My daughters and I were just enjoying some shortbread cookies they made at their grandmother’s yesterday. Mine was shaped like a pineapple, but there are also hearts and circles. I wish you could taste them — can I hand one to you in cyberspace? Here ya go … we’re moms … we’re good at pretending.

I thank God for grandmothers who are good cooks and pass this skill on down to their grandchildren. I asked the girls if they’d share with you here how they made them. Here’s what they said:

“You put a half-cup of sugar and two sticks of butter in a bowl. Then you stir it around really good. Then you get a measuring cup and you pour flour halfway to the top. Not all the way to the top. Then you stir it around. You mash it up really good with your hands. Then when it’s real stiff, you lay it out on a tray. But first you put some flour on the tray. Then you roll it out with a rolling pin and then you get cookie cutters and you cut it into shapes. Then you put it in the oven. After they’re done, you have to wait 15 minutes for them to cool. Then you can eat them.”

This is the second time I’ve enjoyed cookies today. Wanna hear more? Well, this morning was my last Beth Moore study — we finished up Believing God. Wow. Have any of you done this one? I wish I could say that I was perfectly consistent and could report to you week by week what I learned, but the truth is, I missed several weeks.

I don’t know if y’all were around when I started this blog last October, but here’s a post where I told you how hard it was for me to get out the door. Well, it got harder. Impossible, even. I had several writing assignments come in that just kept me busy every minute while my kids were at school. Funny thing — I was writing about spiritual topics, yet I was having to stay home and miss my fellowship group to write.

The women in this group are awesome — I love each and every one of them. They kept up with me, telling me they missed me, and keeping me in the email loop. So I’ve been back and they let me borrow the DVDs to get caught up.

Back to the cookies.

Today, I was a little closer to heaven while I sat in a group of ladies, eating chocolate chip cookies and watching Beth Moore. I can honestly say, this is just the beginnning for me to explore all the incredible things I’ve learned in the past few months. And I can’t wait to start the next study, Living Beyond Yourself, with my new cyber-group. YEA.

Here’s what’s truly amazing, and here’s why I had to take a minute to sit down and write to you. Beth Moore is teaching by video (excuse me, DVD) to all these thousands of women, but each one of us will go back out into the world, armed with our deeper understanding of scripture and love of Christ, and share what we’ve learned.

Well, one lady was bursting at the seams to tell us that she shared the Gospel with her 80-something-year-old grandfather. He’s been a bitter man for most of his life and has never believed the Bible, even though his wife went to church without him. She knew God wanted her to share her faith with her grandfather, but she wasn’t looking forward to it. Yet she did it anyway. And you know what? After an hour of peppering her with questions, he finally realized he was missing something … he wanted the peace in his life that she has. The assurance that when he died, he’d go to heaven. So, he prayed to accept Christ. Right there on the spot, with his granddaughter.

I was boo-hooing, let me tell you. That’s the impact of studying the Bible together. If you’ve done this study, then you know what I mean when I say I can’t wait to see how God is going to fulfill Hebrews 11:41. (Check your Bible — it’s not there. It’s not written yet because you fill in your name. By faith, (Heather)…”

I’m. Believing. God. (with the hand motions, if you know them.)