No time to write lately with the busyness of life and school starting next week. But I ran across this post from several months ago that never actually made it to the blog and thought I’d share it.
Recently I came across the following status update on Facebook: “[Friend’s Name] hasn’t slept through the night in more than eight months, but it is so totally worth it!” I laughed as I read it, for three reasons. First, if you want to get all mommy competitive about it, she’s a lightweight, and I absolutely have her beat since I’m going on eighteen months of interrupted sleep. No one gave the baby the memo that, being the third, he should at least pretend his mom has completely mastered the art of teaching her children to sleep and Sleep. Through. The. Night. Already. Seriously. He’s making me look like an amateur, and this is my 24/7 job we’re talking about here. I laughed too because that’s the closest most of my SAHM friends come to writing a status update that is in fact about them rather than only their children, and of course this one still involved at least one child. The part of this update that made me laugh and then want to cry though is that [Friend] wrote an honest thought about what is often one of the maddening, sometimes sad, aspects of motherhood, i.e., sleeplessness, but felt the need to follow it up immediately with a positive spin. It seems as though SAHMs in particular feel an overwhelming obligation to remind everyone constantly that they love their children so much they wouldn’t want to be doing anything else but spending every single waking (or potential sleeping) minute with them no matter what. But we can’t seem to admit the difficult parts of what we do in a direct way. Why do we do this to ourselves and to each other?
The honest-to-goodness truth is that sometimes motherhood seems like such a burden, and being a SAHM can make it feel like even more of a burden because of the never-ending exposure to your children. There, I’ve said it. The unspeakable sentence in most SAHM circles has come to life, so let’s discuss briefly. Read more…
Not too long ago, a friend of mine was babysitting my youngest for the morning and popped in a Veggie Tales video, Josh and the Big Wall, to keep him busy. She was surprised to realize that, through this video intended for kids, she was shown some new details about the story of Joshua and ended up rereading the entire narrative in her Bible as a result. Later she even applied what she’d seen and read to a devotional she was writing for a group of adults at church. Video for kids, indeed.
This afternoon on the treadmill, I had a very similar experience. I was listening to a workout playlist I’d created in iTunes quite a while ago, and, as I was hitting my stride in my run, I was literally stopped dead in my tracks and brought to my knees by one of the songs. And yes, you guessed it, it’s a Veggie Tales song. It’s from the first full-length Veggie Tales movie, Jonah, and is entitled “Second Chances.” You can see the full version of the lyrics here, and you can also click on the play button next to the song title to hear a sample. The following is the part that really struck me during my run:
You see God’s a god of mercy,
And God’s a god of love.
And right now, He’s gonna lend a helping hand from up above!
Praise the Lord!
He’s the God of second chances!
You’ll be floored how His love your life enhances!
You can be restored from your darkest circumstances!
Our God is a God of second chances!
I’ve been in church a good portion of my life and heard the theology behind these lyrics a thousand times, so there’s nothing new here. But right now I am in a very challenging part of my life’s journey and, among other things, I am struggling mightily with giving some recently-admitted parts of my past over to God. I’ve been acting as though He couldn’t possibly forgive all that I’ve done because, to me, some of it seems unforgivable, even for God. Acting this way boils down to a phenomenal amount of pride on my part, but that’s another post.
The point here is that today God opened my ears to hear something He’s been trying hard to get me to understand. He is the God of second chances, no matter the sin or the sinner. And He used Veggies to get through to my stubborn self. I’d never have guessed.
I think we could use something a little more light-hearted around here too, so I’m borrowing this from Cindy. I managed to give additional explanations on only two of them, so not too shabby! See what you can do.
In One Word, Tell Us About . . .
Yourself: Serious
Your Husband: Changing
Your Hair: Short
Your Mother: Giving
Your Father: Energetic
Your Favorite Item: iPhone
Your Favorite Drink: Coffee
Your Dream Car: Clean
Your Dream Home: Clean
The Room You Are In: Living
Your Fear: Failure
Where You Want to be in Ten Years? Free
Who You Hung Out with Last Night: Michelle
What You’re Not: Superficial
One of Your Wish List Items: Peace
Time: Fleeting
The Last Thing You Did: E-mail
What You Are Wearing: Jammies
Your Favorite Weather: Fall
Your Favorite Book: Bible
Last Thing You Ate: Toast
Your Life: Challenging
Your Mood: Contemplative
Your Best Friend: Spirit-filled
Your Car: Tank (aka Yukon XL/Suburban)
Your Summer: Unbelievable
Relationship Status: Married
What is on Your TV: Nothing
When is the Last Time You Laughed: Breakfast
Here are your four interactives for your gatherings today:
First two from Week Five:
1. See pages 102-103. Book freak that I am, I loved the way Jennifer started the week with English author Huxley’s comparison of our memories to private collections of literature. Lock in on the graphic of the books on the shelf on p.103. Each person share the words they wrote on the first and last book.
2. See pages 112-113 where Jennifer talks about the unattractiveness of complaining. You might say, it’s like living our lives with rollers in our hair. Jennifer drew a very insightful connection between a complaining spirit and a sense of entitlement. In your gatherings, talk about what you think the term “entitlement” means and offer a few examples of it.
Second set from Week Six:
3. See p.126. As we wrap up our series, I want you guys to share your answers (even if you didn’t write them down) to Jennifer’s first questions: What’s the most significant thing you recognized about your self-talk so far? In other words, I’m asking you to share the biggest revelation you received through the study about your thought closet.
BTW, I loved Jennifer’s creativity in the interactive on p.130 about the colors in our closets. I like questions that really make me think and imagine. These are the kinds of question some of our personality types and learning styles love and others roll their eyes about. If you are the kind that loved it and you came up with a pretty creative color, share it! If you’re the kind that rolled your eyes, roll them one more moment while your sister shares. I love you both.
4. See the bottom of p.136. What is the most frequent song you’re singing right now to your soul to help you persevere and keep hope alive? I almost overlooked this exercise because we shared a post not too long ago concerning the songs that stir up our love for Jesus. This one’s a little different though. Jennifer is asking specifically about songs that stir us up to perseverance. Songs that make us essentially say, “March on, my soul, be strong!” What’s yours presently?
Also, please visit this post to thank Jennifer Rothschild for the study and let her know what it has done for you personally.
If you’re able to stay on schedule, you should have weeks 3 and 4 of your homework completed and your group discussion will be a reflection of that material. I hope you can watch the video instructions I’ve prepared for you but, just in case you have technical difficulty, here is a list of your four interactives for today’s gathering:
(The first two are from Week 3; The second set is from Week 4.)
1. In our LPM small group discussion, we never made it past the second page of Day One without stopping for discussion. Look at the top of p.57 and note the track Jennifer gave us from emotions to thoughts to actions. Discuss its relevance and any recent examples. At the bottom of that same page, she refers to “THINKING WITH OUR FEELINGS.” Discuss this familiar female propensity as well.
2. Turn to p.65 where we studied the woman with the issue of blood. In the first full paragraph, Jennifer writes, “We often face one defining circumstance that becomes the headwater from which other issues flow.” Would some of you be willing to share what your “one defining circumstance” is and how it tends to affect a number of different areas?
OK, this is not a discussion question but I want to mention it because it was one of my very favorite things and I’ve thought about it a ton since I read it. Take a glance at p.73 where Jennifer shares the story about being stuck on a plane and the little girl near her saying to her daddy, “I spy something good.” Did that speak to you, too?
Now, from Week Four:
3. Based on p.81. where Jennifer discusses what we say to ourselves when we talk to ourselves about sin: What has been your most recurrent conviction lately and what are you doing about it? (If you’re not presently doing anything about it, admitting it to your group is a start!)
Discuss how she ties up the point on p.87 with these words: “Never let the Enemy be more aware of your weaknesses than you are.”
4. Review p.88. Do you have a framework set up in your life for consistent accountability? Do you have at least one person in your life who holds you accountable in your pursuit of God and godliness and doesn’t just help you stay comfortable in your strongholds? Look at Jennifer’s statement: “The Enemy goes after the solitary and the silent.”
Discuss the fears involved in opening up to accountability and the solutions to those fears. What holds us back? Is it time? Exposure? Fear of confidence being betrayed? Talk about fears, solutions, and the importance of taking the chance.
That should keep you busy today and smack in the middle of each other’s business! Thank you so much for participating. Study hard! See you in two weeks and we’ll finish up!
Posted by nikandre on Jul 15, 2009 in faith, varia
As the summer flies by, I am amazed at all that God is doing. Here in West Michigan, we appreciate the warmth and sunshine far more than some of you can imagine, and it’s no coincidence that He is working to bring light to so many dark places in my life and the lives of those around me during this season in particular. Details will have to wait, but for now I’d like to share the blog of someone I’ve been blessed to meet this summer.
One thing God has shown me in no uncertain terms as of late is that He wants me to be in His Word more than I ever thought possible. So this has become the summer of Bible studies for me, and He is helping me find a way to do it all. On “Magnificent Mondays” I’ve had the privilege of attending an evening Bible study at a church I don’t call home. Some 75+ women from churches all over the area have been gathering since June to journey through Priscilla Shirer’s brand new study, One in a Million, together. This group is led by two women, one of whom is Cindy Bultema. This week she started a prayer focus on her blog, and as she shares about prayer she is sharing some of her own story, which is incredible. Seeing how God is working and has worked in her life has blessed me, and I pray that it will bless you as well.
1. By now you’ve been well introduced to the concept of the study. We’re cleaning out our thought closets. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you individually need this particular subject matter and why?
2. Look on p.13 at the quote in the margin: “Who I am and what I struggle with are not the same thing.” In what way did that statement resonate with you? What struggle do you most tend to define yourself by?
3. Look on p.23, Day 4 of Week 1 at the interactive where Jennifer says, “In your own words, describe worry.” What was your answer?
4. Go to p.44 in Week 2 and focus on the part of the study where Jennifer talks about “faulty assumptions.” I thought this part was incredibly insightful. What is one of your faulty assumptions?
Once we’ve had the chance to discuss this for the next 24 hours or so, I will prepare a summary comment for the group and post it on the LPM blog. Can’t wait to hear what you ladies were shown these last two weeks!
As she explains more fully in the video, here are the three things she wants us to share this week:
1. An icebreaker just so we can have the opportunity to be ridiculous: What breed of dog do you most resemble in demeanor and why? If you don’t know your dog breeds, describe your demeanor to your group and let them help you.
2. This one will help us get to know one another’s priority needs right now. Get out a pen and paper and craft a one-sentence text message with a limit of 160 characters that starts with (and includes) these words: Please pray for me. I…
3. Read Psalm 19 out of The Message. (See below) Lock in on the section that describes what the Word of God (called by other names such as “revelation”) does for us. Note each benefit of studying Scripture and have group members who have discovered one of those benefits give short and specific testimonies as an encouragement to the rest.
Psalm 19
A David Psalm
1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome
for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
racing to the tape.
6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
warming hearts to faith.
7-9 The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.
10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
This Tuesday is the kick off for our study! Hopefully by now most of you will have received your books. I just got mine in the mail and am anxious to sit down and take a look at it. If you don’t have your book yet, don’t worry. This first week Beth’s video is more of an introduction/explanation as to how all this is going to work. So you won’t be missing too much by not having the book available by Tuesday, and it will be two weeks before the next “meeting.”
If you haven’t already, please make sure to e-mail me a picture of yourself (nikandre@yahoo.com) and also make sure I have your location. Beth wants to have a picture of each and every group. Since that is obviously impossible in this case, I’m going to put all the individual pics together in a collage for her instead. The sooner you can get your picture to me, the better.
Here’s a list of our group thus far with everyone’s location if I know it. I’ve also included a note if I already have a picture. Please let me know if I’ve missed anyone or if you sent me a picture and I missed it.
Sarah, Grand Rapids, MI (have pic)
Jenn, Kathmandu, Nepal (have pic)
Fran, Gulf Shores, AL (have pic)
Debbie, Monrovia, IN (have pic)
Stephanie, Kansas City, KS (have pic)
Krysta, Moore, OK (have pic)
Sharon, Lincoln Park, MI (have pic)
Michele, Kenosha, WI (have pic)
Carol, Albuquerque, NM (have pic)
Liz, Gladstone, OR (have pic)
Sherry, Nowata, OK (have pic)
Pam, Boswell, OK (have pic)
Mandy, Boswell, OK
This group is an amazing range of locations and ages and stages and backgrounds, and I am so excited to see where God will lead us this summer! Please let me know if you have any questions or prayer requests. It is entirely up to each of you and your comfort level, but I thought it would be best to share most prayer requests via e-mail rather than on the blog itself. Send them to me and I will forward them to the entire group once a week. If something is urgent, please make a note of that and I will send it immediately. Looking forward to the weeks ahead!
