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I was not raised in the church. In fact, the only times I went to church were with my paternal Grandparents on Easter or Christmas. I have received several bibles as gifts over the years, even as a child, but have never really done anything with them. That’s not to say I was raised without belief. I have a very strong belief in God. I pray. I know that I am going to see my loved ones again in Heaven. I know that God has a hand in my life and has answered and not answered certain prayers, and that in both situations He was doing what was right for me. There are many things that I believe. But those beliefs have never really been founded on anything other than just what feels like is right.
Ever since my Dad passed away in May of 2012, I have felt this pull to learn more. To get a better understanding and a better foundation of where my beliefs come from. To see how they match up, or don’t match up, with what’s in the bible. I am sure some of this pull is my subconscious way of trying to make sense of and peace with his passing. But I also feel that God is using my Dad’s passing as a way to bring me closer to Him. It is the motivation that I needed to develop that relationship, as well as other relationships along the way.
So, in September of 2012 I began my walk by the encouragement of a friend. She encouraged me to join MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). She had tried to get me to go for a couple years but I just wasn’t ready or interested. MOPS is one day a week on the 1st and 3rd week of the month. On the off weeks, they offer bible study if you’d like to go. After my dad died, I jumped in with both feet to MOPS and bible study. I knew it was something that I needed because every single MOPS session and bible study session brought me to tears. And the MOPS that I started in didn’t even have a ton of religious feel to it other than a prayer to open and close. I cried during every prayer. I felt like both my Dad and God were hugging me, telling me this is where I needed to be and the direction I needed to head in. There has only been one other time that I have felt God’s arms around me, but that deserves a post of its own. I went to MOPS in Washington state for 1.5 years and met some incredible women, several of whom I am still friends with. Through the bible study I began to learn some bible stories and understand the layout of the bible. This is huge. I remember my first bible study when they said to open up the bible to whatever book it was verse 5:13 or something. I did okay finding the book, but it took me a while to figure out how to find the verse. Luckily I figured it out before people caught on! I was embarrassed without anyone even knowing! I am now getting the opportunity to meet more wonderful women at a MOPS and bible study in Colorado. If you are pregnant or have kids under the age of 5 I highly recommend joining a MOPS group. You get so much support as a mom and if you choose to do bible study you get a wonderful fellowship of women.
Once I got comfortable navigating the bible through these bible studies, I wanted more. I wanted to start reading the bible myself. And in planning our homeschool preschool, I wanted to be able to teach Casey about the bible and about God, but didn’t know how because I still don’t know much myself. As I searched for a guide I could use for both of us I came across this fabulous curriculum: Bible Road Trip.
This is a free curriculum where you journey through the bible in three years. There are weekly lesson plans and ideas from preschoolers to high schoolers. So, as our homeschool journey begins, so does our journey in the bible. Casey is doing the preschool lesson plans and I am doing the lesson plans for the 12th graders. I am loving that Casey and I can learn together at an appropriate understanding level for each of us. I am loving using the textbooks they recommend along with the high school program and learning more about the history of the bible and the geographic regions in which events take place. I am thrilled to have found this resource for my family and to get deeper in the Word of God.
What about you? What was the catalyst to your walk? How has knowing God made a difference in your life? Are there any bible studies you would recommend? Or any other recommendations for someone just getting her feet wet?
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