Category: Beth Moore

Oh my, where to start. So many thoughts running through my head right now…

The video session this week: “Rejection”. I just want to touch a little on that. As Beth said, we all don’t take rejection very well. I know that I don’t. I want to be liked/loved by everyone. But I have to realize that this is not possible – at least not on this side of heaven. I really enjoyed this phrase by Beth during the video session: “Sometimes God allows rejection for our best interest”. Sometimes we don’t see a rejection as a blessing, but a punishment – I know I do it all.the.time…But I did struggle a little bit when Beth said: “It is not me who is rejected, but Christ within me”…Huh?! But why would my brothers and sisters in Christ reject me because of Christ within me. That might be true for unbelievers who see Christ in me – but not my fellow believers. Or am I wrong?

The homework was a totally different story…JOY. What a glorious word. What came to mind on day one was Psalm 51:12 (NIV): ‘Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me…’ Yes, I want God to restore that JOY every single day; that I don’t forget! I forget about my salvation too often when I am in the midst of trails and tribulations. How about you?

What really hit me in the homework though was day 4. Beth is talking about Elijah. My favorite point: When we become “wonders junkies“. As I have mentioned before, I have done this study about 2 years ago, but when I went through the home work – this point stood out again. Sometimes in my trails and tribulations I don’t hear the gentle whispers of God. The people He sends into my life to restore the joy I have in Him. It always happens when I take my eyes off the Cross and ‘wallow’ in self-pity. When I look for the huge Mountain top experiences! But He is there with me. Every step of the way! Quoting Beth: “He looked for God in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but he did not find Him there. I am convinced the most intimate times we ever will spend with God will be listening to His gentle whispers. It is there that we will find true chara.” – Amen to that!

The other great point Beth made: “The joy in fellowship”. I love the body of Christ! When we can share our struggles with other believers and can witness because of those struggles. He is FAITHFUL; He always sends the right people at the right time. Don’t you agree? (Oh I wish I could type as fast as my brain thinks)…

Unbelievers sometimes think that we have it all together and that we don’t have struggles in life. That is so not true. We have struggles, but we have a support system. First we can look to the Cross to restore us when we are in the pits; than we have other believers who pray for us…Isn’t that awesome to know!

If you have followed my blog over the last couple of weeks, you know that I have been on an emotional roller-coaster-ride. Here again I can point to God for allowing me to be part of this Bible study. His timing is always perfect!!!!

‘Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!’ Phil 4:1 (NIV)

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm – Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His word.

Oh how true it is ~ His love is so deep for us that we can not understand; that is why we need His Spirit to love the way He loves us.

Learning to love the way God loves “ agape is very hard to do if we are filled with self. Believe me; I am filled with self a lot. Although I talk to God throughout the day, I still have those really hard times to love the way He does…He has no hang-ups; He loves without condition; He keeps no records of my wrong doings. And there are plenty of wrong doings I commit throughout just one single day.

You know what my biggest challenge is lately. To be patient with our son. Don’t get me wrong – I love him, but he drives me up the wall lately. I know that our son has his issues with finishing school and finding a job. Couple of weeks ago I was ready to just put this suitcase on the street. I know, I know – it is wrong to even think that, but believe me, he is not easy to live with right now. I don’t remember who said it, but this is how I feel about our son: ‘I love him dearly, but I don’t like him right now’…I hope you don’t think that I am a terrible mother. It is just how I feel about him. I guess that is were God’s agape comes in. To actually not act on my feelings, but to do what is best…As Beth said on day 5: “Agape is fueled by the needs rather than the desires of self or others”. I tell you, it is not an easy thing to do, but with the help of the Holy Spirit I can make it through this tough spot…“Agape is expressed through me when I surrender to the empowerment and temperament of the Holy Spirit”…
Lord, I give it over to you, because without Your help, I can’t do it.

I want to share with you the song “Your Love is Deep”, because it came to mind while doing the study. Just click below and listen (if you have the time). I think that song expresses exactly what we have studied this past week. Agape seasoned with His grace…

[audio:https://eph2810.com/audio/You%20Love%20is%20Deep.mp3]

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm – Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His Word.

What a roller-coaster ride this week. And what a lesson! So many thoughts running through my mind…You know what really hit me between the eyes? Video segment #4! First of all, I had to restart that segment 5 times; every time I got to around 5 minutes into the video, our internet went down (and we have cable :shock:). I guess someone didn’t want me to hear what Beth had to say in that segment. But – ha, I just kept resetting the internet and restart the segment.

As I was sitting there and listing to Beth, I really got an uneasy feeling. Do I really pour everything out to Him, so I may be filled with His Spirit? Do I talk to Him the way I should? He knows my heart…No, I don’t pour out everything! I hold on to my fears, my insecurity…I have never been as insecure in my life as I was this past week (okay, maybe one other time). When Beth talked earlier about sudden urges we have and the desire to be needed. Oh boy was I convicted. Because of such a sudden urge, I am out of work. I thought that I prayed long enough to make a change. Did I listen to God, or did I again was overcome with pride? I know that God has His own timing and His timing is always perfect. But I want everything in my own timing and I get impatient…and that my friend, gets me in trouble…

I received a book from a co-worker, which I just picked up this morning and started reading. I know that some of you make a daily read, but for me it was the first time. The book: Oswald Chambers – “My Utmost for His Highest”. Oh, don’t get me wrong – I have read quotes before, but I never called this book my own. I didn’t go to today’s devotion, but I started at the beginning…Ha, and did God had a word with me (the devotion was based on Philippians 1:20-21): ‘Whether it means life or death-it makes no difference!’ …But before we choose to follow God’s will, a crisis must develop in our lives. This happens because we tend to be unresponsive to God’s gentler nudges…”.

Yikes!!!! I can’t add to that, except that this devotion was written for me?! Yes, I was in the valley yesterday (very deep one; thank you friends for your prayers and encouragements), but today is another day. As I laid everything down this morning, He gave me peace. He is working things out; even though I made another mistake…He is faithful, even when I am faithless.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm – Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His Word.

You know, what really amazes me? How the ‘first’ Christians witnessed. Why was it different for them?
I claim to have the same faith…but why in the world can I not witness like them? I have the same Spirit as the early believers. The same Christ died for my sins…I am so frustrated sometimes that I am not able to speak up when I come in contact with unbelievers. The early Christian church didn’t even have in ‘print’ the Word of God, but they stood up (even until death) for what they believed in. Of course Peter, Paul and John (and others) were the prime examples how to witness. Even if they where stoned, imprisoned and endured other hardships, they dusted themselves off and went back to witness.
I think my major problem is that I don’t stay in His Word as much as I should. Sure I read my devotions every morning, I remember Scripture when I am in distress…But really staying in the Word of God means digging deep into it…drinking in His promises…

Lord, purge my heart where I do wrong so I can be a clean vessel. Prepare my heart to be Your hands and feet. Let you Spirit lead me to be a witness to You faithfulness, Your mercy and Your grace. Lord, I want to live beyond myself, through Your Spirit. In Jesus precious name I pray. Amen.

Addie	Heather*	Carol
M	Rach	Jeana
Jenn	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Heather	Nancy
Janna	Flipflop	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Lauren	HolyMama!	Faith
Christy	Eph2810	Karin
Leann	Rachel	Janice
This is a list of the women participating in the study and the links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published for the next ten weeks, between Friday 8pm – Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His Word.