Bible Studies!

Well for those of you who live elsewhere you may not be aware that in the last 2 years something new has  been found growing in my pasture with the Lord!  It is green and pretty (amazing that is) and could only be because the Lord is involved.  

About 3 years ago I had such an ache to know God's Word better that I felt like something was sitting heavy in my heart and I couldn't shake it.  I knew I wanted to read God's words to me with better understanding, but the limited women's bible studies I had attended had left me cold and feeling very frustrated.  In the meantime many of my friends living elsewhere had already done several Beth Moore studies, including both my daughters.  And everyone just loved her gifted speaking, practical application of the Word, and meaningful homework.  I did some investigative work and discovered that in our local valley at the time, there were no Beth Moore studies available so I asked Robert to buy one of the studies for my birthday.  Well, he did, and then I was so scared and unsure of myself that I delayed attempting to do it solo for a few months, and then  when I decided to attempt to watch it and do it I realized that God wanted me to share this with other women.  What?  There is no way I can do that!  That's laughable!  Me?  A simple Catholic girl with no background or real knowledge or understanding of God's Word?  But, God would not let it go and with several other events occurring, I realized that I was suppose to have it in my home.  Then God set me up....  Yes He did!  He led me to think that Robert and I would be moving a month after the 11 week study ended.    So I mentioned to my friend Jan, that I was thinking of doing a Beth Moore study, and she said, "well if you ever do, I will do it with you, and I know Chris will too."  What?  Well, then I met a new lady my age, in our Sunday School class, Sandy, who was interested and had been praying for 2 years for women friends her own age. Viola!  Just like that God performs His miracle!  On July 2nd, of 2007 the 4 of us met for an 11 week study and I remember thinking  "if I flop, well... who cares?"  I figured no one would mind that I was moving right after that, or so I thought.  However, God had other plans.   Our move out of state dissipated, as often happens, and my fellow bible mates had loved the study so much they pitched in and bought another one of Beth's studies, at the same time Robert bought me another one for next my birthday!  We ended up doing 3 studies by May of '08!  We took the summer off, and then  us 4 plus 3 more joined went to a conference in Las Vegas, that included Beth, Kay Arthur, and Priscilla Shriner.  We had an exciting time, but only Chris and I would do a fall '08 study together.  Then February of '09  Sandy, and Jan rejoined along with another friend, Janiece.  After that study we did a short one, only 7 weeks, which brought still another lady named, Karen.  Whew!  

Now here we are taking this summer off, but God has not taken one second off.  He's been busy all along.  Several additional  friends had expressed interest in doing a Beth Moore study just not in the evening.  So I asked God to let me know if I should do a morning study, on Wednesdays, and asked my Monday night study friends to please pray about it. (Oh and by the way, I am not one to "recruit" women to join our study, I firmly believe that if God is working on their heart they will just ask if they can join the study- and that's exactly what is happening!) So here's how it looks for September of '09:  Monday night: Chris, Sandy D,  Karen, Janiece, Jan, Sue, Tammy, and me.  Wednesday morning will have all newbies:  Rozzie, Dawn, Julie, Sandy B., Kathy, Janelle (and me).  How can that be?  Only God is the answer.  He is the One.  And I have the honor of hosting  in my home.  One other thought comes to mind:  How many women have been "moved" by the Holy Spirit to dig deeper into His Word and how many are craving for fellowship with like-minded women.? 

If you are reading this I ask that you consider joining a bible study if you haven't already, and secondly that you would pray for God's hand to bless and protect those of us here in these two studies.  My final and most important thoughts about today's blog is this:  If you want God to "move" know that we serve a Mighty, and Awesome God and He will do it! Look what He has wrought!  I love HIM!  Blessed be His Name!