This message was shared at Butler Church on December 18, 2022. I was so thankful for the opportunity to serve in this way and pray the message is an encouragement to you! Thank you  @ButlerChurch  !

https://sisterstudies.melissaens.com/2022/12/dont-let-enemy-steal-your-christmas.html

YouTube - Melissa Ens

Music from the YouTube Audio Library: "Home for the Holidays" by Chris Haugen and "White River" by Aakash Gandhi

When you hear the word "OBEDIENCE" do you cringe, either because you don't like to obey or because your kids or students don't obey you? Hang on… don't click away just yet. Yes, God calls each of us to obedience but it's a BLESSING, sometimes like a seatbelt that protects us and sometimes like a seed that grows in surprising ways.

For more information about the study mentioned in this episode, visit sisterstudies.melissaens.com or to watch the video version of this recording, go to www.youtube.com/@melissaens.

MUSIC CREDITS:

Other Music: "White River" by Aakash Gandhi and "Natural Light" by Chris Haugen from the YouTube Audio Library

It's so easy to look at our lives or the lives of others and think we know what it means to be BLESSED, whether we feel like we are being blessed as much as others or not. But what if there's more to being blessed than having a nice home, happy family, and flawless instagram feed? Let's see what Jesus has to say in Matthew 5.

This episode is part of a series to help us walk with Jesus through Lent and toward Easter. This recording was made in February 2019 for the Sister Studies blog. You can see the original post and more on the Sister Studies blog at sisterstudies.melissaens.com.

YouTube - Melissa Ens

Music from the YouTube Audio Library: "Invisible Beauty", "Lifting Dreams", and "White River" by Aakash Gandhi

Temptations test us all the time. How do we pass the test? Let's learn from Jesus as He is victorious over Satan in the wilderness.

This episode part of a series to help us walk with Jesus through Lent and toward Easter. This recording was made in February 2019 for the Sister Studies blog. You can see the original post and more on the Sister Studies blog at sisterstudies.melissaens.com.

YouTube - Melissa Ens

Music from the YouTube Audio Library: "Invisible Beauty", "Lifting Dreams", and "White River" by Aakash Gandhi

Reflecting on Lamentations 3:22-24, I am encouraged by the prophet Jeremiah's determination. As he turned his mind AWAY from the trouble surrounding him and the people of Israel, he turned his heart TOWARD God's faithfulness and that's where he found hope. As we enter a new year, may we find God's mercies are indeed new--not just every January 1st, but every other day of the year as well. 

This recording was made in January 2019 for the Sister Studies blog. You can see the original post and more on the Sister Studies blog at sisterstudies.melissaens.com.

YouTube - Melissa Ens

Music from the YouTube Audio Library: "Invisible Beauty" and "White River" by Aakash Gandhi

Reflecting on Romans 5:1-5, I see all of the Advent themes: Peace, Hope, Joy, Love, and Jesus. I also see that afflictions are part of what God uses to shine glory through our lives the same way that fire makes candles shine brightly. I finish with remembering that the Christmas Mary and Joseph experienced was nothing like the polished, clean, "perfect" Christmas many people dream of today. Perhaps our Christmas celebrations don't need to be Pinterest-perfect to be perfect after all. Because real Christmas isn’t about perfect memories and perfect experiences. It’s about God rescuing us from our attempts to be perfect by sending his Son and revealing His glory and kindness in the lowest of places, to the neediest and messiest of people.

This recording was made in December 2018 for the Sister Studies blog. You can see the original post and more on the Sister Studies blog at sisterstudies.melissaens.com

YouTube - Melissa Ens

Music from the YouTube Audio Library: "Home for the Holidays" by Chris Haugen and "White River" by Aakash Gandhi

Reflecting on Mary & Elizabeth and their interaction during their pregnancies, I'm encouraged by how God blessed them through each other. They both received companionship, confirmation, and courage as they spent time together because they took the risk of being together, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke truth to each other. These are all ways we can bless each other today!

This recording was made in December 2018 for the Sister Studies blog. You can see the original post and more on the Sister Studies blog at sisterstudies.melissaens.com

YouTube - Melissa Ens

Music from the YouTube Audio Library: "Home for the Holidays" by Chris Haugen and "White River" by Aakash Gandhi

The reflection I'm sharing in this episode is from the video I shared with the women of my church about knowing our God of Peace. What is peace, anyway? Who is our God of Peace and what will He do? How do we respond? I learned that having the mindset of the Holy Spirit that leads to life and peace is less about WHAT I'm thinking about and more about the PERSPECTIVE I'm looking at things from. I was also reminded that when God hasn't yet calmed the storms in or around me, I can find peace in His nearness instead of being frustrated that He's not yet doing what I want.

The recording shared here was originally shared as part of this Sister Studies post. You can find the original video there as well.

Here's a link to a phone lock screen image with the reminders for finding peace.

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sisterstudies.melissaens.com

YouTube - Melissa Ens

Music by Aakash Gandhi - "Invisible Beauty" and "White River" from the YouTube Audio Library

This is a recording of Bible verses focused on knowing God as our God of Peace. No intro, outro, or commentary. Just the living Word of God.

Scriptures read include:

Luke 2:14 NET

Visit the Sister Studies blog for a printable copy of these scriptures, or to watch the video where you can READ along as these scriptures are read.

This collection of verses is part of the "DIVINE: Transformed by Knowing God" Bible study by Melissa Ens. You'll be able to listen to my reflection on knowing Our God of Peace in Episode 07 of this podcast... coming soon!

Music: "Kiss the Sky" by Aakash Gandhi, from the YouTube Audio Library

This is a recording of Bible verses focused on knowing God as our God of Peace. No intro, outro, or commentary. Just the living Word of God.

Scriptures read include:

Luke 2:14 NET

Visit the Sister Studies blog for a printable copy of these scriptures, or to watch the video where you can READ along as these scriptures are read.

This collection of verses is part of the "DIVINE: Transformed by Knowing God" Bible study by Melissa Ens. You'll be able to listen to my reflection on knowing Our God of Peace in Episode 07 of this podcast... coming soon!