I am leading a women’s bible study at the church my husband is doing pulpit supply for. This church is in a transition stage. They have taken a stand against the progressive movement in the Methodist Church and are now reincorporating to become an independent, non-denominational church. We have been helping with this transition, from a ministerial perspective, for the past year. This little church is hungry for the Word of God. They are responding well to George’s preaching and the church has grown a bit, and over the summer we were in a transition of our own.

Not only have we been helping with this little, former Methodist church, we were also travelling back and forth to Illinois to an AFLC Lutheran church, helping them in their transition between pastors. In some ways, when travelling to Illinois came to and end in August, we were a bit “lost in translation” so to speak. We loved the church in rural Illinois but God was telling us that it wasn’t His plan for us, and we obeyed. Then we had to ask, “OK…What now Lord?” He clearly made it evident that He was in control and going to provide us with an income until His planned timing to reveal what He wants from us, what church He wants us to serve in. For now, the assignment He has given us is this newly independent church who needs leadership, guidance, good solid preaching, and leaders who will love them through the unknowing parts of their next phase of ministry. We don’t know how long this assignment from God will be, but we do it for His Glory none-the-less.

I decided, after much prayer, to begin this women’s bible study, not only because I needed the encouragement, but I saw a need that other women desired it too. Much the same reason why God has had it on my heart for 4 years to start this blog! I prayed about what we should study, pretty much the whole summer, if God made it clear that this Bible Study was what He wanted me to do. After much deliberation with the Lor, I kept coming to the book of Ephesians. So that is what we are studying.

This Bible study has been very fruitful, both to me and the women who have come. Some are regular attenders and some have come on and off depending on scheduling. I leave that up to God and whoever comes on any given night is who is supposed to be there, according to God’s plan, not my own.

We have talked about a lot of different subjects and questions that we all face in today’s world and how to apply what we are reading to our own lives, both individually and collectively as the body of believers. I writing about Ephesians on this blog is the way God is directing me as well. So, that is what I will be writing about for a while. Ephesians is one of my favorite books of the New Testament. I have read it, and studied it, almost as much as my favorite book, Philippians.

Paul wrote this book as an encouragement to all the churches around the city of Ephesus while He was imprisoned in Rome. I invite you to embark on this journey of discovery and encouragement through the book of Ephesians with me.

Sometimes God gives us assignments for one reason, sometimes it is for multiple reasons at a time, but fulfills the same purpose. That’s how I feel about my Bible study and this blog. One purpose, all for the glory of God, but two avenues it serves.

God loves you and so do I,

Leslie