Testimonies New Zealand

Nothing is more encouraging than to hear how people's lives have been changed by studying the Bible inductively. Read below what some of you have shared with us!

August 2010 

Prison

a sponsor:

Yes I would be delighted for you to use the money for prison books. As always I gave it with 'no strings attached' because I know you will use it wisely for wherever Precept's greatest need is at that particular time but I will say your account of these new classes and the keenness of the participants stirred my heart. Who could have imagined the response - first the openness of the prisons to allow it to happen and then the attitude and response of the participants in the studies. I feel a great big Wow! coming forth.

prisoners:

God’s Amazing Creation studied by 3 Chinese girls

Through this study I learnt that our amazing environment was created by our God. …
God loves us. He gave everything to the first generation, Adam & Eve, as long as they would not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they did! …
He is just like a father who encourages and helps me and persuades and loves me. …
Thank you Lord so much. I will be your good girl forever learning from my mistakes as it is never too late to change.

Long in human history, we were wondering how everything has been created, how humans kind has been created. There are many answers by different thoughts. But for me, I know the truth is in the Bible, from God’s word, to create everything we can see and we can’t see, more magically bring them all together into one universe.
… By studying the Bible, it changes my world view. I have always lived in a way in order to satisfy my own desire. What I want. That is no longer the meaning of my life. Shouldn’t I be living a life to fulfill God’s will, to prove His glory? The answers is Yes. I believe by doing so, I will become a much better person that I could ever imagine!
It is such a great pleasure to understand God as my creator., Elohim. I know that there’s I only one of me. I am unique in His eyes – that makes us all special. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made! This understanding is giving me comfort and strength within me. Than you Lord,

While studying “God’s Amazing Creation” I felt the power of God intensely. He is watching us and caring for us. He knows what we have done and what we are thinking. He knows everyone’s destiny and gives us gifts and abilities: My health, the love of my husband and my friends, the care of my dad. I know my future is still hard and long,. Anyway, I know God will be always with me, direct me. He is my Shepherd. Thank You, God. Sincerely and faithfully!

My spirit was lifted up when I studied “Lord, I Want to Know You”. This study is like one of the books that you want to read over and over again and share with others what you learned. I feel blessed knowing a few of the Lord's names in Hebrew and using them in prayer. And also learning other Greek and Hebrew words. It's a beautiful language. I'm thinking of studying and learning in the future, thanks to you. I got a lot of information and insight. I'm looking forward to doing ore studies (Kay Arthur books) because I know it will help me to know more of the Lord better and easier Also to have a little collection (hahaha).
May our God Jehovah Jireh continue to provide and bless you and your ministry.

At Mt Eden a group of men studied “How to Make Choices You Won't Regret”. Here what they wrote:

For the past 6 weeks I have learned how to make choices I won't regret.  The worst choice you make is the one, where you think no one is watching. But God is always watching. I've learned that if you make choices base d on your desires or flesh you will live a life of sin and the outcome can last a lifetime. But if you live and walk by the Holy Spirit, you will find love, peace and kindness and you will surely make it into the kingdom of heaven.

First of all I've learned that we are not bad people we just make bad choices. And it all starts off with the small choices you make that leads to bigger and badder choices and bigger and badder consequences and before you know it you are in a bad situation. Just like king David. He had a chance to obey God's Word at any point of time but instead he was a man after his own heart. Which lead to adultery and murder. When we are confronted with the truth of the Word we can neither accept it reject it. If we accept it, this means we have to adjust our thought patterns, responses, reactions and lifestyles to bring them in line with what the word says. If we reject it, this can wreck havoc in your life, in your family's life and the world around, with effect that can last a life time. So do you want to find peace, love, kindness and joy and you make it in the kingdom of heaven. Or do you want to live a life of sin, spend your whole life in prison, die and get thrown into the lake of fire? The choice is yours.

For the past 6 weeks we have been learning about how to make choices we won't regret. Before joined up with this group, my past was filled with making bad choices. I was living my life on how I wanted, but not how God wanted it. I've learned that if you choose to sin, you can't choose where sin will lead you. For example your fleshly desires can bring consequences that can last a lifetime. Even worse  it can bring death to you or those close to you, but the Holy Spirit dwells within us, God will honour a tender heart. We are the temple of God, and if we choose to walk according to the word and the Holy Spirit, God will bless us with more than we ever imagined. Joy, kindness and living eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. We are faced with temptation everyday. But if we stick to the word of God, nothing in the world can faze us.

I've learned that any choice I am going to make , I have to ask the Holy Spirit to help me . So for me to find love, peace and joy for my life,and not suffer from any consequences of my action in my life.

Korean teenagers came to New Zealand for a month to study English and the Bible. Here their feedback:

I'd like to be like Joseph because
I will get His blessings
he has many good things
I want to learn about Joseph's forgiveness and I want to live with God
Joseph is very kind
Joseph looked like a friend of God and a partner, favourite person of God.
He forgave his enemies and received God's blessing

D4Y “Joseph” has this effect on me:
I will obey my parents
I will be kind to my sisters
I will forgive others
I will forgive my enemies and not take revenge
I am more interested to study the Bible
I want to know God more
I will be kind
I want to endure although it is hard now
I wont' be jealous of my brother and sister.

 July 2010

Homegroup 

Can you please send another 3 books – “Living like we belong to God” to the same address? … We do enjoy those books, especially for myself and those people who lead. Every time I lead I learn a lot. For us, we encourage people to prepare it before they come to cell group as for most of us English is our second language and it is hard for us to understand those Bible verses if we just read it in the cell group.

For me this book is really good because for each topic, we know what God thinks and we talk about it. And it is very straightforward. We know what to do because we know what God said not because what other people said. Many thanks for all your support.

prison

She joined the first time “How to Make Choices You won’t Regret”. We were in lesson 2 and. She just sat and listened. She said nothing – until we talked about how we then can know what choices do not have such terrible consequences. As a response I said: Bible stands for Basic Instructions Before leaving Earth. She picked up the Bible looked at it and said “I didn’t know that! – Where do I start to read?”

June 2010

Prison

“Forgiveness”
- We forgive because God forgave us, God forgives us because we forgive.
- Forgive whether the offender confessed sin or not!
- We can only forgive because God has forgiven us first. We only receive His forgiveness if we forgive.
- Mercy means to help the offender to not offend anymore.
- If I don’t forgive others, I can’t stand before God.

I dropped off my ugly bag full of hurts as I was reading biographies (eg Adoniram Judson) and studied this booklet on forgiveness. This study has given me confidence. Only just recently the penny dropped: Forgiveness is a CHOICE – not a feeling! I walk now an easier path and feel much better in myself.
Because I have forgiven, I don’t take revenge, pay back and therefore I am no longer exhausted, have no longer migraines, feel hot blooded, but I feel warm instead, at ease, content, my mind is at peace, the throbbing headaches have disappeared!

Through “Jesus in the Spotlight” D4Y, I realise how Jesus … gains people’s trust …  Since I got to know Jesus I no longer feel lonely. I am always happy and look forward and I am more confident, even at night time! I used to feel down and homesick, but I know that some One always is there fore me: Jesus!
… He is a family member now. I love Him like I love every one of my family. One day, if the whole world abandons me, I know that Jesus will still be there for me.

The 4 most important things I learnt
1. Never be a false witness. Jesus never lied.
2. We are all sinners. We don’t have a right to judge anybody and judge ourselves first.
3. Be willing to obey Jesus
4. Follow the Shepherd and hear His voice.
I feel more confident and less lonely after studying in the gospel of John.

I learn from the life of Joseph that even though he lost all family – like me – he stuck with God and god brought him through. This is my hope: That God will bring me though too!

“Living like You Belong to God” revealed to me that true holiness is the key to true happiness. It gave me a clear understanding of what distinguishes a believer and an unbeliever. I learnt that Light needs to be the characteristic of Christens and we need to be separated from darkness.

I have found “Choices You Won’t Regret” an enjoyable and easy way to learn stories and Scriptures. Especially in the way where we either mark certain phrases, words by way of a triangle, underline or crosses and clouds. I found by doing so, one is able to identify passages, Scriptures, names and so on clearer. One of the key learning I found important is the role the Holy Spirit works in one’s life enabling him/her to understand, learn, guide and instruct a person to identify and make wise and responsible decisions before one acts upon it.

“Choices You Won’t Regret” teaches me about how important the love of God is and His amazing ways of showing people (us) how to put things right in our lives. Sometimes we get let down by our wrong decisions but those decisions give us directions of how and where we must go according to God’s will. I am so proud to be part of this whole process and I know then whatever I do, I have to get to know God because I’ll need Him. Because when everybody and everything lese has gone, He’ll always be there. Thank you God!

For the past 6 weeks I learned about God’s love for us. I learned about sin and what makes us sinners in God’s eyes. We are all sinners, but God’s love is so great. He saw how wrong we were living, so He came down in our form to save us from our sin. The penalty for sin is death. Jesus Christ died and rose on the 3rd day. So that is proof, that if we are true believers of God, we will never die, but have eternal life. If I confess with my mouth, that Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that Jesus died and rose on the 3rd day, I will be truly saved.
I learned about Gods love for us. We all fall short of the glory of God. But He loved us so much, He sent His son to save us, to justify us and reconcile us back with God and by that we are all saved from the wrath of God. All man and women are sinners. I learned about the definitions of sin. For example: To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, that’s sin. The main definition of sin is death. I learnt that through one man sin interred into the world and death through sin and so death spread to all man, because all man sinned. God is serious about sin and its eternal consequences. It can keep you from ever experiencing life. But there is hope. According to the Scriptures, Christ died on the cross for our sins and was buried and rose on the 3rd day. God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we can be saved. The two reasons why Jesus became a man or human being made of flesh and blood, that through death He might render powerless the devil who had the power of death and might free those who feared death and were subject to slavery all their lives . Jesus paid for all our sin in full. He died but He did not stay dead. He rose from the dead. He lives today and we shall live eternal life, if we believe!!! Amen.

First of all, I like to thank God for me to be here and for me to renew my relationship with God.
Secondly I just want to thank Peter and Barbara for this big opportunity to have this study and for me to know more about God and his love. Having a real Relationship with God was something new to my life and I hope it changes my life from bad to good.
Having this Bible study in the last 6 weeks, it is something that could change my life to God, knowing that I wasn’t close to Him. So having a real relationship with God was something new in my ears. What I’ve learnt from hits Bible study is when I was first born in this world, I was born as a sinner and that’s something I never knew. We are sinners because we run our own lives and do things our own way, rather than Gods way. But God is so good, that He died on the cross for us so we can be saved and can live a better life.
Therefore He did die for us, for our sins to be washed away.

This is a study that helps me to discover my relationship with God. What I have learnt from this study before that Jesus Christ came to the world our sins have never been forgiven. We were using animals like goats, lambs and cows for there blood to cover our sins. The love of God that brings His Son the Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose again for our sins to be forgiven.
In Romans chapter 5-verse 6, it says that Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful, and in verse 9 it says but there is more. Now God has accepted us because Christ sacrifices his life and his blood for us. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our proof and our guarantee that God's holiness and justice were totally satisfied by the death of his son lord Jesus Christ.
So I like to give a little bit of example for what I have learnt of this Bible study that we had and I know about the sins that we have before Jesus came and died for our sins, just like a bed that you sleep on that got ripped in tears and stains that covers it.
When Jesus came and died and rose again it's just like a white sheet that repairs the ripe in tears on that bed.
Therefore the righteousness of God allows his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us to be saved, so we should have the true believers that there is a God had his judgment for us to become his children and that's what I have learnt from this short period of time about having a real relationship with - God. Truly my relationship with God is really based in my believing in Him, for me to honor and to respect my heavenly Father.
Thank you and God bless our souls, In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen             

Homegroup

Living a Life of True Worship
When I started this 6 week study program I couldn't understand that the God I had come to know over the years seemed so different in this study. I now felt afraid of God and feared him for the first time. I didn't realise! and understand this before and I didn't know that this was the way to worship before Jesus. I never understood why I had to go through Jesus to worship/pray and speak with God or why. Neither did I ask these questions.
So I did not feel confident in going to God(I wasn't really sure if I was going to God in the correct way). Now that I know and understand the Old Testament way of worship it makes me confident to go to God because
I know this is what he intended, this is his will and his way. I now feel I am being obedient to God.
I understand that Jesus opened the way for us to have an intimate relationship with God and that through his life being sacrificed on the cross that our sins are forgiven as we confess them. In these teachings on
the tabernacle from the Bible I now understand that we can only enter through one door, and Jesus is that door; we are to be cleansed from our sin through a offering a sacrifice; the alter is the picture of the crucifixion
of Jesus Christ. We continue the sanctification process of being holy through the cleansing(bronze laver) power of his Word and by confession of our sins. Once we have confessed our sins we enter into the holy place
where we see the table of showbread; Jesus is the bread of life and we must feed upon His word, he is the light(golden lampstand) and we walk in his light as children of light so men can see God in us; the incense on
the altar (alter of incense) burns perpetually so we should always pray offering our prayer up to Him. It is then that we may enter through the veil into the holy of holies where the ark of the covenant is that we are
able to have an intimate relationship with God our Father.
It is all going through Jesus.
I now am able to worship to God in confidence, knowing God lives in me and I am confident with God. Always though I lacked confidence but now realise it is the worldly confidence I was thinking about and I realise it is only confidence with God that matters. I live for our Father and cant wait to one day be with him and Jesus.
Thank you God for Jesus.

I want to thank you for sharing your time with us at our study meetings and helping me to understand and to really think and absorb the Word.  I feel very blessed to have this opportunity to fellowship with you and to get to know you.  I am excited and looking forward to our next topic and know I will be nourished by it.  I enjoyed reading with you each week and here are my thoughts on how this book has changed me and helped me in my "Walk".
God sacrificed his only son for me and Jesus died on the Cross for me.  As a Christian and a Believer I had been told this.  But I didn't fully understand before what that really meant.  After studying "Living a Life of True Worship" I have been able to understand what Jesus died on the cross truly means and it has made me have an overwhelming desire to truly worship our God for all that he has done for me.
Learning how the Israelites could connect to God in the Old Covenant, the Old Testament and to compare it to how believers today can have the Holy Spirit dwell in us, we are one of God's temples, makes me feel so blessed to be living in this time.  It makes me want to commitment to God to live in his ways and to take good care of my body and my spirit, to stay pure for he "lives in my body". 
Through studying this book and through reading the Scriptures, it has given me the knowledge to how God wants me to worship him.  It has taken away any doubts or questioning how God wants us to truly connect and communicate with Him.  I haven't received this confirmation from reading someone else's interpretations or a Pastor's sermon, but through reading the Word and studying the truth for myself.
I now have confidence that asking Jesus into my heart and going through the one way and that is through Jesus Christ and having complete belief that Jesus shed his blood for me, for my sins, is what God asks of me. To be obedient and live a righteous life with a good and pure heart. To daily confess my sins, to cleanse myself before my God so I can connect and have a true relationship with Him. To accept the Word is the truth and to feed on the Word and to thrive on it so I do not die. To not walk in the darkness but to focus on the Light, so God's glory can shine within me and people will see it.  My prayers will be listened to and I will be able to talk with God at all times for He is with me and at times, for He lives in me.  This makes me feel at peace to know this is the true way and the way God wants me to worship Him, so I can respect and honor Him for who He is. 
Thank you Barbara for helping me learn more about Our God.
God Bless
D

May 2010

Church groups

I did not realize that my body was the temple of God, the house where God chooses to live if I am a believer. I need to take good care of it. It makes me feel worthy, as someone of value. (church homegroup)

God led me to study "How to make choices you won't regret" just before we faced a serious behavioural problem in our fellowship.  It has cast my husband and me very much upon the Lord, and we have found this study to be just so opportune.  Praise God for His leading! (church homegroup – church planters)
 

We have just about completed our Bible study - Lord is it warfare? Teach me to stand.  Wow we have had a wonderful time and learnt so much from this study.  Thank you for providing such wonderful resources. We are now preparing for our next study as per our above order.

I did a Precept adult study about 12 yrs ago in South Africa (which was fantastic) and recently came across an article on the Focus on the Family website that referred to a children’s precept study – so I googled it.

Yes, we did the first study in the marriage book, well made a start on it anyway - it promoted some great discussion so we didn't finish it but that's ok. It was amazing to see how much the girls knew about the Bible actually - what an awesome bunch of mothers we have :) It is going well. Our main struggle at the moment is getting people to look after our kids! The study is on a Thursday morning actually because that suits most mums best.

Prison

I have really enjoyed this study because it has helped me to forgive better and to love and to be kind to others. It has shown me how to break the power of my past life and now I feel free and lighter than before. I am now very happy all the time and I know how to forgive others that sinned toward me. I am happy to say that I have changed from being the way I was when I first started to study because I was still doing things that I should not be. Now I am better that I have forgiven 100%, to get the 100% back from God. I am really happy to say that I want to get well and I am willing to do what it takes to get better on God’s terms. I am willing to find a church out there that is good and is right in my heart and makes me feel good inside. Now this is a big change in me because I have not been to church for a long time and well I never really wanted to go back there, but well ever since I started to study I really want to get the love and do the right thing in God’s eyes. So I would love to thank you, Barbara, for what you have done for me and for being so kind and loving to me and I hope you can read this and see how much your coming here for Bible study has changed the way I think and talk. I know in the last feed back I did was short and it was from my heart like this one, but this one more and I thank you so much for showing me the love God gives for us all and how He forgives us for all our sins. Thank you and God bless us all.
Love , LS
If I don’t come back and I’m at home, please send me it and I will love to hear from you. Please ring me 

First of all I’d like to thank our heavenly Father for the perfect timing of studying this wonderful book about “The Essentials of Effective Prayer” because I’ve been wanting to know more and learn how to pray for quite some time.
I’ve learnt from this book study to acknowledge the Lord with different titles for His sovereignty at the beginning and ant the end, expressing emotional feelings in prayer like King David, and Paul’s style of praying to the Lord to grant the churches wisdom etc. and many more. I gained more insight and clarification in studying as a group. So I’m very thankful to get the opportunity on person to study this book on prayer.
Thank you very much to Barbara for your guidance and support though this little journey. God bless you!

I saw that you hugged the girls when they came to Bible study. So I joined too, I wanted hugs too.  Since then my friend and I hug every morning and every evening. She tells me too that she loves me.
I have started to hug the girls in the unit and they smile every time. Sometimes for the whole day. It has changed the atmosphere in our unit.

A “lifer” has been released to a drug rehab programme for a year in their  What a JOY!
Asking him what effect studying with us for 1.5 years had on him, he said: “It kept me, gave me hope again, I enjoyed the fellowship”. I was wondering if he had been part of other Bible studies as well, but he denied. “I was pretty discouraged before and had given up hope!”

I realize that I have a life-change ahead like the sick man in John 5:1-9.

"How to Make Choices I Won't Regret"

- I have learnt that every choice I make has a positive or negative effect. Depending on the choice I've made, it not only affects me but others as well. Because of the wrong choices I've made people who have been close to me suffer of trust broken, relationships destroyed and loved ones hurt. People who are innocent. Because of God there is always hope through His Son Jesus Christ, confessions of a repentant heart and receiving salvation and being led by the Holy Spirit into all truth. The things or concerns that come from my Father's (Jehovah) heart that are in His commands in the Bible,. Bad choices bring you under judgment for which I am punished and good choices brings me blessings with it's many rewards.
The word of God concerning king David ad Bathsheba have shown me it is not about what I know about the Word of God that counts but being obedient to God's Words.

- Choose wisely with God. Remember God's plan for us is the right choice. This booklet has given me strategies to choose God and make the right choices for me and my family. I continue to believe in God and do the best I can to forget about my past. I pray for others to continue their journey and walk with the Lord.

- This study is very good and effective in focusing the mind and to develop a clearer understanding to the Word of God and the importance of hearing and obedience to God's directions and commandments though His Holy Word (the Bible) and His Holy Spirit and how this is so critically important in the process of making the right choices and decisions in a person's life and destiny. These choices also are very important as to how they affect other people in one's life, like family, our wives (husbands), children. The consequences of our choices effect our loved ones, our descendants, ...
The consequences of the choices we make, right or wrong, can bring us blessings or curses. They not only can have immediate consequences, but also long-term, and ultimately determine whether we have a wonderful destiny of everlasting life, sharing eternity with God or destruction. I thank those responsible for devising this valuable biblical study of the Word of God. ... God bless.

"Essentials of Effective Prayer"

- 4 months ago I wanted to learn to pray and this study taught me. Now praying comes naturally like breathing.

- I have confidence to ask God now! If I don't ask I won't have. Also I am not to ask with wrong motives.

- First of all I would like to thank our heavenly Father for the perfect timing of studying this wonderful book because I've been wanting to know more and learn how to pray for quite some time. ... I gained more insight and clarification in studying in a group.

Our facilitator Carolyne rejoices with two girls who are starting to make progress - finally! Another girl appreciates to attend the slower group and be able to UNDERSTAND now.

I did a precept adult study about 12 yrs ago in South Africa (which was fantastic) and recently came across an article on the Focus on the Family website that referred to a children’s precept study – so I googled it.

Facilitator, Christine: Got back at 1 o'clock to the management unit do the 3rd lesson in Having a Real Relationship with God with J. 5 minutes into the lesson there was another code red and she was locked down. Don't ask me why. She was so angry. I was taken into the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee, and dared to tell the guard it was crazy – the girl was as safe and easily counted doing a study with me when everyone else was locked down, but I got the "You people from the outside just don't understand." It sounded a bit like "You are from below, I am from above."
5 minutes before her hour was up when she should have been out, code red ended and she was allowed out again - very angry that she was not to be given any extra time. We just had time to have a prayer. She didn't have a Bible or anything to do except watch TV all day. So I went back to chapel and got her a Bible, an exercise book and a Lord I want to Know You study. I went back over with it and was met at the door by the same guard with his, "what do YOU want now?" body language. I told him I'd brought the girl a Bible and a study for something to do, could he please give it to her. He launched into a great complaint about how much trouble she was causing, and he obviously was in no mood to give her anything. I said, "She needs a Bible. It's the only thing that's going to change her," and put my bundle in his hand. He took it with a frustrated look and went in and shut the door.

April 2010

Home group

This booklet which we are studying is of immense value, drawing us all to worship our mighty God. (Living a Life of True Worship) 

Home school

An 11 year old girl enjoyed most how the Ninevites changed from their bad ways when studying “Wrong Way, Jonah!”

One of the things I have most enjoyed about the study in Revelation, is that the children ask to do the study!  They want to learn more about what the Bible says about end times.
We like the way things are explained so simply, untangling some of the mystery of what seems like a heavy book in the Bible. I think what it has done is heighten our sense of excitement of what God will do in the future!  It has been a wonderful thing to study the Word together. Thank you again for giving us this wonderful opportunity!  I personally am very impressed with the presentation, and the content of the material and would like to look into other studies in the future.

Prison

El Roi teaches me to go back and face my past. Running away won’ give me a future!
God expects me to love Him more than anyone else and to obey Him.

Out of 4 only one came to Bible study because one of them renewed his vows with his wife and had witnesses with him. :-)

A girl’s mom and aunt in China came to Christ though her changed life :-)

She got sentenced 3 weeks ago. We met her yesterday in Low security after she has been one day in high security. Very unusual. They usually stay in high for 3 months ... unless they are very stable. This Chinese girl accepted Christ early January after only a few lessons in “How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret”  ... and keeps on growing in Him strongly. It is a joy to see and hear. Her father takes her mom to church now too because of her.

God’s not to be taken lightly! (study on worship)
 

A guy looks at people now and starts to ask good question. He said something on the lines of: "In what church do I have to be to spread the Good News? - That's what I want to do! :-)"
 

Then was feedback session on "Living a Life of True Worship".
- I was so sorry to hear that one guy did NOT get it! How very sad! - He is going though a tough time having his half day of parole postponed, cancelled, rescheduled, postponed, postponed again, and then??? Discouragement is not far away! I prayed for him yesterday after class (which I should have done before, but they were rushed out before time because of lock down!)
- Another man wrote this: "The study book was truly revealing about what true worship is all about. It means a lot more than just going to church and listening to a sermon or singing psalms and praying. I realize the act of worship is a total experience to God. Some of the lessons from that book were insightful and I was unaware of deadly important and serious true worship is. The Old Testament fits so comfortably into what I know about worshipping Jesus. The tabernacle of the ancient Jews and the living sacrifice of Jesus was really interesting. Just as the old nation of Israel had to approach the worship of God with total dedication and trust, we today must also be totally reverent to the worship of Christ today."
We then looked "Turn your eyes upon Jesus" and "At the cross" because in the lesson before some guys were surprised that songs could sometimes have unscriptural content. I chose the first two songs I found on the internet and we analyzed them according to content. It was a real eye-opener! One guy was so disgusted to find "When You (Jesus) stand before me" in one song. "How upside down this is! Jesus is the Judge. We stand before Him, not He before us!!!" There was much more, but I rather let you find out each song's (every song's) theology! :-) Not too difficult when you know your Bible! :-)
 

We had a phonecall from the chaplain at Mt Eden prison yesterday to invite us to start "Having a Real Relationship with God" Friday, 23 April 1.30pm.

We ran out of sponsored books. I told the boys at prison that we were praying for funds so that they could do the next study. When I came home I had a phone call of a friend asking: Do you need books for the prison again?” – When she heard of the need she paid for the group. Here their responses to her:
- Dear sister in Christ. Thank you for this awesome gift you have provided us with. It’s an encouragement to us as Christians to have someone sponsor us. God bless.
- Thank you very much for your Christian generosity without your contribution we may not have been able to continue our Bible study.
- Thank you my sister in and through Jesus Christ, our Lord, God-Saviour King. Thank you for supplying our Bible study books. God bless you! Num 6:24-26 “Pastor Jack Hammer”
- Dear Christian Sister. I am an avid Bible student with Barbara from Precept Ministries and I would like to thank you for the blessing of sponsoring our study books. May the Lord continue to bless you and your loved ones, your treasures in heaven are surely growing!
- To a Sister in Christ: I am writing this to express my thanks and appreciation for your generosity. I believe the Lord will and always will provide. Thank you so much for the great work you do for our Lord Jesus. May you be abundantly blessed. Yours faithfully. A brother in Christ.

After not having done any religious studies since Sunday School, I found the 40M study per week informative It has allowed me to regain the knowledge of the Bible and reconcile with God. The books are easy to comprehend and with the help of the tutor, the 40 minutes is an excellent way of again reconciling with God. I have also found having the study book to keep that I review the contents regularly.
I have found Peter to be an excellent tutor and look forward to furthering my relationship with God.
            

She was not sure whether she should attend another lesson of the Bible study, but because she did not want a gap in the smiles for attendance and good participation, she joined … and is glad she did. When she finished the study and got her certificate, she went around showing it to everyone proudly! ï�Š

Prison facilitator: I have not given her a book, so do not know where she got a book from. She 'just' turned up. Of course I knew her from the Sycamore Tree programme, but she never made an attempt in the past to join, even though she knew we were having Bible study.
We were studying Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals. As we went through the study together, she said a few times: “Wow, this is good” clapping her hands together! Usually we study from 4-5pm, so about 5:15 I asked the ladies if they want to carry on. “Yes, do you have time? This is really exciting ...” So we carried on till 6pm! Looking at many Scriptures in the process. One of them being Isaiah 19:22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them. After thinking for a few moments what this Scripture might mean, she clapped her hand again and said, “I think I got it: God struck me and gave me this prison sentence, so that I would turn to Him. And He had to give me this long one, otherwise I would not have changed, I know that for sure now!“

I feel bad because they say I did a wrong thing or I wouldn't be in here but I did not.

I feel bad because I know I did wrong and hurt others.

Lord, I Want to Know You: The most important thing I learnt is that I finally understood why we have been called “sheep”. This name was repeatedly had popped up in the past on the tv or in conversations with people. I had no idea why. We humans are created by Elohim, God the Creator. He created us according to His will & image. But we are like sheep. Sheep are the dumbest of all animals. They are helpless, timid, and feeble. They require constant attention and meticulous care. She have little means of self-defense. And that is why we need God as Shepherd to guard, to feed, to protect, to care for us. The welfare of the sheep (me) depends solely upon the care I get from my shepherd. To believe “The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want”, then my life will become a perfect rest. In Him, I find all I need.
I now understand that I am the unique creation of God, one of a kind, created for his glory. So does my life. No matter where I am, what I am doing, how I feel. He sees. He knows. And more importantly “all things work together for good”. All I need to do is to pray, to ask Him, trust in His name, run into His strong tower, I can find peace, love, mercy, and His gentleness.
Under the Lord’s word. I know that flesh – temptations should not be tolerated, or spared in any way. The flesh must be put to death. Otherwise it will devastate me. It blinds my eyes. It leads me to where I am now (prison). But on the other hand, I have now such a close relationship with God. My heart has never been so clear and certain because of Him. Truly, when we sinned, that’s the time the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts. For that reason, I should never give up the hope of life, known that I have been forgiven by God. It gives me great encouragement to have a positive attitude. Thank you God. You have sanctified me. All I need to do is to wait for the deliverance when the right time comes. God has a plan for me.
After studying this book, I understand that I shall never give up as God is on my side. I’m His child. His sheep. He loves me and He is watching me, helping me. Although I am at a downside of my life path, I thank God because I am making progress little by little each day. I am glad that I’m on the right path that will lead me to freedom The Lord has begun a good work in me and He will bring it to full completion.

March 2010

I really love “Having a Real Relationship with God”. I had many questions a few months ago. I didn't understand, but now I do. Because this book makes me understand more about God and Jesus Christ. I really love it.
When I finished the first book my heart still felt hurt and upset. But “Living Victoriously in difficult Times” is more helpful for me to understand how to live in the difficult time in the world today. I understand about suffering testing my faith in God. I really love these Bible studies. I would like to learn more about God. Thank you!

One of our leaders at prison: "I just wanted to let you know, that your prayers yesterday got answered: It was the most friendly atmosphere down at the staff base. One guard must be a Christian. She said: "Thank you so much for bringing the Gospel to these girls here in prison. It is a huge blessing", and went straight to calling them. What a nice surprise to all the hostility we have encountered in that unit!!!”

Bible study of “How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret” – 4 testimonies

1. I understand that the mistake I have made has brought me into this prison. I was afraid of looking into the things I have done.
 
At prison, I was surrounded by loneliness and helplessness until my friend introduced me to these Bible study classes. For the first time in my life, it has given me the opportunity to get to know Christianity and opened up a whole new world for me.
 
What I have learnt from this book was the choices we face everyday lead our lives into different directions. Some of which could change the course of our lives forever. It was hard for me to make a right choice because I was blinded by my own desires. The temptations and desires lead me to the path of disaster.
 
After going through this book …, I now realize the right thing to do is to listen to the words of God, open my heart and let the Holy Spirit dwell in me so that He will guide me to the correct way of life which results in blessings and that not only for myself but also for the people who care for me: My family, my friends.
Being able to listen to God’s word makes me brave. I could confess my sin and take responsibility for what I have done - Thank God for His unconditional love and forgiveness - and finally follow God’s words. I wish I could have known all of this earlier so that I and my family would not have been suffering from such great sorrow. Although I am thousands miles away from them, once I pray, I no longer feel desperation. God is such a Father to me, His loving-kindness amazes me!
He has forgiven me. He made me strong to face the future of my life. With His word, I know my future will be bright!

2. In this 6 week study I have learnt a lot of different things. Most of all I learnt that all the choices we make, whether right or wrong, good or bad, there is always a consequence attached. It has taught me also a lot about the Holy Spirit and how I can welcome Him into my life, which I feel I have done already. Let’s just say that I now take notice of what the Holy Spirit is saying to me, rather than pushing His words aside and then do as I please.
I have also learnt in these six weeks that Jesus Christ is a role model. We are to look up to Him and love Him, and not let the devil tempt us because the consequence in doing that is never good. Always know that he will be back with all kinds of tricks. I know that putting the Word of God into practice is hard especially for a lot of us, but if there is one thing I have learnt out of all this, it is trust. Trust Him to look after you and He will. And have a little bit of faith.
I have also learnt that there is nothing better than serving the living Father, who will love and protect. I have learnt that all He wants is obedience and love from His people. Don’t do what you desire, it’s not always right. Instead do what your spirit desires, you can’t go wrong there.
Thank you, Barbara, for showing me and the rest of this class what the Lord is trying to show us, I appreciate all that you have shown me. You’re a lady of God in my eyes and nothing can change that.  
God bless. Thank you!

3. This Bible study is helping me to make the “right” decisions. I have struggled in the past with unanswered questions, consequently resulting in a lack of communication. I would then eventually answer my own questions, in thought. Often the answers were guesses and with no one there to speak with - well so I thought - my mind was quite often full of hurt, pain and confusion.
I am happy to say today, that my heart and mind are corresponding with each other in a very happy and peaceful way. Since receiving the Lord, for the second time in my life, I’ve had this wonderful feeling inside that I can’t explain but can definitely say it’s lovely, to feel loved and even more so, to be able to give out love. My mind is cleared on an everyday basis through prayer to sweet Jesus. Praise the Lord. I tell Him anything and everything, always giving great thanks and praise.
The biggest learning I’ve found with this Bible study is having a close relationship with God helps and guides me to making the right decisions which also leads to loving, happy and peaceful ideas and feelings. I don’t feel so heavy anymore and my understanding of a lot of things is very clear.
Through the learning of this Bible study I have asked God for blessings and wisdom hoping this will help to humble me and accept the things I cannot change - for a brighter future. I’ve also asked for patience. Jumping into things head first – with no idea whatsoever, has always been one of my biggest downfalls, I believe.
Since asking for these things, I believe my prayers are being answered, because I am thinking hard before I speak – where as before, I felt the need to be first with every type of answer, even if it was a guess.

I thank you for having patience with me and helping and guiding me through this Bible study and giving me cuddles.
Praise the Lord. Amen

4. During my second Bible study - “How to Make Choices You Won’t Regret” - I’ve learnt so many things.
• Trusting God and believing Him gives me the right guidance and following His mind leads me to the right way.
• Everyone makes mistakes. If we confess our mistake and face it, then it will not happen again. God will give His love and forgiveness to us.
• If I know people, family or friends, around me making a mistakes, I have to tell them to stop and help them to go back to the right way, not just leaving them.
• I’ve made wrong choices in my life, but I know that it is not too late to change. I won’t be thrown in the corner. Thank God He is coming to me helping me to change, giving me love and great support. Thank God for the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanses me from all sin. I accept in faith His forgiveness.
• When faced with temptation, I believe in God. When I don’t know what is right or wrong, I ask God. When confronted with the Truth of the Word, we make a choice to accepting the Word as Truth. That in turn may mean having to adjust our thought patterns, responses, reactions and lifestyle to bring us in line with what the Word says.

A girl completed 2 Bible study booklets so far and has kept coming back even though she has not made a commitment yet, but said she would like to. Her family with whom she is living on the outside is hindering her … Before class she said: "Can I ask you some questions after class?” Here they are:

What is the first thing I do when I want to give myself to God?
What do I do after that?
How do I stay away from temptations?
How do I deal with criticism?
How do I keep the faith in the Lord when I get out to my family?
How do I know what to do with my faith?
How do I start praying?
How can I become a missionary?

Another girl forgave someone some horrendous things last week. I wanted to know this week, how her week had gone. She smiled and said. "I’m happy. And I read the Bible all night so I am tired in the day. The guards knock on my door at 2.30am and I think I should stop reading, but then I find something else that I just can't stop reading.” I asked if she always read the Bible so much. She said: “No. I used to find it boring, but since that burden is lifted – I told God all the bad stuff I did – the Bible is the most interesting book! – I tell everyone they should come to church on Sundays.”
Then she said: “I don’t keep with the old crowd”. Because I looked puzzled she explained: “I changed all my friends. I stick now with those who speak positively and are kind. The others plan drinking parties for when they come out … it just pulled me down. Not anymore! J”

February 2010

prison

Out of five she was the only one not trusting Jesus. Honestly she said that she was thinking about it. After the class she came back and asked: “I have to think about what I learned in the study today. Do I have to stop smoking and drinking if I walk with Jesus? My whole family does it and I join in when we are together.”

“I will be released this Monday”, she beamed! “God performed a huge miracle for me at court last week! He made His grace known to me while I sat and listened to the judge! ï�Š I have learnt that choices have consequences and I trust Him that we can make the right choices when I am out. I want to!” she added with serious eyes.
A week later, being out for seven days: Eyes are warm and settled – her family accepted her well and she knows she won’t be back.

Greetings to the reader!!
Throughout this lesson I’ve learnt how the power of forgiveness will bring you peace. No matter how great the pain that someone may afflict on you. As strange as it seems, forgiving them will take it away. I’ve always been the type of person that wouldn’t let anything go until it was even. But now I’ve realised that getting even ain’t the way to go. It would only make things worse. And I’ve done some things to others that I ain’t proud of, and in order for me to receive forgiveness I ought to forgive those who done wrong by me. I’ve done so and already I can feel the big difference between getting even and forgiving. With forgiving I feel more in peace and I’ve actually forgotten about the pain I’ve endured rather how it would be if I were planning my revenge to get even.... So forgiving them is more for me to be in peace with myself, rather than them!!
Thanks Pete, for putting up with me and helping me through this lesson!!

Firstly, I thank God for everything that He has done for me throughout this book. I’ve come to understand more about God’s forgiveness for each one of us. God forgave us through the death of His Holy Son Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose up again. So that you and I will have eternal life...Jesus said we must forgive others, who have done wrong against us and God will forgive us. We are all sinners. No one is perfect but if we ask God to forgive us, and lead us to a new start, then God will do so for us. This book or this title has given me strength to move on with my life! I pray to God to forgive me for who I am, may His mercy be upon me. I also pray for my sins and I ask God to help me to forgive others. The story of Joseph inspired me when Joseph forgave his brothers. He was blessed by God, became a leader. He had a gift from God and his father (Joseph’s father). Jacob was a happy man. God has a plan for each one of us in the future.... bur we need His forgiveness.

This 6 week study programme gives me a lot to be thankful for, especially about forgiveness. As for me it is so true about forgiving one another. I also know how impossible it is to forgive someone. But going through the study and discussing mainly about how to be able to forgive, gives me that much faith, it can be done. I learn how forgiveness really is breaking the power of the past.
The story of Jacob and his sons tells us how amazing our God is and His way of letting people learn of their mistakes and how to find the way to forgive each other as what the brothers did! I thank God that I was given such a wonderful opportunity to study about forgiveness and enable me to forgive others. I pray that God will continue working in my life and strengthen me to maintain in His Word because it is the Truth.
Thank you God.

I really enjoy doing these Bible studies and this book “How to make Choices You Won’t Regret”. I gave my heart to the Lord 13/2/1995. That is the best choice I have every made. And I have no regrets in becoming a Christian. … There is no way I want to go back to my old life-style I used to live: Gangs, drugs, alcohol. My last slip on cigarettes and drugs was 26/12/1995. It is only by God’s great transforming power and authority in through and over my life I was able to fully turn my whole back on my old life-style. Praise God!

I’ve found “How to make Choices You Won’t Regret” very different from the other booklets. It’s very challenging both mentally and spiritually. I found this quite an emotional one. I never thought that choices could affect others around me, being in jail as a prisoner. I thought I was serving a sentence on my own for the choice I made, instead my partner (who is now my ex) suffered a lot!!!  I’ve come to realize that what choices I make now can affect my future, either positively or negatively. I had to humble myself to accept that I had been wrong in the past and pray to God in Jesus’ name to fix up my past for me, for my God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I can’t fix what I’ve done wrong, but  know God can make what was wrong to something good for his glory.
I thought my life was wrong but He changed it to His glory by loving me.
So now I’ve learnt that choices aren’t always easy to make especially if it could affect others around me, So I’ve enjoyed this lesson.

The course was informative and helpful in that it uses God’s written Word to guide our everyday lives.
I know that I have a personal choice to make in my life’s journey and that by walking in the Spirit I can make the right decisions with love and mercy guiding my actions.
I may not be able to control my thoughts, but I don’t let them stay because the Spirit deals with those thoughts as they arise. I know that I have God’s Spirit of peace within me and no matter what happens I know that he is present to guide my life accordingly. So I don’t make the wrong decisions.
I may not pray for everything in my life but I know that I have the peace of God to keep me focused through Christ Jesus. By making choices I won’t regret opens up new gems of God’s blessings to come into my life and those people close tome.
Can’t wait till the next book.

A facilitator at prison: In both groups men are maturing. I felt I was standing on holy ground at the end of the first class when we prayed and asked God to show us if there was anything in-between Him and us. One guy addressed his mates after and it is all good now! They have just grown together that much closer and will be able to support each other much better. Instead of one lonely guy, they are 4 now meeting during the week and encouraging each other in the Scriptures.

December 09 

Email Bible study

I have found Ruth to be a great study and have really enjoyed doing it.

This has been a great experience in studying God’s Word - it has taught me to look more deeply into ‘words’ and see what is really there. It has been a “treasure hunt and find!’

Hope you have all had a good couple of weeks; I have really enjoyed this study! Learning from God's Word and from each of your insights and answers to the questions too, thanks everyone for doing this too :-)
 
Thank you for this study, I have truly been so blessed by it.

I thank you all for being part of this study.  I have enjoyed reading your answers and seeing your insights.  I have been so blessed to have been part of this study and getting deeper into the word.  As Christmas season comes round, I am glad to have spent the last weeks learning more about my kinsman redeemer.  In light of that, have a wonderful Christmas everyone, the birth of Jesus, what a reason to celebrate!!

Prison  

This study shows me how to make choices that are good and walk close to God.
I was really helped by the story of Jesus' temptation. When the devil tempts us we have to say, "Go away! I don't belong to you. The Bible says this is wrong and I am a Christian. I do what the Bible says."   
 
Six girls in remand studied like lamb today. One girl put her arm around me walking me down to the gate and said: "I love Bible study, can you come in everyday?" Another showed me her Chinese Bible she got this week: "I can not understand a lot in the Bible study yet, but I will soon. This Bible helps me a lot."
 
"I wish the groups on Sunday who come in to take church would talk about Jesus and not promote their leader or own doctrines." - 2 men at Spring Hill.
 
D summarized her year as a "miracle year".

R has been "sucking up his ego" this year and loves the outcome - so do I.

S is finishing his best year in his life so far: "The Lord is my only hope!" he said. I was told that a week or two ago his wife left him, but his kids want him home.

P broke his leg playing rugby, can't play anymore and found peace in Christ this year - and lost much of his huge anger.

M thinks now instead of acting upon instinct and faces the real deep questions on life. Since he became a Christian he is no longer a time bomb ... but is more tolerant of others and gets along with them. The Holy Spirit keeps him calm and rooted.

The girl who murdered her partner described 2009 as a MIRACLE year in her life. She is at peace with God, making good, life-giving decisions now. She has been offered a special job at the prison by invitation - great change does not go unnoticed and is rewarded. Just before Christmas she was moved from high to low security. :-)

Home group

Saul blamed the people – David took responsibility as a leader. I want to be like David!

People don’t need to be perfect as long as they repent of sin; they are after God’s own heart!

November 09

Homeschooling

My son has thoroughly loved doing the James study, "Boy, Have I got Problems", and we're now doing "Spotlight on Jesus" in the gospel of John. The home schooling has been going really well, and I plan to start home schooling my 8yr old daughter from next year too.

Email Bible study

I really enjoyed going through each persons’ answers and seeing different perspectives on the questions. This e-group study is a great alternative for those who find it tricky to do a 'get together in person' study! Thanks Barbara for taking the time to do it with us!

Tandem Ministries

“My favourite lesson was the one in Greek Word studies”.

“Inductive Bible study is really cool. Magical. It was really clear and simple.”

“I learnt to respect the Bible as a great authority, but also to interact with simply and unassumingly as a friend. The most helpful was when we discussed the tools for inductive Bible study and used them for 1 Thessalonians 1. It taught me to slow down and read and understand better each noun, verb, and pronoun used to convey the messages.”

Prison facilitators

“After a full day at prison I go home energized – probably because I have been in the Word all day.”

“When I have only one in the class, God has a special assignment. My preparation in prayer equips me to go in filled with the Spirit and minister effectively.”

“I can only pass on what has gone through my system first and the Lord has picked me up on a couple of incidents – to my benefit!”

Generally our toughest experiences are the ones that affect us most on the outside – and actually are turned into blessings for our families.

- I learnt that the Lord is in control when I meet curly ones inside … and outside “Be still and know I am God” is a wonderful place to rest!
- I learnt that where there is most darkness, the light penetrates brightest – that gives me hope for my family.

Prison

A man concluded after the first lesson in the booklet on “How to Make Choices You won’t Regret”, that "it stops with me". He realised how fathers can set their children up for failure - his father did - and he determined that would stop with him.
Another said at the end of the book: “Knowing the consequences helps me making better decisions.”

A lady admitted that she can hardly read, but since she started to trust the Lord not long ago, she just wants to read her Bible ... and also the biographies we bring in. "Gladys Aylward" is the first book ever she read in her life! And the second one she read even twice: "Corrie Ten Boom" left a lasting impression.

Studying “Having a Real Relationship with God” has made me happier. And I am at peace with myself.” This 40 year old woman said.

And a man commented: To be honest, I sort of lay back a little and started giving up doing God’s will. But thank you for our study because it really opened the door for me to start again with seeking God’s love.

I studied “Daniel” at Bible College but through this study I gained more insights eg on the statue and the timeline. I also realized that I am not as clever as I thought I was.

I know now that worshipping is more than something you do physically and in order to be true worshipper you have to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and worship in spirit and truth. … How lucky we are to have Jesus Christ! Because I learnt that back in the days before Christ, we had to kill animals and through heaps of other stuff to have a relationship with God or to cover / remove our sins. I would like to thank my tutor for these lessons and teaching me more about God and how wonderful His is!

The Bible study on forgiveness was very helpful and informative for me. The Bible teacher showed me things I was unaware of and explained in simple language, ideas and concepts form the Bible readings. I found the lessons so helpful that I used some of the ideas and concepts and used them in real-life situations. I can say that God’s definition of forgiveness has been useful in my life because the readings on forgiveness actually work in practice. I am now hooked on Bible study and am an eager student for more knowledge. I recommend the study of these books!

I would like to thank you so much for all the time and patience during the sessions on forgiveness.
I must admit that I never really understood the whole concept of forgiving and being forgiven until our discussions. I knew what they meant but not in-depth the detailed needs and our ability to let go of the past mistakes so we can move on with life. I have come to realize how important it is to forgive others who have done wrong to us for us to be forgiven.
I have never felt so much at peace with myself before since I have committed myself back to God (how it used to be for me). I know that I completely let God come second to everything I did as I was so involved with so many unimportant activities. Being in prison has made me realize how much more I needed to be closer to Him and that He as to be my number one priority. He has given me so much and I am always grateful for the opportunity that He has given me through you and your team to find my way back into Him fully! Forgiveness has been a real eye-opener for me. I am much more aware of how powerful it can be. Once again thank you!

One girl has changed so much during the 3 months at Bible study. She knows it herself and tells the others: "I was a bad girl when I came in, but God changed me and I have joy now, no fear any more. Come to Bible study. You might be changed too!" So we ended up 7 of us - 4 new ones :-) AMAZING!

October 09

Prison 

I went to my two boys at the drug unit. The first one had told me that he needed to put something right with someone. So I asked him about it - and he did! :-) and felt so relieved.
The other guy unfolded a paper and said: I am glad we are studying "Forgiveness: Breaking the Power of the Past" again because this time I not only forgave my friends but my family who rejected me. He said it all with a smile on his face and the strain of the previous weeks was gone :-) Isn't that marvelous! He had come to Christ a year ago, studying this same book and has grown a lot in the meantime.

He has also grown immensely in Christ, reading His Word and applying it, talking to the chaplain, faithfully coming to Bible study. He has a clean attitude. I like him. He has been terribly abused as a boy and the Lord is restoring his life. Rejection sits deep, but he is allowing the Lord to heal him.

One of the other boys had finished "How Do You Walk the Walk You Talk" and gave us his feedback. Here an excerpt: “I enjoyed these studies because I learnt the meaning of certain words. What I understood brought me closer to God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the teacher of the Word of God. I feel so appreciated and loved by God and now I know how to walk the walk that I talk. Thank you for your support and encouragement, You present Jesus well. Your friend for life, B.”

“Should I die, I know where I go”.

Home School

Yes I am using the Jonah studies.  We just got started recently and are up to day 5.  At the moment the kids are getting the hang of how to fill it all out, and where to find the things they need to consider answers.  I am sure once they consolidate this they will really start to consider God’s word and how it applies to them.  They really enjoy it, and I can see potentially where it can go so we still passionate about it.  Thanks for staying in touch,

The girls and I have really been enjoying the study in Jonah.  Adele (11) will often have hers done and be ahead of me in the book. 

Individual

I am doing "Lord Only You Can Change Me".  I am finding it wonderfully challenging, which I like.  I always say, "Lord I'm such a mess" and he says, "That's o.k your my mess and I'll deal with it".  Hahaha I always feel comforted by his reply, which is always the same.

Church 

Just letting you know how much we are being blessed as we study 1st and 2nd Peter. We have come to see how much we need put into adding qualities like virtue and godliness as well as self control and perseverance as well as love and brotherly kindness to our lives, so we can be fruitful Christians. And who wouldn't want to be fruitful! At the same time it has also been interesting to see the characteristics of false teachers, whereas in the past, the discussions I have had with other Christians are usually about false teachings. Now we look forward to our Jude study.

September 09

Prison 

This study encouraged me to really think about the choices I make daily. It has made me aware that one bad choice leads to many others. I have learnt we all have the ability to make a choice, and all choices have consequences, good or bad. To ensure we make the right choice, we must submit and be guided by the Holy Spirit. This is something I strive to do daily.

It was a good study. A lot of it I knew before but it's so good to refresh because I've been on the big slide for a long time - that's why I'm here. But being in here has brought me back to the Lord, and I spend a lot of my time in prayer and studying the Bible. My relationship with Him is growing stronger.

If my mother had been a Christian, my life would not have ended up in prison! It was said without bitterness, but much understanding.
           

The group today wanted to pray for their Precept leader and some of their friends who are all going through a very challenging time. When I asked them if they had done that a year ago, they said “no!”

Email Bible study in “Isaac, Esau and Jacob"

My birthright is much more encompassing and precious than I had previously realised or acknowledged.......knowledge gives greater insight and understanding...the joy of these studies.

I want to calmly process the happenings of my life and in that process to seek more to know what God is saying/doing through them...not to be as reactionary as I normally would be.

In moments of weakness, God is my strength. If I turn to Him quickly when I am in need or struggling, a disaster can be averted and avoided.  With his help I am able to make sound decisions and stand firm in my faith. I also was reminded that He is the firstborn among many brethren and that I am part of that ‘brethren’ and therefore a co-heir with Christ. We are conformed to the likeness of Jesus. I am part of the body of Christ as I am part of His church but He is the head and the firstborn of all creation. I am also created in God’s image. Wow!!

God wants to be involved in all aspects of our lives no matter how trivial we may think they are. He cares for us and wants to be intimately involved.
I am reminded that it is up to me to involve Him in my life. I need to pray and listen.

August 09

Homeschool mothers

I started "Wrong Way, Jonah" with our girls today.  Ages 7 & 11.  They loved it!

My daughter has just completed 'Wrong Way, Jonah' and enjoyed it greatly.  We used it as writing work each day. Which book would you recommend now for her?  She is only six years old and the Jonah book was the right level for her.

Home Group

The finance book that we have just finished was really challenging - it really hit us between the eyes!! I am sure that they now look at their money, talents and what they own in a different light. ... in the light of the WORD!

Email Bible study

in Isaac

Those people who lived in those times appeared to live a lot closer to God, referring to Him in their times of confusion and need.  No ‘self help’ books, entertainment or internet around to distract them.  I want to be like them relying on God for basic things and understanding.  Recently I went through a most embarrassing situation, no one was hurt of offended it was just me, I asked God where was the lesson in this mortification.  He showed me that I should feel those extreme feelings every time I grieve the Holy Spirit more than when I just embarrass myself.  I love our Father He is so gentle in His correction. 

Anything that you can apply to your life?
Don’t go my own way, wait on Him in all things.
Look at the big picture, don’t be an Esau and accept short term gain and achieve long term loss.
Don’t react from anger or revenge.

Prison  

Man’s prison:

Three days ago, I finally admitted that I can not stop smoking myself. Since then I ask the Lord to take care of my carvings – and He does!

This book changed the way I think as in the choices I make. A wrong choice usually leads to something worse and you end up regretting it and confessing your sin to God. I also realized that those who love knowledge want to be told when they are wrong and it is stupid to hate being corrected. If you make the wrong choices, repent think and ask God for forgiveness.

I know that by asking the Lord to forgive, I can be clean again! – I am happy I studied “Choices, I Won’t Regret”. I am willing to humble myself before the Lord and break the cycle of sin in my family. I want to learn more about the Word of God and get to understand it.

All my privileges got withdrawn because of false accusations, but He is even closer to me now than before, confirming in a much deeper level that He loves me and is my Father.

A newcomer has the gift of rounding up sheep: Today the group grew from 2 to 8 because he brought the others along.

Women’s prison:

She had had a bad week and hadn't finished week 4. Her friend had, and wanted to go over it all. When she said she found the marking distracting, her friend gave her a hundred reasons why she should do it, so she went marking as we went over the study - and was really amazed at how she could make the verses "speak" using colour. But she was even more astounded when she found that the chapter she hadn't got around to studying was addressing the very problems she'd been grappling with all week. That's when she got so excited that the other group had to request the volume reduced!! Her friend is loving it too. So really we had a wonderful afternoon of fellowship, digging into the Scriptures together. I just love it!

Before I knew about sin as things I did wrong, but now I know that it's what's inside me. God looks at my heart. Before I used to think of the Bible as a book that was written for other people long ago but not any more. Now I know it's ME. It's calling ME. This study has helped me to pray more deeply and brought God more close. He has forgiven me and I have to say sorry. I feel His love.

I learned that Jesus died for us on the cross, and He takes all our worries. I've been building a relationship with my friends. Now I know more about Jesus and want to get closer and closer to Him. (Her friend came to me afterwards and asked me to pray for her as she believes in her head but it's not in her heart yet.) - When I came back a week later, there was great joy: She had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into her heart!

She's continued to do her study even if I didn't manage to do a lesson with her. So today we went over the Day 7 questions of Weeks 6 and 7 in NISS in Luke. She's opening up quite a bit although, in what seems to be an attempt to be open-minded, she gives credence to lots of strange ideas. I just gently pull her back to our study. The truth will do its work. 

Just a few lines to thank you sincerely for this wonderful experience through your Bible Studies I have renewed my commitment to God. Although I have distanced myself these last few years I have never given up. Through these last few months in a place I have never experiences in my entire life, He has given me amazing strength. I can’t explain in words how he has made me whole again. I thank you so much for your dedication, love and support and I have so much enjoyed these last weeks with you.

Since she had to come back to jail after court, she is seeing God at work in different people. This has opened her up a lot … and by confessing and forgiving she has been able to get rid of a lot of anger and filth in her life. She radiates warmth now. No toughness anymore. ï�Š She is facing sentencing with calmness: Whatever the Lord does will be for her very best: In- or outside jail. She knows she can make it as long as she sticks to him. – Oh, and the letters she has been writing to her victims, apologizing, are bringing back a flood of very appreciative letters.

July 09

Email Bible study

The importance of sound doctrine was the thing that shone forth both confirming and strengthening me.

Prison  

It was amazing to watch a penny drop as a guy understood that head knowledge, “know”, is not the same as “believe” which means as much as I know - It is true for me - that is what I act upon it.

We did the list on God in lesson 1 in “Having a Real Relationship with God”, when she came alive: “Wow, that does something in me. I am usually tough, but this makes me soft!”

“I love when you come!” She seems to like the Good News and understanding it better and better!

I love the word “lavish”! God lavishes His grace on us. Wow! Wonderful! I will be back for the Bible study next week!

“How to Make Choices I Won’t Regret” taught me to THINK. I don’t feel like an idiot or an egg any more because I think about consequences!

Breakfast can wait – let’s start the Bible study lesson!

What? Jesus forgave all? 100%? WOW! That’s good news!

Homeschool mothers

43 home school families are using our materials from this month.

June 09

Email Bible study  

I have been challenged by the situation in Israel and God’s promise of their promised land; what He has promised will come about, and if we hinder that process we will suffer. I had never looked at it like this before and viewed it more from the plight of those who might be unsettled because of it rather than those whom God had chosen to have the land.
I was also challenged by the thought at the end of question 3 reminding us we are revealed by our actions and words – time to evaluate…

A big MALO (Samoan for “Thank you”) to you for the work done. Thanks for loving God and loving us. yeah it is lovely reading what the others say. I am still reading the answers given.

Prison  

I appreciate the Bible study we have and want to continue to attend because I want to get back to my girls asap. The Bible helps me to keep positive and after reading a passage or two I can sleep soundly each night.

I would like to please study the next book. I have circled it. Thank you for giving me the chance to learn more of the Lord’s word. This has been very valid to my days lately: Trails and sufferings, but still having heart and knowledge to stay strong with the Lord Jesus. Thank you once again.
PS: May I have this book back when you have seen it and finished and not meaning to sound ungrateful, but I don’t need the certificate. Just the study please.

She shared how her father has returned to drugs after going strong for the Lord and how it is hurting her mum so much! What could she do??? As we repeated the first part of lesson 1 in “Living Victoriously in Difficult Times” by looking at the insight boxes, she got it: Endure – wait patiently in the midst of difficult circumstances – and continue in faith by which God enables us to accept and cope with these trials.

When I came to prison I hit rock bottom and realised how much pain I had inflicted on others. Now my life can only go up!

Studying “Having a Real Relationship with God” has brought me closer to God.

I give thanks to our Father in heaven for giving you the time to come and study with me and to teach me about God’s commandments and about our Saviour’s love. He is pleased when we take time to read His Word. I learn from this study how to please God by obeying His commandments and following what the Lord Jesus teaches us. I want to study more please. Thank you!

Home school mother

I did really enjoy "Lord, Only You Can Change Me".  It was very easy to pick up and get straight on with whenever you had time and although it was different to your inductive study books as it had a lot more input from the author, it still challenged you to look at the text for yourself.  Kay Arthur has a beautiful way of putting stories of people's experiences, a lot of it her own, in to really bring home the point and relate it in such a way that it's hard to forget.  We are looking forward to starting the next one.  I would highly recommend it.  It has caused me to think through so many different aspects of my life and how I treat others and how I view the world - especially the chapter on hungering and thirsting for righteousness.  It was a very good resource.
We would like to carry on with the next one "Torn Between Two Masters." Would it be possible for you to send out two copies, please.
 

May 09

Homeschool mother

We are now doing Gen 3 - 11.  I am trying to go over together it with the children to make sure they are absorbing the information.  So I still get them to work on their own, but now I try to go through it together as well, which means they're getting more out of it. I think the best thing is that it teaches them to look closely at what the  Bible says.  What could be better than having students of the Word?  It brings out personal application as well, which is great.  There's variety in the activities, so it's not all question and answer format but includes crosswords, word finds, charts, drawing activities etc. And as an added extra it incorporates some English/language curriculum. I think it's great material and am really happy with it.  

Prison

"I won't become a Christian so fast" said a girl who came to prison the night before and attended Bible study the next morning, "but something needs to change!"

I never hold grudges, said another guy. I learnt that it frees me when I forgive. I cannot live with that burden. He is the only one from his prison unit who faithfully attends the weekly Bible study and keeps cheerful because of the difference the Lord makes in His life.

One guy listened intently and all of a sudden, when the word "strife" was mentioned in the study, he asked what it meant and it was explained. He thanked everyone - it looked like he got peace - and said that 21 years ago this word came into his mind in a certain difficult situation and he never understood it, but he did now. "I've done the right thing then!" he said.

“God always forgives” she confidently said, but then was VERY surprised when we read Matthew 6:15 “If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” What????!!!
She did not argue, but quickly came down to the facts: “So what happens with the offender? He needs to change, doesn’t he?” The other two ladies in the group had understood already that forgiveness sets the victim free and explained it to her carefully. Then time was up, and one of them went straight back to her room because she knew now HOW to forgive and why!

He admitted that he was not keen to answer “yes” to Jesus question “Do you want to get well?” because that would mean he had to stop robbing people and making big bucks, but instead go to work for very little money.
He was very respectful at class though and admitted in the end that he was afraid of the unknown around the corner. Change is imminent, but what will it be?

Leaders at prison:

One man in particular thanks me often when I come to lead a lesson at the prison and prays daily for my well-being.

Church Home groups

The Warfare study seemed to go well, and hopefully everyone who attended has a better understanding of what spiritual warfare is all about, I know I have.

Email class

I would like to say that I have got a lot out of this study and have really enjoyed doing it.
I am always amazed at how little I really know and what a lot I have to learn even though I have read and studied my Bible for over half my life.
Studying Amos showed me how little the world has changed and the great need for the world to hear about the LORD and their need to know Him.

The study in Amos was very interesting and useful for me. Before, I had no knowledge about the book of Amos. I needed a lot of time for it, bit it was worthwhile.
I find it very good, to share with other Christians all over the word. The email-course is really interesting for me. Thanks a lot for all your mails and thoughts.

April 09

Church Home groups

I am amazed at this study “Living a Life of True Worship”. One of the ladies said that when she pre-prepared the weeks study, she felt that she didn't get anything new from it but when she came to the study night and we all shared and discussed the questions she came away amazed at the revelations that God was giving her. It is the same with the rest of us. 

Email class

It has been hard to find the time to do this, but it has been worth it!!!!!

It is scary to see how relevant the message of Amos is!

Firstly, I thank the Lord and Precept for this opportunity to study Amos ….yeah, it was tough trying to juggle many things but I am glad that I stayed on even though this is late. Secondly studying about King Uzziah reminded me about what power can do to a person and it helped me to reassess myself personally.  Sometimes we can fall into the same trap even doing kingdom work, we may feel that we are better than others and we loose focus that this work is all about God and not about us.   Let us continue to walk in humility.

What conclusions do you draw from all this (lesson 1 in Amos)? Don’t mess with God!!

The new covenant of grace trough Jesus, does not exempt us from the Law, rather it enables us to fulfill the law through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord!!!!

Prison

My first certificate since Sunday School, a grey-haired middle aged man shyly confessed.

"Oh, yes!" she answered the question whether she wanted Jesus as her Lord over everything!

One woman studied “Living Victoriously in Difficult Times” and learned to give everything to God, rather than trying to deal with all her problems by herself and is therefore much happier now.

“Having a Real Relationship with God” brought a lot of insight, but no heart change. Sadly she is not ready to let Jesus be her Lord and Saviour.

Leaders at prison:

When we studied in "Essentials of Effective Prayer", Lara said, "This is really speaking to me. Please will you pray the sinner's prayer with me?"  As I explained to her, I don't have it off by heart, but prayed along these lines. She seemed very pleased and was heart and soul in the rest of the lesson - and gave me a big hug at the end. These lovely Hebrews passages at the end of the lesson she felt were very special, and she said she must go over them carefully again along with Esther.

Yes I felt a bit battered by the end of the day, but satisfied that God had given us lots of opportunities. Sure, it was a day of working against the odds with crowding, interruptions, noise, etc, but it certainly was eventful. If I'd been warned beforehand, my response would probably have been, "I don't think I could handle that!" But the Lord doesn't ask me!! And He doesn't take "can't" for an answer!