Mary of the Bible

One of the MOST important stories of the bible, God uses Mary!!

Mary was with Mary, Jesus’ mother at the tomb. She experienced great sadness in her walk with Jesus. So often we feel that a life with Christ is going to be carefree.. Honey let me tell you, a bullseye is now put on your back, BUT it’s also the MOST BLESSED PlACE!!! Blessed is she who believed the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!! Luke 1:45

Mary’s Encounter at the Tomb!

“Mary stood outside the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb weeping. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.”“Then they said to her ‘Woman why are you weeping?’ She said ‘Because they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.”

“Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
“She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him,’ Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” John 20:11-17

Because of her shock and grief, she isn’t fully in the reality of what’s happening. She doesn’t react to the presence of angels and she does not recognize Jesus. But that’s about to change!

Mary Sees the Risen Christ and Receives a Special Assignment

“Jesus said to her ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him ‘Rabboni!!’(which is to say, Teacher.)” Jesus said to her ‘ Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father, but go to my brethren and say to them.’I am ascending to My Father and their Father, and to My God and your God.’ Mary came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken these things to her.” John 20:16-18

- She was a sinner SAVED by grace

- She was labeled by society, yet BRAVE enough to follow Jesus

- She was a DEVOTED follower in love with Jesus

- She was no longer used by men for their selfish purposes

- She was HEALED, DELIVERED, & TRANSFORMED

- She was EXALTED to a place of honor used by Jesus himself to be one of the first people he revealed himself too.

Some passages are from www.salt-clay.com if you’d like to read further

1. What are some ways you think you’ve messed up that have disqualified you from being used by God?

2. How has God healed, delivered, or transformed you?

3. What are some ways you think God is going to use you to help bring others to Christ?

Please take some time to reflect on these questions and know that God's not done with you!

Have A Life Overflowing!

1 Samuel 25:1-44 Text

1. Do you know someone in your life with character like Nabal’s? Have you seen it bring about negative consequences? List a real life example.

2. How can we be more like Abigail in our current situations? Is there a circumstance you’re dealing with where you could stand up for someone else?

3. How can we be more bold and courageous today? Give a specific example.

4. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?

Have A Life Overflowing!

Write the Vision - Habakkuk

The Shunammite woman is a character in the Bible who is described in 2 Kings 4:8-37. She is a wealthy, childless woman from Shunem who is known for her hospitality and faith.

Story:

• The Shunammite woman provided meals and a place to stay for the prophet Elisha.
• Elisha told the woman she would have a son.
• The woman's son became sick and died.
• The woman carried her son to Elisha's bed, shut the door, and left.
• The woman went to Elisha for help, and he raised her son from the dead.

We will go into this story much deeper in the future, but I wanted to share the jist of it all, so you could see all that she had to go through to make it possible for Habakkuk to be born. He was a prophet, that wrote the very passages we’re focusing on today.

Habakkuk 1:5

“Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.

I want us to get excited about the fact that God’s working behind the scenes! I want you to get excited about the possibilities with God at the CENTER of your life. I have seen so many miracles in my life, but those wouldn’t have come without me truly going ALL IN and making Jesus the center of my life. BELIEVE, my friends!

So Habakkuk is complaining about life and the evil that is going on and seemingly allowed by the Lord, and the Lord responds to Him and says..

Habakkuk 2:2 -3

Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the vision
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald[a] may run with it.
3 For the revelation (God already has a plan for your life and mine. He has goals, dreams, and desires for us to complete.) awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.

GOALS FOR 2025

1. God

Verse:

2. Health -

Verse:

3. Family -

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4. Career -

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5. Your Choice -

Verse:

Happy Goal Setting and Have A Life Overflowing!