Browsing Tag

Digging Deep

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

The Bleating and the Bleeding

All of my inboxes have been sheepish for the past three months! I never truly thought about the saturating presence of sheep in our western culture until we studied about sheep and shepherds and wool and wolves for a few weeks in our Digging Deep study. But you found, made, wore and decorated your study rooms with sheep intensely there for a few weeks. Best of all, you learned from the Good Shepherd, Jesus the Christ, the Messiah. He is the anointed sacrificial lamb. While we had no other recourse, but to cry as sheep that are bleating to Him for rescue, He became one of us so that He could become that bleeding Lamb. That’s the over-arching lesson from the past couple of months.

Here are the two latest (and some of the sweetest) DIggers’ lamb creations that have come my way. One is a table decoration at Little Mountain church in Winchester, Tennessee. The other is an ornament that I get to hang on my tree. It’s from Tracy Jeter, of the Noah church, in Manchester, Tennessee. (All those “chester” places are good with the sheep!) 

Don’t forget you have two more days to get your submissions in to the contest! Winner will receive the entire HOPE bundle for teaching children the Word. A $60.00 holiday value, it includes a study guide for parents, a set of sturdy character flash cards, a timeline for putting the Bible characters in their historic perspective, a set of character trait flash cards for real life application and a memory game using the characters. It can literally fill up your kids’ or grandkids Bible time year in 2024. You can get all the contest info here:https://thecolleyhouse.org/its-christmas-contest-time

(If you can’;t get your video to upload The Colley House Facebook page, just send it to my personal Facebook Messages or to byhcontest@gmail.com)

Enjoy the holidays. If you are hurting, as so many I know are this season, you may not enjoy, but you will faithfully serve.  While we do not have any Biblical authority to claim we know the date of Christ’s birth or to celebrate it as a spiritual holiday, isn’t it nice when more people are focusing on the Lord? Let’s you and me remember the birth, life, death and teachings of the anointed one, the Messiah, every day of every year!

 

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Happy Birthday, Kaitlyn Epling!

Happy Birthday to Kaitlyn Epling. It’s a special day because Kaitlyn is turning 18.This means (happy and sad tears here) she will be making huge decisions in the next couple of years that will impact her eternity in large ways and will likely clip a few of the apron strings that have been so precious to her mama, Kerri, in their unclipped state. If she is like most of our daughters, this is the beginning of some big changes in the Epling family. 

The happy tears are because Kaitlyn is so thoroughly prepared for all the decisions. She has been in the Word in so many venues, but one of those is Digging Deep. Kaitlyn has completed (that’s right—finished every portion of) seven different Digging Deep studies. She is in her eighth year of the study. She is absolutely the youngest seven-year-finisher in our entire worldwide study! I’ve been at PTP and Camp Moriah with Kaitlyn and the study just oozes out of her personality and her character in every activity and conversation. I could not be prouder of her! She is very musically talented. She is great at homemaking skills. She’s good at making friends and she is impressive on the academic spectrum. But her most valuable asset is in the category in which even the end of the world will not affect value. She has what is, in the sight of God, of great price. She is a virtuous woman (Proverbs 31). Her price is far above rubies.

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn! You once said that the Digging Deep reveal in August each year was better than Christmas morning. I’m praying your study this year of The Crown is preparatory for many happy Christmas mornings and many happy returns of this great milestone birthday! I love you much!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Here’s your Digging Deep Go-to List. Save this.

Photo courtesy Rebecca Jenkins Richardson

The Digging Deep podcast is one week away. Next Tuesday at  7 CST  is our very first “Crown” virtual gathering. I hope you’re scheduling so that you can be with us live, but if not, remember it is archived for your convenience. Leigh Rhodes will join me next Tuesday as co-host. Those in the Huntsville area will meet the previous evening at the building of the West Huntsville church of Christ and there will be childcare available if anyone needs help with that. That meeting happens at 6:30.

For today, since my inbox is overflowing with questions and encouraging comments from new folks, I want to give one more quick run-down of where to find things that might be helpful to your study. So, here you go!

  1. The “home-base for the Digging Deep study is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/282349391779769
  2. The page for prayer requests from this group is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/299748296706559
  3. The “How to Dig Deep Video” is here: https://thecolleyhouse.org/digging-deep-introduction-video?fbclid=IwAR3dZNiITkabbWJRnMfgtvBTBjhMWBJmkDgLQzMFNZLEQ4Emeo1O17urqAs
  4. The Dig-A Bits appear four times each month here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/diggingdeepingodsword/announcements. 
  5. Julie Orr’s “Monday Moments”  is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107407546013208
  6. The store for ordering all Digging Deep materials/fun things (including the free download) is here: https://thecolleyhouse.org/store
  7. Archived Dig-a-Bits are here: https://thecolleyhouse.org/dig-a-bit-podcasts
  8. Live Video podcast at the end of each month is here: https://livestream.com/whcoc/for-women
  9. “Bless Your Heart” blog posts by Cindy Colley are here: https://thecolleyhouse.org/category/bless-your-heart
  10. You can follow Cindy Colley here: https://www.facebook.com/cindy.colley

Now, also in answer to a FAQ this month, I do not believe Keller, who is the author of one of the recommended reading books this month is “spot on” about the Holy Spirit’s work today. I carefully considered that, I recall, when writing this chapter. I recall, as I was studying his book, though, that, his belief about the Holy Spirit does not affect the truth of the message of the book about shepherds and sheep, IF we understand that the very clear teaching of the New Testament is that the Spirit guides through the written word today. We MUST depend on the Word for any knowledge that we have about the will of God for our lives. 

The above is why the phrase, “…remembering, as you read, that the Holy Spirit guides the sheep through the powerful Word of God” is included at the very end of lesson one when the reading of the book by Keller is suggested. 

Sometimes, I just think a work is worth the read even if we are not in agreement with EVERYTHING the author may say about every topic. 

I hope this helps. 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Congratulations Brittney Allen–Member # 10,000 of Digging Deep!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!…to Brittney Allen of Rapid City, South Dakota who is member #10,000 in The Digging Deep in God’s Word Facebook group. To celebrate this mile marker in the growth of Digging Deep, we’re going to award Brittney one penny for each member of the Digging Deep Facebook group in store credit at www.thecolleyhouse.org.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             That’s 100 dollars to spend in the store. (Just message me, Brittney, to claim your stuff!)

What started as a class at a conference 13 years ago has grown to 10K members and counting! There’s no credit due to anyone except God for this large group study, so we praise Him for allowing us to continue to grow numerically, in our ways of outreach and, especially, in knowledge of His Word as we study across streets and congregations and even across continents in 2023. 

We could not do it without technology. We thank Him for the four monthly audio podcasts and the video podcast near the end of each month. We’re grateful for the Facebook group and for the virtual studies that occur weekly in lots of places. 

We could not do it without some key people. Jennifer Benavides has been with Digging Deep as a selfless volunteer since we began in 2010. The study would not reach many of you without her technical skills and visionary perspective. She’s quiet, but, if she is talking, I’m going to listen! Lindsey Van Hook is a great blessing, stepping in just when we needed her so badly,  Flori Barber also sits behind the tech desk, now, during the monthly podcasts. I’m thankful for her because of so many blessings she brings to my life! We couldn’t do it without Glenn Colley working overtime, especially during the shipping time of year!  I probably would fail, at most things, without him. The elders at West Huntsville are so good to give us space and support.

Like the penny, each of us alone is worthless. But with Christ and ten thousand of us, we can accomplish some things to His glory. Thank you—each of you—for being a part of something small in the grand scheme of things, but large in the lives of lots of women, who start their days  or pillow their heads at night in the dig. Thank you for inviting others to study and, most of all, for praying for our studies together and for their impact on lost people. Thank you for thanking HIM, who is really the One who’s ultimately to be praised for anything we might accomplish through Digging Deep. May He richly bless every one of you 10K women in the Word!

               

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Digging Deep 2024–Reveal is 3 days away!

Photo courtesy Rachel Valentin

I can hardly wait. But waiting is the least of my worries this morning. If God lets us get to Saturday on this planet, something important is happening. I mean it’s surely not important because of any merit of any person or group of people. This importance is not because of financial, cultural, or political impact. In fact, what’s happened in the last year, in Digging Deep, is more impactful than decisions of state and party. What we are doing on Saturday, as we unveil a new year’s study in Digging Deep has the potential to influence eternity (an infinite time and space) for some soul (the most valuable commodity known to man)! I can’t really tell you how happy it made me each time last year I’d hear about some seeking soul who found salvation from hell and to eternal life as she studied along with us. I’ve prayed so hard for this impact from Digging Deep and, at last, it is occurring in our groups.

Last night, I spoke with a group leader in Kentucky. This group, which started with one person who was willing to invite others, now has 24 signed up to study this year. Two of these women are not members of the church of Jesus. In Arkansas, a group of four (last year) has grown  to 14 this year. Some were baptized to be in Christ and have the hope of heaven for the first time in their lives in 2023. And every time I open Messenger, it seems there are good growth comments and questions. I see Him answering and I see His providence working through our study. I know He has worked through His Word in all kinds of venues through the centuries, but getting to see this kind of working this close up is the blessing of a lifetime.

I am just profoundly thankful. I know you are, too, as you invite and study and explain and as you are bold for Him. I spoke with a woman who facilitates a class in another state yesterday who said “I am so happy about this growth, but I am just nervous about my own abilities as these non-Christian women are joining us.”  Oh, we all are nervous about our own abilities. Thank the good Lord who made this salvation possible that it is not your ability or mine that has any importance! It is the Word that is the power to salvation (Romans 1:16). It is God who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:7). And it is Christ, though whom we can do all things (Phil. 4:13)! If I can always just remember that it is weak little me, who has been outfitted by God–given the sword of His Spirit and the shield of faith, and wearing the shoes of the preparation of the gospel that brings peace to people–If I can remember that the power is in what God is doing through His word, I can be bold in my invitations, and unashamed in my presentations. I can just be a conduit for His glory! This is the amazing privilege that has been the biggest blessing of Digging Deep.

You can do these four things that I truly believe will bring Him glory this year:

  1. You can be bold to invite. (even if you think she is not the person who will respond positively.) Invite through your facebook page as I have seen many of you do. Be sure you tell girls they can contact you for information.  
  2. You can share the “How-to” video that is pinned near the top of the Digging Deep facebook page. Link women up to the page. 
  3. You can pray daily and deeply for souls that may be reached through this avenue. 
  4. You can be present in the ballroom at PTP on Saturday at 12:30 EST or watch the video that will be aired on the DD Facebook page simultaneously with the PTP event (and from there, spread the Word about this year’s study.) 

You can do all of this without financial burdens or extensive preparation. But it is mission work. It is truly evangelism.  It is a mission and we are a mission team. If you are inviting folks to dig, don’t ever say you have not done mission work. You’re in the trenches! This is one mission among many happening in our churches, but some of you are on your first missionary “journey”. I pray God will continue adding to His church those who are being saved (Acts 2:47) and that he will keep calling women disciples “Christians” (Acts 1126) as a result of invitations by common women of God like you and me. He does, consistently, more than we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Digging Deep is personal and powerful evidence that we serve the God of  more. He still saves to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25)! I know we will praise and glorify Him together this year!

(And now, back to the packing, the making (bracelets and keychains and– oh yeah– breakfast), the study for all those lessons, the powerpoint and the frenzy of getting to Saturday! And I am way excited about all the hugging. That’s the best part between now and Saturday! When you watch God work from afar through the lives of women all around this country and then you come together, the hugs and the stories and the spiritual feasting just may be the highest mountaintop this side of the Jordan! I cannot wait to “wander in that Wilderness!”)

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

It’s that Inviting Time Again!

Digging Deep! Now beginning season 13, DD is all God’s timing, His glorification, and His Word. If we can offer him any praise, and if we can influence any soul for eternity with Him, Digging Deep has accomplished its task. We praise Him that new souls have been added to the kingdom this year through this providential channel and we magnify Him because we are growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ”  (2 Peter 3:18).

The last podcast will come from Polishing the Pulpit and will appear on the Digging Deep page shortly after its occurrence on August 22nd. Watch for that!

Next, readers will have access to the new topic and all things DD- 2024 on August 19th, shortly after 12:30 EST on the Digging Deep Facebook page. All 2024 items, including the book and the free download will be available at www.thecolleyhouse.org at that “reveal time” on the 19th . I’m so excited to hear that groups are being started and others are doubling in size this year. I know what this is about and it’s not about the cookies and fellowship, though that’s important. These groups are about growing together in Him.  Remember, the injunction to you and me is to teach the gospel. Digging Deep is just one way to teach lost people what to do to be saved. But it is one effective way.  Remember, the power is in the Word (Romans 1:16). Trust that power and INVITE! Some of the best current diggers are women I’d have never thought to have been interested in deep Bible study. But they are! Don’t underestimate the power in the Book!

SO dates to mark:

August 19th–DIgging Deep reveal and all products in the store.

August  22nd–Last “Comfort” podcast

September 1-new study kick-off

September 26th–first podcast for new study.