Hello Colossians Group!
I'm so excited God has placed each of you in this group! I have learned that God is a much better group chooser (that sounds so wrong, but I'm going with it... group chooser???) than I could be myself! He knows just the right people to place in a group to lift up and encourage with just the right words at just the right time! THIS was an informative post from the BLOG that is leading this group. They have shared "Materials You Need for the Colossians Bible Study". I'm sure that each of us will do things in our own way, so I wanted to make sure to share their ideas as well as mine.
The past study (Proverbs 31), I did everything online. It was convenient for me to read my verses from www.biblegateway.com. I would copy and paste the verses into my email and do my SOAP journal as an email. This worked for me because everything is saved in my email and I didn't have to hand write in a journal and then type it all out in an email to each of you. I put all of my study emails into a folder. This time I will have a "Colossians" folder with all of the emails we share. I can easily go back and look for an email or "journal entry".
This time, I plan to do my reading out of my Bible, so that my kids see me reading from my Bible. Another GREAT POST the cute blogger girls shared was how to involve your kids in the Colossians study. It is recommended for kids ages 5 and up, but I plan to adjust it in some way to include my 2 and maybe even 1 year old. 1st step is them seeing me as an example in reading my Bible each morning. I admit that I struggle in waking up early. My schedule is that I get up when they do and do my reading as they have their morning play time. They play so well in the morning that I am able to do my reading and at least start my email. If I don't finish in the morning, I will send it at nap time.
If you aren't familiar with the SOAP journal, here is a link that will explain it for you. http://www.soapstudy.com/index.php You can also use the site to post your own SOAP's if you chose to do so. Some of the girls in our group last time did the study each day, but were only able to email the group occasionally. I am asking that you please email the group once a week, hopefully more. I understand if you miss a week (Things especially tend to slow down towards the end of the group. I am so guilty of doing this in the past!), but please don't be discouraged that you have slacked for whatever reason that you don't pick up the next week! We would all love to see everyone involved as much as possible! I know that we will all learn from each other and each of us will be a huge tool for God in learning His word! Since I am the leader, I have made it my own personal goal to do my SOAP's daily. I did miss a couple days last study, but made up for them the next day (or so). I would have probably used the website to save my SOAP journal's had I not shared daily. Just to have my journals saved somewhere. Some of the group preferred to hand write their journal entries, which is super awesome. I just don't have the time to do both!
I highly recommend subscribing to the www.GoodMorningGirls.org blog. You can do this by clicking "Subscribe" just under the main picture towards the top of the page. They share some great information that goes along with the study. I will be sharing highlights of the posts, but each of us will be moved by different things. They also have a link to the Reading Plan (SOAP Bookmark) and Study Guide in each email. I recommend printing the SOAP Bookmark, which has the daily reading plan on it. You can use this as a bookmark in your Bible and not have to look it up each day. The study guide is something you can print out if you choose. I never did. It is a place to do your SOAP journals. Use it if you chose. I just posted my SOAP's in my emails. I would recommend clicking on the link (which is at the bottom of this email) and checking it out to see if it is something you would use.
Please, if you have any questions about the study, let me know so I can help you and the rest of the group out! I ask that you "Reply All" when replying to emails. I understand that some things may be personal responses and that is fine. It is also very helpful to make a "Colossians Group" in your email contacts. If you have any family or friends that would like to join, please let me know! It is fine if they join late, but after so long it will be a lot to catch up on! ***We have started a Yahoo Group rather than posting individual emails. This is so much easier! And all of the posts are archived and any new member can go back and read previous messages to catch up easily!
Our first week we will share a little about ourselves to get to know each other! Wednesdays we will plan on sharing our blessings. Fridays will be prayer requests and praise. Feel free to share any prayer requests and questions anytime!
Group starts Monday! I can't wait! I'll be praying for a successful, encouraging group! I am sure I will learn more from you than you will from me and I am so thankful to God in advance! Thanks for joining me in this group!
For His Glory!
Study Invite
Hello! I am leading an online group of ladies this fall in a Bible study on Colossians and would love for you to join us!
I just finished a study on Proverbs 31 over the summer and it was amazing! The online group worked out so well. Each of us were able to share with the group what God taught us through our daily reading as we were able. Some shared daily and some only once a week. The reading is just a few verses Monday-Friday. It was so encouraging to study the Bible with a group of women and encourage each other on our walks with God. My favorite was hearing what God taught each lady through the same verses and hearing how each person prays. I got so much more out of my reading than I would have gotten studying on my own!
I hope you'll join us in studying Colossians this fall! If you'd like to join let me know and I'll include you in the emails to get started September 17th! Also, if you have any friends that would like to join, just send me their email and I'll include them.
For more info on the study, CLICK HERE. The blog we follow along with is called Good Morning Girls and is full of encouraging posts!
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