Get Ready for Gideon…
Get ready for Gideon, a new bible study by Priscilla Shirer.
Set to make its debut in May 2013, Gideon is an inspired message that will teach you about the strength of God and how it and He can work in your life.
To learn more about what is sure to be an incredible study, go to the Going Beyond Ministries web page.
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Spiritual Life Fitness Challenge:
1) Read Judges 6-8 and Hebrews 11. Write down the following: the characteristics of Gideon, the directives of God, the challenges faced by God’s servant, the indications of God’s strength and how faith was demonstrated in the life of Gideon.
2) Compare and contrast your life as it relates to Gideon. Keep a record of your observations. Pray to God regarding the aforementioned.
Scripture Focus: Meditate on Psalm 102:12.
One In A Million…Abundance
A Phone Tree Bible Study Series 
One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land by Priscilla Shirer
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Week 6 in Summary:
Faith is required for the journey to your promised land. It has the ability to both enliven you and to empower you so that you might be able to take courage, accept your calling, and have the confidence to trust in God’s assured promises. All of these actions will be necessary in order to move forward into the place of your holy inheritance, where true abundance rests.
Week 6 Quotes from Priscilla – Aspiring to Abundance:
- “Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the will to move forward in spite of it.” (p. 131)
- “The battles you’ll fight and the unconventional means by which the Lord may ask you to fight them will require a firm committment to do as God asks.” (p.132)
- “…promised-land living is largely about knowing, accepting, and doing God’s will…” (p. 134)
- “…it’s so important that our faith remain rooted in the facts of God’s promises to us.” (p.139)
- “We must hold fast to our trust in the Lord even if it means being in the minority. Without it, we’ll miss the abundance Christ longs to give.” (p. 141)
- “God requires our participation in securing His promises…He expects us to help so that we might grow in our faith and better appreciate His provision.” (p.144)
A Phone Tree Q4U: Do you fully expect to receive your promised inheritance from God?
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One In A Million…Putting on the “Breaks”
A Phone Tree Bible Study Series 
One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land by Priscilla Shirer
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Week 5 in Summary:
What would it take for you to truly believe in God’s deliverance? Would it take a breaking of barriers? Would it take a great exodus? Would it take a heart willing to surrender to God? Be still and know the I AM God.
Week 5 Quotes from Priscilla – Breaking Barriers:
- “When our souls begin to stir and the Holy Spirit begins gently nudging us to turn, set a new journey, and go, we can know that God is moving us to a new place in our relationship with Him.” (p. 107)
- “Closely following God to abundant living requires change in the life of every believer. We must turn away from the way we have lived, set our journeys according to the new paths God maps for us, and then go as He leads.” (p.108)
- “No one can move ahead spiritually…without continued connection with God.” (p.112)
- “As we go to new dimensions in our relationships with the Lord, God often asks us to embrace a new phase of the journey that sometimes requires that we leave behind the familiar to embrace the new.” (p. 122)
A Phone Tree Q4U: Are you moving toward God’s plan for your life, or are you stalled at a familiar place where you are unwilling to break from what is viewed as comfortable?
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One In A Million…Seeing Clearly
A Phone Tree Bible Study Series 
One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land by Priscilla Shirer
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Week 4 in Summary:
Intimacy with God is a gift and a treasure. It is to be valued. To be treated as the blessing that it is. Intimacy is a most precious expression of worship and a great demonstration of love.
Week 4 Quotes from Priscilla – Seeing Him at Sinai:
- “God’s purpose is to develop passionate hearts that beat for Him.” (p. 81)
- “Your wilderness experience is to bring you to remember what Christ did for you, acknowledge what He currently is doing, and recommit to personal intimacy with Him.” (p.84)
- “The place that seems distant from your desired destination provides fertile soil for God to reveal Himself to you.” (p. 87)
- “…closeness between us and the Father is impossible without the divine intervention called grace.” (p.89)
- “Sinai experiences…refocus our attention on God. They cause us to desire Him more…” (p. 90)
- “The more clearly God comes into view, the more fully humbled and in awe of Him you should grow. Fearing God appropriately will foster a beautiful, vibrant relationship between your heart and His and that is what this journey is all about.” (p.101)
A Phone Tree Q4U: When was the last time you were “stirred” into having a fresh passion for the LORD?
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One In A Million…A God Encounter
A Phone Tree March Madness Bible Study Series 
One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land by Priscilla Shirer
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Week 3 in Summary:
Is there anything sweeter or lovelier than an encounter with God? Once God has been encountered, life is never the same. A God encounter is an experience meant to put God’s glory on display in every way.
Week 3 Quotes from Priscilla – Experiencing God:
- “Every wilderness season increases my chances to see God’s supernatural and miraculous power working for my good.” (p. 57)
- “God leads us to places where His power shows up in new and astonishing ways.” (p.61)
- “The Lord wants us to thirst not after a quick fix to our problems but after the life-altering refreshment of His provision.” (p. 64)
- “Every wilderness is compiled of one test after another. Each is designed to better reveal the truth of who God is and who we are in light of Him.” (p.66)
- “The path through the wilderness is the only route to Canaan for us.” (p. 74)
A Phone Tree Q4U: Do you tend to view your God encounters and/or wilderness experiences as bitter or sweet?
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One In A Million…Wilderness Wanderings
A Phone Tree March Madness Bible Study Series 
One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land by Priscilla Shirer
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Week 2 in Summary:
Leaving a place of comfort to walk toward a wilderness of the unknown can be intimidating for those who choose to live their lives outside of God. For those who bow to the leadership of the God of heaven, however, much is to be gained.
Week 2 Quotes from Priscilla – Welcome to the Wilderness:
- “The road God chooses for us is often not the road we might expect. He often chooses a wilderness journey for us to give us an opportunity to experience Him in a way we might miss in a place of ease and convenience.” (p. 34)
- “The idea of wilderness living best illustrates how God allows and uses difficulty to His children’s greater good.” (p.36)
- “…God wants to take us on the path that fosters a deeper relationship with Him. He wants us to lay aside our determination to do life our way and follow Him.” (p. 40)
- “…the good ending doesn’t come without difficulty.” (p.44)
- “The wilderness is designed to reveal whether we really want God or if we just want to “get out of town” and to Canaan as soon as possible.” (p. 45)
- “A wilderness is peppered with oases, places of hope for a weary traveler…God’s people were able to withstand the journey because God led them not through an arid desert but into a wilderness complete with natural rest stops.” (p. 53)
A Phone Tree Q4U: Are you able to see the presence of God in your wilderness wanderings?
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One In A Million…No More Shackles
A Phone Tree March Madness Bible Study Series 
One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land by Priscilla Shirer
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Week 1 in Summary:
Learning to live in freedom and abundance can be a difficult task for those who are chained to the problem of sin. However, for those who dare to believe in the God who holds the key to freedom in His hand, liberation is achievable. It is possible to learn to let go of the chains of our bondage.
Week 1 Quotes from Priscilla – Shackle Free:
- “Identifying what keeps us from entering into a powerful and life-altering relationship with God will help us determine how to overcome our bonds.” (p. 10)
- “The curse of sin enslaves our souls; it is a lock and chain that keeps us from finding freedom.” (p.11)
- “Your journey toward abundance and fullness must start at the foot of the cross.” (p. 12)
- “…living in freedom depends on our response to the Devil’s mind games…He causes us to think that freedom is impossible. By getting us mired in a lifestyle of sin, he makes us feel hopeless.” (p.16)
- “We can enjoy true spiritual freedom only when we commit to accepting the pure, daily bread God provides.” (p. 22)
- ”When we accept Christ and lean on Him to help us move past the lifestyle sins that entrap us, you and I are free of Egypt.” (p. 24)
A Phone Tree Q4U: What does the enemy use to keep you chained to sin?
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Join The Phone Tree over the next 6 weeks as we learn what it takes to confidently head toward God’s place of promise.
Phone Tree Bible Study Rating: 5/5 Stars *****
March Madness…Of the Bible Study Variety
One in a Million: Journey to Your Promised Land by Priscilla Shirer
“The Egyptians in Exodus 1 were intent on enslaving the Israelites, wearing them down so that God’s chosen people would become disillusioned and not live up to their destiny. Of the original two million Israelites who received God’s invitation to enter the Promised Land, only two actually entered it!
Similarly, modern-day Christians often hear and understand the promises of God each Sunday morning at church but then rarely choose to experience them in everyday life. In One in a Million, Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer invites us to change that pattern for good, living beyond our circumstances and expecting to see God move in miraculous ways day after day. Without a doubt, we can find and follow God’s purpose for our journey. We can make it to the Promised Land!” – Amazon.com
Phone Tree Bible study lessons will be posted each Sunday, starting March 11, 2012. Join us for this incredible 6-week series, and confidently head toward your place of promise.
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Tuesday Table Talk featuring highlights from Mary DeMuth’s book, Beautiful Battle. 
“What is the enemy of the believer? Satan, yes. But what’s one of his most effective, hidden tactics? Boredom. Or anything that lulls the believer away from adventurous, risky faith. ” – Mary DeMuth
One Word, Three Arrows
The new year is well and gloriously underway. A fresh season has begun. Old things have passed on with a happy goodbye. And each new day brings with it unlimited possibilities that are only restricted by one’s lack of vision.
Instead of facing the new year with an extended list of goals and objectives that may likely be unmet about halfway though the year because of a sense of being overwhelmed or burdened, why not focus on one word and three arrows.
One word. A power source for your walk in the faith. A word that encompasses your hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the new year. One word that says it all and that gives you a sense of motivation for all things God.
What would your one word be?
For me, that word would be reach.
Reach: to get to; to succeed in touching or seizing with an outstretched hand; to stretch or extend so as to touch or meet; range of effective action, power, or capacity; to make contact or communication with.
Reach. One simple word with so much depth. A word that is an incredible source of fuel and focus for me after a year of great growth and grace. A word that reminds me of God’s mighty hand and outstretched arm toward His beloved people (Psalm 136:12; Deuteronomy 5:15; 2 Kings 17:36; Jeremiah 32:17).
Reach, my power word for 2012, which extends in three very specific directions, hence my reference to the three arrows. My three arrows – aims – for 2012, reach(ing) upward, reach(ing) inward, and reach(ing) outward.
Reach(ing) upward…This means going forward faithfully with God in whatever direction He chooses to pull me in/lead me toward. As He reaches for me, I reach for Him. With this arrow, I dedicate myself to fully trusting the LORD and surrendering myself completely to His glorious will.
Reach(ing) inward… This means living the “OK challenge.” This was a lesson from Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women. With this arrow, I dedicate myself to living peaceably with all men. I also intentionally choose to practice the peace I have been promised.
Reach(ing) outward… This means so much, to the point that it’s more vast that my words can express. Even with its vastness, however, it is not impossible for a supernatural God to conquer. With this arrow, I commit to aiming my heart toward grace works and fruitful missions. I commit myself to being God’s servant to all – the poor, the broken-hearted, the downtrodden, the fatherless, the widowed, the needy.
Only God knows how far these arrows will go. All I know is that I am ready to reach with everything I have inside of me. One word, three arrows. All aimed at the heart and glory of God.
Q4U: What is your one word for the year? Do you have three arrows aimed and ready?
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved to Leave A Legacy of Grace
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will cultivate a peaceful home where everyone can sense God’s presence not only through acts of love and service but also through the pleasant and grateful attitude with which I perform them.”
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” I fully resolve to make today’s decisions with tomorrow’s impact in mind. I will consider my current choices in light of those who will come after me.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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A woman of resolution is surely a sight to behold. She is breathtaking, as she has given up her life so much so that she belongs not to herself but rather to God. She is her Father’s daughter. A woman-child in totality and in completion. She is everything that God has called her to be and more – more in such that she is forever growing, changing, and being transformed into an even more perfect vessel for the glory of her heavenly Father.
The woman of resolution is a godly wife and mother. She is a servant and sister. She is a comrade and friend. She is a disciple and a sincere follower of Jesus Christ, who understands the value in teaching and in learning. Her ways are blessed-kissed and touched by grace. Her walk is honest and upright. Her heart is open and giving. She is a peacekeeper, an encourager, and a worshipper in her home, at her place of employment, in her community and church, and everywhere God determines to place her.
The woman of resolution is God’s living grace. She is the woman who understands that her life serves as God’s graceful, grace-filled, and gracious touch and movement on mankind. She is also the woman who appreciates that her most blessed legacy lies in God’s glory. This is the message that is communicated to all who know her.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond. 
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved to Practice the Rule of 3
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will demonstrate to my children how to love God with all their hearts, minds, and strength, and will train them to respect authority and live responsibly.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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“Train up a child,” “provoke not your children,” and “impress on your children the commandments of God” - all of these are vital and essential lessons to know as you rear and bring up your children under the godly model of parenthood. Along with these scriptural guides, one must also consider the importance of the Rule of 3.
One of the greatest gifts given to womankind is the gift of motherhood. Being a mother is a blessed responsibility, as a woman is called to be a steward over God’s child/children. Though motherhood is not without its challenges and ongoing grace-growth teachings, it is a treasured role that implies that one be a ”soul shaper, intentional encourager, and discipline dealer.”
A woman of resolution loves her children and understands that she has been positioned by God to serve in the role He has set so that His children (which includes you) can come forth as He has purposed. She knows that her divine appointment as a mother calls for her to instruct her children in the ways and teachings of God. She appreciates that her task requires that she surrender herself and her children completely to God’s Father-ing.
The mother who is resolved to love her children according to God’s model of parenthood understands the value of living by example. She believes in the power of prayer, and she faithfully incorporates it into her life and over the lives of her children. She is mindful of the positive and negative influences surrounding her children and is willing to serve as a godly gatekeeper so that they are protected. She is honest and truthful. Compassionate and encouraging. Just and fair. She is also dedicated to training up her kids in righteousness.
In the place of “loving her children,” the woman who is resolved lives a life that demonstrates trust in God. She leans into God and looks for Him to guide her as she guides her children, according to the Word of God and in full compliance with the Holy Spirit.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Be His #1 Fan
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will be faithful to my husband and honor him in my conduct and conversation in order to bring glory to the name of the Lord. I will aspire to be a suitable partner for him to help him reach his God-given potential.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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It goes without saying that many women dream of one day getting married and spending the rest of their lives with the man of their dreams. They dream of sunhearts and lovedust. Of tender moments wrapped in the cover of love. They look forward to a future frothed with ooey gooey kisses shared with their best friend. But as time passes and the realities of life sink in, many women are shockingly surprised by what their relationship with their significant other becomes.
The woman of resolution understands the seriousness and sacredness of her covenant relationship with her spouse. She values her mate as her God-given head and supports him in whatever way she can. She stands with him when good choices are made and when not so good choices are made. She encourages him when he is low and struggling to draw his next breath and when he is high and celebrating the goodness of God with a heart full of praise.
Resolved to fulfill her husband, the woman of resolution knows that her role as wife and partner is such that she is called to wear many hats. She is head cheerleader on days when her man needs to know he is leading his family down the right path. She is a trustworthy confidant in times when her spouse needs to know that his words – what he has to say - matters. She is a faithful lifemate when her husband longs to know he is cherished above all others. She is her partner’s # 1 fan, even after lovedust and life collide.
In the place of “fulfilling her husband,” the woman who is resolved is committed to lifting up her best friend and to supporting him in his efforts. She does all she can to encourage him to be the man that God has called him to be. She is dedicated to esteeming him in every way. She is determined to pray for her covenant partner’s spiritual maturation and development, and she will cheer for him “until death do us part.”
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond. 
Kim Teamer, Christ Follower/Bible Study Enthusiast/Pursuer of Truth 
