a heart like Mary's

• Greet~ Thank you Father for Christmas.  For your Word.  That it is alive and still speaks to us today. 
  
• Read~
   “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” 
  Then the angel left her.
  Luke 1:38
• Observe~
  
  • Mary was willing to do whatever it was God asked
  • Those simple words changed her life drastically and forever
• Write~
  What an amazing step of faith this was for Mary.  I can not even imagine how greatly this changed her life.  I am sure she had her own hope and dreams.  She was about to be married.  But she choose to leave her path and walk the unknown road God had for her.
  
  I hope my heart is as open and willing as Mary's.  That I will be willing to follow His leading no matter where His road takes me.

Advent Study

I stumbled upon this online group. Now I can't even remember how. But it intrigued me and seemed simple enough...

G R O W in His Word

• Greet- prayer to God, inviting Him into your study
• Read the verses over to yourself, a few times
• Observe- what speaks to you in this verse
• Write out observations and prayer for this verse.

You can get more info here at Faith, Fun & the Fergusons.  They also have a facebookgroup, which I have joined.

I just thought maybe this would be a nice way to reconnect as a group this holiday season.  Or if you were not part of our previous Bible Study feel free to join in. :)  If you have a blog you could post there, or on our WoG Facebook group, or join the GROW in His Word Facebook group :)  If you would like to post here, let me know.  Perhaps I can add you as an author on this blog.

I am sorry its a bit late in the week.  This has been one crazy week, and this kind of got pushed to the back burner.  If you see this and are interested, could you leave a comment and let me know. :)

Also thinking about forming some kind of fitness/accountability group after the New Year.  Let me know your thoughts or interest on that subject as well.

Summer Schedule

Here is the tentative dates of when we will be meeting for the rest off the summer:

• July 15, 7:30 pm- My house
  Chapter 10- Is It Ever Too Late To Start Again?
• July 22, off (taking teens to camp)
• July 29, 7:30 pm My house
  Chapter 11- Trusting god When You Have a Lot to Loose
• Aug 5, off (Wesleyan Women Picnic)
• Aug 12, off (VBS)
• Aug 19, 7:30 My House
  Chapter 12- Trusting God with your Journey

And that's it! :D We will take the rest of August off and maybe the first couple weeks of Sept.  We will hopefully come back strong in the fall.  Maybe switching it up.  Do Monday nights seem to work? Would another night or place be better?

Looking at Stormie Omartian's new book for our first fall study.  Check it out, let me know what you think :)

He IS with You

Our DD Bible Study was wildly successful.  With exception of the wicked loud background music that left us straining to hear one another. ;P  But the evening meeting turned out to be a great time.  We even were able to pick up to "former" members of our group who had been unable to attend lately during the day.  A definite plus!

Chapter 8: Trusting God with Your Fear

A couple quotes that popped out at me in this chapter:

"...whatever God calls me to do, he has already equipped me to do it."

"When Jesus looks into the heart of a man or woman he sees all of who were are and all of who we will become in him by trusting and taking the next step."

Read Judges 6:7-10

• God reminded the Israelites of his goodness to them.  If that passage were written to you, what are some things God has done that he would have called for you to remember?
  We all can name so many things God has done for us.  From simple every day things, just seeing us through each day.  To big things like for me personally, our house and reviving our marriage.

Read Proverbs 3:5-7

• Rewrite these verses in your own words and then commit these verses to memory.
• You are going about your daily routine and you are greeted by an angel saying, "God is with your mighty warrior?" How would that make you feel? 
  We kinda laughed at this question but honestly wouldn't that make you feel empowered?  Like you could do anything?!?
• We don't have experiences like that very often, so how do you know God is with you?
  This kinda lead us back into the whole 1000 Gifts discussion.  How just looking for the "gifts" all around us lead us to be more joyful.  More secure.  To see God's hand all around us.  I urged everyone to start making a list if they were not already.  To count at least three things everyday and to write them down.  It is such a joy to the posting on Facebook of their gifts.  It is so easy to get caught in the negative downward spiral.  But if you just stop and look.  And think about what you are thinking... there are so many gifts, all around.  Big and Small.  It is hard to change the way you are thinking/feeling sometimes.  But it can be done.  With God nothing is impossible.  He is with you.

Next Week: Monday night 7:30 pm MY house...chapter 9- Trusting God with Your Dreams

DD anyone?

We will be meeting tomorrow night at the Chitt DD :D 7:30-8ish

We will be covering chapter 8...maybe discussing ideas for the rest of the summer and the fall.

We have 5 chapters left.  We may meet sporadically but I would really like to finish up the book over the summer.

Come on out and join us. :)

Where Do We Go From Here??????

Our little group has been on a bit of a hiatus.  I started my new job as church administrator.  Leaving little time for Bible Study. :( This makes me sad and I am realizing again how much a cherish our group.  Not just for the fellowship but also for the accountability, being stretched, growing. 

The past two weeks I have missed it.  I checked the blog realizing I never even posted after our last meeting which seems like eons ago.  So  much has happened, do much has changed in my life.  I picked up the study book this morning, flipping though our last chapter. We are about midway through our "Beautiful Things" Study. We need to finish.  Find a time and finish.  Then go from there.  Perhaps the fall will bring more changes.  We are thinking about maybe moving to an evening study.

Here are some thoughts, observations and such from chapter 7--The Life of Christ in Us

Some of the most influential people are quiet, never standing on a stage or in a spotlight, never directing companies of thousands or managing caches of millions.  By that same token, some of the greatest legacies are simple-- not the great empire built or outstanding records set, but the laughter given, passion spent, and compete love and trust left.
(Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God, pp 98)

Read Psalm 16

• How would you characterize the mood of the psalmist as he wrote these words?
• On a scale of 1-10, with being the highest, rate the psalmist's trust in God
• Using the same scale, rate your trust in God
• Explain the difference
• Review verses 9-11 and rewrite them as your expression of your trust in God.  Be completely honest as you express your trust.

When we have and an encounter with the risen Christ, and he transforms our lives, he changes our hearts too.  We want to serve, love and show mercy-- these things are evidence of a maturing faith, especially when the things that move the Son of God move our hearts too. (pp 109)

• Does your life refelct the transformational power of Christ?  Do you want to serve, love and show mercy?
• Summarize the instructions of Psalm 16 by completing the following statement:
  Because the psalmist said_____________________________________ I will _____________________.
• Now write a prayer expressing your desire to trust God even when the circumstances seem impossible.  Use this prayer as part of your daily time with God and as an expression of your desire to follow him even when the path is uncertain.

Confession time...I feel like I should have been doing this.  Rereading this scripture and this chapter everyday of the past couple weeks.  It is important to keep your eyes on Christ and not on the uncertainty all around.   I know that He can and will see me through...after all... Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God!

Our next meeting time and place is yet to be determined.   We shall come up with a plan ASAP.  Suggestions and ideas welcome!   Maybe even an late evening study out at DD ;)

Chapter 8 is Trusting God With Your Fear.

On a Side note: Jess made the most delicious soft pretzels for our snack! You can check out the recipe here.

Lavish

Read 1 John 3:1-3

• Describe the depth of God's love for his children
  One word. Lavish.  The definition of lavish is this- to expend or give in great amounts or without limit: That's God's love for us.  Continually pouring out on us.  It never ends.  It pours out on us.  Overflowing.
• What is the hope we have (verse 3)? We are purified.  He makes us new. No matter what we have done.  God Can turn it all around.  Make us into a completely new person.  Set us on his track.  Accomplish mighty feats through us.  Just look at Saul/Paul.  He went from killing and persecuting Christians to being one of the ultimate Christian examples. (Acts 9)
• Paul was given a new name, a new purpose and a reassigned passion.  What do you think God is doing in your life right now?  What does God want to do through your life?

(Beautiful Things Happen When a Women Trusts God, pp 249-251)