The day has finally arrived! Wooooohooooo! Let’s get into the Scriptures, Girls! This is our official launch where you will officially register as participants in our summer Bible study but here’s the important part: YOU WILL SIGN IN AFTER YOU AND YOUR GROUP VIEW THIS VIDEO AND HAVE YOUR DISCUSSION TIME. (If you’re going solo, you’ll view it by yourself, of course, and answer the questions succinctly in your comment as your way of discussing the subject matter.)
Please read the following instructions carefully:
If you are participating in a small group (even on line), choose a name for it in your first gathering. It does not need to be clever although you’re welcome to do it that way. It can be as simple as “Greensboro Summer Siestas.” Mine will be “The LPM Village” because I’ll be going through it with my in-house staff and we call our merry band of sisters the Village. You will use your group name every time you leave a comment on Bible study day.
After watching the video and participating in the discussion time with your small group, appoint ONE representative from your group to sign in through a comment to this post. You’re welcome to appoint a different representative each week that we meet. The main idea is to make sure only one person signs in for your group.
This is the way your group representative will sign in:
City, State; Name of group, Number in group. *A brief summary about your group time.
(*This might convey something interesting that came up in your time together or the question that motivated the most discussion. It’s wide open. Just give us a succinct report on your time in small group. Remember to keep them short and specific so that we can read as many as possible!)
Mine would look something like this:
Houston, Texas; The LPM Village, 12. Summary: We talked most about the challenges we have this summer and specific ways we each need God to “keep steady our steps.” (Then I’d give a couple of examples that came up in our discussion time. Get the idea?)
Sisters going solo: you will sign in individually and answer the questions very briefly in your comment. (You are welcome to limit your answers to the ones that resonate most to you.) If I were going solo, mine might look like this:
Houston, Texas; Beth Moore (you can just use your first name if you prefer). Questions 5 and 6 resonated most with me because…
NOW! You are good to go. Just watch the video and proceed according to the instructions I’ll give you within it. As you’ll see below, I will always put the instructions in print in case you’re unable to view the video or if, for any reason, it malfunctions. Keep in mind that you don’t need to read what follows unless you can’t watch the video.
Written instructions:
Today in small group time, read Psalm 119:129-135 together. If you have access to several translations, read it first in a formal translation – ESV, NAS, NKJ, NIV, etc – and, second, just for the richness of it, a modern translation like The Message or the New Living Translation. You know I love The NET Bible so that’s another option.
1. List every term the psalmist uses for God’s communication/revelation to man. (Example: V.129 ESV – “testimonies”)
2. Psalm 119:129 says, “Your testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul keeps them.” Each of you (as time allows) share a specific way that you’ve come to know personally that God’s testimonies are “wonderful.” If you don’t have a newcomer to the Bible in your group, imagine that you do. Let your answer help explain to her why YOUR soul desires to keep God’s testimonies and why she should even consider it.
3. Psalm 119:132 says “Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name.” If you have placed your faith in God through Jesus Christ, you have demonstrated one titanic way of “loving His name.” Discuss the importance of trusting that God’s “way” is to deal with His children graciously. Talk about whether you tend to expect God to be gracious to you or indifferent or harsh and condemning. If you tend toward the latter, would you be willing this summer to seek God with the grateful expectation of His graciousness toward you.
4. Psalm 119:133a says, “Keep steady my steps according to Your promise.” What specific challenges are before you this summer that could cause you to really need God to “steady your steps”?
5. Psalm 119:133b says, “Let no iniquity get dominion over me.” THAT, Beloved, is a prayer that could have huge impact in our lives. If you are willing, share a particular tendency of your flesh that you’re really praying will not get the best of you this summer. (By all means, get personal as the Spirit leads but stop short of really graphic specifics. Give people the idea without the mental images.)
6. Psalm 119:134 says, “Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep Your precepts.” Look up several definitions of “oppression” and discuss the vital differences between oppression and authority. How can they be confused? Once we know for certain we’re not just resisting authority but we are genuinely experiencing oppression, realize that God’s will is to REDEEM us from it. Pray fervently for Him to do so. He is perfectly capable of redeeming us from oppression while redeeming the relationship.
7. According to Psalm 119:135, conclude by asking God with a full heart of faith to make His face shine upon you, His servant, this summer and to TEACH you vividly through the Book of Nehemiah.
8. Sometime today, write Psalm 119:129-135 on a note card and keep it as your prayer for our Siesta Summer Bible Study. (After the video was already made, it occurred to me that I should have suggested we all write this segment on the inside of the front cover of our Nehemiah workbooks so, if I caught you in time, do that instead of a note card. That way it will serve as a Scriptural dedication of sorts for our summer experience.)
Have Weeks 1 and 2 of your homework done by Tuesday, July 10th and we’ll have our next Mini-Session then and your group discussion.
I love you guys so much! Isn’t it fabulous to be back together again in God’s Word??
We’ll meet in two weeks! If you’re meeting over a meal, try to fix Lauri’s Beef Enchiladas on p.32 and Mom’s ginger snaps on p.33.
(Remember! Comments only after your group time!)
St. Louis, MO. Mary Beth (solo)
Question #3 got me thinking about how much grace God lavishes on me DAILY!
This is the first time I have done a study by Kelly Minter, and I’m looking forward to her direction and guidance as we walk through the book of Nehemiah.
where do i click on the link to see the video?
I am a solo group from Burleson, TX. As I was reading the instructions and watching the video, the Lord spoke to me. He was saying to me that through him everything is gracious, and he is going to get me through my time of seeking a job this summer. Thank you for having this bible study. This is what I need right now in my life.
Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Brooke. Solo. I’m a few days late getting started. This week was VBS at our church so I was going from work to that each day and didn’t get a chance to read this post until now. There is a lot going on with me this summer and some good news brewing in my life. The part about God keeping my steps steady hit home to me as I journey through this change. I used to invision and was taught at a younger age that God was wrathful and harsh when His children disobeyed Him but I have since learned that though God gets upset and disappointed with us it NEVER changes how much He loves us! I have to remind myself of that daily at times but I’m praying as I journey through this bible study I will have to say it less often to truly believe it. Excited for this summer bible study! I missed an opportunity to do this study at my church.
Kernersville NC, Terrilynn. Question 3 resonated deeply with me because I’ve been struggling with the issue of feeling/considering that God would be harsh with me. It isn’t that I don’t believe He IS gracious, I know that He is – but when I sin, or feel that I’ve let Him down I believe I’ve always had the expectation that He will be angry and then distance Himself from me. I know this idea is how my mind has been programmed from childhood but it is something I still struggle with. I’m grateful for this question – for all of the questions – and this study. Our Pastor has been covering Nehemiah for a few weeks, and one of my closest friends and I have been discussing this very issue for awhile now – so I know I’m right where He wanted me to be and that He has met me here with delight and a plan to take me deeper.
Walton, IN Cathy Bartrum (Solo) Numbers 3 & 5 resonate with me because I love the thought of having God’s graciousness radiate towards me, esp in times of trial when it’s sometime easy to feel He is distant if not absent. I also find comfort in knowing that He works to protect me from inequity that may desire dominion over my life, may I be a good steward of His efforts to protect me and stand strong against it.
Looking so forward to another summer in Siestaville 🙂
Irving, Texas: FacePunchers, 2.
The question that probably resonated most with us both was #4. We have been part of a small house church for the past 3-4 years together. Well, this summer, the Lord is evidently leading us all in different directions, including 3 families moving to three different places throughout the country. We are both needing to feel God’s steady hand in the mist of all the craziness and are looking forward to this study helping us to stay grounded in His truths.
Lancaster, Pa; Friends Forever, 3. We are taking turns meeting at each others houses.
Summary: We talked about specific challenges this summer and discovered we all struggle with worry.
Richmond, Virginia, Judy M. #8 most resonated with me because I am excited about reverently beginning my daily prayers with Psalm 119:129-135, praying that God will communicate with me more clearly during this study of Nehemiah.
DALLAS,OR(SOLO)
I am starting an internship in the fall in which I will be ministering to needy women in our community. I feel that God wants to prepare my heart so I can love them like He does.
Prior to starting the study God led me to Isaiah 58 and impressed on my heart some key verses. I believe he wants me to “spend myself in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed” (v. 10). Verse 12 states “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwelling” (NIV).
It seems like the book of Nehemiah is a great place to start if God wants me to be a “Repairer of Broken Walls”.
Group name: pieceful spirit-(1 because I was in pieces then together now I find myself in pieces again, Lord help me.
I am doing this study alone. No group. Found it through twitter. I studied Nehemiah with you via internet in January 2007. I remember it clearly for I was recovering from shattering my knee cap into 6 pieces. Loved the study. so here I am again. But 3000miles away from my home. Now in Charlotte NC. How does one break in to the ladies world down here? Thank you so much. I believe the Lord Himself invited me.
Judy Grieve, Clarks Hill SC solo. My schedule this summer precludes finding a group. I have loved Beth’s studies and am excited to start a new one. I have kept memorizing verses using the Siesta app, trying to implement #1 by knowing his testimonies and # 2 by learning and understanding his WAY through scripture. I resisted memorizing for years. I am glad I overcame my willful self in this area and now know many verses. It does come in handy to know the WORD as it is written.
Catalina island Calif,I will call myself island Grandma, although I am working here at a childrens camp, far away from my grown children and grandkids and missing them so. I just came across this study and I am alone in this study, but I have done Beth moore studies for years and she has always been there so to speak every time I truely needed help and that time is here again, summer is very hectic and chaos here I feed hundreds of kids 24/7 and I need strength. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” my scripture to heart, but I need to join sister’s out there to help me get into Gods word, thank you Beth.
Michelle W, Boynton Beach, FL – solo.
Questions 4,5,7 resonate with me. My prayer this week has been asking Him to make specific scriptures a reality in my life and this further affirms to keep seeking and keep asking! Can’t wait to see what God is going to do in my heart through this study.
Greensburg,Pa, Sue R, solo. Summers get very crazy with work and all my kids schedules and every year I say I am going to handle it better and it seems to get worse. I need God to be first and my focus so I can get out of this wilderness and focus on all God is.
Sacramento, CA; Debbie Oliver; (solo)
I am a single Mother of 6 children who works full time, attends two different colleges, and runs a cancer foundation on the side. I am actively involved in my church, and the Lord is my center!
I was so blessed to hear of this study, and am so grateful to be a part of it! I found out about it late, but have already ordered my book and it is on its way! I enjoyed all of the questions, and did each one in detail and with open mind and heart. However, number 4 cut right to my soul, as I have been desperately struggling on my path lately. I am somewhat of a perfectionist and always feel I need to fill every waking moment of my day with something. I spread myself so thin and at the end of the day am frustrated and upset with myself because I either did not get done everything I wanted and planned on my meticulous list, or I did not focus on what truly was important and let precious time slip away in “busyness”. I struggle with letting God lead my steps, instead of me constantly planning and guiding my own way. It is a daily struggle and one that demands more faith, patience, and trust in the Lord from me. So my struggle this summer is to pray to God for every move, decision, and step I take. As I want to walk on His path and do His will…not my own.
Lewis Center, Diana, and I’m going solo. I loved these verses and realized how I need God to help steady my steps and get me in his word every day. Also, I need to think more about how his way is so gracious and to expect that.
Knoxville/Powell, TN; The Shining Siestas of Powell; three so far, maybe four in our group: Jamie, Ashley, Katie, and Danielle; We met in Jamie’s kitchen tonite and had deep discussion about joy vs. happiness, trusting God’s heart towards us no matter what He may allow into our lives, letting no iniquity have dominion over us such as wanting to be in control, being critical of others, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Prov. 3:33, to live is Christ and to die is gain, and the need for us to really believe that God is Love came up in conversation as well. You know we love you too Siesta Mama Beth!:)
Wadesboro, NC – Pam- (Solo)
I asked a friend to go through the study with me, but she was unable to, at this time, due to her family situation.
Question #4 hit home for me. Lord keep my steps steady. May I not get ahead of Your plans for me. May I be patient and wait for Your perfect will to unfold. Direct my paths, keep my feet steady. May I focus on you and not my circumstances. May You be glorified in my life.
Atlanta,GA 2 of us, Ann and Bunny, “Work Buddies”. We will be doing the discussion part at work together during our lunch break.(hopefully, some days lunch breaks are scarce in a hospital cardiac cath lab!)God will make a way, he always does!
These verses from Psalm 119 are so appropriate for us both with God being so gracious to us as we have both lost a son in different ways this past year. One to death and one to an addiction to alcohol, both in their early 20’s. He has been so gracious to steady our steps as we stumble through trying to understand and cope with each situation.He is still redeeming us out of an oppression and guiding us to lift our faces to Him in complete faith and trust. Good stuff!!
Charlotte, NC; Crystal K. flying solo!
The timing of this study being offered for the summer is fantastic. The contractor helping us start a ministry recommended my husband and I study Nehemiah because of the parallels it has to what we are experiencing. I bought Kelly Minter’s book, started it and then found Beth’s summer study! Can’t wait to get back in it with the enrichment of fellow Christian ladies.
What stood out to me was v. 133. “Establish my footsteps in Thy word.” Establish is to set in place, also in an upright position. Being a Christian is not a sit down kind of job. We take footsteps everyday in the path that Christ has set before us. Each one of those footsteps needs to be firmly planted in His word. Otherwise, we are sinking in a quicksand of sin that is ready to devour us! What great motivation to go past having a devoted time each day in His Word but to have scripture with us all day.
CC from Norfolk NE
So pleased to be able to be a part of this bible study on Nehemiah. God has been gracious and shown me that I can make judgements in my heart and Psalm 119/133 resonates with my heart. That He would graciously direct my steps by His word and let no iniquity take authority over me. So looking forward to victory in this area. Love you Beth, so grateful for your studies. I’m going solo but hopefully gathering with other solos at times.
Memphis, TN
5
This hits us where we need it. Able to go deeper relationally, seeking God to steady our steps and shine His light of graciousness upon us. Craving obedience and clarity in His call on each of our lives.
I love doing the summer studies with you all!! I am going to do this with my daughter. Can’t wait to dig in!!
Oops, forgot to include some info. We are in Pittsburgh,PA Loved all the verses in Psalms. I particularly like the ones about let no iniquity have dominion over me, as well as the one about steady my steps. For this summer I need to not have procrastination rule over me, and I need steady steps in how to best encourage my dear husband. Thanks SO much Beth for loving all of us so dearly over the internet !!! I feel like I have known you for years even though I have never met you. 🙂
Crane, Tx; Jessica Washington, going solo. 3 and 4 hit me the most. I do look for not only God to judge and condemn me but everyone in my life. It is very tiring and depressing to always looks for what you are doing wrong. I hope I can learn to change this attitude. This summer I am struggling with life changes. I left my teaching job 3 years ago to stay at home with my son. Now he is 3 and is ready to start school/day care while I return to work which will help our family situation. However, I am not getting feedback on any jobs and am losing hope and need God to guide my steps and show me his love and plan for myself and my family!
Debbie, Olathe, KS- (solo)-Sorry for my late post, but I am very excited to do Kelly’s study of Nehemiah to stay in the Word this summer. It is so encouraging to read the siestas posts, love your videos Beth, how you love God with all your heart and bless us with rich teaching of God’s Word and the importance of it, and I love Kelly’s heart and studies! #2- so thankful for God’s wonderful testimonies, they “steady my steps”, guide my life in every way, show me my life’s purpose- to make Jesus Lord of my life and be conformed to His image (Romans 8:28-29). Praying God will redeem me from some oppression in my life and show me the way. Praying the Lord make His face shine upon us all this summer as we seek His face! Thank you so much Beth!
Schriever, Louisiana; Growing Heart, 8.
Most women planning on meeting tonight ended up not making it. Three of us met, and although it wasn’t the group number I was hoping for I thoroughly enjoyed opening up and getting to know the similarities God has placed on our hearts. God is planning to use this study to grow our hearts, and I cannot wait to see what he opens up.
New Port Richey, FL: GCC Girls, 4, Summary: So excited to be starting this study with these awesome women & with Beth as our leader!!! In terms of what we discussed-we were all blessed to have been lifelong Christ followers & are living testimonies of God’s peace & presence in our lives as He has carried us through trials that we don’t humanly have the strength to bear. We discussed the challenges we are faced with this summer which include finances, health/healing of pain, housing situations, being loving towards those that are difficult to love, unbelief/giving God full control and prioritizing God in our daily lives. We all found encouragement to have the words of Psalm 119 to prayer over and give us strength this summer as we grow and receive insight and wisdom through God’s Word spoken through the book of Nehemiah!
Houston, TX -Weatherford Warriors(2). Praying that God will lead us this summer as we are on a quest to get healthier! We want to dug deeper in God’s word and learn to obey.
Going solo in Birmingham ,AL this summer.
Praying that God will lift me up in spirit and give me the strength to endure some physical challenges that I am going thru!
Mississippi, Vburg Siestas, 3 (at this meeting, 12 on regular basis — lots of ladies were out this week) All age siestas! We are a few days late (we will be meeting on Thursdays), but we started out right — in a Siesta’s house surrounded with LOTS of food!
1. Peace. Although things are not always rosy and easy we have a peace that God is in control. When we stray or try to do things ourselves we fall in a messy heap of… mess. And until we return to God’s way, His promises, we will remain unsatisfied… always longing for something.
2. Being from the deep south, we associated graciousness with hospitality and the thought of God being gracious in this sense was confusing. So we looked it up and the terms merciful and compassionate resounded with our group. However, the more we discussed we wondered if God was always gracious just that in His scope of time versus ours we were unable to see it. Example: Joshua; Anointing of Saul – in both these cases, when Joshua was being told to go wipe out Amorites, and Samuel anointed Saul because that is who the people were asking for, it seemed as if in those moments God was being condemning of those groups. Granted He had a master plan where He was gracious, but at those moments He seemed condemning and perhaps harsh… We then thought (mainly with the Joshua example) how He was being gracious to HIS people but not the Amorites… good discussion. Thought provoking.
3. One member has been running from God and He is slowly bringing her back, but once you start to drift away it is hard to get back into rhythm of allowing God in your daily life.
Another member is having issues with Church leadership and bitterness from this severed relationship.
4. I know God was behind our family’s move 3 years ago… there is no denying that, but I want to go back home. I’ve been running away because this is NOT what I wanted. So my own selfishness…
I am SO angry that my church is placing politics over everything else that I want to retreat. Just run away. I have prayed for God to move me and my family, but my husband and I keep hearing, “No. This is where you should be.” My bitterness towards these leaders is growing. As I see more people effected by these decisions my bitterness blanket covers more individual. So my bitterness blanket…
5. Oppression is unjust and cruel. Often times we think God is unjust or cruel because His plan is not what WE want. (Example: moving to a new state when I wanted to stay next to family).
I know that my severed relationship with church leaders is a result of oppression, but this hit me… HARD! I have constantly been praying for redemption from the oppression but have gotten to the “who cares” stage of wanting to redeem the relationship. I’m just ready to forget that relationship was ever there and move on. God doesn’t want that. He wants that relationship redeemed as well. I think I need to change my prayer…
Edmonton Klondike Siestas, Edmonton,AB Canada
We are a group of five meeting in a house. Tonight we met over coffee and cream puffs from Beard Papa. We talked about Psalm 119:129 says, “Your testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul keeps them.” Somethings that we discussed is how God speaks to us and comforts us in difficult times. One example is going from an emotional high to an emotional low within the span of two weeks. Despite that, God gave a sense of peace and comfort despite the circumstances. Another thing that came up is how memorizing scripture and praying like you suggested in Stepping Up allowed one of our siestas to experience God’s goodness.
Gainesville, FL, Brittany Kay, solo.
Questions 2 and 4 really resonated with me because I have seen God’s promises fulfilled in my short 27 years of life. I clearly see where His lead of love has taken me. I am a teacher, but I never had any intention of working with kids or teaching. I cannot stand to be in front of people, even little people. But, through weightlifting in high school, being recognized for it in college, asked to coach a team, enjoying working with the girls, which led to substitute teaching (I thought it to be an easy job until I found one suited for my degree), then full time substitute teaching, and finally heading back to grad school because the Lord had changed my heart and I grew to love teaching and kids! If I had not been obedient and trusted in Him, as His Word tells us to do, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
I pray that the Lord will steady my steps because, as a teacher, having the summers off is challenging and I don’t always want to use my time wisely. It’s nice, and most definitely necessary to rest for a while, but I am not very good at making time for things that last: relationships, especially. I would rather go to the gym, catch up on a new show, read, sew; just be with me. I pray that I would be used, and used well!
Andrea, Massillon, OH – solo
Question #1 is the one that really spoke to me. Just knowing that God will unfold His words to me so that I will be able to understand Him is so exciting to me! I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me through this study!
I am ready to start Nehemiah! Hooray! Do we have to pay to view Kelly’s videos or is there a way we can see them without more cost?
Thx for your help; I am not computer savvy
Flagstaff, Arizona; The Flook Ladies; 2; Something significant that we discussed was the graciousness of God and the importance of fully receiving and accepting that grace, allowing ourselves (and others around us) to be imperfect and forgiven.
Dallas, Texas, solo. I’m going through a dry season in my relationship with the Lord. There has been some oppression in my relationship with my husband. I’m hoping this bible study will lead me to a closer walk with the Lord and give me some answer on how to better my relationship with my spouse. Question 3 draws close to my spirit in that I grew up with very rigid parents so I have a tendency to believe God is that way. So excited to participate in this study and to grow and learn a new side to the Lord.
Charlotte,NC on Lake Wylie . Julia Todd and Phyllis Sills and maybe more. I am planning on going through this study with my best friend, Phyllis and hopefully some others, but as yet we have not met so we may be on and off as a group. But I am enjoying being able to think though the lessons alone and will certainly enjoy the interaction when we do meet. I am thinking we will go out on our pontoon boat with a picnic lunch and sit and chat about the lessons – as we all live on the lake, so I am naming us The Wylie Worshipers.
Currently , this summer I am struggling with both my children back home after college graduation. Its not as fun as it should be and we are all ready for the chicks to fly the coop. So I must learn to accept this challenge as a time to grow closer to them after being gone for several years and not knowing where they will end up. I pray that our love will grow together and we can learn to respect each other as adults.
Looking forward to many great weeks with Nehemiah!
Pearland, TX: Tangila (solo). We recently began this study at church and I am excited to engage in both settings. I especially appreciate the scripture that we will pray during this summer of study. I have written it in my book and desire that It be inscribed on my heart by the end of this summer. For me, the graciousness of God and the need for His loving gaze upon me are the points that stood out to me because I struggle with those personally. I believe and teach it to others but tend to not “take hold” of them for myself.
Sutherlin, Oregon. (3) Myself, my mom and my mentor mom are doing this study on our own with hopes to meet for coffee and discuss as summer schedules allow. #5 resonates with me as I long for God to steady my steps…to follow in His path and His ways I want to live the life He has prepared for me.
Glendora, CA, “Gracefully Growing”, 10 ladies… We are a group of young Mom’s who met together during the school year on Tuesday mornings for Bible study with our church’s women’s group. We couldn’t stand to be apart for an entire summer so we are joining the Siesta’s for this summer study and are very excited!! We meet on Thursday nights for dinner and study time and will rotate houses for our study time together. Since we are youngish mom’s who are mostly stay-at-home Mom’s, we all shared that our struggle this summer would be with controlling our tempers while all the children are home and underfoot. We discussed how it seems we can lose our patience with our children more than anyone else, and how it turns us into women we don’t want to be, and we know God doesn’t want us to be. We joked about how we wanted to make t-shirts for our children with the Ps. 119:133b painted on them in bold puffy paint so that it would be a continual reminder in our faces that we truly desire for NO iniquity to get dominion over us. Losing our tempers with our kids certainly falls into that category, so we thought that the t-shirts would be a very good visual reminder of what we desire God to do specifically in our lives this summer.:) We are just very excited to get into Nehemiah and to continue to grow together.
Fort Worth, Texas, solo but would love to have someone study with either locally or online. I’m thrilled to be able stay in God’s word this summer and strive for discernment and better understanding of His statutes.
Thank you for this opportunity to study in this format! How exciting it is to know we can actually use technology to unite sisters in Christ together and learn to enrich our world and make it a better place!
God bless you, Beth as you lead us by your sweet spirit and incredible gifts from above!
To God be the glory, great things He has done and will do!
White Rock, BC, Canada., White Rock Siestas, 3. Two of us met tonight in my basement suite. We all met in our teaching program almost 3 years ago and we did “Beloved Disciple” together that summer. We talked a lot about the challenge of finding time for being silent and still in God’s presence! We are so excited to get started! May he speak vividly to each heart represented here!
Andover, KS, Kathy G, going solo. I also did Kelly’s Ruth Study 2 yrs ago. Looking forward to Nehemiah! Questions 3 & 5 have made me think. Re:, #3, perhaps I am in the middle here. Not sure that I believe He is indifferent or harsh, maybe somewhat condemning. And, yes. Question #5, I am concerned my temper could get the best of me over a family issue.
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Henderson,NV,3,summary: the three of us are all in different States (NV,TN and NY), so two of us were able to do our study together over the phone today. What a blessing this study has already started out to be! we read the Psalms 119 and discussed that Gods law is like light and it is faster than the speed of light because it is so quick and powerful and we can do nothing apart from Gods word and God is patient He doesnt expect us to transform overnight but His word washes us and purges and prunes away our faults so that we can bare much fruit. it is His will for us to and not only for His kingdom but so that we might have an abundance of joy! God is so gracious and merciful i just would like for His will to be done throughout this study.
Hey my Cross-Country Cuz! Love you so much & praying Numbers 6:4-26 over you precious cuz & siesta:)! This study in His Word truly is like therapy to me. I’m thankful for Kelly Minter for writing this study. I’m enjoying studying Nehemiah w/ you & Mama & also Siesta/Mama(Ms. Beth of course lol) & all these other precious siestas! Cant wait for all God’s gonna teach us this summer.
& that was Numbers 6:24-24 & also the Psalm 119:129-135.. 🙂
Hey cross country niece. Loved your comment and I am so glad to be doing this study with you and Monica. I know God has great things in store for us and all our siesta sisters as we do this study and yield to him. Love you sweet niece. Praying for us that God will open the eyes of our heart through this summer bible study and that his face wil shine down on us. Love and many blessings to you.
Hollister, CA; Michele (solo) Ever been in a place where it’s all good & you’re really grateful, but also feeling like you’re waiting for God to show you what’s next? That’s where I am. Question #4 is where I spent the most time. I pray God will direct my footsteps & guide me according to His precious word.
I was just trying to figure out how to say this. I am so blessed to be free from struggling right now. In part that is why I was this study, so God will guide me to the service of others during this peaceful and bountiful time in my own life.
Hi Natalie! So good to hear from a sister who “gets me”!!! What a special place we are in, a time of peace, but also a time to be especially open to wherever God leads. I’ll be praying for you!
Can Am Tas Philas Calgary Alberta x3, White Owl South Dakota, Houston, Texas
We are a group of four Tas Philas brought together by Yahweh. We met through Michelle (Houston) who was a mutual friend to us all. We came together to embark on a Bible study written by Jodi (South Dakota). Through this we learned that our gifts and our Hearts are kindred and hungry. We don’t know what God has for us but we expect that it is something immeasurably more that we could ever imagine.
We are all ordinary girls at different places in our journey calling on HIM to steady our steps as we seek HIM, hungering for a more intimate, rich relationship with HIM and clinging to HIS promises as HE teaches us about who HE is and HIS calling on our lives.
We were most moved by the challenge to dig deep within our souls to seek out a tendency of the flesh that needs tended to not only this summer but until there is no longer oppression but freedom to love fully and live fully.
Can Am Tas Philas Calgary Alberta x3, White Owl South Dakota, Houston, Texas
We are a group of four Tas Philas brought together by Yahweh. We met through Michelle (Houston) who was a mutual friend to us all. We came together to embark on a Bible study written by Jodi (South Dakota). Through this we learned that our gifts and our Hearts are kindred and hungry. We don’t know what God has for us but we expect that it is something immeasurably more that we could ever imagine.
We are all ordinary girls at different places in our journey calling on HIM to steady our steps as we seek HIM, hungering for a more intimate, rich relationship with HIM and clinging to HIS promises as HE teaches us about who HE is and HIS calling on our lives.
We were most moved by the challenge to dig deep within our souls to seek out a tendency of the flesh that needs tended to not only this summer but until there is no longer oppression but freedom to love fully and live fully.
Psalm 9:9-10
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you for you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you.
Mary G in St. Paul, MN
I was thinking of not doing this bible study with all of you as I have so much on my plate right now I just did not think I could add one more thing. But I have definitely been feeling the nudging of the Holy Spirit to do so and I want to be obedient to God and not miss out on anything His heart wants to give me. So here I am flying solo. The thing that resonates with me is knowing God is gracious to me. I would love more than anything to be able to embrace that with my whole heart. When I try to picture God when I talk to Him I’m always afraid He’s mad at me. To be able to picture Him and know Him as a loving Father who is gracious to me….well, that would just be a dream come true.
Gilly – In the UK – studying solo ( but still waiting for my workbook to arrive!)
Longing to get back in the Word and be challenged!