“Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Every time I read my bible I think of this verse and I look for lessons that I can learn from the examples that we have in the scriptures. “Then some Pharisees …
“I will say, ‘My dear children of Israel, keep in mind the road you took when you were carried off. Mark off in your minds the landmarks. Make a mental note of telltale signs marking the way back. Return, my dear children of Israel. Return to these cities of yours” (Jeremiah 31:21, NET). Jeremiah was warning the people before they …
Often when we go through a time of change or tests, we can get discouraged and tend to think that God has abandoned us. When we read the scriptures, we see that God always had His men and women exactly where He wanted them. The same thing happens with us, we may see ourselves surrounded by difficult circumstances and think …
When we want to get to know someone and are looking to get a deeper relationship, we must find ways that will draw that person into our lives. The same thing happens with the Holy Spirit, there are things that we do that the scriptures teach us that grieve the Holy Spirit. In this passage from Ephesians we get a …
What was it like to be told by the man you had dedicated your life to that he was leaving you behind? The disciples left everything; their families, livelihoods, their whole lives to serving him. Have you ever dedicated yourself to something on that level? To be so torn, knowing you should trust him because he is the Son of …
Last week I spent some time thinking about my prayer life and that led me to go back over some of the scriptures about prayer. It is interesting to remember that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, and I think that as a disciple today, I still need to learn how to pray, and find more …
Today I discuss Gods concern for each one of us. As individuals we all experience things in unique ways. It is important to put on a mind of love when relating with each other. Colossians 3:12 “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
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This week we will start the Gospel of Mark in our Back to the Roots series of the New Testament study. As we study each of the books of the New Testament, we want to identify the differences in each of the gospels, and the purposes for each one of the books. For instance, each one of the letters was …
Today I bring a communion message about love and oneness. We come humbly asking our Father to wash us and equip us to walk in this new day. Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.”
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Last Wednesday, we studied a few more chapters of the Gospel of Matthew, but we spent more time discussing the importance of forgiveness in the light of the parable that Jesus taught the disciples in chapter 18. “Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven …
Today I teach about the law of Jesus. Some people think it is legalistic, but today we explore it as a beneficial way of relating. Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.”
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This last blog from our Women’s Bible Study class series is not dedicated to moms and women only. I believe all of us can deepen our love and learn to love as God first loved us. Life has too many challenges, hurts, and difficulties and we cannot face all of it in our own strength. So, I am sharing some …
For several weeks we have been studying the Gospel of Matthew together, and we are only about half way through it. It has been an amazing time of study and discussion about the characteristics of the book of Matthew. The Gospel of Matthew was written to address the Jews, and because of that it is filled with Old Testament quotations …
I believe I can learn to know myself by taking the time to pray in solitude and spend time with my Abba Father. Another thing that has worked for me is to keep a journal. I don’t mean to do it as I did when I was younger – “Dear diary…”- I would not want to do that! When I …
“First things first!”- I love that phrase! It is so simple and it reminds me all the time of how important it is to prioritize my time and my focus. As a mom, wife, pastor, administrator, friend and neighbor I have very limited time and I need to use it wisely. Truly, I am not wise enough on my own, …
Today I bring a communion message about strengthening our brothers. When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, he was loving them and giving them an example of what they would need to do for each other. John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
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Recently, I put together a series of bible study lessons to help some of the young moms at our church. I have observed them going through a challenging season of life where they are juggling the roles of being wives, mothers, homemakers, income-earners, and women of God. I believe moms are amazing, but they still need all the help they …
Today I relate a walk of faith to the life of Abraham. Abraham faced many challenges throughout his life, but he faithfully pressed on in his walk with God. We too face many challenges, will we waiver in disbelief or will we continue to trust in God’s plan for us? Romans 4:20 “yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God.”
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Today I convey Gods desire for a relationship through salvation. Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God’s children.” As children it is important for us to deepen our relationship with our Father.
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Today I urge us to set our sights on God’s plan. Too often we find ourselves clinging to the past and making idols out of memories. We must let go of yesterday and trust God as He leads us forward. 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 “For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.”
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Today I talk about the importance of prayer. Whether we identify it as such or not, it is likely that what we are facing today is the result of prayers or lack of prayers. We often pray with a preconceived idea of what we think we need, but God’s answers do not always look the way we anticipate. Our prayers are effective even when we don’t experience the results we originally anticipated.
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Today I continue imploring us to seek the truth and grow in our walk with God. There are many lies that come to hold us back and divide us, but Christ has opened the door for us to grow together in oneness and love. Ephesians 4:15-16 “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”
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While working on my Master of Divinity degree, I studied about Christian faith and history, learned about the Jewish roots of Christianity, and the fact that Jesus was a Rabbi that taught His disciples according to the traditions of His time. So, I thought it would be good to go back and read the New Testament with the knowledge I …
Today I encourage you to ask yourself an important question. Am I open to hear the truth? In John 8:32 we read, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Each one of us have a different perception of the Truth. Without being open to hear the truth in love we will miss out on the deep freedom that truth can bring.
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It is interesting to understand that when God first took the people of Israel out of Egypt, He was separating a people to Himself by making a covenant with them through the giving of the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. One of the most significant parts of this process is the fact that God gave Moses the …
Today I entreat you to dig into the scriptures about God’s plan for inclusion. Sometimes we might think that for God to accept one He has to reject another, but He is unlimited! 2 Chronicles 6:14. “He said, ‘O Lord , the God of Israel, there is no god like You in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart;'”
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Today I reiterate how just having the word is not enough, we must hear and obey Gods word. What makes the distinction between hearing and not hearing? A willingness to do His will. John 7:17 “If anyone is willing to do Gods will, they will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.”
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I have been thinking a lot about Abraham and his life, so I finally went back to read his life story in the Scriptures. It was so good for me to read it, because it really made sense to me to think about Abraham as our father in the faith. I thought about the fact that a lot of times, …
Hale O Nā Kāula Church Women’s Bible Study Outline By Debbie Oliveira Goal: To empower women, give them tools to pray and wait on the Lord, Give hope and lead them to the heart of God! Bring healing and purpose in being a wife, mother, but first of all, a worshiper and child of our loving Father. Thursdays from 6pm …
Every year we have a lot of fun celebrating the biblical Feast of Tabernacles, we spend time together, rehearsing the stories of the time that the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years, living in tents. We even have a camp out weekend where the kids are taught about the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles. During …
