Siesta Summer Bible Study (Weeks 1 and 2) from LPV on Vimeo.
Hey Summer Bible Study Siestas!
It’s time for Gathering II! Remember, all comments to this post are meant to come AFTER your small group meeting as a way of sharing a highlight with us from your time together. Try to limit your feedback to one regular-size paragraph and be sure to remind us where you’re from and how many are in your group. Only one group member is requested to give a report but if something huge is happening in your life through the study and your leader didn’t share it, by all means, post an individual comment so your Siestas can give God the praise He’s due.
If at all possible, please watch the video for your instructions for this week’s gathering but, just in case you can’t get it to work or can’t spare the time, here are the activities in writing:
1. By now you’ve been well introduced to the concept of the study. We’re cleaning out our thought closets. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you individually need this particular subject matter and why?
2. Look on p.13 at the quote in the margin: “Who I am and what I struggle with are not the same thing.” In what way did that statement resonate with you? What struggle do you most tend to define yourself by?
3. Look on p.23, Day 4 of Week 1 at the interactive where Jennifer says, “In your own words, describe worry.” What was your answer?
4. Go to p.44 in Week 2 and focus on the part of the study where Jennifer talks about “faulty assumptions.” I thought this part was incredibly insightful. What is one of your faulty assumptions?
Have a great time with one another and may Christ’s Presence and power be evident in every gathering! You are loved and prioritized here at LPM.
*Previous posts:
Summer Bible Study Sign Up
Summer Bible Study Kick Off
The Heart of Texas Heiresses of God met on Wednesday night. Our planned meeting time is 7:30-8:30pm, and we managed to wrap up about 10pm. We are loving it! Our discussion was powerful and deep, and our connection with each other leaves us all feeling incredibly blessed. Worry did not seem to be a big thing for us, although we all confessed to doing it. Instead we were captivated by our struggles, their roots, and the ugly fruit they bear. We explored this at length, and our closets are looking better.
Blessings, Beth! We love you for the adorable smile, great wardrobe, fabulous zebra pillows, outrageous sense of humor, but most of all . . . your willingness to serve us because you love God.
The Clear Creek Crew in League City was all accounted for this Tuesday evening. All 8 of us enjoyed Iron Soup, Chocolate Eclair dessert, and some deep discussion. The first question started off with most of the group rating 'need for the study' rather low on the 0-10 scale, but as we began discussing it was apparent that we ALL had struggles that we allow to identify us instead of our identity being found in Christ. Everyone was really honest and transparent. This really bonded us as a group and I think we all left feeling connected and challenged.
Allyson
Julie and I met via email again. If we were rich and famous we would have met on a beach in Hawaii. And I would have totally treated!
1. We both were pretty sure we didn't need this study very much in the beginning because we've done this sort of thing before. Turns out we still have some lies to break free from. We give it a 10.
2. Struggles with trusting God to restore the years for children whose parents have had issues and worried that those issues have somehow damaged them. Struggles with health issues. Believing that somehow they could/should have been prevented. It's all my fault. Lots of pride.
3. Worry about mothering. Worry that God will say NO. What is "He's bigger than I am and He's in control." What is "I'm here. Not giving up. Still believing. No matter what."
4. "I am solely responsible for how my children develop and turn out." "I'm not worth the trouble."
Good stuff!
Nichole and Julie
Marion, Iowa
this is martha, solo in asheville, NC. i have to admit i thought this study was going to be potentially cheesy.. *sheepish grin* but i have been proven SO wrong. (and i'm glad!) i wasn't sure exactly how much i needed this right now.. then i showed my husband the book and he read the title and chuckled and said "now that's exactly what you need to be studying!"
i can remember a point in my early childhood where i stopped fighting the hurtful thoughts and self-destructive lies running through my mind.. i remember a point of just giving up and agreeing with the enemy. since then i have grown accustomed to the lies.. i don't even understand it, but its like i get some sick satisfaction in just letting them run rampant, like i deserve those things. i have to admit.. i really think most of those things are true of me at this point. so i think i need this study at about a level 10. 🙂 i have been amazed at what i am "hearing" myself say to myself now that i am actually listening and not just thinking without thinking about it.
faulty assumptions have been and are HUGE for me.. probably the greatest one lately and in the recent past is that human love will be more fulfilling to me than God's love. i mean, i "know" this with my head.. but i am learning it experientially now. it has really come out in my marriage of three years. when my sweet husband fails to love me perfectly, it is so hard for me to surrender those needs for love/affection/affirmation to my God. to believe He is and will be enough if in life i never receive the human love i crave. not that my husband isn't wonderful, he is.. just not perfect. 🙂
so anyway.. those are some of my thoughts. i am SO enjoying this study, and reading some of the things God is stirring in other siesta's hearts. i do have a question though.. what does it look like to have healthy, God-honoring and God-esteeming self-esteem?? does such a thing exist? part of me feels guilty entering this study like am i just trying to feel good about myself. anybody??
Our group meets on Thursday evenings, so sorry this is a little late! 🙂 One of the things that our group discussed tonight was that the majority of our insecurities and faulty assumptions come from trying to please other people! Yikes. Now if we would just quit doing that and focus on pleasing God, we would be a lot better off! Easier said than done, but we are definitely ready to work on it…
Kirsten
Harrisburg, PA
We had a tender sweet evening as the workbook brought up past issues that we were dealing with. I think the thing that topped our list was how powerful words can be; each of us want to say encouraging things from now on! We sang Ps 19:13 put to music by one of our ladies–an easy way to memorize! Sonya joined our group. We're blessed by the study and our fellowship. Thank you!
I'm a little late in responding, but we had a good study…
Our group meets for Lunch at Mary Jo's house-we had enchaladas with all the fixings and raspberry pie for dessert!!! Awesome !!!
A couple ways worry was described in our group was "strangling" and "a balloon about ready to burst" I was glad to be reminded what God has to say about it in Matthew 6:25-32…Oh how we need to RELY on His word!!
Until next time, Love Tammy in SD
Our meeting went well. Though we are sisters, this is the first time that we have attempted anything of this nature. Praise God that He brought this to pass. I believe this is helping to heal our relationships with one another and helping us to see how we each struggle with similar things.
Pamela, Kimberly, Kristl
Our group is just the two of us, mother and daughter. We began by watching the video session that we downloaded from Lifeway. We are meeting weekly since we are living in the same house.
We had both marked the quote about we are not our struggles. We shared some of the struggles that we are having and how we are learning who we are.
Our definitions of worry both contained the idea of fear or anxiety.
While my faulty assumptions had to do with believing that you some how have to earn the right to be loved, my daughter has never struggled with that faulty assumption. This was a wonderful thing to know.
Karen and Meredith in Tennessee.
We were late in meeting because of working. We had an average of 7 on how much we need tohe study.
We had different ways to explain worry, but liked Beth's "gnawing on a bone"
Loving the study. Thank you
Lori, Judy and Susan
We met on Wednesday night…added one to our group so that now we're a cozy foursome. We sat outside at a local Starbucks on a piazza that was very nice with a delicious dinner and cloth tablecloth and napkins. It was something to see. But the best part…REALLY…was the sharing that we had around the interactives. Two of us are finding that we need this study right now at a 10 level, one at a 12! Wow. How cool that God would bring us together to share and encourage and help each other as we work through some tough truths to get to THE TRUTH. We're all so grateful for the study, the fellowship and how God helped you to pick 4 extremely helpful interactives out of 2 weeks of jam-packed teaching. We appreciate you Mama Siesta so much.
Cindy
Cheryl
Kim
Diane
Laguna Niguel, CA
Springhill Group –
Our group is really enjoying this study. We are finding this studying a great way to relate to each other and keeping us accountable too. This week we really just focused on not letting those words in our thought closet keep hammering us at every point in our life. Every time we do feel those harmful words coming we just need to feel God's love around us. He made us to love us and for us to love Him and we are doing an injustice to think about how bad God's creation is (us).
Our study group includes 3 states & chatting over the phone & emails. We agreed that finding time to answer all the questions throughly was a big challenge for each of us. However, we dug in with God's grace & this is our summary:
1.How much do you need this study:
We rated it 8, and we agreed we can benefit from cleaning our thought closets. However, we would like to spend more time on the the attributes of God for encouragement & less on the negative.
2. What struggle do you most tend to define yourself by?
We agreed that we define,ourselves as mom's,wives,daughters, &
sisters & we struggle with being "Good" in those defined roles. We all want to be "Good" at the roles God has blessed us with.
3.Describe worry:
A fear that stems from unbelief; not trusting in the faithfulness of God in a certain area.
4.Faulty assumptions.
Our insecurties can sometimes keep us from making new friends & having new experience's because we wonder if we "measure up" to the other persons expectations.
Our group: Louise (californiamum) Lacey (Rhinestone Cowgirl) & Lynn (ThePinkboots)
I had to miss our meeting due to a very sick husband. He came back sick from youth camp, poor thing.
1) For me, it is a 10+ right now in my life. I reposted my index card of a saying by you "Our words are potent but God's are omnipotent" and how important it is to speak His words out loud to battle the enemy.
2)That statement reminds me that I am not my illness but a wonderful child of God. My struggle is my value of worth.
3)Worry: a recording that keeps playing over/over to cause fear
4)'faulty assumption': that I am not doing enough for our boys
Okay Siesta Mama, this study is crazy good! I'm flying solo but I feel like I have a whole herd of Siesta sisters supporting when I read others comments.
Personal definition of worry – thinking about something I cannot change instead of letting God think about it for me.
A faulty assumption – "I'm smart." Sometimes I think I'm smart all by my own prideful self. Heck, I've been trained to think this way. That's what law school will do for a girl. I can reason my way over, through and beyond all sorts of situations, thanks to my education but the truth is I am nothing without Christ. NOTHING. He is the smart one. I am just a vessel. So, when I'm tempted to think I can figure my life out, without God, I fall into the "faulty assumption" pit. And let me tell you, it is a PIT.
Mother and daughter, just the two of us, have undertaken this journey together. And both daughter (age 26) and mother (old enough to be her mother) believe that this is an invaluable study.
When we got to looking at the contents of our thought closets, down to the very cluttered floor and even into the dark and dusty corners, we discovered some truths about ourselves that need to be brought into the light.
We came to understand the paramount importance that the weapon of God's truth plays in the "spring cleaning" of our faulty assumptions. We felt that Jennifers's prayer for the strengthening of our unbelief was best completed using the words from our own Beth's "Believing God."…
I believe that God is who he says He is.
I believe that God can do what He says He can do.
I believe I am who God says I am
I believe I can do all things through Christ.
I believe that God's word is (and must be) alive and active in me.
I'M BELIEVING GOD!
Lord, help our unbelief. (Mark 9:24)
Amen
Margie & Laura
Hilton Head Island, SC
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you individually need this particular subject matter and why?
10 – because to not drink or use substance as I have or use my credit cards to satisfy and cover up, this positive thought process is vital for me. Scary to face what you hide. Instead of defaulting to my painful thinking an then drink or take a pill or use my credit cards to cover up, I must think before spending, think before I run out and take a drink or use the substance to get by. Here is a an acronym HALT to remind me.
H (don't get to hungry)
A (don't get to angry)
L (don't get too lonely)
T (Don't get to tired)
The more I dwell the more I swell.
2. What struggle do you most tend to define yourself by?
These words tend to define me: unworthy, stupid, forgotten or not interesting enough. I cover up those hurtful feelings, not seeing the truth that I am loved by God though I feel these definitions. Who I am must not be worth enough and I know that can edge on pridefulness. Giving it up can be darn scary, just like the temptation to drink, take substance to hide or not paying attention to my debts this too is another addictive destructive way that only keeps the lie on me.
3. “In your own words, describe worry.†What was your answer?
Will I be rejected either by a friend, or job, a loss of my ability to paint, by God.
4. What is one of your faulty assumptions?
Painting is a good way of describing what I do in my mind when I do this faulty assumption. I paint this huge blown out of perspective picture of…she/he is mad at me and don't love me anymore (not based on trust) and then I attach God to that. If they are mad than God must be mad because they are so godly. If I perform correctly I will get the attention/love I need or want, if I perform incorrectly than I get the lack of what I need.
That's a faulty assumption…performance. If I perform I'm deluded in thinking that I will get what I need when probably the people I know see right through this and probably wonder, "what the heck are you doing, I love you just like you are, quit acting!"
Allison-solo
Our group met last evening (Thurs. night) and we had a wonderful time of sharing. At first many of us thought this study was for someone else…and then as we all dug deeper, we discovered that, wow (!)this was exactly what we needed. Thank you Lord for your graciousness. Several women are going through significant struggles in their lives and so we camped on that discussion point of not allowing it to define us. The other major point we discussed was our faulty assumptions and how they eventually lead to bad fruit. We realized that we need to hold each other up in fervant prayer to carve time out for this particular study as our thought closets are a battle ground and the enemy would like to thwart the work that God has in store for us through this study.
kzerbe
Lovettsville VA group
1. We gave this study an 8 on the relevance meter. My niece finds this very relevant to what she, as a teenager, struggles with. I find it hitting on some painful areas I've wrestled with through the past year.
2. My struggle has been with certain specific areas of self-esteem. If too much and too little are both manifestations of pride, then how do we get over ourselves? I really thought I had, but when I began dealing with some things with the Lord about a year ago, it opened one ugly can of worms. The 15-yr-old wants to add that her struggle is with her tongue and the unkind jokes she sometimes makes at other people's expense even when she doesn't intend to wound.
3. Worry- Experiencing trouble that hasn't happened yet and probably won't.
4. That other people can define for us areas of self-worth. That God gets as tired of us as we get of ourselves.
Anne
P.s. Sorry this is late. You try catching the kid between work and drama camp!
#1. Most of our group was resistant to this study at first based on the FAULTY ASSUMPTION that it didn't apply to us! We realized that we need to work through this subject matter.
#2. We struggle to be IN the world and not OF the world. Most of our struggles had to do with living an authentic Christian life in spite of circumstances and surroundings.
#3. Worries are fearful thoughts that you can't let go – thoughts that wake you up in the middle of the night like a dripping water faucet wearing away your peace and your joy.
#4. Faulty assumptions grow and change as we do. We need to let go of the false and deal with truth and reality.
Grace United Methodist Church
St. Augustine, FL
23 Siestas enrolled in three small groups.
Our group could not meet until Thursday evening. Because it was later in the evening (after dinner) I fixed a treat for all of us….it just happened to be popcorn with Goober Chocolate Covered Peanuts poured over it!
We all agreed that we need this study, some more than others. One of us said on a scale of 1 to 10, she was an 11!
Worry is a fear of things that usually never happen.
We learned that many of the struggles we face now stem from things we dealt with in our past. Of course this made the false assumptions even clearer to us all.
It was a great time of sharing. Thanks again Siesta Mamma for all you do for us!
The Peeps (Running Group – Vicki Sherry, Tracey Lauri)
Greenwood, SC
We just met for our regular Friday morning Bible Study and have had such a good time discussing this book. We are a diverse group of a cradle roll US Southern Baptist, an adult convert UK Baptist, an Anglican and a Roman Catholic–so we always have things to discuss. We all agreed that we had no idea how much we needed this study until we got into it, but that it is speaking directly into specific situations happening right now. One lady said "the way I talk to my family changes with what study we are doing, but now the way I talk to myself is changing as well." Great discussion followed on always making study applicable. We dwelt most of the time on some unchangeable labels in our group and how to see those from God's perspective and not the world's perspective. I just love how refreshed I feel after meeting. Thanks again for facilitating us this summer.
MiPa, Nicola, Michelle and Rita
PS–my UK ladies just didn't get the big hair thing, but their Texan leader certainly did! lol
Solo-grown weary in serving myself as I am either disappointed or always craving/desiring more in my life or others instead of being content. Somedays long to see the world through someone else's eyes besides my own. That is why children and grandchildren must be such a joy seeing the world through someone else's eyes just beginning the journey. God's Word is always refreshing to me when I get weary on this journey.
There were 5 of 8 members present Tuesday night. We truly had a blessed time in His presence.
1. We discussed how this Bible study was needed tremendously (6 – 10) by each of us because each of our thought closets needed to be cleaned out.
2. We conversed about how our struggles in life and what we truly are do not equal the same. This was not an easy task for us to be honest with ourselves or each other. But, we did it. We shared with each other that we felt “not good enough, overweight, slow, etc.
3. One member’s description of worry was to be totally consumed.
4. Our “faulty assumptions†consisted of not being good enough, being slow, overweight, etc.
Beth, we enjoyed your bop-it commercial!
Ninette G
Seagoville, Tx
1. On a scale of 1-10 mine would be a 10. I have the high expectations set for myself that I never seem to accomplish. Having expectations is not bad, but beating yourself up over them when they are not accomplished is. I constantly want to be better and I don't see myself getting there.
2. I struggle with harshness, worry, hardening of the heart to some things. Things in the past I have pushed down in my heart and that crack in my cup has gone completely around. My bottom has dropped out.
3. My definition of worry is like a dog chasing its tail. I go round and round with only to find there is really nothing I can do about it. My worries seem to creep up time and time again. My fault for not giving it completely over to the Lord.
4. I have faulty assumptions about how things are in the homes of others. I have such wonderful friends that are in my eyes the picture of a virtuous woman. I want to emulate that. I try and stumble. I try and stumble yet again. I don't realize that they do the same thing. In my mind they are so put together and nothing is ever wrong, but coming together to spend time with one another at their homes I see that the do have cobwebs on their light fixtures and dust in the corner of the room. They struggle with finding time for themselves and intimacy with their husbands. I am not alone, but yet I continue
to dwell on what I think it true.
I am thankful to have been led to this book and to this study. My eyes are being opened and my heart softened by the Word of God.
Blessings to all!
I cannot begin to describe the effects this study is having on me. I am realizing the core of my lies, lies in telling myself I am not important.
My definition of worry is, " the fear of being unable to control something or make something happen with a desired outcome." It brought to mind a quote from Albert Einstein, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Thank the Lord for providing a new way to achieve better results!
I'm still going solo, but sharing with my "wise guides" the journey. Thanks for initiating this study!
~Christine
Spring, TX
Our group of 6 ladies (late 20s, early 30s, some moms, others hopeful-oneday moms) met last night in Macon, GA. We are LOVING this study! Most of us need this study at about an 8 on a scale from 1 – 10. Our thought closets are full of judgmental thoughts, control, pride, gossip, just to name a few. We all desperately want these roots dug up and cleaned out of our minds!!! Bring on the healthy thoughts!!!
WOW I'm so late in posting, sorry about that.
Carrie and I met on Tuesday and we are really enjoying doing some "cleaning of the closet" although this is anything but easy. Our favorite quote so far has been the one, "who I am and what I struggle with are not the same thing" Can I get an amen?!!!
Looking forward to our next meeting,
Dawn and Carrie
Clever, MO
The three of us are really enjoying this studying. We all find the study very timely and helpful to stay on God's path for our lives and not go off our own worthless rabbit trails.
Lydia is thankful to be in the study to help her correct wrong thinking about herself that does not match up to who she is in Christ. Hannah is realizing how ofter her feelings and emotions control her thoughts and, consequently, her actions. She liked the quote on the bottom of page 56: "Feelings are powerful, but they don't always represent the truth". Becky is glad to do the much needed time of cleaning out the all the untruth, unnecessary assumptions, and just plain clutter that can get in her thought closet over time.
Lydia defines worry as: Not trusting God; Hannah defines worry as: Thinking about something over and over again that she cannot control or change; Becky defines worry as: Allowing fear of the unknown to consume her thoughts.
Lydia has recognized a faulty assumption in her life of thinking she needs to change who she is to be accepted by others; Hannah has felt she is incomplete because she is single; and Becky realized always being involved at church does not equal holiness.
Lydia, Hannah, Becky
Choctaw, OK
Commenting for our group from East Tennessee (Melanie – that's me, Crystal, Meagan, Leah, Kellie and Esther.) I forgot to give ages last time: ages 23-28 🙂
This bible study – totally amazing. Everyone has been open to share and it is just amazing how everything we say ties in. We were open about our insecurites. Speaking HIS word over ourselves instead of those lies!
1. 10, b/c I am constantly calling myself the names I feel.
2. fat, gross. I’m not really fat. I am actually at a normal weight for my size. I was sexually abused. God explained to me that I hate my body because that is what was abused. However, I can’t get away from my body. The only thing I can get away from is fat. So somehow I associated the abuse with fat. So anytime I feel like I have fat on my body, I feel covered in shame and all the horrible feelings of the abuse. Hence, an eating disorder and exercising a lot followed the abuse. God is in the process of healing me. At the moment, I am not allowed(by God) to exercise.
3. Constantly rolling around “what if’s†in my mind.
4. I’m only valuable if I have no fat on me. (Back to the abuse explaination.)
P.S. My sister realized from the study that she was even thinking negative thoughts. She thought those were just thoughts you had about yourself. So that was huge for her.
We had a great second meeting last night! Several of us have enjoyed the metaphor of a thought closet and the ability to really visualize our makeovers…especially with that stinky, nasty piece of clothing in our closets corrupting the rest of our wardrobe. One of our members had such a good example for worrying, it is like sitting in a rocking chair all day, you keep busy, but really don't accomplish anything. How true that is!
We are striving to revamp our thought closets inside and out and fill them with thoughts based on God's love for us.
Kelley and I met this afternoon via facebook! We agreed that we both needed this study. We are both involved in the scripture memory which we said is necessary to keep our thought closets cleaner. We struggle with our negative self talk so we want God to fill our minds! Kelley is on the road to health and wellness and so a healthy thought closet is a key to her success! We both agree that we dwell in the "what if" part of life. We are so excited about what this study will teach us.
Sallie, MS
We had our phone visit discussion today, Friday,July 10. We are both getting a lot of insight through this study.
1. We both felt we needed this 10+.
I felt it was a direct answer to prayer for help in understanding some issues.
2.We both recognize the difference in who we are and our struggles but it is hard to remember that when things aren't going good.
3. Worry to me is like a dog chewing on a bone. It feels heavy and out of control.
4. One of us felt" being me is not enough"(faulty assumption) and the other has an assumption of not being important and a low priority with people.
We are encouraged that we are going to make progress and become whole persons. Also we "see" the truths but feel we need a second touch from the Lord to see clearer.
Thank you all very much.
Elaina/Indiana and Nancy/Wisconsin
I have been loving this study! I had seen it in the bookstore and considered buying it, then . . . it's the very one you picked for our Summer Siesta Bible Study!
Our discussion this week was pretty much non-existent . . since . . . my partner is on vacation 🙂 . . and I really try not to talk to myself in that capactiy for fear of being LABELED 🙂 CRAZY! HA HA!
Now, to answer the questions:
1. From 1 – 10 proably about a 5. I've been greatly aware of self talk for a long time and have tried to practice "being good to me".
2. It's easy to use our stuggles as labels for ourselves. One struggle that I am conquering is perfection and relating it to who I am. I was taught to do a job well enough to sign your name on it. So when I did something, my self-image was attached to it. If it was not perfectly done, I was flawed. So NOT TRUE!
3. God shared His definition of worry with me a few years ago and it has changed my life! As an employer, I had a very "touchy" situation on my hands and needed to terminiate an employee. There was really nothing I could do at the time — but worry about the problem. We usually worry about things we can not change. What God wants is for us to trust Him and let Him handle it for us! This is what He spoke to me: When I fret and worry (as a child of God) it breaks His heart. It is really saying that I do not believe that God is trustworthy! He made me realize how miserable I was and that I was making people around me miserable as well. When I really wrapped my mind and heart around this truth, I was changed forever in the worry department. Whew! There are really no words to covey how I saw God from that moment on!
4. As a Pastor's wife, sometimes people "unload, explode or blow-up" in my presence. My faulty assumption used to be that somehow I caused this. But now I know better. {Getting old really does have some merit — it's called wisdom.} 🙂 I finally learned that I was really a safe place for them. But . . satan would love for me to take it all personal and be defeated! I'm not buying that lie!
Thanks for allowing us to do this study with you. I am looking at doing this with our church ladies in the Fall — maybe.
A girl I work with came in last week wearing a bump-it and for some reason she decided to take it out which is when a group of her co-workers and I saw it and asked what it was. One of the guys said "oh it is like the spoiler on my car" so I kept calling it a spoiler.
God has perfect timing and this study has arrived in my life at the perfect time. I am also watching Jennifer's videos with it which have been beneficial to me also.
Thanks so much for having summer Bible study.
Mary S
Houston,TX
Sheri, Mary, Sheila, Patti and Joan
Portland, Oregon
Our group met on Monday, July 6th, because I (Sheri, the hostess) was going on vacation. We used the questions in the back of the workbook as a guideline.
One of our ladies said that when she looked up the word meditation… it spoke of rumination… which of course means… CHEWING THE CUD! Isn't it perfect? We think about it… swallow it… spit it up… chew on it again… swallow it… ad infinitum… until we fully digest it…
We all met at Starbucks on Thursday. We are Carol, Jeanette, Lisa and Julie. We all work at Mom's Day Out together.
All of us have walked with the Lord for a long time and at first we didn't think this particular subject matter ranked that high for us…boy were we wrong. It became clear to all of us most of what we struggle with is due to a moment or situation in our lives that something was done to us or said to us by a loved one or significant person in our lives that planted seeds of hurt, fear and insecurity. Worry is fretting and stewing over something that probably won't happen. It robs our peace and joy. Faulty assumptions hold us back from living the life of freedom God intended through Christ. One of us shared her faulty assumption was she could change her husband. Isn't that a surprise!! Who would think that.. We all realized our faulty assumptions were very similar. There is nothing new under the sun. We are very much looking forward to the next two weeks. We are growing in the Lord and in our sweet friendships with one another realizing we all hurt and have "stuff" that weighs us down.
We will begin our search for a "Bump it" this week.
Blessings to you from sunny California,
The So-Cal Gals
Kim and I talked through our session over the phone. We agree that we are growing in awareness of our thought life. We are committed to dealing with our stuff and planting truth in our minds so we can think correctly.
Kay
Sierra Vista, AZ
Kim
Mabank, TX
We just met this morning, (Sat. 7/11) due to vacation. Everyone agreed how good this study is from the place of knowing what is true, not believing the lies, and living from false assumptions. We are all over 50, and have yet to figure out, why we still struggle with some of the same stuff from when we were younger. Thanks be to God, He can and is delivering us from the false assumptions, and freeing us from worry. Amen…Pam in San Diego
Finally finding a moment to update! Rachel and I met on Tuesday evening and shared our prayer needs for about the first 45 minutes of our time together! When we got ready to start the evening's activities, we both spoke about how we need this study WAY more than we thought! We enjoyed the topics for conversation and were surprised at the number of Thought-Closet issues we both have to work on!! It was a great time together, sharing and thinking and growing and praising God for His amazing grace and provision! Thanks! We are looking forward to next meeting!
Marla and Rachel – Richmond, VA.
1) I would say that my need for this study is an 7-9. The Lord and I have done much together to get my thought closet right, but I find that I am always needing refresher courses. :o)
2) It is something I'm still pondering. It's a huge concept to me. My biggest struggle would be… am I doing enough to please God? Am I worthy of love or why would he choose to love me? I "Know" the truth, but need to work it into my inmost parts. :o)
3) Worry to me is continually wondering what is or could go wrong, thereby creating a great knot in your stomach that often makes you ill.
4) Honestly, I haven't gotten to page 44 yet. But one faulty assumption I made over and over when my husband and I were first married was that "Men don't stay." Life had taught me this. It took MANY, MANY years and much patience (and stick to it-iveness) from my husband to help me overcome this. I often did things to try to push him away. Praise GOD he never left and has proved how faulty this belief was.
Thanks Mamma Beth! As I sit here replying to this post my heart is tendered with love for you and all of those dedicated to serving Christ there at Living Proof. Their commitment to HIM has aided in changing many lives. Please pass on my affection to them. Your video on the 15th anniversary helped me get a clue as to just what all goes into serving at LP. I praise GOD for such women as these who serve so faithfully! Our GOD is so good!!
Blessings in Christ.
Anna.
>We were all agreed this study has come at a most opportune time for each of us. We saw a great need to train our minds to focus on positive self-talk and give our minds a spiritual housecleaning.
>Worry –not trusting God to work things out and consistently thinking about what could go wrong. Worry is all about trust and control.
Wonderful discussion time—some thoughts to share:
>If we’re unhappy with who we are it’s like God didn’t make us right—we question God by playing the “what if†game.
> Prov. 16:3—Commit to the Lord whatever you do…–the word “commit†means to roll onto, to trust—cf. Psalm 55:22, Cast your cares upon the Lord and He will sustain you—cast means to throw upon… led perfectly into the next lesson on worry. We are to give our burdens over to God to relieve anxious thoughts.
>Crush, capture and concur from 2 Cor. 10:4-5 will take much practice, but vital to overcoming labels and lies.
>Renew, transform and infuse minds with Scripture. In definition for infuse God revealed a wonderful application—syn. ingrain means to implant or fix deeply and firmly as in the nature or mind; adj. of fiber or yarn dyed in a raw state, before being woven or knitted; of carpets made of ingrain yarn and so woven as to show a different pattern. As we infuse the Word of God into the very fiber of our being, God takes us from our raw state and weaves our lives into a beautiful tapestry through His workmanship!! What hope–we CAN have a different pattern in the way we live our lives through the implanted Word of God!!
>Lesson of faulty assumption and the sin of presumption was very insightful! Cf. I Samuel 15:1-29, esp. vs. 23—Saul rejecting the Word of the Lord; height of arrogance to presume to know what God is thinking. David understood the full gravity of this sin when he penned Psalm 19:13. He did not want to fall under the same condemnation as Saul—or commit the sin which cost Saul the kingdom.
Great time in God’s Word!
Johnnie, Christy and Victoria
Wake Forest, NC
1. This study has been perfect for me, and I really needed this. I would have to go with a ten because of my low self esteem and insecurities.
2. I feel like divorce is my label. People give me the sad, puppy dog look around town, think differently toward me but then they don't know what really happened and just the awful things that my ex husband did to me. I don't think of myself as high or the way I should before I met my ex husband. I am very hard on myself.
3. Worry is like a film playing over and over all the things I think about and images playing in my mind constantly. It's like it's on repeat and won't ever stop playing in my head!
4. My faulty assumption is that I will never be truly happy again, fall in love again or have the husband and children I have dreamed about since I was a little girl. I want to be the person before I met my ex husband. I was a happier person, and had a lot more confidence. God has blessed me tremendously in the past few years in other areas that were far more important. I know He is still working in my life, and I just have to keep the faith!
We met Wednesday evening for the first time and went through the intro questions and the homework. There are three of us (soon to be all early 40-somethings). We all knew we needed this study, but our first weeks of homework and first meeting showed us just how very much we need it. We were all rather shocked and saddened to hear women what the women we so love and respect say and often believe about themselves. We were silenced and our eyes started filling with tears, until Charlene wisely broke out into spontaneous prayer. It's so sad to see how Satan deceives us, and how we buy into it, and how destructive it is. But Jesus IS mighty to save, heal, and restore, and to use renewed, godly thoughts for His work and glory. We are praying it will be so.
Carrie, Charlene, and Linda in MN
PS: Beth! I have a layover in Houston today from 1:50 to 3:50. Wanna meet at a Starbucks in or near the airport?! It'll be my treat. 🙂 If I don't get a chance to see you, I'll take in all the big, blonde(Bump-it)hair I can while there in honor of our dear Siesta mama.
group from Midland, tx
we had a great discussion tuesday night – able to share what we were thinking about while going thru the study as well as spending time encouraging each other. as a side note, we meet at my parents' house and that particular day they were having all manner of plumbing issues and their water had been turned off all day tuesday and wasn't going to be turned on again until sometime on wednesday. so, I brought lemonade from my house….but everyone was afraid to have very much to drink because we were in a house where we couldn't flush the toilets 🙂
1.)My first thoughts were that cleaning up my thought closet was similar to cleaning my clothes closet-good general maintenance, but by the end of the first week, I had tears streaming down my face. Labeling my bins of negative thoughts was more revealing than I could have imagined. So I guess I would give this a 10.
2.)I struggle with being overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a wife, a mother, a professional and fearing that I don't reflect Christ in my everyday routines. That my children don't see how my faith is dear to me and why Christ is so important to me. Will they remember me as a mom with great faith? So I suppose that I tend to define myself as being a poor reflection of Christ.
3.)Dwelling on the negative outcome-real or imagined.
4.)My worth is based on my performance.
Nancy
Columbus, IN
Our wonderful Bible Study leader had a great idea of taking turns hosting Bible studies at each of our homes. I'm proud to say that this past Thursday I hosted my very first one and low behold, I was a great hostess, because I am a proud owner of THE BUMP IT. Therefore everyone who attended our Bible study was able to see THE BUMP IT first hand.
Joelle and Jennifer were missed at this week's meeting by both Ashley's, Karen and Amanda. Even though some of the ladies didn't make it, we had a successful study by going over some of our questions in the study guide, and worked through some emotional healing with the questions from your podcast.
Even though we have our insecurities, we have faith that we will get through them and we have each other to lean on. I love my siestas… and girls, don't forget, we're wearing our BUMP ITS to the next Bible Study.
Big faith and big hair from your Grapevine, TX sietas!
Paula from Brownwood, TX
Solo
I have been thinking of and working out bits and pieces of this idea for a few years, now. Being a "list person", I am very excited to have the list of verses and what God has to say all in one spot to read over and meditate upon. I look forward to learning more as Jennifer takes us through this process one step at a time! 🙂
I had some difficulty with the root and fruit exercise. I could identify fruit more easily than the root. 🙂
We meet on Sunday after church because we were already in Esther study on Tuesday evening. I must say, the two compliment each other quite well.
1. Needed it more than I realized. Definitely a 10. I was so busy not being bothered by turning 50 that turning 51 on July 7th has about killed me! All kind of junk is coming up. But that's good – Bring it out in the light so it will lose power.
2. (F) – fear/worry.
(E) – low self esteem in certain areas.
3. Worry – constant thoughts about the worst "what if's" imaginable.
4. Faulty assumption:
(F) – used to struggle with belief she is always right. But has been working on that for awhile adn making great strides.
(E) – belief that "If I can do it, anyone can." Leads to some very unreasonable expectations of others.
Most powerful enlightenment, the question about what someone says that deflates you. I gave my answer and my friend said "Has anyone ever said that to you?" That's when I realized the only person to say that to me was ME!!! Whoa!
Siesta Mama, we are loving the study. Can't thank you enough. There's some powerful work being done for these two siestas in New Orleans.
Elaine and Faith
New Orleans, LA