Thursday, September 17, 2009

My Bible Study Peeps.

For about two years now I have been attending a bible study in the home of one of my dear friends. She and I had wanted to do a bible study together for several years and the timing just wasn't ever right with our busy schedules. We both made a commitment to pray about it and lo and behold God worked it out and we have been meeting every other week for about two and a half years now. I love these women. Pat and I decided that God would bring together whomever He wanted in our study time, so we invited everyone we knew and prayed someone would show up. We average about 10-13 regulars. We have had several in and out over the years and we understand how busy women's lives are. These women have become so precious to me. They are representative of different denominations, family situations and backgrounds. Young mothers, grandmothers, single women, married women, shy, opinionated, loud, quiet, and all fun! But as different as they all are we all share one common bond- A deep desire to grow in our faith and knowledge of the One who brought us all together. We have shared so many things over our time together, answered prayer, sickness, death, praise reports, just life in general. They are a mighty group of prayer warriors and I knew the Lord was doing a work within our group when one day I was in Pat's office and someone came by and said, " I know you ladies have a bible study, could I get you ladies to pray for me?" CAN YOU?? ARE YOU KIDDING? It is our privilege and honor to lift up those in need and I know when I have a need it is just a matter of pressing a button in my inbox and I have 15 women on their knees for me.
I love them. I love that God knit our lives together at this time for whatever reason. I so love my friend Pat for opening her home to us and serving us so graciously week after week. I love that my baby sister and daughter-in-law share in this time with me. And I love that we are sisters in Christ persevering to seek His will and plan for our individual lives.

We are studying John Bevere's "The Bait of Satan" right now on the sin of offense. I am offended every time I read it so I guess I needed it! Not really offended, I think the term is convicted. Convicted that so many others before me struggled with so much more yet remained faithful to the One who is able to deliver us from our offenses. Thank you Jesus, you went to the cross on my behalf in spite of all the offenses you suffered.
Much to be thankful for. Have a blessed Friday and thank goodness the weekend is almost here.

3 comments:

  1. I am so thankful aswell to be apart of ladies that love the Lord so much. I also feel very blessed that we get to share that time together. And "convicted" is the right word. I can just see my book/workbook from across the room and get offended, I mean convicted. HA :)Can't wait to see what else the Lord is going to teach us.

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  2. I do love our BStudy too...it has been such a awesome learning experience for me especially with the "smartness" of our group and help some of us with not so much "smartness" to understand the Bible more clearly...I just get sooo excited! You are right...truly a Blessing to send out an urgent/or even not so urgent prayer request at the click of a "mouse" and whaalaa...someone is praying for that request in an instant. I truly do thank the Lord for bringing me into such as awesome group and hope this will set standards for my daughter when she gets older.
    Love all of you
    Peep Val :)

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  3. Michelle, I'm am so grateful and blessed that you encouraged me to come to this study. I'm looking forward to what God has in store for us with this study and any others we do after. I know that He has placed me in this group of ladies for a purpose, most obvious to me at this point is for gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Christian woman in today's environment. We have so many challenges that we encounter every day, and without His grace and love, I'm not sure how I would get through them. I'm so happy to know that over the next 6 months I have such a wonderful group of ladies willing to pray for Richard and for me and the kids. I love you, big sister.

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