Lunch Time Bible study

[GoLions]

A couple of weeks ago, I heard about a church near where I work (10 minutes away) was having a Bible study at 11 AM on Wednesdays. Thats a little early for me for lunch, but I can take my lunch at anytime. So, I go and there are 3 women and myself...a little awkward, but I'm used to being awkward.

I go back to work and tell some of my coworkers, and Wendy says she wants to go next week. How cool is that? So we go and there are now 3 women, 2 kids and 1 baby plus me and Wendy.

Wendy is so thrilled about this. After work she is surrounded by her grand kids and what not, and just doesn't have the time for Bible reading. She was soooo thankful that I told her about it.

Wendy is single, she is employed part-time, smoker and just doesn't have a lot of 'nice things'. Her tires are bald has lots of tattoos. I came to know Wendy through church. A youth rally was held, kids went out door to door, asking people if they wanted Bible studies. She said yes, and our Pastors wife started giving them to her. She heard that my place of work maybe hiring and she wouldn't have to work Sabbaths. So I got her a job. I tell you all this so you have a little background to her.

So this week she tells her supervisor that she wants to take an early lunch on Wednesdays. She tells her, OK, but you have to punch out. (that means she will not get paid for her lunch, which stinks, but I am glad that she still wanted to go).

Now you would think that going to a Bible study or discussion would be either well received or ignored. But nooooo, when she got back she said she got the worst looks and snarky remarks from people, one person even came to me and said 'what, do part timers get an hour lunch now too?' I was really kind of shocked at the attitude, over such a thing. It was really amazing to watch.

Satan hates when we read, study and discuss the Holy Bible. And if your new to it, he hates it even more and will let you know. I'm glad that Wendy saw the good in it, and is not discouraged. She is one tough lady.

[Gail]

Wow!! I'm glad for the Bible study but sad for the attitudes at Wendy's work. If a person is not spiritually inclined I supposed s/he won't understand. I'm happy that Wendy is going, though, in spite of it!

May God bless your time together! And may the group keep growing!

[phkrause]

This is an awesome story golions, thanks for sharing. Its sad how people are so angry at others, they're probably mad because they think she gets paid for the lunch hour. The placed I used to work before being laid off also had a situation like that. Its sad but a happy story none the less, again thanks for sharing.

[Woody]

[GoLions]

Everything went well today, nobody gave Wendy any grief at all. She was a little concerned going to it today, her mind has been else where, felt tired. After the meeting she told me how good it felt going, that she was ready for the last half of the day, re-energized I think she said. God is good.

[phkrause]

Everything went well today, nobody gave Wendy any grief at all. She was a little concerned going to it today, her mind has been else where, felt tired. After the meeting she told me how good it felt going, that she was ready for the last half of the day, re-energized I think she said. God is good.

[Gail]

[Servant]

Please let Wendy know I am praying for her, too!

[GoLions]

Wendy didn't make it Wednesday, said she didn't feel as if she was smart enough. She said she didn't even know what unleavened bread was. Also she didn't keep up with the reading. I tried to talk her into going but to no avail.

I went and you should have seen how disappointed the ladies were when I showed up alone....guess I should be used to having women disappointed in seeing me

The leader said that even she wasn't able to keep up with the reading this week. So they all gave me encouraging words to tell her when I went back.

It was a very inspiring meeting. Somehow it turned into a testimony meeting. The lady that cleans the church was there with her young daughter (I'm guessing 5 or 6 years old). She (the Mom) said that her daughter was the reason that she was in the church. She said that when she was two, she started praying for her. The Mom was working on Sabbaths in a factory, lots of overtime and such. So the Grandma was taking her to church. One night the girl had a dream that she was in heaven and her Mom wasn't there. That started her going back to church. She said she doesn't have any money, but she didn't have any money when she was working all those overtime hours either. When she was saying that her daughter just started bawling. The emotions just took over that poor little girl.

I think that I too would starting crying if my mom, or anyone of my family would decide to become 7th day Adventist. All the emotions of that little girl, I would feel too. That little girl is one blessed child. I am glad that there were women there to make that girl feel better, I just don't have that kind of comforting in me.

I went back to work, Wendy asked how it went so I told her. She said she always misses out on the good meetings. She said she was just to tired to go...but that she promises to go again next week.

I thank you, and the ladies at church thank you for praying for her.

[phkrause]

GoLions, its almost like reading or hearing one of those mission reports, but in real time.

[GoLions]

Wendy did indeed come to the study

Seemed to really enjoy it, the ladies were very nice, they exchanged phone #'s and such. Wendy also came to church today. Oh and it was Wendy's birthday on Wednesday.

[Gail]

Wendy did indeed come to the study

Seemed to really enjoy it, the ladies were very nice, they exchanged phone #'s and such. Wendy also came to church today. Oh and it was Wendy's birthday on Wednesday.

Great! Thanks so much, GoLions, for blessing us with the updates you've given us! They are VERY heart-warming!

[phkrause]

Praise the Lord GoLions.

[GoLions]

It's been two weeks since the last update. This is what happened two weeks ago. On Monday Wendy, was not feeling well, said she was feeling dizzy. She fell, didn't hurt herself, but really sacred her. Thought she might be having a mini stroke, or a very serious sickness. Her Father died when he was only 49. He didn't realize he was diabetic, so wasn't taking care of himself as one would if he knew. Wendy had just turned 46 the week before. That was playing on her mind, when she had these unusual feelings. Also, was having family troubles with grand kids living with her. She really wanted to go to the Dr. but had no insurance, working a part time job with no benefits. Stress was overwhelming her. So on Tuesday she went to emergency. Soooo, she didn't make it to the Bible study. I went, but the lady that has the key to church, her husband hurt his back, so the meeting was canceled.

Thursday she found that she had ammonia, which explains a lot. She also found out that she qualified for some kind of help with the medical bills. She was so thankful.

This last week, she was able to go, but this time I was unable to go, work took president, so I worked...but she went by herself. Praise God. She is really making a connection with the ladies of the church.

She asked me "how do you become a member of the church?" I said that you have to be baptized. Then I asked her, "what is preventing you from being baptized?" She looked down, and said "smoking." Please pray that she can give up the habit that she has had since she was a young girl. I believe she is down to one a day. She really is a good person.

[phkrause]

Will be praying GoLions.

[SivartM]

GoLions, I do hope that she'll stop smoking, but apart from her personal feelings, why shouldn't she be baptized if she is attempting to stop smoking? Nobody fully lives up to the church's standards, and being accepted as a full member of a community can be a huge motivator. Maybe she just needs that sort of encouragement; to know for herself that she's a good person, and that she's not unworthy to join the community because of one standard that she's struggling with.

[M. T. Cross]

I really would hope smoking would not disqualify her from membership, it is IMO ( my opinion based on having beat multiple addictions yet still a smoker ) the hardest addiction in the world to beat. I can understand if she is lighting up in the church parking lot or something, but she sounds like she really wants to quit and is trying.

Shouldn't baptism be the beginning of the journey rather than the consumation anyways?

She sounds like a nice lady GoLions and as a tattooed up smoker I give you the thumbs up for not judging her based on those things.

[SivartM]

Shouldn't baptism be the beginning of the journey rather than the consumation anyways?

That's exactly what I think! After smoking, she'll just have another problem to face, and she shouldn't feel like she must ostracize herself until she's perfect. Maybe what's really keeping her from feeling ready to be baptized is not accepting herself, imperfections and all. Maybe before they give baptismal lessons they should teach new believers that bit.

[phkrause]

I definitely agree Sivart, it makes sense. One of the main reasons, and I do pray I'm wrong, is that outward thing. With other sins that are not visible, there seems to be no problem, but with smoking, well others can see that so it becomes a no no!

[GoLions]

When I first started going to a SDA church, I wanted to be baptized sooo bad. There where things that I had to know first however. But knowing things didn't help me either. I then knew I had to do certain things, before I could join the church. I knew about the Sabbath, but I was working on the Sabbath. I did everything I could not to work on the Sabbath, I NEVER volunteered to work on it. One time I told my boss that I could not work during the Sabbath morning, so I could go to Church. That went OK, at least I could go to church. But I couldn't join the church because I would still work the during the sabbath. Then one day, after over a year of struggling, I finally decided to give up on myself, and totally surrender my life over to Jesus. If I lost my wife, if I lost my family, if I lost my friends, if I lost my job, if I lost my house. Then so be it. All those things don't matter if I loose my eternal life. I put all on the line, and give it to Jesus. Total commitment. That's what being baptized means to me. If God had given me a job right away as soon as I asked, then maybe I wouldn't have the same determination now that I really need.

I will help anybody I can to live a better life, anyway, anyhow. But will that help them make these life altering decisions? Wendy needed a job that would not require her to work on the Sabbath. I paved the way for her at work, she just had to say it, and she doesn't work on the Sabbath. Easy. If I could take away her desire for smoking I would do that too. Does that make me better than God? After all, he can do it can he not? The answer is no, I am not a better person than God, and yes he can take the desire away from her. Maybe, she just has to have more of a want too yet. It's not a bad thing to have fight for what you want.

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: EmptyCross

Shouldn't baptism be the beginning of the journey rather than the consumation anyways?

That's exactly what I think! After smoking, she'll just have another problem to face, and she shouldn't feel like she must ostracize herself until she's perfect. Maybe what's really keeping her from feeling ready to be baptized is not accepting herself, imperfections and all. Maybe before they give baptismal lessons they should teach new believers that bit.

Excellent SivartM.

You need to hang out here more though so we can read these good comments more often.

[phkrause]

Excellent points GoLions.