In our womans Bible Study, we have been doing Beth Moore's "Living Beyond Yourself"......Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit.  I have never done a Beth Moore study before, but I have to say, I am really enjoying it.  We are on week six right now and have four more to go.

Week one was Freedom - The freedom that comes only through a life filled with the Holy Spirit.  It is for freedom that christ has set us free.

  "Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Week two was To Live by the Spirit - The divinity of the Spirit, the ministries of the Spirit, and how we can walk in constant companionship with the Holy Spirit.

"So I say, live by he Spirit, and you will not gratify the dsires of the sinful nature."  Galatians 5:16

Week three was Love - Agape love.....God's love for us!

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begottten Son, that whoseover  believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.   John 3:16

Week four was Joy - Only love beter describes the lifestyle of Christ.   We need joy, and our world needs believers who eveidence thae fruit of joy.

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them gide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.  Then will I go to the alter and God, to God, my joy and my delight."  Psalms 43:3-4

Week five was Peace - Everybody needs it.  Very few seem to have it.   Jesus both provides and epitomizes peace.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brougth near through the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace."   Ephesians 2:13-14

This is week six and we are doing Patience - Patience is inspired by mercy, devoid of condemnation, and evidence of the persence and power of our Holy God.

"So do not throw away our confidence; it will be richly rewareded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the wil of God, you wil receive what he has promised."  Hebrews 10:35-36.

I made a promise to God when I started this study, that I would make time each day to read His word and be deligent and do my studies each day.  For the first three weeks I did just that, but weeks four and five Satan was working overtime to keep me from it.  Anything and everything that could get in my way, to distract my attention and focus, was thrown at me.   Satan did not want me to experience the Joy and Peace through Heavenly Father.  I have to say, that during those two weeks, there was much discord in my house!  :( 

I have tried getting up early before everyone else, which, at any other time, I would be up some days for hours before anyone else awakened.  So then I tried doing it at night when I went to bed while it was quiet and I would be in a better position to hear what God was trying to say to me, but each time I would fall asleep.  Do you find it hard to do your Bible Studies or personal worship time?  What do you to make sure that God's time is not interrupted?  Please let me know how you do it!

My friend Deb, whom I love dearly, calls me each week and holds me accountable for my studies.  She is such a great friend.  My spiritual walk with the Lord is just as important to her as her own. 

I have truly learned a lot during these past five weeks, and I am so looking forward to the next four weeks when we will learn about The Kindness and Goodness of God, Faith That Abounds, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

"ONYA"~
Laura