Hey, Siestas! It鈥檚 time for summer Bible study! For the sake of rich fellowship and vital accountability, we hope as many of you as possible are meeting with small groups and on every other Tuesday or as close to Tuesdays as possible. You are absolutely welcome to join us solo but try to stay as involved as possible in the discussions so that you鈥檒l feel plugged in. This is what you鈥檒l do every other Tuesday:
1. Watch the video so you鈥檒l have your instructions for your gathering or for your solo experience. I will always put the bare bones of the instructions in writing on the post just in case there is a video malfunction.
2. (You will find these instructions reiterated in this post because it鈥檚 fundamental to the experience.) If you are in a small group, designate one person who will write a comment to this post briefly telling us about your group and your discussion. It can be a different person each week or the same. START THE COMMENT WITH THE CITY, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AND LOCATION THEN DESCRIBE YOUR GROUP AND ADD SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR DISCUSSION. For instance, I am meeting with my Monday staff members so my comment will begin with:
Houston, Texas; 8 of us; Meeting at Living Proof Ministries. Our group is primarily made up of…The main part of our discussion was about…(And so forth).
3. If you are going solo, your comment will become the way you complete the assignments. In other words, you鈥檒l see that I ask you to describe this season of your life in one word. In your comment, tell us what that one word would be.
Make the length of it one good, descriptive paragraph. Try not to write too much or readers will tend to skip over it.
This clip is to give instructions for your first gathering – the one you are hopefully having today or in next 24 hours. You can watch this together or your leader can watch it and pass on your instructions.
Summer Bible Study – Week 1 from LPV on Vimeo.
I聽so hope that makes sense! Now, here are the written instructions for your gathering just in case you can鈥檛 get the video to work. Welcome aboard! May God take us on a journey that we鈥檒l treasure for many years. Let鈥檚 find the Ruth in us, Siestas!
Today in your small group, here鈥檚 what I am asking you to do:
1. If you don鈥檛 know each other, spend a few minutes finding out some basic biographical information about one another. 聽(Single, married, still in school, or in a career. Children, no children. The regular stuff. Keep in mind that everybody fits in Bible study. You don鈥檛 need to all be alike. In fact, the more alike you all are, the less you may sharpen one another.)
2. Each of you in your small group characterize your life in this present season in ONE WORD. 聽Have the leader record these.
3. Each of you in your small group share one specific goal you have this summer for being in Bible study. Have the leader record these, too.
4. Look at the very last verse of the Book of Judges (Judges 21:25) because of its placement just prior to the book we鈥檒l study together this summer. Discuss several specific reasons why doing what each of us sees fit at any given time could be dangerous. After several minutes of聽discussion, read Jeremiah 17:7-14 and talk about how this segment relates or contrasts to Judges 21:25.
Leader: this is very important. You get back on within 24 hours of meeting and write a brief summation of your group time as a comment to this post. Tell us how many came, your city, and something about your group or your group discussion.
*UPDATE*
Here’s a link to the first chapter of Ruth in case you don’t have your workbook yet.
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_Ruth-Sample-Chapter.pdf
Sorry we are SO BEHIND Beth!! Our group is just now getting started due to summer vacation, but we figured better late than never! 馃檪
Gainesville, Fl. 4 of us – Danielle(26), Kristy(28), Emily(28) & Jen(25). We are meeting at Kristy’s house on Tuesdays at 2pm so the kiddos can nap during our study time! We are ALL moms with young children ranging in age from 3 to 5 1/2 months old and we are all married. Danielle and Kristy have left their careers as a teacher (Danielle) and nurse (Kristy) to be stay at home moms. Emily now works part time as an OT. And, Jen has resigned from her job as a Pre-school asst. director effective August 13 to stay at home with her little one. We are so blessed to be able to put so much time and effort into our children’s lives!!
Our first meeting was GREAT! Our goals for this study are mainly to help us get refocused in our walks with the Lord. We want to be obedient and disciplined and let God do the leading and us do the following. We have noticed that summer can sometimes prevent us from really diving into God’s word and that is NO excuse!! We know this will be “a new beginning” in our walks, making us stronger Christ followers! We can’t wait to get started!! 馃檪
No stress, Danielle! So glad you’re doing this with us!
Lansing Michigan here. My mom and I are going to be doing this study together. We are late getting started, but we’ll catch up! Love this whole concept, and love seeing the connection of all of these women across the the country! really cool!
Ft. Worth, TX; 2 of us; Shelley’s word – TEENAGERS; Paula’s word – NEW (because she is at a new chapter in her life). Most of our time was spent talking about the stage of life we are in right now.
Im glad Im not the only one behind on starting the study!
I bought the book on time but just now this week goton track and start the study.
My name is Laura (28–but will be 29 tomorrow). Im married but no children yet. But we do have 2 precious dog babies, 2 mini dacshunds, Mason and Charlie. I live right outside of Knoxville, Tennessee. Im doing the study solo, but its awesome there are so many wonderful ladies commenting on the study you don’t really feel solo once you log into the blog!
My word for this season of my life is to SIMPLIFY. That is what I want most in my life now. Is to be a good servant to the Lord, a good wife, daughter, sister, friend and let all the rest of the daily garbage in my life fall by the way side. Above all I want to deepen my relationship with the Lord and do his will.
Happy birthday, Laura!
Happy Birthday tomorrow-July’s a great month for birthdays! Mine is next Wed.! Hope you have a blessed day.
Aaaggghh! We got together today for our second meeting and I realized I’d never posted about our first gathering. Ugh.
Anyway, we’re a group of 6 women from Gillette, Wyoming. We are officially a week behind from everyone else–vacations kept most of us away during the launch. During our first meeting we talked about how most of us are in a season of summer busyness but still seeking to know the Lord more. 2 of our 6 women are brand-new Christians since April!! Woohoo!! All of us are teachers (elementary and high school)-but I am the only one who knows us all. I feel a bit like the woman you described in the video, that the women gathered were hand-picked by God’s leading. We’re excited to be on this journey together!
Hello from Minnesota. I’m another very late solo starter, my book was actually lost in shipping and I just got the replacement on Monday. I’m trusting that this is GOD’s time for me to start the study, and it certainly feels that way.
The word that describes my life at this season is TRANSITION… we’ve just returned from more that 20 years as overseas missionaries and will be in the States for at least a few years at this point. Have had to close up our home, sell/give away all our possessions, say goodbye to our dearly loved community… so it’s a good time to turn to God’s words in Ruth about loss and weeping forward! I can’t even write the word weeping without wanting to weep even though it feels like I can’t let the tears start for fear they won’t stop.
My goal and prayer is to be attentive to God’s Spirit in this time of transition, with the hope that I will experience God’s healing. (Jer. 7:14 “Heal me O Lord and I shall be healed, save me and I shall be saved.”)
yikes, i just realized i have two typos in that comment, will carefully preview if/when i comment again! It’s Jeremiah 17: 14… and more “THAN” 20 years. 馃檪
Welcome Mary,
we are glad to have you. I know the Lord will bless you. I had to chat with you My last name is Decker.
God Bless you
Hi, we are a group of 6 women in our church (known as the Joyce Wyatt Circle). Our ladies’ responses to our lives in the present season include stretched, aimless, disorganized, financial problems, and frustration so we are really excited to study Ruth and God’s message for our lives. Our goals for this Bible study are spending more time in Bible study with accountability, recommitment, looking for one’s passion, fellowship, and thirsting for spending more time with God.
Doing what each one of us sees fit can be dangerous as man is sinful and has a deceitful heart. It leads to chaos in our lives. Being rooted in the Lord and trusting God with our decisions leads to rewards as we strive to become more Christlike.
Ok, I know that we are like three weeks late… But we were just finishing up a different Bible Study and really wanted to do this one, too. And… we meet on Thursday nights instead of Tuesdays. But I’m guessing that you will still accept us!
~Aurora, IL
~6 usually, but there were only 4 tonight
~Meeting in my living room (me being a 27-year old pastor’s wife)
~Our group is made up primarily of 20-somethings. Two of us are married with kids, and four of us are single and living at home with our parents for the summer.
~The main part of our discussion was on how inspiring Kelly is as a writer! She’s made us so excited to “drink the dregs” of the book of Ruth. Can’t wait!
The words that were used to describe our places in life were: settled, lucky, growing and unrestful.
We’re hoping to learn from Ruth about sacrifice, loving women in our life, being selfless and being more intentional with relationships.
We’re excited! (And we all decided that we really like the artwork for this book. Very indie cool.)
Thanks for letting us join you all here!
~Becky
Good morning ladies,
We are a few weeks late starting our study due to a summer study at our church. However, we had our first meeting last night in Florence, South Caroline. There are 9 ladies in our group. We had some great discussion. Our one word answers and our goals for our summer Bible study were awesome. I was very encouraged by the discussion. One lady in our group is new to this and she used the word transition. There are lots of things in her life right now that are changing. She is searching for God for the first time. One specific area of her life that she is trying to work through is her Mom. She asked my friend yesterday about the title of the Bible study and when she told her Ruth, the girl went silent. That is her mother’s name! Love to see the Lord at work!!! Our girls are hungry, excited, looking, etc.
I have to tell you, my hubby was working hard to get the computer hooked up to the tv, complete with extra speakers and such… After setting everything up and watching the video with me, he said to tell my girls that he just might be their Siesta Daddy! :0) Love it! Thanks for what you are doing!
Rita McInville
Florence, South Carolina
We started yesterday. We are a group of 5 friends who work together at Vera Bradley Bellevue Square. The two words that describe our current state were “transitional” and “overwhelmed.” Our group is made up 5 women ages 32 to 58, married and single. One is newly recovering from Breast Cancer and in a very hard marriage, another is caring for an elderly mother with breast cancer, a sister with cancer and a daughter being treated for anorexia, one is preparing to send her first born off to college, is a pastor’s wife and is praying for her ministry, one is single and dealing with a tough relationship with her mother and desires a soulmate, and one is recently seperated from her husband and starting over with 3 kids on her own. We are doing this before work or at lunch. We meet right in the middle of the mall outside the coffee shop and our store. We pray and watch the video right there out in public. We might move to a home later, but this is best time was for all of us and we all feel it is important to be a witness in the mall.
Round Rock, TX (suburb of Austin); 1 person…me!; in my home office. I’m in a season of incredible uneasiness. Am I choosing the right path? My part-time career is going well, but I feel like I’m holding on by my fingernails. I’m a full-time mom, but I feel so guilty when I leave my son with a babysitter 1 day per week to go to work! I wonder what in the world is wrong with me. I am desperate to learn more about closeness with God through this study. Beth said over and over, “HE is your life!” I want this to be true for me.
Wow – we made it! Our group of 18 ladies (some missing tonight for vacations…) in Post Falls, Idaho just finished our first week of actual study and review of homework. First, the dish…on the dish! Absolutely delicious food by siesta and facilitator, Jeani! She spoiled us with recipes outside of our book – so tasty and creative (and dessert – a total show-stopper)!
Now, on to the “meat” of our gathering, the study: We all went into the week excited but not really knowing what to expect. I think we all would agree, it was challenging and interesting – creating an environment of thinking beyond what was written on the page. Our discussion time tonight was open and revealing. Upon arrival, we each drew a random question from the questions in this week’s study. After dinner, as we went around the room sharing our particular question (and subsequent answers), we saw little pieces of each others’ hearts. We heard how God has lovingly guided and blessed some our fellow siestas through overwhelming and, in some instances, tragic life experiences. How they have come through the other side with a growth and deeper trust in Him. Wow, our Jesus is so amazing! It was a safe, warm and open gathering. Beautiful ladies studying a remarkable woman, learning how much we have in common! I cannot hardly wait until next week to see what new revelations we will be blessed with! Until then….
God Bless,
Lisa
I’m late getting started but I always run fashionably late! 馃檪
Fayetteville, AR-Just me-I’m a happily, married, stay-at-home mom to a 21 month old little boy. The word that best describes my season of life would be “blessed”. I love this season of my life although I would say it has been one of the most challenging but rewarding seasons. I love stayiing home and raising our son and feel so blessed to be able to do so. We are thrilled to be adding our second child to our family this fall. We are crazy about her already. God is good!
My goal for this summer is for God to find me faithful in this season. I want him to be pleased with the way we raise our family and the daily choices I make as a wife and a mom.
dear beth,
starting this today. just found it on the internet. downloading the first session and have to buy the book. i have to catch up fast. doing this by myself.
love your bible studies!!
donna
Welcome, Donna! I’m so glad you’ve joined us! May Christ speak to your sweet heart.
Menomonie, WI
1 person-moi : )
1. Married, stay-at-home mom with very small vdeography business, four kids (8,10,12,18-stepdaughter)
2. Blessed
3. Stay Connected
4. Am loving this study, but a bit leery with a new, unknown-to-me author-so I’m cautious. But I’m excited to be involved in this blessed online community! Praise God for using the internet for “such a time as this” (sorry…just finished Beth’s Esther..still fresh on my mind!)
So glad to have you, Lisa! You’re going to LOVE it!
Hello from the Most High altitude living in Denver, Co! I will be running solo through this Bible study but it is such a God-send because I have been lost in that lazy days of summer mentality and I need to get back into the Word of God!
I found out about this Ruth study from my mother who lives in Atlanta and has been a Siesta 馃檪 for a while! I am excited to do a study that will link us together despite the long distance. She started this study before me but I’m sure I will catch up with her soon!
One Word that describes life right now is : Establishing
My wonderful husband and I are coming up on one year of marriage on Aug 15th and that will also mark one full year of living in Denver. So we have been building our marriage, our spiritual life together, relationships with new people (we knew no one when we moved here), and new job situations for both of us.
Im excited to see what I will learn from Ruth, I want to be a woman that can trust God in every season and trial of life knowing that He is and always will be my Kinsman-Redeemer!
We are thrilled to have you, Summer! Jump in!
Our group of 5 is meeting in Nolensville, TN… we are a bit behind and totally off schedule because that’s how we roll 馃檪
We are all really excited about this study, and we are done with week 3, but I’m just now getting to post about our initial gathering… EEK!
I know God will work wonders through this study. Thanks for hosting it Beth!
Solo
San Clemente CA
Single, College student and full time Office manager
ONE WORD: Authentic
SPECIFIC GOAL: To walk out my relationship with the LORD.
4. It would be dangerous if we did was we saw as fitting because we at our core are sinful and selfish. Even if we acted out first and regretted later, our actions would have done damage already.
5. The LORD knows the hearts and minds and no one gets away with what he/she sees fit. Our hearts are ‘deceitful above all things’ and ( I feel this), ‘beyond cure.’ YET…Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi, Beth. My name is Darla Szasz, from Moscow, Idaho. I am doing this study “solo”. I would say that the word that best describes my life right now is “uncertain”. I have done many of your bible studies and I love you like crazy, too!!
Hi friends, we’ve had two meetings and I wasn’t going to comment because we started a couple weeks late, but I saw some other late comments and thought I should jump in too!
Hume, CA; 5 of us; Meeting on my deck. We are all good friends and young moms. We’re so excited about studying God’s Word together. We are in very similar life stages and yet very different seasons. Our one word descriptions of our current season’s show the diversity: Restoring, Preparatory, Mixed, Life, Lost. We had a great discussion time and can’t wait to dig into Ruth!
Blessings.
Our little group finally had a chance to meet. We are three moms with kids ranging from 7th grade to 1st grade. We met in our friends’ very cute, comfy basement in Minneapolis, MN – and got to enjoy the happy sounds of her three girls playing above our heads as we met.
Our words: 1) waiting; 2) new; 3) dependent/mourning.
Our reason for this study:
To be in God’s Word and reap whatever it is He has for us through it.
Our discussion was rather heartfelt and a blessing, despite painful things shared. One thing we all have in common and that we talked much of was the transition we each are facing in parenting as our oldest kids enter a new phase of life as 12/13-yr-olds — and all that will require of us as moms (navigating new emotions and attitudes, allowing them more freedom, trusting God when our fear would rather keep them close and at HOME….)
Our group of 6 finally got to meet for the first time on 7/20. We are an outgrowth of a group of 3 young ministry wives that I was/am mentoring. Since we began, two were added, one is now a young widow, and another’s husband has walked away from the marriage. We plan to meet at homes or fast food places (with playgrounds for all the kids) so that not having a sitter will not be an issue. It is my hope and prayer that strong bonds of friendship and support among them will be established and grow as some are first time new mothers also. Our present seasons were: surprised, loss/hope, adjustment, stretched, today, perplexed. Goals were to learn, grow, fellowship, strenghten connections/relationships and rekindle others, and have a sense of community.
We are praising God for what He will do with this group.
Kay
Houston suburb
We are late but loving the study! Actually I am more than a little behind because we met 2 Thursdays ago and I am just now posting a response. I am doing this Bible study with my husband’s cousin’s wife….does that make us cousin-in-laws? Anyway, we both live in Denver, CO, are in our 30s, and have young children. We know each other well but couldn’t get enough of talking about our Lord and Savior and all the questions we have.
Better late than never!
Purcellville, VA
1.Two of us, both in our late 40’s, both single(i have a 13 yr.old son) Bev just retired and I am trying to get employed as a recent wed design student. Not doing so well. . . just got hired at Chick-fil-A 馃檪 Are you hiring at Lifeway? I love all of your media Beth!
2. Transition’s
3. Accountability
4. Am loving Kelly. She seems to be reading my mail. . . ! And I am loving this study of Ruth. . . perfect for this ongoing season of life as a single mother seeking God in integrity! And I am finally connecting with a siesta in my lonely life!
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I am working on doing this study this Summer 2011 I am working on getting a small group together. My sister did this study last year and said it was amazing! Excited as this will be my 1st Bible study! Keep you posted!
That’s GREAT, Susan! I know you will love digging in the Word with your group. 馃檪
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1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.