Week 12!

Hey Ladies!

I hope you all have had a wonderful week. Barb came over to my house the other night and she wanted me to share my method of memorizing- I have a big blackboard in my kitchen which is right over Emily's highchair. I can read my verse while feeding her or while cooking and it's a very helpful tool. I don't have the prettiest handwriting though...

Here's your quick link and next week's verse...followed by Barb's summary. Enjoy!

* March 20th, 2012 - Download Lesson

#13 LIFE IN COMMUNITY - HEBREWS 10:23-25

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

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Hi ladies,

Our M&M class on "Thy Kingdom Come" is almost over! Next week is the last class, and it makes me very sad to think it will probably be my last regular class in the States for a while.

BUT I am very happy to tell you that we have decided that you're going to be stuck with me! Even though Dave and I are heading back to Japan when all our support comes in, I am going to continue leading the M&M ministry, with the help of our dear Leslie and several others! I am so happy! I laid it down many times; I kept praying, "Lord I will give this up if it's Your will....I know there are others...I know You want it to continue, and I am willing to totally let go and let others take my place." But time and time again, every time I sought counsel on this, I have only heard "I think you should continue...are you able to?" So, at least for the near future, even as we go to the far East, we're going to use technology and Leslie's gifts and try to make this happen!

Please be praying for M&M: that the Lord would use this simple program to get His living Word in the hands of many women...in other churches here in the States, in Japan, in cyberspace, in ????. In a few weeks I've been asked to share about M&M at a Missionary Women's Coffee sponsored by Missionary Resource Center in Columbia. Imagine missionary wives and single women (who have computer access) able to M&M even when they're struggling with culture shock and the pressures of ministry on foreign soil!

We'll tell you more about it AT OUR M&M PARTY! Thursday, March 29, Brenda Brittingham's Beautiful Basement, 7:00pm. Please come if possible!

This week in our meditation time we focused on 1 Peter 4:7-10, particularly the part "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms." We talked about gifts, and here are the 3 statements I found about gifts in my study Bible:

1. A spiritual gift is an ability to express, celebrate, display, and so communicate Christ in a way that builds up and strengthens the faith of other Christians and enlarges the church.

2. Spiritual gifts may be broadly classified as either abilities of sppech or of loving, practical helpfulness. However much they differ as forms of human activity all are of equal dignity when one properly uses the gift one has.

3. No Christian is without some gift of ministry. It is every believer's responsibility to find, develop, and fully use whatever capacities for service God has given.

Then I read a wonderful story about using our gifts from Tales of the Kingdom by David and Karen Mains called "The Apprentice Juggler".

I pray you will chew well on our next verse and that your "soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food". Sound familiar?

Love,

Barb

Week 11!

Hey Ladies!

I apologize for sending this out a day late, please forgive me! Here's the quick story/links:

Link to this week's lesson

Next Week's Verse:

#11 1 PETER 4:7-10 ADMINISTER GOD’S GRACE

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Enjoy Barb's Summary!

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Hi dear friends!

We only have TWO (2!!) more classes this term. I can't believe it. It's especially impacting me because it's probably my last class here in the States, with our hope being to leave in August if the Lord brings in pledges of monthly support. I'm already thinking "Couldn't we squeeze one more term in?" But I know we have one more week-long training to do in June, plus tackling the huge project before us of getting our house ready to rent.

ANYWAY, this is supposed to be a summary from this week's M&M class! We looked at almost the entire chapter of 2 Chronicles 20. What a chapter! What an instruction for us as we face the VAST ARMY in our own lives. I encourage you to consider what is the vast army which you face as you meditate on this chapter and verse card. Whatever it is, as you go out to face them, start singing praises as Jehoshaphat appointed the choir to do when they went first, ahead of the army.

If you have the Jesus Storybook Bible, you might want to read the story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho. There are many parallels with our chapter in 2 Chronicles 20.

Okay, my sisters; don't give up. Persevere! We're almost at the finish line of this class: "THY KINGDOM COME!" Are you praying these verses? Are you praying that His Kingdom will come...soon?

Thanking God for each one of you,

Barb

Week 10!

Good morning, ladies!

I hope that you had a wonderful week chewing on your verses. Here's the quick list o' links- then be sure to read Barb's summary! If you had any trouble with buying/downloading the songs last week, please let me know and I'll be happy to help. :)

• Download Week 10's lesson here
• Click here to read John Piper's "Putting my Daughter to Bed After the Bridge Collapsed"

Next Week's Verse (Don't forget to read all of chapter 20 in 2 Chronicles to prepare your heart for next week):

#10 2 CHRONICLES 20:12ff THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS

“For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” ...This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s...You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you...do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

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Hi M&Mers,

This week we were able to quote the first 8 verses of Psalm 63. It's so good! We learned that it's not that our desires are too strong, but actually we are too easily pleased. God put a craving inside us for Himself, but we often turn to other things or people to satisfy that craving instead of Him. This quote really hit me:

"[God] is not proud...He will have us even though we have shown that we prefer everything else to Him."

I think we should memorize this passage too:

Psalm 73:25, 26

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

May God give us the desires of our hearts, and may our hearts be all His.

Love,

Barb

Week 9!

Good evening, fellow M&M'ers! I hope you have had a wonderful week. Here are my quick links and info- stay tuned for Barb's summary below!!

Love,

Leslie

• Download Link for this week's lesson
• iTunes - "Satisfied" by Red Mountain Church
• Amazon - "Satisfied" by Red Mountain Church
• "Satisfied" Sheet Music
• Quick Print Sheet of ALL Verses Week 1 - Week 9

Hi my friends,

We have now M&M-ed 9 (NINE!) verses! Well done! Hooray! Yay! (It's important to rejoice ☺.) This week since we meditated on THIRSTING and FAINTING and LONGING, I shared what Paul Tripp has written about GROANING and "seeking first the Kingdom of God" from his book A Quest for More. I pray that we will prayerfully apply whatever God has been saying to us!

We have one more month to go! Our last classes are on March 27th and 28th. Brenda Brittingham has graciously offered her home as a place to gather for a final M&M party/recital. We'll fellowship together and say or read our verses together. Any M&M-er from any class or online, please try to come if you don't live too far away. We are working on a date and will let you know as soon as possible.

I praise God for you! We are sisters in Christ; family; a community and I have been so blessed by you and your desire and commitment to know your Savior better through His Word.

Happy Meditating on the second part of our passage in Psalm 63 (v.5-8):

#9 PSALM 63:5-8(ESV) “THE ONE MY SOUL SO LONG HAS CRAVED”

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 
when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

The title that I wrote for this verse card is from a song called "Satisfied" by Red Mountain Church. The words are so amazing. Here's the sheet music (click here) and a link to purchase/download the song:

Download Link for iTunes

Link for Amazon

Blessings,

Barb

Week 8

Hi Ladies!

I hope you enjoy this week's lesson. I'm at a WIC conference this weekend and haven't been able to listen to it yet, but I'm looking forward to it...that's the beauty of M&M'ing online, because you can be flexible! Here's the short story:

Click here to download the lesson.

Next week's verse:

PSALM 63:1-4 (ESV) WE THIRST HERE IN THIS DRY LAND

O God, you are my God; Earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

Here is Barb's summary:

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Hi Ladies!

This past week we memorized and meditated on Isaiah 43:1-3. We looked at Luke 21:12-19 and the amazing two sentences: "...and they will put some of you to death...But not a hair of your head will perish" and considered how they could both be true. We considered in Revelation 6:9-11 the absolute sovereignty of the Lord, even to having a certain number of believers ordained for martyrdom. Then I read two true stories: one about a family killed for their faith, the other one about a sister of ours who experienced a horrendous attack and how God took her through that and worked it for great good.

Hard stuff. But look through the awful blackness to see your Awesome God.

This week we are M&M-ing part 1 of Psalm 63. We'll follow next week with a second card on Psalm 63. I pray that we will examine our hearts: Do I thirst, groan, long for my God? Or am I full because I've been nibbling at the table of the world all day? Oh, my heart is such an idol factory! Let's ask Him to search us and show us and grow us in this.

Week 7

Hi Ladies!

I hope you've had a great week this week. I really enjoyed Barb's message on our verse this week as we think about the reality of how all else will be shaken, except for the steadfast love and peace of our Father. Here's the quick list of links and Barb's summary below- enjoy!

This Week's Lesson

YouTube Video of Buildings Swaying in Japanese Earthquake

Piper's Sermon ("A Kingdom that Cannot be Shaken")

I am the Lord (Do Not Fear) - iTunes

I am the Lord (Do Not Fear) - Amazon... for those of you who don't do iTunes :)

Next Week's Verse:

#7 ISAIAH 43:1-3 FEAR NOT; YOU ARE MINE

But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...”

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Hi M&M ladies!

#6 ISAIAH 54:10 THOUGH ALL ELSE BE SHAKEN

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Hebrews 12:28,29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

This week's lesson on Isaiah 54:10 was a hard-to-hear one because we meditated together on the Lord's shaking the earth, end times, scary things. I shared some of my family's experiences with earthquakes and how it was the occasion of running to the Lord to see what He has said about those frightening shakings. I encourage you to search the Scriptures and see all the times that the subject of earthquakes is mentioned. As you can imagine, our planning to return to Japan this summer makes this topic very personal for me and a real temptation for fear to rule in my heart. Would you please pray for me in this?

Oh, how I wish that this verse said: Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed; though there are car crashes and plane crashes and deadly diseases and violent crime and terrible accidents, abuse and broken homes, yet none of these things will touch you, My children. You will live a wonderful, comfortable life and you will die peacefully in your sleep and wake up in Heaven." But I don't think God promises that in the Bible. It's just not there. But He does promise that whatever He allows in our lives that shake us deeply, we can be assured that He is there, He loves us, and nothing can separate us from His love and His presence and His goodness. God has made a covenant with us, and He NEVER breaks His covenant. What He has promised He WILL do!

We'll be talking more about this next week as we talk about Isaiah 43.

If you would like to see some videos of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on 3/11 last year there are many on YouTube. Here's one that I mentioned of the buildings swaying in downtown Tokyo, miles away from the earthquake epicenter: Click Here

If you want to hear or read the sermon called A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken by John Piper which I referred to in class click here.

The song we will be singing next week is some of the Isaiah 43 verses put to music. If you would like to listen to it or buy it click here for iTunes or here for Amazon.

We're halfway through our time together! Press on with me!

Love,

Barb

Week 6!

Good afternoon ladies-

I hope you've had a wonderful week. I was really convicted by our verse this week and by Barb's lesson as well. I find that I often enjoy snacking on raw egg whites (listen to Barb's message for that to make sense!) and I need to seek out a better kingdom, a heavenly one. I hope that it was meaningful for you as well.

Download this week's lesson by clicking here!

Next week's verse is:

#6 ISAIAH 54:10

THOUGH ALL ELSE BE SHAKEN

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Enjoy Barb's summary! Have a blessed weekend!

Leslie

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Hi fellow M&M-ers,

I was so thrilled this week to get a text from a lady who is doing M&M online, in another state. She has a good friend here in Columbia who is also doing it online. Here's the text I received from her on my way to M&M this Tuesday:

"Bet you never imagine that M&M partners would be connecting via texts! Last week my partner was in Disney World and I was in the French quarter of New Orleans. We quoted our verses via texts until her ride started! I am certain that made Jesus smile! Love you! First thing I did before getting out of bed this am was to praise God with the Chronicles verse! My husband praised God with me!"

WOW. What a blessing you ladies are! Online ladies, we thank God for you and your participation with us in M&M. Keep up the good work!

This week we talked about Hebrews 11:13-16 and our being ALIENS... STRANGERS... EXILES... FOREIGNERS... TRANSIENTS... PILGRIMS...TEMPORARY RESIDENTS...on earth. The part of my meditating on these verses that most impacted me was rewording the verse this way:

...They didn't admit, wouldn't acknowledge that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are NOT looking for a country of their own...they were NOT longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore GodIS ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them!

May the Lord help us to not LOVE and CONFORM to this world, but rather obey Colossians 3:1-3:"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

"...so heavenly minded she's no earthly good"??? NO WAY.

I pray you have enjoy the pages I read from Epic by John Eldredge.

Love you all,

Barb