Desires given...God-style!

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Last winter a pool table took up most of the space in our basement. I was frustrated because it had gone from being used to play pool to where we put our unfolded clean laundry. One Saturday night last January, I told my husband, "We should get rid of this pool table and get a sectional couch. Then we could have Bible studies here". I imagined all these women gathered in my basement sharing about God and growing closer to Him together. Knowing finances were tough, my husband just said, "yah right" which I responded with "God can do it Gene".

The next day we got home from church and there was a message on our answering machine from one of Gene's buddy's wondering if we wanted a free sectional couch from a friend of his. This friend never knew of my hearts' desire, but God did.

You know I was going crazy for my King!

Well a few weeks later on Super Bowl Sunday, while moving the couch to the basement, my husband's back went out. This time for good. April 3rd he had his 6 hour back surgery, then on April 9th we welcomed our grand baby, Amiyah into our lives. A Grandpa recovering from surgery while a new teen mom was trying to figure out how to breastfeed and text her friends simultaneously did not seem like the right time for this Grandma "Nonnie" to announce to the family that I'd be hosting a Bible study. Plus Gene would have had to find a new spot since the recliner in the sectional couch had become his new place of rest.

So, needless to say the timing of having a Bible study in my home was out of the question. That's when God gave me the idea of having an on-line Bible study. I had just read Lysa TerKeurst's book, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God" and was so taken by it that it became our first YES to GOD Tuesday study on March 25, 2008.

Toward the end of the study I started getting asked by study participants what the next book would be. That's when we began another one of Lysa's books. Her book "What Happens When Women Walk in Faith" too was an incredible journey that we just finished last Tuesday.

Once again toward the end of this study I began to get questioned of the next study to be done on Tuesday's. This summer I had the privilege of meeting author and lover of Jesus, Lisa Whittle at She Speaks. I bought her new book, "Behind Those Eyes" and after meeting her, just felt certain this was to be our next book for YES to GOD Tuesdays. I never mentioned this to other bloggers, but God confirmed it when I received about 3 email/comments from different bloggers suggesting this same book. So this coming Tuesday, September 23rd we begin our journey together of "Behind Those Eyes" by Lisa Whittle. We'll be discussing chapter one and the Bible study in the back of the book together right here.

This weekend I took some time to look at every one's blog. Based on each blogger's profile, I wrote down where everyone is from and sat back in my chair in awe of our great God.

Having a Bible study in my home was my heart's desire. God knew this. I had prayed this to Him and trusted Him with this information. When life got crazy in the Chealey household, that dream was let go of for the time being. I let go of that dream, but God didn't.

God took my desire and turned it into something only He is capable of doing. There is no way I could have gathered all of you together under my roof, but God could. God did. Each study seems to get a little bigger and every Tuesday, women from all over the place gather together in one spot under their own roof, to praise Him and share what He is doing in their lives.

God has brought together lives that may have never had the opportunity to reach one another. Praise Him with me as I show you the places represented that will meet every Tuesday in one spot with one desire...

to say YES to GOD.

Arkansas

Arizona

California

Florida

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Mississippi

Missouri

Minnesota

Nebraska

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Texas

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

AND

Australia!

Does that not just amaze you? I tell you what, our God is so much bigger than we know ladies. He can take something and make it into the unimaginable.

I am so looking forward to this study. If you aren't signed up and want to be, don't let the start date discourage you from ordering your book now and joining at your convenience. You will find me to be a very laid back hostess. Bloggers, non-bloggers, commenter's, silent-type...everyone is welcome! What I love about this too is women that would never join a Bible study in person out of fear of socializing, etc. can join this and even do it in their pj's! So, please come as you are...you are welcome here.

Expect life to happen between the start and the finish of this book so if you don't get some read on time or get the chance to post about it, come back in when you can. This is a no pressure study.

Click here to sign up if you have not done so already.

Also, I think it's important to pray for each other throughout and please pray for Lisa Whittle, the author. I think the enemy attacks us anytime we try to get closer to God. I assume he'll go after the writer of this book even harder; especially since she wants to be involved in this study and has been praying for you all.

If you want to get to know Lisa better, click on her book cover in the upper right corner of my blog.

So meet here Tuesday the 23rd and be ready to discuss chapter 1 along with the study!

If I missed your location, please let me know so I can add it in~if you don't want people knowing where you are from since we're on the internet, you can comment under "Anonymous".

Just this morning I added Jean from Oklahoma...welcome and Sharon from Australia...welcome matie! Is that what you say? I blame Crocodile Dundee if that's not right!

So, we have another state represented and Sharon joins Paula from Australia. WHAT is God up to??? How exciting to be a part of this. Being used by God is awesome and reminds me of something I once heard,

"I am only the straw to a great drink"!

I humbly keep in mind that God is using this blog as His platform to draw us near to Him.

Let's sip away dear friends and taste what is good!

Psalm 34:8a

Taste and see that the LORD is good;

~Many Blessings~