My desire and vision for Women’s Bible Studies for the upcoming year is to equip women to grow in the Word so they can deepen their relationship with God, family, and friends, and be able to increase their sphere of influence. To help reach this vision, there are various classes available. If these don’t meet your need, please let me know.

During a recent sermon, Bud made the following statement: “There are no short cuts to God’s Word. Since there are no short cuts, there must be some work involved. This is not hard work, it is just some work. Like all otherthings that require work, you need to put in some effort.

In the case of deepening your relationship with God, you must spend time in God’s word. Yes, time. You don’t need to spend hours and hours, but you do need to make the time to get your nugget for the day. As busy women, you schedule time for appointments, meals, cleaning, and the ten million other things that you do each day. I challenge you to schedule some time today with your Father. He desires it, and you need it.

To get God’s principles and be able to apply them, you must know what the principles are. I know this seems trivial, but you can only apply what you know! And you can only know what you’ve learned. And the best place to learn these principles is in God’s Word. Many people refer to the Bible as: Basis Instructions Before Leaving Earth. If this acronym is true, then we need to read, and learn, and apply what our handbook states. God’s Word has the answer to every question. He gives us clear instruction on how to be a wife, mother, sister, friend, and citizen. It’s all in there, all we have to do is delve in, and then apply what we find. There is no short cut in the application.

Proverbs 27:17 states that, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” We grow more, and learn more, when we are in a group and have accountability. Please join a Bible Study this fall and GROW!!!! Take the time...you can’t afford not to.

If you have a desire to lead a ladies group, please contact me at 320-2709. Becky Harding

Marked as His

In Ezekiel 9:4, the Lord tells the man in linen (an angel) to go through Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of all the men who sigh and groan over the abominations which were being committed in their midst. He was to mark the people who were appalled and repulsed by the sins of the community. These people were “marked as His,” they were set apart for not going with the crowd. They were the ones who stuck up for holiness. Also, at the Passover, God told the angel of death to pass over the houses of those who had trusted and obeyed and marked their doorposts as He instructed. (Ex 12:7 & 13)

We who have named the Name of Christ and are baptized; have been given the Holy Spirit and are marked as His. (Acts 2:38) We carry the mark of Christ on our foreheads. When Jesus returns in all of His splendor and glory for His Church those who have remained faithful and are "marked as His" will not be destroyed. (Rev. 7:2-3)

With this mark comes a responsibility to live a holy life. We are to abstain from wickedness. We house the Holy Spirit and are to live as “temples.” We are to be appalled and repulsed by the sins of our community. However, we can’t just live “grossed out,” but need to be salt and light in our community. We need to share what Christ has done for us and what He desires so much to do in the lives of others. We need to live a marked life!

Becky Harding

Gird UP!

“Gird up the loins or your mind for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13

When Jesus washed the disciples feet, He girded up His loins for the task. He prepared for the act of service in which He was about to do. He knew the steps to take to get the job done. (John 13:1-4) He was ready for action. When Peter was out fishing on the Sea of Galilee, he had his loins girded for work. (John 21:7) Like wise we need to gird up the loins of our mind and be ready for work, service and action. To do this we must take control of our minds. This means censoring the junk going in and taking captive the thoughts that are churning around in there. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. Every thought, that is, every thought: the good ones and the bad ones and make them line up with what Jesus says and stands for. We are to have our minds set on the “whatsoevers.” Whatsoever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent things and things that are worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8). How do we accomplish this? We daily renew our minds with the washing of the Word. Daily! Get into God’s Word daily and let It have Its perfect way.

We are to keep sober in spirit, this means in our thinking. Not silly. Not angry. Not sweating the small stuff. Sober, with our spirits set on things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

Our hope is to be fixed completely on the grace of Christ. We are not to hope in our own riches or our possessions. We are to hope and rely on the grace of Christ. We need to keep our focus on Jesus not the storms blowing around us.

How do we do this? It all goes back to girding up the loins of our mind. If we keep our thoughts and minds girded up, we will naturally keep sober in spirit and our hope will be dependent on the grace of Jesus. So my challenge to you is: Gird up--be ready for action, service and work!

Check out the opportunities for women to get help in “girding up” through Growth Cell Bible Studies, as well as discipleship and prayer.


 

The Importance of Bible Study

In the WORD is where it’s at!
“Let us press on to know the Word”
Hosea 6:3

Why should we press on to know the Word of God? Simply put--Your life will radically change in the Word. How does this happen? The Word of God is God breathed and inspired for teaching, reproofing, and for correction, for training in righteousness so that every (wo)man of God may be adequately equipped for every situation in life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) This Word is sharper than any two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) and cuts away all the extra junk in our lives. The extra junk is sin and garbage we tend to dwell on. The Word liberates our soul from all error and sets us free. (John 8:31-32) The only place we will grow is in the pure light of the Word. How can we know how to live by God’s standards and in His perfect will if we don’t take the time to learn what the “instruction book” says? I challenge you to take the time to delve into God’s Holy Word and GROW!!
 

How can you do this? You do this of course, in your daily Quiet Time; the time of day you set a side to spend in quiet fellowship with God. This is vital to your life as a Christian. Our Quiet Time is where we get our “nugget” for the day. This is for you. However; it is also for you to share with the people in your sphere of life who you get to influence. You can also join a Bible Study where you go to be fed and also feed another. Being a part of a Bible Study not only gives you the chance for fellowship and relationship- building, but a level of accountability you don’t get on your own. It is exciting and encouraging to see growth in yourself and also in the others in your class.
 

It is my passion and prayer that every woman here at CCCS would be studying the Word. Here is what we have available at this time. If you are interested in something else or desiring to lead a study, please don’t hesitate to contact me @ 320-2709.

Thank you,
Becky Harding