Our Memory Verse
Luke 6:45
“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”
My sweet sisters in Christ…..
We are going to do things a little differently today here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour. As I was praying over writing this blog post, God put it on my heart to give you a gift. I hope you don’t mind and I certainly pray that it is a blessing to every single one of you.
First, I need you to ready today’s lesson in our book if you have not done so already. You can find it on pages 112-115 of our books.
Then, I need you to come right back here and read the rest of this post.
Priscilla tells us today that really actively listening to someone is the greatest gift we can give them…… as it is also a blessing God bestows on each of us. I need you to understand that by really listening to someone else…. you are also the benefactor of one incredible gift that should not be pushed aside or re-gifted. If someone ever trusts you so much that they share their heart with you, please understand that you have been given a priceless gift that you should treasure. I need you to BE THIS to someone today.
This is your gift. Each of you are going to write our blog post today. After you complete today’s assignment, I need you to come back here and tell all of us what it was like to give and receive this beautiful gift of listening and being trusted with someone’s heart. We don’t want to know the details of the conversation….. we just want you to share your heart with us about what it was like. Please say you’ll do it!
_____________________
Your Assignment:
Today’s assignment will not cost you one precious penny…. but it is priceless!!! As Priscilla shares with us on page 115: “…listening is one of the most significant ways He blesses us. Therefore, quite predictably, it’s one of the key ways that we can bless others. ”
Please, dear sisters, choose to listen today….. REALLY listen! Who has been fighting for your attention? Please do not put them off for one more day…. give them all you have today and you might just be surprised by what you hear! FIGHT the urge to put your two cents in!!! Keep your conversation priceless by keeping your examples, criticisms, laughs and insults to yourself.
Report back to us here about who you shared this time with today and how God showed up! I triple-dog-dare you to do it…. and I can’t wait to listen in on how it goes <3
____________________
Let’s Pray:
Dear Lord,
I’d like to thank you in advance for meeting each and every woman reading this right where they are today in spending time with another of your precious souls. Give them your discernment, Father, of when to speak affirming, encouraging words and when to be silent. Have this time be all about the other person, Father, and I pray you give each and every woman the time back that they spend investing in Your Kingdom today. We love you, Lord, and we thank you for this lesson. May our actions spill over into every life we interact with and may we also be heard… really heard,…. by those we yearn to connect with the most. In Your Son’s name I pray, amen <3
___________________
Now it’s time to go back to your Facebook Online Bible Study Group to see what your Daily Activity is!! I’m guessing it’s going to be a fun one!! If you are not currently in one our FB OBS Groups, and would like to be, please send an email to: GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we’ll be glad to add you!!
Blessings,
Megan 🙂
Read all about Craig’s Resolution for Men Journey here: www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com
Resolution for Women: The Gift
The Resolution for Women- Week 5: It Only Works When I Breathe
The past two-three weeks at work have been crazy! I was assigned 3 projects to work on all at the same time, all with deadlines of yesterday. I also had my Online Bible Study groups , my family, grandchildren to spend the night, was planning for a mission trip to Nicaragua, and was attempting to keep up with all the day-to-day tasks. By the way, the list goes on! I desperately needed oxygen. Unfortunately for me it was not dropping out of the sky ready to be used! In addition to this, the ‘boxes’ that we talked about the other day that could be rearranged or moved around were not the ones that were labeled W O R K, they were the things I enjoyed – the things that brought me peace. Lovely, huh!? Have any of you ladies had this problem? –as I chuckle! Of course you have. To bed late, up way too early, running kids here, running kids there, working, doing laundry – running yourself ragged – trying to do it all…..needing a LARGE oxygen tank! Suffocating from attempting the impossible. Do any of us think about how destructive this behavior is to our bodies? Nope, we totally believe we can do it all! In our book Priscilla explains what this type of behavior provides us ,
“by running yourself ragged, trying to do everything morning till night, you’re in essence trying to be God. Overwork is a form of unbelief. You’re saying through your actions that you don’t believe He can take care of everything, meaning you’re on the hook for it” (page 109)
Ladies, it’s time to stop and smell the roses, time to find your oxygen tank whatever, wherever that may be. There is no possible way that you can help anyone else – not your children, your husband or anyone else when you are out of ‘gas’. I will be honest, even during those very difficult weeks at work recently, I made time for the one thing that totally relieves me of stress – even if only for a few minutes – my MuayThai class. For 1 solid hour 3 times a week no matter what goes on, I go and hit pads, kick bags – relieving every ounce of frustration and finding my’oxygen’. I would leave work so tired, seriously feeling like I could go straight home and go to bed, then I would change into my gym clothes and head to the gym. By the time I left, the good endorphins in my body were rolling, my energy level was up, and thankfully I had found my oxygen tank – right in the nick of time!
So let’s think about this ladies. What is something that you can do each day to re-energize? Perhaps it’s your quiet time with God, or maybe your on-line bible study time. Perhaps it’s an amazing tough workout at the gym or a much-needed date with your hubby. Whatever it is, it is necessary to reach out and grab it, to find that oxygen tank and use it! For me it’s an hour in the gym, for you this time may mean 10 minutes with Jesus. Whether it’s a quick outdoor walk or getting an hour-long massage – it is absolutely imperative that you take this time to replenish your soul, to fill your lungs with fresh air, to suck up the molecules necessary to rebuild the cells throughout your body – Only then can you be the person you need to be for yourself and for those that are depending on you.
And let’s not forget to seek guidance from the Lord as we handle the many things we do. We need to work with Him and let Him show us the tasks and priorities we need to be addressing, not all of them belong to us – although we think they do!
Assignment for Today
When will I put on my oxygen mask so I can …. bre-e-e-eathe? What does my oxygen mask look like? I would like for each and every sister here to commit to some time each day to breathe and replenish their body. Share with us what that will be for you.
Prayer
Dear God, Guide and direct us each day as we go through our daily tasks. Help us to reach for our oxgen in whatever form works for us, Provide us with the understanding Father that you are the only one in control, you are the only one capable of handling all of the tasks laid out for our lives. Father, we love you and thank you. We worship you and praise you. It is in your name we pray. Amen.
___________________
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 now 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,
<3 Kelley
…Don’t forget about the Men’s Journey over here:
The Resolution for Women- Week 5: Timing is Everything
“If you do your best but you expend much of it on the wrong things, you’ve not only wasted a lot of your energy and resources, you’ve also lost time and opportunities you may never recover….. being your best at what God wants you to be doing – that’s the thing to shoot for.” (page 94)
Being aware of what the season is that you are currently walking in is so important. My days and priorities will and should look a lot different as a mom of older teens and young adults than when I am retired and all my kids are grown. If I lived the retired lifestyle NOW sure I would be having a blast…. but my kids would not get the nurturing and guidance they so desperately need at this crucial time in their development. If I was retires and constantly in the “business” of my kids and grandkids, that would be just as inappropriate.
It is important that we carefully consider what we are currently “owning” and start giving back any situations or stuff that belong to other people in our lives that we have taken on for them. Do you know what I’m talking about?
There is a fine line between having compassion for others and wanting to serve and help them and carrying their burdens more than God ever intends us to. The more intimate your relationship with the Lord is, the more easily you will be able to discern if you are properly owning the right “stuff.”
As a mom of teens…. for my own sanity I HAD to become a master at this!!!! Here is my favorite example….
It is 8pm and your 9th grader (Tim) comes up to you right after you got on your comfy jammas and got settled in nicely to your favorite spot on the red sofa:
Tim: Um, mom…… I need you to go take me to get poster board.
Queen Mom: Ok, when do you need it by?
Tim: Well, my project is due tomorrow morning, so I need it tonight.
QM: When did you find out about this project?
T: Two weeks ago….
QM: Oh, ok. Did you forget about it?
T: Yeah.
QM: Well, I have two options for you.
1. I can pick up poster board for you tomorrow when i go to the store and you can turn in your project late for less credit. OR
2. It will take me a half hour to get dressed and go to Wal-Mart to get it for you. It would take you that long to make lunches for all the kids for tomorrow and vacuum the living room to help me. If you do that for me, I will go get your poster board when you are done.
…the decision is theirs and DO NOT go get the poster board until they have completed what you asked them to do for you. This shows them that your time is valuable and teaches them to create boundaries and think ahead. You did not own their issue.
How else does this happen to you in your life? OR…. are you the one who tries to have others own your stuff? Have you mastered this already and have your own wisdom to share?
It is okay to say NO!!!!! What you will find is that the more you say NO to the things that God is not intending for you in this season, the more time you will have to say YES to fill spaces and gaps where HE uniquely designed you to be!
NOW THAT IS FREEDOM!!!!!
____________________
Let’s pray:
Lord, please show us today the areas in our life that we so desperately need YOUR discernment!!! Help free us of our selves and see each situation how You want us to see it and not take on more than You want us to take on… one season at a time! Help us to continue to be more comfortable and confident in our own shoes so that we will not be tempted to take on things that are not ours to carry or own. I thank you in advance for all you will do in our hearts, minds and spirits this week, Father, and may You get all the glory! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!!! <3
Your Assignment:
As you think about those things you want to do but can never seem to make time for, remember the biblical appeal that says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) How could this deliberate act of trust and perspective free you to invest yourself more joyfully in TODAY? Please share your answer with me below….
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 now 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!
Be a blessing,
Megan 🙂
…Don’t forget about the Men’s Journey over here:
The Resolution for Women: I’d Like a Word with You
Our Memory Verse
We’ve talked a lot about Quiet Time this week, and being faithful to that time with God. We’ve talked about Divine Appointments and being Faithfully His. We were asked in one of our blogs this week to define what faith and faithfulness means to us. Were you able to really sit down and think that through?
What does being “Faithfully His” really mean to you? I’d like to start by seeing what it means to God, first.
In order to find out what being faithful means to God, we have to start by looking at His Word. His Word….the infallible Truth. He has given us His Word to teach us; mold us; refresh us; revive us; save us; teach us obedience; to draw us closer to Him; to show us how much He loves us; and to transform us.
He is faithful in His Word. His Word is truth. His Word is alive and sharper than any two-edged sword. His Word is active in our lives, every single day. His Word is living, and never returns void. His Word is unchanging. He Word is eternal. His word is an historical account of where we come from, and where we are going. His Word is love.
His Word defines who we are in Christ. It lifts us up, and encourages us. It speaks intimately and personally to reveal His purpose for our life!
There is so much to be seen in God’s Word! It is up to us, though, to be faithful in reading His Word every day.
It is up to us to open this beautiful book of LIFE, and allow God to speak to us; to pour out His amazing Spirit upon us.
It is up to us to be consistent and intentional about allowing God to speak to us through His Word … in our Quiet Time.
It is up to us to choose to shut down the outside noise of life, and to just sit quietly with Him, allowing His Word to permeate our souls and our minds; to allow Him to reach us deep down inside. That is the only way we will hear the voice of the Shepherd.
It is up to us to CHOOSE to spend this time with Him; to be faithful to Him through this time each day.
__________________
What if God suddenly decided one day not to be faithful to us anymore? What would our world look like? What would our marriage be like? What would our kids be like? That, my friends, to me, is a scary thought!! I thank God every day for His faithfulness to me; for always being there, no matter what the circumstances, or time of day; and for always providing for me.
I see many prayer requests every day. I see us all reaching out to Him, asking prayer for this or that. Are we faithful to really seek Him for those answers? Or is it easier to just put the request out there, and ask others to do the work for us? I don’t mean that in a hateful way, either. What I mean to say here is this, is it easier for someone else to pray for you, instead of you spending that time with God one on one?
Are you as faithful to Him, as He is to you? Are you available to Him, when He needs to speak to you? To be honest, I haven’t always been that faithful to Him. Even today, I can see areas of my life that I need to resolve to become even more faithful to Him.
What about you? Can you see areas of your life that you have chosen to let the world, or your circumstances, rob your time with Him? Can you see areas of your own life where you haven’t been as faithful to Him, as you could be? What can you do TODAY to change that??
___________________
In this chapter, Priscilla has shared five pages of scriptures with us. She has suggested that we use these scriptures as affirmations over our lives, and the lives of our loved ones. She has referenced not only the scripture, but the verse it comes from, as well.
I would encourage you to go through this list of scriptures and highlight the ones that speak to you; and then go to your bible, His Word, and find them there, and highlight them. Date the scriptures in your bible, as the day that God spoke to you in His Word! Speak these scriptures out loud, so you can audibly hear them with your own ears. Faith comes by hearing the Word. Speak these scriptures out over yourself and your loved ones each day during the quiet time that you are now going to choose to set aside for Him; and then just watch God’s word come alive!!!
His Word will help renew your mind and your faith; and even your actions and attitudes toward Him will be changed! Praise God!!
__________________
I will close today with our latest resolution:
I, __________________, will live as a woman answerable to God and faithfully committed to His Word.
Signed: Christi Wilson
Will you join me in this resolution, as well?
______________________
Let’s Pray:
Father, we come before You today Lord, and ask for Your forgiveness for the times that we have not been as faithful to You as we could have been. Forgive us Lord for the times that we have chosen worldly distractions over our time with You. Forgive us for not being there when You needed us, Lord. Father, we thank You for that forgiveness right now, and from this day forward we resolve to be more committed to Your Word, and more faithful to You. In Jesus’ Name, the Name above All Names, Amen!
Your Assignment:
Set aside some time today to spend with the Lord. Ask His forgiveness for the times that you have chosen other things over Him. Repent and receive His forgiveness, and then resolve to make better choices where He is concerned in your life. Do whatever it takes to make time for Him, each and every day!
Don’t forget to head back over to your Facebook OBS Group and see what we have in store for you today!! If you don’t yet belong to a Facebook OBS (Online Bible Study) Group, and would like to, please send us an email at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we’ll be happy to add you!!
Living Intentionally to Become More Faithful to My Lord and Savior,
The Resolution for Women — Faithfully His
Our Memory Verse
Today, I have a special surprise for you! I’m not going to be talking, or writing about today’s lesson….
I’m going to let Priscilla Shirer speak to you directly, about being Faithfully His!
Are you ready???!!!! Here we go!
_____________________________________________
Please note that Girlfriends Coffee Hour is not endorsing the
Crossroads Memberships mentioned at the end of this video.
___________________________________________
Let’s Pray
Father, as we begin this new lesson this week, let us prepare our days so we are able to clear our schedules, and our minds, Lord, to better hear Your voice. Let us lay aside all things that concern us this day, so we are able to sit at Your feet and learn from You, so we can become even more Faithfully Yours, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!!
___________________________________________
Your Assignment Today:
Take at least 30 minutes today to clear your mind, and your schedule, so you are better prepared this week to hear from God. Share below in the comments section, what you will do this week to make this happen, each day. Then go on over to your OBS Facebook Group to see what we have planned for you today! You just never know what we will come up with next!!
If you are not a member of our OBS Facebook Group, and would like to be, please send us an email and we’ll be happy to place you!! Our email address is: GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com
Living Intentionally Each Day to Become More Faithfully His,
The Resolution for Women: The Affirmation Crusade
Memory Verse:
You did not choose Me, but I chose you.
I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit.
John 15:16
_______________________
A crusade can be defined as “a vigorous concerted movement for a cause or against an abuse.”
Yes, precious girlfriends, I agree with Priscilla….. what we need is indeed an AFFIRMATION CRUSADE!!!
My primary Love Language just so happens to be “Words of Affirmation.” Not only do I love to hear them…. but I am very generous in giving them out! Today’s lesson made me stop for a minute and think about why I might be so intentional about this and if I am only this way with certain people, or am I free with my affirming words to all I come in contact with.
I really think that I am so intentional about this because of the negative words I was bombarded with growing up. Of course, not everyone in my life did that, but 2 very close people to me did….. and it hurt. It made it hard for me to speak those words over myself for many years, but through understanding the truth of God’s love for me, I have been able to break that cycle.
It is important to be your friends’ biggest cheerleader! You might just be the only woman in their life who affirms them and that alone can completely change their perspective on their day.
I know I am hardest on my family and I am working very hard to change that. I expect a lot from them… more than I should. I do affirm them and cheer them on, but I also can be very critical. I am really going to intentionally do my best to squelch my critical spirit and focus more on building them up!
SO…. we have the “why”… so we need to know the HOW!”
How can you be intentional about affirming other women in your life? I’ve compiled a list here and I would love it if you could add to it in the comments section of the blog today! Let’s think outside the box and see what we can come up with together! Maybe a friend surprised you with some awesome words in a unique way that spoke directly to your heart. How did she do it?
You could……..
Write a letter….. you know, snail mail! How awesome is it to get something besides a bill in your mail box?!? Decorate the envelope in a fun way too! You can even address it “To the beautiful Mrs. Megan Smidt!!!” 😀 (…just a suggestion…)
For my daughter’s 14th birthday, we had a slumber party and all of her girlfriends wrote annonymous “love letters” that were full of affirming words and we left them all over our town. We put them on grocery store shelves, the pick up counter at Starbucks, in random mail boxes, and even in the pews at church. The girls had so much fun spreading this joy and Vicky has told me that her friends have continued to leave these letters around town even after they went home! We need to be modeling this behavior not only for our friends but also our children!
Sing them a song on their voice mail. It could be something like “That’s what friends are for” or “Beautiful, beautiful”
You could greet them in a fun way the next time you see them. Instead of greeting them with a simple “hello, ” How about giving them a huge hug and compliment them on something they are wearing or their hair. You could even address them as your “gorgeous friend” or your “most incredible sister.”
Make them a banner the next time you know they are coming to your house! Make it big and bright for all the passers-by to see! Hang it across your garage or over the front door so they can’t miss it!
Send them random txt messages every once in a while just letting them know how much you love that they are in your life!
Send their husband or kids a letter telling them how much it means to YOU that they let you have time together. Tell them how much your friend means to YOU!
What can YOU come up with???? What will you do this week to INTENTIONALLY affirm your closest sisters in Christ?
Priscilla points out to us that “…this resolution not only affects you. It will also enhance the women around you as they experience the affirmation that BUBBLES up from the security you’re living in. This should be our MANDATE, our CAMPAIGN. A MOVEMENT of women linked by our resolution and devoted to seeing it manifested in the lives of the women around us.”
WHen we are living OUR lives secure and complete in the authentically unique way that God created us, our salt and light is contagious! Give away your compliments freely to yourself and all those you love and see your love spread to all those around you! Let’s be infectiously bold in our own unique ways for our Lord and Savior! He commands it <3
AUTHENTICALLY ME
I will accept and celebrate my uniqueness,
and will esteem and encourage the distinctions I admire in others.
Signed x Megan “Lucy” Smidt
_________________
Let’s Pray:
Dear Lord, we praise You for all of the unique qualities you have blessed us with! You have made each of us so unique for Your purposes to be fulfilled when we are true to who you created us to be. That is so awesome! Give us Your revelation into anything we are not seeing that might be keeping us from Your very best of us in this area. Help us take off our masks and be excited to show the world the beautiful and sometimes rough women you have so specifically made each of us to be. We love you, Lord, and we thank Your for Your perfect ways! In Your Son’s name we pray, amen <3
_______________
Today’s blog assignment:
Explore for a little bit why you are or are not affirming in your words to your girlfriends. Also… think about if there are any women in your sphere who you are not comfortable affirming…. why do you think that is? Then….. resolve to commend all of the women in your life for their unique value and worth to you this week! Read the resolution out loud and sign your name below it in your book.
If you are not a member of our OBS Facebook Group, and would like to be, please send us an email and we’ll be happy to place you!! Our email address is: GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com
my blog: www.glorytoglorylifecoaching.wordpress.com
My Craig’s blog about the Men’s Resolution journey: www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com
Many blessings,
Megan 🙂
