Welcome back to the 1 Peter Graduated Book Tour! If you are just joining me make sure to go here to catch up on the first 4 Lessons. Also make sure to head over to Kregel Publications to read what other bloggers have written about the 1 Peter Book Tour.

Lesson 4 covers 1 Peter 3:1-7. This passage is titled, Advice for Husbands and Wives. While I am not married or dating I was still able to get a lot out of this passage. One of the questions asks, “How does God measure beauty (1 Peter 3:3-4)? Is it different from how you measure beauty?”

Source: jacyann.tumblr.com via Allison on Pinterest

The above quote of 1 Peter paraphrases 1 Peter so beautifully how true beauty comes from within and now how we look. So many times we believe that “beauty” is what is seen on the outside but I think inner beauty is much more beautiful than the outer. In this day and age where a doctor can fix anything that we feel is “wrong” with you physically, outer beauty seems so fake. Where inner beauty can only be changed through prayer and us working to better ourselves. What do you think about this verse? How can we better practice it in everyday life?

Welcome back to the 1 Peter Graduated Book Tour! If you are just joining me make sure to go here to catch up on the first three Lessons. Also make sure to head over to Kregel Publications to read what other bloggers have written about the 1 Peter Book Tour.

Lesson 4 covers 1 Peter 2:11-25. This lesson is so relevant in what is going on right now in the media. This weeks topic talks about living a Christ like life in a Hostile Society. We have seen this going on for weeks with the HHS Mandate. People are coming after us “Christians” as the 2% of society doing the “right thing.” They have been using the “everyone else is doing it so it’s okay” tactic which I feel is  very wrong. If everyone was jumping off bridges would you do it to?

I really believe as Christians we live really hard lives trying to stand up for what we believe in. I love this passage because it shows that back in biblical time everything wasn’t peachy keen like some of the bible stories make it seem. The audience in 1 Peter didn’t necessarily have the same struggles we did but they had very similar ones. They couldn’t figure out how to live for Christ in the hard times. Much like many others. I know many people when bad things start happening to them they turn away from God like he did it on purpose to torture them. But I disagree those are the times we need to pray more and turn to him for more guidance to help us get through it.

I found this picture and thought it really worked for this lesson. Christians are always going to be different and the minority in American Culture. But I know so many Christians seem to be so much more happier than the the non-christians. So inspire to be different and be happy with your life! How has this passage of 1 Peter helped you?

I want to apologize for being behind on the 1 Peter Bible Study Tour. I got my schedule mixed up and went out-of-town two weekends ago. I thought I was going out-of-town this past weekend so I got behind on this study between being out-of-town and then playing catch-up. I am going to work on getting Lesson 3 posted later in the week and Lesson 4 for the weekend (But I’m not making any promises). If you missed Lesson 1 go here to catch up!

Lesson 2 is titled “Respond Like a Bone-Dry Babe” and covers 1 PETER 1:13 – 2:3 (USSCB Edition)

The questions in Core 1 continue to ask us to get ready and prepared. These questions are specifically asking us to get MENTALLY PREPARED. Sue Edwards refers us to 1 CORINTHIANS 2:12-16 which talks about using the gifts that GOD GAVE US! I could talk all day long about the gifts and fruits of the spirit. After teaching Confirmation for the past 3 years I have grown a very strong relationship with them (and I may write a post about them in the near future).

One of the last questions was very intriguing. It asks “What do you need to do to develop your mind this week?” I thought this left a lot of food for thought. Whenever people talk about preparation it’s always in terms of getting dressed, packing, unpacking, eating a good breakfast. But it is very rare especially in our fast paced society that we try to “prepare our minds.”

I can remember last year I was working as an administrative assistant for a Financial Advisor. It was a very fast paced office, always something to do. It was great for me because I love multi-tasking but by 5pm my brain was mentally TIRED! I can remember going home and my sister would ask me, “Why are you so tired? You work in an office and sit at a desk all day!” and my co-workers husbands (who worked labor intensive jobs) would ask them the same thing! But just because you sit at a desk in front of a computer all day doesn’t mean you don’t do work! Our brains were mentally TIRED and needed time to wind down and prepare for the next day of work!

Core 2 was all about “Sobering Up” it was very short but the questions talked about being more disciplined and productive. They specifically ask what would other people say about how productive you are (or aren’t). I about died LAUGHING when I read these questions. At the moment I don’t feel very productive with sleeping in and staying up late. People will even ask me “what do you do all day?” since I don’t have a job or a car at the moment. I think I am productive in my own way but I know I need to get better at being MORE productive and not letting my blog, email, twitter, facebook, pinterest, and other social media time suckers take over.

In the last Core, Sue Edwards talks about Cravings. What is your favorite food? Your favorite Chocolate? Last week in my Pretty on Pinterest post on Chocolate I posted this pin:

It was a HUGE HIT!! It got repinned AT LEAST 10 TIMES! I haven’t made this yet but I know I am going to try to make it soon. It goes to show that I’m not the only one that loves chocolate cookies and brownies After all the questions of your favorite foods and cravings they ask us WHY do we like these foods? and then WHY it is much harder to have a “spiritual craving.” 

Lesson 2 has given me a lot of “FOOD FOR THOUGHT” (that is my new catchphrase) I hope it has given you some as well. Look for Lesson 3 later this week.