Week 2 of Bible Study

So this week we started in the book on the chapter called "The Special Call and Gift of Women". In class we watched a video portion of the class and answered questions. We started off with Ephesians 1:3-4, which states, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him." (New American Bible. St. Joseph Edition).

From this passage, we gather that we are the chosen daughters of God. He chose us for the ultimate destiny of eternal life with Him. As we learned in Catechism, God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. These attributes and the reading in Ephesians tell us that God knew us before we were formed in the womb. He purposefully chose us to be women; our gender was not an accident. Why? We are women to be the love in the world, and through femininity we will attain ever lasting life.

Our special gift as being a woman is to bear life to the world. Within the womb, life takes precedence. God has entrusted human life to be created by us! We are called to be a mother, whether physically or spiritually. Our souls have been made to bring spiritual life to the world. Whether we physically carry a child in our womb, or help foster/adopt a child, or just guide a child through their religious education, we are raising a spiritual life.

Luke 1:26-45 tells the story of Mary learning that she will give birth to our Savior. Gabriel greets her saying, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." God has chosen Mary long before this date to carry life in her womb that would save us. In the next paragraph, Mary visits Elizabeth, who was pregnant for John the Baptist. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the infant jumped for joy in her womb. Elizabeth greeted Mary saying, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed if the fruit of your womb." Mary is the perfection of the feminine vocation to be mother.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church shows more depth in a study of Mary.  By Mary's faith and obedience, she helped lead the way for Christ to give redemptive grace.  "...Be it done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). She unwaveringly said "Yes" to God's request. Carrying Jesus in the womb of our heart may seem like such a feat, but we must remember how Mary so readily carried Jesus in the womb of her body. She is who we should look up to for guidance in our quest of bringing spiritual life to the world.

I encourage you to read the closing statement by Pope John VI said Vatican II. You need to scroll down to where he says "TO WOMEN." It is our job as women of the Catholic church to use the Gospel to help mankind.

I will try to do another blog once I get through the homework. Hopefully I am making sense.

Bible study week 1

Yea so I completely lost track of time last week and didn't write about my first week of Women of Grace Bible Study. It was just an introduction meeting, but I think I have a great group of women. I was a little uncomfortable at first because the leader (who is the DRE of the church) told me that there is a Terra Firma group that is more for the young adults (most of the women there as of then were 50's+). I was hoping she wasn't asking me not to come. Then there were two other women in their early 30's who joined the class. So we will see what this class has to offer! I know we will be learning about our place in the Church as Catholic women. And we will be learning about several female saints.

I will do better about writing what we learned. It will help me to keep track.

On a different note, I am still charting along. Patience is hard. I know we probably didn't get it right this cycle, being my first off birth control. But it is still hard waiting. Waiting for either the 18th day of high temperatures or Aunt Flo. Patience is something I will be praying about in my Bible study!

Learning about me

So far, this journey has taught me a lot. I am reading the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility, which is a great book by the way! In the first 3 chapters, I have learned so much about myself and what exactly is going on each month. Something I feel all girls/women should know by college (if not before). My mom taught me the basics of "womenhood". I took physiology in college, but obviously didn't pay that much attention. I feel like I should know all this stuff already. If you get the chance, read the book. My coworker gave me a copy. She read it years ago and loved it. It teaches the Fertility Awareness Method, which is so easy to understand.

I have been charting over a month know, and am starting to feel like I am understanding my signs. Only a few minutes a day and putting information on a chart is so easy. I wish I had been doing this earlier. My secondary signs are leaning towards high fertility in the very near future. So we will see! :-) My OPK was positive today too. If it doesn't happen this month, I will not be disappointed. I know that God already has something in store for me and it will happen when He planned for it to. I am excited about seeing all of this learning go to use. If I can accurately chart this month, than next month should be better planning.

At the same time, if it doesn't happen until next month, I wouldn't mind since I have my 10 year high school reunion coming up. I wouldn't mind having a drink with good friends reminiscing!