Our God is so personal! Even though we can't SEE Him, Isaiah 49:16 reads, "See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;"

Your name and my name written right there on His hands! How he yearns to hear from us and for our lives to be totally dependent on Him. As we continue with God Seeker, and Discerning the Voice of God may we be like Nehemiah. May we truly have complete faith and trust in our mighty God. To know without a shadow of a doubt that He will fight for us (Nehemiah 4:20). To be prepared for whatever might come. That preparation is one thing you are modeling for your ladies by sharing and learning the word of God together each week. I know how much better I feel when I am prepared for what is to come.

As you are leading discussion in your small groups I have been praying over your own tent time. Praying that you are hearing from the Lord and are able to carve out the time to be quiet before Him daily as well.

God Seekers-------- Have you already seen some fruit from tent time in your ladies lives. Are they beginning to share how He is moving?

Discerning the Voice of God---- Have you seen some light bulbs turning on and excitement from your ladies as they hear Him calling out to them personally?

Share with us on the blog any stories you have thus far (you do not mention names obviously) but we would love to be encouraged and celebrate God's work with your stories.

Just Blog it:)

Prayer ideas for the week--as we move them gently into more prayer try this....

Pick a Psalm for the group. Have them pray that Psalm by reading it silently to themselves all at the same time. Maybe they could even insert their name into it somewhere.

OR

Write down one thing that happened this week in their life that they want to praise God for. Ask them to silently take that to prayer.

Just a reminder that Mondays are fasting days if you want to join us.

Save the date for coffee and danishes October 16th. We will be up in the mezzanine area (right to the right of the new cafe up the stairs) You have to pass the cafe to find us! We have lots of wonderful treats for breakfast for you and your family. Would love to pray with you and catch up LIVE--during this time. We will be there from 8:30-1:30 so you can come before or after you worship. It was a treat to meet your families--thank them for sharing you with us!!!!!

Praising God for each of you ~

Marcie

It was so great to see you for coffee and danishes this morning at church. You have beautiful families! Meeting some of your loved ones was such fun.

Have you broken the seals on your Cracker Jacks yet? Thank you Jan and Sherry for the sweet Cracker Jacks and the devotional attached. How true it is that once you eat one bite of a cracker jack you can't stop---you just want some more don't ya? The same goes for Christ's followers and God's word. Once you get a taste of life with Christ IN you, you can't seem to get enough. What about reading God's word? Once you start it becomes a habit--like eating breakfast or drinking hot tea. Don't you just love it when you have time to sit, soak and then squeeze out what He gives you? You all are doing just that.

I totally piggyback Kristen's comment regarding each one of you. You are so filled with the spirit! We are seeing fruit from your prayers offered up at my house during our pajama dinner. He listens and He pours out His blessing. My favorite part of the morning was seeing your face, meeting your children and husbands, hearing the joy in your voices as you spoke about your groups and praying with some of you. Thank you!!! You blessed me. For those of you who could not make it--we missed you tremendously.

As I talked with many of you on the phone last week there was one resounding theme. PRAYER, and the fact that a lot of the ladies are not comfortable with praying out loud. This week I would really like for you to try a one sentence prayer with them. Write the sentence on a white board or a large piece of paper and give them 30 seconds to silently pray that prayer.

For example write: Father, this morning I praise you for ______________.

They silently can fill in the blank with one word! No pressure. We want to slowly move them in the direction of communing with God and loving it. Preface this activity by sharing with them what prayer has meant in your life. We have all felt uncomfortable at one time or another--let them know that is okay. Remind them that God knows their hearts and it is not a speech competition or a time to see who can pray using the biggest and best words. Prayer is expressing love to the one who created us and asking Him to be involved in our daily life. Next week we will give you another prayer idea and see how it goes. This is good stuff!!!!!

If you are finding it difficult to stay on the topic at hand help each other. If you are leading discussion have your co-leader take responsibility for bringing the conversation back on target. You are so gracious--that would not even be noticed.

Praying for prayer warriors and encouragers this week. Many of you already have ladies who have signed up for those positions---fantastic. We will pray for the spirits tapping on shoulders this week. If you feel one of the ladies in your group would be a great encourager, maybe tell her what you have seen in her over the last 3 weeks of study. Many times that is all we need--someone else who sees our gifts and reminds us of them.

This blog is only for you (discussion leaders), apprentices, and the team. It is a powerful tool for us to communicate with each other. Please do not give the site to others.

Try fasting Monday for lunch---give that time to prayer for your group time this week.

Love to each of you~

Marcie

God Stories Around Town!

'Tis the time of fundraising banquets! This past week I attended two dinners for local ministries and guess what? Both evenings I bumped into ladies in your groups. One young woman works at the Galt House and is attending Bible study at the invitation of a friend. She was excited to meet me and let me know how much she's enjoying and benefiting from the group. Another, a lady I've known for a while, made sure to tell me how much she's gleaning from her Discerning the Voice of God study group. These and others were fairly bubbling over with excitement about their time with the Lord and with other women.

Still another sweet sister filled me in on the fact that she had missed the cut-off for OC registration and was counting down the days until she can sign up for the next round. I was thrilled to hear, however, that instead of just sitting around waiting for her turn, she's gathering with a group of neighbors to study the Bible in her Oldham County home. She plans to invite all of these ladies to join her for our next session of studies through Women's Ministry at the OC!

So, ladies, let me say it again: Thank you for allowing the Lord to work in and through you to impact the lives of others. You are co-laborers with Christ. Keep abiding in Him and just watch what our BIG God will do!

Love and Prayers for you, Praises for HIM,
Kristen