“Anything, Everything and Whatever”
From Christi: I would like to take a moment to introduce you to Beverly McCormick, our newest Blogger for Girlfriends Coffee Hour. I am very excited that she has agreed to become a regular on a blog! I hope you enjoy her blogs, as much as I think you will! Welcome Bev, to the Girlfriends Coffee Hour Blogging Team!
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We can’t do anything well, when we choose to do everything, so we decide to just do whatever.
WOW, this statement hit me hard as I studied this lesson. Then I took a look at our scripture verse for today,“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory”. 1 Cor. 10:31.
and then another scripture came to my mind, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him”. Col 3:17.
God is really trying hard to give us a message through this study today
Whatever we do
Do it for His glory
Then give Thanks.
Like many women we constantly feel like we are failing at everything, we go to bed feeling inadequate, that we just don’t have what it takes, that we just don’t have it together like everybody else. As this lesson taught us we set the bar too high, we get discouraged, we can’t do anything because we are exhausted from trying to do everything.
As Priscilla’s friend told her and should stand for us too “you cannot do a thousand things to the glory of God, but you can do one or two.”
And Paul teaches us that we should zero in on our unique set of “whatever you do” qualities, because there is value in the way we do them.
God has put us where we are in this season of life for a reason. It may not be the most glamorous role we will have, it may not have been our choice, but it was the place He designed and chose just for each of us. We are in this place (this season) on purpose.
God is not concerned at all about what we think we should have accomplished in our life or where we should be or how we compare to others, but God is concerned about what we are doing in the place (the season) that He has assigned us to. God doesn’t ask us to do what other people are doing. He wants us to do what He has told us to do and do it with all our being in the place we are in, even if the place is the “whatevers”.
Here are some of my “whatever” places that my life consists of:
-laundry
-dishes
-cleaning
-mothering
-chauffer
-cook
-library assistant
-mechanic
-nurse
-teacher
-wife
We must realize what God has gifted each of us to do and do them with all our might as unto the Lord. Each of us will have our own set of “whatevers” because each of us are uniquely designed for a purpose.
We must take a moment to consider what God has uniquely equipped us to do as well as what He’s asking of us or (what He’s NOT asking of us) in this season of our life, then no matter what day it is, or how old we are or what the moment demands we can be ourself, fully believing that our personal “whatever you do” is fulfilling the purpose of God and that it will bring Him glory and honor (in anything and everything).
Pg. 100 of todays lesson from Priscilla Shirer “Resolution for Women” Paul’s instructions are not meant to inspire us to become like somebody else – to start doing more of the things they do, like they do them. It’s calling for “whatever YOU do”. There is value in the unique way you mother your children, love your husband, do your job, oversee that committee, participate in that organization and spend your time. It’s what YOU do, how YOU do it and that’s what He has promised to undergird with His power, causing Himself to be magnified through your actions.
Be encouraged my dear sister, we are where we are on purpose – by His design. We are in this specific season of life for a reason, so whatever your whatevers are – do them all for His glory and don’t compare your whatevers to someone else’s. Be faithful and accountable for the tasks He has assigned specifically to you for they are “preparation” for the great “whatevers” He still has yet to come in your life.
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Let’s pray:God I thank you for all the ladies who are participating in this Bible Study and I pray that You help us all to “see” that we don’t have to “do everything” and that it is OK to say no, or there may be times we need to put things in the background and wait a while (until You are ready for us Lord), help us Lord to seek You so that in “whatever “ we do, we do it ALL for Your glory. Amen! _________________
Your Assignment:
Share some of your whatevers with us and also share if there are some whatevers in your life that God is showing you needs to be shifted to the background and replaced with what currently matters most with where He is moving you to in this season of your life.
After you have completed this assignment here, go back to your Facebook Online Bible Study Group, and see what fun activity we have for you there! You never know what we will come up with!! If you do not belong to an Online Bible Study Group, and would like to, please email us at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we will be happy to add you!
Love to all,
Beverly
Beverly, This was wonderful! Thanks.. I am struggling with *What am i good at?* I see so many people who have all these talents and God has been niggling this exact message in my heart ( and quite frankly and honestly I am good at dropping everything to be there for people, HE has been showing me a wonderful balance and teaching me to say no or not now in kind ways, But , people know I care and will go the extra mile.., … Thanks for confirming. You are a blessing..
I wish they had an edit button.. LOL I was going to say this made me realize I have been comparing myself to others.. I have to remember to be the person HE wants me to be .. <3
Thanks Tracy and I know what you mean I do that myself…many times dropping things in my own house or family to help someone else and oh how God has been showing me how to get all that in the right order and it truly has been a blessing to see Him change all that stuff in my life…when we ask Him to sow us He will and then we must to our part that hard word "obey". Love ya Tracy have a great day!
My "whatever" list looks a lot like Beverly's. I am the do everything around the house. I am often resentful about it too. My daughter and her two children live with us and she only cleans her space and leaves my space to me. Her children are making the messes in my space. She does not volunteer to help and I REFUSE to ask her to do what she is suppose to do. So, I have a basket in which I put all of her stuff and the kids stuff and I take it down to her space when it is full.
It is not hard, but my problem is "I DON'T WANT TO DO IT". I have raised my kids and I don't really want to do it again, however, that is actually where God has me! I am working on my attitude and I can guarantee that it will get better once they go back to school. I will be able to clean a space and it will stay done for at least that day. 🙂
So my whatever list includes raising two more very active boys, that I love with all my heart. I am cutting back on a couple of other things so that I am not so over extended and I know that everything will work out just as it should.
Jackie, I still feel like I have kids at home and actually they are 21 and 54…and I still do the same after them and it is tiring but more tiring to keep reminding or asking them to help out so like you I just do it….and also I think this has been good because that way just doing it then I don't also get my tongue in trouble from saying things I shouldn't or getting critical so even though I have no help I guess this is God helping me to fix other things about myself so all is well…Luv ya and I will be praying for you!
Ine of my many whatevers is FB. I am going to set it aside do my little looky lu and move on. I am setting it aside for greater things. I am going to pour my time and energy into where God directs me and prayerfully seek Him. That is where my whatever's will take me. A more Godly direction. For such a time as this.
Tina tugged at some heart strings!!!
Anne I look forward to hearing back from you as to how the setting aside of FB goes…I think many of us need to fast often from these kind of strongholds in our life…it's a good tool to help us keep in touch with our friends and family but it can "consume" us. Thanks for sharing and luv ya!
There are many days I feel like "whatever I do" isn't good enough or when I have spent serveral hours cleaning something and I have people that come behind me and don't know how to clean up after themselves I feel like I have wasted my time cleaning that area and I didn't do any good at all because it was messed up within matter of seconds.
I hear ya Michelle, sometimes I have wondered the same thing but we've gotta keep trying to move forward…praying for ya sister!
Beverly you go girlfriend!!!!!!! Awesome blog. My whatever looks like yours plus homeschool. My frustration with my whatever (homeschooling)is that I'll give 110% and my kids still put forth the same amout of lack of effort. The results are poor grades and I start to feel the pity party coming of your a failure. On the other hand other moms put in the same effort and their kids excell. Ugh!!!! This reminded me that the Lord told me that there is value in homeschooling my kids. I might not see it today but it is for their good. I believe that but I need it posted on my forehead.LOL 🙂
Love that comment Merol about posting it on your forehead….my head would be full of post it notes….laughing just thinking about it….keep pressing on sweet lady God will bless your efforts?…luv ya and I will be praying for you
I haven't been replying because I struggle with the boxes and the whatevers. I am exhausted but I don't feel like I do enough. My whatevers are: mom, full-time employee, daughter, sister, wife. I used to be involved in ministries and now I have a hard time just keeping up with my day to day. 🙁
God I lift up Dana to you….help her with her boxes and whatever's, show her where You want her to be or change things that need to change…thanks Dana for sharing and I will be praying as God moves in your life
Awesome blog! Today's assingment really is making me think! Do I do some things because I have been conditioned to believe that's what I should be doing? Are those specific things really me and what I am about? Are they approved by God in this current season of my life? Lots to pray about here.
Christel I will be praying with you as God begins to speak and show you! Thanks for sharing