Hey, my dear Summer Bible Study Siestas! I’m so enjoying our journey together! Hopefully you’ll be able to watch the (very rough, one-take, ridiculous-but-full-of love) video greeting, but I also like to make sure you have the discussion questions for each week’s gathering in print. Here they are!
We have four discussion questions for your Tuesday gatherings. The first two are from Week 3.
1. On p.62, Kelly quoted Michael Wells: “Satan will tell us what’s true, but he never tells us the truth.” Let’s have some examples of that. How has Satan ever told you something that was true but wasn’t the truth?
2. Kelly’s discussion about King Hezekiah and the attack on his faith on p.66 reminded me of a quote that I’d recently seen in the devotional classic, Streams in the Desert. “Genuine faith puts its letter in the mailbox and lets go. Distrust, however, holds on to a corner of the envelope and then wonders why the answer never arrives.” (p.168) What envelope have you been most prone to hold the edge of?
The last two are based on Week 4.
3. Reread the first couple of paragraphs from Kelly’s intro to Week Four on p.76 concerning people-gods. Then, look up Phil. 1:9-10 and read it together. How can these two Scriptures become a huge help to us in finding the balance between loving people and idolizing them? This came after I did the video: We did something in our small group that I found very encouraging. We shared some examples from our personal lives of idolatrous relationships that, with God’s intervention, actually transitioned into healthy relationships. These transitions are often rare because the relationship was fed by the idolatry and often can’t exist without it. Have any of you experienced one of those wonderful occasions when a relationship endured that positive transition? If so, share it!
4. Lastly, review p.87 and reflect on the whole Leah and Rachel madness. Reread the bold-print section at the top of the page. What are a few costs of desperation that you yourself have paid? And what is the solution?
I’m so honored to study with you, Sisters! Keep it up! We’re halfway through our summer series and God is faithfully keeping us from falling!
I love you dearly,
Your Very Own Mama Siesta
PS – Don’t forget that comments are meant for after your gatherings, if you don’t mind! Thanks, Siestas!
Hey!
Beth, can you make the videos easy to find on GodTube so that we can watch them full screen when we get together? The videos don’t all seem to be public (only the first I think).
Our group is going well. We are loving the study and God is speaking to each of us as individuals and collectively in our group meetings.
All 4 babies have been cooperating nicely so we can get through our prayer and discussion times without too much distraction — well except for the cuteness factor that is a bit distracting at times. Someday we’ll have to get a picture of what our group meetings look like!
Thanks for picking some great discussion questions Beth!
ok, I opted out of the summer bible study for various reasons….although I wouldn’t miss my time with God every day for ANY thing. I check the blog to see how yall are and am so enjoying all the fun stuff yall are doing. The “scriptue tunes” are the best! I bet the angels and all those around the LORD our God love those even more than we do! Star is precious…hope she’s getting good doggie manners. Isn’t HE so great for allowing all these sweet nuggets of truth in this terribly untruthful world. Thanks everyone; thanks to LPM for sharing the love in a global way!
Beth and all my siestas,
I am so grateful for this study this summer. I can’t tell you the difference it has already made in my life. With two little kids, it has been hard for me to focus, but i have been using some of your devotional journals to give myself a push out the door, so to speak, each morning before I get into gear with the kids. What a blessing!
I also wanted to say that for me the People gods week was the best so far for me. I can so totally relate.
I am so like Leah, from one bad relationship to another, even after becoming a Christian, looking for the love and acceptance that is found only in Christ. Settling for crumbs, and what feels like love, only to wake up in the morning and cry because it wasn’t enough, and i felt guilty and dirty (and that is where the enemy came in and told me truth.. i am such a sinner, but the truth is that i am a sinner SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH… interesting how he leaves out the part that could heal you, isn’t it?) I always felt that I deserved getting used by guys… so, I tried to stay away from them, but that never really worked. They were my idols.
When i finally married, I turned into Rachel. Nothing was enough, and so we had kids, got a house, bought stuff to furnish the house… and there I was sitting on the back of my camel, sitting on my household gods, and hiding them, so that I could continue to hang onto them. And still dissatisfied… and empty…
The costs of desperation? Lonliness, driving my husband to be what I wanted him to be, and almost driving him away from me… looking for my two kids to fill me… back in the day, the costs were the loss of my innocence, and losing any self respect, any sense of worth in Christ, and the feeling that I would never be good enough, or could do enough to earn the love of God. Still struggling with that one… and didn’t realize it until I wrote it here.
God is really opening my eyes through this study this summer, and making it really dovetail with the things i am working through from my past.
Thank you all and God bless you,
Heather (solo in WI)
I also wanted to reply to the person who talked about forgiving yet still feeling the pain…
I have been working through much of this myself for the past year. I forgave the people in my past who hurt me, but the pain was still there. So much so, that I ended up in the hospital twice, wanting to die, and just go to heaven and be with Jesus.
I have learned that forgiving someone doesn’t necessarily mean that the pain just disappears, though I wish it would. But I have learned that I have to allow myself to grieve through the incident, mourn the losses involved in the incident. God will heal the pain, but it is going to take time, and to acknowledge that the pain is there is a great step. When you can forgive the person, verbally say it, eventually the heart will follow. When you forgive, you let the person off of your hook, and let God deal with them as He will. But you still have to live with the consequences of their actions towards you.
God has been showing me through a counselor that the enemy will bring up time and again the pain that you experienced and tell you that you haven’t really forgiven them if you feel the pain still. But if you have forgiven that person, you can tell the enemy, “I have forgiven —- and I refuse to believe your lies that I have not. I am a child of God and He will heal me from this pain.” And God will heal you, one way or another, this life or the one to come. But God will use your pain somehow, to either strengthen you or strengthen someone else.
(Beth please correct me if I am wrong on any point here…)
This got way long, but I hope that helps you a bit, anonymous. May God bless you and keep you through this upcoming wedding.
Heather (solo in WI)
Must add that I love, love, love Queen Esther! She’s a beauty. Love that you chose one of our family names for her, too. Is she a Border Collie?
Baseball cap? Pony tails? Try every day…BOTH at once! EEEK! Is there HOPE for me? 🙂 (Check out the avatar ^^^–>)
Tonight in Cool, California Siestas were SIXTEEN strong! I can hardly believe it! 17 of us if you count baby Grace! I mean, golly! In our tiny little town, to realize that this many women are LOVING JESUS and THE WORD of God!!!! WOW! I bow to HIM in praise!
We plunged the depths tonight, bared our hearts, shared some deep stuff, girlfriends! We added a discussion question #5–Kelly’s last question in week 4 about the “solutions” we pulled from Colossians 3:1-17. Oh glory! CHRIST is our life! Yes, HE IS!
Then we had THE SWEETEST PRAYER TIME together! Oh, Beth! If you hadn’t thrown down the gauntlet for this summer study well, I don’t know WHAT I would have done this summer! As it is, I am putting on sun screen, scrutinizing the summer sales, wondering about my hair…and LOVING MY SIESTAS, Jesus and the WORD somehow MORE than 5 weeks ago! PRAISE you, Lord!
Thanks, dear Beth!
Dear precious Siestas Nichole’s mom and two new anons on 7/15 – boy have you came to the right place! Thank you for asking for prayer – we’re all in this together (DON’T make me break out in the High School Musical song!). I’m smiling for as I prayed, I knew that there were a whole lotta Siestas lifting you up with loving hearts as well! Hope you felt loved, hugged and lifted up – and that’s just from us! Imagine Jesus’ prayers for you! Just know God will be faithful – He WILL be faithful to YOU! We love you!!!
My Nogs and I got together last night and, as usual, shared a WONDERFUL meal (both the chicken spaghetti and the crostata were outstanding) and some very real discussion. There are three of us, the other two are best friends. BUT, they are one of the rare friendships that has been restored from idol status!
As the scarred “other half” of an past idol-relationship, it was an encouragement to me that restoration really can happen in these circumstances, albeit seldom. What they attribute to their success is, of course, a miracle of God, but also the desire on BOTH their parts to get healthy individually and with God, and to employ the accountability of their husbands and others. They took things VERY SLOW and put boundaries firmly in place to make sure they were honoring God with their friendship. It’s day by day and it’s BEAUTIFUL.
Thanks so much for facilitating this study – and thank you Kelly Minter for being obedient to God in its writing!
And that little Queen Esther truly is the STAR of the show! :o)
We shared and laughed and set still humble acknowledgment until 11:30 last night. This study is so on target with what God is doing in our lives right now, and boy is He moving in big ways. We are so full of praise and awe that it was hard to sleep when I did get home. How precious to see how He is working in the lives of all of us in all 50 states and all over the world. We are so glad to be a part of the family of God (especially siestaville).
What a meeting! We are pressing on and studying. This has not been easy as we realize we have more idols than anyone would care to know. The ladies in our group all have the same problems. We lie to ourselves and believe those lies all day long. We don’t go around lying to others mind you, just ourselves. We aren’t good enough, or pretty enough, or skinny enough. We play out scenarios in our minds all day long and then we act based on those thoughts (which never happened).
We are working hard to recognize truth and stop believing something that is just true. We desire for Jesus to be enough. We are working on letting go of that thing which is just out of reach but in our minds would be what fills us. We have been confronted by Leah and Rachel and realize that even if we get that thing we were aching for, we will only reach for the next thing out there to satisfy us— until Jesus is enough we will be continually seeking and obtaining yet never being satisfied.
Our group joins with Fernando Ortega as we cry out “Give me Jesus.”
Well, I showed the hair portion of your video because one of us decided the other day to take her own scissors to her hair! Whew! We had a good laugh.
Weeks 2 & 3 are getting close to our hearts. The simple things that “creep” in and become idols are what we have dealt with the most and we all agree are very dangerous because we don’t always recognize them as idols.
We had so much Holy Spirit led discussion that I can’t put on the blog. We had a blessed meeting with our Father!
The Tennessee Eight
Thank you Siesta Mom! Your videos are a delight!
I love this study! I am solo – if anyone wants to partner up with me, I’d love that!
Dee in Kyle, TX
Checking in from Georgia–Great meeting last night. We have a somewhat larger group (14) so the sharing has been rather quiet as are several of the girls. Unfortunately several were out last night which left us with a group of only 7–they talked their heads off. Shared from their hearts. God is at work in their lives. It is so excited to hear about what God is doing.
I have cooked each week for them and the recipes have been so good and it has been such a joy to spoil them in such a simple way.
And Beth, I love the summer tips– my hair must be way confused. Product to pump it up, flat iron to smooth it down, spray to lightly hold so it will flow, followed by “hair glue” to keep it in place! Nine hundred dollars! later, my hair is lookin good!
One more thing, little Esther Star is adorable. I want to go and get one just like her. No, what am I saying? I’ve temporarily lost my mind. I can not possibly have a dog right now. Seriously, she is the cutest thing.
Oh, on your “Stop It” post. You are it! Thank you for sharing your heart, actually you just laid it all out there on that one. We had a discussion on some topics last night and that was the very answer-Stop it.
Sorry this is a little long, I love you Siestas and read almost every post. I enjoy you so much. God’s blessings to each of you this week.
Patti
In mid-coast Maine, Cathy, Lisa, Sue, and Jackie met at Sue’s house, where we were presented with wonderful cucumber sandwiches, and the most marvelous banana pudding ever. We are all doing “First Place” as well, so the recipes were adapted. And, since the cucumber sandwiches were so lo-cal, we doubled (or maybe tripled) up on the banana pudding.
Lots of tears were shed during this Bible Study. “I’m afraid that if you knew the real me, you wouldn’t even like me.” What she soon found out, though, is that the true “her” is just like the true “us”. We are all so similar.
We spent from 1:00-3:30 PM together, and left full (both spiritually and physically).
Bible Study was great last night.
The study is an eye opener about what we let in our homes via tv, music, books, erc.
The discussion on people as idols really spoke to a couple of divorced sisters. They both felt they had sought happiness through their spouses and their spouses happiness.
I pray each of us gets exactly what the Lord is telling us on each page of the study.
Blessed morning and day to you Spiritual Mom Beth!:)
Here’s my group’s summary:
1st, I don’t think I’ve ever given my girls names in the group w/ me: Kassidy, Dominique, and Caren.
Ques.1:the enemy seems to tell us what’s partially true, but not the whole truth-just the condemning part; we realized that we have to go back to God’s Word everytime and claim scripture
Ques. 2:We are still seeking God on this one-we want to make sure we are giving Him everything.
Ques. 3:We are to pray for a love that is discerning and pure and will not cause others to stumble-no co-dependency!-life is to short! examples: rela. btwn husbands and wives and btwn friends that were brought to healthiness by God-PRAISE!
Ques. 4:desperation for a man to love us and accept us has cost us much, and the solution is making Him our One and Only and trusting Him, always looking to Him to provide that kind of love and acceptance and affirm. of value.
We love you too Mama Siesta, Spiritual Mom Beth! Also: the hair lesson was enlightening and the dog just precious!:) You make me laugh:)
katiegfromtennessee
Joshua 1:6-9, this is going to end well for us:) On ya.
I just love this blog. I sign on every morning just to see what everyone is up to. It is absolutely fabulous. I would truly enjoy meeting some “Siestas” here in Dallas. I don’t have a blog, but if you’re out there, let me know. Would love to get together with several for lunch, etc and begin to get to know others. Huge blessings,
Our group is really growing in discernment of our gods. It seems we keep coming up with things that are now or are very close to crossing the line from a “good” thing to a god. We had a great discussion on Satan’s true things and what is truth. We feel that women especially tend to fall for Satan’s true things, and forget about just what is TRUE. We are so excited about this study.
Love in Christ
Betty
Lexngton NC
We had a great meeting last night, 17 women were in the group. I had personally had a hard week, since I’ve called out to God to help me with my functional God the devil has been giving me a fit. This study is really helping and the group is really enjoying it.
Many in the group had an example of question #1 but the main one we all agreed on is how Satan does this so much to the teenagers today. He convinces them that they can go so far without any consequences when that is simply not true.
On the second question we had varied answers, but the one that touched us the most was a girl that is dealing with trying to become pregnant. She wants to let go and let God but she looks around at people that have children and then do terrible things to them and it’s just really hard to understand.
On question 3 we felt that it was easy to idolize another person, but not one single person had a healthy outcome to an idolatrous relationship. Most in the group felt that they had to cut ties to that relationship to go on.
The “Leah and Rachel madness” was our favorite part of the past 2 weeks. The answers were varied and hard but all of the women had experienced desperation in one way or another. One thing we do want to point out is that the “mandrakes” needed to be barred from the household. There was too much trouble already!
Thanks for doing this study we love it so much and the ladies wanted me to pass along that they want to do it again.
Cassandra
Mars Hill, NC
Forgot:)
The apple thingie and the sandwiches were da bomb:) Still have leftovers..MMMNN:)
Love in CHRIST,
katiegfromtennessee
Beginning to see that I’ve allowed some relationships in my life to become idols. Also…… maybe even my computer!! Ooch!
Sue Sue
Just checking in from Florida… We had a great evening and we loved the chicken spaghetti! Nine of us gathered last night and especially enjoyed the time of sharing– everything from twisted truths from Satan to the fullness that is found in Jesus alone!
We topped off the evening with the banana pudding that changes lives 🙂 and coffee!
God bless all of you – how fun is it to know we are eating a common meal and sharing one true God?!!!
Dear Beth and Ladies,
The past 2 weeks study has been amazingly challenging, but so worth it. My group of ladies are going through so many challenges right now that range from financial struggles, being 40 and never married, a divorce, infertility…just hard. However, this weeks study hit me particularly hard. I am 36 and seeking fertility treatments. It has become my God! Hearing the words of Rachel “Give me a baby or I will die!!” So hit me like a ton of bricks. I never thought that something so pure that I had originally desired had become my “obsession”.God has called me stop the infertility treatments for now, and lean not on my understanding but His Truth and His Word. I am so blessed to be taking this journey with all of you. God Bless you!
Alabama
A month ago 8 of us wanted to participate in this Bible study and needed a leader. One of the girls said, “OK who is going to be Beth Moore?” They picked me because I had the biggest hair (I have since started using a flatiron). On the way to BS last night I told the Lord I had nothing to give the ladies. My cup was dry. I asked Him to “Just Do It”. Well, the Holy Spirit ministered TO all of us THROUGH all of us. His healing Presence touched each of us in personal and profound ways.
I got thinking, what do I miss when I try to have it all together as a leader? I wonder if the Holy Spirit longs to give us leaders so much more than our pride allows. Perhaps leadership is more about crawling to the Cross with someone than pretending we’ve been there by having it all together. Thanks Beth, for leading us into His presence with skinned knees.
Many Blessings to LPM.
Mary in VA
Tupelo, MS Group:
We met last night with all 7 in attendance. Had a wonderful time of sharing. This study has reached to some deep places within us and our group is opening up and sharing. We had a great discussion about Satan telling us true things but not telling us the truth. We could so identify with Rachel and Leah and their desparation and some of us have suffered the consequences.
The Chicken Spaghetti and the Apple Crostata are winners in my book! Thanks for getting the recipes a little earlier – Friday would be even better!
Love in Him,
Kay Martin
What a fun summer study! We downloaded Alli’s Liar’s song. Music speaks to my heart so quick I can be in tears in a flash. I have to have a tissue ready almost every Sunday when its time for our special music preformed by so many talented brothers and sisters. Our common meal was delicious! We chose the banana pudding! Yum! I kinda felt like a pioneer woman when I was picken the chicken off the bone. But it was sooo worth it! We loved the spaghetti.
As I have said before we include dad in our Meal…Last Tuesday night he was wondering why we were not having something special for Bible study night. We informed him that it was every other Tuesday night. He is going to truly miss the special dishes. I have a feeling he is going to hold me accountable and am going to have to start finding great recipes on my own. Melissa what am I going to do! You spoiled him!
God Bless!
The Drakes <><
Greetings from Wapakoneta, Ohio, Beth!
We have a group of five of us from our church that meet. We are thoroughly enjoying doing this Bible Study together! There is comfort in realizing that the idols each of us face aren’t completely unique. Studying His Word with my church sisters encourages and edifies me to tackle the idols that keep me from God.
Yesterday we discussed how we keep a balance between giving things to our children and letting the worldly culture overtake their lives. We are realizing that, if we’re not careful, our husbands and children can serve as idols. We are grateful to attend a Bible-based church that helps us raise our children in a Jesus-centered way…and teaches us how to live a Christian life in a fallen world. We are so grateful to God for our wonderful church and pastors…God is so-o-o good!
The strangest thing happened to me regarding DOING this study. I sent emails out to a number of people when the announcement came out. I got 7 enthusiastic responses of participation. Through a number of strange circumstances, I, the facilitator of the study STILL do not have the book! How weird is that?!! But they are all going on without me and seem to be getting so much from the study. My sister and me are the only ones without a book and we are hoping that this week will be the week we recieve it.
Good to see another Siesta that uses Big Sexy Hair products. I feel bad about having it in my bathroom for all the world to see, but us girls have to do what we have to do.
Congrats on a beautiful baby girl in your home. She is sooooo cute. I love the pink scarf, we girls have to have our accessories.
Thanks jennyhope for the statement “I have at times so sadly traded my inheritance for a bowl of stew.” I, too, thank God for redemption in Christ. May we be so aware of satan’s deceptive ways.
Also to shauna okongo, I can totally relate to having set up my husband as an idol. As I read your words I recognized myself. And like you, through God’s grace and mercy, He is changing me and my marriage. Truly my identity and validation are in Christ alone.
I’m doing the study solo and I’m actually a week behind due to being involved with another study.
We decided that Leah and Rachel were the original “Desperate Housewives”. Also when Kelly told us to look up the verse from Colossians in 3 different translations, my sister, Carolyn found that The Good News Bible said, “The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make.” That reminded me of a sign I saw once that said, “The road of life is full of flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.” I said, “Oh, now we never have to worry about being a flat squirrel on God’s path.” His peace is priceless.
My friend, Connie and I met at my home last night and enjoyed the delightful chicken spaghetti with green beans. Great recipe Melissa! But please tell my sweet friend, Kimberly Myer, that not only does her banana pudding have the ability to change your life but also the size of your body! In good conscience and as a First Place 4 Health leader/member, I just had to make it sugar & fat free. It was still very awesome and sweet! Wonderful!
In our time together,we pulled out Ephesians 1:1-14. This is who we are in Christ no matter what satan comes at us with. Satan tells us true things about our failures but he doesn’t tell us the rest of the story – the truth about our successes in the Lord! We choose to Believe God as to who we are!!
Our envelope that we hold onto are our children – our adult children. We keep them on our minds and don’t want let go even after praying and giving them over to the Lord. There is that self-control issue that wants to hang on and then, too, the Lord doesn’t work on our timetable but on His.
We actually have victory in the last two questions and found that with smart love, discernment and wise choices we can love certain people, pray for them but we do not have to have a deep relationship with them.
We are two Siestas in LA who are believing our God and making sure His Word is alive and active in our life! Now Jesus has the ability to really change your life!!
By the way, Queen Ester is adorable!!
Love you Mama Siesta,Amanda and Melissa Siestas.
Carol and Connie
Hat’s Off and Tame the Hair, Girlfriend! This was the most fun video clip! I have to put my two cents worth in though. I had to reach down deep in the closet on this one. Friend, I understand not wanting to “tease” your hair by the confusion of “hat vs. girly do”, but YOU CAN DO BOTH and ALL IN THE SAME DAY! It works! I am proudly a hat gal…and didn’t even realize to what degree until your challenge. I can become “all things…” girly do and wear a hat with the best of them. Check out the blog…I can even picture you in one of my girly girl caps!
Seriously, the study has been amazing! I have the privilege of partaking with two amazing gals I partner in ministry with who are so in love with Jesus and so authentic. It has provided a safe place of accountability. This weeks encouragement for me was trusting God to be enough.
Thanks for your faithfulness, to the Call. Our WM team had the privilege of meeting you at the leadership luncheon in Co. Springs in May. Still so blessed by that time. Hat’s off to Jesus!
Hello Siestas,
Our group met this morning and all commented on how very personal this study is. We mentioned buying locks to put on our books! 🙂 We did discuss the questions that you gave us Beth and we talked about “true” versus “truth”, but one of the great things about our group is that we (like today) will end up talking about a topic that comes up during our study questions. Today it was marriage and being an example to our children, especially our daughters, and to others. We talked about old testament marriage culture and new testament and where that brings us to today in this age of common-law and divorces. It all comes back to trusting God, knowing His will and following it. Have a great hair day everyone.
BBG’s (Bridgewater Baptist Gals)
Well, we had another wonderful evening last night. It just so happened that it was my birthday and my best friend offered to host our meeting and fix dinner for us. It was wonderful. Everyone LOVED your video. No one holds a candle to our Mama Beth for godliness with much humor! :o)
For the first time we actually got through all four questions! One of the most talked about was question 3 which pertained to “what envelope are you holding”? One of my ladies asked, “Today?”. To which we all laughed but could so identify with. It seems the struggle to let go of things often shifts from day-to-day. I don’t know if anyone else can relate, but we certainly could! We encouraged each other to keep going to the Cross and stay there until we can fully let it go. Another good point that was brought up was about Rachael stealing her father’s gods. We’d all just thought of it as stealing, but the point was made that she stole the gods because she felt she NEEDED them. Hmm. She was trying to fill that need with gods and not GOD. We had some good discussion on that one. A friend of ours, who isn’t actually doing the study, came last night for dinner and just to sit in on our discussion. She’s getting ready to move and just wanted some girl time with friends. I think she’ll be a NOG before she moves as she trying to get her own copy of the book! It’s been an amazing study so far and am so looking forward to learning with all the other siestas.
And thanks for the hair advice. Good advice is so hard to find…
Hi Beth, Judy, Cindy, and Penny checking in from H-town. You are too funny with the hair tips!!! We ALL own most of the clips, by the way..hee hee….and the chicken spaghetti was wonderful, so thanks Melissa for that!
We three are really enjoying our fellowship and self examination that comes with this study. Our main discussion centered around the realization that we can put people in the place of God, and how we have each been there.
How easily it is to take our eyes of the “I AM” and fall back onto the I am in control, I am right, I am desperate, I am….I am…you get the picture. Our sweetest time is when we end with prayer for one another and claim that these idols are gonna be torn down for good! God is ALL we need…we just need to BELIEVE that!
We love you dearly, and Star is adorable!
Houston Girls
Study went good last night. We made the “pioneer spaghetti.” Funny thing–last week my teen daughter and I were making supper–spaghetti–until we realized we had no “sauce in a jar” for a quick dinner fix. We then improvised and used cream soup and chicken, etc. We thought we were so smart with our new invention–and then Melissa shows up with her recipe!! We had a good laugh–that’s what we get for getting all cocky
Good discussion on lies–many said their eyes were opened up tremondously to the media lies that they are bombarded with. Also, good talk on people idols–biggie for us.
P.S. Is anyone ambitious enough to make Melissa’s recipe that involves a “roll out crust”? I am so in awe!!
Hi Siestas,
I pray everyone is having as eye-opening a time as the GLOW girls are. The picture above is one I wanted to share with you of the idols we are bringing down off the thrones of our hearts.
It was so interesting to see that each of us had at least one people-idol in our lives.
Praise be to God that He brought this study our way because I cannot begin to express the liberation and peace of taking the idols off the throne and giving my Father His glory back
I’m doing this study solo and here’s my comments for the last couple of weeks lessons.
Kelly’s point about some of our idols not coming from bad things really stuck home with me. I think I do hang on to some things I selfishly want because I can justify them as not being bad in the scheme of bad sins or desires. And since they’re not bad I can still do them and no one even knows. And that makes there be no accountability at all other than the Spirit which I can tune out with no problem at times.
Now that I am aware of this and know that some good things are not the right things for me. I guess I have to say to myself what I am going to be changing? Can I and I will let go of the envelope and let in fall in the mailbox?
Sheryl
Oh, I am LOVING this study!! Each day is better and better. I even was able to keep it going during vacation 2 weeks ago…though not every day. Ok, I can’t get over the Leah and Rachel story. More than ever, in this day, I feel a struggle to be content. Kelly pulling this out really helped me to see even if I were to have it all, I could still be unhappy. But if I have Jesus as my all in all, then anything add or taken away will not impacted my joy. I’m going solo so I’m just commenting on the “thing” that impacted me most this week. Loving you all with all my heart!
Okay so are we just not lovin’ some Kelly Minter, get off the toes, ouch that hurts, are you in my business, Bible study, yes we do 🙂 And our group is so wonderful and in love with Jesus!! Praise His Name.
Last time we met I blogged in about one of our members getting Saved ~~HALLELUJAH!! Well this week her sister told us that she is doing great. She moved to California just a week ago right after our last meeting. And her sis said that she has started her own NOG’s Bible study in a coffee shop with 4 other girls. Get out of town!! How awesome is that?!?! She is on fire for Jesus and she is helping others to catch the flame. I just MUST give Him the praise today ~~ He is the MOST HIGH GOD ~~ THE MOST!!
Thank you for the opportunity this has provided and thank you Jesus for the lives changed for you!!!
Praise His Name,
Dawn in Missouri
Melissa – you need your own comment! That spaghetti was to die for!! It made so much I sent half to my neighbor. keep those recipes coming (I’m going to try the desserts later…we’d just gotten back from vacation and those extra pounds didn’t need any more company!! ha!)
I am solo, but am discussing with my mom who lives an hour away.I’m making the recipes for my little family…chaos last night as I bustled around the kitchen with my 2 year old and 8 month old following my every move (they have made themselves the official taste testers as they sit in their bumbo seats on the bar)- forgot to save broth for the liquid in the chicken spaghetti…ran out of sharp cheddar cheese…broke a container on the cabinet – glass everywhere & hopefully not in the spaghetti…several murphy’s laws later we had a beautiful and delicious dinner in spite of the adjusted ingredients(there’s no false god of perfection here – at least it didn’t show up last night)….so glad to be a part of the study and community – I am learning so much!Thank you for your thoughts!Blessings and love –
Amy in the Texas Panhandle
Speaking of hair. I wonder why did both Peter and Paul give instructions on how a women should wear her hair? Would Melissa know and care to share a little about biblical hair dramas etc. I just love you all, and think that hair was even a big topic for both Paul and Peter. No pun intended on the “BIG” topic comment.
Loving this study!
Just wanted to share a few things I’ve learned about “relationship madness.”
For me, exclusivity and an unwillingness to share others (or be shared) is a danger sign of an idolatrous relationship. This is even true in my marriage – if I become jealous of time spent with the kids, his job, his ministry, or even the computer, I know that I’m using that my husband to fill a hole instead of seeking God. When God is truly functioning as my “all in all” – He fills me up so that I’m overflowing and free to serve others instead of seeking to be served by others…
well, sabbatical or not, solo went by the wayside and I grabbed a friend. We are scrambling to catch up, finding that the first two weeks took awhile to “muddle through” and hear God’s voice specific to our hearts. But we met last night and discussed the first chapters in depth and it was such a gift! By the next meeting we WILL be through ch 6, and in the middle we’ll meet and do the questions you posted for us yesterday. Thanks for the opportunity to do the study. It’s been good to be accountable to “go there” and weed out garbage in our lives! Praying for you, jen2n and kb in jersey
We were small last night – 4 of us were in town and available. But, our conversation was RICH (so was our cake)!! The discussion about true vs. truth brought out some excellent discoveries in each of our lives. We then had a great discussion about when you realize that Satan got you with a true but not truth – then what!?! Specifically, how does that not color other relationships, opinions, emotions, etc. Finding out the TRUTH can be a freeing experience walking in the Truth can often be a bumpy road. We are praying for each other and loving one another.
Thank you for your faithful leadership.
Hi from the “Siestas for Him” forum. As I’ve said before we are a group of solos (221 to be exact) that have gathered together on a forum that was so graciously created by a wonderful siesta. You are welcome to join us at any time at this site -http://forums.prospero.com/siestas/start.
So we gathered together in the chat room last night and had some great discussion (and a ton of fun too). We spent a lot of time talking about envelopes we are holding onto. How exciting to know that today women are finally dropping those envelopes in the mailbox. Things like: their past and they can never be used; guilt over being alive; being the provider of happiness for their family; not being able to trust God completely; financial insecurity. We learned how ridiculous it is to think that by holding onto these envelopes we can do a better job than God. Boy, satan is the master deceiver.
The other question I want to share with you is #4. Many have examples of acting out of desperation and the price they’ve paid. Marrying just so they wouldn’t be alone; leaving an abusive home and finding someone/anyone to take care of her; feeding the empty hole with anything just to not feel the pain.
This study is life-changing. And what fun we are having loving on each other even though we have NO idea who is on the other side of the screen. (maybe that’s a good thing!!) But there is a bond that has been made that will last a lifetime. Friendships that are forever. And sisters in Christ helping to carry each other burdens before the Lord.
Who would have thought…only God!
With much love and appreciation,
The Siestas for Him
Beth, this is the anonymous siesta whose comment you read on the video. Thank you so much for your encouragement. Thank you also to the other siestas on this blog who have prayed for and encouraged me and each other.
Obviously, commenter #45, I know how you feel and I will be thinking about you and praying for you.
Thanks to all you siestas for sharing what is going on in your own lives.
Our study is going very well. We are all finding new things about ourselves.
Personally, it is forcing me to go very deep. I have discovered that while I believe that God so loved the world …, I’m having a hard time believing that He loves me.
I feel like a fake, my life is great, but to a degree I’m ‘playing a Christian’ I can’t honestly acknowledge that He loves me and I don’t know how to get that into my heart. In my mind I hear it and I know it, but deep down, I’m not where I want to be.
I am currently reading Sandi Patty’s new book called Layers and I’m realizing that even though I’ve spend many years in therapy dealing with my history of growing up with two alcoholic parents and being abused by a family friend, I’m still wearing ‘a layer’ of feeling unlovable.
I want more than anything else to know, that I know, that I know that I am loved and that I love Him more than anything.
I really covet your prayers in this matter.