Should be easy, right?\u00a0 Anyone think they \u201cshould\u201d be able to hold it all together as wife, mother, employee, church-goer, volunteer, etc?\u00a0 We should be able to do everything, at once without a break or help, right?\u00a0 Super Mom!\u00a0 Wonder Woman! Well, not if you learn God\u2019s plan for your life.\u00a0 He expects us to need Him, and to accept His guidance in our lives.\u00a0 He knows we can\u2019t do everything, and especially not by our own power.<\/p>\n
John Baker provides three steps for us at the end of each chapter: Pray About It, Write About It, and Share About It.\u00a0 So let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n
PRAY \u2013<\/strong><\/h3>\nAsk God to give you courage to admit your weaknesses, your struggle to control the world around you, and your inability to hold it all together.\u00a0 There is nothing \u201cweak\u201d about admitting you cannot do it yourself.\u00a0 God knew that we couldn\u2019t do it without Him.<\/p>\n
Ask for His power to fill your life and provide the strength you need to make changes in your life.\u00a0 Ask for His peace when you are fearful, His comfort when you are unable to rest.\u00a0 Matt 11:28-29<\/p>\n
If you can\u2019t find the right words, remember \u2026\u00a0there are no right words<\/em>.\u00a0 There is no special incantation to mutter that will make it to God.\u00a0 At times you may not have the words to speak, and that\u2019s when we are reassured that He already knows, and the Holy Spirit will intervene on our behalf. (Romans 8:26)<\/p>\nAnd the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don\u2019t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.(NLT)<\/i><\/p>\n
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![\"Matthew](\"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/matt11_28.29.jpg\")
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\u00a0Above all remember that He will hear our cries, <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nHe will answer us, and He will deliver us (Ps 34:4)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nI prayed to the <\/i>Lord<\/i>, and He answered me.\u00a0 <\/i><\/strong><\/p>\nHe freed me from all my fears. (NLT)<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\nWRITE \u2013<\/strong><\/h3>\nThroughout this journey, you will want to take the time to write your thoughts to the questions posed in our book.\u00a0 Often, the process of writing will help to clear our thoughts, help us see truths more clearly, and offer insight on what God is saying to us.\u00a0 Find a notebook or journal to use for your thoughts.\u00a0 Keep it in a safe place, and remember it is your private journal.\u00a0 While there will be times of sharing, we will be guided on when to share, what we\u2019ll share, and with whom.<\/p>\n
When I first thought of keeping my journal \u201csafe\u201d, I thought about keeping secrets \u2026 are we really called to keep secrets from our spouse?\u00a0 Then I realized, it\u2019s not about keeping secrets but learning how to manage & control emotions.\u00a0 I can easily spout off from the emotional core of my being \u2026 with tears, and irrational thoughts.\u00a0 We call this \u201cemotional vomiting\u201d because it just spews forth without purpose or consideration.\u00a0 I view the journal as a way to work through this sickness and learn how to express my thoughts, emotions, and experiences with clarity, purpose, and control so that I don\u2019t put off another person.\u00a0 As I tell my kids, \u201cjust because it pops into your head, it doesn\u2019t have to come out of your mouth. \u201c<\/p>\n
Baker gives us five writing guidelines on page 24 to start the process:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- What people, places or things do you have the power to control?<\/li>\n
- What people, places or things have you been attempting to control?<\/li>\n
- Describe how you try to control your image, other people, your problems, your pain?<\/li>\n
- Write how fear, frustration, fatigue and failures of trying to be the \u201cGeneral Manager of the universe\u201d has affected your relationship with God & others.<\/li>\n
- What specific hurt, hang-up or habit have you been denying?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
SHARE \u2013<\/strong><\/h3>\nThroughout this study, we will encourage participants to share with someone they can be honest and totally open with.\u00a0 I would strongly advise that you make this someone of the same sex because the information we work through may stir up emotions and experiences that are not appropriate with a member of the opposite sex.\u00a0 Even if you think your husband, boyfriend, or platonic guy-friend is this person, you may want to find someone else to talk to first \u2026men have a tendency to want to fix things for us, to protect us, and make all things right in our world.\u00a0 This is not the role for our sharing-partner.\u00a0 And, we don\u2019t want to encourage a level of intimacy with someone outside of marriage that is not appropriate for women seeking God\u2019s will in their lives.This is not to say you cannot (or should not) share with your spouse.\u00a0 Just realize that sometimes a person outside of the immediate circle may have different insight & suggestions for you.<\/p>\n
This group is not a counseling session, nor an affiliate of the Celebrate Recovery program.\u00a0 At times, it may be necessary for you to seek professional counseling with a trusted pastor or licensed therapist.\u00a0 We are here to facilitate a book study and encourage learning & personal growth through Bible study.\u00a0 In Titus we are encouraged to support each other, learn from each other, and encourage one another as women.<\/em><\/p>\nAfter you\u2019ve taken the time to reflect and write your answers to these questions, we welcome your comments below, or visit our Facebook Group for additional discussion. \u00a0If you are not currently a member of our Facebook Group, you can click HERE<\/a> to sign up for this online Bible study, and you will be added to this group.<\/p>\n_____<\/p>\n
Dear Lord<\/strong>, thank You for the journey You have given to each of us.\u00a0 We realized that You alone are God, the only one with the power to bring change in our lives.\u00a0 We ask that You shower us with Your grace, open our eyes to the truths of our lives, calm the fears as we take different paths than the ones we\u2019ve always walked, and remind us daily that we are not alone in this process.\u00a0 You are ever-present, ever-loving, ever faithful.\u00a0 Through Your power, we can do all things.\u00a0 Amen.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
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And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don\u2019t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.(NLT)<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \u00a0Above all remember that He will hear our cries, <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n He will answer us, and He will deliver us (Ps 34:4)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I prayed to the <\/i>Lord<\/i>, and He answered me.\u00a0 <\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n He freed me from all my fears. (NLT)<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n Throughout this journey, you will want to take the time to write your thoughts to the questions posed in our book.\u00a0 Often, the process of writing will help to clear our thoughts, help us see truths more clearly, and offer insight on what God is saying to us.\u00a0 Find a notebook or journal to use for your thoughts.\u00a0 Keep it in a safe place, and remember it is your private journal.\u00a0 While there will be times of sharing, we will be guided on when to share, what we\u2019ll share, and with whom.<\/p>\n When I first thought of keeping my journal \u201csafe\u201d, I thought about keeping secrets \u2026 are we really called to keep secrets from our spouse?\u00a0 Then I realized, it\u2019s not about keeping secrets but learning how to manage & control emotions.\u00a0 I can easily spout off from the emotional core of my being \u2026 with tears, and irrational thoughts.\u00a0 We call this \u201cemotional vomiting\u201d because it just spews forth without purpose or consideration.\u00a0 I view the journal as a way to work through this sickness and learn how to express my thoughts, emotions, and experiences with clarity, purpose, and control so that I don\u2019t put off another person.\u00a0 As I tell my kids, \u201cjust because it pops into your head, it doesn\u2019t have to come out of your mouth. \u201c<\/p>\n Baker gives us five writing guidelines on page 24 to start the process:<\/strong><\/p>\n Throughout this study, we will encourage participants to share with someone they can be honest and totally open with.\u00a0 I would strongly advise that you make this someone of the same sex because the information we work through may stir up emotions and experiences that are not appropriate with a member of the opposite sex.\u00a0 Even if you think your husband, boyfriend, or platonic guy-friend is this person, you may want to find someone else to talk to first \u2026men have a tendency to want to fix things for us, to protect us, and make all things right in our world.\u00a0 This is not the role for our sharing-partner.\u00a0 And, we don\u2019t want to encourage a level of intimacy with someone outside of marriage that is not appropriate for women seeking God\u2019s will in their lives.This is not to say you cannot (or should not) share with your spouse.\u00a0 Just realize that sometimes a person outside of the immediate circle may have different insight & suggestions for you.<\/p>\n This group is not a counseling session, nor an affiliate of the Celebrate Recovery program.\u00a0 At times, it may be necessary for you to seek professional counseling with a trusted pastor or licensed therapist.\u00a0 We are here to facilitate a book study and encourage learning & personal growth through Bible study.\u00a0 In Titus we are encouraged to support each other, learn from each other, and encourage one another as women.<\/em><\/p>\n After you\u2019ve taken the time to reflect and write your answers to these questions, we welcome your comments below, or visit our Facebook Group for additional discussion. \u00a0If you are not currently a member of our Facebook Group, you can click HERE<\/a> to sign up for this online Bible study, and you will be added to this group.<\/p>\n _____<\/p>\n Dear Lord<\/strong>, thank You for the journey You have given to each of us.\u00a0 We realized that You alone are God, the only one with the power to bring change in our lives.\u00a0 We ask that You shower us with Your grace, open our eyes to the truths of our lives, calm the fears as we take different paths than the ones we\u2019ve always walked, and remind us daily that we are not alone in this process.\u00a0 You are ever-present, ever-loving, ever faithful.\u00a0 Through Your power, we can do all things.\u00a0 Amen.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nWRITE \u2013<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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SHARE \u2013<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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