Hey, Siestas! Thank you so much for your compassionate and diligent prayers for the Chapman family. It will be the difference between day and night for them. If you keep a prayer journal like I do, let’s write their names intermittently in the blank pages ahead of us so that we’ll have reminders to pray for them off and on for the next year. What seemed like random timing to us when we jotted the reminder to pray will be used by God as perfect timing for them.
OK, Girls, so what’s the plan for V-I-C-T-O-R-Y this summer? A more leisurely pace is terrific for the summer months if you have the kind of job (in or outside the home) where your schedule loosens up. Goodness knows, all of us could a huge let-up on the schedule and the stress. We need a vacation in the worst way. BUT, if you’re like me, 3 months outside the Word is roughly 2½ months inside a pit. I’ve found that if I’m going to live in victory, I’ve got to plan for it. Summer brings a whole new set of demands to many women’s lives so here’s a little encouragement to keep our heads covered with the Word.
If you’ve already got a Bible study planned for the summer, let us know in a comment what it is and where you’re participating…or if you’re just doing it solo. Our blog could offer some fun accountability. If you don’t have a plan, however, I’d like to propose one. This summer I’m going to facilitate an 8-week Siesta summer Bible study on:
I’ve told you before that I consistently do other authors’ Bible studies so that I can receive spontaneous words from God through other teachers. I have no idea how many I’ve done through the years, but for the last month I’ve been doing Kelly’s “No Other Gods.” I’ve gotten a ton out of it and have really enjoyed her writing style. The homework is not long and drawn out like other authors we know (let’s not mention names) and we won’t involve lecture-driven sessions, so it may be just the thing for some of you for summer. Not too much. Not too little. Kelly’s emphasis is on discussion, spending some really meaningful girl time together, and how about sharing some good food? Here’s my vision for how we could implement her study in Siestaville:
*We will launch on Tuesday, June 17th and “meet” EVERY OTHER TUESDAY (July 1st, 15th, 29th, August 12th) until we conclude our eight weeks of homework and accountability on Tuesday, August 12th.
*We will each need to get our own copies of the workbook (not the regular trade book version but the workbook!) “No Other Gods” by Kelly Minter and have it well in your possession by the time we launch. (We aren’t able to get it for you through Living Proof but I wish we could.) Please don’t wait till the last minute to get it or you may not be able to start on time! If you have a LifeWay Christian Store, you should be able to find it on the shelf but the easiest way may be on line through the LifeWay Website. Here’s the link: http://www.lifeway.com/e2/shop/?R=797560
*You can participate solo but since such an important part of Kelly’s purpose through the study is fellowship, try as hard as you can to enlist three or four other women to meet with you in one of your homes every other Tuesday night as scheduled. Five meetings this summer shouldn’t be too overwhelming and we can rotate houses if we like. Make sure that the women you invite to participate know that the evenings will be low on stress and high on much needed fellowship and rich discussion. Kelly calls this approach “The Living Room Series” because of its emphasis on a relaxed and refreshing atmosphere where we can develop some wonderful relationships in Christ. In this superficial culture that surrounds us, where friendship take place through text message (I’m guilty, too!), we have a huge deficit of pure depth in women’s relationships. Let’s make this real. The goal is to have those two weeks of Bible study finished each time you meet (after the launch) but the fellowship will still be worth your while if you couldn’t get all your homework accomplished. Let’s have lots of encouragement without loads of condemnation.
*On each of our meeting days (every other week starting Tuesday, June 17th to Tuesday, August 12th), I will “facilitate” by posting discussion questions or activities I’ve come up with based on our previous two weeks of study. You will then implement them into your gathering. (I will make sure the post is up first thing on those Tuesday mornings in case your meeting times are morning or noon rather than evening.) Your way of checking back in with me will be by telling me something about your gathering afterward in a comment to that same post. It will be left up all day Wednesday for your feedback.
(For those of you not participating, it is important to know that we will not hog the blog all summer with this Bible study activity. It will only require a post or two every other week. We will have plenty of other things going for all our Siestas.)
*Several days before our every-other-Tuesday meetings, we will post a recommended recipe (of our own – probably from Melissa) for a dish to be prepared by one of you and served at that gathering. THOSE OF YOU NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER SIESTA STUDY WILL STILL ENJOY HAVING A RECIPE IDEA. Recent posts and comments have been proof to me of that. For those who will participate, one of the really fun elements of Kelly’s series is great food. Talk about Biblical! Much New Testament community took place around the table in a long, leisurely meal. You’ll love the recipes Kelly’s included in the Bible study even if we pitch you some of our own ideas. Inviting all the participants to have a common dish every other Tuesday night will be just another way to fellowship as a large on-line Bible study group. It’s the beauty of the common table.
So, what do you think? I’m really pumped about it! It’s kind of experimental but I think it has great possibilities! Here’s what comes next regarding our summer Bible study: I’m going to give you till Tuesday, June 10th to decide if you want to participate and also see if you can pull together a small group. (Remember, you can do it solo but the goal is for us girls to have some meaningful fellowship and accountability. Try thinking outside the box on participants!) On the 10th I’ll make a post for sign-ups and the only comments that day will be the names and locations and proposed groups of those who will be participating. It will be so much fun to see all the different locales our Siesta Tuesday Summer Bible Study will include. I can’t wait!
Got your own plan for summer Bible study? Then let’s hear it! Let’s plan some victories, Sweet Things. Let’s have our souls refreshed and our minds renewed. God has a word for us this summer. Let’s go get it!
I love you to pieces and I’m so honored to be your servant.
beth
I have been involved with a group of women in a summer Bible study for the last three years; this summer we are doing “Daniel”. Many of them missed the opportunity when it was offered at our church. I also meet with a couple of friends and we are doing “The Ten Commandments” by Rick Shepherd, really good! “No Other Gods” would be the perfect follow up to this study, or the other way around. Thanks so much for the encouragement.
Count me in. This is an answer to prayer. I am going to try and recruit some people for a group.
Sounds like an awesome idea. While I am out of school this summer it will be nice to do a Bible Study with the Seistas. I am going to email this information to a girl friend on mine in Arkansas. I think this could be the prefect way for the two of us to be able to do a Bible study together at a long distance over the summer. sounds great.
Becky
Attalla, AL
This is such a great idea. I am already teaching “Vertically Inclined” on Tuesday’s beginning June 17th and for myself I just signed up for your online “Believing God”. I want to be a part of this Bible study also. I am going to pray about it and see where God leads me.
Fly with Christ
Jerrianne
Great idea!
Count me in.
I would love to join the Siesta Study. I am in school 4 nights a week so I have to miss out on my usual bible study group. This works perfect for me.
What an awesomely(is that a word?) idea. I will have to think about who to do it with. Anyway, thanks for helping to keep us accountable.
Amanda in SC
Hi Miss Beth,
This sounds like a wonderful idea to me!
However, I will only be doing this one if I can get my hands on a copy of her Bible study someplace up in this area, that is.
In addition, however, I am about half way through another book/study that has helped me out a great deal since my dear Dad’s passing away [into Jesus’ arms; 2 months ago last Saturday], called “Praying Our Goodbyes” by Joyce Rupp. So, I will be doing them together for a while…
I feel that I have also been called by the Lord to take 2 three credit college courses this summer that are each 3 weeks long, although they do not overlap, thanks be to God! And, I am only taking these classes as the Lord has provided the funding for it for me Himself. Hallelujah!!!
So, I will be one busy gal, but I do tend to need NOT to be without a Bible study to do over the summer months, like you were talking about, Miss Beth. Thank you so much for thinking of us in this way. This should be great fun!
==================================
On another note, I was thinking about and praying for the Chapman family all weekend long, as I was camping with my Mom, and there were little kids running all over the place, and golf carts moving throughout the campground, as well.
And, I think that maybe the Lord REALLY wanted to give us a powerful reminder to “watch out for, and take extra special care” with all of these precious children this summer. However, I am so sorry that it had to happen to the Chapman family like this, too, and I will be continuing to pray for them. How devastating it must be for them.
=================================
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer O.
Southern Wisconsin
What a cool idea! I still have to finish Breaking Free though. And I signed up for a really tough 3-week summer semester during the month of June.
I’m so thankful that I have my own copy of the BF CDs so I can do it at my own pace. For me personally, I take about a couple of days worth of workbook/week b/c of school, etc.
This is an amazing idea ladies!!!
I told a woman who leads women’s ministry at our church how great this blog is. I told her the thing I love the most is that we get the opportunity to connect with women passionate for Jesus from all over the world. God is doing something in that, I am convinced…
I am already doing another Bible Study this summer with my husband and a small group from our church. We are doing Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. I am not sure I can pass this ladies opportunity up though! As I was reading this email, I was asking the Lord, “Who would you have Lord? Who should I invite?” A few ladies have already come to my mind… I will pray about this. I never do well when I act out of my flesh. I will wait for Him to lead.
On that note, we took our two older kids to see Prince Caspian yesturday. I was touched by several things. Edmond, knowing the power of temptation and the deciever… Acting decisively out of remembering the “scars” from his choices that involved disciplinary action. I can relate so well. Secondly, and much more profoundly was Lucy’s desire to wait for Aslan to lead them into action while the older siblings were trying to figure things out and act on their own wisdom. Wow, I have done that far too many times. Aslan was so tender with Lucy. Oh Lord, you know our hearts of flesh and yet you are so patient. Draw us to yourself dear Father. Laying down pride today Lord. You have told me it is inhibiting the next steps. I leave it behind Lord. It is you I need, You alone. Nothing is worth the cost of a luke warm relationship with you.
Passionate for Him,
Jina
thank you! I was looking for a study to do this summer and will be praying for just the right group to be with.thank for this opportunity to be accountable to one another.
This is definitely something to consider. I’ll have to discuss it with my husband. I usually do something on my own since our women’s ministry doesn’t offer anything in the summer (drives me nuts). And I have spent the majority of the summer’s in the pit as a result. Once before I did one of your studies on my own and was thinking about doing another on my own this summer, but hadn’t decided which one. Either way I was going to have to discuss with my husband if I can buy whatever book I might need, so this could be just perfect and I’ll have to see if some of my CR friends would like to join me. Also make sure that’s okay with my husband. Tuesday’s would be perfect because Josh works on Tuesday nights and wouldn’t have to put up with us. Of course that means my kids will be running around bugging us. Oh, well.
Beth, sorry if this is not right. I am new to this. We have already got our books and are ready to do “Why Godly people do ungodly things”June 2 for 7 weeks. Also we have chartered a bus and are going to Louisvill,Ky Aug.1@2 Will be an 8 hour trip but what a great time we will have in the Lord. Bless you. Because of Him,Michele
Cool idea! I am actually leading “Stepping Up” at my church beginning June 3rd. I am doing two sessions, a day class and an evening class. We have teachers who want to do a bible study during the summer because they have a little more time with school being out! It’s great for summer because it’s only 6 weeks! I can’t wait to get the recipes though!
I was upset to hear about the Chapmans, as I know everyone is. We will continue to pray for them and thier family.
Well, enjoy the sun (and Son!) ladies. I live in South Africa and we’ve just welcomed in a chilly winter! Our church is currently doing Beth’s Stepping Up (we’re on week 1 and just so blessed already!). God really is the God of perfect timing.
A quick aside: please will you pray for South Africa. These xenophobic attacks have sickened, shocked and horrified us! Our hearts are so burdened and troubled but we are trusting the Lord in the midst of the pervasive evil that has swept through our country. May His Name be glorified and lifted up. Please pray for the thousands of refugees who have been left terrified, homeless and destitute.
Love and blessings
I am doing a wonderful study on my own (but it would be fabulous for group) called, “Life Principles from the Old Testament” by Wayne Barber, Eddie Rasnake, and Richard Shepherd. I love learning about Old Testament characters and this study teaches on Adam, Noah, Job, Abraham, Gideon, and Samson to name a few. I bought my book at Mardel.
It’s a great study to do on your own if you are busy throughout the summer and cannot attend a group.
I pray we all stay in tune with God as we walk and follow Him closely all seasons of our year and life!
In Him,
Nancy
Beth_I love this!! Yes I will participate. I am facilitating a women’s Bible study from Mary Weavers book “Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to change you from the insdie out” but the numbers have really drindled with the start of summer…it is so discouraging when this happens. So count me in here!!
In His Graces~Pamela
I am so excited! This sounds fun!
Hey Spiritual Mom Beth!
I’m game for the study, but I’ll have to get some of my Lifegroup girlfriends or some other ladies in my church to do that with me. I ended up buying the book (didn’t know there was a workbook:) Decide by June 10th? Ok, I will get moving…
You are right about summer bringing a whole new list of “demands”: I do have a VACATION! to Myrtle Beach this week with my husbands fam (excited!), and then when I get back, I have VBS the next week! (June 2-6)EEK! Pray for me, I’m teaching four year-olds, talk about living beyond yourself-I’ve NEVER done that. You know I’m praying for you!:)
Love,
katiegfromtennessee
Isaiah 52:1-3 (AMP)
1AWAKE, AWAKE, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.
2Shake yourself from the dust; arise, sit [erect in a dignified place], O Jerusalem; loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.
3For thus says the Lord: You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.
My best friend and I are going to start Beth’s Tabernacle: A Woman’s Heart in two weeks after we finish the Patriarchs. Looking forward to it!
Oh, I love Kelly Minter… ever since I first “met” her through the Vicki Courtney “Your Girl” DVD study we led with our youth girls about a year and a half ago. This summer I’m leading the “Stepping Up” study at my church. We start right after VBS, the second week of June. I’m super excited because I’ve never studied the Psalms very in-depth. It’s going to be GOOD!
Beth, this is just too neat – because a few of us sisters get together for coffee once a week, and I was given this book for our summer study! So I will definetely be joining you!
The ladies at Solid Rock Church in Monroe Ohio are deep into the life of the Apostle Paul in “To Live is Christ”. Wow. That’s all I’m going to say about that!! We’re in week 7. As soon as we wrap up with Paul, we are doing a 13 week in depth study of the book of Hebrews – a chapter a week ladies!!! I can’t tell you how excited I am about learning God’s word. What an honor and a privilege.
For the women in my Monday night class, I have to say that we are Bible study junkies!! We have no desire to take the summer off & promptly vetoed the idea when it was brought up last year. The idea wasn’t even mentioned this summer. We just forged ahead with plans for what we were going to do next!
Have fun this summer, ladies, falling deeper in love with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that His name is first on your lips every morning, and last on your lips every night.
Tracie, Fairfield Ohio
We just started this study last Thursday. Is God good or what? We’ll be right alongside you, Beth!
I’ve been going back thru my homework from 2005 in my “Living Beyond Yourself” workbook and watching the video sessions. It’s so enriching to see where my heart was then and where I’m at now.
We’re doing Kay Arthur’s series “Lord I Want to Know You” on Sunday nites at our church which focuses on the names of the Lord. It’s wonderful!!!
When I finish LBY, I’m planning on starting one of Sandra Glahn’s Coffe Cup Bible Studies called “Mocha on the Mount” (Sermon on the Mount.) Sounds perfect for that afternoon cup of joe!
The Lord be with you all!
Ok, I’m in! My best friend and I have often wished we could do a study together so we’re thinking outside the box a little. You see, she lives in another state, so we’re going to do this by phone! Who knows, we may even get others who are interested and do a conference call every other week. We can’t wait.
Melanie
Hey all!
I have already committed to help with “Jesus the One and Only.” And, I’m extremely excited bc this was the first Beth Moore study I ever did and have been hooked on Him since! 🙂
Love to everybody and happy Summer!
Fran
Beth: You amaze me and bless me. Rather than take some time off – you are continuing to work on our behalf – thank you, sister.
Starting week after next, I am leading a group of women through the study “8 Choices That Will Change a Woman’s Life” by Jill Briscoe. We meet on Sunday afternoons. (When school starts back, we are going to do the revised “A Woman’s Heart,” and cannot wait!!!)
But, I would like to sign up for the Summer Siestaville Study and will get a SELECT group together for that, yee-hah!
Thank you for being so precious,
GEORGIA JAN
Dear Beth –
Tonight I start Lord, Teach Me To Pray by Kay Arthur. I’m so excited. Then, on July 7th, I will begin Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering by Angela Thomas. Again, very excited. I’m also interested in doing the siestaville study also. It sounds like so much fun. Thanks so much for offering that to us.
Much love,
Sharon, NC
( I got the job/internship!! )
Hey LPL
For the summer months Central Baptist Corbin KY will use 5 of the “Wising Up” videos. We’re meeting on Thursday nights and of course food will be involved!
Debbie
Our Women’s Ministry group is doing “Discerning the Voice of God” by Priscilla Shirer. We start June 5th and end up on July 17th. So, if you are in the vicinity of Fort Smith, Arkansas, come to Rye Hill Baptist and join us!
That sounds GREAT! I’m so excited. Count me in. I’m going to LifeWay today so I’ll add it to my list.
Cindy
Thank you for the AWESOME idea. I got in touch with our education coordinator right away, and he loved the idea as well. So, I’m currently getting the details together for our church newsletter to invite other ladies in the church to join me. I can hardly wait!! I need the structure of Bible studies to keep me in the Word, and I love the idea of this one!!! I can hardly wait to see what God is going to do!!!
This is a great idea! I’m going to send out an email to our women and see if I get any bites. If not, I think I’ll join solo…maybe I can get my daughter involved.
Thank you so much for doing this. I am so excited.
Sheryl
Here in Tribune Kansas we are currently doing STEPPING UP. We meet weekly, even during harvest season, because we learned the dangers of putting the group on “fluff cycle” for the summer. Not everyone can attened every meeting, but when they can come they are sure to get fed.
We love doing your Bible Studies, but thanks for the reccomendation of other materials.
Vivian
What a fun idea! I did Kelly’s study this fall, and it was so challenging during that season of my life. I’m sure God will use it in powerful ways this summer in the lives of all of these women.
Thank you for saying this:
‘In this superficial culture that surrounds us, where friendship take place through text message (I’m guilty, too!), we have a huge deficit of pure depth in women’s relationships. Let’s make this real.’
God has pressed on my heart for years the lack of depth. We can gab until the sun comes up, but the true authenticity of spiritual essence is often lacking. Recently, we began a women’s bible study group in a woman’s home from our church. We are doing Jennifer Rothschild’s Walking By Faith. And guess what? We’ll be done before this one begins! YES! I’ll talk to the ladies and see if they would like to do this together! Thank you for giving us this opportunity. You’re a blast, Beth!
Blessings, Amy in OK
My best friend and I are doing Beth’s updated version of the Tabernacle study and we start in two weeks! Last year I did the one year Bible, and now I’m ready to dig into the details! Thanks, Beth!
My girls and I are going to go through the Crown Financial Ministries study.
i’m getting married in august so it will be perfect timing!
We just finished your bible study on “Daniel” and we were so incredibly blessed. It was intense and I had no idea how i would lead my small group after watching video 7 about prophecy!!
I got up out of the video and thought, Lord what have I gotten myself into!! But it was amazing b/c it was ALL about HIM!!! and we just marveled at His amazingness!! lol
I love it! I was just thinking today what type of study I was going to start for the summer. Thanks for organizing this!
I love it! I will be contacting some of my local sisters to see if they want to join.
I really needed this nudge to get my act together. With the changes in everyone’s schedule during the summer, my reading and especially my prayer time has really taken a beating. I know we’re not supposed to ask questions on the board, but…..
The information on this Bible study says that it’s for young women. I really had it on my heart to ask a couple of older neighbors that I don’t know too well. They’re in their mid-60s….would it be relevent to them?
I would love, love, love it if you would post sometime about how you keep up a prayer journal. What kind of things you write? Do you list things to prayer for or write a prayer? How do you organize it? I know it must sound silly, but I only started doing it last year and I struggled with it so much that I ended up putting it aside. I feel like I should be doing it, but I don’t feel like I’m doing it right (not that there is a right or a wrong way, but it just feels weird to me).It started to feel too much like I was doing it just to put a check in the box….know what I mean?
Thanks for your summer study idea! You are a blessing to me.
Rachel
It took us all of a day to get our group together! We are all more than excited! We are a group of girlfriends from church who haven’t been able to do a Bible study together due to other ministries and involvements. This is a perfect way for us to be together and study God’s Word – a summer retreat of sorts!
Thank you!
Great idea! I have so many girlfriends who get bogged down with their kids at home from school that they lose their cool.
Just as some others stated…
we are doing STEPPING UP this summer in our Young Womens’ Group.
Most of us are young/ new moms and so we have to get home to kiddos and bathtime and bed…so we stretched out the study and do discussion one week and watch the video the next.
We love it thus far. Thanks for challenging us Beth and being obedient to our great Lord.
Blessings!
EJ Williams
First Baptist Church Woodway
Waco, TX
testing…
I am going to get my book right now!!! Wahoo! I will have to do it solo…My house is CHAOS. Unless there are Siestas in the Marietta GA area that would like to meet…
Woodstock/Roswell/Kennesaw/Acworth???
Sherry
I just can’t get over how GREAT our God is! Have been sorely missing my Tuesday night Bible Studies and the rich fellowship there. And, as you mentioned, am slipping into the pit as a result of the lack of consistent Bible study, prayer, and accountability. What a wonderful idea, Beth – count me in!
Blessings,
Gretchen in Thousand Oaks, CA
Dear Beth, you have just solved my dilemma. I’m almost finished with “Beloved Disciple” and recently went to Lifeways to get another one of your Bible Studies. My husband is going to have a kidney transplant June 6th and I am going to be the donor. I wanted to have something to look forward to the several weeks I will be home recuperating and then helping with my husband’s recuperation. The problem is I have done all they offered except “When Godly People….” For personal reasons, I didn’t feel the time was right for me to get into that subject. This study will be a wonderful way to feel part of a group, experience a different author, but still feel I’m under your solid teaching. Thank you for your ministry. I have grown so much through your bible studies. In His Precious Name, Kathy
It is going to be “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things”…
just finished “Victoriously Frazzled”!! 🙂
Blessings to you and all those in Bible studies this summer!!
Shelia