So Long, Insecurity: Week 9

Happy St. Pat’s Day, my friends!

Today on the blog, it is our second to last meeting of online Bible study. If you have been participating, make sure to click here to see previous weeks. If you haven’t been participating, you always can. Buy the book by clicking the picture on my sidebar, and go through these weekly posts.

A Word From Beth:

“In this week’s discussion we can start moving the focus off our own insecurity. We will be thinking not just about how we experience triggers to insecurity but about other women and how we can help them deal with their triggers.

I’ll admit that when I invite women to share their vulnerabilities with each other, I’m suggesting something a little scary. Because let’s be honest: a struggling junior high girl who tells the popular girls that they make her feel insecure is, unfortunately, just asking for more of the same. But we’re not in junior high anymore, sisters (and praise the Lord for that!). In some ways, we’re all both the struggling girl and the popular girl. We all wrestle with insecurities, and we all (knowingly or not) do things that make others feel insecure. So let’s be open with each other and respond to that openness with support, respect, and honesty.”

Beth says: When I surveyed men about their take on women’s insecurities, one respondent said this:

“Most obvious is when women are around other women; they try to size each other up and look for reasons to not get along rather than to get along. They seem easily intimidated, whether by physical beauty, character status, or whatever makes them feel that the other woman has more going for her, and a barrier goes up. (pg. 275-276)

1. How do you respond to this take on female relationships? Has insecurity ever robbed you of what could have been a rich friendship with another woman? Has it affected the type of woman you befriend?

She says: I have to admit that there’s more than a snippet of truth to what this man says. We women do sometimes let barriers come between us-and that’s terrible shame. Let’s do our best to break the mold by taking a look at four things we can do to promote security among the women around us. First, we need to stop making comparisons.

Now read from “our constant propensity” to “give credit to someone else?” on pg. 279-280.

1. Talk about a time you fell victim to the “bad math” of insecurity (see pages 280-281). How can we correct our thinking when this happens?

Second, we need to start personalizing the other women. Read from “In order to nurse a rival mentality” to “in Jesus’ name.” (pg. 284, 286)

1. Have you ever felt your insecure or jealous feelings evaporate when something occurred that humanized your “rival”? What happened?

Third, we don’t trip another woman’s insecurity switch. Read from “We all have just enough meanness in us” to “build up our wounded selves at somebody else’s expense.” (pg. 288-289)

1. Tell someone else that you’re feeling insecure requires great vulnerability. How would you react if someone came to you with a situation like those described on pages 287-288 and humbly suggested that you were acting as a trigger? How could good friends or family members handle this?

The fourth way we can help others is to be examples of secure women. Read from “Most women will” to “because it’s as contagious to its counterpart” (pg. 290)

1. Who have been examples of secure women in your life? What impact have they had on you?

When we cultivate the kind of focus where we take our minds off ourselves and think of others first our perspective changes. Our culture tells us to major on the minors, to embrace the superficial and spend our time and energy worrying about ourselves. And guess what? That’s a prime recipe for insecurity. We have to find the way out. Read “Human nature dictates” to “you must lose yourself in something larger” on pg. 309-310 to see how Beth puts it in chapter 16.

1. Tell about a time when serving God or focusing on someone else freed you from the self-absorption of insecurity. Why do you think this happens?

The next section we will talk about today is the passage from Isaiah 58 that Beth quotes in chapter 16 (pg. 317-318). Before you read the verses, keep in mind the context. The Israelites were asking why God seemed not to hear them when they prayed. They held up their fasting as proof of their righteousness, but the Lord indicted them with their own actions. They patted themselves on the back because they went to the Temple, but otherwise they did as they pleased (v.3). They were oppressing their own workers, and even their days of fasting were ruined by quarrels and violence. They pretended to do the right things, but in reality, they were self-absorbed and superficial-and probably miserable as a result.

1. Read Isaiah 58: 6-11. What do verses 6-7 tell us about the attitude God wants us to have toward others?
2. According to verses 8-11, what will happen when we adjust our attitude outward instead of inward? What images are used to communicate the idea of renewal and refreshment?

There’s no question that the world benefits when we break free of our self-absorption and serve others. But the amazing thing is that we benefit as well. When we have a sense of purpose that goes beyond our own skin, we are renewed, refreshed, and satisfied.

As we think about moving our focus beyond ourselves, let’s look at some Scripture passages that address our relationships with other women. Keep your eyes open to ways we can build each other up and help each other find security.

1. Read Galatians 5:22-26. How does celebrating each person’s uniqueness help us avoid jealousy and unhealthy comparisons? What role does the Holy Spirit play in helping us accomplish this?
2. Read John 13:34-35. What is Jesus’ command here? What are some specific things that would happen if we followed it?
3. When we get caught up in insecurity, too often we depersonalize those who threaten us. How does loving someone keep us from viewing her only as a competitor?
4. Read Matthew 5:43-45. WH do you think we are commanded to pray for our enemies? How does the act of praying for them – or other people who just rub us the wrong way, threaten us, and trigger every possible security button – change us?

To wrap it all up:

We’ll never be healed of our self-centeredness until we are wounded irreparably with love for an aching world. Insecurity puts us in a prison of self-absorbtion, but when we reach out to others, those prison bars are shattered. Sharing the love of Christ will become life to us, bringing us renewal, perspective, and purpose. May we leave our superficiality behind and reap the benefits God will graciously bestow.

In your journal:

1. Think through your closest female relationships. What things do others do that trip your insecurity switch? Are there things you’re doing that likely trip other people’s triggers? What could you do to change?
2. Consider the questions from page 310. What is your passion? What do you want your life to be about? If you long for something that makes you feel fully alive and part of something specific God is doing for the greater good, ask Him to nurture that vision in you.

Assigned Reading: Chapter 17 and 18. As you’re reading in the book, underline what is jumping out at you, what you think is true, what surprises you, and what seems to be the most challenging. Maybe you highlight the answers to each of those questions in a different color.

Prayer Requests?

See y’all soon for our last week!

So Long, Insecurity: Week 8

Happy Monday!

 

It’s time for week 8 of SLI. If you have been participating, make sure to click here to see previous weeks. If you haven’t been participating, you can. Buy the book by clicking the picture on my sidebar, and go through these weekly posts.

Here’s a word from Beth this week:

I’m excited for this week’s discussion. We’ve spent some valuable time laying the groundwork to help us understand why we struggle with insecurity and what triggers it. We’ve looked at errors in our thinking-about ourselves and about men-and we’ve started to correct those. We’ve talked about looking at Jesus to regain perspective, and about letting go of our desire to play God. This week we get to move into more practical, hands-on material: what do we do when our insecurity is triggered?

Maybe for years you’ve been reacting the same way. You feel threatened, your insecurity raises its ugly head, and almost before you can blink, you’ve melted into a puddle of hysterical neediness. Trust me, I’ve been there-and it’s not pretty. But hear me on this: it doesn’t have to be that way. No matter how entrenched a pattern is in our lives, we are not domed to be stuck in it forever. Our God is a God of transformation! He is in the business of changing lives. But He will not do it without our consent. We have to be willing to enter into the process. And once we begin, we can use one of the potent tools God has given us: the power to choose.

 

Here we go with week 8!

A few things about chapter 13:

The most prized possession God gave humankind when He formed Adam from the dust of the earth was the power to choose. Nowhere do we bear the image of our Creator more forthrightly than in the ability to exercise our free will…
By choosing to have a different reaction prior to a different emotion, we can effect an immediate sense of heightened security. The reaction leads to a new feeling, and the new feeling leads to more consistent reactions. Result? We spiral up.

One of the most common human claims is that we can’t change the way we feel. That may be true, but we can change the way we think, which changes the way we act. And as we change the way we act, the way we feel also begins to change. In the breaking of every habit, someone wills it first and feels it later. (pg.239-241)

1. How do you respond to this idea that our feelings follow our thoughts and actions? Does it seem possible? Does it give you hope?
2. Have your emotions ever changed in response to your actions? Describe a time when you chose to act a certain way because it was the right thing to do, even though it was contrary to your emotions at the time. What happened?

Being secure doesn’t mean always being on an even keel. God made us to experience emotions, and in fact, He also experiences emotions! But our feelings don’t have to be paired with insecurity, and they don’t have to drive the way we respond to situations.

1. On pg. 244-245 Beth gives examples of “self-talk”: deliberate statements you can say to yourself when your insecurities are triggered. Have you ever tried this? What was the result? Which of these statements seem most helpful to you?

On page 246 Beth writes:

God gave you your security, and nobody gets to force it from you. You must make up your mind that the only way someone can take it from you is for you to hand it over. You have the right to hold on to security for dear life in every situation and every relationship. It’s the power of choice.

1. Does it surprise you to think that you have the power to choose security? How would your life be different if you held on to security “for dear life”?
2. What practical steps can you take to help change the way you think? *Check Beth’s suggestions on pg. 257.*

***Here is something to think about from the end of Chapter 14.***

Just because we have estrogen milking up our bloodstream doesn’t mean we have to carry on the insecurities of a preteen girl. We really can grow up. As hard as it is, we really can take responsibility. We really can find freedom. We can sit around and think about how pathetic we are, or we really can pursue some healing-for ourselves and for that preteen girl. You and I…have got to make a definitive decision to be strong for our daughters. And don’t even try handing me the excuse that you’re not a mom so this doesn’t apply to you. The entire generation of adult women in any culture is systematically raising the next, whether they mean to be or not. Every acne-faced middle school girl you pass in the mall, texting on her cell phone or checking out that older guy in the food court, is your daughter. What are you going to do about her? What would you be willing to do for her? Pg. 273

1. What legacy do you want to pass on to the next generation of women?

In these chapters I’ve challenged you-and myself-to take a big step. We can exercise that power to choose, and we can make a change. In this section we’ll look at some Scriptures that remind us that God is on our side in this battle. He has given us the power to choose, and He will help us exercise it. He is the one who does the changing, but we have to be willing to take each next step.

One of the very first things we can change is our thinking. If you’ve ever read through the Psalms, you know that David and the other psalmists provide plenty of evidence of their humanness. They’re not on some super-spiritual plane, far above the world’s problems. When we read some of their words, we sense anger, doubt, fear, and grief. But they also call themselves back to the right perspective-often by praising the Lord.

1. Read Psalm 42. What complaints does the writer of this psalm make? What emotions does he express?
2. The same words are used as a refrain in verses 5 and 11. What does the psalmist remind himself of here? What can we learn from this passage about changing out attitudes by first changing our thinking?
3. Read Deuteronomy 30:19-20, taking note of the power we are given to choose. What are the Israelites being encouraged to choose in this passage? What benefits are promised as a result of that choice?

The Israelites didn’t just make a choice once and for all. The next several books of the Old Testament illustrate that they had to choose time and again. Just like us, they made the right choices followed by the wrong ones. They forgot about the Lord’s blessings and had to remind themselves over and over.

It’s easy to get discouraged when we repeat our mistakes. But we shouldn’t give up! We know that they Holy Spirit is working in our hearts. We are called to persevere.

1. Read Philippians 3:7-12. What is Paul trying to gain? Based on this passage, what things does he value?
2. How might these verses encourage us as we seek transformation?

When we allow the Lord to heal us and change us, we can have a powerful testimony to others. As Beth writes in Chapter 14,

God cured me of my own gross unfaithfulness. He healed my unloveliness with His own love. As I live and breathe, I am not the woman I used to be, but the fact is, I started this journey because I wasn’t yet the woman I wanted to be…

As long as we’re here in these human bodies on the topsoil of planet Earth instead of six feet under shoving up weeds, we’ll always have a few places that could use some curing. And we won’t need curing just for our own sakes. (Pg. 270-271)

Psalm 40:1-3 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” May others put their trust in the Lord when they see His work in our lives.

In your journal:

1. Write scripts that will help you combat the most common insecurity triggers you face. *See pg. 244-245 for ideas*
2. Ask the Lord for insight as you consider whether there is anything in your close relationships that you need to confront or change. What boundaries might you need to set?
3. Write in detail the legacy that you want to leave to the women who come behind you. How do you want them to view themselves? What do you need to deal with so you can set a strong example? Ask the Lord to reveal these areas where you need His transforming power.

Assigned Reading: Chapter 15 and 16. As you’re reading in the book, underline what is jumping out at you, what you think is true, what surprises you, and what seems to be the most challenging. Maybe you highlight the answers to each of those questions in a different color.

Prayer Requests?

What a way to start our week! Have a great Monday!

So Long, Insecurity: Week 7

YOU GUYS!

I’m so angry this morning!!

I had this entire post already written Saturday night and I went to save it and it said “It couldn’t be saved”, so I copied and pasted it and tried to reload the page. Well, when I went to paste my post in another page…THERE WAS NOTHING TO PASTE. So this post that I spent hours on, literally, was completely gone. Now i’m all backed up since I didn’t get everything done yesterday that I want to.

Angry. This. Morning. Still. But i’ll get over it at some point or another.

Here’s a word from Beth this week:

I have a feeling some of you might not be thrilled to be here today. There are some tough things that we have to face about our own tendencies as women that frankly don’t make us look so good. It can be difficult to face head-on the ways our insecurity can damage relationships and hurt the people closest to us-husband, children, other family members, close friends. I won’t pretend this process is pleasant, but there’s no other way than to hold up the mirror and face reality. It’s time for us to be honest about how our fears sometimes jack the best relationships we have going for us – and then figure out how to change that.

We’re coming down the homestretch of this study, and the most encouraging, practical material is still ahead. I encourage you to press on. In the spirit of 2 Corinthians 8:11, “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it.” Translation? Let’s finish strong!

Alright so here we go…

Let’s start by touching on some of the survey results shared in Ch.12. Based on the way the men responded to questions about how women exhibit insecurity, it’s lear that we’re not hiding our issues nearly as well as we think we are. Men see what we’re doing, and they’re not impressed.

1. What were some of the things men pointed out in women as signs of insecurity? Does this list seem accurate to you? What surprised you about the survey respondents’ perceptions?

Some of the men even expressed frustration about constantly having to reassure the women in their life. One husband wrote about his frustrations saying:

“Typical, common, widespread insecurities include looks, body shapes, lack of education or perceived intelligence, neediness, and many others. It manifests itself in nagging, self-doubt, self-loathing, seeking approval/validatoin, and the need for constant reassurance. It gets quite tiring of men who, as we get older, just love you for exactly the way you are. Can you not understand that? We are not lying when we tell you we love you, you’re beautiful, and we enjoy being with you. When women’s insecurities are vividly displayed to us, it turns us off, frustrates us to no extent, and perplexes us. Get over it!” Pg.236-237

1. How do you react to this statement? In what ways has insecurity affected your relationships with the men around you?

As we can see, men are repelled by open displays of female insecurities. In the long run, it doesn’t make them more tender to us, more careful with us, or more loving towards us. Not even more attached to us. It makes them, in the words of another guy, want to “run for their lives”. It may not be fair, but it is definitely a fact.

Read through on Pg. 237 from “after months of research….to women want to be with someone they can respect.”

1. How might your relationship with your significant other change if you were characterized by security and confidence? Does the prospect of healthier relationships provide you with additional motivations to deal with your insecurity?

Keep in mind the convictions that we are talking about throughout this section don’t have to be sexual. The sad truth is that sometimes we feel threatened if our man is truly on fire for the Lord because somehow we think his passion for God negates his passion for us. If that sense of threat causes us to do whatever we can to break down his enthusiasm and drag him back to a safe middle ground, we’re in big trouble. When we deliberately pull a man down from his God-given convictions, we are playing the devil-and we need to recognize it and stop.

1. Share about a time you felt threatened by the convictions of a man in your life? What do you think was behind this fear?

Beth goes into talking about omnipotence and omniscience. Omnipotence is “all-knowing” and Beth says that an insecure person’s greatest need for control is directed toward those who have the most potential to either threaten her security or strengthen it. (WOW). That’s often times why we go after boyfriends, husbands, significant others. Re-read the section on page 208-209.

1. Whom do you find yourself most wanting to control? What do you think is the connection between insecurity and a desire for control?
2. How is appropriate parental authority different from excessive parental control?

“I believe our greatest challenge as women is to avoid trying to control someone toward  what we’re genuinely convinced is a better life. The more insecure we are, the more tempting it is because something is in it for us, too. In other words, if my loved one would __________, then i’d be ___________.” (Pg. 210)

1. How would you fill in the blanks?
2. What are some ways we can combat the tendency to play God in the lives of those we love?

Beth says the bottom line about control is that people will always do what they want. You can’t make them, force them, change them, or deliver them. Only God can. And that’s why He is the omnipotent one. (Pg. 214)

1. Have ou ever come up against the realization that you can’t change anyone? What were the circumstances?

The next issue that we talk about is our desire to be like God: omniscience, or the desire to know it all. (UH, YES). We want to know everything. On pg. 215-218 Beth tells us a story about a woman she knew that found out too much information on her fiancé. Re-read everything on page. 218-219.

1. Have you ever found yourself in a station where you asked for more information than you could handle? What happened?
2. Have you ever sensed that God was setting limits on your knowledge based on what you can handle? Have you ever set boundaries for what you should or shouldn’t know? How do you know when you’re crossing a boundary?

As we look at scripture today we see some ways that we try to play God. Beth’s goal is for us to re-gain the right perspective about God. She hopes that when we see His power and knowledge, we’ll see that he really doesn’t need help.

1. Read Psalm 104: 24-32. Think about the images of God’s power that are included.
2. What phrases or images stand out the most to you? How is God’s power-his omnipotence-communicated?
3. Read Isaiah 55: 8-11. What does it mean that the Lord’s thoughts are higher than ours?
4. How does a bigger, more accurate picture of God help us gain perspective on ourselves and our limitations?
5. God can do anything!! Read 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24. How is God changing us? What does He promise in this passage?
6. Read Philippians 1: 3-6. What is Paul confident about (verse 6)? How can this assurance give us hope-and cure us of our desire to change others?

In your journal:

1. If you’ve experienced a situation where you grasped for more information than you could handle, ask the Lord for His help and healing this week. Pray for the ability to discern and respect the boundaries He sets for you.
2. Think about the situations in your life that tempt you to try to be omnipotent or omniscient. What do you need to let go of? Ask God to help you develop a plan for dealing with these temptations.
3. If you’re feeling brave, ask your spouse or close friend how you and your relationships could benefit from your increased security. What steps can you take this week in that direction?

Assigned Reading: Chapter 13 and 14. As you’re reading in the book, underline what is jumping out at you, what you think is true, what surprises you, and what seems to be the most challenging. Maybe you highlight the answers to each of those questions in a different color.

Prayer Requests?

Let God be God today. Have a great Monday!

So Long, Insecurity: Week 2

Week two is here!

The reading for this week was the Chapter 2 and 3.

Week 2 is all about how insecurity affects us. We read that before we can really cut insecurity out of our lives we need to understand what it is. To be completely honest, there may be some envy among us bloggers. As Beth states in her leader’s guide: Let’s not let envy get in the way of the support a group like this can offer. Let’s pray that we can see each other clearly and with hearts of compassion not comparison.

So how do we know if we have a problem with insecurity? Beth says in Chapter 2:

“We all have insecurities. They piggyback on the vulnerability in our humanity. The question is whether or not our insecurities are substantial enough to hurt limit, or even distract us from profound effectiveness or fulfillment of purpose. Are they cheating us of the power and abundant life Jesus flagrantly promised?…I’m convinced many women-if not most-have enough insecurity to hinder them.” Pg. 15-16

1. Share a specific time in your past when insecurity kept you from doing something you wanted to do or stopped you from using your gifts. How does it hinder you today?
2. Before we go further, we need to develop a working definition of insecurity. How would you define insecurity in a word or brief phrase?

On page 17 Beth writes the definition of insecurity by Joseph Nowinski:

“Insecurity refers to a profound sense of self-doubt – a deep feeling of uncertainty bout our basic worth and our place in the world. Insecurity is associated with chronic self-consciousness, along with a chronic lack of confidence in ourselves and anxiety about our relationships. The insecure man or woman lives in constant fear of rejection and a deep uncertainty about whether his or her own feelings and desires are legitimate.” Pg. 16

1. What part of this definition seems accurate? Is there anything about it that surprises you? If you feel comfortable, explain how you fit this description in the comments.

Part 2 of that same definition says:

The insecure person also harbors unrealistic expectations about love and relationships. These expectations, for themselves and for others, ar often unconscious. The insecure person creates a situation in which being disappointed and hurt in relationships is almost inevitable. Ironically, although insecure people re easily and frequently hurt, they are usually unaware of how they are unwitting accomplices in creating their own misery.” Pg.23

I particularly loved this definition and really resonated with it. I found it so true in my own lives and seeing it played out in the lives of others.

1. So think about movies and/or tv shows, or even news items. Can you find an example of self-sabotage in relationships? If you think of something, share it with us!!
2. What unrealistic expectations have you placed on relationships in the past? How can we become more conscious of our negative pattern in relationships?
   • Are you the one thinking he’s going to text you every morning to say “good morning”? Do you think he’s going to tell you how beautiful you are every day?
   • It can be in regards to your friendships as well.

Beth then moves on to discuss in chapter 3 about the “false positive” on page 36-37 when she was in a conversation with a friend and the friend mentions how she can’t imagine Beth struggles with insecurity…because she’s so tiny. The false positive is one thing that we think would make us more secure in all things.

1. Look at the list on page 38 of false positives. Which ones really stand out to you the most? Can you identify which is your false positive – the one thing you think would make you secure?

Our insecurities are too deeply rooted within us to be easily fixed. Although we have unhealthy ways of thinking, we are not hopeless because we have Christ in us. Nothing can make us secure, not a husband, or a fit body, or a prettier face. Nothing but Jesus.

1. So read Romans 8:9. What hope does this verse offer?
2. Read 2 Corinthians 4:7. What words does this verse use to describe Christ living within us? How should this transform the way we view ourselves?

Beth shares about how her own insecurities affect her view of God. Read on page 18 from “This morning I went on a walk…to…I wonder if you can relate.”

1. Read Psalm 139:1-4, 13-14. What does this passage reveal about how well God knows us? How does He view us,e even with that full knowledge?
2. Then read Ephesians 2:10. How are believers described in this verse What impact should this truth make on how you view yourself and live your life?
3. Then read 1 Peter 2:9-10. How are believers described in this passage? What is our purpose?

In your journal:

1. What barriers does insecurity place on you that you want to be free from?
2. Also, re-read Psalm 139, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 2:9-10 every day this week. And just think about them.
3. Re-read the challenge Beth put at the end of chapter 3 on page 43: “Let healthy, utterly whole, and completely secure part of us increasingly overtake our eaten vessels until it drives our every emotion, reaction, and relationship. When we allow God’s ruth to eclipse every false positive and let our eyes spring open to the treasure we have, there in hHis glorious reflection we’ll also see the treasure we are. And the beauty of the Lord our God will be upon us.”

Assigned Reading: Chapter 4. As you’re reading in the book, underline what is jumping out at you, what you think is true, what surprises you, and what seems to be the most challenging. Maybe you highlight the answers to each of those questions in a different color.

Prayer Requests: How can we be praying for you this week?

**If anyone is wanting to join the study, just purchase the book (click the picture on my sidebar) so you can follow along with us!! We’d love to have you.**

Ephesians 2:10

Show and Tell: Mission Trips

Show and Tell, Show and Tell, Show and Tell!!!!

Today’s topic..

Mission Trips and Service Opportunities

This is going to be fun, y’all! I love that Andrea just so happened to pick the topic for TODAY of all days of the year…because our sermon on Sunday was about serving. And we’ve just been introduced to mission trips for 2016 in The Dominican Republic, Honduras, New York City, Los Angeles. And I know I want to go on one of those trips, so i’m just praying about which one right now.

In the summer of 2012 right after I graduated high school, I went on my very first mission trip to New Orleans, Louisiana.

I recapped it a little bit back in July of 2014. For some reason the links to a few of the pictures aren’t working (of course), but there are still some on there. When I signed up for this mission trip I really didn’t know what to expect. I just found myself excited and feeling good about it!

We got there years after Katrina so while there’s always work to be done, there really wasn’t as much as we were all hoping. But we were put in charge of cleaning the yard for a house that the Church we volunteered for owned. This is our youth pastor. He was the best and I owe him so much for pouring into my life at that young age.

We cleared out, moved, stacked, rearranged furniture in school classrooms to be moved for the schools to be cleaned over the summer.

We were able to fellowship and study the Bible with one another.

We painted the girls’ bathroom at one of the elementary schools with Arial from a coloring book. (actually Reeana drew and we painted!)

And the boys’ bathroom with ya know, boy stuff.

And then we were of course able to see the city. We explored all around New Orleans one night. It was fun! Especially when you’re with some of your best friends.

We may or may not have slept while on the job.

But we of course had some fun along the way 🙂

I’ll always remember that mission trip. Like I said, I was with some of my best friends for a week in a city that i’d never been to before, glorifying God’s name. There are few things in life that can top that!!

God calls us to serve the world, the community, our Church, and one another.

 “The greatest among you shall be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11

I love serving my Church. On Sunday mornings this is where you can find me. With my 3 and 4 year olds 🙂

Wednesday nights you’ll probably find me with my freshman girls at youth group.

I co-taught 3rd and 4th grade boys at my old Church on Wednesday nights with Reeana’s dad. Half of these boys were pastor’s kids too 🙂

As for our community…my volleyball team in high school participated in Operation Christmas Child, which my old Church hosted. One Saturday morning we all got together to pack up shoeboxes to send over to the kids in poverty and we had so much. Of course we made it competitive because…we were athletes remember 😉 We broke up into groups, shopped through the dollar store, and packed these boxes while eating some BBQ. It was so much fun! My team rocked 🙂

These are some of my favorite memories.

Now, I know many of you have ministries through your own Church that you are a part of, but we just had one that i’m really considering. One Child Matters is a ministry where you pay $40 every month to sponsor a child until they graduate the program. Your $40 goes to pay for health needs, spiritual needs (Bibles, etc.), education needs, and a community for the child to meet others. You’ll write letters back and forth with your  kiddo. It is a commitment, i’m right there with you. I’m praying about this and maybe you should too?? Our Church is sponsoring kids from the Dominican and Honduras where we might be able to go see them on one of the above mission trips.

OH, don’t forget that you can still sign up for the Online Bible Study!!!

Now I can’t wait to go through and look at yours! And just in case you missed any of my previous Show and Tell Tuesday posts:

A Day In The Life
Halloween Costumes
My First Job
The 5 people you’d invite to dinner
Where I was on 9/11
Who I was in High School
My Back to School Traditions
My Home
My Beauty Routine
My Yard
When I Grow Up
Favorite Party I’ve Hosted
How I Got My Name
My Favorite Vacation
My Favorite Room In Our House
How (2 of my favorite couples) Met Each Other
My Groundhog Day
My Organization Tips and Tricks
My New Year’s Resolutions

#cliffhangerfinallyannounced

I had something else planned for today, but i’m still working on it because I didn’t get it finished this weekend 😉

But on a completely un-related note…do you ever have those moments where you’re just like “yep, life is good.” There are just times when i’m doing something and I stop and think “Wow” because there’s just a sense of peace that comes over me. I’m having one of those moments right now as I type this post. And all i’m doing is just sitting here at my “desk” with a winter candle lit, my chia seed water, rain hitting the window, Christian Radio on Pandora playing and homework going on. I mean, I do have a blank and my favorite fuzzy aloe socks on. See for yourself.

But I really don’t think that’s why. I just think God gives us these moments as a reminder that through all the good, the bad, the ugly, He reigns above all. He is in control. And we should put our trust in Him…through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

because

and when you really grasp that concept, there really is a sense of peace that overwhelms you. I mean, this is definitely not me majority of the time. I’m always go-go-go, on the move, doing something, running somewhere, and not at peace but sometimes it’s just nice to sit down, relax, feel those “yep, life is good” moments.

But for the reason you’re here today, do you remember in one of my Friday Favorites posts when I talked about doing something that I think would be great and beneficial for a lot of us???? And then you guys were mad at me because I was all #cliffhanger on a Friday and now you’ve probably forgotten about it????

WELL. You wanna know what it was?!

An online Bible study!!

 Honestly, what could be better than fellowshipping with other women (and men if they’re interested), bloggers, and friends? Before I release the specifics of it, i’d like to know who would actually be interested?

• We’ll interact with each other from all over
• It’s on our own schedule (AND can be in our PJs and fuzzy socks!!)
• There’s so much to learn from the Bible
• We’ll make new friends
• We’ll grow together in our faith
• We’ll challenge one another
• We’ll give some time to ourselves and God throughout the week, month, and year.
• Most importantly, we’ll have FUN!

We would study a book of a Bible, i’ll post questions beforehand, and we will all discuss those questions later on in the week. We can talk about how often after I can get a head count of who would want to participate. If you don’t have a Bible, don’t worry about that. I’ll figure something out for you. I don’t want that to be a reason anyone doesn’t participate. SO please comment if you want to participate, what questions you have, and then leave your e-mail so I can contact you. Or if you’re more comfortable with e-mailing me instead, please do 🙂

Looking forward to hearing from y’all!