Tuesday, April 24, 2012


Week Six.
Review resolutions up to this point.

Today’s resolution. I will seek to devote the best of myself, my time, and my talents to the primary roles the Lord has entrusted to me in this phase of my life.

Boxes. . ,. We have different roles (boxes) that we have to prioritize correctly. Whether it be a role in the home, a role at the office, a role in the church, etc. we have to let the Lord guide us as to what priority each role should take at which time, and how much time to delegate to that role. Balancing our duties does not mean that we spend the same amount of time on each one, but rather that we give the most important ones the priority.
Each one, name one role that you currently have. Discuss how much time that role involves in your daily life. Each role has different requirements, and requires different amounts of time to fulfill.
“The way we achieve balance is to consider prayerfully God’s priorities for us in this current season of life, and then rearrange the boxes accordingly. . . “
“Balance is not when the boxes are equally filled, but when we are free to fill only those that are important for now, without feeling guilt over the ones that we’ve left for another time and place. This is balance.”

Timing is Everything . . .
Get clarity on your “Primary roles”. If you give your best, but expend that energy on the wrong thing, has it done you any good? Or have you just stolen time from the priority that God intended for you? Example: cutting bushes, and hauling them off. . . anything wrong with that? What if it is done in the place of writing a paper that is due the following day. You may be doing what is right, but at the wrong time.
Restructuring priorities can often be a painful process. It may be that now is not the correct time to give that box highest priority.

Am I giving the right box the right priority? Do I need to re-prioritize?
Give yourself permission to say no.
Being your best at what God wants you to be doing--- that’s the thing to shoot for. Are you on God’s time table for getting things done? There may not be anything wrong with the things on your to-do list, but not getting the priority jobs completed, may be wrong.

Anything, Everything and Whatever.
I Corinthians 10:31 – Whether ye eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Are you harder on yourself than anyone else? Are you exhausted at the end of the day because you don’t feel that you accomplished enough?
Are you driven to be a perfectionist? Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Is this even possible??? Perfect means complete. Whole. God’s strength plus my weakness equals completeness.  Going back to priorities. What roles/tasks are most important?
Cleaning windows might not be the highest priority when the cupboards and refrigerator are empty.
When you choose to do everything, you can’t do anything well. But when honoring God is your focus, it pares down your purpose and narrows your focus. Colossians 3:17-And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
“When we consecrate and commit our gifts to Him in this current phase of life, we’ll see that He will empower us to use them in a way that will yield honor and glory to Himself.”
Paul starts with the simplest of things: eating and drinking. Something that must be done everyday of our lives. Not really something difficult. God has specific tasks for you to fulfill each day. Don’t put off until tomorrow that God has called you to do today. Don’t do today the things that He will need you to do later. Start with the small things, and build on that foundation. Bring your best. Now.
Life can be short, and we are never guaranteed tomorrow. Live each day to the fullest, but plan as though you were going to live forever.
Bring your best. Now.
Don’t wait for the next season in your life. Do it now. Enjoy this season with everything that you have. Get your priorities in order.
You are responsible and will be held accountable for your actions and reactions. It is between you and God. Get His perspective on your priorities and then go full steam ahead, bringing your best to whatever He has asked you to do. Don’t get side-tracked by other “things” that may come along. Keep those priorities straight.

It Only Works When I Breathe…
Taking care of yourself. Taking time out for you, to keep you alive and healthy.
Exercise? Eating right? Time with other ladies? Taking time to go outside and breath the fresh air? Whatever is a necessity to keep you sane. You will never be able to give your best, unless you are taking time for you.
Keep yourself aware of God’s presence in the busyness of everyday life. Team up with other ladies to take a walk, or give another mother an hour to go get her groceries without having to take her children. What is YOUR necessity to keep you “breathing”?

God needs us to have our priorities right. Have you taken a look at yours through Christ’s eyes? Are your focuses where they should be? Are you spreading yourself too thin?
What will you do to change this? What in your life needs a higher priority? Is there a box that needs to be pushed to the back for awhile?
God will give you the strength to do what is necessary. Take the right action.
Prioritize.
Plan.
Bring your best. Now.


Sunday, April 22, 2012

It has been a couple of weeks since I have posted anything . . . my apologies. i will try to do better. 


Here are notes from Week 5 . . .


Week Five – Resolution #4
I will live as a woman answerable to God and faithfully committed to His word.

Divine appointments . . .
Similarities of a Susan B Anthony dollar to a quarter. The size was similar, but the value was different.
I Peter 2:9
Ephesians 1:18
As stated in the last resolution, we were created uniquely with specific gifts, talents, and uniqueness that God entrusted you with. 



Previous chapter headings . . . .Surprisingly satisfied.
Purposely Feminine.
Authentically you.
And now, faithfully His.

God has invested in us, and it is a responsibility that we should consider a privilege, but we cannot take it lightly.
He deserves our faithfulness.
Leaning into his voice. . . .

We answer to a higher authority. (The world will not understand this. Examples of standards laid upon our hearts by God himself, but not understood by unsaved people.)
Live with eternity’s values in view.
We are NOT of this world. Not controlled by it, consumed by it, or compelled by it.
Heaven called to pursue HIS purposes. Driven by our passion to serve him.
Example of Moses, . . we might see Moses as a man that failed miserably over and over again, whining and complaining all along the way, but yet God calls him faithful.


God has called us. We are privileged to share this calling.  Feel any inner desires to do things that you have never done before? God’s calling. God’s preparation.
Heaven Calling . . .

Faith vs Faithfulness…
Eagles nest. Lined with soft material until the time for the eaglets to take flight, and then the nest is made uncomfortable so that the eaglet will want to fly.

Faithfulness is born when the outward expressions of your beliefs are lived out over time. Often through difficulty. Difficulty is where faithfulness is honed and brought to life. The evidence of faithfulness comes out in trials. Example: weight loss.
Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered. Hebrews 5:8.
We are people of Faith, but God is calling us to be faithful. Wherever you are.



I’d Like a Word with You . . .
Thy Word is a light unto my path, and a lamp unto my feet.
Reading God’s word gives us insight into his heart.
“If you’ll listen closely as you read it, you’ll feel the warmth of God’s breath brushing across your cheek as His Spirit infuses old words with right-this-minute application.”
Reading Scripture . . . Praying Scripture. . .
When Jesus was tempted, the Devil quoted Scripture.
The Scriptures on pp 81 – 85 are familiar scriptures modified to contain the first person, rather than 3rd.

Prove God. Test Him. Prove Him to be the faithful God, the one true God.


Debbie B

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Week Four . . . 
Resolution #3 - I will accept and celebrate my uniqueness, and will esteem and encourage the distinctions I admire in others. 

Authentically me!

Intelligent Design . . .
Basing a decorating decision on a tassel? How often do we base a decision on a half-truth fed to us? Do we allow our mins to be controlled by someone other than Jesus Christ? Perhaps a friend? News broadcaster? Have we let memories in our past control our present or our future?

Our lives need to be balanced.
  • Do all things decently and in order. I Cor. 14:40
  • A false balance is an abomination to the Lord; but a just weight is His delight. Proverbs 11:1
  • A false balance is not good. Proverbs 20:23b
We need to give ourselves value. God has chosen us for this place, this time, this part of His will. Orbit your life around this truth (not a tassel). 

  • I Peter 2: 9-10 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Supernatural Selection. . . 
Healthy self-esteem.
Jeremiah 1:5 - chose you, separated you, appointed you.
God made you, and placed you here. On purpose. His choice was based on an intimate knowledge of you and who you are. Is it hard for me to believe that an Almighty, Powerful God would take the time to really know me and who I am . . . Psalm 139
You are uniquely equipped for this time, this place, this assignment.
 You. Are. The. One.

Even when we are rejected by others, God chose us. John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you! :)

We have been set apart. God has a specific task for you. Don't look at the past, or your past. Focus on the goal ahead. Set apart shows a specific purpose like china, or a specific part of a marathon race. God's toolbox. . . every tool has a specific purpose for a specific job. Embrace your role. Enjoy the thrill of capitalizing on your strengths without wallowing in misery over your lacks and differences or allowing yourself to feel threatened by those traits you should be celebrating in those you admire. You are NOT a mistake!

He has appointed you. Even if you are not pleased with the person He has made you to be, you can be sure that God has planted you here with design and intention. He has selected the "soil" to place you in, and has watered the correct amount -- it is your job to produce. 
Bring all your gifts, talents, propensities, and passions into this thing called life, and believe that they are good enough to produce the fruit that is expected of you. 

Trust Him. He KNOWS you. He has special plans for you.


Happy to be you. . . 
the REAL you.
Do you know who you really are?
Trials can often help us to find that out.
Ask those closest to you to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Accepting yourself. 


The Affirmation Crusade. . . 

Praising others in a genuine way. No ulterior motives. 
We cannot hinge our self-worth on other's praise.

Mary Kay told us to imagine that every woman we saw was wearing a sign that said, "Make me feel special."

Natural progression - once you are comfortable with the real you, you are freed to complement others.

A word fitly spoken . . .  apples of silver, and pitchers of gold. . . 


Week Three. . . catching up...


We reviewed a little bit. Letting go of the past, looking to the future, it's all about choices. 
"Fear, uncertainty and doubt will rob you of your future if you let them. They will be present every minute, every single day, right up to this very date! That is certain. Learn how to deal with your fears, and you will move faster in the direction of your dreams and goals. Allow fear to intercede, and you will frequently find yourself turning gloom into doom, moving you further away from the success you desire. This, of course is a choice. Your choice." -E. R. Haas, CEO of TQ.
Be content where you are, with great anticipation of what God will do in your future. 


Resolution #2 - I will champion God's model for womanhood in the face of a post-feminist culture. I will teach it to my daughters and encourage its support by my sons. 


Pretty in Print . . 
Definition of feminine - pertaining to a woman or girl, having qualities traditionally ascribed to women, such as sensitivity or gentleness, belonging to the female sex. 


We are an unusual paradox: Strong, yet vulnerable. Powerful, yet tender. More than able, yet willing to yield. andwe are smart, wise, capable, equal in worth, secure in yourself, etc. 


Each of us have an platform every day. Someone is ALWAYS watching! The home, the workplace, the grocery store, the beauty shop, church, from the youngest to the oldest, wise women are watching and wanting to see you YOU handle the issues that God puts in your path. Will you choose to be feminine? Will you be the example to others as to how a feminine Godly woman behaves?
The higher up the ladder you are, the rougher the fall, and the more people that see it. . . 


It's Good to Be a Girl . . .
God created male and female in the image of God . . . He was not biased because of gender. However, each had unique qualities that make them different.


Look around you at the sphere of people that you can influence . . children, siblings, co-workers, spouses, friends, roommates, ???


You were not an addendum- you were made in God's image. 


Don't be afraid to reach outside the box, to love someone. . . Show God's mercy and love is often what can melt a hardened heart.


Jesus showed that women are IMPORTANT, WORTHY AND TRUSTWORTHY. He entrusted the women at the well, with a very important message to tell others. 


Role Reversal . . . 
Example of very large football players submitting to the decisions of referees. They choose to submit. Submission is not limited to the home in the marriage relationship. It is all around . . . submitting to a red light, even when there are no cars in the intersection. . . 


You may be more powerful, capable, and/or intelligent than the person that you are called to submit to... however, this is not a suggestion, it is a way of life. 


Order matters.


Jesus Christ was the perfect example of submission in Philippians 2: 6-8. While he had every right to consider himself equal with God, He humbled himself. (He submitted. . . .)


Submission builds a fence of safety around us. We can flourish within the confines of this fence. It is a place of freedom. Think of a child in his bedroom, or the confines of the home- boundaries are set up for his/her protection. In the backyard, fencing is put up to make clear the limits. We can choose to flourish in those places, or be determined to find out what is on the other side, and be discontent with the limitation placed on us for our own protection.


It is a choice. . . 


Submission  . . . is sometimes getting out of the way so the Holy Spirit can get directly to the person that you are submitting to. . . 

Monday, February 20, 2012

Week Two -- 
Review - This resolution is with God, and should not be taken lightly, and will affect those closest to you.
I received an email this past week, reminding me to BE STILL . . .
2 Chronicles 20:7, Ruth 3:18, I Samuel 9:27, Exodus 14:13, Psalm 46:10, and Isaiah 30:7 -- all of these verses tell us to Be still, or stand still, or sit still . . . just re-iteration of last weeks lesson not to rush ahead, but taking the time to be still.
The Secret . . . 
Society needs for us to be discontent. This allows them to sell their product. . . Examples: Ragu-it's in there, Burger King - have it your way (because the way you have it now is not as good), Cover Girl - you're worth it (or at least we want you to think that). . . 


The satisfied woman is a rare woman. Her character traits are???
Peaceful, serene, restful, refreshing, has a sense of ease. . . 
She is satisfied with WHAT she has, WHO she is, WHERE she lives, WHAT she drives, etc. 
She is a woman of substance because she is a woman of satisfaction, choosing contentment over displeasure.


Contentment does not come naturally, or easily! it must be learned like an acquired skill. 
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13 -- "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
This did not come easily. Paul had to resolve to be content in every situation that he was placed in, whether in jail or preaching or praying. It took discipline. He had to make a choice...


Other verses:
2 Corinthians 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Psalm 84:11 - For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
I Timothy 6:6 - Now Godliness with contentment is great gain.


External circumstances cannot and do not affect our choice to be content. 
It comes from within -- inner sufficiency.
It also brings emotional stability.


God has given an overflowing supply of his grace for:
Every decision . . . 
Every task . . . 
Every relationship . . . 
Every element of daily life . . .


S atisfied
E xpecting
C hrist's
R estful
E ternal
T ransformation.


Paul knew the SECRET . . . we can also have that secret. Being satisfied, knowing that Christ has a plan for us which ends in an eternal transformation to be like Him.


Overflowing Blessings


Luke 6:38 - Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."


We use exact measurements, but God presses it down, shakes it together, and then still runs over!


" . . . looking forward to experiencing the promise of an outlandish return on her investment." We will be blessed more often than we bless, if we follow God's direction. 


The Balancing Point


Contentment is the equilibrium between the enjoyment of life (present) and the anticipation of what is to come (future). 
Discontentment can make you a slave to what you don't have.
Resolving to be content demands that your desires be held in check. Bigger house, newer car, nicer clothes, better paying job, slimmer body, etc -- none of these are bad, but all must be in God's timing.


Contentment keeps your mind clear. You can be peaceful, settled, undisturbed, happy, and content!






Next week we will discuss thru page 48. Please post your comments or if you are unsure how to, email me at debbburden@gmail.com and I will post them for you. 


Looking forward to seeing how this is affecting each one of us. God is good all the time.


Be sure to read over all 13 resolutions at least one time during the week.


db

Monday, February 13, 2012

Week One -- 
Notes from the Forward -- 
  • let go of the past (Baggage)
  • clarify my convictions (Know what I stand for)
  • pursue faithfulness (to God, marriage, family, etc.)
This will involve discipline and self-sacrifice. This study will stir and challenge.
You CANNOT do it in your own strength. Phil. 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. 

Introduction -- 
Afraid of resolutions? or afraid of failing?
This resolution is with GOD.
This resolution will affect those closest to you.
This will cause a major impact on your life.
"Sometimes the greatest miracle of all is the one that happens in our own heart, the change that takes place in you and then surprises you as it filters into the seams and fabric of your whole life.The effects of a changed woman on her surroundings can be staggering!"
Read each chapter slowly and purposefully. Think it through. How can it apply to your specific situation? Take notes. Write in your book. Be accountable.

Part 1 -- This is Who I am! ~ A resolution to be content. 
Surprisingly Satisfied.
36 - Do you remember 36? Are you looking forward to 36? Are you happy with your relationship with 36?
I am guilty of rushing through my life . . . wanting to be in high school, then wanting to graduate, then wanting to get married, then wishing my children were older, then hesitant for them to get married, waiting for the empty nest, then wondering what to do now? What is next?
Take advantage of today and all that it holds. Don't miss out on special opportunities because you are in a hurry to get to the next place. Embrace every moment.
I Timothy 6:6 -- True Godliness with contentment is great wealth.
I Timothy 6:8 -- If we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
Hebrews 13:5 -- Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have: for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you."
At each season of life, we have different choices, option, decisions, circumstances, surroundings, people, scenery, etc.  We will never pass these exact ways ever again. We may never have the opportunities that we have right now. We may never see these people again. What legacy are we leaving behind? Are we so busy looking at the next season of life, wishing that we were there, that we overlook opportunities that we will never have again? I am guilty of this. . . on our coast to coast trip that we took in 1999, we were so close to the Grand Canyon, but we didn't stop. I wish that we had. I was too busy thinking about the next place that we were headed. Now, that opportunity is hundreds, even thousands of miles away. I missed it because I was looking forward to the next stop and closed the door on that opportunity for years to come. I also closed the door on that opportunity for my husband and children. Oh, the sights that we missed. . . . will I ever have that opportunity to view those sights ever again? not with the same group of people, and possibly not ever. 

Comments: 
Different times . . . balancing the tough, every day struggles with the little bits of heaven dispersed throughout the day. Learning to keep them in balance.

Know Jesus - Know peace. 
No Jesus -- No peace.

Learning to be content -- with God's timing, and God's provision.

Somebody is always watching!

From p. 28 -- Contentment is the equilibrium between the enjoyment of life now, and the anticipation of what is to come. 


For next week, we will discuss through page 30.

Read through all 13 of the Resolutions at least once a week to keep the big picture in mind. 

Please post your comments. You can follow the blog, or join the blog, or just comment. 

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Monday night will be our first group meeting. We will be discussing through the end of the first chapter, Every Bite Counts. We will be starting the discussions about being content in our current "season". 
Please feel free to  comment on what you have read up to this point. After the group meeting, I will post what was mentioned, and insights that were brought up. I may also add my notes or parts of them which summarize the chapters and the points that were most pointed to me. 

Pray that God will keep our hearts tender to what He has for us to learn.

db