Okay Girls! Lindsee here and I have chosen our 11 winners at random! If you would all email me ([email protected]) as soon as possible, that would be so helpful so we can get your books to you SOON!
Drum roll please…
Our first 10 winners of a Gideon Workbook are: (Make sure that if you are a winner, it is the correct comment number that I have posted!)
Comment #634: Amy A.
Comment #33: Beverly
Comment #111: Amy Hanson
Comment #88: Michele
Comment #777: Sharon Seagle
Comment #56: Rina
Comment #555: Lisa Ode
Comment #1: Rebecca
Comment #245: Brandi
Comment #372: Melody
Lastly, our winner of the Gideon Leader Kit is…
Comment #475: Stephanie
We are so excited for you, girls! Can’t wait to hear from you!
Hey Girls! Comments are now closed. Be looking for the names of our 11 winners within the hour! Thanks for your enthusiastic and honest replies! We’re so excited!
Greetings, Sisters! Siesta Summer Bible Study starts one week from today! We are fired up around here! I know your questions are abounding, so this post is to fill you in on all the details to get us good and ready for next Tuesday.
First off, let’s make sure that you know what you’ll need to participate: 1 LifeWay workbook by Priscilla Shirer entitled Gideon: Your Weakness. God’s Strength.That’s all there is to it!
We’ve been getting lots of questions about whether or not Priscilla’s video portions are required in our summer Bible study. The answer is no but only because we try our hardest to keep our summer experience at the lowest possible cost. By all means, if you have access through a group or have the financial resources to get the session DVDs or downloads, do it! To experience the whole thing is optimum! If you’re in a small group, consider all pitching in and purchasing a set then watching them together week to week. You’ll be incredibly blessed by that investment. Priscilla’s gift of teaching is saturated with the Holy Spirit and beautifully infectious. I could sit under her instruction for hours. So, get the sessions if you can but they will not be required to participate in our summer study. All of our discussion will springboard from the workbook.
With that said, I do have one really FUN thing to do before we move further into the details. We have 10 Gideon workbooks and 1 leader kit to give away! All you need to do to qualify is leave a comment on this post and let us know how the subtitle hits you: “Your weakness. God’s strength.” We’ll keep comments open for 24 hours then do a random drawing of 11 people with those specific entries. Watch for a post Wednesday afternoon naming our winners!
Are y’all still with me?
OK, then, let me fill you in on some remaining details through a simple Q&A. If you’ve been in summer Bible study with us before, our approach will be very similar.
Who’s invited? YOU! (If you’re a girl over – let’s say – 16) And you can go solo or participate in a small group! As in past years, our highest hope is to facilitate fellowship and accountability into our Bible study experiences. If you can assemble a group of friends, co-workers, family members, acquaintances, fellow church members, Siestas in your town, a tennis team or a handful of neighbors, you’re likely to get the most out of the process. (If you’ve already participated in this study, think of leading a group through it this round.) If you can’t rally a face-to-face group, Skyping and Face Time can still provide a pretty legit way to experience community in different locations. We’re not looking to be legalistic. We just want FULL benefits. If you go solo, do your best to connect with a couple of girls on line. Scripture tells us to stir one another up in the faith and to call one another to love and good works and to bear one another’s burdens and pray for one another and remind one another of God’s faithfulness. Translation: we need each other!
What’s the Goal? Spending the summer together in the Word! A summer of authentic Bible study is the surest way to a summer of victory.
When do we meet? We will launch our Siesta Summer Bible Study on Tuesday, June 11, and “meet” 4 official times: Every OTHER Tuesday from June 11th until July 23rd. Yes, by all means, meet EACH week if your small group is able but we only ask that you check in here on the LPM blog every TWO weeks to participate in our format for discussion. As much as we’re able, we want to be big on help and small on demands. Summer schedules can make weekly gatherings much harder than usual but certainly keep it up if you can. You can also choose another day of the week besides Tuesday if necessary. We’ve found that it’s the most fun and carries the most momentum when we all do it on the same day but that’s not always possible for everyone. Be free!
Here’s the summer schedule:
Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Launch – I’ll post our 1st Mini-Session which I will either have written or videoed. In it you will receive instructions for discussion.
In the 2 weeks that follow our first Mini-Session, you will DO WEEKS ONE AND TWO OF THE HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN. If you’re participating in Priscilla’s weekly DVD teachings, incorporate those weekly and in addition (or instead of!!) to what we’re doing here on the blog. We will let you guys work those details out on your own.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 (2nd Mini-Session/Group Instructions)
In the two weeks that follow, DO WEEKS THREE AND FOUR OF THE HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013 (3rd Mini-Session/Group Instructions)
In the two weeks that follow, DO WEEKS FIVE AND SIX OF THE HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013 (4th Mini-Session/Conclusion) – We’ll wrap it up and it will have flown by in a whirlwind.
If a graph is easier to understand than all my compulsive wordiness, here you go:
Where should you meet if you’re participating in a small group? Wherever you are most comfortable. Do what works for your group. You might meet in a different house each week so no one has to keep her house clean all summer. We’ve had some siesta groups meet in restaurants and coffee shops. Find your groove and stick to it!
So, here’s what you do:
1. Get your workbooks! Our good friends at LifeWay have promised to have plenty of them for us, but you won’t want to wait until the last minute. You can find them online on LifeWay’s web site. Here is a link where you can order the member book. And, if you’re going for the optional DVD sessions week to week, here’s where you can download the videos taught by Priscilla. They’ll be fabulous.
2. Sign up on the blog on our official Launch Day- Tuesday, June 11. For the first time, we’re going to ask that everyone participating sign up individually rather than a leader chiming in on behalf of the whole group. We think this will be less confusing and will give us a better idea of how many are participating each week just by the number of comments. We will ask a few warm-up questions that day to begin cracking open that door of community.
3. I will facilitate the study by posting a blog the 4 mornings of our meeting days. I will give you instructions on these posts for your discussion times and maybe some activities. All will connect to the previous weeks of study.
4. After your gathering, you’ll check back in by telling us something about your meeting via a comment on that same post. Don’t worry if your group can’t meet on Tuesdays. You’ll still be able to find the post and comment throughout the week.
What if…
-I want to use the discussion questions in the back of the workbook instead of the ones on Beth’s posts. Go for it!
-I really, really want to do the study but it’s not in the budget. Email us.
-I’ve already committed to doing another Bible study this summer? That’s great! Stick with it.
-I don’t want to participate but still want to be a part of the blog. We totally understand and want to see you around Siestaville this summer. Know that the Bible Study will only take up one post every other week.
We can’t wait to study the Word with you this summer!
Lord Jesus, take us somewhere we couldn’t have anticipated! Somewhere we desperately needed to go. Raise up an army of mighty warriors right here in this community!
Okay, Sisters, let’s hear your comments for the giveaway! Remember we’ll only leave it open for 24 hours!
Your weakness. God’s strength. – no matter how strong I think I am, I am reminded that my strength can only come from Him. It is in my weakness that makes me run to Him. Looking forward to this study. So much is going on in my life that I feel like I am drowning. Thank you, Beth!
This subtitle reminds me, in the midst of raising a large budget to go on the mission field that it’s not about me or my strength, it’s about God’s. It is only by his power that I can do the impossible.
My weakness: insecurity, fear of failure, self consciousness…. I need God’s strength moment by moment.
My weakness. God’s strength.
It hits me like a jolt of electricity. In fact, it reminds me of that very thing. A lamp cord entirely made of rubber and plugged into an outlet will leave you in the dark, but put copper inside it and you get a very different result. The change happens because copper, unlike rubber, is a very weak resistor of electricity.
It doesn’t put up a fight, so the power flows through it to the bulb.
This reminds me of my need to surrender and submit because only then can God’s strength and power move in me to pierce the darkness of my sin and the world around me with the Light.
Always LOVE spending time in the Word. It’s my favortie time of the day. When I am weak, HE makes me strong. Hope to be a part of the study this summer.
My Weakness, God’s STRENGHT! How I struggle with releasing my weakness and allowing God’s strength to sustain me. I know that this time of bible study is for me….(I just finished Becoming a Woman of Strength a few weeks ago!)
Did Prisicilla’s Jonah a little over a year ago, looking forward to what God has in store for me this summer.
Love you Mama Beth! (Even though I’m only 3 weeks older than you:))
The subtitle reminded me of the song, Jesus Loves Me. We sing this to and with children to teach them that He LOVES us, when I am weak He is strong, yes Jesus loves me! Perfect reminder for this 46 year old child of God!
My weakness, God’s strength…..gives me hope.
My weakness is an opportunity to see what is truly in my heart Do I really trust God and give Him control of my life or do I try to do it on my own?
He is our strength when we are weak. It makes me think of the Bible verse “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” It will be great to hear what Priscilla has to teach us through this study!
There’s power in weakness — always the paradox because there is no understanding God. His grace is sufficient for me. I look forward to this study!
“in my weakness, he is my all” – that’s how the subtitle hits me… brings me to my knees with it! it doesn’t get much better than that when i think about being able to count on his strength for me in my life.. i am utterly overwhelmed by him/it!
This is very real to be right now as I’m on the wild ride of having a newborn and a 20 month old! I need Him more every day!
Oh boy… I would love and be honored to be a part of this study!
God has given me so much Faith and Strength throughout my childhood and current life.
Blessings and hugs!
Debbie
Sounds like a good one to participate in 🙂
Going in fearful, smiling in the enemy’s face because God’s Word gave me strength!
Makes me think of dependence and deepening of relationship….not trying to go solo.
My weakness, God’s strength.
Wow….this was JUST what I needed today. I am running our VBS in less than 2 weeks and am fighting panic. ‘How am I going to…?’ ‘There’s no way to get this done!’ As I finally slowed down enough to pray last night on the way to a meeting, I was just washed with God’s peace and strength. And, imagine this, we choice a Bible verse last night for the tshirts…. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Phil. 4:13 … My weakness, God’s strength and blessing on this amazing outreach! Thanks for the chance to put it all together!
After a year of family issues that included my sister having breast cancer and my father passing away, I find that in my weakness, God is my rock and my strength! Looking forward this study!!!!
I need to let God work through my weakness instead of trying it on my own. Then I will see HIs strength.
-Christina Luther
Roseburg, Oregon
I have been stuck in a cycle of defeat in my weakness. I am now believing God that His grace is sufficient, and that His strength is perfect for me.
Having been sick for a month with dizziness and on some days hardly able to stand up, I have learned what weak really means physically. After trips to my doctor, ER, UCC and a specialist I was told it would resolve in 6-8 wks. Through all of this I have seen what Gods strength is all about and that I am not near as strong as I thought I was .Praise God that He is strong and shares the strength with us .
….yup….I’m the QUEEN of “trying to be strong” Being that single parent this has been going on for 23 yrs. The latest round being taken to court once again ( the 4th time in 23 yrs. )by my ex-husband to stop child support and this time adding to that is trying to emancipate my daughter who still needs this support during her journey thru graduate school and he’s also trying to remove her health insurance. She is a 4.0 student and if there is ever a woman on the face of this earth who is trying to be strong, trying to forgive, trying to be both parents, that would be ME!!! So……Ive slowly and its still a process to lean on God and let him carry all this to let him be the parent and in CONTROL. It’s been a struggle but its also been worth it.
I would benefit to win and would be willing to share this beautiful gift if I was the blessed one to win it.
May all the glory belong to Jesus and may the winner be just like him in the light they throw off to this dark and hurting world around us.
May I please ask for prayer from anyone reading this for the 4th court battle is raging and wont be over anytime soon, these things are making me one weary woman….God Bless you all my brave beautiful sisters in Christ, I love you all.
Thank God we have each other or I’d be spinning around like that cartoon character the Tazmanian devil. LOL!!!
Your Weakness; God’s Strength conjures up the picture of a child running into the strong arms of her father for strength and protection. I want to have a child like faith knowing that I can run into my Father’s loving arms and draw on His strength any time of the night or day. May we be incredibly blessed as we study the living Word of God! SO excited!
I grew up thinking I was helping God in the strengths He had given me. Many years later, and many difficult struggles, have shown me it is His strength that will sustain me. Through my weaknesses and His sustaining power, I can do what He has called me to do.
As a wife, a mother of two Littles two and under, a teacher, a daughter, sister and friend, my strength wears out super fast and so God’s strength is all that I have to draw from. I love how in my own weakness He is most glorified and my prayer is that I become a better student of rejoicing in my weakness so that He receive the glory only He deserves. Any tool to draw me closer to that truth is something I am most interested in!
A complete lack of trust for me when it comes to myself— and this little Jonah, Jacob, and Gideon, (ME), has been wrestling, running, and whining unto my faithful Father God, and it is not pretty at times.
Would love to do this study. An area of weakness for me is trusting in God’s timing and answers in the unknown.
My weakness, His strength…….oh the struggles of trying to do everything on my own! From weight loss, which feels impossible, to temptations, which also feel impossible to overcome, I’m drowning. Without Him, I am a complete failure. I am so looking forward to this study!! Every one that I have had the privilege to take has been such a blessing!! Thank you so much for doing this online!! I’ve missed your studies so much since my small church closed. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
I have been trying to learn how to lean on God at all times. I am already weak, but feel like I am strong. I need to change my thinking so that I can boast about my weaknesses.
Lately, I feel so weak. I need His strength.
“Your Weakness, God’s Strength” to me means that in the places where I am most fragile or vulnerable from innate shortcomings or even past failures, God in His Power is able to stand in the gap, reinforce me and even cause those areas of weakness to become a platform of ministry for me. I have experienced this in my own life as well as seen it in the lives of other believers. When God uses our lives in the area of our weakness, it is undeniable to all that it could only be He who could deserve all of the Glory!
The subtitle reminds me of just how human I am, yet through my weaknesses, God can show off how strong he is! Praise The Lord that he loves us that much, to swoop into our weaknesses and show himself. What grace and love!
Looking forward to bible study, thank you!
I will rejoice in my weaknesses so that His strength is more visible. . .true but so tough!!
The story of Gideon has always fascinated me. I wondered why God cut his army down to size this way and why he gave Gideon signs when we are to believe. And I knew if God could use Gideon that he could use anyone, even me. Such an example of God and his work. Love the title. So relevant today.
Less of me = more of him. When I face MY weaknesses
and live in the power of HIS strength I am forever changed!!!
My weakness. God’s strength.
Don’t those four words just say it all! God is good!
I just love the title. God has always used what we perceive as weakness to bring Himself all the glory, we just need to let Him do His thing. (That part is so hard!) 🙂
My weakness are really showing up right now, so it’s comforting to know that that’s where God’s strength will shine through.
This is one of my biggest struggles. I struggle with feelings of inadequacyand need to trust Him more fully and rely on His strength every day. I want to overcome the barriers of unbelief and insecurity and truly trust Him that no matter my weaknesses, He CAN use me for His kingdom in big ways. I want to know that with all of my heart and depend on His mighty strength.
Thank you for this opportunity 🙂
My Spiritual heart knows this truth but my human brain contradicts it daily. Longing to reconnect, refresh and reignite!
The subtitle gives me hope that I will learn more about how God can and does strengthen me. I still feel at a loss, “weak” when my unbelieving husband challenges me on my fairly new love of God. This study will help me rely on that strength from God
Thank you all for what you do,
My weakness, His strength….I walk with that thought daily as I approach each day and so thankful God planted that in me early. From the time I accepted Christ as my Savior, I knew there is nothing I can do in and of myself but with Him all things are possible. I’ve never been very confident of myself which led to me shrinking back from most anything that scared me or seemed to hard…thinking I would fail. But God in His great love and mercy saw fit to set in my heart the knowledge of not my ability but His through my daily walk with Him. The journey of faith is an exciting one. Thank you God for sending us Beth/others like her to help show us the way and remind us of this great truth.
I love studying god’s word n having sisters to lean on is an added bonus
This study couldn’t have come at a better time! My weaknesses pushes me to lean into God’s strength. I am anticipating an amazing time in God’s word through this Summer Bible Study.
Thank you!
Such encouragement in that title as I am realizing my inadequacy over and over again as I have stepped into a new role as a group leader in my church. Excited to begin the study.
Hey, I am overwhelmed at the thought of our Precious holy Father being
not only being strong but is willing and available to be strong
in our weakness. I have had a lot of change in my life
in the last couple of months and I am not handling it
well and I so desire to honor God in it all. I believe studying about God’s
strength in my weakness would help me to magnify Him and lay
my weakness at His feet. I look forward to spending more time at the feet of Jesus and growing
into He wants me to be. Blessings, Laurel
“Your Weakness. God’s Strength.” Everyday I want to think of God first in all I do. Give Him all. When I am afraid or when I think I can’t do something. I need to remember that He would not have ask me to do it to fail.2 Kings 3:18 says Everything is Easy for the Lord. Psalm 121 tells me He never sleeps nor slumbers. The Lord who made heaven and earth and me, makes my path. What I have to do is look to Him for all things and let Him watch out for the pits, because if I watch out for them, I will fall in. That is why I am weak and He is strong. That is why I love the Lord, my God.
“Your weakness, God’s strength” is something I need to dive into this summer. I’ve been in prayer about starting and co-leading a women’s Sunday School class at my church with a wonderful sister in Christ beginning in the fall. I have been seeking God’s will and clear direction through prayer and Scripture. I keep wondering how I will add that responsibility to what seems like an already full plate. But I know if it is in God’s plan, He will give me the strength to accomplish all that I need to. Thank you for the encouragement from this blog!
“Your weakness. God’s strength.”
This is perfect for my constant Breath prayers for summer! I can inhale and fill my life with God’s strength, and exhale or empty my body of concern for my weakness.
My weakness. God’s strength!