Today is the first day for Wednesday programming for winter sessions at our church. This is a huge day...lots going on...
I'm facilitating the Beth Moore study: Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman. It is going to be an amazing study! It will be a great study for the women of our church...but especially me! The women I have the privilege of doing this study with are amazing...very strong and love the Lord...I anticipate such a great time together!
Then, tonight, we started a new session of GriefShare. This is a 13 week, biblically based study for people that are grieving the loss of a loved one through death. We had a very moving first meeting. Grief is all around us, and yet, it is the least-acknowledged human condition in our society...No one wants to consider death in their own lives, or in the lives of those around them...people don't give themselves permission to grieve, because the process can take a really long time, and frankly, our culture just doesn't like to take the time to actually heal...our culture would rather 'numb up' with alcohol, food, or drugs...sad but true.
The truth is, complete healing is available for those who grieve...complete joy can be restored, but it is through relationship with the living God...His deliverance from our pain and suffering is available...these sessions point to that truth...God's word points to that truth...my husband & I just want to encourage others on that road...sometimes it's hard and sometimes it's not, but it is always a joy to serve in such a way...we've been blessed with complete healing...yes, sometimes we are still sad, sometimes, we miss our little girl so much....but we are always reminded of God's faithfulness in our lives and in the lives of our other children...and we are always so very thankful that we were given the opportunity to know little Macy Jo!
2 comments:
We are doing Esther at our church too! We started it last Wed night and then we are starting another one next Thurs morning. Unfortunately, I'm not going to get to attend either one! I've heard really good things from the ladies so far. Let me know what you think.
I'd also be interested in talking to you about your Grief Share class. Our church has experienced an unusual amount of grief just in the last 3 years. Last semester we offered a class called "Recovering From the Losses of Life" and we had a huge group that attended. They formed such a close bond and it almost seemed like it ended prematurely. I got the feeling that the study finished, but they still had more to share. I'm glad that you and Randy are leading that class. I'm so proud of you, and thank God for how He has worked in your life! Love you!
Hi Marsha!
Kent found your blog after you befriended him on facebook. =]
This is great to see all that you are doing. We think of you guys so often. It's so cool to read about what God has done in your life since we last saw you. We definitely think of little Macy and wish we could have known her better here.
We're doing the Esther study at our church, too, starting in a couple of weeks. I'm blessed to be able to help facilitate it along with another woman at our church.
Glad to have found your blog... now we can keep an eye out for you next time you're in Chicago! =]
Emily Neal
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