I am RESOLVED. Are you?

    Ladies if you thought Ladies Night was a great start to a year of LIVING WELL, last night's bible study was an explosive introduction to the next ten weeks as we intentionally, unrelentingly SEEK God! We are on fire because God has called US OUT and we are ACCEPTING His call. The Women of EFBC are resolved to not just do Church any longer. We are on a mission to SEE GOD!

    To introduce Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself, we had a heart to heart talk about the why's and how's of participating in an in depth study. I'm going to outline what we discussed.

    1. Before you begin the study you must be RESOLVED in your mind that you are actively SEEKING and BELIEVING God. Resolution only comes when we are honest with ourselves about what we believe. If you have unbelief in any of the following areas, that unbelief will be an obstacle to Oneness with God. Can you confidently say...

        a. God is who He says He is.

        b. God can do what He says He can do.

        c. I am who God says I am.

        d. I can do all things through Christ.

        e. God's Word is alive and active in me.

    2. Understand that you CANNOT Live Well apart from God. Who are you apart from God? I can admit that I am the meanest of the meanest without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Sure without the holy Spirit I could be sweet on a good day, but cross me and I would cut you rain or shine. And then I'd proceed to tell you why you deserve to be laying in the street bleeding. That's just the truth about who I am apart from God. I can't really experience a patience and joy that allows me to forgive or show compassion without God's help. Imagine how well YOU will live when the Fruit of the Spirit abounds in your everyday experience.

    3. In depth Bible Study requires WORK. I cannot deny the level of commitment that is required for you to complete this study. Whether you are a seasoned Bible Study participant or this is your first time participating in Bible Study, you must engage the lessons outside of Sunday morning and Wednesday night. If you don't currently have quiet time with God every day, commit to ten minutes reviewing lesson notes daily. For bible study veterans, challenge yourself to complete ALL of the homework lessons. Whichever level you find yourself, you have to make a commitment to consistently study on a level that is challenging AND daily sustainable.

    4. Learning more about God requires SACRIFICE. To study you must decide to turn off the television, get off Facebook, turn the ringer off your phone, wake up earlier/stay awake later, ask your husband to leave you alone when he sees your bible open, or put the kids to bed on time. Whatever it takes. Whatever is in the way. Whatever is compromising your time with the Lord. Make up your mind to let it go for the next ten weeks.

    5. Your sacrifice is worth it because God rewards those who diligently seek Him! And the reward is Oneness with God. If you are RESOLVED to be like Christ than isn't Oneness with God through His Holy Spirit your greatest desire? We are not looking for external rewards: cars, money, hot dates, etc. We want the REWARD of heart surgery that transforms us into the kinds of women who through self-discipline have financial blessings, through faithfulness have dynamic relationships, through joy live life with an exclamation point! You will be rewarded.

Any ladies who were present, please feel free to fill in any points that I missed in this outline. Or if there was a point that really hit home for you, share it with us here. Your ideas bless others in ways that you may never realize.

I look forward to getting to know each of you better as we journey through God's Word. If I can help you in any way, please don't hesitate to post a question, comment or suggestion here or contact me at ehjohnson@efbcministries.com. If you are unable to join us on Wednesdays at 7pm or Sundays at 9:15am, that is okay! Keep checking in on the blog, post your comments, follow me on twitter (@efbc_ladyj);  do whatever you can to remain a part of this transformative experience. We would love to reach out to you and review your homework over the phone. Just let us know.

Live Well,

Lady J