More about Eve

Okay, so I am jotting this down at school=no time. I am also embarassed to admit that I am grossly behind. I only hope that you girls are keeping up. So we haven't been the best at getting together, and I know that is my fault. I have got to get that figured out. I also hope that we really utilize this blog. I want to hear your thoughts! I was finishing the chapter about Eve today, and several things jumped out at me, but one thing in particular. It is also something that we have been talking about in Sunday School. The author pointed out that Satan misconstued God's words when quoting them to Eve. Or maybe Eve exaggerated the words...I can't remember. My bet is on Satan. He totally sucks. Anyway, the author said that that is definitely one of Satan's tactics-take some words that are true and put them out of context or slightly twist them. So, what do we need to do? We need to go back to the Bible. We must always go back to God's word for the ultimate truth. It is very easy to fall into the trap of hearing something that sounds good and taking it for fact. Many religions are based on that. Look at Mormonism. We must be like the Bereans who heard Paul preach and yet went back to the Bible to back up what he said. I want to know the truth, and I hope that you girls are hungering and thirsting for that too. Can't wait to hear what God is revealing to you!

All About Evie (Becca)

I am really excited about my new bible. It's an ESV so it'll be easier to follow along with Paul. Well I'm about to read this week's chapter...

"People who have none are put in straitjackets." Ha ha, I love to read a book with a few good jokes.

Well that was pretty good. That turned an old bible story we learn in kindergarten into something new to think about. Boy, do I know about blaming others. I have gotten a little bit better about it though. I'm not as bad as i was when i was three, but I'm still not perfect. Once, I remember, My friend and I decided to paint my tree-house with spray paint. I got in trouble and, of course, blamed my friend. I wasn't allowed to play with her after that, and now we hardly know each other. I felt really bad about it too!

All about Evie

Wow. I love the description of the garden of Eden. Of course it would be the kind of garden "planned by great kings"-it was planned by the King of kings!
I also like when Higgs pointed out that knowledge is good, but the intimate "knowing" of evil is not good. I agree with that completely. Many people say ignorance is bliss, and that isn't completely true; however, we do not need to be on a first name basis with things that aren't of God. There are certain things that I don't need to know. I don't need to know how to cast a spell. I don't need to know what sex is like with someone other than my husband. I don't need to know all about Mormonism. God has put a hedge around me, as Higgs says, in order to protect us from these things.
I also like when she is talking about the creation of man. One of my favorite verses is Gen. 2:25 "The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." Oh joy. God created sex. It was his gift to us. He did not have to make it pleasurable because it is simply intended for procreation, but he did. And he knew that this gift would be abused in many ways, and yet because he loved us so much, he still blessed us with this. Girls, because it is so pleasurable and so special, it is only to be shared between a husband and wife. To use it any other way is to tarnish this gift so generously bestowed on us.
Another true point that she makes is when she says, "When the devil comes a-tempting, he seldom goes in for group conversions. He waits until we're alone, then spins his web of deceit." Gosh, the devil sure attacks us when we are alone. He makes thoughts swirl in our heads and then we start to doubt ourselves or God or both. I know this happens to me time and again. Okay, more soon. Hope you guys are reading and will post soon.

Getting started

Well, all of this is pretty new to me. I have never led a Bible study or book study before. I am pretty honored to be asked. I am hoping that this blog works out as well, because I would really love to hear what you guys are thinking while you are reading. I really think this could be great for all of us. So far, we have talked about what it means to be bad. That is such an interesting question because essentially, we are all bad. We are not deserving of God's grace in any way, and yet he gives it to us. It is amazing! I just love that guy. Back to badness. It is interesting that they author said that no one sets out to be bad. It is true. John and I were just talking about this yesterday. He was saying that even when people are making bad descions, they are not thinking about the consequences at time. People just get so caught up in the moment that they forget about what is going to come later. Take the girl at Kelli's school that is pregnant. I believe that she did not have a goal to get pregnant; she simply got swept up in her emotions and made some really foolish decisions. However, she is no different than any other girl who makes the decision to have sex before marriage, she simply got caught. That does not mean that she needs love or forgiveness any less. On the contrary. I would say that she needs it more. Eve did not take a bite of the apple with the intention of damning all of mankind. She got caught up in temptation. It happens to the best of us. More later, my little loves.