HIDDEN JOY WEEK 1

This is week one of the Hidden Joy on line study with Melissa @
http://melissataylor.org/

scriptures for this week are:

John 16:33

John 14:1

John 14:27

Matt 19:26

Isa 43"18-19

weekly schedule from Melissa's blog:

Monday- Read the sections of Hidden Joy, titled “With Gratitude…” and “Our Journey BEGINS.” After reading, record in your journal your thoughts about proceeding through this study. What do you hope to gain through this study? What are your doubts about going through this study? Fears? What is your goal? Record a prayer for yourself. Write honestly to God. Be real, no masks, no hiding. If you are willing, share your prayer for yourself on Melissa’s blog today, but if you want to keep it between you and God, that’s totally fine too! It’s good to pray for yourself. Don’t ever feel selfish about doing that. In John17, Jesus prays for himself, His disciples, then for future believers. He begins with Himself. If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for us!

Tuesday- Read chapter 1 which, honestly, is hard to read. Wendy tells the story of her rape. She doesn’t hold back, she shares this for what it was. And she shares her doubts and fears. She shares the ugliness and loss of life as she knows it in her experience. As you read, use your highlighter to highlight things that stick out in your mind or you may want to return to later. Write a prayer for your sisters who are also in this study with you. Share the prayer on Melissa’s blog if you wish. It sure will be encouraging to read all those prayers for each other!

Wednesday- After reading chapter 1 yesterday, we are still left with Wendy hopeless. Can you relate to that? Still feeling hopeless? Well, this is where the study gets good! Turn to “Reflection and Study” section of your book on p. 177. Today, complete the questions for chapter 1 on p. 178-179. Record your answers in your journal. Read Wendy’s prayer for our journey together on p. 179. Read it aloud. Decide to believe this prayer for you…for all of us.

Thursday and Friday- Catch up days. Check Melissa’s blog for a new post or maybe a Vlog. (Video blog)

Saturday- This is Melissa’s day of rest. There will be no post on this day. She is somewhere having a fun day doing something she enjoys She’s not working today. Make sure you do this at least once a week too!

If you are on Facebook, make sure to check out my Online Bible Studies Facebook Page. Here’s the link:
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaTaylorsOnlineBibleStudies

THE SEASON FOR FRUIT

I am the true vine and my father is the husbandman(2)Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away;and every branch that beareth fruit,he purgeth it that it may bring forth much fruit (3)Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you(4)Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,except it abide in the vine,no more can ye except ye abide in me (5)I am the vine ye are the branches,he that abideth in me and I in him,the same bringeth forth much fruit,for without me ye can do nothing(6) If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned(7)If ye abide in me and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you(8)Herein is my father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my disciples (John 15:1-8)

It's almost that time of year when fruit will be abundant for the picking, yea you can any kind at any store but there's something about good ole home made jellies, jams & homemade pies, we have a great spot that wild plums are everywhere as well as blackberries, we take the grand kids to pick peaches , we also have blueberry bushes & concord grapes, the blue berries took a hit in the tornado, hopefully they'll make a comeback

just as the fruit has to be purged & worked to yield fruit, we are to yield fruit by letting the Lord purge, mold & use us for his glory

(1Col. 1:10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God

TODAY I MET SORROW

SORROW:

mental suffering or pain caused by injury,loss or despair

we all come come up with a list of things that has brought sorrow into our lives one way or another, our town was hit by a tornado & destroyed over half the town, there are still masses of destruction everywhere, everywhere you turn there is evidence of sorrow on faces, despair of the homeless, the motherless ,the sorrow of those who are still searching for their loved ones

God tells in his word that our sorrow will be turned into joy (Jh.16:20) in Isa. we see that the Lord shall give us rest from our sorrow(Isa.14:3)

A friend of ours faced his greatest fear when pulled his grandmother out from the rubble of her home,our hearts are heavy for their loss

a sweet precious little granny from the church runs to the bathroom & jumps in the tub during the storm only to witness the roof fly off above her then the house explode all around her, all she has to show for is the cloths she had on but by the grace of God he wrapped his arms around her & & her life was spared, all I can do is squeeze her , hug her pinch her little ole cheeks & tell how much I love her & her response is always the same, God's not through with me yet & I know I'll make it

today we ran into a couple who hasn't been able to come to church for a while due to health reasons, it was so good to see them & see them able to get about, along side them stood three beautiful little girls, she introduced as her grand daughters , the youngest looked to be about six or seven, looked up at me with eyes wide & beaming & said"my mama died & we have to live with Nanna now" ohhh how my heart shattered , how it ached in that moment, holding back the tears I hugged her & told her I was so sorry , she smiled up at me & said it's ok, Nanna's spoiling us rotten

just as that child put her trust in her Nanna to make everything ok, Jesus wants us to put our trust in him to make it all better, to rest in him, to lean on him in times of sorrow, while I live will I praise the Lord, I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being (Ps.146:2)

DO IT WITH BOLDNESS!

But the Lord said unto me ,say not I am a child for thou shall go to all that I shall
send thee and what soever I command thee thou shalt speak ,be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee ,saith the Lord,then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth ,and the Lord said unto me ,behold I have put my words in thy mouth (Jer.1:7-9)
Are you letting God have his way in your life, are you letting him use you for his glory, surrender & become a willing vessel & what ever he has called you to do go forth & do it with boldness!And they spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31)

ONLINE BIBLE STUDIES W/ MELISSA TAYLOR

HIDDEN JOY IN A DARK CORNER

you can be a part of this on line Bible Study with Melissa Taylor

http://melissataylor.org/2011/05/16/hidden-joy-in-a-dark-corner/

you can also folllow along on Face Book http://www.facebook.com/MelissaTaylorsOnlineBibleStudies#!/MelissaTaylorsOnlineBibleSt

visit the Author Wendy Blight
http://www.wendyblight.com/

online Bible Studies begin May 29th - Aug.06/2011

TORNADO UPDATE

so much as happened this past 2 weeks that it is over whelming as many know we were hit by a tornado, this is the worse ever that it made world wide news, & when you are so use to be the giver it is hard to be on the other end of that outstrected hand, red cross, out of town contractors passing by, the baptist relief etc has gone far beyond helping us as well as my pastors family & the church, we are alive & still blessed but just outside the door there is destruction for miles & miles, so many are still missing, all the hospitals are full & sheds are filling up quick of deceased, here is a fowl smell in the air, buzzards are flying everywhere you look, I plead with you my friend, if you don't know Jesus , call on him this day for the only true safe place when destruction such as this hits is to know that you have accepted him as your Lord & savior
here is a link of what is left of our town
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5zbsbpk8-g