Browsing Tag

Digging Deep Conversations

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Three More Groups!

Posted on August 4, 2025

Three More Groups! 

photo courtesy Janet Anderson

The resurrection women are already the topic of “Conversations.” August is always an exciting time for catching up and finishing and kicking off the brand new study. As the temperature has begun to cool a little in Alabama (although I know there are likely high nineties still to come), I can get really excited about color in the trees, pumpkin spice, football, and especially Polishing the Pulpit and a new Digging Deep study! He is good in every season, but I love autumn best of all. This year, Glenn and I have some late-September speaking in New Hampshire, so I’m excited about being in New England at that beautiful time of the year! 

Right now, I’m excited about PTP lessons, specifically today working on prayer suggestions to make us anticipate, with zealous joy, the taking of our petitions and praises to our God.. If you have something practical that’s made your prayer life better, send me a message! 

Here’s the last of our DD groups. (I know there are more, but these are the ones from whom I got responses,)

36. Meleah Kay Cleghorn is Facebook contact for the Jasper, Alabama group that meets in the Crossroads church building on Tuesday mornings at 10. 

37. On the last Friday of each month, the group at 70 West in Hot Springs, Arkansas, meets to eat together at 6 pm. Then they begin the study around 7.  Contact Kate Hudgens at 501-760-8300. This one meets at the church building. Love these ladies!

38. How about Tuscaloosa, Alabama? Roll Tide! first Monday of each month at 6:00 pm. This group meets for an hour-and-a-half at the Central church building. Contact is Vickie Higgins Lyle via Facebook. 

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

DD: Putting a Bow on Month 11…More Groups!

Posted on August 1, 2025

I loved this month’s study. Don’t you love the dig on Simon, the Cyrenean? (Every time, I type that place of his origin, auto-correct turns it into a type of dog from the mountains in Spain.) But Cyrenaica, a real place in Libya was home to Simon, who was compelled to bear the cross of Christ. I loved learning about the ossuary containing an Alexander, son of Simon of Cyrene–a box that still is hidden in a back room of the Hebrew museum in Jerusalem. It’s a box that was found in a sealed and unlooted tomb. Now, I know that we cannot be sure this is “our” Alexander, but it’s really faith-building to look into the scriptures about him. I believe he and Rufus must have been prominent in  the early church. Why would Mark have pointed out (Mark 15), to early Christians. that the Simon who had carried the cross was their father, if the early church did not know who Rufus and Alexander were?

And in Acts 2, when the church was born on Pentecost Day, there were those from “the parts of Libya around Cyrene”. This is not surprising, since lots of Jews had been forced to settle in Cyrene in the year 285 B.C.  But don’t you think Simon was there? Why would he not be one of the first to be baptized, after having carried the cross to a place where he would witness it dropped in the earth… an earth that would quake, opening tombs and suffering its dead men to walk? He had witnessed darkness for hours in the middle of the day and he knew about the massive torn curtain (top to bottom) in the temple.  I believe he obeyed and I believe he brought his sons, Rufus and Alexander, to a life change, too. Of course, it is not recorded this way, so it is speculation. But it has some substantive speculative evidence. I am going to look for them in the sweet by and by!

Happy 12th month digging! There’s an empty tomb and women were among the first to witness that event that gives credence to all of our faith (1 Corinthians 15)!

 

More Groups!

31. Lexington, Kentucky! This one meets in the home of Barbara Johnson. Home groups are always so fun! She says it’s a room full, but they can squeeze in a couple more! Barbara is the best and her number is (859) 797-9264. (and I can’t wait to see her at PTP!)

32. Back to Texas: This one’s in Wylie.  I think this one’s growing! Contact is Facebook: Stephani Minor, a great friend to have!

33. This one’s in Olathe, Kansas. Contact is Zac-Sarah Hall on Facebook. This group will meet at the Park Street church  at 515 Park Street in Olathe. With the exception of the first few months, the meeting time will be the 4th Saturday of each month, from 11-12, with a carry-in lunch for those who’d like to stay and visit over lunch. (How far is this from me?…Sounds wonderful!)

34. My friend, Melissa Draper, says their group in Macon County, Tennessee, will be meeting the second Sunday of each month at 3 pm. Melissa’s number is 931-510-9320 and her Facebook profile is Mel Draper. And you will love her!

35. Another Tennessee group meets in Elizabethton. the building in which they meet is at 137 E C Street, Elizabethton 37643. They meet on the second Sunday each month at 5. Kerri Epling is a great fellow-worker in the kingdom and her contact info is: kerriepling@gmail.com or 423 737 1433. (And I think my friend, Diana, is sometimes the home hostess, too!)

Yet more next time!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Who was really in charge? … And More Groups!

Posted on July 30, 2025

DIgging again and it just strikes me how many disparate people played little and big parts in the crucifixion of the Lord. 

Think about this list: 

Judas (betrayal)

Peter (The ear of Malchus, the denial)

The Sanhedrin Jewish counsel (ordered the arrest, paid Judas)

The Jewish armed crowd that arrested Jesus (Fell backward when Jesus spoke)

Annas, the Jewish ruler (first examined Jesus)

Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest (next examined the Lord)

Pilate, the Roman ruler (found no fault, but ordered the crucifixion)

Mrs. Pilate (dreamed and warned her husband not to have anything to do with the crucifixion)

Herod, King over a Jewish province (made an alliance with Pilate that day)

Barabbas, Jewish criminal (released instead of Jesus)

Simon of Cyrene, African (likely a Jew from center of Greek learning; compelled to carry cross)

The robbers on either side (justly being crucified)

Joseph of Arimathea, Jewish councilman, but sympathized with Jesus; took body to bury)

Jesus, Himself. 

God, the Father.

Of course, you know that God, in Son and Father, are the ones who facilitated all the others who had input. They brought this unlikely crew together in this purpose. God didn’t make them sin, in the cases where they were parties to the crucifixion. But God used the malice they chose to display for the redemption of mankind. People who would have never conspired together under any other circumstance came together to accomplish God’s provision for my salvation, and yours. 

There’s a good deal in Old Testament prophecy about several of these listed.  God planned every detail of the Thursday and Friday of that Passover weekend. The little people that He made from dust only thought they were contributing to events that day. Some of them were pompous about it. Some were circumspect. Some were violating consciences. Some were  involved at the compelling of others. But all were subject to the eternal will of God for your redemption. God never lost power over the situation. After all, the soldiers fell down backwards when He spoke, while they were supposed to be arresting Him. He could have called twelve legions of angels at any time during the process…angels that were also created by Him! 

Pilate thought he was in charge. Peter thought he should be afraid of those around the fire. Barabbas thought he got away with something. Herod thought he was using great wisdom and Joseph thought his tomb would hold the body. But God knew all along. 

More groups!…

26. This one’s northwest of Fort  Worth, Tx. It meets at the Briar church, which is between Azle and Boyd. They’d love to have more diggers. The name is Andrea Lester and the number is 817-988-1403. 

27. Then back to East Tennessee again! This group is for those in and around Cookeville. Meeting monthly and sometimes varying with schedules, the norm is a Thursday, early in each month. Time is 1:30 and contact is Mary Parker Lawson. 

28. This one is am amazing teen zoom group. These girls are such a blessing and they are all over the geographical map. SEVERAL of them are finishers this year and I have loved getting to know them. They are capping the group at fifteen, but I think they’d start another group if there are more girls and more moms who’d like to help facilitate.  Contact is Amber Parker Roberts via facebook. I think the way this works is that there’s a mom always there in the physical room from whichever point the zoom connection emanates. But you can ask Amber and she’d be happy to help. I’m thankful for several moms in this venture who are getting girls to heaven and raising girls who are helping their mamas get there, too! (I’ve really watched this one glow!)

29. Again in Texas (It’s big!), this one’s in Bloomberg, TX, meeting at the Cass County church on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Contact number is 903-826-1427—April Britton.

30. Jenny Townsend (via Facebook) welcomes any Indianapolis, Indiana diggers to the group meeting at the building at 10 Shelbyville Road in Indy. Contact Jenny Lynne Townsend for details. 

More soon! Send me your group info if you’d welcome more girls!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

DD: An Emphasis for Moms….And More Groups!

Posted on July 29, 2025

Yesterday, while studying our Month 11 Digging Deep lesson, it jumped off the pages of Scripture to me that BOTH of the conversations this month involved nursing women. In the first, from Luke 11, a random woman (although nothing is random in Scripture) yelled out at Jesus, in the midst of mocking Pharisees “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that you nursed!” 

Jesus responded in agreement, while further stating, in so many words, that the most important thing was not who had nursed Him, but who is being nourished by the Words that proceed from the baby-grown-up…God, Himself. 

The other short conversation was from John 19, a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, in which Jesus said, “Woe to those who are with child and who nurse their babies in those days.” Here the Word specifically mentions that there were wailing women in the crowd near Golgotha to whom Jesus was speaking. He said these words while in great pain and very near death. Amazing!

Throughout the texts that we have studied this year, there has been a dynamic and dramatic emphasis on childbirth. We have studied: 

…the pronouncement of Eve’s punishment that was about pain in childbirth.

…baby announcements and, when included, some follow up conversations, with Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, and Manoah’s wife.

…that amazing angel visitation to Mary, the mother of the Lord. 

…these conversations with women in the crowd, both of which included mentions of childbirth/nursing babies. 

When thinking about 1Timothy 2:14, it’s amazing, that yet again, the emphasis from the Holy Spirit, in speaking of the salvation of Christian women, is on what mothers do  “in childbearing.”

Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

For another discussion, I believe the weight of the passage is that women who raise kids with the above characteristics, will necessarily be living those characteristics, themselves. They will be faithful women if their children grow up to be faithful due to their nurturing and constant diligence. 

This obvious emphasis, through the conversations of God with women, is a powerful testament to the honor and responsibility God places within motherhood, the acceptance of which, even in the church today, is often minimized by the constant pursuits of power careers and the acquisition of material wealth. 

We should be sober (Titus 2:3-5) as we ponder.

AND MORE GROUPS!…

21. The North Jackson, Tennessee group is up and running. Contact Kelli Gough, through facebook, for meeting time and place. SO excited about this one!

22. Another East Tennessee group, in Newport. This group meets on Thursday nights, depending on schedules, at the Newport church of Christ building. Contact info is Elizabeth Gilbert at 731-636-0423.

23. And one more in East Tennessee: This one, in Johnson City, meets at the Central church building on the 2nd and fourth Wednesday nights each month. Kim Seaton is the point person and her number is 423-329-9328.

24. This one is in South Carolina. This one’s a hybrid group, meeting both online and in-person, each Tuesday afternoon at 4:30. St George, the home of this great group, is in between Charleston and Columbia. Contact  Kimberly M. Knight on Facebook for more info. 

25. Contact Terri Lynn Morris Meadows via facebook, if you’re near Crystal Springs, Mississippi. This group watches Julie Orr’s Mama’s Monday Moments DD review together and has some great discussion. This happens on Tuesdays at 6:30. They say they have lots of room for anyone wanting to study along. 

This is an amazing list! More to come!

I love diggers! We’re on a special, eternity-bound, journey, together. And more and more women in this group are searching for the narrow road while traveling. The dig is all about the Word, which is the spiritual GPS. Let’s type in heaven and never look back!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Committed: Zooming to the Finish Line!

Posted on July 16, 2025

These girls! I have, in years past, been at Horizons camp at FHU. There are no minutes to waste. It zooms by and you wish you could do it all again. You can, but you have to wait till next year. 

But these three young Diggers, Emma Rucker, Ruby Roberts and Lydia Fuller (l-r), took the time to pause, in the middle of an incredible week (One of them was even preparing to yodel in the talent show at the end of the week!) and do their regular Zoom digging class with other teen girls in various parts of the U.S. The digging did not stop, even in their busiest, most fun week of the year! I love them!

I met with this zoom class back in September as we virtually studied from Legacy camp at Pettijohn in Oklahoma. They have not missed a beat.

 I love all the diggers. But these young ones have a special place in my heart. They have more years left to give Him. They have more tender hearts and less baggage of life than some of us older ones. They have evangelistic hearts and boundless energy. And kindness exudes from their faces and in their words. I love them. 

We’re in Branson. Glenn is down there unloading the new books right now. (He is turning the boxes so that the name of the new study will be hidden till Saturday. I’m a little silly about that, I know.) I’m hoping to see some of these girls this very week as we celebrate and reveal.  

Some of your hearts are heavy. I’m praying this morning for those among us who are weary and heavy-laden and praying for the rest that comes from total surrender to the easy yoke. I am going now to pray for the next couple of months, as we finish studying the Words of God–God, in the flesh–to women.  I’m talking to Him about the brand new study that may be the most needed of all for this pilgrim. 

oh yeah…and the yodeling was amazing! (I think the video of that has not been made public, but, if you ever do see it, you’ll be “wow”ed.)

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Limited T-shirts and Hoodies Left. Instructions Here.

Posted on October 22, 2024

Today, I dropped my husband at the airport at 7:15 a.m. (He recovered from all injuries!) I then traveled to Nashville to pick up all those back-ordered copies of the new Digging Deep book.  (They were heavy!)I went to the wrong loading dock first and the prankster at the loading dock told me that my printing company had suddenly gone out of business. He was NOT funny! Eliza Jane and I finally got those boxes and boxes of books loaded and started home. We grabbed a quick bite on the way home (The bite was a large one.) and made it home in time  to drop (She recovered too!) Eliza back at home, and then I turned around and went back into town for a doctor’s appointment. I then ran home (I was out of breath.) and baked cookies for our Digging Deep time tonight (We dug way deeply without heavy equipment.) 

I wrote the above paragraph, without the parentheses, last night and then put the laptop down because I kept dropping it on my face as I was lying there trying to communicate to you. I’m sleep deprived, lately!  When proofreading that paragraph this morning, before an 8 a.m. dentist appointment, I realized just how very frequently we use figures of speech or idioms in our speaking and writing. Just in this little exercise, I became acutely aware of how often it is in Bible study that we need to research what an idiom used in Scripture may actually have meant in the day, and to the audience, in which it was communicated; things like “a camel through the eye of a needle”( Mark 10:23)), or “Abraham ’s bosom” (Luke 16:22), or “eat their own bread” (2 Thessalonians 3:12), or “drink water from your own cistern” (Proverbs 5:15). I’m just throwing this in (I have a good throwing arm.) randomly, because it hit (ouch, again) me so BIG this morning, but let’s watch for idioms as we study these conversations. 

The podcast is tonight here at 7:00 CST: https://thecolleyhouse.org/live-digging-deep-video-podcast. Hannah Colley will join me. (It’s been too long. I’m excited about this co-host!) Today is a great day to invite someone to view the podcast and study along. It’s easy catch-up through November, so it’s not too late. I did get all those books unloaded into the basement, so if you ordered in September, your book will arrive shortly. We are working hard and we are so sorry for the delays that some of you have encountered. More books can be ordered currently without a long wait for shipping. 

I’m listing below the very limited sizes of t-shirts and hoodies we have left. The t-shirts are 20 dollars and the hoodies are 34 dollars (plus postage). If you want a shirt or hoodie, the ONLY way to get one is to email me at byhcontest@gmail.com. Please don’t text me or call me or FB message me. Email this address. I will let you know if I still have one for you as I fill these orders, first-come/first serve. I’ve had lots of ladies notify me in so many different venues that I can never know who was first. So THE way to get one (or more) is by emailing byhcontest@gmail.com. 

Please go ahead and list your address and the size you need from these limited sizes. If I have it, I will mail it to you and include the amount owed in your package. We just have a few (sometimes even just one) of each size, so we will just fill as many as we can in the order received in that email account only. I’ll post a list soon of those who should be watching for a shirt or hoodie! Thanks so much for being so patient with us. 

Here’s what we have: 

T-shirts sizes, as of now: 

XL

4XL

Hoodie sizes, as of now: 

M

XL

3XL