Can you believe our final gathering has arrived? The summer flew by, didn’t it? As I told you in this video, you’ll make your usual comments to this entry after your gatherings but watch for a final roll call one week from today. I’m going to ask every single INDIVIDUAL (each solo participant or member of a group) who completed all her homework to sign in with her first name and location NEXT TUESDAY. You’ll recall that we did this as we launched the study and we’ll do it again next Tuesday to give a shout-out for those who made it to the last page. (No condemnation to the ones that didn’t! These kinds of disciplines can be extra challenging in the summer which is precisely why we did this.) Because we want to set up as many people as possible for victory, we’re putting off the roll call for one week to offer a little grace period to finish. You can do it!
OK, so here are our discussion questions or statements for our final gathering:
One from Week Seven:
1. On the bottom of p.148 and in the context of promised blessing, Kelly writes, “Sometimes the Lord immediately replaces what we have left [as in, said good-bye to], and other times we are left feeling empty for a time.” At several very important seasons of my own life I believe God deliberately let me feel that empty space for a while before He filled it…even with Himself. If you’ve had a similar experience, share it and discuss what purpose God might have had in it.
This line of discussion also brings to mind the segment of Jeremiah 15:17 that Kelly shares on p.167 in Week Eight: “I sat alone because Your hand was on me.” Keep in mind that God created each of us to be a very plugged-in part of the Body of Christ. We were created for relationship but sometimes God draws us into a time of aloneness with Him so that He can work something IN US that He desires to later work THROUGH US. If you’ve had a season like I just described that had a pretty profound effect on you, share it briefly with your group.
The next three from Week Eight:
2. The intro to Session Eight was so powerful and dead on. Revisit the testimony about the married friend realizing she needed to get rid of the cards, letters and emails from the first guy she ever loved. Another friend shared a similar story with Kelly that she references on p.178. We can hang on to all sorts of things from the past besides old boyfriends and, often, until we really say goodbye, we can’t say hello to something wonderful God has for us. As Kelly’s been telling us for weeks, we’ve got to make ROOM. Discuss a time you came to a similar conclusion and acted on it. OR, if you haven’t let go of something but you know you need to, ask your group members to hold you accountable and pray for you to have courage to follow through.
3. I loved Day Three! Revisit Kelly’s first paragraph on p.173. What is the “bridge between the old and the new”? THEN, take a good look at Deuteronomy 6:23 in the margin of that same page and note Kelly’s abbreviation of it in the second paragraph: “He brought us out…to bring us in.” Girlfriend, that statement deserves an index card! Why is it so critical to keep that concept (not the index card but the abbreviation!) in mind?
4. The last two days of study out of the Book of Ruth were so good. Didn’t you love the last line of Ruth 1 (V.22) where we learn that Ruth and Naomi, devastated and grieved, entered Jerusalem, just “as the barley harvest was beginning”? Read John 15:8. As we draw our journey to a close, having moved out some idols to make room for Christ, encourage one another to believe God to move in powerfully and purposefully. Speak these words over one another, emphatically and with authority: “Your harvest is just beginning!”
As you conclude, please thank God for Kelly and pray His richest blessings over her.
I’m so proud of you, Siestas! Thank you for taking this journey in the Word of God with so many of your Siestas. We made it through the summer without a famine of the Word sending us into the emotional abyss! I sure love you.
Tags: Videos
Dear Beth,
I have a wonderful group of friends that are very busy during the school year and find a summer study is best for us. Because I have been an anonymous siesta and visit your blog regularly, I found out about NOG study early and was able to begin with these friends by the first of June. We met weekly and shared brunch. God used this study in profound ways as changes were in our midst we needed to invite with confidence in God’s sovereignty. Some of us were challenged to have hope and stay while one friend God was directing to embrace new things in a new place. Thank you for encouraging us to be in the Word consistently. May we be women who are transformed by renewing our minds then changing behaviors that bring our Father glory.
Danelle
HI
The Wives of the Warriors in Tacoma want to say a great big THANK YOU for the kitchen stuff! We were so excited when the box arrived tuesday morning, right before we started our study! It was fun to not only open the box but to have you describe each item on the video. It was almost like you were right there with us enjoying the fun. It was truly a blessing to us!
I think this weeks study we all pretty much felt the same about “I sat alone because Your hand was on me.†We are a group of mostly military wives and we have felt that feeling more then we care to think about. Not only from feeling alone because of movng to a new town, but the many times our husbands have to leave for months on end. We all agreed it is during those times of being alone that we felt more drawn to God, the closest to God, and have felt we leaned on him the most. They truly were and contiue to be, growing times for us. I loved that God draws us into a time of aloneness with Him so that He can work something IN US that He desires to later work THROUGH US.
We wanted to thank you for doing this study with us. We hope you will consider doing this again.
I wanted to send you a group picture of us with our goodies from your kitchen, but i can’t figure out how to add a picture to this blog! Is there an email address i can Email it to you?
Beth, our group didn't get to meet last night due to our regular monthly meeting on the "second Tuesday of the month"… however, we were scheduled to meet Thursday to make up… that is not happening either… till Aug 28th… Our group of 6 has so enjoyed the study! Thanks for leading us thru! I have to say, this summer has been so wild and hectic — I'm sure satan is having a hay-day & laughing his head off keeping me/us so busy that it is hard to get our study in! We will finish… Praise God!
We are looking forward to seeing you in San Antonio and also to the study of Esther!
Much love and respect for you and your team! Thanks for all you do for us!
see you in 9 days!!!!
Janet in Amarillo
Oh Miss Beth I just love you! Praise God for your stellar sense of humor! I just died in laughter over your summer advice on the video this week. You could not be more accurate!! Thanks for all you do-you are an amazing woman of God! We all love our siesta mama!
We made it to the end in Alta Loma, California:
Beth Vogel
Roberta Bayless
Eleanore Schellenberger
Michelle Howell
We loved the study and hope we get to do one next year with you too. Just bought a copy of Kelly Minter’s new CD “A Finer Day” it is wonderful!
Beth, are you okay? You look so very thin. I and others are hoping and praying you are well and not over-extending yourself to the point of ill health.
God bless you in all you do. Thank you for all your hard work and for your devotion to the Lord.
You are loved and appreciated. Please take care!
In His Love
Beth,
Our group of ladies at DBU are still in the throws of NOG due to vacations, unexpected emergencies and uninvited intrusions and difficulties in our lives.
But, we WILL finish and have set as our new goal September 3rd. Please keep us in your prayers as we finish a “good work” begun!
Hi Siesta Mama! Can’t believe summer has passed nearly passed us by…
We had a wonderful last night together with our core group of Siestas! We met for a fabulous dinner of filet mignon and grilled veggies with banana pudding for dessert (one of the husbands cooked out on the grill–no kitchens were heated, very few kitchen gadgets were used, no Siestas were hot or hungry!) And we closed with a great Bible study session that lasted until 11pm. We made some new friendships, deepened others, and, most importantly, stayed out of the pit all summer long. Thanks for heading up such a fun way to stay in the Word! We love you!
Ginny, Becky, Martha, Heather, and Lacey–Ringgold, GA Siestas
Glory!! How wonderful was this study?? Beth and everyone at LPM, thank you so much for pulling this together! Maybe we can do another Siesta Bible study in the future?
My thanks and prayers also go out to Kelly Minter — what a blessing she is! My world has been ROCKED by this study!! I’ll be checking in on the follow-up roll call!
We finished strong with 15 women on our last night. We just had everyone bring a finger food which we really enjoyed. (One lady did bring Melissa’s cucumber sandwiches which were delicious)The most moving question was the one asking what we had or were trying to move to make room for God. One lady is trying to make room after finding out she won’t be able to have children. One lady shared about having to give up a church she loved so that she could worship at her new church. Another shared about having to give up a relationship in order to make room. We also all enjoyed the story of Ruth and how God used her willingness to glorify him. It was a very moving meeting and we are all so thankful for Kelly and you. May the Lord bless!
Cassandra
Mars Hill, NC
Wow! I just found this and have never blogged before! I am so sorry I missed this study. Beth I just ordered “He Is” to watch with a good siesta of mine here at home! I thank you for opening the eyes of my heart!
Hey Beth,
We finished, we LOVED it and we love you!!! Thanks for giving us this opportuity to study God’s Word with you and our fellow Siestas. We will see you in San Antonio! NOGS from Texas!
Hello Miss Beth-
I would just like to say we made it in Blue Springs, MO. We started with 5 but ended with 3, it was great and I believe just the way God had it planned. Thank you so much for leading this for us and thank you Kelly for giving us such great material!
God bless-
Nicole
I’m so thankful for this study and for the changes in my life due to it.
I will be leading a small group of ladies through this same study in fall, and I’m so looking forward to it. I did it solo this summer, but what an experience it will be to share it now with friends.
I’ve really appreciated everyone’s comments here on the blog and have been blessed by many of them. Thanks to all of you who made yourselves vulnerable and shared what you were learning.
okay …so are the NOG’s kids the NOGGINS?..sorry i just couldn’t help myself…..
Tupelo, MS Group
We have had wonderful attendance at each session with 6 or 7 of our 7 participants. We had special fellowship as we ate our meals together. Our discussion time was very good and revealing as we shared what God was showing each of us.
Thanks for choosing Kelly’s study and for giving us leadership.
Thanks to Melissa for organizing our common meals. We had a cold plate last night with Chicken Salad, Fresh Melons, and Fresh Tomatoes. Then we had the Chocolate Mousse and I also baked a Chocolate Cake so we enjoyed our chocolate desserts!
Can’t wait for the Esther study!
Kay Martin
Wow! and Congratulations to our seven sista’s . I will order the workbook and book and do the study on my own. God bless you all! I finally got the kids in school and I start college next Monday. (I am going to check with my friend out in Shreveport because she is usually the one to encourage me not to give up on stuff and she is my prayer partner maybe She and I can do the bible study. She also found out she has skin cancer on her shoulder they are going to cut it out if ya’ll woudn’t mind praying for her and She is planning on having another baby with inin the next few months pray that the Lord will bless this pregnancy and she carries it to term. Thanks!
Beth,
When the summer first began, I had no idea what an impact this study would have on not only myself, but the other ladies in the group. We have grown deeper in our walk with the Lord and in our relationships with each other. The Holy Spirit showed up at our meetings in a BIG way. It has been such a huge blessing for us all. Thank you for taking the time to encourage us and keep us in the Word.
Much Love and Many Blessings,
Lisa in SC
Well…dag nab it! I just identified ANOTHER IDOL in my life!
I joined midway this summer so am now going back through and am on Chapter 1. Just this morning, Kelly asked us to identify our idols. I “thought” food was the main one. But God revealed another one tonight…it was a light bulb moment for me!
Ah…but a bit of background. My husband is a deacon at our church. I was a missionary for almost 9 years in Ukraine; now I lead the Women’s Ministry and I teach Bible study and even work a few hours a week at church…see, I’m a CHURCH GIRL..I LOVE CHURCH! I love God first and foremost, but I do love church. I want my husband to love God and church as much as I do. (side note: he probably does, but just expresses it in a different way…a way that I can’t control!)
He goes to men’s Bible study on Wed. nights, but I always get the feeling he is going because he knows I want him to not because he has this inward pull to go. It seems like every Wed. there is just a bit of tension in our home when I intentionally DON’T ask him if he is going and just wait and see if he decides to (see, if I came right out and asked, he might sense how much I want him to go and then feel pressure…like he doesn’t feel it without me asking! LOL!)
Anyway, he’s missed the last 2 or 3 times but said (actually volunteered the information at dinner tonight) that he was going to go. I was thrilled and even told him that I would mow the lawn tonight so he could go…I was so proud of myself for offering that. So, I’m out mowing the lawn (it is a riding mower so it’s not that much of a sacrifice!) and a few minutes to 7pm, he walks out to me and says that his mother just called and told him that his cousin is in bad shape and isn’t expected to live very long. He felt he should go to the hospital.
Instantly, I was furious! I thought, “he could have seen his ill cousin any other night before tonight or perhaps his cousin will hang on ’til tomorrow. But, NOOOOO, he has to go see him tonight…and I bet he’s doing it just to miss Bible study!” (Okay, I’m being transparent here…lest you think I’m really cold-hearted…I’m just being honest with how I felt.)
I finished mowing the lawn, but was really ticked the whole time and it was even turning into self-pity/self-righteousness. “Look, I’m out here mowing HIS yard for him so he could go to Bible study. And what does he do? He goes off and visits his dying cousin!” I felt a small twinge that, perhaps, I should hop off the mower and go to the hospital with him…probably what a supportive, loving wife would have done. But, no, I was too focused on my sacrifice of mowing it so he would be free that night.
As ludicrous as this sounds, I did come to my senses a bit ago. I was trying to get to the “root” of why I was so ticked at my husband for wanting to go visit his dying cousin (which normally is a very kind, good thing to do)?
AH HA!!! I realized that I want my husband to “look good” so that people will think that “I” look good. Is that sick or what?! And, I don’t know when I’ll learn that he just doesn’t fit the mold and I cannot MAKE him do anything to be what he is not. I know he loves the Lord…he truly does, but he just as soon go fishing or camping or to the races skipping church or Men’s Bible study.
I realized, deep down, that I thought that might not LOOK GOOD to other people, especially our pastor who leads the men’s Bible study. I have this perfect image of what a godly man does (and he goes to church every Sunday and loves to go to men’s Bible study and prays with his wife every night, etc.) While my husband does attend church probably 90% of the time, I was focusing on the 10% when he’d rather go to a race.
So, what! He doesn’t love Bible study..he might enjoy it and goes sometimes, that doesn’t mean he is a God-hater or evil man. So, he doesn’t pray with me every night…BUT he comes home to me every night and cares deeply for me and will pray when he feels God is leading him to.
I realized how sick I am!!! yuck! Sin is just not pretty. God showed me that my reputation or outward appearance (not physical) was an idol. I want my husband to do all the right things so that people will say, “wow, what a lucky woman she is..what a godly man he is, etc.!” yuck, yuck, yuck! But I’m so grateful that God showed me this. Now I can identify it and start surrendering that idol to Him. (BTW – my husband just called and his cousin died about an hour ago…he professed to be a Christian, thank God).
Anyway, I feel I don’t deserve the wonderful man I have right now, but am so grateful to God for giving him to me. Wow, I have a long way to go.. Yes, I’ve come a long, long way, but I haven’t arrived.
Just thought I’d share! Two major idols identified and counting….
Becky
Week 7 Intro was great. As a sports fan, I’ve come to realize that my very favorite games are the ones that were in doubt until the last miracle play when my team gets the victory! Interestingly enough, I find that God’s perfect timing in my life often means resolution comes at teh very last second. As nail-biting as it is, it’s so exciting! Never give up! So when I start getting nervous, I just try to remember that Jesus always makes the clutch shot (but I have to pass Him the ball first).
We completed our NOG study last night with our faithful group of 6. We are all so excited to continue digging into God’s word together and are currently debating what study to do next. Any suggestions?
We did it! We had a great group and God taught us so much. We truly appreciate Kelly and the work that she put in to this study. It will be one that we refer back to often. Thank you Kelly. Thank you Beth. Praise You Jesus!
Your sisters in Columbus Ohio.
My computer has been down so I’ve just tonight watched the final session of our study. Thank you Beth so much for facilitating this wonderful study. When I finished my last lesson, I was once again on my knees praising God that I had chosen to do the study … although solo. I’ve been able to see already changes in my heart in leaving the old and bad relationships and moving forward with spaces being filled with Christ. I’ve also loved sharing NOG stories with my husband and children. They just laugh and say “Oh mom is doing her nog talk again.” It’s been great fun and I hope we do this again next summer Beth.
Hi Beth,
I just wanted to say how I have truly loved following the summer bible study. I was unable to do it, but reading the comments of all the Siestas, has made me look deeper within. I felt like I was able to glean from their summer harvest.
I loved the 3 deadly H’s. My heart laughed it was sooooo right on.
I have a good H now….A Merry HEART!
Beth and All, thanks for an opportunity to delve into this study for the summer.
Thanks also for giving us an extra week to check back in.
It seems we could all spend many more days reviewing this material. It’s been great to see the fellowship that came out of this, from E-groups to solos, to home groups. Some of y’all shared some great meals together and I got hungry reading the posts. Not to mention reading those recipes….
Blessings to all…..thanks again to each one.
Hi from the Siestas for Him forum,
Cannot believe this study is done already. Thank you so much for a great idea and for encouraging us to stay in The Word this summer.
As I’ve said before we are a group of “solos” that gather together on a forum and meet in “chat” to discuss what God is teaching us. Women have learned that leaving their false gods behind may seem scary at first. But what God has in store to fill those empty spots is more than they could have ever dreamed possible. What freedom!
The study was great, but the fellowship was even sweeter. There are lifelong friendships that have been formed between women who may never meet this side of heaven.
We are planning on doing another study so we can stay connected to each other and stay in The Word. We will be doing “Living Free” by an up and coming author – Beth Moore. If anyone is interested in joining us please come over to the forum and register. The address is:
http://forums.delphiforums.com/siestas/start
Would love to have you and thanks again Beth for facilitating this for us!!
With love and appreciation,
The Siestas for Him
We completed it! Vicki, Laurie and I finished yesterday. We were doing it during our lunch break at work so we met weekly. We even had a couple of men join us a few times! Whoo Hoo!
It was a great study and we learned a lot about ourselves and the God we love and serve. Thanks for pointing us in Kelly’s direction. She did a great job teaching us and sharing with us. We enjoyed her book / study very much. See you next week in San Antonio!
Stephenville, TX
love-n-hugs,
There are so many things that have spoken to me this last week. I love the reminder in the story of Ruth. No circumstance is a surprise to God. He was orchestrating every event in Ruth’s life, just as He does in our life. It is such an ah ha moment when we see how God puts things toegther.
I could go on and on.
Thank you God for Kelly Minter and how You have used her in my life. Please continue to bless her ministry. Thank you for Siesta Mama and her willingness to lead our study. In Jesus’ name.
Love to you all!
Amanda going solo in SC
After I watched your video, I had tears in my eyes. Why do we love you so much? Because you love Jesus so passionately!
“For my determined purpose is that I might know Him, that I might progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly.” Philippians 3:10
Lord, I want to know You more intimately and love you more passionately!!
Blessings for you, Beth!
Holly,
Loved what you wrote about the discussion your group had. Great discussion, great insights… Great sharing with you.
Blessings.
Each week through this study, God has revealed more and more about my functional gods, and what I end up turning to instead of him… and what I need to let go of.
One of the things I need to do is go through a couple of my old boxes from high school and college and get rid of some notebooks and letters… make sure the ones I am remembering are gone… similar to the stories in the study.
God is bringing me through the desert to freedom in Him in the future… to whatever He wants me to do. I am leaving behind the idol of pain in my past (I have found that I focus on that rather than on God) and he is leading me through the desert right now… showing me how to deal with things in a healthy way, but my desert is feeling really lonely and emotionally barren and painful interchangeably… and bringing me to the promised land of freedom… I can’t wait to get to the land that I have only gotten glimpses of. I can’t wait to bring in sheaves of joy, because I have been sowing with many tears.
Thank you so much Beth for involving us in the study. It has been an incredible experience!
Beth, I did not commit to the study this summer. However, I have looked forward to the helpful summer hints. Oh how I pray that you will continue with some helpful fall hints. Why? Because I’m believing God and homeschooling my two elementary aged boys this fall and will need any dose of laughter that can possibly come my way. That and some straight-jackets. Because you care,
Nichole
Is it okay if I go with a Pepsi One instead of a Diet Coke? I know it’s sacrilige in Texas but I’m not a coke person. I do not like coke. I like Pepsi. Actually I love Pepsi. I’m totally addicted to it. I couldn’t help noticing someone else in Siesta bible study also had to give up ER. Are you having withdrawal as bad as I am? I think I’m going to die. The olympics have saved me a little bit. I had to do deep breathing exercises until then during the times that I normally watch ER. Anyway, we had a good last meeting. We’re all going through a time of adjustments in our lives, so it is definitely hard. None of us have any idea what this school year’s going to be like so can’t make any commitments to bible study this fall yet. I will probably do whatever the women’s ministry at my church is doing, but haven’t heard anything yet. I’m wanting to lead a study at someone’s home again, but am not sure if that’s going to work out yet.
I can’t express how much this study kept me going through this Summer! I’ve been so blessed as each session I walked through hit at home with my own desert I’ve been going through. It was wonderful to end with the impacting Ruth days!
I can’t wait and see what God has in store, I feel like a child peeking through the door of her room the night before Christmas morning. I know something good is out there, I can almost see it, I just need to wait til morning!
My house is up for negotiation as I type… remember… I said there was a reason my house hasn’t sold…I am emerging from my cocoon and it feels great to see the light!
Bravo Kelly Minter!
Can’t believe it’s done….it was a great way to spend the summer. We started out with 8, most weeks had four to five in attendance. Only a couple of us were faithful in our homework. 🙁
Thank you Momma Beth for suggesting this study. We had some good discussions on how the Lord had revealed our idols to us as we went through the book. We also were very grateful for the summer study so we didn’t slip into the abyss.
One of our ladies is doing this study again this fall with some neighbor ladies of hers. I will recommend it to anyone I talk to.
(And I can talk to a lot of people.)
Thanks again Beth!!
P.S. Upon a recommendation of one of the ladies at LPM, we are going to do Heaven by Randy Alcorn as our next study. We start on Sept 9th. Our winter study is going to be on Esther. Know any good Bible Study teachers to recommend on this??
Blessings,
Bible Bunny in NO MI
I LOVED this Bible study. It got me into the Word, and it was so so practical! Kelly has such a way of putting things. She is funny and poignant. Some of the sentences and paragraphs just had such great content, I had to actually write some down so I could read it again. I think she has really unusual insight. She could see new things in Scriptures that I had read many times before. Someone mentioned her album “Finer Day.” What a great worship album, and she wrote all her own songs!
We concluded last night with great food, tons of fun and a few tears – in other words it was the perfect conclusion to what has proven to be a profound study for all of us.
We can’t thank you enough for inviting us to jump into Kelly’s great study. The majority of us felt that it was just for us in just this season of our lives.
It was a wonderfully powerful and equally tender moment when we looked at each other and declared that our harvests are just beginning. Thank You, Lord!!!
We appreciate you so much!
Dear Siestas,
I just want to praise my heavenly father, the almighty God (note the capital) for this study. I am broken hearted over the idols (sadly, the plural form) in my life. Things have really gotten away from me, you know, just living life, and in the process I have at the very least set aside my first love, and at the most put others in line in front of Him. (I tear up just typing that.) I have come to realize that I have depended on my idols to disguise who I am and define who I wanted to be. This has been a very emotional process for me, and sure enough, I am a little empty now. But, God is good, and his word has been like a soothing, healing balm. I just praise Him so – and wanted you all to know.
Hi Beth,
My small NOG group of three just had our last meeting yesterday. We all enjoyed this study so much and hope you do something like it next summer too! Thank you for heading up this study and making it so fun! We always looked forward to your blog videos and “summer tips” 🙂 Love your “Croc” Pot!
Blessings,
Michele
Okay, So I did not do the study, i did however find NOG in book form, so I have been answering the questions with you all..
They are just too thought provoking not to answer.
So number one::
I think after my divorce God left me empty for a purpose. I had just finished the “believing God” study. My then husband left two days into that study, let me tell you I wanted to quit that bible study real fast. I would get mad, cause here I was going deeper than I had ever gone, and believing harder than I ever had, and everything was falling apart. Anyway, I got faced with a tough choice, could i still stand, could I trust God, could I believe God, and four years into a new fullness, faced with another choice could I choose God. Not just choose him in “yes I believe in God” But choose him over having “someone” in my life. This event has taken a long road into some lonely, dark pits, but I can say where I stand now with God, it was and is all worth it
And number two goes right with it, last June I got engaged, but it was just not what God was wanting for my life, and I knew if I wanted what God had I had to break it off. That was finally me really choosing God. And man while it should be easy to do, it wasn’t easy at all, but again so worth it
Number 3 I will just quote Beth
“your future is not behind you”
By the way it was after that (Jacksonville)conference I called off the engagement. And really finally felt a new fullness.
When this Summer began, I had no idea of the challenge that was coming or how God would meet me in it through this study.
In early June I faced a huge crisis & a battle ensued that lasted over 6 weeks. The enemy was fierce in his attack of me & my family. I was shaken by it momentarily but I determined to be obedient & take the high road with my Lord no matter what.
Long story as short as I can make it, God met me at every turn through the scripture & lessons of this study. It applied to every need I've had in this crisis which has ultimately lead to letting go of a relationship in order to take the next step with Him.
Week 8 was especially meaningful as God brought from the story of SM&A brand new revelation for me that I'd never seen in those verses before. Then just as I sat with tears streaming, speechless in my awe of His ministering to me, I turned the pages & finished the rest of the week with Ruth & Naomi's story in one sitting. I felt God's reassuring hand on me as He concluded the study & blessedly, & with great clarity & assurance wrapped up my personal Summer journey all at once right there at my kitchen table.
Beth, thank you for leading me to this study. I have been blessed by it & have grown so much – to paraphrase Kelly from pg.156…"I have worked through another layer in my relationship with God and come out on the other side as one who trusts Him more deeply."
I did this solo & now I understand I was meant to do so. I worked at my own pace as the Lord led & I actually finished up early (about 2 wks. ago).
Thank you Father for Your wonderful ways! You have blessed me yet again beyond my farthest imagination. I love you so!
My daughter Stephanie and I were sad to see this come to the end. But we’re praying about the next study we can do. This whole thing was profound, convicting and encouraging. God did SO MUCH in our hearts these weeks. We were convicted to STAY PUT while God is at work in the quiet, desert times after we turn our backs on our idols and things of the past. The passage from ISA.43:18-19 has been my verse this week “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up;do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Praise His Mercy!!!!! Thank you all for inviting us to be apart of this. In Jesus’ Love Kathy and Stephanie Knoblock
Moma Siesta, we finished our study last night. We had a great session and all are sorry that it is over. We want to stay in the Word and together (maybe add to our group), so we are trying to decide what to do next. Someone in the group suggested “Breaking Free”. It seems to go along with this study of getting rid of our idols, and just being free in Jesus. Thank you so much for having this Summer Bible Study. Thanks to Melissa for “feeding ” us and to Kelly Minter for being so candid and open…which helps us to be the same.
Betty
Lexington, NC
I am simply *thrilled* to bits to have been able to complete this study, it was absolutely wonderful, committing, and inspiring!! I just wanted to speak blessings upon Kelly Minter — her work is wonderful and the way it’s delivered in book form is incredibly touching and effective!!!! Nicole and my answers will follow very soon, forgive our delay!!!!!
mariacristina
Hello Everyone,
Our group met yesterday. We watched the video, enjoyed some lunch and chocolate and had loads to discuss. It was funny because we started in on discussion before I could start reading the questions. By the time we got to each question, we had usually already discussed it. One thing most of us had in common is that we felt we were on the bridge (between bringing us out…bringing us in) and wandering how long it could take to get across the bridge. We are so excited to see what God will bring each of us into.
Thank you so much for leading us through the study so we didn’t have a Word draught this summer. Thank you Melissa for all the great recipes. Thank you all for the time and effort you give to keep us in the Word.
We love you all,
April, Bobbie, Julie, Kathy, Adrianne, JoEllen and Sue
I have so enjoyed this timely study. I thank for initiating it online like this. Although I did the study by myself, I was able to access your blog and feel part of a group.
We have not had our meeting yet! We were supposed to have our meeting last Tuesday, however, one of our Siesta’s, Mary, had emergency surgery, and then I ended up in the hospital with some heart palpitations. Although we are both doing fine, isn’t it just like the devil to try and keep us from sharing in the Word!! Not Happening!! We are meeting next Tuesday. So please keep the blog open until then so we can respond.
I will write to you all on Tuesday, next week!! Love, Lori
The 3 of us meeting here in Marietta (Ga) had our last NOG meeting this afternoon. We actually had to do the last 3 sessions today all together as we’ve each been out of town at different times the last several weeks. (School’s back in here now, so we’re HOME!) We met for 3 hours and ate almost a whole chocolate pie between us during that time (nibbling, talking… not only does time go quickly, so did the pie!!)
Each of us have been so blessed through this study, in ways we were not looking for. His timing is just so awesome. While we each took different things from it and it’s application to our lives, at the same time, we each related so very much with what the other ones were processing. So our outcomes have been multi-faceted to say the least. and our ending prayer together, was for this to just be the seed that He’s planting in each of our lives right now through this study, and that we will continue this process of emptying and making more ROOM for Him day by day. The desire to be in His Word, learning HIM more and more, going to Him and His Word before we even call each other or anyone else for feedback on issues… that is our goal. Him first, everything else second.
Thank you Mama Siesta for facilitating this for us. We are each grateful to have spent this time over the summer with our Lord, emptying things to make room for Him more and more.
and we’re celebrating our finale by going right down the street to worship with Travis Sunday at First Baptist Woodstock (2 miles from my house!) Our husbands and children are coming with us, and then we’re all going to dinner together afterwards!
We’re so excited!
See you next weekend in S.A. 🙂
(I do NOT like flying, and am getting kind of a little bit nervous about leaving my children and flying to SA on Thursday… if anyone out there wouldn’t mind, PLEASE pray for me!! I even bought a refundable ticket in case I chickened out of flying at the last minute. I’m not going to… just please pray for me if you would. Thank you so much.)
love,
lavonda
Beth,
My name is Nancy and I’m from Jackson, TN. and I finished the study and loved it! Bless you for leading me to it. 🙂
Grandma, Mom, and I just had the opportunity to do our final NOG session last night. Grandma had been out of town this past week, so we decided to “postpone” our last gathering until all 3 of us could be present. And I’m so glad that we did- We had an awesome night of studying the Word together! (Not to mention spurring each other on to finally finish memorizing our verse! We did it!!!)
We shared stories of holding onto the past, letting them go, and making room in our hearts for God. We shared stories of the struggles we’ve had releasing idols, or saying goodbye to the things that we’ve loved. And we concluded by reminding each other that the harvest is just beginning…and to look forward to the future hellos that God has for us.
There is only one God- We praise Him that His timing is perfect, that His ways are not our ways, and that He loves us even when we mess up!
Thank you for facilitating this summer bible study, even though it has been a difficult and busy summer for you!
“To Him who is able to keep you from falling!” Yes, Lord, you kept us from falling this summer- To You we give all the praise!