Greetings Siestas! (I’ve always wanted to say that).
I can’t tell you how blessed I’ve been to be a small part of your online journey. When I heard Beth was going to facilitate “No Other Gods” this summer on her blog I was thrilled and simultaneously ignorant. I had no idea what this meant, and I can assure you I never entertained thoughts that included hair tips, how to protect my neck from the sun, or creative ways to use your oven mitt. But, alas, this is why we admire Beth – for her love for the Word and her knack for the unpredictable. So… many thanks to Beth for being the catalyst behind this amazing summer experience.
I also wanted the specific opportunity to thank all of YOU who have spent time with God this summer through the study of Scripture. Your dedication and comments have been inspiring! It has been a blessing for me to watch your fortitude in dealing with truly un-fun things like, well, idols. I understand that it’s not the feel-good-study-of-the-year but the blessings that come from obedience and surrender are immeasurable…
Several years ago when the Lord began to deal with some of the false gods in my life, I wanted nothing more than to cling to the very things He was asking me to relinquish. Perhaps you can relate. A lot of the verses and passages of Scripture that helped me let go were the very ones I used in the “No Other Gods” study – my prayer is that they encouraged you as well. Since having written the study I wanted to share something that has been a new reality for me – living in the purpose of freedom. For so long I simply wanted to be free from the things that controlled me. What I didn’t understand was what that freedom was for. Although I am still very much learning, I wanted to tell you that God frees us from our idols so we can be free for His purposes. We get free so we can move and be and do the things of God. I am now doing things that I simply couldn’t have done before because I was tied up by my false gods (and please don’t think necessarily grandiose things – they are humble and quiet things, but they are awesome and they are things I am thrilled to be part of).
I hope this makes sense, as it’s an infantile understanding that’s still forming inside me. I just wanted you to know that saying goodbye to our false gods offers a tremendous freedom that is not simply for the sake of hanging out with our “new free selves”, but it’s a freedom that allows us to engage in the moment by moment things of Christ. Keep pressing forward no matter how awkward the journey. We have a jealous God, and I will gladly take jealous over passive any day. It is for freedom He has set us free!
Thank you Siestas for blessing me so much this summer and honoring me by your presence.
-kelly
Tags: Kelly Minter
Thank you Kelly! And Beth!
I just started the study this week, and I am enjoing it very much so far.
I am doing it on my own.
I am from Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada.
May the Lord bless you all!
Rachel
Thank you for the study, my group (four of us) really enjoyed meeting and doing it together.
I did the study solo this summer, but will have the privilege of leading a small womens group from my church through it this fall. I can hardly wait to share with them what I have been taught and to in turn share what they are learning and letting go of. I’m sure I will be doubly blessed the second time around.
Thanks SO much, Kelly!
I started the Bible study solo and realized it was too good to do alone. I stopped to share it with our pastors wife. I hope to do it as our fall Bible study at our church if copies are available…
looking forward to finishing it
Sally J
Ohio
Kelly –
It has been such a fun summer spending time in your study. I feel like we are old friends because of all the personal stories you shared in No Other Gods. The Lord was so faithful to reveal to me some things that I’ve been giving too much attention to. Ouch! it was sometimes painful. But now that we’ve made room for Him just imagine what mighty things He will be able to do among us!
Thank you so much for all you put into this study and for walking through it first so that you could take us siestas by the hand and lead us further down the path to freedom.
Love and Blessings from Colorado!
Cinde
Kelly-
Thanks for making food part of the curriculum.
Thanks for making me cry in front of my bible study group (those tears led to obedience, so I guess it’s okay)!
Thanks for sharing your life.
Thanks for changing ours.
We thank God for what He has done in us through your study.
Kelly,
How fun to discover your note today!! Bless you for listening to God and writing NOG. I’m not finished yet, but I am getting there. God has gifted you well!
Thank you Kelly. I loved this study so much and it really changed me. I did it on my own then led it as a group this summer and I can now say with humility that the Word is continuing to keep me free of the ties that seek to bind this girl.
thank u for allowing God to use you! You reminded me a lot of Beth a long the way. Of course I did breaking free oh about 7 times.
Great study, Kelly. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion for God and His Word. Will be sharing this study with many women in the future. God bless.
Dear Kelly,
I can not begin to tell you what an impact this study has made on my life over the course of the summer. It was truly an eye opener to things that were taking God’s rightful place in my life. I loved your writing style. It was like talking to a close friend. I hope that you will write another in the future. I am praying God’s richest blessings for you!
Much Love and Many Prayers,
Lisa in SC
Kelly,
We all thoroughly enjoyed your study this summer. Your simple, down to earth, writing style made it such a pleasurable experience. Looking forward to your next.
Kelly, I looked forward to doing my study every single day. It was so great. Thank you for sharing it with us. I have MADE ROOM and my life has been changed. Praise God!
Well, Kelly, our group is holding our last meeting tonight. This study has been such a blessing – as both life-changing study of God’s word and a sweet time of bonding, eating, laughing, crying… well, you know. We’ll be doing Stepping Up this fall with a big group, but we’re looking forward to another Living Room study. Any headed our way?
dear Kelly
my daughter Lynn suggested we do this blog bible study, & honestly I thought it would be hard since we all lived in difference states, & she was in Germany~but this study has been the best for us all and has crossed the miles between with wit,tears,joy & a desire to clean our idol closets. We have so enjoyed all the humor, & honesty you shared with us & the study of scripture got me back on track to set up a regular study quiet time to savor the "word". Bless you as you start your next adventure with "Him".
Califorinamum,pinkboots& Rhinestonecowgirl~
Thank you Kelly for a great study
Sharon in Wisconsin
Kelly,
You are the REAL deal. I so appreciate that you allowed God to birth this through your life. We are blessed beyond measure by your insight and vulnerability.
May GOD ABUNDANTLY bless you and POUR YOU OUT! Praying for you as you write the next installment!
Much love to you!
Kelly, what a wonderful gift you are to the body of Christ. Looking forward to hearing more from you!For one reason or another I was unable to do the study along with the Siestas this summer. Last week I took time to read through some of the blog commments, which then led me to read an excerpt of the study (still available online at Lifeway.com), which then led me to order the book. The next day I called the Lifeway store here and had them set aside 3 member books for me, my sister, and my aunt. We all started Day One today and are looking forward to meeting each week to share what the Lord is doing through this study. To Beth and all the Siestas, thanks for sharing on the blog. Your archived thoughts, struggles, comic relief, and encouragement add so much to the experience of this study – even today for the stragglers!
Blessings,
Heather
Kelly,
Thank you for being real with us! You easy manner and deep thoughts to bring us to wonderful personal relevations is very appreciated. Thank you for allowing Him to work through you!
sarah
I started this study thinking, “Oh, this will be a nice little summer study. I don’t have problems with idols.”
Well, God challenged me on a not so obvious idol that was created long ago as a result of a traumatic childhood. As I began reading the study, God tenderly showed me the “hidden” idol. Throughout the weeks of working on the homework, God overwhelmed me with His counsel and His peace. It is so freeing to feel so bound to Him instead of the idol I had unknowingly internalized so long ago! Praise God.
Thank you for the time and effort that you put into creating this study.
Kelly – I don’t even know where to begin. Thank you – for starters -for allowing the Lord to use you to teach us this much needed material!This study was enlightening – no – revolutionary! It revealed more idols than I care to admit. (especially after walking thirty 30 years with the Lord, but each chapter revealed more) But as I finish the last chapter, it was so encouraging to be reminded to not look back or go back! One idol in particular of needing to be my girls protector and not acknowledge that God alone keeps them in His hands – I thought I had made room for God – but then as one relapses, one has a life-threatening accident, and one a faith crisis, it is good to know that I can trust my God and not turn back to thinking it’s all my responsibilty. I have so far to go, so many to dethrone, I will probably be re-doing this study!Thanks for your honesty and compassion. Every Bible study, we pray Lord, let this be life changing, and truly – this one has been!
Hey, Kelly,
I loved the study. I loved your writing style. I loved the format of the workbook especially after listening to my NOGS siesta and having it spiral bound at Kinko’s. A $5 miracle courtesy of Michele!!!! I loved the recipes and cooking even though I did gain weight because of it. I loved Beth facilitating for us. I loved all the new and near siestas I met because of Beth and because of you and chiefly because of God and His glorious plan for our lives.
Can’t wait for the next study!!!! Looking forward to Beth facilitating that also.
God bless you, Kelly!!!!
Kelly, this mother-to-three-small-boys thanks you from the bottom of her (my) heart for helping me let go of things that were preventing me from embracing the call of motherhood right now. I finally feel free to be exactly where God has called me. I am grateful for the study and am looking forward to all the future freedom as God and I continue to work through this topic.
Britany
Kelly,
Thanks for being so obedient to God and writing this study! My eyes have been opened to a whole new world of freedom. Your realness was comforting. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one! You rock. xoxo
Thank you Kelly,
My group was 14 strong!! Women of all ages and I have to tell you that it was a sad departing when we met last. We LOVED the study God gave to you to pen for us and it was a great way to spend our summer. We laughed, we cried,and most importantly, we said goodbye to idols that have kept of from the purposes God has intended us for. I pray you will do more like this one and continue to bless us with your teaching.
BY the way….the meal idea thing was priceless. I am a follower of Christ first, but also a Southern Baptist and we love to eat!!
Blessings to you siesta,
Royana (AKA Isaac’s Mom)
Kelly ~ Thank you SO SO much for writing this study! I’m experiencing freedom from an idol that I have dealt with for a VERY long time. Praise God!! Keep writing Sister – we’re waiting for the next one! Thanks for your obedience to the Lord!
Wow! Thanks for that Kelly! It is not often you get to chat with the author of the Bible study you just finished!
I could relate so well with what you were teaching and often felt like I could have been sitting in the room with you. I would not have had an email as wise and graceful as your other nogs provided you, but I totally could jump into the group with the story telling and humor that went on! I love to laugh in a group of women who truly love God. The laughter is somehow different…but just as contagious!
Thanks for opening up yourself for us—to help us become truly free!
Paige
Greetings Kelly, and welcome to Siestaville! What a wonderful surprise it was to have a note from our NOG teacher!
Thank you for writing this study. I admired your transparency, honesty, and conviction throughout the entire thing. You have challenged us over and over, and we have highlighted the fool out of our pages:) I especially was convicted about how our idols can be good things that we love too much. Thank you for opening our eyes to the small and big idols, and for challenging us to make room in our hearts for Him!
May God continue to bless you! Thank you again!
Thank you, Kelly, for writing this study. God spoke to my heart and opened my eyes to the idols in my life. I did not realize they were there.
7 “When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
8 “Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the LORD.”
Jonah 2:7-9
Thank you for answering the call to write. Many have been blessed by No Other Gods.
Blessings to you, dear Siesta.
Mary
Kelly,I have said this before and I mean it… I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God had you do this book and study for me. I related to this book from beginning to end. I thank God and I thank you for this book and study. I do not have the words for what this study has done for me. God Bless, CINDY in HIGH POINT, NC
I have to admit that I fell in love with your spirit 2 years ago when I got the CD “Wrestling the Angels”… I am a lyrics girl and the lyrics on that thing slay me!!! I must defer to “This is my Offering” on a daily basis, cause if it costs me nothing what is it really?
Thank you for listening to Him even when it hurts! I have some friends who lay some claim to you as they say they knew you when you sang with Scarlett Hope (Dave Whitford)… and I guess you even came to our church once before I started going there (Crossroads Community Church in Ridgecrest). Anyway, I loved the study, I got my mom to do it too, but she didn’t ever log on. I love you and pray for you and can’t wait to see you when we all go home!!!
Judy
Dear Kelly, Thanks so much for the study. I was a late joiner, but have been working through the study. I started in July and I am now half finished. It has blessed me so much and I have been able to share with others a few of the things I have been learning. I just shared your perspectives on fear on another blog last night. It occured to me that when you said fear attaches itself to something, how the “fear of the Lord” fit into that. The Lord is really where we should take all our fears and where fear is healthy. The study has been great and relistening to Beth’s videos is fun too. Who knew some of the tips she has shared!
Wow Kelly,
So good to get a “live” comment from you! The ladies from a small group in Oregon are so thankful to have done this study this summer. I am not the least of these.
As I write this, God is taking me to a new place. I have always dealt with my idols one at a time, now I am in a situation where a lot of the buttons that took me to my idols are being pushed all at once. Mercy! I thought I was going to lose my mind last night, but now I can see what is happening. The waves and expanse of this body of water aren’t quite as intimidating. His hand feels more sure and the water at our feet makes me feel truly “giddy as a school girl”.
Thank the Lord for His mercy. I thank Him for your obedience and your offering as you shared a part of your life with us.
Bless you Kelly Minter! May He bless you 100 fold.
Love to you,
Jina Patton
Thank you so much Kelly for your study…for your words of encouragement…for your transparency…for following the Lord down the road of freedom from idols. Thank you for leading us (hundreds and hundreds of siestas as well as our mama siesta and her two baby siestas) right into the presence of the Lord and for encouraging us to let go of those idols and make room for God.
Your study has been amazing and I am forever changed! Love you girl!!! Am praying for you.
Bethany Silva in Merced, California
Kelly, it was an incredible study! Life changing for me! You have so much wisdom to be so young! I know the Lord has even greater plans for your sweet life!
Praying for you as you live free!
Much love!
Kristi B.
Dear Kelly,
Just wanted to say thank you for your obedience and a special thanks to your NOGS for sharing their struggles and wisdom. This study really revealed idols i did not know i clung to. May you all be richly rewarded.
Our group also enjoyed the Nashville stories since we live in White House (north of Nashville off I-65).
Much love to you. Ephesians 3:20-21
Thanks so much, Kelly….the study was great – so enlightening and helpful! Sooooooo, when is the next study coming out????? Can’t wait!!!!!
Thank you, Kelly! One of my functional idols is my laptop! I so appreciated the study and how it helped me to put it in its proper place…
Hi Kelly ! : )
I *~LOVED~* what you said about our jealous God vs. somebody else’s ” passive ” God ! AMEN AMEN AMEN !! LOrd THANK YOU for being a jealous God .
Love you Kelly ,
Elizabeth
I am thankful to God for inspiring you to write this Bible Study. Thank you for your gift of time in putting it all together for us. Also thank you for being open and real in the study…It truly was a special time this summer that my daughter and I had together doing the study…God’s Word definitely makes a difference in our lives!!!
Hi Kelly ! : )
I *~LOVED~* what you said about our jealous God vs. somebody else’s ” passive ” God ! AMEN AMEN AMEN !! LOrd THANK YOU for being a jealous God .
Love you Kelly ,
Elizabeth
We want to Thank YOU!!!! We are so blessed to have been able to be apart of this. You had so many insights into Bible stories that gave us things we had never thought of before. Please know God did some amazing things in our hearts and we are grateful to your obediance to Him. In Jesus’ Love Kathy and Stephanie Knoblock–Mother-Daughter study
Nashville dolly,
We think you are funny…me and Debbi and Jodie. Last week we got to Jodie’s and she had dinner packed up in a picnic to go! She said, ‘get in the car…we’re outta here!’ We’ve been friends for 8 years and this study brought out a ton to force us to go deeper and hold each other accountable with. For me personally, I really enjoyed reading and relating to a single gal that is willing to wait for God’s best and BELIEVE. God is using your singleness and God’s got some awesome man out there for you that will give your funniness a run for it’s money- honey! Thanks for being obedient to write…we look forward to the next study already!:)
Laura from Zeeland, MI ‘Feel the Zeel!’
p.s. we have two weeks to go because we had to work around vacations…we will finish…that’s just how we are!
Thanks, Kelly.
By the way, you were right about Becker’s Pasta! We’ve eaten it more than once already!
Tami in La
Kelly siesta! Just checking in to say what a great thought provoking study God blessed us with through you. Our girls at church are already asking to do another one of your studies. Thank you for losing your idols and helping us lose ours!
Dear Kelly,
Thank you for pouring your heart out on our behalf.
I took a highlighter to your book and marked all that I have felt for years that I could never put into words. I finally decided to mark only what did not directly apply! There was not much that fit that category.
My favorite part was your encouragement to STAY long enough to let God do what He needs to do.
You have been a huge blessing and I am grateful. Thank You.
Dear Kelly,
This Bible study was a great blessing to me. I have two more days to finish, but wanted to let you know that God used this study to take me out of a desert. I thought I had let go of an idol in my life, but there were some steps God wanted me to take to make it final. Your honesty was a blessing and an encouragement. Thank you (and Beth) from the bottom of my heart.
With love,
Your Siesta Friend in Massachusetts,
Shelley
Kelly,
This is the exact study I needed right now in this season of my life, I want you to know that God used you to touch me where I needed to be touched and changed. I want to thank you for following God and doing this study…
You are in my prayers…
Connie
GBU
Thank You Kelly for a great study. I’m a kindergarten teacher in a christian school, and totally enjoyed my summer vacation with you and Beth.:-) What a blessing! God bless you!
Sweet precious Kelly! I do love the picture of you sipping a mocha latte and reading through these, glorying with the LORD in what He has done through you in this study.
It was my first time leading some women through and I LOVED it! I loved cooking for them, praying for them, having them in my home. It was great! And the study itself, well, our God is an awesome God and He had precious plans for me in it. So, thank you for being faithful to do as He asked of you. I gave my offering and gained freedom! AMEN!
with love, Adrian
Oh and I forgot to say, one of the things I loved was that you seem like someone my girlfriends and I would meet for coffee! Yay!
Maybe someday in God’s heavenly cafe…
xoxo