People. People who need people.
Melanie - June 11, 2008
After I had my daughter Caroline in the summer of 2003, I struggled with a lot of things. Things like why does she wake up every night at 3 a.m. and will my stomach ever go back to its former size. Oh, and the crying. All the crying.
Of course everyone assured me the crying would stop once my hormones leveled out. And chocolate helped immensely. Not so much with the stomach issue, but with the hormonal surges.
At the time I was a working mama so I was also having a hard time finding a good balance for my life. Specifically, I wanted to get involved in a women's Bible study, but there just didn't seem to be enough hours in the day.
Most of the churches in my neighborhood only offered morning Bible studies but that didn't work for my schedule. And by the time night came, all I wanted to do was sleep. Oh sweet sleep, how I adore thee.
So I didn't do anything. And as a result I felt my faith growing really stagnant, which isn't really a good thing considering that I was at a point in life where I knew I needed God's input more than ever.
Finally, last spring, my best friend Gulley asked me if I'd be interested in doing a summer Bible study with her, even if it was just the two of us. I told her to count me in.
And thus, the best Bible study group ever was created.
No, it's not just Gulley and me.
At first glance our group seems completely random. None of us were really tied together in any way, other than we all had some association with Gulley.
I remember thinking the first night we met that we couldn't have tried to come up with a more diverse group.
We spent last summer studying Beth Moore's "Jesus, The One and Only" and none of us have ever gotten more out of a study than we did in those ten weeks. Of course the study was phenomenal and is one of my personal favorites, but the relationships that developed during that time were incredible.
In fact, as the summer went on we started talking about what we wanted to do in the fall because we couldn't imagine breaking up our little group. God has truly knit our hearts together in a way that only He can do.
And when I look at our group now, I realize it wasn't random at all. Each one of us was put there for a specific purpose.
Our group has a mama with older kids who assures us that there will come a day when we'll get to sleep without a little person in our bed, and those of us with little ones tell the ones without kids to RUN! RUN LIKE THE WIND AND GO TO THE MOVIES! OR OUT TO DINNER! DO IT NOW WHILE YOU DON'T HAVE TO HIRE A BABYSITTER!
We laugh with each other, we pray with each other, we encourage each other. We know that if any of us has a need then the others are just an email or a phone call away.
And most importantly, we can't wait for Tuesday nights.
This summer we're doing "A Heart Like His" by Beth Moore. I already know it will be awesome. I'll keep y'all posted!
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Pam
Pam
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (11)
We have a group just like that, and it started out sort of the same way. Two of us were determined to have Bible study, and 7 years later we’re still at it. Our group has changed some over the years, but we have a variety of family groups - some with young children, some teens, and some adults. We are there to support each other. We will begin Wising Up - Wherever Life Happens tomorrow. We can’t imagine life without each other.
Posted on June 11, 2008 10:45 AM
So great… we’re actually thinking about doing “Jesus, The One and Only” this year for our leadership team. We’ve just heard so many great things about it.
And now, I think I’ll take your advice and GO DO SOMETHING WHILE I DON’T HAVE KIDS.
Amen.
Posted on June 11, 2008 12:16 PM
I have a Bible Study like that and I love it. Ladies that would never have come together any other way but are now lifelong friends. In fact, I used to teach children on Wed. nights but found that after homeschooling, teaching at a homeschool tutorial, teaching 3rd grade S.S. and mothering, I just couldn’t be nice to kids on Wed. night. And so I found this Bible Study. We have done both the Beth Moore studies you have mentioned and are doing Priscilla Shirer’s “Discerning the Voice of God” this summer. I cannot wait…it is truly the highlight of my week and the one Mommy thing I cannot do without!!
Posted on June 11, 2008 1:51 PM
Oh man, I love Beth Moore studies! “Daniel” was incredible! I can’t wait for “Esther.”
I think I need people :-) Maybe I Zwill join Beth’s summer study….
Posted on June 11, 2008 1:55 PM
You will enjoy “A Heart Like His”. It is a wonderful study. I would highly encourage your group to go through the “Daniel” and “Patriarchs” study by Beth too. She will have you digging deep into God’s Word.
Priscilla Shirer and Angela Thomas have some great studies that will encourage you to walk closer to God. We are currently re-doing “A Beautiful Offering at our church.
Enjoy the study and keep us posted on your group.
Posted on June 11, 2008 2:29 PM
Love me some Beth Moores studies! Remember, when you get her number let me know.
Posted on June 11, 2008 2:56 PM
I love groups like that. It’s so fun and interesting to have a mix of stages and ages!
Posted on June 11, 2008 4:38 PM
Can you believe that I’ve never done a Beth Moore study?! Am I the only person on the planet that has never done a Beth Moore study? I mean, can you imagine?!?!
I read almost all the way thru “Get out of that Pit” and cried so much while I was reading that I put it down after the chapter that whooped my tail and haven’t picked it back up.
I understand stagnant. I’m in that place and I have signed on to do the Summer study “No other gods” on Beth’s site. I need it and I can’t wait to be moved from this stagnant water that I’ve been wallowing in to a fresh, flowing fountain!
Posted on June 11, 2008 5:48 PM
I am starting my first girl’s Bible study next week. The one Beth proposed on the LPM Blog and I am sooo excited. I know I am at a time in my life when I need it more than ever. I can’t wait!!!
Posted on June 11, 2008 6:27 PM
Our church also holds small Discovery group sessions once a week for study and discussion. And while the topics studied and discussed are wonderful, the relationships that have come out of those meetings have strengthened all we’ve come in contact with. It’s true fellowship!
Posted on June 11, 2008 10:23 PM
Oh, I’m so very thrilled about your group studying A Heart Like His. It was the first workbook study that I did in college, and my first Beth Moore study……oh the memories of being convicted in my dorm room. God used that study in a mighty way to capture my heart and turn in into a heart longing for His. :)
Posted on June 12, 2008 8:09 PM