Hosted my first bible study this morning over my first book, “Through Their eyes.” Since it is Halloween, I thought, “What the heck? I’ll just get into character for the study.” I became one of the women I mentioned in the book. Reply back as to who you think I may be and with the first right answer, I will send a free copy of the 40 day prayer journey that accompanies this book, “Christmas Treasure.”
By nature I consider myself an introvert. My husband would strongly disagree with that assessment, but I truly feel that I am. I don’t usually like to unmask myself. I don’t like feeling raw and vulnerable in front of people, but there is just something happens when you get into a small group setting. It becomes a safe harbor to shelter you in storms of life. I guess you could say I have become addicted.
Christine Caine, founder of A21 ministries, a ministry that addresses the horrors of sex trafficking, is also the founder of a women’s ministry, Propel Women. Her whole goal with this ministry is to have women empower women through the study of God’s word.
That was the launching point of the Bible study this morning. Seven women gathered to look at and delve into that very first Christmas. We searched for empowering points we could each grab onto and take out into the everyday moments of our lives. We dove in. We placed ourselves into the mindset of what Zechariah might have been thinking at any particular point the day he met the Angel Gabriel. What might have been the thoughts and fears of the nation Israel as they struggled through the silent years waiting upon the promised Messiah?
I feel each of us walked away with empowerment’s. I know I did.
What do you do when it “seems” like heaven is silent? You keep on praying. You keep on searching. You keep on asking. And you hold on. You hold onto the promises of God. You hold onto the One that is bigger than your problems. You hold onto Jesus. He is our Life Saver when the waves of life sweep over us.
How do you approach your quiet time and the times when you head to worship? How can you go in expecting to have a holy moment? Like Zechariah as he was about to step behind the veil to tend to the alter of incense, he must have been focused on his one job. #youhaveonejob We need to be focused and intentional with our quiet times and worship times. Thanks Nikki and Amy for that! We need to have that expectancy about us. I’m not sure Zechariah stepped behind the veil expecting to see the mighty Angel Gabriel, but I do believe he entered the Holy place expecting to have some sort of encounter with God. We should read the Bible, go to church, pray, and worship expecting to meet with the God of the universe, the One who created us.
What do you do in the waiting? It’s not if a struggle will occur in your life. It is when a struggle will occur in your life. Sometimes God doesn’t answer right away. What do you do while you wait? Hold onto the promises.
“During the time Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to Abijah’s group. Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, came from the family of Aaron. Zechariah and Elizabeth truly did what God said was good. They did everything the Lord commanded and were without fault in keeping his law. But they had no children, because Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old.”
Luke 1:5-7 NCV
http://bible.com/105/luk.1.5-7.
Elizabeth and Zechariah waited many years for a baby. Elizabeth must have prayed thousands of prayers asking for a blessed child. That answer to her many prayers was a timing issue with God. What her peers thought was a sin issue with her or her husband, God was just waiting for the perfect timing. It was cause and effect. Their son was the forerunner to Israel’s Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. John couldn’t be born until God was ready to send His Son into the world.
As I said, “Empowering moments.” They come when God’s people gather to search for Him in His word. I have determined that I am addicted to these small group bible studies. I have walked away with tools that help me when the rubber meets the road. All of the sudden certain poetic passages become more than just words; they become my confidence to believe God is always at work around me even when I don’t see Him.
I encourage you to join a small group bible study and get empowered.
My first book, “Through Their Eyes,” is in it’s second printing. I have made revisions and corrections. If you would like a copy of this second printing click on the link below and I will have it to you before November the 26th, which is the beginning of Advent for 2017.
Also next week I will be putting the prayer journal “Christmas Treasure” onto my online store, so be watching for that.
“But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them.”
Luke 2:19 NCV
http://bible.com/105/luk.2.19.
As always, thanks for joining me on the journey back in time to that first Christmas celebrated so long ago.
Kellye
Elizabeth