Today is the big day!

Well it's finally here, tonight we start WIW! How exciting!

My only prayer for this group and this study is that it is more than acquiring more head knowledge, that God be present in our group, and change our hearts into who He would have us become.

A funny thing happened...a friend reminded me of the book Fresh Wind Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala. I had read it before, but decided to read it again, so I put it on my to-do list I'll admit, it was pretty low on the list.

Sunday I led an adult sunday school class that met right next to the library, so I ran in and Marilyn pointed me right to the book. I brought it home and set it on my desk. Mind you, we just moved, and so there is a lot of stuff I need to deal with on and in that desk. I wondered if I'd even get it started before it's due date 2 weeks from now.

Then, a funny thing happened. Monday morning I woke up sick. I'm talking lay on the couch sick. The kids had the day off from school and my sweet daughter Ashley woke up, and offered to go into work for me so I could "chill". Awesome. While laying on the couch feeling pretty sorry for myself, b/c I really don't have time for illness right now...I spotted the book on my desk, and layed there on that couch, and read that whole book in one day (it's not a long one).

The book is Jim Cymbala's story as the preacher at The Brooklyn Tabernacle. It is a fascinating story of how God works in that urban setting.

It would take this entire page to explain what I am got out of the book and his story, but I will just say I woke up this morning feeling better (Thank you God!) and at the same time, I had a pit in my stomach. I was thinking...I just don't want this to be another old Bible study where we sit around and gain more knowledge in our brains. I kept thinking, what can I DO to make it more than that.

Then I read an email from my buddy Kathy Vander Tuig, and it said, "If you invite God to be among you, there's no telling what he might do!! I'm BELIEVING HIM for that!" Isn't that all we can do, is invite God to be there, ask Him to change what needs changing?!

Father in Heaven you have already been working in hearts to get us signed up for WIW Bible study. You have called each member to come for your reasons. Now we cry out to you, for your presence. We know that only you can soften the hearts that need it, only you can break down barriers that need to be broken, only you can change in us what needs to be changed. We are believing you right now for that. You are so big, you are so great and so amazing, and we are so excited to watch you work in our lives! We love you.