Week 1 - Day 3

First, thank you SO much for your comments! I agree with Verla and Courtney, I need grace and peace at every intersection of my life, and I'm not sure that I'm seeking them with the sort of fervor that verse 2 suggests. And, Kathryn, I appreciate your honesty in saying that sometimes you forget that it's God who makes you holy, not what YOU do. Great insights, ladies! Thank you!

I wanted to show you what my notes look like. This was the page from my Bible study time for Day 2. There is nothing fancy about this. It's a simple spiral sheet with insights jotted down.

You can look at the photo and see what stood out to me as I slowly went through these verses. I hope this helps those who are struggling with, "What do I write????"

Second, just a little housekeeping issue. Since, this is so new to me, and I couldn't think about how to run an online Bible study before it actually began, I'll likely be making some adjustments along the way to make this a bit more user-friendly. You will notice a new tab at the top, "This Week at a Glance!". For those of you who are type A sorts, like me, you wanna know the whole enchilada from the get-go. So, here you go! Each week, I'll update this to include the current week. There will be 5 days of study, and our weeks will run from Wednesday to Wednesday. This provides 2 catch-up days or 2 freebie days for further reflection. You can adjust your schedule accordingly.

I will not be posting on Saturdays and Sundays. Those will be my freebie days. So, it will look like this each week:

Day 1 - Wednesday

Day 2 - Thursday

Day 3 - Friday

Day 4 - Monday

Day 5 - Tuesday

Clear as mud?!?

So, still look for daily posts for comments and reflection and group interaction on those days.

Okay, now that we got that out of the way, onto the good stuff!

I'm going to give you a break from the videos for a few days. That accent was starting to get on my own nerves, so I can't imagine how you must feel! Blame it on my raisin', I guess :)

And, without further ado, here is our plan for today:

Day 3

• Pray - "God, thank you for your living, active Word. Thank you for allowing me to study it freely. Show me what you want me to know. Clear my mind to focus on you."
• Read 1 Peter 1 - Are you getting comfortable with this chapter now? By the end of the week, it will feel like an old friend.
• Go back and read 1 Peter 1:3-12 - As you read, make connections to what you read on Day 2. Do you see any of the same ideas? Is any of this new information to you? Do you feel convicted as you read it? Do you feel comforted?
• APPLY - When I apply scripture, I'm always looking for themes. In this case, I see several ideas:
• v. 3 - "In his great mercy..." - How have you experienced God's mercy? How have you shown God's mercy? Are you merciful?
• v. 4 talks about an imperishable inheritance. Does this bring comfort to you? Have you recognized the difference between the perishing things of this life and the eternal things of heaven?
• v. 6 - suffering - How has God used suffering in your life? What kind of trials are you currently enduring? Can you see God's hand in them?
• v. 8 - "...you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible glorious joy..." - Are you showcasing this kind of joy in the Lord? Can others see it in you?
• I'm going to stop right there, but do you see how I just camp out on a single verse or idea to reflect on and apply? That's the goal of diving deep into scripture. I challenge you to camp out on a single verse or idea and ask God what He would like you to take from that scripture.
• Comment - If you feel comfortable, share your insights with us. We are dying to know what God is teaching you!

I'm loving getting to know your hearts through our time in God's Word!