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 :)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
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 :)
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