“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
This past year has marked an incredible journey of reading through God’s Word cover to cover with my small group. We started our reading plan in late January of 2012, so we have just a few days until we’ve completed this incredible undertaking. Each time we meet as a small group, we take turns sharing how God’s Word has been speaking to each one of us individually, and I must say it has been tremendously encouraging to hear how God is using His Word to edify us and to deepen our faith. This past week, as we met together and discussed our reading, we each shared a verse in particular that had been challenging us. I’ve always loved the life and writings of the apostle Paul, so I thoroughly enjoyed reading through the book of Acts again. The above verse describes the dedication that I have desired to pursue in my own faith, and I pray as Paul did that I would finish my course and fulfill the ministry that God has entrusted to me.
This week is launch week for me in my ministry, Neue Thing, and in light of Acts 20:24, I couldn’t be more excited for what God has in store. Starting this week, I am launching three new Bible studies with three different groups of women, and three new opportunities to love people towards Jesus. Every Monday night for the next several weeks, I’ll be leading a group of women through an in-depth study of the book of James. On Tuesday nights, I’ll be teaching through my own Bible study, “Found On My Knees” to an incredible new group of ladies that have yet to go through this study, and finally on Wednesday nights, I’ll be sharing my living room with several other ladies as we study through Beth Moore’s “Praying God’s Word”. Whew! What an adventure this is going to be! As incredible as seasons of ministry like this can be, I am also fully aware of the enemy’s great desire to steal, kill, and destroy the work that God will begin to establish in our hearts. So, today, I am asking for your prayer. Would you pray for me as I take a step of faith and lead these women in Bible study over the next several weeks? Will you pray for the ladies who are going to come, that the Lord would meet them on the pages of His Word and truly transform their hearts? Would you pray against the enemy’s efforts and schemes that he, no doubt, will throw our way? Would you stand with me in faith believing in the power of prayer and join me on my knees as I seek to “testify to the gospel of the grace of God”?
I love you all so dearly. I’m forever grateful that we can be on this journey together…a journey of faith, of stumbles and falls, but one that is forever met with God’s grace. You are so loved.