Are You an Iron Girl?

I'm beginning an online Bible study that starts this week! Check it out and join in as you'd like. I'll be sharing it here and on a group page on facebook. I opened it up today and have 38 Iron Girls "pumped up" and ready to begin our study of Jesus according to the Gospel of John. Yay and Hallelujah, too! This is a Bible study I am writing. All you need is your Bible, a notebook and any resources for Bible study you have access too.
(I like www.biblegateway.com.)
You can read the introduction below.
If you'd rather participate on facebook, let me know.

The yellow rose symbolizes friendship.
Photo by Linda Charlene

Iron Girls (Bible Study Group)

“As iron sharpens iron, so a {girl} friend sharpens a {girl} friend.”

~ Proverbs 27:17 NLT (brackets –mine)

“Jesus According to John”

One of my spiritual goals for this year has been to “know Jesus more and better,” and in this pursuit I have been led to study the Gospel of John. I felt confirmation of this after a conversation with a friend last week.

We were out for a run together, when the topic of restlessness came up. We each related how we feel we should be doing more in our lives. For both of us our season in life is changing and we wonder, “What’s the next thing we should be doing?”

As we were about to part ways, we agreed to revisit the topic at our next meeting. In the meantime, I began to think more deeply and ask God for His thoughts on the subject.

Although our lives do transition from one season to another requiring some changes, still, I believe the restlessness we feel is because we are not meant for this world as it is. Though we live in the here and now, our citizenship, as Paul writes in Philippians 3:20, is in Heaven.

Romans 8:22-25 tells us, “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

So while we “wait for it with perseverance,” let’s find our rest in Christ. I have been so drawn to these words of Jesus, recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (a cessation from toil, a refreshment, an intermission). Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy (well-fitting and built on personal relationship with God by the indwelling Spirit) and My burden is light” Matthew 11:28.

As I read this passage today, tears flowed as the Holy Spirit magnified these three words, “…learn from Me…” You see, it fits so perfectly with what I believe has been a divinely inspired desire of mine for this year: “to know Jesus more and better.”  There is no better teacher than the Holy Spirit for that is one facet of His personality as He indwells the believer.

Perhaps you, like my friend and I, are feeling a bit restless too. At our second meeting, we concluded that restlessness in the seasons of change just “comes with the territory.” Be that as it may, I am determined to know Christ in a way that I have not known before. I am hungrier for Him than I have ever been. I crave a holy communion and I believe He puts that hunger and thirst for Himself in each of us. But sometimes we feed that emptiness with other things. 

The problem is we can be full but not satisfied. 

And that’s why I’ve invited you to be a part of Iron Girls as we study the Gospel of John. Let’s satisfy ourselves with Him. Let’s sharpen one another as we learn from Him. Let’s find the rest that only He can give in this restless world. 

© Melanie Dorsey 2011