Some of us are studying Thin Within, by Arthur and Judy Halliday this summer.
If you have already seen the assignment for this week in my previous blog entry, I have just modified it to include chapter 2. These are goals only…so don’t worry if you don’t get it done. I may not. I scheduled out tentative goals for each week so we could finish by the end of August, but, again, this is only tentative.
If you do not keep the pace I suggest or even the pace I keep (which may be slower still), please do not beat yourself up…just hang in there. It sometimes takes longer to digest the more nutritious aspects of a meal, right? Likewise, to really assimilate the important teachings that the Lord has for us.
So here is the assignment for June 1-7 again in case I have made this utterly confusing already!
Please read from the title page through page 26, highlight, make notes, answer the questions in the book, etc! Cover your experience with prayer and keep referring to your bible whenever possible. That is the most important guidebook for this process!
Heidi, you have already been a blessing to me this morning, thank you "friend across the miles"! I'm currently "leading" (really, just journeying in surrender along with other sisters), a small group through Thin Within. I first read it in 2003, and experienced layers of freedom as I bathed in God's love and grace for me. Staying honest emotionally though is not for the faint at heart! And I "fainted" for a time, only to be led back (in rescue) to Thin Within in 2005. New layers surfaced in that season, and God delved deeper into my trust issues. Since then I've maintained a peace in my mind (freedom from diet mentality and obsessive focus on weight/body/diets–huge steps actually). However, I had not yet released weight significantly either (though maintaining was blessing enough for a while!). Trusting more in His perfect timing than in grieving over the years the locusts have stolen, I'm here again, convinced that His Word, His power, His freedom is the ONLY way. He is the way, the Truth and the life, and no matter how much (or little) I am able to "grasp" it (His Truth AND love) in this life, it is still 100% Truth. I've been more of a "fan" of the Thin Within principles than a follower (and of Jesus to be honest) for a while now, but am ready to abandon more of my "self" through His grace and power and live as His follower more each day. I want to better know the security I have in His love, and see my life transformed by it! Thank you for walking through this journey transparently with others, I'm very grateful! I'm newly married, new to my new state/town, and am in the process of building new friendships. I had been surrounded at first with Godly women focused on food/weighing/dieting, and prayed hard for God to provide companions for this journey (my husband has been praying too and has become a companion in this journey as well!) God brought three ladies around who wanted to learn what I've been learning over the years so we set out together several weeks back, taking one day at a week's time, like you are doing. The pace is great, but I'll check in with you too and share with the other ladies…so welcome to our group too!Grace&peace,Heather
Heidi, you have already been a blessing to me this morning, thank you "friend across the miles"! I'm currently "leading" (really, just journeying in surrender along with other sisters), a small group through Thin Within. I first read it in 2003, and experienced layers of freedom as I bathed in God's love and grace for me. Staying honest emotionally though is not for the faint at heart! And I "fainted" for a time, only to be led back (in rescue) to Thin Within in 2005. New layers surfaced in that season, and God delved deeper into my trust issues. Since then I've maintained a peace in my mind (freedom from diet mentality and obsessive focus on weight/body/diets–huge steps actually). However, I had not yet released weight significantly either (though maintaining was blessing enough for a while!). Trusting more in His perfect timing than in grieving over the years the locusts have stolen, I'm here again, convinced that His Word, His power, His freedom is the ONLY way. He is the way, the Truth and the life, and no matter how much (or little) I am able to "grasp" it (His Truth AND love) in this life, it is still 100% Truth. I've been more of a "fan" of the Thin Within principles than a follower (and of Jesus to be honest) for a while now, but am ready to abandon more of my "self" through His grace and power and live as His follower more each day. I want to better know the security I have in His love, and see my life transformed by it! Thank you for walking through this journey transparently with others, I'm very grateful! I'm newly married, new to my new state/town, and am in the process of building new friendships. I had been surrounded at first with Godly women focused on food/weighing/dieting, and prayed hard for God to provide companions for this journey (my husband has been praying too and has become a companion in this journey as well!) God brought three ladies around who wanted to learn what I've been learning over the years so we set out together several weeks back, taking one day at a week's time, like you are doing. The pace is great, but I'll check in with you too and share with the other ladies…so welcome to our group too!Grace&peace,Heather
Hi Heidi (and Heather)! I’m so excited for this new beginning (again!) I have sort of the same story…have read the book several times. It has taken me a long time to not feel like a failure because I haven’t “gotten it” yet. But, it sure is a process…one I am glad to be going through since it means I’m with my best friend. In my quiet times these past few weeks I have sensed that the Lord wants to take me to a great new place. A deeper relationship with him and I am actually pretty excited! My focus and goal is to really get to know my Jesus…rather than just release weight. While I know I have “issues” with food and weight, my goal is to learn something even bigger: obedience. Heidi, I’ve so related to your journey, and especially since Christmas! Thanks for being my long-distance friend as we go through this together. Blessings to all that are “beginning again”! Dear Lord, please use the TW study to help us to grow in you.
Hi Heidi (and Heather)! I’m so excited for this new beginning (again!) I have sort of the same story…have read the book several times. It has taken me a long time to not feel like a failure because I haven’t “gotten it” yet. But, it sure is a process…one I am glad to be going through since it means I’m with my best friend. In my quiet times these past few weeks I have sensed that the Lord wants to take me to a great new place. A deeper relationship with him and I am actually pretty excited! My focus and goal is to really get to know my Jesus…rather than just release weight. While I know I have “issues” with food and weight, my goal is to learn something even bigger: obedience. Heidi, I’ve so related to your journey, and especially since Christmas! Thanks for being my long-distance friend as we go through this together. Blessings to all that are “beginning again”! Dear Lord, please use the TW study to help us to grow in you.
Diahn…hang in there, my friend! God is at work in us even when we think we have "let him down!" He doesn't depend on us to hold him up in the first place! No matter when we start, restart, or throw in the towel for a day, he is ready to give us a fresh beginning, a new start, right where we are. I love that even during his last moments on the cross he shows us that he meets each person right where they are (like with the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him…). It is true that he loves us too much to leave us in our ruts, but he meets us there in our miry pits and pulls us out! Praise Him!And for the record, I know he is trying to teach ME OBEDIENCE, too! I don't really believe I learned that as I was dropping all the weight…so this desert of testing has really been so I could see what is in my heart and allow Him to teach me obedience, too. It isn't a burden…it is something I *want* to learn…I am thrilled to get to journey with you!
Diahn…hang in there, my friend! God is at work in us even when we think we have "let him down!" He doesn't depend on us to hold him up in the first place! No matter when we start, restart, or throw in the towel for a day, he is ready to give us a fresh beginning, a new start, right where we are. I love that even during his last moments on the cross he shows us that he meets each person right where they are (like with the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him…). It is true that he loves us too much to leave us in our ruts, but he meets us there in our miry pits and pulls us out! Praise Him!And for the record, I know he is trying to teach ME OBEDIENCE, too! I don't really believe I learned that as I was dropping all the weight…so this desert of testing has really been so I could see what is in my heart and allow Him to teach me obedience, too. It isn't a burden…it is something I *want* to learn…I am thrilled to get to journey with you!