Solitude-"An Inner Adventure"

"A Woman's Call to Prayer- I opened my book to the first page of the first chapter, and this phrase jumped out at me, "of seeking out and arranging for solitude." How many of us seek out and arrange for solitude? To be quite honest, solitude isn't high on my "to do" list! Perhaps this stood out to me because I just recently read the definition of solitude. "Loneliness is feeling alone. Solitude is actually being alone, but still feeling full. Solitude is quiet and focused; loneliness feels frenetic and frantic. Loneliness concentrates on externals, solitude on the "inner adventure." Loneliness listens to what others think and say about you. Solitude inclines to what God has said from the beginning. Loneliness focuses on want, on deficiency, on lack. Solitude rejoices in presence, provision, and purpose. Solitude requires a willingness to practice." The first challenge of this book for me is solitude! ~Sarah

Verse Two 2011

Alright ladies, ready for verse two???                                                                                                                 

Sarah-Mt. Vernon, TX: "She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff." Proverb 31:19 KJV

(Continuing my Proverbs 31)

Anna-Mt.Vernon, TX : "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon the earth that I desire beside thee;" Psalm 73:25 KJV 

Hannah-Royse City, TX: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" Romans 11:33 KJV 

Alicia-Sulphur Springs, TX: "The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him." Lamentations 3:25 KJV 

Gwen-Mt. Vernon, TX: "For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenence doth behold the upright." Psalm 11:7 KJV 
 

Katie-Mt.Vernon,TX: "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" Colossians 1:16 KJV

Verse One 2011

We are a little behind in getting the blog set up, but I would like for us to go ahead and post our first verses. I will type mine from memory! If you are not a part of our Book-Club, but would like to record your verse, leave it as a comment, and I will add it to our post.
 

Sarah, Mt. Vernon, TX: “She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night." Proverb 31:18 KJV

(I started memorizing the qualities of the Proverbs 31 Woman over two years ago. Sadly I never finished, but this year that is going to change. I am picking up where I left off, and with God's help, I am going to finish!)

Anna, Mt. Vernon, TX : "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we caommanded you;" 1 Thess. 4:11 KJV

Hannah, Royse City, TX: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8 KJV 

Alicia, Sulphur Springs, TX: "Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV

 

Katie,Mt.Vernon,TX: "In everything give thanks:for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thess.5:18 KJV

1st & 1 5th Scripture Memory Team-We’re On!

We commit this day to memorize or voraciously meditate on 24 Scriptures in 2011.
"Lord, we know from past experience that You alone can give us the unction to keep a single profound commitment for longer than ten minutes. We believe, however, based on Your Word, that You are the Initiator of all things faith (Hebrews 12:2) and that what You call us to do, You also empower us to do (Hebrews 10:23). We ask from You this day the anointing to memorize Your Word. We invite it to abide in us and bear much fruit. We ask You to make it powerful and healing to us. Transforming and beautifying. Bring forth a one-hundred fold harvest from every Scripture You sow into our spirits and cause us to be mightier in our battles than we’ve ever been in our lives."

New Book!

Dear Sisters,

I have missed our book and chats tremendously! I hope the convening season was a blessed time for you and your families.

"Hinds Feet on High Places," was such a huge success, that I have been reluctant to decide on a new one. While praying about this very thing, I read the following Scripture, and felt a confirmation for the book I was considering. Zechariah 8;20-23, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; it shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts (in Jerusalem), and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold of the skirt of him (that is a Jew), saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you."

It seems that I am bombarded with "prayer requests" from family, friends,coworkers and even strangers at a dizzying pace, not to mention the needs of my own life. I feel an urgency in my own personal walk to strengthen my prayer life. In the above Scripture God was saying that others would follow, if someone would step up, and lead in prayer and seeking the Lord! 

A Woman's Call to Prayer-Making Your Desire to Pray a Reality by Elizabeth George will be very different than Hind's feet on High Places, but I believe it can be just as beneficial to our spiritual journeys. 

"You can have an exciting prayer life! Are you a prayer "wanna-be" who wonders how to take your first step into prayer? Or are you a seasoned prayer-warrior who aspires to continue in the battle? Elizabeth George will help you make your desire to pray a reality. You'll learn practical ways to...

*establish a regular time for prayer

*refresh your commitment to pray

*pray from your heart for daily needs

*lift family and friends up to God

*discover God's will for your life

*worship God through prayer

If you want to begin-or improve!-your journey of prayer, I invite you to join us.

Answering His call to prayer, 

Sarah Beth

"Prayer is the highest activity of which the human spirit is capable."

Hind's Feet On High Places-Self-Evaluation

Christian Lessons from the High Places

• Accept with joy.
• Bear the cost of forgiveness without bitterness.
• God does not regard you as you are, but as you will be when you become what He wants you to be.
• Even the most evil things can be overcome with goodness and love.

Some Questions to Consider:

1. Where is your “Valley of Humiliation”? Have you returned there, since you received salvation, to bring the gifts God has given you to others who need them?
2. How do you respond when God asks you to sacrifice for Him? Do you build the altar he requests of you with joy or resentment in your heart?
3. What stones do you carry in your pocket to remind you of your personal covenant with God?
4. What was your name before you allowed God into your heart? Where you a Much Afraid? Bitterness? Resentment? Self-Pity? Who were/are your most persistent enemies?
5. What stage do you feel are at on your journey to the high places?
6. What lessons will you take away from this book that will continue to aid you in ascending the heights?

The Father And The Child

The Father spoke:

   Come, child, let us journey together.

   Where shall we go, Father?

   To a distant land, another kingdom.

   So the journey will be long?

   Yes, we must travel every day.

   When will we reach our destination?

   At the end of days.

   And who will accompany us?

   Joy and Sorrow.

   Must Sorrow travel with us?

   Yes, she is necessary to keep you close to Me.

   But I want only Joy.

   It is only with Sorrow that you will know true Joy.

   What must I bring?

   A willing heart to follow Me.

   What shall I do on the journey?

   There is only one thing that you must do-stay close to Me.

   Let nothing distract you.

   Always keep your eyes on Me.

   And what will I see?

   You will see My glory.

   And what will I know?

   You will know My heart.

The Father stretched out His hand.

The child, knowing the great love her Father had for her, placed her hand in His and began her journey.

Book-Club Meeting Memories

Here are a few memories from our final Book-Club Meeting reading Hind's Feet On High Places...

A panini, no a sandwich, no, a panini, directions, FRIENDS,chocolate-chip cookies (with Ghirardelli chocolate-chips!), friends, Hot Chocolate, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Alicia, happy birthday to you:3, PICTURES, (door slamming), GEMS, Grace and Glory, Back-seat drivers;/, CONVERSATION, shoes with ankle straps, fRiEnDs, shopping, Starbucks, laughter, a five-pound bag of coffee grounds, more pictures, a memorable day!!!

Pride

Anna's question regarding the enemy we struggle with most, has been soul-searching and thought provoking for me! My struggle has been with Fear as well as Pride. I wrote about Fear in a previous post, so now I will deal with Pride. I think one of the reasons I haven't been able to write about it up to this point, is because I am still in combat. Here is a poem written by Beth Moore that has challenged and convicted me beyond words. I believe God gave it to me to help me defeat this enemy. Not to say that it won't show up, even on the mountains of my experience, but like Much-Afraid, I am learning that it isn't in my power to defeat (that's a characteristic of the enemy itself), but learning to recognize Pride, as the "cheater" he is, and calling out to the Shepherd to deliver whenever Pride so much as peaks his head from out of nowhere. Here is the poem...

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny...becuase you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment...because you "deserve" better than this."
I cheat you of healing...because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing...because you're too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.
I cheat you of vision...because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...if you stick with me, you'll never know.

"Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18

Sarah Beth

My Enemy

Wow Anna!  This is such a hard question!

     "Where are you now, you little fool?  Up on the High Places: Not much!  Do you know that everyone is laughing at you?  Seeking your heart's desire, eh, and left abandoned by him (just as I warned you) on the shores of Loneliness.  Why didn't you just listen to me, you little fool?"

I think I most identified with her struggle with Pride.  I have a hard time doing anything boldly because I'm always concerned with what others might think.  No one wants to be made a fool.  No one likes being taken advantage of.  Sometimes I feel like I've been doing good and then I will be reminded that I still have SSOOO far to go in my walk with Christ.  This is a discouraging thought sometimes.  I can identify with what Much-Afraid must be feeling when Pride says, "Where are you now... Up on the High Places: Not much!"  She's set out to reach a goal, to get better and closer to God.  And is she there yet? Nope.  It doesn't seem like she's anywhere even close to where she wants to be.  Her pride would persuade her to give up and go back home so at least people would stop laughing about her pursuing her "foolish" desires...
Hopefully all this makes sense!  Its really hard to get my thoughts across quickly...I love you all!!
Hopefully we can all be together SOON!
<3 alicia

Who are Sorrow And Suffering???

Dear Girls,

     I am halfway through chapter eighteen!  Y'all have to read more as soon as you get the chance.  I'm serious, make the time!  I now know her new name and who Sorrow and Suffering really are. :)  I wish we all could have been together reading the last few chapters!  You guys have to read more so we can discuss, I have more questions. :)    Well let me know as soon as y'all get farther.                            Love ya, Anna

A New Thing

"We are going to rent this house on the beach. We're going to sleep, sit, swim, read ext...." Well, we've done a lot of everything except read. Lol!

I did have a couple of hours to spend with my Bible and my friend, Much-Afraid this afternoon...

"Behold, I will do a NEW thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (Daily reading in Isaiah 43).

Things are not always as they appear with God, for He can turn the wilderness into a highway, and the desert into an oasis. If you can't see God DOING anything right now, don't worry, He is, He said so in the verse I just quoted. Here is what Philip Yancy had to say, "A person who lives in faith must proceed on incomplete evidence, trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse." I love that! Are you in a wilderness, just wait, God is turning it into a path that will lead straight to the destination He has for you. Do you feel like you're in a wilderness? Get your rubber boots on, because he is preparing the floods of His blessings!

"I have come to bring you a message, " said the Shepherd. "You are to be ready, Much-Afraid for something NEW. This is the message, 'Now shalt thou see what I will do' " (Exodus 6:1), (from chapter 8-On The Old Stone Wall).

I miss you dear friends; I trust you are enjoying your time with the Shepherd. I am!

Anticipating something new,

Sarah Beth

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly (high) places in Christ." Ephesians 1:3

What Enemy Do You Struggle With The Most?

Dear Friends,

   I started chapter seven and love it! Wow this book is awesome!

It's like every chapter gets better and better.

   But I'm going to make y'all think back. Smile. And if you can, go back and read the first few pages of that chapter before you answer my question. It will refresh your memory!

   Her family sends some relatives to go after her:

   Pride, Bitterness, Resentment, and Self-Pity

(I hope I got all of those right, I'm at work and don't have the book in front of me.)

Questions: Out of these four enemies, which do you feel like you have struggled with the most and how have you worked to overcome them?

   Sometimes it's hard for me to be completely open and honest about my weaknesses.  But this book club has helped me to do just that.

   The enemy I have been struggling with the most recently is one that is not even on the list I named, but it is an enemy Much-Afraid struggled with so I guess it counts. 

     This is from copied from my book journal with a few parts I've added in:

     "I have been struggling with fear the past few days.  What I have always thought of as 'worry' I am beginning to realize comes from a fearful heart, which is just by the way, what the enemy would love for us to have.

       Little seeds of fear and doubt creep in and if they aren't dealt with quickly and turned over to Jesus, they can become much bigger and grow into something that will be much harder to root out later on.

     In chapter nine Craven Fear tells Much-Afraid, "Well, take your choice. Either you must go up there, where you know that you can't, but will end in a mangled heap at the bottom, or you must come back and live with me and be my little slave ever afterward."

     So we like Much-Afraid have a choice to make.  Are we going to allow ourselves to become slaves to Craven Fear?  Or are we going to trust the Shepherd to help us?

     I choose to call on the Shepherd!"

     So to answer my question I have struggled with Craven Fear the most, and it's only through God that I am working to overcome him.  First, I prayed and prayed and prayed!  I was struggling with worry.  Secondly God spoke to me through His Word.  I love when He does that!  I was reading in my Bible reading, and you know how sometimes when you are reading you are thinking about other things so you are not really getting what you are reading? :)  Well I had already read these verses, but I 'happen' to look back over them and catch them again.  And this is what I read:

     

     "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

      Behold, all they that were incenced against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

      Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee:  they that war against thee shall be nothing, and as a thing of nought.

     For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not: I will help thee."

                                                                                             Isaiah 41: 10-13 

     And then thirdly, God made the whole thing clear to me.  The enemy was fighting me, The enemy doesn't want us to trust God, he doesn't want us to have peace and joy.  But God does, He has come to bring us peace.  "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear..." 1 John 4:18  God has reminded me of this again and again.  

     I absolutely love being a Christian! And I love you guys!

     I look forward to hearing your answers-Anna

Chapter Six

Hey girls!

   I just read chapter six this morning. (I'm slowly catching up:)

And I think it is my favorite so far!  It was just packed with good

stuff!  And it was perfect for me.  I've had a few deserts lately,

it's awesome to know that they all have a purpose.  Like I said

I loved it!!!    And I love you guys!          ~ Anna

Replacing Fear

I too, can relate to Much Afraid! God has been showing me how many fears I have. Fears that I didn't even realize I had. Fear of the future, Fear of making unwise decisions, Fear of getting out of my comfort zone (just to name a few). "Perfect LOVE casteth out FEAR because fear hath torment." I am learning that as I fall more in love with Jesus (perfecting my love), my fears are pushed out the door. In other words, when there is love, there is no room for fear! What are three things you have been able to relate to?

I am excited about what God has done in our hearts in just a few chapters! Let's allow Him to perfect our love, and there's no telling where we will be by the end of this book!!!

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love bears all things,

Love believes all things,

Love hopes all things,

Love endures all things,

Weymouth New Testament
She knows how to be silent. She is full of trust, full of hope, full of patient endurance.

Replacing fear with more love and trust.

Sarah Beth

The Shepherd

I've been "taking notes" but really its just writing down sentences in the book that really stand out to me. lol. and the last part was one of them!

She is so excited and ready to take on whatever comes (just like most of us feel when we first accept Christ as our Savior) but the very first attack from Craven Fear brings her down and makes her feel like she'll never get it (like we feel about our failures when satan attacks) but thankfully the Shepherd steps in (and thankfully Jesus steps in on our behalf and fights for us! And when we fail he is ready to forgive us!! Hallelujah!)-Alicia

The Preface

Hey Girls!

   Ok how is everyone doing? What chapters are y'all to? :) I've got to admit that I'm only past the first chapter.  Sarah and I read it together Mon. night, and then last night I went back and read the "Preface To The Allegory."  It's in the front of the book. I think I got more out of it than I did the first chapter! So if y'all didn't read it go back and do it!  It is really good!  And it a perfect opening to the book.

                               Love you guys and can't wait to hear your thoughts!    

                                                            Anna Belle

Getting Ready

Hello, Ladies!

 

I hope you all are having a great week!  

I wanted to let you know that I ordered our Book Club books, and they should be in the mail tomorrow.

I am really looking forward to sharing this experience with all of you. We definitely need each others encouragement, and this will be a great way to connect!

In closing, I would like to leave you with a few comments from ladies who have been blessed by "Hinds Feet in High Places" by Hannah Hurnard...

"Since I was told by a few people who don’t even know one another….”read this book”…. I finally got it and couldn’t put it down. Hannah is especially gifted in creative communication. There have been many highs and lows in my life and this put Gods plan into a word picture for me! I loved the message and want to tell everyone to read the book!"

"I reread this book often. I believe the Lord lays it on my heart to remind me that these issues have a way of revisiting us and lessons learned are best not forgotten. Like Pilgrims Progress , Hinds Feet transported me to a world where I could watch as I walked thru the fire."

 

"I am teaching this to a group of ladies in my church. I read it for the first time right after my mother and father had separated, I had had 2 miscarriages, a car accident, had moved to a new city, had no friends, and had a new baby. I cried all the way through it, but it was the cry of hope mingled with sorrow – that maybe God could redeem all the hard things that I was experiencing. He has done just that – I say this 29 years later. I especially loved, and still do love the sweet picture of the Shepherd – faithful, gentle, strong, and loving. The book convicts and encourages. I love it."

"I was recommended this book by a friend and read it. Enjoyed it and put it on my book shelf. Felt God saying to me to read it again 4 years later after a major healing encounter with god, wow it blew my mind. This was my journey up to the healing encounter with God."

"I just read the book It was wonderful!!! Its really funny because we are all on the same journey as much afraid. I feel a sense of relief to know I am not the only one with a series of struggles. That is the most beautiful book I have ever read. I have been having serious problems here lately a friend told me to read it, I couldn’t put it down."

Seeking the High Places,

Sarah Beth

Loving Companionship

Here is what Darien Cooper had to say about Loving Companionship...

Planted deep within each of our hearts is an insatiable desire for a loving companionship that cannot be satisfied by any living thing except God Himself. David describes this feeling in Psalm 42:2.

"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:"

Are you searching for something you have not yet found? Do you have inner longings that are not met? Turn to the Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone can satisfy your thirst. Lift your heart up to Him.

Lord, I am trusting You to teach me how to give myself completely to you so my inner desires can be satisfied. Teach me to know that Your love and walk in that love as a way of life. I want to go with You to the High Places, where "perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18).

What a comfort to know You are "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6).

Join your Lord at the watering place beside the lovely cascade and pool in the village of your heart, alongside Much-Afraid. Enter into His presence with a sense of longing to be completely His. He gave His life so you could live in this daily companionship with Him. (Wow)!

"God is faithful-reliable, trustworthy and [therefore] ever true to His promise, and He can be depended upon; by Him you were so called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:9 AMP).

Lord Jesus, show me whenever our companionship is broken because I doubted Your faithfulness to me by being fearful or angry at various times, in certain places, or with particular people. Teach me how to let Your love and faithfulness saturate every fiber of my being so our companionship can become the most important thing in my life I choose to believe You are faithful and trustworthy, ever true to Your promises. I long to abide in Your presence alone. Thank You for Your faithful love to me.

Sarah Beth

Hinds Feet On High Places

"The Lord God maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon mine High Places." Psalm 18:33, Habakkuk 3:19

Hannah Hurnard created the story of Much Afraid, a young girl hoping to travel from the Valley of Humiliation to the High Places. Along the way, she meets a number of memorable characters - including the Family of Fearings, Cousin Pride, Mrs. Valiant, Mercy, and Peace. Much Afraid also meets the ever-caring Shepherd, who helps her on her journey, at the end of which she receives a new name: Grace and Glory. This is the allegorical tale of Much-Afraid, and every-woman searching for guidance from God to lead her to a higher place.

Hind's Feet on High Places was our first book. Our group derived it's name from the name the Shepherd gave to Much Afraid when she received the fulfillment of His promise. "Never am I to call you Much-Afraid again." "The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Ps. 84:11). "This is your new name," he declared. "From henceforth you are Grace and Glory." If you are new to this site, we encourage you to read Hind's Feet on High Places.



We have gone back and posted comments for this book in hopes that you will glean inspiration from them...