Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Final NOGS week

Here we are at the end of our study, can you believe that we have come to the end? To tell you the true I am a little sad. This has been a unique way to get with ladies and study God's Word together. Believe me we will have another study through this format again in the near future.

I have learned and been encouraged by each and every post. I loved the realness that was shared. We all(especially me)have those areas where we have to let go of those false idols and make room for God. Thank you for traveling this road along side of me!!!

This last week was great! The intro to Session Eight was so powerful and dead on. Revisit the testimony about the married friend realizing she needed to get rid of the cards, letters and emails from the first guy she ever loved. Another friend shared a similar story with Kelly that she references on p.178. We can hang on to all sorts of things from the past besides old boyfriends and, often, until we really say goodbye, we can’t say hello to something wonderful God has for us. As Kelly’s been telling us for weeks, we’ve got to make ROOM. Discuss a time you came to a similar conclusion and acted on it. OR, if you haven’t let go of something but you know you need to, feel free to share with us to hold you accountable and pray for you to have courage to follow through.

I loved Day Three! Revisit Kelly’s first paragraph on p.173. What is the “bridge between the old and the new”? THEN, take a good look at Deuteronomy 6:23 in the margin of that same page and note Kelly’s abbreviation of it in the second paragraph: “He brought us out…to bring us in.” Girlfriend, I need that written GREAT BIG on a card to keep in front of me at all times! Why is it so critical to keep that concept in mind?

The last two days of study out of the Book of Ruth were so good. Didn’t you love the last line of Ruth 1 (V.22) where we learn that Ruth and Naomi, devastated and grieved, entered Jerusalem, just “as the barley harvest was beginning”? Read John 15:8. As we draw our journey to a close, having moved out some idols to make room for Christ, I want to encourage you to believe God to move in powerfully and purposefully.

Ladies please remember “Your harvest is just beginning!”

This has been a great study. I am so glad that God used Kelly in a mighty way!
It has been a pleasure digging into God's Word with you!

Love you all!
Cynthia

Monday, August 18, 2008

We interupt this program...

I just had to share something other than the Bible study right now.
Last night we dedicated the new Edge building to God for our youth.
I was challenged personally and for the women's ministry as I listened to Lee and some of the youth share what God has taught them over the summer and how to pray
for them this school year. Some shared about unity, reaching others and how it is their desire that the film of their lives doesn't end up in the deleted scene sections of the Kingdom's movie.

One of the most powerful challenge was through a song. I want to share this with you and
pray that you will also be challenged that great things are yet to come for the women in this city.



Greater things are yet to come in this city!

Love,

Cynthia

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

NOGS Week 7

Can you believe it? Here we are completing week 7 of this study. Summer can sometimes be hard to dig into the Word but that is why we are doing this in the first place. We sure didn't want to take a break and slide into a pit because we vacationed from His Word. Psalm 119:162 says, "I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure." For those of you that were at the simulcast remember...treasure the wonder. Let's stay the course together as we travel the road ahead.

Here's our discussion for the week.

On the bottom of p.148 and in the context of promised blessing, Kelly writes, “Sometimes the Lord immediately replaces what we have left [as in, said good-bye to], and other times we are left feeling empty for a time.” At several very important seasons of my own life I believe God deliberately let me feel that empty space for a while before He filled it…even with Himself. If you’ve had a similar experience, share it and discuss what purpose God might have had in it.

Friends this has been so much fun! One week left so stay strong and stick with it to the end.

Cynthia

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

NOGS Week 6

Summers getting close to the end and so are we to the end of this study. I want to encourage you to keep pressing onward, you will be rewarded with you diligent work.

Here's our discussion for this week. Please feel free to include any other thoughts from the week.

Turn to p.125 and reread the excerpt Kelly included by Charles Spurgeon. What are a few things we often try to do rather than refer our doubts straight to God?

Then, read John 2:1-5 and note how Mary approached the pressing problem.

Take time right now to pray out loud simply stating your need or problem to God in one statement, something like this: “Lord, there is no more _____________________.” Or, “Lord, I am ____________________________.” Then simply tell Him that you’re trusting Him to do something about it. Try to resist fretting over it this week but keep watching for Him to turn some water into wine.

Trusting!

Cynthia