Daily Bible Verse

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Sessions 5&6 (Wrap up Session)

Beth's message:

"Hey, Siestas!
Our six-week study has flown by, hasn’t it? And so has the summer and just maybe we lived it a bit more victoriously because we were in Bible study together! I have enjoyed every second of it and I trust you have, too. Kelly’s way on paper really speaks to me. I’ve heard many of you say the same thing. Like we’ve done in our previous summer studies, I will devote a post entirely to our teacher at the end of the week and let you tell Kelly how much you received from her tutelage through God’s Word. Try to save your direct feedback to her for that time so she’ll be able to read every single comment. Look for that post around Friday.


Summer Siesta Bible Study - Ruth Final Week from LPV on Vimeo.

I hope you’ll be able to watch the video greeting but, as usual, I want to make sure you have your instructions for our final gathering also in print. So, here goes!


As you meet in your final gathering, you’ll discuss Weeks (or Sessions) Five and Six:
The first two interactives are in response to Week (or Session) Five:
1. Turn to p.122 and review the paragraph in the middle of the page beginning with the words, “I wonder if your life can be easily explained.” Follow your review by sharing what you wrote in reference to the “Personal Response” portion just below it, if you feel led.
2. Turn to p.136. Kelly wraps up Week Five by asking us to have a closing prayer time over the one thing that touched us most in that five-day unit. If you feel comfortable doing so, please share that one thing with your small group or, if you’re going solo, share it with me and the rest of your participating sisters.


The last two interactives are in response to Week (or Session) Six:


1. Turn to p.144 and look at the wonderful bold print at the bottom of the page. Review the answer to the question, “Who suddenly takes center stage and does this surprise you?” Then, glance up to the top of the next page (p.145) and share your answers to the “Personal Take.” Have fun looking over those next couple of paragraphs Kelly wrote about “you know, the women!”
(By the way, don’t you love the way Kelly had us go back to all those references that contained descriptions of Naomi? I thought it was so insightful.)
1. Day’s Four and Five are so powerful that I cannot choose just one portion for you to review. Please glance over the entire ending to the Bible study, stretching over both lessons, and share what you have gleaned from God concerning LEGACY. God is just better than He has to be, isn’t He?
Thank you, Siestas, for a great summer in God’s Word! I respect your relationships with Christ so much. I pray that He enjoys lurking here. He is everything to us.
Be thinking about how you’re going to stay in the Word this Fall! We’ll provide some accountability by asking you around the first of September about your plan for victory!
You are so loved and highly esteemed around here. Press on, Darling Things!"

8 comments:

  1. Okay - let's have some great discussion for this final session!!

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  2. 1. p. 122 I am loyal and devoted to God and then my family. I was just recently asked to help with Girl's Discipleship at church, and am very excited, because that has always been a passion and burden of mine.
    I am a certified, experienced teacher, but am willing to be an assistant istead of a teacher. I wrote that in my book a few days ago, and now it is true. I was hired yesterday and began working today!
    One thing that I am stuggling with is the examples in the Bible of when it means to leave your family behind. I believe that my first ministry is as a wife and mom to my family. I would like some input on this, please.

    2. p. 136-praying
    "Keep going, knowing that God will give the increase, believing that we can trust God with our future and that He knows our full name."
    He has something for me to do--a job in the future.
    Again, I wrote that a couple days ago, and it did come true!
    3. p.144
    Yes, the book is named for Ruth, and she was very loyal and obedient, and I like being compared to her, but I do understand it coming back to Naomi. I thought it was also a focus on "the Lord".
    My answer to why Naomi got such significant billing was
    "because God had caused her life to turn around and also because Ruth let her in on the blessing from God."
    Yes, "the women" are very important in our lives. My Monday post mentioned a little about the honor of visiting the Esther Sunday school class with my son. Also, my Mom's friends have been a big influence on my life, and I know that my Mom is one of "the women" in her church that has been a big influence on the lives of many.

    4. Legacy----
    Well, it's a little repeat of what I just wrote.
    I want to be one of "the women" in the church that I serve the Lord in. I want to make the difference in the lives of my children, and then in the lives of the young girls in our church, and in the children that I will be working with at my job. I also want to be good at being a Grandma! I want to leave a legacy!

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  3. 1. In many ways I feel like I have already surrendered to the "unusual, illogical, or sacrificial". I know there will be many more opportunities to do so in my life, but my current one which will likely encompass the next 15 years is homeschooling. It is not something I willingly chose, but it is what the Lord led me (convicted me) to do. While I was scared to death to take the first steps, I had to rely on the Lord for His leading in each area and continue to have that need on a daily basis. By the way, I now love homeschooling my children and can't imagine not doing so!

    2. I was again struck by the need to be open to actually SEEING God's answers to my prayer. When the answer is not exactly what we want, we often write it off as not being answered, when actually the answer has come and we need to open our eyes to the Lord's plan in the situation.

    Part 2
    1. Naomi being brought back into the picture renews the commitment of care by Ruth--it was a lifetime commitment, not just until marriage. It is also fitting closure to the truth that even when we know what is RIGHT and deliberately CHOOSE WRONG, God is still willing and able to redeem us. As women, we are so quick to judge, whether harshly for faults or graciously for renewal. I need to be even more aware of my influence in the lives of others.

    2. LEGACY--Legacy does not begin and end with our own flesh and blood. We leave a legacy in the lives of everyone we touch. Others leave their legacy in us as well. When we may think that our lives are over and there is nothing left for us, that may very well be just where God wants us to begin again, with a new legacy, one of redemption, in the lives of those around us. Do I want to be remembered for a life of bitterness and frustration or one of redemption and forgiveness? I believe it will be a daily decision and effort required!

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  4. OK, try again--post was too large.

    1. My "unusual, illogical, or sacrificial" life is that of homeschooling. It was not a decision of desire but of the Lord's conviction in my life. Now it is one of desire. I can't imagine not keeping the privilege of teaching my children!

    2. I need to be open to actually SEEING God's answers to my prayer. Too often if the answer is not exactly what I want, I will dismiss it as not having been answered when what I need to do is align my desire with God's plan, not my own.

    3. Naomi making a renewed appearance renews the commitment of care by Ruth--a lifetime commitment, not just until marriage. It also fully demonstrates that when we know what is RIGHT and deliberately CHOOSE WRONG, God is still able and willing to redeem us. As women, we can be quick to judge, good or evil. Am I using my influence as a woman to further God's plan or am I being destructive?

    4. Legacy--It doesn't have to be just in flesh and blood. The influence we have in others lives is our legacy. I want to consciously influence for God's glory and be remembered not for what I have done but what God has done through me.

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  5. Just another note on legacy...
    I recently received an email to an article regarding the work of a woman I call "Mama Lea". In my own life, she became a mom of sorts when I was living far from family and was a huge encouragement to me in my newly-married life. Now, she is extending her legacy so much further as she has founded a free health-care clinic. Throughout all of this, even in the local press, she is giving glory to God. Her legacy is one of "not of me but what God can do through me"!

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  6. Sandy - that's so neat about getting your job!! I think sometimes God wants us in the place where we are willing to do anything that He brings our way. I pray He will bless you in this new position!

    Jacqueline - I really love what you said about Legacy (the unedited version). That is SO true!

    Amanda - It sounds like your group really captured the essence of the whole sharing thing. I loved your pictures. Thanks for sharing with us what your group members are going through. There is some really insightful stuff there!

    I still haven't finished the book yet, but I'll keep plodding along. I'm in the last chapter, so I hope to get it done this weekend. I've really enjoyed the study and it's reinforced what Beth taught in our Revelation study this week: Righteousness Matters!

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  7. Week 5
    1. I was very struck by this concept of doing the expected vs doing the extraordinary. I confess many times my decisions are based on what is good for me.
    I wrote in my journal:
    "God, I'm willing to do
    the unusual,
    the illogical,
    the sacrificial - for YOU."

    2. The thing that most touched me in Week 5 was on p. 121, talking about making scary, risky or costly decisions in obedience to God.
    This summer I've been working with someone who has made my job a lot harder. My natural response is to complain to a higher authority and to put that person on my "black list", but instead I felt that God was telling me that I needed to bless that person. It resulted in a real change in my attitude, and on top of that, I feel that God has been heaping so much favour on me!!

    Week 6
    1. One of the things that struck me about this study is how much it is about Naomi and the changes that she went through, even though the book is called Ruth, and Ruth is the one who gets to be in Jesus' geneology. Naomi didn't just go on a journey to Moab and back, she went on a journey of doubting God's provision, God's goodness & His faithfulness. She was honest enough to question Him and express her bitterness, and not only did he honour that, but He poured His blessing out on her.
    It really showed me that when I'm in the middle of a bad situation, God sees the whole picture, ending and all, and knows that what He's doing is ultimately for my best, and for His glory!
    2. This idea of LEGACY was huge to me!! I loved thinking about the things Rahab taught her son Boaz about hospitality and being kind to strangers, not ever knowing he would use her example and advice to show kindness to a stranger from Moab, who would become the great-grandmother of David, and ultimately, a matriarch of Christ!

    Ladies, thank you for doing this Bible study as a small group here. I've really enjoyed reading your responses and hearing the stories you've shared from your heart.

    I pray God's blessing on you all as you step out and go where He's leading you!! May you be constantly aware of His many blessings, and live in the power and victory of the cross.

    Judi

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    ReplyDelete