Once again, I am going to share a video from Priscilla Shirer speaking about in the sixth chapter of her book ‘The Resolution for Women’. In this chapter, Priscilla discusses the “art of listening” verses talking too much; as well as the power of our tongue — whether it is faithless or faith-filled.
She discusses the art of edifying others, and building them up. Encouraging one another is truly a gift from the Lord! We live in a tough world! We are slammed with negativity every day in our lives, at work, at school, from the media, and sometimes even at home. The gift of edification is about being able to encourage others, lift them up with your words or prayers, and helping them feel better about their situation, and about themselves!
Luke 6:45 says, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”. Let’s learn how to fill our heart with the right things that will help our mouth overflow with the proper words, to be spoken at the right time.
And now a word from Priscilla Shirer:
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Your Assignment:
Comment below how you will effectively use the art of listening to a loved one today.
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Let’s Pray:
Father, Your word tells us that out of the abundance of our hearts, our mouths speak. Your word also tells us that Life & Death come from our tongue. Lord, we ask for this next week that You will give us revelation knowledge on how powerful our words are; and how we can tame our tongue. We know it is not possible to tame another man’s tongue, Lord, but it is possible to tame our own tongue. We ask that You will reveal areas in our hearts where work needs to be done, so the abundance that flows out of our mouths, will be pleasing unto You, Lord; and will bring life to others around us. We ask You to forgive us Lord for the times we have fallen short with our words, and when we have not chosen to really “listen” to someone who needs our full attention. Holy Spirit, we ask You to nudge us this week during those times that those around us need our FULL attention, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN!!
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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!!
That’s it for today. I hope you have an AWESOME Week!! Remember, THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE!! Let’s CHOOSE to REJOICE & BE GLAD IN IT!!!
Living Intentionally Every Day to Learn How to Bless Others with My Ears & Mouth,
Resolution for Women — Chapter 6 – My Blessing
This week in The Resolution for Women, Chapter 6, we learn to esteem others with our time, concern, and full attention.
We’ll learn how to really listen to others, so they “know” we are truly listening.
We’ll learn about the power of our tongue, and how it can produce life or death.
We’ll learn how to control our tongue, to bring life into others and situations.
I’m very excited about this chapter, and what Priscilla has to say this week. The power of the tongue is a subject that we learned about the week before this study began. This chapter will reiterate what Robin Packer taught us during that week, and more!
So with that, are you ready???? Here we go!!
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Your Reading Assignment
for the Week of Aug 6th – 10th:
Aug 6th: My Blessing – Christi
Aug 7th: The Gift – Megan
Aug 8th: Shhhh – Kelley
Aug 9th: Underneath It All – Beverly
Aug 10th: Week Overview – Christi
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THIS WEEKS CONFERENCE CALL!!
Don’t forget our FREE Conference Call this coming TUESDAY night, at 8pm CST. Our Guest Speaker will be Connie Moss from Mesquite Texas. Connie is going to share her amazing testimony on how God delivered her from clinical depression! This call is for all of our Facebook Online Bible Study members. If you are not a part of our FB OBS Groups, and would like to be, please email us at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com! We’ll be glad to add you to a group!!
Let’s Pray:
Father, we lift this weeks chapter to You, Lord, and we ask for Your anointing upon our ears and eyes, that we may hear from You directly and also see what You are trying to teach us this week. Lord, we choose to put aside all distractions so that we can learn to become a blessing to others, with our words and actions. We pray for our Conf Call Guest Speaker, Connie Moss, and I ask that You guide her words and give her peace and boldness during her time with us on this call. I pray for hearts to be prepared before this call Lord, to be ready to receive what You have for them. Bring those Father, that You want on this call, In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!!
See You Tomorrow!!
Be Blessed & Be a Blessing to Someone Else!
The Resolution for Women: Week 5 Overview
Weekly Overview
I don’t know about all of you….. but this lesson about being our best for God has really been challenging AND freeing at the same time for me. Let’s take a look back and see what all we learned this week.
MONDAY: It was all about BOXES! You know…. all the millions of things that we have pulling and tugging at us for our attention and resources every day while we are working so hard to achieve perfect balance in our life. God certainly intends for us to live full lives, but not to be stretched so thin that we burn out and are miserable. God calls us to have order in our lives and to line up our priorities with His will. Priscilla asked us to list our “boxes” and to be real about which ones might not need to be filled in this season.
TUESDAY: This day we learned about how important timing is in being able to be our best. God intends different priorities for us in different seasons we are in and we must not mix them up. This day was about boundaries and freeing ourselves of any obligations we currently have that are not meant for us in our current season. We were to pray for discernment and begin to take action to be able to live joyfully in our current season doing all of the things that God uniquely designed us to do.
WEDNESDAY: Oh Wednesday…. it was about anything, everything and whatever! You know what this means right? It’s all about how we can’t do anything well when we choose to do everything, so we decide to just do whatever. We were to list out our “whatever” places and pray over which ones God needs us to shift to the background during our current season. We are to do all of our whatever’s with everything that we have because THAT is part of God’s divine design!
THURSDAY: Priscilla gave us some breathing lessons worth noting. She urges us to intentionally make time in our daily lives to fill our oxygen tank so that we can breathe. That can look differently for everyone, but whatever you do to “re-fuel,” do it often! All of our loved ones need us to be our best and God does not intend any of us to grow weary in doing good. I hope you gave yourself a break…. because I did and it felt so good! Be sure so make this a habit!
….and in all this lies our fifth Resolution!
MY BEST
I will seek to devote the best of myself, my time, and my talents
to the primary roles the Lord has entrusted to me in this phase of my life.
Signed X___________________________________________
Please leave a comment below about one “ah-ha” moment for you this week! We want to know how this lesson spoke to your heart!
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Next week, our topic is “My Blessing— a resolution to esteem others with my time, concerns, and full attention.” Oooooooh…. this is going to be good!!! Have a Great weekend Ladies! See you again on Sunday with our assignments for next week!! Please keep in mind that if you have fallen behind in your reading, the weekend is a great time to get all caught up!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.
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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!!!!!
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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: Divine Appointments
Our Memory Verse
Priscilla so eloquently points out to us in this lesson that in Resolving to be faithfully His, we are….
- Women who lean into His voice- listening, heeding, conforming our will to His.
- Women who uphold the laurels of Scripture in the face of contrary opinion.
- Women who do not ultimately answer to earthly authorities but to the One who created us, and called us to Himself.
- Women who live with heaven’s purpose in view and heaven;s whisper in our soul.
- In the world, but we are not of the world- not controlled by it, consumed by it, compelled by it
- Heaven called, pursuing His purposes and driven by the passions He has placed within our hearts.
THIS is what makes us uniquely His! No matter what our sin-filled world throws at us, we will stand strong, ever faithful, to HIM and the laurels of His Word!
James 1:3 (ESV)
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Amen!!!! We KNOW that we will be tested and we KNOW that we will not always be our best and do our best to pass the test…. but THANK GOD He loves us anyway! Each and every single one of us as daughters of the Most-high King have a heavenly calling God has uniquely and divinely designed us to fill.
We will not be perfect, but we MUST be purposeful!
We will not live without blemish, but we are marked with God’s PRESENCE!
We must not be swayed by the whims and fleeting passions of this world, but be fiercely focused on Heaven’s call!
“The faithful are those who resolve to despise the pathways of earthly success
in exchange for the divine mission
given specifically and uniquely by the Father.”
So, it is time that we all ask ourselves the BIG QUESTIONS:
- What do you sense Heaven is calling you to do and be?
- What do you believe to be God’s overarching purpose for creating you and then setting you down in THIS generation at THIS particular point in history?
- Are you seeking to discover it as you wake up in the morning listening for the hush of Heaven?
Do you know that THE BEST WAY to begin is by being faithful to what God has set before you RIGHT NOW? That is the truth! In this very season, you are being called to be uniquely YOU for HIS purpose. Please, dear one, don’t miss it!!! Don’t rush ahead and don’t lag behind! He needs so intentionally PRESENT in your current situation and circumstance for a divine reason. You might not like it, but really, it is not about YOU! You are here for a higher purpose and He will equip you with all you need for His purpose to be fulfilled. Live BOLDLY for HIM in this season! He CHOSE YOU!!!
No rain-checks allowed, dear friends! No re-scheduling and no cancelling. This divine Appointment is meant for YOU and YOU ALONE. Don’t miss it. Don’t be late. Just show up and let Him lead!
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, we come to you today with bold abandon! Father, we ask that you make our divine appointments crystal clear to us in our current seasons so that we can fulfill the unique purpose You have for us in this time and place. We don’t want to miss a thing, Lord! Help strengthen us supernaturally to keep us committed to what You are calling us to do and not be distracted by our fallen world. Lord, help us each day to stand in the gap for our sisters where needed to ensure that your purposes be fulfilled. We love you, Lord, and we thank you in advance for all you will do in our hearts, minds, souls and spirits! In Your son’s matchless name we pray, amen <3
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Your Assignment Today:
What is calling you to do and be in your current season? What is standing in your way of fulfilling this purpose in this season?
Share below in the comments section, what you will do this week to clear the way for God’s purpose within you to be fulfilled. 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
Ladies, I believe in you and know I am praying for you every step of the way as we resolve to be different, changed and so Faithfully His! He deserves our very best and may He get all the glory!
Many blessings,
Megan 🙂
Keep up with my journey on my blog here:
www.glorytoglorylifecoaching.wordpress.com
…and my husband Craig as he is on the Resolution for Men journey:
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
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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
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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
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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 🙂
The Resolution for Women- Supernatural Selection
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
We have three takeaways from today’s lesson that we cannot take lightly or breeze right past. Please read and then re-read today’s lesson intentionally, my dear sisters because THIS is exactly where our true value lies…….. THIS is our value in Christ.
1. God chose YOU.
2. God set YOU apart.
3. God has appointed YOU.
Did you read that in the verse typed above? You probably read it…. but did you really sink your teeth into it? Dear friends…. it is so important that we let each of these truths intentionally penetrate every part of our hearts and souls. Let them weave their way into all of the places you have been stuffing down the lies that have been said over you during the life and let God’s truth bring light to those dark corners and crevices.
Have you ever really thought about why you are in a certain situation or circumstance you are in? Have you? I want you to think about one aspect of your life and dissect it with me here about your unique value to that situation or circumstance. We started this process last week, remember? Priscilla shared with us why it is good to be a girl and we were challenged to look at a specific role we play in our life and note how we are good for it, necessary to it, an important component to it, worthy to be part of it, and trustworthy to fulfill your role in it.
I hope you did this exercise along with me last week. If you did, pull it out because we are going to look at it from a little bit of a different perspective today. If you didn’t, that’s okay too….. just think of one of the roles you currently play in your life and get ready to explore it with us here.
The role God CHOSE me for that I discussed last week was my role as “Mom” to Craig’s five kids from his previous marriage that I have since adopted. I joke with my daughter Vicky sometimes that when I was a little girl, I never dreamed of growing up to raise someone else’s FIVE children, but at the same time, I cannot imagine my life any other way. I know in my heart that God specifically had ME picked out for this not only because I am just THAT CRAZY (hahaha) but because I 100% fill the need in who I am that they were missing in their life. Does that make sense? Those 5 aspects that I bring to this role that I mentioned earlier explain exactly why God CHOSE me specifically for this role … it was just up to me to be obedient and bring my gifts and my unique self to this role for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in it.
God SET ME APART for this role. I am not like all the other moms out there. That used to be hard for me because I felt like such an outcast and like no one would ever take me seriously as a parent because I was so young and really did have NO IDEA what I was doing. But that was me giving into my insecurities as a parent from believing lies said over me my whole life. I never babysat, never changed a diaper, never cooked…. how could I possibly have what it takes to be a parent to my new insta-family? Well….. I could because God set me apart uniquely for THIS… at THIS moment in time, with THIS set of children, at THIS point in their lives and my life. When I tried to be the version of “mom” that I thought everyone expected me to be, it was a MESS!!! When I fully embraced each season we were in and lived fully in it, we ALL thrived! God has put me in every situation and circumstance in my to SET ME APART for this and every other role he places before me. It is up to me to CHOSE to thrive or merely survive in it. As I thrive, so do the lives He has entrusted to me.
God has APPOINTED ME. It really does not matter if I, personally, am happy with who I am or even happy with the circumstances I am currently living in. What DOES matter is that *I* am specifically here for a reason intentionally and purposefully by God in His divine design. It is supernaturally ordained…. and He fully expects to reap much fruit from the seeds He is sowing through me being an obediant vessel in this circumstance and situation. I trust Him because he knows me intimately and I have grown and continue to grow to know Him.
He loved ME enough to make me like no other. He has given me this task that is mine alone to complete with His abundant help and empowerment. It would be denying HIM if I do not love myself as who I am… who He created. It would be denying His perfect plan.
I pray you are able to see this in YOUR role you chose to explore last week. Has God shown you yet WHY He uniquely created YOU specifically for that role? I would love to read all about it here in a comment on this blog. Please share how your unique role has come full-circle for you to know fully why he planted you where he did for His purpose. I would love to praise His work right along with you!
I understand now that my role in my kids’ lives is bigger than I could have ever expected ten years ago when I was “just” a weekend stepmom trying to keep my sanity as I navigated the turbulent waters of step-life. God had me in ever hard circumstance and every messed-up situation so that I can now speak into and encourage other stepmoms and kids through those hard relationships and confusing times. I have been there and I let God do His good work. I let Him use me and I continue to let Him use me no matter how ill-equipped or unworthy I feel. Feelings are deceptive but God’s truth is infallible!
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Let’s Pray:
Lord, we come to You today so grateful for Your supernatural selection! Thank you for making each of us so uniquely for our individual situations and circumstances to fulfill Your purposes on this earth. We are not worthy in our eyes Lord, but thank you that we are in Your’s! Help us to see ourselves more as You see us, Father…. perfectly created in every way for purposes bigger than anything we could come up with on our own! Help us today to see each of the roles we have as You see them…. perfect and planned for Your purposes….. and help us be willing to be obedient to Your call on our lives within these roles. Rid us of our selves, Lord!!! Help us be real with ourselves and each other to finally be SET FREE from the lies that keep us from Your very best! We love you, Lord, and we thank you! Amen.
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Today’s blog assignment:
Did you see it in there? Share whatever you feel comfortable about your role you explored and what God has shown you through this exploration. When you have completed this assignment here on the blog, return to your Facebook Online Bible Study Group for today’s FUN Activity!! You just never know what we have in store for you!! 🙂
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 🙂
The Resolution for Women — Week 2 Overview
Weekly Review
Hasn’t this been an awesome week learning how to be God’s Girl! Wow!!! I have so enjoyed reading all of your comments this week! It blesses me to no end to see how God is working in your lives, and how excited you are about it! Praise God!!
I’m actually going to have our beautiful Megan Smidt, do the Weekly Overview this week. I am actually at the hospital today having surgery on my finger! So I pre-wrote this to make sure I could “talk” to you myself this week! I hope you have enjoyed this last week as much as I have!
I must admit that I’m not really a girly-girl, but after this week’s lessons, I am sure encouraged to start looking for ways to become one! It is such a blessing to be a GIRL! God created us to be women for a reason! He could have chosen to make you or I a male, but because of the special plan that He had for our lives and how He was going to use us to serve Him, He chose to make us a Girl! I am honored to be a Girl! I am honored to serve Him in whatever capacity He asks of me.
So, with that Ladies, I am going to turn today’s blog over to Megan so she can review this last week with you! I pray that you will have an awesome weekend, and I’ll see you back here again on Sunday for next week’s reading assignments! BE BLESSED!
Living Intentionally to Be My Best for Him,
Christi Wilson, Founder of Girlfriends Coffee Hour
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HAPPY Friday, my dear friends!
WHAT A WEEK! I don’t know about all of you, but this book sure is rocking my world! It’s all good of course, but as I sort through all of the junk I am resolving and being released from FOR GOOD, I can’t help but be a super-girly emotional mess! God is healing some places in me that I didn’t even know were sick….. and I pray He is healing your heart and soul as well.
MONDAY: We had a giveaway and our BIG WINNER of that super cute t-shirt was Donna Slaten!!! Congratulations, Donna! We want to see a photo of you strutting your stuff in it once it arrives! 🙂
TUESDAY: We started off Week 2 learning what it means to have biblical femininity and to and live it out loud. Priscilla Shirer helped us to begin to understand the full scope of this aspect of our resolution by asking us to explore how we have seen feminist ideals affect women in the way they dress, act and make decisions. We thought about some ways we see young women today turning away from biblical womanhood and we mulled over what biblical principles of womanhood strike us as stifling or repressive.
That was a lot for my little head to digest…… but with all of your help, I made it through to day 2 and I’m glad you all did, too! 🙂
WEDNESDAY: We had a good time on day 2 as we talked all about how good it is to be a girl! What an affirming day this was! I loved how much I saw everyone encourage each other as being GOOD, NECESSARY, IMPORTANT, WORTHY, and TRUSTWORTHY in every single role we live in our precious lives on this earth! I struggled quite a bit with the “worthy’ part of this exercise and I heard from many of you that you did too, but what it all came down to was that even if WE don’t feel worthy, GOD deems us as super worthy and the more we let that seep into our hearts, we will believe it too and live our every role with the COURAGEOUS confidence that God calls us to have!
We also talked about the importance of raising our children and all the young people we come in contact with to understand submission to authority and the value of women. You all came up with some great ways YOU can influence the young people in your life to appreciate biblical femininity and be their very vest for God to get all the glory!
THURSDAY: It was all about submission in the last segment of reading for this week “Role Reversal.” With Priscilla’s help, we learned that surrendering to submission is not devaluing or demeaning your talents and gifts….. rather it provides boundaries within your potential can truly flourish! “Your strength can best be displayed, its benefits most fully experienced, when you choose the trusted, effective boundaries of God’s established order.” Wether leaders in your life live their responsibilities well or not, they will be held accountable for how they handle their role, just as we will be. It is our job to function well within our submitted roles all while we put our trust in God’s faithful love and goodness by obeying.
There is so much freedom and peace in that, dear sisters!
….and in that lies our second Resolution!
PURPOSEFULLY FEMININE
I will champion God’s model for womanhood in the face of a post feminist culture. I will teach it to my daughters and encourage its support by my sons.
Please sign here: x _________________________________
Please leave a comment below about one “ah-ha” moment for you this week! We want to know how this lesson spoke to your heart!
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Next week, our topic is “Authentically Me— a resolution to value myself and celebrate others”. Oh…. I CAN’T WAIT for this!!! Have a Great weekend Ladies! See you again on Sunday with our assignments for next week!! Please keep in mind that if you have fallen behind in your reading, we weekend is a great time to get all caught up! Make today AMAZING, Megan <3 www.glorytoglorylifecoaching.wordpress.com Craig’s taking the Men’s Resolution Journey: www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com ________________________________ Let’s pray: Father, thank You so much for all You showed us through Your Word about biblical femininity and thank You for every revelation in our spirit. We know it will be impossible to live this resolution OUT LOUD BOLDLY in our fallen world, but we know that through YOU all things are possible! We thank You Lord for what You are doing in all of our lives through this study. We ask special blessings upon Priscilla Shirer, the author of Resolution, for the work she put into writing this amazing book! I thank You for protecting all of our homes from any and all negativity and confusion that satan might try to throw our way to distract us from YOU purpose through this study. We love You Lord, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN! After reading today’s blog, please return to our Online Bible Study Group on Facebook for your daily activity! ♥ You just never know what we have in store for you! If you are not currently a part of our Online Bible Study group, and would like to be, please send an email to GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we’ll be glad to add you!The Resolution for Women: Pretty In Print
And the winner of yesterday’s giveaway is…….
Donna Slaten!!!!!
Congratulations on being the winner of the gorgeous T-shirt!!! Donna, please email us @ GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com ASAP with your address & size (small to X-large) and it will be mailed to you within the next two weeks! WAY TO GO!!!!!
…and now for Pretty In Print!!!!!!
Memory Verse:
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
What Kind of Woman are you going to be?
One of my she-ros is Poet Laureate Maya Angelou. I would love to sit and have a nice cup of tea with her…. wouldn’t you? I honestly think that I have read everything that she has ever published and I have read it all more than once. She is 100% woman and I admire so much about her. Have you ever read her poem “Phenomenal Woman”? If you haven’t, now is your chance….
Phenomenal Woman
by Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them, They think I’m telling lies.
I say, It’s in the reach of my arms The span of my hips,
The stride of my step, The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, That’s me.
I walk into a room Just as cool as you please,
And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees.
I say, It’s the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I’m a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered What they see in me.
They try so much But they can’t touch My inner mystery.
When I try to show them They say they still can’t see.
I say, It’s in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.
Now you understand Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing It ought to make you proud.
I say, It’s in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand,
The need of my care, ‘Cause I’m a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, That’s me.
HOMEWORK:
Your assignment today… comment on this blog post about how YOU specifically can encourage women in your direct sphere of influence to turn towards biblical womanhood.
Be blessed and be a blessing….. and don’t forget to go back over to our Facebook group and see what fun we have for you over there today! 🙂
<3 Megan 🙂
my blog: www.glorytoglorylifecoaching.wordpress.com
Craig’s blog: www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com
