I Crave It! ~ "My soul thirsts for You"

"You are my God; early will I seek You;

my soul thirsts for You;

my flesh longs for You..." 

Psalm 63:1

"I crave it!  I thirst for God's word every morning...even before I make my coffee!"  My girlfriend's words made my heart leap for joy!  Her heart was being filled and satisfied at His table, in His word, by His truth.  A wife, mom of two wonderful children, a career helping children and a graduate student, my girlfriend is rising early to meet God is in His word.  She knows this truth ~ "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  Psalm 73:26


As girlfriends and sisters in Christ, I think the most meaningful things we can do are to pray for each other, point each other to Christ, encourage each other in His truth and study His word together.  My "I Crave It" girlfriend is also part of our Gather & Grow Bible study.  She knows the value of "the assembling of yourselves together" for Bible study, fellowship and accountability. 


Melissa Taylor and I were so humbled and excited that SO MANY of you expressed a desire to seek the Lord about leading a Gather & Group Bible study.  Please contact Melissa (Melissa@MelissaTaylor.org) or go here for more information and to get started.  Stay in touch with Melissa as she is preparing a great support network and will be arranging conference calls for leaders soon!  (By the way, Melissa is one of my favorite people in the world, too.  And she gives the best "over the counter" hugs with great enthusiasm and love!!)


I truly wish everyone could win the Made to Crave Bible Study Bundle.  Truly I do.  Betty Kreinbring will be receiving the MTC Bible Study Bundle!!!  Congratulations Betty! I will be emailing you.


Girls ~ be encouraged in what God has called you to do!  Seek Him.  He will lead you perfectly.  "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10  


I would LOVE to know how God has been speaking to your heart the last few days in His Word!  Please be sure to leave a comment.  I would love to pray for you!

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good."

1 Peter 2:2

"I spread out my hands to You;

My soul longs for You like a thirsty land."

Psalm 143:6

The Assembling of Ourselves Together

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."  Hebrews 10:24-25

Aaahhhh....the sweetness of "the assembling of ourselves together."  The nourishment and refreshment of face-to-face Bible study and fellowship are vital for us as Christians.  The Bible teaches us the importance of healthy face-to-face relationships with believers so together we can worship, study the Bible, fellowship, pray, break bread, encourage and challenge one another.  For Christian women, I believe the desire for us to gather and grow is woven into our heartstrings.  We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together...and I think we crave His perfect design of gathering and growing in the core of our beings.

Acts chapter two teaches us the necessities for vibrancy and growth.  The believers gathered regularly "...with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God..."  (Acts 2:46-47)  Sounds inviting and refreshing.  Simple, vital, nourishing, life-giving gathering together.

This will be the fifth year I have facilitated and hosted a Gather & Grow Bible study group in my home.  A very precious group of women gather together to grow in Him and His Word.  We assemble to seek the Lord, to worship in song, to pray, to share struggles and to rejoice in praise to Him.  We read His Word, we laugh, cry, sing, listen and share.  We gather and grow...for Him and in Him.

The growth in each woman's heart through the Gather & Grow Bible study is a testimony to His faithfulness and His desire to grow us in His truth!  "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."  1 Corinthians 3:7  God brings the growth.  God's breath brings the increase.

The personal testimonies, notes and emails we have received from the women in Gather & Grow about how they have grown in the Lord are jaw-dropping amazing!  GOD is good.  GOD gets the glory.  It is all HIS doing. 

What really tickles me is when we hear from husbands of women in the group.  When the husbands are making a point of telling us the change in their wives, I do a happy dance.  Living a life of godly integrity happens within the four walls of our own homes first.  So when we hear from one of the husbands, we rejoice at God's good work all the more!  The husband of one of the gals in our group even gave our Gather & Grow group some alternative names ~ "Assemble & Resemble" and "Hang Out & Sprout"!  That is indeed, by His grace, what we do - Gather & Grow, Assemble & Resemble, Hang Out & Sprout.

Autumn 2011 made its debut as it peeked over the horizon at 5:05 this morning.  Autumn brings the start of Bible studies that journey together through winter and linger into spring.  Seasons of gathering together.  Seasons of growing together.

Are you feeling led by the Lord to host a Gather & Grow Bible study?  I'd like to pray for you and encourage you.  Please be sure to leave a comment with your prayer request.  It would be an honor to pray for you and your group.

If you feel led to host a Gather & Grow Bible study, I am giving away, as unto the Lord, a Made to Crave Bible Study Bundle (by Lysa TerKeurst)!!  This Bible Study Bundle includes a book, DVD teachings by Lysa and a Participant's Guide!!  Please leave a comment and share a bit why and how you feel led (be sure I have your contact information).  The winner of the Bible Study Bundle will be announced next week, and we will get it to you right away!!

 

(If you are unable to comment here, please go to https://www.facebook.com/HisTableForTwo and leave your comment under today's post.  Comments from here and there will be included in the MTC Bible Study Bundle give-away. Thank you.)

As we each daily meet with Him at our own Table For Two, we are encouraged to also gather with one another in His Word and in fellowship.  He meets us and fills us.  Gather & Grow with Him.  "You shall be filled at My table..."  Ezekiel 39:20

"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

Acts 2:46-47

All Things Are Ready...Come

"Tell those who are invited,

'See, I have prepared my dinner...

all things are ready. Come...”’

Matthew 22:4

"My God, and is Thy table spread

And does Thy cup with love o'erflow?

Thither be all Thy children led,

And let them all its sweetness know.

Oh, let Thy table honored be,

And furnished well with joyful guests;

And may each soul salvation see

That here its sacred pledges tastes.

Revive Thy drooping churches, Lord!

And bid our drooping graces live;

And more, that energy afford,

A Savior's love alone can give."

~ Philip Doddridge

"I delight in Your decrees;

I will not neglect Your word."

Psalm 119:16

Your Invitation to Dine

"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven...he who eats this bread will live forever.”   John 6:57-58

In its beautiful simplicity, the significance of the table moves my heart in awe of God's goodness.  He wants to meet with us daily and fill us with His truth.

The table represents communion with God, fellowship with Him, dwelling with Him and feeding on the Bread of Life. 

God invites us to come and dine with Him.  He invites us to come receive our portion daily.

Sometimes I approach the table in hushed reverence completely aware of my wretchedness and His holiness.  Other times, I limp my way there knowing my brokenness needs to be made whole by His perfect love. And still at times I dance my way to the table rejoicing in His faithfulness, mercy and provision. 

Whatever the condition of my heart, by His grace, I go.  Without pretension, I go.  I go because He is faithful to meet us in His Word and in prayer.

"Receive the Bible as it is in truth, the Word of God, which works mightily in those who believe.  Hold fellowship with God through the Word.  Take time to speak with Him about it, to give an answer to Him concerning it. Then you will understand what the Lord Jesus says: 'The words which I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.' (John 6:63)"

~ Andrew Murray

Let's dine with Him in His Word.  His gives us the richest of fare.  "Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."  (Isaiah 55:2)

Journal

Saying grace ~ Bringing my heart to God in prayer.

My Portion ~ Where Has God met me in His Word today?

Nourishment ~ How does God want to mold and change my heart?

Second Helpings ~ Where does God want me to be a doer of the Word and take action?

Time for Dessert ~ What can I share with others from what God showed me today?

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"

Psalm 34:8