REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR TopicS FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.

EACH Topic IS A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING VARIOUS INSPIRATIONAL MEDIA.

On the first Friday of each month in 2022 we’re studying The Ten Commandments. Join me as we take a fresh look at some of the most important Scripture in the Bible. We will learn why we need to study, put to memory and obey them. We start today with our Introduction to The Ten Commandments Study. Enjoy…

With our world in an abounding state of lawlessness and immorality what better time to take a serious look at, what are widely considered to be, the best moral code for humanity. Over the next twelve months we will study each of the Ten Commandments individually in depth.

Rebellious People

The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” ~ Genesis 2:15-17

Worldly and Christian people alike are opposed to moral laws being imposed on their lives. Humanity from the beginning of time, rebelled against rules. Even Adam and Eve, with basically only one rule to follow, couldn’t keep it. Today’s modern culture tries to tell us what’s right or wrong. What in the past was always right is now being taught in schools and media to be wrong and vice versa. Without God as the Highest Source and Authority behind them The Ten Commandments would be powerless and subjective to individual beliefs.

The Father Knows Best

And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. ~ Deuteronomy 6:24

Without a set of rules to guide them, people will eventually perish. The sad and frustrating thing is we have been given the best moral code handwritten by the divine Creator of all humanity. If God created us, doesn’t He have the right to make the laws? Like a Good Father, God lovingly gave us ten basic and really simple rules to follow. If we all could just do that, our world would be a much happier and better place.

Why Study The Ten Commandments

Pay attention: I’m teaching you the rules and regulations that God commanded me, so that you may live by them in the land you are entering to take up ownership. Keep them. Practice them. You’ll become wise and understanding. When people hear and see what’s going on, they’ll say, “What a great nation! So wise, so understanding! We’ve never seen anything like it.” ~ Deuteronomy 4:5-6 (MSG)

There was a time in the early 20th Century when most people at least were aware of The Ten Commandments. They might not have been able to recite them from memory. But at least they knew the basics. Sadly, today the majority of people are completely ignorant when it comes to God’s Top Ten Rules for life. Most mainstream churches, even evangelical churches, shy away from teaching God’s Law. If we as Christians, and as a nation, want to see life change for the better, we must begin by going back to the basics. The Ten Commandments are central to not only New Testament ethics but for civilian ethics alike. The most important reason why we should study The Ten Commandments… God’s Law is good for us. We should want to know it!

Why Obey The Ten Commandments

Be strong and brave. Be sure to obey all the teachings my servant Moses gave you. If you follow them exactly, you will be successful in everything you do. ~ Joshua 1:7

It’s not only important that we study and learn The Ten Commandments, we need to put them into practice by obeying them in our everyday life. As Christians we are God’s people. And to be His people we must be set apart and follow His ways. When He gave the Israelites His Law, God was sharing His Father’s heart with us. He is telling us what is important to Him. We must honor that. Most importantly, God loves us and wants the best for us. We need to trust He know what is best and obey Him!

The Ten Commandments Can Turn Our Life Around

The Lord’s teachings are perfect.
    They give new strength.
The Lord’s rules can be trusted.
    They make plain people wise.
The Lord’s orders are right.
    They make people happy.
The Lord’s commands are pure.
    They light up the way.
It is good to respect the Lord.
    That respect will last forever.
The Lord’s judgments are true.
    They are completely right.
They are worth more than gold,
    even the purest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
    even the finest honey.
They tell your servant what to do.
    Keeping them brings great reward. ~ Psalm 19:7-11

In essence, by following The Ten Commandments, one can almost be guaranteed an enjoyable life. If we as a human race would but embrace, put to memory and walk out these basic life rules our individual, family, and work life; local, national and international communities; would all be so much more productive and happy.

Join me over the next year as we dig in and study each of The Ten Commandments. We will learn how to easily put them to memory and apply them to our daily lives so we can be happy and healthy citizens of our world!

Take a few minutes and enjoy this excellent teaching from Dennis Prager on The Ten Commandments.

RESOURCES:

The Evidence Bible

The Thompson Chain Reference Bible

The Rational Bible: Genesis by Dennis Prager

The Rational Bible: Exodus by Dennis Prager

The 10 Commandments: What They Mean, Why They Matter, and Why we Should Obey Them by Kevin DeYoung

Pathway to Freedom: How God’s Laws Guide Our Lives by Alistair Begg

The Ten Commandments: Reasonable Rules for Life by Dwight L. Moody

Welcome to RHW 2022!

I’m super excited and motivated about the 2022 theme and topics of study! I believe the focus God has put on my heart for the upcoming year is very timely and will benefit many of us.

The Reaching Hurting Women Ministry continues to offer four themes for contemplation each month. The yearly themes and weekly topics focus on what God is teaching me in my personal walk with Him as well as my current life recovery work and journey. It’s my hope and prayer along the way that my columns will help other women who may be struggling in their journey as well.

A few months ago, I was contemplating the lawlessness abounding in our world when God pricked my heart with a reminder of the 10 Commandments. I thought about how Jesus fulfilled that law and the grace we as believers enjoy and the freedom it brings to us in our everyday lives. Then this sentence came to me:

Without God’s law and grace there is no opportunity for recovery from any addiction and therefore no true freedom!

Immediately I knew what I needed to focus on for the upcoming year.

Here is a preview of the RHW 2022 theme and what to expect each month:

GOD’S LAW, GRACE AND FREEDOM

- 1st Friday of Each Month: The Ten Commandments Study

In The Ten Commandments Study we are going to take a deep dive into the study of God’s law as given to Moses in the book of Exodus. We will learn why The Ten Commandments are as important today as they were when God gave them thousands of years ago. We will discuss why we should not only study them, but know and follow them to make a better, safer and happier society.

- 2nd Friday of Each Month: BOOK STUDY: Grace: The Power of the Gospel by Andrew Wommack

In our book study this year, we are going through, what I believe will be, a life changing study for myself and those who join. Andrew Wommack is a powerful and anointed teacher of God’s Word and his book Grace: The Power of the Gospel looks to be amazing. It is a deep study of the first eight chapters of the New Testament book of Romans which was written by the Apostle Paul. This is going to be really good!

- 3rd Friday of Each Month: The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery with Stephen Arterburn

For my addiction recovery work in 2022, I’m going through The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. I’ve been using the Life Recovery Bible and their excellent spin-off books since 2005. In this study we will learn how each of the laws of recovery has a requirement and produces a reliable outcome. I hope you will join me in this study. I believe this book is going to be a game changer for my recovery journey.

- 4th Friday of Each Month: God’s Law, Grace and Our Freedom

Just like there are laws of physics that govern the universe and the planet, and laws of nature that govern the plant and animal kingdoms, there are biblical laws given by God that govern the human race. In this study we are going to look at the history of humanity from the Bible and see how God’s laws, man’s acceptance or rebellion of those laws impacted life. We will see how God’s law and the grace that has come to us through Christ are connected. And how God’s law and grace brings us the true freedom we are all looking for. It’s going to be powerful.

- 5th Friday Months: Reviews

Over the years in months with five Fridays I’ve reviewed many books. Two years ago I began reviewing inspirational Christian music. And last year I found some great movies to add to my review mix. I’m excited to see what God will put in my path this year that I can share with you in my Review column.