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.
1. Lost without your love
2. My husband of 28 years walked out and abandoned me. I don’t know who to be now. I am so hurt and so lost.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I used to be a strong person, full of things to look forward to.
4. Many things, but I like the part where you say that I haven’t had the last season of my life yet.
Hi Vicki,
My heart is aching for you. I don’t know how to encourage you but I hope that this will help: start by being who you have always been– the daughter of the Most High King. In your weakness He is strong and nothing…not angels or demons, princes or principalities can separate you from the love of Christ. I am praying that you will be encouraged today and that you will have the strength for this day. He is still writing the poem of your life and it will be beautiful. I pray that you will receive this and know the depth of love with which it is being written.
1. Wind beneath my wings. 2. My husband is struggling with health problems 3. I am a good listener 4. I’m looking forward to harvesting my fruit
Maria- Oxford, MS- going solo- a bit behind but working to catch up
1.can’t really think of one
2. This is a busy time of life with kids and their activities and making sure where I am committing to spend my time and energy fits with God’s will for my life.
3. That I am not as tough as I present myself to be and that my feelings are probably more easily hurt than people realize.
4. Summer is a time for ripening, even fruit I had thought dead on the vine.
Group/Tampa
1. Amazing Grace
2. Getting use to being home by myself during the week. Daughter in college and just lost my beloved dog of over 13 yrs.
3. I am pretty much out there so I can’t seem to think of an answer to this question right now.
4. Let me recognize and remember how good God is to me and store it in my mind.
Deby, Carlsbad, CA/Carlsbad small group: #4
Let me recognize the fruits when they come and remember how good God is to me.
Whitney, Twin Falls, Idaho/Monday evening small group #3 I wish my sisters in Christ knew how much I desire Christian women friends in my life right now.
Whitney, I have been desperate for Women friends also after just moving to Anchorage AK. I was really praying and asking God and BOOM I have had a harvest of friends lately that I just am in awe of God. He is faithful to perform it!
1. Whom Shall I Fear 2. Finally growing into my own skin and having fun being who God created me to be 3. That I am more insecure than I let on and that I love to be goofy 4. (I know I’m breaking the rules, but hey I’m a rebel) glorify God and pluck up that fruit!!!
Lisa Wylie, TX/small group #1 Times they are a Changing
I’m late…can I still join?
1. Is there a song called Crazy? 🙂
2. Busy… 3 kids, 14, 12, 9 trying to be a stay at home mom and starting to work from home.
3. I wish my sisters would know that my husband is a non-believer and I struggle with keeping peace in the house and following God.
Nancie, Tampa,FL/Small Group
1. The Plan (Raze)
2. Recognizing that everything I have been through has been part of God’s plan to mold me into a better person.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I love them.
4. Shouts of praise for reminding me to give thanks for all of the wonderful blessings in my life.
In A Larger Group with Allison Dalke
broken into smaller groups
#1 – Favorite Song – Lead Me by Sanctous Real
#3 – I and my sisters in Christ to know this about me : After Life Events, I feel my faith has weakened
Lydia -Los Angeles, CA – solo (better late than never)
1. “I’m coming up so you better get this party started” by Pink
2. My husband and I are trying to conceive our first child.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am super sensitive despite my rough exterior.
4. Summer is a season for ripening fruits!!
Lydia -Los Angeles, CA – solo (better late than never)
1. “Lord Move or Move Me” by Avalon
2. My husband and I are trying to conceive our first child.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am super sensitive despite my rough exterior.
4. Summer is a season for ripening fruits!!
Heather Whitewater, WI
1. That’s What Faith Can Do Kutless
2. I am a mother of four teens; I am learning to let go.
3. That I truly love encouraging women with the love of Jesus.
Ana, Broken Arrow, OK: solo
1. She Will Be Loved
2. Repairing relationships so they will endure
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I struggled so much with insecurity.
4. Summer – may I see it more than just a hot, dry time. I will have my eyes open for the fruit!!!
1. Color My World
2. Season of finding me.
3. I grew up going to church but have only began to read Bible & really praying.
1.I just called to say I love you – stevie wonder
2. First summer far away from home and seeing God doing amazing things.
3. That I hide emotions because I want to look strong.
4. What God has in store for me this summer is more than I pictured or imagined!
My name is Rina and I am in Haverford, PA…I just posted my answers and realized I did not post details on where I am from.
My sister and I are doing this together.
1.)Broken Bones, by Love Inc.
2.)Mending from a full hip relacement that won’t seem to heal because of my juevinile diabetes.
3.)That I like to work and play as hard as I physically can 🙂
4.)That I have stopped shouting about the harvests God gives me. Sorry, Father 🙁
Heather, Houston, solo. (Yep. Running late)
1. I Can Only Imagine (Mercy Me)
2. Practically empty nester. College daughter working at camp most of summer. Teenaged son never wants to be home. And rarely is.
3. How much I’d like to minister to teenagers and young adults. Or women of all ages. Volunteering for an exciting ministry. How much I’d love for my husband to REALLY know Jesus.
4. We need to be faithful to His word this summer and watch over something to ripen that we have sown! Yippee! Can’t wait!!
I am 76 yrs old and have just gone back to work as an
RN. I am so grateful for this opportunity to help my
granddaughter through university without a huge debt.
I am leaning heavily on the Holy Spirit for wisdom and
strength to accomplish this.
Kailah, Atlanta, GA/small group:
#3. I wish my sisters in Christ realized sooner that I actually tend to be extremely open and honest, but I need to be asked. I hesitate to open up about my life until someone expresses specific interest–I’ve just recently started learning in this season that it’s okay to share just because I want to be known!
Mariah, Gahanna, Ohio/solo:
1. “Changed” by Rascal Flatts
2. This is my first summer raising my four kids and working full time as an RN.
3. ONE thing I wish my sister’s in Christ knew sooner is that even though I am surrounded by kids and patients I am very lonely most of the time.
Wow! You really hit the nail on the head for me with your answer to #3! This is by far the busiest, most active season of my life and I only have two kids (ages 13 and 16). I work, volunteer in a few leadership roles and run my kids from place to place but I feel isolated and lonely more than I ever have before.
I’m part of a small group, so please know that we will be praying for you as the study continues. I’m praying that today God will send you one good friend to reach out and encourage you this day. Have a blessed day.
Leslie, colton, oregon, small group.
Life right now is about figuring out boundaries for growing kids and balancing lives that have a tendency to get too busy.
Samantha / London, UK / Solo
1. Jesus Take The Wheel
2. Learning to live with depression with the Lord by the side.
3. That 90% of my smiles are to stop myself from crying.
4. I loved the reference to the Lord RIPENING us this summer.
Jennifer, Austin, TX/solo
1. Not Finished Yet
2. I’m TRYING to GROW personally and professionally.
3. I NEED my sisters in Christ….as friends, confidants, uncommon friends, roll models….
4. It is easy to forget how good God is….in good times and in bad times. I want to make it my mission to ALWAYS remember!
1. In Everything
Response to Beth’s words this morning:
I LOVE the opportunity to listen to the Vimeo!
I’ll forever look at bananas differenlyt/uniquely…I want to NOTICE and to GIVE THANKS… IN EVERYTHING …and remember that God HAS brought forth fruit in my life! Let me never to forget how GOOD God is!
Thank you, Jesus, for summer…. And thank you for grace to ripen! And thank you for Pricilla and Beth!!!
Nancy, Houston,TX
I’m just joining, so forgive my late start. First week’s questions:
School’s Out for Summer (not “spiritual” but definitely where I am right now.)
Season : at the point of deciding when to retire from teaching
I wish my sisters in Christ knew my constant daily difficulty with insecurity.
1. Song title that best describes me now: The Power Of Love (Celine Dion)
2. this season of my life: My husband and I sent my daughter off to college last year, I am no longer serving in my 7 year ministry position in the church, we changed churches, my son is entering his Junior year in HS…..lots and lots of changes!
3. I love to move outside my comfort zone. For me it is a rewarding place to be. If I am not moving forward I often feel stagnant. The problem is sometimes God says “not yet” or “wait”.
4.Loved the devotional! A reminder to look for and work towards the harvest!
Debbie , Hickory NC, solo
1. ‘Leaving on a jet plane ”
2. I have been blasted with lots of change and have uncovered truths about my two adult children that have rocked my world. I want to run away!
3. I wish my sisters knew how my heart has been broken by truth I have discovered about my adult sons’ addiction and legal problems and how they have held each other hostage with their issues. It has caused much hatred and distrust to form between them.
Novia, Plano, TX/so-low
1. Not a title, but lyrics “Thunder rumbling, castles crumbling, I am trying to hold on, God knows that I tried, seeing the bright side”
2. I’m struggling greatly through a crisis of belief.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am no where close to the strong woman I project myself to be
Michelle, St. Louis, MO/Solo
1. Plumb, “Need You Now”
2. Feeling like the success of too many areas depends solely on me and my ability to make it all turn out okay… But it’s far too much for me to handle.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I feel like most days I’m just in survival mode. I’m determined to be steadfast, and to persevere, but yeah… survival mode.
1. So Far Away- Carole King
2. I feel like I’m on the precipice of something in this season…I’m just not sure what.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I genuinely love them and am for them. (Why does our society cultivate competition and unrest among women?)
4. The purpose of this summer is to bring about a ripe fruit.
Karin from Clinton, NJ
I am doing the Bible study with my sister in PA
1. I will Survive
2. I have a lot of physical pain
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I am more sensitive than I appear
Matthew 9:37-38
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”
from Lorraine, in Corpus Christi, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Heather, West Lafayette, IN/solo:
1. ?
2. I’m in the “mommy trenches” and often feel weary from the constancy and challenges of parenting, navigating the culture, protecting, and training my boys.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I struggle less with believing and more with belonging in Christian community.
4. Looking and believing for fruit- to have eyes that recognize it- sown, ripened, picked, prepared, & stored this summer.
Doing this solo but will be in a group in the fall doing “Gideon.”
1. “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”
2. Broken bones!
3. …compare myself with others and come out at the bottom of the totem pole.
4. God risks His own Name on us.
4. I am praying that I will see fruit in my oldest daughter’s life this summer. She is far from God, and my prayer is that she will wake up and realize she is eating the husks meant for the pigs.
Tami, DS, LA, Solo
1. I’m Feeling Good
2. One of my son’s just married, another of my son’s is engaged, and my baby girl just got her driver’s license.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I really don’t like hearing negative statements about their husbands. That kind of stuff is contagious.
4. Jer 40:10. Remember the stored fruit. This season will produce fruit as well, at the right time.
1. 10,000 Reasons
2. Wanting to move … Asking God’s will.
3. … It’s not about me. I want to be a vessel worth His using.
Kathy – New Albany, Ohio – Solo
Kathy – New Albany, OH – Solo
1. He is with you (when your husband doesn’t kiss you anymore) – Mandisa
2. Only daughter college bound; just became guardian of my dad due to dementia.
3. That the road of my marriage is hard and empty.
4. That even in the dry heat of summer, the Lord will provide fruit in my life.
Sarah, Simms, TX, solo
1. He Knows My Name
2. I am 38 weeks pregnant with our 3rd child and I have been on bed rest since June 10th.
3. I desire nothing more than to have an intimate relationship with Jesus Chtist but it is a daily struggle daily growing my relationship with God.
1. Can’t Live
2. Husband and I are looking for new church after 20 years at last church.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I’m tired of floating on this life-boat in the fog!
Cecie/Anchorage AK/Going Solo, running late
1. Jesus, Jesus How I love Thee
2. This season in my life is so different, moved to Alaska from Colorado, retired, and now a Grand Mother – but best of all I am getting to spend some quality time getting to know my daughter and her family in a very close and intimate way.
3. I have 36 friends in Africa who are orphans and whom I love and pray for. I love to go there to visit them.
1. In Your Hands by Unspoken
2. I have moved with my family 2 hours away from my Mom and Mom-in-law to a rural area and I’m trying to be a stay at home Mom to my 7 and 3 year old sons.
3. …lost my best friend when my Dad passed away 9 years ago. I was such a Daddy’s girl and I miss him each and everyday.
Heidi, round rock tx
Baby, baby!
Due in two weeks with 2nd girl
Wish people knew I’m not as strong as I put on and I’d love help and more close friendships.
My name is Pam. I am 46. I live in Nashville.
1. Overcomer (Mandisa)
2. I have been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. I feel like I’m walking the journey alone because I don’t know how to lean on anyone else.
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew that I have no idea how to truly walk hand in hand with God.
1. Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce
2. I am searching for what God has for me to do in this season of life!
3. I wish my sisters in Christ knew how much I love and need their fellowship and that I need them to walk with God because of how much I learn from each of them!