I have so procrastinated in writing this last post! It is as if I don’t write it, this study won’t be over! However, since that is not the case, we should proceed. (No tissues needed)
I can hardly believe we are at the end…or is it the beginning for you? I pray that this journey continually leads you to Jesus! I pray that your perspective has been eternally changed. There is so much running through my mind…my hopes for us all that my fingers can’t write fast enough, yet, I don’t know really where to begin!!!!!!!
I hope you were able to spend some time with the Lord this week and that you are a little more “unstuck” each day. I love how Jennie wrapped up the places we get stuck and the provision of God on page 129… I’ll summarize
Broken ……….Forgiveness
Mad ………….Grace
Discontent….Something bigger
Scared………….Peace
Overwhelmed…………..Purpose
Sad……………..Comfort & Hope
It’s kinda crazy how we can put 8 weeks into 15 words! As I look at them there is such freedom. Such love… sacrifice. When I think about that…. All the rest of my worries, well, they pale. (Even the big ones!) Some days I experience all of these within the 16 hours I am awake! I am so thankful that our Jesus doesn’t leave us without hope, without … more.
I can’t say this any better than Jennie does on page 136…
“Our stuck places are the very places that make us ache for God.”
How true that is! If we didn’t have places that we desperately need to depend on Jesus, then we would be very self-reliant, or at least I would. I don’t know about you, but when I think I am self-reliant, I think I can do it. I don’t need help. I, I, I…..no room for Jesus. That is not how I want to live or am called to!
Further down on the page she writes:
“Are you unstuck? I pray you have tasted more freedom, but I pray that to be unstuck is not even your biggest goal anymore. I pray that you may know Christ and the power of His resurrection, ‘and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God’ (Ephesians 3:19).”
Along with her prayer, my prayer for us all can so be summed up in this song:
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTSzT-3V05Y”]
Instead of just dragging this out, I am going to rip off the bandaid…I have so enjoyed this study. I want to thank you for being a part of this online format. Whether there are 2 of us or 200 I will never know – that is until heaven. What a glorious day that will be.
In the mean time…if you loved this Bible study, Jennie has written a book (without a Bible study) that tells her story called Anything: the prayer that unlocked my God and my Soul. It is this journey that birthed this study. In fact, I read the book first before I knew she had written this. It is a wonderful book and may tie you over until we get started again! (And by tie you over, I mean, push you onward!)
Speaking of…we are planning on doing another online study in the winter after the Women’s Conference. You can read all about the conference HERE! If you haven’t signed up yet, do so!!!! Click HERE to register online. Spoiler Alert…. We may be doing a bible study written by the conference speaker!!!!
I have been so encouraged by this study. I have been so encouraged by you! I can’t wrap this up without thanking my beloved and girls, who have been woven through my posts (and have waded through mounds of laundry – see week 1). They are the greatest earthly blessings I have! My sweet friends who have continually encouraged me, loved on me and prayed for all of us… thank you!!! And, let’s not forget a HUGE thank you to the Women’s Ministry who supported and gave life to this study. Without their “touch” these posts would not look nearly as wonderful as they do (and we definitely wouldn’t have the awesome scripture printables!!!!)
Finally, my heart overflows to the One who called me to do something so completely out of my comfort zone. I am so thankful that He not only put me on this path, but was so faithful through it all. Ladies…know that when God calls you to do something unfamiliar, He doesn’t leave you high and dry! Trust me, he is faithful! My cup runneth over!
May we know and follow hard after Him~
Anne
Housekeeping…
Would you do us a favor? Since this is our first online Bible study, would you take a quick survey? Click HERE to complete. It would help us out so much to know what worked and could be improved on before we kick off again in the winter!
