We are beginning our third session now... Praise God!

[Lizzy Joy]

I just wanted to let you all know that our class will be starting its third twelve week session this fall!

Hooray and Hallelujah!

We are very excited and just wanted to write and thank you for your prayers and support!!!

Please continue to keep us in prayer, will you? We have been meeting four times a week with our group (we go prayer-walking Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and host our meetings on Wednesday nights at our church).

So far, our joy has been completely full... and we know that we are right in the center of God's will!

My husband has been out of work since last October, but we have begun to see this as a wonderful gift "for such a time as this". I never dreamed my sweetheart and I would "co-lead" a support group like this... it has truly been a miraculous answer to prayer.

Having a "live group" like ours can obviously be very time-consuming... we are praying the Lord will give us exactly what we need each day, in order to be good leaders and healthy examples to our class members (and to our own children) each and everyday. THANK YOU, LORD... AND THIN WITHIN!!

Love & prayers for each one of you!

[CHARLENE ABRAHAM]

Please explain to me when your class will start.I need you to give me some info. about everything and I do not know how all this forums goes so i do not know if i am doing it right or not.
hopefully i am.
thanks,
Charlene

[Lizzy Joy]

Hi Charlene!

Thank you for asking about our HealthWalkers class that will soon begin meeting in Memphis, Tennessee. Your prayers are appreciated very much!

We recommend Thin Within materials (and several others) and meet weekly for encouragement, prayer, accountability and motivation.

Our group also walks together three times a week... enjoying fun, fellowship, faith and fitness!

We will be starting our third 12-week semester next week, and look forward to meeting lots of new people on this "Journey with Jesus".

Our start date is Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30pm at Bellevue Baptist Church, 2000 Appling Road, Cordova, TN 38016. (901) 347-2000.

Sign up in our CARE Groups ministry or on-line at www.Bellevue.org

[Heidi Bylsma]

You go, girlfriend! ROCK ON! :-)

[Lizzy Joy]

Hi everybody!

We began a new 12 week session for our "HealthWalkers" group... and this time only a half dozen people signed up. It was a great class, but then the next week, only three made it.

We had over 70 last semester, and I really like this smaller size, but wonder if we should promote our group more, or wait until the next 12 week session, and trust that God has led those He intended to be there... I don't have a clear direction, and feel a bit confused.

We had four men and three women join the first week, but then last week only 3 women came. It was very intimate and our discussions were just wonderful... and part of me would love to keep it like this. Please pray for direction.

Our lesson tonight will be about "forgivenes". Will you please pray for our group? It's been a little uncomfortable to share certain areas of our lives with a mixed group (men and women)... but our church has asked us to keep it co-ed, and I think that's were some of my "indecision" comes from.

Thanks for letting me share, friends! I am praying for all our Thin Within groups... knowing God is working in each of our lives to bring us closer to Him!

[Lizzy Joy]

We've had two new members sign up, and our group is now at eleven members. Last week's sharing time was so sweet... I'm really loving the intimate size of our group. It's also so much easier for me to call them during the week to encourage them (and vice versa, as they inspire and encourage me too!).

Tonight we'll discuss "Loving God... with all our hearts, souls, minds and bodies... and loving others as we love ourselves."

Thank you all for your precious prayers.

My husband and I continue to teach this class together... and will keep it co-ed until the Lord tells us otherwise.

We meet thirty minutes before class to "Prayer Walk" in place, and that's been going very well. We also meet at our church gym to walk on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-6:00pm. It's been such a blessing!

[Lizzy Joy]

Thank you for keeping our group in your prayers!

We have a very sweet and supportive spirit among our members, and continue to grow closer each week that we meet.

I am asking the Lord to work through all the Thin Within leaders, in ministering to us, and to our class members, in ways that only He, Himself can do.

1 Thess. 5:23-24

[Heidi Bylsma]

Hi, Lizzy Joy...wow...so glad to hear that you are pressing on and in to him. Fun that you and hubby are doing this together! :-)

[Lizzy Joy]

We did our very first 5K Walk/Run today at church... and had seven of our class members participate!

The 5K was called "Hope for Haiti" and we raised a lot of money too. PRAISE THE LORD!

Cheryl has released over 90 pounds and continues to amaze us with her new found love for life... all that energy is contagious too!

Larry has released almost 30 pounds and is exercising regularly now... for the first time since he was in high school (Class of '74).

Frank is 75 years old... and has recently placed in two different 5K runs! He keeps our group inspired and accountable, and will call us on the telephone to remind us, "It's time to walk".

Jean had double knee replacement surgery, but continues to meet with us three times a week to walk and pray. She gives great hugs too!

Brenda is new to our group and has never attended a formal Bible study before... and every week she thanks the members of our class for "being there for her". She's taught us to never take the body of Christ for granted.

Regina is a Nurse Practioner who has put her patients first for so long that her health began to suffer greatly. When she is with our group, she forgets the stress and strain of work and is able to connect on so many levels. She takes care of all of us in the group... and we take care of her too (by making sure she laughs a lot, talks a lot, walks a lot and prays a lot!)

Elizabeth has been in our class for over a year now... and has finally stopped gaining weight for the first time in five years. This is a big deal to her, but even bigger than that... her realization that GRACE is abundant and flowing freely, for anyone who will surrender all to Jesus!

We truly need each other, and are missing out on so much when we choose to stay isolated!

[Julie]

Originally Posted by Lizzy Joy

We truly need each other, and are missing out on so much when we choose to stay isolated!

Truer words, Miss Lizzy, are rarely spoken! I have found this to be so true in my life - we need a community of believers with whom we can be real with and share with and love with - there is a very real reason that God created the Church!