Tag Archives: fear of God

A Bible Study That Moved Me to Action

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This week slipped away from me so I did not have the opportunity to collect a list of wonderful posts I read throughout the week. So this will be a rambling post instead, I know at least my Mom will read it. ;)

One thing I have not mentioned here is that I am very excited my boys have decided not to play football this next season. I think manly man was a bit sad, while I ran into the laundry room and did a happy dance. We will be concentrating on basketball and soccer this next year. With my youngest entering middle school for the first time, this will be good so he can concentrate on school instead of football practice every night.

Speaking of school, I think I am ready for them to return. I have enjoyed having them home but my house is in constant disarray and food is being consumed in large quantities. My house at times smells like a locker room almost daily because when their friends are over they run outside and play a game of basketball, run back in to cool off and play one video game, eat food, then run back outside. They are all stinky and sweaty. Candle companies, Febreze and plug-in air freshener companies love me.

Mom, this last week consisted of very hot days and then loud storms in the evening. Typical Florida weather. Who would of thought this Arizona girl would end up in a place where it rains so much. ;)

Can I just say how blessed I am by some people? Let me share a story with you, was not planning on it, but this is what has been on my heart lately.

When the Lord blessed me with the wonderful opportunity to head to Dallas for the Christian Book Expo I never dreamed the lasting affects it would have on me. When I arrived at the Expo I had all the classes I wanted to attend planned out. Well on one of those days something did not work out right and as an after thought I went to this session on teaching Bible Study. (I shared about that day here)

It consisted of a panel of four women, Kathy Howard being one of them. I really did not think this was a session for me. Boy was I wrong! By attending that one session I had not planned on attending, God gave me a spiritual mentor and friend in Kathy Howard. We spoke briefly after the session, I introduced myself to her. She is a speaker along with being an author of a wonderful bible study. I am not sure what words came out of my mouth that day, but what I was thinking was…HOW. How do you do what you do? How do get up front and speak with ease? How?

Upon my return home I received the sweetest email from Kathy and she offered to send me the bible study she had written. I will be honest when I first read that it covered the book of Malachi I figured it was going to be a 9 week study on tithing. I rolled my eyes and figured I would see what it was about. Since God was in the middle of this the whole time I am sure he was chuckling knowing how much my spiritual world was going to be changed. Before His Throne: Discovering the Wonder of Intimacy With a Holy God changed me. I studied that book while the whole time asking myself, “Why have I never studied Malachi before?”
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I believe in this bible study so much, that I am walking out of my comfort zone and will be teaching it beginning the end of August at my church. Being a book reviewer I read a lot of books, many bible studies, etc… This is the first one that has moved me to action. I want people to learn and experience what God showed me about living a life with a healthy fear of God. If you live your life with a healthy fear of God then you don’t need to fear anything. Anything!

Fear is my thorn, for I fear everything. I am the most insecure girl around, but the perspective of living with a healthy fear of God has helped me take those first steps out of my comfort zone.

Kathy Howard is the real deal. Her friendship and mentoring has been priceless. If you are looking for a wonderful bible study I would encourage you to consider Before His Throne: Discovering the Wonder of Intimacy With a Holy God. And you know what, Kathy did not even know I was writing this post. This is purely from my heart. Kathy thank you for being my prayer warrior and allowing God to use you to write a powerful study of the book of Malachi. Later this year I will be telling you more about her because she has agreed to let me interview her. I can not wait.

Before His Throne Introduction Video (4.5min Version) from Kathy Howard on Vimeo.

Do You Fear God?

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This may seem a bit jumbled because unfortunately that is how my brain has been functioning. On Saturday I shared with you how God brought unexpected blessings during my time of trial. As I mentioned before, this does not happen all the time, in fact it rarely happens so when it does I am humbled and in awe. But God was not done speaking with me yet.

Earlier this year God and I had a back and forth conversation that went like this:

    God: Do you fear me?

    Me: Sure Lord I fear you?

    God: Is your fear of me greater than your fear of stepping out of your comfort zone?

    Me: (answering quickly) Oh yes Lord, when you say jump I will say how high. Who do you want me to talk to?

    God: I want you to speak at the Women Tea.

    Me: (silence)

    God: Do you fear me?

    Me: Did you mean like in a group larger than two people?

    God: yes

Long story short I agreed (after tears and pleading and saying “really Lord???”) and it went very well. It was all God and not my abilities. I was singing God’s praises. Yea God we did it, high five! Ok Lord I did it, can we go back to “normal living now?”

Then this Saturday came, mind you I have been “praying” about teaching a group of women in hopes this was not God’s plan for me. Have you ever prayed for God’s will in a situation, hoping it was NOT his will. ha.

Saturday after my boys basketball games I was driving home giving God excuses why I could speak for a one time event but to teach week after week is was to far out of my comfort zone, plus there are so many other teachers who are better communicators. “BUT (insert big sigh) if this is really your will God then you need to make it very evident” I said. (Just call me Ms Spiritual, I am sure God becomes pretty exhausted dealing with me)

I drove into my subdivision, retrieved the mail and saw I had received a letter from my Compassion child. She wrote me a long sweet note and the last sentence said, “Oh and I want you to read Phil. 4:13 I think it will really bless you now.”

I sat there staring at that sentence wondering if I read that right and re-read it.

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

It took a 7 year old girl from Kenya to tell me to sign up and teach a bible study class. Choked up with tears I realized God just made things very evident to me.

Want to know the real kicker (and don’t tell me God does not have a sense of humor), guess what the bible study covers?

THE FEAR OF GOD.

photo by jessi.bryan