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 get to do “Stepping Up” this summer at the annual “Backyard Bible Study” here in my town. My good friend’s mom started this with a friend about 7 summers ago in her backyard and it has grown to be several hundred women from all different churches that now meet out in a large barn on a ranch. This will be my 3rd summer doing it with them. Last year was Daniel and I learned so much. My friend and I would have to go to coffee afterward at Starbucks and stay until closing just to talk through all of the information that you were teaching us. It was such a blessing to me and a time of growth! I can’t wait until this summer. After my time of BSF during the school year I so look forward to the summer when I get to “see” you on Monday nights! I love you! ~Kristin
My beloved Bible study is doing “To Live is Christ” this summer. We’re taking it at a more lesiurely pace so we will not finish until mid-August. I’m LOVING spending a little extra time with Paul.
We’re in Vancouver, WA. Yes, it’s the USA. Our unofficial town motto is:
Vancouver, not BC
Washington, not DC
Blessings!!!!
This is such an awesome idea, to bring woman together geographically and share what and how God speaks through us. Count me in.
Blessings
Alexia
I’m in for the Summer study – sounds great! 🙂
Siestas, I want to echo Beth’s urging for us to continue to pray for the Chapman family. I know well how they need our continuing intercessions….it’s been 9 years since my precious 8 yr. old daughter passed away after a car accident and I still need much prayer. To the glory of God & because of His mighty strength, I am filled with joy of the Lord, yet the ache in my heart is ever present. I miss her so much.
Let’s keep lifting the Chapmans to our Lord & asking Him to bathe them in His perfect peace. He is the only one that can fill in the emptiness that surrounds them.
Georgia in Whitewright – I am praying for you too, Siesta.
Blessings & Love – can’t wait to do the Summer study with ya’ll. Thanks Beth!:)
God’s timing is perfect- I was wracking my brain about what Bible study to do this summer and here you are!!! Praise Him! I’ll be ordering the books this week! Blessings to all of you from Boston! Beth, see you in the fall!!
Awesome idea!! My friend Shana and I are in, and hopefully more girls from our church. We can’t wait! Perfect timing too, I am just finishing up Daniel, 90 Days With a Heart Like His. Sound familiar?? It has been fabulous!
My 3 grown married daughters and I will be doing the study on line
we dont live near each other but we have it set up so we can log on to a chat room and have our study
Thank you Beth.
Sign Me up! Sounds like fun..i may be doing it solo…but will try to recruit some friends!!!
I am in. I will be leading it with the ladies at our church.
What a neat idea! I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a group together, but I’ll do it alone if I have to. I’m currently doing a study on “The Power of a Woman’s Words”, but I need all of the WORD I can get. Thanks for your inspiration!
Hi Beth – Fabulous idea! I look forward to checking the blog and doing this at a later time. We have begun the study Having A Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver at our church. Our leader gave the opportunity to the ladies in our Bible study to take a chapter and lead the study for that week. She did the first week and tonight will be the first time one of the other ladies will lead the study. She felt like this would be a good way to include and help ladies to step up and get experience. Isn’t she smart! So, that is our summer program. My week is June 4, so prayers from my siestas will be appreciated. We just finished Jesus The One and Only, wonderful!
Love and blessings, Debbie in Tennessee
Beth, you’re starting something here, CAN’T WAIT!!!!, God knows i need me some bible study 🙂
10 Unshackled Siestas are in! Henderson, Texas!!!! I have been in this group for 1 year now and we were just tossing around what study we would do next! Great timing!
Yippeee!!!! I am so excited….count me in as well as some of my “Michigan Bunnies”. I am so looking forward to doing this study and having the input on line, let alone what a change in our lives.
Thank you Beth, Amanda, Melissa and the rest of LPM Crew for all you do for us Siesta’s.
Blessings,
Georgia in MI
So excited – wonderful! Gathering girlfriends together as I write to enjoy this opportunity! Thanks for doing this for us!
Stef
Hi Miss Beth and all the Siestas out there! I am a little late to the party, but I need some help please. I need prayers for a situation we are facing with our oldest daughter (early teenage years). I don’t want to get into specifics but it mostly has to do with teenage rebellion and becoming a different person in the last few months. It is very hard right now on me because thoughts keep popping up that somehow this is my fault (guilt trip galore waiting at my door!) If anyone out there has some suggestions for a good mother-teenage daughter bible study I would greatly appreciate it. It needs to be something that can be handled over the summer without consuming all our time or making her feel like I am punishing her. Thanks a bunch Siestas – love ya!
Beth,
You are awesome! I have been thinking about doing a summer Bible study. (I usually just do a Bible study during the school year with my girlfriends.) I read your blog and thought “wow, who could I invite?” Then God brought to mind the perfect young women for me to ask to join me – my two beautiful daughters! My oldest just graduated from high school last week and is going off to college in the fall.
What a wonderful opportunity to spend time together in God’s word before she leaves for college 7 hours away from us. My husband was all for it and will be happy to scoot out of the house with the other 3 kids for 5 nights during the summer.
Thank you Beth for an great idea!
Kris
Hey Beth or Amanda, This is not about the Bible Study that I am doing with you!!! WAHOO!! But I wanted to know what the plans are for the Siestas in San Antonio???? I maybe able to attend but I don’t know what is going on. I don’t want to miss anything fun hahahaha!!!
Sherry In GA
My husband is in the Air Force and we live on base. A group of wives are doing a summer study called Loving Your Military Man. It should be great! I plan to join in on this study with my mom and sister too! -Debi
What a GREAT idea!!! A thought that ran thru my mind while reading your suggestion is to challenge our women’s ministry team members to get a group of 3-4 ladies (thinking outside the box) –ladies that are not involved in our Bible studies regularly — to come to their home and all participate on Tuesday evenings… reaching others by a personal invitation in small group setting.
Thanks for loving us and spuring us on (Heb 10:24-25) in HIS word!
We are sooooo looking forward to our Siesta time in San Antonio! We already have our plane tickets and motel — and of course our LPL tickets! (our small group has grown to 14!)
Janet in Amarillo
We’ve already got our summer study set. We’re doing “Wising Up” on Monday evenings. If you live in the St. Louis/Southern Illinois area, please feel free to join us. You can e-mail me at [email protected].
Much love,
~Cheryl
I already have 6 girls from my church signed up so it looks like fun!Can’t wait.
Ok, so how excited am I…this is the study that I was planning on doing BUT I was feeling a little overwhelmed on how to get it together. Thanks Beth, you just set everything up for me all I need to do is to get my girls together!!
By the way, I am also going to be doing a solo study on Esther. I will be looking forward to doing your study when it comes out!
-In Christ
What a great idea! anyone in the houston area…southwest, west etc. area. p.s. I just bought the book at the lifeway christian book store off of highway 59. they have 13 more books for 12.95 + tax.
email me if anyone has a group in the houston area.
email me.
be blessed,
katherine
I am going to participate but I have to be honest and say that it is making me nervous. I see a little conviction coming about how much time I spend watching TV and reading blogs! 🙂
What a neat idea! I ordered the book, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to participate. The Lord has been prompting me to finish “Living Beyond Yourself.” I’ve been out of Bible study for some time now, and it’s GOOD to get back into the Word. I’m on week six (I think) which deals with patience. I almost put the book away when I saw the “fruit” I was going to study next! Patience is difficult for me, but as I reflected on my life’s events over the last few years, I see that God has been refining me in that area. Being a mother of two teenagers and a pre-teen will do that to you! I have a long way to go, but we (the Lord and I) are getting there.
Im a little late with this, I have very unexpectedly had 2 of my grandchildren since Monday night. Boy and I tired ! I wish I could do this with ya’ll but Im already doing 2 studies this summer. I facilitate one every other Tuesday at lunch ( Stepping Up ) and participate in another every other Thursday ( a womens heart ) Im feeling a bit over whelmed at the moment.
Me and ten friends are doing the “Daniel” study every Tuesday night in my den starting this week! We borrowed the DVD’s from the church library, ordered our books and are ready to go!! We’re excited!
How cool! My friend Yolanda in KS just asked me if I would do this…Count me in here in Lincoln, Nebraska!! Awhile ago I had been praying to get rid of a pool table that served as a clean clothes dumping station instead of a recreation table. I said to my hubby, “We should get rid of the table & get a sectional couch so we could have Bible studies here.” Knowing finances are tight hubby said,”Yah”…I said, “God can do it.” He said, “Okay.” THE NEXT DAY we got a call from his friend that said “Do you guys want a sectional couch…for free?” Oh my goodness you should see it…perfect shape. Pool table sold the 1st day the ad was in the newspaper…the guys even moved the couch over & have I held a Bible study yet? Nope, but I will now! I’m so excited Beth…thank you for this shove you didn’t even know you were giving me! 🙂
Thank You Jesus!
Love ya!
Lelia
Beth,
I’m in! Going to order the book today! Oh I am so excited. I will go solo if need be but I am praying I find some others to join me in His Word. Please pray for all of us in this situation. God Bless you miss Beth,
you are loved and cherished more than you know.
Your sister in Him,
Donna
I have just finished Psalms of the Assent and thought for the summer I would go back over ea. lesson and take more time with it. I will be doing it on my own.
I have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and am to have a Masectomy on June 12. While recovering the Psalms will be my mainstay. Esp.121
Ajuana
A dear friend and I plan to do the summer siesta study and are so looking forward to it. We have both been through some difficult times this year and needed a new focus. We look forward to the fellowship. (looking forward to the recipes as well.
Linda
Sounds like a great study! I am praying about who I need to include in this summer study. Thanks Beth for always encouraging me to love Him with all my heart just by your own example.
Blessings!
Susan from Pa.
Well Beth, I have just sent an E-Mail to all my Siesta’s here in Rhode Island to see if they would like to participate in this Bible Study! I so hope they say yes!! You can count me in. This sounds exciting! I can’t wait. Thanks for thinking of us this summer. I am ordering the book now!!
Can’t wait to get started! There are so many women I’d like to share this with, I’m praying God will direct me on which ones I should ask!
One question, how much time should we plan on those 5 Tuesdays to do the group study? One hour – two hours?? How long are the discussion questions – want to make sure we also have time to try that new recipe and connect!
Bought it. Ready to start. I’m there.
Our Sunday School class (ages 30 to 40 somwthing men and women) are doing Beth’s Daniel study. The men will meet one night and the ladies on another night. This way we don’t have to get child care and we can discuss and grow with our spouses! It starts next week. We are so excited. This is a first to try this setup!
Hello from San Diego Beth!
WOW…this sounds like fun.We will complete Stepping Up and Living Free in a few weeks and then jump into Kelly’s study with you. Thank you for Living Proof coming to San Diego Beth. So many ladies were encouraged and lives changed. We had ladies come from a Recovery house and they were so glad they came. I look forward to inviting them to this study. We met Kelly at the WIRED event hosted by our church! She is incredible. We miss you but look forward to time together this summer in His Word! Praise Him,
Brenda
So excited… our books are ordered. Our group will consist of my sister,two sister-in-laws (my brothers married well),two awesome friends that we consider part of our sisterhood, and myself. Between us we have 17 children still at home (ages 2-22), so getting together for some quality girl time and Bible Study will be a challenge… but one that will be sooo worth it. I can’t wait to get started.
That sounds like such a fun study!
My husband and I are doing “The Truth Project” together at church.
But for my time, I just started “Kinsman Redeemer”, a Precept study of the book of Ruth today.
God has really laid it heavy on my heart to do this study, so I’m waiting with excitement to see what He has for me. 🙂
Beth, I want to share something with you…I saw you in November in Phoenix, and you said something that has changed my time in God’s Word.
It was something along the lines of telling the Lord that you needed to hear from Him, and that you weren’t going to stop your time in His Word (that given day) until He gave you what He had for you.
I’ve since expressed that same thing to the Lord in my study time, so often..and it truly has changed my time with Him…I go in expectation, and am never disappointed. 🙂
Thank you!
Sounds awesome – just need to pray about whom to invite – so many women I know would benefit from having some accountability over the summer!
One Question, how long of a time frame should we plan for on those five Tuesdays? How much time will we need for the discussion questions, etc. – we want to make sure we have time to enjoy that new recipe and connect!
I’m In – I cannot wait – thanks for the invite!
Count me in. I have ideas on who to invite already and I ordered my book today. Great plan!
Wow-that is an excellent idea! I do hope you do it again. I will have to not participate because I am committed to a Precept study that goes til July 10th. You know Kay Arthur kicks butt-I am talking discipline here. Boy am I sore! 🙂 So, I cannot add another. But I will be lifting you all up in prayer.
I really came over to share something in the message Bible to you. It was hilarious and I thought you would appreciate it. Speaking about how the body of Christ operates as one unit in unity Eugene Peterson says this, “If you had to choose, wouldn’t you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?” 1 Corinthians 12:24. I am ROFL because I think full bodied hair is really important! 🙂 Only a man could write that. I just love the message sometimes! I just LOVE the Word of God! Please lift a prayer I am writing a Bible study for college girls and unity is SO important for them especially.
Much love!
Angela
My precious little ladies at Evansville Baptist Church in Cottonville, Mississippi want to participate in this Bible study. I am so proud of them. Most of them don’t even know how to turn on a computer, for the majority of the group is over 70! I love them so and I just delight that they are still diligently seeking the Lord. They have completed Breaking Free, Discerning the Voice of God (Priscilla Shirer) and Seeking Him (Nancy Leigh DeMoss.) They bless my heart so! They are so faithful to their studies and they complete their work and discuss their life experiences beautifully and openly. I am so blessed to learn from them!
WE have our books and set a date!! We can’t wait to have this summer journey with all our Siestas!
Nicole
Blue Springs, Mo
Greetings from Levelland, Texas. We just started a “Marriage series” for young mom’s in our church. We are meeting at 9 p.m. after all the babies are asleep…and having a great turn-out!!! We are using Jimmy Evan’s “Marriage on the Rock” DVD and the book Love and Respect for homework. Thanks for suggesting this new study…I think I will do it on my own just for fun!!!
I am beginning a small group on June 4 that will study “Captivating” by John and Stasi Eldridge. It will be casual so I just ordered “No Other Gods” as well to read and check in with you other Siestas. I am so excited about both! Sisters in person and Siestas online! Susan
I just want to say that this came at such the right time. I just finished the Stepping Up study yesterday and our group has decided to keep meeting over the summer to “stay in the word.” What a wonderful opportunity to do Kelly’s study and keep the fellowship going! Thanks.
Laurie
This is a great idea and there are at least 4 of us here in Lakeway Texas that are going to do it together. I do have a question though, Beth mentions that it’s an 8 week study that will wrap up on Aug. 12 but there are only 5 Tuesdays between June 17 and Aug. Am I missing something??
Sharon