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

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. 

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

Resolutions . . . for New Years, for birthday years, for self help situations, . . . we make resolutions. Sometimes, we make resolutions in situations where we are angry, and resolve that we will never be like that person, or react to a situation in that way, or do anything like this or that. Other times, we are impressed that we need to make changes in our lives. Sometimes (maybe alot of the time) it may have to do with our physical appearance, like we need to lose weight, or firm things up. Other times, it may relate to other areas of our lives, such as finances, or emotions. The things that I want us to focus on during this Bible/Book study are related to our Spiritual lives.
I believe that if our Spiritual lives are in accordance with God's word, then the rest of our lives will fall into place much easier, than if we are trying to run our lives on our own.
It has become very clear to me that Christian women (and men) need to take a stand for Christ. We have been complacent too long, and it is showing through our families, and through the lack of discipline in our lives. We have set our candles under the bushel and have not been the guiding light that Christians should be.

I pray that this study of "The Resolution for Women" will help us to see clearly where we need improvement in our lives, and that it will begin a ripple effect for our families and our communities. Although  the Resolution for Men was promoted in the movie, Courageous, I believe that we, as women, also have the opportunity to change our lives, and our families in a very good way. God needs to work in our families. God needs to work in my family. God needs to work in me.

Start the work . . .  and start it here with me. . .

db