We’re at the end of our journey on week six of Stepping Up Through the Psalms of Ascent with Beth Moore. What an amazing journey as we walked through the Psalms, verse by verse, over the past six weeks of our lives. I thought Beth summarized it perfectly when she wrote “God not only speaks in words not openly obvious, but He also responds to many of the things we say to Him through our bibles.” The more I participate in bible study, the closer I find my walk of faith. He speaks through scripture verses, even today. The right verse, the right Psalm and the timing of His Word are always right on track- if we take time….pause…and listen. I commend each of you for doing this during the past six weeks of your study. As we walked through the Psalms, we saw that the sojurner’s journey begins with excitement, is challenged by emotion, and results in a personal relationship with God. Knowing this, I hope you will continue to grow and explore scripture.  “Though we may not fully realize what God has sown in our lives until a future harvest, the powerful nature of His Word can make a few accomplishments rapidly recognizable,” writes Beth. Look back over your journey and praise Him for His presence. Beth ends the study by writing “God’s nature is to give, and it’s time to bring His gifts home.” I pray that you will continue to be blessed by His presence, and two-way conversations with God during your next bible study.

Prayer Requests

Our Prayer Wall is filling up, so please print the page, place a copy in your workbook and pray for these women who are asking for your help. The best way to print the page is to copy and past the prayers into a Word document. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Our finite minds simply cannot grasp God’s infinite ways of answering prayer.
• Family is ordinarily acquired rather than chosen.
• God chose our family even if we didn’t.
• God often uses other people as the chisel to carve true integrity into our rough personalities.
• Every majority begins with just one contagious person.
• Psalms are for real people with real problems.

For Next Week

• Please register for one of our new studies staring April 25: Breaking Free by Beth Moore or No Other Gods by Kelly Minter

Group Discussion- Answer one question or as many as you like

1. On page 156 Beth Moore writes “God doesn’t just want us to be happy, He wants us to be useful.” Have you discovered this to be true?
2. Reflect on your own experience of going down on the ground before each bible study lesson. How did this affect you? (page 167 )
3. Which of the 15 Psalms spoke most clearly to you and why. (page 168 )
4. Would you recommend Stepping Up Through the Psalms of Ascent to a friend? Why or why not.

We’re almost at the end of our journey as we completed week five of Stepping Up Through the Psalms of Ascent with Beth Moore. We have one more week to complete our Psalms of Ascent, then we’ll take a break and move into No Other Gods by Kelly Minter or Breaking Free by Beth Moore. I hope you are enjoying the study as much as I am! This week our study focused on having hope in the Lord, as we examined Psalm 130,131 and the beginning of 132. We learned that the Lord does not keep a record of debt, so we need not worry about spiritual foreclosure. We’ve all sinned…and as Beth points out, often we ourselves are the ones keeping a storage closet of debts. “Self-condemnation does not honor God,” she writes. Stop reading and ask yourself if you are living in self-condemnation, or freedom from debts.

On day three of the study, we explored pride and arrogance from a biblical perspective. Beth Moore explained a line of distinction and the concept of neurotic dependency.  She reminded us through scripture verses that God carries us, He births us, He upholds us from the time we are born, He nourishes us, and He comforts us. (page 136 )  As Beth beautifully said “The older I get, the more I like thinking of myself as God’s child.” Remember yourself as His child, Daughter of the King.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NIV

Prayer Requests

Our Prayer Wall has many requests, so please print the page, place a copy in your workbook and pray for these women who are asking for your help. The best way to print the page is to copy and past the prayers into a Word document. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Faith means believing much more than God exists. Even the demons believe that about Him.
• The more our enemy takes us captive, the more we distance ourselves from healthy people.
• Self-condemnation does not honor God.
• God is not the one keeping the record. You are.
• Satan’s native language is deception.
• We don’t cure arrogance by becoming victims.
• The older I get, the more I like thinking of myself as God’s child.

This Week’s Scripture Verse

Continue memorize Psalm 121, write each verse on an index card and start memorize it as Beth recommend on page 22 of your workbook.

For Next Week

• Read Week Six in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Six Audio or Session Six Video (optional)
• Please register for one of our new studies staring April 25: Breaking Free by Beth Moore or No Other Gods by Kelly Minter

Group Discussion- Answer one question or as many as you like

1. What does God’s full redemption mean to you today? (page 127 )
2. What are three reasons why you think God hates pride in your life? (page 132 )
3. Have you found a good way to deal with the questions that seem to have no answers? If so, please share it. (page 134 )
4. Share a favorite moment from this week’s study.

We’re Stepping Up Through the Psalms of Ascent with Beth Moore as we just completed week four in our bible study workbooks. On day two of our study Beth Moore writes “In God’s economy, even those who mourn are blessed.” I thought over these words, realizing we often mourn more than the loss of a loved one’s life. We mourn our careers, health, homes, income and even having perfect children. Are we blessed for mourning these things too? Matthew 5:4 Message version says “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” Ponder theses scripture words and let them rest in your heart, soul and mind. Filter the things you mourn….through scripture…and let the Holy Spirit lead your heart. Re-read Beth’s definition of blessedness in the last paragraph of page 99.

On page 102, Beth writes “When faced with a social or relational decision, I can find my answer pretty quickly by asking myself: what respects God most and reflects His ways?“ I encourage you to write this question on a 3×5 index card, laminate it, and carry it with you. Spend the remainder of the time between now and Easter Sunday, looking at the words  and using them to guide your decisions. Draw some images of fruit and vines on your index card, a reminder of your role in God’s Kingdom.

Prayer Requests

Our Prayer Wall has been filling up, so please print the page, place a copy in your workbook and pray for these women who are asking for your help. The best way to print the page is to copy and past the prayers into a Word document. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• God has kept us on a perpetual remodeling contract.
• Anybody who claims the bible doesn’t say we’re blessed for obedience is out of their theological mind.
• In God’s economy, even those who mourn are blessed.
• Holding grudges is a malignancy of the soul that makes us miserable.
• Learning to give is schooling in Joy.
• Trying to be our own god is exhausting.
• Nothing is weightier in the long haul than our own insatiable egos.
• Matthew 28:19 is not called the Great Permission, its called the Great Commission.
• Freedom never comes through disobedience.
• Anything we’ve continued to battle from our youth is habitual enough to require Christ’s healing work.
• The heart of prayer is communication and not just receiving what we ask.

This Week’s Scripture Verse

Continue memorize Psalm 121, write each verse on an index card and start memorize it as Beth recommend on page 22 of your workbook.

For Next Week

• Read Week Five in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Five Audio or Session Five Video (optional)

Group Discussion- Answer one question or as many as you like

1. Has walking with God resulted in a change in your circumstances? If so, how? (page 99 )
2. Share your testimony of how God brought you out of oppression and into a spacious place. (page 106 )
3. Share a favorite moment from this week’s study.

We’re already half-way through the Psalms of Ascent, as we finished week three this week in Stepping Up Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore. This week we examined the Psalms of promise, of great things for God’s children. We are reminded of Psalm 34:7 NIV The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. As we move up the mountain and closer to God, we are protected and delivered through the crown of thorns. We heard a powerful statement from Beth Moore in this week’s lesson as she said “nothing can close in on you without closing in on Him first. God alone can be both the watchman and the wall. He has you surrounded even when you don’t want Him anywhere near you because of sin.” As you look at the image of the crown of thorns, remember that through Jesus, you are surrounded. If you are a Prodigal Daughter or have a family member who is still hiding in sin, be sure the read the 12-Day Prodigal Mission.

This week our eyes fell upon Psalm 34 NIV during the course of our study. I invite you to experience this scripture by inserting your name into it and reading the Psalm aloud. Each time you see the words “I,” “my,” or “me,” insert your first name.

Prayer Requests

Our Prayer Wall has been filling up, so please print the page, place a copy in your workbook and pray for these women who are asking for your help. The best way to print the page is to copy and past the prayers into a Word document. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Few things in the human experience breed misery more than insecurity.
• God is with us and for us even when His face and His favor seem hidden.
• Nothing brings the heart, soul and mind greater satisfaction than praising one true God.
• Nothing can close in on you without closing in on Him first.
• God gave each of us a brain for spiritual reasons as well as intellectual reasons.
• God never more closely surrounds us than when He lifts us to His breast and carries us home.
• God keeps His people safe from the prowling lion by encircling us with a crown of thorns.
• Though God may know a better way, He welcomes us to make our hearts desires known to Him.
• You’ll never endure a season of tears that can’t turn into a harvest of joy.

This Week’s Scripture Verse

Continue memorize Psalm 121, write each verse on an index card and start memorizing it as Beth recommend on page 22 of your workbook.

For Next Week

• Read Week Four in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Four Audio or Session Four Video (optional)

Group Discussion- Answer one question or as many as you like

1. What comes to mind when you realize that God has you surrounded by His crown of thorns, even when you don’t want Him anywhere near?
2. How can we say God has been good when He allows us to encounter trouble? (page 73 )
3. Describe a time when God did something you could hardly believe and knew you did not deserve. (page 78 )
4. Share a favorite moment from this week’s study.

Thank you for joining us on online bible study as we discuss week two of Stepping Up Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore. Our group discussion was fabulous last week and I commend you for sharing your thoughts and hearts. We’re still walking with our singing pilgrims, dissecting each verse of the Psalms of Ascent. This week we concluded three more psalms, ascended three more steps on the temple stairs, and penned three more personal versions of our own songs.

Beth invited us to examine the relationship between where we look and how we feel. I thought you’d like to read this passage from the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

We beat down a gravel road in a cloud of dust, and I looked over at the billboard the van Veens had planted back in their woods. I asked Dad why anyone would bother putting a sign up in the woods if no one could make out the words. He looked at me squinting, and my mom made me an optometrist’s appointment. Next time we drove by the van Veens’ words in the woods, I wore glasses, horn-rimmed frames. And I saw the words as clear as a bell and I read them plain ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved.’ Acts 16:31 KNJ The words spelled out words. I need a lens to read them. Every dark woods has words and every moment is a message from The Word-God who can’t stop writing His heart….wear the lens of the Word, to read His writing in the world. Only the Word is the answer to rightly reading the world.” Ann Voskamp

Prayer Requests

We have many special prayers so please visit the Prayer Wall and give your voice to the needs of these women. We welcome any prayer needs from the group. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• We are citizens of heaven with ankles chained to earth.
• God wants to equip us with a vision that sees higher, deeper and broader than our physical realities.
• Disrespect is not the same as disagreement.
• If God wills you into action, have the courage to do what He leads.
• If you belong to Jesus Christ, you’ve already been transformed into God’s treasure.
• Satan hates us because God loves us.
• Christ will never take us into a battle we cannot win.
• Jesus is the ultimate Prince Charming to every woman, especially the one who forgot she was Cinderella.

This Week’s Scripture Verse

Continue memorize Psalm 121, write each verse on an index card and start memorizing it as Beth recommend on page 22 of your workbook.

For Next Week

• Read Week Three in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Three Audio or Session Three Video (optional)

Group Discussion- Answer one question or as many as you like

1. What do you think you’d do if you had God completely figured out? (page 45 )
2. What is your own definition of disrespect? (page 47 )
3. Describe a time you were most aware of Satan’s harmful intent. (page 55 )
4. Share a special memory from this week’s lesson.

Welcome back to the Womens Bible Cafe, where we’ll discuss our first week of Stepping Up Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore. As we read our first three Psalms this week, we imagined ourselves pilgrims on a journey with the Lord. While going uphill in our ascent, we know the enemy watches and will seek to block our path or cause us to stumble along the way. In your absolute posture of humility before God, as Beth suggests in the introduction, the Lord knows you’re giving your all to Him. “In God’s economy, the way up is down,” says Beth.  Start your lesson in humility, end your lesson in singing praises to Him.

As Beth writes “the Psalms are ample in number and endless in application.” She goes on to say “part of making our ascent is learning to take the high road. The process can begin by voicing to God the pain you’ve suffered on the low road.” In audio Session One Beth warns “Don’t let someone bring you to the low road.” It might be a good experience for this next week to pay attention to our feet- which road are we on- and how did we get there. Pray specifically and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you if you are on a journey of ascent, or one of descent. Ask for guidance about your pilgrimage, and make sure you are in obedience to the Lord’s will.

We’re approaching the season of Lent, and if you are participating, a 40-day journey awaits you. Will you sing praise songs and voice your appreciation for the Son of God, or will you grumble about making a sacrifice? Will you boast about ashes on your forehead and your sacrifice, or will you boast about the Son who gave His life for your salvation. Pay attention to the words in your song, and let them be pleasing to the Lord. Put on your walking shoes, and journey on a pilgrimage of ascent, as you sing His songs.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm19:14 NIV

Prayer Requests

We have several new prayer requests, please visit the Prayer Wall and give your voice to the needs of these women. We welcome any prayer needs from the group. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Put your tired feet into the water of God’s Word.
• Humility is the natural posture for anyone who grasps the greatness of God.
• Sometimes we don’t know why we’re on a certain road with God until miles have made their way to the soles of our feet.
• God’s first priority is relationship, not just emergency response.
• As you study scripture, God is accomplishing something in you.

This Week’s Scripture Verse

Please memorize Psalm 121, write each verse on an index card and start memorizing it as Beth recommend on page 22 of your workbook.

For Next Week

• Read Week Two in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Two Audio or Session Two Video (optional)

Group Discussion- Answer one question or as many as you like

1. How can emotions be avenues of worship instead of distractions? (page 16 )
2. What connection do you see between taking an uncertain journey, and wanting a reminder that God is the maker of heaven and earth? (page 24 )
3. Name a specific way God can help you that other people simply cannot. (page 27 )
4. Share a special memory from this week’s lesson.

Welcome to our study of the 15 Psalms of Ascent. We’ll be reading from Stepping Up, a Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore, as we examine Psalm 120 to 134. These Psalms were sung on the pilgrimage to the three feasts,as the pilgrims headed to the temple to be near God. The 15 psalms are associated with the 15 steps of the temple. Be sure to look at the temple diagram in the front cover of your workbook and the last page of the workbook, as a visual reference for our study.  You will be completing a total of 30 days of homework lessons, and we’ll spend two days reading each of these 15 Psalms. As Beth remind us in the Introduction Session, “the enemy knows we’re going uphill and he’ll try to stop you.” If this is your first bible study, please read about My First Bible Study. If you have quit other bible studies, please read  25 Excuses For Not Participating in Bible Study. We assume each of you have read the Bible Cafe FAQ so you understand how the online study works.

This online group is made up of more than 200 women- new Believers, long-time Christ followers, first time bible study participants, seasoned bible study participants, pastor’s wives, church leaders and women seeking a church family. These women are from around the world- the United States, Mexico, Canada, Britain, Australia, Nigeria and Afghanistan. It’s almost impossible to find a church small group with a mix like this. What makes the online group unique is the absence of time zone restrictions. We can meet as a group anytime by simply visiting the Bible Cafe and posting comments or posting a reply to another comment. Day or night, the Bible Cafe is open.

The Women’s Bible Cafe is a place where we can gather online and study the bible together. This study is an opportunity for you to spend daily time with God, learn scripture, and connect with other Christian women. An online bible study is less structured than a church small group, because we are unable to see your workbook and keep you accountable to your commitment. You’ll need self-discipline to stay on track, or find an accountability partner and work as a team. When you draw closer to God Satan will do everything to distract you, redirect you, and discourage you from completing the study. When you stumble and get off track, know who the enemy is, and hold your ground.

The Details of Our Study

• We’ll be reading from Stepping Up, a Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore. We’ll read a chapter a week, followed by a group discussion online.
• Video or audio sessions from Beth Moore are available to enhance your study. Due to the expense they are optional and only the workbook is required.
• The study is 6-weeks long.
• We’ll “meet” once a week on Monday, where you’ll see a blog post such as this. At the end of the post you’ll see the discussion questions.

Assignment for this Week

• Read Week One in your workbook
• Download the Answers to the Viewer Guide
• Listen to the Audio Introduction Session or Video Introduction Session (optional)
• Listen to Session One Audio or Session One Video (optional)

Group Discussion

Please answer this fun question so we can get to know one another: If you wrote a hit song about your life right now, what would the song title be?

UPDATE: Scholarship workbooks are now gone!

We have a limited number of scholarships available for the next online bible study, Stepping Up a Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore. We will provide free workbooks to five women who are participating and have a financial need. Priority is given to those who have completed past studies or are currently in the Me, Myself and Lies online bible study. In exchange for the free workbooks, we require your participation in the blog discussions for the entire study and we will hold you accountable to your commitment to learn, love and grow in faith.

Five scholarships are available, United States shipping only- please contact us to apply. Once the scholarships are gone, we will post an update to the blog. They go fast!!!

Register for the bible study here:

Stepping Up a Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent Online Bible Study

Please join us in a womens online bible study starting on February 28, 2011 as we study Stepping Up a Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore. We’ll be reading this six week bible study together as we start Spring and end our study  just before Easter. During the six weeks of study, you will read the workbook at home and come to the online Womens Bible Cafe once a week on Monday to join us in a small group discussion. There is no specific time for the discussion, you can visit the site at your convenience and post a comment about the lesson of the week. If you subscribe to the Womens Bible Cafe by email, you’ll receive an announcement in your email letting you know the discussion has started.

Reading Schedule for Stepping Up

• February 28- Launch Day, we’ll start our reading
• March 7- We’ll discuss week one
• March 14- We’ll discuss week two
• March 21- We’ll discuss week three
• March 28- We’ll discuss week four
• April 4- We’ll discuss week five
• April 11- We’ll discuss week six

We invite you to join us and women around the world as we read scripture together and learn from one another. We are non-denominational and any woman with an interest in exploring womens bible study is invited to join us. All you need to attend is a copy of the workbook Stepping Up a Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore.

During our six-week study, we’ll focus on intimacy with God as we spend time reading His Word through the book of Psalms. We encourage you to read daily, starting your day with your bible reading. If possible, invite a friend to participate with you in the online discussions, so you’ll have an accountability partner. Invite your Mom, Sister, Aunt, Daughter or Friend to step through the book of Psalms with you, and at the end of the six-week study, celebrate together.

HOW TO JOIN THE STEPPING UP BIBLE STUDY

• Post an introduction below and let us know you are joining the study. To introduce yourself, simply comment with your name, where you live, and why you are interested in this study.
• Get a copy of the workbook Stepping Up a Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore. You can find the book at Lifeway Stores.
• Read the Frequently Asked Questions for the Womens Bible Cafe
  

Welcome to the women’s online bible study!