Week 2! Day 1...Home Sweet Home!

Having been gone to two conferences in a row, I am so glad to be home! When I arrived, no one else was home. It was quiet in the house. Not long after being here, I saw signs that Kami was here while I was away. In my office (which is also her room), her baby dolls were still out, necklaces graced the floor, and books were precariously laying on the floor. The boys, too, left signs of "carefree-living-while-mom-is-out".Even the dog left chewed up ink pens on the floor for Mom to find. Yet, ...Oh, how I love my family!

Naomi's loss was huge. Having lost a daughter, I can only imagine the pain tripled with the loss of two children and her husband. Obviously, she was well thought of AND well known to cause such a stir when returning home. I understand her bitterness, I too was bitter. Yet, like the prodigal son, God must have rejoiced when she came home.

Yet, Ruth was a sign and a reminder of walking away from God's will. Only our Awesome God could take a situation like this and turn it into something beautiful. Did you listen to Kelly Minter's son, "Wherever You Go" ? I loved it!

What touched you from today's lesson?

Gearing Up for Week 2!

(Be sure to pause the music player at the bottom of this page before playing the video!)

Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy Week 2 from April Dace on Vimeo.

Blessed Assurance!

(Pause the music player at the bottom of this page before playing the video)

Day 4 Obiedience For The Long Haul!

(photo by Lois Honeycutt)


Have you ever tried to make water flow up stream? Maybe you've tried to divert the direction of water. It can be diverted, yet it isn't usually an easy task. Did you know the word "water" is found 620 times in the Bible (I just looked it up!) Water is significant...it's soft yet can break through rock over the course of time. When we get caught up in its course, it can be difficult and sometimes impossible to to get out. Yet, Psalm 18:16 says, He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

Today, we looked at the number of times Naomi encouraged Ruth to turn back. Yet she maintained the course. We also looked at Joseph's persistence to remain true to his master and refuse the affections of his master's wife. Joseph, too, maintained the course towards his goal.

Maybe you are encountering a trial today. Be persistent!
"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing!" James 1:2-4

What did today's lesson say to you. I hope you'll share with us!!!

Haven't Ordered Your Book Yet?

Hey there, don't fret. If you haven't ordered your book, you can dowload the first chapter while waiting for it to come in the mail.

Simply click on :

http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_Ruth-Sample-Chapter.pdf

Day 3: Weeping Forward and Hesed

As the women set off on a journey...a journey that was to take them away from what they know and have always known, Naomi suddenly stops. We can only speculate what the reason's for the occasion might have been. Nevertheless, Naomi released the women to return to their mother's home.

When the girls began to weep, Naomi gives them more cause to flee and go back to what they knew. Naomi explains she has no sons for them to marry, due to her age and widowed state she will not bear them sons to marry either. Yet, at the same time, Naomi showed great love toward the girls. "Hesed"...wasn't that a beautiful word. Let's concentrate on that today. What did you learn about "hesed" and how do you see that played out in your world and in your season of life?

I will not be posting tomorrow but more than likely post Sunday morning or evening. Excited...I am going on a trip with three other wonderful women to a Beth Moore conference in St. Louis. Have a wonderful weekend!

Day 2; The Return Home

Again, ...Wow! What a wonderful lesson. The journey home; maybe you are on that journey as we speak. Funny how hard the first few steps can be as you stumble over rocks of pride, concerns about what others may think, and stubborness. Yet once the journey begins, you find yourself picking up the pace and then at last you're running! As home is within sight, you find your entire being longs to be safe in the arms of your Savior. You might even wonder why you didn't come home sooner!

Before listening to the video below, scroll down to the bottom of our blog page and pause the music player. I hope you enjoy the video...it's a beautiful reminder of how our Savior never let's go of us.

Let's keep with the format used yesterday. I'd love to hear about 1) Something old your were reminded about 2) Something new you learned, and 3) How you can apply something you learned to your life today.

Love you!

Day 1; Fleeing Home...The Journey Begins

Wow, isn't this great! After our first day, I am more anxious to dig in than ever before. Did you write your letter to God in the front of your book? It felt a little odd for me at first, after all...it's kind-of personal...and what will I write (or say) to God. As the pencil hit the paper, the words began to flow. I really want to know Him more, I want to know what I'm missing in this life...I want more. As Kelly Minter so eloquently put it, we need to "give proper significance to our spiritual cores". My heart is engaged; how about you?

Our first day of homework lead to some amazing truths embedded in His Word. Beginning with Ruth 1:1-2 we learn so much about the foundation of these amazing women, Ruth and Naomi. Following Wendy Pope's format for reading through the Bible, I thought it might be fun to list 1)something old you were reminded of 2) Something new you learned 3)Something you will do because of what you've learned (the application in your life)

I'd love to read your responses, then I'll post mine. (hehehe) I hope you participate in this fun activity. I'll post my answers in the comment section later today. It's not that I want to borrow from your answers, I just don't want to put our answers in a pre-made format. I'd like to see what you come up with.

Wahooo! Let's Get This Study Goin'!!!!!

Summer Bible Study - Week 1 from LPV on Vimeo.

Wow, I am really excited about this study and the impact it can have on our lives. WELCOME! Let's get started!

1. Please tell us who you are and a little bit about yourself. For example, name, married, children, profession.

2. Describe this season of your life in ONE word. (For those of you that tend to be "wordy", this could be a challenge. :)

3.Share one goal that you have with this study.

4. Look at the very last verse of the Book of Judges (Judges 21:25) because of its placement just prior to the book we’ll study together this summer. Discuss several specific reasons why doing what each of us sees fit at any given time could be dangerous. After several minutes of discussion, read Jeremiah 17:7-14 and talk about how this segment relates or contrasts to Judges 21:25.

5. Before you begin the homework or reading the study, write a letter to God behind the front cover of the book. In this letter, explain what your expectations are while participating in the study.

I look forward to your comments. Come on girls, it's time to venture out and get started!

Love ya!

Nancy

Introduction to Ruth; Loss, Love, & Legacy

Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy Week I from April Dace on Vimeo.

Half-Hearted Relationship

For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. 2 Timothy 3:5 Amplified Bible



Yes, I couldn't help it. Anxious to start this study on Ruth, I've read the Introduction to the Book and the introduction to week 1 and I am excited to begin this journey. Feeling encouraged to begin a personal program of spiritual exercise, I realize the trek isn't an easy one but the reward is huge.



It's easy to hold to a form of godliness when attending church or hanging out with friends from church. Yet, is it just as easy when you are alone (no one's watching)? Is it easier to pray with a group than to build a personal relationship with our Savior? I'd rather be a true believer from the inside out; rather than from the outside in.



I'm really looking forward to this journey. How about you? What are your expectations?

Getting Ready and Excited; On-line Bible Study!

Check out Beth Moore's latest Blog Entry and get excited about the upcoming On-line Bible Study! (Click on the highlighted words, "Blog Entry" and it will take you there)



Have you listened to Kelly Minter' CD that accompanies the study? It's great!

Summer On-Line Bible Study

Hey Girls,

This just sounds too exciting to pass us! Beginning June 22, Beth Moore will be leading an on-line Bible Study. This will be a lot like a book study…yet with soooo much more.

The study is written by Kelly Minter and all about Ruth. (You can order the book through Life Way… www.lifeway.com/product/005189427 or on Kelly Minter's web page. The first week, Beth will have a video clip on her blog page to kick off the six week study. She will post a video clip every two weeks (for a total of 4) during the study. ( http://blog.lproof.org/2010/05/siesta-summer-bible-study-iii.html )

I’ll give you the basic schedule now so you’ll know what to expect but watch for Beth to have more to say about it closer to the time of our launch.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 (1st Mini-Session/LAUNCH/Group instructions)
(DO WEEKS ONE AND TWO OF HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 (2nd Mini-Session/Group Instructions)
(DO WEEKS THREE AND FOUR OF HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 (3rd Mini-Session/Group Instructions)
(DO WEEKS FIVE AND SIX OF HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 (4th Mini-Session/Conclusion)

There are lots of ways to do this study to meet your summer schedule. That’s one of the wonderful things technology brings us. Just a few notes to ponder…

This study has short video clips that you can view each week from Kelly’s web page. http://kellyminter.com/the-living-room/videos/

Kelly’s page offers a CD of songs written that actually go along with the study. You can listen to the music for free on her web page. http://kellyminter.com/home/

Kelly’s page also offers recipes to fix if you want to gather with a small group to discuss the video’s and homework. http://kellyminter.com/the-living-room/recipes/

Each week, on your own time…you can go to my blog ( http://www.knowingnothingcompares.blogspot.com/ ) and post comments from your study or thoughts from your small group sessions. I will provide links from Beth’s Blog and Kelly’s web page so you can find it all in one place.

I really think this could be lots of fun and it’s so easy to be included. You can do it alone or with a group! The more the merrier! Posting what you are learning from the Holy Spirit helps us all to grow.

The blog site will be a collection of thoughts, sharing of ideas, and a place to share yourself with other Christian women. As the study comes to an end, we will meet for lunch in a central location. Depending on who joins us and where they live, we may meet in Springfield for lunch...getting to meet new faces is part of the fun.


If you want more information, please just email me or call!

Sincerely,

Nancy Wray

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