Another great summer week ahead

Hello all,

Yep, I'm certainly enjoying summer this year. My garden is overrun with weeds, but no problem. I enjoy weeding. So I spend a couple of hours out there in the mornings before it is too hot and make a little dint in the mess. Sometimes our spiritual lives feel that way. The important thing is to keep on weeding!

I'm still in Colossians.

I'm back and it's Thursday

Hello, ladies! It's so good to be home. I enjoyed my visit with my family and it was sad to have to leave them, but it's so good to be back. While I was gone I read through Colossians and part of 1 John but wasn't able to do any copying so today I will go back to Colossians and start copying. I'm excited to start again.

The church in Flint is struggling with loss of members due to economic reasons and one family for issues reasons so they really need our prayers. The Sunday before I was there their attendance was recorded on their board as 18. They are good people who are struggling to keep God's light shining in difficult times.

It was good to see Ann posting again! I hope you can post more often, Ann. We are taking it easy this summer but will get back to daily posting in the fall. Do you all want to continue this individual format or are you ready to do another group study?

Friday, I think

Good morning, ladies. I now have access to the internet and want you to know I have started Colossians. What have you been up to?

Tuesday

I've been out of my "groove" so far this week and forgot to post but I'm back today. I did not forget to study, though. I am almost finished copying Philippians and am a little sad I'm almost done. It is such an uplifting book. I don't know if I'll be able to access a computer while I'm away so just post your observations and accomplishments here until I return. I hope you all have a great week!

Thursday

Wow. It's already July!! Our time here is short. Keep studying!

Tuesday

"..forgetting those things that are behind..." How hard this sometimes is! Have you ever been stuck being sad with regret and shame for something you did? Maybe no one even knows about it. Well, you should be sad over sin and feel some shame, but you shouldn't get stuck. Paul says that we are to have the same mind as he does. And we are to forget those things that are behind and press toward the things that are ahead - toward the hope we have in Jesus. Sometimes you have to forgive yourself and move on.

The same is true about successes. We can't stop in our growth because of some success we experience. Even then we have to forget those things and press on. You never get to stop here. Does that seem overwhelming? Sometimes. We have to remember that in the grand scheme of things we are only here for a short time. Sure it's hard. Jesus did it. And He says you can too. He will help you.

Remember how it seemed you would be in school forever? Now it seems like it really wasn't all that long. Some of us have been out so long it REALLY doesn't seem like it was all that long. It's like that with our lives here. We are in school, but not forever - not even for very long. Keep pressing forward!!

Monday

What a beautiful day so far! I've already been out in the garden for a while and am almost done watering. It's going to be a scorcher today - a good day to spend the afternoon inside for people like me who prefer cooler weather or don't have a pool. Keep me posted on your studying progress!

Friday

Well, I'm a little late today, ladies, but it IS still Friday. Are you enjoying your summer so far? I am. It's always nice to have a change of pace. I'm also enjoying my writing project. It's interesting how when you make yourself slow down you can notice so much more.

Thursday

During the summer I fight with headaches on a regular basis. They are usually caused, or seem to be caused, by my body overheating because I do not usually "glisten" easily. Dave is quick to get that swamp cooler working as soon as he can so I have a cool place to go when I can't cool off. How does this relate to the need to study? I was thinking this morning about how this is like sin and study. Studying is like a place to cool off when you feel overwhelmed by sin - either your own or just society in general. It is a place to refresh your spirit and lighten your outlook - a place of relief. God doesn't change. Truth doesn't change. No matter what heat Satan throws at us, God's unchanging nature and promises give a cooling relief. We find a place to rejoice - always. (Can you tell I'm in Philippians?)

Wednesday

Oops! I forgot to post this morning. We had a late night (for us) and I slept in and that messed up my routine. I see that Audrey and Julie have already posted for today. I'm still writing my way through Philippians and enjoying it tremendously. I love this book because it is so positive and reassuring, yet challenging at the same time. To have the mind of Christ...willing to give up everything to bring God glory, shown in Paul's example, and Timothy's, and Epaphroditus'...now that's a challenge for me. To rejoice always. Another great challenge. Lots to work on!!!

Tuesday

What a beautiful morning! Maybe summer has come at last. Enjoy the warm weather and remember to spend a few minutes in study and prayer.

Monday

God has blessed us with the beginning of a new week. Are you ready for it? Are you listening to what God has to say to you? Isn't it amazing how the growing never ends? I'm looking forward to your comments.

Sunday

I decided to share this with you all. Perhaps you already subscribe to Voice of the Martyrs, but if not you may not be aware of the terrible persecution that Christians in Muslim countries endure. This link is the story of one of the latest and biggest attacks that happened in March. It really gives new meaning to passages that encourage us to stand firm in the face of sufferings, and also makes me so thankful we still can worship freely. Please pray for our leaders to guard this freedom.

http://etools.781net.com/a/vomso/bg_vomso_wdbm_404.html

Friday morning

Can you believe another week has zipped by? Amazing. I have finished Revelation and have started my summer/fall project. I have decided to copy the New Testament by hand. This will help me slow down my reading and promote more meditation on what I write. I started the book of Philippians yesterday as that is our current midweek study. What are you all up to?

Wednesday

As I continue through Revelation I find myself thinking about expectations. I think in the back of my mind, a small part of me expects that God will always answer my prayers the way I want Him to. Maybe sometimes I have a tendency to think of Him as my own personal genie. If I am faithful, then He should protect me from harm. Is this a scriptural concept? Of course not. In fact, Jesus actually promised that the faithful would suffer in this life. So when life hands me those trials and disappointments, I should not feel abondoned by my God, but thankful He is there to walk with me as I go through it.

What are you thinking about today?

Tuesday

What a gorgeous summer day yesterday was! I enjoyed most of the day out in the garden, getting rid of weeds that had grown almost to my shoulders. Whenever I weed I think of how sin is. I didn't have time to get those weeds when they were small. Now they are a real challenge to conquer. It can be done, but it's oh so much harder! So it is with sin. If we can catch those subtle little attitudes while they are small it isn't such a big deal, but if we let things grow it is quite a challenge. Let's all keep our eyes and hearts open - looking for those little weeds and killing them before they take over.

Monday

Good morning, ladies. I guess the final decision on the blog this summer is that I'll continue to post daily and you all can post whenever you like. I haven't done my reading yet for today so will have to let you know anything interesting later on. It appears that it will be a beautiful day here in the valley. I hope you all have a chance to get out and enjoy God's creation as well as listen to His Word.

Friday

Hello all. It looks like the sun may actually shine today, although it's a bit breezy right now. I'm off to the garden to scratch in the dirt for a while. Then I'll be back to check for your posts and do my own study. Today I am in Revelation 4.

Thursday

Oops! I forgot to blog yesterday! Sorry about that. I finished reading the Johns and Jude. John stresses loving your brother over and over again. One argument he makes is that you can't love God as His adopted child and not love your adopted siblings whom God also loves. Jude is more about respecting authorities established by God. I noticed a parallel here - We love our brother because God loves our brother, and we respect authority because God created it. Jude was especially appropriate at this time of political unrest. No matter what happens we are to respect the government, realizing that God established it and has a bigger plan than we can see.

Now to the future of the blog this summer. Let's just say that for the summer you are free to blog whenever you want. It sounds like we will all continue to do our daily studies, which is a very good thing. You ladies are a great encouragement to me. I love reading your comments and watching your growth.

Welcome home, Julie!!

The first Tuesday of summer break

I'm wondering how it would work for us to turn this into a weekly blog for the summer. You would only post once/week to let us know what you are up to and what you are learning. It was nice to hear from two people in one day!

I read 1 John yesterday and looked at the elder survey for the first time. From 1 John I was reminded of the importance of loving your brother. From the elder survey I realized I don't have a spiritual goal right now. Hmmm. How did that happen? So now I'm thinking about what my spiritual goals should be. Thinking....

The first Monday of summer break

Hello, ladies. So we have one vote for a summer break. That's the only vote we have. lol I have decided that after I finish the New Testament this week, I will start going through Every Woman's Battle for my summer study. I'll wait to hear from at least one more person before I decide if we break for summer or not, but right now I'm leaning toward breaking because the posts are rather sparse anyway so that usually means people are ready for a break. Either way, I hope you all have a great first official day of summer break!

Friday

Hello, ladies. Summer is finally here - well, at least the school vacation part of it. Do we want to continue through the summer? Let me know your thoughts.

Thursday

Yesterday I read 1 Peter. What struck me was the encouragement to stand in the midst of suffering. He is warning them they are about to enter a time of extreme persecution and he wanted them to know that the hope they had in Christ was worth the pain they were about to endure. It seemed especially pointed to me as earlier in the day I had watched the video of a young girl being berated and called names by her bus driver because she had told another child she believed marriage was between a man and a woman only. The bus driver has received no negative consequences and the school district is standing behind her. As our society becomes more and more secular, these things will happen more often. 1 Peter is a reminder that we should be ready to endure these things and continue to do what is right so that God's glory will shine through the pain and cause even the persecutors to see we have something precious. It's a sobering thought. And a privilege.

Wednesday

Well, you all probably know by now that Lauren was baptized during the night. What a great victory! I know you are all rejoicing with me.

Yesterday I read about true religion: visiting the fatherless and the widows. We only have a few of those in our congregation so that's pretty easy for us. I encourage you to do this - it is actually a pleasant thing and is pleasing to God.

Tuesday

I've been thinking a bit lately about just what it means to walk in faith. As I read in James I see that acting on that faith is what shows you really have faith. Paul assures us we aren't saved by works, but James reminds us that working is still important. We are, after all, created in Christ Jesus for good works.

What are your thoughts from your readings?

It's a holiday!

I hope you have a great day today but don't forget to feed your soul. I'll be reading James today. Let me know what you did!

Thursday

I am now in the book of Hebrews and am reading about how much better it is for us now than it was for the Jews under Moses' Law. As I read about the access we have through Jesus and the hope we have I am again impressed and humbled by the love God has for us. And then I read about Isreal's disobedience and how God viewed it. In one place He calls it unbelief, in another disobedience. Have you ever thought about what causes us to disobey? Hebrews teaches it is unbelief. So what exactly are you doing when you disobey? You are basically saying that you do not believe God knows what He is talking about. You do not believe He will punish the disobedient. You do not believe He will care for you when you obey. What an insult to the One who loves us most.

Wednesday

Yesterday I noticed how many times Paul mentions being ashamed to Timothy in 2 Timothy. I guess that's something we all wrestle with. We don't like to be different or "peculiar" as God asks us to be. I'm thankful He gave us the church - a place where being "peculiar" is normal so we have a place to fit in. Suffering for the kingdom can seem a shameful thing if we lose our focus. And it comes in so many different forms! We should not be ashamed; we should be thankful.

Tuesday

It looks like we may have some sunshine today! And it's NOT snowing. I hope your day is joyous and profitable. Let me know what you are reading!

Monday

Good day, ladies. I'm feeling much better today. I hope you all are having a good start to the week. I know Mondays can be trying when you have little ones who are tired from Sunday. I hope those of you in that situation know how much those of use who are not appreciate your efforts each week.

This week I'm going through 2 Timothy and beyond. I look forward to hearing what you all are learning in your studies.

Friday

Writing out your prayers is a great way to make yourself slow down and focus. Sarah is planning to do this regularly. I would encourage each of you to try it at least once if you haven't already. I'm thinking about making this a part of my spiritual p90x. So many ideas!!!

Thursday

Continuing on with the spiritual p90x theme...Julie gave some really good thoughts yesterday to help me develop my spiritual exercise plan. They actually fit in quite nicely with the whole p90x premise. Let me explain how that physical program works: there are actually twelve different workouts. The idea is that to keep your body making progress, your muscles cannot become comfortable with the workout or you stop progressing. The program is divided into three blocks of four weeks each. The first three weeks you spend learning the workouts, then you get a week "off" in which you do mostly cardio and stretching to allow the muscles to heal before the next block begins. It never gets easy.

So Julie's suggestion about using the Peter passage fits this. There are several things to work on there. These things could be rotated in and out of a 3 month program. As far as specific activities...I'm thinking memory work, study, prayer, encouraging others, choosing a particular area of behavior that causes problems and setting up some kind of tracking system to monitor progress while studying that area to change thinking habits, making thankfulness lists... I have thought about taking a news story and writing a biblical response... I'm looking for ideas to encourage applying principals that are learned. Ideally I would be molding my thoughts to scriptural passages. So keep those ideas coming!

Wednesday

Yesterday I read 1 Timothy 1-4 and the thought that stood out to me this time was "...discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness..." As you know I'm working my way through the P90X program and it has been tough. In this context Paul is telling Timothy that bodily discipline (or exercise is only of a little profit but godliness for all things. So I started thinking about just how one would go about exercising spiritually. All the usual thoughts came: prayer, study...but I wondered if maybe it shouldn't be a little more intense - like the P90X. How could I make my spiritual exercise as challenging as my physical exercise program? I have some ideas that I want to explore but would be interested in yours. Any thoughts? After I hear from you, I think I'll work on setting some specific goals and steps to get there. I'm afraid I will have to post them somewhere because I am so easily distracted with daily things that I forget what I planned to do sometimes. I guess for me that is part of growing older.

Tuesday

The Word of God is called our sword. It is how God speaks to us and it is also a wonderful tool. Sarah mentioned color coding verses yesterday in your Bibles to help find certain topics that maybe you need to use often. I do this. I only have three catagories. Pink is for the passages that are specific to women and wives. Green is for laziness (a continuing problem I fight). Yellow is for passages dealing with authority - useful when studying with non-believers. I'd love to hear if you do this and what catagories/colors you use. Bailee has noticed this in my Bible and will sometimes point out that I should highlight something because it fits into the catagory. Aren't kids great?

Monday again

Good morning, ladies. May is already halfway gone. The garden is calling my name...SHOUTING my name. So many distractions would call me away from listening to God speak through His word. It only takes a few minutes to read enough to keep your mind busy all day. Be sure to feed your soul.

Friday

Julie has already posted for this morning on yesterday's post. She referred us to a verse in Isaiah that talks about walking with the Lord. Isn't that a great and comforting picture? Think about it - being able to see Him, talk to Him, learn from Him, BE with Him! We can do that now, actually. We see Him with spiritual eyes all around us - His creation, His blessings, His work in our lives. We can talk to Him whenever we want and learn from Him at any time. And if we are aware as we should be, we know we are always with Him. Very cool.

Thursday

So continuing on with our discussion from yesterday, Sarah has asked more or less if the Holy Spirit speaks to us in any way apart from the Bible. What about when you remember a verse you have studied when presented with a situation? Is that your conscience or the Holy Spirit? I would say it is both. A well-trained conscience will remind you of what the Holy Spirit has taught you in your studies. That is why it is so important to be continually studying - to keep that conscience trained and open to the Holy Spirit's teaching. Some may feel that this is limiting the Holy Spirit in some way, but actually He seems to have limited Himself. We see in the New Testament that the Holy Spirit actually spoke to the disciples from time to time and He used WORDS - not impressions or feelings. Now that we have His complete revelation, He has chosen to speak through it instead. (1 Cor. 13) Does He still live among us? Absolutely. Does He work in our lives apart from the Word? Well, God answers prayers so in that sense He does - but only when it is in accord with God's will as presented in the Bible. Does He reveal Himself apart from the Word? In some ways. Romans 1 talks about things we are to learn from the creation itself. But when someone claims to have been urged by the Spirit to do something without scriptural authority, I have no way to test that and so must discount it.

Wednesday

How do we know when to wait? What does it mean to wait on the Lord. I'll give you a few of my thoughts and I hope you will all give yours.


A primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), that is, collect; (figuratively) to expect: - gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon). Strongs

In Isaiah 40 the context is a discussion comparing God to false gods. The main idea is that because our God is truly diety, we can know that He is in control even though it seems like He doesn't know the trouble in which we find ourselves. It is a really comforting passage.
So waiting on the Lord involves being patient in difficult situations, knowing that in the end God will make it right. That would include doing the right thing even when it feels scarey or inappropriate. When it comes to applying this principle to specific situations it can be somewhat difficult, I think, because we don't get to see the big picture. Obviously we have examples of godly men in the Old Testament waiting and trusting in very difficult situations and EVENTUALLY, in HIS timing, things are made right. (Example: Moses, Joseph) So how does it apply in everyday situations that are not necessarily moral like buying a new house. Or does it? My own belief at this point is that it applies in this way: I have a plan, but I know God may have a different one so my attitude is one of submission. Just because I run into obstacles doesn't mean it isn't God's will but I am open to that possibility. I ask Him in prayer and explain my reasons (sometimes this is enough for me to see that my will isn't matching His) and do my part but leave it up to Him. I am then OK with whatever outcome happens. This may involve putting a time limit on it - not to manipulate God, but to give myself a time to let go if needed. The bottom line is really an attitude of submission and acceptance.

So what do you all think?

Tuesday

Julie brought up a really important topic in her post yesterday. We have to be honest with ourselves for God to really be able to work in our lives. It is so easy to deceive ourselves! So how can you know if you are being honest with yourself? I would say the most important tool you have is prayer - the kind of prayer in which you really open yourself up to God and ask Him to see what He sees. He will often open your eyes in what I think of as layers. Maybe at first you will realize you have a problem in an area but it's not so bad. Than as you continue to pray about it you begin to realize that maybe it's worse than you realized - there have been consequences you hadn't associated with that problem. As you continue opening yourself to God He begins to show you the work you have to do. Maybe you will feel a little over-whelmed and ashamed, but don't give up! God is amazing and can do amazing things for you if you are willing to endure the process and grow. Painful? Yes - sometimes agonizing. Worth it? Absolutely. Of course all this assumes you are continually studying in His Word so you are allowing Him to teach you. And that's what we are doing! Our spiritual family is another tool we have to help us be honest. Be open to helpful criticism. Be willing to consider the possibility you could be wrong. It's OK. We are all wrong sometimes.



May we all have open eyes and honest hearts!!

Monday

Good morning! (Or whenever you find the time to post today)

Yesterday was a big day for all of us. Today it's back to the normal routine. I'm thankful for you ladies who encourage me to continue my daily reading plan. I have a tendancy to forget to do the most important things when my schedule gets crazy. Having this blog helps me to not forget one of the most important things there is - spiritual nutrition. We can't live long without it. I hope you enjoy your spiritual "meal" today.

Fun Friday`

Well, Bailee thinks every Friday should be Fun Friday. I think it will be for me this week and I hope it is for you. Keep those posts coming!

Thursday morning

Walking worthy of our calling is what Audrey mentioned sticks out to her in the Ephesians study so far. After reading the first several chapters, walking worthy is a natural response! Remembering all God has done for us should cause us to automatically be motivated to do just that. If you are not continually reading and reminding yourself about those blessings, it is easy to begin to slip - just a little at first, and then begin to really slide away. There are so many distractions!! We need each other to stay focused which will make our whole adventure here so much easier.

Wednesday

Are you ready for your Ephesians class tonight? I'm assuming by the time you come here you will be. Feel free to share what has encouraged you so far in this class.

I hope your day is profitable!

Tuesday

Hats off to Sarah who managed to post even with company!! Good for you - and for Audrey and Julie, of course.

Yesterday I read Galatians. I've been thinking a bit about being a Gentile. I don't usually think about that as it's not a huge deal in our society and because I know that I am now also one of God's people. Sometimes, though, I think it's good to remember that without Christ we would not have been exposed to God or His Law in all probability. We would have been "far off" as Ephesians puts it. It really is an amazing blessing to be living in this time when we can be "near" and enjoy all spiritual blessings. Galatians reminds me that I don't want to give up that wonderful freedom to enslave myself to something else.

Monday

It's MAY!!! That means warmer weather is coming soon and the sun will be shining again eventually. It's a good time to recommit yourself to your studies and posting. You are doing great!

Fabulous Friday

Julie beat me again today. Tax season must be over. :)

In our Ephesians class last night we were discussing how the church shows God's wisdom. Have you ever really thought about this? You are a part of a plan conceived before the foundation of the world. You have been blessed with being part of something that shows to heavenly beings God's amazing wisdom. What a motivation to be spiritually mature! God has faith in you. So go have faith in Him.

Thursday

As I finished 1 Corinthians I was comforted and excited to read about the bodies we will have at the resurrection. A spiritual body - one that doesn't decay. As I grow older that seems a better and more desirable thing all the time. But first I have to die. I read an article once that quoted a nurse as saying that dieing hurts. I would imagine that being born also hurts. Passages like these assure me that it's all worth it. We have a glorious hope!

Wednesday again

Did you enjoy that amazing thunderstorm last night? Did it remind you of God's amazing power - that same power that can work in our lives if we allow it? Sarah reminded us yesterday that being a disciple is not a passive thing. We are not saved by our works, but we are expected to work and work hard. "Be diligent" is a common command in the New Testament, but God is there with His mighty power to help us succeed in our life's adventure. (But no, Audrey, that doesn't include foodness...hahahaha.)

Tuesday, April 27

I'm back!! I enjoyed reading your posts. As usual, Sarah, your thoughts were running parallel to mine. I am finishing up 1 Corinthians and read about how those members who are "less comely" are actually very important to a congregation and began thinking about why they are so important and who they are. I think they may be the ones who need continual help and are spritually weak - the ones who have trouble learning from their mistakes but have childlike hearts who need lots of love and encouragement. Maybe they don't smell good or don't have any fashion sense or money. Maybe they are loud and obnoxious and lack social sense. Whatever the reason - they don't "fit" with the rest of the group. Why are they so important? I'm thinking it may be a couple of things. They need our help to grow; but even more importantly perhaps, they give US a chance to grow. It's so easy to love someone who you find lovable. It's much more difficult to love someone you do not find lovable. That's when you find out about your own spiritual maturity and learn to draw on and appreciate God's love in your life. Reading about their importance makes you realize that God sees things much differently than we do. I need to learn to see as He does.

Thursday and beyond

Hello ladies. You have probably heard by now that Dave and I are traveling out of state to his grandma's funeral so I may not be able to post while I am there so just continue to post your posts here so you continue to encourage each other while I am away.

Wednesday

It is very nice to have both Julie and Audrey back now. Julie gave some good advice yesterday about dealing with stress. It kind of goes with Sarah's sharing of learning to find a quiet time to be with God. We all need time to just be with Him - how can you have a relationship with someone if you spend no time with him? There are so many "crises" in our lives that we often lose sight of what really is important - so much noise that we forget to listen and hear. I'm glad we have each other to remind ourselves of these things!

Tuesday

I am now reading in 1 Corinthians and what has been standing out to me, even in the middle of Paul rebuking the Corinthians, is that the Scriptures are meant to bring us comfort. For those of us who are truly seeking for truth, they do bring great comfort. While the world changes all around us, they remain the same. When truth is redefined and we feel alone, they remind us that God does not change, nor does truth, and we are not alone. And when we aren't sure of what to do, we can go there and find principles to apply - a comfort indeed!

So today I wish for you the comfort the Scriptures give as you do your own study. I look forward to your comments.

Monday, April 18

Yea! It's a new week and both Julie and Audrey should be back with us. I'm hoping Ann will show up again soon. I'm thankful that Sarah kept me company last week here. So are you ready for this new week? Who knows what blessings God may bestow!!

Friday

Tax day is past. The weekend is ahead. This could be a really good day! But then any day that you spend with the Lord is a really good day. I hope to hear from you today. It's feeling a little lonely here.

Thursday

My spring break is almost over and my poor old body is beginning to complain from all the yard work, but it has been so fun! As I was falling asleep last night I was making plans for my last two days when I realized that I had not tried to encourage anyone that day. Remember my goal for this week? Encourage someone every day. That made me think about just how distracting this world can be. Gardening is a good and worthwhile thing as are many activities in our lives, but we must not let any activity distract us from our bigger goal - to bring God glory. For those of you with young children, caring for them and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord IS bringing God glory. For those of us who are past that time in our lives, it's very tempting to feel as though we now deserve to focus on ourselves after completing that job and that it is time to play. We need to remember that HEAVEN is our rest. There is not rest here. Enjoy your activities, but keep your focus. Have a great day!

Wednesday

Sarah made some great points yesterday in her comments that started me thinking. We call God our Father - and what a privilege that is! We have been adopted into His family and stand to receive a great inheritance. Why should we be surprised that He uses our time on earth to bring us to maturity when we do the same with our own children if we are good parents? We let our children experience hard things as they are able to prepare them for adulthood. We punish them when they disobey to teach them obedience. We make them eat their vegetables so they will be healthy. It goes on and on but you get the point. We like to think of ourselves as "adults" who have arrived and don't need any more training but God has higher aspirations for us. He doesn't want just physical adults, He wants spiritual adults - and that takes a lot more training (also known as trials or tribulations). So the next time your child or grandchild throws a tantrum when things don't go his/her way, ask yourself if you do the same thing when your Parent lets you experience something to make you mature.

Tuesday

Thanks to Sarah for being the most loyal poster over the last few days!!! Julie is approaching the end of her tax push so I hope she will be back soon. Audrey is on vacation but will be back at the end of the week. Ann is just struggling to keep her head above water. Yep, it's a stressful time for many of you. I hope you will keep your eyes fixed on the One who can give you peace in the midst of stress and continue to study even if you don't post.

I am now reading through the book of Romans. The main message I received from yesterday's reading is that no matter what happens or what mistakes we make, God is faithful and righteous. I can count on that. After watching Clash of the Titans over the weekend, I realize what a great blessing that is.

Monday, April 12

What are you spiritual goals for this week? Have you set any? For myself, I hope to find someone to encourage every day as well as continue to do my daily readings. I would encourage you to set a goal. It doesn't have to be some huge thing - just something to press toward. You don't even have to actually reach the goal - sometimes we don't - but having one will give you some direction.

Friday

Can you believe how fast this week has sped by? Crazy. Well, maybe it hasn't been so fast for you. Finding time to spend in the Word is often a challenge as the day-to-day "crises" distract me from what is truly important. I hope you all continue to make it a priority to find that time for many reasons - one of which is that it makes life and its struggles so much easier to bear!

Thursday

It's Thursday! Today Bailey Ross will defend her thesis. You might keep her in your prayers if you cannot attend the defense. I cannot attend, but I will be praying she does her best. It's also the day you learn a little more about living the life of Christ in your situation. May your day be a day of growth and joy!

Wonderful Wednesday

Hello again. It's another beautiful day that God has made for us to enjoy and in which we may mature (sometimes that means pain) and be thankful. I hope your day is great!

Tuesday

Nice to hear from you all yesterday! It seems that most are OK with just continuing on for a while. So on we shall go!

Monday

Good morning, ladies. Are we ready for a break? Not too many are posting any more. I know Audrey finishes her book this week. How about you Sarah? I will continue my reading if we break while you all decide what you want to do next. Let me know what you think.

First Friday in April

Hello ladies. Did any of you have April Fool's jokes played on you? Jokes are often funny and provide a laugh, but isn't it nice God doesn't play jokes on us? We can always count on Him to be Who He is and to be faithful, even when we are not.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday

Thursday is a good day for thinking. Do you ever have time to just think about what you are studying? I know you are all busy women, as am I. When I do occasionally have some quiet time to just think (or meditate) about something I have just read it is always encouraging. I hope you all find a quiet moment sometime today!

Wednesday

Good morning all! We are halfway through another week. I had a random thought as I did my reading. Paul mentions that he was caught up into heaven and saw things he that were unmentionable. As I was reading again about him being stoned and left for dead I wondered if that was when it happened. Maybe he actually did die and the Lord sent him back because there were things he still needed to do. Or maybe he didn't actually die, but the Lord allowed him to see his reward to help encourage him as he faced all the trials he had to endure. Or maybe it didn't happen then at all! Ha! Just a thought.

Enjoy your studies.

Tuesday

It was nice to have a couple of posts yesterday! Welcome back, Sarah. I'm looking forward to a new day with new adventures and yes, challenges. I'm glad you are all with me.

Monday

Welcome to the last Monday in March. A new day in which to serve the Lord and His people and to learn something to share in our studies.

Friday, Friday

Can you believe it? Another week has gone by and my husband is 52. Ha! I hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine if it really comes.

Thursday

Wondering where everyone is again... sniff.



I hope your day is WONDERFUL!!


NOTE: I just found this post in the draft box. ARG

Wednesday

What are your spiritual goals for today? Do you have any? I know you at least plan to spend a few minutes in study. Have you thought about whom you might encourage today? Just a card or an email can really boost someone who is feeling alone or sad. Pick someone you haven't spoken to in a while and let them know you appreciate their efforts!

Tuesday

Oh where, oh where has our Annie gone? Oh where, oh where can she be?

Sarah is out of town this week but maybe we'll hear from here if she can post somewhere.

Audrey has returned.

Julie is here.

And so am I. I hope you all enjoy your study today. I haven't done mine yet so I'll let you know what my thoughts are when I have.

Monday Morning

Good morning, ladies. Julie has already posted for today on Friday's post from last week. I got up on time, but went back to sleep. I guess I'll be exercising this evening instead!

This is the last full week of March. This particular session is scheduled to end at the end of March. Are you needing a break or are you ready to continue? The consensus seems to be that we like doing our own thing best for now so I think we will do another three months of this if you all agree.

Thanks for sticking with me! You all are a great encouragement :)

Fun Friday

Hey! It's FRIDAY!! Remember to post before you go have all your weekend fun. :)

Thursday

It's almost the weekend. And it's almost the end of March. And it's almost the end of this study period. Are you going to want a break?

Maybe you already do this, but today as you do your studying, I want you to imagine that what you read is a letter written especially to you. Ask yourself, "Why did He write this to me? What am I supposed to learn from this? How do I apply this in my life?" Sarah's study probably already answers that last question; but for those of you who are just reading through the Bible, taking the time to think about those things can make your study much more meaningful.

Wednesday

Hmmm. Only Sarah posted yesterday. You all must be busy people! I hope to hear from you ALL today.

Tuesday

Hello ladies. Keep those posts coming. I'm in Acts now and speeding through a little faster than our medweek class. Reading it again at a faster pace really complements the studying we have already done.

Monday again

We are halfway through the month of March. Can you believe it? And this is a new week with lots of new opportunities to serve in it. Are you looking forward to the adventures of the day? If not, can you change the way you think to look forward to them? It's a never-ending challenge, but one worth accepting. Enjoy listening to God as you study today!

Funny Friday

As Christians we have such a wonderful hope! Each day brings us closer to heaven, no matter what might happen. Because of this we can continually rejoice. Now that joy is a spiritual one and not necessarily one that causes laughter; however, because of this joy we can find things to laugh at. Today I want you to look around you and find the humor in this temporary life. There are so many things that can make us smile if we can just relax and enjoy them. Let me know what you see!

Thankful Thursday

Today as you do your studies, I would like for you to think about what you are thankful for in relation to that study. I am finishing John today. I am so thankful that Jesus loved me and His Father enough to go through that terrible crucifixion. Dave said something to me the other day that really made me stop and think - how powerful the flesh is if Jesus, truly diety, was tempted by it. It seems love is stronger than even the power of the flesh.

Wonderful Wednesday

That early bird Julie beat me again this morning. :) Waiting on the Lord...a biblical concept and command that Audrey posted yesterday. Do any of you have stories you are willing to share about waiting on the Lord? For myself, living with a dear man who struggles with depression has been a great opportunity to learn to wait on the Lord to work in his life. I have come to truly know that His timing is not my timing (!) but his timing is perfect.

Groovy Tuesday

Now I'm a little nervous about what I post! hahaha Someone besides my friends are watching!! Ah well. I hope today is good for you. You all make this blog what it is. I look forward to more of your comments.

Just another manic Monday...

Hello ladies. It's another great week to work in the kingdom and educate ourselves so the Spirit can have more effect in our lives. Julie already posted this morning so you can read her post on Friday's blog from last week. She really wants you all to keep her accountable - as I need you to keep ME accountable. So if you haven't been studying, don't give up! Just jump in today and go, go, go. Don't try to "catch up" but just start again.

Fantastic Friday

Yep, that's right. It's Friday. The weekend is upon us and I am looking forward to having my granddaughters spend the night tonight. I hope you all have a great weekend!

I'm continuing my reading through John. I LOVE the way Jesus deals with people. He can really cut to the real issue. I wish I could have that kind of insight.

Thrilling Thursday

Oops. I'm late. Julie just posted on yesterday's blog. I hope you have a thrilling day....well, at least a good one. :)

Wild and Wonderful Wednesday

Thanks for all your posts yesterday. If we all had no problem with motivation, there would be no need for a study like this one. Being accountable to someone really seems to help with that, while having a place to share our ideas and new things we have learned keeps us focused - because, let's face it, there are so many distractions that even when you need no outside motivation to study you can easily forget to do it!

Terrific Tuesday

Sarah's post yesterday has prompted me to ask today: what motivates you to study? Is it excitement, longing, duty, fear, love or something else? Or a combination of things? Once you do begin to study, how does it affect you emotionally? How do you feel when you are finished for the day?

I wish you all a great day in the kingdom!

Monday, Monday...

I started the book of John over the weekend. It's been a while since I read all four gospels together in a short time. The difference between the first three and John is rather obvious. It's almost like a whole different story at times. I'm enjoying the emphasis on Jesus' teachings.

Finally Friday?

Well, it doesn't feel like "finally" to me. This week has seemed to zoom by. I'm still trying to get back to my routine since having company. I'm not sure why it takes me so long!

I hope you all remember to post. Fridays seem to be more challenging than the other days with our group. Even if you forget today - feel free to post Saturday...or Sunday...

Thursday

My days are all mixed up this week. I can't believe it's already Thursday! Anyway, in my reading yesterday in Luke Jesus said that in heaven we will be like the angels and sons of God. That has me thinking about exactly how that will be. And I've always wondered, "What next?" Eternity is a very long time. I wonder what all is to come. Whatever it is, I know it will be so wonderful to be able to see God and ask Him when I have a question.

Wednesday...what happened to Tuesday?

Ah...I'm back. A little shakey but feeling MUCH better. Sorry about the disappearance yesterday but I was happy to see you posted anyway! Julie has already posted this morning on Monday's blog so be sure to read her post there.

Monday morning

Good morning, ladies! Of course if you post in the afternoon or evening, you'll have to change that to the appropriate greeting. I'm hoping you all did your readings on Friday or will be catching up today. Thanks for posting, Julie! Enjoy your day, everyone - it's the day the Lord as made. :)

Friday once again

The end of the week - and the beginning of the weekend. I hope your week has been profitable and look forward to worshipping with you all on Sunday.

Thrusday again

I'm glad this format is working well for us all. Feel free to invite your friends to join us. I hope you all have a great day!

Wednesday, Wednesday!!

Another great day to serve the Lord. I hope your service is happy and easy, but also pray you have strength to bear it if today's service is difficult.

Tuesday again

Well, I am remembering to post this early enough for Julie. :) I hope you all had a good day yesterday and an even better one today. As always, I'm looking forward to your posts.

Day Whatever hahahaha

I don't know how many of you noticed that I cannot seem to decide what day it is in our study. lol Oh well. It's Monday again and if you took a break over the weekend, it's time to get back to work! Julie has already posted on Friday's blog since I am running very late this morning. Be sure to read her comments as they are insightful as usual.

Welcome to the new week!

Day 21

This is the end of week three. How are you feeling about your progress? Are you enjoying this format? Any input is appreciated.

Day Fourteen

Oops. I forgot to post this earlier but it looks like I may still have beaten Julie. Or she may be posting even as I type. Or maybe Audrey will be first today. lol Have a great day, ladies, and keep those posts coming!

Day Thirteen

Here we are at the halfway mark of another week. Do you realize that February is nearly half over? I'm so thankful you are using some of your fleeting time to study and educate yourselves about spiritual things. I hope (and believe you are) that you are also finding ways to apply the things you are learning. Keep asking yourself, "What does that look like in MY life?"

Day Twelve

Hmmmm. I'm not feeling especially verbal right now but I'm looking forward to reading your posts.

Day Eleven

Happy Monday! Are you ready for another week or study and discovery? I think I am! Enjoy your day!!

Day Ten

We are at the end of week two already. I'm not sure where January went and I see that February is already flying by. It's so easy to let time pass on without taking the time to study. Thank you for keeping me on track, ladies.

Day Nine

Good morning to most of you - Good day to the rest. :)

It's the day before Friday. Keep your noses in your studies for today and tomorrow. We are almost done with our second week!

Day Eight

We have reached the middle of a new week! Keep those posts coming. Have you noticed people from all over the world are reading your comments? lol

Day Seven

Today we start all caught up with our various studies and with our study guides located. This should be a great day!!

Day Six

Welcome to another week of studying with friends. I'm looking forward to reading about the things you discover this week - even if it is just the book you are trying to use! And I'm looking forward to another week of my own discovery. It's very cool how God's Word never gets boring.

Day Five

So here we are at the end of our first week and at the end of January. I hope you will all stay with me through this study. It's encouraging to me to see what you write each day - and to know that you are daily studying God's Word. Thank you.

Day Four

Here we are almost at the end of our first week. You are doing great, ladies. Keep it up!

Day Three

Day three is here! Keep those posts coming.

Day Two

Unless Audrey posted after I went to bed last night, I believe she is the only one who did not post yesterday. I suppose we can accept that since she spent all day at the airport or on planes. Welcome home, Audrey! I hope you feel well soon.

Keep those posts coming, ladies.

Day One

Welcome to the new blog study - the Choose Your Own Study version. This is a little different than we have done before so it's a bit of an experiment. Each day you are to post what you did and any insight you may have gained from your study so we can all benefit. This study will go until the end of March and then we will evaluate how it has worked for us. I'm looking forward to your posts!!

New Study About To Begin...

Ok, ladies. I only have a commitment from Sarah Johnson. You need to post your commitments or email them to me so I can keep an eye on you! hehehe