Hey, my Dear Siestas! It’s time for our second gathering of SSBS3! As promised, below are your written instructions in case you have trouble with the video greeting. REMEMBER, your comments to this post are meant to come AFTER your small group gathering or your solo experience to tell us how your time went. We hope all of you participating will check back in with a comment at some point over the next several days. (One leader checks in per group and each solo participant checks in.) This is part of the accountability process and will immensely help you stay with it through the very last page. As always, please put your city at the beginning of your comment. Thanks so much for joining in!
Summer Siesta Bible Study – Week 2 from LPV on Vimeo.
Your discussions in this gathering will revolve around different points in your homework. Two from Week One. Two from Week Two:
1. Look back at the middle of page 12 where Kelly had us look up Deuteronomy 23 and Judges 3 to get some background on the Moabites. Read Deuteronomy 23:3-5 together if you’re not watching this as a small group. In your small group, I want you to talk about a few things that have happened in your lives that Satan would love to use to curse you. You can think of it conceptually more than literally if that helps. At the end of class today, I want you to claim that fifth verse together in prayer and believe God to turn those curses into blessings!
2. Turn to the middle of Week One, to the bottom of p.21 and the top of p.22. I loved Kelly’s discussion about her friend “weeping forward.” What do you think that means? Several of you share a season in your life when you feel like you wept forward and several others might consider sharing a season in your life when you wept backward. Most of us have done both at some point in our lives.
The next two are from Week Two:
3. OK, Day Two has a portion that is vintage Kelly Minter and one reason why I love her writing so much. Look at the second paragraph on p.42 where she tells about her sister, Megan. If you were writing a novel that was secretly about yourself right now and right in this season and you had to name it in the form of a question, what would it be?
4. Turn to p.45 and review the part of your homework concerning Psalm 126. Please read the psalm together then discuss your answers to the “Personal Response” question: Practically speaking, how can you sow in your weeping? Don’t miss how much this section has to do with your second discussion question today.
In closing, one of you read the Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote at the end. Let it lead you into prayer and don’t forget to claim those blessings from our first discussion question today!
For all of you participating in the fellowship meal, consider the recipes on pages 62-63 and either do them or some Italian equivalent.
I am so happy to study with you! Stay in the Word and I’ll see you in two more weeks!
Texarkana, AR: 36 (37 tomorrow!), married, flying solo
1. There are more things the devil would have used to curse us than I can count. God has already turned many of them into blessings, and I am now fervently praying that God will turn current potential “curses” into blessings for us!
2. After my ex-husband left me and the divorce was final, I chose to weep forward. It was a very difficult period, but I let God do the work He wanted to do, and I cooperated quickly, which was a good thing. Just four months after the paperwork was final, God brought my wonderful husband into my life, and we’ve been together ever since. We just celebrated nine wonderful years of marriage and have known each other for almost eleven! Talk about a curse being turned into a blessing!
3. “Why Can’t I Just Relax and Enjoy Your Blessings?” (Subtitle: Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop, and I Don’t Want to Be Like That!)
4. I sow in my weeping by working through all the doubt, fear, and pain and choosing to TRUST HIM with everything in me. I cling to His promises with my very life, and He never disappoints. I sow by clinging to Him with whatever faith I can muster, and I reap as I see Him answer prayers and be faithful to do what He has promised. Every time!
I’m so blessed to be going through this study with all of you! The Holy Spirit is working through Ruth at my house, for sure!
Happy Birthday tomorrow, Jennifer! May this be a huge Jesus year.
Thank you, Mama Beth! And a big “Amen!” to the “huge Jesus year!”
Happy Birthday! May you have a blessed day, year, etc!
Thank you for the birthday wishes! I had a blessed day yesterday, and I know God will bless the rest of the year too!
Orlando, FL
1) Due to an abusive childhood I learned early on to close areas off to outsiders (& even to myself) in order to survive. Letting folks “in” my life is very difficult. I’d lean toward isolation & escape rather than interaction. Letting God “in” to those hidden/walled off areas has been equally difficult.
2) The 1st time I can pinpoint weeping forward as an adult was during the Breaking Free Bible study in 2005. My mom had died 9 months earlier, & I was falling apart every way imaginable. Breaking Free was the catalyst to my current journey toward healing & wholeness (which has included many weeping forward moments).
3) I’d have to write the question God seems to asking me. “How badly do you want to get well/be made whole?” (John 5:6)
4) In my life, sowing in tears is choosing to follow Jesus, no matter how difficult or uncertain the path. It’s also choosing not to rely on old methods of coping/escape. For me, there’s never been a “quick fix” or instant healing/miracle. The journey has been extremely difficult. But I’m endeavoring to make the choice daily to follow Him.
Decatur, AL; Three of us met Thursday night.(Have made contact with another siesta in our town, but she was on vacation this past week; Our long-distance member had to work late and couldn’t meet with us.)
1) Things in our lives that Satan would love to use to curse:
* Problems with eyesight – fear, wondering what would happen; how will I be able to do otherwise simple tasks if I cannot see? This brought dependency on God.
* Saw one siesta’s job loss as being something Satan would desire to use as a curse.
This led to that siesta breaking down and sharing her heart and her desire to seek God in the situation; shared of several times in the past when she had taken a job at a time when her husband began “pushing” and later was saddened to learn of opportunities missed due to not waiting on God. Sisters gathered around this one and prayed over her concerning the job situation.
2) Seasons of weeping:
*Weeping forward thru uncertainty of eyesight healing; Weeping forward
*Weeping “stuck”, like in a hole to one’s self – not able to share, maybe even fearful;
*Weeping backwards: Example given of 3 couples who had been in our church that lost a child in a car accident. Two couples came through stronger and have grown from the loss and reached out to others in similar circumstances. The third couples, though still distantly together, are totally out of church, do not even speak of or allow the child’s name to be spoken, and seem very bitter over the loss.
*Weeping forward through uncertainty at one point is a siesta’s third pregnancy: sent to get a more detailed ultrasound and there was no sign of any problem and the child was born healthy.
*It was also stated that dependence on God seems easier for us as women than for the men in our lives; they are more inclined to want to “take charge” – like Elimelech did when moving his family during the famine – instead of waiting on God’s provision.
3) Novel titles for our lives:
*When will you learn? (To let God take care of things)
*Where are you, God? It’s me again.
*Would you please show me Your compass, Lord?
4) Sowing in weeping:
*Trust in/dependence on God
* “Let it all hang out!” (Share it all with God)
*Stay in the Word and seek God’s direction.
Sharing Resonspes on my blog-The Tablet of My Heart
I just have to share this answer from Shelli (Hopefully Devoted-Michigan).
“I think weeping forward means that we aren’t glossing over the trial or hardship that we are faced with or the the emotion of it, but we move forward, one step at a time in obedience to the direction of God.”
Hello from the girls of Honolulu again! Sorry so late – we have to keep our laid back image out here. 🙂 We are LOVING our first Summer Siesta Bible study! Kelly’s book has been so challenging already, and God is really working in our hearts and taking us to new places with Him already. We have even decided to start a blog about “sowing.” Not sure what to name it exactly yet, but we just want to share the day to day ways that we are sowing the seeds of our lives to God, no matter what it is!
Real quick – just want to add our novel titles for question 3. Our single siesta’s was the funniest when she blurted out, “Do you SEE how many eggs are left in there Lord?!” She also wanted me to add that she quickly followed that up with, “Can I meet the hero now?” The other two responses were, “Can I get some love?” and “When will it end?” We are all in a very similar season of life – I would like to call it, “patiently waiting in paradise.”
Oh yeah – and Beth – we have been praying for a while that you and your peeps would come out to Hawaii! If you ever do, Lord willing, we will be in that place!
East Tennessee
Solo
1. What is something in my life that satan would love to use to curse me?
It would have to be my decision to not attend college. In high school I prayed about what God would have me do with my life and I felt Him strongly telling me not to pursue a college education but to go directly into the workplace. He told me my “career life” would not last very long before marriage and children. Now ten years into my “career life” with no marriage on the horizon and I’m feeling cursed by that decision. It’s one reason why I question everything I think God is telling me and tend to waiver in my trust in Him.
2. Share a moment of weeping forward.
This is a new concept for me. I have always wept backwards. But I’ve asked God to use this season of grief over my life as a weeping forward season.
3. What would my novel’s title be in this season of life?
“Is This Gonna Be a One Chapter Book?” or “Can You Hear Me Now?”
4. How can I sow in my weeping right now?
The answer that keeps surfacing in my head is prayer. I can sow into the next season of my life by praying fervently and hiding His Word in my heart. So when the barley harvest comes, I won’t “just so happen” upon it. I will know the true Reaper behind it.
Ellensburg, WA
solo
1. Thank you for Deut 23:5! It could be so many things, but in the very present situation of my life, it could very possibly be the school situation we are in. Our private school, which has given us a huge sense of security, has closed due to various reasons, and we are faced with a decision of public school or home school, and neither is the one we would have chosen! But I am claiming this verse and stepping out in faith, either way!
2. We wept forward when we uprooted and left the family farm in the 3rd generation and moved across the country. Left most of our family and friends. But still pressed forward. Hated to leave, yet wanted to go.
3. What next? (He’s always throwing curve balls!)
4. Sow in weeping: By weeping, yet with faith. Mourning what is behind, but still looking forward. Trusting God in all things. It’s ok to mourn our “losses” but it is important to realize that He wants to use all things to refine us and bring us forth as gold!
Dear Beth & Siesta Sisters
Sorry to be so late! In the midst of moving two family members out of state…which is quite painful for me, but I am still trying to do my bible study! I think God has a hugh blessing for me in this work at this particular time in my life!
1. Times that turned cursing into blessings….A particular strength that I have that I believe came from growing up in an alcoholic home; and also helped me work in the substance abuse field for many years….The loss of a friendship that was so devastating but that I believed made me lean on my Christian sisters more closely.
2. I have spent so much time weeping backwards that I sometimes think I might drown! Much of it is aimed at lowering my self-esteem even more..blaming myself for repeated mistakes and continually weakness…Sometimes it seems like a by the minute thing! I have wept forward as well though, especially when I imagine my homecoming to Jesus with my dear parents to welcome me! I also know that there are so many blessings in my life that the Lord has to show me, if I can look forward and not backwards!
3. With all the moves in my life right now, I think the question would be….
Lord, I’ve lost my map and direction, now what????????????
Thank you Beth for all you do to encourage us in our walk with the Lord. You and your team have been a lifesaver many times over. I need this web site and continually support so very much.
Have a blessed week!
Greetings from Harrisonburg, VA. I just got back from our family vacation so am obviously a little late in responding, but Ruth spoke to me so much these last two weeks.
1. I find the enemey really goes after our marriages. It is soooo important that Christians work extra hard on keeping their marriages strong. Just before I started this study my husband and I had to have a huge heart-to-heart. There will always be issues but I think as long as we continue to commuincate we can work through whatever with God’s help. But the enemey just loves to send doubt into our minds.
2. I’m in the process of weeping forword and this Bible study is truely helping. I’m going to answer #4 at the same time and just say I am doing this by standing on the promises of God given to me previously. I don’t see the whole picture but I know HE does.
3. This one was easy for me. My question is “How did I get here?”
Continued blessings to all!
Dear Beth Moore,
I have been sending you comments on this page and it seems to me that you are not getting them either and would you reply to this one please Beth!
Thank You,
Casimir Zigulis
I got this one!
I just came across this Bible study opportunity last night in the wee hours of the night while not being able to sleep.
I do most, if not all these days, my Bible studies solo, so this will be no exception. I am late to start, but look so forward to reading other women’s posts and experiences. I hope to feel like I’m in a group even though I’m physically not.
I attend a very, very small church of only 3-4 families, with usually only less than 6 attending each Sunday. God shows up though! We are fed. This is where God has us for now and we are pleased. Unfortunately, I have to be quite creative in how I connect with others during the week since I am the youngest (at 38)!
Blessings!
Lisa
Menomonie, WI
We’re so glad you’re in, Lisa! May Christ reveal Himself mightily to you!
Jasper, TN – Sarah, Linda, and Adrienne
The first time we met together, we started by praying for our children. This time, we focused on prayer for our husbands.
1. What has Satan used to curse us? Our own flawed choices, mistakes, getting us to place our trust on anything other than Jesus.
2. Weeping forward – we think means pressing on, accepting that we have to move ahead even though the way is painful and difficult. While it might seem smarter or more comfortable to stay put, there is good on the other side of the weeping.
3. Our book titles! “Will she trust Him?” And “Did she finally wear herself out?” And “How does this all turn out?”
4. How can we sow while we’re weeping? We talked about how we need to be in constant prayer and praise, and that it is our actions and words in the times of weeping that can prove our faith genuine or shallow. It’s easy to be say we love the Lord and trust Jesus when times are good.
We had a great discussion! Loving this study… Thanks Beth and Kelly!
Adrienne
Solo in Northern California
1) Family history (including anxiety/depression), fears (including fear of rejection/disapproval from others), insecurity
2) Weeping forward: allowing myself to grieve losses or an end of season, for example, so I can move forward more healthy/whole (vs. stuffing my emotions inside + not bringing my thoughts/feelings to God or not even admitting them to myself)
3) When will you see that what He tells you to do is for your good?
4) I can sow in my weeping by
– Praying: for myself, for others, for my dreams/hopes and releasing them to God, knowing He very well may have placed those dreams/hopes in me.
– Praying His word aloud
– Seeing how I may meet others’ needs even with a small act/gift of thoughtfulness
I am so grateful to be a part of this! Wasn’t planning on it originally. I have been so blessed by the study so far!
Solo in Tallassee, Alabama
1. When my husband was paralyzed, Satan tried to use it in an attack on our marriage, on my abilities as a wife/mother, he tried to use this new disability as reason for my husband to turn against God. But My God is FAITHFUL!!! From the moment this happened I was surrounded by His love and He gave me strength that I didnt know I had. I know that it is no coincidence that I was facilitating the Believing God study at the time. What the enemy meant to destroy us has made us stronger in our marriage, has given us more faith and has made us more fruitful. Thanks again LORD!!
2.Weeping backward when I long for the days before the GM bailout and we lost our chevy dealership, thinking of how things might have been. Weeping forward when I see that God has used that to lighten the burden of responsiblity on my plate and give me more time with Him and increase my ministry.
3.But do you REALLY trust me?? or The Oil Flows Down…
4.Sowing in your weeping is hiding His word in your heart, trusting God’s heart when your head is telling you there is no way this can be good, praising Him in the midst of the fire not after is has gone out. Sowing in your weeping is a catalyst to healing and God used it in my life to teach other women who were in bondage to “the captivity of activity”,as a wonderful Siesta Mama says, to put their priorities in order. To make sure they were putting God first and their husbands next – not letting their resume of church “activity” or jobs, or kids come before your mate. God has a way of getting our attention, He got mine.
Loving this study!!
What a great testimony you have! Thank you for sharing.
There seems to be much more of us “solos” than I would have first thought!
With my work schedule it is just easier to go solo for these, but I do enjoy reading everyone’s comments.
Your post ministered to me. I, too, have been living in the land of “Do you really trust me?” Thank you for sharing.
Isn’t it amazing how God uses situations to prove His faithfulness and to show us the areas where we hold on to more than we should? You are welcome.
My friend and partner in study,Ann met last Friday AM on the phone. She is in In and I am from Wi.
1.The things in our lives that Satan would love to curse us fro are: divorce, family situations, and financial problems.
2.Examples of weeping backward were: worry and fear
examples of weeping forward were making a new reality.One of mine was adoption when infertility was a reality for my husband and I.
3.Ann’s novel question title would be”What happened?”
Mine is “Can an anchor hugger become a water walker later in life?”
4.How can we sow in our weeping? Ann is a wonderful example to me as she prays for others many times when she is really hurting herself. We also thought intercessory prayer,singing,helping others and being thankful.
Atlanta…and Seneca, SC!
What a blessing this week was for all 3 of us. I met with one of us on Wed and the other on Thurs and we have all been blessed! I’m new to Bible study (5 years old in it and didn’t know the story of Ruth) and my son, who’s actually 5 years old, ruined it for me in Wendy’s on Saturday by telling me the whole story…I had suspected this Boaz thing was going somewhere!!
Praise God for Sunday school and servants teaching God’s Word.
Sorry Siestas I am late too but I will catch up on my posts my homework is up to date.
1)Cursing and blessing This season I am in right now I am losing mt home of 10 years because the enemy is coming against me. My friend of 10 years and I have shared a home. It was mutually beneficial she needed someone to help with the household expenses and I needed a place to live. When I first moved in I was not a born again believer and since I have become one there has been one spiritual attack after another.I have learned and grown so much in my walk with the Lord during these times of tribulation. He has lifted and protected me often here. I believe he had me here for a reason and a season. Now it’s over and I need to move on. There are a couple of things here that are precious to me that I have to leave behind. They are just temporal things and my God is a restorer and vindicator. I was feeling pretty low one day and I asked him for a word and he gave me Jeremiah 15:20-21. He is faithful.
2)I was brought to this study by God because of the season I am in right now so when I read about Ruth and weeping forward I knew what he was trying to tell me. It’s ok to weep the end of a season but I must walk forward and get to the other side where my God will bless me just as he did Ruth.
3)Where Are You Taking Me Lord? or Is My New Life Going To Be Better Father?
4)I think by example I will be sowing while weeping. As I give thanks through the storm hold on to my faith and believe that God is working it out for his Glory but with my best interest at heart. Who else could do that? I hope it will sow a seed in the hearts of my friends and family who know what I am going through and they will see how it worked out to be better for me in the end because I trusted God.
Hello everyone, from 9 of us in Sheboygan, Wisconsin!
We enjoyed our second meeting last Wednesday evening at a local restaurant and had a wonderful discussion about “weeping forward” (which many of us related to, having experienced at least one significant geographical/work/family change) and the concept of “sowing while weeping.”
Some of our stories were amazingly relevant, and I think I speak for everyone in saying that the perspective of others really makes a difference in our own understanding and application of the lessons. One quick example that really hit home: a couple of us have experienced enormous losses in our lives, and have been moved to help other people who are struggling with the same type of loss, by leading support groups and doing similar activities. This seems like a perfect example of a way to continue to sow in the midst of a period of grief. In helping others, we help ourselves, and God’s plan becomes reality for us.
We are all loving the study so far and looking forward to our next meeting, over coffee at 7:30 on a Saturday morning (which may be a challenge, so “bed hair” is optional!).
Two in Dallas
1. Battle with cancer that was won and sins from a few years ago popping back up in others.
2. This one was a very hard one for both of us to answer, but we did come up with a couple of things each.
3. “Where’s the toast?” – It’s from an email joke, but it works well with this season of life.
“Am I worth it?”
4. Community with others and building a support system.
From 5 ladies in Austin, Texas. 1. Several of us shared that divorces were curses that Satan tried to use to defeat us. But God turned them into blessings as we depended on Him to meet our needs and take care of ourselves and our families “on our own” (not really – God was our provider). He even sent a kind and loving husband to one when she prayed in earnest and even set a time table for her answer! Another shared that in her current marriage, she felt that she was in her “promised land” as far as marriage goes, since she and her current husband turned to the Lord for help when facing problems. 2. We agreed that “weeping forward” meant that even though we were facing pain and hardship that we kept trusting God to answer our prayers and bring relief while we were crying AND trusting and waiting on Him to bring relief. We had a good example of “weeping backward” when one of us obsessed over a break up with a boyfriend. She felt that she made a fool of herself and lost valuable time that could have been much better spent getting on with her life. One had a hard move to a new area with 3 small children and another one on the way. The marriage was on rocky ground, but through her tears she trusted God to provide and He did by bringing the family to a wonderful new church. Another cared for her mother with Alzheimer’s for eight long years, and even though they were hard years, she focused on serving God and He gave her the strength to carry on. She feels that God has blessed her abundantly ever since. 3. Some of our titles were, “How Big will my Mustard Seed Grow?,” “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow???,” and “How Long Can This Season of Untold Blessings Last?” 4. We decided that “sowing in your weeping” was like weeping forward – to stay faithful to God trusting Him to work all things together for good, staying in the Word, praying daily and thanking Him for His many blessings.
Shellie
Moscow, Idaho (but for the summer Camp Grizzy, Harvard, Idaho0
1. Satan could use and has used so many things against me it isn’t even funny! I was very promiscuous as a teenager, my parents abused me verbally/emotionally and I have spent most of my life seeing myself as worthless, which is something I still fight constantly.
2. I think I’m for the first time weeping forward now. I have not liked having to live at camp in a one-room cabin without my own bathroom or anything, but I’ve started getting to know some of the very young staff (from like high schoolers to just barely out of college, except me and and Josh). I also even helped last weekend when the kitchen staff had a ton to do and not enough of them to do it in the amount of time they had left before campfire. I swept the floor of the dining hall (got a blister doing it too.) It looks horrible at this point. I’ve just tried to do what I can to help instead of just whining about it. I also really enjoy the boys. It’s a Boy Scout camp. My daughter, Chloe, was thrilled last week when some girls showed up at camp on family night for the last camp.
3. How Come People Share Bathrooms With Strangers? (Kind of dumb, but the best I could come up with.)
4. By helping other people even while I am struggling. Staying close to the Lord instead of pulling away when I’m angry and hurt.
Our group talk abt a lot of things. one of it is my story how despite ‘loving’ my ex boyfriend who has been there for me all this while I had to let go of all the nice things that he has done for me to do wat God wants me to do. I was in a living with him n he gave me all the nice things that i want. But God said to let him go. It was a hard thing to let go of the relationship. I havent toatally let go of it 100% but im weeping forward right now.
Im trusting My God who is more than able to provide for me will provide for me. I thk u Lord that u r teaching in ways that I cant really fathom. My heart is in pain and i noe that u r healing me right now. I love U Jesus…
Your name is beautiful! Know you are being prayed for. He has made you an overcomer of the things of this world. Keep on keepin on in Him.
solo in Fairfield, Iowa
whoo hoo! finally got my photo of me and my favorite guy of 22 years on the blog. hoping I can find my posts now!? this computer stuff is …..mind blogging! ha ha he he he he
Solo – Montgomery, AL
1. Right now, would you believe it, satan would love to use my joy as a curse. We’re told to rejoice when others rejoice, but sometimes others around you don’t. Your joy is too much of a reminder of their own misery… and so they mourn your rejoicing. It’s an evil game the enemy plays with God’s people!
2/4. I’ve done the weeping forward (weeping back too… so stuck in my misery of yesterday!.. forward is so much better and more fruitful!). Weeping forward is sowing the seeds of His Word and giving Him a sacrifice of praise based simply on faith…. knowing that He is able and willing to ransom, redeem, and restore every and anything. Crying through the night… knowing your morning is coming! I’ve sown lots while in tears, and now I’m reaping the joy that was promised!
3. Book? “Where All Will This Prison Road Take Me?” – I do voluntary work in several prisons. The journey, thus far, has been interesting and far beyond my wildest imagination! My borders are broadening in all directions without my having a clue that God would broaden them to all the places He has. I didn’t even realize we were going anywhere… but woe, I’ve embarked on a train that has yet to slow down! I can’t even imagine where this train plans to end.
Beth, I wanted to thank you for what you’ve done in my life. Tonight, as I have so many times before, I thanked God for Buddy Walters! For what God used him to do in your life. For that fire that you caught from him… because I caught that fire from you! There’s nothing like it! Nothing that compares. My flame has been burning for years now… and grows higher and higher each day. I’m so glad God struck that match in your heart… your flame touched my wick… I’ll never be able to thank God enough for introducing me to and letting me see the fire that you’ve got! Thank you Beth for being such a willing instrument of His! I’m a freer person because of the Jesus in you.
Sharon, I loved your post! There is a lady in Mt. Meigs correctional institute that I have been corresponding with – do you minister there? It would be awesome if you could give her a word, she is a new christian and so on fire for the Lord.
Oh wow, His Jules, I don’t right now… but you made me wish I did. Maybe one day? I know this, I one day will if God wills. 🙂 How sweet of you to correspond with her. I love to know that she’s on fire for her Lord right now. May her flame only continue to grow hotter…. and may her fire touch some other hearts until the whole place is blazing with Jesus’ Light!
Amen!!! Maybe God will bring us together sometime… Are you going to Deeper Still? Would love to meet up with you if so.
I ditto your note to Beth with tears upon my face. Tears of gratitude and thanksgiving for our Lord putting us all here at this moment together to experience Him in this life. Thank you for your sharing.
Aww Becky, isn’t God good! He knows what we need! And boy the extremes that He goes to in order to give it! He knows we need lighted-fires flaming beyond control for Him! If not for Him, we’ll be lit with a uncontrollable fire ferociously burning for something… that in the end will totally consume and destroy us. I’m so grateful that He showed me a righteous fire, a holy one, one that purifies in its burning and fills our need. Me too… tears flowing in total awe of Him!… and the body He’s surrounded us with to help us in our growing.
Thank you Lord for Buddy Walters! I caught it too! Thank you Beth for sharing his story with us and the passion he gave you! Am apparently having an exclamation point kind of day! Will be praying for your ministry Sharon.
Thank you so much, Sarah! For the comment… and for the prayers! God knows I could use it (I need it!) and so can those inmates that God lets me serve! I love those guys and girls! Oh, if only I could express how much I love them! I’m having an exclamation point kind of day too. Mostly, I live in one! God bless you, sweet sister!
Lewisburg, PA Kim Eshelman and 3 others together for 2nd session.
1. We didn’t quite understand this question.
2. Wept backward-and forward
Wanting things to be like it was or stay the same.
A very hidden and difficult relationship my mom which started late elementary to 8th grade- Mom became ill and passed on 8 years ago. Was never able to understand why or work through it.
Another difficult ongoing mother daugher relationship.
A husband retired recently and she asks “is this it”
3. Our novel in question form:
-Where am I going? (Recent college Grad)
-Am I going to learn to say no? (Young mom)
-Is this all there is? (Recent retired husband)
-Am I going to continue living some of my own plan instead of God’s plan for me?
4. What we do with our weeping can bring something out of it or not.
It isn’t easy for us to look within ourselves in Kelly’s homework and some of blog questions but we are trying!
1. Curses into blessings? I had to think about this one! After mulling it over for a week, I realized that me waiting for my daughter to successfully mature after a traumatic brain injury fit the bill. This incident, probably more than any other, has kept me on my knees. I cannot tell you how many silent prayers have been said, allowing me to be reminded hourly of our Lord’s presence.
2. Weeping forward is the choice to make, otherwise despair can take hold. Not a good place to be.
3. “And the next chapter is?”
4.Sowing in my weeping is letting others witness my forward faith, even though I may fall back sometimes. I get back on my knees to, again, get growing! Also, I am able to empathize with others who have children experiencing emotional difficulties.
Becky solo from Fairfield, Iowa
I do pray this makes as much sense in my written words as I know it does in my heart.
“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy”.
I would never have thought this would pertain to me and my situation. Twenty five years ago I had an abortion. Fifteen years ago the Lord revealed to me I had taken one of His very own children. I accepted what I had done and wept silently for 12 years.
Because of God’s redeeming love, four years ago He began an amazing healing process in me. I now have a daughter, Chloe, who LIVES in my heart. I am her voice. Abortion is wrong, BUT there is healing in the amazing hands of God.
I never thought I would say this, but, today I reap with songs of joy! God not only forgave me, but He gave me the forgiveness to forgive myself and all those involved. Don’t get me wrong, I will always have consequences for my choices, I will always sow in tears forward, but those tears which I sow backwards are few and far between. I can’t live in the past and live well for the sake of Chloe. Each time I share her with others she then lives in their hearts too. I am her voice.
There is a an old hymn, “The Wonderful Cross”, it says the CROSS BIDS ME to come and die and FIND that I may truly live….further down it says….SORROW AND JOY MINGLED DOWN”. For me this is a perfect example of those sowing in tears will reap with songs of joy. I have such deep sorrow for what I chose to do, but at the same time I have great joy because of what Christ has done for me. These are my feelings above,……BUT THIS IS WHAT I KNOW….2 Cor. 1:4 and Acts 20:24 and Psalm 116:12-19.
I apologize if this is too much and I understand if you don’t post it.
Mosinee, WI 36, Married, 2 kids – flying solo
I am late on this homework and posting because my small group fellowship experienced a devastating loss of the husband of a dear couple in our group, to colon cancer, just this past week. He’s with the Lord now, but we are mourning our loss… his memorial service was this past Saturday the 10th. Please pray for us! we have been rocked by this one and are hurting for our sister.
1. A curse on my family being depression and anxiety and fear, God is turning it to blessings by making it possible to talk to my brother about his anxiety, my mom about her depression, because I struggle with both… and it’s giving me opportunity to show my son and daughter (6 and 4) how to work through fear and not let it stop you. God has turned these 3 things (though I still struggle) into blessings by how they have grown me up in Him and deepened my faith.
2. I think I have wept forward in processing through and grieving past hurts and sins (done to me, and that I have done) through counseling. God has used those processes to heal me, and make me more whole and mature in Him.
3. “Can she survive this season of grief?” Or “Will she sink or swim?”
4. Sowing in my weeping…. I guess I can sow in my weeping by clinging to Him the best I can — to remember that He covers me with His feathers (Ps. 91) And no matter what my feelings say, cling to the truth… read it out loud if I have to… shout it if I must… hide it in my heart… on the other side of that weeping, then there will be great joy and “dancing in the streets” as one of my friends says….
This is just going to be a long season of grief for our small group, now made even smaller by Henry’s absence. He and Sandy were married for 47 “short” years as she says.
Oh sister. Your group, and Sandy, sure have our prayers during this season of grief.
Thank you so much. I have never lost someone close to me before. I just don’t know what it looks like for me to grieve a loss in the moment.
Other losses I have had, I have stuffed until I went through counseling. Then I grieved them…. after the fact.
This is the first “in the moment” and I feel like I am floundering and not able to do this, or deal with the emotions, or sometimes the lack of them.
Our whole small group: this new widow, the couple who is our leader, and myself (my husband doesn’t come) is floundering and not sure what to do or how. And oh are we hurting.
Thank you so much for your prayers again. We surely need them and covet them!
My heart and prayers go out to all of you right now and I pray you are lifted up. Just allow the grieving to come and weep together for you must weep. In God’s time (and He IS with you all), their will be healing. In your weeping, rejoice to God for Henry’s life here on earth and celebrate together with wonderful loving memories
Prayers for your friend, her family, and your group in your season of sadness!
Chesapeake, Virginia (usually Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Well, our group met last night (July 12) and we had a blast! We usually meet at my home in Virginia Beach, but this time we met at my best friend’s house out in Chesapeake (she has a pool and she thought we might like to swim – we never did make it in the pool). We had 10 women, 3 of them new to our group! God is growing us in more ways than one.
1. One mom spoke of her son being born with a cleft palette as what most would consider a curse. But through the procedures and many doctors, she, her son and her whole family have witnessed how God has continually had His mighty hand in the midst of all that reconstruction required. It could have ruined this young man’s life, but through it he has seen God do some amazing things. Another curse mentioned was one of child abuse and how that should have crippled her for life, but God has restored her and given her freedom from the past. Another curse was one woman’s loss of her mother as a teenager. It was devastating and yet, God has used her pain to give her an insight to help others who have suffered similar losses.
2. As we discussed weeping forward, we came up with the definition that weeping forward means you can grieve and still keep moving forward with your life. Weeping backward means you stay in your place of loss, a place of constant pain, never experiencing any healing.
3. Our life story titles were great:
Lisa – Why do my children have to grow up?
Liz – What’s next?
Kathy – Deeper….Still?
Karen –Where do we go now?
Vickie – What am I waiting for?
Elizabeth – Why isn’t there enough time in my day and do I really believe my times are in your Hands?
Karen D – Do I really have to do this?
Linda – Why am I always waiting for what’s next instead of enjoying what’s now?
Gwendolyn – Where the heck am I going?
Martha – Will this dog ever calm down?
4. As we discussed how to sow in your weeping, we came up with this: Remove yourself from the place of grief (this could be physically or emotionally) and plug into a new area of service. Don’t quit going to church, don’t cut yourself off from those who can help keep you moving forward. Don’t pull out of fellowship with other believers, it will stunt your growth.
Fruita, CO
7 in our study today
1. One of the ladies talked about her former alcholism and how God has given her the grace to stay sober since 1996. This is her very first Bible study and I am so proud of her-she went out and bought a version of the Bible that is easier to understand than some and read all of Ruth BEFORE we met for the first time two weeks ago. She got interested in Judges while doing her homework and read more of some of those passages just as Kelly Minter suggests. She stated that she believes in reincarnation, so we talked about being deceived (in whatever way-including reincarnation) and how we need to reprogram our minds with scripture.
2. We waited until we got to question four to discuss question two.
3. Not all of us were able to come up with titles, but we came up with: “How Can I Be In the Lord’s Moment More?”; “Why Did You Move Me From Texas?”; and “Has Anyone Seen the Life I Planned?” (Borrowed from one of Beth’s poems/prose.)
4. (And 2.) We didn’t come up with any personal examples from our lives, but we did use the example of a friend who wept forward after losing her 2 year old son. She was teaching Vacation Bible School two weeks later-sowing into the lives of the children.
We also, talked about sowing into others lives just by smiling at someone or encouraging them. We can sow into our own lives by reading/memorizing scripture to encourage ourselves to continue on even while weeping.
Port St. Joe, FL – solo – 20’s
1) Choices as a teenager that almost led me to believe that God didn’t want me or couldn’t use me. It made me ignore the call to ministry for 2 years. That was 13 years ago! He’s a liar…I’m glad I didn’t listen to him!
2) Sometimes I need a good down-pour of tears to really push me forward out of a rut. Sometimes I quite literally have to crawl up in my Daddy’s lap and pour it out. It helps me move beyond. When I give it (whatever the source of weeping) to Him I know its in good hands and that I can move on. It may not be what I “want” to do but God desires my obedience. Otherwise I’d just be sitting in mud after the down-pour.
3) Is there a speed bump around here that’s not at the edge of a cliff? Perhaps one near a nice hammock?
4) Perseverance (hello my brother James 1:24). If I’m not still moving forward – ministering to and loving on others – then I’m sitting in mud…growing molding with this humidity. Others can learn from our weeping (from our struggles, from our heartaches) and you can guarantee they are watching – especially when we’re weeping. How we respond impacts them.
Coming to you from the worldwide web!!!!
1) There are so many things that Satan wants to use to curse us but we have to choose God and know that He will get us through it!
2) We’ve all had the weeping forward and turning back moments, but again, it’s choosing God and making the most of the moments and drawing closer to Him!
3) I like one of our titles – Where am I going???
4) To me, sowing during the tears means even though we are going through bad times we can still trust in the Lord and be a good example for others who may have to go through hard times too! 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
2 Cor 1:3-4 is an absolutely favorite of mine….. 🙂 Love the picture of you and Beth. where was it taken?
Kalispell, MT
Three total in our study that meets every other Thursday. I was the only one to do the homework and I was discouraged about that. We watched Beth’s video and discussed the sowing in times of weeping because one of us is moving away unexpectantly. While God is providing for her and her family we are all sad and talking about how we will get through this time together. She will continue to work on our fall women’s retreat instead of “retreating” and I will stay connected to other women when I would rather be taken out of the game and hide. The other gal was having a hard morning because their business was going through a difficult cash flow time so we prayed asking for some sign of God’s goodness and a few hours later she texted with a call they got from someone who has a note due to them that will pay them August 1st. It was just the boost her husband needed that day for his faith. Yeah God! He is sooo faithful even when we are not. He humbles me every time I get disappointed when Bible study doesn’t go as I want it to go and reminds me He is in control.
Chesterfield, MO / 2 TFT-S: Trivial Friend Talk-Siestas / 30s
1) We discussed past job situations where, looking back, we can see how God used a job loss to bring about a better job opportunity with better work-life balance. We also discussed an ongoing family situation that we pray God will resolve (as only He can) – and maybe even bring about blessings, too?! Had never thought of that!
2) We had the same thoughts on weeping forward (not knowing what the plan is) vs. weeping back (unable to move forward because of something that happened). And, we came up with another situation – weeping standing still – where you aren’t doing either. In this case it was a miscarriage, so there was sadness from what happened and hope for the future, but you just felt like you were standing still.
3) “The Joy of Juggling” (Family, Work, Friends, etc)
“Are You There God? It’s Me, Amy!”
4) Again we had the same thoughts on “sowing while weeping” (Guess that’s why we’re such close Siestas!) – sharing your struggles with God and others so that they can support you in the midst of it and you can rejoice together on the other side and your trials become part of your testimony to others.
P.S. I just have to share that we meet in a cafe/coffee/bread store (national chain) – and when they realized we were there after hours (we hadn’t realized they closed), we ran through the pouring rain to my car where we finished up our BIble study! And created a fun memory!
Glad you didn’t let the store closing (or the rain) stop you from finishing your study!! Good for you!
Wilmington, NC
1. insecurities of never being good enough, never measuring up.
2. Weeping while moving on. Grieving but being obedient and following God’s leading anyway.
3. Why am I moving backward when I’m facing forward?
4. Whatever it is I’m going through doesn’t have to own me and I don’t have to own it. I can hurt in God’s arms instead of on my own.
It’s amazing to me that no matter what the study is that you’re doing God always meets you right where you are. It’s also amazing that no matter how many studies you do that spiritual warfare is always a major part of it. the enemy never wants to see you grow in Christ.
Five ladies, ages 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, almost 60, meeting in a living room setting at our church in Raleigh, NC.
We started our night with chicken enchiladas from Cathy! We are behind so we just did week one questions this week and we will do week two questions next week.
We had an interesting discussion about Orpah. Did she weep forward or backward? We assumed she had heard at least something about God and maybe went home to her loving family to share with them – weeping forward. Or maybe she was stuck in her grief and returned home to wallow in it – weeping backward. We decided that Naomi wept backward because of her bitterness and of course Ruth wept forward because of her love.
This is a great study!
We will answer the other questions next week.
Morris, IL four of us – 20 somethings (who are loving this study!)
1. Discussed times in our lives when satan was trying to curse but God stepped in and blessed. Talked about how important it is to take the time to think about and even write down those experiences to remind us in the future of His great GREAT love for us.
2. This weeping forward thing is so easy to talk about and yet so hard to do. Shared our forward and backward times. Some of that happening currently in our lives which brought us to stop our discussion and pray on the spot for a group member. Thank God for His help and for friends that walk with us!
3. Remember me God? (common title in our group), How do I be supportive? When do I get be with my kids?
4. Continue on. Expect Joy & Harvesting from all this sowing while weeping. JOY’S COMING!!!!!!! We need to be clinging to this promise.
Sidenote: For dinner, we had creamy chicken enchiladas and for dessert, TreLeche cake. But guess what that yummy cake was topped with… BLACKBERRIES!!! How crazy is that! So NOT planned and went fabulously with that Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote! We will be remembering this night to look beyond the blackberries and see the divine!!
Houston – caught up last night (2 of us)
We had a wonderful meal and a good discussion. Beth, you are too funny! And congratulations Evangeline!
1 & 2 & 4 kind of blended together as we discussed weeping forward and sowing while you reap. That’s how curses are turned into blessings.
3. “When will the world stop? I want to get off!” and “Why Do You Do That?”
Really loving this study (and the pasta was great, too)!
San Antonio, Texas
1.) We talked about how there were people in our husband’s work place who were obviously not Christians and how there had been, and still is, spiritual warfare between the good and the bad. We talked about how our husbands are fighting the “curse” of Satan, proclaiming God’s good news in their prospective companies, and how hope is being restored through better attitudes of not only our husbands, but also through other employees.
2.) We discussed that “weeping forward” meant mourning/living in sadness/grieving with purpose. That even through the most difficult times in our lives, we must know that there was, and is, a purpose. We must not forget that our Lord reigns over our lives and dictates the seasons that we live. We talked about how personally living through a child’s diagnosis of a life-long health disorder and years of failed pregnancy attempts—that there was, and continues to be times of “weeping forward”—and never losing sight that our Lord has plans and purposes for our lives, and our childrens.
3.) We couldn’t think of a title to our lives…but jokingly quoted the famous Judy Blume book, “Are you there God? It’s me…(insert name!)”
4.)To “sow while weeping” meant that it is only when we share our sorrows and life experiences with God, and others, that our sadness can grow into blessings. Our God and Savior is the only One that can turn our weeping into blessing, promise, and purpose. We must not loose sight of God’s purpose, even in our darkest of times. He delivers.
Slippery Rock, PA
Women of Gateway Community Church
There are 18 of us meeting one week later than most so we had our second meeting just last night. We are the most delightful mix of personalities, ages, life experiences and backgrounds! We are totally jazzed about how we can find our commonality in Jesus!
We had some real-and-raw sharing over ways that we’ve seen the Lord take something so devastating and painful in our past and, in time, actually turn it around for good and blessing and even ministry to others. There was also some good sharing about big losses and grief in our lives and how Ruth’s act of returning (in tears) to Bethlehem with Naomi encouraged us also to walk forward in obedience in our journeys, even when we can’t get over our some tough feelings or tears.
One in our group has us still musing at the title of her secret “novel”, put in the form of a question. It was, “How can I help you?” Oh! Wouldn’t we all want a friend like this?
Some ways to sow, while we’re weeping along the way, that we came up with are to be connected to others, to pray, to be in the Word, to speak the Word, and to pray the Word.
Yay, God!
Fort Worth, TX–2
We talked so much and I am not good at summarizing so to save a lot of text space I will say that this week has been incredibly RELEVANT; and we feel the need to not expect the journey to happen as quickly as we would like.
Okay-so I was pretty bummed because I was out of town last week and my mother-in-law wanted to wait to meet until this week. Which means we’re technically a week behind but next week it’ll all wash because we’ll be caught up. Anyways, we met last night & watched the video. Now I KNOW it was God’s timing because so many things have happened the past week that He knew we needed that time together this week, not last. Isn’t He so good to us?!
We had such a sweet time of sharing last night. The Lord has bonded our hearts together to where we don’t even like the “in-law” label…we’re just a mother & daughter, sisters in Christ. Oh, what a Faithful God we have!
Well here our group is again, bringing up the rear. (We meet a week later than the siestas at large)
Our discussion last night was a real blessing. We seemed to center upon the sowing through weeping aspect and how that practically looks in our individual lives.
We finished up by meditating upon the great hesed love of our Father and how everything He allows into our lives has passed through His hands of love. Everything. A place upon which to stand!
xoxo from siestas in Greensboro, NC
Brooklyn Park, MN – 6
Our discussion group started over a meal of chicken wraps and Puerto Rican rice. Having a meal really does make a difference. We had such a blast discussing the history of the Moabites. One of the ladies spend over two hours researching where they came from and enlightened the rest of the group.
1)We realized that God can really turn anything around from a curse to a blessing.
2)An example of weeping forward is after you have a baby. Your hormonal, and exhausted and might not have bonded with your baby yet, but you do what’s right and take care of the baby. Cuddling it, feeding it, changing it’s diapers, getting maybe 45 minutes of sleep if your lucky. An example of weeping backwards is being in a depression and having no hope day after day after day.
3)”I know my breakthrough is right around the corner. But how big is this corner? Really?”
“I know what direction I’m suppose to go, but how do I get the compass back from my husband?”
“How do I learn to be weak?”
“Will you catch me?”
“I’m ready to fly. Where do you want to go first?”
Lansing, MI
2 of us met at the Grand Traverse Pie Company
(Who can resist coffee, fruit pie, and bible study? LOL!)
My Aunt Beth and I had a great time of fellowship, prayer, and discussion last night. This study is really resonating with us right now. We spent a lot of time talking over the first question – Beth mentioned past circumstances/choices that Satan has used to curse her and I thought of the everyday fears and insecurities I face at home, work, etc that often overwhelm me, especially in seasons of change, which we’re both facing to some extent. (Currently clinging to Psalm 34:4-7 for help in that area!)
We also talked about the change in Naomi’s attitude toward God. At first she was bitter because of her situation, and then she was essentially praising His kindness. We commented on how often we are faced with that choice of either continuing to trust and obey or turn away from God when things happen that shake us. Both of us recognize the need to “weep forward” and appreciate the honesty in Naomi’s account.
God is so GOOD!
Birmingham, Alabama
Vivian
Birmingham, Alabama
Vivian
1. Satan would love to use my work against me. He has stirred up trouble through jealousy, envy, etc. in our office which has caused confusion and discontent and low moral in many. I know God is not the Author of this… Keeping focused on Him is helping me through these trying days. He would also use differences in minor misunderstandings in our family which cause hurt feelings. He wants to keep our grandchildren captured in a world of computer games and immoral movies.
2. Weeping backward to me has been when I made a mistake – usually by being too controlling and critical – and have had to backtrack and start again with a new attitude as I re-learn a lesson I should have learned already.
Weeping forward is going on without the best girlfriend I ever had and who I miss so terribly since she went home to be with the Lord two years ago due to breast cancer.
3. Am I trusting You right?
4. I sow in weeping as I read His Word, pray His Word, memorize His Words, pray for those I know and don’t know, trust in His grace, and give thanks for the broken heart that is mine that makes me able to weep tears of love and care in His name for others.
1. Something happened in my family that could have led to bitterness as well as embarrassment and financial hardship. God turned it around! He showed us His glory, He defended our honor and continues to provide for our needs.
2.Weeping forward means to go ahead and feel your emotions, but feel them with God. Learn the lesson of your hardship so you don’t have to repeat the class!
3.?? I wish I were more creative…. maybe “Who will you serve? God or Money?”
4.By not becoming self absorbed! Continue to pour out your life like a drink offering. Look for how God will bring glory to His name and not for how He might fix your situation.
Our group really enjoyed this weeks gathering. We had 6 in attendance, including myself. Something I like to do is to read the suggested questions from Beth as though I were reading a letter from Beth. For example, I would say “Ok girls, now Beth would like for us too…”. It’s a lot of fun. Oh and Beth, I promised I would tell you hey from all the girls. So, Hey.
We discussed the weeping forward and weeping backward the longest I think. All had experienced both and the titles of our Novels about this season of our lives often reflected our searching and impatience with waiting on God to move. Lot’s of “Now What’s”, “What’s Next” and a “What in the World” or two.
We enjoyed each others comany and are hoping to add two more ladies to our next sesson.
We are working a week behind due to VBS but we are hanging in there.
Have a question for all the Siestas . . . The Genesis and Exodus fell out of my Bible at the spine (the pages are still glued together) and was wondering if anyone could recommend a type of glue to use to put them back in?
Thank you all for your honesty in sharing. I LOVE that God has blessed me with the fellowship and ‘discussion’ that I have found here! I was so worried about going solo! My heart overflows with love everytime I read your responses. God bless! Can’t wait until next week!
I’m doing the study solo in Shorewood, IL.
After a week of vacation, I found myself a bit behind, but I’m trying to catch up with all of you. Of course, I don’t want to go too fast because I am finding this study very, very thought-provoking and timely.
Questions 1, 2 & 4: What is something in my life that satan would love to use to curse me? Also, weeping forward/backward question.
About three years ago I gave up a ministry at church to concentrate on my family. That’s the nice story. The real story is that my ministry was struggling, my marriage was falling apart, and we were in financial shambles. Satan was definitely grinning from ear to ear as one thing after another drove me further and further to the edge of the cliff. I spent most of the past 2 years, maybe not weeping backwards, but definitely weeping in circles. I made no progress, I couldn’t move past the pain, I felt completely abandonded by God. If the story ended there, Satan would have definitely won.
But God is, well God. He is restoring my marriage. We are still struggling financially, but HE has continued to provide. I long for the time when we will be back on solid ground, when trust is no longer an issue in my life, when I can give back in ministry again, but for now I am sowing seeds as I weep forward, knowing that God is faithful, and he will meet me here.
My book – When do we turn the corner Lord?
Question 4: I am not in a place to minister to others, I have tried, I’m still too broken. But what I can do, how I can sow while I weep, is continue to draw close to God, stay in the word, pray, feed myself spiritually, and stay connected to my Christian women friends.
I’m loving this study!
Connie