W3 (Women Who Worship)

Howdy!

I can say that because I am presently a ‘resident’ at Fort Wilderness Campground in Orlando Florida and they all talk like that here…:)   I am enjoying my vacation and at the same time keeping up with my homework!  I AM looking forward to returning to study next week! As I walked back to our cabin this afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, the sky deep blue with fluffy white clouds above me, little drops of rain gently fell on my head –in Michigan it rarely does that-if it is raining it is raining. Here it can be raining on one side of the road and not raining on the other!  Another example of God’s variety in His creation!  Not long after I came in to the cabin, dark clouds came from nowhere and we got a brief little shower.  Enough time for me to finish my lesson! Now the sun is shining again, with no signs of rain! 

 But have really been thinking about the obstacles to enjoying the Peace of God.  This really spoke to me.  Is your life like a river?  Are you traveling through rough rapids, narrow rocky passages or have you just come thru into a wide open space?  In order to keep our hearts in perfect peace, they must be submitted to a Trustworthy Authority–The One Who IS our Peace.  the ‘upland source’ of ”Peace like a River”   

 An obstacle to that Peace is prayerlessness.  “Prayer matters.  The Spirit  of God released through our prayers and the prayers of others turn cowards into conquerors, chaos into calm, cries into comfort.”  Prayer is spilling your heart to God–but it is more than that!  It’s not about thees and thou’s and stiff, huge words you aren’t comfortable with.  Prayer is about drawing close to God with your heart, and life–it is a relationship! It is being blessed in return as He reveals to us His Wisdom, His Power, the very essence of Who He is !  Unchanging, all powerful, compassionate, merciful….Were you challenged as I was ? 

Do I really KNOW God for Who He is?  Do I KNOW the heart of God? 

Do I have a ‘praying life’???  (Not just a prayer life)

Am I in consistant communication with God on every level?  (Ephesians 1:15-23)

Does my knowledge of the Heart of God lead my requests from the hand of God?

  Do I know His Personality His Practices, His Promises?

         Or Do I base my belief in God on Who He is or by what I think I see Him doing? 

Lord, Give us a heart for You that comes through prayer!

Do You have a scripture that speaks to Who God is that you would share with others?  Post it here!

See you next week!   Deb D

Stress, Unforgiveness, bitterness,Anger, ect……

Is your emotional state leading you down a deadly path?

These deadly emotions may prevent your body from releaseing toxic material from liver and gallbladder.  Which can lead to disease.

Here is one example:  Prolonged  Stress elevates heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones. Placing a heavy load on the heart and circulatory system.  Leaving that person  with a higher risk of heart disease.  (This is one example of many)

Here is a quote worth living by, from Corrie Ten Boom  “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength”

Recipe for healthy emotions:

Philippians 4:6  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.

1. Don’t be anxious about anything.

2. Pray about everything

3. Be thankful

additional scriptures to  read:

Matt. 11:28,    Luke 1:37,     Ephesians 5:20,    Proverbs 17:22 & 15:14  

Remember God  cares about every aspect of your life.

Christie

What are the obstacles that “hinder the effective and spirit filled life that God has planned for you”(Beth Moore)? Unbelief? Prayerlessness? Pride? Idolatry? Legalism?

If you are taking Breaking Free with us, these are the questions we encounter this week in our homework. God is trying to reveal to you the areas in your life that keep you disconnected from Him. He is trying to give you insight so that in the coming weeks, you can see what you need to do to remain close or become closer to Him.

I personally have been convicted by God to notice that I struggle most with Pride at this time in my life. He knows that even though I say to Him and others that He deserves the glory and praise, inside I feel good when people praise me. This is hard to admit (yes, there is Pride showing its head again ), but God knows that there is freedom in sharing the Truth. My truth + God’s Truth = FREEDOM…. Isn’t this right, girls?

For some of you, you struggle with putting the time in to getting your homework done.  Pray about it.  God will reward the time you spend with Him.  Make it a priority.  Beth told us in the video this week that True Freedom does not come with just a 5 minute daily devotional…  True Freedom comes from doing an in-depth Bible Study and spending a lot of time with the Savior…

So, where do you struggle? Does Beth offer something new that you haven’t thought of before? Will you share it here with us? Be willing to not hide in the darkness anymore. Step out into God’s grace…. Be Free in Christ!!

Sunshine

Who has found some fresh insights into the Glory of God through Day 2 of the Breaking Free week 2?

It was pointed out to me by Martha that she saw some new ways of seeing God’s glory…  I learned that God’s glory can FILL the earth (Isaiah 6:3) and that it can be seen like a cloud (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).  What else did you learn about God’s glory?  How can we believe God because of His Glory?

Be brave, take the plunge.  Let us know what you are learning through this Bible Study…

Sunshine

This is a must try.  An Energy bar that is good for you and it actually taste good.

Energy Bar:

1 1/2 c. organic rolled oats                                                                                 

1/2 c. whole grain flour

1/2 c. shredded coconut (natural, not covered in sugar)

1/4 c. organic dark chocolate 75-85% chopped into small peices

1/4 c. organic  rasins

1/4 c. chopped organic (dried/unsweenened)  papaya

1/4 c. (dried/unsweetened)  cranberries or goji berries

1/4 c. pine nuts

1/4 c. pumpkin seeds

1/4 c. cashews

1/4 c. almonds

1 c. honey

1/4 c. unsalted butter (NOT MARGARINE)

3 Tbsp. arrow root powder

Preheat oven 350′.  Mix oats,flour, & coconut in large mixing bowl. Add nuts ,seeds, chocolate & dries fruit and mix well.  Heat honey and butterin a small saucepan until melted, remove from heat and whisk in arrow root powder.  Pour into dry ingredients and mix well.  Line baking sheet with parchmant paper.  Spread into pan and press firmly.  Bake 20-25 mintues until slightly browned.  Cut into bars while still slightly warm and store in an airtight container.  

 If you have kids or grandkids this is a snack that is an excellent source of nutrition that they love to help make as well as eat.

Make sure you log on every Monday afternnon for yummy recipes and health tips.

Christie

Proverbs 15:30  A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives  health to the bones.

Ladies,

I am amazed at what God is doing in the lives of the women who are taking Breaking Free this time and place.

Beth shared a widely asked question about Christ and explained it tonight with a fresh meaning to my heart this time.  She said many people ask what was the big deal about why God gave up his one and only son for you.  Many people have lost a child and many have had their one and only son die and some with horrendous endings in kidnapping and murder, etc, so what is the big deal about God seeing his son die.  (Note, to those who know me this is especially personal, as my one and only son died at 5 days old).  And Beth answers herself by saying that our sins, past, present and future of every person that lived, was living and who was not yet created, all those sins of all those people were heaped on Christ in such a way that He became Sin!!  And that God had to look at His one and only son who had become Sin and let him die because of it!  And God did not watch he was so sad, He had to look away!

I am amazed, sister, at that word picture.   Our God sent his son to become sin for us.   He became our addiction, He became our pride, He became our stealing, He became our vanity, He became our unbelief.  How can we possibly accept His offer of salvation?  I tell you honestly I am not worthy.  But, He knows that, and He still wants me in his family!  If you have just received Christ tonight during this study, W3 would like to know about it, so we can help you in taking the next step in being obedient to our Lord.  He is worth it even when we think we are not!  Choose to live the next infinity with Him.

If there is anything from this DVD that especially inspired you, please comment here, that someone else may have been similarly inspired.  If you agree with me, let me know b y commenting here.  If you have a question or insight from the homework, comment here.  If what you say starts a new topic, don’t worry I will move it for you.

W3 wants to hear from you.  Hope to read the many comments here soon!

Love, Sunshine

Amazing. Our God is so Good! 54 people in attendance at Wednesday Night’s Breaking Free. I hope that you were/are as excited and awestruck as I was/am right now. Beth hit to the heart of the hope of this study. God “allows His people to be oppressed…so they would ultimately be victorious!”

I was especially moved when Beth said that according to Judges 6:11-16, we can assume that “God sees the potential of His children and APPOINTS the experiences necessary for them to fulfill their destinies!” How exciting. God appoints us to fall or sin or grieve or lose or win or achieve, so that He can be glorified!!! Let’s remember, it is all about Him.

Praise God today. Share with us here what God has taught you. What most touched your heart in the DVD? Ask a question here about your homework, if necessary…

We want to hear from you as you glorify the God of Wonders. “Amazing Grace…my chains are gone, I’VE BEEN SET FREE!”

Sunshine

PS: Click the Title to see the comments and to post your own!!!

Wow! In just over 24 hours, the fall lineup for W3 will begin. Breaking Free by Beth Moore and Freedom for Mothers starts TOMORROW, September 5! If you have not signed up but are still interested please click on the Upcoming Opportunities link to the right for more information. If you cannot make it this week, we would be glad to accept you next week, just leave us a BLOG comment and we will get back to you.

SO, for those of us already signed up (and that is over 80 participants total!), we are so excited that you are joining us on the adventure that God has called for you in this season of your life. Obviously, the theme is FREEDOM, and let me tell you that there is so much freedom in Christ.

In the coming weeks, we hope that you will use this blog site to write about what has surprised you, excited you and made you think as you are doing the studies. If you have questions, please post a comment and ask it. There is a whole community of women who are doing life with you and this is the way we can stay connected with each other throughout the week. NOW, you don’t have to wait until the next meeting to ask the question that is in your homework that night… post it here.

Can’t wait to meet you and start using this BLOG as an extra resource for our study. God has mighty plans for you…. Will you meet Him there???

Sunshine