Just tonight I told Big Jake that I feel prompted by God to do something, I just don't know what. He laughed at me! Now don't go thinking my husband is insensitive, doesn't listen, and just doesn't understand. His laughter came by way of my physical movements. When I'm "in to something" I <<<get in to it>>> with hand gestures and facial expressions. I must have really poured myself into that statement tonight because his later interpretation of me was Emmy-worthy!
IN A NUT SHELL...
At the start of 2013, God was prompting me to do something. I remember reading through scripture (I was completing a Beth Moore study on my own) in the book of Acts and I came across chapter 2, verse 42. That verse was underlined, highlighted, and reread so many times - there was just something about it. As I was diving further into His Word, it became VERY evident that I was to share the Good News that I was studying with other women and I would base it on the four principals of Acts 2:42: study, prayer, fellowship, and "bread". Through word of mouth (my husband invited co-workers' wives since I didn't really know too many women at the time -- and this was a HUGE step for my husband) I opened up my home and let down my wall of security to follow God's prompting for me to fellowship, study, break bread, and pray with women.It started out slowly, a few different women each week. But it grew. And I mean GREW!! It wasn't just the size of the small group that grew but our depth of connections grew. There was a bond that formed between many of us. I had N-E-V-E-R had this many godly women in my life! I am an extroverted person and am not afraid to be transparent with my life (maybe that's because I have no filter or "slow down" part of my brain that makes me really think through if I should open up and share or keep it to myself). Either way, I grew ten-fold in my love for God, His Word, His Kingdom, and His daughters (and sons, too).
Study, Fellowship, Prayer, and Bread
We would meet weekly and study deeply: Ruth, the Bible's origins and layout, Proverbs 31, James, Judges, women of the Bible, etc. I would take their ideas or needs and focus my studies in preparing researched lessons supported by solid commentary. I loved doing this for my girls! And it strengthened my relationship with the Father! Win-win!!! We would have wonderful fellowship time, often running into lunch time (never complaining... I didn't have many deep, meaningful friendships up to this point, like, EVER in my life). Our prayer time always preceded our study as well as wrap up our study. Taking prayer requests from each other at the end would offer us opportunities to intercede for one another during our own personal prayer times throughout the week. And, it would bring us closer! Opening up and sharing our personal praises and requests - even those unspoken ones - added to our friendships (did I mention this was HUGE for me???). As for the bread... we saw this as an opportunity to make/bring treats and eat together! What person does not like food? No, we didn't have a loaf of bread that we would break together each week (though the thought had crossed my mind). Food brings people together - and keeps bellies from rumbling. So it was a weekly part of the study as well. Some weeks it was an abundance of tasty treats, other times it was a few last minute pick-ups from the local grocery store. Either way, when we focused our study on these four main principals like those believers from the early Church recorded in the book of Acts.
That might not have been the smallest nut shell possible but, if you know me, that's the best I can do! This was the beginning of "Acts 2:42", an amazing study group focused on deepening our knowledge in the Word and strengthening our relationship with the Father.
No comments:
Post a Comment