CLICK HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES »

Friday, January 18, 2008

I am so stinking excited!!!

Okay! I started a new bible study today...the Lord is so good!
I am thrilled beyond words and so excited that I can not type fast enough. Since I had done all of Beth Moore's it was time to break free and move on to another teacher for such a time as this...LOL!
So, I looked and prayed and looked and prayed and BAM the one I was supposed to do appeared before my eyes on the shelf at Lifeway. DRUM ROLL here it is

"No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter. The girl is so real, which is a must for me! I get tired of trying to find a bible study and it being so vague and "churchy". I also can't stand fake or pretense. Just give it to me straight!

Let me know if you get this and want to do it with me. I am pretty sure I will be leading this one after my "Stepping Up" is over. Click on that link above and tell me what you think!

She starts out in the beginning talking about our modern day "functional gods" and she uses this verse to speak about how we in essence say things but our actions don't match up. 2 Kings 17:33 They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

This verse hit hard this morning because I can't even tell you the times I have been divided in my heart toward the Lord. I have served Him but also had other things or people that I set my heart on that took the place of God. Fear, relationships, image, fear of failure and stuff are just to name a few things that have driven me or caused me to stay paralyzed in life. Then the next verse she uses that I love is this: 41 Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.
Oh this hit hard today...we can be worshipping the Lord but holding our idols in the other hand with a death grip because they have driven us for so long it is what is comfortable and what begins to define us (these are my thoughts at least). I am reminded of these verses: Isaiah 44:19-20
19 No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"
20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

So often we allow things to creep into our lives and we really begin to have a driving need for them when in essence they can not deliver on the promises these idols make...they are a lie. The enemy wants to deceive us into thinking people, or things, or position (even in the church), can give us what we really need. They can't and we keep coming back to try to get full because they didn't do it for us. No one and nothing can take the place of God, but we will spend ourselves in vain trying to feel the aching places. I don't even think we realize it most of the time.

One thing I read in the Hebrew lexical aides years ago about idolatry is that the reason God hates it so much is because it is in essence the worship of satan. I am not talking about not having things and never watching television or shopping what I am talking about is do the things we have and seek after have us? Because we are not a people who are safe if the Lord does not whole heartedly have us. I am sure you can testify to this in your own life.

So what do we do? Our idols must be cast down. That is what I am going to work with the Lord on thru this study and I am sure for the rest of my life. It is so true in my life and yours that what we worship begins to control us and drive us and we labor toward that end. Maybe I am the only one ;).

12 comments:

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Jenny Hope, that looks awesome. I am going to see if Amen Corner carries it...

Hewy Nosleep said...

Really provocative. You need to write your own bible studies.

Anonymous said...

Wait I'm so confused...I thought you were doing Stepping Up?

I actually came over here to tell you that I started the "Stepping Up" study today:) It is amazing!We have about 40+ women in the class:) After the video we split into small groups! Today was the introduction and it was SO good! I am so excited!!!

Glad your so excited about your new study too!!

Charity said...

Oh yes ma'am!! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do this with you! I will head to Lifeway today girl!!
I checked out her link...wow if only all of us could sink into some comfy couches together in someone's living room with some warm, fresh chocolate chip cookies! Yum! She really does sound like "the real deal"!!
Oh, and I love your title for this post!! I use the word "stinkin" all the time to describe things!! Like...that Morgan is so "stinkin" cute! Ha!

steph said...

I would love to do this Bible Study online w/ all of you. Can I find it at lifeway?

Little Steps Of Faith said...

Abby did that study:)

I'm still doing Beth Moore ones for now..." When Godly People do ungodly things..."
which a siesta sent me:)
Paige...she rocks!

Maryanna said...

Girl, I so wish I was close so I could do Bible studies with you.

Jessica said...

Great, great post!!!

Tam said...

God has had to loosen my grip on absolutely everything right now in our lives. We are at a point where we are walking away from everything and starting from scratch. At first, I was white knuckling everything. Why? They were my little gods. And my big God would have it no more. Although things are being stripped - I feel so free and full of joy and contentment in Him! how awesome is that?!

AND...I noticed that, yet again, a commenter here has mentioned you writing your own studies...AHEM!!!

Fran said...

Isn't this the one that Abby did???
I'm about to check it out. It looks like it would be fantastic. I remember Abby writing some awesome posts on it.

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

I read Abby's comments a while back on Kelly's b.s. study and it was really good. Made me want to do her b.s.

We started Stepping Up this past Wednesday, the intro. Are you thinking about doing this online? If so, I'm a definite YES. In person, uh oh...not close. Sounded from Abby that is touched her deeply. Isa 44 has meant a lot to me---in fact, Abby shared that same verse.

I am MIA over here.
Sick.
No internet most of week.
Yukko...
with a touch of snow.

I just loved seeing Morgo in the snow!

Emily said...

hey Jenny! I am wondering if this post is a "divine appointment" for me today. I have been out of Bible study for awhile, the details are too long to say, but it has been a real struggle. I have tried to get involved in 3 studies within the past two weeks and the doors keep shutting due to my husbands work schedule. I have been a little discouraged. I felt the Lord speak to my heart a few days ago that it was time to start a home study at my house. I tried to start one two years ago with some neighbors and it did not stick. I had 1 faithful friend to actually show up and I was discouraged because I really felt God wanted me to do a study in my neighborhood when we moved here. So... I was thinking of what study to do and I feel this may be it! Oh, do I need this topic right now too. Please pray me!
Thanks for your prayers for my mom too. It means a lot :)