Verse of the Week:
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
Chapter 6 Video Links (From Her Green Room):
This has been another great chapter!! The chapter started off with the story of Ginger Littleton taking a chance at stopping a gunman who took over a school board meeting and was holding her colleagues hostage. She came up behind him and hit him with her purse to try and stop him.
This story made me think of the story of another courageous young woman at a school. Do you remember Rachel Joy Scott? She was the first of 13 people who were killed in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. It was reported that one of the shooters approached her and asked her if she believed in God. Knowing what was about to happen, she answered, "Yes". She was then shot at point blank range while the shooters were mocking her for her faith. What a tremendous amount of courage that took!
Then I thought about Corrie Ten Boom and Elizabeth Elliot. And then thinking about them and their ministries, I began to think about some of our missionaries. Our friends who find the courage to go to places where they could be arrested or even killed just for being there to share the gospel.
A few of you ladies participating in this Bible Study are some of our courageous women missionaries. I just want to take a minute and say thank you! Thank you for being courageous women who are willing to risk everything to fulfill the calling God has placed on your life and to share the gospel with the people He chose for you to share it with! Thank you for your service to the Kingdom!!!
Jodi talked in this chapter about courageous women of the Bible and why they needed courage. Here are the reasons that she gave:
- To deliver a dream
- To protect the powerless
- To win the war
- To hold the Holy
- To transport the truth
All of these things take courageous people to accomplish. Corrie Ten Boom protected the powerless, Elizabeth Elliot continued after the death of her husband to complete a dream and transport the truth, and Rachel Joy Scott even in her death was helping to transport the truth of the gospel to others.
Let's seek God to give us the level of courage that we need to accomplish the things that He has for us to accomplish.
Discussion Questions:
- When you hear the word courage, who most personifies that virtue for you? Why?
- Which of the reasons Jesus-Hearted Women need courage speaks to you and why?
- What verse (or section) of scripture has given you comfort and courage when you were afraid?
- Is there anything else about this chapter you would like to discuss or that stood out to you?
The story that really grabbed me in this chapter was Jodi's story about her mother killing the rattlesnake. When they asked her why she didn't just turn around and run like most people (me included!) would have done she said that a lot of people used that path and she was afraid that someone else who came along later would be bitten. I think this story could particularly apply to families. We need to find the courage to confront any issues that can cause problems in our families because we don't want our children and grandchildren who come along the path after us to be bitten by the rattlesnake! It can be very difficult to change what you do and the way you deal with things from what has been the "norm" in your family. That's why so many problems persist generation after generation. You may face ridicule, peer pressure to do things the old way, you may be ostracized because you don't fit in anymore. But with the Lord's help you can be courageous enough to deal with problems that may have plagued your family for generations and change not only your own life but an entire lineage that comes along after you.
ReplyDeleteYes Glenda!! I had forgotten about that. I so agree!! I want to live that kind of courageous life!! Not for myself, but for those around me and those coming after me. Sitting back and letting things go just because it's something scary to face or because it means we have to be a little different, isn't the best solution for anyone. It might keep us comfortable, but it doesn't solve the problems we face!
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