week 7 Susan

Dear Ladies,
This week was my husband's shut down week at his work sooo, I have been on vacation as well. I was able to finish a few days and I will gather my answers from them.

I have to say What meant the most to me was day 2 and not because I have experienced any of the things she spoke of but the Lord used her words to speak to me.
Psalm 34:18 He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit. I had not worked on my lesson that day and was in bed crying when the Lord reminded me to go and do my lesson. I can't explain in a few words what I was crying over but my heart was broken and my spirit was crushed. Our Father in heaven is so wonderful. I just love Him so. And I can say as in Psalm 147:3 that He heals their broken hearts and binds their wounds.

What offered the greatest blessing?
Again on day 2 just the reminder that we are spirit soul and body. Her words here about living most consciously out of the healthiest part and that being her spirit. What a challenge to me. This whole thought is new to me. I don't know exactly how to flesh this out.

What is one thing that you intend to apply?
I don't know how to apply the challenge but I will be praying about it.

Christina Lee Week 6

1. WHAT MEANT THE MOST TO YOU FROM THIS LESSON?
Same as Sara - I was so amazed at the competitiveness of Rachel & Leah. They are dead on like us 21st century females and all our obsessions on the WRONG things in life. I've seen friends completely lose focus on God and despair because they can't have children, they can't have the boy or girl they want, they have too many kids, etc. Hey Oh Family, you got to admit you thought of our 14 girl cousins vs 2 boys? It's so easy to be objective and see how wrong other people's obsessions are but be completely blind to our own.

2. WHAT OFFERED YOU THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OR BLESSING AND WHY?
Challenge: To not let ANYTHING get to the point where I feel I'm not complete unless I have it. I am complete in Christ - period!
Blessing: To know that God was faithful to Jacob and his family even though they were such imperfect, human humans!

3. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU INTEND TO APPLY (through prayer and the Holy Spirit) FROM THIS WEEK'S STUDY?
This week my heart's cry is that I really pray before I make impulsive, poor decisions. I'm suffering right now because of a really bad decision I made. I want to truly let God guide me and not assume that I KNOW everything.

4. PRAYER REQUESTS AND OTHER COMMENTS
Pray for all the new believers at our bible camp. I heard at least 7 were led to the Lord and many souls renewed ofcourse. As I was writing this my husband Sung got a black eye. He tripped in the dark and his eye hit the handle of our elliptical machine! Oops!

Jane, Week 5

Hi guys, I am obviously screwed up and behind and everything. I thought I was supposed to start on week 5 but you guys were already on week 6. So this week, I will skip week 6 and go straight to 7 so I'll finally be on the same wavelength as you!

1. WHAT MEANT THE MOST TO YOU FROM THIS LESSON?
I think I was most struck by the progression of Esau's disappointment turning into bitterness and contemplation of murder. That really struck home to me because I have a terrible time getting rid of grudges once they are formed. Seeing how unchecked feelings can turn so sinful is scary.

2. WHAT OFFERED YOU THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OR BLESSING AND WHY?
As above, thinking about how I need to not be so flippant about my attitudes towards others who have wronged me.

3. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU INTEND TO APPLY (through prayer and the Holy Spirit) FROM THIS WEEK'S STUDY?
Taking care to pray when I begin to have feelings of dislike that can turn into hatred of others. I just feel I haven't been honest to God in confession for these kinds of feelings.

4. PRAYER REQUESTS AND OTHER COMMENTS
I'm coming to the last few weeks of my placement with the family doctor on the coast. I would like to be a good witness and hopefully take the children in my host family to church this weekend (they used to go).

sara's week 6

1. WHAT MEANT THE MOST TO YOU FROM THIS LESSON?
Leah and Rachel's obsessions that distracted them from God. it's really jaw dropping to watch these two sisters go back and forth, using any means possible to get back at each other and gain the upper hand. looking back on it, i'm even more amazed at how God so patiently bore the two of them - even though they grew more and more obsessed with what they felt they were lacking, the Lord didn't miraculously make Jacob love Leah, nor did he give Rachel an abundance of children. they seem so blind to the fact that the other sister had what they wanted, but she wasn't any happier with it. surely, when we feel we are lacking something, the Lord is using it to bring us closer to Him, to give Him praise as Leah did, rather than to continue wallowing in how insufficiently He has supplied us. it also sticks out to me how ugly things got, even though these two were sisters. i have recently been struggling a lot with envying my sisters in Christ for the gifts and resources He's given them. may i never grow obsessed and make things escalate into a Leah and Rachel situation!

2. WHAT OFFERED YOU THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OR BLESSING AND WHY?
challenge: to stop coveting what my sister has, and thank the Lord for this opportunity to draw closer to Him.
blessing: when she talks about people being restored without recessarily being together. i have felt conflicted about returning to old relationships that used to be ungodly and hurtful, but i now see that forgiveness and love does not have to mean a resumed friendship. :)

3. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU INTEND TO APPLY (through prayer and the Holy
Spirit) FROM THIS WEEK'S STUDY?
(see above answer for "challenge")

4. PRAYER REQUESTS AND OTHER COMMENTS
i thought it was hilarious how Jacob spontaneously developed "Samsonesque" strength upon seeing Rachel! haha!
also, thank you so much for praying for me and my prayer life! :D the Lord has really been answering me this week, especially through the faithful preaching of His word through various messages/sermons at church and online. i have heard a lot about prayer, but please pray for me that i will DO a lot about prayer!

Week 6, Jules

1. WHAT MEANT THE MOST TO YOU FROM THIS LESSON?
That there is NO formula for God's blessing. When tempted to take ANY credit for prayers answered or success in ministry, I am reminded that God is the factor. The sovereign, selective will of God. and that's all.

2. WHAT OFFERED YOU THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OR BLESSING AND WHY?
Poor Leah. Just reading her comments as each son was born shows her loneliness, her anguish in not being able to secure her husband's love, but also her faith in the Lord. When I go through seasons of trouble or doubt or emotional lowness, I pray that I will always turn to Him for rescue and recognition instead of trying to get fulfillment somewhere else.

3. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU INTEND TO APPLY (through prayer and the Holy Spirit) FROM THIS WEEK'S STUDY?
Prayer

4. PRAYER REQUESTS AND OTHER COMMENTS
My in-laws just left! We had an awesome time. I am so grateful to the Lord because I feel that this is the first time we've ever got along so well and that we were able to connect. Anthony had an opportunity to lay the gospel down clearly so thank you all for your prayers. The Lord answered every one of mine!

Please remember to continue praying for our friends, the Gharibs, in Lebanon. It is in extreme crises right now.

Estera checking in/ comments on wk 5

hello!
I didn't get to finish this week due to my summer camp which went great! 6 children said that they wanted to follow the Lord. One of my brother's friends commited himself, and another man got baptized! it was a blessing!

i learnd alot!

oh...Jules...do we get a catch-up week?

love, Estera

Christina Checking in

This is cool! Ooohh...we're bloggers now!

Testing 1..2..3...

Hey girls
I want to see how many people are actually checking this blog. So if you are, just post below then I know you visited!
Thanks!
Jules

sara's week 5

1. WHAT MEANT THE MOST TO YOU FROM THIS LESSON?
the first and last days! i'll explain in the next question...


2. WHAT OFFERED YOU THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OR BLESSING AND WHY?
oh mann! :) the Lord has really been consoling and challenging me this week through the study.
blessing: day one - knowing that God makes promises that only *He* can fulfill, even if His methods are beyond comprehension for us. these days, i feel like i have a lot of "twins" inside of me, and though i know the Lord has something planned out, i can't help but feel perplexed over the inner conflict. it's such a comfort to see that these jostlings are just confirmation of God's sovereignty and all sufficiency.
challenge: that Esau, by his thoughts of murder, is called hated of God, a son of Satan. to think that Jesus also says that to hate/curse a brother in our hearts is the equivalent of murdering just drives home the point that grudges and anymosity are not things to be taken lightly, nor should we wait for them to "blow over", but we must rather urgently and earnestly petition the Lord for that balm of grace.

3. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU INTEND TO APPLY (through prayer and the Holy
Spirit) FROM THIS WEEK'S STUDY?
stop murdering people in my heart, and seek out grace through diligent prayer.

4. PRAYER REQUESTS AND OTHER COMMENTS
The Lord has really been laying it heavily upon my heart how little i know about prayer. please pray for me, that i'll learn how to pray in a manner that is most pleasing and glorifying to Him!

Week 5, Jules

Ok, i'm giving this a go! :-) sorry, i thought i had posted this weekend and then realized i haven't!

1. WHAT MEANT THE MOST TO YOU FROM THIS LESSON?
Several things really stuck out while doing this week's lesson. One of the things that really encouraged me for some reason is the fact that children are going to fight- "more than one son guarantees rivalry" - Do you know that recently it's been making me wonder whether I'm a good mom or not to see my littles squabble so much? To read this meant so much to me, I felt like it cut me free! Now, it just renews my purpose to help them learn to "handle it in the safe environment of the home". Praise God for this opportunity! I really feel much better about it! :-)

2. WHAT OFFERED YOU THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OR BLESSING AND WHY?
I've been trying to do this study with introspection. Often, I read the all too-human stories in Scripture and think, "I would never do THIS! How could he do THAT?" Esau was a man given to instant gratification. In my self-righteousness, I know I thought I would never let something so minor as red stew make me forfeit my godly heritage.... until I really thought about it. How many times have I chosen to gratify my fleshly appetite instead of feeding my spirit? How often have I wasted money, TIME, energy and thoughts with fleeting temptations rather than banking on eternity? How many purses do I have stored in my closet and the poor had to turn to someone else 'purse' for God's provision? How many times have I sat mindlessly in front of the TV instead of studying Scripture, how many hours staring into the computer screen instead of contributing to my children's eternity? I admit that in and of itself, these things may not be evil, but the heart tugs when it's time. And when I know better, and choose to ignore the tug, I desensitize myself to the Holy Spirit and therefore, I'm forgetting who I am for the moment and who I belong to. As we saw in Esau's life, it's pretty serious stuff.

3. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU INTEND TO APPLY (through prayer and the Holy Spirit) FROM THIS WEEK'S STUDY?
Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, keep in mind that my godly heritage is in heaven and that it will be passed on to my children. Lord, Help me in my unbelief.

4. PRAYER REQUESTS AND OTHER COMMENTS
Girls, I am a bit overwhelmed with things that are going on right now. I know it will all be taken care of and under the watchful eye of my Savior, but I am still experiencing the daily stomach churns with the twists and turns life is taking. Please pray for peace, for right decisions, for good counsel and for the Lord to send people my way who will help me make wise decisions. (and my inlaws are still here for another week - it's going well (2 thumbs up) but pray for opportunity to speak to them about the Lord. thanks! jules

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