Thursday, October 22, 2009

So, that's what God was up to...

For months, God has put it in my heart to dig deeper into His Word. Not just the surface reading I do everyday but to really dig deeper. I have this desire to have the scriptures come alive. I don't want to just read it, I want to live it!

The search began...

It just so happened a few weeks ago that the leader of our small groups was giving away her old books. The one I picked was Kay Arthur's book, How to Study the Bible. I looked into her Precepts Ministries and their Inductive Study Bible. But God knows that with my perfectionism, it may not work for me because: 1) I have to find the right bible because somehow the 6 I have at home wouldn't work, 2) I would get hung up on the perfect markers to use that would not bleed onto the back page, 3) the perfect color ink, 4) the perfect pen, 5) am I using the right symbol? or 6) how come I can't draw a decent flame? (Welcome to my mind.) God wanted me to dig deeper NOW, not the forever it would take me to find the right components.
Well, remember the day I got sick and went home? Now I know why it happened.

Here's the rest of the story.

The next day I woke up still feeling a bit icky so I called in sick. I also debated whether to take my son to school or have him stay home with me. Realizing that he's better off learning than hanging around with whatever germs I may have, we both got up and I took him to school.

By mid-morning, and after one more serving of the chicken soup, I was 100% better. Then I remembered that renowned bible teacher, Dr. Chuck Missler of the Koinonia Institute, was coming to our church at lunchtime. So, I went there.

Oh, my. Talk about divine appointments.

His message pierced my heart. You are here because God called you. His questions reverberated in my head: What is God calling you to do? Why has He called you?

He also urged us to raise the bar in our personal walk with God and to commit to a systematic program to learn the Bible.

At the end of the session, I just knew. This is it! This is why I got sick yesterday. This is why I had a miraculous recovery today! I needed to be here, not at work.

So I stood in line to enroll. All the while the enemy whispered in my ear: Hey, is it wise to spend $100 when you have huge monthly college tuition payments to make? You know you're not going to do it.

Well, I did it anyway.

And you know what? When I got home, I received an e-mail from my husband saying that the reimbursement from his Canada business trip from months ago finally came in - for $139. Praise God, I even got an extra $39!

So now I am officially enrolled in the Koinonia class on track for a bronze medal. I'm not really after the medal, I'm after something much valuable.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

good to hear from you again, and best wishes on this undertaking, may it bring you the peace you are seeking.

Aine Willis said...

Devine appointments are so special. it's like God personally whispers encouragement just for you.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I love ... Endless Love ... yes, the original! Lionel is one of my favorites.

~Grace and Peace said...

Aine,
You just outed me! Now everyone knows I'm a sap. :) I guess it frees me to admit I also like Air Supply's music - or will that get me banned from the internet now & forever? (Which incidentally is an Air Supply song.)

Aine Willis said...

Grace and Peace (after reading your comment on my blog) ... we can both be saps :) I love Air Supply too ... and Chicago. My 15 year old thinks I'm crazy!

Larie Carlice Proverbs 27:19 said...

I am so glad that you are feeling better!

smooches,
Larie

Cassandra Frear said...

When God is calling you like that, there is only one sensible thing to do: GO FOR IT!

Cheering you on while you go.

Runner Mom said...

So glad that you visited my blog!! I think we do have a lot in common too! When you mentioned Chuck Missler's name, a lightbulb went off in my tiny head! I have "The Way of Agape" that he and Nancy wrote! Did a Bible study on it 2 years ago and loved it!

Precepts is wonderful....extremely time consuming though! I am struggling to finish Isaiah! I do not mark the scriptures the way that Kay tells you to--I'm too ADD and would get caught up in the wrong colors and symbols...I just use my fav color of the day and mark what speaks to my heart!

That's another reason I'm doing Wendy's study. I know her and love the way she teaches!It's what God has laid on my hear to do now...and I am trying to be obedient! It's not easy!!

Holler back at me at carolinahoods@charter.net when you can so we can chat! I need to run some errands!! HAve a wonderful day!!
Hugs!
Susan