Wednesday, June 1, 2011

FINDING GLORY Wednesday — New Community Opportunity

Starting today, we will be posting one scripture and discussion question every Wednesday from the 7-week study resource titled Finding Glory in the Thorns: Group Discussion Guide. People around the world are learning what it means to experience God in adversity and share that within their communities facilitated by Finding Glory resources. Whether or not you’re already a reader of these resources, we hope you’ll help us get the ball rolling on this online expansion of the Finding Glory Group ministry.

Many people reading and commenting here will be current and past participants in Finding Glory Groups. They will have used the 7-week curriculum Finding Glory in the Thorns: Group Discussion Guide in a support group, book club, adult education class or small group. Others joining the conversation may have read the original book Finding Glory in the Thorns and want to explore more deeply what God has been teaching them. However, anyone is free to get involved and we hope many will! God does powerful and beautiful things through the intersections of our lives.

Here are today’s scripture and discussion question:

“The Lord told Joshua…’Give these instructions to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop.’ The priests will be carrying the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. When their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will pile up there in one heap. Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water began piling up in a town upstream called Adam…until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the city of Jericho.” JOSHUA 3:7-8, 13 and 3:15-16

In what way might God be challenging you, as He did Joshua, to take a step of faith? What assures you that taking that step would be God’s way to go?

For more information about Finding Glory Groups, visit http://www.findingglory.com/findingglorygrou.html.

Listen to what others are saying about their experiences in a Finding Glory Group:

“I was scared to relive heartbreaking memories but (the discussion) did the opposite…affirmed that Jesus has a purpose for my journey.”

“I am learning how to glorify God, not my problems.”

“Our Sunday School class started (a Finding Glory Group) because things from your experiences sparked a commonality…willingness to dig deep and have courage to share makes the experience richer for everyone.”

“Your question opened up some important conversation in our group about the need to recognize those who are hurting and need hope. Our group facilitator reminded us that even people within the church have struggles but may appear to have it all together on Sunday morning. We need to invest in each other’s lives.”

3 comments:

  1. This is great that you're starting this Larry and Lisa. My Sunday School class worked through the study two years ago and the discussion generated really helped each of us to see that we're not alone in our struggles and that we need to support and encourage one another. With new health issues affecting a member of our family, you've inspired me to work through the study again, knowing that God still has so much more to teach me in this area.

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  2. There are floods all around us in ND. We helped 4 families evacuate from their homes. Our sump pump runs constantly and just today we put a couple small holes in our basement to keep the water from overtaking the floor. In the last 3 months, our lives have been through great joy celebrating our son's college grad, taking a ministry trip with him and his girlfriend, celebrating with extended family, and just hanging out together. Struggles and trials have come which drove us to prayer and to question the direction we have been going. The battle was and is on. It came from an unlikely source. It came unexpectedly. So in a sense, God is leading us up to the Jordan and asking us to step in. We are still in the waiting period, worshiping Him and assured He is the Master planner. We look back on our stones and know that He is God and He is Faithful. Going to a new place with Him is a privledge. We will stand at banks ready for directions. I pray we will hear and be "crucified with Christ", surrendered and ready to step.

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  3. I have been blessed by reading your book. Something that particularly struck me from Part 1 were characteristics of God's calling. It was seen through how Carly's treatment/therapy team came together. The intensive work in that whole situation was something God called you to do. It's obvious it was a calling,because it is something not everyone would be able to do ... and that's okay because they may not be called to do it. The characteristics of God's calling are seen in humility/brokenness on your part when you asked for help (instead of a feeling of entitlement that others should help), that the therapy idea came from your parents, and that your small group leader was the one who nudged you to asked for help from your church congregation. All these things came from outside of yourself and God was prompting the right people to help you see that calling. And then, the calling is seen in the results, not only through Carly's gains, but the larger effect it had (and still has) on others in the body of Christ.

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