Breaking Free and Something to Think About

Tomorrow our office Bible study group begins Breaking Free. I've heard such great things about this one...I cannot wait! This is the 8th study my co-workers and I have done together! I praise God for the wonderfully diverse group of women He’s brought together from all stages of life – singles, young Moms, Moms with older kids and Grandmothers. There are new believers and those who have walked with the Lord for many years. Some are Catholic, some Lutheran and some Baptist, but one thing binds us all…a desire to draw closer to God. This time, I’m excited to welcome two new women! Because my church graciously allows us to use Videos/DVDs of any previously offered Bible studies, we’ve been privileged to study those written by Beth Moore, Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Priscilla Shirer. Our only cost is for workbooks. In addition, our church's Director of Women’s Ministries has been an a wonderful support, through prayer and words of encouragement.

I can’t help but wonder if any of you have felt God urging you to start a Bible study, maybe in your office, or in your neighborhood? Can I encourage you by saying I am truly the last person who ever expected to be used by God in this capacity. If I had known a number of years ago this was part of His plan for me, I would have likely RUN the other way fast! Instead, it began with just one co-worker and I desiring to know God better and starting a Bible study together. Ever so slowly, co-workers were hearing about our study (in sometimes very unconventional ways) and wanting to know more. As the Lord would bring them, we’d welcome them in.

Truth be told, even after studying with many of these same women for the past 6 years, it still makes me nervous. Every.single.week. But you know what I’ve learned over all these years? If you are willing, God is able. Simple, yes...but true. Over the years, I’ve come to Him repeatedly, feeling ill-equipped saying things like…

Lord, you know I’m willing, but I am scared to death!
What if I misinterpret your Word?
What if they ask me a question I can’t answer?
What if they tell me they’re unsure of their salvation…what do I tell them?
Lord, I’m so bad at this…it feels so awkward…someone else could do this so much better, etc…

He inevitably brings this scripture to mind -

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) ~ But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
Loosely translated...Don't you see? That's precisely the point! Those are the very things that keep you on your knees, relying on Me!
God doesn’t want people who believe they can do great things for Him! Instead, He wants yielded, trusting, humble and even timid hearts so that when His will is accomplished, there will be no doubt it was all Him, because of Him and through Him.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (NIV) ~ But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are so that no one may boast before Him.

The first time someone asked a question I was unsure of, I simply said…"You know…that’s a good question. I’m not really sure of the answer. Let me do a little research and get back to you." And I did. I’d come home that evening where I would read, research & pray. If I felt I was hitting a wall, I’d call the Director of Women’s Ministries and she would walk me through. I’d follow up with that person and share my findings. Without fail, God used those opportunities to strengthen our bonds of trust and friendship.

Please hear my heart…I can’t encourage you strongly enough if God if prompting you in this way…don’t let fear stop you, sweet one! If you’re willing, and know you’re a sinner saved by grace, that’s the only qualification you need.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV) ~ The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.

Pray about it, talk to a mentor or feel free to e-mail me via my profile. I’m praying for you!

More on Desperately Seeking Christ

As promised yesterday, here are some additional insights from "He Speaks to Me." (Don't worry if you're considering doing this study...I've left plenty of nuggets unmentioned!) As the title of this chapter (A Sold-Out Hunger) suggests, God meets with those who seek Him with passion. If we want to be fervent, sold-out believers, there are a number of things for which we need to develop a hunger:

His Direction – how often do we claim to want His direction, but what we really want is for Him to bless what WE want? We often see His interventions as interruptions to our own plans.

His Word – the standard by which we gauge that which is absolute truth. Without it, we can easily fall into false thinking about what God wants us to do. His spoken word can always be backed up by his written Word.

His Presence – He cannot bless us when we are stubborn, rebellious, prideful or set on our own ways. We need to develop a continual state of humility if we are to experience His Presence fully.

His Peace – We need to be certain we are open to the workings of the Holy Spirit within us, regularly checking our actions against what we know is right. When our lives align with God’s plans, we find peace.

His Power – Though the Holy Spirit lives within us, it is up to us to tap into the benefits He provides by His power. When something controls us, it changes the way we think and act and gives us the power to do that which we might not normally be able to do…

* * * * * * *
This Bible study has a companion DVD. While the study can certainly be done (and would be very impacting) on its own, the DVD adds a whole new dimension to the study. What follows are highlights of the DVD session for this chapter.

It’s hard to fathom that someone so holy as Christ, knowing everything He knows about us, would actually make himself available and attainable for us. And yet He does. David struggled to believe it too…he wrote in Psalm 8 - Majestic is your name! Your splendor and glory is incredible! When I consider the Heavens and the moon & the stars and the works of your hands – what is man that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man that you would even take account of who I am. It is an amazing gift, indeed.

Priscilla then shared something that brought an overwhelming response of praise (even from our typically reserved group). I close by sharing it with you…

He’s the first and last,
the beginning and the end,
the keeper of creation and the creator of all!
He’s the architect of the universe
and the manager of all things.
He always was, always is and always will be –
unmoved, unchanged, undefeated & never undone!

He was bruised and brought healing,
He was pierced and eases pain,
He was persecuted and bought freedom,
He was dead and brought life,
He was risen and brings power.

The World…they can’t understand Him;
Armies…they can’t defeat Him;
Schools…they can’t explain Him and
Rulers…they can’t ignore Him!

Herod couldn’t kill Him;
The Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him and
The People couldn’t Hold Him!

Nero couldn’t crush Him;
Hitler couldn’t silence Him;
The New Age can’t replace Him and
Oprah can’t explain Him!

Praise God!

He is light,
He is love,
He is longevity and He is the Lord.
He is goodness, and kindness and gentleness.
He is God!
He is holy and righteous and mighty and powerful and pure!
His ways are right,
His word eternal,
His will is unchanging,
And His mind is on me!

(Wow...just typing this gets me praising all over again!) Hope this has you praising this morning, too! May we seek Him passionately and desperately today and everyday.

To learn more about this or other studies by Priscilla Shirer, visit Going Beyond Ministries.

Desperately Seeking Christ

Blessings to you this Monday! I have some great things to share with you so I’ll get right to it!

I had a sweet, sweet time with the Lord as I worked through my homework over the weekend. You may or may not know my office Bible study is working through “He Speaks to Me” by Priscilla Shirer (daughter of Tony Evans). It is designed to teach how to posture ourselves that we might discern the voice of God in our lives. The messages are so RICH with insight, it’s hard to even summarize them for you. I can’t recommend it more highly.

While I don’t want to give too much away for those who may want to do this study, I really feel the Lord wants me to share a little about what I've been learning the last couple of days.

Our current chapter teaches that we need to have a Sold-Out Hunger for Christ -- to be desperate for His manifest presence. Among several illustrations, the one that spoke to me most powerfully was Bartimeus. You may remember he was the blind man who sat at the roadside begging for healing as Jesus passed by. He called out loudly to Jesus, asking him to have mercy on him. Everyone around him told him to be quiet…more to the point, that Jesus didn’t have time for him. Bartimeus was undeterred. He called out “all the more” for Jesus to have mercy on him. She went on …imagine what it must have been like for Bartimeus, when the people around him (who had just scolded him for calling out to Jesus), began to whisper amongst themselves “He’s stopping, Jesus is stopping…” Jesus indeed stopped and proceeded to restore sight to the eyes of a man who wanted to see His Lord. Bartimeus immediately began praising God, as did all the people who just moments before had been trying to silence him.

She also shared about the woman with the issue of blood. Imagine the anguish that must have driven her to push through the crowds, putting aside the scorn of the people and her physical weakness, daring to hope to receive healing from the Savior. Like Bartimeus, this woman was desperate.

She asked "What is keeping us from the manifest presence of God?" Is it fear? Is it a difficult job? Financial difficulty? A lonely marriage? Discouragement? Don’t let that stand in your way – rather call out all the more! We have access to the Manifest Presence of God! He tells us in Matthew 5…blessed are those who hunger and thirst! Are you hungry? Are you desperate? He makes himself available and attainable! He promises in Deuteronomy 4:29, we’ll find Him, when we seek with all of our hearts!

So how does this find you today -- hungry, thirsty, desperate? You and I both know seeking for anything (status, wealth, approval) other than Christ will leave us only empty and longing for more. Join me today in praying with desperation for the manifest presence of God!

There is more to share, but I'll save the rest for tomorrow...(make sure to stop back!)

Blessings,
Tracy