As I worked on my homework from Day 1 of Week 7, I once again recognized how God directs our thoughts even as he prepares us for the lessons of His Word. One of my study buddies left a comment on my week 4 post and talked about God's destiny for her life and how she desires for her life story to impact others for His glory. God had also led me, just yesterday, to share with two new ministry wifes the importance of being authentic and honest when we minister to others.
So when I read this I just needed to share it with you again and ask, "How open and honest are you with those God places in your life?"
Pg. 158 ..."I started thinking how imprisoned we are by our unwillingness to tell the truth about ourselves. To just be honest. Authentic. I'm not talking about making shocking confessions that make us feel better but may devastate someone else. I'm talking about simply being truthful about where we come from...and where we hope we're going.... Why can't we be truthful? The answer may be what it could cost us... Sometimes you simply decide that people are worth telling on yourself."
And of course I can't resist an opening like this to encourage you to join us March 20-21st for the "Get Real" Retreat. What an impact we could have in our world if we would stop self protecting and boldly say "If I perish, I perish".
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Esther Workbooks
Some of you are discovering missing pages from your Esther study workbooks. Apparently there was a printing/binding error on that press run. We have contacted Lifeway about the problem... but in the meantime, this Thursday I will have copies of the missing pages, and hopefully Lifeway will ship corrected copies of the books for those of you who want to get a whole new copy.
Sorry for the problem, I know it is a bummer to have a bad copy when you have already poured hours of work, thought and insights into the homework days in the first half of the book.
Rejoicing (anyhow), Becky
Sorry for the problem, I know it is a bummer to have a bad copy when you have already poured hours of work, thought and insights into the homework days in the first half of the book.
Rejoicing (anyhow), Becky
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Week 4 - Day 4 'For such a Time As This"
Do you really believe that "your current location is part of the set-up for your kingdom destiny"? My dear friends we need to stop looking for our destiny and open our eyes to discover that God has placed us right smack in the middle of it. I know that if I truely believed that to be true, I would be making more careful choices about every action in every day of my life. I would stop looking and longing for another day or another place or a different person to fulfil the longing of that empty place in my soul. God is waiting and willing to fill that place up - right now, right here - He has made each of us for such a day as this and I don't want to miss the action.
Our right here and right now will be gone in a flash and I find myself increasingly longing for "that which is but is yet to come" - the kingdom of God. I love the quote in todays homework: " For now the kingdom of God on this earth resides within you, but one day your eyes will spring open to the most brilliant reality sight can behold. The kingdom of God will surround you, complete with palace, mansions, streets, and horses. In some way incomprehensible now, you will reign there with Him. All that we now call 'reality' will be a mere shadow of the vivid world we have coming." (BM)
Our right here and right now will be gone in a flash and I find myself increasingly longing for "that which is but is yet to come" - the kingdom of God. I love the quote in todays homework: " For now the kingdom of God on this earth resides within you, but one day your eyes will spring open to the most brilliant reality sight can behold. The kingdom of God will surround you, complete with palace, mansions, streets, and horses. In some way incomprehensible now, you will reign there with Him. All that we now call 'reality' will be a mere shadow of the vivid world we have coming." (BM)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Week 3, Day 3 reflections...
I think these quotes are so true in our lives....
"Satan's most effective tactic with yours truly has been to trap me in mental torment...." (BM)
" Satan has a limited leash where believers are concerned, his most powerful tactics are psychological. Though he can't possess our minds, he profoundly and destructively influences our thoughts." (BM)
"That, beloved is psychological warfare. We must catch the Enemy in the act, call it what it is, and keep from what he wants." (BM)
We must guard our minds.
"Satan's most effective tactic with yours truly has been to trap me in mental torment...." (BM)
" Satan has a limited leash where believers are concerned, his most powerful tactics are psychological. Though he can't possess our minds, he profoundly and destructively influences our thoughts." (BM)
"That, beloved is psychological warfare. We must catch the Enemy in the act, call it what it is, and keep from what he wants." (BM)
We must guard our minds.
Monday, January 26, 2009
It's tough being a 'beautiful' woman - Week 3
I've been trying to keep track this week of how much time I spend on beauty treatments. Certainly not as long as Esther did. And obviously not with the positive results that Esther did. I wonder if they did step aerobics in the harem???? I wonder what their version of StriVectrim wrinkle reducer was and if it actually worked?
I have to admit that I have certainly been sucked into our Babylon culture when it comes to my self image and how I prioritize my time and desires. I think we (I) have become so acclimated that we don't even recognize how shallow and worldly we are or perhaps we do recognize it and choose to ignore it.
It reminds me of what repentance is really about. Turning away from things, thoughts and values which are ungodly and not just setting them aside but filling that space with things that bring glory to God. Do I even want to think that thought? What would beauty really look like on a woman who was flat out committed to becoming more Christlike at every turn of her day?
Easy? no! Required? yes. I guess our response indicates whether we really believe in discipleship or whether we just give it lip service. Take some time to evaluate your life... what needs to go and what "fruit of the spirit" can you fill it with. Be brave my friends, make a list of your top three and work on them for the rest of this study. Be braver and share what they are so we can pray with you and give each other positive accountability.
I have to admit that I have certainly been sucked into our Babylon culture when it comes to my self image and how I prioritize my time and desires. I think we (I) have become so acclimated that we don't even recognize how shallow and worldly we are or perhaps we do recognize it and choose to ignore it.
It reminds me of what repentance is really about. Turning away from things, thoughts and values which are ungodly and not just setting them aside but filling that space with things that bring glory to God. Do I even want to think that thought? What would beauty really look like on a woman who was flat out committed to becoming more Christlike at every turn of her day?
Easy? no! Required? yes. I guess our response indicates whether we really believe in discipleship or whether we just give it lip service. Take some time to evaluate your life... what needs to go and what "fruit of the spirit" can you fill it with. Be brave my friends, make a list of your top three and work on them for the rest of this study. Be braver and share what they are so we can pray with you and give each other positive accountability.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Week 2 - Lesson 1
I am so glad you braved the 6 degree weather to come tonight.
One of the frustrating things about a book like Esther is that as women we want to know all of the details of the story. Who said what, and when. What kind of father figure was Mordacai? Did he cherish the opportunity to have a daughter? Did he teach her the law? These things we may never know - and maybe it is better that we don't. Because when we lack the detail's of a story it is much easier to put ourselves into the story. To read it and apply it to our own lives without the difference of the details to distract us.
I'm not sure who I would have become if I had faced the circumstances that Esther faced. But one of the gems of wisdom that I learned from my late sister-in-law, Dawn, was that when we don't like the senerio of our lives we have to write a new script from God's perspective.
God is writing a story with each of our lives... what does your story look like?
One of the frustrating things about a book like Esther is that as women we want to know all of the details of the story. Who said what, and when. What kind of father figure was Mordacai? Did he cherish the opportunity to have a daughter? Did he teach her the law? These things we may never know - and maybe it is better that we don't. Because when we lack the detail's of a story it is much easier to put ourselves into the story. To read it and apply it to our own lives without the difference of the details to distract us.
I'm not sure who I would have become if I had faced the circumstances that Esther faced. But one of the gems of wisdom that I learned from my late sister-in-law, Dawn, was that when we don't like the senerio of our lives we have to write a new script from God's perspective.
God is writing a story with each of our lives... what does your story look like?
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Join The Blog
Hi Girls, it was so fun to be together Thursday night! I am praying that God will show each of us an area of our life where we need to walk in faith and obedience.
If you are trying to get the hang of this 'blog' thing ... Pick the "post" (that's what I've written) and just hit the "comment" button by each post, type in your thoughts, select a profile (toward the bottom you can pick name, which you enter, or you can even pick anonymous if you want to keep us guessing!), then when you are done, hit the "post comment" button. So lets chat!!!!
If you are trying to get the hang of this 'blog' thing ... Pick the "post" (that's what I've written) and just hit the "comment" button by each post, type in your thoughts, select a profile (toward the bottom you can pick name, which you enter, or you can even pick anonymous if you want to keep us guessing!), then when you are done, hit the "post comment" button. So lets chat!!!!
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