Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A NEW THING - built on a firm foundation

Remember a couple of days ago I told you I was so excited about a new surprise I would be sharing with you?  Well, here it is!!!

If you've been a reader of Penless Writer for very long, one thing you know I never cease to be amazed at is HOW God works and HIS timing.

One year ago, on January 17, 2010 Mickey held the organizational meeting at our church that launched The King's Kitchen.

Last night, January 18, 2011, I held the first meeting of a new Bible Study group here in our home.

The Lord placed this on my heart the first of December when I ordered a book called BORN for BATTLE  - 31 Studies on Spiritual Warefare by R. Arthur Mathews. Before I had finished the 1st chapter I knew this was a book that needed to be studied by a group of woman who were ready to press in to what God desires for us.  I felt God was telling me to start a Bible Study in my home to do just that.   

Just before Christmas my friend Sandra came by the house.  Sandra held a Bible Study in her home, which I attended faithfully and loved, from March, 2009 until the 1st week in October, 2010 called Third Day Sisters.  I wrote a lot during those 19 months about what a blessing that Bible Study and my Third Day Sisters were to me and my life.  I shared with Sandra about the book and asked her about re-activating her study and doing this book.  She said, for this time, the Lord has told her to step aside and it was my time to host.  Then she said, "I'll come!" which totally surprised me as she lives some distance away.
  
I believed there were probably 4 or 5 woman who would be interested in joining me every Tuesday evening at 6:30 to use this book as a launching pad to becoming a strong, committed prayer group.  I needed to wait until Christmas and the New Year holidays were behind us but I was going to be faithful to what God had placed in my heart and was calling me to do.  During these few weeks I have been in daily prayer for God to bring in the women HE wanted to be here. 

I knew God was truly in this when Sandra told me that Gloria was going to come!!!  Gloria is the reason Sandra began her study in 2009.  She is married to Sandra's husband and had asked Sandra to start a Bible Study group.  She also lives in Tahlequah which is 50 miles from Coweta.  I was so honored when I heard Gloria was willing to come that far to be here. 

Here they are.

Left to right:  Cindy O, Kathy, Thelma, Jeanne
Norma, Britney & Cindy W
Carmel, Wantha, Gloria, Sandra
and, of course me, makes 12 of us!!!!!

Six of us are from the former Third Day Sister group:  Sandra, Wantha, Gloria, Norma, Cindy W and myself. 

Last night I did a brief pre-view of the book, stated my objective of what I felt God wanted us to accomplish, told them I wanted a commitment to stay the course - "There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." and planned for us to begin to just all get acquainted with each other. 

Praise God, He had other plans and we ended praying and worshiping HIM.

I was excited before we began.  I am REALLY excited now.
What a mighty God we serve. 


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19 comments:

Fitter After 50 said...

What a nice surprise! I have no doubt it's going to be an awesome study.

Brenda said...

What a great turnout! I'm sure it'll be a good thing for all the women, especially since you're already following the Holy Spirit's direction in this anyway!

Lynn said...

You had a wonderful turnout for your study group.. My husband and I are looking forward to joining a church group in a couple of weeks.. One can really meet such wonderful people and learn even so much more about our Lord through going to these groups..

Thank you so much for visiting my blog.. Come back anytime! I didn't have a weight loss today, as I gained a pound, but that's okay, as today's a new day for me to start getting back on track.. and discipline myself to make healthier choices..

Have a great evening!

Blessings,
~Lynn

Unknown said...

Oh Susan, I can catch the wind of your excitement by simply reading your account. God's timing is perfect! Thank God for folks like you and Mickey who are always a willing servant!

I really stopped by to thank you from the bottom of my heart for her prayers over Josh and for your kind words of counsel to me. God is working! Josh has repented and says he desires a closer walk with the Lord. He has made several changes and wise choises over the past wk. and today, he left on a road trip with 4 Christian men from his church! Timing?? God's!! They are headed out to Houston for a temp. job. A mature Christian man is with them as well. I pray this will be a time of sweet fellowship for Josh and his buddies, growth in Christ for all is my prayer.

Tiffany said...

Praise the Lord! I am so excited for y'all! This makes my heart about to burst. You'd think I was a part of the group -and in a way I feel like I am since I've been praying for your Bible study for over a year now. My ladies Bible study used to meet every Tuesday night same time as y'all, and we'd pray for you. I even used Ms. Sandra's post about the blessings of the 3rd day with my ladies. I'm so glad it has found new life and you are willing to lead! -Is it just weird that i'm so excited about this?! I just pray the Lord opens up a place for me as well. :) -Love y'all! ~Blessings!

Unknown said...

I love Bible studies with sisters in Christ. I go every Tues morning and we have the best time learning and praising, and sharing. Its so gerat and God always shows up!!!

Oklahoma Granny said...

You have great reason to be excited!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Thanks, Susan, for your sweet comment at my blog. I'm sure you will have a wonderful study with this group. What a nice turnout especially with some having to drive so far! Take care, Cheryl

Debra said...

An awesome God indeed! Praise the Lord, I know ya'll will have a very blessed study.

Sharon said...

I can only bet that this is a truly wonderful bible study group.
I am glad that God has chosen you to lead this group.
Prayers for Josh.
Hugs

Mountain Mama said...

Wonderful. I love God's surprises too. I pray our Heavenly Father will continue to 'guide' your group and all will learn from this study. Hugs!

kc bob said...

Many blessings on the new study group Susan!

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

An exciting ministry and you are perfect to lead! The Lord will continue to bless you and others through it!

Keep us updated on the progress!

Katherine

Maxine said...

Nice! Good for you and may all be blessed by the study!

Nadine said...

Sounds like it will be a blessing for all of you. May God guide and direct you all and fill your hearts.

Midlife Mom said...

That is a great turn out for your Bible study! You all will be blessed each week as you study together. We are starting a new Beth Moore study at our church on Tuesday nights and hopefully will get a good turn out. It's hard here in the winter time as so often it's stormy and the roads are bad but God knows all about it and it will work out. :o)

Joy said...

I can't wait to hear how God uses this book in your lives. Looks like a great group of ladies.

Sohailah said...

Wow! How wonderful and exciting. Truly. I LOVE it.

Barbara said...

Great. The only way to do it - letting the Spirit have his way.