Kristi's Question

Age and time often have interesting ways of changing, developing and sharpening perspective in life. At least it has in mine. 

 My friend Kristi recently asked if I have a favorite Bible study for moms and honestly, even as recently as 5 years ago, I would have/could have rattled off a list of a dozen or so. "But now", (I just love a well placed "but", don't you?) my thoughts on this subject have changed. 

I've been pondering Kristi's question for about 4 days now and while I do have a list of favorite Bible study teachers (Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Jennifer Rothschild, Kay Arthur), here is the real answer for the mom (woman) out there looking for a good Bible study: the "best" Bible study is the study of the Bible.

"Well duh" you say, but hear me out. I'm currently (and oftentimes) involved in a women's Bible study group where we each have a book that provides daily homework and once a week, we gather to watch a DVD by the author and then discuss what we've discovered over the previous week. And it's good. Hardly a day passes that I don't open up my little study guide, open up my Bible alongside and hear something from God. It may be the tiniest whisper, but I hear Him. 

As long as the Bible study teacher you are studying has a solid, Biblical foundation and has a study that calls to your heart, I say, "Go for it!" And by the way, if you are in doubt about who/what you're about to study, ask your pastor (or you can ask me and I will ask mine!).

But, and here's the real deal: a woman who has a deep desire to dive into "a" Bible study, will always (always, always, always) be blessed by simply diving into her Bible. Sadly, most of us don't know how to study our Bibles so we default to a book/dvd type (not that there's anything wrong with that) but why not challenge yourself? Why not challenge yourself to:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." (2Timothy 2:15)

What the heck does that mean?", you say. Well, for example, take the word "diligent"; according to Webster's, it means 

"characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort :  painstaking"

• So, we learn right off that we should make steady, earnest and even energetic effort toward "presenting" (to make a gift) ourselves to whom? To God! 
• As what? As a skilled worker. 
• Skilled at what? Understanding what His Word says.
• What will be our condition when we go before God as a gift? We will be, according to Webster's, without guilt, self-consciousness, or doubt. 
• And why is that? Because we are able to "...correctly explain the word of truth." (New Living Translation). 
• And of course, to whom are we explaining this "word of truth"? To anyone who asks! We must "...be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2

{And wouldn't that be comforting? To be on break at work and have someone ask a question that skips across the waters of scripture providing you an open door to speak God's Word? And be able to do it correctly without being self-conscious about what you DON'T know because you are so confident in what you DO know? #wow}

That is probably one of the simplest Bible study methods (not really a method, just an idea) on the market (and it's not on the market, just in my brain)! We're an inquisitive gender, why not ask questions about the verse you're reading (and no matter what you ask, God doesn't roll His eyes at you)! But, how do you find a verse to read? I would suggest that you:

• Using a concordance (see below), look up verses for the issues you are currently facing in your life (for me right now it's anxiety and yes, the Bible speaks to anxiety!)
• You may find a concordance in the back of your Bible, on line or go old school with an actual hard back copy (shameless plug: http://www.lifeway.com/)
• Ask God to direct your reading and as He impresses upon your heart (i.e.,"jumps off the page at you") one or two of these verses that you read, begin to ask these questions, as well as others that come to your mind 
• Journal your responses and your progress and your problems
• And if you're brave enough (gads!), memorize that verse

You may not be able to sit at the lunch table or in the break room or in your Sunday School class and talk about the latest Bible study you did but, YOU ARE STUDYING THE BIBLE. God doesn't so much need us to DO Bible studies as He longs for us to study the Bible. Study HIM. Love HIM. 

And I can assure you, as you study His Word, as you study His character, as you love Him, you will dive down deeper into the sea of who He is and how He wants to love you than you ever dreamed imaginable. 

And of course, if you have the time and drive, grab any one of the go-zillion Bible studies available at stores such as (shameless plug) Lifeway and get crackin'! You won't regret it. 

Breaking news: "Old Dog Learns New Trick"

Do you ever get "bogged down"? Routines can be good; get up at the same time, eat the same breakfast, leave for work at the same time, etc. And even within routines, you have the chance to "mix it up" a bit: hit the snooze once in a while, eat an English muffin instead of toast, leave for work early (not if you hit the snooze button though!). While those things may not have eternal impact on our lives, this one thing most certainly does and if you aren't careful, you may easily fall into a rut or routine before you realize it. Most who know me know of my absolute passion for God's Word and specifically, for the books of Psalms and Proverbs. I have, quite literally, spent most of the last 35 years pouring over and praying through those books, almost to the exclusion of all other books of the Bible. It's not that I don't think God can "speak" to me through any other books, I just like the WAY He speaks to me there. I am currently reading "A Place of Quiet Rest" (Finding Intimacy With God Through A Daily Devotional Life) by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Last night's chapter found me reading this indictment against my Bible reading method, "Likewise, our spirits need the balance that comes from taking in the "whole counsel of God," not limiting ourselves to those passages that seem particularly appetizing. The spiritual growth of some believers has been stunted due to a diet that consists primarily of the Psalms with perhaps a smidgen of the New Testament Epistles."(emphasis mine) Well! Nancy, that was just a little rude, don't you think? Ahem, except in my case, it's true! So, this morning I have blazed a new trail! Ta-da! This old dog is learning new tricks! I have known of the "read the Bible through" chart in the back of my Bible forever but I just couldn't escape my Psalm/Proverb dailies to branch out into something different and really, just a little out of my comfort zone. I mean seriously, can God actually speak through the genealogies? (Just in case you aren't sure of the answer to that question, YES, He can!) Today's selections (made for me by the chart and the hand of the Sovereign)were Acts 18 and Job 7,8,9. Job. Really? Well, heck yeah; I was amazed at what I read there! Job 7: 11-16 “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, that You set a guard over me? When I say,‘My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint, then You scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than my body. I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are but a breath." You go, Job! Have you ever felt like that? I am fairly confident that NONE of us have ever experienced life and loss like Job did and he had some serious questions for God and he wasn't afraid to ask them. Yet, look at what Job says in the next verse (I don't think he knew these words would become "verses" for us!). Job 7: 17-18 "What is man, that You should exalt him, that you should set Your heart upon him, that You should visit him every morning and TEST HIM IN EVERY MOMENT?" (emphasis mine) Friends, in the very deepest anguish of Job's heart, he KNEW that God's heart was set upon him and that he was, all the while, testing him EVERY MOMENT! How could Job (and how can we) reconcile those things? Let's listen in on this conversation as it continues in Job 9:4a as Job declares that "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength." That is how Job could ask the hard questions. He knew, and we would do well to learn, that God IS wise and will allow nothing into our lives that is not best for us. Best does not equal easy, by the way! Job's "friend" Bildad, implies as much in Job 8:11 when he asks, "Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water?" And the question I pose here is: "Can we become Christlike without suffering?" I believe we know the answer to that question but like I said above, just in case you aren't sure, the answer to that question is NO, we can't! Caveat: suffering will look different for everyone, still... So, what is God doing in your life? What has he allowed that is currently making you pretty uncomfortable and if you could "wish it away", you certainly would?! Take heart; take hope. And rest in Psalm 46:10a "Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God.(Amplified) You knew I'd get a verse from Psalms in there somewhere didn't you?! So, whether you find yourself reading in Habakkuk or Hebrews, rest assured, He will speak. Listen closely.

Today is going to be a tough day. As a matter of fact, the next 24 hours promise to put me through the wringer, emotionally. Let me explain: the "wringer" portion of this part of the journey began last week, when on Saturday, June 8, Gene and I met with some of the members of Belmont Heights Baptist Church for a pot-luck "meet and greet" in anticipation of him preaching at that church "in view of a call" (that's how we say it in the south) to become their next pastor. We cleaned up (no small feat), drove the 11 miles from our house to the church, put our best feet forward and plunged in, determined to meet and remember as many people as possible. It was a successful evening; Gene preached the next morning and was voted in. Gene was ecstatic, but my joy had to be kept in check, knowing that I had unfinished business to conclude later that night at FBC, Andersonville. My love for women's ministry is no secret but it has just been in recent years that I have discovered my love for imparting, in a small group setting, the truths of God's Word and teaching others how to apply those in everyday life. So it was on Sunday night, I would go share my last "words" to my small group and tell them goodbye. It broke my heart; there really is so much more I wanted to teach them! I should have seen it coming, really. I had experienced the heights of joy, knowing that Gene was once again going to shepherd a flock (after all, it's what God has called him to do!) and then plunged into the depths of woe (facing the reality of leaving "my girls"), and my migraine tendencies could not handle the emotional swing. Monday morning's pain prevented me from going through this loss and gain with a "business as usual" attitude. Let's just say, it was a long, long day and I am grateful to the makers of migraine specific medication and a dark bedroom! By Tuesday, life was beginning to return to normal and I limped through the rest of the week somewhat successfully, which is what brings us to today. This evening at 6, our FBC, Andersonville pals and co-laborers in Christ, will host a pot-luck in our honor and then tomorrow morning Gene will preach there; I will sing (and don't tell him, but I will probably share a word!). Do you see the tendency for last week's pattern to repeat? Well, with one exception: there will be no heights of joy, only sorrow. My last post to this blog was July 4, 2008 and I mentioned therein that our "contract" with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and FBC, Andersonville would end August 31. That date came and went and Gene had not been called to a church and quite frankly, wouldn't have been ready to go had he been called. Gene had gastric bypass surgery on June 10, 2008 and was still working through his recovery and adjustment to a new life. Blessed indeed, he has now lost (and kept off) 160 pounds. All to the glory of God. But, here's the thing: FBC, Andersonville took us in when we had NOTHING to offer. I am telling you people, we had NOTHING to offer. Did I mention that we had NOTHING to offer?! As my small group will attest, 99.9% of verses I reference come from The Psalms and/or Proverbs. Quite frankly, they are my "bread and butter" and it is where I have lived devotionally and prayerfully, for the last 35+ years. So, it came as no shock to me when God underlined in my heart Psalm 113:7-8 to claim for Gene. It says: "He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes-with the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children." I recognized then and affirm today that the people of FBC, Andersonville, are indeed the "princes (and princesses) of God's people." They have quite literally, loved us back to wholeness. It pains me even now, to remember how "broken" we were; that word doesn't begin to communicate. It was utter soul devastation. Yes, Gene had health issues that could no longer be overlooked and those of course, caused pain. But the pain he endured in his body could not begin to compare to the pain that his soul, invested in others, experienced when those were ripped from his life and he had to come face to face with living a life he was not called to live. The man who signed on with the Barnabas Ministry of the Tennessee Baptist Convention had no physical health, no emotional energy and no spiritual vigor. That was March, 2008. Tonight, June 15, 2013, when we fellowship and tomorrow when he preaches, Gene's physical health has been re-discovered, his emotional energy restored and his spiritual vigor renewed. God has used His precious Holy Spirit, His unchanging Word and the faithfulness of His people to accomplish this, once believed, insurmountable task. So, maybe this week the migraine and my out of control emotions can be avoided. I am calling it now: I am heart broken. Tonight I will clean up and wear make-up and promptly cry it off. I will sing in the morning with my eyes closed so as not to look in the faces of those who have spared nothing for Gene and me and wonder if we will ever be assembled in a like manner again. And then, between now and June 30, I will prepare my heart for another journey: that of being the wife of Pastor Gene at Belmont Heights Baptist Church. I just know I am going to love that role like I did with the beloved at Stock Creek Baptist Church from 1993-2007. Thank you, FBC, Andersonville, for allowing us to rebuild, refresh and renew in your presence. Only eternity will reveal the blessings that were ours these last 5 1/2 years. Well, heck. I am already crying. Like I said, it's going to be a tough day!

Finally!

A great deal of time has passed since the original entry in this blog, but rest assured, Gene and I have been rolling along (see our other blog heaintheavyhesmyhusband.blogspot.com).

So what has been going on the past 8 months as we have been "going in grace"? A lot. Too much to itemize for sure, but let me sum up. Knowing that God had called us to leave Stock Creek to go to "a land we did not know" gave a certain excitement that we had not experienced in ministry in some time. Quite frankly, from this side of the journey, I don't need that kind of excitement in my life!

At any rate, Psalm 124 speaks clearly to me this morning and perhaps communicates where we have been and what we have been doing, generally, these last few months.

Herewith, comfort and comment from that Psalm.

v1-3a If the Lord had not been on our side when people (albeit very few) came against us, we would have been swallowed up alive.

v3b-5If the Lord had not been on our side when people (albeit very few) kindled their wrath against us, the waters would have overwhelmed us. The stream would have covered our very souls.

v6-8 God is to be blessed because He did not give us to those against us as prey for their teeth instead, we escaped like a bird! How did we escape? God gave us escape! He remains our escape and is our help at all times.

So, let me be done with this portion of the journey. We continue to walk on by the grace of God. The grace of God is not something we need once in life and move on; it is what we need to walk minute by minute.

Gene's "contract" with First Baptist Andersonville and the Tennessee Baptist Convention comes to an end August 31. What does that mean for us? We will be without a church at that time and we need a church, we need an income.

The close of Psalm 124 gives us comfort "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." He can handle the details of our lives. Stand by for the work that God will do.