Chapter 2: Where True Happiness Begins

Hi ladies! It has come to my attention that I am the only one who is able to create a new post due to the capabilities of blogspot. From now on, I will post when we start a new chapter and then everyone may comment as lead. I know we have many ladies who have not joined the blog yet but may be doing the study. Let me know if you have problems getting started!
Towards the bottom half of page 30, Kay writes "Listen, my friend, as difficult as it might be to receive right now, you should open your arms and welcome anything that will break you, will bend your knees, that will bring you to utter destitution before your God." As strange as it seems, sometimes I have felt the strongest sense of peace in God during my most difficult circumstances. However, it is very hard to pray that prayer. What do you think? Love to each of you!

Hypocrisy

Day five of week one was on Hypocrisy. That word and its effect on my life have been crossing my mind ever since. I accepted Christ at the age of ten and grew up in a Christian home with parents who loved me. My church, however, was filled with hypocrites. The principal of my school, who was also a deacon in my church, was a known alcoholic. My Sunday School teacher was the biggest gossip in town. On and on it goes. This, along with my inability to be perfect and thinking I could not be a Christian if I could not BE perfect, drove me away from God. I recognize now how important as an adult we should live out the lives that God has called us to. I can definitely influence someone with just my actions. Thinking that I had little hypocrisy in my life, I asked God to show me. Wow! Sometimes I am sorry I asked. It seems that I have my church friends, my work friends, my homeschool friends. They all know me and my relationship with God. However, those who I am exposed to during the day.... cashiers, people driving on the road, people I speak with on the phone, fast food workers, etc.... do NOT know me and sometimes I show my worst to them. I know I am not perfect and never will be and by the grace of God I am forgiven. I will try to be better to the people that I come in contact with each day...with my words, my thoughts, my driving (LOL), and my actions. Thanks for letting me share my heart. Hold me accountable!

Heaven and Righteousness

Wow! This blog is already accomplishing what I wanted...accountability. I have so much to accomplish today BUT time with God must come first. Thank you SO much for studying with me. I learned today...Day 2 of Week 1...that Jesus had much to say about HEAVEN, His Home. I have thought much about heaven since both my parents call it home now. What are they doing? How do I know I will see them again? The verses I found say that Heaven belongs to those who need Jesus (NLT - Matthew 5:3). Well, I would definitely say I qualify! What did you learn today? Love to each of you!

Welcome!

I am SO glad that you decided to join me in studying God's Word. Since I am a homeschooling mom who is working full time and going back to school (I know I am crazy!), God has shown me that without daily time with him...I am only spinning my wheels. I created this blog to invite others to hold me accountable in my daily time with HIM. Please know that this is a no pressure situation. We will be using the book LORD, Only You Can Change Me by Kay Arthur. There are five days of devotion for each week with study questions for each day. You only need to post when you feel led. Thank you for joining me. May the Lord change our hearts! In HIM, Michele