So what do y'all think?
I so much don't want a ho-hum relationship with anyone, but especially not with Jesus.
I want to yearn for closeness with Him the way that He yearns for closeness with me.
I don't want to be lukewarm and propogate religion.
I want to love God and capture the heart of a dying world.
I don't want to see or live a show.
I want to be real and honest with God, with others and with myself.
(Y'all are welcome to use the workbook too if you are looking for something day-to-day but it is not in anyway neccessary for our group.)
I'll share a couple of things with y'all each week from the Falling in Love with Jesus workbook to get us bloggin. Don't feel like you have to answer every question. Some of them will be for your own personal reflection. Also, we are all very busy (isn't that why we're here:>) and I know that you may not always have time for everything. But make sure that you read until the end, because the last question is the easy one:>)
Dee and Kathy mention kisses from the King in the workbook. " A kiss from the King, according to rabbinical tradition, is a living Word from Scripture. When a verse leaps out at you and you have the sense that God has spoken personally to you, you have been kissed by the King." Make a special note when you receive a kiss from your King, in the same way that you might scrapbook other memorable events in your life.
What do you learn about how Jesus sees yuo and what He desires from you from these passages?
Song of Songs 2:10, 2:14
Zephaniah 3:17
I love that even when a man might think that we are sappy or sentimental, God understands us because He made us that way. He made us to understand the things that we understand and to feel the things that we feel.
How did Jesus, your hero, sacrifice for you?
What are some of the prisons from which He has rescued you?
They mention Mary of Bethany and her three stages of love with her Savior. First Love - Luke 10:38-39, Wilderness Love - John 11:5-6, and Invincible Love - John 12:1-3
Can you think of experiences in your own relationship with Jesus that you could place in each of those categories. Like Dee mentioned, we may not live in Invincible Love all the time, but we may have had moments of it. We aren't perfected - "God loves you just they way you are but He refuses to leave you that way." - Max Lucado
How did the beloved feel in the following situations:
Ruth 2:8-10
2 Samuel 9:6-8
Do you have trouble beleiving that Jesus loves you and actually delights in you? Why or why not?
An easy question to get us talking - What is your favorite romantic song? (To answer you can just click under this post on 0 comments and add your answer:>)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Stop! In the Name of Love
This is just an excerpt from the introduction to the workbook that I am using to help me to lead this study. It is a great explanation of what we are trying to do in this study. I hope that y'all will enjoy the first chapter as we get ready for next week.
I have a short video for y'all to watch and I will put it up on the blog as soon as I figure out how to do that!!! But when you see the REACH video somewhere on here, please watch it!
Amber
"If you are not in a deep love relationship and feel like flipping the switch when the topics of romance, weddings, and marriage come up - don't! Though love songs will be sung and romantic stories told, we are using these as "parables" to help you understand the best romance, which is your relationship with Jesus, who is the ultimate Bridegroom for all believing women, whether they are single or married.
We pray this won't be just a sentimental journey, but a journey that you can look back on and say 'It was during those ten weeks that I began to really see Jesus in a new way and yearn for an intimacy with Him that I had not known.'
Please remember, you are His Beloved. You are the object of His affection. He wants to whisper words of love to you. He wants to take you higher, out of the hiding places, into the land of invincible love.
If you are thinking, I don't know if I even want a deep love relationship with Jesus. I feel dead inside, hang on! You may feel skeptical, but we plead with you to keep your heart open. You may discover the greatest romance of your life/"
From Falling in Love with Jesus workbook
I have a short video for y'all to watch and I will put it up on the blog as soon as I figure out how to do that!!! But when you see the REACH video somewhere on here, please watch it!
Amber
"If you are not in a deep love relationship and feel like flipping the switch when the topics of romance, weddings, and marriage come up - don't! Though love songs will be sung and romantic stories told, we are using these as "parables" to help you understand the best romance, which is your relationship with Jesus, who is the ultimate Bridegroom for all believing women, whether they are single or married.
We pray this won't be just a sentimental journey, but a journey that you can look back on and say 'It was during those ten weeks that I began to really see Jesus in a new way and yearn for an intimacy with Him that I had not known.'
Please remember, you are His Beloved. You are the object of His affection. He wants to whisper words of love to you. He wants to take you higher, out of the hiding places, into the land of invincible love.
If you are thinking, I don't know if I even want a deep love relationship with Jesus. I feel dead inside, hang on! You may feel skeptical, but we plead with you to keep your heart open. You may discover the greatest romance of your life/"
From Falling in Love with Jesus workbook
Friday, September 12, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to the ladies' blog!
I am looking forward to "Falling in Love with Jesus" with y'all! I will send an instructional email on Monday and then I will begin posting for the new semester!
I am looking forward to "Falling in Love with Jesus" with y'all! I will send an instructional email on Monday and then I will begin posting for the new semester!
Chapter 11
Whatever it takes is scary! Yet it is even scarier to not be in the exact center of God's will!
1. Can you imagine your own Polaroid picture of God's will for you developing over the years? What do you know now about God's purposes for you that you did not yet "see" two years ago? Is there an area of your life where the fuzziness is giving way to a sharper image?
2. How is it possible that the center of God's will can be the safest yet most dangerous place to be?
3. Kay writes, "Most of us are called to pay a much smaller price, although each point of surrender can at times turn into high drama as we play tug-of-war with God." What are the "high drama" points in your tug-of-war with God thus far in your life? What part have they played in your developing maturity?
4. What great surrender challenges do you see ahead? Do you find yourself dreading them or eagerly awaiting them? How can such challenges craft you into Christlikeness?
5. Of all the stirring images in this chapter, which had the most profound effect on you? Why?
1. Can you imagine your own Polaroid picture of God's will for you developing over the years? What do you know now about God's purposes for you that you did not yet "see" two years ago? Is there an area of your life where the fuzziness is giving way to a sharper image?
2. How is it possible that the center of God's will can be the safest yet most dangerous place to be?
3. Kay writes, "Most of us are called to pay a much smaller price, although each point of surrender can at times turn into high drama as we play tug-of-war with God." What are the "high drama" points in your tug-of-war with God thus far in your life? What part have they played in your developing maturity?
4. What great surrender challenges do you see ahead? Do you find yourself dreading them or eagerly awaiting them? How can such challenges craft you into Christlikeness?
5. Of all the stirring images in this chapter, which had the most profound effect on you? Why?
Chapter 10
The church exists for humanity. What a wonderful thing for Kay to get to see how God uses His church. It is also nice to know that the hope of the world isn't dependent on what we do or who we are -- it's dependent on what He does and who He is.
Our purpose isn't even the pandemic as a whole, or any other social issue. The purpose is each individual person that is affected by the pandemic or other issue.
We are to share with the world that their sins are forgiven, not judged or condemned.
1. In what ways can you identify with Kay's sense of despair as she witnessed her first International AIDS Conference in Bangkok? What infiltration of evil in your world do you find overwhelming?
2. Read Acts 26:12-23, then focus on verses 17 and 18. As you anticipate your next twelve months, is it conceivable that you are also being "sent off"? If you were to choose an area of service, what might it be? Does this question fill you with anxiety or anticipation?
3. "The only problem is that it's impossible." Kay jolts the reader with these words. List several biblical examples of God's accomplishing the seemingly impossible. Recount the names of God's servants chosen and empowered to play critical roles in those events.
4. In the midst of her discussion of the history of the Christian church, Kay asks the question, "So why would I put any faith at all in such a ragtag bunch of losers? Because God does." What is your understanding of why God works through people rather than solely through divine, supernatural means?
5. Discuss the range of roles the church has played in world history - from heroic to horrific. If you were to interview local residents about the impact of your church on your community ro the world, how might they respond?
Our purpose isn't even the pandemic as a whole, or any other social issue. The purpose is each individual person that is affected by the pandemic or other issue.
We are to share with the world that their sins are forgiven, not judged or condemned.
1. In what ways can you identify with Kay's sense of despair as she witnessed her first International AIDS Conference in Bangkok? What infiltration of evil in your world do you find overwhelming?
2. Read Acts 26:12-23, then focus on verses 17 and 18. As you anticipate your next twelve months, is it conceivable that you are also being "sent off"? If you were to choose an area of service, what might it be? Does this question fill you with anxiety or anticipation?
3. "The only problem is that it's impossible." Kay jolts the reader with these words. List several biblical examples of God's accomplishing the seemingly impossible. Recount the names of God's servants chosen and empowered to play critical roles in those events.
4. In the midst of her discussion of the history of the Christian church, Kay asks the question, "So why would I put any faith at all in such a ragtag bunch of losers? Because God does." What is your understanding of why God works through people rather than solely through divine, supernatural means?
5. Discuss the range of roles the church has played in world history - from heroic to horrific. If you were to interview local residents about the impact of your church on your community ro the world, how might they respond?
Chapter 9
"God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:9
Jesus treated all people with dignity. He treated people like human beings (imagine if she just try that:>)
Our job description: developing friendships
We have to stop judging people from our frame of reference, thinking that we know what they should have done, or how we would have handled it better
Love them and Love God and Love them for God
Feeling His pain draws us into deeper communion with Jesus. That is such an amazing concept! It made me so happy to know that all of the despair that I feel when I think about the overwhelming problems in the world is straight from the heart of God. He feels the same pain when He looks at His precious children and sees their pain. We are supposed to have a heart for His world.
Let us not exagerate our part of the partnership. We just show up.
1. In what ways do you identify with Kay's perception of prostitutes at the opening of this chapter? How would you compare them to your own perceptions of people who are HIV positive?
2. Kay writes, "There were profound spiritual truths hidden in that encounter with these outcast women." Discuss the truths you find in this encouter and identify the most unexpected insight you gain.
3. Reread the story of Kay's encounter with Pastor Mike. Choose one sentence you would most like to discuss and turn it into a question for your group to discuss.
4. Read the following verses recounting the emotions that Jesus felt:
Matthew 21:12
Matthew 23:37
Luke 13:15-16
Luke 17:2
John 11:35
Compare those emotions to what you have felt as you have read this book so
far.
5. How would you describe Kay's discovery that transformed her despair and hopelessness into an unexpected bond with Jesus?
6. The title of this chapter is "An Unexpected Bond." Select one unexpected insight that you have found particularly meaningful.
Jesus treated all people with dignity. He treated people like human beings (imagine if she just try that:>)
Our job description: developing friendships
We have to stop judging people from our frame of reference, thinking that we know what they should have done, or how we would have handled it better
Love them and Love God and Love them for God
Feeling His pain draws us into deeper communion with Jesus. That is such an amazing concept! It made me so happy to know that all of the despair that I feel when I think about the overwhelming problems in the world is straight from the heart of God. He feels the same pain when He looks at His precious children and sees their pain. We are supposed to have a heart for His world.
Let us not exagerate our part of the partnership. We just show up.
1. In what ways do you identify with Kay's perception of prostitutes at the opening of this chapter? How would you compare them to your own perceptions of people who are HIV positive?
2. Kay writes, "There were profound spiritual truths hidden in that encounter with these outcast women." Discuss the truths you find in this encouter and identify the most unexpected insight you gain.
3. Reread the story of Kay's encounter with Pastor Mike. Choose one sentence you would most like to discuss and turn it into a question for your group to discuss.
4. Read the following verses recounting the emotions that Jesus felt:
Matthew 21:12
Matthew 23:37
Luke 13:15-16
Luke 17:2
John 11:35
Compare those emotions to what you have felt as you have read this book so
far.
5. How would you describe Kay's discovery that transformed her despair and hopelessness into an unexpected bond with Jesus?
6. The title of this chapter is "An Unexpected Bond." Select one unexpected insight that you have found particularly meaningful.
Chapter 8
Regarding the opening quote, may we be ambassadors of You that we may leave sweetness behind when we leave every place that we go that would give those around us desire to know more of You.
I love that she asks why God keeps putting her in situations for which she is not prepared and then realizes that HE is prepared enough for the both of us!
Compassion means "Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others' joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others' grief]." Romans 12:15
Compassion is how we make an invisible God visible.
He thirsts...
1. Reread the quote from Lewis Smedes. Has anyone ever willingly entered into your life's pain in the way Smedes describes? Have you ever felt God's pull to do so in the life of another? Describe what happens in the heart of a sufferer who is on the recovering end of such mercy.
2. Take a few private moments to be completely vulnerable before God. What about this chapter seems most threatening to you or your current lifestyle?
3. Consider these words: shocked, angry, frustrated, guilty, troubled, wrestling, resistant, stirred, hopeful, inspired, called, compelled. Choose the three words that come closest to describing what you are experiencing as you are reading this book. Explain your choices.
4. How has your understanding of HIV/AIDS, world poverty, social injustice, and the experiences of the outcast been affected by Kay's experiences and perspective?
5. Reread each surrender question at the end of chapters 1 through 8. Identify which have been the easiest
I love that she asks why God keeps putting her in situations for which she is not prepared and then realizes that HE is prepared enough for the both of us!
Compassion means "Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others' joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others' grief]." Romans 12:15
Compassion is how we make an invisible God visible.
He thirsts...
1. Reread the quote from Lewis Smedes. Has anyone ever willingly entered into your life's pain in the way Smedes describes? Have you ever felt God's pull to do so in the life of another? Describe what happens in the heart of a sufferer who is on the recovering end of such mercy.
2. Take a few private moments to be completely vulnerable before God. What about this chapter seems most threatening to you or your current lifestyle?
3. Consider these words: shocked, angry, frustrated, guilty, troubled, wrestling, resistant, stirred, hopeful, inspired, called, compelled. Choose the three words that come closest to describing what you are experiencing as you are reading this book. Explain your choices.
4. How has your understanding of HIV/AIDS, world poverty, social injustice, and the experiences of the outcast been affected by Kay's experiences and perspective?
5. Reread each surrender question at the end of chapters 1 through 8. Identify which have been the easiest
Chapter 7
Let's be present in everything that we do. It is really easy for me to rush through the day always thinking of the next thing, but God puts us in each situation for His purposes. I don't think that we can fully reach His purposes if we are not really present in each moment of our days.
"So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
1. In this chapter Kay describes a transformation in her understanding of the essence of compassionate service. Contrast her understanding at the beginning of the chapter with her understanding at the end.
2. Discuss the various levels of impact we can have on those in need:
- providing physical labor
- speaking words of truth
- simply being compassionately present
Do you tend to place a higher value on one over the others? Why or why not?
3. How might the thought of being a container of God influence your impression of what you have to offer to a hurting world?
4. Why did many of the residents of the leprosarium in the Philippines who were already cured of leprosy remain there? Compare their experiences with that of people who bear the "scars" of broken lives as they consider visiting or joining a church.
5. Name specific improvements a local congregation can implement to become a place of greater welcome and safety for those who bear the scars of brokennes.
6. Kay writes, "To make a difference, you don't have to have a grand strategy for eliminating poverty, HIV/AIDS, illiteracy, greed, or suffering." What is needed? How does this realization affect your willingness to personally engage with a hurting world?
"So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
1. In this chapter Kay describes a transformation in her understanding of the essence of compassionate service. Contrast her understanding at the beginning of the chapter with her understanding at the end.
2. Discuss the various levels of impact we can have on those in need:
- providing physical labor
- speaking words of truth
- simply being compassionately present
Do you tend to place a higher value on one over the others? Why or why not?
3. How might the thought of being a container of God influence your impression of what you have to offer to a hurting world?
4. Why did many of the residents of the leprosarium in the Philippines who were already cured of leprosy remain there? Compare their experiences with that of people who bear the "scars" of broken lives as they consider visiting or joining a church.
5. Name specific improvements a local congregation can implement to become a place of greater welcome and safety for those who bear the scars of brokennes.
6. Kay writes, "To make a difference, you don't have to have a grand strategy for eliminating poverty, HIV/AIDS, illiteracy, greed, or suffering." What is needed? How does this realization affect your willingness to personally engage with a hurting world?
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