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
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Your Assignment:
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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.
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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!!
Love,
Kelley <3<3
Read all about Craig’s Resolution for Men Journey here: www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com
Resolution for Women: Shhhhh
Resolution for Women: The Gift
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!
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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
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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
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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!!
Blessings,
Megan 🙂
Read all about Craig’s Resolution for Men Journey here: www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com
Resolution for Women — My Blessing
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: Anything, Everything, and Whatever
“Anything, Everything and Whatever”
From Christi: I would like to take a moment to introduce you to Beverly McCormick, our newest Blogger for Girlfriends Coffee Hour. I am very excited that she has agreed to become a regular on a blog! I hope you enjoy her blogs, as much as I think you will! Welcome Bev, to the Girlfriends Coffee Hour Blogging Team!
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We can’t do anything well, when we choose to do everything, so we decide to just do whatever.
WOW, this statement hit me hard as I studied this lesson. Then I took a look at our scripture verse for today,“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory”. 1 Cor. 10:31.
and then another scripture came to my mind, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him”. Col 3:17.
God is really trying hard to give us a message through this study today
Whatever we do
Do it for His glory
Then give Thanks.
Like many women we constantly feel like we are failing at everything, we go to bed feeling inadequate, that we just don’t have what it takes, that we just don’t have it together like everybody else. As this lesson taught us we set the bar too high, we get discouraged, we can’t do anything because we are exhausted from trying to do everything.
As Priscilla’s friend told her and should stand for us too “you cannot do a thousand things to the glory of God, but you can do one or two.”
And Paul teaches us that we should zero in on our unique set of “whatever you do” qualities, because there is value in the way we do them.
God has put us where we are in this season of life for a reason. It may not be the most glamorous role we will have, it may not have been our choice, but it was the place He designed and chose just for each of us. We are in this place (this season) on purpose.
God is not concerned at all about what we think we should have accomplished in our life or where we should be or how we compare to others, but God is concerned about what we are doing in the place (the season) that He has assigned us to. God doesn’t ask us to do what other people are doing. He wants us to do what He has told us to do and do it with all our being in the place we are in, even if the place is the “whatevers”.
Here are some of my “whatever” places that my life consists of:
-laundry
-dishes
-cleaning
-mothering
-chauffer
-cook
-library assistant
-mechanic
-nurse
-teacher
-wife
We must realize what God has gifted each of us to do and do them with all our might as unto the Lord. Each of us will have our own set of “whatevers” because each of us are uniquely designed for a purpose.
We must take a moment to consider what God has uniquely equipped us to do as well as what He’s asking of us or (what He’s NOT asking of us) in this season of our life, then no matter what day it is, or how old we are or what the moment demands we can be ourself, fully believing that our personal “whatever you do” is fulfilling the purpose of God and that it will bring Him glory and honor (in anything and everything).
Pg. 100 of todays lesson from Priscilla Shirer “Resolution for Women” Paul’s instructions are not meant to inspire us to become like somebody else – to start doing more of the things they do, like they do them. It’s calling for “whatever YOU do”. There is value in the unique way you mother your children, love your husband, do your job, oversee that committee, participate in that organization and spend your time. It’s what YOU do, how YOU do it and that’s what He has promised to undergird with His power, causing Himself to be magnified through your actions.
Be encouraged my dear sister, we are where we are on purpose – by His design. We are in this specific season of life for a reason, so whatever your whatevers are – do them all for His glory and don’t compare your whatevers to someone else’s. Be faithful and accountable for the tasks He has assigned specifically to you for they are “preparation” for the great “whatevers” He still has yet to come in your life.
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Let’s pray:God I thank you for all the ladies who are participating in this Bible Study and I pray that You help us all to “see” that we don’t have to “do everything” and that it is OK to say no, or there may be times we need to put things in the background and wait a while (until You are ready for us Lord), help us Lord to seek You so that in “whatever “ we do, we do it ALL for Your glory. Amen! _________________
Your Assignment:
Share some of your whatevers with us and also share if there are some whatevers in your life that God is showing you needs to be shifted to the background and replaced with what currently matters most with where He is moving you to in this season of your life.
After you have completed this assignment here, go back to your Facebook Online Bible Study Group, and see what fun activity we have for you there! You never know what we will come up with!! If you do not belong to an Online Bible Study Group, and would like to, please email us at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we will be happy to add you!
Love to all,
Beverly
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: Week 5 – Boxes
Today, in The Resolution for Women, we talk about boxes. Not the kind of boxes you bring your groceries home in, or the kind you pack your belongings in, or even the kind that you ship something in. We are going to talk about the many boxes that women have in their lives, while still trying to achieve perfect balance in their life.
Are you guilty of having too many boxes? Before you can answer that, you have to know what that question means first. What I am asking here is how many things you have going on in your life that is pulling you in this direction, and that direction, and making you feel like your life is so out of balance!!!
Let’s take a look at our lives for a minute….. How many boxes do we women have in our lives?
1. Box for the Lord
2. Box for husband
3. Box for children / children’s activities
4. Box for taking care of home
5. Box for work
6. Box for family / friends
7. Box for church / ministry
8. Box for Self
9. Box for bible study
10. Box for community outreach
That’s ten different boxes, and that’s even with doubling some of them up into one box!
We women have a lot of responsibilities in our lives! Many different boxes to take care of. As you can see just from the boxes above that include just normal life, there is real good reason to see how a woman can get stressed sometimes, especially if she is focusing in so many different boxes that she isn’t able to give completely to the boxes that are important.
When we take on more than what God has called us to take on, our boxes begin to fall and crumble. They don’t stay in their neat stack, the way God designed them to be. When we don’t consider God’s priorities in our lives, we find ourselves having to move this box ahead of this one, and pushing that one behind another, and stressing because we really did need to do something with the original box, but now it needs to wait because you’ve fallen short in another box. Can you see how this can happen??
God has called us to have order in our lives. He has called us to set priorities and boundaries so that we can live a life that is balanced and not in chaos; feeling as if we are being pulled in so many different directions, that we don’t even know which direction we are supposed to go anymore.
So, how do we get our boxes neatly stacked and in order again? You start by seeking God and what He wants as a priority in your life. Then you start removing the boxes He says needs to go. If that means you don’t do as many bible studies or serve in as many ministries as you once did, then so be it. God knows what will bring balance into your life; and He knows which bible studies you need to be working on!
Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing, that we find ourselves involved in so many bible studies, or Facebook groups, outside activities, community events, and so on, that we find other areas of our life is suffering because we are spending so much unnecessary time on these other activities that God didn’t want us in, in the first place!
Home life begins to suffer because we have so many different boxes that we are involved in. Which is our main priority…home or ministry (also insert community events here)? Your home is your first priority. Your home is your ministry. If your home is suffering because you are never home due to the number of ministries you are serving in, or other events you have volunteered for, you need to learn to start saying no. God will find someone else to fill that position for that ministry or event, no doubt. You do not have to do it all. You are not Superwoman! We like to think we are….but we are not!
Another thing to consider about being out of balance is that once we stretch ourselves into so many different boxes, we begin to get weaker. Think of a rubber band. Before the rubber band is stretched, it has a lot of strength and resistance. But the more and more we stretch the rubber band, the less strength and resistance it has, and sooner or later it snaps!!
Spreading yourself too thin and into more and more of what God has not called you to do is like stretching your own rubber band. The more boxes you put into your life, the further and further you are being stretched. The further and further your rubber band is stretched, the less strength and resistance you have; the more health problems you begin to have; the more chaos you will see at home; and so on….and sooner or later, YOU WILL SNAP!! Then what good are you to anyone, especially God??
Ladies, it’s time to take a serious look at our lives and the boxes we have lined up in front of us with our name on it. It’s time to start seeking God and asking Him which box you can close and put it away neatly until He calls you to take that box out again. It’s time to set some priorities. It’s time to say no to some things, even if they look fun or popular!! It’s time to step away from the things in our lives that is sucking the life out of us. It’s time to start taking back your life, your family, your time with God, and time for yourself!!
Priscilla says on page 91, “Balance is not when the boxes are equally filled but when we are free to fill only those that are important for now, without feeling guilt over the ones that we’ve left for another time and place. This is balance, little sister. Remember it.”
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Let’s pray:
Father, we seek You today and ask Lord that You show us the boxes in our lives that need to be removed and stored away for another time in our life. Father we ask that You give us wisdom as we review the areas in our lives that may be causing us to become out of balance, and give us direction on how to close these boxes. Lord, help us to say no, when we need to say no. Help us to not feel guilty, or that we are letting someone down if we don’t say yes. Help us to achieve the kind of balance that YOU want in our lives; the kind that will bring us the peace that we so desire Lord. Father, help us to put our priorities back into perspective, once again. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
Your Assignment:
Share below which boxes you currently have in your life. How many different boxes are you handling? Then ask the Lord which box(es) He wants you to remove from your life, to help you find more balance. In the comments section below, share which box(es) that is, and how you plan to put that box away for now. How will you find balance in your life so that you are more able to serve Him.
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 a Online Bible Study Group, and would like to, please email us at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we will be happy to add you!
Be Blessed,
The Resolution for Women: Week 5 – My Best
I can’t believe that we are already into Week 5!! Wow, how the time has flown by during this study! I truly hope you are enjoying this study as much as I am! This book offers a wealth of information to help us grow physically and spiritually!
I have tweeted with the author of this book on a couple of occasions. Priscilla has told me that she is praying for our group, and is very excited that we are using her book for our bible study! I think it’s great that she has taken the time to reply to my tweets! 🙂
In this next section of The Resolution for Women, we will study “My Best”; which means we will cover areas such as achieving balance in our lives, time management, avoiding perfectionism, and taking care of ourselves physically. Another week of awesome topics!!
So, with that said, do you have your seat belts fastened for another amazing ride to our next Resolution?? If not, you had better buckle up, because this is going to be another awesome journey! Let’s give everything we have to this study this week, to bring glory of God!
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Here is this week’s reading assignment:
(Week of July 30th – Aug 3rd)
30th: Week’s Assignment / My Best / Boxes – Christi
31st: Timing Is Everything – Megan
Aug 1st: Anything, Everything, and Whatever – Kelley
2nd: It Only Works When I Breathe – TBD
3rd: Week Overview – Christi
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Let’s Pray:
Lord, we lift yet another amazing week of the Resolution study to You, and we ask that You help us to remove all distractions that would prohibit us from hearing from You this week. Help us to focus at least 10 minutes a day with You, Lord. Help us to give this study what time it deserves, Lord, so we can learn what You are trying to teach us. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!!
If you do not yet belong to our Online Bible Study Facebook Group, and would like to, please send us an email to GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com and we will be happy to add you!!
Be Blessed & Be a Blessing to Someone Else Today!!
