“For the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:17
Some of you know that my oldest son James (who I CANNOT believe will be 21 this month!!!) has Asperger’s Syndrom. One of the characteristics typical to Aspies is that they tend to not show a whole lot of emotional about things and can even have a robotic-type of sound to their voice when they speak.
My Aspie is no different and it used to drive me crazy when I would be really upset with him about something and the only response I would get from him would be “ok.” You see, I am an extremely passionate person… when I am happy, I am super happy. When I am upset, I am super upset. SO, to have someone simply say “ok” in response to one of my epic rants would just drive me insane…… but it always instantly got me to calm down and it diffused the situation.
I know I say this all the time, but it’s true…. EMOTIONS ARE DECEIVING!!!! Ladies, we don’t always HAVE to be right, or get the last word in, or be in the driver’s seat for every conversation. We need to just STOP and simply say…
Okay.
That’s it.
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
On page 235, Priscilla writes:
“Truly the wise woman doesn’t always seek to be heard or validated but sometimes- in order to protect and preserve relationships, in order to invite peace back into her home- chooses a soft, delicate, gentle response in place of one that’s harsh and explosive, harmful and wounding. She is resolved not to tend the fire of quarrelsome conversations, knowing she’ll only be covered in ashes long after the embers have burned out… she is patient. She brings calm to the storm.”
Choosing to respond in this way, and NOT react makes you wise and graceful… not a pushover or a doormat. I cannot think of a more intentional way to show grace, respect and honor in conversation than to be so careful with your words. God calls us to this, but it is up to us to obey and show this grace.
_________________________________
Let’s Pray:
Lord, help us to temper our tongues and show grace in every conversation today. We need you to work within us from the inside out to get out-of-the-way be graceful in all circumstances. Help us to model this in our homes, in our work places and in our communities. Help us be difference-makers, Father! Give us the courage and wisdom to know when to be silent or only mutter the tiny word “ok.” We thank you for this provision, Lord! In Your Son’s matchless name we pray, amen <3
Your Assignment:
Prayerfully consider how you can apply the message of these verses in your life today:
- A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4)
- Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.” (Proverbs 25:15)
Resolve to respond with “ok” as much as you can in the next 48 hours in order to begin to make this a habit. Take note of the impact it makes in your closest relationships <3
__________________
Reminder… on October 1st, we will begin our brand new Online Bible Study, entitled “Winning Him Without Words” by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller. If you are in an unequally spiritual marriage, you won’t want to miss this study!!
To sign up for this study, please send an email to: Womens@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com and we will send you all the details you need to get started!
Now jump on over to our Facebook Group for the daily activity!! If you do not yet belong to this group, and would like to, send us an email at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com with FB GROUP in the subject line, and we’ll be glad to add you!
Be a blessing,
Megan 🙂
Resolution for Women: Ok
Resolution for Women: Living With Grace
“For the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:17
______________________________
I want to start this blog today by asking you what the word “grace” means to you. Think about that for a minute, before you answer. When you stop and think about that word, what pictures run through your mind?
When I think of the word “grace”, it reminds me of someone who has much poise. A soft demeanor. A soft approach. A soft voice. A soft touch.
It means a soft spoken word. Or a gentle word of encouragement.
There are a lot of meanings for the word “grace”. But this week, we are focusing on what “living with grace” means for our homes. For me, living with grace means my home is a place of safety; a place of encouragement; a place that allows you to drop your troubles at the door; a safe haven. It means a place where my husband can come home to, and not only feel peace, but see it, as well.
For me, it means being a gracious host when friends come over. For me, I want everyone to come into my home and feel a surrounding of peace they don’t feel elsewhere. So it’s important to me and my husband that we keep all obstacles out of our home, including people, who will not respect our peace.
When we first married, there was no such thing as peace in our home. I walked into a home with two teenage boys who knew no discipline whatsoever. They were allowed to do pretty much anything they wanted. Needless to say, that changed when I moved in. That did not set will with either one of them. We had a lot of struggles, disagreements, and some yelling and screaming fights! It was not pretty, at all!! Needless to say, there was no such thing as peace in our home!
But soon, that changed for the better. It took my husband and I agreeing that we would never allow that kind of strife in our home again! No matter what it took! It took both of us praying, A LOT!!! It took us both coming to the conclusion that we did not, and would not allow satan to destroy our home environment!
Grace in my home now means we forgive quickly. We move forward. We respect each others privacy. We respect each other…period!! We take care of our home, instead of allowing things to get so out of hand, it’s complete chaos trying to get over all the mounds of “STUFF” that got left undone!! We strive to do whatever it takes to make others feel comfortable in our home. We WANT others to enjoy being in our home, not having to get out quickly because the strife was so thick you could cut it with a knife!
It took a lot of work, but over time, we made it happen.
Grace, by definition, is “favor or kindness expressed to the undeserving. There were times in my home, I did NOT want to extend grace to those undeserving. I was mad. I was bitter. I was hurt! Today, there are still times I struggle with things that happened when we first got together under one roof. But overall, I know I have to show God’s grace to others, because of the grace He showed me when I was so undeserving of it.
Offering complete grace to the undeserving in our own ability, is not possible. But, 2 Corinthians 12:9 says,
‘My grace is sufficient for you,
for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’“
It’s during those times, when we struggle to offer grace to those undeserving, when we are weak and don’t have the ability to do it on our own, that Jesus’ grace flows through us!! Praise God!!! We CAN offer grace because He says we can through Him!!! AMEN!!!
Priscilla says, “Dispensers of grace are women who resolve to put candles on the table instead of sulking in the dark.” I love that!!! It means letting go of past hurts, and choosing to move forward and offering grace to those who don’t deserve it. That my dear Sister in Christ, is going to offer you peace like you’ve never experienced before! It’s revolutionary, as Priscilla says!
Showing true grace to others means making others feel accepted; no longer holding onto offenses; being grateful; no longer being critical; allowing others to walk freely around you instead of on egg shells; showing them Christ in all your ways.
“Give them a break.
I know they don’t deserve it.
But neither did you.
Grace came anyway.”
_________________________________
Let’s Pray:
Father, we ask You to check our hearts today and see if grace lives there. If not Lord, instruct us on what we need to do to let go of whatever it is that is keeping us from walking freely in the grace that Christ showed us, and help us to offer it freely to others, even those undeserving. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!
Your Assignment:
Think about a home that you have entered where grace was prevalent. How did the home feel? How were you treated? If you could do one thing in your own home to extend Christ’ grace to others, what it would be? Please leave your comment below.
__________________
Reminder… on October 1st, we will begin our brand new Online Bible Study, entitled “Winning Him Without Words” by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller. If you are in an unequally spiritual marriage, you won’t want to miss this study!!
To sign up for this study, please send an email to: Womens@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com and we will send you all the details you need to get started!
Now jump on over to our Facebook Group for the daily activity!! If you do not yet belong to this group, and would like to, send us an email at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com with FB GROUP in the subject line, and we’ll be glad to add you!
Living Intentionally to Offer His Grace,
Resolution for Women: Chapter 12 – Living With Grace
“For the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
_________________________
(Girlfriends Coffee Hour is not affiliated in any way with Crossroads CA)
Is your home a welcome place for all that enter?
Let’s study this week how we can make our homes a resting place, not only for our families, but for all who enter. One thing others have always told me, and it has given me much joy to hear, is “I love coming to your home Christi. I always feel like I’m at ‘Home.'” There could be no sweeter compliment to me! I work hard at making sure people feel comfortable in my home, and want to come back! Not only does to speak to others as to what kind of people we are, but it also shows them Christ. And that, is the most important thing to us, for them to see.
_____________________________
Your Reading Assignment
Monday: Read pages 228-233 – “Grace” – Then come back to our blog to see what Christi has to say about this chapter.
Tuesday: Read pages 234-236 – “OK” – Then come back to our blog to see what Megan has to say about this chapter.
Wednesday: Read pages 237-239 “Off Broadway” – Then come back to our blog to see what Kelley has to say about this chapter.
Thursday: Read pages 240-246 – “Sabbath Spaces” – Then come back to our blog to see what our what our brand new Blogger, Donna Day, has to say about this chapter. Donna will be filling in for Beverly this week.
Friday: Come on back to our blog for our Weekly Review with Christi.
____________________
Reminder… on October 1st, we will begin our brand new Online Bible Study, entitled “Winning Him Without Words” by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller. If you are in an unequally spiritual marriage, you won’t want to miss this study!!
To sign up for this study, please send an email to: Womens@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com and we will send you all the details you need to get started!
Now jump on over to our Facebook Group for the daily activity!! If you do not yet belong to this group, and would like to, send us an email at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com with FB GROUP in the subject line, and we’ll be glad to add you!
See you tomorrow!!
Resolution for Women – My Heart
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
________________________________
________________________________
Let’s Pray
Father, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.
AMEN
_________________________
Your Assignment:
In the comment section below, tell us about what breaks your heart.
________________________
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,