OK…fellow bouncers…this one is for you.
I can’t believe what a blast I had with each one of you last night! Truly, God was in our midst and gave us a great beginning to our seven week pilgrimage together.
Road signs…road signs. Which one was your favorite? I am torn. As I journey on pilgrimage with God and with you, I need to heed the “Ditch the Witch” sign. I am always relieved to see the “Weight Limit: 6 1/2 tons” sign and the “Bournemouth” sign is a good reminder to me that my silence is necessary if I am going to be able to hear God along the way. Perhaps my favorite, though, would be the “Misty Meadow” sign. It reminds me that I am almost home. You see, after a “timber crossing” and a “slow…funeral in progress”, there always comes a spacious place–a garden of God’s grace. When I turn on “Misty Meadow, I’m entering the territory where my daddy resides, and what awaits me when I arrive are the arms that have always stretched long and wide and high and deep. My Father’s love is a grace that I have never been denied. Neither have you. Sometimes we simply don’t bother to make the trip.
Well, girls, this is one I am willing to pilgrim alongside each one of you. We may not know about the “outlets” and “warning signs” that lie ahead, but we have a God who does. And still he asks us to come. To run our race. To walk it. To crawl it. To simply do it. His promise is to abide with us every step of the way.
What do we stand to lose if we don’t?
Spacious living. Time with our Father around the table of grace. Words of commendation for a journey well done. A privileged commissioning to go and bear his fruit to all peoples of the world. We can make the choice to live life at status quo, or we can put on our shoes, point our feet toward Zion, and begin the pilgrimage toward our Father’s house.
How I hope and pray that you decide to come along for the ride.
College has commenced at the Mount of Olives, my friends. Come and “transform your life one night a week.” Our Professor stands at the podium, and the seats are filling fast. I hope to see you in class next week.
peace for the journey~elaine
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OK…your turn. Feel free to comment about anything that God is teaching you through this study. This is not about me and feeding my ego. This is about you telling the rest of us what is on your heart. What “road signs” is God intentionally placing in your path this week? What Scripture means the most to you in this time? What prayers do you want to be prayed over your life? What profound insights can you share with one another? This is as much a corporate pilgrimage as it is an individual one. Feel free to use the comment section as the Spirit leads.
My name is Jane, better known to Elaine as Janerio. Elaine and I met at the Cove – an immediate connection as I saw her blue bracelet indicating she was doing Beth’s Believing God. Those of you who are journeying with Elaine through Bible study are blessed to have her as a traveling partner.
I began the pilgrimage with 27 other women 5 weeks ago. This beautiful group of women, now named “He’s Alive In Roanoke, H.A.I.R”, has come together from several neighboring churches, various denominations – women of all ages. How I love these precious sisters. I pray that you will be as blessed as we have been by “Stepping Up!” Love you, my sisters. Jane
I love you my friend, a.k.a. Janerio. Tell your gals about the blog and get them to give us their thoughts each week. You can’t fully appreciate the “gettin’ the bounce on” unless you were there, but maybe one of the other girls could explain. Heavens…I hope some of them will log on this week and blog! I love these women, and we will be praying for the HAIR club in Roanoke.
~elaine
I fell on my face yesterday morning to start off this new Bible study. Right away God revealed himself to me when Beth asked the question, “What brings you to this study?” I looked up at the pen I was using and saw the words, “Quest for Excellence.” Well, without any thought, I had the answer to the question. I think we all are on a quest. And I am excited to be on it with all of you. Let’s bounce on. Angie
I’m new to blogging; and therefore, do not know what I want to write. I was in the Tuesday night class of “Stepping Up” and was blessed. I’ve taken “my place on my face” and definitely need a breakthrough. My prayer is that I’ll be able to focus.
OK – All week I’ve been looking for my sign – everywhere – why haven’t I seen a “road” sign from God? It’s not like I haven’t been searching – I’m doing my homework, I’m praying and I even “get my bounce on” every day when I turn on my Casting Crowns CD in my car. I’ve been searching so hard that last night I even dreamed about a message from God. I remember thinking in my dream that I must put this on paper so I will remember it. When I awoke this morning, for the life of me I could not remember the message.
I turned on my computer this morning hoping to find my “road sign” and there it was in the form a forwarded e-mail that I’ve probably received several times over. The message basically said God’s “road signs” are everywhere and as I thought about that I realized I’ve seen them every day this week … in sunrises, in the beautiful full moon we’ve had this week, in the precious sound of Nathan belting out “It’s Easter – it’s a time of joy” as he practiced for the children’s Easter program and in the love I have for and receive from my family and friends. God is everywhere and I was so busy looking for my road sign that I did not see God right in front of me!!
I was searching in all the right places, I was hearing all the right words, I was “getting my bounce on” to the right music, but I just kept thinking there MUST be something special there for me to hear this week.
Isn’t that just the way it is? We are so busy searching for something new to make us whole, something new to make us feel good, something new to make us feel worthy, something new to make us beautiful and it’s right there all the time and He’s special and He’s new each and every day – a special and new sunrise, a special and new sunset, a special and new day to hear his love through the song of a child, a special and new day given to us to love and be loved, a special and new day given to us to worship Him – He’s there and waiting for us to see His signs….don’t miss them!!
Kim
Thanks for all of you who are trying your hand at “blogging.” I love reading your comments and am taking everything you say to heart and to prayer.
God’s road signs…everywhere. God everywhere. When we get hold of that perspective, we hold eternity.
keep bouncin’~elaine