Hey, summer Bible study sisters! Watch the video if possible because I only put the barest bones in the written part of these summer Bible study posts. This version of your instructions is mostly for back up but, if you prefer to just get your assignments for your gathering this way and bypass all my verbose video-commentary, I certainly do understand that! Feel free! I just want to make sure you’ve experienced some personal interaction on here. Smiling.
OK! Here are your instructions for today and, remember! Your comments to this post are meant to be comprised of your responses to each of the interactives:
1. Based on the question in the middle of p.37 of your homework: To what specific area of holy bravery does God seem to be calling you in this present season?
2. Drawn from the portion on p.46 regarding the 5 ordinary tasks you perform on a daily basis, share a memory of an ordinary circumstance in which God met with you in an extraordinary way. If you’re new to all this and can’t think what to share, don’t feel lame or unspiritual. Pray for Him to do this very thing with you over the coming days and I have a feeling you won’t be disappointed.
3. Based on p.50 and the discussion about the first part of the divine declaration to Gideon, how confident or insecure do you tend to be regarding God’s promise that He is with you? Explain your answer.
4. Look at the bottom of p.57. Would you be willing to share the pair of terms that best describe a disparity you’ve dealt with between your self-perception and a biblical view of who you are in Christ? If you’re willing, also briefly explain your answer.
Ok, Sisters! That’s it! When you leave your comment, please be sure to put your first name, your city, whether you are in a small group or going solo, and your succinct responses to all or at least several of the interactives.
I’m crazy about you! Stay in the Word! We’ll meet again in 2 weeks on July 9th. Have Weeks 3 and 4 of your homework finished for that gathering if at all possible. So much love to you.
Siesta Summer Gideon Study – Week 2 from LPV on Vimeo.
Vanessa from Victoria, TX, solo
1. Family and friends
2. He reminds me that every mundane chore that I have is because of a blessing from Him, so I thank Him when I’m cleaning because He has given me a house to clean. When I’m picking up after my husband, I thank Him because He gave me this wonderful man. I thank him when I’m fretting over my children because they, too, are a gift from Him.
3. Even when I don’t feel it, I know God is always with me.
4. Insignifican/special
Leanne, Mississippi, 2 friends studying together
1)to have a strong Christian marriage, home & business
2)cleaning house – I am learning to be grateful that I have a home to clean. I haven’t always been this way and complained and looked at what others had and the help they had. I can’t think of a certain memory where God just spoke to me while cleaning but my heart is changing from complaining to be thankful.
3)The more I study God’s word and spend time in prayer the more confident I am in remembering and living with God’s promises. I tend to get insecure and then I realize I have been letting my quiet time with God slip.
4)fearful/courageous – I am always scared or worried about something. I don’t want to volunteer or try new things because of this fear.
Bobbie
College Station-solo
1. Holy bravery–To walk the walk Jesus has for me, believe His promises and ask for His wisdom, not seeking answers from others.
2. I have a family member who has a heart for others. She’s a teacher and a friend to many. When someone else is struggling with a hurt, she struggles with them. The stress is the part that bothers me. I pray daily for her to see God in a situation and when she begins to worry to please hand it all over to God and watch what He can do!. (Much easier said than done). This has been an extremely stressful year for some friends of hers and their family. One morning last week I was listening to Danielle Bradberry sing “Grandpa, Tell Me ’bout the Good Ol Days” when God grabbed me by the heart and said “Listen to the words, girl!” His words came flooding out along with a tidal wave of tears and I wrote her a note, including scriptures. I pray she received this with an open heart to help her and her friends. God is so faithful…we just need to listen with our hearts and eyes wide open!
3. I’m confident that God is with me all the time, but my mind works overtime working to convince me I’m on my own. My insecurities are going to destroy me if I let them.
4. I chose… fearful…courageous and Incompetent…capable. Oh, how I want to see myself in God’s image.
1. To not be so concerned about what others think. I’m too concerned about making them uncomfortable. The truth is the truth. I should not be ashamed.
3. I believe He is with me, but I don’t always feel His presence. My head knows, but my heart doubts.
4. Incompetent -> Capable
I love to study and teach, but I’m no Biblical scholar. I’m afraid I might say something that’s incorrect. I’m afraid that people will judge me.
Lynn – Rochelle – small group of two online
1. In my present season, God is calling me to be brave concerning the future. I worry about finances, finding a better job, and using my gifts effectively for God.
2. Showering was listed as an ordinary, daily task. Once long ago, I was showering and all out of the blue, I heard God say “Be still and know that I am God”. It seemed almost audible.
3. I know God’s word promises He’s always with me, but I let my insecurities cause me to doubt his presence when I don’t necessarily feel it.
4. Insignificant/Special: I feel that because my gifts/talents have not been confirmed by someone of high importance, that I may be insignificant and have not heard correctly from God.
1. Keep Jesus and scriptures in the conversation with family and grandchildren.
2. In making the beds – I’ve heard Jesus speak to me and answer my prayers.
3. I am very insecure so I need the constant reminder that “God is with me!” I love His promises and love His reminders in His Word that He is with me!
4.Fearful-Courageous: Loss of confidence since being among many seminary professors/scholars in our church – struggle with feelings that I’m not smart enough to teach anymore, yet so thankful for His grace and rest in this time of learning and healing.
Karlys, La Place, LA, solo
1. HE seems to be calling me to “step up my game” with the women around me.
2. Certainly, in my quiet time with HIM HE has spoken to me, too many times to count. On occastion, it has been in the shower, while I pretend that it is the Living Water washing me clean that HE seems to shout.
3. So many times I have stepped out to say or do something that I just knew would not be successful. Starting the small group that meets in my home is just one example.
4. Sadly, on occasion, I have been each and every one of those listed. Usually, when I am at my lowest (feeling 3 or 4 of those listed on the left), HE affirms me. I serve a LOVING GOD.
1. Remember always what He has done for our family , Scripture. To teach daily Gods Word.
2.I was blessed to be able to go to Ghana, Africa last summer, while I was there the Lord showed me how blessed I really am. He taught me that I need to be thankful for the laundry machine I have. Because I saw women washing clothes in a large bowl with dirty water. Cleaning my dishes in the clean water out my tap in my home. So many more ways the Lord showed and still reminds me that I am so blessed, and I acan now turn around and tell my family, others that same thing.
3. My husband and I have been through so much together as a family and we have seen His hand upon us and STILL on us! But I will still on almost a daily basis for a split second think whoa! What’s going to happen what are we going to do? Then He reminds me through His Word or reminds me of all He has done.
4. Incompetent and insignificant:
Yes, at times I feel like I can’t do what He has called me to do. That I really don’t matter to those around me in my sphere of influence. But then I found such freedom in Zeph. 3:17. Knowing that He rejoices over me! I can walk in victory in Him knowing that I am special to Him! I just have to remind myself daily and be in His Word. I do know that one day without His Word, I am lost.
Leslie Miller, solo, Christiansburg, Va
Natalie, Houston, in a duo with my daughter
1. To speak up. To not be afraid because of what was not done, but be excited about what can be done.
2. Gardening – I have gained a deeper understanding of scripture from years of gardening. When you see plants, pruned and then coming back stronger, greener and more healthy it resonates with how God can sometimes cut out things in our lives that are holding us back from being “healthy” in our relationship with him. And so many more lessons learned in the garden.
3. In this season, I am aware that God is WITH me!
4. Rejected/Accepted – As a child, I experienced a lot of rejection and deep inside I still carry that with me. It takes a lot to remember that “I am chosen and appointed”.
Margaret, Hamilton, MS: solo
1. through this study God has laid on my heart that I have a story to tell that will encourage others to fully rely on Christ to meet their needs in any situation. (He has done this for me!) Please pray for me as I decide how and where He wants me to do this!
2. Driving/riding down the road. God has spoken to me several times (it may be because that is the only time I am alone or quiet!). I was driving to work thinking about how disappointed I was not hearing from my son in a while when God spoke clearly to me saying, “That’s how I feel when you don’t talk to me.”
3. Confident in knowing God is with me but I sure don’t live like I believe it all the time.
4. Fearful/courageous – while my daughter was alive, I had know choice but to rely on God for strength to get through each day and circumstances that came our way. Now that she is gone I tend to have less energy, confidence in my job in this world, etc. I am claiming Psalm 138:3 for God to energize me to be faithful and brave as I complete the mission He has left me on this earth to do.
Jamie, Crossett, solo:
1) to con’t to be strong in faith regardless of the tide of the culture against me (& even within my personal family).
2) I usually have joy in my present day-to-day chores.
I’m going to be looking for God’s voice more in this.
3) I guess I would be insecure in some ways, b/c I really have to rehearse that in my life.
4)Rejected-accepted:
Just a general sense of being different than the world and even within our church. I’m accepted on such a light, social aspect, but no sense of deep community.
I always felt alone and not wanted at home (as a little girl) and my husband does not give to me emotionally or help with almost anything…alone and rejected.
Sasha, Bellingham Wa, solo
1)God is calling me into leaving the anxious bitterness of “life not going the way I hoped and planned,” behind me.
2) As a mama of tweens, I have many neighborhood kiddos from broken homes always wanting to be in my house. One day, as I prepared snacks and tried to tamp down the frustration of all these extra kids making messes and eating our food, I overheard one little girl say, “It’s so peaceful here. I really like being in this house.” It broke my heart to realize how doing this ordinary thing of being a mom and being “here” was being used by God to bring a bit of normalcy and peace into tiny troubled hearts.
3)Oh boy do I struggle with feelings over faith in this area. If life is feeling crappy I tend to think God is on vacation. I know better in my heart but I really forget so easily and I get very insecure about His presence in the storm.
4) I tend to have a fearful and rejected self image, but God promises that He is with me WHEREVER I go and that HE chose ME. Working on wrapping my brain around that!
Hello! Bringing normalcy of some sort into the lives of kids around us is something we do not understand for a while I think. I had neighborhood kids-some still in diapers- wondering to my house after school asking for cupcakes because I had shared some I made for youth group with them one day. Having no children it was a joy to take requests for flavors, frosting colors, etc. They got evicted recently and I hope someone is making them cupcakes and that they remember the kindness of a stranger- they did not even know my name. They did, however, know the name of my dog! Not only are you being used by God but you are actually demonstrating the love of Christ to these kids he blesses you with!
Brenda; Pullman, WA; solo
1) I am a mother of 2 teenage boys. My call to bravery is to hold fast to God’s Word in training them and not cower to today’s culture and what the world says is acceptable for them to do or not to do.
2) I have about a 10-mile commute to work each morning. During this time, I enjoy ministering to the Lord. There have been several times where God has really opened my eyes to see clearly His plans for me or has reminded me of His Word on something I am facing or need wisdom about.
3)I tend to feel insecure when God asks me to do something out of my comfort zone, but as I step out in faith, trusting in his ability, He always enables me to do it, and I can always see where He stretched me and caused me to grow the most through these times.
4)Fear/Courage – Sometimes the call seems too big or too much for me to do, or I feel lost about how to do something, and I get in fear. As I go to God in prayer and seek Him in His Word, He always gives me the courage and enables me to do everything that He’s called me to do.
CherylAnn, Florida, solo has turned into a small group 🙂
1. presently searching for a job BUT my calling into holy bravery is to become a foster mom to teen girls to leave a legacy and empower their futures!
2. just recently I was pulling out multiples half full bottles of water, chopsticks, sunglasses, etc from under the seats of my car and God reminded me of the amazing roadtrip memories that have been made by filling my car with young girls to go to concerts, college previews, church, etc. A reminder that He has been preparing me for this new calling for a long time!
3. With each rejection letter I get from a potential employer I have two options and I choose to use these as opportunities to remind myself and engrave on my heart that God is Sovereign and in this with me!
4. My pair is insignificant/special. I spent a lot of time building myself up to be special and stealing glory and attention from God. He has placed me in a situation where I feel extremely insignificant, but He has also been helping me establish my identity in Him. I have Zeph 3:17 on my bathroom mirror but the verses from Ephesians 1 ring in my heart as I go through this foster parent training. Just as God is teaching me how truly special I am because of my relationship with Christ, I can use these lessons I am experiencing to teach the young girls that He entrusts to me for even a brief moment.
1. To be brave in waiting. To have the courage to keep on walking, despite the circumstances around me.
2. I had prayed God would show up in a specific way on Monday doing something I do everyday. Amazingly, He showed up in a way I couldn’t have even imagined, clearing yet another path for me to walk.
3. I have never doubted He is with me. But I tend to question why I can’t hear Him and why He isn’t answering me. I doubt His timing, when I can’t see Him moving.
4. For me, ungifted and fearful are my two biggest ones. For ungifted, it is more of I’ve felt I’ve been misgifted with I gift I don’t feel like I get to use and not gifted like others who are using their gifts for His glory. I have to keep reminding myself that He has gifted me exactly as He intended and has a specific purpose for me and those gifts that will bring Him glory (regardless of how I envision that playing out).
Joetta/Charleston, WV/solo
1. My children are 26 and 28. I have known my husband for 35 years (married 29). They have always known me as anxious and in and out of depression. They have always known me as a believer but not someone who walked in faith or made it a priority. As I am moving through this season where I have come to the end of myself and having my own way, I need to walk in obedience (which is contrary to the way my family has always operated) and walk in God’s peace, joy, and security as proof that His promises are real. I could preach the gospel to them all day long but it wouldn’t have the impact of seeing my life and attitude changed by the love, grace, and mercy of our Savior. But I also need to depend on Him totally to accomplish this as I have no power of my own to change myself. If I get down on myself when I fail or depend on my own strength and understanding, then I will end up where I was – totally defeated by the flesh. More of You, Jesus, and less of me is my daily prayer.
2. Although I can’t really recall a time when I was overwhelmed by a word from God during the mundane chores of life, I have many times felt blessed to be cooking a good dinner for husband to come home to after a long day of work. It was more like an utter joy of being able to serve him as he has spent his lifetime serving his family as provider while asking very little for himself and never complaining about the hard work, long hours, or lack of time for the things he enjoys doing. Lord, bless me by being able to serve him as long as we both have breath!
3. My gut reaction to this question was that I have doubts about Him being with me all the time because when I sin I don’t feel He is with me. I don’t feel worthy of His presence. But when I get past the gut reaction and look back over my life, I realize that even in my darkest sin, He was there. My sin could have taken me to places I may never have recovered from, possibly even death in a couple of cases. But His protection was around me even then because I have been His child since age 7. Was I behaving as His child? No! But His promise to never leave me was still in operation no matter how disobedient I was! Praise God for His faithfulness! No, I am not worthy of His presence whether in sin or not! But thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ whose worthiness is the window that God sees me through!
4. Rejected/accepted. I found out about age 8 or so, the man I thought was my father wasn’t. When my parents divorced, the chasm between me and him grew and he never tried to cross it. He never spoke to me about the revelation my mother told me. I needed to hear it didn’t matter to him, that he loved and accepted my anyway, but that declaration was never made and eventually our relationship was completely broken. My real father knows of my existence and his part in it but has never acknowledged it. He has a family and I have never pushed the issue because I don’t wish to bring chaos to their lives. At 53, I have never felt any sense of being accepted by an earthly father, so I am sure that has a lot to do with my feelings of rejection and the difficulty I have had in feeling completely accepted by my Heavenly Father. In addition, my mother neglected my needs as a child and I pretty much raised myself as a preteen and teenager. It is miraculous to read that God Chose me and appointed me! Why? No other parent I had ever loved me enough to even give thought to my future. But God has always had my future in mind even through my rebellion! Where I couldn’t do anything to make my earthly parents love me enough, I also couldn’t do anything to make my Heavenly Father love me less than completely! I still shake my head at the thought of that, trying to get it to sink in! It is too good to be true, I think. But His word tells me it is and so I do my best to walk in it and ask Him to enable me to believe it more everyday. God is soooo good!
As a mom I can relate to getting to the point where you know that it is how you model your walk rather than talk it. Ministering to our families is so hard but so worth it. The scripture that comes to mind is Psalm 100:5. The seeds you have planted will not return void. He will bless us from generation to generation if we look to Him for validation and not to our husbands and our children. I love that you are part of this study. Thank you for sharing.
Marianne, Carrollton, TX (Solo)
1. Bravery to serve others through pet therapy in my community.
2. God demonstrated unconditional love and worship to me through my dog. I want to show my Master, Lord Jesus, this worship and love.
3. God is with me, in bad times and good times, all the time.
4. Incompetent – Capable
When I am weak, then God is my strength.
Linda, Bartelso,IL solo
1. I feel God is calling me to holy bravery in the area of obedence in reaching out to others in need.
4. I often feel ungifted/ but I know God will equipped.
Barb~St Cloud MN~Solo
1. To speak the truth in love. To be ready to give the reason for what I believe.
2. Reading a book to a toddler.
3. I know he is with me…my issue is lack of trust because of past experiences. Not that he wasn’t with me but because of what happened to me.
4. Rejected/Accepted~Not sure how to explain it.
Teresa Neal, Waynesboro, PA
solo study
1. I am being called to Holy Bravery in trusting God and internalizing His Word.
2. While brushing my teeth one morning, God told me that he made me physically, mentally, and emotionally specifically for the purpose he has for my life.
3. My confidence has been building over the last year. God has brought me through things and is working issues in me. I feel more confident in his presence now than ever before.
4. Insignificant-special
I actually identified with all of the pairs. I think this one because I often felt that “sure God can do that for everyone else, but me, I am a mess.” I was and still struggle with believing the enemy’s lies. He wants me/us to believe that we are awful and beyond the reach of God because he is afraid of what God can and will do through us.
1. Bravery: To begin a Womens Ministry at our church…And also not to WITHHOLD any of
myself from God.
2. A few months ago I was waking up in the morning trying to get going and God
impressed on me to start beginning my day recognizing Him with my head, hands,knees
and tongue…So every morning I get up and get on my knees and lift my hands and
speak the name of Jesus and give Him the day ahead….
3. I know that God is always with me I just don’t always acknowledge Him in me, get busy
with ‘stuff”
4. Insignificant- I am quiet at times and not bold and I feel that I am not heard or taken
seriously in certain situations….Sometimes I feel like I am invisible…..
Every day of this study has ‘hit it out of the park’ for me, thank you.
1) Brave – The call to prayer and the discipline to say,’No!’ to distractions/soft addictions that cripple me.
2) Scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees. I was hit with an overwhelming sense of His blessing –
* to be physically capable of doing a chore that I was unable to do in the past, His healing
* the home He has blessed me to care for
* my husband and his job that make it possible for me to be a full-time homemaker
* the family I get to serve through something so menial
* for the change in my heart to see this as a joy rather than a burden
He has been teaching me the greatness of doing what others may think is insignificant
3) When I was in the Wilderness for about 6 years it was easy to know His presence- the manna daily, and the cloud always before me. Now that I feel like I’m crossed my ‘Jordan’ it is more of a challenge to know intimacy with Him. I don’t doubt His love and acceptance like I did for decades but like any mature relationship it takes commitment and dedication.
4) 2 resounded with me:
* fear/courageous – a pattern passed down through the women in my family. This has been pretty much conquered due to my ‘Esther’ moment when the thing I feared came upon me and God showed me that He was Everything and Enough
* rejected/accepted – For years I believed He would reject me as others had. Believing God study (multiple times), seeing His passion for me, and memorizing Ephesians 1:1-?? Have tamed the beast. I’d like to say it is gone but it can still trip me up in weak moments.
1. Mentoring my young adult children.
2. I used to hate doing laundry until God started meeting with me in the laundry room.
3. Based on past experience, I am more confident now.
4. Incompetent – enabled. When I don’t have wisdom or words, He supplies.
Sue Alice solo Greenwood, IN
1. Holy bravery….In just beliving He is here at all times.
2. God has shown me He is there many things as I go through my day, one way is by keeping my husband alive for me…this is as I care for him daily.
3. I have lost the Lord again, I feel at this time very far away from you Lord and this is so sad.
4. insignificant/special The Lord will help me in this also.
Angie, Ormond Beach, FL (solo)
1. Bravery to step away from my plans for the future and be open to His plan for me.
2. Helping kids get ready for bed–usually exhausting, but it’s when I get a chance to thank God for blessing me with them.
3. I believe Him, but I don’t always feel Him.
4. Fearful and courageous. Anxiety is a stronghold I struggle against frequently, although the ability to step away from anxiety is the biggest and most rewarding example of the Holy Spirit in me.
1. To not be anxious about the future
2. God has spoken to me at night while laying in bed after using the bathroom and trying to go back to sleep.
3. I know he is always with me, I just need to trust what his word says.
4.Fearful to courageous- I have taken pay cut the last three years and they school board is asking for another one this year. We lost our house and have moved 3 times in the past 2 years. My husband may lose his car with this pay cut putting u down to one car- very inconvenient. But I’m trying to learn to not be anxious about it but to pray instead.
Tami – Woodbury, TN – Solo
1)Dare to stand strong, especially in teaching.
2)God speaks to me all the time while I am driving in the car. I can’t pinpoint a specific incident, but while doing this ordinary task is when I hear him the most.
3)I am very confident that God is with me always. I feel him in so many ways. Just this past Sunday I was singing at a homecoming in a church, and during one of the songs while singing the line “I’m the Lord, and I can do all things,” I got goosebumps. I just LOVE those moments.
4)Incompetent/capable – I write Bible studies and teach them at my church. I am terrified every single time I get up before them to teach or to pray. I feel very imcompetent on my own, but God is who makes me capable! For without Him, I am nothing.
1. Holy bravery of me…..to mother without anger,sarcasm or a harsh tone. To listen more and trust The Lord all without having had this modeled as a child. Also to trust in Jesus instead of my financial situation.
2.i was washing breakfast dishes and thinking about this lesson and started to have things come to mind that needed prayer. I felt like God said….” You see how I really am coming to you in the ordinary?” And I actually chuckled out loud and said, ” yes”.
3.i am 50% confident. When I am in a situation that is tense or a new social setting I have to slow down and pray because I can feel so alone and then I just flail around and wreck the conversation or the conflict gets worse.
4.fear is a big one for me but that ties in to feeling Incompetent. I AM capable of maintaining female friendships, I am good in social settings, it is okay to be quiet and think about an answer instead of just blabbing to fill empty air space. Capable definitely because the latter is just a lie always lurking around the corner for me.
Jana, Harrisonburg, VA, solo
3). I believe God is with me, but I wish I could have a look T the bigger picture. Why is this situation happening — just a few specifics.
4). Insignificant and special. I struggle with the need of affirmation of my God-given gifts.
Shelley, Shiloh, IL, small group (4): Incompetent/Capable is what I struggle with the most. I’ve heard so much that I can’t do something. The struggle is to stop listening to people and move forward in doing what I know God says I am able to do.
Delores O.
Lake Stevens, WA
small group
1. To continue homeschooling my kids, including my high school student.
2. Picking out clothes to wear: i really struggle with feeling beautiful and knowing how to dress. God revealed that He is the One who clothes the Bride and that i am not alone.
3. I feel He is with me when He reveals things in Scripture to me but when i go for a stretch with just quietness, i wonder if i’ve grieved Him in some way and He’s keeping His distance.
4. It was hard to pick just one pair as i have struggled with all of those self-image distortions at one time or another. I guess fear/courage would be the main one that rears its ugly head most often. That’s the reason i chose Isa. 41:10, 13 as one of my siesta memory verses this year. I need to remember that He is with me and that He will help me!
1. To help stir the hearts and inspire a revival at my husbands church.
2. When talking to my son one day I felt the holy spirit healing a heart break from the past through the conversation. Like God was telling me what to say to help my son move forward from those memories. I just felt his healing power that day through a simple conversation.
3. Sometimes when things get uncomfortable while pursuing what God has called me to do i begin to wonder if it was Gods plan in the first place and begin to talk myself out of moving forward because i let fear of being alone persuade me away from having faith in the strength i have through Christ.
4. My perception of myself has kept me from sharing Got with others. I thought to myself, well look at all the mistakes I’ve made. I felt like i was in no position to tell others about God because my past would give Him a bad reputation coming from my mouth. I still sometimes feel like a joke if i were to pursue a leadership position in church even just leading a bible study i fear that Gods message has little effect when coming from me.
Sorry forgot to head my response with this…
My name is Jorja Sebastian
I am from Bowling Green, KY
And Im currently doing this study solo
Jorja ig you want to do it with others you can go to http://www.womensbiblecafe.com/
and join the Gideon study. Once you join the group, you get access to the group’s eyes only page and then can choose to join a group meeting online at different times throughout the week. I do Tuesday Evenings at 8pm. We do the weeks study and then our Facilitator asks us questions in the comments of a Group status and we all answer and talk to each other and encourage each other. It’s my first time joining them and I am loving it and learning so much from the other women.
Katie, San Diego, CA SOLO
1. In my present season God is calling me to trust him. Let go of my fears and not worry so much.
2. I’m praying for this!
3.I tend to be more insecure. I so easily get distracted with life I forget to spend time with him. This has been changing and I’m soaking up His word!
Rosalie Cincinnati (very) small group
1. I’m needing bravery to get through the pain of PT following my surgery.
2. I often feel God speaking to me when I am in the car.
3. I am 100% confident that God is always with me. I don’t always act like it.
4. Fear vs. Courageous
Heather, Tallahassee, FL small group:
1. My area of holy bravery is to continue to wait upon the Lord. And in so doing not fall victim to the world views around me as I tire of waiting, but stand firm in Truth.
2. 5 ordinary tasks: cooking, washing dishes, feeding the pets, taking a shower, cleaning house. He has met me so many times when taking care of my pets. I see their animal instincts and am taught a lesson about myself and how God is changing me.
3. I tend to be insecure regarding God being with me. I tend to think He’s with everyone else but because of my weak nature He’s got better things to do. But this type of thinking negates His love and grace. He IS with me. He DOES love me. And this is regardless of my weaknesses and actually because of them. Happy happy!
4. Incompetent to capable and Insignificant to special. The insignificant comes from the earlier question. The incompetent comes from a performance driven personality that can never be perfect. This leads to feeling of inadequacy. But my abilities are from the Lord, He is the one who works through me and this makes me capable.
Marie, going solo, Franklin, TN
1. Believing that all the pain will be redeemed.
2. Pulling into a parking lot and seeing a license plate that said “God Did It”
immediately after making a major life decision I had been struggling with.
3. Insecure…I know in my head but my heart has a hard time feeling it.
4. Worthless/Valuable….years of pain and suffering reinforcing negativity are hard to overcome.
Sandy Bowers, Bryan, Ohio, going solo.
1) To start a legacy of faith….I need to be brave enough to start answering these personal questions — the ones that cause me to really think and to be brutally honest with myself! I have no problems answering the workbook-based; Bible-based questions….but I tend to just leave the personal ones blank.
2) Does anyone else feel like me? I feel like I must be doing something wrong because I never have these moments with God. Never have the feeling that God is speaking to me. Maybe I don’t know what to look for…I pray that God will show Himself to me….or at least let me know I’m on the right track.
3)I sort of answered this one above. In my head, I know God is with me. I have a hard time recognizing it in my heart.
4) I could fit any of these at certain times. But I guess the pair that stood out to me the most is Rejected/Accepted, followed closely by Insignificant/Special. And there would be nothing succinct in my explanation so I won’t go there.
Onward to Weeks 3 & 4!
Hi Sandy! I appreciate your comment about not answering the personal questions. It is most timely because I was cruising right on through, loving every minute, looking at friends like they were crazy when they said they had not done their study for a few days and then today…week 3, day two…screeching halt! Those questions about pride and humility seem to have stopped me in my tracks. I have been unemployed for more than a year, sending out resumes and getting no response or thanks but no thanks letters. You would think by now by pride had been knocked down enough, but I guess now. So I will get back to those questions today and trust God will speak to me while mopping my floor or dusting or something. We are all in this together! Keep on keeping on and answering as you can! Getting to know ourselves is never easy I guess!
Debbie, Cumming, GA, small group of two.
1. The courage to step out in faith to go to a new church
(not in our denomination)that we feel God is leading us
to, and leave our church of 20 years with our
established relationships.
2. When I’m washing dishes, I think about cleansing them
over and over, but then I remember that this is what
Jesus does for me everyday!
3. I tend to be insecure that He is with me when what I’m
facing is scary to me. I know in my heart that He is,
but when I give in to anxious thoughts, then I wonder.
4. Fearful/courageous – I know I have the ability to be-
come a part of another church and get involved in
ministry there, but I tend to be fearful that I won’t
fit what they need, even though I have been very active
in women’s ministry for many years.
Missie, Marble Falls, Solo
1. To live counter-culture… to be deliberate in all things
2. He amazes me with how He shows Himself all day everyday, when i truly take time to see Him!
3. He is building security in me… but only through His Word…i am incredibly insecure… and we have had so many things happen that i very easily go to feeling rejected by Him when i don’t feel His presence. So instead of allowing myself to *go there*, if i will speak His word and His truth… before i know it i can He reveals Himself again! So i have figured out i have to be in His Word all day everyday to maintain focus!
4. Rejected/Accepted – Huge struggle for me… i know it in my mind because His word says so… but it is sometimes easy for me (when i feel like God is not answering my prayers or things are difficult)to feel rejected by God. But based on my #2 answer… you’d think this would not be an issue for me if i would really pay attention and accept that i am accepted!!
1. Holy bravery: In adjusting to new leadership at my job and reaching people in my life for Christ.
2. Making dinner: I’m seeing how blessed it is to serve my family that He has richly blessed me with the privilege of serving.
3. I am usually fairly sure of the faithful Lord at my side. At times, I seem to forget this but am training myself to call on His name, there is such power in His Name.
4. Self image: Fearful. God-image: Courageous. I love how Beth Moore shared about Ps. 138:3…He made me bold…love it!
cindy, sacramento,ca solo
#1 To speak the truth in love to my family members. not to give up on them. i may be the only christian to pray for them.
#2 when i tend to my rabbit who was in many homes before i got her. she came with lots of baggage. i love her unconditionally even tho it is not reciprocated. god is like that towards me.
#3 God is with me even when i dont feel his presence. i just wish i felt it more often.
#4 fear. i have lived most of my life in fear, but slowly beginning to trust god is for me.he doesnt want to harm me.
Connie, Turlock CA – Solo
1. being strong & outspoken for Him; especially around my unbelieving family when in my home.
2. just yesterday on my walk around the park; he brought vacation to me since in this season there is no going on one. made me smile ;0
3. i am confident and secure in His promise; sadly I just forget
4. incompetent/capable – i usually have breakdowns of not being sure how i’m going to get through ‘this stage’ and get things accomplished that need to be done – eventually (when i get in to the Word) i’m reminded that the Lord is my strength and my help…also when it comes to speaking about Him to others, I hold back because I don’t feel capable, I forget that he will give me the words, and the fact that I don’t have to have all the answers; i can always prayerfully look them up and get back to that person.
Betsy Mesquite Tx solo
1. Holy bravery – to not check out of the hard stuff. To forgive… and forgive again. To stay engaged. To humble myself. To risk hurt by giving of myself. To apologize.
2. In my bathroom getting ready for the day. A quiet recognition that a silly, trivial prayer had been answered, so silly and trivial that I can’t remember! But I remember being overcome when I realized God had answered that silly prayer very specifically just because He loves me.
3. Confident or insecure that God is with me as He promises? Confident … until an anxiety attack hits and I am sure I’m alone. Sigh. Still journeying.
4. Fearful/courageous. I’m very familiar with fearful. I have no grasp on courageous or what that looks like in my life.
Kathy, Lake Jackson, Texas, small group
1. I feel I have recently been called to stand between two much older very close friends of mine
who are having difficulty. I am trying to be a support for each and yet a buffer between the two
while they are trying to heal their differences. God is teaching me the value of patience.
2. I once felt that God had just given me a kick in my pants. It surprised me when no one was
around me at all. Then the word “apologize” started playing over and over and over in my head.
I had been talking with a close friend earlier and had ended the conversation with something that
could have been taken differently than I intended. I called her up immediately and apologized
profusely to her. Such a flood of relief washed over me afterwards. We are very close friends
today.
3. I feel very sure God is with me when everything is going right. But as situations begin to
deteriorate, I begin to question His presence–wonder if He is busy somewhere else. I am
working hard on erasing these doubts. I take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and recite
The Lord’s Prayer to myself for an instant security check, a re-set of my attitude, and move on
knowing He is with me.
4. Incompetent/Capable–I have so much to learn and so much more I want to learn on top of that.
My friends all see me as being highly capable in many areas. If only they knew how shaky on
the inside I feel because of the things I need to learn. God calms me and helps me through the
my storms; He is always there, hand extended to help me through whatever I need to do.
#1 FAITH that my 20 year old is in His hands and TOUGH LOVE dealing with him.
#4 God has equipped me to mentor girls in my GA and Sunday School classes.
Michelle, Moultrie GA
1) Bravery to trust in Him completely as I go on my first mission trip to a foreign country.
2) I drive me four year old to preschool daily, he always holds my phone to listen to music. Last week he was looking at photos and found one of his brother, 14, who was recently baptized. So, my little one asked what is baptism? My first thought was to say its something I’ll tell you about when you get a little older, but the Holy Spirit spoke to me revealing what an amazing opportunity this was for me to share a spiritual conversation with him. The next day he asked what a soul is? That one was tough.
3) I’m more confident these days than in my past.
4) incompetent / capable : I was asked to teach our middle school girls Sunday School class. I immediately doubted I’d be able to provide them with what they needed and deserved from a teacher. I’ve never taught anyone over the age of 3. But I accepted and have been blessed beyond measure. I’ve been challenged to the max but I’ve also seen God do some amazing things! Not to mention falling in love with these sweet girls.
Hey Michelle,
I can totally relate to your experiences, especially preparing for a first mission trip overseas. You will be blessed, I guarantee! Go with the openness and obedience of spirit you describe in your ministry to the youth and God will set you on a path of incredible growth and blessing! Praying for you, my Siesta!
Linda
Jasper, TN
1. My season of which I am called is teach my grand daughter of the love of Jesus and to show grace to my elderly parents as I take care of them.
2. I most often God speak to me as I get ready for my day or if I happen to be in the car in by self.
3. I am very confident of the fact that God is with me. I may question lots of other things but not that.
4. Given my history, I have problems with all of them at one point or another during my life.
Lori, PA solo
1)meeting with God in the AM vs. exercising-spending that extra 30 min. with Him
2)workday-being judgemental. God reminds me He made that other person
3)I know it in my head that He is with me. I’m insecure with this promise where my heart/soul are concerned.
4)ungifted/equipped
Melissa, Boston, solo
1. Start a new life after massive change and a family breakup- part of me just wants to stay in bed and not get up, but I know God is calling me to get up and do the hard work of building
2. God will speak to me when I’m exercising or doing dishes
3. My head knows God is with me but I struggle with living out my faith. I don’t trust him like I should. I’m praying and seeking Him about this.
4. Incompetent vs. Capable. This has come up in so many areas of my life. I recently left my profession because of continual feelings of inadequacy and I constantly changed jobs. God has opened my eyes to this and is helping me through. Needless to say, the verses Priscilla referred us to were really helpful!
I’m really enjoying this study and it’s great to watch the videos and read through comments!