Welcome, everybody! We are ecstatic that you are joining us for Bible study this summer! Please read the following instructions quickly but carefully then watch the video. On each of our summer Bible study posts, I’ll always write out the interactives just in case you can’t get the video to work. OK, Sisters! Here goes!
BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT: PLEASE READ ALL WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AND WATCH THE VIDEO IF AT ALL POSSIBLE . ALL COMMENTS ARE MEANT TO BE IN RESPONSE TO TODAY’S INTERACTIVES. Your comment today is particularly important because it also serves as your registration for the summer experience.
UNLIKE PREVIOUS YEARS, WE ARE ASKING FOR EVERYONE PARTICIPATING TO LEAVE A COMMENT RATHER THAN THE GROUP LEADER LEAVING ONE ON BEHALF OF ALL. It tended to be too confusing. Your comment to each of the 4 blog posts this summer is your interaction with us here in our blog community. (I know some of this seems redundant but we get lots of questions about these kinds of details so we’re just trying to make sure we’ve covered as much as possible.)
If you are in a SMALL GROUP: you will share your responses to all of the interactives with one another in your gathering. Then, when you come back to make your comment to this post, you will choose one of the questions to answer here. You can answer more if you desire but we are only “requiring” you to respond to one.
If you are GOING SOLO: please respond succinctly to each of the interactives. The whole community will in effect become your group and sharing your answers will be part of the activity and accountability. It will make the summer experience immensely richer for you.
ALL PARTICIPANTS identify yourselves in your comments to this post by: First Name, city, state, and country if not the USA and whether you are participating with a small group or going solo, then respond to your interactives. Here’s a sample comment for our summer Bible study to give you a paradigm:
Cheryl, Shreveport, LA/small group: #3 … (her response to the third question will be written here. Note that she is participating in a small group so, since she’s already answered each of the questions in her gathering, she only needs to respond to one here. If she’d gone solo, she’d answer all of them here.)
1. A fun one: What title to a popular song – from any decade you wish – best captures you right now? (It can be serious or ridiculous.)
2. Write one sentence describing something about your present season – your right-here-and-now – that makes it unique. Life changes constantly. What is distinct about this particular season?
3. In one sentence, what is one thing you wish your sisters in Christ would know about you sooner that often doesn’t come out in your relationships till later? Complete this sentence: “I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I…”
4. *Optional: Make a one-sentence comment regarding anything in the video devotional that resonated with you.
OK, Sisters! Have Weeks One and Two of Gideon completed by our next gathering in two weeks on June 25th! We are so happy to have you here and to serve you.
Summer Gideon Study 2013 from LPV on Vimeo.
PerryLove, Gallatin, TN/solo:
1. Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right.
2. Feeling in limbo, second baby is turning one, do I want another? Husband wants to look elsewhere for work, possible move? Mother sick with stage 4 breast cancer, can I survive losing my last parent?
3. I want to have true, long lasting, deep friendships.
I will be praying for you as you face the immortality of your mother ~ never easy to lose a parent, my children were quite young when I lost both of my parents and its sad they didn’t have the opportunity to know them better and learn from their faith, but I focus on that “great reunion” we will one day have in heaven:)
Tami, Auburndale, Florida,USA/SOLO
1. Free Bird
2. Experimenting with the real me.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am real and that I give everything from my heart.
4. I am ripening with age and I need to be careful of the Harvest.
Petranella StCloud, MN solo
1. 16 tons (old Tennessee Ernie Ford song)
2. Season of Preparation
3. Even in my silence, I am praying for you.
4. I don’t like bananas – Please Lord ripen a different fruit for me. 😉
Dawn in Monett, MO solo
1. Livin’ on a Prayer
2. Sending my first off to college, second to senior year in HS, third to start driving, daughter to NO INHALER!!! The two nephews I’ve been watching since birth will be in kindergarten and first grade so I will have a much emptier house this fall.
3. I enjoy praying over life’s challenges with my friends and could really use a mentor.
4. I want to produce enough fruit for others to eat from it!
Amy, Crown Point,Indiana/solo
1. I Need Thee Every Hour
2. This season is unique because I just quit a year-long job that was very stressful. So now I am in a time of re-connecting with God, refreshing and resting and embarking on new adventures in following after Christ.
3. I wish that my sisters in Christ knew that I have a passion for broken people and want to show them that God loves them and sees beauty in their brokenness.
4. I want to recognize the fruit in my life and SHOUT praises to Him for it.
Chrissy, Aurora, IL, USA – Solo/Via phone conversations
1. Everybody Hurts is the song title that fits me most right now.
2. I am embarking on a new aspect in my career by working from home and I am so excited! (Not very unique but this has been a goal of mine for almost seven years!)
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I struggle with depression and anxiety on an hourly basis; some days it’s on a minute by minute basis.
4. The devotional really hit home for me this week, thank you Mom for talking me into doing this with you! I realized tonight that I have “iron chariots” of intimidation, jealousy and hardening of the heart holding me back from God’s will and plan for me.
Maggie. Tampa, FL-Solo
1. Like an avalanche- Hillsong United
2. This is my last summer before graduating from college (!!) and having to get a big girl job!
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am extremely excited for what God is doing in my life right now.
Michelle K., Warner Robins, GA – Solo
1. I Will Survive
2. I am currently the fixings between two pieces of bread – the sandwich generation; doing more for aging parents while still supporting my children in college.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that although I am a good listener, I will share my feelings and thoughts only after being asked.
4. I LOVE summer fruit and look forward to seeing what fruit God will ripen in me this summer!
#1 He’s got the whole world in his Hands
#2 Season of learning and listening and applying
#3 Sisters I am quiet but crazy
Kina, Chicago/Solo
1) Moving Forward
2) My current season is unique because I have received proof or confirmation of the reality or true status of my relationships.
3) I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I can be very silly and playful.
4) The video devotional reminded me to remember that God is good and has been good to me even when I do not see the harvest of the seeds I’ve sown, when injustice appears to go unnoticed and frequently unchecked.
Sherrie / Aurora, CO / solo
#1-I Will Rise
#2-I am in a faith growing season.
#3-That although I may not talk a lot at first, I am a good listener and it takes a while for me to open up to others.
#4-I love the way that Beth tied together all the summer scriptures into a path for our study.
Jen B., Gaithersburg, MD/Duo with Kia
1. “Help Me Find It” – sidewalk Prophets
2. I am approaching 40 and feel like I am at a crossroad, wanting to know what God wants me to do…be still or move towards something new that He has for me.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I live in fear but desperately want to walk in the Peace God has promised (John 14:27)
4. I’m with Beki! I can’t wait to see the summer fruit God wants me to pluck, prepare and store this summer!!!
Cindy, Lakeland, FL/solo
#1. Whatever You’re Doing (Sanctus Real)
#2. My present season is unique because I just moved to a new town and I have no sense of belonging…L O S T
#3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am not as strong as I appear.
#4. I wonder how many times I did not recognize the fruit in front of me…Lord don’t let me miss any more!
Betty, Austin, TX, Group #3 I have a daughter who just graduated from High School and in August will attend Texas A&M University-College Station.
Valerie M.
Evart, Mi, duo with sister
1. This is my prayer – Joyce Martin
2. busy stressed/ work two jobs and grad school 🙁
3. I wish my sisters knew that I am more sensitive than I appear on the outside.
1. Carry Me
2. To bring more people to Christ. I share Jesus with lots of people, I need to move to the next step. Bringing them to salvation.
3. That I am a hard worker for our Lord and will do what I say, after all the Lord lead me right there at that moment to do His will.
4. I am very excited for this Summer and what God will show me….
Cheryl/Pueblo,CO/Song: He’s Already There” cuz what ever happens to me, He is already where He will take me.
This season of my life is unique since for first time am living without great health & having pain issues./ I wish my sisters in Christ knew that really am insecure and long for a close Christian friend. It can be lonely being in charge of things.
What resonated in video: perhaps the thing I have longed for is coming to fruition…and that I want to recognize the fruit that is ready to be plucked and grab it and use it for the purposes of others as well as myself.
Alicia ~ Rome, GA ~ small group
1. “Livin’ On a Prayer” (LOL, just the title, not the song)
2. We are moving homes (yay!) in a few weeks, and we are learning how to parent a 20 year old son we adopted 10 months ago.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am quiet and reserved, but not stuck-up. I may not say a lot because I am a good listener, but I will open up as I get to know you.
4. The part in the video that resonated most with me was about storing up because we must store up those times when we’ve experienced a harvest so that we can later remember the Lord’s good works in the times we perceive as droughts.
Bethany M.
Evart, Mi duo with sister
1. In the waiting – Shannon Wexelberg
2. Season of weight loss and basically living under the annointing and being used, but struggling with being content in my position in life.
3. I wish my sisters knew that I over analyze too much.
Alyson, Elgin, TX / Small group – #4 So thankful to have a group that is excited about continuing our study of God’s word throughout the summer. We will not let this be a “dry season” with our studies!
Cindy, Sac, Ca solo
#1 sorry i couldnt think of anything here, but church songs.
#2 This is a a season of returning to my first love and joy in god!
#3 I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am forthright always and i make lots of mistakes.
#4 God isnt done with me yet.
Lisa, Independence, MO, small group.
1. Thank you God for saving me…Chris Tomlin
2. Getting ready to an empty nester in August…feeling sad about it as it gets closer
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am more bold for Christ on the inside than I appear on the outside.
4. I pray for the fruit of my prayers for the salvation of extended family members to be answered this summer.
Brandi, Ferndale, WA Going Solo
1)Be Good to Yourself by Journey
2)I am trying to figure out how to work/spend quality time with family and Christ and how to do it all well.
3)I am just learning, I don’t know it all.
1. “What Faith Can Do” by Kutless
2. My 4 1/2 year old grand-daughter and do everything together buddy who lived with us most of those 4 yrs just moved to New Mexico (We live in West Florida); So a season of adjusting.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I…so desperately need a real girlfriend.
Stacy, Kimberly, Wisconsin / Small Group
1. Keep Your Eyes Open by Needtobreathe
2. Finding my footing after a year of change.
Jane, Jackson MO, Solo
1. My Wish, Rascal Flatts
2. Oldest daughter graduated high school
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew ME, the real me.
4. Looking forward to the summer fruit!
1- Forgiveness by Matthew West
2- Trying to keep a peaceful spirit while my daughter is studying abroad 🙂
3-I wish my sister’s in Christ knew that I am a very loyal and loving friend for life
4-Started my “Summer” season laying on the beach @ Wrightsville Beach, NC reflecting on God’s glory and continuous supply of ripe fruit in my life
Laura, Carlsbad, CA/Daybreak Small Group:
#3 I am in a season this summer of having my mother-in-law, who has advanced dementia, living with us – going on month nine and realizing it is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through.
1. “What Faith Can Do” by Kutless
2. My 4 1/2 year old grand-daughter and do everything together buddy who lived with us most of those 4 yrs just moved to New Mexico (We live in West Florida); So a season of adjusting.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I…so desperately need a real girlfriend.
4. I am so thickheaded that I asked God to let me slip on my Banana so I would really know what my Fruit for this season is and to tell me what to do with it as far as the future.
Emily, Jacksonville, FL/Solo (but conversing with a dear college friend a few states away)
1. Life in the Fast Lane by The Eagles
2. Newlywed, new city, first home, new job and longing for normalcy and life the way it used to be…
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I…have a fear of praying out loud in a group setting.
#2 I have worked for 13 years in profession with adults and I now waiting to see if God wants me to work with kids.
Lynne, Springdale, AR, Solo
#1 – I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
#2 – Recently unemployed and fighting a bout with depression
#3 – I’m a toddler in my walk with Christ.
#4 – Summer is the time for ripening. Boy do I need that right now!
1. Song – We Are Family by Sister Sledge
2. Today was my first day in the office as the Children’s Ministry Director. It was a cool day!
3. “I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I was having a really hard time answering this question.
4. I am ready to pick fruit.
Laura.Plainfield,IN.solo
#1 Worn – Tenth Avenue North
#2 My marriage is being tested and learning to handle and understand an alcoholic family member.
#3 I appear confident and outgoing, but inside I’m uncertain.
#4 I’m excited about fruit that is ripening from what I’ve sown. And things I may have given up on may be turning around if I only have eyes that want to see. Precious!!!
Jill, Fort Ashby, WV/solo
1) Exhausted by the Foo Fighters
2) I’m a new mom again and trying to adjust to life as a mom of 2.
3) I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I’m extremely shy and self conscious.
Colette, Mesa, AZ.- Solo
1. I Will Survive!!!! By Donna Summer (just realized her last name goes with the study! 🙂 )
2. In this season I am discovering how very powerful the enemy can be…. BUT How much MORE Powerful our God is and how He helps me every step of the way through this trial! 🙂
(And already seeing the fruit ripening this summer!!)
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I LOVE to laugh!! 🙂
4. I was reminded that in AZ. the sun shines ALOT in the summer and also The Son shines ALOT ALL the time!!! 🙂
Liz/Oregon/Small Group
1. Free to Be Me ~Francesca Battistelli
2. Sports are swallowing up my family! But in a good, fun way….most of the time. =)
3. I wish my sister’s in Christ new that I’m extremely insecure, and constantly replay conversations in my head, worrying that I may have said something stupid or sounded air headed.
Shelly Elston
Portland, OR
solo
1) Not Giving Up (by Amy Grant)
2) I am currently in a season of seeing some hard work that I’ve done over the past 3 years start to take hold and change our family dynamics.
3) I wish my sisters in Christ knew sooner that I have a silly sense of humor.
4) The part of the video devotional today that resonated with me was when Beth spoke about watching for something to ripen, something we’ve sown that is ripe for the plucking!
Doing the study with my sister
1) I’ll Follow the Sun by the Beatles
2) Grandma of 5 little ones whose parents don’t follow The Lord
3) I wish my sisters in Christ knew I am insecure & feel inadequate.
4) What resonated with me from Beth’s devotion is that I need to shout my joy over the fruit God provides.
Amy; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Group
#1. My song is “Carry On” by Fun. Because sometimes you just got to keep going even when you want to throw your hands up!!
Lisa, Muncie, Indiana, solo
1. “Maniac” (from “Fame”)
2. I am currently being tugged in two different directions in our family life, mother of a ten year old girl vs. grandma to our first grandchild (oldest son is 25), along with three other boys inbetween!
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I need true friendships with other women in the church, even though I am a staff pastor.
1. Conqueror by Mali Music
2. I think I am in a time of discovery. God is really showing me a holistic picture of myself and those around me. The paint brush of life guided by God’s loving hand is creating a wonderful picture!
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I view friendship as a loving bond that should transcend triviality.
Laura, Dickinson, TX – Group
Shannon Pate, Little Rock, Arkansas, Solo
1. “I need you, Oh I need You, every hour I need You!”
2. My twin daughters both pregnant, so 2 new grandbabies within 5 months and my son getting married in between it all!!
3.I wish my Christian sisters knew that I can’t stand feeling negative thoughts about anyone, so if they come up I pray them away.
4. I don’t want my strength dried up in this so busy season. I pray God will show His strength in my weakness and produce ripe fruit this summer for my good and His glory!!!
Tyra, Houston, TX; Solo
1. Why Georgia – John Mayer (moving to Atlanta this Summer)
2. Season of change, adjustment, and peace in the unknown
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I need encouragement as much as they do.
4. This Summer is a time for ripening of fruit from seeds that I’ve sown that I’ve lost hope would ever ripening. I Believe and Trust God that it will be so, This Summer!
Cameron, Austin, TX – Going solo!
1. Flight of the Bumblebee!
2. My season of life isn’t unique to women, but it’s unique to me because it’s my first time as a mom!
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I may seem blunt and gruff, but I am sensitive, loyal, supportive and genuine!
Judy, Tyler, TX
Precious Memories is my song. I am in the season of being caregiver to my dad. I want my friends in Christ to know that I am a prayer warrior. I was inspired by “Summer” to continue to write on a book that I have started. Like Beth said, “your fruit maybe something that you have sown and not finished.”
Karen/Hillsboro, OR/solo
#1 “The Way we Were”
#2 My season of life right now is spring cleaning…I am working on letting go of clutter&stuff that just takes of time and space and energy….My Dad died in Oct. of 2012…life is to short…people are more important that ‘stuff’.
#3 I wish my sisters knew that I long for true friends that really want to take the time and energy to know me and for me to know them.
#4 I don’t want my time with the Lord to be pushed aside this summer…I want to grow deeper with Him and am so excited to learn from God and his Gideon!
Amanda/Lexington, KY/duo with a friend
1. Livin’ on a Prayer
2. I am getting acclimated to a new position at work and starting to look into buying my first home.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I really would like to develop a meaningful relationship despite coming off as “stuck-up” just because I tend to be quiet until I get to know someone.
I just read your post, Amanda. Two of my answers are pretty identical to yours! I posted on June 11th at 9:48 pm. Cool!
Debi, Chesterfield, VA, Solo
#1. In Christ Alone
#2. Season of elderly, ill parents balanced by two of the sweetest grandbabies ever!
#3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am quiet by nature, but love to study the word of God
Celeste, Laguna Niguel, CA: Solo
#1 Boogie Nights by Heatwave (got to keep on dancin!)
#2 My here and now is tough, 2 precious family members with ugly cancers.
#3 “I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am an encourager.
#4 I need to see the summer fruits ripen, so that I can pluck, see and taste
because I know that HE is Good. That I can partake and shout for joy.