Jan. 22, 2008 - all done with mopping

Usually the only time I get the chance to blog is after I've mopped myself into the office and need to wait for the floor to dry.  So does this mean, I've only mopped 2x this year.  Maybe, but sometimes I mop and don't blog--so we'll never know.

I'm supposed to be starting a new Bible Study this week.  I'm actually the "leader."  Since I came up with the idea, I get to be the "leader" oh, lucky me.  In all reality I'm very excited about it and was a little disappointed when the other organizer called and said the ladies who were planning to come (3 of them) all have sick children and won't be able to make it.  It wasn't going to be a big group, but the thinking behind starting this study was to get motivated to study Scripture for me/myself.  I had hoped this study would be used by the Lord to encourage some other young moms who might not feel that they have the time to do another kind of study.  The invitees are MOPS steering team members.  You know, very busy and has little children.

Here's what I've got planned even though I won't be able to meet with them until month.
It is a word study.  I'll assign a word for everyone to study, such as grace.  Then before the next time we meet, each person will need to look up the word in Scripture, find out how it is used, what the original words/words were and how they could be translated.  Also, find out things like how many times it was used and in what books.  Each person would also pick one of the verses they would like to memorize.  They could use the internet (easy way) or look up the word in concordances and dictionaries.  They could do as much or as little as they had time for. 
Then when we meet, we'll discuss what the word means, where it's found, and talk about other questions we can come up with like "How would you explain "grace" to your preschooler?"  We'll also have a prayer time and snack time.  I was also toying with the idea of having a sticker chart.  Mamas are always making sticker charts for their little ones, and we never get the chance to have an award.  I was thinking about giving stickers for attendance, memorizing your Scripture, and having brought with them a page of notes about the word.  After a time (maybe 6 months), whoever has the most stickers might get a gift card to McD or something fun like that.  I'm not sure about this last part--depends on how much money I have.  I guess we'll see.

When you go forward in an idea such as starting a Bible Study or Study Group, how much prayer time is necessary to devote to it?  Since it didn't work out to start this month, did that mean I haven't been praying about it enough?  I'm not sure.  I prayed about, but I just don't know to what extent I should go.  I have the church prayer ladies praying about it.  How would you pray about it?  What would you pray about it?  I just prayed that the study would be alright and go ok (be useful) and help me explain what I need to and help the moms with their sick children.   I want to know what more is required of me for the study to be successful (and how do you measure success?  I wouldn't want to waste anyone's time.)

Just some random thoughts--now that I've let my mind wander about.