After participating in Beth Moore's John: The Beloved Disciple study while living in Texas for language school, I carried with me to Chile the desire to do another of her studies with a ladies' group here. As it turned out, several moms from the girls' MK school had been asking about the possibility of organizing something like this and God even "happened" to provide two complete kits through a missionary friend leaving the field. So our Tuesday morning Bible study group was born. Last semester we completed Jesus: The One and Only and this semester we are working our way through Breaking Free.
What I appreciate about these studies is that they are focused and drenched in Scripture, and that somehow Beth Moore manages to bring to life the verses and stories in God's Word in ways that I have never seen them before - not by interjecting her own ideas but by bringing to light truths that have been hidden there all along, often by providing background on the culture and language of the time.
Anyone who has done her studies will agree that they are not for the faint of heart! ... they are frank and "meaty" and time-consuming, and each week it seems that the enemy tries to find every reason and excuse to tempt me away from completing the lessons as I should. All too often he succeeds, yet each time I begin again I am reminded afresh of God's personal love and interest in my life.
Another special blessing of this study has been the friendships developed and especially the fellowship in prayer with one another each week. Our group represents women in all walks of life: some with newborns, others with adult children; some raised in Christian homes and others in homes where Christ was unknown; some struggling with physical needs and others with emotional hurts; yet each one a new creation in Christ and desiring to know Him more. Most weeks I am moved to tears as we pray with one another and truly carry one another's burdens to the Lord. Tuesday mornings are a sacred time ... a time of coming apart from the busyness and responsibilities and burdens of life and family and ministry on the mission field to focus on Him and be blessed by the reminders of His love and faithfulness.
And for that I am very grateful.
What I appreciate about these studies is that they are focused and drenched in Scripture, and that somehow Beth Moore manages to bring to life the verses and stories in God's Word in ways that I have never seen them before - not by interjecting her own ideas but by bringing to light truths that have been hidden there all along, often by providing background on the culture and language of the time.
Anyone who has done her studies will agree that they are not for the faint of heart! ... they are frank and "meaty" and time-consuming, and each week it seems that the enemy tries to find every reason and excuse to tempt me away from completing the lessons as I should. All too often he succeeds, yet each time I begin again I am reminded afresh of God's personal love and interest in my life.
Another special blessing of this study has been the friendships developed and especially the fellowship in prayer with one another each week. Our group represents women in all walks of life: some with newborns, others with adult children; some raised in Christian homes and others in homes where Christ was unknown; some struggling with physical needs and others with emotional hurts; yet each one a new creation in Christ and desiring to know Him more. Most weeks I am moved to tears as we pray with one another and truly carry one another's burdens to the Lord. Tuesday mornings are a sacred time ... a time of coming apart from the busyness and responsibilities and burdens of life and family and ministry on the mission field to focus on Him and be blessed by the reminders of His love and faithfulness.
And for that I am very grateful.
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