I never realized that I could want to read the bible like I do now. I want to know what happens next....who is after who....who said what....where will they go...I am completely enthralled!!
This bible study is perfect for me...I can sit in my PJs in my kitchen and talk with these women....and still get it!!! I am learning so much...and it still amazes me how differently people can see it too....neither is right or wrong, just different. So I am very pleased to be involved in this to see it from other's perspective as well as my own. Let's keep it going ladies!!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
The thrill....
I was listening to a Beth Moore teaching on CD today in the car (Thank you Lynn!) and she got sort of side tracked at the end of the teaching...but it really spoke to me.
She started talking about getting a thrill from reading God's word. Having the words just jump right off the page at her. And amaze her somehow differently every time she reads the same passage.
I have never felt that rush before reading the Bible. I have always felt very inadequate when reading it, because I never felt like I "got" it. I could read the words, and hear the story, but never get what it meant. So lots of time....I just wouldn't read it to avoid the disappointment...not in the Bible, but in myself. I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't come to me.
Well I think I figured it out today....I was looking at it like a book I had to read. Like homework, or a summer reading list, or a textbook...something that was there to teach me something I had to know...like a rule book for being a Christian...The Christian Life for dummies...
BUT...then I could read a "fun" book and get chills from the anticipation and yearn to hear more about the characters...and then be sad when the story was over.
Here it is in a nutshell...it was my fault...I went into it expecting to be lectured not inspired...Talked down to not lifted up....scared not overjoyed....
I want to read His word and be so in awe at who He is that I have chill bumps run up and down my spine....feel the joy so strong in my soul that I can only giggle and grin....feel the desire so strong to read more that I take my bible with me everywhere, not just leave it in the car all week until we go to church again.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS STUDY IS DOING FOR ME!!!! Every night before I start to read, I pray to God to show me more, invite me in and bring me closer to Him through His Word. And every night...He does!!!
I am still amazed that He has the patience He does with me...He continues to show His grace and mercy on me even though I don't even deserve it!!
I stand in awe....
Libby
She started talking about getting a thrill from reading God's word. Having the words just jump right off the page at her. And amaze her somehow differently every time she reads the same passage.
I have never felt that rush before reading the Bible. I have always felt very inadequate when reading it, because I never felt like I "got" it. I could read the words, and hear the story, but never get what it meant. So lots of time....I just wouldn't read it to avoid the disappointment...not in the Bible, but in myself. I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't come to me.
Well I think I figured it out today....I was looking at it like a book I had to read. Like homework, or a summer reading list, or a textbook...something that was there to teach me something I had to know...like a rule book for being a Christian...The Christian Life for dummies...
BUT...then I could read a "fun" book and get chills from the anticipation and yearn to hear more about the characters...and then be sad when the story was over.
Here it is in a nutshell...it was my fault...I went into it expecting to be lectured not inspired...Talked down to not lifted up....scared not overjoyed....
I want to read His word and be so in awe at who He is that I have chill bumps run up and down my spine....feel the joy so strong in my soul that I can only giggle and grin....feel the desire so strong to read more that I take my bible with me everywhere, not just leave it in the car all week until we go to church again.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS STUDY IS DOING FOR ME!!!! Every night before I start to read, I pray to God to show me more, invite me in and bring me closer to Him through His Word. And every night...He does!!!
I am still amazed that He has the patience He does with me...He continues to show His grace and mercy on me even though I don't even deserve it!!
I stand in awe....
Libby
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
In awe...
Last night we had our first real bible study night where we actually started talking out Esther. I still say the devil is trying to do everything he can to stop us...we started with 5 now we are down to 3...and then last night we had some technical difficulties so we couldn't hear one person....but you know what, we pressed on anyways. And I think it was wonderful.
When you get a group of women together from different backgrounds you are going to get different things in return. We were going through the questions in the study...and to me there is only one answer to any question...but I realized depending on where you came from, there can be tons of different answers. I may see it one way...and someone else will see it for a completely different angle. Which is fabulous!!
I am so excited to continue to be faithful in this and see where God takes us. Because I believe that He will honor it.
Right??
Looking for more, Libby
When you get a group of women together from different backgrounds you are going to get different things in return. We were going through the questions in the study...and to me there is only one answer to any question...but I realized depending on where you came from, there can be tons of different answers. I may see it one way...and someone else will see it for a completely different angle. Which is fabulous!!
I am so excited to continue to be faithful in this and see where God takes us. Because I believe that He will honor it.
Right??
Looking for more, Libby
Saturday, March 7, 2009
A Woman Should Have....
A friend from work gave me this poem and I wanted to share this with all of you. Its by Maya Angelou. Please enjoy!!
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
one friend who always makes her laugh...and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in the family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
how to fall in love without losing herself
A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
when to try harder...and when to walk away...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
that her childhood may not have been perfect, but its over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
how to live alone...even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
where to go...be it to her best friends kitchen table...or a charming inn in the woods...when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...a year
We are strong...no matter how hard it may be.
Love to you all!
Lib
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
one friend who always makes her laugh...and one who lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in the family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
how to fall in love without losing herself
A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
when to try harder...and when to walk away...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
that her childhood may not have been perfect, but its over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
how to live alone...even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
where to go...be it to her best friends kitchen table...or a charming inn in the woods...when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...a year
We are strong...no matter how hard it may be.
Love to you all!
Lib
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
A step in Faith
I just finished the first day of the bible study....wow!!! It actually scared me! I had no idea what it was saying...there is so much history in this book of the bible. I didn't realize. People like me who don't read the bible as often as they should only read the "popular" parts....Psalms, Proverbs, the gospels....Esther is a book of the bible that I couldn't even tell you where it was let alone know what it was about.
So...of course, right in the middle of my insecurity, the devil creeps in and whispers in my ear....maybe this is too much for you to handle? maybe you have bitten off more than you can chew? How could you ever think that you could start a bible study group about a subject you know nothing about....
I almost believed him....I almost thought about giving up....thought I should quit reading....email everyone that its too hard....we can't even seem to get together anyways.....
But you know what....the devil is still only trying to stop us because he knows something big is coming from this. He knows that in the end we are victorious...but along the way, can he slow down our walk? can he keep us from a closer relationship with our Father? can he trip us up in what God has planned for us here on earth?
Only if we allow it!! I choose to push forward and walk in the steps HE has prepared for me!!
Just hold on!!!
With Love,
Libby
So...of course, right in the middle of my insecurity, the devil creeps in and whispers in my ear....maybe this is too much for you to handle? maybe you have bitten off more than you can chew? How could you ever think that you could start a bible study group about a subject you know nothing about....
I almost believed him....I almost thought about giving up....thought I should quit reading....email everyone that its too hard....we can't even seem to get together anyways.....
But you know what....the devil is still only trying to stop us because he knows something big is coming from this. He knows that in the end we are victorious...but along the way, can he slow down our walk? can he keep us from a closer relationship with our Father? can he trip us up in what God has planned for us here on earth?
Only if we allow it!! I choose to push forward and walk in the steps HE has prepared for me!!
Just hold on!!!
With Love,
Libby
Monday, March 2, 2009
A New Adventure in Him
I am so excited to begin this....I can't even explain how much joy is in my heart over this gathering. A core group of woman are getting together online for a weekly bible study. As a working mother its very hard to find the time to get with other woman at the "typical" times. So God gave me a vision for an online bible study group...where women like me, could avoid some of the unnecessary time like travel, getting ready, finding a babysitter, cleaning the house before the group comes....and just get down to diving into His word together. I am so pumped about this group getting started...it is a varied group with women from all over the states...and I hope one day to be even bigger than that!!
Please pray for us though, the devil is doing everything he can to put a stop to this group. Each week we try to begin something happens to keep us apart. God is wanting to do mighty things in the lives of these women...I believe that with all my heart!!
To Him be the Glory,
Libby
Please pray for us though, the devil is doing everything he can to put a stop to this group. Each week we try to begin something happens to keep us apart. God is wanting to do mighty things in the lives of these women...I believe that with all my heart!!
To Him be the Glory,
Libby
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