Perfect Love - Abounding Hope: Week 12

How do we describe that which is perfect?

Miriam Webster defines the word as "being entirely without fault or defect; flawless"
None of us, born in the flesh to a fallen world, can fully understand or attain perfection.  ONLY Jesus, being God on earth, was able to reach that status.  What we do see  throughout scripture, is God's love, perfected in us.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." I John 4: 7-12

This is the kind of love that we must rely on as Christians.  This perfect love surpasses aggravation, difficult people, children with bad attitudes, and that most annoying driver that almost made you say a swear-word in traffic.  Imagine if God had given up on us when we were any of the above.  Instead, his love fills us and allows us to be so much more than we ever were.  God gives us value, putting a price on our life (the life of his perfect, precious son.)

 



Knowing how much God loves me, stirs up a hope to love others just as much as He loves me.  I pray that our love goes before us, showing others that we belong to Him, through our actions.

Freedom from Fear- Abounding Hope: Week 11

 

 

God did not give us a spirit of fear!!

 

A simple, quick search on BibleGateway.com of the word "fear" yields 336 results. Why so much attention to fear? If repetition is any indication, it can be said that the Lord did not want his children to be hindered by fear.

 

"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

 

The Word instructs us not to fear, "don't be afraid", to be free of fear. But how does one operate free of fear? How can you stare down the circumstances and situations that fallen many before you?

 

"Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious hand. See, all of your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing" Isaiah 41:10-11(NLT)

 

Hold onto God! Hold tight to his Word, trust and believe in the might of God.  Seems simple in theory, but in practice…recognize what makes us fearful.  Recognize the conditions and settings that make us fearful, those moments that would seem hopeless, for it is in these moments we must hold tightest.

 

God wants us to hold to Him so that we can be courageous, secure, hopeful!  God does not want us to be apprehensive, full of dread or terror. We must keep in mind that there is no room for hope if we choose to hold onto fear.

 

"And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in the world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear…." 1 John 4:17-18

 

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Abounding Hope: Week 9—The Brink of Hope

July 17, 2013 by Jen Baierl

The Brink of Hope

This week, we see the prophesy begin to unfold for Joseph.
The land is destitute and people are traveling to Egypt for food.  Ten of Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt and bow before him, as Joseph had dreamed and told his father and brothers previously.

“Then he [Joseph] dreamed another dream

and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have

dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon,

and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”  But when

he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father

rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream

that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother

and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves

to the ground before you?”  And his brothers

were jealous of him…”Genesis 7:9-11a

Joseph doesn’t let on to them who he is, but instead seems to be harsh to them.  This harshness is not out of revenge, but to bring them to repentance and humility. 
Matthew Henry says “God, in his providence, sometimes seems harsh with those he loves, and speaks roughly to those for whom yet he has great mercy in store.”
What Joseph wants most is to see his brother, Benjamin.  He puts one of his brothers in prison while he is awaiting Benjamin to be brought back.  He reassures them, with the words, “Do this and live! I reverence and fear God!!!” – Genesis 42:18b

As the brothers travel back to their father, their guilty conscience begins to kick in and they are blaming each other for the harm they caused Joseph.  When they reached Jacob, he was troubled.  He was frightened of the money found in their sacs, distraught that Joseph was already gone, Simeon was in prison, and now they wanted to take Benjamin.  He distrusted his sons and laid the fault on them.
Proverbs 21: 8 “The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright”
Little did Jacob know that the Lord had this all in His hand and was leading him to a place of great HOPE.
Matthew Henry says of Jacob “We often think that to be against us, which is really for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and in our relations; and think all these things are against us, whereas they are really working for us a weight of glory. Thus does the Lord Jesus conceal himself and his favour, thus he rebukes and chastens those for whom he has purposes of love. By sharp corrections and humbling convictions he will break the stoutness and mar the pride of the heart, and bring to true repentance. Yet before sinners fully know him, or taste that he is gracious, he consults their good, and sustains their souls, to wait for him. May we do thus, never yielding to discouragement, determining to seek no other refuge, and humbling ourselves more and more under his mighty hand. In due time he will answer our petitions, and do for us more than we can expect.”
Yes, Lord, that we may seek no other refuge other than YOU!!

Abounding Hope: Week 8--A Vessel of Hope

When we meet Joseph the stage is immediately set.

 "…Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age.  And he made him a robe of many colors" – Genesis 37:3

What could have become a story of hate and revenge instead became one of restoration and hope.  

Joseph was not the first to suffer at the hands of his brother, but in this case we see God's continued favor upon his life. From the sparing of Joseph's life forward, God continued to bless him, and even at times using people to position Joseph.  Starting with Reuben,  God provides vessels to be used in providing for Joseph.  Even in the most dreadful of circumstances, regardless of the person's motivations, God can use someone to make a way.

I'm asking myself what kind of vessel am I. Am I a vessel of hope and encouragement? Or do I allow bitterness and anger to fester and sour hope? 

 "..there are not only vessels of gold and  of silver, but also wood  and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared to every good work…follow righteousness, faith, clarity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart…" –2 Timothy 2:20-22

 Are you willing to let God use you? I think most of us want to be helpful, maybe even hopeful.  But are we willing to do what is required of us to be used by God? 

Yes God can use anyone, any circumstance.  But to be an honorable vessel means "you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work" (NLT).

 Thankfully perfection is not a requirement! Even with my flaws God can still fashion a useful vessel. Even if I am still trying to read through the Bible for the 1^st time, even if I haven't memorized every Psalm or perfected Family Devotions, God can still use me and you!

 Lord, I pray you shape us into the vessels you call for us to be. By your design may we find purpose and hope.  Amen.

Written by Michelle Walker-Alexander

Abounding Hope:Week 7--Forgiveness Releases Blessings

Forgiveness Releases Blessings

"After Job had interceded for his friends, God restored his fortune—
and then doubled it!" Job 42:10 NIV

After reading all about the sufferings of Job, we delight in the restoration of his fortune and his family.  But we like to ignore what God commanded Job to do before His mercy arrived.  

God told Job to pray for his friends (Job 42: 8).  But these men had done much to wound Job.  It is implied that Job's blessing hinged on the prayer he prayed.  Once again, Job's faith was demonstrated in forgiving these men.  His life revealed the power of these truths:

"Until you totally forgive them, you will be in chains yourself.  

Let them off the hook & actually pray for them!  

When you sincerely ask God to truly bless that person,

 you pass into the realm of miraculous & supernatural!"

RT Kendall (Total Forgiveness book here or here) 

Seeking God's best blessings for those who have wronged us, even done permanent damage to the relationship, requires faith.  Faith that says I can trust God even when I can't trust that person.  

Saying "I can't forgive them or don't have to forgive them"--that is the devil keeping you in bondage & holding you in torment!  The devil knows that blessing follows forgiveness and he hates it when God shows love to us.  The devil wants to hurt God by poisoning us with unforgiveness.  

Blessing follows faith when we obey God's commands. 

And Jesus Christ gives us the most important commands: 

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind". 

This is the first and most important commandment.

The second most important commandment is like this one. 

And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself."

Matthew 22:34-40 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Loving God requires faith.  And loving others always involves forgiveness.  Think of how often we "let ourselves off the hook" or "chalk it up to a bad day".  If we can love ourselves enough to not hold grudges against ourselves, then we must do the same for others.  No. matter. what. they. have. done.  

A few years ago I had to live this message.  I had been falsely accused of some pretty horrible things.  The person attacked my character, integrity and credibility.  But God reminded me that this was not the time to defend myself.  It was time to give mercy.  Because hurting people, hurt people. So I prayed.  I sincerely asked God to overwhelm this person with the amazing grace and love of God.  And I asked God to bless them with supernatural provision.  

It wasn't easy at first. But each day it got easier and didn't clench my fists as long! {keeping it real!}  I could feel a release from the chains that tried to hold me captive!  And God's blessing was like the wind in my face on a sunny day's drive with the top down!! 

The gift God has for you can only be released by totally forgiving them from this point forward!" RT Kendall

Do you need mercy?  Do want greater measure of God's blessing?

Who do you need to forgive?  Who do you need to pray to be blessed?

Written by Angela Smith

WCW Director

Abounding Hope: Week 5--Got Hope?

June 19, 2013 by Michelle Walker-Alexander

Got Hope?

Even without the black backdrop most will immediately recognize the popular tag line that has been used to promote everything from milk to vacations. I would guess that many have seen the shirts asking if you "got Jesus?". Sure its a clever line but what's your answer? Do you have hope even when everything that can go wrong has? Or when you can't see how you can possibly face tomorrow?....

got hope? This is a question with only one right answer. Thank Heaven YES!

"My help comes from The Lord, who made heaven and earth"   Psalm 121:2

In the span of a few days Job faced loss after loss and yet he continued to stand firm in his knowledge of The Lord. In the face of a relentless wind and a driving rain Job stood his ground. He didn't cower or hide, he didn't plea or beg. Instead Job lives the word, " ...seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.." Job 5:8

How could Job possibly know and believe in the face of such despair? Job knew because he truly knew of God's awesome power! Even as his friend, Elihu spoke of God's majesty, I see Job violently agreeing.

The continual challenge for us is to stand firm. To believe even when we want to cry out in defeat. To trust even when we want to run and hide. Know what we know even when what we see is dark and discouraging.

Let our hearts mediate on this song-

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from The Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

Would you share how has hope arisen in your heart recently?

Written by Michelle Walker Alexander
WCW Social Media Community Group Co-Leader

Abounding Hope: Week 4--Words of Hope

Job's Friends

These three men (Job 2:11-13) traveled a long distance to go comfort their friend who had suffered so very much.   They started out doing all the compassionate things friends should do--they grieved with him, they stayed with him and they gave him the gift of silent presence to mourn his circumstances.

But then they started talking. Words began to spill out of them like water rushes over Niagra Falls. They analyzed the situation from their human perspective, seeking to find some explanation for the troubles or trials.  Like us, they tried to protect themselves by trying to figure out why Job was going through this horrific tragedy.  Somehow, we think that if we can think of a reason for their pain, we sort of insulate ourselves from it!  

Being a good friend doesn't mean you have all the answers. 
Love simply says I am with you!  
And if words are necessary,  they are best found in prayer.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

Words of hope only come as we let the Holy Spirit use our mouths to speak His thoughts.  As the old saying goes, "think before you speak", we must determine to choose words that are helpful, gentle and sensitive.  Each word should be a gift that inspires one to keep trusting in God! 

Recently I was watching a movie that included this stunning domino sequence set up. When  all the dominoes fell down, a spectacular image was revealed.   And I realized that our words are just like that. Our words work in conjunction with the words of others!  But do our words reveal more of Jesus Christ or do they reveal shackles that hold us hostage to despair? 

Don't live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NIRV)

Every day that we spend time reading the Bible, praying & learning God's ways, we are fulfilling God's promise to make us a new creation!   And our relationships will be full of the grace and hope of our Heavenly Father!  In the end, we will say with Job, 

Have you been given word gifts of hope?  Tell us about it in the comments below.

Written by Angela Smith
WCW Director

Abounding Hope: Week 3--A Great Example of How to Suffer Well

 June 5, 2013 by Jennifer Baierl

We begin our study this week watching Job suffer greatly through terrible sores all over his body.  Satan was certain that Job would curse God if he were to suffer physically.  What we see instead, is that Job is wise in saying "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive disaster?" (Job 2: 10)

 … But God already knew this.  He knows our every thought before we speak them.  

"Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether." 

Psalm 139:4

He made me, you, and Job!  We are beautifully crafted by His hand and there is nothing that escapes him.  The entire chapter of Psalm 139 describes how God knew us in the hidden depths of our mother's wombs, even before that, when we were still just part of the earth.  I think of what it is like to be known down to my very fiber, knowing that I don't know myself that well.  How does this all relate to Job?  Because God knew that He could trust Job.  He knew that Job's integrity was upright and that even under affliction, he would not curse God.

For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Psalms 139:13-14 ESV 

 When we are suffering, do we suffer in silence?  Do we cry out to the Lord, thinking He doesn't hear us?  Do we cry to our girlfriends or our spouse?  Or do we go to the Lord, believing in His word, knowing that He cares for us and has our best interest at heart?  We cannot go anywhere that the Lord is not aware of our comings and goings, or aware of our desires.  He knows that we are suffering and longs to hear the cries of our hearts. 

"I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me
 [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]!" 
 Psalm 57:2 AMP

Lessons I learned this week:

• Job was faithful even after losing his family, his fortune, and being stricken with physical affliction.
• We are NEVER out of the presence of the Lord, no matter what pit we think we're in!  (Psalm 139:7)
• We are NEVER forgotten by the Lord, no matter how long you have been seeking an answer! (Psalm 139: 3)
• God hears our EVERY plea and cry to him, but may not choose to act on our timing.

 Watching Job suffer so greatly sometimes diminishes my suffering when I look back, but I know that it's suffering, none the less.   

Do you have an example of suffering where you relied on the Lord to navigate your days no matter what His answer?

Written by Jennifer Baierl
WCW Social Media Coordinator

Abounding Hope: Week 2--A Portrait of Hope

May 29, 2013 by Michelle Walker-Alexander

Job is a man "...that was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned from evil" (Job 1:1 ESV). So a question for many might be, why Job? What can Job teach us about hope?

I think the beauty of God's Word is that He provides us all with lessons or instructions on how to live our lives. In His infinite wisdom, The Lord as provided us with a history of relationship. This week as we meet Job, we are immediately told that he is a righteous, obedient man who loses much of what he values in just a few moments.  In the midst of his storm Job "....fell to the ground and worshipped".

This week's study has revealed two critical truths:

1. Job could praise God through any circumstance because he praised God in every circumstance. Job was able to praise in the face of his profound loss, because he was a man that lived in a committed relationship with God. As a result of his relationship with God, Job was practiced, ready and able to communicate with the Father.
2. Living a hope filled life will not always be a pretty life. Living hope is so much more than being hopeful.  I can be hopeful for a nice sunny day when I'm planning a day beach but I reach for a different place, a deeper faith when the heavy rains are unleashed and turbulent winds toss me to and fro. To truly walk in hope and trust in God is to be in relationship with Him though every circumstance, every situation at every opportunity. 

May we follow the example of Job,  by always cultivating our relationship with God so that we may live a life of abounding hope.

Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.  

Psalm 33:22

Written by Michelle Walker-Alexander
WCW Social Media Community Group Co-Leader 

Abounding Hope: Week 1

Desperate for Hope

I know that all of us have some situation, some relationship, some unknown that aims to steal our hope.  The level of desperation might vary but the power of hope is pushing many of us to a new level of pursuit.  Pursuit of the giver of Hope.  

"May the God of hope 

fill you with all joy and peace in 

believing, so that by the power of the 

Holy Spirit you may abound in hope"   

Romans 15:13

The word abound is defined as to be rich or well supplied; to occur or exist in great quantities.  

How do we obtain this kind of hope?

Living Hope

Jesus Christ, through his resurrection from the dead, provides for us the living (abounding) hope.  There are many who seek hope--but any hope outside of Christ is simply counterfeit!  

The Reformation Study Bible has this to say about hope: “In the Bible, hope is not uncertainty or wishful thinking, but a confident expectation of future blessing based on facts and promises. “Living” indicates the undying and permanent character of this hope.”  Through Jesus we can know that what God promises are true and will never change!

Hope Requires Faith

"We are being guarded by His power through our faith!  It's like a full circle.  If we didn't have the trials, we wouldn't have as much faith.  With the faith we cannot see how much He is protecting/guarding us.  Without the protection, we couldn't make it through those trials." Emily B.

 Faith comes by hearing (reading aloud) the Word of God.  So let's dig into our Bible to find Truth that silences the lies, calms the fears, heals the sick and wounded.  We can be confident that hope will begin to well up in our hearts!

We'd love to chat with you. . .
  comment & tell us in what situations or struggles could you use some hope?  

New Habits for a New Year

Some set New Year's Resolutions.  Other's give up something in the New Year.  Other's skip out on all the potential for failure at that new thing.  But a friend of mine gave a brand new perspective. 

"A habit is what we wear. A habit is the way we wear our days.

Wear new habits and your life gets a makeover.

Consistently do things at the same time everyday and find yourself a new person."  

Ann Voskamp--author of One Thousand Gifts and A Holy Experience blog

There are many habits we should wear.  But none so important as studying God by studying His Word.  

It is more than going to church.  It is being the church.  Not in rows but in circles.  Circles where God is revealed through the holy embracing the every day.  In tender conversation of the new, the true, the powerful. 

And we believe that habits happen easier and last longer when formed in circles.  Yes, Circles are for you!  To know and be known.  To belong to the family of God.  And we have a place just for you.

Online Community Groups are just one of the CIRCLES we will have for you this year.  (more details on other circle-making opportunities coming soon!)

WINTER SESSION Online COMMUNITY GROUPS

REGISTER NOW for the new session.  (if you are continuing in your same group as Fall 2012, no need to register again.  But if you want to change groups, registration is needed.  There is a limit of 15 per group)

START Monday, January 14th--it is an 8 week session (we can do anything for 8 weeks, right!)

BIBLE STUDY:   we will be using a resource done by Good Morning Girls (an online Bible study group) called LIVING LIKE JESUS: Leaving our Comforts & Walking in Faith.  It will cover Luke 1-8.  (see the link below).  In this study we will follow a reading guide through the Scriptures in Luke.  Then we will use the SOAP format to dig a little deeper & respond to the passage that day.  If this is new to you, see below for the explanation.  If you want to just follow the study per your group leader's posts, then you don't need anything.  But  if you want the resource to print up or load to your Kindle or iBooks or other pdf apps, then click here to download the study.  

CHOOSE YOUR GROUP: (register below)

• EMAIL COMMUNITY GROUP (if you are still interested) will continue a TUES & THURS format
• Facebook group for WCWConnect is a DAILY conversation 

GET READY TO WEAR THIS NEW HABIT & GIVE YOUR LIFE A MAKEOVER! 

See you Monday, January 14th! (all groups will post early in the mornings but you join in the conversation at a time that you can commit to!)

Let me leave you with one thought.

Perfection Isn’t The Goal, Faithfulness Is.

written by Angela Smith for WCWConnect blog post New Habits for a New Year.

Family Devotions

The Bible isn't just for church

A good friend at work told me a story one day that shocked me.  She said that in her experience (growing up in the Midwest), "only 'crazy Bible people' took their Bibles to church"!  So when her husband grabbed his Bible to go to church on their first Sunday as a married couple, she was embarrassed.   But when she began her first Bible study and learned what was in her dust-covered Bible, she quickly decided she wanted to be 'a crazy Bible gal'!

I have read the Bible often for most of my Christian life.  I have become more passionate about the Bible the more I read it and learn about who God is and what He has done!  
So, as a parent, I wanted to instill this passion for God's Word into my children as early as possible.  My prayer is that they will love the Bible and be eager to read it daily.  But as you know, that can be challenging to implement.  How do we nurture this into kids that are used to everything being in digital format with the goal to entertain rather than teach and nurture?  

Doing is more important than how

My husband & I have decided that the phrases “nailing jello to the wall” accurately described the chaos that used occur the minute we started family devotions before bedtime (we have 4 kids between ages of 2 & 9)!!  But a dear friend once told me that "it is so important that you have family devotions, it doesn't matter what it looks like or how long it lasts!  God can do something life-changing in 5 minutes if we simply give him those 5 minutes."  

Soooo. . . we started doing them at the dinner table while they had more energy/attention, were eating & could interrupt less b/c their mouths were full but their ears were captive!! {wink, wink} It has been working GREAT! We have been using a family devotions book that has cool stories to illustrate the Scripture for the day.  We are trying to memorize Bible verses but with a new verse each night, that isn’t working.  But I strongly believe that memorizing Scripture is important! What is a parent to do?

I prayed.  And God answered!  I found a  FREE kid's Bible study curriculum on a homeschool site I really like. {no, I don't home school right now but she has awesome stuff}  So this summer I started using the week-long Bible study she calls 'character study' (obedience, self-control, honesty, arguing, etc).  There is a memory verse for each study with 4 days of illustrations & discussion questions on that topic.  

The two things God spoke to me was the importance of them finding the Scriptures in their own Bibles.  And then letting them take turns reading aloud. {this momma cried when my kindergartener was learning to read by reading in her Bible}  Now, instead of my kids rolling their eyes when we announce it is Bible study time, they get excited! AND  I am seeing the power of God's Word in the practical ways that we do life together!!  

How often?

Life is busy for all of us.  So if we don't make Bible reading and prayer a priority, it just won't happen.   But everyday feels like a set-up for failure.  If you aren't doing family devotions at all right now, then how about starting with one day/week!  If you designate which day that will be, you are more likely to do it.   After working on this for several years now, we have found that 4 days a week seems to work best for our evening devotions.    And  the goal for our new morning Bible Study is Monday - Thursdays before we rush out the door to school and work!!  But we are on a learning curve of balancing time & attention in the mornings.  

So what about you?  How do you do family devotionals?  Do you do them daily?  Morning?  Before bed?  Have you spent time memorizing God’s word together with your kids?  What is your advice for me?  Join the conversation in the comment section below.

Is 10 Enough?

"The devil has effectively convinced us that 10 minutes per day with God doesn't really count."

Priscilla Shirer, Going Beyond Simulcast May 5, 2012

This morning we kicked off the WCW Hello Mornings Challenge!  Almost 30 women have joined in this session to experience what God can do when they press into the Word of God for 10-15  minutes each day and walk in the blessings that accountability bring!!  

Yes, you read that right.  It only takes 10-15 minutes per day to experience life change by the living words of our God!  He can do more in us with those few minutes than we can do in a lifetime of "trying hard"!!

I know many of us, including myself, that are done with the try hard life.  We are willing to go to bed a little bit earlier, give up some media time (TV, websites or even digital books) and adjust our wake up time to a little less daylight---all for the hope that is found in meeting with God and His Word every morning.

Yes, it does say morning!  "Does it have to be in the morning?" some have asked.  The answer is a resounding "YES!"  When we meet with God first thing each day, the rest of the day reveals Him.  Peace replaces the chaos.  Purpose is found where fearful emptiness once resided.  Wisdom presides over decisions.  Truth brings freedom where lies once shackled.   

"So how do you effectively study the Bible in just 10-15 minutes?" you might ask.  Here are two studies that you can download that will guide you in that journey.  

Run To Him, a study of 13 Psalms that can be done in 10 minutes/day, can be downloaded here. 

Focused15, a study of 1 Corinthians 13, can be downloaded here.

If you are reading this and feeling God stirring your heart to join in the Challenge, it is NOT too late!  Remember, it is harder to push the snooze button on your alarm when you know you have a group of ladies waiting for you to check-in who will encourage you & pray for you!!  

Just click here to register & we will send you all the info that you need!!  

If you are still in need of convincing, here is the Getting Started Guide that will put all of your fears to rest!  Go check it out now!!

Let's show the devil that 10 minutes does matter AND that life change happens in that time!

Cheering you on,

Angela Smith

QUESTION:  What has happened as you have discovered that 10 really is enough?  Please share your story with us in the comment section!