Wow. I realize we have spent the past ten weeks “together,” but it honestly feels like we just started. I loved every minute of this study, and that is not fluff exaggeration. This may have been my favorite Bible study ever. I hope you enjoyed it too.
I appreciate your studying with me. You keep me accountable when I otherwise might get distracted, so thank you.
I would love to hear how God has worked divine reversals in your life OR how you are praying He will. He is faithful to us, and not because we deserve it. Take it from me: my life is one big, fat, undeserved divine reversal.
This week, we’ll be watching the final video session - session nine. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 222 and 223 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 9” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 9” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 9 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
(You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.)
Thanks again for your friendship. This was a blast!
Your friend,
Amy :)
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Esther- Session Eight
You’ll have to forgive this day-late post. After all, I’ve been through an earthquake, a hurricane, and a tornado watch since we last “met.” It has been quite a week, and with all the Weather Channel I was watching, my schedule was somewhat thrown ;)
Amidst all the chaos, however, there were definitely some shining moments. I like thinking of all the little families that burrowed down in their basements together, or camped out on their living room floors during the night of the east coast hurricane (Irene). We were one of those families, and I know Carolyn had a blast! In her innocence, she didn’t grasp the urgency of our concerns or our prayers. She was just spending some good old fashioned quality time with her family. I love that. And Cate, being only 6 months, (albeit annoyed that she wasn’t being put down to bed in her crib) was content - so long as mom or dad was by her side if she cried.
In all of this, of course, God had a lesson for me. Being a mother of small children, I was more than a little “nutty” about my hurricane preparations. At one point, Matt even stopped me and asked me to please be calm if, for whatever reason, an emergent scenario did arise. Annoyed, I agreed. But the Lord knows, if something did happen, I most definitely would have FLIPPED OUT. Thus, we were all very grateful when my Heavenly Father stepped in.
With the hurricane predicted to hit within hours, and the weather already beginning to turn dark, I went into crazy-mom-mode. Checking off every conceivable thing I could possibly do to prepare, I was buzzing around my house like a freak-woman, and no good was coming of it. It was then that I saw the “spot.” In case you are not a migraine sufferer, the “spot” is basically my cue to pop some extra-strength Tylenol and lay down in a dark room ... quick! There is no getting around this. No hurricane overdrive. That’s it. I HAD to lay down. So I did.
As I laid there, my mind still whirring with all I might need to prepare, I finally stopped and listened the Lord. After all, he must have a good reason for allowing me to suffer a migraine right before hurricane Irene was scheduled to hit - right? Right. In my heart it became clear, as I helplessly laid there in my dark bedroom, I was just as powerless before my migraine as I was during. I was never in control. He was. And it was about time to trust Him. I considered Jesus sleeping in a boat during a storm though the disciples feared for their lives (Mark 4; Matthew 8). I also considered David’s words in Psalm 3:5, “I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.”
Our family slept in the basement. Matt and I both woke up a couple of times during the night (once because a very large tree crashed down on a street in our neighborhood), but we undoubtedly knew who was in control, and who was watching over us. It was a night (and a lesson ) I hope I never forget.
What about you? Did you learn or experience anything monumental this week? Or was it something simple that God worked in your heart? I can't tell you how much I love hearing what He's been showing you :)
This week, we’ll be watching video session eight and completing our LAST week of homework - can you believe it?! The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 198 and 199 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 8” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 8” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 8 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 200 and ends on page 221 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Amidst all the chaos, however, there were definitely some shining moments. I like thinking of all the little families that burrowed down in their basements together, or camped out on their living room floors during the night of the east coast hurricane (Irene). We were one of those families, and I know Carolyn had a blast! In her innocence, she didn’t grasp the urgency of our concerns or our prayers. She was just spending some good old fashioned quality time with her family. I love that. And Cate, being only 6 months, (albeit annoyed that she wasn’t being put down to bed in her crib) was content - so long as mom or dad was by her side if she cried.
In all of this, of course, God had a lesson for me. Being a mother of small children, I was more than a little “nutty” about my hurricane preparations. At one point, Matt even stopped me and asked me to please be calm if, for whatever reason, an emergent scenario did arise. Annoyed, I agreed. But the Lord knows, if something did happen, I most definitely would have FLIPPED OUT. Thus, we were all very grateful when my Heavenly Father stepped in.
With the hurricane predicted to hit within hours, and the weather already beginning to turn dark, I went into crazy-mom-mode. Checking off every conceivable thing I could possibly do to prepare, I was buzzing around my house like a freak-woman, and no good was coming of it. It was then that I saw the “spot.” In case you are not a migraine sufferer, the “spot” is basically my cue to pop some extra-strength Tylenol and lay down in a dark room ... quick! There is no getting around this. No hurricane overdrive. That’s it. I HAD to lay down. So I did.
As I laid there, my mind still whirring with all I might need to prepare, I finally stopped and listened the Lord. After all, he must have a good reason for allowing me to suffer a migraine right before hurricane Irene was scheduled to hit - right? Right. In my heart it became clear, as I helplessly laid there in my dark bedroom, I was just as powerless before my migraine as I was during. I was never in control. He was. And it was about time to trust Him. I considered Jesus sleeping in a boat during a storm though the disciples feared for their lives (Mark 4; Matthew 8). I also considered David’s words in Psalm 3:5, “I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.”
Our family slept in the basement. Matt and I both woke up a couple of times during the night (once because a very large tree crashed down on a street in our neighborhood), but we undoubtedly knew who was in control, and who was watching over us. It was a night (and a lesson ) I hope I never forget.
What about you? Did you learn or experience anything monumental this week? Or was it something simple that God worked in your heart? I can't tell you how much I love hearing what He's been showing you :)
This week, we’ll be watching video session eight and completing our LAST week of homework - can you believe it?! The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 198 and 199 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 8” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 8” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 8 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 200 and ends on page 221 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Esther - Session Seven
It’s tough being a woman who feels responsible for the “how.” Is it ever. I recently read an article (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14521627) stating researchers at the University of California San Diego found that, in many instances, knowing the end of a story actually enhances the reading experience. As someone who often reads the “spoilers” for television shows, I would personally agree with this finding. In a weird way, knowing how a story is going to end allows me to relax and relish in the details of the story’s progression. Is this true for anyone else?
I started thinking about this phenomenon as it applies to life. Sometimes I feel like I am rushing through the details of my life because I can’t wait to enjoy the results. I know God has a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11), but I am impatient to know His plan. I just want to know how it is all going to go down so that I can relax and relish in the details of my life-story’s progression. Whatever God wants to do, I’m game - I just wish He would tell me! Wouldn’t that be awesome? Ha!
Maybe you’ll think I’m weird, but I started praying about this yesterday. I told God I thought it would be easier if I could read the spoiler for my life. Not really expecting an answer, I got one. It was suddenly clear to me that I do know how my life is ultimately going to end. Sure, I don’t have ALL the details, but the book of Revelation (and other parts of the Bible) have revealed the details that are most important. The “how” isn’t my problem. I just need to fix my eyes on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of my faith (hallelujah!), relax and relish in the details of my life-story’s progression. ahhhhh... now that’s more like it ;)
What about you? What has God been teaching you this past week?
Can you believe we only have three more videos and two weeks of homework left?! Indeed, it’s time to download video session seven! The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 174 and 175 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 7” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 7” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 7 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 176 and ends on page 197 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
I started thinking about this phenomenon as it applies to life. Sometimes I feel like I am rushing through the details of my life because I can’t wait to enjoy the results. I know God has a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11), but I am impatient to know His plan. I just want to know how it is all going to go down so that I can relax and relish in the details of my life-story’s progression. Whatever God wants to do, I’m game - I just wish He would tell me! Wouldn’t that be awesome? Ha!
Maybe you’ll think I’m weird, but I started praying about this yesterday. I told God I thought it would be easier if I could read the spoiler for my life. Not really expecting an answer, I got one. It was suddenly clear to me that I do know how my life is ultimately going to end. Sure, I don’t have ALL the details, but the book of Revelation (and other parts of the Bible) have revealed the details that are most important. The “how” isn’t my problem. I just need to fix my eyes on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of my faith (hallelujah!), relax and relish in the details of my life-story’s progression. ahhhhh... now that’s more like it ;)
What about you? What has God been teaching you this past week?
Can you believe we only have three more videos and two weeks of homework left?! Indeed, it’s time to download video session seven! The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 174 and 175 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 7” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 7” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 7 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 176 and ends on page 197 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Esther - Session Six
Kristin’s prayer request got me thinking about the different ways God directs our lives. I don’t know about you, but God has never audibly spoken to me or appeared to me in a burning bush when I sought him over a decision in my life. Instead, his way of directing me is much more like the book of Esther. As we talked about in Session One, God’s name is not specifically written in this book of the Bible, but His fingerprints are all over it.
I thought this week of study was very encouraging on this point specifically. Recall Ester 6:1, “The king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.” Just in the nick of time, eh? I chuckled at the Jeannette Clift George quote on page 132, “God is never late, but He misses a few good opportunities to be early.” Beth also made me laugh on page 148 when she wrote, “Sometimes we wait and wait for God to move, then when he does, we protest that He’s moving too fast. Our cries, ‘Lord, why do you wait?’ turn into ‘Lord, wait!’”
I hope this will encourage you, Kristin, as you seek the Lord for direction at this time. Sometimes, his ways are not obvious. Oftentimes, his ways are not the same. But regardless of when or how God chooses to answer your prayer, I hope you will be encouraged to know that he is most certainly at work. “Indeed, so all encompassing is God’s attention to events within creation that nothing happens by chance.” I will continue to pray for you. Thank you so much for your continuing encouragement to me.
This week, we’ll be watching video session six. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 152 and 153 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 6” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 6” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 6 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 154 and ends on page 173 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
I thought this week of study was very encouraging on this point specifically. Recall Ester 6:1, “The king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.” Just in the nick of time, eh? I chuckled at the Jeannette Clift George quote on page 132, “God is never late, but He misses a few good opportunities to be early.” Beth also made me laugh on page 148 when she wrote, “Sometimes we wait and wait for God to move, then when he does, we protest that He’s moving too fast. Our cries, ‘Lord, why do you wait?’ turn into ‘Lord, wait!’”
I hope this will encourage you, Kristin, as you seek the Lord for direction at this time. Sometimes, his ways are not obvious. Oftentimes, his ways are not the same. But regardless of when or how God chooses to answer your prayer, I hope you will be encouraged to know that he is most certainly at work. “Indeed, so all encompassing is God’s attention to events within creation that nothing happens by chance.” I will continue to pray for you. Thank you so much for your continuing encouragement to me.
This week, we’ll be watching video session six. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 152 and 153 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 6” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 6” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 6 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 154 and ends on page 173 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Esther - Session Five
LOL! I loved how Kristin called Esther the tabloids of the Bible. Isn’t that so true? Sometimes I’m like, “Oh darn! We’re only examining one verse today.” I want to read on and do the next day’s homework just to see what’s going to happen next. Beth’s comments (on page 99) regarding other people’s perception of our love of Bible study also cracked me up. I know you’ve already read it, but indulge me:
Many people who know how neck-deep you and I are in Bible study
don’t understand our affinity for it. They still picture Scripture reading
like taking a beating or like swallowing a dose of terrible-tasting medicine
to get over a virus. They have no idea that it just may give you one
instead. Until they get into Bible study for themselves, they can’t imagine
how thrilling it can be and how healthy and free their minds can feel.
Indeed! This is good stuff, and do I ever need it. I (like Kristin) am a stay-at-home mom, and its an extremely tough job. On the other hand, I just had a conversation with my sister-in-law this past weekend (she is a working mother of three), and that job doesn’t sound any easier. I guess its just parenthood. I once heard someone say, “parenthood is the toughest job you’ll ever love.” I think that’s true. Seriously, the physical endurance alone that is required to be a mother is crazy: wiping, pouring, making, cleaning, lifting, finding, strapping, dressing, undressing, brushing, reading, feeding, playing, correcting, answering (for the 50th time), and so on. Thankfully, your schedule is only 7 days a week, 12+ hours a day (on call the other 12 hours), and no holidays. Talk about an identity crisis waiting to happen! Honestly, centering myself in the study of God’s word is one of the few outlets I have to stay sane (and even that’s debatable)! ;)
With that in mind, I hope you will forgive me for this scatter-brained post. I can hear my littlest one stirring upstairs so I’m going to have to cut this short and get back to the grind. Hang in there this week friends. That last bottom you wiped was not wiped in vain. We ARE making a difference and bringing glory to our King!
This week, we’ll be watching video session five. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 128 and 129 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 5” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 5” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 5 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 130 and ends on page 151 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Many people who know how neck-deep you and I are in Bible study
don’t understand our affinity for it. They still picture Scripture reading
like taking a beating or like swallowing a dose of terrible-tasting medicine
to get over a virus. They have no idea that it just may give you one
instead. Until they get into Bible study for themselves, they can’t imagine
how thrilling it can be and how healthy and free their minds can feel.
Indeed! This is good stuff, and do I ever need it. I (like Kristin) am a stay-at-home mom, and its an extremely tough job. On the other hand, I just had a conversation with my sister-in-law this past weekend (she is a working mother of three), and that job doesn’t sound any easier. I guess its just parenthood. I once heard someone say, “parenthood is the toughest job you’ll ever love.” I think that’s true. Seriously, the physical endurance alone that is required to be a mother is crazy: wiping, pouring, making, cleaning, lifting, finding, strapping, dressing, undressing, brushing, reading, feeding, playing, correcting, answering (for the 50th time), and so on. Thankfully, your schedule is only 7 days a week, 12+ hours a day (on call the other 12 hours), and no holidays. Talk about an identity crisis waiting to happen! Honestly, centering myself in the study of God’s word is one of the few outlets I have to stay sane (and even that’s debatable)! ;)
With that in mind, I hope you will forgive me for this scatter-brained post. I can hear my littlest one stirring upstairs so I’m going to have to cut this short and get back to the grind. Hang in there this week friends. That last bottom you wiped was not wiped in vain. We ARE making a difference and bringing glory to our King!
This week, we’ll be watching video session five. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 128 and 129 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 5” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 5” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 5 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 130 and ends on page 151 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Esther - Session Four
Hey girls! How is everyone doing out there? I am glad you both seem to be getting so much out of this study. Tara, you said this study came at the perfect time. I feel the SAME way. The timing of this study could not be better. I am learning and being encouraged in so many ways.
For me, this week of study has been convicting. I feel like I have been subtly slipping into some old comfortable (but not so productive) habits and (thank the Lord!) I’m getting called out on it. I have definitely let some little things go in the past. Not surprisingly, those little things eventually turned into big things (and in some cases, even strongholds). So when I feel conviction over anything in my life, I can honestly say that - although I am sometimes reluctant - I am also grateful. I just appreciate that God cares enough to call me out and keep me on the right track. How about you? How do you respond when you are convicted regarding certain pet areas in your life? Are you quick to give them up? Or do you have a drawn-out spiritual tug-of-war?
Beth made a terrific point at the end of Day Four of our homework this week. She said, “I had to accept that I was not called to an easy life. I was called to a purposeful life.” I believe this is true for all of us - we should all be living a life of purpose. For me, I constantly need to evaluate the amount of time I am spending in front of the computer, in front of the television, on my blackberry, and in the general pursuit of worthless things. A friend recently shared Psalm 119:37 with me, and I was happy to see Beth reference it as well. “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” It seems our generation more than any other in history needs to be purposeful in applying this verse to memory. We have so many distractions and temptations.
Even so, we should take care not to forget that God was very purposeful in placing us - Kristin, Tara and Amy - in this specific time and place in history. He knew there would be distractions and temptations like never before. And He thought we would be the best girls for the job. I am blown away by this. As Beth put it, we “have been placed in [our] sphere of influence ... ‘for such a time as this.’” This IS our critical moment ladies. Are you game?
This week, we’ll be watching video session four. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 104 and 105 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 4” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 4” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 4 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 106 and ends on page 127 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
For me, this week of study has been convicting. I feel like I have been subtly slipping into some old comfortable (but not so productive) habits and (thank the Lord!) I’m getting called out on it. I have definitely let some little things go in the past. Not surprisingly, those little things eventually turned into big things (and in some cases, even strongholds). So when I feel conviction over anything in my life, I can honestly say that - although I am sometimes reluctant - I am also grateful. I just appreciate that God cares enough to call me out and keep me on the right track. How about you? How do you respond when you are convicted regarding certain pet areas in your life? Are you quick to give them up? Or do you have a drawn-out spiritual tug-of-war?
Beth made a terrific point at the end of Day Four of our homework this week. She said, “I had to accept that I was not called to an easy life. I was called to a purposeful life.” I believe this is true for all of us - we should all be living a life of purpose. For me, I constantly need to evaluate the amount of time I am spending in front of the computer, in front of the television, on my blackberry, and in the general pursuit of worthless things. A friend recently shared Psalm 119:37 with me, and I was happy to see Beth reference it as well. “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” It seems our generation more than any other in history needs to be purposeful in applying this verse to memory. We have so many distractions and temptations.
Even so, we should take care not to forget that God was very purposeful in placing us - Kristin, Tara and Amy - in this specific time and place in history. He knew there would be distractions and temptations like never before. And He thought we would be the best girls for the job. I am blown away by this. As Beth put it, we “have been placed in [our] sphere of influence ... ‘for such a time as this.’” This IS our critical moment ladies. Are you game?
This week, we’ll be watching video session four. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 104 and 105 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 4” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 4” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 4 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 106 and ends on page 127 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Esther - Session Three
Is it just me, or is this Bible study flying? I feel like I am speeding through it. I can’t tell if the homework assignments are actually shorter (as opposed to other Beth Moore studies) or if I am just enjoying the homework so much that I do not notice the time pass. It’s crazy.
This past week entitled, “A Raging Passion for Honor” was very sobering. Indeed, it is tough being a woman in a MEAN world. And this world is mean in many ways. Whether we ourselves are the culprits responsible for acts of meanness, victims of meanness, or witnesses to downright, unapologetic meanness - meanness surrounds us everywhere.
Day One of our homework was entitled, “Refusing to Bow.” But (if I may be so bold) I think a better name for Day One would have been, “A Set Mind.” I loved this day of homework for the discussion we had regarding the unshakable stance we take when we respond out of MIND-SET rather than out of mood. Let’s make up our minds and set them, shall we?
I also loved being reassured yet again that God loves us, He is hard at work in our lives, and nothing takes place outside the timeline of His perfect will. Moreover, “the Ancient of Days” sits enthroned upon the bench where He will judge every single thing that happens in creation. He misses nothing. He sees not only what happens, but the motivation behind what happens. And ultimately, we are all accountable to Him. Praise the Lord!
Our week of homework ended with the question, “What can one woman do?” I am certainly anxious to find out - not only in the life of Esther, but in each of our lives as well. I love you girls. Thank you for your friendship and your encouragement. And of course, thank you for coming alongside me in this study. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Jesus is with us! Set your mind on that!
This week, we’ll be watching video session three. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 80 and 81 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 3” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 3” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 3 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 82 and ends on page 103 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
This past week entitled, “A Raging Passion for Honor” was very sobering. Indeed, it is tough being a woman in a MEAN world. And this world is mean in many ways. Whether we ourselves are the culprits responsible for acts of meanness, victims of meanness, or witnesses to downright, unapologetic meanness - meanness surrounds us everywhere.
Day One of our homework was entitled, “Refusing to Bow.” But (if I may be so bold) I think a better name for Day One would have been, “A Set Mind.” I loved this day of homework for the discussion we had regarding the unshakable stance we take when we respond out of MIND-SET rather than out of mood. Let’s make up our minds and set them, shall we?
I also loved being reassured yet again that God loves us, He is hard at work in our lives, and nothing takes place outside the timeline of His perfect will. Moreover, “the Ancient of Days” sits enthroned upon the bench where He will judge every single thing that happens in creation. He misses nothing. He sees not only what happens, but the motivation behind what happens. And ultimately, we are all accountable to Him. Praise the Lord!
Our week of homework ended with the question, “What can one woman do?” I am certainly anxious to find out - not only in the life of Esther, but in each of our lives as well. I love you girls. Thank you for your friendship and your encouragement. And of course, thank you for coming alongside me in this study. Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Jesus is with us! Set your mind on that!
This week, we’ll be watching video session three. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 80 and 81 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 3” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 3” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 3 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 82 and ends on page 103 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Esther - Session Two
Okay, so (unless there is anyone else out there studying along) I believe there are three of us going through the book of Esther together. You both know me, so I want to take a minute to introduce you to each other. Kristin Lynch meet Tara Smith; Tara Smith meet Kristin Lynch (lol). Kristin and I are friends from high school. We came back together through Facebook, and have become even closer friends through the last Bible study, Beth Moore’s “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things.” I love Kristin’s heart. A new student to the Word, Kristin’s honest approach and sincere desire to learn inspire me. Tara and I “met” online - both followers of Beth Moore’s online blog (http://blog.lproof.org/). Tara is a super-talented photographer (check out Darling Chaos Photography on Facebook) who also has a beautiful heart. Though we’ve never met in person, I am often encouraged by her Facebook posts and her heart for those in need. It is no accident that God brought the three of us (specifically) together. We can be sure of that! Especially in light of the subject matter we are studying right now. Remember the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary’s definition of providence? “Indeed, so all encompassing is God’s attention to events within creation that nothing happens by chance.” Nothing happens by chance.
Oh yeah, and one other tidbit I find somewhat amusing: I live in New Jersey; you two BOTH live in Texas. And if my google-map skills are correct, you only live about 2 hours and 15 minutes away from each other. That just makes me smile: a girl in New Jersey and two girls in Texas “get together” once a week for Bible study. You gotta love 2011 :)
Alright, so now that we’ve all been introduced, let’s discuss what we’ve been studying this week. First up, where are you girls? Tara got a bit of a late start and Kristin downloaded Session One before the Introduction, so I just want to check in on your status. If you are a little behind, don’t worry. I just want to get a sense of where you are because we can always slow our pace a bit (if we have to) in order to let everyone catch up. Let me know.
I just completed the second week of homework, and am still thoroughly loving the book of Esther. It really has an interesting plot, doesn’t it? I mean, I’ve read it before, but even so I feel like reading ahead to see what happens. Beyond that, I’m also getting a lot of real life application from what we’re reading: how to exercise wisdom, gain favor, submit to authority, trust God. There are gems in here!
For me, there were two things that really stood out in study this week: (1) that Esther was liked by other women; and (2) that Xerxes’ failure to reward Mordecai was part of God’s sovereign plan. Since my post this week is already pretty long, I’ll keep my thoughts on these points brief. Simple as it is, I want to be a woman that is liked by other women. Kristin made a great point during our last Bible Study. Although good in many respects, Facebook can also arouse catty, competitive, jealous feelings between “friends”. I don’t want to contribute to that or experience that myself. I want to be a real friend to my friends (both on Facebook and in real life), especially my girlfriends. Don’t you? With regard to to Xerxes’ failure to reward Mordecai, I loved Beth’s tangent about forcing a man’s ear but not his hand. Let me just say this: yes Beth, I CAN relate! Lol :)
Okay, you’re up! I can’t wait to read your comments and/or prayer requests this week. Please tell me, what is God teaching YOU?
This week, we’ll be watching video session two. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 56 and 57 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 2” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 2” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 2 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 58 and ends on page 79 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Oh yeah, and one other tidbit I find somewhat amusing: I live in New Jersey; you two BOTH live in Texas. And if my google-map skills are correct, you only live about 2 hours and 15 minutes away from each other. That just makes me smile: a girl in New Jersey and two girls in Texas “get together” once a week for Bible study. You gotta love 2011 :)
Alright, so now that we’ve all been introduced, let’s discuss what we’ve been studying this week. First up, where are you girls? Tara got a bit of a late start and Kristin downloaded Session One before the Introduction, so I just want to check in on your status. If you are a little behind, don’t worry. I just want to get a sense of where you are because we can always slow our pace a bit (if we have to) in order to let everyone catch up. Let me know.
I just completed the second week of homework, and am still thoroughly loving the book of Esther. It really has an interesting plot, doesn’t it? I mean, I’ve read it before, but even so I feel like reading ahead to see what happens. Beyond that, I’m also getting a lot of real life application from what we’re reading: how to exercise wisdom, gain favor, submit to authority, trust God. There are gems in here!
For me, there were two things that really stood out in study this week: (1) that Esther was liked by other women; and (2) that Xerxes’ failure to reward Mordecai was part of God’s sovereign plan. Since my post this week is already pretty long, I’ll keep my thoughts on these points brief. Simple as it is, I want to be a woman that is liked by other women. Kristin made a great point during our last Bible Study. Although good in many respects, Facebook can also arouse catty, competitive, jealous feelings between “friends”. I don’t want to contribute to that or experience that myself. I want to be a real friend to my friends (both on Facebook and in real life), especially my girlfriends. Don’t you? With regard to to Xerxes’ failure to reward Mordecai, I loved Beth’s tangent about forcing a man’s ear but not his hand. Let me just say this: yes Beth, I CAN relate! Lol :)
Okay, you’re up! I can’t wait to read your comments and/or prayer requests this week. Please tell me, what is God teaching YOU?
This week, we’ll be watching video session two. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 56 and 57 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 2” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 2” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the session 2 video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
You may have to copy and paste the above link into your browser.
Our homework for this week begins on page 58 and ends on page 79 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Your friend,
Amy :)
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Esther - Session One
Okay, so I have to tell you, I am LOVING this study. The uniqueness of the book of Esther has already captivated me. I am exhilarated by the fact that there is a total absence of any reference to God, and by the idea that, although God’s name may not be specifically written in this book of the Bible, His fingerprints are all over it. As one who has not seen and yet believes (see John 20:29), I find this very encouraging.
I don’t know about you, but I flat-out struggle with faith sometimes. I will use a recent incident as an example to better explain:
About three weeks ago, my mom’s husband Jeff’s heart started palpitating uncontrollably. Of course he ended up going to the hospital. But even at the hospital, it wouldn’t stop. I prayed for him throughout the day, but my prayers were somewhat distracted amidst a busy day with two children. That night, however, when I laid my head down on my pillow, I was convicted to stop and earnestly pray for Jeff. Now I am not one to test God. Jesus was pretty clear that we are not to do that (Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12). But for some reason, in the midst of my prayer, I found myself opening my eyes, looking straight at the clock on my husband’s nightstand, noting the time (11:57 pm), and praying something like this: “Father God, I come to you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, by whose blood alone I am worthy to speak in your presence. I know you are good, and my faith in you will be unshaken either way, but if it be your will, please restore Jeff’s heart to a normal beat - right now. And if it pleases you to increase my faith in so answering my prayer, I ask that you would make it known to me that Jeff’s heart rate returned to normal at about midnight tonight. I will not ask my mom if this happened. But if she tells me, I will know that indeed you heard my prayer and my faith will be strengthened.” The next day, I checked in with my mom to see how Jeff was doing. She was at the hospital, and literally the first words out of her mouth to me were, “Jeff’s heart rate returned to normal at about midnight last night.” The Lord knows I am not making this up. This is how it went down. And yet, upon hearing her words, instead of a sense of overwhelming faith, I was overcome with (believe it or not) doubt. Doubt! There it was again. I was so frustrated. My journal can speak for itself: “The LORD answers prayer so specifically and yet I still doubt/second guess. Why can’t I believe it could really be so? Why can’t I believe God heard my prayer and answered directly? Lord, in Jesus’ name I ask you to strengthen my faith... Why is my human nature inclined to classify this as mere coincidence? This was an act of the Most High and Sovereign God - Creator of Heaven and Earth... There is no ‘coincidence’... This word should not exist. It’s a lie. Give me faith Father! So I can give you proper glory with my words and with my whole heart....”
After this incident, and in the weeks leading up to this study, I continued to consider my inner-battle between faith and “coincidence”. It kept coming up. Mere coincidence? Well, that was the issue now, wasn’t it?
In short, I believe God was and is giving me an inner-yearning to fully embrace the idea that God is not only sovereign over, but also actively involved in, my life. It is my hope and prayer that this muscle of my faith will be forever strengthened through this study of Esther. And I have good reason to believe that it will. If you participated in our introductory video session, you know why. You can imagine how I shook my head and smiled when Beth said, “Coincidences are miracles in which God prefers to remain anonymous.” And when we filled in the following paragraph of our viewer guide (page 8):
[The book of Esther] extends a vital perspective on the
providence of God. Merriam Webster’s definition of
providence: “God conceived as the power sustaining
and guiding human destiny.” Holman Illustrated Bible
Dictionary adds, “In so doing [in His providence] God
attends not only to apparently momentous events and
people but also to those that seem both mundane and
trivial. ...Indeed, so all encompassing is God’s attention
to events within creation that nothing ... happens by
chance.”
Did you catch that last sentence? So all encompassing is God’s attention to events within creation that: nothing - happens - by - chance. Amen.
This week, we’ll be watching video session one. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 32 and 33 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 1” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 1” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the introduction video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
Our homework for week two begins on page 34 and ends on page 55 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Please post comments and/or prayer requests at any point throughout the week. Please know that I am so encouraged when you post about what God is teaching you. It is straight-up fuel to my fire. I so look forward to hearing from you.
Amy :)
I don’t know about you, but I flat-out struggle with faith sometimes. I will use a recent incident as an example to better explain:
About three weeks ago, my mom’s husband Jeff’s heart started palpitating uncontrollably. Of course he ended up going to the hospital. But even at the hospital, it wouldn’t stop. I prayed for him throughout the day, but my prayers were somewhat distracted amidst a busy day with two children. That night, however, when I laid my head down on my pillow, I was convicted to stop and earnestly pray for Jeff. Now I am not one to test God. Jesus was pretty clear that we are not to do that (Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12). But for some reason, in the midst of my prayer, I found myself opening my eyes, looking straight at the clock on my husband’s nightstand, noting the time (11:57 pm), and praying something like this: “Father God, I come to you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, by whose blood alone I am worthy to speak in your presence. I know you are good, and my faith in you will be unshaken either way, but if it be your will, please restore Jeff’s heart to a normal beat - right now. And if it pleases you to increase my faith in so answering my prayer, I ask that you would make it known to me that Jeff’s heart rate returned to normal at about midnight tonight. I will not ask my mom if this happened. But if she tells me, I will know that indeed you heard my prayer and my faith will be strengthened.” The next day, I checked in with my mom to see how Jeff was doing. She was at the hospital, and literally the first words out of her mouth to me were, “Jeff’s heart rate returned to normal at about midnight last night.” The Lord knows I am not making this up. This is how it went down. And yet, upon hearing her words, instead of a sense of overwhelming faith, I was overcome with (believe it or not) doubt. Doubt! There it was again. I was so frustrated. My journal can speak for itself: “The LORD answers prayer so specifically and yet I still doubt/second guess. Why can’t I believe it could really be so? Why can’t I believe God heard my prayer and answered directly? Lord, in Jesus’ name I ask you to strengthen my faith... Why is my human nature inclined to classify this as mere coincidence? This was an act of the Most High and Sovereign God - Creator of Heaven and Earth... There is no ‘coincidence’... This word should not exist. It’s a lie. Give me faith Father! So I can give you proper glory with my words and with my whole heart....”
After this incident, and in the weeks leading up to this study, I continued to consider my inner-battle between faith and “coincidence”. It kept coming up. Mere coincidence? Well, that was the issue now, wasn’t it?
In short, I believe God was and is giving me an inner-yearning to fully embrace the idea that God is not only sovereign over, but also actively involved in, my life. It is my hope and prayer that this muscle of my faith will be forever strengthened through this study of Esther. And I have good reason to believe that it will. If you participated in our introductory video session, you know why. You can imagine how I shook my head and smiled when Beth said, “Coincidences are miracles in which God prefers to remain anonymous.” And when we filled in the following paragraph of our viewer guide (page 8):
[The book of Esther] extends a vital perspective on the
providence of God. Merriam Webster’s definition of
providence: “God conceived as the power sustaining
and guiding human destiny.” Holman Illustrated Bible
Dictionary adds, “In so doing [in His providence] God
attends not only to apparently momentous events and
people but also to those that seem both mundane and
trivial. ...Indeed, so all encompassing is God’s attention
to events within creation that nothing ... happens by
chance.”
Did you catch that last sentence? So all encompassing is God’s attention to events within creation that: nothing - happens - by - chance. Amen.
This week, we’ll be watching video session one. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the video session) can be found on pages 32 and 33 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “Session 1” video, make sure you choose the box that says “Session 1” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the introduction video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
Our homework for week two begins on page 34 and ends on page 55 of our workbooks. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Please post comments and/or prayer requests at any point throughout the week. Please know that I am so encouraged when you post about what God is teaching you. It is straight-up fuel to my fire. I so look forward to hearing from you.
Amy :)
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Esther - Introduction
Welcome to the first week of our online Bible study, "Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman" by Beth Moore. I am so happy you have decided to participate. I am confident you will greatly benefit from time spent in the study of God’s word. It is truly an eternal investment. You know the saying, “you can’t take it with you when you go.” Well this is the exception to that rule. This is the stuff that matters both here on earth and eternally. So welcome.
Before we begin, I want to lovingly caution you (or remind you, if you have studied in an online format before) that ONLINE Bible Study can be very difficult to see through to completion. It is one of those things that begin with the best of intentions and end without much thought at all. One of the reasons for this is because there is very little accountability in an online setting. Indeed, I (as the facilitator) am really the only person accountable to make regular posts and stay on schedule with our study. Thus participants in past studies have often gotten behind or altogether lost. Of course, my intention is not to discourage anyone from online study, but to encourage each of you to set your own personal goals that will enable you to succeed. Consider making a personal commitment to post a comment on our group page about what you learn in study each week. Kristin (who joins us again in this study) did this every week during our last study and it seemed to work well for her. It also served to encourage me very much in my own commitment to see that study through to the end. Of course, you are free to come up with other ways to keep yourself accountable and to reward yourself for staying caught up with your weekly assignments. But whatever you do, do not get discouraged if you do fall behind. Bible study (especially online bible study) is difficult for everyone. I want this to be a place of encouragement (not a place of judgment or discouragement). You are loved here - whether you complete on schedule, fall behind, or quit altogether. I do want each of you to succeed, however. So if there is anything I can do to help you to do that, please do not hesitate to ask. I will be sure to pray for you regularly, and would very much appreciate your prayers for me as well.
That being said, let me give you a quick overview of what this online Bible study will entail. We will start each week of study by watching a video of our teacher, Beth Moore. The videos are approximately one hour in length. After viewing the video, we will have five days of homework to complete in our workbooks. Each day of homework will take about 45 minutes to complete. If you are new to Bible study, this may seem like a lot of work. But again, I encourage you to persevere. I have never found the study of God’s word to be a waste of time. To the contrary, it has always proven to be one of the most valuable uses of my time. I am sure that once you get started, you will feel the same.
This week, we’ll be watching the introductory video session. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the introductory video session) can be found on pages 8 and 9 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “introduction” video, click the link below THEN you must choose the box that says “Introduction” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the introduction video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
(You may need to copy and past the above link into your web browser).
Our homework for week one begins on page 10 of our workbooks. Again, the homework is broken down into 5 days that should take about 45 minutes each day to complete. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Okay, so that’s it. Please do not hesitate to ask for help (by private inbox to me, if you prefer) if you find yourself struggling with the homework or anything else. That is why we are studying as a group instead of studying on our own.
Also, please feel free to post any comments and/or prayer requests at any point throughout the week. We will all enjoy and benefit from hearing what you’ve been learning, and it is truly our privilege to lift one another up in prayer.
I can’t wait to get started! Let’s get to it!
Your friend, Amy
Before we begin, I want to lovingly caution you (or remind you, if you have studied in an online format before) that ONLINE Bible Study can be very difficult to see through to completion. It is one of those things that begin with the best of intentions and end without much thought at all. One of the reasons for this is because there is very little accountability in an online setting. Indeed, I (as the facilitator) am really the only person accountable to make regular posts and stay on schedule with our study. Thus participants in past studies have often gotten behind or altogether lost. Of course, my intention is not to discourage anyone from online study, but to encourage each of you to set your own personal goals that will enable you to succeed. Consider making a personal commitment to post a comment on our group page about what you learn in study each week. Kristin (who joins us again in this study) did this every week during our last study and it seemed to work well for her. It also served to encourage me very much in my own commitment to see that study through to the end. Of course, you are free to come up with other ways to keep yourself accountable and to reward yourself for staying caught up with your weekly assignments. But whatever you do, do not get discouraged if you do fall behind. Bible study (especially online bible study) is difficult for everyone. I want this to be a place of encouragement (not a place of judgment or discouragement). You are loved here - whether you complete on schedule, fall behind, or quit altogether. I do want each of you to succeed, however. So if there is anything I can do to help you to do that, please do not hesitate to ask. I will be sure to pray for you regularly, and would very much appreciate your prayers for me as well.
That being said, let me give you a quick overview of what this online Bible study will entail. We will start each week of study by watching a video of our teacher, Beth Moore. The videos are approximately one hour in length. After viewing the video, we will have five days of homework to complete in our workbooks. Each day of homework will take about 45 minutes to complete. If you are new to Bible study, this may seem like a lot of work. But again, I encourage you to persevere. I have never found the study of God’s word to be a waste of time. To the contrary, it has always proven to be one of the most valuable uses of my time. I am sure that once you get started, you will feel the same.
This week, we’ll be watching the introductory video session. The viewer guide (to be completed while watching the introductory video session) can be found on pages 8 and 9 of our workbooks.
*** PLEASE NOTE: The Lifeway website has CHANGED! To order the “introduction” video, click the link below THEN you must choose the box that says “Introduction” in the section that says “Select Session Number.” I cannot send you a direct link to buy the introduction video for some reason with the format of the new website. ***
http://www.lifeway.com/Product/esther-its-tough-being-a-woman-video-sessions-M00000120#
(You may need to copy and past the above link into your web browser).
Our homework for week one begins on page 10 of our workbooks. Again, the homework is broken down into 5 days that should take about 45 minutes each day to complete. Make every effort to complete this homework before next Tuesday, when I will post the link for our next video session and discuss some of the things that we learned this week.
Okay, so that’s it. Please do not hesitate to ask for help (by private inbox to me, if you prefer) if you find yourself struggling with the homework or anything else. That is why we are studying as a group instead of studying on our own.
Also, please feel free to post any comments and/or prayer requests at any point throughout the week. We will all enjoy and benefit from hearing what you’ve been learning, and it is truly our privilege to lift one another up in prayer.
I can’t wait to get started! Let’s get to it!
Your friend, Amy
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Have You Ordered Your Book?
Out of curiosity has anyone ordered their book yet? I already ordered my book, but I was thinking about switching the study to one that does NOT require videos. If anyone has already ordered their book, we'll stick with the Esther study and just do the other study another time :)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Join Us For a Summer Bible Study
Looking for a summer Bible study? Feel free to study with us! Our next ONLINE study is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. We will be studying Beth Moore's, "Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman." Order your member book now by clicking the following link: http://www.lifeway.com/product/005162885/?cs=1
You can also find us on Facebook! Join our group: Online Bible Studies
You can also find us on Facebook! Join our group: Online Bible Studies
Sunday, June 12, 2011
New Study Coming Soon!!! Details to follow :)
Please check back within the week for details on a new upcoming online Bible study :)
New Study Coming Soon!!! Details to follow :)
Please check back within the week for details on a new upcoming online Bible study :)
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