Hey, Siestas! It’s 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’ll feel plugged in. This is what you’ll do every other Tuesday:
1. Watch the video so you’ll 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’s 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’ll 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 so hope that makes sense! Now, here are the written instructions for your gathering just in case you can’t get the video to work. Welcome aboard! May God take us on a journey that we’ll treasure for many years. Let’s find the Ruth in us, Siestas!
Today in your small group, here’s what I am asking you to do:
1. If you don’t know each other, spend a few minutes finding out some basic biographical information about one another. (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’t 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. 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’ll 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 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
East Bend,North Carolina: There are two of us doing the study together. We are nurses who work together so we will be watching the videos seperately and then having discussions at work. We are doing this study to grow in knowledge of God’s word. This is our first study in Siestaville and we are very excited about it!!
That’s awesome! I hope some day I can do this with coworkers, it would just be wonderful and I know they would enjoy it as much as I do. Blessings as we study His word together! 🙂
Hi Siestas!
Looking forward to our summer bible study together, I LOVE bible study! I will be studying solo in Windermere Florida under a big beautiful Oak.
Season of life: “lonely”… but trusting this mid-life crisis will turn into a mid-life mission, for HE IS my trust and my praise.
Talk soon.
Hello, Siestas! We are ten women, married, singles, kids to grands, thirsty, overflowing, some newly acquainted, some first-time Bible studiers, some with knowledge to share. (One missing tonight.) Located near Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa. Our one-word descriptives are: eager, unsinkable, waiting, stale, wondering, unstable, uptight, tired, restored.
Our goals for this study are: taking time for God, to be refreshed, fellowship, to give/encourage, to do something for me, seeking positive, learn more, continue to grow, stay on task.
Good discussion questions to start getting acquainted and share faith and hope in our loving Father. We can’t do this on our own unless we desire chaos and mayhem!
We have a variety of life experiences and some threads of common experiences. Isn’t it just like God? He is up to something!! I am just giddy to share this journey with these ladies and all of you, too!
Andover, MN. I’ll be participating in my first SSBS solo! 🙂
I’m 41 years young and happily single! 😉 I’ve never been married and have no children. However, I do consider my 2.75 lb Yorkshire Terrier to be my little baby girl. Her name is Brie (aka “Poopsie”).
I decided last year around Christmas time that 2010 was going to be my BREAKTHROUGH year. I was so sick and tired of being “sick and tired” that I knew I needed to make some major life style changes. Why not use “BREAKTHROUGH” to describe my current season as well? After all, I’m in the process of breaking through a lot of bad habits (physically, mentally, spiritually, etc.), which leads me to my goal for this year’s SSBS…
My goal this summer is to intentionally spend time each day in the Word with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to come to know and love Him even more and more each day. I need something to help keep me on track and to be accountable. Thanks for having me! 🙂
I hear you on the sick and tired of being sick and tired part! I read a blog post on January 4th of this year and came to the same conclusion and let me tell you, God has shown up! I’m so thankful He has because I needed a change in the worst kind of way.
And it’s so great that you say you’re happily single. I’m not-as-happily single right now and I’m only 26. That’s something God’s working on me about.
I pray your goals are met and I know they will be if you rely on Him for strength. 🙂
Who: 20 somethings in Milwaukee, WI suburbs
How many: three of us
location: my apartment but decided to switch off to do the meals
We had a blast tonight. I was nervous as I’ve never “led” a study before, but I didn’t need to worry. Our discussion was rich, Beth’s video was a great introduction, and we got so much out of the Scriptures studied tonight. We even decided to switch off hosting and do the meal thing – so excited! We went through and picked out the three meals that looked the best to do for the 3 remaining sessions. Each person will host the meal and study one time, so it works out great for us. We have one other person who couldn’t make Tuesdays, so I’m going to meet her for coffee every other week to go over it with her. That should be enriching as well.
Even though there are only three of us, it seems God has brought us together for a definite reason. When I saw the post a while back about Summer Bible Study, I knew I wanted to do it, and I felt the Lord’s prompting to invite as many as I could think of in their 20’s and focus it on those right in my age group. When we talked tonight about why we chose to do this study, both said they were so excited to do a study with women their age. As someone who normally does a Bible study with a lot of women much older than myself, this is new for me, and I’m enjoying the differences. I love the other way too though – I learn so much!
I could write a book, but I’ll save that. I hope all of you enjoyed your night as well. We might buy those shoes yet…. I really think I’m going to check out payless tomorrow 😉
We’ve got a group of 8 here in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We’re not having our first meeting until next Monday night ’cause VBS is this week at our church. We’re all excited to be a part of the Summer Study and so looking forward to getting to know Ruth!
Our group of women are all moms with kids ranging from elementary to college, so we’re spanning lots of stages of life. All but one of us have done studies together before and we’ve got a great group of women who really want to follow Jesus with all our hearts.
1. Western MD…I asked several people to join me, but alas, I’ll be doing it solo. I am a stay-at-homeschooling mom in my thirties. I have 4 children, 2boys/2girls. Boys are homegrown, girls are adopted from S. Korea.
2. AWAITING
3. My goal is to have the accountability to stay in the word daily.
4. The moment we try to do things our own way, we take the focus off of God and place it on ourself. That’s never a good idea!
I am the oldest of 4 sisters and we are hoping to be able to do this study as an email discussion group.
All of us are in Florida, but only 3 are in the same city. We have 9 children between us from 13 to 31, and so far I am the only one with grandchildren, although one of us has a married son with a dog who is like a grandchild 🙂
It may take us a bit to get this thing working like we want it to… but we are so excited about what God is going to do in our lives as individuals and as sisters.
While one of us described her life now as “marshmallow” 🙂 I would use “resting” for mine. There was a time however, when we all used the term “D” dimension because our names all started with D, and we were obviously functioning in a different dimension than anyone else in the room! We have discovered that the condition is showing up in the next generation 🙂
Looking forward to some real growth now!
Sumter, SC, going solo on this one, 43 and single, no children..except my Yorkie who is my baby boy! The one word that describes my present season is drained! Drained due to a demanding nursing job. Drained from some health problems that I’m praying lots about. Drained from gradually allowing myself to fall out of close relationship with my Father. Just drained. My goal for this study is to somehow fall back in love with Jesus and grow/strengthen our relationship again…to surrender absolutely everything! I’m so sick of myself right now. I pray I’ll stay in this attitude of surrender. Strange.. I feel like I’ve been somewhat living like Judges 21:25. 🙁 But I’m wanting and praying Jeremiah 17:7-14!
Praying for you tonight. May you be refreshed and overwhelmed with His love. I am also a nurse and have also been on the recieving end of care. Please know that the Lord sees and knows all that you do!
I wish you lived in MN! We would wrap you into our little group and do all we could to pray and love you to refreshment and joy. We’ll just have to do so from miles away.
Woodstock, Vermont in my home
solo…(except my daughter did listen to the video with me and commented that I should really make the recipes found in the book.)
I’m married,almost 42, 2 daughters 10&13
one word- hopeful
goal- to learn something new…(the first time I studied Ruth, I had no idea what a kinsman redeemer was and it just blew me away to have that all come together in the story!) and to live out everyday in faith and trust and smiling at the unknown.
thoughts on Judges/Jeremiah- the first thing I thought of after reading these two places in scripture was- “delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” amen!
We have a group of 5 women rotating homes in Houston, Texas. We’re all excited about the study for various reasons…restful, unwound, curiously hopeful, trusting, broken, and joyful were some words we came up with. We are looking so forward to meeting together this summer, having fellowship with one another and digging deeper into God’s Word.
houston, texas. 7 of us. meeting at my house. primarily made up of ladies from second baptist – cypress campus. we had a great time getting to know each other. we talked alot about where each of us is in life right now and it was nice to hear everyone’s “real” answer, not a wishful answer. we discussed the people in our lives who live by their own rules and only care about pleasing themselves, and how sad their lives are. we are all hungry and excited to learn more about about how to be a woman of God this summer through the Ruth study. to amanda – i missed getting to hang out with you tonight, but i thank you for your sweet support of our group here. love you girl.
West Des Moines, Iowa; 14 of us; Meeting at my home in West Des Moines. Our group is primarily young women in their 20s; Our discussion seemed to revolve around our desire to grow deeper in our faith and closer to one another.
Beth! We had an awesome night. There were five of us: Katee, Holly, Blair, Tammy and myself and hopefully Kerrie… starting next time. We met in Irving, TX in my tiny little living room apartment. Five(6?) girls who are longing to grow closer to God, have accountability, have SOMETHING to actually study instead of trying to do it on our own and FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER GIRLS!!! We all were longing to just meet with each other. I knew everyone, but some met for the first time. We range from 21 – 30. One with a 1 year old daughter, some finishing up college and some just married and working. Our words were Excited, Challenged, Transitioning, Working and Changing. I have a feeling many of our goals will be met during this study and I cannot wait to dig into this in two weeks. Thank you LORD for this group of girls and for this study and for Beth Moore’s leadership through this! WooHOOO!!
VAN BUREN, MO……….SOLO…….I WAS FEELING KIND OF BAD ABOUT THAT TIL I READ THE POSTS OF SO MANY SOLO LADIES………..THAT MADE ME FEEL BETTER. I WISH I HAD A GROUP OF LADIES WHO WOULD FAITHFULLY FIND THE TIME. ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE ME AT THIS TIME IS ‘SEARCHING’. GOD IS SHOWING ME A VOID IN MY LIFE THAT I’M SURE HE PLANS TO FILL………..MY GOAL FOR THE SUMMER AND THIS BIBLE STUDY IS TO FIND WHAT MY SPIRT IS ‘SEARCHING’ FOR.
You bet that He has plans to fill that void! I kind of thought of Romans 5:5 when I read that…He’s poured love into our hearts. I don’t know why that verse necessarily came to mind, but I thought I’d share 🙂
Hi,
There are only 2 in our group right now…we’re hoping more will join this week.
We are meeting in Fort Worth in our homes. We are excited about doing a summer Bible study to help us stay consistently in the word while we’re on a break from our regular church Bible study! Looking forward to getting into the study this week. 🙂
Whitehall (Lehigh Valley), PA – 8 women in attendance ranging from 21 – 65 years of age – varied backgrounds – all loving the Lord and wanting our desires to be His.
We all knew each other, so I opened with the question -‘if money, time, anything were not an issue, what would you’. Not knowing that our conversation would lead to the thoughts and desires we have and how God looks on them – Jeremiah 17; and that it is good to have dreams and desires especially when we know they are from God.
Our ‘1’ word characteristic – trusting; faith building; revolving; impatient; serving; changing; whirlwind. Our goals – keeping God in alive in my life; being in the Word; fellowship/accountablity; being content with life at the moment and who I am; clartiy of what’s next in life; focused; molded to God’s image.
If left to doing what we saw as ‘right’ we would see chaos, wickedness and selfishness abound. Simply, it would be a mess. Since our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked, we need to trust in our God who looks at our heart and mind.
Looking forward to how God will speak to us as we encourage each other.
Blessings to the many groups and “solo’s” doing this study.
I am a married mother of an adult son and a teenage daughter who is sixteen and just started driving on her own. I am also a business owner who works full-time. One word that describes the season of life I am in right now is transitional. My baby is almost grown and I am trying to figure out what God wants me to do with the time I find on my hands.
I just started back in group Bible study last fall and we studied Esther with Beth Moore. It was an amazing study and I very much enjoyed the fellowship with other Christian women. The group has suspended for the summer so I am going solo on this one. My goal for this summer study is to stay in God’s Word and continue to grow.
It is dangerous to do what is right in my own eyes because I am often reacting to unhealthy emotions. I have found that the only trustworthy guide for my actions is the Word of God. As it says in Jeremiah, the heart is deceitful and sick. It is only by trusting in the Lord that our hearts can be healed.
I began the study a few days ago and so far am really enjoying it. I am looking forward to getting deeper into the study of Ruth.
West Texas Moms
Lubbock, TX
5-6 Young moms ready for fun, fellowship & time in the Word together! We’ll meet, eat & chat about how God is working in our lives, and we’re EXCITED!
I am going solo from Parkville, MD. I started tonight with the day 1 session, and it was like God was speaking directly to me. I can not wait to see what else He has to say!!!
I’m from Winston-Salem, NC.
Going solo, although hopefully a friend from Durham will be doing it with me and keeping me accountable!
Season: “Lonely.”
My goal for this study (my first Siesta Summer Bible Study, which I am SO excited about) is to be consistent, and not to beat myself up when I’m not. I really want to learn what God’s voice sounds like, and I want to learn more about Him.
Tori, Psalm 68:6 says “God sets the lonely in families.” Praying that He shows you a way out of the loneliness. I was there when I lived in Dallas for two years by myself, 600 miles away from my family. I sure wish I ‘had’ that verse back then! 🙂 I know He’ll keep His promises 🙂
Party of 4 tonight
Ringgold, GA
Had a great night! My mom joined us and it was her birthday! Hoping to have 2 more join us next session. We had fresh homeade lemonade, summer veggie pie, and cheesecake. All made by my wonderful husband! I am so thankful to have a husband that supports me in studying God’s word. These are just a few things we discussed tonight:
1) Setting boundaries with our families. Be purposeful in setting aside time to study and let our families know that this time is important in taking care of ourselves spiritually.
2)How wonderful it is that we serve such an amazing God that is so personal. He has already began to speak to our hearts INDIVIDUALLY about what he plans to do through this study.
3)We discussed the evidences in the church community and they have “no King”. ( Judges 21:25) Also we discussed the need to have “roots that grow deep” ( Jeremiah 17:8).
Can’t wait till next week!!
Austin, TX -Tonight there was 4 present out of 6 women signed up! The four of us present graduated from a Celebrate Recovery step study last spring and love each other so much, we want to study God’s word together! I think our discussion centered around wanting to know God more and knowing His word more. And we also talked about how delicious our enchiladas and hot fudge sundaes were! We want to be like the tree planted by water, never failing to bear fruit. Thank you Kelly Minter & Siesta Mama!
Houston, TX group of 6; Michelle, Brigette, Mayra, Amanda, Zini(she brought her teen cousin, hopefully she’ll come back) and Rosy(with us in spirit and we are catching her up at work). Meeting at Michelle’s house…or living room. We had chicken flautas and strawberry shortcake. We are really interested in eating the recipes in the book, although none of us have officially volunteered to make them. Our group is made up of…3 early 20’s, mostly single and 3 older than 28. In the group we are 3 moms and 3 not moms. We have 1 new to Christ and excited to learn and 4 of us are coworkers, all in love with Jesus. The main part of our discussion was about getting to know one another and realizing that we have to learn to laugh at ourselves; and those of us that don’t currently do that need to learn how to embrace the inner goofiness. Some of our “one words” were “LOST” “GROWING” “OVERWHELMED” and “DRAMA”. We are going to meet every Tuesday so that we do not procrastinate with the assignments, we are all first-timers to summer bible study.
This is the first time I’ve ever blogged anything so I’m hope I’m doing this right.
Exactly right!
El Dorado Hills California
single mom of 4
Solo (kinda- my mom, 30 minutes away, and my aunt, up in Oregon, are doing this solo too…and we are chatting together by email.)
One word: simplicity
goal: trust God more with a more consistent belief…where the rubber meets the road.
I’m a single mother of three – big shout out!
Jefferson City TN
Solo- although I am waiting to hear back from a couple friends
Unsettled
First of all, let me say this is my first Bible study with the Siestas and I love scrolling through the comments and seeing where everyone is from- it feels a little like a Miss/Mrs. USA pageant!
One word to describe me would be Unsettled. I’m a mid- 40s married mom with practically an empty nest as I have two grown sons (one still rarely at home), and two undescribably fantastic young grandsons! Life is good but it’s different than what I thought it would be. I’ve been through a period of refinement the last couple of years and I’m still feeling bruised and tender from that. I feel very unsettled, off-balance, and seem to have lost my compass. I used to be organized and disciplined, but I just can’t seem to get back that order and structure that I want/need back into my life.
One reason I am doing this summer Bible study is to stay in the Word and I am craving fellowship with my Christian sisters! My main goal is to grow, grow, grow in the Word and gain insight and wisdom to apply to my own life through a deeper study of Ruth’s faithfulness and trust in God.
Judges/Jeremiah In Judges we learn in Israel there was no king and everyone did as they saw fit so I can only imagine that it was a chaotic time and place to live- talk about unsettled! In Jeremiah, we see that relying on one’s self and feelings is not a good practice as our feelings deceive us and cannot be trusted which leads to folly. In contrast, the man who follows after God will flourish and be productive and at peace. A deceptive heart can not be cured- we can’t do anything to fix ourselves, but God can heal and save us.
Homedale, Idaho; (2) Mom & teenage daughter…although we extended the invite to several others; Words…Uncertain…Lonely; Goals…to learn something new…to be more transparent…more fellowship/friendship;
Judges verse – “Our own way could cause us to sin easier, be more selfish, not see danger, and fear others actions.”
Jeremiah passage – “We can’t, won’t, are unable to do right on our own. Everyday we need to be healed, patched up, made new. Our trust in God transforms us. Keeps us green even in the drought”.
Florence, AL. 6 of us. We all work together at a small Christian school. It was amazing how similar our single “words” about ourselves were, but for different reasons. Also, our expectations for the Bible study were similar. We all acknowledged our need for God’s Word and our desire for fellowship (sisterhood). We vary in age from mid-to-late 20s to mid 50s, so we look forward to learning much from each other. Even though we work together, the busyness of the school year does not afford us this kind of opportunity for fellowship.
Seeing y’all are from Florence makes me want to listen to ‘The Fix’! I live over the state line in Fulton, MS and I can’t *quite* pick it up most times 🙁 Sad day! Just thought I’d chime in 🙂 Blessings on this journey!
Monument, CO
3 of us: Me, Cynthia and Sheila (my friends and neighbors)
My happy and slightly-cluttered home 🙂
Cynthia is “gelling”–it’s all coming together for her.
Sheila is hectic–she is happy, though, as she just began her new job at NavPress and loves it!
Holly is seeking–several opportunities lay before me and I’m not sure what God’s direction/will/plan is for them.
Cynthia also has had some major health issues lately and goes for a scope tomorrow of her esophogus. When I read aloud, “Heal me and I will be healed…” I looked at her and said that is for you!! Such a blessing to see her eyes light up!
Dublin, VA 5 of us Pam, Connie, Sharon, Nikki, Sherry. (30’s, 40’s and 50’s)
1.We have been doing Bible Studies together for several years and like to participate in Siesta summer Bible Study to stay connected over the summer.
2.Pam – Restless, Connie – Stressful, Sharon – Busy, Nikki – kids, Sherry – Changing
3. Pam – Figure out why God has put this restlessness on
my heart.
Connie – More personal, conversational relationship
with God
Sharon – Stay in the Word
Nikki – Read the Bible Daily
Sherry – More consistency in habits with God
4. God is our King therefore, regardless of whether we have an earthly king, we can not do as we see fit.
Since our natural hearts are deceitful and beyond cure we must be consistently in God’s Word in order to not stray from what is right. To do as God’s sees fit not as we see fit.
Spokane, WA; 3 of us; meeting at my mother’s house (while on vacation). Our group is made up of 3 generations (my mom, my daughter, and me). The main part of our discussion was about how our judgment will be impaired when we do our own thing. Our focus is not on God therefore the things we do will not be a part of God. We will miss out on the beautiful opportunities God has in store for us. No God equals chaos! The similarities (and how my daughter put it) “In the end they are fools on their own.”
Is that the three of you in your picture? How special to get to share this with your mom and daughter 🙂
Velma, OK, met tonight and walked with friends, our words- redeemed and thankful
Hello! Brenda from Southern California here. Like so many of you, I am so excited to start this study.I’m doing it solo this time, and one word to describe me right now is weak. But
2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us that His power is perfected in our weakness! My goal? To know Ruth. To see how she did it. That kind of love does not come from herself. What do you have for me Lord?
I am only doing this study solo for this first session because I’m on the road for work–when I get home I will meet with some girlfriends to get caught up with the study. I’m so looking forward to this study.
One word that best describes my life right now is “margin-less”–I have little to no “margin” in my schedule, finances, relationships. So, carving out this time for study, reflection and fellowship is vitally important to me, and I WILL make the time for this!!
Blessings-
Karen
Role call! We are Becca and Heidi, best friends since the 11th grade, and now 29 years old. Becca is in Nebraska and Heidi is in Wisconsin and we are meeting every Tuesday night, by phone, at 9:32 after Becca gets home from work and Heidi has her kids in bed…
My word (Becca) for the year is expectant. Heidi and I are both preggers, which is about the most joyful thing in the whole wide world. This my first, and Heidi is on her third. She had a 2 and 4 year old and so I thought her word would be exhausted, but she chose transition. Her husband recently returned from Iraq and they are now moving homes with a baby on the way. If I chose a word for Heidi I would pick STRONG.
We’re just so stinkin excited to be doing this study, and have to say we spent a long while talking about how we just love the socks off of you, Beth. Can’t wait to join in this conversation.
Our hope is that what we learn in this study, we might put into practice and that we would see transformation through the renewing of our minds.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! So happy to be here.
You’re post just made me smile really big 🙂 I’m so glad y’all are still friends after like…12 years. 🙂 I can’t do math…anyway, I just wanted to say that and Romans 12:1-2. That I would remember my mind has to be renewed! :S
Dallas, TX, 2 people, meeting on the phone since we are in another bible study tomorrow. We talked about trusting the Lord.
Her one word was “Depleted” and my word was “challenges”.
Her goal is to keep her life on track with the Word. My goal is to continue to draw strength thru my challenges. We both said that doing what you see fit could lead others astray, someone could get hurt, people are lost and hurting because they do their own thing. It is so important to trust in the Lord and not follow your own plans. He will reward those that seek Him.
Heidi HAS a 2 and 4 year old! HAS! not HAD! HAS! Horrible typo. Sorry, Heids.
This is my first time posting so bear with me! I am so excited about this study, this is my first SSBS! I am from Kansas and am going solo. My one word for my life right now is dry-in need of the living water. My goal is to find God’s will for my life in my present season.
Charlotte, NC; doing this study on my own; 40, awesome Christian husband, and three equally wonderful teenagers; my word is experimenting: seeking out what God would have us do with our lives by getting involved in different ministries, taking trips, constantly trying to listen and discern; goal is to stay in the bible all summer!
We are meeting in Wenatchee, Washington. There are 5 of us and we’re really excited to begin. We got to know each other better and decided we are in a few different seasons – slowing down, transitional, and painful. We’re looking forward to studying Ruth and finding out all that God wants to teach us!
Tammy From Paducah, KY says: My word is BUSY. I have done all of Beth’s Studies and love every one of them. But it seems when I am not in a study “the Busy” of my world takes over. The reason I am doing this study is because I want a summer with Jesus. It seems my own desires always leave me hungry for more. I desire this summer for Jesus to fill me with His desires for me and my life.
This really spoke to me – thanks for posting it! It is so true for me also, and I loved what you said that you want to “spend the summer with Jesus.” So do I!
Robin
The “First Ladies” of First Assembly of God, San Angelo, TX met tonight for a wonderful time of fellowship. We feasted on Chicken Enchiladas, Strawberry Spring Mix Salad, and Sopapilla Cheesecake, as we got to know each other, watch Beth, (whom we adore) and joined into a lively discussion. There were 18 present tonight with 11 more joining us as well. We are meeting at noon at one house and 7 pm at another. This seems like our best setup yet to give anyone who wants to come a chance. We are all excited and can’t wait to dig in!
Oops, forgot to list that my group of girlfriends will be meeting in Panama City, FL!
Parker, CO- 6 married moms raising young kids. We are all at different points in our spiritual journey, but greatly look forward to enriching each others lives. For all of us, life is busy and ever changing. Our goal for the summer is just to have a focus and be in God’s word, no matter what obstacles life throws at us. It is important for us to be spiritual role models for our children and spouses.
Judges/Jeremiah thoughts: That living for ourselves leaves us selfish, and ultimately on the path of destruction. When we live for God, we are richly rewarded.
Brownwood, Tx; 1 person, and hopefully a couple of others to join in a week or so; I am currently with my family on a driving vacation across the Gulf-we are in Gulf Shores, Alabama today! :); I am mid-40s, married with a blended family of step-daughters (20, 18, and 16) and a son (6) and work with children with special needs as a speech therapist as a second job 🙂
1. Rest-an experience of a pause, a space; a break-following several years of additional multiple overlapping layers of responsibilities and caretaking of an elderly family member
2. I want to learn how to really study the Bible. And, I want to learn to share in a group.
3. Judges 21:25
I have lived that way for a season in my life. It lead to disorganization and confusion, loneliness, a feeling of being lost, and fearfulness. I still sought guidance, just not from Godly sources or from God Himself. I came to a place where I longed for what I had in my youth- a peace, a sense of strength and direction and fortitude.
Jeremiah 17:7-14
God put that verse in my path several years ago. I immediately recognized it as what I was longing for. It became one of my “goal” verses for the future! 🙂 Since that time, I continue to be amazed at how many times and in how many ways God repeats that message in the Bible!
God gave me a better word than rest. He said it’s a time of replenishment. 🙂
My name is Marcy & I’m from Amarillo Tx. I am going this study solo as well. God’s timing is so amazing because today my sister-in-law who is taking care of a very defiant mother in a nursing home called to tell me she is at her wits end with her mom & then when I opened up my homework one of the verses was Gal 6:9 in that we should not grow weary in doing good for we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up. I so needed that scripture to give to her today. Beth as I watched your video I just got so teary eyed at how humble you are before the Lord and so very willing to guide this group of Siestas into his saving truth. Thanks so much for loving us with the love of the Lord. You are precious.
Cypress, TX; 12 siestas meeting in Jenn’s living room; We tried Kelly’s grilled chicken salad and oreo dessert. Totally a BLESSING! Then, we watched the video on the tv and laughed at the 100 degree heat..yes, we can TOTALLY relate. But our favorite part was the STARK contrast between the 2 scriptures. It was like the wind of the Spirit blew through our living room when Jeremiah 17 was read. Several of the “words” people used to describe their present season were actually in that very passage. SO encouraging to know that HIS Word will never change in the midst of our changing seasons. We are excited about starting our homework!!
Hello from Chandler, AZ. This is my first Siesta Summer Bible Study and I am doing it alone this summer. One word to describe where I am at is unsure. God has been so good to me but I am unsure of the direction I need to go. My goal is to remain focused on God and stay in the word this summer as I make major life decisions.
If we lived in a world like the last verse of Judges, there would be chaos. People can never be truly and fully satisfied if they only live for themselves and their immediate wants. God does provide to all people who love and honor him. I want to not live in fear and totally confidence in my heavenly Father.
Hi Michelle!
We have a group of 9 that will be meeting in Chandler. Would you like to join us?
Marcee
6 women met at a friends home in
Greenbrier, TN
We are an eclectic group of women, 2 in their 30’s, 2 in their 40’s, and 2 in their 50’s. We started out talking about, what else, FOOD. Several have started trying to eat healthier. Things led to the gap in communication between the generations and how we can help resolve the problem. Several shared spiritual dreams. A couple quotes from our discussion tonight were:
“It’s all about being found in Him. No matter where we are or what we are doing.”
and
“If you have a wide chasm to cross, you can’t take a small step.”
We really enjoyed our time together and are looking forward to the next session!