Thursday, July 26, 2007
The "I AM" Online Bible Study
(For some reason, I can't get paragraph breaks to work right this morning. I apologize that things are kind of running together. For clarity of reading, every other paragraph will be this color.)
For some time now, I haven't been involved in a serious Bible study with other women. Homeschooling has had to take precedence over outside activities. But I have such wonderful memories of my times in ladies' Bible studies. Not only was it a great time of fellowship, but it was an amazing time of growth as I studied the Word and several books aimed at helping me learn to be a more godly wife and mother.
Happily, I have stumbled upon The Preacher's Wife, who leads an online Bible study focusing on the Moses and the Israelites as they progress in their own journey towards The Promised Land - both physically and spiritually. I am WAY behind, 11 weeks to be exact, but I'm going to start at the beginning so that I don't miss any of the goodness! Don't worry - you're supposed to start at the beginning! And so, here are my thoughts and answers for Lesson 1 - "I AM - Your Beauty."
Wow! This was a great lesson about God placing each one of us in the right place and time for use for His purposes. Lisa says this, "I believe with all my heart that our entire lives are a series of unrecurring incidents in which we have the opportunity to use our 'yes' for God's fame. Just as Mordecai stated (paraphrase), 'If you say 'no', God will raise up a deliverer from somewhere else. But who knows that you were placed in your position for such a time as this?' Esther could have said no. We can say no. But heaven help me if I cause my God to resort to Plan B. I want to be His 'go to' girl -the one He knows will say yes, Lord! May it be done to me as You have said! 'Hmmm, I think I'll call forth Lisa in this situation..I can trust her with My glory.' Let it be, Lord. Let it be." (Italics mine)
This was such a wake-up call to me! I do want to be a woman that God can look at and know that I am ready and willing to do what he asks me to do. I believe I have let myself get bogged down with "life stuff" that I'm not really allowing myself to hear his voice, let alone be ready to spring into action for him. I hope to change that.
- Are there any circumstances or relationships in your life where you can see God has intentionally placed you to be a light for Him? You know, I have neighbors all around me who I could be ministering to, but I don't. One set of neighbors doesn't speak to us (not because of anything we've done - they've just been unfriendly since they moved in). One set of neighbors drives me crazy so I end up being angry at them most of the time. One woman just kicked out her live-in boyfriend and is lonely. Another set is Catholic and very worldly. All of these people are in my life and I should be reaching out to them with God's love. I'm going to begin praying today for opportunities to share his love with them.
- Can you honestly describe yourself as a woman with a 'yes' in her spirit? I don't think at this point I could honestly say I have been. I've been too preoccupied with my schedule, my busy life, to allow myself to be sidetracked. And recently, I've really been learning to step back from things to allow me to focus on the things I know God wants me to focus on, so I've been saying "no" to almost everything. Perhaps I need to be more careful and prayerful so that I don't miss his plans.
- Are you in an emotionally and spiritually healthy place today? If so, what will you do with your series of unrecurring events? Will you commit to ask for spiritual eyes to see opportunities to defend a weaker sister? Emotionally, I think I am in a healthy place right now. Spiritually, well, not as much. I do feel as though I'm growing more in the last couple of months than I have been in a long time. I think part of that has to do with the blogging community, which I have begun to immerse myself in. There are so many wonderful, godly women out there I'm finding a lot of encouragement and teaching. But also I think God is working in my heart in new ways, helping me to understand his plans and his sovereignty and learning to trust him.
I've really enjoyed this lesson. I don't know if I can wait a week to do the next one, so you may see another entry soon! If you'd like to join in, head on over to Lisa's blog and sign up!
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5 comments:
I have been in a couple of bible studies over the past few years. The one that I have been in the longest is made up of a very eclectic group of people I could never imagine myself getting so close to. God works in mysterious and wonderful ways!
Melissa
Thanks for the encouraging comment on my blog. What you said is true. My head understands it, but my heart hasn't grasped it yet. I love my family so much. And inside I desire desperately to be an awesome mom, who loves raising her boys.
He has to answer my prayers! He has to!!
Isn't this the most wonderful Bible study??? I haven't had a chance to do it as regularly as I would like, but the ones that I have done are phenomenal!!
Hi Lori!
I am so glad you have joined this study and I loved reading your comments. It is obvious you are a woman chasing hard after God.
Great to meet you!! :))
Lisa
I enjoyed reading your thoughts and the honesty of your answers. I just discovered the study myself. I'm not quite sure how to link my answers yet, I'm a new blogger but boy, am I loving this community of Christian women. I feel like the things that I think God is working on in me are spoken of by these other women and it's just amazing to think about.