The Journey of Hope Study Group

[Angeldove97]

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Dear Brothers & Sisters,
This year I've chosen to live my life with more hope in everything I do. I found a wonderful book that is filled with meditations based on hope and I would like to study along side my fellow CF members.

What are we studying?
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Each week we will study a different topic, ranging from "The Love of God" to "Angels" to "Letting Go". There are 5 meditations per week, plus one day where we just focus our minds and hearts on prayer and gaining more hope in our lives.

Please if you are interested, sign up in this thread or send me a pm. Please be serious about this study--- we are here to learn from each other and from God. While I don't expect us all to make it every week---just pop in a share your thoughts at least every two weeks. The more people we have in here, the better it'll be!

Calling Group Leaders!!

I, of course, don't want to lead every week--- so if you are interested in taking a week to present the meditations and lead the group, please pm me. I will send you 200 blessings for leading for the week. I just need to have 2 weeks notice before hand!!!
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Book Information
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I would like to invite you all to purchase a copy of the book called "The One Year Book of Hope" by Nancy Guthrie (that would make studying it alot easier) and you can find out more information here: http://www.nancyguthrie.com/books/oneyear_book.shtml It's not an expensive book (only $15) and I'm sure you can look elsewhere (like amazon.com) for cheaper copies. If you need help please pm me.

Disclaimer: I am NOT making any money off of mentioning this book---I honestly just came across it in a book store and thought it was a great book. I wanted to study it with other friends though so that is why I am starting this thread.

Please pm me with any of your questions or suggestions!! Thank you

Hope Members List
Angeldove97 (Tatiana)
Lambkins
birdofthunder (Shay)
FaithfulWife (Cindy/CJ)
Criada
AdJesumPerMariam
EveryPrayerCounts (Derek)
Starr71
Tenebrae

Weekly Lesson Posts:
Week One: Brokenhearted
Week Two: Jesus, Man of Sorrows
Week Three: The Father heart of God Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Weekend Meditation
Week Four: Holy Spirit, Comforter
Week Five: Sufferers
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[Angeldove97]

Opening Quote:
Comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth--- only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair."

~C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity​

 

[Abigayle's Legacy]

Signing up.

 

[Lambkins]

Signing up!
^Hmmm must be lamby night!

 

[Angeldove97]

Awesome--- yup lots of sweet Lambs around here Let me know if you need any help finding the book!

 

[birdofthunder]

Ok, got here! lol I'm signing up. And since I'm going to my local Christian bookstore between now and tomorrow night, I'll look for it, or see if they've got it!

 

[Angeldove97]

Awesome--- yay!

I just read the introduction to the book. The author made it a point to let us know that she's writing it for those who are in pain--- for whatever reason it is in our lives--- based on what she has gone through in her life. She and her husband lost two babies (a boy and a girl) around 6 months after birth due to a rare genetic disease. So she'll include her painful story through out the meditations that she's written for us to read.

But there's hope offered in the introduction as well. She was to always remember that each of us needs Manna every day in our lives. If you remember in the Bible, the Hebrews lived off of this Manna that God provided--- but they had to go out and get it every day (they couldn't store it for more than 24 hours). So it is the same in our lives. We need hope every day that we live through these struggles or past painful events in our lives--- but the hope that we had yesterday wasn't meant for today... so we must renew it every day.

I'm personally trying to look at all the small blessings in my life and focus on them through out the day--- plus make sure I am very clear with God about what is afflicting my heart. I give it to Him and I leave it with Him--- or I at least try to (Still working on it...) But if I can personally give Him my problems and ask Him for a solution, I can go through my day alot easier.

 

[Lambkins]

But there's hope offered in the introduction as well. She was to always remember that each of us needs Manna every day in our lives. If you remember in the Bible, the Hebrews lived off of this Manna that God provided--- but they had to go out and get it every day (they couldn't store it for more than 24 hours).

I'm personally trying to look at all the small blessings in my life and focus on them through out the day.

Last spring at a school graduation ceremony the speaker was talking about the importance of reading your bible to start your day...he quoted "the Manna is gone by noon" That really hit me...all these years I have always done my devotions whenever and said it didn't matter...I am not a morning person ...but that quote really struck me...I see it as another thing that God did to prepare me for the trial I am now faceing! I do my devotions in the morning now and it truly does get me through my day!! I now know the importance of soaking myself in the Word of God!!

As far as seeing the blessings in the small things...it is amazing when you actually look for them...someone pointed out that God will even send people just to bless your day...whether it be a smile or kind word ...or a baby cooing at you...let it be God's way of showing you His love!!

I am really looking forward to this Bible Study!
God Bless you Tatiana!!
Looking forward to meeting new friends also!!
Love and HUGGIES!!
Lamby

 

[FaithfulWife]

Signing up and looking forward to walking the journey of hope this year! I'm gonna try to find a used copy of the book on Amazon, so hopefully I'll have it next week.

Meanwhile for fun, here is the Elders' Meditation today (it's a native american daily thought):

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"When you remove love and try to replace it with monetary things, you've got nothing ... Get him to understand that he has to love himself before he can love anything else."
--John Peters (Slow Turtle), WAMPANOAG


It is said, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." That's the trouble, most of us do.

Great Spirit, You are love; You are spirit. Spirit and love are interconnected. I am spiritual. Let me realize what I am really made of.

 

[birdofthunder]

Found the book, Tati! Hmm, interesting meditations!

 

[FaithfulWife]

My book should be arriving any day!

I found it on EBay (of all places) for $9 including the shipping...so what a deal.

 

[birdofthunder]

That is a deal!

 

[Angeldove97]

Wow, ya great job finding it I love finding the books I need on that site

 

[Angeldove97]

Btw, I started a few days already--- I've been so excited to read it and see what it has to say. I noticed something already about it and found it to be very strengthening.

Some of the things the author has mentioned to help us bring more hope into our lives, I've already seen myself be taught by God to do. Alot of the pain I have stems from one incident, but since then 4 years have passed and God has done so much in me that I'm now realizing how much I've healed. So instead of looking at the road ahead of me and dragging my feet, I can look back and see how much I've accomplished and enjoy the thought of new adventures ahead.

Also, little side note: I posted up a Staff invite, so hopefully we'll have a few more faces around here soon If you already signed up, please let your friends here know about it. I'm also going to have to design a post where people can sign up for a time to lead it for a week. If you're interested in doing a specific week, please let me know via pm. Thanks!!

 

[Criada]

Hi
would love to join in...I'll see if I can find the book.

 

[AdJesumPerMariam]

You just posted in the staff thread, and now I have 4 days, 3 not counting tonight) to find the book! And I live in the boonies, the closest bookstore is...30 miles away! (give or take) (am I whiny? )

I do want to sign up, and would love to do this. I will join in when I can get to town & get a book, or more than likely, order one

 

[FaithfulWife]

Hey I have an idea!

Since people will probably be joining us at all different times throughout the year, and may or may not have the book to follow along...

...and since we can't type out the WHOLE page worth every day...

...what if every day when we write about the passage that spoke to us or encouraged us if we type the passage we're talking about so others can follow along??

I obviously haven't gotten my book yet, but when it arrives, maybe there's a verse and thought section and then the "discussion" part--we could type the verse and thought part! Know what I mean? I volunteer to do that!

So whaddya think?


~Faithful

 

[birdofthunder]

I don't a problem typing in stuff myself. I've got some free time at work, and could help out with that....especially since I do get to "play" online at work when my work's done, or there's nothing else for me to do.

 

[birdofthunder]

Btw, I started a few days already--- I've been so excited to read it and see what it has to say. I noticed something already about it and found it to be very strengthening.

Some of the things the author has mentioned to help us bring more hope into our lives, I've already seen myself be taught by God to do. Alot of the pain I have stems from one incident, but since then 4 years have passed and God has done so much in me that I'm now realizing how much I've healed. So instead of looking at the road ahead of me and dragging my feet, I can look back and see how much I've accomplished and enjoy the thought of new adventures ahead.

I've found this true as well.

 

[Angeldove97]

I don't a problem typing in stuff myself. I've got some free time at work, and could help out with that....especially since I do get to "play" online at work when my work's done, or there's nothing else for me to do.

That would be a major help--- I know it worked out well for the Purpose Driven Life study we did together I wouldn't want to post too much up here because of copyright issues, but probably the meditations prayers, the Bible verses, questions for us to discuss would be fine.