November 27, 2024

Resolution for Women – My Heart

August 27, 2012 by

What breaks your heart as it breaks the heart of the Father?

 

Is it abortion?
Is it child abuse?
Is it human sex trafficking?
Is it child pornography?
Is it the homeless?
Is it the spiritually lost?
Is it 3rd world poverty?
Or is it your own backdoor neighbors?

 

What is it that brings your heart to full compassion and mercy?

What breaks your heart so badly that it makes you get up and do something about it?

That’s what the lesson is about this week, in The Resolution for Women.

It’s a chapter on finding what breaks your heart and makes you want to go out and help, or lead, or feed, or clothe???

The Father’s Heart — It’s finding out what breaks the Father’s heart and then asking Him what He wants you to do about it.

“He has showed you, O Man, what is good.  

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and

to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

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Let’s Pray

Father, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.

AMEN

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Your Assignment:

In the comment section below, tell us about what breaks your heart.

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After you have commented below, go back to our Online Bible Study Group on Facebook to see what our Daily Activity is. If you do not yet belong to our OBS Facebook group, and would like to, please send an email to:

GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com

We’ll send you the details needed to get you into this group!

Don’t forget to stop by Craig’s blog to see what the guys are up to with The Resolution for Men.

www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com

Living Intentionally to Be My Very BEST for Him,

 

 

 

 

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Resolution for Women – Chapter 9, My Heart – PLUS … BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

August 26, 2012 by

“He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and

to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8

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This week we deal with the heart.  What does God want from our heart?  This scripture above gives us a clue:  He requires us to pursue justice; love mercy; and walk humbly with Him.   He wants our hearts to break for what breaks His heart.   He wants us to have a revelation of what His will is.  He wants us to respond to what God has called us to.  He wants us to have His heart.

This week, we are going to see the heart of God and what He wants our heart to look like!  It reminds me of a song that I will post below…..  READ the lyrics and let them sink deep into your heart.  Pray these lyrics as a prayer to our Lord & Savior!

What stirs compassion in your heart?

What tugs at your heart?

Your Reading Assignment for this week:

  • Come to our blog on Monday, where Christi will do a preview of this weeks topic “My Heart”
  • Come to our blog on Tuesday, where Megan will be discussing pages 164-168 “Look Again.”
  • Come to our blog on Wednesday, where Kelley will be discussing pages 169-173
  • “How Do You Heal an Unbroken Heart”
  • Come to our blog on Thursday, where Beverly will be discussing pages 174-179, “Mercy Me”.
  • Come back on Friday, where we will do an overview of the week, AND sign this weeks resolution!

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Now for our BIG ANNOUNCEMENT….

 Our Next Women’s Bible Study

Girlfriends Coffee Hour is so excited to announce the next brand new Online Bible Studies that will begin October 1st!

If you are struggling with being in an unequally yoked marriage, this study is for YOU!!

“Winning Him Without Words –

10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage”. 

To join this study, please send an email to GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com with “Winning Him” in the subject line.  We’ll send you all the details you need to get signed up!

This book is based on the scripture from 1 Peter 3:1 “…they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.”   This Online Bible Study will be led by Christi Wilson, Founder of Girlfriends Coffee Hour.  Beverly McCormick and Donna Day will help with the blogging for this study.  You won’t want to miss this study!! It is AMAZING!!!

If your husband does not share your faith, you may feel like you are walking a tightrope of spiritual survival – guarding the flame of your belief in Christ, yet unable to share it with the person you love most in the world.  But your spiritually mismatched marriage can be a vibrant, blessed relationship where you’re free to grow in love with God and your man! 

Winning Him With Words, written by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller, both Christian women married to unbelieving husbands, is your invitation to thrive instead of survive!  This study begins October 1st right here on our website:  GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com.

PLUS, YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS OUR OCTOBER CONFERENCE CALL!!!

Mark your calendars also for October 2nd when Lynn Donovan,

one of the authors of this book, “Winning Him Without Words”

joins us for our monthly Conference call!!  More details to be given soon!! 

If you’ve made it this far, GREAT!  Because I am actually giving away a FREE copy of  “Winning Him Without Words” to ONE person.  This person will be randomly chosen.

All you have to do is:

1.  Comment below WHY you want to win a copy of “Winning Him” 

and

2.  Comment on our FACEBOOK Community Page why you love Girlfriends Coffee Hour! (Click HERE)

You MUST do BOTH in order to be entered into this drawing!

We will announce the winner on our FB Community Page Monday Morning!!!

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Be sure to check out our Teens & Singles blogs, also, for details on their next study, as well!   Go back to our front page … CLICK HERE …  and you will see the Teens & Singles blogs under the Featured blog.  This is going to be an amazing time with GCH!!

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If you haven’t signed up for our Online Study Groups on Facebook, and you want to be a part of this amazing trend, send us an email at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we’ll email you the details that you will need to get added to these groups!  You will have a blast with women all across the world who loves the Lord, and enjoys studying His word!

Wow! I’m tired just from typing all this!  We have some AMAZING things happening here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour, and we hope you are enjoying the ride, as well!  Stay tuned for more announcements this week!

Living Intentionally to Be My Very BEST for Him,

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Resolution for Women: The 3% Difference

August 22, 2012 by

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless”  

Psalm 119:1

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As I read this chapter, I just couldn’t stop thinking of Girlfriends Coffee Hour and how much of what Priscilla was saying about us needing friends to hold us and keep us accountable to living a life of integrity, just fits with what GCH is all about!!

But, before I go there, I want to discuss the 3% difference.  All I can say is OUCH!  This is a tough chapter!  I’ve had to look at myself with a magnifying glass this week, so I could find everything that was keeping me from living a life of Integrity!!  I’ve had to look deep into what my life really is like behind closed doors, and not just what I put out there for everyone to see.  Again, OUCH!!

The information that Priscilla shared about the rat poison and how just 3% of the whole ingredients of rat poison is what actually kills the rat….while the other 97% is what draws the rat to the poison!

What draws you to the poison?  Is it television shows, books, music, gossip, lying, stealing?  Is it what you look at on the computer?  Is it that glance at work with your co-worker?  What is it that is drawing you closer to the rat poison?

Integrity to me means doing the right thing even when others are not looking.  It means doing the right thing….period.

When you leave Wal-Mart, do you park your cart next to your car, or do you put it in the cart rack?

Do you gossip about others in your life?  In your church?  At work?  In front of your children?

Do you talk mean about others?  In front of your kids, and then expect them not to bully others?

Do you stand aside while someone is digging for extra change to pay their grocery bill?  Or do you offer to help them by giving them the extra change they need?

Do you hold the door for others as they enter a building at the same time as you?  Or do you walk through as if they didn’t even exist?

What do you watch on television?

What do you look at on the computer?

Every one of these things fit into the 97% category that entices you to get to the 3%!  Did you know that?  If not, now you do!  What are you going to do about it?

There are so many things satan uses to try and trip us up; to taint our integrity.  Sometimes we don’t even realize it…until it’s too late.

We are Christians.  We are to be the light of the world.  We are to bring honor and glory to the name of Jesus.  We are to be on our guard, so that our minds are not dulled, as it says in Luke 21:34.

We are to protect our minds, our hearts, our homes, and our walk with the Lord.  We are to stand up and ask for accountability if we are struggling with a certain area in our lives.  We are not to allow even a hint of immorality, impurity or greed enter into our lives. (Eph 5:3)

Even a hint…. Just 3 % is all it takes to kill a rat.  Just 3%.  Think about that for a minute.  Out of 100% of the rat poison….all it takes is just 3% to kill the rat!  The other 97% is what tastes good, looks good, and feels good to the rat.  But it’s the 3% that kills him….  Just 3%.

We could stand all day and look at just that small tiny little 3%, but ask yourself about the other 97%.  What is it in your life that is drawing you, feeding you, enticing you, and making you “feel” good?

You know it’s there.  You’ve known it was there for quite a while now.  You’ve tried your best to get rid of it…to tame it….to stop it…to put it aside….but it just keeps coming back to entice you.

That’s where accountability comes in.  After you’ve made the choice to step away from these things and start living a life of integrity, confess this to the Lord, and then reach out to someone you trust who can hold you accountable to that choice you have just made.

Girlfriends Coffee Hour is a great place to do just that!  A group of Christian women who love the Lord; who strive to live their lives to bring honor and glory to our Lord; who strive to encourage one another; lift each other up in prayer; and support one another along this journey.

GCH is a place where you can come to let your hair down….to get real.  To laugh.  To cry.  To pray.  To fellowship with women all across the world, who are in this journey together!

GCH is a place for others to hold you accountable.  We won’t coddle you.  We won’t baby you.  We’ll give it to you just the way you need it.  Straight up and in truth!

For some, it’s just what they need.  For others, it’s a good kick in the pants.  For even others, it’s just what God has called them to.

If you are looking for a place to call home; a place to come for fellowship; a place for accountability; a place to pray for and encourage others and to be prayed for and encouraged, we want to be here for YOU!

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend”.  That is the scripture the Lord gave us for this ministry.  We want to help sharpen you to be the very best that you can be for our Lord and Savior!

We love you!  I hope today’s lesson sinks down deep into your heart. I hope it brings you to a place where you will give your ALL to the Lord, so you can become your very best for Him!  That’s what we pray for you!

Let’s pray:

Father, as I lift each woman who reads this blog today, I ask that You reveal Yourself to them in ways they’ve never seen before.  Help them, Lord, to dig deep and really search their hearts for things that are prohibiting them from walking in integrity.  Help us help them, Lord, as we walk alongside them today and every day, to bring You glory and honor!  We love You Lord, and we constantly want nothing more but to bring You honor in all that we do, and say!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Your assignment:

Describe below in our comment section how we can help hold you accountable to what God is doing in your heart this week.  What would that look like, and would you be willing to submit to it?

Now head on back to our Online Bible Study Facebook Group for the Daily Activity, and be sure to let us know today what this chapter has said to you!  If you don’t belong to our OBS FB Group, and would like to, simply send us an email at: GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to send you the details you will need to get started!

…don’t forget to read what the men are up to over on Craig’s blog…

www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com

Have a BLESSED Day!!!

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The Resolution for Women: Structural Soundness

August 21, 2012 by

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless”

Psalm 119:1

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It just would not be right if I typed one more word without quoting Mrs. Shirer from page 147…

“No doubt, this point of resolution calls for an intimate, personal, introspective look at what’s going on in our hearts and homes. It touches on some of those allowances we make behind closed doors, in the quiet of our dens and living rooms, where laziness and leniency have been known to hang around after dinner and stay up into the wee hours. That’s why, honestly, it often requires a resolution like this before we recognize that these things we’ve been sanctioning with our time and attention are a glaring contradiction of who we are and what we say we believe.”

It is all about compromise, ladies….. and with God, THERE IS NO COMPROMISE!

These compromises can come in many shapes and forms and you can probably easily justify them…..

  • watching a movie or television show you shouldn’t watch
  • listening to music you shouldn’t fill your ears with
  • flirting with an old flame online
  • reading a book you shouldn’t be reading
  • eating food in amounts you shouldn’t be eating or to fill a void
  • ________________________________.

I am not interested in telling you what parameters you should have in place for this, because that is not my place 🙂 BUT…. I really would like you to take a good hard, honest look at what you are spending your time on and filling your precious senses with and decide whether you are compromising purity and virtue for the sake of entertainment.

O U C H….. yes, this hurts…. but it is more than necessary that we rip this band aid off in one clean yank rather than continue to live this charade.

We cannot continue to discourage one thing in public and then derive pleasure from it behind closed doors. The world, and God, needs us to stop being one thing on the outside and something entirely different on the inside. He NEEDS this from us in order to fulfill His purposes AND for us to be living in the fullness of what He has for our lives.

THIS is integrity.

Structural Integrity is when something doesn’t just look good, it also has strong functionality. What is the use of a house that looks nice if it will fall apart at the sign of any storm? You wouldn’t want to be seen in a gorgeous new dress if you knew that if you bent down, it would rip at the seams from weak construction. We cannot continue living day-to-day in the hypocrisy of our own actions.

Priscilla shared something with us in this chapter that MUST be shared here. John Wesley (an evangelist) received these words from his mother:

“Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things- in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind- that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself.”

Yikes!!!! So dear sisters, which do WE want more…. God’s best, or your personal favorites?

Psalm 101:2-3 (NLT)

2 I will be careful to live a blameless life— when will you come to help me?

I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.

3 I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.

The verse gives us some guidelines that we would do well to live by:

  1. Have no tolerance for evil.
  2. Closely monitor the type of people you allow to influence you
  3. Recognize your need for divine help

So….. the big question to ask ourselves here today is: “Are you who you claim to be?”

Understand that God’s goal for you through your integrity isn’t to take away all of your fun, like it might look on the surface. He wants so much more for you than that, dear one! His goal is to “position you as a clean, pure, available recipient of His best, most fulfilling blessings.” He needs you to leave all of these compromising distractions behind so that He can fill you with His best!

That’s what I want and I hope you want it, too! Let;s dig deep today, my dear friends, so that we can once and for all be a complete open, pure vessel ready for God’s best!

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Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, You know how hard it is for us to let go of these worldly pleasures so I ask You to please kelp give each and every one of us the strength and courage we need today to stand for YOU and Your best for us! Impress upon our minds, hearts and soul what You need us to stop compromising in and help us to kick it all to the curb! We want to begin living the same life in private that we profess to live in public. We want YOur best, Lord, and although it won;t be easy, we know it will be worth it! In Your Son’s pure name we pray, amen <3

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Your Assignment:

What do you participate in right now that weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, and/ or takes the relish off spiritual things? Please share with us in a comment below….

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After you complete this assignment, then go back to your Facebook Group and see what Megan has for us for our daily activity.  I’m sure it is going to be interesting!!  If you do not belong to one of our FB Groups, and you wish to be added, please send us an email to: GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we’ll be happy to add you!!

Join us back here tomorrow where we will discuss the next chapter of this section:  The Three Percent DIfference.

Be a blessing,

Megan <3

…don’t forget to read what the men are up to over on Craig’s blog…

www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com

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The Resolution for Women: All Clear

August 15, 2012 by

Jeremiah 31: 34

“I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sin.”

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Don’t you wish  forgiveness was as easy as Priscilla describes in today’s chapter, using the “Delete” button?  I mean look at the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s!  Perhaps if only one of them had used the ‘Delete’ button years and years ago, the incredible family feud that has gone on for so many years, taking many lives, would have been long over – instead they have made history over a lifetime of unforgiveness.  In scripture it tells us the following ~

 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you”      Ephesians 4:32

Being around someone you don’t like and being kind is one thing; however,  forgiveness has to be the hardest pill for us to swallow.  “Excuse me Lord, you want me to forgive Her“?  [emphasis]  How many of us have asked that question over and over with various people in our lives.  It’s so much easier for us to just ignore people – stop associating with them – or chalking them off in our lives rather than doing as Jesus would and forgiving them.   It’s built into our flesh – it’s human – there is no “delete” button.

How many of you have someone in your life that you need to forgive?  How many have a dark cloud hanging over your head because this issue is not resolved? Doesn’t it truly keep cropping up? Perhaps you miss a family function because of this or you actually find yourself missing this person you’ve chosen not to forgive~ both situations very irritating, keeps the wound festering even long after the event.  Unfortunately, we cannot seem to hit that “delete button” to free them and to free us.

Well, it’s time to hit the “delete” button.  Scripture makes it clear.  Jesus has made it clear.  Do not let one more day go by without reaching way deep down inside of your heart to forgive to, lift the burden this carries on your life.  Not only will you feel better yourself mentally and physically, but you will be following the desires of God’s heart.  THIS is worth it all by itself!

So,  if forgiving others is tough, what about the need to forgive yourself?  Well, that’s a whole different story, huh!?

The following story is true and it breaks my heart to tell it; however, it’s a story that truly screams out forgiveness in every sense of the word so I need to share it.

I have a friend and  when he was away one day, his oldest son was riding his bike outside and fell; his mother ran out the door to rescue him.  Unfortunately, while mom was outside with her injured son, his 2-year-old brother went through an opened sliding glass door and into the pool drowning.  Horrifying, right?  RIGHT!  Can  you absolutely imagine the pain of this mother?  Do you think she has forgiven herself today?   The true answer is, I honestly do not know for sure.  Her mistake cost her son’s life ~ that is a level of forgiveness I cannot even imagine having in this situation.

And, what about this little guy’s father?  This baby boy was the apple of his eye, his heart – and now he was gone due to an accident caused by a simple mistake.  An open door.  And he wasn’t there to protect him.  He couldn’t save him. Outside of not being able to forgive himself, what about forgiveness for his wife?  The wife who left the door open that his baby went through The turmoil that must have (and likely still does) cause him agony. How does one dig that deep?

Here’s the GREAT part.  Here’s the part we need to get and understand…..Priscilla says, “No human forgiveness is strong enough, not even your own, to ever free you from the torturous remainder of your offense and the cloak of guilt in it lays on your shoulders”  – did you hear that  NO HUMAN FORGIVENESS IS ENOUGH .  There is only one way to lift that black cloud, to free yourself from the bondage and years of suffering and that is to accept the gift that Jesus Christ has given us – the gift of freedom – freedom from our sins.  He forgives US – we in turn need to forgive others.

Priscilla says it best when she says, ‘He felt the crown of thorns pressed onto His head.  He took the beating……..He hung on Golgotha’s tree.  That’s when you received all the forgiveness you’ll ever need.  When he cried, ‘It is finished!’.  It was done.”   – The ‘DELETE’ button pressed.  For us.  For each and every one of us.

Do not let another day go by without forgiving yourself or someone else.  Press your Delete button today. Jesus did.

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Your Assignment:

  • Describe in your own words the differences and connections between forgiving yourself and receiving God’s forgiveness.
  • Choose one past action that you’ve held against yourself, and then prayerfully (INTENTIONALLY)  consider the Lord’s payment for this sin. Choose to receive it for yourself.
    ______________________
    Let’s Pray:
    Father God, thank you for the gift of forgiveness.  For dying on that cross for us and freeing us from all of our sins.  It is my prayer Father that whatever burdens we carry internally or those that we carry for others be removed as we remember that day on Calvary.  May we intentionally work in the name of forgiveness.  We ask these things in your humble name. We love you Father, Amen.

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!!

Love,

Kelley <3<3

Read all about Craig’s Resolution for Men Journey here: www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com

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The Resolution for Women: Internal Injuries

August 14, 2012 by

Jeremiah 31: 34

“I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sin.”

In the few pages of this lesson, Priscilla challenges us to stop for a moment and take a look inside ourselves. As women, when we don’t WANT to deal with our hurts, frustrations, anger and bitterness, we tend to stay busy or focus our attention on everyone else. Priscilla begs us to STOP today…. right now…. and begin to look inside.

If you don’t feel like forgiveness is an issue for you right now, bless you! Hebrews 12:15 is your verse to stand on so that you can continue to see to it that “….no root of bitterness springs up causing trouble.”

You may be currently walking through a season where you are walking through each day with a happy face on like you don’t have a care in the world, but on the inside you are in turmoil and hardly living. Dear sister, if this describes you…. please know that THIS is not what God intends for your life! As much as you try to hide your pain, hurt and bitterness, it is slowly seeping out all over your body and will soon, when you least expect it, spew over into every part of your life.

On page 130 Priscilla writes:

“Instead of working so hard to keep the focus and spotlight on everyone else- both those who’ve hurt us as well as those who make us feel better and forget all about it- let’s be willing to drag out these grudges we’re holding and harboring, these heavy containers  of unforgiveness that never stop leaching poisons  into our system.”

Are you ready to be on your way to healing?

Are you ready to really LIVE?

Well…. then its time to get real and let God into these places where we have been so intentionally keeping Him out.

Priscilla also gives us some wonderful scripture to reference as we begin this journey:

Passages on forgiveness:

  • Mark 11:25-26- making reconciled relationships a regular part of our praying
  • Matthew 6:14-15- how our unforgiveness of others relates to God’s forgiveness of us.
  • Hebrews 12:14- the blessing that flows from pursuing peace with everyone.

Passages on bitterness:

  • Ephesians 4:31- the only good thing to do with it is to get rid of it.
  • Hebrews 12:15- what bitterness can so if it’s not pulled up by the roots
  • Proverbs 14:10- all we can ever expect from hanging on to it.

 

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Your Assignment:

Prayer fully consider: Who, if anyone, are the people you harbor unforgiveness toward? How have you seen this affect your life?

Please share what the Lord shows you with us in a comment below….

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Let’s Pray:

Lord, this journey is not easy and we recognize that we cannot do this without You and Your supernatural intervention. Thank you for this precious gift we are able to unlock through the redemptive work of Your Son. Be with each of us today, Father, as we dig deep within and prepare for surgery on our internal injuries to be healed once and for all to be able to be our very best for Your glory! Show us what YOU want us to see, Father. Help us become vulnerable to these areas of our life that we have been hiding in order to not be robbed of this healing you have for us any longer. We thank you in advance for what You will do., In Jesus’ name we 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

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Resolution for Women: Forgiveness

August 13, 2012 by

The Lord has shown me that this week is going to be LIFE-CHANGING for some of you, as you reach out to Him and open your heart to what He has to say about forgiveness in this weeks lessons in The Resolution for Women.

I would like to share some statements about forgiveness from Priscilla, in this section of this book:

  • forgiveness of your sins is something that Christ suffered a terrifying death to give you.
  • the capacity to forgive yourself is personally impossible.  You can’t do it.  Nobody can.
  • the bible doesn’t tell us to forgive ourselves.
  • you know it’s the right thing to do, even if it’s the last thing you feel like doing.
  • a wounded heart cannot open up either to fully love or receive love.
  • forgiveness is a miracle.
  • only one power, one invisible force, one miracle can clear away the eroding illness that robs you of peace and love and the enjoyment of life.
  • only God can alter your pattern, quicken your step, expand your reach, and get you out of those circles
  • forgiveness is designed to rescue you, while bringing with it the added by-product of extending the impact of your grace toward those you love.

“Just as the Lord has forgiven you,

so you must also forgive.”

Colossians 3:13

Forgiveness is something that we must offer others, as He has so wonderfully, abundantly, and outlandishly poured it out on us.

__________________

Your Assignment Today:

On a piece of paper, draw a line down through the center, to make two columns.  On the left side, list the names of those you know you need to forgive.  On the right side, list the sins you personally have committed.  Take that list to Jesus.  Sit at His feet today.  Speak out each name that you have on your list, and each sin that is listed.  Ask the Lord to speak to Your heart about each one, and how you can release them to Him.  This may take you all week, but do this every day if you need to.  Add to the list each day, if needed.   But we are going to have a BURNING CEREMONY at the end of this week, and we are going to take that list and BURN IT at the foot of the cross, as a symbol of our forgiveness for each one, and HIS forgiveness toward our sins.

Let’s Pray:

Father, I lift each person who is reading this blog today.  I ask You Lord, as they read this chapter, and this blog, each day this week, that You bring them one step closer to freeing them through the act of forgiveness Lord.  Whether it’s an act of forgiveness toward another person, Lord, or through them asking You to forgive them for their own sins.  I pray that each persons heart will be prepared and ready to receive from You, Lord.  Reach down deep into their hearts.  HEAL their brokenness Lord.  HEAL the wounds  that have kept them in bondage all this time.  HEAL the pain they have carried for so long, Lord.

I pray for FREEDOM to come to each person this week, Lord.  I pray for the chains to be broken, that have held them captive for so long.  I pray for the prison doors to break forth, and each person to step out of that prison that has held them captive to unforgiveness, for so very long, Lord.

I pray for Your healing Lord to come forth.  I pray for Your anointing to flow over them, and cover them from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet, Lord!  Release them Lord!  Release them as they CHOOSE to forgive this week.  As they CHOOSE to make forgiveness a priority in their lives, Lord.  Forgive them, Lord, for the sins that they themselves have committed, also.

I thank You now, Lord, for the work You are doing in each heart.  I thank You for the healing You are bringing forth this week.  I thank You in advance for the lives that YOU are changing this week, In Your Precious Name, AMEN!!!

______________________

Now, it’s time to go back to our Facebook OBS Group, and see what Megan has in store for us this week.  This week is YOUR week!  If you do not belong to one of our Facebook OBS Groups, and would like to, please email us at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we’ll be happy to add you!

I will be lifting you in prayer this week.  I KNOW God is going to set YOU FREE!  Expect that from Him, as you read each lesson in this weeks study!

Be Blessed & Be a Blessing to Someone Else Today,

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Resolution for Women — Chapter 6 Overview

August 10, 2012 by

Weekly Review

Our Memory verse this week was Luke 6:45

“out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”.

This has been an eye-opening chapter for me.  I realized this week just how much I talk, and just how little I listen!  I also learned just how much I talk “over” people…in other words, how much I interrupt others!  As much as I do not like others doing that to me, I realized I do that to others, too!  This is certainly something I need to work on!!

So, what did you think of this weeks chapter?  What were your ah-ha moments?

Where did the Lord gently nudge you and say “We need to work on this?”

I think I highlighted the whole chapter.  I think I needed to highlight the whole chapter!  I know I have so much more to learn in this area, and it will truly be a chapter that I re-read over and over again!

So, let’s take a look back and see what the Lord was showing all of us this week:

Monday:  Priscilla shared her words with us on the art of listening and edifying others, and the importance of both.  She talked about the importance of “learning” how to listen to others.  The art of really intentionally putting aside any our own thoughts, the distractions, and whatever else may prevent us from intentionally listen to another.  Intentionally listening to others shows them they are important to us; they are valued; they are worthy of our time.  It builds them up and encourages them.  It feeds their self-worth.  The art of listening is a discipline that we all need to work on.  Listening is the most valuable gift we can give anyone.

Wisdom has two parts:

One part is learning what to say.

The second part is learning when to say it.

Tuesday:  Megan talked to us about the gift of intentionally listening to others.  The chapter also shows us how the gift of intentionally listening can lead into other gifts — the gifts of self-worth, significance, personal satisfaction.  The kind of gifts that we all want to be known for.  We learned how to bless others by really leaning into what they are saying, and forgetting about anything and everything else around us and giving our “all” to that person at that very moment.  It is truly our gift to them, and a blessing!

The Gift of Listening

is the most valuable gift you can give someone.

Wednesday:  Kelley shared with us about the habit of talking too much and how that can get us into trouble.  Proverbs 10:19 says “Too much talk leads to sin.  Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”  Pretty much puts it all in to one nutshell, huh??  The art of listening enables us to think before we speak.  Weighing out our words before they are spoken.  Waiting for the right time to say the right thing.  Not sitting while someone is talking and contemplating what you will say next.  Or not allowing the other person to express their own opinion, and thinking our opinion is the only one that counts!  

 Listen.  Learn.  Contemplate.  Consider.

Weighing our words.  Waiting.

The Blessing of Silence!

Thursday:  Beverly shared with us the importance of the power of our tongue and guarding our hearts.  Our heart is our inner being (the foundation)….the place where our thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs are kept.  A reservoir for every thought, attitude, belief we’ve either placed there, or allowed to hang out there!

What are we allowing to hang out in our hearts????  Our heart is the essence of who we truly are, or who we are becoming.  Out of the abundance of our heart, our words flow.  Are we quick to offer an opinion?  Are we constantly critical or demeaning to others?  Do we frequently argue with others?  Do we gossip?  Do our words often speak of negativity, doubt, and skepticism?   These are all conditions of the heart.  The foundation of our being.    So we have to ask ourselves what we are putting inside?  What treasures are we storing in our hearts?  Insecurity?  Anger?  Judgmental attitude?  Low in faith and belief?  No peace?

The author of the this book, Priscilla Shirer suggests that if we don’t know the answer to these questions, we need to just listen to ourselves for a couple of days.  Listen to our topics of conversations.  Then ask the Lord to forgive you for the words you have spoken, and to help you guard your hearts, making sure that you do not allow your heart to become filled with anything that will hinder you from being conformed into the likeness of Christ.  Stay in the word.  The more you stay in the word and in His truth, the more your words will then be filled with wisdom, kindness, and humility!

A woman whose heart is full of gratitude and humility, who is certain of God’s favor on her, and who genuinely prizes the worth of those around her will release a steady stream of graciousness that will refresh others through her conversation.  Others will desire her company.  She will invite the opportunity to listen to others.  She will humbly offer wisdom that comes from a treasure box filled with a wealth of good things!

It’s not all about watching your mouth….

It’s about watching your heart!

Are you ready to sign this weeks resolution?  Before you do, picture the people in your life who most need to receive this gift from you.  Consider what changes you can make to become a person who is “quick to listen and slow to speak.”  Be willing to make some of these practical and necessary adjustments so this resolution doesn’t just “sit on a shelf” in your life and become reality.  THEN, when you’re ready, prayerfully read the statement below and sign your name.

Resolution #6

My Blessing

I will be a woman who is quick to listen and slow to speak.

I will care about the concerns of others and esteem them more highly than myself.

Signed: ____________________

____________________

Next week, Priscilla walks us through the art of forgiveness into a resolution to release others from the prison of our hurt and anger.  I can’t wait! Another AWESOME WEEK ahead of us!!!

___________________

YOUR READING ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING >> HERE

Be Blessed & Be a Blessing to Someone Else Today!

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Resolution for Women: Shhhhh

August 7, 2012 by

Our Memory Verse

  Luke 6:45

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”

WOW Ladies!  How many of you can relate to the picture above?   Be honest, be really really honest……Well?  No, you have to be really honest!  Can you?   Okay, I’ll admit – I can.   But…..if you don’t agree, can you at least agree that talking is one of the things women do best – We TALK. We love to talk!    We talk about everything and talk some more.   Many times we talk before we think.  We talk when we should just be quiet – when we should pray.  We like to talk.  It’s in our blood!

Have you been in situations where you have been listening to people talk and they are excited about being the first to tell someone something?  They absolutely love being the person to share news or happenings – they enjoy being in the position of getting noticed for what they are telling and talking about – even if its negative.   This is certainly not wisdom and can be rather embarrassing for her and those around her.

“Wisdom – knowing what to say and not saying it” – This is the definition Priscilla shares with us in our book. How many times have we been in situations where we said things when we should have just kept our mouth shut. Let’s face it ladies, for the majority of us, this happens quite often, or DID, before we met Jesus and began to learn wisdom.

With me, when I started building a relationship with Jesus Christ and started studying The Word, I too realized that I talk way too much (hold your laugh) and unfortunately not all of it would bring glory to our Father.  My husband was forever telling me I needed to ‘hush’;  I was talking too much, telling too much, and it would be better for all if I just stopped talking. Truth be told, he was right many times – Yes, I hate to admit it, but the Hubby was right.

I love the way Priscilla writes about this subject.  The following, shared by Priscilla in our chapter, really struck me personally.  When you read these statements what were your thoughts?

  • Silence is our friend. Silence is our strength.   –   I love this!  It’s amazing what we can do with silence now that we have a  relationship with Jesus.   Silence IS our friend and IS our strength!  All we have to do is utilize it, all to glorify Him.
  • A woman who is quick to listen is one who gathers up all the information before releasing her reaction.   WOW – YES!   This is my goal!  How about you!?
  • When she speaks, her advice and assessments are sensible and sober. Prudent and purposeful.  – these sisters represent WISDOM – Wisdom is a blessing!

In God’s Word, sweet sisters, it is made clear.    We need to stop and listen to the direction of our Father before acting or discussing a situation.  We need to remember that words DO have power – and not all power will glorify our Lord and Savior. We need to pray more and talk less.  We need to remember that we are children of the King.  We need to reach out and take hold of the wisdom we know comes from our Heavenly Father ~ and actively display this Wisdom in every situation.  We need to grow in the quiet.   I challenge you to read the following scriptures and become convicted by the words written especially for us.

‘…..the tongue of the righteous is pure silver’  Proverbs 10:20

‘The tongue has the power of life and death’  Proverbs 18:21

‘Be still and know that I am God’     Psalms 46:10

Remember, Silence is our Friend.  Silence is our Strength

———————————————————————————————————————

Your Assignment:

  • What would immediately change for the better in your life if you began exercising the spiritual restraint of silence?
  • Try it for just a day or two.  Deliberately keep from saying something that’s better left unsaid.  Allow the bait of another’s unkind or inappropriate remark to land without hooking a response from you.  Record what you observe about yourself and the change in the dynamics around you.

____________________

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Father God thank you for the blessing of silence.  Change our hearts so that we may use this silence to prepare our words and actions in such ways to bring glory to you in all we do.  In addition, may we remember the power of words and the damage it can cause, as well as the praises it may bring.  Thank you for these blessings.  Thank you for each sister here. We love you Father and We ask these things in your precious and Holy name.  Amen.

___________________

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!!

Love,

Kelley <3<3

Read all about Craig’s Resolution for Men Journey here: www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com

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Resolution for Women: The Gift

August 7, 2012 by

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

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