Unshakeable Faith Archives

Share the Love – Unshakeable Faith 8

November 5, 2012 by Kathy Howard 6 Comments

This is the last lesson in the Unshakeable Faith Bible study. It has been a privilege to share it with you! The devotional is below. Access the 2-page Quick Study here.

Every Christian belongs to God’s family. When God saves us, He saves us into His family. We can never experience all God has for us apart from a local body of believers. Jesus made it clear to His disciples that God designed the Christian life to be lived in the context of community.

Unshakeable Faith trait eight: Connected to a local church body with love and service

Peter spent roughly three years learning from Jesus how to live in a community of believers. This group traveled together, ate together, and did life together. But Jesus didn’t merely teach about love and service. He set the example.

Read John 15:12-13. What command did Jesus give His disciples – then and now – on the night He was arrested?

How did Jesus ultimately show His love for us?

Our friend Peter learned what love looks like from Jesus. In his first letter, Peter encouraged his readers to also love like Jesus loved.

Read 1 Peter 3:8-9 and 1 Peter 4:8-10. List all the characteristics and behaviors that describe how we Christians should love one another.

Peter used the Greek word agape to describe the kind of love Christians should have for each other. According to the The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, “agape love is capable of being commanded because it is not primarily an emotion but a decision of the will leading to action.” Agape loves deeply, unselfishly, with the other’s best interests at heart.

God loves His children through His children. He cares for us, comforts us, provides for us, and encourages us through our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Do you know of a need right now in your church family that needs your love in action? List some concrete ways you can show your love.

God’s purpose for your life includes a vital connection to a local church body. He has designed this interdependent relationship to benefit each of us. When trials hit, God will use His body to hold you up and He will use you to encourage someone else. If you are not fully connected to a local church, don’t wait any longer!

Let’s talk! Let’s share today some of the ways God has loved you through the local church.

I’d also love to hear how this study has encouraged you in your faith!

Unshakeable Faith Lesson 7 ~ Faithful in Persecution

November 2, 2012 by Julie 3 Comments

Jesus said that if the world hates Him, the world will hate those who follow Him. Those called by His name should expect persecution. There are some parts of the world where Christians suffer today, but there are other countries where followers of Christ don’t know persecution first hand. Lesson 7 of Unshakeable Faith showed us how those who call themselves by the name of Christ should be ready to share about their hope, fighting back fear of those who oppress them. Today we want to share about women who faced persecution with a strong faith.

If you were unable to see the video click here.

What does the possibility of persecution make you feel? How are you strengthening your faith today so that you are prepared to stand firm in the days ahead?

Let ‘er Rip! Unshakeable Faith lesson Seven

October 29, 2012 by Kathy Howard 3 Comments

This post is the Devotional version of Lesson Seven. You can also access the Quick Study (2 page version) of today’s lesson in a PDF. If you want to do the Full Study you can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

Christians around the world are imprisoned, beaten, and even killed because of their faith in Christ. Although the same kind of persecution isn’t prevalent in America, times are changing. Christians have lost favor with popular culture, and the only thing that is not tolerated in our tolerant society is Christianity. How will you respond when persecution hits here at home?

Unshakeable Faith Trait Seven: Prepared to Endure Persecution for the Sake of Christ

Jesus clearly taught Peter and the other apostles they would suffer because they followed Him. Although He warned them to be on guard, He also promised they wouldn’t have to worry about what to say. The Holy Spirit would give them the right words. (See Matthew 10:17-20, Mark 13:9-11.)

Read John 15:18-21. List all the reasons Jesus gives in this passage that explains why the world will persecute His followers.

It is generally accepted that Peter died a martyr’s death under Nero’s persecutions in Rome. But Peter did not let persecution deter him from following Christ. He joyfully endured beatings and imprisonments and continued to spread the Gospel message.

While trials are common to all humans, only Christians will experience persecution because of their faith in Christ. This kind of suffering is a direct result of obedience to God.

Read 1 Peter 3:13-17. List all the instructions Peter gives about how a Christian should prepare for and respond to persecution.

Read 1 Peter 4:12-19. Write a summary of the attitudes and actions we should have regarding Christian persecution.

Times are changing quickly. Christians in the United States may well begin to suffer persecution for the name of Christ. Ask God to prepare your heart and mind for the possibility. The Bible promises that when we do suffer we will know Christ more fully and more intimately. Do you desire to know Christ more fully?

Let’s Talk. How do you feel about the possibility of facing persecution? Are you prepared? Are you prepared for persecution?

Spring Cleaning – Unshakeable Faith Lesson Six

October 22, 2012 by Kathy Howard 3 Comments

This post is the Devotional version of Lesson Six. You can also access the Quick Study (2 page version) of today’s lesson in a PDF. If you want to do the Full Study you can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

When my children misbehaved, they often avoided me to try to keep me from discovering they had disobeyed. There have been seasons when I avoided God for the same reason. I failed to spend time with Him because I didn’t want to “hear about” the attitude or behavior that displeased Him. The result was a lack of fellowship with God and no sense of His presence. Intimacy with God and rebellion can’t coexist.

Unshakeable Faith Trait Six: Pursues Holiness with Eyes Focused on the Father

Peter wrote clearly and passionately about a Christian’s need for holiness. He knew that holiness is necessary for intimacy with God. He heard this truth many times from Jesus Himself.

Read Matthew 5:8 from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. What is a blessing given to the “pure in heart?”

From the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus taught the importance of a “clean” life, one free from corrupt desire and sin. Peter used the adjective “holy” to call believers to this kind of life.

Read 1 Peter 1:13-16. Peter’s call to holy living begins with a “therefore” in verse 13. Look back at 1 Peter 1:3-4. What is the wonderful truth that deserves our response of a holy life?

How does Peter describe a holy life in verses 13-14?

I don’t want to be far from God when tough times hit. I want to be close enough to God to feel His strong arms around me. What about you? If there is something in your life that’s gotten between you and your Savior, don’t wait another day without going to Him in repentance.

As we strive to live a holy life that is pleasing to God, our intimacy with Him will deepen. We will understand Him better and more fully sense His presence. We will continue to face trials as long as we live in this earthly body. But if we pursue holiness, we will not fall when adversity strikes. We will be unshakeable!

In what ways can a deeper experience with God and a more intimate understanding of Him bless our life and help us in times of trials?

A Mom’s Testimony to Life by the Spirit

October 19, 2012 by Kathy Howard Leave a Comment

This real-life story is an excerpt from “Unshakeable Faith: 8 Traits for Rock-Solid Living.” It demonstrates this week’s faith trait: Lives by the Power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit. You can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

How does a mom keep going when she knows she could lose her son any moment? Wende’s answer comes without hesitation. “I couldn’t have done this for five minutes without God.”

Ethan was diagnosed with an extremely rare condition when he was just ten years old. Arterio-venous Malformation (AVM), an abnormal formation of blood vessels in the brain, can cause seizures, hemorrhages, and strokes. Larger AVMs, like Ethan’s, results in progressive neurological deterioration. And a ruptured aneurysm is a daily possibility.

Wende smiles when she describes Ethan’s early childhood years. He was in the gifted program at school, could beat his dad at Chess, and loved to write and garden. Ethan was a beautiful and happy child with a contagious grin.

There was no hint of a problem until ten-year old Ethan’s hands started shaking. It took eight months and several doctors before they received the AVM diagnosis. Shortly after that Ethan suffered a stroke.

The stroke left Ethan with some physical challenges but it did not weaken his spirit or his faith in God. He never asked “Why me?” Instead Ethan firmly believed that God wanted to use his illness for a specific purpose.

Wende agrees completely. “I’ve seen God use Ethan to change people’s lives. They’ve caught his joy. He loved people just the way they are. The way he lived taught people not to get caught up in things that don’t really matter.”

But how did Ethan’s mom cope? Wende remembers a specific moment just days after the diagnosis. “I was washed by an overwhelming sense of God’s peace and I felt God whisper, ‘I’ve got this.’ And I believed Him.”

The Holy Spirit continued to pour peace into Wende’s life. “Those moments were a rest from all the things I had to deal with, so I could keep going.”

Wende experienced the Holy Spirit working in other ways as well. Joy when she was grieving. Strength when she felt weak. The constant awareness of God’s presence and love. And the physical support of God’s people.

After nine years of battling AVM, Ethan went home to heaven. Today, the day after Ethan’s memorial service – Wende is choosing to cling to the peace God continues to provide.

A Mighty Wind – Unshakeable Faith Five

October 15, 2012 by Kathy Howard 3 Comments

This post is the Devotional version of the study intro. You can also access the Quick Study (2 page version) of today’s lesson in a PDF. If you want to do the Full Study you can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

Like the wind, we can’t see the Holy Spirit, but we can feel His power and see the effects. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells inside you. His powerful presence is a gift from the Father. The Spirit equips and enables us to live the life God has purposed for us. And that includes standing firm through the storms of life.

Unshakeable Faith Trait Five: Living by the Power of the Indwelling Holy Spirit

On the night Jesus was betrayed, Peter fell to temptation. He couldn’t stand firm in his own strength. He needed the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would come. Ten days after Jesus’ ascension the promise was fulfilled!

Read Acts 2:1-8. How is the Holy Spirit’s arrival described in verses 2-3? How did He demonstrate His power in the believers?

Read Acts 2:14, 36-41. What difference do you see in Peter compared to the night Jesus was arrested?

Before the Holy Spirit came, Peter was willing in spirit, but weak in his flesh. He deserted and denied Jesus. Fifty days later Peter stood in front of a crowd of thousands and boldly proclaimed Jesus. He called the people to repentance. The Holy Spirit had transformed Simon the fisherman into Peter the rock!

Weak Peter learned that the Spirit of Jesus within him was strong. And he did not fail to teach others what he had learned.

Read 2 Peter 1:3-4. According to verse 3, what has “His divine power” (the Holy Spirit) given us?

When God asks us to serve Him, the Holy Spirit equips us for the task. When God allows trials in our lives, the Spirit gives us the strength to endure. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence and power within us!

Peter recognized that God, through His Spirit, gives believers everything we need to live the life God wants us to live. Whatever our circumstances, physical weaknesses, limited material resources, or emotional needs, God will supply. The Holy Spirit even gives us everything we need to escape our selfish, evil desires and act like Jesus.

In what current life situations do you need a fresh encounter with the Spirit of God? It might be a trial, temptation, or a call to an overwhelming task.

Stay Alert! – Unshakeable Faith Week 4

October 12, 2012 by Lisa Burgess 18 Comments

What are your valuables? How do you protect them?

How do you protect your most precious treasure—your relationship with God—against temptations to destroy it?

Jesus told Peter to “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38).

In what practical ways can we do that?

[Click here if you can’t see the video above]

What is one of your weak spots? How do you guard against it? Please share.

Don’t Forget to Lock Up! – Unshakeable Faith lesson 4

October 8, 2012 by Kathy Howard 4 Comments

Most of us naturally protect our physical property and the people in our care. We lock doors, screen babysitters, and back up important files on our computers. But how well do we protect ourselves from temptation?

The trials of life can tempt us to be less than completely obedient to God. Sometimes we don’t trust Him enough to follow Him down a hard path. Sometimes we give up on God too quickly and hastily act in our own strength.

Unshakeable Faith Trait Four:

Determined to Stay Alert and Guard Against Temptation

On the night Jesus was betrayed, He warned Peter and the other disciples about the upcoming trial and the temptation it would bring to deny Him. Of course our friend Peter emphatically insisted he would die first! But once again, Peter learned a lesson through the pain of failure.

Read Mark 14:32-41. What did Jesus ask Peter, James, and John to do in verse 38?

To “watch” means to refrain from sleep, keep an alert mind, and be aware of threatening dangers. If the disciples had combined a watchful attitude with prayer, perhaps they could have resisted the temptation to run when Jesus was arrested.

Peter intended to stand by Jesus even if it meant death. But when the testing came, Peter ran. So often we want to obey God, but when tough times come we run.

Peter may have fallen to temptation, but he learned from his failure. In turn, he wanted others to learn from his experience.

Read 1 Peter 5:6-9. Peter gives us four exhortations or “strong recommendations” for action when facing trials and temptations. Each verse begins with one. List them below.

Peter reminds us how much God cares for us in every situation. What might we be tempted to do if we doubt this?

In the NIV, 1 Peter 5:8 reads “Be self-controlled and alert.” That word alert is the same Greek word translated as watch in Mark 14. Peter was listening!

We do not have to yield to temptation. God always provides a way for us to choose obedience (1 Cor 10:13). We don’t sin by enduring trials and facing temptation, but we do sin when we reject God’s way and choose our own.

Where are you weak and susceptible to temptation? What are some specific ways you can guard yourself against these weaknesses?

Let Yourself Go! – Unshakeable Faith 3

October 1, 2012 by Kathy Howard 4 Comments

This post is the Devotional version of the study intro. You can also access the Quick Study(2 page version) of today’s lesson in a PDF. If you want to do the Full Study you can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

Many of us have had experience with “strong-willed” children. Doesn’t it seem ridiculous that a small child will stand up to an adult and stubbornly insist on their own way? They really think they know better than their wiser, more-experienced parents!

Yet, I sometimes do the same thing with God. In fact, each of us has been that strong-willed child who refuses to submit to the Father’s authority. Sometimes we act out of rebellion. Sometimes, we simply think we know best.

Unshakeable Faith Trait Three:

Submitted to the One Who Knows the Future and Has a Plan

Peter had a strong will. But even this hard-headed Apostle eventually learned that God deserved his yielded obedience.

Read Matthew 16:21-23. How did Peter react when he heard Jesus detail God’s plan?

Although Peter calls Jesus “Lord” in verse 22, the nature of his correction shows Peter was not really yielding to His lordship in that moment. In Matthew 16:23, Jesus identifies the core issue of Peter’s misguided intentions. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Many of us also tend to see things with our limited, selfish, human perspective instead of God’s eternal, all-knowing perspective. Intellectually, I accept that God knows best. However, I still want to do things my way, even while knowing from experience that I usually get it wrong.

We know from Scripture that Peter matured. He learned to focus more and more on the “things of God” and less and less on the “things of men.”

Read 1 Peter 4:1-2. Peter taught that one of two things will determine the direction of our life. What are those two choices?

If I am not living for the will of God, by default I am living for my sinful, fleshly desires. Either God’s will or mine. Not only is God worthy of our obedience, He also knows what is absolutely best for us.

What areas of your life do you have the most trouble submitting to God’s control?

It’s Who You Know – “Unshakeable Faith” Lesson 2

September 24, 2012 by Kathy Howard 10 Comments

This post is the Devotional version of the study intro. You can also access the Quick Study(2 page version) of today’s lesson in a PDF. If you want to do the Full Study you can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

Have you ever faced hard or painful circumstances over which you had no control? The trial may have consumed your thoughts, time, and strength, but still you could do nothing to change it. Times like that can leave us feeling helpless and vulnerable.

Maybe even today your world has been turned upside down by grief or tragedy and you don’t know where to turn. Even in those situations where we are powerless, there is One who is all-powerful. We can always place complete confidence in our Lord God.

In this week’s study we will examine the identity of Jesus to help us find confidence to follow Him no matter where He leads.

Unshakeable Faith Trait Two:

Secure in Your All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Sovereign God

When Jesus called Peter to follow Him, Peter knew He was a great teacher sent by God. But as the weeks and months passed, Peter learned much more about the power and authority of Jesus.

Look up the following Scriptures. Each passage relates a miracle of Jesus that demonstrates His divine authority over a specific area. Match each passage on the left to the corresponding area of power and authority on the right.

Mark 1:21-28                                      nature
Mark 1:40-42                                     demons
Mark 2:1-11                                          material world
Mark 4:35-41                                     disease
Mark 5:35-43                                    forgiveness of sin
Mark 6:39-44                                    death

Jesus has authority over demons. He can heal any sickness and cure every disease. Jesus can still the wind and calm the waves. He even has power over sin and death. And He also has the authority and power over every circumstance of your life.

Based on these truths, how might Jesus choose to work in the circumstances of your life?

God is able to do anything! However, He doesn’t always act like we want or expect. Sometimes He allows us to go through painful circumstances. But even in the midst of the pain, God is always with us. He strengthens and comforts us in the midst of our troubles. And we can trust that He will work through our circumstances to accomplish His eternal purposes.

Let’s talk: Has your view of Jesus been limited? What specific circumstance do you need to trust Jesus with today?

Unshakeable Faith: Secure in the God Who Chooses

September 21, 2012 by Sandra Peoples 2 Comments

Over two years ago, my family decided we were ready to begin the adoption process. We filled out the application with the agency we chose and waited to hear if we were accepted. After a couple weeks, they called with good news and bad news. The good news was we were accepted into the program. The bad news was we had 90 days to raise $15,000. Social services looked at our information and wasn’t sure a pastor and a stay-at-home mom would have enough money to see the adoption process through to the end (over $30,000 total). So they set the bar high, asking us to prove ourselves.

Some might have seen this as God “closing a door.” But we knew God calls all Christians to care for orphans. We knew He put the desire in our hearts to adopt. What would we do with this challenge?

Peter was also in a challenging situation in Luke 5:1-11. Christ seemed to expect the impossible. And Simon Peter didn’t know what to do. “Jesus said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets'” (vv. 4-5).

In our book, Unshakeable Faith, Kathy writes, “Think of a time when God guided you in a direction that did not seem logical to you. Did you obey? How did God work in this situation?”

As we learned in this lesson, God calls each one of us. God Himself chose you. He brought you first into a relationship with Him, then called you to specific ministries and opportunities. Acts 17:26 says He even determined when and where you would live. He chose the life you are living. The school you attend. The job you have. The husband you love. The children you raise. In all of this choosing, He asks you to trust Him, just as He asked Peter.

Well, we didn’t raise $15,000 in 90 days. Halfway through our 90 day deadline, they called again and said we only had to have $7,000. Because we had been working so hard to raise $15,000 we already had the $7,000 we needed. Like Peter, we were overwhelmed with God’s goodness and faithfulness to our family. We praise Him for choosing us first for salvation, and also for each opportunity He has for us.

What can you praise Him for today? Has He asked you to continue to step out in faith, as He asked Peter to do in Luke 5? Is He asking you to rest in the assurance of His love? Tell us in the comments what you learned from this lesson in our Unshakeable Faith study.

“He Picked Me!” – Unshakeable Faith Lesson One

September 17, 2012 by Kathy Howard 11 Comments

When I was in high school, a social slight felt like the end of the world. Now I know that rejection can be much more serious and hurtful than not getting asked to the senior prom. A departure of a spouse, a job layoff, or a broken friendship can make us feel unloved and discarded.

No matter how much rejection you may have faced in your life, never forget that God will never reject you. In fact, if you are a Christian – if you have entered into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ – it’s because God chose you! (Here’s more about how to have a saving relationship with Jesus.) Have you ever taken a moment to dwell on the incredible truth that God chose you?

Unshakeable Faith Trait One:

He Picked Me! – Secure in the God Who Loves and Chooses

Read Ephesians 1:4-5 from the New Living Translation below and note the words that describe God’s action on your behalf.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:4-5, NLT

How did God feel about doing this for you? How does it feel to be chosen by God for salvation and adopted into His family?

Believer, God chose you before the creation of the world. He picked you out for His very own, before you were even born. He saved you for a purpose: “to be holy and without fault (Eph 1:4).” You were chosen by God, saved by the blood of Jesus, and now the Holy Spirit is working in your life to transform into Christ’s holy likeness. God wants to grow your faith from shaky to unshakeable!

Let’s talk: What situation are you facing right now in which you need to remember that God loves you and has chosen you?

“Unshakeable Faith” Introduction

September 10, 2012 by Kathy Howard 30 Comments

Our fall Bible study starts today! It’s not too late to jump in with us. This post is the Devotional version of the study intro. You can also access the Quick Study (2 page introduction lesson) of today’s lesson in a PDF. There is not a corresponding intro lesson in the book.

Christians Do Have Trials

Many Christian women I love and admire have faced or are facing significant trials like life-threatening illness, divorce, death of a child, and financial hardship. These kinds of situations would knock many people flat. But these women are standing firm on their faith in God. They’ve discovered that God works in the middle of it all for His glory. They are standing on the truth of His Word in the midst of the storm.

It’s vital for us to know what the Bible says about why God allows trials in our lives and how He uses them. Otherwise, we might be thrown off course by false teaching that claims Christians who obey God and have enough faith will experience only prosperity.

What Does the Bible Say About Trials?

Read the following passages and record what the Bible does teach about trials in the lives of believers?

John 16:33
John 15:18-20
2 Timothy 3:12
James 1:2
1 Peter 1:6

Scripture makes it clear that believers will face trials and difficulties. However, as we continue to faithfully follow God, those trials are never wasted. He uses them to refine our faith, shape our character, work out His purposes, and bring glory to Himself. And yes, God does care about every aspect of our physical well-being. But He cares even more about our eternal well-being.

Are You Ready?

Are you ready for the inevitable trials of life? You can have a faith that will stand rock-solid whatever comes your way. Over the next eight weeks we will discover eight faith traits God instilled in Peter to grow his faith from shaky to unshakeable! Our goal for this study is to allow God to do in our lives what He did in Peter’s. Are you ready?

Group discussion: What trials and difficulties have you encountered that have threatened to shake your faith in Christ? Can you see how God was working in them?

This post is the Devotional version of the study intro. You can also access the Quick Study (2 page introduction lesson) of today’s lesson in a PDF. If you want to do the Full Study you can purchase the book on Amazon or CBD.

“Unshakeable Faith” Giveaway winners announced

August 29, 2012 by Kathy Howard 4 Comments

We’ve had an overwhelming response to the announcement of our upcoming online study of “Unshakeable Faith.” We are thrilled to have so many women planning to join us from all around the world! (In case you missed the invitation to join us beginning September 10th, here is that invitation post.)

Thank you for all the comments and post sharing on Facebook and Twitter. Each of those earned an entry in our giveaway. And now a drum roll please…….

The winners are…

LeAnn Hileman
Deanna
Hope Reed
Darcey

Congratulations ladies! Don’t forget to email Katie with your mailing address. You will be receiving your book from Amazon!

Remember, you do not need a copy of the book to participate in the first two levels – Devotional or Quick Study. However, if you plan to participate in the Full Study and you did not win a copy of “Unshakeable Faith,” there is still time to purchase one before the study begins on September 10. Here are the purchase links:

Amazon

ChristianBook.com

BarnesAndNoble.com

Unshakeable Faith for the Storms of Life

August 27, 2012 by Kathy Howard 4 Comments

Does your faith shake when difficulties hit? Trials and hard times are inevitable, but we can have a rock-solid faith that will weather the storms.

Two weeks from today, we will begin a 10-week Bible study called “Unshakeable Faith.” An invitation post with all the details ran last Wednesday. Check out the invitation post for more information and leave a comment to enter for a chance to win a copy of the book. Entries for the drawing close today! (Giveaway ended)

You can participate on one of three levels. (For the first two levels you do not need the book.) I would like to share with you one of the “Faith Shaker” stories that are included in the book. These are stories about real women, facing real struggles, and leaning on our Rock-Solid God!

Meet Karen, who learned to be secure in the God who loves and chooses her:

Bill physically left Karen the day before their 25^th wedding anniversary, but he had been in the process of leaving for a long time. He started to drift away about five years earlier. He pursued interests on his own, resented the demands of family life, and even denied the God he had once believed in. Karen did everything she could think of to draw her husband back, but all her attempts seemed to push him further away.

Karen felt like she had lost her husband long before Bill admitted he wanted out of their marriage. His long disengagement had made her feel ignored, devalued, and ugly. His final act of walking out the door told Karen she was unwanted and unlovable. “The one person who promised to love me forever said he didn’t anymore.”

Karen begged God to fix everything – to fix Bill, to fix their marriage, to fix her. Many times she poured out her anger and distress while meeting with God on the floor of her dark closet. But the divorce still happened. So Karen clung to God.

“God did not save my marriage, but He did save me. He faithfully cared for me. Like when His people showed up to serve me, listen to me, or sit with me while I cried. And when the money I needed was there, and the lawn was mowed, and the children were loved on.”

After three years and a lot of prayer, godly counsel, and Bible study, Karen knows she is dearly loved and wanted by God. “I was told that if I let Him, God would fill my every need as a single woman – my need to feel safe, secure, and loved. I did not fully believe that when I heard it, but God has certainly done it.”

Do you ever struggle with feeling unloved and unwanted? How can remembering that God loves and chooses you help you experience joy and peace?

To find out more about the study ~~and enter to win~~ see the invitation post.

You’re Invited to Join Us in “Unshakeable Faith”

August 22, 2012 by Kathy Howard

We women are usually prepared for anything. We carry snacks for hunger pangs and tiny sewing kits for loose buttons. We have dozens of hamburger recipes to carry us through the end of the month when money is tight. But is our faith prepared for hard times? Will it stand firm when the trials of life inevitably come or will it be shaken? We can have an unshakeable faith that will weather any storm!

Online study starting September 10

Please join us as we study “Unshakeable Faith: 8 Traits for Rock-Solid Living” right here at Do Not Depart beginning Monday, September 10.^th I am honored to share this 8-week Bible study with you! “Unshakeable Faith” explores 8 key “faith traits” found in the life of Peter. We will see how God used Peter’s relationship with Jesus to transform his weak, fragile faith – that once denied Jesus – into a faith that stood firm even in the face of death.

Three options/One Community

Doing this study online allows for some great flexibility. You will have the option of participating at three different levels designed to meet the time constraints of busy women.

Devotional – The Monday posts will share some brief insight about that week’s faith trait, give a Scripture to read, and ask a couple of questions for reflection. You will be able to read this in a few minutes.
Quick Study – For those women who have a bit more time, the Monday posts will include a link to a 2-page lesson to download and complete. The quick study covers that week’s topic a bit more thoroughly and gives more Scripture to read and questions to answer.
Full Study – For those who would like to do the full study, you can purchase the book and work through it as we cover the traits here online.

Of course we want all of you to interact with us here at Do Not Depart. We will begin discussion with Monday’s post and continue it through the week. On Fridays, one of the DND team members will post a story or vlog corresponding with that week’s faith trait.

Enter to Win!

We will kick-off the study Monday, September 10^th with an introductory lesson on what the Bible says about trials in Christians’ lives. But before then, we want to give away several copies of “Unshakeable Faith!” Entries will close Monday, August 27 and winners will be announced Wednesday, August 29. You can enter up to three times: GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED