection

A New Women’s Devotional, Called by Name

July 16, 2021 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

What’s different?

Let’s be honest, there are so many devotionals that it can be hard to choose.

What makes this new devotional, Called by Name from Women in the New Evangelization edited by Kelly M. Wahlquist, Allison Gingras and Alyssa Bormes different? First, there are new voices; second, the daily devotions are brief yet powerful; third, it suggests do-able ways to take what you have reflected on and bring it to the world.

Each Day

Each daily page, yes, one page for each day, includes a scripture verse or two, a 300-word reflection, a prayer and a response. You are invited to journal on your scripture with the companion journal which guides you through Lectio Divina, a timeless way to engage with scripture. The journal is not dated, so if you miss a day or two months, it’s okay, you won’t have empty pages staring at you between the times you journal.

What is in the bundle and where can I get it?

The Called by Name bundle includes the book of 366 daily devotionals, a journal, journal stickers, prayer bookmark, and a Called by Name sticker at Women in the New Evangelization.

Allison has a great love of scripture, journaling and books! You can follow her on her website, Reconciled to You, where you’ll find out all about the wonderful work she is doing.

Her challenge is this, spend 5 minutes a day journaling after reading scripture. You may find it a big help in your spiritual life.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: author interview, book, daily devotional, prayer, Scripture

Essential Worship Questions

June 25, 2021 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Who needs worship?

Is it God or us? God does not need our worship. We need to worship him. It makes us more inclined to give him honor and reverence and awe. It reminds us to love God above all other people and things.

What are we to worship?

We are meant to worship the creator, not the created. Romans 1:28 says, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

How are we to worship?

We are meant to come and worship God filled with the SPirit and honestly, not trying to hide anything from him. John 4:4 says, “God is spirit and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

Ask yourself the question, how am I going or entering into worship? If there have blocks or things you are trying to keep hidden, ask God to remove them so you can be free in your worship of him.

Spotify Playlist

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: commandment, God, Scripture, worship

Is it time to repent?

March 12, 2021 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Repentance

True sorrow and a desire to change is the repentance God is asking from us. When we sin, we hurt ourselves, others and our relationship with God. God calls us to look at ourselves with honesty and decide what needs to be changed. Not out of shame, but because we desire to live more fully the life God wants for us.

Scripture

“Before you fall ill, humble yourself; and when you have sinned, show repentance. Do not delay forsaking your sins; do not neglect to do so until you are in distress.” Sirach 18:21

Sins can weigh on us, causing us mental and physical distress. Sirach says avoid those problems by taking care of the sin right away. Yes, we’ll need to be humble but God will not turn us away when we ask for his help.

Metanoia

A change of heart away from sin towards God. True repentance can bring about this metanoia, this change of heart.

God’s fills us

When we rid ourselves of sin we are filled with God’s love, mercy and grace. To me, that is the best reason to confess my sins. I receive something wonderful to take its place!

Spend some quiet time each day looking, with God, at the sin that needs to be removed from your life. Ask for forgiveness, make retribution if possible and pray for help to not sin again.

If you are Catholic, I encourage you to go to confession.

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Is Lent a time of sacrifice or action?

February 26, 2021 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

What is Lent?

Lent is 40 days before Easter, it begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the Wednesday before Holy Thursday. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving; a way to prepare ourselves for the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sacrifice or Action?

I say both! Give up something and then do something. But it’s not only me saying this, God does too! Check out Isaiah 58:1-9a.

Yes, Lent has already started but it’s never too late to enter into the season. For this week, choose a sacrifice and an action for the rest of Lent.

FYI: I have a playlist for Lent on Spotify.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: action, almsgiving, easter, fasting, lent, prayer, sacrifice, Scripture

What’s your passion?

February 12, 2021 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

What kind of passion am I talking about?

I’m talking about the kind of passion that propels your life in a positive direction, and ideally, of course, toward God and for his glory.

5 things I’m passionate about

My faith:
- specifically Scripture,
- Sacraments and
- most especially the Eucharist
My family
People – getting to know them, serving them, teaching them, being with them

What’s your passion?

What propels you forward? What are the things in your life that drive you and that without, you would be bereft? Do these draw you to or away from God? Others? Yourself?

Find or rediscover your passion. It’s in you, let it out. If we live out the passion God poured into us, we will give him glory.

And if scripture is your passion or you’d like to discover if it could be your passion, join me to learn about the Gospel of Mark. You can join the group at any time. It is a no pressure group of supportive people who love God’s word.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: Bible Study, faith, Family, passion, people, Scripture

Abundance or Scarcity?

December 4, 2020 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

It’s an often asked question of people, are you an optimist or pessimist? If we are living as God calls us, then our answer is hopefully, optimist. We have a God of abundance, not scarcity.

What does the Bible say?

I’m going to focus on two passages. From the Old Testament we have the story of manna in the desert, Exodus 16. God gave this food for the people to eat, enough for a day to teach them to trust and rely on him. However, he didn’t give them a small amount, he allowed them to take as much as they wanted as long as they didn’t save it. God provides in abundance for today! And then, in the New Testament is the multiplication of the loaves and fish from Matthew, 15:32-38. The disciples show a bit of hesitancy that they can feed all of these people gathered. But Jesus has none. He takes what is provided, and multiplies is so that there is enough with leftovers.

What does this mean?

God provides us with what we need, when we need it. Jesus shows us time and again with his life that we have been given what we need to live. Whenever we think we have a scarcity, offer that bit to God and see what happens.

Who do we live?

I think we live as if we have all that we need. So give away your time, your good deeds. Stop saving things for a special time and use them to care fort hose you love. Shift from thinking I need more or what if I need it later to God will provide and whatever I use up or give away will come back to me at the right time.

This week, focus on living abundantly. List all the gifts God has given you and find a way to share them with others, knowing Goad will provide for tomorrow.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: abundance, Exodus, Jesus, Scripture

Humility is not easy

November 6, 2020 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Foundational Virtue

Humility is the virtue on which all others are built. CS Lewis said this, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” We are not being asked to not think of ourselves at all, but to not forget others.

For many people, it is difficult to let go of the need to be right, have the last word or let others know how great they are. Can we look instead at the model of Jesus?

Christ did not deem equality

So beings the beautiful Christological hymn from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In chapter 2, verses 5-11 he tells us that though Jesus is the Son of God he was still obedient, even to death – for us. And because of his humility, God exalts him.

Here is the entire hymn:

“Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, ecoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phillipians 2:5-11

Jesus had humility

I think about that when I am prone to a lack of humility. I don’t have to have the last word; I don’t know everything; let someone else do it their way. It is better to wait to be asked your thoughts than to give them all the time. We know these things, and yet, we struggle. Maybe we are tired or overwhelmed and little things get to us more easily than usual. Let things go that are not harmful to you or others. And when it’s hard, come back to these verses. Because if Jesus did it, he will give you the grace and strength to do it, ask him.

Each day, pray these verses and ask Jesus to help you have humility in your interactions with others.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: Christ, humility, Phillipians, Scripture, St. Paul

Pray the Psalms

October 2, 2020 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Some Facts about the Psalms

There are 150 psalms
David wrote about half of them
There are different types of psalms

Types of Psalms

Hymn
Thanksgiving
Lament
Royal
Wisdom
Pilgrimage or procession
Prophetic speech

What else?

The psalms cover the entire range of human emotion and experience and so can be very helpful in prayer. One-third of the psalms are psalms of lament, which reminds us that it is okay to pour out our heart and soul to God, our anger, disappointment, frustration, all of it! He knows it, tell him. It helps.

No matter the type of psalm, I always feel comforted, knowing that I am not alone in the emotion I am experiencing.

Psalm Suggestions

34, Thanksgiving to God who Delivers the Just
97, The Divine Ruler of All
142, A Prayer in time of Trouble

Read and pray a psalm each day this week. Tell us your favorite in the comments.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: psalms, rayer, Scripture

Magnify the Lord

September 18, 2020 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

What does it mean to magnify?

It means to make something appear larger, to enlarge, increase, enhance. The archaic meaning is a bit different and more in line with what we think of in relation to God. It means, to extol, glorify, praise, bless, worship, venerate and adore.

Scripture

PS 34:2-4 I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall always be in my mouth. My soul will glory in the LORD, let the poor hear and be glad. Magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt his name together.

Luke 1:46-55 is Mary telling all that God has done for her and her ancestors. It is her response to what God has given her.

How do we magnify God and how does God magnify us?

The above verses remind us that we have much to thank God for and when we do, we are magnifying what he has done so that others can see it. It is one way we share the Good News. But God also takes our work and prayers, small or large, and magnifies them. In the same way as a small bit of yeast leavens all the dough (Matthew 13:33) he takes what we offer him and makes it bigger. God can use all we do for his glory if we put it at his disposal.

As Christians, that is our call – to both magnify the Lord and let him magnify us.

Spend some time praying about this: How can you magnify the Lord? And how does he magnify you?

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: magnify, prayer, Scripture

Encouraging Scripture

March 27, 2020 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

Many times we have challenges in our life that we don’t expect. And where can we turn? For me, turning to scripture offers me comfort and encouragement.

Old Testament Verses:

Joshua 1:9: I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go.

God is with us, always; wherever we go.

Sirach 2:10-11: Consider the generations long past and see: has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been ignored? For the Lord is compassionate and merciful; forgives sins and saves in time of trouble.

God does not disappoint, forsake or ignore us. His compassion and mercy are endless; we can call on Him and He will answer!

Isaiah 51:1: Listen to me, you who pursue justice, who seek the LORD; Look to the rock from which you were hewn, to the quarry from which you were taken;

Who do we come from? GOD! He is our rock, our Father. We are sons and daughters of the most high King. We are princes and princesses. Hold onto that, you come from strength.

New Testament Verses:

Mark 11:22-24: Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.

Ask and He will answer. Maybe not right away, but you will get what you need in His perfect timing.

2 Corinthians 5:17: So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

When the crisis, the difficulty has passed, look back and see how you have changed. How can you take what you learned in the hard times and apply them now?

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11: For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

I think it is so important to encourage those around us. If you pray for someone, let them know. Send a card, note, text or call. Leave flowers on their doorstep. Reach out, offer support and encourage each other.

Which leads right into the this week. Encourage someone this week in whatever way is best for you and your family.

My gift to you, when you leave a comment or join my email list is a set of downloads with the above scriptures on them. Here’s a sample:

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: comfort, encouragement, Scripture

Can I love as God does?

February 14, 2020 by Deanna Bartalini 2 Comments

February – if you live in a cold, wintery climate it can seem like the longest month. Maybe that’s why we celebrate love this month, something to warm us up and thaw us out. Who knows? This episode is not about romantic love, but about God’s, which is more fulfilling and constant and true than any other love.

Scripture

First, what kind of love does God ask of us? Deuteronomy 6:5, says “Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.” That’s a big ask, isn’t it? How can we love God that much? If we know him and believe his words are true we can do it.

Look at Isaiah 43:1-7. Here we are told that God created, formed, redeemed and called us. He tells us we are his, precious, protected and honored; created for glory. And that we do not need to be afraid because he is with us through all the trials and difficulties of life.

I often forget to ask him to be with me. True, he is there no matter what, but by asking it reminds me I am not alone and that he wants to be present at all times.

When we can hold these truths in ourselves, they lead us to better be able to love God with all our mind, heart and strength. And then we can love others. I like to use Romans 12:9-13 as a guide as to how to love others; sincere, honor, mutual affection, fervent. I want to love people as if I am serving the Lord. If there are people or situations that often make you angry or frustrated, ask God to reveal to you why and then ask him to get rid of the cause of your anger or frustration.

These are just the highlights of what I talked about, I hope you can listen to the episode and hear the rest.

Our Not Lukewarm Challenge this week is to love others as God does. Remembering that he created us for glory and we can share that with others will help us.

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God the Holy Spirit

October 18, 2019 by Deanna Bartalini Leave a Comment

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is made known to us from the beginning of the Old Testament, in Genesis 1:2, “and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters” that wind is the Holy Spirit. Then we see again, in Exodus, God is with the Israelites as they flee from Egypt, “The LORD preceded them, in the daytime by means of a column of cloud to show them the way, and at night by means of a column of fire to give them light. Thus they could travel both day and night. Neither the column of cloud by day nor the column of fire by night ever left its place in front of the people (Ex: 13:21-22). God was with them and he is with us as well.

In the New Testament, we see the action of the Holy Spirit when Mary conceives Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35) and again, when Jesus is baptized, the Spirit, in the form of a dove rests above Jesus as he comes up out of the water (Luke 3:22).

The Holy Spirit completes the Father’s plan; he sent Jesus to save us and Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will come and be with us always. The Holy Spirit was poured out onto the apostles at Pentecost and enabled them to go out and preach the Good News. The Spirit guides, protects and sanctifies (makes holy) the Church.

He calls all people to Christ and completes his saving mission. The Holy Spirit is with us always, drawing us closer to Christ, both consoling and convicting us of our sin. He is the source of our hope.

In Baptism we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord (Is 11:1-2). They are sealed in us at Confirmation. As we live and grow as Christians, we grow in the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (Gal 5: 22-23).

The Holy Spirit as many titles, which give an idea of how he acts in our lives: consoler, creator spirit, giver of life, paraclete, source of goodness, and spirit of truth.

The Holy Spirit is the fullness of love between the Father and the Son, reminding us that something always comes from love.

This week, pray St. Augustine’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit and see what happens when you invite him into your life.

You can right-click on the image of the prayer to “save image as” and then print it if you’d like.

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Filed Under: Not LukeWarm Podcast Tagged With: Holy Spirit, prayer, sacraments, Scripture, Trinity

Essential Oils of the Scriptures Part 1

December 10, 2018 by Amanda Filla Leave a Comment

Podcast #30

Essential Oils of the Scriptures

Part 1

It All Started at the Beginning of Creation…

It all started in Genesis! From the very beginning of the creation story, plants and herbs are mentioned. Plants are not only fundamental for our planet, but they are also intimately tied to the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of people. This has been noted since the beginning of time.

These passages support that notion.

Ezekiel 47:12
Revelation 22:2

Herbs, Oils and Essential Oils Used for Incense and Prayer

Oils were essential to daily living back in Biblical times. In fact, the word “oil” appears in the Bible 190 times which is more than the words believe, grace and joy!

There are mixed opinions on whether fragranced oils (early versions of essential oils) were truly essential oils or if they were just olive oil that was heavily infused with different herbs and plants. As early as 3500 B.C. distillation pots have been found.

Biblical References to Incense

In Exodus 30:34-35, the Lord actually gives Moses a Holy Incense recipe. They then use that recipe later when a plague came through in the book of Numbers 17: 11-13.

Anointing & Oils in Ancient Times

Oils were used for both anointing and healing in the Bible. God also gives Moses a Holy Anointing Oil Recipe in Exodus. How cool is it that God is giving out recipes 🙂

Fun facts

500 Shekels is about 12.5 lbs, and a hin is 1 gallon. So this recipe made up about 24 quarts of oil! You can imagine the value of this oil blend! This blend was also put on wafers and unleavened bread and eaten, which shows that essential oils were used topically and internally.

The Importance of Anointing

Now, let’s back up for a minute and talk about the practice of anointing which was big in Biblical times and unfortunately has become lost over the years. The origin of anointing was from the shepherds of the day. Lice and other insects would often get into the wool of sheep. From this, anointing became symbolic of blessing, protection, and empowerment.

The New Testament Greek words for “anoint” are:

chrio which means “to smear or rub with oil” and, by implication, “to consecrate for office or religious service”
aleipho which means “to anoint

During Biblical times, people were anointed with oil to signify God’s blessing. They were also used to call that person to role or position in their life.

We see this in the following passages:

The Anointing of Aaron: Leviticus 8:10-12
The Anointing of Saul: 1 Samuel 10:1
The Anointing of David: 1 Samuel 16:12-13
The Anointing of Jesus: John 12:3
Jesus and the Disciples Anointed People: Mark 6:12-13
God the Father anoints Jesus: Hebrews 1:8-9

This is just the beginning of Essential Oils and the Bible.

Learn more next week about:

12 of the Essential oils of the Bible
ancient uses for them
how we can use them today

You want to grab your oils now, you can find them here.

As always, be grateful & have faith!

God Bless!

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Filed Under: Simple Blessings and Oils Podcast Tagged With: anointing, bible, Bible Study, blessing, blessings, essential oils, healing, oils of the bible, Scripture

Scripture Reflections

August 20, 2018 by Felice Gerwitz Leave a Comment

Scripture Reflections 56

Thanks to our sponsor Media Angels, Inc. – Try the book A Few Minutes with God

When reading the Bible here are my top ten points.

Pray first. Ask the Lord into your heart. Pray for forgiveness for anyone who has hurt you or you have a hard time forgiving and focus on repentance.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom to understand the Bible verses you read or at the very least to teach you something you can apply to your life.
Try for consistency – each and every day plan to read.
Use a highlighter – or underline the verses that jump out at you. There are special highlighter pencils you can use on your Bible that won’t bleed through.
Write in your Bible – there isn’t much room, but sometimes a special note will help you in the future when you read this passage again.
Write a Scripture verse that moves you – or you feel is important.
Close your eyes and listen … is God speaking to you? Write what you feel.
Don’t jump around if you can help it. Try to read through a book of the Bible – you can begin in Genesis, in Proverbs. Or the book of Luke.
Keep track. Keep a list of the books you are reading.
Share with others. It helps me to remember and often gives me more insights when I share what I’ve read with my family or a friend.

Let’s pray –