Bible Study: Session 2

What a blessing this study is. Obviously, I am blessed by spending time in the word and with God, but I am also blessed by the fellowship of the ladies in our study. More than ever I am convinced there is more to it than my private worship and church attendance. I learn so much from those around me.

Doing the homework for week one, I had a light bulb moment that I shared with our group Monday night. There were a series of three questions. The first question had us read the story of Jacob and Rebekah's deceit of Isaac, and describe all they ways they manipulated him. The second had us compare that story with Abner's death in 2 Samuel and why David had peace. The third question - the one that tied it together asked how someone might feel who had tried controlling everything that they shouldn't. I wrote "anxious, suspicious, worrisome, stressed" and a few other words.

It hit me then, that the areas of my life where I experience the most worry and anxiety are the ones I have my fist gripped tightest around. They are the very ones I give to God in pieces...or give and take back when things are not happening by my timeline. Once I feel the anxiety and fear set in, the rest of the situation typically spirals until I am at my wit's end. But once I pray through it and hand it to God, I immediately feel peace.

It is powerful, albeit difficult for someone so independent, to realize the comfort that comes when I do not try so hard to be in control.

Along the same longs, I have had several reminders in the last few days of how God equips us to do His calling. The first reminder came in our homework, which lead me to read notes from a Beth Moore simulcast (she referenced 2 Timothy 3:17), and then today I received a devotional that said God equips those He calls. None of us can do it alone. But with Him equipping me, I can do exactly what He wants me to.

As a side note, I thought this was a wonderful definition of FAITH - A CONVICTION THAT HE CAN AND A HOPE THAT HE WILL.

Be blessed <><

101 Things About Me

I totally stole this from Katy...it was as fun as it was challenging...

1. I am a Christian.
2. I am a Baptist.
3. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, leader, friend and maybe adversary – not always in that order.
4. When I am most mad, I cry.
5. I hate that about me.
6. I love music of all kinds. - Really – check out my cd book.
7. Yes, I still own cd’s and holders for them and I keep them in my car.
8. I alphabetize them annually.
9. I also have an iPod.
10. But I don’t use it in my car.
11. I love to drive.
12. My birthday is all odd numbers in order (3-5-79).
13. That explains a lot about me.
14. I’m considering being 29 again instead of 30.
15. Life sure isn’t what I envisioned.
16. I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
17. I bought a house when I was 25.
18. I sold it at 29.
19. I didn’t like living alone – especially at a time I felt the most lonely.
20. Gracefulness is not one of my gifts.
21. I have scars to prove it.
22. I love to dance.
23. I’m too self-conscious to do so in public.
24. Unless there is consumption of adult beverages.
25. I like sweeter drinks – white wine and fruity martinis.
26. I love root beer and orange soda.
27. I need to drink more water.
28. I like the smell of coffee, but cannot stand the taste.
29. My blonde hair, green eyes, and lack of ability to curl my tongue prove I am the recessive child.
30. These days, I pay for my blonde hair (though at one time it was totally natural).
31. I am passionate.
32. I am an advocate.
33. One of my best conversations lately occurred at about 2:30 a.m. and involved religion, homosexuality and people I’ve known for one night, 3 months and my whole life.
34. I can fight my own battles.
35. It’d be nice to have someone available to fight them for me every now and then.
36. I tend to be politically conservative.
37. That does not make me close minded. It does not mean I have not thought through why I believe the way I do, simply that after doing so, I came to the same conclusion.
38. I can have a respectful discussion about almost any topic.
39. Insulting/hurting my family in any capacity is off-limits.
40. I pray.
41. I love to read and always have.
42. I hate assigned reading.
43. I love Johnson & Johnson’s vapor bath for babies when I’m feeling under the weather. The “stink” of mentholatum is soothing.
44. I have a long-hair chihuahua named Cooper.
45. I had his name picked a good 4 years before I got him.
46. He is wonderful.
47. I plan to buy bamboo sheets from now on. Not because I’m terribly eco-conscious, but because they are soft and don’t pill.
48. It still irritates me that I paid $50 for 450 thread count cotton sheets and they pilled within a few months.
49. Hair grosses me out.
50. I love theatre.
51. I navigated NYC like a local in February 2008.
52. I had other tourists ask me for directions – and I could give them.
53. It was only my 2nd time to visit – and the 1st was 13 years prior.
54. I have my dad’s sense of direction.
55. I am a middle child.
56. I have lost the equivalent of a tall cheerleader, 3 1/3 five year olds, 4 three year olds or 6 one year olds.
57. In that losing, I have found a new voice.
58. I am better for it in ways less obvious than appearance.
59. I appreciate the journey so far and look forward to how it continues.
60. I apologize a lot for things that are my fault and for things that aren’t. I mean it when I say I’m sorry.
61. I need Christian, rugged, decisive, compassionate and funny. I also prefer tall. Is that too much to ask?
62. I don’t like the texture of coconut. It reminds me of hair. See # 49.
63. I enjoy live music. Most of the time even bad live music is good in the right venue.
64. Proverbs 31:25 is currently one of my favorite verses.
65. I’m also partial to Hebrews 13:2, Psalms 91:11 and Matthew 6:25-34 is forever bookmarked.
66. Ecclisiastes 1:18 was a writing prompt on a practice English AP exam when I was a junior in HS.
67. I have a freakishly good memory.
68. Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. I’m ready to go just about anywhere.
69. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to get a passport.
70. I enjoy politics and current events.
71. I’m the Dir of HR for the company I work for.
72. I love my job.
73. Every night when I watch the news, I am that much more grateful for employment.
74. I was named after a Miss America contestant (maybe winner?).
75. I don’t have any siblings named after the other three seasons.
76. My biggest fear is not realizing my potential and living life fully.
77. My second biggest fear is heights.
78. I love roller coasters.
79. The quickest way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t (within reason of course).
80. I don’t believe that having money means you have more class.
81. I respect and admire a long list of people. There is infinite room on that list.
82. I don’t put people on a pedestal. If they fell, it would be too hard for me.
83. I’m currently reading 3 different books.
84. I will most likely give up on one of them. I’ve been trying to read it for months and though I’m halfway through, I’ve yet to get interested.
85. Reading Cosmo is a guilty pleasure – and has been known to make me laugh until my sides hurt.
86. I really enjoy reading blogs. Other people’s lives are so interesting – I hope somedays that mine is equally entertaining.
87. I like to cook.
88. I hate to clean-up after cooking.
89. Most of the time, I enjoy being a girl.
90. Target is my favorite store.
91. I’ve made mistakes.
92. I learned from them though, so maybe I should call them lessons taught by choices.
93. I’m almost 30 and still single. Sometimes being bitter comes with that territory. 90% of the time though, I’m okay with waiting for marriage a little longer.
94. I like talk radio even Dr. Laura.
95. As independent and “modern” thinking as I am, I am equally old-fashioned.
96. I have enough black pants/skirts to last me two weeks without doing laundry.9
7. Some days, I just need color.
98. I love the sun and the beach.
99. I also enjoy rain.
100. I like dark rooms.
101. My niece and nephews are the most precious kids in the world.
102. I may be biased a little on 101.
103. I’ve cheated and added to the 101 things.
104. That’s the most rebelious thing I’ve done today, but not this week.

Your turn :-)

Bible Study: Week 1

We started a Bible Study at church last night and I can't say enough how excited I am about it. During the initial planning, several ladies had shared that there was previously a lack of participation. I do not think their goal was to discourage the idea, so much as it was to prepare me in a way that I wouldn't be disappointed.

All I have to say is...God showed us.

Wow! Originally, 18 books were purchased...then another 9 before Sunday giving us 27 total (for those who are not mathematically minded - a group I'm proudly in). When I walked into church Sunday night, I counted and we had 30 signed up. So the plan was for me to buy 7 more books Monday. Once at Lifeway, I felt compelled to buy 10 - for a total of 37 books (plus my leadership kit). I'm excited to say - we were short by 3. And that's with four ladies who had signed up missing. If all come to our next session, we will have 44 total participating.

Not that it is all about numbers - really my goal is to make a difference in the fellowship of the women of our church and community...but it's great to do that with such a good number of ladies. And the energy of our group is nothing short of spectacular. It was tangible the minute we were all gathered. A divine electricity. You could see all the stories and backgrounds represented, as well as all the hearts truly seeking God's will for their lives. Walking around the room - passing out items and doing some general milling around as dinner was devoured - I observed just how dynamic these women were. Awesome.

Our study is Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed - A Study of David written and presented by Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur. Each other tackles a different stage of David's life and teaches it from the perspective they have based on where they are. The study is designed to be multigenerational - which I think is wonderful.

In watching the video last night, I was struck teary when Shirer made a point about how we do not need an appointment to interact with God. It is so powerful to know that regardless of circumstance or appearance, the Almighty chose me to be His child and bless me with His grace and mercy. He doesn't care that I'm almost 30 (something I"m having a hard time dealing with), may have had a bad haircut, or that pimple that always sprouts at the exact wrong time - He still loves me and wants me. I'm so unworthy and grateful.

My prayer is that through this study we all grow in our relationship with God and each other. I pray that every goal/expectation is exceeded and needs are met that were not previously realized. I'm excited to see how things blossom over the remaining sessions/weeks and can only hope to leave each time feeling as exhilarated as I did last night. I have yet to stop smiling.

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