Lifestyle Bible Study Week 3: DATING

This week is a great study! It is about dating and inner beauty. This last week I traveled to Nashville to train a great group of teachers. Nashville is pretty sad right now because of the flooding a few months ago. Everything is closed down for remodeling, but I had a wonderful time meeting the teachers there. I flew home and had to do another workshop in Nixa first thing the next day. Well, when I got home Tim opened my suitcase to find that the jar of Vaseline I took with me had exploded everywhere. It was on my clothes, my makeup, etc. I had no idea Vaseline exploded, so take that as a tip for your next trip.

Anyway, it was really late so I told Tim not to worry about it I would mess with it the next day. He wiped down things and I thought I could deal with it later. So, bright and early I get up, wash my hair and start getting ready. I grabbed my brush and took off trying to make myself look beautiful for the day. I mean I had to stand in front of a whole room of people and talk all day. I have to look good. I wondered as I dried my hair, why it was taking so long. It also seemed pretty flat. Then... it hit me. There must have been Vaseline in my brush because my hair was feeling weird. Sure enough I ran my fingers through it and it was everywhere. I of course was running late so I tried to wash the roots with shampoo quickly. No luck. I grabbed the Dawn because if it works for the Pelicans in the oily Gulf, maybe it would work for me. But I didn't have time to rewash, so I did the best I could. Needless to say, it was not my best look. My friends at the workshop were very sweet, but the next day they all commented how nice my hair looked after I got all the goop out. We laughed and laughed.

I was reminded again the verse in our study that Beauty is Fleeting. As quick as it took to run Vaseline through my hair, my beauty was lost, not that there was that much to work with anyway. But what mattered was my inner self. I had to rely on God to get through the day and realize what he is doing in my life is so much more important than always having the perfect hair day. I really hope you will spend a good amount of time jumping into the study this week about Ruth. It is one of my favorites. As always, please comment and share your experiences or thoughts on dating. Are you always chasing or dreaming of a guy to make your dreams come true? I am pretty sure God has it all taken care of for you. Trust him and settle for nothing less than His best!
Lori

on growth.

Recently, I've changed my quiet time spot. That's right, I said goodbye to my comfy chair and have situated myself on my front porch for the last couple of weeks. Let me tell you, that's the best decision I've made in quite awhile. There's something about meeting with the Creator while enjoying His creation. I love it. Why am I telling you this? Well, this week, the Lord definitely spoke to me through my quiet time outside. And I want to share it with you.

Right near my front porch is a beautiful--and currently overgrown--weeping fig tree. I love this tree. It's so peaceful to me. Often I find myself admiring it and just enjoying it. But one particular morning I noticed just how badly my weeping fig needs attention. Several of its sweeping branches are nearly kissing the ground, which is my mind is whimsical and oh so soothing. However, as far as curb appeal is concerned, my beloved tree really needs some TLC. This means I've got work to do.

As I broadened my view this particular morning, I realized that really, all of my shrubs and landscaping needs some serious attention. Why is it that months pass by and nothing requires my attention or effort, and then all of the sudden, everything needs cared for? Immediately my attitude shifted and I was overwhelmed with the work I had to do. But the Lord spoke. The issue causing my labor isn't really an issue at all, but a blessing. The cause: new growth.

Right away, I got it. (Rarely does this happen, FYI.) Isn't this the same with us? Don't we tend to take months off and just coast along, maybe casually asking God along the way to do something in us? But then once something happens, we immediately notice the discomfort that His growth in us causes.

Here are a couple of things I've learned about growth:

1. It doesn't come without grief. (Thank you, Pastor Hosea, for this one.) Embracing the new means that we have to get rid of the old. Just like with my shrubs and trees. In order for the new life to not get choked out and die, I've got to remove the dead and tend to the living, new buds.

2. Rarely is it convenient. Growth means change and change is hard for us as humans. But growth is essential to our life on every level. Without new life, we're dead, and if dead, we definitely can't fulfill the call the Lord has placed on our lives.

In reality, that growth, that new life is really what Jesus is all about.

Jesus says, "...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10b

So let me ask you this: What season are you in? Are you experiencing growth in any areas of your life? How are you reacting?

GirlTalk: Play.

Join us as we go girly on gaming!

This Thursday night, June 24th,

6:30-8:30pm at Mary Stone's house....

it's Girls' Game Night!

We've got your board games,

your card games,

your video games...

games, games, games!

Finger foods will be provided. Just bring yourself and a friend!

Click here for directions from RBC to Mary Stone's house.

memphis take-away and recap.

Rbcstudents Memphis team, ready to roll out!

Well, Summer Missions | Memphis has come and gone and I can hardly believe it! I feel like I spent so much time preparing and planning, that once it finallygot here, I was so ready...but I didn't anticipate it going as quickly as it did. Truth be told, there wasn't much that I actually did anticipate accurately. Despite all the careful planning and creating that our team did--and they did an OUTSTANDING job--many of the details did not go as expected.

As you can imagine, I stressed...not quite to the freak out level, but I did stress. In the midst of things not going right, at least according to Jessie's plan, I had a friend remind me of some invaluable truth. I received a text that said, "God's purposes may not be yours. Be sensitive to that." Initially, I was hacked. I know what God's purposes are, I thought. I've been planning for and praying over this trip for months. Believe me, I know what He wants to do!

But in my very next breath, I felt the calm reassurance of the Truth in my friend's words.

The truth is that I had no idea what God wanted to do in Memphis. And I didn't need to know. I just needed to trust and let go. I had done everything I could have possibly done. It was time to be. The truth is that the Lord accomplished so much more than I could have ever planned or asked for. Even several days after the trip has ended, I'm still trying to process all that He did. In the midst of what seemed to me like chaos, I learned a valuable lesson.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says this:

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord.

'For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'"

The Lord really does have it all together. And it's amazing how letting go, or even just loosening my grip (because let's face it: letting go completely isn't always realistic at some points), allows us to see things come together according to His plan, which is always, without fail better than my plans.

Here are a few of the many things the Lord did during our Memphis trip:

*Brought over 60 kids to the summer VBS kick-off at Impact

*Allowed us to see about 20 adults begin a relationship with Him

*Softened our hearts and spoke clearly to several students

*Strengthened relationships among rbcstudents

What have you seen God doing lately? Share with us! We'd love to know!

Here are a few pics from Memphis I thought I'd share. Enjoy! :)

Rbcstudents greeting the VBS kids in style and excitement!

Gettin' our groove on...Cha Cha Slide style :)

Rbcgirls working hard unloading and sorting for the thrift store.

The mighty Rec crew and friends.

Nothing like losing a tooth at VBS! :)

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!

Romans 10:15

Memphis BBQ: a perfect treat!

Have a great weekend! Don't forget to share your stories with us! Love you!

Week 2 Lifestyle Bible Study

Week 2 Bible Study posting is on the GROW tab at the top of the blog. You guys are really quiet, I need your feedback. What have you learned in the first 2 sessions? How can our lifestyles change based on the women of the Bible we have studied?

Lifestyle Week One: Jairus' Daughter

Check out the video and enhanced Podcast to find out more about Chapter One!

Lifestyle

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Hope you are having a wonderful summer so far. We have already been on vacation to Florida as you saw in the video. I am really excited about this online Bible study. I hope you will meet with me each week as we learn about these amazing women in the BIble. So, now that you have finished Week One... please share your thoughts about the Jairus' daughter. What did you learn about salvation and compassion? How can this example help us with our own lifestyles? Add your comments to the blog. Can't wait to read your responses and questions.
Lori

GirlTalk: Watch.

Summer is officially here! And not a moment too soon, eh?

Well, the first GirlTalk of Summer 2010 is here too! Join us this Thursday, June 3rd, from 6:30-8:30pm at Jessie's house for popcorn and a movie! Our feature film: Disney's "Enchanted," starring the lovable Amy Adams and McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey. We'll gab and much and enjoy some girl time together!

Bring your friends and your favorite movie candy! See you there!