I can't wait!

I enjoy the autumn season. Some of my favorite activities occur this time of year. I get to watch my man on the high school football field coaching his team on Friday nights while our two oldest kids work as water boys on the sidelines. Brings joy to my heart. Apple picking with our children is another favorite annual activity; I have so much fun cooking them in various dishes. From applesauce to apple pie - nothing like fresh fruit from the orchard! Watching the leaves transform from a uniform green to a stunning spectrum of brilliant colors, taking an evening walk in the crisp air, and making comfort food dishes like stews and soups - all activities welcomed this time of year.

Oh but there is one more thing... By the grace of God, I am usually gearing up to begin teaching an adult Sunday school class. This year is no exception.

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that every time before I teach I am overwhelmed by God's grace that He would use the likes of me to serve Him in this way. Before I knew Christ my life was an absolute train wreck! And I do not mean for you to picture a little mishap with a train coming off the track a little, I mean an all out, mangled mess. To keep with this analogy, once I came to know Christ in a personal way and experienced spiritual rebirth, God put me on the track to heaven, but listen - I was still a mangled mess in many ways! I had deep hurts that needed healed, false beliefs about our God (and myself) that needed corrected, and sin patterns that I needed to yield to the authority of our God. I tried for a long time to fix these maladies on my own, but every attempt was futile. I even tried to go to other people to fix them -unfortunately this added to my confusion in many cases. I needed The Truth, and I was looking in all the wrong places.

I'll never forget my first Bible study class. I didn't even know Bible study groups existed at the time, but I knew the unmistakable prompting of the Holy Spirit that led me to that place. I sat front and center and asked more questions than any toddler on their best day. And not simple questions... I asked some real humdingers! The leader (now a dear friend) would actually laugh when she saw my hand fly in the air with a question every five minutes! I can remember her saying to me on more than one occasion, "I don't know the answer to that question, but I will try to find out for you and get back to you." (An answer, by the way, which is very wise, respected, and well received. Use it myself often.) I don't know how else to say this to you, but the Holy Spirit gripped my heart when I began to seriously study Scripture, and I am forever changed. God began to work on my mangled mess, and I cooperated as He did.

I came to know Jesus 15 years ago. I began to fall in love with Him 10 years ago when I began to study His Word. Our goal as we study is transformation. To fall more in love with Jesus with each passing day... To know Him more... To be conformed to His image... To glorify Him with our lives... That is why we study. To grow intellectually - yes - but oh that this would never be our sole purpose and chief goal. We do not want a head puffed up with knowledge paired with an unchanged, hardened heart!

This Sunday as we begin our semester of study, I want you to know that I believe with all my heart that God's Word is perfectly capable to radically transform our lives. R-A-D-I-C-A-L. Let us come together anticipating great, marvelous, and radical things from the One who strung the stars in the sky and carved the mountaintops. He is the One who knows the number of hairs on your head and wove your physical body together in the secret place of your mother's womb. I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces in class, and also hoping to see new faces. All are welcome - invite a friend... It just may save or transform their life. Let us never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. Never.

I am praying for every participant in this class. My specific request is that God will cause a personal revival in the heart of every person that attends. EVERY heart. Let's come believing that our God is more than able and willing to do a mighty work, and let's also come with a willingness to allow Him full access to our hearts and minds to receive what He has for us. Even things that may be difficult to face. His grace is always enough, and He will never make His child face something that will not be for our good and His glory. We have got to believe that.

I can't wait to delve into Scripture with you and learn together. I don't know about you, but I am desperate for divine revelation. To have the God Most High reveal Himself to me and minister to my heart as He alone can. Come anticipating this as we feast on the Bread of Life together. Cannot wait to see you Sunday, my friend!

"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Mt. 4:4).