Reading for Week Eight:
Chapters Fourteen and Fifteen

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE: CELEBRATION

As you finish the study this week, prayerfully review the last couple of months. What “new births” do you glimpse? How can you celebrate these?

Week Eight: Day One

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BECCA, CHARISSA, AND MARA (PP. 334-342)

Scripture Meditation: Psalm 103:1-14

Read the psalm aloud, noting the descriptions of God that stir your thoughts and emotions. Which declarations are easy to embrace? Difficult? Why?

For Reflection and Journaling

1. In what ways have you been shaped by silence from heaven? Speak to God about unanswered prayers that have impacted your ability to trust his love for you.

</p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">2. What is the significance of Charissa giving Bethany the middle name Grace? What does it mean to say, “It’s all grace”?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche"><span epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_52" title="52"/>3. What answers to prayer are you glimpsing today? What disappointments are you navigating? Offer both to God in prayer.</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">4. If you were to give a name to the new work of God in your life, what would you name it?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form></div></div></div><!--@@niv1--><div class="niv1" id="niv1-046"><h2 class="int_niv1" epub:type="title">Week Eight: Day Two</h2><figure class="figbas" id="P2t"><div class="imagelarge"><img alt="Illustration" class="imagelarge" src="images/P2.jpg"/></div></figure><div class="niv2" id="niv2-047"><h3 class="int_niv2" epub:type="title">C<small>HAPTER</small> F<small>OURTEEN:</small> <i>H</i><small><i>ANNAH</i> (PP. 343-347)</small></h3><div class="niv3" id="niv3-061"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">Scripture Meditation: 1 John 4:7-12, 16</h4><p class="txt_courant_ssalinea">Read the passage slowly, listening for words or phrases that catch your attention and shape your prayer. Offer your response to God.</p></div><div class="niv3" id="niv3-062"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">For Reflection and Journaling</h4><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">1. How have you come to know and trust the love of God? Which practices help you remain rooted and grounded in the love of God?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche"><span epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_53" title="53"/>2. Who has modeled God’s love well for you? Write a thank you letter to God for this person. If possible, send a note of thanks or encouragement to the one who has demonstrated such love.</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">3. Do you know anyone who finds it difficult to trust the love of God? How are you being invited to pray for them? Love them? Witness to them?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form></div></div></div><!--@@niv1--><div class="niv1" id="niv1-047"><h2 class="int_niv1" epub:type="title">Week Eight: Day Three</h2><figure class="figbas" id="P2u"><div class="imagelarge"><img alt="Illustration" class="imagelarge" src="images/P2.jpg"/></div></figure><div class="niv2" id="niv2-048"><h3 class="int_niv2" epub:type="title">C<small>HAPTER</small> F<small>OURTEEN:</small> <i>C</i><small><i>HARISSA, </i></small><i>M</i><small><i>ARA, AND </i></small><i>H</i><small><i>ANNAH</i> (PP. 348-355)</small></h3><div class="niv3" id="niv3-063"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">Scripture Meditation: Isaiah 43:18-19</h4><p class="txt_courant_ssalinea">Read the verses aloud. In what ways are you glimpsing new life springing forth? What former things are you being called to release? Respond to God in prayer.</p></div><div class="niv3" id="niv3-064"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">For Reflection and Journaling</h4><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">1. What helps you shift from a posture of resentment to a posture of gratitude? Where are you leaning right now? Speak to God about what you notice.</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche"><span epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_54" title="54"/>2. Where do you glimpse movement in your life from a posture of anger and a desire to punish to a posture of love and forgiveness? What does freedom look like?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">3. Spend time doing a heart check regarding those who have opposed you or made life difficult for you. Are you able to pray God’s blessing on them? Seek God for the grace to move forward in this.</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">4. Read again Isaiah 43:18-19. In what ways are you being called to let go? Respond to God in prayer.</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form></div></div></div><!--@@niv1--><div class="niv1" id="niv1-048"><h2 class="int_niv1" epub:type="title">Week Eight: Day Four</h2><figure class="figbas" id="P2v"><div class="imagelarge"><img alt="Illustration" class="imagelarge" src="images/P2.jpg"/></div></figure><div class="niv2" id="niv2-049"><h3 class="int_niv2" epub:type="title">C<small>HAPTER</small> F<small>IFTEEN:</small> <i>A</i><small><i>LL</i> (PP. 356-365)</small></h3><div class="niv3" id="niv3-065"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">Scripture Meditation: Revelation 21:1-5</h4><p class="txt_courant_ssalinea">Read the passage slowly and prayerfully. Which aspects of the vision of the new heaven and new earth give you the most hope and comfort? Why? Offer your longings to God in prayer.</p></div><div class="niv3" id="niv3-066"><span epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_55" title="55"/><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">For Reflection and Journaling</h4><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">1. Identify the thresholds the characters have crossed or are in the process of crossing. What evidence of the Spirit’s work do you see in their lives?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">2. Identify some significant thresholds you have crossed or are in the process of crossing. What evidence of the Spirit’s work do you see in your life?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">3. In what ways are you offering a wholehearted <i>hineni </i>(here I am) to God? In what ways are you hesitating? Speak to God about what you notice.</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">4. Becca doesn’t receive the signs she’s hoping or looking for. What does she receive instead? What have you received from God that helps you move forward with faith and hope?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form></div></div></div><!--@@niv1--><div class="niv1" id="niv1-049"><span epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_56" title="56"/><h2 class="int_niv1" epub:type="title">Week Eight: Days Five and Six</h2><figure class="figbas" id="P2w"><div class="imagelarge"><img alt="Illustration" class="imagelarge" src="images/P2.jpg"/></div></figure><div class="niv2" id="niv2-050"><h3 class="int_niv2" epub:type="title">R<small>EVIEW</small></h3><div class="niv3" id="niv3-067"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">Scripture Meditation: Song of Solomon 2:10-13</h4><p class="txt_courant_ssalinea">Read the verses as God’s love song to you. What is your response?</p></div><div class="niv3" id="niv3-068"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">For Reflection and Journaling</h4><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">1. What next steps do you think the characters will take? What next steps do you hope they’ll take?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">2. What next steps is God calling you to take? Who can support and encourage you in this?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">3. In what ways have you heard Jesus say, “Arise”? How will you respond?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">4. Spend time thanking God for all the ways he has brought you from death to life. What are you celebrating?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form></div></div></div><!--@@niv1--></div></section></body></html>