Finding God’s Grace In This Messy World
A Study of Jacob and the Grace That Is Waiting for Us
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Introduction When I first fell in love with God’s Word, it was about six years ago. No, not back when I accepted Jesus as my Savior in third grade. My really deep longing to read the Bible began when I was forty years old—forty. When I read the entire book of John for the first time that year, studying the Word changed me. Over the course of several weeks, I immersed myself in the book of John, and something happened. I grew to love the Word—as in I began to love it so much, I felt love sink deep down into the depths of my bones. God does that. When we seek Him, He is there. He desires to have a close relationship with us, and I found, through reading His Word and talking to Him in prayer, the relationship I had with God grew deeper. I was so surprised, though I’d known God all my life, something in me had changed. Getting into the Word of God will do that to a person, and God reminds us in Isaiah 55:11, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Reading and studying God’s Word will accomplish great things! God Himself promises that to us. This Bible study will walk us through the life of Jacob, and we’ll read in the book of Genesis all about how God worked in this man’s life. As we study about the life of Jacob, we will see how God had an abundant amount of grace for him. Spoiler alert here: There is a fairy-tale ending to this study, and we will see there is a lavish amount of grace for us as well. While writing this study, I knew it was important that this book not just contain life lessons from Jacob or about my own life. Knowing firsthand the power of studying the Word of God, I knew it was imperative in this study that we read the Bible daily, studying it and reflecting on it, allowing it to seep into the marrow of our bones, because that is where the change occurs, when we read the Word of God and give the Holy Spirit room to grow. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us, “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Over the course of this study, I pray you will desire such a love for God’s Word that you will crave Him more and more every single day. Hungering for more of Jesus, that’s my prayer for you and for me. To have an intimate and personal relationship with our heavenly Creator is what I yearn for us to have, walking close with Jesus. No matter where you are on your journey with God, stay put. Press on and join me as we study about finding God’s grace through the story of a man named Jacob. Jacob was a man who went through an abundance of sin and deceitfulness, suffering and running, yet God was with him all along, refining him into the man God had planned him to be. Friends, that goes for us as well. We’ve all been through uncomfortable seasons, difficult times, perhaps even flat-out awful stuff. But God, He wants us to draw closer to Him, and as we do this, God will help us, refine us, mold us, change us to be the best version of ourselves He wants us to be. I’m on this journey with you. Love and prayers, Angela Banae
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About the Book
At a more rapid pace than ever, we are all journeying through this treacherous life and sometimes we lose sight of God’s goodness and the redemptive grace God has for each of us. Finding God’s Grace in This Messy World is a Bible study that helps the reader dig into the Bible and study the life of a deceptive man named Jacob who found God’s beautiful grace even though he made so many mistakes. Read and discover that God’s saving grace is waiting for each of us, as well. Join Angela Banae Patterson in this four week study as you learn how to study the Bible. Through Angela’s wit and her personal stories, you’ll see the beauty of God woven in her life and though she has fallen short time and time again, she has always felt the forgiveness of her Father. Throughout this book, you’ll: • Study how God richly displayed His grace to a deceptive man, Jacob. • Reflect on your own memories and see how God is working in your life. • Learn how God’s grace and forgiveness is readily available to each of us, no matter what tarnished past we may have. • Discover how God can change us to live a life more boldly for Him as we draw closer to Jesus.
About the Author
Angela Banae Patterson is a small town girl, the wife to her college sweetheart, Patrick, and mom to their two amazing sons, Nate and Max. She loves to write, teach the Bible, speak at women’s retreats and has a hard time turning down soft and delicious homemade cookies. While Angela used to blog regularly on her site Angela Banae, she now fills her days being an active mom that includes attending their sons’ football games and track meets, making a semi-homemade meal when they have an occasional night at home, and being a positive influencer on social media. Angela is a writer, Bible teacher, and speaker with her greatest passion being able to help others walk closer with Jesus. She lives with her husband and two sons outside of Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the small town of Walford.