Hey, Siestas! Thank you so much for your compassionate and diligent prayers for the Chapman family. It will be the difference between day and night for them. If you keep a prayer journal like I do, let’s write their names intermittently in the blank pages ahead of us so that we’ll have reminders to pray for them off and on for the next year. What seemed like random timing to us when we jotted the reminder to pray will be used by God as perfect timing for them.
OK, Girls, so what’s the plan for V-I-C-T-O-R-Y this summer? A more leisurely pace is terrific for the summer months if you have the kind of job (in or outside the home) where your schedule loosens up. Goodness knows, all of us could a huge let-up on the schedule and the stress. We need a vacation in the worst way. BUT, if you’re like me, 3 months outside the Word is roughly 2½ months inside a pit. I’ve found that if I’m going to live in victory, I’ve got to plan for it. Summer brings a whole new set of demands to many women’s lives so here’s a little encouragement to keep our heads covered with the Word.
If you’ve already got a Bible study planned for the summer, let us know in a comment what it is and where you’re participating…or if you’re just doing it solo. Our blog could offer some fun accountability. If you don’t have a plan, however, I’d like to propose one. This summer I’m going to facilitate an 8-week Siesta summer Bible study on:
I’ve told you before that I consistently do other authors’ Bible studies so that I can receive spontaneous words from God through other teachers. I have no idea how many I’ve done through the years, but for the last month I’ve been doing Kelly’s “No Other Gods.” I’ve gotten a ton out of it and have really enjoyed her writing style. The homework is not long and drawn out like other authors we know (let’s not mention names) and we won’t involve lecture-driven sessions, so it may be just the thing for some of you for summer. Not too much. Not too little. Kelly’s emphasis is on discussion, spending some really meaningful girl time together, and how about sharing some good food? Here’s my vision for how we could implement her study in Siestaville:
*We will launch on Tuesday, June 17th and “meet” EVERY OTHER TUESDAY (July 1st, 15th, 29th, August 12th) until we conclude our eight weeks of homework and accountability on Tuesday, August 12th.
*We will each need to get our own copies of the workbook (not the regular trade book version but the workbook!) “No Other Gods” by Kelly Minter and have it well in your possession by the time we launch. (We aren’t able to get it for you through Living Proof but I wish we could.) Please don’t wait till the last minute to get it or you may not be able to start on time! If you have a LifeWay Christian Store, you should be able to find it on the shelf but the easiest way may be on line through the LifeWay Website. Here’s the link: http://www.lifeway.com/e2/shop/?R=797560
*You can participate solo but since such an important part of Kelly’s purpose through the study is fellowship, try as hard as you can to enlist three or four other women to meet with you in one of your homes every other Tuesday night as scheduled. Five meetings this summer shouldn’t be too overwhelming and we can rotate houses if we like. Make sure that the women you invite to participate know that the evenings will be low on stress and high on much needed fellowship and rich discussion. Kelly calls this approach “The Living Room Series” because of its emphasis on a relaxed and refreshing atmosphere where we can develop some wonderful relationships in Christ. In this superficial culture that surrounds us, where friendship take place through text message (I’m guilty, too!), we have a huge deficit of pure depth in women’s relationships. Let’s make this real. The goal is to have those two weeks of Bible study finished each time you meet (after the launch) but the fellowship will still be worth your while if you couldn’t get all your homework accomplished. Let’s have lots of encouragement without loads of condemnation.
*On each of our meeting days (every other week starting Tuesday, June 17th to Tuesday, August 12th), I will “facilitate” by posting discussion questions or activities I’ve come up with based on our previous two weeks of study. You will then implement them into your gathering. (I will make sure the post is up first thing on those Tuesday mornings in case your meeting times are morning or noon rather than evening.) Your way of checking back in with me will be by telling me something about your gathering afterward in a comment to that same post. It will be left up all day Wednesday for your feedback.
(For those of you not participating, it is important to know that we will not hog the blog all summer with this Bible study activity. It will only require a post or two every other week. We will have plenty of other things going for all our Siestas.)
*Several days before our every-other-Tuesday meetings, we will post a recommended recipe (of our own – probably from Melissa) for a dish to be prepared by one of you and served at that gathering. THOSE OF YOU NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER SIESTA STUDY WILL STILL ENJOY HAVING A RECIPE IDEA. Recent posts and comments have been proof to me of that. For those who will participate, one of the really fun elements of Kelly’s series is great food. Talk about Biblical! Much New Testament community took place around the table in a long, leisurely meal. You’ll love the recipes Kelly’s included in the Bible study even if we pitch you some of our own ideas. Inviting all the participants to have a common dish every other Tuesday night will be just another way to fellowship as a large on-line Bible study group. It’s the beauty of the common table.
So, what do you think? I’m really pumped about it! It’s kind of experimental but I think it has great possibilities! Here’s what comes next regarding our summer Bible study: I’m going to give you till Tuesday, June 10th to decide if you want to participate and also see if you can pull together a small group. (Remember, you can do it solo but the goal is for us girls to have some meaningful fellowship and accountability. Try thinking outside the box on participants!) On the 10th I’ll make a post for sign-ups and the only comments that day will be the names and locations and proposed groups of those who will be participating. It will be so much fun to see all the different locales our Siesta Tuesday Summer Bible Study will include. I can’t wait!
Got your own plan for summer Bible study? Then let’s hear it! Let’s plan some victories, Sweet Things. Let’s have our souls refreshed and our minds renewed. God has a word for us this summer. Let’s go get it!
I love you to pieces and I’m so honored to be your servant.
beth
Hi Beth!
We are currently doing Living Beyond Yourself and will be finished in a couple of weeks. We are hoping to do another one for the summer, could you suggest some short studies that are good?
Thanks! Love ya!
I’d love to participate–I’m going to be in CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA for the summer (winter, there)–if there are any siestas in CT please let me know!
I’m so excited about this! My cousin in Illinois and I (in Colorado) are going to do it long-distance.
We’re both looking forward to a wonderful summer!!!!!
Blessings and Hugs!
Charlene
This is so cool. A group (5) are going to have our study during our lunch break. We can’t wait to get started. I should be done with my other Beth Moore study by the time this one starts!
Thanks for the caring for all of us Ladies out here:)
Sounds great! I have a couple of friends that are going to do the study with me.
I love your blog! This is my first time writing, but I’ve read it for a few months. I’ve even read some of them to my husband. We love the one about you going to the store buying strange ingredients. When you talked about the old man wearing jean shorts with his shirt tucked in we just laughed because thats exactly what my husband had on that day! And he’s not that old! I thought about sending you a picture.
From sunny California!
Starting in June, several friends and I are getting together for six weeks to study Beauty By the Book, by Laurie Cole. I’d never heard of the study Beth is offering, but I checked out the website and do plan to buy the book!
I just mentioned this to my Small Group last night and it looks like we are all in agreement that this sounds perfect for us for the summer! We are almost all doing your Patriarch’s study through our church, too… so light and girl time sounded just what we needed for our small group meetings!
You can’t imagine how this post caused my soul to sing. I participate in a weekly bible study with the M.O.S.T fantastic group of 6 women in Richmond, VA, but we always quit for the summer. And I need to not quit this year – for a thousand reason (mostly the challenging message you delivered in Colorado Springs.)
So, today we agreed to participate in this study and all the dates work except one. We have to meet July 14 instead of July 15. So, if there is any possibility of getting the study questions early for that week, I’d be forever grateful.
Having said that, I am fully aware of how busy you all are. In fact, I can’t begin to tell you how mightily God has used your ministry to challenge and grow me. Thank you for being faithful to the calling.
Sincerely,
Heather Fignar
I love that idea!
I am starting up a summer study of Wising Up– we are doing 4 of the 12 videos. I have already done all of them and am leading the group. I already have 14 people signed up so I am extremely pumped up about this!!
Love,
Steph
I’ll have to pass this time. I’m taking a class at the college for english they are cramming a fourteen week class into eight weeks. Love ya’ll
Well, I’m “Stepping Up,” this summer at the Mommi Blog!
Please visit and share your insights!
This summer I am doing a Josh McDowell study called ‘Beyond belief to Convictions’, He has a kid’s study called ‘True or False’. They go together, and help us all understand why we believe what we believe. I’m so excited to do a study with two of my boys ages 6 and 8!!!!
I bought my book yesterday and one for my sister, too! Can’t wait to start.
We’re Bible-study sisters that meet on Wednesday nights. We had the same idea about a light spring/summer session. We are not meeting July 1st week due to vacations – is possible to participate in the Siesta series, yet to be on a slightly weird schedule?? Our current plan is to stay in the Word together each week, and to watch Wising Up, He Is, and Measureless Love. For body, soul, & spirit accountability – we eat a big glorious, designer salad together (complete with protein and carbs, and one piece of dark chocolate!) We will add a “memory verse walk” on gorgeous nights when the video is short. We will be healthy in all of God’s ways – at least one night per week : ) – this summer! Pray for us -we want to Know and love Him more!
Beth,
Thank you for being the creative problem solver for me! I’m going to offer the Bible Study in my neighborhood – my husband is going to make the sign for the front yard. Then he and another Dad neighbor are going to offer “Raising a Modern Day Knight”, a must-read book written by Godly men if you have a boy in your house.
Bless you and thanks for the encouragement. Let’s all pray for each other’s Bible studies.
Peace,
Kim Feth in Apex, NC
ok, there are a little bunch of us from kessler community church in dallas who are getting our workbooks together and are committing to doing this in study–either in our pjs or at the neighborhood coffee shop or by the pool. thanks so much for being a servant to us during the summer when you so easily, and deservedly, could have taken the time off.
This is ABSOLUTELY a God Thing!!!
Two of my girlfriends just “talked me into” leading a Summer Bible Study in our homes for about 15-20 women and we were “seeking out” what God wanted us to do…and BAM…here ya go!
I love it when God does that, don’t you???
You have a new group that just formed here in Ft. Lauderdale, FL (where 94% of the community is lost). I can’t wait to see what God does through this experience…thanks!
Come and Visit with Me at Mel’s World with Melissa Mashburn! and Mel’s World Travel Biz!
My friend of 33 years and I are doing via phone. You SAID to “think outside the box.” She’s in West Texas, I’m on the Gulf Coast. We’re excited!!!!!
Dear Beth: Our Ladies Group – 2BC Girls, have decided to join you for the summer study. We got our books today and I’ve already started reading. I am already feeling the bite of conviction—this is sure to be good.
Cindy
Oops, forgot to say where we’re from. 2bc girls (Second Baptist girls) are from Greenville, KY
Iam in I would love to do these study,marina
QUESTION—–
On June 17th should we have already read the first 2 chapter of the study???
Thanks! Looking forward to starting a group!
Dana
YES we will do the summer Bible Study with you. We already got the book. As of today my daughter and I will do it together which will be so neat. By the way this Wed at Metropolitan Baptist Church I’m also doing your Bible Study on idols. God has lead me here. He must be wanting to teach me many things. I am open!!! Love your blog. Thanks so much!
I would love to join in on this Bible Study. Anyone interested in creating a group in West Houston… Barker Cypress area….
Thanks,
LG
Dear Beth,
I’m doing Stepping Up with my church this summer, but I would also love to study this book along with you all. I think I’m getting a late start, but will try to buy the book tomorrow and also see if I can pull a group together!
Love, Karen in OC
What an awesome and fun idea!!
I’ve been looking for a study to do with the teenage girl I’ve been mentoring. I wanted something that would be interesting and challenging. I think I will order No Other Gods for the 2 of us to work on over the summer. Thanks for the inspiration.
Beth,
I have a question about the study. I didn’t want to write it and bring some random thought into that great new post about the book. So I hope this works. I am not very smart about how this whole web thing gets from me to you. I am just thankful God made people who are…
I am so blessed and amazed at God’s movement. I sent out an email and talked with a few people and people are actually asking to invite people they know! Crazy. Who would have thought women would want to dive in this summer? I have some compulsive tendencies,:) so I have always joked better to be compulsive about Jesus! I think I am going to have to break it up into 3 small groups after discussion time to keep the numbers under 7 or 8 for prayer time!
My question: How much should we have done by the first session? I am leaving on vacation tomorrow so I was wanting to give these people direction since we’ll be starting just after we return.
Thanks so much for taking the time!
Jina
If you don’t want to do another post about it. I am not sure how you will answer this question? Hmmm…. I could leave my email: [email protected]
Thank you again! I had several of these women say how they were longing for something. You have an amazing rapport with so many that you don’t know. I sense you take that so seriously. You know this, but God uses you mightily. Lead On dear sister.
Just bought the book, VERY excited to participate, will do individually though….
I just bought my book – excited to participate!
A bunch of us workers over here in Central Asia are doing your new “Stepping Up” study this summer and we’re really excited. We’ve been on a Beth Moore kick for the last year: last summer, we did “Daniel”, then in the fall, we did the revised “A Woman’s Heart…”, and this spring we did “Believing God” (for some of us, it was a repeat, but well worth it!)
So, next Thursday morning (12 June) we’ll begin ‘stepping up’!
Beth – I just finished your study on Daniel at our church Wednesday mornings at 6:00 a.m.! Wow! What a study! Thank you for that. I would love to do Kelly Minter’s study with all of you. Kelly is the daughter of our pastor here at Reston Bible Church in VA. I will buy the book this week.
Thanks!
Corky
This will be so much fun. I have 13 ladies signed up for this Summer Study in Greenwood, Miss. We are going to meet in a different home each time. We met last night to set the schedule and order books. We are all very excited about learning and growing together this summer.
What a great idea. My business partner and I are going to do this together and can’t wait to get started!
I have my book and am looking forward to it. We are going to be doing it with some newly married ladies. How fun is this going to be!!!
Looking Forward To It,
Chelsie
I am thrilled about this study. I had been wondering what direction to take my summer studying, and then my niece told me about this opportunity. Thanks!
Bless and be Blessed,
Michelle
Can’t wait to be a graft on the siestahood vine studying the Kelly Minter book this summer.
I will be leading a group of ladies in Birmingham, AL. We all attend Green Valley Baptist Church- and would love to have anyone join us for fellowship and discussion.
Beth- thanks for organizing this for the summer! I cannot wait to get your discussion questions!
This may have already been asked, but I can’t read through all of the comments to see. Our group of 8 are going to do this study (YAY!!), but we are confused about when the first two weeks of homework is to be done. Are we supposed to have it done before the “launch” on the 17th, or will that homework be done between the 17th and the 1st? We are going to have to postpone our “launch” until the 24th due to VBS the week before. But we are just confused about what we need to have done, if anything, before then. I think that we are probably making this more complicated than it needs to be; we just can’t seem to figure it out! Thank in advance for your help!!
Sounds great! I have talked to a few of my “study buddies” and we are on board. We just finished up the revised version of “Breaking Free” a few weeks ago. All of them said the same thing “My life runs smoother when I am participating in a Bible Study”! We will have around 6 meeting together from Florence, Alabama. Thanks for thinking of us!
Leann
Leann
We are in and excited! Franklin Life Group Ladies from Cross Timbers CC in Argyle, Texas
I bought the book and it looks great.I have never really participated in an online group before, but I love this blog and have done serveral of Beth’s studies. Thank you for all you do, I am excited to see what God has for us over the next few weeks.
I am in Lynchburg, VA.
Hi, Beth and LPM Staff! I have a group of us in Cool, California (yes, it is a real place!) who will be joining you. Is the first meeting designed to hand out the books? We don’t have to get the books to our ladies before the first meeting, right? Will you be posting recommendations for what to do at the first meeting? I noticed that Kelly Minter has two iTune messages that are called “Got Idols” and wondered about using those at all. Thank you!
Heidi Bylsma
We are putting a small group together in Elizabethtown, KY. Very excited about this study!! The new recipes each week are a great bonus. Thanks for putting this together for us!
GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Worship) girls will be doing the study and anyone else who may be interested in joining us. We are excited!! Buying our books today.
The women in my group have met you through your Bible studies only and are so excited to join you for this summer study! This will be great preparation for seeing you LIVE in NH in October! Thank you so much for the work you do – if it weren’t for your studies I doubt I would ever crack open the Good Book. You bring it to life in ways my brain never does. Thank you so much for your service! In Christ – Erin D. Dover, NH
As of today, five ladies will be meeting in my home for the Summer Bible Study. We are looking forward to food and fellowship shared by others from so many places. We are in Rome, Georgia.
Thanks,
Carol G.
I’m not seeing the post for the summer Bible study. I left a message that said I have a group that will be doing Kelly Minter’s study. Will it be there today? Phyllis Bishop in Killeen
Beth –
My daughter, Stephanie and I, are hosting a group of young ladies (25-30’s) at my daughter’s home. The number is up to 8. We are very excited to participate.
I finally just got my group together, but it looks like the workbook is no longer available on LifeWay! The LifeWay link in the original post no longer directs to the book. Does anyone know where I can buy them?
Beth, I am writing to share with you my story. I had taken the Bible study Stepping up in Jan. 2008. You challenged us to memorize Psalm 121. I miss read it and memorized Psalm 120 thru 134 with the exception of Psalm 132 I only memorized the first 8 verses. When I went to class everyone said out loud Psalm 121 and I asked why they were not doing the rest of them. I learned I had misread your lesson. But, I stayed with it and learned all of them. I did not understand why I was to learn all of them until May 17, 2008….my son was in a 4 wheeler accident and was air lifted to LeBohnner Children’s hospital in Memphis TN which was about 2 hours from our home. He was listed in critical condition with a head injury and we were told that night “if he lives”. I was crushed and did not have my Bible with me and so needed it. As I sat in the ICU waiting room, I started with Psalm 120 and recited it to myself and then went on to the next one. It was way in the morning and I was still reciting them.
I wanted you to know that God used this Bible study to prepare me for this difficult season in my life. Thank you for being obedient and asking us to memorize scripture. I will always treasure this study because God used it to bring me close to Him during a very difficult time. I have shared this with who ever will listen to me. Great is our God!!
P.S. Update on my son (Ben). God has answered our prayers. In just a short two months of hard work and rehab he was able to start back to High School with everyone else and is doing well in his classes. He also plays baseball and played in a baseball tournament last week end and played very well. God is good!
Love in Christ, Jean Russell
[email protected]