“Don’t miss class”

We have passed the halfway mark and still women continue to join in!  I hope you are all finding that you are falling in love with the Lord of the dance as you meet together with Him!   

Did you make it to “class” this week or did you get tied up?  You know He’s always willing to reschedule and re-reschedule until it fits into your schedule because He is always available.  Amazing things are waiting for you in “class!” 

I can give you the highlights of “class” but it’s certainly not the same as going!  Mary showed up for “class” and found the very treasures for her life! 

            the lovingkindness of the Lord is for those who meet Him! 

            the secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him! 

            the shelter of the Lord is for those who abide in Him! 

            the ever-present help of the Lord is for those who need Him! 

            the glory of the Lord is reflected in those who suffer for Him! 

I have it straight from the author’s mouth “you don’t want to miss ‘class’ next week – the women at Bethany!”  These are possibly very familiar stories, but God can do amazing things with them if we will sit at His feet, and look for anything we’ve never seen before.  As we seek Him, He promises to be found! 

Can’t wait for the next “class” tomorrow morning! 

Debbie Harris

Quiet Time in Summer 09                                                               

@ Shadow Mountain                                                                                   

www.shadowmountain.org

PS  It’s never too late to join in.  Also, I was able to order some of the 2^nd printing and have books available in the Women’s Ministries office (call Kelly 440-1802 ext 3525).  Just email me a name and email address to register!  Blessings as you “quiet time!”

Week Two-Prepare Your Heart

This idea of Preparing Your Heart as you enter Quiet Time was new to me. I never really did this before. I’ve always just opened my Bible and started reading. Sometimes you get bogged down in a part that doesn’t seem to make any sense or doesn’t seem relevant or my mind would just wander away as the mechanical part of my mind simply decodes all the words. Preparing My Heart really adds value to my Quiet Time as it helps me focus on God and changes this activity from simply “going through the motions” of so-called “being a Christian” to really making this time a meeting with God.

There is a song I hear quite frequently on the radio now which constantly reminds me of my goal in incorporating a Quiet Time in my life. The chorus goes as follows:

I don’t wanna go through the motions,
I don’t wanna go one more day,
Without your all-consuming
Passion inside of me.
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking,
“What if I had given everything,
Instead of going through the motions?”

Catherine recommended journaling to us this week. I can see how writing things down will help solidify and clarify my thoughts. I’ll be able to go back over them at a later time to remember what I learned and felt in the past. It’s a place to write Bible verses that are meaningful to me and how God impressed them upon my heart.

I don’t like to slow down in my activities but I know it can only be beneficial. I am not simply a machine going through the motions of life. I need to stop. And consider things. And be able to remember them and return to them later or I will be “like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1: 23-25

“Keep in step”

I loved this week so much, and God spoke in so many places – my book is covered and highlighted and written sideways, and crossways, and in between!  And I actually am responding a different way to a big decision because of this very week in the Word!!   In my quest to “KEEP IN STEP” with God, it is amazing how He works in my heart.  I could actually see the benefit for sitting and being still – so much that these four lines came to me as I laid in my bed thinking this week and I jumped up and ran to write them in my journal for keeps:  “If I don’t be quiet, and I can’t sit still, I may be guided by You, but I’ll do my own will!”  And that’s not what I want – I want to chase after GOD’S will! 

Catherine, I must address you and thank you for such a well organized and all inclusive week!  When you began on the first page with “KEEP IN STEP” and then finished on the last page with the same, my heart leapt for joy to see those actual words in the Scripture – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us KEEP IN STEP with the Spirit!  Gal 5:25, NIV”   That verse has become embedded on my heart now!  And what a grand message for us showcased this week in the life of David, a man after God’s own heart who kept in step.  I also loved how you kept reminding us to personalize the Scripture – it finds its way all the way to our hearts when we do! 

Here are some ways to “KEEP IN STEP” that I have personalized from this week! 

   -I want to “please the Father” as I chase after His will (loved all those verses, pg 116-117) 

   -I want to “know Him” and “walk with Him” so I can “delight myself in Him” 

   -I want to “proclaim and bless the Name of the Lord” from the rising of the sun to it’s setting 

   -I want to “ask of God” and “wait on Him” before anything else 

   -I want to “celebrate” before the Lord with joy! 

Ten more women joined in over the last two weeks, and some are going at their own pace, so we are all in different places in the study, but all committed to sitting at the feet of the same Jesus!  Many will not finish by August 6^th, and I want to make sure no one thinks that is a requirement for attending.  It will be a celebration of being in the Word, not a celebration for completing the book, so everyone please mark your calendars for August 6^th.  There is an “author’s reception” at 6:00 followed by an “evening with the author” at 7:00.  Catherine will be sharing her testimony and her passion for quiet time, and there will be dessert, some worship, a small gift to remember our journey and a “give-away” too.  It will be a very special evening!  In order to plan for it, if you know that you will be out of town, or unable to be there for some reason, please send me an email so we can begin getting a feel for how many will be joining us for the evening!   I pray you ALL can come! 

Striving to keep in step,

Debbie Harris

Quiet Time in Summer 09 

@ Shadow Mountain   

Debbiec331@cox.net

www.shadowmountain.org

www.cathscommunity                                                                      

PS  It’s never too late to join in.  Also, I was able to order some of the 2^nd printing and have books available in the Women’s Ministries office (call Kelly 440-1802 ext 3525).  Just email me a name and email address to register!  Blessings as you “quiet time!”

Week 1

In Week 1 we are introduced to God’s invitation to us to become radically intimate with him. This is an idea which certainly seems radical! We learned that God wants to spend time with us. As one person in my discussion group exclaimed, “Why would he want to know us?” It is an amazing thought, but Catherine shows us many places in the Bible where the invitation is extended. One of these places is Isaiah 65:1-2, God said to the people of Israel, “Here am I, Here am I… I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people” What he seemed to be saying to them was, “Where are you? I want you with Me. I want to share life with you. I have much to give you. I want you to know Me.” Catherine states on page 22, “This firsthand experience with God is incomparable, and once you have enjoyed His presence,nothing else will come close to satisfying the need of your heart and soul.” This is so true!

On page 31 Catherine asks us readers, ” Where are you in the great adventure of knowing God?” My response was, “Well, at least I’ve begun. I began as a child of ten when I put my faith in Christ. I talked with him, read his word back then, shared with him the desires of my heart, prayed for those desires, and God gave them to me. But something happened when I became an adult. The time-responsibilities crept in and stole my time away. I’ve always had a hard time getting up in the morning early enough to spend time with God and the evenings were always filled with things I had to do or I was just plain tired. Now on the downside half of my life I finally feel like I have the time to spend in Quiet Time with the Lord but how many many blessings I”ve missed out on by not following him more closely all these years. I have regrets that I didn’t give the Lord first priority in my life but I don’t want to sit around regretting the past. It’s never too late to start. I can get to know God better now. The greatest adventure is ahead of me. I’m not at the end of life yet. Hopefully, there are many more years to live. Many more years to walk with my Lord.

At our Bible study meeting this week I read aloud a chapter in a booklet entitled, “My Heart, Christ’s Home.” It’s an allegory comparing inviting Christ into one’s life to inviting him into a physical home to live as a permanent guest. I read the chapter about the living room, where the author agreed to meet Christ every morning for intimate heart-sharing and reading the Bible together. This booklet does a great job of making us all feel enticed to meet with the Lord every day. It makes the point, also, that it’s not just for our benefit, but that Christ longs to meet with us! The same point that Catherine made in “Six Secrets.” I pray that everyone going through this study will begin to experience this for themselves!

Completed Studies Here at Study Archives

Once a study is completed you can read previous posts for that study here at the study archives.

“It’s your move!”

What an incredible example we have in Moses!

    He “kept company” with God speaking face to face like friends do.

    He stopped and “turned aside to see” what it was that was glaring right in front of him.

    He kicked off his sandals and “humbled himself” before Almighty God.

    He blurted out the extravagant request, “SHOW ME YOUR GLORY!”

    He “climbed a mountain early in the morning” to see the God he desperately wanted to know! 

Wow! I want that kind of intentionality!  Those were all Moses’ “moves” – he wasn’t too busy; he wasn’t waiting for God to find him; he wasn’t sitting idle; he wasn’t doing other things; and he didn’t miss it.  He was making a request and seriously seeking God!   He was on a specific search and he was making his “moves.” 

I love how Catherine describes it on page 88, “Both Scripture and experience teach that it is we, not God, who determine the degree of intimacy with Him that we enjoy.  We are at this moment as close to God as we really choose to be.”  Hmmm??????? Sounds like it’s our move! 

I am praying that you are choosing to be close enough that you don’t miss the intimacy He wants to share with you and the company He wants to keep with you! 

From emails and phone calls and seeing you here and there, it sounds like you are doing this because I have heard from many of you how God is using this quiet time in your life, and I thought I should encourage you to share this excitement on the blog!  I will receive an email and wish it were on the blog so that it would not just bless my heart, but potentially bless all of you as well!  Let me take this opportunity to “push you” ever so gently to take that brave or extra step and share what God is teaching you or how He is using this study in your life.  It really does have grand benefit for us all!  Share your comment sometime this week below! 

After studying the life of David in my last precept class, I am very eager for the next week because I have already seen what a great heart he had.  I am anticipating walking a little closer to God after peeking at the life of David – a man after God’s own heart! 

I pray this chapter in life is causing you to move toward intimacy with God.  He is the Faithful and True, who has put everything amazingly into place for your growth and your benefit!  He has thought of everything and is always patiently waiting — so now . . . “it’s your move!” 

Ever moving toward Him, 

Debbie Harris

Quiet Time in Summer 09

@Shadow Mountain

www.shadowmountain.org

www.cathscommunity.com

PS  It’s never too late to join in.  FIVE LADIES JOINED IN THIS WEEK!  Books can be purchased through www.quiettime.org or www.amazon.com and selected local bookstores.  Just email me a name and email address to register!  Blessings as you “quiet time!

Welcome to Quiet Time!

Dear friends,

Let God lead . . . and be sure to follow!

In light of the “dance”,  just picture for a moment what it looks like if the lead partner takes the lead and the other partner does not follow…..we have a partnership and most incredible Leader of all leaders who wants to lead.  I trust that one of  your goals on this journey is to learn how to follow!

Catherine gave us such tangible ways this week to follow the heart of God –as broken, winsome, faithful, discerning and passionate!  I prayed this week: 

*that you stepped through, rather than stopped short at the threshold, into the sacred place and let your heart be broken with the same things that break God’s heart! 

*that you saw the way God wants to allure you and wants so badly not to be forgotten – He longs to “betroth you to Himself forever!” 

*that you saw God’s faithfulness and also the dichotomy of yours and His, causing you to turn from your “raisin cakes” to Him alone! 

*that you are beginning to see things as God sees them as you draw near to Him, and really get to know Him! 

*that you saw God’s passion for you, His dear precious child, and were moved to share Him with those around you! 

I prayed for every one of you by name this week that you would not let this time set aside slip by, but rather would take this opportunity to BE STILL.  Go against what is natural and “pause” on purpose in this busy crazy life – for that is the only way you will learn  how to follow! 

In this third week, we turn to Moses and explore what it means to be “face to face” with God!  If you are behind, you can choose to continue where you are, or jump ahead to week 3 and study Moses along with us beginning tomorrow!

With arm in arm, eyes toward Him, feet following every step…………enjoy the “dance”! 

Following the Leader, 

Debbie Harris

Quiet Time in Summer 09

@ Shadow Mountain

www.shadowmountain.org

www.cathscommunity.com 

PS  It’s never too late to join in.  Books can be purchased through www.quiettime.org or www.amazon.com and selected local bookstores.  Just email me a name and email address to register!  Blessings as you “quiet time!”

“May I have this dance?”

I camped on day 4 this week, and when I finally passed on to the rest of the week, I found myself returning there again. The review pages at the end are great!! Re-reading and meditating on the thing that catches my eye and my heart seems to be the method that helps the lesson to really begin to sink in. I learned that God is the GREAT PURSUER, that He is the GRAND INITIATOR, and that He is the GLORIOUS INVITER of my life! And quite the Romantic too! My conversion and testimony then do not begin with, “I was raised in a Christian home…” or “I became a Christian when…” or even “I repented and turned to God…” No, they begin with “God”!   They begin with “God called me to Himself” because my conversion actually began with an invitation! God has invited each of us to Himself and our testimony is a “response” to that invitation! Isaiah 65:1 was absolutely incredible to me.  God said, “I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me;  I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.  I said, ‘Here am I, here am I’, to a nation which did not call on My name.”    Before we accepted the offer,  He asked for the dance!

I hope you are devouring these pages and finding yourself swept off your feet by the Saviour! I am going to encourage you each week to “fight for your quiet time” because I know what we are up against. Being quiet in our day is possibly one of the most difficult things we accomplish in a day! So I am praying the power of God in each of you, by name this week, to find yourselves daily sitting at the feet of Jesus – remember it is very important to have your “time” and your “place” set aside on purpose – it is a proven fact that it will not just happen to you – you must be intentional! Some of you are getting a late start, but do not be discouraged – it is just a suggested schedule – and that’s one of the greatest things about God – He is not limited by time – He can meet you whenever you begin, anywhere in your 24 hours without prior appointment and anywhere you choose and just as you are! He’s not as concerned about your “schedule” as He is about your “heart”! I do believe once you get going, you won’t be able to let it sit – it is just that good!

You may want to “star” the parts in your book that are “wow!” so that you can share them with others – either in your travels, or with your family, or with all of us on the blog! Sharing is one way, as you repeat what you have learned, to help the truths to become solidified in your heart. It also may be a way of encouraging someone else since this is our only means of interaction in this study. I would love to hear what God is showing you this week – scroll down to comment,  and share with us all!

I believe it is obvious how God has orchestrated this “dance” from the very beginning, and I thought you might like to know how large is the dance floor! You are sharing it with women in Washington, New York, Alabama, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, Northern California, Peru, Canada, and Sweden! And how beautiful we must all appear to the Saviour who is eager for our response to know Him, and to love Him – for He knew us and loved us first.

I hope you will take His hand this week, and enjoy the dance! (& then tell us about it!)

Enthralled in the romance of His love,

Debbie Harris
Quiet Time in Summer 09
@ Shadow Mountain
www.shadowmountain.org
www.cathscommunity.com

“The nearness of God is my good…”  (Ps 73:28)

A Prayer For You

Today as we closed our time together, I prayed a prayer for all of us - I’ve included it below. What a blessing to study with everyone. If you have time, include in the comments what God is teaching you and maybe a favorite name. God bless you.

Elohim, I KNOW you can create something out of nothing, will you create something out of any nothing areas - impossible situations - in my life..
El Elyon, I KNOW you are in control, sovereign, and I give you my circumstances today.
Adonai, I KNOW you are my Lord and Master, I choose to follow you instead of the ways of the world.
El Shaddai, I KNOW you are God Almighty, and I trust that you are sufficient for my deepest needs today.
Yahweh Jireh, I KNOW you are my provider, and will supply everything I need today.
El Roi, I KNOW you are the God who sees, and that I am never alone, and nothing in my life goes unnoticed, for you know it all and see it all.
Yahweh, I KNOW you are the one and only, self-existent, eternal, covenant-keeping God and that you will always love me.
Yahweh Rophe, I KNOW you are my healer and I come to you now with ever area of me that needs healing today.
Yahweh Nissi, I KNOW you are my banner, and the victory in every situation that threatens me today.
Yahweh Mekaddesh, I KNOW you are my sanctifier, making me holy, doing for me what I can never do for myself.
Yahweh Shalom, I KNOW you are my peace, and bring calm in every storm I face in life.
Yahweh Sabaoth, I KNOW you are the LORD of hosts, and bring deliverance as you defeat my enemies.
Yahweh Ro’i, I KNOW you are my shepherd, and intimately care for me even if no one else does.
Abba, Father, I KNOW you are my Father and that I can run to you and rest in the security of your everlasting arms.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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