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!
Oklahoma City, OK – Group of 4
Each time we meet I am more and more astounded at God’s wisdom in putting us together. While the four of us are at very different seasons in our lives, and have had such different journeys along the way, it is more apparent each time we meet how God has ordained our times together for each person’s benefit. He is so very good to us!
1. Struggles with family bonds/ closeness came up; feeling like the black sheep in the family; not being good enough.
2. We had a difficult time at first with beginning this part of the discussion, however God showed Himself and moved each of us as we discussed some times when we’ve wept forward and others when we have wept backward.
3. Our group struggled with this one a bit as well, but there were two that were whole-heartedly agreed upon as they seemed to fit us individually and as a group at the same time: “What is Your Problem?!” and “Is It Really ME?”. Once we got started on this we had a lot of laughs but even more opportunities to encourage each other.
4. We all discussed how it was all about “weeping forward”. Just because you are sorrowful or hurting doesn’t mean that you cannot move forward – and we also discussed how that was a choice. One particular group member talked about how she was struggling with knowing what in her current situation would be weeping forward as she has so many questions. We encouraged her and tried to offer insights and direction from God’s Word and our own experiences, as she is a young Christian and is seeking to learn.
We ended the evening of wonderful food, fellowship and learning with prayer; and we are all very much looking forward to the study as well as our next meeting.
Thank you, Mama Beth – another GREAT one! 🙂
1. Turning curses to blessings: We have moved so many times that it’s hard to remember my zipcode. Before each move I’ve been in BM Bible studies and the ladies at each place and I prayed and prayed and prayed that God would open the tiniest tiny door so we could stay and grow a root or two. It wasn’t to be. I feel like Ruth as I chose to follow my husband and seek to know Jesus in a deeper way with each change.
We have been able to be a part of churches that we had never heard of to see the Spirit working in fresh new ways. We feasted on the creme de la creme of Gospel preaching. His words are so sweet when you heart is breaking. Our family knows Jesus in ways that we can not explain with words. We have committed our lives to follow Jesus no matter who comes with us or what others say.
2. Weeping forward means to weep for the life that you imagined that you were going to live. I had all the details planned to the nth degree. The more I committed my life to Jesus the more change I see inwardly and outwardly. Many times I wept/weep not because I loved to old neighborhood, grocery store or park that I used to walk my dog through but for the stability and certainty of knowing where my favorite bagels are located. There is a feeling of security when you know the names and breeds of the dogs that share the common dog park or walk.
With each new change I have to constantly refocus on Jesus as my true North and not the bagel aisle or the old dog who walks each night with his unnamed owner for security.
The next two are from Week Two:
3. What size U-Haul truck would you like?
4. Weeping clears my heart and head for the next adventure that the Lord has planned for us till we make the last trip to the city that Abraham looked toward that was not made with human hands!!!
Can I get a witness?? Amen!!
Amen! Looking for a city!
Thank you Marie!!
Dallas, Ga, 5 women. A great meal and fellowship. We talked about the questions you asked and other points of interest in each day.
1. We all agreed that Satan has tried to bring us down in one way of the other with “curses”, but that we have and will continue to break these curses and in our lives and the lives of our families by depending on God and refusing to give up.
2. We all told of our experiences with weeping forward or backwards and all agreed that we want to strive to move forward no matter what our circumstances might be. We might cry through our trial, but our tears will water the soil we are sowing in to bring forth good fruit in our lives.
3. Giving a title to our novel was a bit hard, but one idea that a couple of us talked about was…”What now, that we are empty nesters?”
4. We can weep forward by getting our minds off of ourselves and reach out to help others.
We are lovin’ this study and can’t wait to meet again next week.
Love,
Brenda
Winnipeg, MB, Canada – solo
1. I always thought I would never get out of this pit called “divorce”. And for years I thought God would punish me severely for it. But to the glory of my heavenly Father I have to say today, that HE is faithful, and He has shown love, pure love to me and my 3 girls over the last 15 yrs. God has showered us with blessing upon blessing, he has provided for us to this day! HE is AMAZING!!!
2. I’ve moved from Canada to Germany after my divorce and wept backward & forward at the same time, and in 2002 when my girls & I moved back to Winnipeg we all wept forward. We kept putting one foot in front of the other, and God guided us and carried us, through our tears, to the place where we were supposed to be.
3. novel: “Will you ever find a place of rest?”
4. I had to learn to sow in my weeping by not giving up, when I looked for jobs, when my financial situation was so tight, when my oldest daughter chose not to follow Jesus, I’ve wept and wept, and kept praying and doing what needed to be done. And I can tell you today, that I feel God’s presence so strongly, when I don’t give up, when I keep on keeping on…
I could so identify with Ruth, being the foreigner in a strange land with different customs, different language (?), different God. I loved her character that we were able to see through the words of the foreman when he reported to Boaz who this young woman was. What a testimony!
I love this study, thank you, Beth, for encouranging me and many other women to stay in the Word of God throughout the summer! Praying God’s blessings on you & your co-workers today!
Isn’t our God AMAZING indeed. There are so many times I’ve been afraid to go to Him because I expect judgement. I have NEVER received it from Him. I’ve only felt overwhelming peace and love. Now if I could just get that in my head and not hesitate to run to Him, to the shelter of His wings. I said the exact same thing as you, about weeping forward and backward at the same time…
Nashville, TN
Solo
1. My parents divorce. My parents divorced after 20 years of marriage. It was very difficult for me. After their divorce after much work they had a great relationship. My dad got cancer and died 9 months ago. My mom cared for him and took him to chemo and wrote letters from him to his children and grandchildren. They gave me such an example of forgiveness and love. It took me almost 20 years to come to terms with their divorce but at my daddy’s funeral I could honestly say that what Satan had meant for evil God had used for good!
2. I would say the season that I am in right now with the death of my daddy. Even though I am grieving I have been able to minister to others through my grieve.
3. Am I on the right path Lord?
4. Being honest/real and letting that minister to others.
Hi Beth,
I’m a first time blogger and New Siesta… Boy this is fun….
Months ago I was so excited to hear that you were going to be coming to Southern California, I could hardly stand it. I work in the Television and Film Industry, so I’ve seen you live in Vancouver and San Diego due to my shooting schedule that takes me around the country. So, I tried to get tickets immediately after they went on sale and to my dismay, the event was sold out (I was thrilled that tickets had sold soooo quickly but I was sad that I couldn’t get tickets because I SO NEED THE ENCOURAGEMENT!) I’ve read most of your books and I’ve completed all but 2 of your video Bible Study Series. I wish you were out here in the Southern California Area more often, but I know how busy your schedule must be, so I REALLY WISH THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE AT A LARGER VENUE like the “Honda Center” (formally called the Arrowhead Pond) or “The Staples Center” to accommodate more people. Southern California and the Greater Los Angeles Area is a place that influences the world and I really, really, REALLY wish that more women were going to have the opportunity to hear you this weekend. I know of at least 100 people that wish that they had the opportunity to see you July 9th and 10th.
Additionally, I wanted to mention that LifeWay should open a store in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive. They need to “claim the land” for Jesus. In Los Angeles, there are ZERO Christian Books Stores of the likes of Nashville Tennessee or around the country. I know it might not make a lot of money like a store in the Bible Belt, but LifeWay could take a loss and TAKE THE LAND. I’m just saying…. I really wish that the Christian Women of Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Bel Air, etc. had a lovely place to shop for your Bible Studies. The spiritual warfare is very difficult on the Westside of Los Angeles and I would love it if the LifeWay Stores would plant a flag in Beverly Hills for Jesus. We need more Siestas of faith. We are on the front lines and we need MORE SUPPLIES TO FIGHT THE BATTLE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO! For your service to Jesus, for the example that you live day in and day out. Thank you for the sacrifice you make in your life in giving of your time and resources for the advancement of the kingdom. You are a shining example to me and all who hear you speak. God has used you dramatically in my life and I’m so thankful to Him for molding and shaping you into the woman that you are.
Amen, siesta. Love your ideas. Am in So Cal too, but in the burbs.
Dawn – Beavercreek, OH – going solo
1. & 2: Coming from a ‘broken home’ where my dad left when I was 4 and my sister 1 is something Satan would love to use to ‘hurt’ me and cast a shadow over God’s glory. But I can truly say that thanks to a mom with a gracious and forgiving spirit, extended family and especially my church family growing up, I have seen God turn this ‘curse’ into a blessing. I have an amazing husband . . . talk about one who showers others with ‘hesed’!! I am his prime recipient, and it’s even more amazing because until recently he has been the only believer in his family! But the other thing God has clearly done through the years is to bring people, especially children, to me in ministry & work situations whose lives and homes are broken because of divorce. I can relate to them as one who ‘knows’ some of the pain and confusion they feel, unlike those who have come from ‘model’ Christian homes. The level of friendship, trust and bonding is of a different quality because I am ‘one of them’, and I have had sooo…many quality ministry opportunities as a result. Being able to give others empathy, compassion and practical help is how God has turned this ‘curse’ into a blessing in my life and the lives of many others.
This past year has been one of significant and one-after-another losses…kind of like being at the ocean and having the waves come so strong and so fast you can hardly catch your breath and replant your feet in between. Satan would like to use this as a ‘curse’, and indeed is messing with my mind, heart and faith in ways I didn’t think would ever happen to me. This study is deeply ministering to me – I don’t usually find myself identifying with Naomi-types in the Bible, but now I do. The ‘barley harvest’ and ‘just then’ moment from Week 2 is giving me hope and the desire and courage to allow God to change these ‘curses’ to blessings as well. This is my ‘weeping forward’ moment. First, I am learning it is OKAY TO WEEP!! And I am … often!! But to ‘weep forward’ means looking AHEAD with faith, hope & thankful confidence, believing that there are sunny days ahead, days when the blessings outnumber the ‘curses’, days of redemption, meaning & restoration. If I continue to simply just ‘COME’to God (because that’s all I can do right now!), He will carry me forward 🙂
3. Can we turn the page now??? I so long to be out of this ‘heavy’ season – I know ‘endurance’ is something I need to develop and many have endured heaviness for longer than the 2 years I have, but I am soo… ready for a ‘happy page’, even if it’s short. Trouble is, I find myself telling the ‘Author’ the ‘happy’ things I want on that page, and somehow I think He wants a little more ‘creative license’ than I’m willing to give Him…
4. I think we DO sow continually, it’s more a matter of ‘what’ we are sowing. In ‘weepy’ periods, my flesh gravitates towards sowing self-pity and bitterness. It takes a supernatural effort to CHOOSE to pick the seed packet of ‘faith’, ‘hope’, and ‘thankfulness’ It is a choice . . . my future depends on which ‘packet’ is in my hand and heart today.
Hey there fellow Siestas! Our group met last night at a local Paradise Bakery. God’s word and delicious soup and salad made for a great evening. I’m so enjoying our time together and thanking God daily for the opportunity to spend time with two wonderful women that I know I can learn so much from. When we discussed curses turned to blessings one of our group members talked about leaving a difficult relationship two years ago and how since making that decision Satan loves to put doubt and negative self talk into her head because she has not yet found the man God has for her. However, she has been blessed beyond words for having made the decision to leave and ultimately trusting God with everything. Another member of our group talked about difficulties of motherhood, and times where Satan would love to have her dwell on moments of weakness where she may have been too harsh with kids. Our answers to the book title were telling, and gave us a good laugh. Our responses ranged from, How many more bottoms will I be wiping today? Will the laundry ever end? All the way to, Can I ever be worry free? And, When will it be my turn? Weeping forward and backward was a topic we spent some significant time on. As a group we really talked about how it was an ultimate trust in God that allowed you to weep forward. We heard a great story of one of our members entering into an engagement with a man that she knew was meant for her, but the idea of things moving so quickly and outside of the plan she had for herself caused a lot of anxiety during that time. Ultimately, she chose to move forward, trusting God and she wouldn’t change that decision for anything. We are so enjoying this study and the opportunity to be in God’s Word growing together. Till next time Siesta Sisters!
Solo – Agate, CO
1. Many years ago my husband and I were separated for 6 months. Satan tried to divide our family but God is bigger, as a result it drove us closer than we could ever imagine. Without that experience I would have missed out on countless opportunities to be a witness and friend to others experiencing the same emotions and circumstances I once faced.
2. Began weeping backwards on my knees in prayer over the wrong choice and consequences my adult daughter made. After 2 weeks it changed to weeping forward at 2am (on my knees) when God clearly spoke to my heart to trust HIM and he reminded me of the good things my daughter was involved with and how God was using her in other areas. The tears didn’t stop but I could move forward again.
3. Lord, why can’t you help me spit it out? I travel frequently for work and have several opportunities to witness but I can’t always get the right words out and pray afterward that they at least saw my heart. Of course the right words come to mind later that night when I crawl into bed.
4. Not only cry out to God from my heart but listen carefully to His answer so I know how to respond. Also, read through my book where I record prayer requests and write dates of answers – it’s encouraging to see what was reaped and sowed or seedless and I need to work harder at.
Ridgecrest, CA Group of 2
Met over lunch at the “Paradise” Cafe!
I first want to say that I have a new bible (one year new) because my Miniature Schnauser decided she too would like to taste and see that the Lord is good! I was so distraught when it happened, but life goes on! LOL!
For question one we decided that past sins could be turned into a curse if we let them, but that God would turn them into blessings if we turned it over to Him! And also babies that come under less than ideal circumstances… How amazing is a baby no matter what?
For me it’s a situation happening now with a friend of mine… I was facing a potential crises when I found out that she was faced with the same issue but worse circumstances… So I found myself Weeping forward in my grief so I could be there for her. For my friend it was weeping backwards over old descions, even right decsions like the sale of house she loved, but had become an idol to her, there are still fond memories of the home she had.
Book Titles:
“Can you see wind? Really?”
“Where is my joy? And will someone please tell me why do french fries taste better than salad?”
I can sow in my weeping by moving forward and focussing on God while I am there for my friend. Because of my situation I can better understand hers. Loving babies we are blessed with under less than ideal circumstances gives us the opporunity to let others know that God is good, and babies are an awesome gift from Him, and it’s all going to be ok!
I love the way Kelly describes “weeping forward”. Just because we are heartbroken over something should not stop us from moving forward and continuing to live life. Easier said than done, I know. If I were writing a book for this season of my life it would be titled something like Dear Lord, Where Am I Going to End Up? I know that in many ways I am just getting started in life and I can’t help but wonder where I will end up. Will I love my job, will I be married and have kids, or will I move across the world? How can I sow in my weeping? By allowing God to use it for His glory. Several years ago I witnessed the best example of this. A family from my home church lost their oldest son to suicide. He left behind a precious daughter and wife who were devastated, obviously, as was the rest of the family. I was in the same college ministry as this man’s brother. A group from the ministry got together to pray over the brother about a week after it happened. The brother spoke out in the prayer and begged God to use this tragic suicide for His glory. I was so taken aback by this. It never occurred to me that anything good was going to come from this. I assumed that the family was just trying to get through this season of life, but instead they were weeping forward.
I think something that Satan repeatedly tries to curse me with is my past. I wish I could more boldly say “TRIES” than what I honestly can. Unfortunately he succeeds more than he should. But I will be praying hard core and believing that God can turn that into a blessing. I know I’ve wept both forward and backward in my life. I can say from personal experience that the times I’ve wept forward have been just as painful but not as scary because I’ve been trusting God through them.
My novel would be titled “Why do I have more breast milk in my freezer than food?” It’s the sad truth!!
I think you can sow in your weeping by being an example to others about what the peace of God provides in times for trouble. It always amazes me how bewildered unbelievers are about how believers handle the “speed bumps” of life. I think giving God glory through even the most trying times and trusting him and SPEAKING that out loud is a HUGE seed to sow to those around you, both believers and unbelievers!!
Marysville, KS
I like what you say about bewildered unbelievers, sometimes when I’ve been struggling the most with my faith and unbeliever will say something about how I’m different or how I was a picture of what Christ truly was (best compliment I’ve ever received) and all these comments happened when I felt so lost. Just shows that He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion and how its all about the Holy Spirit in us and not about us at all and He works even when we struggle. What a blessing to know.
Our group of 8 met on Tuesday at our church, right here in the great big city of Houston. I am just now signing on because I have had my computer off due to all of the big thunderstorms. We are about ready to build an ark!
1) Curses that God has turned around into blessings:
hearing aids in a 10 year old, Down syndrome, end of life moments for those who have witnessed their parents’ homegoings
2) cried forward during all of those times mentioned above
3) Book titles: “Are you kidding me with this?” “What next, Lord?” “How do I let go?” “Really?” “What did I go through this for?” “What should I be?”
4) discussed in light of curses that God turned into blessings and crying forward. we are gathering the harvest of those seeds that were sown while weeping.
Thanks for fun topics of discussion! We had a blast and enjoyed your hairbrush microphone! Blessings to Vangie!
We had a long discussion on Tuesday about how every experience in life represents a piece of a larger puzzle. Sometimes we can’t see right away, or may never see in this lifetime, how the piece fits in our journey. We surmised that, in the midst of her suffering, Naomi had a difficult time understanding why God had allowed all the loss and heartache in her life. But we also recognize that Ruth was a gift stemming from Naomi’s unfortunate circumstances…a sign from God that He was indeed there in the midst of Naomi’s struggles. During our sharing one of my gals suggested I write about these trying situations in life when we pray and seek answers that sometimes never come. This is what God spoke to my heart this morning…
When We Pray
So many times we have a situation in our lives for which we pray unceasingly – hoping and pleading with God to show us a sign that He hears our innermost desires. We look around us in every direction for a glimpse of affirmation that our prayers are being heard and eventually answered.
Sometimes we pray for weeks, months, and even years for a particular result and still find ourselves looking at the same issue. It is difficult to remain steadfast during these times – even easy to question ourselves and what we might be doing wrong in the eyes of God to prevent Him from answering our prayers. We may doubt God’s ability to correct the circumstances that warrant our prayer and even give up hope if the ritual of asking lasts year after year. In our culture of expecting instant gratification, it is especially hard to wait with a spirit of patience.
But what I have come to learn and understand about our Almighty Lord is even if His ways don’t make sense at the moment, His work is always sufficient. In the silent stretches of time when we cannot see, hear, or feel any acknowledgment from Him and it appears He might even be ignoring us and our continued requests, I have grown to believe that the real truth is God is busy working behind the scenes, on His watch, with His hands of Grace, doing exactly what needs to be done according to His purpose.
I can believe this because along my own personal journey of faith there are many times that small prayers or questions are answered- sometimes immediately. Through people in my life, stories that I read, prayers that are spoken, or song lyrics that fill my ears as soon as I turn the radio on, God reveals to me assurances that He is there and hears my heart. These moments of clarity are priceless morsels of affirmation – “Thomas Moments” – that God lovingly places along my path to ensure that I experience and see He is alive and active in my life in the same way He revealed to the Apostle Thomas the wounds of His crucifixion. It is precisely because God gives me these small gifts in response to minor prayer requests, I am renewed in my faith to trust He is working out all the details of the significant circumstances in which I pray to Him for redemption.
We have heard that life is a puzzle that comes together piece by piece in seemingly random order. In some instances we know exactly what piece we are looking at and where it fits into our journey. Other times we stare at the same piece for days wondering where and how it will fit – even attempting to force it into the picture when it is obvious the shape doesn’t mesh with what is around it.
Then there are moments when, after months or years, we look back at the unfinished puzzle and realize there was that one piece we were certain belonged to a different puzzle altogether that now suddenly fits perfectly in the middle of the board. This is God giving us a glimpse of His providence…allowing us to look back and see His miraculous handiwork and feel safe in knowing every moment of our life, in some way, shape, or form – whether good, bad, or ugly, somehow remained or made its way back into His original design for us.
So, when we pray, may we believe that what we cannot see is perfectly hidden in the shadow of the Cross. And when we pray, may we find peace in knowing that someday, whether in this life or the next, the earth will indeed shift, allowing the Son to illuminate the shadows and reveal the answers to all our petitions.
And I don’t know about you, but I can only imagine the glory of the moment when Christ himself places the last piece of the puzzle and for the first time we are able to look at the finished portrait of our life and see every experience fit together perfectly – each with a purpose, and all with His end in mind.
Thank you for sharing this, Shelby – truly spoke to me in this “waiting time” of my life!
God Bless you and know that so many of us share the same journey of waiting in hopeful anticipation. May we find strength in each other when the challenges are greatest…
Stillwater, Oklahoma solo
1. I am experiencing renewed closeness in our family following some very difficult times that were hurtful to all. My adult children are so precious to me.. I had no idea how much fun this part of life would be. I will be a grandma for the first time in December!
2. I have wept forward and backward. Sometimes when I am in a desperate situation, I know I must weep forward..there’s no other choice. When things aren’t as critical, I weep backward and lose ground. When I didn’t find anyone to do this study with me, I wept (really just wimpered) forward and decided to personally dig in myself probably resulting in self discipline rather than being held accountable by someone else this time.
3. This present season?
How many Tomorrows Are There? Aging with Enthusiasm
or How will You Age with Enthusiasm?
4. Sowing in weeping can be by establishing routines of study, worship and enriching relationships in those seasons of joy. Recently I started a routine..(really recent like with this Bible Study) and I think God says..well finally we can get on with this.
Joan & Laura
Portage
2 peeps
1. Both of us could pick things from our past that God redeemed. For me, it was the premature birth of our daughter. It seemed that family was “freaking out” around us a little, but my husband and I had a real peace about everything.(She was born at 29 weeks. She was 2lbs.,10.3 oz. She is now 15yo and taller than I.) God is great!
2. We talked about weeping forward/backward. Each of us had a little more experience with the weeping forward. We were both raised in the church and faith was HUGE in both our upbringings. There were a few events that could’ve had us weep backward, but by God’s grace, we kept moving forward.
3. My book title would be, Will You Come Get Me Over This Speed Bump?, My Wheels Are Just Spinning. My buddy didn’t come up with one.
4. Sowing in tears for us meant making our trials productive. To learn from them and not let the devil gain any ground.
Solo in Greenville, SC
1. The enemy would love to tear my family (or any of our families)apart. Right now the battle is between my husband and our youngest son, and I feel like I am put in the middle. However, I am praying and believing God to work in all of us for His glory through this difficult time. You lose, Satan!!
2. Weeping forward as I grieve the loss of my mother-in-law. She was such a central, godly, loving force in our family, and now we are looking to each other and our Lord for the ability to move forward without her.
3. The title of my novel would be…”Does emptying the dishwasher for the umpteenth time really bring You glory, Lord?”
4. I hope I can sow in my weeping by looking beyond myself in my sorrow to the needs of people around me… serve, encourage, love, sympathize. That can only be done thru the power of Christ.
Marysville, KS
I love your title! Does going to work everyday to the same job over and over really matter? Does God really notice? It’s so easy to get lost in the details of life and get bogged down. Where is my mountaintop experience?Life can be so mundane sometimes.
Birmingham, AL; solo
1. Family history rampant with multiple divorces and multiple remarriages and all the drama and devastation that is left in the wake of all that. In my own life, I value, appreciate, and enjoy marriage so much more and work to be the one that breaks the curse.
2. If you have a loss in life – I think you will weep both forward and backward as seen in both of Naomi’s daughter in laws. Backward at what was lost – forward at moving on. To weep forward is to follow Christ when His direction for us changes. To follow Christ would imply moving or change. The difficult part of weeping forward is when following Christ occurs at a time when we were comfortable where we were.
3. Why do you wander directionless – haven’t you heard of a GPS?
4. Gal 6:9 Never tire of doing good… continue to do good at every opportunity; trust God in the meantime
Group of 5 in Jackson, Missouri. MIT prayer partners during the school year. First attempt to do a Bible Study together. 3 in attendance today.
Great dscussion and prayer on turning our curses into blessings and also a reminder to be thankful for both even when it hurts. Curses are sometimes needed to push us into God’s Word.
Questions as titles.
What’s on the other side of that door?
This roller coaster ride is making me sick, can I get off?
What’s next?
Each one of us feel good about this study. We all agree it is better for body, mind and soul to do work daily instead of procrastinating. Way too much information to digest at one time. We vowed to hold each other accountable to do our homework in small bites.
Victoria, BC, CANADA; 2 of us (K1 and K2)
We met and had a nice brunch together, then talked on the first two points because we finally got our books and we got done only the first week. This coming week we’ll be doing a couple of lessons a day to catch up, and I’m really looking forward to it!
1) We shared about how God has turned some illness in our close family members that could have been perceived and kept as a ‘curse’ but we see so much beauty God brought out of it. I can also in my current challenge parenting a very spirited child get discouraged and perceive it as a curse, but I (K1) CHOOSE to give it over to God. K2 can also see this time that is unsure of future as a curse, and the enemy tries to, but she also chooses to give it over to God and rest in Jesus knowing He is working something marvelous in this time.
2) Weeping Forward. What a neat phrase! We talked together at length to figure out definition, and we came to the conclusion that it has to do with the heart’s direction; if one is weeping but trusting in God’s hand on the situation it is forward, and if God is out of the picture in your heart’s expectation it is backward. Does that make sense to others? We also talked that one can weep in both directions at the same time, or it seems like it is both directions, sort of like how David pours out his heart to God in the psalms.
Oregon (Albany/Philomath)
4 of us siestas, all moms or expecting, all in our mid-30s
1. We all seem to have issues from our families that could turn into curses, but instead we desire them to turn into blessings. (Alcoholism, critical spirits, broken marriages, homosexual lifestyles, anxiety and more)
2. Weeping forward–
–Not being in despair…..allowing God to move you into the next season.
–Still putting one foot in front of the other, making that choice
–Weeping for the unknown…it could be great or it could be scary.
–Not dwelling in the pit.
All of us could relate weeping forward and backward to our marriages as some point or another.
3. Novel titles…
–How many hats can I wear…well I really don’t wear hats…I spin plates and juggle balls?
–Where is my mate that I’m to help? (hubby is a doctor)
–To school or not to school? What does God want me to be when I grow up? (says the 36 yr old stay-at-home mother of 3)
–Waiting….is this becoming a new art form?
4. Sow while weeping…..it’s about endurance and having others see that in action.
This week we opted for the enchiladas since we couldn’t do dinner the first week. YUMMM!
Becky, 31, Honolulu, HI; Married + 1 son
1. Satan likes to trip me up with guilt and regret when I am reminded of mistakes and poor choices I’ve made in the past and also with my insecurities. I get stuck in self pity and struggle to remember the grace and forgiveness and “hesed” I have through Jesus.
2. Weeping forward – I love this phrase b/c it’s so true. To me it means being honest with God and self about the thoughts/emotions I go through but still holding onto the Lord and obeying Him. It’s not ignoring my humanity nor is it letting my humanity rule me, but acknowledging that God given part of me and still giving it to Him and trusting Him with it. It’s taken me a long time to learn this–and a couple seasons of weeping forward, too.
3. “Are we there yet?” – Because we are in a season of transition and I don’t know where I’ll put down my Kitchen Aid mixer next–and it’s just a little frustrating sometimes.
4. Keep on keeping on. I think that does sooo much and means so much to God. And to let yourself be a blessing to others, even in your struggles. It’s a blessing to be a blessing–healing, too.
Solo/Austin, TX
1. Always fit, active and healthy, I began to have health issues late last summer. Let me preface the following with the fact that I have been saved for 23 years and still….I don’t even remember exactly how it started but I fell into a huge snare. The “name it and claim it” ministries- especially one. I had in my 23 years never ever heard this “faith healing” thing…why, if I had enough faith, I could do ANYTHING! The “traditions of men” is what is holding Believers back from their healing! I can be healed! I can do it myself with enough faith!! I don’t have to wait on God? wow! what a revelation! etc., etc. I fell deep. It put a horrible strain on our family because my rock solid husband wouldn’t “agree” with me (one of the necessary “steps”, you must be in agreement!) oh, how I sobbed…but then…God. He showed up and now, I see He loved me enough to say “enough already!” What followed was complete brokenness on my part when I realized the horrific error I had made. The shame? I can’t even begin to tell you. I was so broken, felt so abandoned by God, I lay in bed for weeks, sobbing and not eating, not being able to sleep, stopped going to the gym, basically dropped out of life. I felt I had done it this time, I had betrayed God and his absolute sovereignty. What a mess. The blessing in this entangled mess for which I am still recovering (I believe, in Beth’s words, I’m at the “easier” phase of the season, and pretty soon, he WILL be under my feet!)is that a)I know God in ways I had never, ever, nor would I have ever known Him if not for THIS. b) I am certain of His sovereignty. c)He DOES chastise and discipline those he LOVES. d)As absolutely miserable as I was I eventually realized He loved me enough to CARE this was happening to me and though it was going to hurt like heck, He was helping me. e)I learned the astuteness of Satan’s deceptive abilities; his subtle twisting of scripture…there is nothing like going through things ourselves to KNOW. I knew the enemy was deceptive before but until it happens to you personally? you just can’t realize. God used this horrific season of what Satan meant as a curse to bless me in knowledge, wisdom and a deeper, closer relationship with Him. I now KNOW what it means to reverently fear the Lord. He will NOT be mocked. I am now and forever on my knees. I love Him.
2. Weeping forward?…I may cry buckets, but I love Him so much, and want Him to be so proud of me, delight in me, that I would do anything and I know that means moving, to keep in motion, in the direction in which He is directing me. And carry alot of Kleenex.
2. My book title would be: “How Did I Miss the Black Box Warning Label?” (That surely comes when you completely surrender your life to God) 😉
3. Sowing while weeping I believe is a form of spiritual warfare. During that dark, deep-pit season, our church was conducting Beth’s “Believing God” study. I remember one day my husband who had stayed home from work to tend to me because I was in such bad shape-completely dead but breathing, if you will…and he FORCED me to get out of bed and get to that Bible study that day…God sent me Beth and her teaching. She taught on this very topic I was going through. I remember Beth saying “God may heal in this lifetime or it may be the next…” and at that moment it was just God and me in that auditorium. My swollen, tear stained face, my skinny, food deprived body, literally shaking. This is how I began my sowing in my weeping process….with a Bible study and just showing up…He met me there.
Sometimes God has to use “tough love”….but I know, and as I heard Him say to me “how else would you have listened?” I love Him.
Marysville, KS
That’s so interesting what you said about meeting God at a bible study. When I was in college and deeply depressed and hopeless (for real), I had stopped going to church completely, decided I had been lied to my whole life, there was no God. I had gone home to see my parents and this of course included church. Saturday night I was crying myself to sleep trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I said I felt like I was drowning and I knew no one was going to save me. I knew then that I would die.
Sunday morning came, went to church, promptly ignored everything thinking what a hoax the whole thing was. Here comes the sermon…it was on hopelessness. I didn’t know that was the name for what I had. So i’m ignoring the sermon when the pastor reads a letter of a fellow pastor who had committed suicide. In the letter he says “I feel like I am drowning, and no one is going to save me”. My exact words the night before. I felt like the Holy Spirit just slapped my face (thankfully). God came after me with a vengeance, He was not going to lose me to the darkness. Thanks to the faithfulness of my parents to the Lord, I was in church and the Lord met me in a huge way. What a mighty God we serve.
Sorry this is late, but our group (East Tennessee) has connected via e-mail, and since this is the first time, we’ve smoothing out the process. We are Anne (Johnson City), Michelle (Morristown) and Miquela (Knoxille).
1. Divorce seems to be an issue in all our families. We also have one member who survived childhood sexual abuse. The two members of our group who are married were agreed that God had brought beautiful significance to their marriages because of their pasts. One mentions that she and her husband pray together; the other that they have been able to minister to others out of past tragedy.
2. One group member recounted a time in the recent past where she felt like she wept backward because she was too caught up in grieving to let the Lord use her. Michelle has a husband nearing the end of a tour in Iraq, and she assures us that it is okay to cry and long as you keep following God. One group member described the importance of finding some way to be useful even when you’re not quite sure what to do with yourself.
3. – “Will Love Win OR Will her sons grow up to love Jesus despite her ongoing battle with anger”
Okay, that sent before I was done. Weird. Picking up with the titles:
– Why don’t you have a giant and wonderful plan for my career life Lord?
– “What did I do wrong this time?”
4. Miquela reminds us that we can sow in expectation because the Lord brings the harvest of joy, and Anne would like to add that it His responsibility to put the seemingly disjointed pieces of our experience together into a meaningful pattern. We conclude with a quote that Michelle gave us from Hudson Taylor as he recounts the experience of weeping at the deathbed of an unsaved man:
“”I have often thought since, in connection with this case and the work of God generally, of the words, ‘He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubltess come again regoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.’ Perhaps, if there were more of that intense distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see the results we desire. Sometimes it may be that while we are complaining of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, the hardness of our own hearts and our own feeble apprehension of the solemn reality of eternal things may be the true cause of our want of success.”
Corona, California – Just God and I. Planning on a “Fall” study with others.
1. The enemy always reminds me of my time of rebellion. I know that there was a consequence for sin, yet God brought restoration after repentance. He has turned it into an opportunity to minister to others. God Himself cut the rope, so satan has no way of tying me back up again. Another time is when obedience to the call of God made no sense in human understanding. I heard many (non-believers) say we made a mistake. We know God’s ways are just that. We must be obedient and follow Him and not listen to the lies of the enemy.
2. I had the same experience as we were called to sell all and move 1/2 way across the world. We knew it was God’s will, yet I still mourned all that was dear and familiar. I had to focus on God’s Word and meditate as Phil. 4:8 encourages us to do. I loved how He allowed me to cry, as long as I kept moving foward.
3. What in the world does God have next for you?
4. During one of the most difficult times in my life (breast cancer) God encouraged me to be real and honest with others. Through blogging my journey I pray others witnessed God’s faithfulness in the midst of my sorrow and tears.
Lord, please allow us to see You as You are working in the midst of our daily activities. May we respond, knowing we are on holy ground. I pray You would use this study in a mighty way to open our hearts and minds to Your providence and provision. May You be the honored guest at our tables.
I just wanted you all to know my neighbor’s dog’s name….Boaz! Makes me smile as I run/walk past their yard almost every morning. Our Bichon’s middle name is Ebenezer….he was my Ebenezer “stone” gift from my husband during aforementioned dark season….hey, another blessing created from the attempted “curse”..!
Sprakers, NY
St Joseph, MO Sorry this is late. My brain must have had a short. Our novel starting questions: “Where is the rainbow in the flood?” “Where did we get this Yehew?” “Who’s leading this three ring circus?”
We are enjoying this study.
Sprakers, NY
3 Siesta Friends
1.Cursing to Blessing: Family strugles have brought me to my knees and into the word. Loss of child, increased faith and love for God.
2. Weeping forward: Doing the next thing with eternal glasses on.
3. Titles: What is the point ?, Are we there yet? What is all this for?
4. How to sow in weeping?: Learning to trust, adjust and obey. By contining to do God’s will and fully rely on Him to substain you and bring the harvest. Gal. 6:9
Hello from St. Louis from the multigenerational family.
The Lord blessed us with his presence tonight – great food and great conversation.
As I looked across the table at my 90 year old mother who pulls out her “weathered” rubber banded toghether Bible I almost couldn’t stand the feeling of love that washed over me. What a great blessing this is!
1. Curses to blessings – One shared a work experience where lies were being told about her to get her fired. The truth won out and the person sharing the lies lost their job.
2.weeping forward – not being stuck, moving in obedience, greaving yet moving on. One shared when she was returning to church but her husband was not attending with her. She kept coming (and weeping) and now – cut to today -they are both active prospering members and he is a deacon.
3.”Now that I have left, where do I go?” One of us is going though a season of finding a new church home. Being obedient to leave an unhealthy church but not having clear direction now. She is looking and attending and praying for wisdom and where to serve.
4. Great discussion on this one. We loved how the Lord was showing Naomi that his blessing was more than just providing food – although that would have been more than enough. Sowing meant we had to “get out” and not waller. Moving forward obediently one foot in front of the other even when we didn’t feel like it. How we can look back in those times and see God’s provision all over our circumstances. Trust when we don’t always see since His love is never failing.
Blessing to all of you digging in God’s word.
Hello!
I’m writing to share my compassion for all the police, doctors, pastors and social workers who every day, sometimes several times a day deal with the mentally ill. I had a short run at it today for my poor counterpart who just can’t believe God loves her and wants Him to end it all. She kept saying she didn’t understand and I kept saying, I didn’t either. Maybe the professionals have training but I think their hearts must be pretty wrung out at the end of the day. Please God bless them for the important work they do!
It feels good to be able to ask you people to pray for her. It is ALL you can do and therefore it is a step of great faith. And I cannot reward you in any way, I can not even thank you properly, only God can do that. And I wish the English language wasn’t so limited so I could express my appreciation and gratitude for Him because He is faithful. One day I’m gonna learn Greek! Thanks for being there.
Lorna Beth & Candice
Chicago, IL
1)We thought of areas of sin where we were trapped in the past that God has delivered us from. God has graced us not only with knowing the taste of freedom ourselves but with feeling drawn to encourage and exhort others to trust God for freedom in their own lives.
2)We recalled times when we had a certain defiance toward the Lord’s will in challenging situations – surely a way we wept backward. At the same time, in continued heartache (ex: singleness for both of us), the Lord has mercifully graced us with not only strength but desire to weep forward faithfully. This led to a discussion about challenging situations often expose both of these tendencies – weeping forward and backward, and that this tension is something we have to actively war against in order to keep ourselves going the right direction.
3) I half-jokingly gave my first thought to Candice – “How about just ‘Really?’” Candice replied, “Yeah, I was gonna say ‘Seriously, Lord?’” We both laughed and decided we’d leave it at that.
4)A few themes:
a. Recalling God’s faithfulness from the past.
b. Paying attention to those around us who are also weeping.
c. Not isolating ourselves in sorrow.
d. Being faithful and disciplined in our pursuit of God regardless of circumstances.
Hi Beth, Love you so much 🙂
1. Satan tried to curse me with panic attacks. I had them regularly for about 7 years. I felt like a prisoner. I tried all the “worldly” self help books but they didn’t help. My eyes had not been fully opened to the Lord at this point in my life. God put me on this wonderful path back to Him. I prayed for Jesus to heal me. I felt His presence and He took my yoke from me. My faith grew because of it. Three years later, my anxieties are gone and have not returned. Thanks be to God! I am an infant in His Word and I am very thirsty and willing to learn. I thank Him everyday for the wonderful journey we are to embark together.
2. Yes, my husband and I had some marital problems 21 years ago. He cheated on me and she got pregnant by him. I was so upset. I was pregnant with our third child at the time and I left. I went to my mother’s 3 hours away. I still remember the call I got from the Holy Spirit that night. I was filled with love for my husband and I had such an urging to go back to him the next day. I will never forget that moment or that feeling, it was so powerful. I just knew it was from God. We went to counciling. It took a very long time to forgive him but I know it was the one and only time this happened. We have celebrated our 27th anniversary this year and are extremely happy. We are growing together spiritually too which is so exciting! I thank God even for this terrible situation, because I know, back then I did not appreciate what a wonderful husband he is. I am truely blessed!
3.Is it true we only need a couple good hours of sleep per night?
4.When I am weeping, I feel Jesus holding me close,giving me the strength and the courage to walk with him through the fire. I know I am sowing seeds in my heart.
A group of 10 of us met in Smyrna,TN to discuss Chapters 1 and 2. We met in a home and shared some yummy food together.
Some of examples of changing curses into blessings in our group were related to divorce and recovery from addiction. We talked about how the enemy would love to have us live a life of mediocrity- barely getting by. Only through Him can we find the confidence and resolve needed to face all of our circumstances.
We talked about weeping foward and there was an example of infertility and how God brought that person closer to Him through the painful struggle. Also, the unexepted loss of a loved one was an example of initially weeping backward but ultimately weeping foward.
We discussed headlines for our novel, a couple included “Clueless” and “Really?” We talked about how often we have things planned out in our heads how are lives are going to go leaving little room for God’s direction. Only when we stay in His Word and in close relationship with him do we then have the ability to let Him lead us.
We can sow in our weeping by being a blessing to others and doing those things which we know will bring us closer to Him even when we aren’t really feeling up to it.
Maryville/Knoxville, TN
6 Sweet Siestas
1. Seeming curses: disability, insecurity, abuse, divorce, bankruptcy.
2. Weeping forward – oh how this resonated with us. We believe it is doing the right thing as we seek God in the moment. The ability to discern the “right thing” is challenging thus our need to draw nearest to God in our weeping. Perhaps this is itself the forward aspect.
3. “Am I really going to have to do this?” “And she moved again into the home she left three weeks ago” We enjoyed laughing and seeking the irony in our difficult moments.
4. Sowing and Reaping, probably one of my deepest understandings of scriptural themes. We discussed the need to feed our faith during the times of weeping, as opposed to feeding our flesh. We especially need to stay connected to God and other believers, to share with others and invest in that intimate one on one with God. One wished she had journaled during a previous time of weeping so that she could remember more of that time while she is now in a season of fruitful harvest.
We loved the pasta! We added key lime pie, and loved that even more … and lingered for more than four hours. I am sure that we love this evening of connection in the safety of friends.
Dayton Ohio-solo
1. About 3 1/2 years ago my parents divorced. I thought my world would fall apart…..but the opposite happened and it really all came together. Sounds strange, but what I really found during that time was God. I was hungrier for Him more than ever because I knew that was the only way I would survive. I am still going strong in the faith today. What Satan meant for evil, God used it for my good 🙂
2. Just last week, I think I might have wept backward a little….we have a tough situation in our family involving one of my cousins. I was so worried that I cried myself to sleep. Pitiful. I should have been PRAYING!!!
3. What’s Next? or Am I Doing What YOU Want With My Life?
4. He who goes out weeping…..I can turn my weeping in despair from last week into a weeping song of PRAISE…and worship my way through this trial with my family/cousin. I want to worship and bring God glory in my weeping 🙂
We had one of the best sharing times ever over at the LP offices. I feel like I got closer to each girl there. LOVE THAT!
Loving this study of Ruth (you would think I’d never read the book before!). It is awesome. Helping me during my time of taking care of elderly relatives while at the same time sure missing my hometown and children/grandchildren. But as it says as I sow in my weeping, I have faith I will reap with songs of joy. Thank you Beth for this summer of study. I really needed it.
We are a group of 18 in Lenexa, KS. Our group met Wednesday evening and had a wonderful, tearful, healing group time. I love how open, honest, and transparent the ladies in our group are! We have enjoyed the questions/discussion topis you provide on the blog. We spent a great deal of time discussing our Novel (secretly about ourselves) and as I listened to all of our titles, in the form of a queston, it occured to me that most of us may be asking the wrong question… It was terribly interesting and something I am for sure prayiing about! Was anyone else struck that way?
Thanks Sietas!
Marysville, KS
Hey I grew up in Olathe! Glad to see a fellow Kansan 🙂
Lubbock, TX
Well, coordinating a world wide bible study was more difficult than one might think. We were unable to get together this past tues, but hope to make up for this week! Great Study!!!
After living away from our home town for 16 years, I have just moved back. I have left my Beth Moore group that I love and have led for 7 years. Our reason for moving is that my precious son’s wife has left him and my two grandchildren. We have moved to lend support and with hopes to speak into our grandchildren’s lives (they are 5 and 10 yrs. old). One of my sweet siesta’s gave me the Ruth study as I was leaving and we are doing it solo from different towns…yet together in heart. It soooo applies to my life at this time! I am “weeping forward”. God is good! Thank you, Beth and Kelly!
Marysville, KS
God Bless you for helping your son with his little ones. It takes a lot of courage to leave the life you’ve grown accustomed to for love of someone else.
Vero Beach, Florida, going solo
1.”Family secrets” of mental illness, alcoholism, and broken relationships. Nevertheless, God’s grace and mercy has led to restored relationships, living in “truth” and healing.
2. For me, weeping forward means to “press on” in the midst of illness, loss, sorrow, betrayal, and loneliness. I’ve wept forward during my father’s four year battle with leukemia and death. I’ve also wept backwards when I kept making the same decisions over and over, expecting different results!! I’d rather weep forward!
3. “Where Am I Going?”
4. I’ve sown seeds of faith and an authentic, close relationship with God during my weeping. When things are going “well”, I become complacent. It is during my “darkest hours” that I come to Him clinging and holding on for dear life. Yep, that’s when my real, life changing relationship with Him takes place!
Campbellsburg, In. solo
1. Things that satan could have used against me
My rebellious youth
Deaths in the family
Sickness and loss of husband
My recent bout with breast cancer Just to name a few 🙂
Oh but God is soooooo good.
2. I think weeping forward from a loss is significant Where you going to go but forward. God along side holding your hand all the way.
3.Novel; Where to Now Lord?
4.I hope I sowed courage, trust, strenght, and faith. I praise God for His faithfullness. It amazes me how faithful He is even when we are not. I love you Lord.
Linda
Johnstown, PA
1. Things that Satan would love to use to curse me: divorce; childlessness; my bad attitudes
2. Weeping forward means to continue on, keep making positive progress in your life even in a season of weeping. I think during the season of my life when I lost 4 babies in a little over 2 years, I first wept forward– I kept looking ahead, trying to learn from my pain, focus on what to do next. After the last loss, we started working towards adoption. But then, after all this, my marriage fell apart and we got divorced, so this was definitely weeping backward.
3. “Where did those 12 pounds come from?” Or, “How can I be a better daughter to my mother?”
4. How to sow in your weeping? Keep a good attitude; pray for others who are going through similar circumstances; draw closer to God; memorize scripture; encourage others; do things for others (this always helps me when I am feeling sorry for myself or depressed).
Blessings to all you siestas who are doing this study, to Beth for facilitating, and to Kelly for her insights.
Just wanted to say we are coming to see you today at the Mariners Church in Irvine!!!! We are so excited!
Love you!
3 of us in Telford, PA (1 of us is still missing. Hopefully next time!) Oh my. This just isn’t going like I thought it should’ve. But then again, God seldom uses my ideas! We met today and I was focused on staying on track and answering the questions Beth had given us…. Well, needless to say, it didn’t go that way. But I think God is at work in a mighty way despite what my hangups are! Already, from 1 week ago, one of our sisters shows signs of change in her heart and her level of hopelessness! Let’s face it, that can only be GOD!!! So, I need to just follow His leading and let Him have His way in our hearts and in our Bible study!
We only answered the first question… about how God can turn “curses” into blessings. That discussion led to talking about what “reward” we may receive for our obedience. One sister thought that her obedience in sticking it out in her marriage would only be rewarded after she got to Heaven. Oh, we hopped right on that one and hopefully helped her see that God’s not cruel enough to make us wait till Heaven to be rewarded for stuff. But that there are many rewards and blessings in our everyday lives for putting God first. She saw them, just hadn’t recognized them as such.
My dear sisters are not at all interested in doing this study “Beth’s way”, but want to take it slowly and not skip so much precious sharing and discussion that Kelly prompts in her book. I heard one say today… “We don’t have to be limited to 5-6 weeks, do we??” Of course not! We can do whatever we need! Again, cementing in my heart/mind that God is surely up to something! (Thankyou, Lord!)
Not sure if this is going to work, but I attached the website for the Veggie Tales song “Oh Where is My Hairbrush”. Beth, you bring out the little girls in us!
Copy and paste link into browser.
http://www.bebo.com/FlashBox.jsp?FlashBoxId=4038488432
Bless you for a stroll down memory lane. Talk about some hair ministry. Just a couple of days ago my 19 and 20 yr old daughters sang a rousing chorus of Larry’s song about getting his lips stuck in a gate. Somehow they remembered every last word…and were better for it. Of course a 17 hr road trip can do strange things to the mind.
My favorite Veggie Tale moment came during the Daniel story. The veggie of the moment said, “Let me illustrate. I’ll use flannelgraph!” and with a sweep of his arm, he uncovered a flannelgraph board. Not one of my three kids “got it”. I, on the other hand had fallen off the couch laughing my head off. For those of you not quite in your 40’s yet, flannelgraph was the bread and butter of junior churches and Sunday schools across America during the 60’s and 70’s (and very likely before).
Thanks Bob and Larry! And you too, Michelle.
The Lakeview Summer Siestas met again last night and had dinner on the balcony overlooking Lake Oroville Marina. Yep, we tried the recipes once again and have our “food assignments” for next week. Enjoyed the food.
The study is timely and as we saw again in the past week’s homework, orchestrated by the Lord, so that Siestas struggling with some big trials have support from others they wouldn’t normally have had. And also, digging into the Word and seeing the trials of Naomi and Ruth then hearing others speak of God’s helping and sustaining hand in their own tough life seasons has been such a blessing.
We had great, precious, honest sharing last night which in me invokes an even deeper conviction to pray fervently for my Siestas and their situations.
May God “be big” in this trials and in our lives – we so need Him!
1. There is a cycle of depression and alcoholism in my family and extended family. I have struggled myself with it and after many years of suffering, there were so many times when the only dim, dim light I could see in all the darkness was the Lord and through seeking help for my depression the rest of my family came to terms with their own. There were so many times I know I was close to death spiritually and physically and God came after me and would not let me go even when I could no longer cling to Him. What a mighty God we serve!
2. There are times when we are called to do something that we are initially excited about only to find it wasn’t what we expected but still exactly where God wants us. Before I went to college I decided I wanted to be a missionary. Long story short, I ended up being very disappointed with the group I was with and was so homesick, but I persevered through the grace of God and that was a testimony to others about faithfulness and following God wherever He leads. I literally wept many times, but it was all part of His plan. I refused to go to college because I hated school and the missionary thing was also a rebellion towards that. God wanted me in school to fulfill His plan for my life but that season of rebellion taught me so much. Can we weep forward and backward at the same time?
3. Why is contentment so hard to find? I’m ready to close this chapter on my life but it’s just impossible right now. Clearly I’m in the land God wants me but it’s so hard not to get restless.
4.
Well sometimes, Like Jonah, we do not want to be where God has put us, which is exactly where I am now. I’m not weeping, but I’m not content either and I’m learning a hard lesson about patience and rejoicing because I’m in God’s will and not my own.
I forgot my town
Marysville, KS- Solo