Okay, Lord. Here we go on this new adventure You have set before me. This is the first week of the plans You have laid before me, as I wrote to You about in my last post Catching My Breath. I am so grateful and excited about this Breathe Ladies Bible Study that You are allowing me to do with Keitha and Sarah! Keitha will be leading us on this study… Breathe: Making Room for Sabbath written by Priscilla Shirer.

As I have arrived, I am so nervous. It’s been awhile since I have been able to see some of the ladies. I am also missing Irene being able to do a study with me. I miss her going with me to church, ladies events, and just being here. I know I will see her in heaven, and I thank You for giving her a loving home and pain free life. I just miss her. ❤ Hug her for me!

You encourage me with the thought of seeing Sarah, Keitha, and other familiar faces I am sure I will see. Everyone loves doing a bible study with Keitha! Just to spend time with her is a precious gift from You! We ladies know that when You have Keitha leading, we WILL be given a MEATY serving of Your Holy Word, and that we will have MEANINGFUL and LOVING conversations, and of course a lot of LAUGHS! You tell us laughter is good medicine… so that makes Keitha good medicine! 😉

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
– Proverbs 17:22 KJV

As I go inside the church I have never been in before, I get in line and meet a couple of new friends… Carol and Pat are my new sisters in Christ! As we talk, the person in front of them turns around and I see a familiar face! Stephanie! We are so excited to say hey because it has been so long! Last time I saw her she was single. We had kept up in touch via FB, so I knew she was married now. 2 years they have been married already! It was so nice to be able to catch up! We got signed in, got our books, a paper summarizing an outline for the study, and went to find a seat at the table.

Sarah! We see Sarah right off to our right and were able to sit with her! It was such a gift to catch up with her as well! I was hoping to find out how her infant nephew was doing. He is doing better, but is still in the NICU with underdeveloped lungs. It is taking a toll on her sister and brother in law. It was Sarah who had given me a heads up about the study and put my name on a list that allowed me to receive the email from Keitha! Thank you, Sarah!
We all did some fellowshipping and snacks while Keitha went over what we would be doing. We then went around the table, each lady telling her name, her church, and something she loves to do to relax. It was awesome to hear so many different backgrounds! At least 10 different churches, some even “looking” (I like that word better than unchurched), and so many different ways to relax: reading, napping, massages, sitting in a porch swing, going out of town, time with family, hiking, running, exercising, exploring graveyards, spa visits, hair salon visits, shopping, and many more. We even did door prizes.

Then we went to watch the Priscilla Shirer video made for the study.

We took notes as we listened to fill in the blanks.
This was week one: The Freedom of the Sabbath

We had discussion afterwards on the video, the notes, and just in general. We then gathered in a circle, some holding hands, as we took prayer requests, and prayed. Lastly, we were each given a book marker with a bible verse relating to the study.

It was such a blessing to be able to do this study, Lord! Thank You for including me! Thank You for letting me see Sarah, Keitha, Stephanie, so many familiar faces, and meeting new sisters in Christ! ❤ I pray for each one of the prayer requests mentioned (and unspoken), each lady attending (an unable to make it), for all our families, for the church who opened their doors for us, for those who brought and/or served snacks, for those who served in any way, and for anyone that You know needs a special prayer. Praise You, God!

Oh and I did do my homework! 😉