Amaaaaaazing!

Yep, there's not much in the thesaurus that would best describe this Bible study outside of "Amazing!"

I first read about this on Beth Moore's blog actually

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2009/06/siesta-bible-study-kick-off.html and how her staff was doing this study together this summer. I thought, "Hmmm...looks good. Wonder if anybody would want to do it with me this summer?" My mind was thinking maybe 4 or 5 gals MIGHT be interested. After all, it's summertime, a time of vacations and activity... and aren't we all busy? I was astounded that 15 "siestas" signed up! (Check out the previous link to define "siesta" too.) hehe We began the study this week, and met for the first time last night. Instant connections! I love it! The group is a great mixture of ages, stages, and even some new faces. The first night, ladies were already opening up and sharing more than I'd ever imagined. Did I say "Amazing" yet? :)

This is a Bible study for women to encourage them to clean out the junk in their thoughts and replace these hidden negative thoughts and failures with positive truths from God’s Word. It has gone perfectly with what our Sunday School class has been studying as well as some personal truths God's taught me the past 6 months on freedom in Christ. In addition, this past Sunday in worship, scriptures from this very study were shared from the pulpit by both our pastors! How cool is God? I love it when He pulls everything together like that!

I was just talking to a girlfriend as we were hanging out with our kids on Tuesday and telling her that I'm at a place where I know I'm supposed to be for this season. I've sure lived enough times outside of that, so when these times come, I want to rejoice and relish it. Contentment. This year has been a time of strengthening for me through Bible study, through forming deep authentic friendships at "The Well" (my Sunday School class), and in allowing God to teach me more about grace(giving and receiving) and freedom. I'm doing things that I am passionate about, serving where I'm supposed to serve with the groups I'm supposed to serve. I'm also finding new avenues of sharing Christ in my community in a very real way. There's JOY there! This summer Bible study group is certainly one of those places already. I remember seasons of my life where this was not always so. Where I was burnt out and tired of serving. Where serving felt like more of a chore than a joy. If this describes you, I want to encourage you. Strength will come as you wait. That's a promise out of Isaiah for us! There is nothing wrong with stepping aside and waiting for God to fill you so that you can become a more effective and more joyful servant. Everyone has seasons where they need that refreshment. For me, last year brought a season of waiting and trusting. I did not feel a peace or a definite leading of the Spirit to initiate Women's Ministry activities. We had many who were either burnt out or feeling led to serve in other areas. I was totally okay with that, because I felt like God was just saying, " Just wait!" Women's Ministry became my Sunday School class and I felt such joy serving and ministering there..and still do. God's done such a work there in all of us! There has been much for me to learn in this wait, and I have grown stronger as a result. Thank You, Lord.

I don't know if you have struggled with this as I have, but for me, it's so easy to want to "take off" from Bible study over the summers. I have good intentions of staying in the Word on my own, and then I get lazy, busy, have no accountability, and fall out of the habit of a consistent time with God. I want to encourage you ministry wives (or anyone reading this)...don't take off! Three months of no Bible study leads to two and a half months in a pit! (Another favorite Beth Moore quote!) I want to be more consistent than that, dont you?! No wonder my life can seem like a rollercoaster sometimes. I decided this summer, I was gonna find a short study to do, and what better to do with than other godly women? Even if there was only one, I was good with that. Find someone-even just one other girlfriend, or a group if you can, and dive into the Word together. There's nothing like having a group of gals you can be real with and opening the Word together. It's just more fun AND you will learn more from one another! Last night was a BLAST! We not only meet for Bible study, but we exercise by walking a 2.8 mile route together after the study (and several days a week). These "siestas" are training in many ways! We're even planning to form a team to run in an upcoming 5K race together! How cool is that?

Back in May, God began giving me fresh insight and direction for our Women's Ministries to be reignited. I began writing down things as He brought them to mind, and before I knew it.... A new vision and new ways to connect for our Women's Ministry this fall. It's so exciting as I look at all He's doing and anticipate all He's going to do. Strength WILL come, ladies. Draw near to Him and one another for encouragement and support.

"So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching." Hebrews 10:22-25 (The Message)


Look for more updates as the "siestas of summer" continue! :)