Hey, Siestas!
It’s time to get ready for (drum roll, please) the 2nd Annual Siesta Summer Bible Study! Every woman is welcome! If you’ve already got a different Bible study scheduled for the summer with your friends or a group from your church or neighborhood, that’s fabulous. Go forth and do that thing!
For those of you not participating, it is important to know that we will not hog the blog all summer with this Bible study activity. It will only require a post or two every other week. We will have plenty of other things going for all our Siestas.
This opportunity is for the rest of us that either don’t yet have a plan to stay in the Word this summer or just think this sounds different and fun. And is it ever! We had a blast last summer. I really do think it was one of the most unique ways any of us has ever done Bible study. Our class was made up of single women, married women, widowed women, young women, not-nearly-as-young women, church-going women, not-yet-church going women, happy women, angry women, SAHMs, heads of corporations, and women all over the United States, many from Canada (yea, Canadian Siestas!!) and several other nations. It’s hard to find a class like that.
You interested? OK, so here are the answers to the most important questions. Unless you participated with us last year, the concept will not make sense until you’ve read all the instructions so hang in there till the very last word and I think you’ll get the idea. Here goes:
WHAT BIBLE STUDY ARE WE DOING? This summer’s Bible study selection is the workbook called:
Me, Myself and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild. (Due to our summer schedules and our every-other-week format, we will not add Jennifer’s coinciding DVD sessions into our study. You, on the other hand, are welcome to purchase those and work them into your own personal or group experience. All we’re requiring and officially working from in SSBS is the workbook.)
HOW LONG IS IT? Very good question! Jennifer’s study is a perfect 6-weeks long. Doable for the summer, don’t you think??
WHAT’S IT ABOUT? The basic premise of the study is to learn how to guard what we’re saying to ourselves and what we’re stuffing destructively into our minds. Hmmmm. I think I could use that. How about you?
WHEN DO WE START? Since Tuesday is LPM’s normal day for Bible study, we tend to be partial to it. We’ll launch our Siesta Summer Bible Study 2009 on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 then, in like fashion to last year, we will “meet” every other Tuesday from that point on until August 4th. (MORE ON HOW WE WILL MEET TOWARD THE END OF THIS POST.) We’re just talking about meeting four times here. Between those times we’ll each do two weeks of homework on our own. The assignments are not long and but they are packed with riches. I really do think we can work this format into even some of our busiest schedules, Siestas! And, boy, will our families and friends and work mates be glad we did! With all the relational demands and upside-down schedules of summer, this is no time to take off from the study of God’s Word. As I told you last summer, for me, 3 months out of Bible study is roughly 2 ½ months in the pit.
So, here’s the meeting schedule:
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 (1st Mini-Session/LAUNCH/Group instructions)
(DO WEEKS ONE AND TWO OF HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 (2nd Mini-Session/Group Instructions)
(DO WEEKS THREE AND FOUR OF HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 (3rd Mini-Session/Group Instructions)
(DO WEEKS FIVE AND SIX OF HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 (4th Mini-Session/Conclusion)
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET STARTED? 3 Very Important Things!
1. You will each need to get your own copy of the workbook “Me, Myself and Lies” by Jennifer Rothschild and have it well in your possession by the time we launch. (We aren’t able to get it for you through Living Proof but I wish we could.) Please don’t wait till the last minute to get it or you may not be able to start on time! If you have a LifeWay Christian Store, you should be able to find it on the shelf but the easiest way may be on line through the LifeWay Website. Here’s the link:
http://www.lifeway.com/e2/shop/?R=829882
2. You are strongly encouraged to pull together a small group if at all possible. You are MORE THAN WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE SOLO, but, for the sake of richest fellowship and best accountability, try as hard as you can to enlist three or four other women to meet with you every other Tuesday. It could be in one of your homes or in a Starbucks, for crying out loud. (You don’t have to wait until the evening to meet but keep in mind that the mini-sessions will not be posted until that morning. If you meet too early in the day, the video may not be on-line yet.) Four meetings this summer shouldn’t be too overwhelming and you can rotate houses if you like. Make sure that the women you invite to participate know that the gatherings will be low on stress and high on much needed fellowship and rich discussion.
If you want to work food into it, by all means do!! That’s what we did last year and it was so much fun. We will not post recipes this year because it’s not part of the original series as it was for “No Other Gods.” Keep the emphasis on a relaxed and refreshing atmosphere where you can develop some wonderful relationships in Christ. In this superficial culture that surrounds us, where friendship takes place through text message (I’m as guilty as anybody!), we have a huge deficit of pure depth in women’s relationships. Let’s make this real. The goal is to have those two weeks of Bible study finished each time you meet (after the launch) but the fellowship will still be worth your while if you couldn’t get all your homework accomplished. Let’s have lots of encouragement without loads of condemnation.
AN ALTERNATIVE: MEETING ON-LINE IN SMALL GROUPS. By far, the way to get the most out of this experience will be to form small groups in your area where you can get together face-to-face. However, if you try really hard and can’t make it happen, get a few women to meet with you on conference call or on line and work through the discussion questions together. It’s not ideal but it works and it is still more effective than going solo. Email worked quite successfully for several groups last summer. If you have no choice but to go solo, that’s fine, too. Just work extra hard to stay connected through the mini-sessions and through participating with feedback. Your Siesta Mama just wants the best for you.
3. Sign up ON LAUNCH DAY (not before and not today) and be so kind to give the biographical information we’ll request. (Questions like, Group or solo? If group, how many? Who’s the group comprised of? Where are you located?) This is one of the most fun parts. We get to see what our class looks like. THIS TIME I WILL ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AT OUR FIRST GATHERING I’LL ASK YOU TO TAKE ONE PICTURE OF YOUR GROUP (or yourself if you go solo and if you look remarkably like Angelina Jolie, we’re going to get suspicious) AND SEND IT IN BY EMAIL OVER THE NEXT WEEK AND WE’LL TRY TO PUT IT TOGETHER A SLIDE SHOW. Wouldn’t it be fun to see what we look like?? Don’t do it yet. I’ll tell you when. MORE ON THAT LATER.
SO, BETH, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HOW IT WILL WORK? Sure!
On each of our meeting days (every other week starting Tuesday, June 23rd through Tuesday, August 4th), I will “facilitate” our summer study through a video mini-session about 15 minutes long. In it I’ll give you instructions for discussion questions or activities for your group meeting that day based on our previous two weeks of study. (THE VIDEOS ARE PITIFUL, ONE-TIME-TAKES, DONE IN-HOUSE WITHOUT PROFESSIONALS. AND IT’S PART OF WHAT MAKES IT FUN. LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS DRAMATICALLY. THEY’RE SO BAD THAT SOMETIMES SABRINA AND I GET SO TICKLED THAT WE CRY. BUT THE INFORMATION IS REAL AND THE STUDY IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.) You will then implement them into your gathering. If at all possible, try to watch them as a small group at the very beginning of your meeting time so that everybody’s on the same page. (Bar any unforeseen technical difficulties, I will make sure the post is up first thing on those Tuesday mornings.)
YOU’LL CHECK BACK IN EVERY SINGLE TIME WE “MEET” AND THIS IS HOW:
Your way of checking back in with me will be by telling me something about your gathering afterward in a comment to that same post. It will be left up all day Wednesday for your feedback. YOU WILL BE INSTRUCTED NOT TO LEAVE A COMMENT UNTIL AFTER YOUR SMALL GROUP MEETING. The comments are meant to be your feedback to the study. I’ll remind you of that each time.
It’s going to be so much fun! And, at the top of our list of priorities, it’s going to be a joy to God, attract His wonderful favor, bring Him some substantial glory, and help keep us out of the ditch.
REMEMBER, TODAY IS NOT SIGN-UP DAY. BUT, if you’ve already got a plan going for Bible study this summer, let’s hear it! Let’s have the entire population of Siestaville in the Word of God!
I dearly love you.
Ms. Beth,
I am really excited to do this study over the summer. I missed NOGS and was soooo bummed! But I'm in this time and cannot wait. A friend and I have been wanting to do a study together for a while and it never worked out with our schedules (each have 2 busy kids). This time it is working out and we are really excited to join you all, meet you all and become summer siestas! I really hope you do some more hair tips this summer…I could use some…
SO, looking forward to meeting you all and fellowshipping and getting/staying in the Word this summer.
By the way, we are from Concord, CA and Pleasant Hill, CA…any siestas out there near us???
Bless you all!
Melissa Giomi, Concord, CA
I've got my book, a partner and I am so ready to get started!
Hi everyone – I am thinking of doing the study – is there a cost to it? Also where do you watch the videos? Thanks!
I'm so excited about this summers bible study. I'm prepared to do it solo but if there is anyone in the Purvis/Hattiesburg, MS area that would be interested in joining me please email at [email protected]
I have already purchased my workbook and I am thining about getting another one for my 14-year old young daughter. Do you think she would benefit from this study?
I am looking forward to the summer Bible Study. I saw Jennifer Rothchild a few years ago at a Women of Faith Conference and really was inspired by her, I am sure this study will be great. I also would like to say a huge "thank you" for encouraging the scripture memory verses. I have been dealing with greif like never before in my life and satan tries really hard to beat me up but I just pull out my spiral note cards & repeat Gods word over & over. That spiral is mighty powerful!! Thanks again Beth
My sister told me about the Bible study and I joined the blog! We are going to start a small group from our church! I am so excited to do this Bible study as it is so easy to believe lies and allow our thoughts overcome us! I can't wait to see how God uses this!
My girlfriend and I are in!! We are both really excited to join, and with the hectic schedules of summer this fits in perfectly, thank you. Beth I got a chance to be introduced to you via the Focus On Marriage conference that was held by simulcast. It was a blessing to me to hear you, thank you. Look fwd. to joining this bible study.
I'm so excited! So far I have a group of young moms – me and 3 others and we are hoping to find a few more – who will be meeting at my home Tues nights. Can't wait because it's been so long since I've been a part of a small group. I have a 19 month old and 5 month old and so it's been really hard to get connected. But this study is perfect for me – and hopefully other young moms that don't have much free time. Thanks so much we can't wait! Oh ya, we're in Sioux Falls, SD.
I just dont understand how to sign up for this study…But count me in!
Question for you – our group will be meeting on Thursdays – that's when we're able to get help watching kiddos! Will we be able to post our comments after Wednesday?
From Okinawa, Japan, we are starting this Bible Study on our street. Looking forward to it!
Okay, not sure if my post was received this past Saturday. I'm 52 and blonde, so who knows what I did but…….
I'm excited to say that the "younger" three women I run with have committed to us doing this study. We call ourselves "The Peeps". I'm the only one, so far, that is a Siesta but I bet they all are before the end of the summer.
Unfortunately due to stresses with family, work, etc., we have been unable to run much together but we are going to try our best to meet for the study.
I also wanted to take this time to say how much I've enjoyed the Scripture Memory. I thought I would be one to seriously meditate but God has helped me not only remember the scriptures but lift others up with them as well. How encouraging it has been…
Speaking of encouraging, thank you Beth, Amanda, Melissa and LPM for all the encouragement you provide us. You are all truly a blessing!
Vicki Knott
Greenwood, SC
Hi. I am sorry to bother you but I need help. I am 15 years old and in a bind. I have no one else I can turn to. I think I am spiritually dying! I dont want to but it is happeneing. I picked something up a long time ago & I just cant seem to put it down and walk away. I have repented but I keep falling back into it. So really, whats the point in asking for forgivness anymore? I do love God. And it tears my heart in two knowing that I am doing wrong against Him. But for some reason, no matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to go to God and leave this burden at his feet. Its like I humble at his feet & then the next day I am on my way to ask forgivness for that same exact thing! I want to put this down. I just dont know how to leave it at the feet of Jesus. Please help!
Thank you Beth for all your hard work through God! A few years ago while living in Virginia, the church my family belonged to began Bible/book studies. One class offered was "A Heart Like His". The facilitator did a good job, the time and effort spent were well worth it. A Siestas Bible study, has not been offered at our current church in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Another church in the area may have it, I will check around. Thank again for all you do. Psalm 112:1-8 sounds like a good set of verses to memorize, good suggestion.
Take care, Ginny
I'm so excited to tell you that myself and two other friends of mine are going to join your Summertime Bible Study! I can't wait to get started! Now it's time to find the books!
I got my book this weekend and couldn't help but start it. I need this sooooo much at this point in my life. Being 40, thinking about a job change and having a prodical daughter that seems unreachable, the enemy is NOT going to get a foothold in my life. he is not even going to get a toe!!!!! My mental closet is so cluttered and it is time for a makeover. I could be on the show "What Not To Wear"!!!!!! Can't wait. I'll be doing it solo and that is ok with me!!!!!!!
I'm looking forward to this – doing it with my daughter and daughter-in-law. Had to call over Canada to find workbooks and finally met with success!
Beth, i am so looking forward to doing this Bible study. I did it last year and have since moved and ma getting a new group together for this new and wonderful experiance. thank you
I'm in an already established small group, and we're interested in doing this 6 week study over the summer with you. And it's perfect timing, we just recently finished a study! But we had a question, we noticed that comments will be open only until Wednesday following the Tuesday post. Well…we meet on Monday evenings, it's what fits best into our schedules. So we would always be a week "behind". I guess our question is how does this really work? 24 hours to post a comment on our thoughts/discussions/etc.? Please help as we'd LOVE to do this book with you all!
Have room for one more?? Of course you do! This is exciting! I plan on joining in this summer. I already have the book as I am going to be doing a small women's study on this topic this fall. I feel this will help me prepare myself better and to be the leader that God will have me to be!
Thank you!
I just bought the study guide and am excited to start this study! Unfortunately I'll be flying solo since I don't currently belong to a church where I could round up some sisters.
Beth,
I am so glad I found this.
I have been leading this study on Wednesday nights at church with sessions 5 and 6 to go. We will be wrapping up the same week your study starts.
The ladies (and I) have all enjoyed Jennifer, many of us have felt the Holy Spirit alerting us to the way we have been thinking and the words we say to ourselves. (If anyone can get access to the videos, I promise you, you will love them….Kathy Troccoli is a hoot!)….I am so excited to have an opportunity for a 'do-over'! Can't wait for other insights and to listen for what God still has to say to me on this subject. I will be in Honduras during the second meeting, but hopefully will catch up. To wrap up this lengthy comment, Beth, thank you so much for sharing your gifts and devoting so much time to all of us. Time is precious and I appreciate your willingness to share yours.
May God continue to bless you and your family.
Grace & Peace,
Eva
Hello! How exciting! I just moved (well…last summer) and have been wanting to form a small group with other newlyweds/women/singles/ladies. This is the perfect facilitator for that!
One question – I have a puppy training class on Tuesdays for my newly rescued, 2-year old, full of puppy engergy golden named Newton James. 🙂 Can we do a group Wednesday night and post our comments on Thursday? From what I read in the post, our way to keep in touch with you is to post and that will be available all day Wednesday…but can we keep in touch on Thursday.?
Thank you! ([email protected])
I just started a Mom's group at our church and we are going to do this study in August. I am looking forward to doing this study with the other 'siestas' here so I can be better prepared to facilitate the mom's group. 🙂
I also have a toddler who goes to the Parent's Day Out program at our church on Tuesday mornings, so Tuesday mornings are perfect time for me to do this study. Can't wait!
Praise the Lord! I like Jennifer
Rothschild and Beth Moore too!
Each summer I pick a Bible study
and usually do it by myself, maybe
this year I can help other ladies
and they can join me.
Thank you so very much.
Still on a high from Living Proof Live in Pittsburg Fri p.m., and picked up the wkbk at the event. Can't wait!
I have never done a study like this before but am looking forward to it. I love anything Beth does, she is so insightful. I am getting together an online group and one which will meet face to face. Thank-you, Lord, for this community of Siestas.
We are doing MM&L at our church this summer! 68 Ladies have signed up! Can't wait to get started! God Bless, Siestas!
Beth, I ordered my workbook today and look forward to continuing the renewing of my mind/thoughts through this study.
I am the co-leader of our Women's Ministry team and have been contemplating a theme for 2010 Spring retreat. The theme that keeps coming back to me is the lies we believe. This was driven home to me one day at work when our camp director, my boss, led us in a team activity which required one persont to stand in the middle of us as we encircled around them. We were all then to, one by one, state positive things about the person in the middle. Each of us were very uncomfortable with this. It was at the end that our director commented that he believed the reason we were all so uncomfortable was because it is easier for us to believe the lies about ourselves than it is for us to believe the truth. And I thought "WOW, that is so true". And i thought if it was true for me and for all my co-workers, how true it is for all the women I sit with in church and in Bible Study. And what joy Satan is stealing everytime we choose to believe Satan's lies instead of God's truth. Then I get the email about Beth doing the blog study…Me MySelf and Lies. I immediately, after checking it out, invited our Women's Ministry Team to join me in the study. They have all agreed and are considering using it for the theme for our 2010 retreat. See ya next Tuesday!
Can I just tell you how excited we (a group of 5) are about this study?! Our books came in today and I can't WAIT to see what the Lord has in store for us!! Such a great idea!
Jaime B.
We are soooo excited. I have about 5 siestas coming to my home….fun, food and fellowship with the Father and friends. Admitting that we are all technically challenged it should be very interesting…..our first Blog session. Thank you so much for teaching us new ways to reach out to one another. Been apart of your bible studies for over 12 years…love all of the bible studies I have been apart of so I am sure this will not be a whole lot different.
Lynn in Ocean Springs Ms
I started a small group that has grown into 15 ladies of all kinds! I picked up all of the books and we are ready! I can't believe how many women have contacted me wanting to do this study! God is good! Keli
I'm going to buy my book today!! I'm planning on doing it along with my best friend!! I'm very excited!!
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9 (kjv)
Mulls
Chuckey, TN 37641
How long will the video post each Tuesday be available? My group may not meet until Wednesdays but I would like us to view the video together.
Thanks!
What an interesting way to do a bible study. I decided to do this for 2 reasons. 1) to check out JR's new study to use for our women's ministry and 2) to see how this blog bible study works. I'm going it alone but would welcome an on-line group from the SD area.
Two summers ago I invited a small group of women I wished to know better to do a bible study. We chose "Heavenly Minded for Earthly Good" by Karen Chaffin. God blessed us with a lasting siesthood. Knowing about God's plan for our eternity was a special blessing as we did "Daniel" in the fall. We completed "Esther" together this past spring. I will get the girls together again for this newest permutation of bible study this summer! God is good all the time.
Been talking with my Pastor's wife about what summer study to do for a couple of weeks. Had not committed to anything yet….until today! So glad I stumbled on your May 30th entry…and just in the nick of time! We are sitting on go, ready to recruit some folks to join us! Can't wait for the launch! Ready to see those un-cut videos! Thanks for doing this!
NEW YORK!!! Get in on this …
We'll study on Facebook. Here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=96268847101&view=user#/group.php?gid=96268847101
LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US!
Anyone wanting to join an online group we've got one building on Facebook… join in if you want! Here's the link
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=96268847101&ref=ts
We're based in NY state but we're going global on this one! Whoo Hoo!
I just got my book tonight and am anxious to get involved in the online study. I'm just finishing up Esther on my own.
Hey there! Announced starting a small group in our Adult Bible Fellowship and we now have 25 ladies signed up and books in hand! 🙂 Today a lady came up to me who is not even in our class and says she has her book and invited her neighbors! Everyone is going to pull up a piece of carpet and have a great time! I have ordered some red clothes hangers from HSN to tie the theme verse to and to hand out to our ladies on the first day for them to hang in their closets at home to each day see a reminder they can keep their thought closets clean through Christ who strengthens them! I am so excited!
Where do you go to sign up on launch day and is that day the 23rd?
I'm so excited about this study. At this point in time, my "group" consists of myself and my merea from Christian Women's Job Corp. The enemy has been lying to her and her ancestors for generations! I'm praying this study will help her see what a beautiful, intelligent, "usable by God" woman she really is.
I was excited to do this Bible Study and opened it up to our church. Lo and behold 22 women signed up and will be at my house tomorrow night. My dilemna is that I can't fit that many ladies into the room with my computer to watch the video online. (I'm afraid to unhook the computer and move it because I KNOW I'll never be able to hook it back up again correctly, LOL). Will the video be available for download so I can burn it to a dvd and watch it in my much larger family room?
Hi girls! I just had a quick question regarding the study this summer. I've got my book and my friend, and we're excited to start tomorrow!
I was wondering though, I read this in your post: YOU’LL CHECK BACK IN EVERY SINGLE TIME WE “MEET†AND THIS IS HOW:
Your way of checking back in with me will be by telling me something about your gathering afterward in a comment to that same post. It will be left up all day Wednesday for your feedback. YOU WILL BE INSTRUCTED NOT TO LEAVE A COMMENT UNTIL AFTER YOUR SMALL GROUP MEETING.
How will this work for those of us who do not meet until later in the week? It looks like we won't be meeting until Thursdays (because Tuesday seems to be the day our church always lines up women's events and meetings) and I would love to still be able to participate in the comments and discussion. I wasn't sure if it could possibly be left up later, maybe Friday?
Just a thought, and thank you SO much!! We can't wait! 🙂
God bless you, Melody
Did anyone find out if we can save the video post? I'm just wondering what to do if we're not in an area with Wi-Fi. I'm obviously a newbie at this! But sooo excited about getting started with my small group!
I am trying this online/blog type Bible study for the first time to determine how this format might fit into the Women's Ministry at my church. Looking forward to it.