Malachi Study

Some of my girlfriends and I wanted to get together to take time from our busy schedules to dive into the Word and make it a meaningful study with great friends and fill a spiritual space in our lives that sometimes we just don't take for ourselves and connect with women that are in the same point in each other's lives. It means a lot to me because I had wanted to try to get this going last year and it kind of fell by the way side. I am thankful to my friend who has picked it up and scheduled it. If we make the time and schedule it on our calendars and commit, then it is a lot more likely to happen.
I have to admit, I always feel a little intimidated with others that are so knowledgable about The Bible. I am not one to memorize verses or quote scripture at a drop of a hat. I like my quiet time with it and to relect on what I have read.  To be quite honest, I didn't really start reading it until I moved here and I was going through a time in my life where I needed strength and guidance. I turned open my Bible and started to read after our move to North Carolina.  I have always been and considered myself a Christian but not diving into it deeper than just what I was getting on Sundays. We were starting a new life in a different part of the country with no family and no friends. Just me, my husband, and my kids. It has turned out wonderful and I know this was in our plans as a family. It took a lot of prayers that did get answered.  This is home....
Back to the study...and this is my notes after reading and my insight and I am still learning so hopefully it makes sense...
We are starting to look at the Book of Malachi.  You realize sometimes after reading certain pieces it is hard to be a good christian sometimes. (growing up Catholic I thought that is was almost impossible) The truth is hard to swallow. But in Malachi we learn his love is never broken.
As I did some researching after our first session. Malachi in Hebrew means messenger. Which leads us up to his role as a prophet from the Lord who will deliver God's message to the people. It is the last prophecy before the New Testament. He prophesied to the Jews who had returned from exhile. He warned them that they were neglecting and disobeying God. They were failing to believe that God really loved them. They were questioning their undue circumstances and not accounting for their wrongful actions. Therefore, they were straying from the Lord's path, not fully serving God. He came to promise God would save the righteous.
He was compared to John the Baptist who came 400 years later. He was the first to tell people about their sins and that they needed to change. God was pointing his finger back at the people through Malachi. They were not fully serving the Lord and falling short. It had become acceptable even among the priests. He reminds them that if they change their behavior and serve faithfully that all will become clear. God remembers us and he does not forget about us. He kept calling them back even though the Isrealites kept failing. It is about a love that never lets go...It is God's mercy upon us.
On our worst day God doesn't walk away from us.
His love for us is not determined by our performance no matter how many times we mess up.
God loves broken people.
Do you struggle to follow God consistently?
It is hard to follow God consistently. I know this to well after chasing around 3 busy boys...
Not only is it hard to attend church but also serving him by being the best person I can be because I am tired and worn out from repeating myself 50 times a day. I have been better at what I volunteer for because I have to decide if it is really going to make me feel better that I did do it and if I am not feeling this constent calling for it then I can probably leave that task for someone else to pick up. Time is limited so unfortunatly that mean picking and chosing. I will always chose my family so if it is at the expense of my family than it has to be put aside. When I am maxed out I can tell because my patience is almost nonexistent. All I can do at this stage in my life is try to serve God by being a good christian, good wife, good mother, and friend.
A last note....
I think of the wonderful gifts of children he has put into my life, are the little miracles in which he gives a glimpse of himself through my young children as they are just as forgiving of my sins and accept me for who I am just like he does. They also love me unconditionally. They pull me back in to remind me to change my behavior...

Christian+Mother=Servant

Malachi's call prompts us to live faithfully before God and offers hope that God is not yet through extending his mercy....

"I the Lord, do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my deecrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will treturn to you, " says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:6-7 NIV)