I am happily married for ten years now, with two wonderful kids 7 and 3. And I am seeking to learn how to walk closer with Jesus more and more everyday through this journey we call life! ~Humility*
Lysa says, “Becoming a woman who unashamedly says yes to God is going to make you different from many of your family members and friends. You will examine life’s circumstances with a different outlook.” (p78) It's a hard truth that being different can be uncomfortable and even painful. The sideways looks, the whispers behind your back or the outright telling you to your face that you are too radical. It is not easy to be radically obedient when the world around us is running head long over a cliff and thinks we are stupid and foolish for missing out on all the “world” has to offer. I wish it was easy but the pull of wanting others' acceptance and approval has been a lifelong battle. I remember working as a waitress with some very ungodly people and wanting very much to be a more vocal witness and share my faith, but it never seemed like a good time and frankly I was afraid of being seen as preachy or radical. I know that to love God means that others are not always going to love us, yet we desperately seem to want both. But God has called us to serve Him, not our insecurities, as we are told in 1 Peter 13-16 “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” NASB. The rewards of living this kind of radically obedient life bring a peace and an inner “joy” that is priceless. So I hope and pray that together we can find the inner courage and faith to be women who whole-heartedly follow after a radical and loving God.
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It helps to realize that “this life is temporary…to live beyond this moment and rejoice in what is to come. Each time I feel my heart being pulled down into the pit of ungratefulness and grumbling, I recognize it as a call to draw near to the Lord….only He has the ability to fill me completely. In my worship of Him, my soul is safe and comforted and reassured and at peace.” (p83) I am learning more and more each day that the “secret” to living life well is to live with our minds, hearts, and souls steadfastly focused on the one and only true living God (The Alpha and Omega, the Prince of Peace, my only Salvation).
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I am also learning that to love others the way God wants us to, means that sometimes there is a lot of pain involved. They don’t always love us back, they can even be unkind and cruel to us, yet we are to try and see them as God sees them and be gracious and forgiving. We are to pray for blessings on them and treat them with loving kindness. I love the way Lysa ends this chapter, “Though I can’t physically see Him, my soul pictures Him so clearly…The touch of His gaze wraps about me, comforts me, assures me,…As long as my gaze is locked on His, I dance and He smiles. The snickers and jeers of others fade away…Even my own stumbling don’t cause the same feelings of defeat. My steps so often betray the desires of my heart, but it is not my perfect performance that captures His attention. Rather, it is my complete dependence on Him that He notices.” (p88-89) May we truly see this life like a dance with both its learning and mistakes and beautiful triumphs, that through them all God loves us and is always willing to be the perfect partner who can lead us through everything that this life brings our way. There is no new “dance” that He does not know, we can be confident in His ability to lead us perfectly, even better than Fred Astaire.
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I will be on vacation this week and away from internet, but I will try to check in when I can. Pam will be responding for me in my absence, so please don't stop sharing with each other, we are here to learn together.
14 YOUR Comments Here!:
"Each time I feel my heart being pulled down into the pit of ungratefulness and grumbling, I recognize it as a call to draw near to the Lord." (p. 83) That's me. It's a SURE sign I've let busyness push God aside. I start getting grumpy with the kiddos, short with Mark, and feeling VERY UNDER-appreciated by them. Yep - SOMEONE didn't spend time with the Lord ... and that someone is me.
It's a symptom that runs in several areas of my life - that I'm just recently noticing. I work hard to get everything in order - including my relationship with the Lord, our home, etc. - and then slowly it slips into a mess, so I work really hard to get it organized again, and so on the cycle goes.
Not everything can be perfect, but there's a difference between perfection and steady discipline. The latter is what I hear God calling me to. Only WITH HIM can every day be a success (whether the "to do" list gets completed or not!).
Dear Tami,
I am hoping your trip is going great!
I feel the same way it is so hard to be consistent in our focus and behavior.
I am really trying to see my own to-do list as only a guide line. THAT GOD can and will change it at any moment and that is the real eternal to-do list I want to get done.
Love you all blessings
Yes, yes! I completely agree with you, Tami and Humility. It is so very easy to get caught up in our to do lists, our busyness. I am a list person. I must have a list for everything. Sometimes, though, the only thing on my list should be to spend time with the Lord. Be quiet and hear His voice. Our lists will get done . .or maybe they won't. Whatever the case, God has bigger and better plans for us than what we think we need to do. We should be letting Him make our lists! He will never fail us.
Tami, I hope you are having a wonderful time on vacation!!
Love,
Tamra
I too rely on lists, especially during the school year. It seems there’s more to do than my brain can remember without my trusty “list”. I’ve even gotten up in the middle of the night and either created a list, or added to one that’s been started. I’m going to start writing, time with God at the top of each list. That’s where my focus should be and the rest will fall into place.
I was moved by a quote on pg. 79 by John Bunyan; “If my life is fruitless, it doesn’t matter who praises me, and if my life is fruitful, it doesn’t matter who criticizes me.” Too often, I tend to dwell what others think of me. Saying yes to God and having a fruitful life is all that should matter. Praise God for His patience and love.
This chapter struck me in a couple of different ways. When she said that walking with God is sometimes more about being than doing, it hit me. I do so many things to try to be right with God and to follow all the disciplines I have learned. In all this doing, I miss being with God. Also, it is always a choice whether to worry or to worship. I worry all the time and think that that is just the way it is, but in truth, I have a choice.I strive so hard for the peace of God, when I should just be with God and rest in Him and He will bring the peace. I want to be a woman who says yes to God!
I keep thinking about what Pam said about looking in the mirror2 weeks ago and it is still with me. Worry........ It's my middle name. I would like to know why instead of turnijng to God it is easier to worry! I found this saying in something I was reading and it says;
Life is God's gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift to God!!
You know when you go and buy a present for someone you love you take alot of time and you want it to be just right, That Perfect gift.The gift he wants from us is really very simple(at least in Gods eyes). God always provides but we doubt that so much. Between a mirror and a perfect gift I have so much work. to do. I quit playing cards on the computer to write this comment. I turned the tv off last night to read. One step forword and many more to come.I also thank God for being such a patient God, he doesn't give up on us.
I love what Humility said about getting the "real eternal to-do list" done...that's what's really important to me.
It amazes me how timely this study is! I waste so much time battling "the two gatekeepers" who "wish to detain me": Acceptance and Rejection. I've been so insecure the past 5 or so years and crave approval so much. Then I'm really hard on myself if, in my perception, I fall short, and then feel useless in God's kingdom. I want so much to enter into His garden of beauty, peace and trust every moment of every day.
I've been feeling a little more secure as I spend time in my sweet secret place communing with my Lord. The section in the chapter called "A Little Girl's Dance" really ministered to me. It reminded me that He loves me unconditionally and He delights in my dependence on Him!
This is an awesome book...thank you for letting me be part of this journey!
Katie, What a great insight. God wants our attention, love, & praise, when we are in that place the peace that we crave floods our hearts.
God impressed something on my heart last year. I was always "fretting" over the students in my class. Most of my students live in poverty, many come from very difficult home situations, English is a second language for several, and some already have pretty strong anger issues. I frequently lift them up in prayer, but found myself continuing to fret over them. God told me quite firmly, "Lift them up, and let them go!" Now when I find myself worried about someone, or some situation, I remind myself to do just that, Lift it up, and let it go!
Diane- I think you hit the nail on the head with spending time in your sweet secret place with our loving God. That's where He will heal insecurities, and fill you with confidence in Him.
It's so exciting to see the work God is doing in each of us at the exact place we need it.
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4
Linda ~ Stopping & Turning OFF! You have chosen WELL!!
Ladies, I love reading all your heart felt words it is so encouraging to know we are all learning and growing together!
I wish we could all sit in a room together and share, mabye at the end we can all get together in person and rejoice in the fruit God is producing in our lives!
Blessings
Page 81 "I am precious and accepted no matter what. No matter the choices I make, His love is not based on my performance." Where was this advice when I was a pre-teen?
page 78 "just because life is busy doesn't mean you have to rush about without God." Doooh, that took away one of my excuses!!
page 81 "I am a treasured something." I am, yes I am.
I think Humility has a great idea. I would welcome a meeting when this internet experience is over. It’s been so exciting to hear about how God is affirming, challenging, and changing each of us.
Hi all
I really enjoy hearing all of your comments. I too am a list maker...mostly because I am so busy multitasking, I forget what I am supposed to do! I am trying to make my time with the Lord a priority, but I find that if I don't do it first thing in the morning, it probably won't happen. I need to revisit my list and make sure that I check off quiet time everyday.
The chapter talks about having "Peace like a River" when we make the choice to worship God and obey. I tend to think of rivers as wide and slow moving, but rivers also have white water. They go around rocks and smooth the jagged edges. God's peace is like that. He gives us tranquility from the sharp pains and bumps and turns. He doesn't take them away but he takes us through. My work has been especially frustrating for the past 2 weeks. I am looking for God's peace in this rough place. I need to give this completely over to Him because that is where the peace is. I need to stay faithful to him and fix my eyes on Him!
Carrie
I too need to start my day by taking time communing with God and learning from His word. When I skip that time in the morning, it often goes undone.
Lamentations 3:22-25 “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
Carrie- I love your insights about rivers, and how God doesn’t take away the sharpness of the rocks, but instead helps us through difficult times. Praise God for his unending faithfulness, and His promise of peace.
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