We’ve just finished our last week of Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore. In week ten we studied self-control and looked at scripture examples of men who were in control and those who lacked self-control. Our study examined the concept of boundaries and protection, with our body as a prime target. “The key to self-control is the refusal to allow our enemies (the flesh, the world, or Satan) to rule or hold us captive in any way…. Christ has given us the victory over our flesh, our world and our accuser… They cannot presume authority over us” writes Beth. Our self-control reclaims our spiritual territory in who we are and whose we are. Claim it.

In this last chapter, Beth discusses many life areas were we are tempted to lack control. She then offers biblical references to remind us of the importance of standing our ground and walking in faith, not self. If you struggle with self control, I highly recommend these Beth Moore studies:

• Breaking Free
• When Godly People Do Ungodly Things

Beth concludes our Fruit of the Spirit study with a checklist of activities to keep you grounded in faith. Imagine tending to your garden as you apply these activities. To nurture your spiritual garden, Beth recommends:

1. Begin your day by acknowledging God’s authority over you
2. Yield to Him and abound in His presence
3. Seek Him and look through spiritual eyes
4. Glorify Him with your mouth
5. Praise Him all day long
6. Attribute all satisfaction to Him
7. Praise Him for the blessings and remember them
8. Rest in Him

(source: Living Beyond Yourself, Beth Moore)

Prayer Requests

We welcome any prayer needs from the group and ask that you will print a copy of the prayers, place them, in your workbook and pray for these women. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Love keeps us afloat and self control keeps us anchored.
• We are desperate for self-control and in its absence we are drowning in self-defeat.
• Self makes the choice over the issue of control.
• Only you can allow God to work contentment in you.
• It is not God’s will for us to be mastered by anything other than Him.
• Craving food tends to be an acceptable Christian addiction.
• All sin boils down to an issue of authority. His will or mine?
• Any day not surrendered to the Spirit is surrendered to the flesh by default.

This Week’s Scripture Verse-NIV

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Psalm 119:37

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Matt 16:26

For Next Week

Study is complete!

Be sure to join us in our Christmas study: Jesus the One and Only

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

1. Can you think of a way in which Satan has stolen victory from you through a broken-down wall in your life? (page 203)
2. In the past year, can you identify at least one way you have struggled to avoid being conformed to this world? (page 214)
3. Share a favorite garden tool from this week’s lesson.
4. How does God want you to respond to what He showed you in Living Beyond Yourself?

Welcome to out ninth week of reading Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore. If you have been reading along with us, we’ve already covered love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.  This week we looked at the the fruit of Gentleness. We’ll be completing our study next week with a look at self-control.

Our guest post this week is from Tonya Jones, author of PoeticWord.org She is currently aspiring to obtain her seminary degree in Biblical Counseling with theological studies of the New and Old Testament. Tonya now manages and operates her own publishing company called By Faith Publishing through which she aspires to help others spread the love of Christ through poetry.

Hello Everyone,

I pondered over how I could summarize this ninth week of such an amazing Bible study. Have any of you realized yet, that by studying the Fruit of the Spirit we were given a personal invitation to explore the inner and most sacred components of the heart of our Sovereign Creator, God Himself?  And what is so wonderfully beautiful about it, is that we were given front row seats with the Holy Spirit Himself being our tour guide helping us to understand each of their divine characteristics.

Around 5:30 am this Sunday morning, these tingling sensations in my brain awoke me from a deep sleep saying “that’s it!  That’s it!”   I sat up, wanting to run to the tallest building overlooking the world and watch these little light bulbs popping on as each of you came into the same truth about our amazing study.  I just knew that someone must have discovered what I just had. I wonder how many nights of revelations that Beth must have experienced as she researched to find the best narratives for this study.  Since I realize that I could probably never put into words with clarity the revelation that suddenly invaded my thoughts on last evening, and how my  heart overflows with this newfound adoration for our loving all-wise Heavenly Father, I will just stick to giving this week’s summary as best I can.

I applaud Beth Moore for taking these amazing characteristics of God and breaking them down for us to relate to. Her repository being the insights given by the inspired devout men of God, who remember were transformed by the Spirit themselves, “some remembering first hand accounts” expressed as best they could in scripture the full Fruit of the Spirit giving us all an inside view of the most intriguing attributes of our Triune Creator.  Then ultimately, the most important and relevant truth that we all must realize is the only real way that any of us can experience the absolute fullness of this study is through our Faith.

In this ninth week, Beth explored the Greek word praotes, which when translated means gentleness. We learned that Gentleness in the Fruit of the Spirit has three important aspects submission, humility, and teachability.   We learned how all of these components make up a gentle behavior that can only be obtained through complete surrender and faith.  One can’t completely surrender unless one truly believes “correct”? They go hand in hand.  In this weeks study, we observed how many great biblical characters, like Paul, John the Baptist, and even Balaam personal afflictions helped them to manifest these traits of gentleness furnished them by the Holy Spirit.  Beth uncovered their personal battles with the flesh and outside opposition obscuring their desire to exercise humility and complete submission.  We also learned the importance of being a great teacher, while sustaining the art of being teachable.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that I have truly enjoyed this study and look forward to sharing future studies at this wonderful Bible Café.  I must end my summation now for fear that I began rambling to you about the amazing revelations that I just experienced.  For those of you who have children will understand this last point probably better than those who don’t.  When your child was born, your sole purpose became to teach this little person every thing you could about their parents.  You instilled in them your beliefs, influenced them with your personalities and proudly watched as they grew into adult versions of yourselves.  Imagine now how God the Father did with us at Creation.  Created in their image it was imperative that we become familiar with the attributes that makes us part of their unique structure.  Though we got side tracked and fell into temptation of the flesh, it was always evident that God the Father’s sole purpose was to help us come into our inheritance of the Fruit of the Spirit.  After all, we are His children and He wants us to be just like Him.  Scripture reveals how time after time God the Father breathed humility and gentleness toward our rebellious behavior. Yet the one part of the Trinity that I want to conclude with is the gentleness that embodied our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  How humbling it must have been for him to take on human form and leave the comforts of Heavens perfectness to come and be Jesus for all of us, to this wonderful Spirit of whom we are now studying.  I can’t think of a better teacher- can you?

Prayer Requests

We welcome any prayer needs from the group and ask that you will print a copy of the prayers, place them, in your workbook and pray for these women. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Gentleness is responsibility with power.
• Humility comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit.
• Physical posture can have great impact on spiritual stature.
• A precious part of gentleness is being willing and anxious to learn, regardless of who He chooses as our unlikely teacher.
• David accepted tragedy and failure as a challenge to search God’s Word.
• To miss God’s Word in our circumstances is to miss God. To miss God is to miss the point.
• The Sword of the Spirit is to injure Satan, not the body of Christ.
• To endure pain and suffering in the will of God is far better than to risk ease outside His faithful hands.

This Week’s Scripture Verse-NIV

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10

For Next Week

• Read Week Ten in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Ten Audio (optional)
• OR…Listen to the Session Ten Video (optional)

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

1. Can you think of a time when you submitted to God’s will and He untangled your mess? (page 182)
2. What are your ideas for esteeming others? (page 185)
3. Have you ever had a stubborn period when you refused to listen to God? (page 189)
4. How has God’s Word strengthened you in the past, or how can it strengthen you in the future? (page 192)

We’ve finished reading week eight of our study on the Fruit of the Spirit. This week in Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore, we focused our study on Faithfulness. We looked at the idea of believability as it relates to God, and Beth Moore gave an example of faithfulness through believing in a God we cannot see. We see our Lord in miracles and in His Word. Believing is walking by our faith, not by our sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) I watched a blind man walk through our city streets yesterday, and what I saw amazed me. This man had a huge smile on his face, a bounce in his step, and an attitude of confidence in something he could not see: the sidewalk before him. I saw his white walking stick tap and move across the sidewalk and I thought of our scripture verse. This man walked with JOY and by FAITH that he COULD see.  The blind man was evidence of Hebrews 11:1 -sure of what he hoped for (not falling) and certain of what he could not see (where the sidewalk ends). Do you have as much faith as a blind man does?

In our study, Beth Moore brings into light a discussion of two types of believers. One believer bases her faith on what God can do for her.  When God gives her children, heals her cancer, restores her marriage or complies with her prayer request, she believes. When God seems to ignore her request or answers in a way she did not desire, she loses her little faith. The other type of believer bases her faith on who God is, not what He will do for her. She trusts God when her marriage falls apart, cancer is robbing her health, or infertility is claiming her role as a mother. Who God is… matters more than what she has. By faith, she knows God loves and cares for her and stands on His promises.

Both believers are tempted away from their faith in a spiritual war we cannot see. One believer wears her shield of faith (Ephesians 6:10-18) and stands her ground against an enemy that wants to steal her identity as a child of God. The other believer, unaware of the flaming arrows from the enemy, is unguarded and easy prey when her faith is clouded with fear or anger.

We ended our week with a review of prophecies God said would come true, and evidence supported with facts. God has been faithful to us…unyielding in His love and patience with us. We bring Glory to Him when the fruit of the Holy Spirit reflects in us.

Prayer Requests

We welcome any prayer needs from the group and ask that you will print a copy of the prayers, place them, in your workbook and pray for these women. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Faith is an absolute necessity in the life that pleases God.
• If your faith is based on what God is doing, you are in for the scariest ride of your life.
• God does not call upon us to seek His works. He calls upon us to seek His heart.
• Right motives invite miracles.
• You may not always be aware of another person’s absence but you will quickly be aware of another person’s presence of faith.
• The most certain way to know God is to know His Word.
• Satan will stop at nothing so he can get us to lower our shield of faith so he can wound and burn us.
• We must be aware of our battle with the invisible principalities, but we need not be afraid.
• Whether fear or faith prevails depends on the commander we’re saluting.
• God has proven Himself believable through prophecy.

This Week’s Scripture Verse-NIV

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

For Next Week

• Read Week Nine in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Nine Audio (optional)
• OR…Listen to the Session Nine Video (optional)

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

1. Has God shown compassion to you recently? (page 158)
2. Why does it take faith to walk with God? (page 162)
3. Describe a time when God has been a shield about you. (page 169)
4. Share something from this week’s lesson that was valuable to you.

This week we finished reading week seven of Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore, and learned about two more fruit: Kindness and Goodness. When Beth compares and contrasts the two fruits, we find Kindness (chrestoles in Greek) means tenderhearted or harmless as a dove while Goodness (agathosune in Greek) means benevolent and active or shrewd as a snake. Our study examined the cords of kindness and examples of Jesus demonstrating kindness to a mourner, a doubter and a mocker. As in the past weeks, this study was rich with scripture verses and practical knowledge.

Moore says “the fruit of the Spirit is absolutely divine. They are impossible goals for the unbeliever, yet attainable-but not automatic-graces for the true believer.” Throughout the past seven weeks of our study, we’ve seen evidence of this.  With God as the Giver,we receive these gifts to do good and benefit those He loves. Beth reminds us to pray we’ll use our gifts as God intended, completing the course He has set before us, and ending with the outcome of Kindness and Goodness towards others. This is our generation and we have the opportunity to impact it…when we do so with the love of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit as the center of our heart, mind and soul. We’ve already unlocked the importance of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness. In the remaining three weeks of this study, we’ll focus on the fruit of Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

This week we read a portion of Psalm 91. You may enjoy listening to this song by Lincoln Brewster with the same title.

Prayer Requests

There are many requests posted on our Prayer Wall, please print a copy and pray daily for these prayer needs. We welcome any prayer needs from the group.  If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Many believers are far more knowledgeable in the areas of God’s sovereignty and judgment than they are His tenderness and kindness.
• You can know Him well as Lord yet never truly relate to Him as Father.
• God knows the intense pain of intense love.
• If the Savior says “no” to a crying parent its because He’s saying “yes” to eternal kingdom profit.
• We have not been saved by our works, we have been saved for His works.

This Week’s Scripture Verse-NIV

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.Deut 7:9

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4

For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. Matthew 25:29

For Next Week

• Read Week Eight in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Eight Audio (optional)
• OR…Listen to the Session Eight Video (optional)

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

1. Have you ever felt forgotten by God? If so, when? (page 140)
2. Christ appeared to those who needed Him: a mourner,a doubter and a mocker. Which example in our study reminded you of a way He dealt with you in the past and why? (page 147)
3. Do you consider Matthew 25:29 to be fair? Why? (page 151)
4. Share something valuable you learned this week, a “Garden Tool” from our study.

In week six of Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit by Beth Moore, we’re asked to consider the fourth Fruit of the Spirit: Patience. We are introduced to different Greek translations for the word patience, as originally recorded in scripture. Moore explains the difference between hupomone patience, which translates into endurance or perseverance inspired by hope and makrothumia, inspired by mercy and the quality of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Today’s guest author is SaVonni Yestanti, who describes herself as a grateful mom and teacher to a young son, and a fruit bearer called by God to “finish the race” by telling everyone about the work that He has been trying to complete within her. She was directed by God to offer a unique, judgment free ministry that focuses on the Freedom that each individual has in Christ. You can follow her ministry at GodGaveMeFreedom.com and by following her Twitter channel @GodGaveUFreedom.

We can’t love people if we don’t have the patience to deal with people or the circumstances we may find ourselves in.  Specifically, makrothumia deals with our ability, as Moore states in the video series, to “be patient with people who are driving us absolutely nuts.” Moore stressed the fact that God is keenly interested in makrothumia because “people will always be the priority over circumstances. God’s priority is going to be how we treat people.” On the video series, she said of the Fruits of the Spirit, “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience…most of them, have to do with how we relate to people.” We are to exhibit patience towards others because God exhibited patience towards us. Looking at the “ungrateful servant,” (Matthew 18), we see the consequences of not exhibiting the patience that is granted to us. Moore talked about the fact that God knew it would be harder to deal with some people than it would be deal to deal with others because those “thorns in our sides” tend to bring out the worst in us. When we bring out the worst that is contained within us, God shaves off that bad stuff, presenting us as a closer representation of His full character.

Unlike hupomone, where we pray about our circumstances, makrothumia requires the releasing of the Holy Spirit within us; it is God’s spirit working through us in order to show God’s patience to people. We are propositioned by Moore to consider this seriously as the world WILL NOT help us in this regard. Again, the world is not prepared to exhibit patience in our fast paced society, as everybody wants everything right now. So Moore gave us a phrase to consider: “Patience waits.” We are asked to show God’s patience towards others the way that He shows patience towards us every day. We are asked to “bear” with one another; to endure…to exercise restraint when dealing with people…. and then we are introduced to another Greek word, anecho, which means “to put up with; forbear.” That does not mean that we are to be gluttons for punishment; what that means is that we are to be slow to respond negatively to persecution and hardship. It is for this reason: just because a situation is hard, does not mean that it is necessarily from the enemy; it may be a situation that is created to fix something within us. When this is the case, we have a testimony of overcoming to witness to others. Our testament serves to help others who may be experiencing the very same thing.

To help us further exercise restraint when dealing with others, we were introduced to the premise of judgment and damaging it can be. We learned the Greek term for the word judgment is krino, which means to “to pass judgment upon, condemn, take vengeance on.” Moore writes, “it means ‘try’ someone as if they stand accused before you in a court of law.” We were asked to be slow to judgment, just as God is slow to judge us. “The Lord is patient, so that many people will be saved,” writes Moore.

Finally, we looked at Biblical forgiveness. Moore explained that when we hold on to unforgiving, we only bind ourselves – and others- to unnecessary suffering; we essentially live torment. God wants us to be free and wants others to experience His patience, His Love and His commitment to them, through us. We learned that we cannot walk in step with the Spirit if we are so busy keeping a record of wrongs – and we also give Satan a foothold as he notices yet another thing to cause division between us as individuals and between us and God. We are to forgive EVERYONE for EVERYTHING, ALL OF THE TIME, as God commands us, so He can forgive each of us for everything. When we do this, we “wipe the slate clean” and we choose not to grieve the Holy Spirit by whom we were “sealed for the day of redemption.”

Prayer Requests

We welcome any prayer needs from the group and ask that you will print a copy of the prayers, place them, in your workbook and pray for these women. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• We should actively petition to God for endurance in our circumstances.
• We cannot both judge others and be patience towards them. One cancels out the other.
• Judgment strangles patience and grieves the Holy Spirit.
• It’s easier to be clay than the potter.
• Patience is the vessel through which God pours His mercy.
• Mercy is fueled by forgiveness.
• You cannot be free to keep step with the Spirit when you are encumbered  by the load of unforgiveness.
• The one who will not forgive suffers more than the one who is unforgiven.
• Only Satan wins in the war of unforgiveness.

This Week’s Scripture Verse-NIV

David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” 2 Samuel 24:14

If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal. Luke 7:47 Message

For Next Week

• Read Week Seven in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Seven Audio (optional)
• OR…Listen to the Session Seven Video (optional)

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

1. Based upon this weeks study, what hope do you possess to help you persevere through your trials? (page 118)
2. Starting on page 123, Beth listed 11 reasons why we must not judge others. Which reason has the most meaning for you and why?
3. Do you have a body roped to your back (page 128) and if so, how do you intend to release it?
4. Share a Garden Tool, something meaningful you learned in this week’s study.

We’ve just completed a study of Peace in week five of Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore.  We saw five Portraits of Peace this week: 1) in aloneness when Jesus was 12 years old at the temple 2) in provision, when Jesus turned the loaves and fish into food for thousands 3) in the storm, when Jesus walked on water 4) in the midst of tears, when Jesus cried for Lazarus and 5) in death, when Jesus was arrested. We know Satan is roaming the earth back and forth (Job 1:7) looking to devour our peace.  Jesus comes with his sword, the Holy Spirit, and gives us peace. We have access to the Father and the Authority of peace.

We also learn that peace is not passive, it involves our participation. We must pray, give thanks and trust the Lord in our turmoil. We pour out our hearts to Him and trust Him with our peace. Beth reminds us “God is not a proponent of emotional annihilation but He gives us specific instructions regarding emotions.” We seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)

In the audio session for week five, Beth Moore says “If I am going to have personal peace it is because I am bowing down to the authority of Christ in my life in that situation.” In our reading this week, she reminds us there are times when we can be in a complete turmoil of circumstance and yet have a state of total peace. Other times we can have nothing to complain about, yet feel a complete loss of peace. The difference is Christ. “If we want to increase peace, we need to bow down to the governing power of Christ in our lives” says Beth. Do you bow to Him as King and your Authority? “The government is on His shoulders, let Him carry it” Beth reminds us. Peace comes with the authority, not the answer. Peace rules.

Prayer Requests

Father, we pray for peace in aloneness, peace in provision, peace in the storm, peace in the wait, peace in the tears, peace in your plan and peace in our death. Fill our hearts, mind and soul with your peace. Take authority over our turmoil, fear, depression, confusion, anxiety and guilt. Where we lack peace, restore it. Where we seek peace, provide it. We claim peace in the name of your son Jesus Christ, amen.

We welcome any prayer needs from the group and ask that you will print a copy of the prayers, place them, in your workbook and pray for these women. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• So closely are peace and joy linked, that Satan will most certainly steal our joy if he can undermine our peace.
• God’s peace is paramount to spiritual, mental and emotional wholeness.
• His Word divided the righteous from the unrighteous, the humble from the proud, the faithful from the unfaithful, and the genuine article from the Pharisee.
• Christ had perfect peace in the storm.
• Peace means the absence of fear and turmoil, not the absence of pain and grief.
• Only at our invitation can Christ surgically open the blocked artery that connects the head to the heart.
• You must first have peace with God before you can experience the peace of God.

This Week’s Scripture Verse-NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

For Next Week

• Read Week Six in the workbook
• Listen to the Session Six Audio (optional)
• OR…Listen to the Session Six Video (optional)

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

1. On page 97, Beth Moore says “a man cannot create peace in his own soul.” After reading this week’s lesson, do you agree or disagree and why.
2. Can you describe a circumstance in life that challenges your peace? (page 97)
3. Using a concordance of online bible such as Bible Gateway, search the word “peace” in scripture. Scan the verses and find one that captures your heart. Share your verse here with the group.
4. Share a favorite “Garden Tool” a lesson you learned this week about peace.

We’ve just finished week four of Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore. It’s a blessing to spend this time alone with God as you read scripture and study His Word. Do not let the size of the workbook of the length of the lesson deter your path: the study expands your knowledge of the gift of the Spirit. Open the pages of your workbook and allow the Spirit to lead you through the lessons. If you are struggling with accountability, please email Christine for encouragement and support. Some of you are falling behind, and I want to encourage you that each lesson requires about 30 minutes of your time.

Our guest post this week is from Judee Baysinger.  She lives in Greenwood, Indiana and has two beautiful daughters, one grandson who is in the Army, and two teenage granddaughters. She loves her Son-in- law very much and feels blessed with a wonderful sister and brother-in-law. She is enjoying the on-line Bible studies a lot and thanks GOD that He led her sister to this sight.

In day one of this week’s study on the second fruit of the Spirit “Joy”, Beth starts us out at the very beginning of creation where our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. “It is a gift of GRACE that we have the privilege to accept.” Doesn’t that just get your heart pumping?

Day two finds us on a journey of discovery. Learning the different paths we take in our discovery of Christ and how that discovery can bring us a joy that surpasses understanding. Paul and Silas showed such joy even during the very difficult trials they faced. Imagine being in prison and singing songs of praise to the Father.

Beth gives us three different circumstances of restoration to GOD on day three. Yes, we may suffer for “a little while” but GOD is faithful to us and will restore us if we are willing to seek Him first. The first  reason talked about our experiencing trouble is so He can reveal His joy to us through being restored to Him.  The second reason is allow us to experience some of His suffering and to fellowship with HIm during that time. Reason three deals with discipline as a form of teaching us.  GOD disciplines us because He loves us and we are His children, much as you would discipline your own children.

Day four gives us five ways in which we might lose our joy: 1.) When our out pour exceeds our intake 2.) When our talk exceeds our walk 3.) When we become “wonder junkies” 4.) When we are exhausted and 5.) When we feel alone.  ” When we allow GOD to train us so that receiving and obeying His Word becomes our “high” we will know the fullest expressions of His joy.” Beth has such wonderful insight; to know that even if we have lost our joy we can reclaim it by just continuing  to praise Him and depend on Jesus.

We reviewed on day five. Paul suffered much during his ministry as did all the apostles, yet their joy was deep and abounding. Not only did their joy come from knowing Christ but also in sharing that joy with others. As our study concludes this week Beth encourages us to “enjoy the body of Christ”. If you aren’t involved with a group of believers, try to take the time in the coming weeks to explore the many opportunities  in your community to fellowship with other who share our faith.

GOD bless each one of you this week and keep you tight in His mighty hand.

Prayer Requests

We welcome any prayer needs from the group and ask that you will print a copy of the prayers, place them, in your workbook and pray for these women. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Christ’s motivation to endure such suffering was the joy before Him.
• We need to consistently focus on our great salvation so that our joy may be full.
• We will not be judged by our works, rather we are saved by Christ’s work.
• A life without Christ is a wasted life.
• Look for Christ. He is right there in the middle of your circumstance, just waiting to be discovered.
• If God has ordained difficulty for you, He has also ordained restoration for you.
• Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

This Week’s Scripture Verse-NIV

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.  Psalm 51:12-13

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

For Next Week

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

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

1. When is the last time you felt your heart overflowing with JOY?
2. Have you ever found Christ in your struggles? (page 81)
3. In what ways have you comforted others with the comfort you have received from God? (page 82)
4. Which of the catalysts of Joy have been most important to you in your present journey and why? (page 89)

Our week three guest post comes from Jennifer Johns, who loves learning, living and sharing the encouragement of a spiritual life in God with others. Jen writes GoingByFaith.com and prays you’re blessed by this study! You can find Jen on Twitter @GoingByFaith.

In Week 3 of Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore, we study how love exudes from every one of the nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit, but it is a love we can’t generate ourselves; this kind of love comes only from God. He develops this foundational fruit in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Our reading this week starts off with two types of worldly love: eros (grasping love) and philos (friendly love). Eros love is linked with human sexuality, longing and desire, and philos love is linked with friendship, as it literally means “the love one has toward a friend or companion.”

Even with their positive attributes, neither of these forms of love are examples of God’s type of love. For example, how many times have we seen friendships form out of unsavory common interests or grow sour from betrayal? How often have we seen sexual love taken to destructive extremes or used to control and manipulate?

Standing in a class of its own, we learn that agape love, or the divine love of God, is an act of the Holy Spirit that results in our obedience. As Moore puts it, agape is not as much a feeling as it is a response. It’s not an emotion we feel, but a command we are to follow. Unconditional and aligned with the highest interest, God pours agape love to us and through us via the Holy Spirit. It is because we were loved in this way first that we can love God and others.

On days three and four of the study, we read about the 14 characteristics of agape love and how God uses it in our lives. By day five we find a perfect demonstration of agape love in the life of Jesus Christ, and realize that having the capacity to love God requires a supernatural ability. How blessed we are to know we can call on the Holy Spirit to fill us with God’s love!

Prayer Requests

Week three of Living Beyond Yourself is a time when we see a real commitment for this study. We encourage you to stay the course. Pray for God to light a fire under those who are falling behind or tempted to stray from the study.

On page 60 in the workbook, Beth writes about a special prayer. She asks the Lord to give her a supernatural love for the people she is teaching. Each day this week, pray and ask God to give you a supernatural love for your family, work or community.

We welcome any prayer needs from the group and ask that you will print a copy of the prayers, place them, in your workbook and pray for these women. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• Prayer is the hallmark of intimacy with Christ.
• Satan is out to destroy the church, which is best accomplished through destroying the family.
• Love one another as if “blood-related.”
• God invites His children to be more than just friends. He wants us to love as brothers.
• By the time we are emotional enough to quarrel over an issue, pride is always involved.
• Humans revel in recording the failures of others.
• Agape begins with a response and ends with a feeling.

This Week’s Scripture Verse-NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. John 17:9

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.  1 Corinthians 14:1-3

For Next Week

• Listen to the Session Three Audio (optional)
• OR…Listen to the Session Three Video (optional)
• Read Week Four in the workbook

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

1. Read 1 Corinthians 13 aloud. Each time you see the word “love” replace it with the words “divine love.” (agape)
2. In Christ we are blood relatives. How should our kinship affect our relationship to one another? (page 57)
3. Proverbs 13:10 says “pride only breeds quarrels.” The last time you quarreled with someone, was any pride involved on your part? (page 62)
4. Share something memorable from this week’s lesson. (we call these Garden Tools)

Our week two guest blog post is from Amanda Taylor. Amanda lives in Richmond Virginia with her husband of six years and their cat Luci. She owns her own business Taylor Captioning Services doing closed captioning for religious broadcasts. Her passion is blogging about life, her faith and everything in between. Recently diagnosed with a rare blood disease she took her blogging to a whole new level raising awareness about the disease and sharing her walk of faith as she fights back. She has a passion for bible studies and hopes do more with online bible studies in the future. You can follow Amanda on twitter at www.twitter.com/mrs_the_great and also follow her journey on her blog at www.itsmrsthegreat.com

In Week 2 of Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore, we learn to live by the Spirit we must first get to know the Spirit. The Holy Spirit had a hand in the Earth’s creation (Gen 1:1-2) and has been here with God since the beginning of time. We learn the Holy Spirit helped create us as individuals. (Luke 1:35)  I find it amazing that the same Spirit that helped with creating the planet and us as individuals, is the Spirit Jesus sent to us to be our comforter and friend! This week we studied some of the spirit’s different attributes and how we as believers are to be truly and utterly dependent on the Spirit.

Scripture after scripture assures us that the Holy Spirit is very important in our walk with Christ. Not only does the scripture prove this but it also proves that the Holy Spirit is a key element of the trinity of the Father himself. (Matt 28:19) In other words, the Holy Spirit plays a key role in our relationship with God our heavenly father. The seal of the Holy Spirit makes us joint heirs with Christ. We are bought with the blood of the lamb and sealed with it by the Holy Spirit!

This week we learned to live the life FULL of the fruit of the Spirit.  As believers we MUST make a daily choice to yield ourselves allowing Him to fill us. In the audio/video Beth talks about her morning ritual and I really took this to heart. We must yield ourselves, in other words pour ourselves out so that God can pour Himself into us. This in the end helps us to pour out His love and minister to others, living a Spirit Filled life. Ever wondered sometimes why everything some days seems to go wrong. Work issues come up, coffee spilled on the rug, you and your husband got into a bit of an argument. We’ve all had those days. These are signs that were not taking that special time even it’s only 5 minutes in the morning for God to pour into us. Those moments are key in our spirit filled life.

We learned we have the capability of hurting the Holy Spiirt and the Holy Spirit has feelings. (1 Thess 5:19) (Eph 4:30) We can actually prevent the Holy Spirit from his fullness in our lives. We do this by resisting His authority. When God tells us to do something, do we do it? Do we say no? I had to ask myself this hard question. Have I done this? Am I doing it now? Now I don’t bring this up for anyone to condemn themselves or feel bad, because as we learned in our homework, God has a heart of forgiveness and cleanses us from these things. If you do feel that way though, take a moment to spend some time with God and talk to Him about this. I don’t know about you but I want to live a life ABLAZE with the Holy Spirit and in no way want to hinder Him in my life or in my walk with Him.

No matter what we’re going through and no matter what life throws at us, if we live a life yielded to the Holy Spirit, He is right there to pick us up in weakness and enable us to do the impossible. I really hope this has encouraged all of you as much as it has encouraged me!

From Christine: I love this last comment from Amanda, knowing that she sits patiently in a wheelchair, waiting for the Holy Spirit to lift her in weakness and bring healing to her body. You inspire me Amanda, thank you for writing the post this week.

Prayer Requests

We welcome any prayer needs from the group and ask that you will print a copy of the prayers, place them, in your workbook and pray for these women. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.

Beth Moore Quotes

• The Father willed it, the Son spoke it and the Holy Spirit energized it into being.
• The Holy Spirit convicts us to restore fellowship and spiritual productivity.
• The intercession of the Holy Spirit is not license to avoid prayer.
• The Spirit intervenes in our weakness, but not in our avoidance.
• The spiritual man is the person in which the mind of Christ is activated.
• We are spiritual when we are out of control and the Spirit is in control. Yield.
• When we power walk in the Spirit it is He who carried the weights.

This Week’s Scripture Verse-NIV

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NIV

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. Galatians 6:2 The Message

For Next Week

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

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

1. Can you remember a time in your life when all three members of the Trinity were are work? Describe that event. (page 35)
2. Describe a time when you had to depend on the Spirit to help you pray. (page 40)
3. How does the Holy Spirit “speak?” (page 46)
4. Share a garden tool or an important message you learned this week.