Jes Pontificates about Nothing

I often wonder, as I write this blog, is it's purpose being fulfilled?

Several women whom I admire deeply, have encouraged me to keep blogging through everything. They tell me that it helps you to know where I am , and how I'm doing.

They tell me that there are lessons for all of us through this.

You know, what I'm learning, is that it feels like I'm alone through it all. I know in my head that I'm not.

Yet, that's how it feels.

I suppose it's because I've gone and decided once again where I think God needs me..instead of just listening to him and following His full direction.

I keep trying to accomplish things for Him, that maybe just aren't in His plans for me.

Ever been in that place?

Am I honoring God and obeying Him in the steps I'm taking, or am I just in the way...messing up a better plan that He has?

A dear friend, a rock of a friend, was reflecting with me tonight about the ladies leadership study that we just wrapped up...a powerful, strong, POW! kind of study.

She was so sweet, and said, "God DID THAT THROUGH YOU, JES!"

And all I could say was, "Wow. What a privilege!"

I mean think about that for a minute, the HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Awesome God of the Universe reaches down for even a moment and decides that one of us is going to be called to do anything for Him...for His glory....

It leaves me dumbfounded.

We have 23 women signed up to come to "Sweeter Than Chocolate" starting OCT. 1....we're going to eat up that book, Psalm 119....pray that the women of our church just fall in love with learning to study the word of God for themselves....that it will make them want to go deeper and deeper.

Status update:

I went to Church today, and saw many of the dear people I love there. A friend of mine joined me, and it was so sweet to hug her neck and pray for her....and cry with her. I love her so.

Then we gorged ourselves at The Good Egg, and I came home and took about a 4 hour nap...now I go back to rest...but not before a shot. Ugh.

We're in survival mode, if you want to know the truth...it will get better...but that's where we are right now.

I need more people to pray for...I take a shot every day, you know!

C'mon...comment anonymously if you need to....just keep those names for salvation coming to me.

Love you all..
Jes

GOD’S WORD DEFINES TRUTH

This post is written by my precious friend, Janan.

Those of you who know me well, often hear me speak of her as my spiritual Momma.

After you read this, you'll likely get an idea of why I love her so.

She sharpens me. She's that person who can speak truth into my life...even when it's hard to hear. She can give me a much needed swift kick in the rear, and then hold out a hand to lift me and love on me again.

She loves me like I'm her own, and in a word, I love her and her family with all of my heart.

May you be deeply encouraged by her post.

Thank you, Nanners. I love you to God's Mighty Right Hand!

Okay. So Jesica has given us the opportunity to talk about what studying and teaching God’s Word has meant to us. I have thought about this for several days knowing I wanted to write, but not sure exactly how to formulate my thoughts.

For sure, I knew the word truth kept coming to mind. In fact, that was the only word I could think of.

I remembered 11 years ago, as a new Christian, when I asked a wise young friend how I should address my family who would be visiting for Christmas. “How can I explain to them what has happened to me?” I asked him. I’ll never forget his response. “Speak truth over them.”

Here’s how that works. Let’s say a sibling is telling you about someone in her life she will never be able to forgive. Before Christ, I would have listened and maybe (probably) would have agreed. But now, after Christ, I can speak truth over her by saying, “Jesus can help you love your enemies” (Luke 6:27).

Or perhaps God has opened a door for me to tell my father about my new life in Christ. When he reminds me of the religion in which I was raised and asks me how I can talk about something contrary to this, I can speak truth over him by saying, “Dad, I believe; therefore I speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13)!

You see, those aren’t my words, those are God’s words! He gave them to me through His Word! My responsibility is to learn what He has said in the context He has said it. Then when I speak His words to others, I can know that I have told the truth.

Everything else is up to God.

Here’s how God explained it through his prophet Isaiah: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:8-11)

I also remembered another time I was riding in my car and heard a quote that stuck in my head. I immediately pulled over and wrote on a sticky pad, “It is not true because it is in the Bible; it is in the Bible because it is truth.”

Say that again?

You see, truth was not just out there being gathered up in bits and pieces by those who wrote the Bible. Instead, truth originated from God and was divinely given to us by His Holy Spirit through the writers of the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16 says this: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

So how does a person like me put all of this together to explain how the Word of God helps me in my everyday life – how it guides me and helps me to discern what is good, what is right, what is true? And how does it help me to lead others – my adult sons, my wonderful daughter-in-law, my beautiful grandchildren?

Simple. I asked my engineer-husband tonight on the way home from dinner this one simple question. “Honey, how would you describe what studying the Word of God has meant to you in your life?”

What took me three days to think on, he answered with three simple words,

“It defines truth.”

David Arthur of Precept Ministries - Awesome Story!

What a privilege to have David Arthur write this post as a guest blogger!

Thank you David for taking the time to do so..we love and pray for all of you at Precept!

Here is a short thought from our recent men’s conference in Texas:

At least three men approached the teaching staff at our recent men’s conference in Waxahatchie, Texas. All three of the men shared the same story: We have left our wives but we are now going back. Simple. They had studied for themselves what God says about forgiveness. They either needed to receive or give forgiveness – but all three of them were ready to make things right.

David Lawson taught about the role of forgiveness and the glory of God. He shared very practical exercises to pursue forgiveness for the Glory of God.

Ritchie Johnson walked us through Christ’s suffering on the cross and finished with God’s forgiveness for us.

I taught out of the life of Joseph that God is completely in control of all our circumstances and because that is true we can forgive others.

When the men were not in the auditorium they were in a small group working through Precept’s study on forgiveness – studying the text for themselves. They were hearing from God – through His living and active Word – the Bible.

A weekend spent with 250 men in Texas… no football, no hunting, no fishing – just inductive Bible study. At least three marriages now have a chance.

Praise be to our God!

David Arthur

Absolute Awe, Absolutely

Sweet Friends,

I have so much to share with you tonight, that I don't quite know where to begin.

Today was a banner day. I haven't had a lot of those as of late, so I especially appreciated today.

It began with the study of Daniel. I've chosen to work through "You're A Brave Man Daniel," a study of Daniel chapters 1-6 with the kiddos this quarter.

Next we'll do the rest of Daniel, and then we'll dig into Revelation.

That is, unless Janna Arndt writes 1st & 2nd Thessalonians first. :)

That's my plug, by the way...if you're from Harvest House Publishers...we need the study of Covenant, and 1st & 2nd Thessalonians.

But, I digress...

Oh, a quick aside to tell you, I won't be proof reading tonight...I'm exhausted, but you know me...I gotta rattle when there's something worth sharing.

And today certainly was.

Our homeschooling morning ran later than expected, and it was a late lunch for us. I was starving, the kids were starving...you get the picture.

Add to that, I haven't been to the store since, I don't know....May, maybe?

So, we had an errand to run here in town...Dr.'s office...and I was going to drive through Taco Bell (again!), but then thought...hey, we're learning about the Middle East..why not go try middle eastern food?

I gotta admit, I was scared to death.

I'm a Texas girl, you know..I don't even like BBQ from anywhere north of the panhandle!

But, we were brave...and ventured into Cafe' Afify here in Anthem.

We were greeted by the most wonderful man, a fellow believer in Christ Jesus...and from Jerusalem.

You know I wanted to hop out of my seat and hug his neck, and pick his brain for hours on end!

Which is pretty much what I did..sans the hopping out of my seat and hugging his neck. :)

Today was homeschooling in it's purest form.

We studied a culture in the AM, and then we ate their food for lunch.

Our host at the Cafe' even gave us history lessons and geography lessons of the Mediterranean.

He walked us through every dish on the menu, and graciously allowed us to look at all the items of interest hanging on the walls.

I especially liked the picture of the cedars of Lebanon, having just studied about them in Kings & Prophets part 1. Then we got to look at maps of Tyre and Sidon.

I was totally beside myself with excitement!

I could go on and on.

It was amazing.

And the food...delicious!

I could eat lamb forever....and ever...and ever...and my kids could too! I was stunned!

Brennan and Caedmon are going to turn INTO pita bread, and I found that grape leaves stuffed with rice are De-Lic-ious!

OK...so that was part one of the day.

Then we came home, and I barked out orders like a mom with no grace whatsoever....for goodness sakes, there were women coming over tonight...for our fellowship night from the Kinsman Redeemer study, which wrapped two weeks ago, but which I've been absent from for that long due to illness upon illness here.

So, quite interesting isn't it?

Mommy acts like Mrs. Bossy pants to the kids, so that I can hostess the ladies that usually only see me at my best?

Um, I think I'll be asking for forgiveness of two sweet young kiddos tomorrow.

Yes. I know...upside down. Got that one wrong!

But, on to tonight...

These precious women who have been in the KR study of Ruth, all came for our wrap up dinner. They didn't let me do a thing, and even made me sit down while they made my plate of food.

They just came in like the loving swarm of little happy bees that they are, and took over my kitchen, whilst I sat on an icepack...

Then, it got really good....

I asked them the questions I'd been dying to ask for weeks...

Remember, although we've been studying Kinsman Redeemer, this has been a study for those being called into leadership....so it's been a different level of study...

I don't know how else to say it but to tell you that when you're studying with 10-12 other women who all do their homework and show up prepared, it's awesome to see what God does.

I've been the weak link in this, but thank the Lord that my friend D took over week 3 and led it. That was one of the main purposes of this class...to raise up other leaders/connect current leaders so that when life hits (as it will for all of us) we'll have someone else to call upon to lead our classes.

SO...here were the questions:

HOW has this study changed your life?

IS God calling you to lead?

If so....tell us....

To Whom?

When?

Where?

What?

You get the picture....

I kid you not when I tell you that I sat here and wiped many a tear as we went around the table and these precious women of God, from many different churches in the area, shared how deeply studying about their Kinsman Redeemer has changed their lives.

Then, glory be to God Almighty, from whom all good and perfect gifts come...they blessed me beyond their understanding!

You see, for 5+ years, I've been praying...begging God to raise up others who would go forth and lead.

There is such a need in our community.

So many hurting marriages.

Streets full of homes that people have lost due to foreclosure.

Kids deep into drugs.

Young women who dress like prostitutes because they have no clue how loved they are by the King of Kings.

Babies having babies.

Domestic violence.

So tonight, as we went around the table and each woman shared, I was in awe to hear how God is preparing them to go forth and lead.

3 of them go to the same church and have an amazing team between all of them...oh, how I'd like to be a fly on the wall when God gets them rolling....

1 is a veteran homeschooler, with a heart for young women and discipleship, and basically said that she's open...she just needs to know where the need is

1 knows that she's been called to lead teen girls through "Sweeter Than Chocolate" in January

1 has graciously agreed to be backup for me, as we will begin "Sweeter Than Chocolate" at my church on Oct. 1, and she's been studying with me for quite some time...

At the end of the year, she plans to approach her church about leading there in January

1 is following God's lead in ministering to her grandchildren right now, and wants to share Christ with them and with others, without fear (love that! love her!)

1 has been leading for quite some time, and is on a brief time of rest in God, but is faithfully praying about what to lead next/God's will for her church's body of believers

1 wants to open her home up for a neighborhood study

1 wants to minister to the new believers in her church

1 wants to reach out to women in marriages that are hurting

1 wants to obey God...is she to be ministering outside of her home right now? How can she love on her husband and family as God wants her to? Is there "more" she's to be doing for the kingdom? (Her questions and openness ministered to all of us!)

I put more into quotation marks because I think it's often the devil's lie to us as women....I think he wants to keep us busy, so we aren't there to minister to our husbands and families first.

They are our first ministry. Win the world, lose your family? Upside down. Not God's way.

Several are afraid...me included!

Truly, I could go on and on.....

But, what I want to leave you with is this....I love these precious women so much, and not just because they cleaned my kitchen and didn't comment about my piles of stuff in the kitchen...

And not just because they went upstairs to say hello to my dogs so they'd shut up, and never mentioned the condition of the 2nd story of my home....

And, not just because they love me, and love each other....

I love them because they are HUNGRY for GOD.

They are hungry for the lost to come to know Jesus Christ.

Some are scared to death to step out....but many of them are ready to do so....

I cried tonight, because hearing their passion for others to know God's Word the way that they've come to know Him through learning to study for themselves is INFECTIOUS!

You know, babies get colostrum when first they are born.

Then they get mother's milk.

Then rice cereal.

On to pureed green beans.

And one day, they get hamburger and steak....

We've got sheep in our churches who are hungry for steak...the meat of God's Word.

They are starving for it.

Even if our pastors are wonderful, one day a week is not sufficient for dining at God's table.

If you think it is, then try eating only one meal on Sundays.

Try it for a few months.

One meal...Sunday morning.

That's it.

Nothing more.

See how it sustains you.

Try it for a few years...

How would you do then?

And, this is considering that you have a pastor who is teaching the Word in Spirit and in Truth.

What if you don't?

What if you're just getting a jellybean thrown out to you on Sunday morning, and your sugar high is spent by the time you drive out of the parking lot?

And still, no food for you the rest of the week...the rest of the month...the rest of the decade....

How are you going to weather the storms of life then?

People, please hear my heart on this....people need to know the redemptive love of Jesus Christ.

If you know it, and you're not sharing it....

Then really, aren't you just being selfish?

Would you keep food from a starving man?

Would you refuse water to a person lost in a dry desert?

What do you think the Word of God is?

Living Water.

The Bread of Life.

You don't have to be eloquent...God's Word speaks for Itself.

Just let Him use you to teach others how to study It.

Oh, how in awe I am that He is raising up others from within this community for which I've prayed so long and so hard.

His goodness never ends.

Please pray for Cindy Wyatt tonight...she is the wife of Pastor Steve Wyatt from Crossroads here in Anthem. Her Caring Bridge site is caringbridge.org/visit/cindywyatt .

Please pray for these precious women who were in my home tonight...that they'll allow the boldness of Jesus Christ to propell them.

Please pray the same for me....I've been feeling a little sad as of late...I'm a late processor, and this whole MS thing just hit me a few days ago.

Tonight was healing water for a parched soul, as was my time with my new friend at Cafe' Afify.

That was rich.

I'd never seen an Orthodox Cross before. The cross with a crown on top, because Jesus is King, and the word "Jerusalem" on the back. Does it get any better than that?!

I gotta get one of those...loved it!

Remember..I gave you full disclosure...I'm not proofing...I'm fried, and still gotta take my shot. :(

Love to you all in the King of Kings,

Jes

Seeking Guest Bloggers

Hi Sweet Friends,

A few months ago, I wrote about wanting to interview some of you for my blog. The purpose of the blog is to introduce people to how to study God's Word for themselves, and to share my life and how I'm learning to apply what I see from His Word, in my every day walk.

I haven't blogged in a while, as I'm walking through this recent diagnosis of MS, and daily shots, and a family who is hurting, and...and....and....

My friends keep encouraging me to blog through all of this, but truthfully, I just so don't want the blog to be about me.....I mean really, who needs that much of me?!

So...I'm asking you all....I'd so love to hear your stories of how inductive study is changing your life, and the lives of those whom God has you leading.

And I have no doubt that others would love to hear them too....

Several of you responded that you'd be open to being interviewed, but at this point, I can't even process doing that....so instead, I'm asking if you'd just write in my stead...as guest bloggers.

There are people from all over the world who read my blog....still dumbfounding to me....but when I see the stat info on how they got to it, it's most often because they Googled Precept or Kay or David Arthur...or because they Googled a certain passage of Scripture.

So, just write about what you're learning from the Word.

The months that I'm actively writing, it averages 500 hits a month.

So...God in His sovereignty is using this blog to His glory.

That's why I don't want to use it to continue to write about MS. I just want to walk through this valley (and it is a valley right now...the shots take 3-9 months to begin working).......I need to have some space to walk through this time, loving my family, homeschooling my kiddos, and leading the one upcoming Precept class which God has called me to... "Sweeter Than Chocolate," which will begin Thursday, October 1st at my church.

Yes....childcare will be available this time...thank you, Lord! :)

Back to topic...I see this guest blogger idea as a HUGE opportunity to allow this blog to be so much bigger than me.

I want it to be about Him..for Him, through Him, to Him...

Would you help me?

Of course, I want to have editing rights, but if there's a need for that, we'll talk about it one on one.

If you would like to share your story, or stories, of how learning to study God's Word for yourself has changed your life, would you please write them into Word and then email them to me at PreceptBibleStudy@gmail.com?

If you've gone from Precept student to leader....please write about that, too. People NEED to hear that God can use them to lead others...they need to hear about our failures as leaders as well as about our successes.

They need to hear that God can use them, and will if only they'll heed His call.

Will you help me tell them?

Pretty please, with sugar on top...and a cherry? ;)

I'll pray over each one, and will put them into a file on my computer and will post specific ones as the Lord leads.

I'd beg you to pray over your keyboard before you begin to write. I do this each time I do.

Thank you for considering my request.

You all are iron in my life, and I thank God for you!

Jes

My day was relatively simple ...but rich in fun

Heard today after church from my son, "I said a verse. I got a whoopie cushion."

I just broke out laughing, asking if I could say a verse, too. :)

It wasn't until much later...once Shane and I were alone, and he found it hidden under a pillow that he seemed to be getting a bit worked up about this littl' ol' innocent whoopie cushion.

I said, "Honey..what's the problem with them?"

"I just hate them."

I suppose that it was something in the WAY that he said it that tweaked my hearing...and

fine-tuned it to his heart.

"HONEY!!!!!!!!!! You didn't HAVE a whoopie cushion when you were growing up, now did you?"

"No. I did not."

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I'm about to bust a gut at this point! Not only did he NOT have a Whoopie Cushion, he did not see a NEED for one!!!!!

OOOOO....sososososososososososo WRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!

"Get Up!" I told him.

"WHAT?!"

"Get Up! You'll thank me for this later. I'm about to become your best friend 2x over!"

So, as he stared at me in total disbelief, I blew up the whoopie cushion, and then set it on the nightstand.

"Now what?!" he asked.

"Now you WHOOPIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

We laughed so hard that I thought we'd have to pick ourselves up of the floor!

It was sweet! You just haven't really lived until you've plopped your potookie on a whoopie cushion, and lost yourself in giggles and snorts, now have you?!

NOW, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' 'BOUT!

It's just my humble opinion, but I think EVERY family needs a whoopie cushion, and I'm quite thankful that my son learned a Bible verse, so that we could have one. :)