The single strands of slavery

Wow - this is one powerful post.

http://http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2009/10/like-slaves-in-search-of-little-masters.html

Tiny strands that grow to enslave us one part at a time. Eating, organizing or planning, hobbies, exercise. Anything can take over and become our master. And it may not be bad alone, but left to the devices of the lord of this world, it can trap us so handily that we cannot get out.

Northway Girls

Dear ladies of my Beth Moore group,

It has been an amazing journey. In the three years that I have been with the group I have learned far more than what Beth meant to teach. In 2006, I had never been part of a church family and in the next year and a half, I desperately struggled with the good and the bad of close quarters with my royal family members in the studies.

.....I learned to love those that at first I did not love.
.....I learned to see and admit my own faults more readily because of others openess and seeing the same faults in them....
.....I learned to abandon myself to my relationship with Christ by the way these women did.
.....I learned to swallow my pride and accept the authority of the leaders that were placed with us because this was God's will.
.....I learned to love others so deeply that I can't even put it adequately into words.
.....I learned to share what I knew with gentleness and kindness - not defensiveness and frustration.
.....I learned that it's okay not to agree with everything and that some issues just aren't a big enough issue to tackle.
.....I learned that prayer is the most powerful tool we can use to help others.
.....I learned that I can't do this alone. I need people and in the same way, others need me. God designed for me to share - not stuff myself in a closet.

So I walked out the door of the church last night toward a different goal. I will be leading my own study at Iron City Church and developing that family closer to "home." Providing a place where women can come and learn and grow together like that at ICC. But I will try my darnedest to stay in touch with as many of them as possible because, quite honestly, I love them and I know each of them was a gift from heaven.

Thank you, Father for giving me the gift of them.

Daniel 1 and 2
Fruits of the Spirit
The Tabernacle
Psalm of the Ascents
Esther

Living Proof Live 2009!

http://www.lifeway.com/ev/events_detail_mainpage/0%2C2232%2CE%25253D39%252526M%25253D200979%2C00.html

For months I have been reading the LPM/ Moore family blog and wistfully watching the recap slideshows, wondering why she never came to Pittsburgh........

Then a few hours ago, my Aunt Becky sent me an email that she was coming, she was coming, SHE WAS REALLY, REALLY COMING!!!!! Next year June 12-13 on the eve of my 39th birthday she'll be here at the Peterson Event Center at Pitt! I am so excited I could just scream! Or dye my hair blond.... or sing a praise song at the top of my lungs with my hands all a-wavin'....... Anyhow. If you need me on those two days, I will be busy - very, very busy loving God and singing with Travis Cottrell and learning me something new from my favorite Arkan-Texan Bible teaching friend Beth Moore!!

See you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great analogy

My daily devotional the other day was awesome. Beth Moore likened staying in the will of God to learning another language. Fluent though we may seem to bein another language, if we are still thinking in the first language, this is where our head is. Our native tongue is sin and with all we learn, if we are still thinking in our native tongue of sin, divine viewpoint in life is going to escape us. From talking to Carrie, a serious student of German for years as well as a visitor to the country and teacher, I wonder how often she thinks and dreams in German. The times I know that she has, she's been just back from visiting - immersed. I guess that's what we have to be - immersed in Him and His Word to start to make it all comfortable to think with the mind of Christ. Lots of work to do.

The Tabernacle completed

Yesterday was our final session in our study of the Tabernacle. I have learned so much about how intricately God has planned every detail. From His heavenly home and the images there He has provided the Garden of Eden, the tabernacle, the temples, and the fullness of Christ so we may know what awaits us when we are home and eventually in eternity. Much like our study of Daniel with Beth Moore, this study was less about us and more about our God and the care He took in each and every detail. WHAT COMFORT!!!

Not too long ago someone (I can't recall who) mentioned that the Word of God is a complete history of thousands of years from Creation to Revelation in such a relatively small book. Our God is a Trinity of relatively few words. This means that every last detail of the Bible has a specific purpose in it's inclusion. To think we only have one short lifetime to understand the layers of meaning to this is an honor with such a current of excitement!

This study helped reinforce that "A Woman's Heart" truly is "God's dwelling place." And as painful as it is to admit, I've not been kind of late to my spiritual heart because my body is out of balance and this was a personal point of wow for me. God gave us fewer rules in the Church Age but gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us through the Christian life. He meant for that guidance to be in all things - not just compartmentalized. That was an honor and a responsibility that was not available to the Old Testament believers in the land of Israel. And in understanding that, I have a responsibility to live it.

God is truly amazing and I am so thankful for the learning and the growing I did through his Word. But in addition, I had the pleasure of growing with a group of women that broadened my perspective and encouraged in prayer beyond my wildest expectations.

June starts a brand new study - When Godly People Do Ungodly Things. Can't wait.