Oh my loving Lord! How beautiful You are to give such sweet rest… contentment… ease… when we are truly and genuinely refreshed… in our body… in our mind… in our spirit… in You! This is what You allowed me to feel this ladies bible study night! My week would be just as much a challenging week as the others, even in being exhausted. But for this night… for this study… I was very relaxed… extremely refreshed… and absolutely 100% present. Praise Your Holy name! It was so nice! ❤

Truth Four (aka Week 4) was You Didn’t Do Anything Wrong.
The verse to combat feeling like we did something wrong was Proverbs 16:9
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”

I arrived in time to get grab my badge, a door prize ticket, and a blank card for my new prayer request. Walking toward the table, I just sat in the nearest corner. I would eventually be delighted with Ellen at my left. We enjoyed such sweet fellowship. I enjoyed sharing notes on our week. I was also so glad to see Keitha back!! 🙂 Beth had been a blessing!  But I am so thankful You brough Keitha back to us! It was nice to see her lively smile and get a Keitha hug! ❤

As we ate our snacks, Keitha told us about her convention she spoke at. There was so much good fellowship and laughter. A great deal of it being on the very subject of Comparison between the bible characters we were studying… Jacob, Leah, Rachel, Laban, Zilpah, and Bilhah. It is the most incredible thing to sit down with people who think and live just like me as we study these bible characters we have long heard of, and their horrible situations. Comments that no one else will hear us say, and familiar ways of saying the same old thing. “And he was 80! Ugh!”

We were given some information on different things we were considering helping out. I don’t have a Sprig can or I would share a picture, but I am checking the pantry for any of the items mentioned above on the Every Child Initiative.

Oh and the door prize tickets that we get each week, Lord?? 

Thank You for letting me hear my number!
I was so delightfully surprised with a cup!

I am so BLESSED in You!

Now I finally see what Rae Dunn looks like close up!
Keitha LOVES Rae Dunn products!
I know this may sound weird, but my cup felt SO SOFT!!
I know, right?? A cup… feeling SOFT. But it did! It does!
It’s awesome! Thank You, Lord! And it’s large! 🙂

After we went to watch the video, I was blown away with
Truth Four: You Didn’t Do Anything Wrong.
It came with the combating verse Proverbs 16:9:
“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”

I struggle to find the words to describe the sudden and heavy darkness that someone had suddenly shed a light on, and all I could do was freeze and go numb. Comfort wrestled with shame. Disgust wrestled gratitude. Numbness wrestled with feeling sick to my stomach. Holding my breath wrestled with strangled breath wanting a moment to finally let go and inhale a nice deep breath of fresh air of new life. I ended up having to go to the ladies room. My stomach was in such knots. And I felt so numb to life. So confused at what I was supposed to think… to feel.

When I got back, we were beginning discussions. Then Keitha said a prayer for us before we broke into small groups, exchanged prayer cards, and took turns praying in our small groups. My prayer cards now have me praying for jobs and employment issues, incomes, finances, health, pain, and friends with CA (Cancer). On my card this week, I asked for prayer regarding my stepdad Bobby’s breathing issues and over the tests results he would be getting back during the week.

I enjoy praying with and for others… individually, as a large group, in small groups, out loud, silently, and at home each day as I do my study. And when You lovingly lay them on my heart at random times. Bobby helps me pray to. And tells me he loves the ladies praying for him. That he loves them and is praying for them too.

I left the night with hugs from my sisters in Christ, laughs, and the most awesome conversations going on even as literally going out the door.

“He was 80! Ugh!”

“Well why did Rachel give her handmaid to Jacob for a wife?? Hello! That was just adding another wife when she was already jealous of Leah! That was another woman in his bed!”

“I was disappointed in Leah giving her handmaid! I mean she had FOUR PURE BLOODED SONS… who would ALWAYS be the oldest… having the birth right… and she knew her sister didn’t have her OWN son yet.”

“I feel sorry for the handmaids. Just given to someone they didn’t even want… to have children that wouldn’t even be theirs!”

“Who would name their children after farm animals?”

“And he was 80! Disgusting!”

Looking forward to seeing You next week, Father. I’m getting sad to know there are only 2 nights left, but I will be grateful for even those 2! I love You!