I AM....

Hello, ladies of Southside! I know that several of you are participating in our current Bible study, "Me, Myself & Lies" by Jennifer Rothschild. We are digging into Week 2 of the homework, and it is a great way to grow closer to God. I love the way she is teaching us to replace the lies that we often tell ourselves, that others may have placed on us, or that the Enemy uses to lure us away from our Father, with truths from His Word. We are learning to clean out our "thought closets". It is a really good thing that we aren't having to clean our actual closets at the same time...lol.

I especially liked Day 1 of this weeks' lesson. She provides several truthful labels for us to use to replace those negative or destructive thoughts. She calls them "I AM" statements. I chose to write some of them on an index card and place it on my bathroom mirror. I look at it each day, and say those truths to myself, and with God's power (which we know is limitless), I know that it will transform me into the woman God wants me to be.

Some of my favorite ones are:
I am FORGIVEN (Ephesians 1:7-8);
I am COMPLETE (Colossians 2:9-10);
I am FREE (Romans 6:18; 8:1);
I am dearly LOVED (Colossians 3:12);
I am VALUABLE TO GOD (1 Corinthians 6:20);
and my personal favorite...I am gifted with POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND MIND (2 Timothy 1:7). Who doesn't need to hear that kind of truth every day...especially if you have a teenager in the house ;)

Even if you aren't participating in our current study, you can still dive into God's Word and find your own truths to use in defense of the lies that try to creep into your "thought closet". I encourage you to seek Him daily and He will reveal the truths he has for you personally. It will change the way you view yourself and the world around you.

Your fellow Truth seeker,
Alesia

A Hunger For God

I was blessed last week to sit under the teaching of some very wise Christian leaders like Gary Chapman, Charles Colson, Henry Cloud, John Townsend, Joni Eareckson Tada, and others. One of my favorite speakers was John Ortberg. He said something that really made me think about how we do discipleship. He said, “Spiritual growth is always hand crafted, never mass produced.”

That got me to thinking about my own spiritual growth journey. I remember clearly the point in my life when I really got serious about Bible study and growing in the Lord. It all started with a ladies Bible study class. I can recall being dissatisfied with my spiritual growth and wanting to see immediate results. It was frustrating at times because the process didn’t seem to be moving along fast enough. I wanted to know it all right then!

I look back now and am so thankful that God didn’t grant that request. I would probably have taken the knowledge for granted. Instead He has chosen to grow me slowly over many years. The process is ongoing---a journey of life. It is not easy, but it is rewarding. I am grateful for the friend who invited me to that Bible study. She has no idea the hunger for God that it created in my life.

Are you hungry for more of God? If not, I challenge you to pray that God will give you a hunger and thirst for more of Him and His Word. It is His will, so if you pray it you can be certain He will grant it. May our lives be proof to others that God is working in the lives of the redeemed!

Praying with you!
JoAnn

Bible Study:Me, Myself & Lies

Monday Night Bible Study

6:30 pm-8:30 pm

Me, Myself & Lies

A Thought-Closet Makeover

by Jennifer Rothschild

Begins September 14th

7 weeks, ending October 26th

Ladies, if you did not pre-register, it's not too late. You can pick up a member book at Lifeway in Jonesboro. They have them in stock!! A great way to kick off the Fall...

See you Monday night!!

Food For Thought

I don't know about you, but the start of school has just been crazy! My September calendar has been overrun with ballgames and homework deadlines, practice schedules and social obligations. Our lives become so hectic during this time of year that it's sometimes easy to squeeze God out of it. The temptation to hit snooze and catch a few more zzz's instead of spending time with God is sometimes overwhelming.


I don't know very many women who don't struggle with how to balance it all and manage their time. I really believe that it starts with being in God's Word. Daily. Consistently.


Job 23:12 states;
"I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food."


Without food for energy, we wouldn't be able to keep up with our daily "to-do" lists...the same is true of the "meat" of God's Word. It is necessary food for our soul. It helps to anchor us to Christ, so that when the day gets hectic and overwhelming we have a source of strength to pull from.


In the book, Life Management For Busy Women by Elizabeth George, she discusses 10 Disciplines for Developing a Passion For God's Word.

1. Refuse to miss a day
2. Pray as you approach God's Word
3. Consume God's Word in various ways
4. Find a rhythm or a pattern that fits your lifestyle
5. Be a woman of one book--The Book
6. Be accountable
7. Beat the family--meaning wake up before they do
8. Teach your children
9. Purpose to get up
10. Aim for more time

I think this is a great place to start. I know my day, my schedule, runs so much more smoothly when I begin my day in fellowship with Christ. So what do you say? Can you commit to spending the first part of your morning with God?

In His Service, Ginger