Final Weekly Update for Spring Session

Hi ladies,

What a wonderful bruncheon!! Thank you again to Carol Durham and Karen Hickey for coordinating and being our hostesses.  They turned our meeting area into such a lovely place for us to gather and close out our 2026 Spring Session.  And a special thank you to Kari Howard for our beautiful fresh flower table arrangements.  Thank you all for bringing dishes to share.  We have very good cooks and bakers among us!

You all know I am not often without words but, I am having difficulty saying how much I appreciate your kindness with the sweet card and Urban Sanctuary Spa dollars!  This was not expected but certainly appreciated!  I am looking forward to scheduling a body massage very soon.  And, I got to take home the largest of the floral arrangements which looks spectacular in our home.  

You ALL have made this Bible Study session so special.  Thank you especially to our leaders and volunteers for your faithful dedication to serving.  You were an important part of making each week a successful time to meet and study God’s word. I know you have many other things going on in your lives yet you made this a priority each and every week! 

Over the summer, please take time to review our lesson summaries if you haven’t already and again, if you have.  It is remarkable to see how God was working each week through our lesson leaders.  We have learned that God’s Word is not just something we read – it is something we live. 

We studied the importance of…

·      answering the call to serve and respond by saying Use Me;

·      answering the call to obey as Abraham;

·      understanding our spiritual gifts and using them;

·      trusting in God’s timing like Hagar; and  

·      understanding Old Testament scripture related to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

We also studied how God will use us even in our darkest times as with Paul (his affliction and his letters to Timothy); and when we are tricked like Joshua and then find ourselves fighting an uphill battle. 

Each lesson has been a reminder that God is faithful, His promises are true, and His love never fails.

As we head into summer, I want to encourage you to keep walking closely with the Lord.  Let’s not take a break from our faith just because our meetings pause.  Keep reading scripture, keep praying, keep looking for ways to serve and love others.  Remember, God’s classroom is everywhere – on the beach, on the tennis court/golf course, at work, or on the road.

I’m already looking forward to when we gather again.  I believe God will continue to work in each of our lives over the summer, and when we come back, we’ll have new stories of His goodness to share.

Let’s close out this session in prayer,

Lord, thank you for the gift of this group and the time we’ve shared in Your word.  As we go into the summer, keep our hearts close to You.  Protect us, guide us, and help us to be a light wherever we go.  May we return refreshed, renewed, and ready for all You have in store.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

Be on the lookout for updates throughout the summer (not weekly 😊) and I’ll see you in September!!

Until then, I hope to see you around the neighborhood,

Until then, Cindy 🙏🏻💕

Our Spring Bruncheon

Hi ladies! 

I realize some of you may have peeked and saw my “happy dance” after I mentioned this past week was our last lesson for the Spring session.  I hope you know that was purely a lighthearted moment as I have genuinely enjoyed serving as your Bible Study leader throughout our Spring session.  I offer my thanks to God for His unwavering guidance, our dedicated leaders and volunteers who worked diligently to create meaningful experiences, and you for your faithful attendance and support.  When I said, “Use Me”, I am not sure I realized what that would truly entail and I certainly didn’t know just how blessed I would be!  I have felt such a closeness to God and to you!  While not surprised, I have been in awe of how He has been present every step of the way.     

Listen to me….talking like it is over.  But, we still have one more week – Our Spring Session Bruncheon!  As I have mentioned before, this is a wonderful time of fellowship prior to our summer break.  If you haven’t signed up yet or were not able to join us during the Spring session, but want to join us – I hope you will come.  Please contact Carol Durham at 678.878.0888 or crdurham1@aol.com

We will meet during our regular time and at our regular place - Village Hall at 10 am.  We will not be set up in Small Groups so please sit anywhere.  Maybe take this time to sit with and meet someone you don’t know.

It was such a treat to have Lisa back with us leading our lesson this past week.  Her focus was on Joshua 9 and 10 and Joshua’s uphill battle.  Like Joshua, many of us (if not all) have faced an uphill battle and our time together helped us to think about how we got there and how we fight through it.  We were reminded by these Old Testament scriptures how important it is to always include God in our decisions and actions.  He will always be there to fight with and for us!  If you missed Lisa’s lesson, she will provide a summary on the Summary Page. 

Before I close out this weekly update, I just want to take a moment to thank you again for being a part of our Spring session.  Over the past months, we have opened God’s Word together, wrestled with questions during small group discussion, shared our hearts, and encouraged one another in faith.  Your presence, your insights, and your prayers have been a blessing to me and to each other.   

I, along with Carol Durham and Karen Hickey (our Bruncheon Hostesses), look forward to seeing you on Thursday!  Can’t wait to see you and sample all of the delicious dishes being shared!

Until then, Cindy 🙏🏻💕

Weekly Update

Hi ladies,

It feels like yesterday that I was welcoming you to the 2026 Spring session as your new leader and admitting that my sleep number score for the night before was lower than my blood pressure number.  And here we are…. almost at the end of this session.  We have one more lesson on May 14 and then Carol Durham and Karen Hickey will host our traditional and very fun and delicious bruncheon on May 21.  They will bring a sign-up sheet again this week.  If you miss the sign-up but plan to attend, you can text or email Carol at 678.878.0888 of crdurham1@aol.com

Although we did not meet in person on May 7, I hope you took time, as I recommended, in last week’s update to spend time reading scripture and praying for our ladies. 

I am excited that Lisa Godwin Holland will lead our lesson this week.  Please review Lisa’s below message to us that includes Bible verses to read and questions to ponder.   

Hello ladies,

I cannot wait to see you on Thursday. I have missed you, and I am so happy that the Spring session is going so well. 

Our lesson this week will be one I taught many years ago. I think it was during Covid. It includes one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Our scripture focus will be found in Joshua 10. I love God’s word, and although I have not always, I have come to love the Old Testament.  There is really so much to be mined in it, and the story of how the sun stood still and God caused the natural laws to be broken is certainly one of those stories with so much we can take away and apply to our lives. What were the circumstances surrounding this event? And what can we learn as His people today from this story?

It seems like everywhere in the world there is fighting. As you read our scripture for this week there is a battle at the center of the story. As we will see the Israelites find themselves in a fight that could’ve been avoided. Have you ever had one of those? Have you ever said to yourself…. “If only I had not said this” or “If only I hadn’t gone there.” “If only I had made a different choice.” Yep, it is those “if only(s)” that can run through our heads.

Please read Joshua 10: 1-15. In verse 7 it says that “Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army “(NIV). Meaning the army was marching uphill. Have you ever fought what seemed like an uphill battle? I have. Do you have an uphill battle right now? I do. What we will find as we study this story is that this battle is more complicated that is seems. Aren’t all battles like that?

How do you approach difficult situations, circumstances or relationships with the proper attitude even if perhaps the problem is not your fault?

We will be discussing Joshua 9 also, if you want to read that as well. 

I’ve included the below questions for your small group discussion.  All of these will be touched on during our lesson.

1. Have you ever made a decision without praying about it and been left to deal with the consequences?

2. How do you handle really hard situations (battles) in your life that could’ve been avoided?

3. Do you have a problem with blame, regret, or self-condemnation that limits your ability to be the “soldier” Christ has called you to be?

4. How does fear affect your ability to fight your battle? Or, is fear your uphill battle?

5. Do you maintain your focus and composure in stressful, chaotic situations?

6. Has there ever been a time when you had an uphill battle, but God ultimately redeemed that situation for your good and His glory?

7. Do you believe in the Sovereignty of God?

Thank you, Lisa

Lisa and I look forward to seeing you on Thursday!  Please come “picture ready” for our Member Directory!

Until then, Cindy 🙏🏻💕

Weekly Update

Hi ladies,

IMPORTANT REMINDER – we will NOT MEET this week, May 7. 

If you were not able to join us for this past week as Pamela Hall continued her focus on Timothy, she has provided a Lesson Summary.  As requested, Pamela included the Bible resources she mentioned at the end of the lesson.

Even though we won’t be together in person this week, I’d like to introduce a Same Scripture, Separate Spaces plan.  On May 7, at our usual begin time of 10:00, please take time to follow the below outline….Let’s at least be together in spirit!

1. Begin with Prayer

Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, soften your heart, and bring our group together in spirit even while physically apart.

2. Scripture Focus  - Jeremiah 17:7–8

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream…” (NIV)

Read the passage twice.  Once silently and again out loud.  The first time, simply listen. The second time, take notice of any words that stand out.

3. Personal Reflection

·      Where am I placing my trust most right now — in God or in something else?

·      What “streams” (spiritual practices, relationships, habits) help keep my roots nourished?

·      How can I deepen my confidence in God this week?

4. Prayer Time

·      Thank God for being your source of life and stability.

·      Pray for each woman in our group to remain rooted in Him.

·      Ask for courage to trust Him in areas where you feel uncertain.

Carol Durham and Karen Hickey who are coordinating our bruncheon began a sign-up sheet this past week.  They will bring it again on May 14.  But, in the meantime, if you would like to let them know you are coming and what you will bring to share, please contact Carol at 678.878.0888 or crdurham1@aol.com

When we are back together on May 14, Lisa Godwin Holland will lead our lesson.  I will include a special note from Lisa with verses and questions in next week’s update.  

I will truly miss being with you this week and look forward to seeing again on May 14.

Until then,

Cindy

Weekly Update

Hi ladies,

Randy and I enjoyed a nice time away to see the Wizard but, There’s No Place Like Home!  A special thank you to Joanne and Pamela for leading your time together! 

 If you missed this past week, like I did, or want a refresher on Pamela’s 1 Timothy lesson, you can find her summary on the Summary Page or by going to Home>About> Current Session Schedule and clicking on April 23. 

Carol Durham along with Karen Hickey will be coordinating and hosting our Bruncheon on May 21.  As we are not meeting on May 7, Carol will have a sign-up sheet this week.  Therefore, please consider what delicious dish you would like to contribute.  She will have the sign-up sheet again on May 14.  If you miss both of these times to sign up, we will offer additional options for you to join the list.  This will be a fun and very delicious way to conclude our Spring session, and I hope you are planning to be with us.   

A huge thank you to those who have already had your picture taken for the Member Directory.  Your smiling faces are such a joy to see.  If you have not had your picture taken yet, please do it this Thursday or send your picture to Christy Britt at christybritt1@yahoo.com

Pamela will be leading our lesson again this week keeping the spotlight on Timothy.  Our lesson is titled – A Swan Song, and she will be drawing from scripture in 2nd Timothy.  Make sure to get ready for our time together by reading the relevant verses and considering the questions that Pamela has shared below.   

1. Paul encourages Timothy to “fan into flame” his spiritual gift (2 Timothy 1:6).

How can we rekindle or strengthen our faith and spiritual gifts today, especially during seasons of discouragement?

2. Suffering is a major theme in this letter (2 Timothy 2:3–6, 3:10–12).

How does Paul’s perspective on hardship challenge the way we typically view difficulties in our Christian walk?  Share your thoughts and feelings that came to mind when reflecting on Paul’s situation while imprisoned at Mamertine and how you might think differently after learning how Paul faced his imprisonment.

3. Paul warns about false teachers and people turning away from sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3–4).

What are some modern-day examples of this, and how can believers stay grounded in truth without becoming harsh or defensive? In what ways can we ensure that our minds and consciences remain pure in a world that often promotes defilement?

4. In 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Paul emphasizes the power and purpose of Scripture.

How can we move beyond simply reading the Bible to allowing it to truly shape our attitudes, decisions, and daily lives?

I’ve really missed everyone this past week and I am looking forward to seeing you on Thursday. 

Until then,

Cindy