This morning I had the honor of meeting with a group of women to study and discuss God’s Word.
When I snapped this shot, we had just finished watching Beth Moore discuss the material we had covered the past week or two. During part of Beth’s teaching session, she gathered with several women on the porch of a beautiful country home. Each of them sat and absorbed all of the wisdom that Beth shared.
As I soaked in the sweetness of the moment I almost started to weep. Here sat a group of women in the living room with me. Each of us hungry to learn. Something about it really moved me. The sweetness of it all. Was this similar to the home churches in the Bible? They all gathered together to discuss God and worship Him.
It was a precious moment to me and I wanted to document it with a quick photo.
If you don’t mind, I would love to share part of what really stuck to me after today’s study.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Emphasis mine)
Have you ever thought about the fact that we have a “to do” list written out by God before we are even born? We were created TO DO good works. They have already been prepared. Think about that for a moment.
Psalm 34:14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Emphasis mine)Psalm 37:27
Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. (Emphasis mine)
We are called TO DO. We are called to give to others, serve others, and help meet the needs of others …
We are called TO DO the following:
Isaiah 58:6-11
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Do you see the beautiful exchange you receive when giving out to others?
Beth Moore pointed out:
- Your light will rise in the darkness.
- The Lord will guide you always.
- Your needs will be satisfied.
- Your frame will be strengthened.
- You will be like well-watered gardens.
I would have to say one of the most fulfilling moments in my life was when I was walking through life with a group of women. We were all hungry to know God on a deeper level and we did life together. We studied the scriptures together too. We poured out into each others lives and into the lives of others. Satisfied. Our light shined for God’s glory. Our frames were strengthened to withstand adversity. We were well watered.
Think about that scripture for a moment …
I am so blessed by the group of women in this Bible study and I am blessed by Beth Moore’s wisdom. I am also greatly convicted by the Word because it always shows me areas where I lack and need a course correction.
Galatians 6:7-10
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Emphasis mine)
I will leave you with this question as I survey my own life …
