Hey Friends ~
As many of you know, I’ve been a part of an amazing West Michigan Bible Study for the past 5 years. In case you’ve not heard the story, here’s some history about our group….
I love sharing how God works!!
In 2006, my best friend Julie and I led a Bible study in her home. There were 12 of us that journeyed together that summer. Here’s the original gang…
Soon the group began to grow and grow! We moved from Julie’s living room to her basement. A dear woman named Mary Swierenga (an amazing prayer warrior and Bible teacher) began to mentor us. The group GREW AND GREW….
Julie sensed we should move to a location where even more women could come and join us! She went to the leaders of her church (Sunshine Church), and they embraced the idea of hosting this gathering of women. I stepped in as the Bible teacher. The first season, winter 2009, the group grew to 40 women. I loved it!
I was in my “sweet spot”.
(Here’s a fun picture from when they surprised me on my birthday….)
Since that time, the group has continued to GROW!! Women bring friends who bring friends who bring friends! All different churches, all different ages, all different stages of life!
Beginning Monday, September 19th ~ the Magnificent Monday Bible Study will be “re-starting” after our summer “Mondays with Beth Moore“. If you live in West Michigan and are interested in joining a Bible study, this may be the perfect one for you!
This season we’ve prayerfully selected Faithful, Abundant, True written by the amazing Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur. Powerful stuff!
The Magnificent Monday group meets at Sunshine Community Church at 7:00 PM. The group will be meeting every Monday from September 19th until November 14th (just a quick 7 week study ~ perfect!).
Oh, and did I mention the amazing Jeremy & Erica Simpson will be starting off the season with a Women’s Night of Worship on Monday, September 19th?!
Can I get a Woo Hoo?! 🙂
If you would like to register, you may do so here. If have any questions about the study, please leave a comment or e-mail me, or feel free to contact Suzanne Reinink at sareinink@sunshinechurch.org.
And for my sad news…after much prayer, I sense I’m supposed to take time off from the Monday Night Bible Study. 🙁
As much as I LOVE this ministry, I’m trying to remember my new favorite word ~ “OR”. (I can do “this” OR “this”, but not both). In an effort to live life with a “sustainable pace”, I’m taking time off to prepare for some fun speaking opportunities this fall (Texas, here I come!), plus pour into my family ~ including my son Jake who graduates this year!.
It’s never easy to step away from something you love and with women who you think they world of, but I trust someday it will make sense. For today, it’s one more loss, and I’m so sick of goodbyes. Ugh.
How about you, dear friends? Has God ever asked you to give up being a part of something you loved? How did you do it? What did you learn? I’d love to hear from you!!!
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*!
God’s richest lessings to you~
I am just starting a neighborhood Bible Study. This was very encouraging. Thank you for pouring out your life!
Oh I wish I still lived on the west side of the state! I wouldve loved to come!!Awesome work 🙂
This was so nice to read, especially after I decided not to continue a Bible Study this fall. The time committment was too much for my life right now. As I was feeling God calling me away from it, my neighbor invited me to join her Bible Study. That is what I am going to do instead. It meets at a better time and less often. I knew I needed to stay in the Word, and so did God. He is such a provider!Thanks (as always!) for sharing, Cindy!
I'm sad for you my friend. I know how much you enjoyed this group. However, you are now in a time of Selah. Rest and see where God is now leading you on this journey.
Yes, God asked us to move one time, and I wasn't ready because I loved my friends, loved my church, loved how neat and comfortable my life was. I knew it would take me a long time to find all of the blessings I had grown to love, but we moved, and it STUNK…well, until it got better.
I know it will be a big 'miss' in your life and in the girls in the group. you will all miss one another. Yes, God asked me to step out of the role of Women's Ministry Director at our church so I could focus on the ministry that He gave me and write my Bible study. It was difficult but definitely the right thing to do. He knew best.
i LOVED my bible study ministry at my church. or should i say old church. he moved us a year ago (churches not towns) and poof. no more ladies. turned out to be much-needed time off….blessings.
Cindy your Bible Study group of women sounds just like the one I'm involved with through my church. Women come from all churches in the area, most have school age children, but we all have so many diverse backgrounds. It's an amazing group of ladies and I always look forward to Thursday mornings when we meet. Starting in September we are doing the other Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kay Arthur study – Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed. I'm so excited about it because I just adore Beth Moore from her Breaking Free study and Priscilla Shirer from her Life Interrupted Women's Conference and Book. I haven't yet been exposed to anything Kay Arthur though… but I'm sure I'll be impressed. 🙂 Wishing you a beautiful start to fall. May God keep pouring blessings over your life. Rosannhttp://www.christiansupermom.com/
I'm doing a new thing this fall, too; but it's not what I expected. However, it is what has fallen into place, and therefore I believe God is ordering my steps. Someday I will see how the pieces fit together. I appreciated hearing you speak at "Speak Up With Confidence" in June and how your story of not being able to do all things but of those choices was very freeing for me. I tend to be an "all things" person, but it is not healthy for me or my family. In July my husband took his fourth pay cut in three years, and is expecting another in January. This means my help with the finances is even more important than what I thought it was in June! Despite everything, I know God has a good plan for using me for His kingdom work. To add to it, my work responsibilities may mean I drop our of women's Bible study this fall, and go to a personal Bible study that I can do in the wee hours instead. Was sad about that, but perhaps He will use this time to speak to me individually instead. Praying….
We are SOOOOO looking forward to having you in Texas!