The Thoughtful Spot

Welcome to The Thoughtful Spot - the podcast for women, wherever they are on their Christian journey, who are thoughtfully seeking God’s transforming power, who are striving to live as Christ wants them to everyday, and who want other Christian women to walk with them through life.  I’m your host Terri Hester.   Today, on the last episode of this series, I’m going to talk about how God might be inviting each of us to start a new story in our lives.

Scripture Reference:

• 2 Corinthians 5:17  (NLT)

Questions to Ponder:

1. We don’t have to look in the Scriptures to see examples of persons who have been given opportunities to start over with a new story. Can you think of anyone who is living a new story?
2. How did their life change?
3. Has God ever led you to begin a new story?
4. What kind of change were you led to make?
5. Have you ever prayed for a new story?
6. How well did God’s timing align with yours?
7. Have you ever been led to do something that seems impossible?
8. If you said “yes,” did God provide you with what you needed?
9. Has God ever called you to take a courageous step of faith?
10. Did someone or something help you find the courage you needed?
11. Have you ever felt like God had something new in mind for you that you should be looking for?
12. Do you believe it is important for us to be seeking God’s plan for our lives? Why?
13. Have you ever been given a dramatic new story to live? 
14. Has a new story ever taken you someplace new?
15. Have unforeseen circumstances ever caused you to start over with a new story. If so, did you sense God’s presence with you?
16. What would it mean to “start over” in your calling? In your faith life? In relationships? Etc.

Welcome to The Thoughtful Spot - the podcast for women, wherever they are on their Christian journey, who are thoughtfully seeking God’s transforming power, who are striving to live as Christ wants them to everyday, and who want other Christian women to walk with them through life.  I’m your host Terri Hester.   Today, on the fifth episode of this series, I’m going to talk about the wise men and how they sought out a new story and then embraced and protected it for all of us.

Scripture Reference:

• Matthew 2:1–12     (NLT)

Questions to Ponder:

1.  Have you ever received a sign from God?
2. Did you need help discerning what the sign meant or where it was leading you? Who did you ask?
3. Are you seeking the story God has for you? Do you expect to find it?
4. Do you like adventures? Or do you like to play it safe?
5. What would it look like to seek a new story right now? Where would you look?
6. What might have happened if the wisemen had not protected the story?
7. Do you think it’s important to protect your story?
8.  How might a new story, given to you by God, come under attack?
9. How can celebrating the birth of Jesus change your life?
10. Do you think the wise men were changed by their journey and their encounter with Jesus? How?

Welcome to The Thoughtful Spot - the podcast for women, wherever they are on their Christian journey, who are thoughtfully seeking God’s transforming power, who are striving to live as Christ wants them to everyday, and who want other Christian women to walk with them through life.  I’m your host Terri Hester.   Today, on the fourth episode of this series, I’m going to talk about the shepherds and their amazing invitation to start a new story. 

Scripture Reference:

• Luke 2:8-20    (NLT)
• Colossians 3:23   (NLT)

Questions to Ponder

1. I imagine the shepherds were a bit startled by the events of that evening. Before they made the decision to say “yes,” do you think the shepherds were afraid to go to Bethlehem? Why or why not?
2. Would you have been afraid?
3. Did you ever receive a special invitation to meet Jesus? Who invited you?
4. Have you ever felt so excited about your opportunity to know Jesus that you couldn’t wait to share it with others?
5. Do you think the shepherds were changed by their experience? Do you think it lasted?
6. Have you ever had an experience with God that changed who you are and how you approach life?

Welcome to The Thoughtful Spot - the podcast for women, wherever they are on their Christian journey, who are thoughtfully seeking God’s transforming power, who are striving to live as Christ wants them to everyday, and who want other Christian women to walk with them through life.  I’m your host Terri Hester.   Today, on the third episode of this special Advent series, I’m going to talk about Mary and Joseph and their courageous willingness to trust God with their new story. 

Scripture Reference:

• Luke 1:26-38   (NLT)
• Matthew 1:18-24  (NLT)

Questions to Ponder

1. Why do you think Gabriel told Mary about Elizabeth?
2. Before Gabriel explained why he had come, he told Mary that she had found favor with God. Why do you think that was important?
3. When God calls you to do something, do you think of yourself as favored (or loved)? Why or why not?
4. Would believing that you are loved by God make a difference in how you respond to God’s call?
5. God called Joseph to take a courageous step of faith. Why might this have been difficult for Joseph?
6. What might have happened if he had responded differently?
7. Have you ever struggled with doing what you believe God wants vs. what tradition or society says you should do?
8. Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit guiding you toward the right choice? Explain.
9. Sometimes God asks us to take on a big responsibility. If God has asked you to do so, were you also able to see it as a privilege? Explain.

Welcome to The Thoughtful Spot - the podcast for women, wherever they are on their Christian journey, who are thoughtfully seeking God’s transforming power, who are striving to live as Christ wants them to everyday, and who want other Christian women to walk with them through life.  I’m your host Terri Hester.   Today’s episode is the second in this special Advent series.  If you missed the first episode, I hope will go back and listen to it first.

Scripture Reference:

• Luke 1: 11-25  (NLT)

Questions to Ponder

1. Why do you think Zechariah doubted Gabriel’s message?
2. Why did God take away Zechariah’s ability to speak until the baby was born?
3. How do you think Elizabeth felt when she became pregnant at her age?
4. Has God ever answered one of your prayers when you thought it was too late?
5. How did He answer?
6. Have you ever seen God turn the impossible into the possible? When?
7. How did it make you feel?