Week 1: Friday

Whew....We Made It!  Friday!

What a great week.  I hope it was filled with learning and God's Grace.  Speaking of grace,  in chapter 2 of Keep It Shut (pp. 38-39), Karen explains the concept of grace and gracious speech as taught in the Bible.  Does the clever way her husband was taught to remember just was grace is (G.R.A.C.E.= God's Riches At Christ's Expense) help your understanding?  Or does it equip you to better explain it to someone else?  How?  Share in the comment box below.

As we close out our week one study, Look up the following Bible passages.  Contemplate how it speaks to the concept of having gracious speech.

• Proverbs 145:8
• Proverbs 15:26
• Proverbs 16:21
• Proverbs 16:24
• Ecclesiastes 10:12
• Colossians 4:6

Have a great weekend everyone!  Next week's overview will come out on Sunday!

Week 1: Thursday

Here we go!  Chapter 2.

In chapter 2 of Keep It Shut, we encounter an example of someone who used his words---and sometimes his silence---wisely and strategically; the Old Testament character, Joseph.  Glance back over this portion in the book (pp. 26-37) and then answer the following questions:

What stands out to you most about the way Joseph behaved when it comes to the words he uttered or even the times he remained silent?  Did you learn anything new that you hadn't discovered about him before?

Karen listed several cues we can take from Joseph's life.  Which most resonated with you?  Reflect on what is happening in your life currently that made that particular cue/statement speak to you.

1. Beware of bragging--and the impact of your good news might have on others
2. Say what honors God, not what other people want to hear
3. Realize that lies are the minuscule snowflakes in a monumental snowball
4. Give God credit where credit is due
5. Watch your words in the workplace
6. Just because you have a reason to retaliate does not mean you're justified in doing so
7. Don't be God
8. Do be nice

Now go back and consider which one of these statements you most want to work on this next week.  Share it with us below in the comment section.  Then for added effect, write the statement on a stick note and post it somewhere you will be sure to see it.  Or set a calendar reminder on your phone for a few days from now with the particular phrase that you chose.  When it pops up, do a quick self evaluation to see how you are doing with regards to that principle from the life of Joseph.

Tomorrow is Friday!

Ellen

Week 1: Trial & Error

Well....

I am learning new things about blogging everyday.  It seems that there is some confusion between when the blog post is scheduled to go out and when feedburner emails all of you subscribers.

Hopefully, I have fixed that for future posts but it seems that today's entry went out without an email.

Please click the link below to go to the blog and see an overview of this week's book study.

Keep It Shut Blog

Have a great Sunday,

Ellen

Week 1 Sparks, Squabbles, Spats, and Such: Our Words Matter

Welcome Everyone!

I am so glad that you decided to join us.  Each Sunday, I will post your reading assignment, memory verse, and overview of the week's activities.  Then each night of the work week (M-F)  I will make a daily post pertaining to that week's topic.

You can choose to follow along each night,  or if you get behind, you can go back and complete several activities in one sitting.  It is entirely up to you.

Remember,  this study is about what you make it.

This week's reading assignment is chapters 1 & 2 of your Keep It Shut book.  If you have not ordered or downloaded your book,  you can do that by clicking on the amazon link in the sidebar.  (If you have an electronic device,  you can have your book in seconds)

This week's memory verse is  Proverbs 10: 12-13a

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.  Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning.

This week's overview

• Monday: Watch the Session 1 Video  and comment with your response to the question on the blog post.
• Tuesday: Read the blog post and comment with any or all of your responses to the Let's chat questions
• Wednesday: Read the blog post wrapping up chapter one and then enjoy a musical message from Toby Mac about using your words to Speak Life!
• Thursday: We will dive into chapter 2 and learn to take some cues from Joseph.  Read the blog post and comment with your responses to the Let's chat questions.
• Friday: G.R.A.C.E.  & Sharing some Bible passages for you to read and reflect on over the weekend.

Looking forward to an exciting week!

Ellen