This morning we had a few new students which is always a reason to be happy. With sixteen students in attendance we now have a new high total, and we are starting to outgrow our corner spot on the comfy couches. When I broached the subject of moving to a different spot in the cafe, there were plans formulated to make it work for next week and beyond. We'll see if Mia's plan works next week.
A few parents inquired today about how to make a donation to help defray the costs of the muffins and drinks. The easiest thing to do is to make a donation to Baltimore Focus. If you would like to see more details about the study itself click here.
Today we were talking about the book of Deuteronomy which is a fascinating book. It is basically comprised of Moses' farewell sermons as he gets ready to hand over the authority to Joshua. Since there is a new generation that has grown up the law needs to be re-told to the people.
In my study I found that the verses that encapsulate the core thought behind the book are found in the beginning of Chapter 6. After starting off with the questions below we dove into the Scripture.
“Your
beliefs become your thoughts,
A few parents inquired today about how to make a donation to help defray the costs of the muffins and drinks. The easiest thing to do is to make a donation to Baltimore Focus. If you would like to see more details about the study itself click here.
Today we were talking about the book of Deuteronomy which is a fascinating book. It is basically comprised of Moses' farewell sermons as he gets ready to hand over the authority to Joshua. Since there is a new generation that has grown up the law needs to be re-told to the people.
In my study I found that the verses that encapsulate the core thought behind the book are found in the beginning of Chapter 6. After starting off with the questions below we dove into the Scripture.
Why would the law need to be repeated?
Who is it who is hearing this?
What are they finally about to do?
This book is a lot like a sermon...Why would Moses be giving sermons?
What is about to happen to Moses?
Who will the new leader be?
Love the Lord Your God
6 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe
in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them
may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and
commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with
you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and
honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength. 6 These
commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and
when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.
10 When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you
did not build, 11 houses
filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not
dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat
and are satisfied, 12 be
careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his
name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples
around you; 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will
burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.
Verse 2 what does it mean to fear the Lord?
Verse 4 what does it mean by heart, soul, strength?
Verse 6 how can they be on our hearts?
Verse 8 tie them on your hands, bind them on your foreheads?
Verse 12 why is God already warning them about being unfaithful?
Verse 14 why would anyone serve another God?
Are there other gods in our world?
How do people serve them?
Do they deliver?
Why do people serve them?
We ran out of time so I did not get to share Gandhi's quote, but i think that there is a lot of truth in it. No one thinks it is a good idea to do the wrong thing and go down the wrong path, but over the course of our lives, our small, day by day decisions turn out to define us, for better or worse.
“Your
beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
Is this troubling or comforting to you?
How can we apply these thoughts in our lives?
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