By Dee Ann Loving-Tackitt

“For thus says the Lord… who formed the earth and made it… He established it; He did not create it empty, He formed it to be inhabited: ‘I am the Lord, and there is no other.’” — Isaiah 45:18

There are moments when heaven feels close enough to touch—and this week, we experienced one of them.

God, who formed the earth with purpose and intention, also formed this gathering. It was not случай or convenience, but a quiet, divine invitation. He created the space, filled the room, and drew each heart to the table.

We gathered in the podcast room at in my home, five women in all—one joining us faithfully by Zoom—drawn together by a shared hunger for the Word and a deep love for the presence of God. We sat around the podcast table, not as strangers or spectators, but as sisters. The room felt cozy, wrapped in quiet anticipation, as if the Holy Spirit had already gone ahead of us and was waiting there.

We Began in Prayer

Before a page was turned or a word was spoken, we bowed our hearts in prayer.

And it wasn’t hurried.
It wasn’t formal.

It was like lowering a bucket into a deep, living well.

Our voices rose gently—gratitude, surrender, expectancy. Scripture seemed to echo in the silence between our words. We were not just opening a Bible study—we were opening our hearts to be taught, shaped, and softened.

There is something sacred about the first prayer of a gathering. It sets the table. It aligns the room. It reminds us that this is not about information—it is about transformation.

And in that moment, we knew: God was with us.

A Wise Leader and a Beautiful Beginning

We were so blessed to have Doris Haney, a wise and godly woman, lead our study. With a gentle strength and a heart anchored in truth, she guided us into the first chapter with grace and clarity.

We are working through a Stonecroft Bible study written by MeLissa Houdmann—designed to invite questions, encourage conversation, and gently lead hearts toward Jesus Christ.

Chapter 1: A Beginning of Faith

The first chapter opens with foundational questions many carry quietly in their hearts:

• Does God exist?
• Can we trust the Bible?
• Is faith reasonable in a skeptical world?

Rather than overwhelming, the study invites. It draws us into thoughtful reflection, offering both biblical truth and a steady assurance that faith is not blind—but grounded, living, and deeply personal.

Around the table, we didn’t rush. We listened. We leaned in. We made space for each woman to speak, to wonder, to share.

And that is where the beauty began.

The Heart of Stonecroft

Stonecroft Ministries carries a beautiful mission—to bring women together in meaningful relationships where the Gospel is shared naturally and lovingly.

Women gathering, just as we did, asking real questions and discovering that God is not distant—but near, personal, and calling each one into relationship with Him.

How blessed we are in Lubbock to have our own Stonecroft connection (Lubbock Christian Women’s Connection) —women willing to open their homes, extend their tables, and say, “Come sit with us.” Please join us for our monthly Luncheon.

A Room Full of Love

Each woman in that room carried something special. Love for other women. Love for Jesus.

There is a shared heartbeat among them—a desire not just to grow personally, but to reach outward, to bring the Word of God to other women who are searching, hurting, or simply wondering if there is more.

And we know there is more.

There is a Savior who calls.
There is grace that meets us.
There is truth that sets us free.

We Ended in Prayer… and Began Again

As our time came to a close, we gathered once more in prayer.

But this prayer felt different.

It carried:

• Gratitude for what God had already done
• Joy for the connections forming
• And a quiet excitement for what was ahead

We didn’t leave the room the same way we entered.

There was a lightness… a warmth… an anticipation.

Because something had begun.

And as we stepped out into the late afternoon, each woman carried a spark of expectation—already looking forward to next week, when we will gather again around the table, open the Word, and once more lower our hearts into the deep well of God’s presence.

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Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,
You are the One who forms and fills every space with purpose. Thank You for drawing us together, for the sweetness of Your presence, and for the work You have already begun in each heart around this table. Root us in Your truth, deepen our faith, and use us as vessels of Your love to reach others. Let Your Word take living root within us, and may it overflow into every life we touch.