Good Morning Siestas,
Here we go!
Please read Beth's blog post (link is at right of this post)
Here are our assignments for Week One:
1. Write a journal-type entry on the inside cover of your book describing this present season of your life and why you’ve chosen to read a book like this. If you already have a relationship with God, write it in the form of a prayer. I do this almost every time I begin a book that I think could have a considerable impact on my life. When I finish the book, I always go back and read it and it ends up meaning so much to me. Listen, Sister, if you expect little, that’s probably what you’ll get. But if you expect something big from God when you start a journey and you posture yourself to receive from Him, even when frail human beings are thrown in the mix, you’ll end up with something huge. Something life altering.
2. Read the Introduction, Chapter One, and Chapter Two. Our first question is based on Chapter One: When was the last time you came face-to-face with our gender’s massive struggle with insecurity? Describe the setting.
3. This question is based on Chapter Two: what part of the definition or description of insecurity resonated most with you and why?
Some other thoughts from Beth: "To stay on schedule, you will have until next Thursday morning, February 18th, to answer this week’s questions so don’t feel that you need to rush. You have plenty of time. You will write your responses in a single comment to THIS POST. You’ll see other posts about other subjects follow this one over the course of the week. You’ll still return back to this entry to make your comments regarding Week One. This will be true each subsequent week.
Each time you enter into the discussion, please include the same general information as your initial sign-up: first name, city, age-decade, and whether or not you are single or married. You'll find that our answers will be even more insightful as we set them next to our basic biographical information. Try to keep your responses succinct so that we can read as many as possible. Since there could be hundreds of comments – or even several thousand – you might consider reading the ones surrounding the same general time frame as your entry.
For all the rule keepers, no, you don’t have to respond every week or to every question. Grin. When you have something to say, say it! Don’t feel like it needs to sound profound. Don’t try to over-analyze unless that’s how you normally process information. Just share what’s on your heart and how God is dealing with you.
No matter your background, you are so welcome to take part in this journey with us. All we ask is that you treat your fellow sojourners with respect. I am honored to serve you here. My prayer and deepest hope is that you will encounter the One who came that you might have life and have it to the FULL.
Thank you for coming!
Lord, be magnified.
In His lavish love,
Beth"
Okay, now let's have some fun discussing our answers to these questions!
I've read to about chapter 4, but I'm mulling the questions around in my mind before I go back and review the 1st 2 chapters and give my answers.
ReplyDeleteHow about the rest of you?
I am on chapter 8 but need to go back over the first 2 as well.
ReplyDeleteWow! I feel really vulnerable...this is more difficult than I thought! I won't list all of my discoveries right now as I am still mulling through them. Anyhow without theologizing here they are in the raw!
ReplyDelete1. The most recent struggle - appearance/weight. Setting that started the cycle again; in October I had my physical and when I stepped on the scale had gained 5 lbs. My expression must have spoke for me and my Dr. assured me it was muscle from running. However, it really bothers me. My husband encourages me and loves me beautifully and I don't always accept it or believe that it is true.
2. There are a few parts of the definition that resonate. Self consciousness and wondering if my feelings and desires are legitimate. I often don't meet my personal expectations. Are my desires directed by God or are they based on who I wish God would make me to be?
My book just came Thurs, perfect timing. I read the questions but haven't finished the chapters yet. I'm with you Nicole, this is really vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteI knew there were insecurity issues but I didn't realize how much until the SMT Celebration. I was so freaked out about meeting new women and wanting to fit in. I don't usually see it that blatantly but wow it was huge.
What's strange is that there is a part of me that's a leader and very confident in some things, but then this reared it's ugly head!
I know some of it is from our current situation right now with my husband out of work and living with family. I feel so "less than", it's hard being poor, in so many ways. I know what God says about the "poor" but I never wanted to be one, let's be honest who does? Somehow being poor is connected to my sense of self worth. I don't "feel" poor but statistically we are, VERY! So I know I need to delve deeper into that one, how can my identity be separate from .........fill in the blank. I'm sure we all have things that we connect our identity with. I know it's supposed to come from my incredible worth as a woman and as God's daughter but that hasn't quite made it from my head down to my heart. I need a breakthrough!
How's that for the first part of the questions? I'll keep reading and look forward to the other responses.
Well I have to say that I didn't really think insecurity was an issue for me and generally it is nothing like it was when I was younger. The Lord has taught me MUCH!! But my answer to the first question would have to be myself at the SMT Celebration. I would much rather meet new people in small groups, say a handful, rather than in a crowd like at SMT. I found it difficult to go up to strangers and introduce myself in that large group so I missed meeting a lot of women whose stories I would love to have heard. I can't even name a reason for it right now, I rarely compare myself to others any more. At one time in my life that was a HUGE issue for me and maybe there is still a trace that lingers that I hadn't even realized!
ReplyDeleteSandi, I understand something of how you are feeling. When my husband died we lost our ranch which was everything that we had financially put out lives into. It was devastating, I had nothing left so I had to start all over at the age of 53. God has taken care of me in ways I would never have imagined but I had to learn to rely on others and be the receiver rather than the giver. That was HARD! I'm not sure what "retirement" will look like for me as I will never have enough money to retire on. Maybe I'll still be working at 80!!! lol One thing that amazes me and it is completely a God thing is that I don't fear the future because I have seen how God has taken care of me these last several years.
I was a huge perfectionist and thought that I needed to know the answer for everything, felt responsible for the choices my family and friends made, was fearful, I was a mess! But, at the age of 35 at my kitchen sink washing dishes one evening the Lord stopped me dead in my tracks and I heard His voice in my head tell me very specifically "you are not responsible for everyone and everything" that was the start of a huge change in my life! It took a few years but I am so over that way of thinking. So even though I am not in that place now I sure know what it feels like to be there! It was a terrible bondage that I lived in and I just want to thank my LORD for the FREEDOM I now have!!!
I'll come back with my answer to the second question. I need to read it again.
Thanks to all of you who have shared so far. Nicole you are so right it does make us feel vulnerable, right where God wants us - vulnerable and real!
Nicole, I agree with you that we are all allowing ourselves to be vulnerable - especially by sharing in a smaller group! I find it a lot easier to post a comment among 500 others (or not even post) than to be accountable to a small group of women. But the fact that we're all doing this is a huge help to me!
ReplyDeleteSandi - oh I feel for you. Thank you for sharing so honestly!!
Lynn - I also didn't think I had any insecurity issues. In my past, yes, many. But I think I'm about to get my eyes opened. In my journal entry at the front of the book I wrote this phrase: "I'm willing to be open and honest and allow You to peel away anything that is hindering me from walking the freedom that You have offered me".
So here are my answers to questions 2 & 3:
2. I would have to agree that coming to the SMT without having actually met anyone else first did throw me a little. But not just the SMT Celebration. I think it probably happens any time I am in a group of women, no matter how large. I have never really recognized it before, or called it what it was. I also figured I was the only one who felt that way, but I'm discovering I'm not. Who knew that we were in a room filled with 500 other women who felt just as insecure as we did?????
3. When I read the definition on page 17, I felt like I ran into a brick wall! Phrases like "chronic self-consciousness", anxiety about our relationships" and "fear of rejection" all resonated with me. At what point does chronic self-consciousness become self-absorption? I think there is a really fine line.
Also, the spot on p. 18 where Beth says: "Maybe I suc-consciously doubt God for using me........I don't just doubt myself, I also doubt God about myself". WOW, that describes me to a Tee!
Example: We have a Living Proof Live event coming up in Toronto in 4 more weeks. I've put together a package that includes bus transportation from my area (1 1/2 hrs from Toronto) and a night in a hotel. I prayed about it first, I believe God's given me the gift of administration, I truly want other women to experience LPL and Beth's teaching. But just before I started reading the book I was obsessing about it. Women have been kind of slow to sign up, and I was worrying that if we didn't have enough women, I'd either lose money on it, or have to cancel the whole thing and disappoint the women who are already signed up.
Then I realized that if He's called me to do this, He's going to be faithful to work it all out. Either He fills the bus, or He shows me how to get the women there another way that will still honour His Name. After reading chapter 2, I realized that I was doubting that God could use me, and doubting God about myself. That was a HUGE revelation to me!
Oh yeah, Nicole, the weight thing is also a source of insecurity for me, but I remember when I weighed 30 lbs less, and guess what? I was more insecure than ever back then! There's always something, isn't there ....
ReplyDeleteJudith, thank you for setting this up. I posted my answers on my blog and on the LPM blog. I've got to get to bed, now, but I will try to come back before Thursday to enter into the discussion.
ReplyDeleteThank you again!
I love the idea of a smaller group! I was so excited to join the LPM blog, but started feeling overwhelmed when I saw the numbers rising, and rising, and rising. In this setting, I feel we can really get to know each other and help each other along. Thanks for starting this!
ReplyDeleteKerry/30s/married/Ohio
Hi ladies! Enjoyed reading each of your comments. Expressing myself by writing is not one of my strong suits -- but rather than fret over the words, I'm just going to go for it!
ReplyDelete1. I haven't written the entry in my book yet -- want to spend some more time meditating and praying on this.
2. Definitely my weight and appearance -- a daily struggle for me -- no matter how I look or how much I weigh -- it's never right. I have moments when I think I look OK in my mirror at home -- but then will catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror while I'm out -- or see a picture of myself -- and I'm bummed at what I see.
3. Fear of rejection -- this has been a major issue for me all of my life -- primarily rooted in my family of origin. God has healed me a lot in this area -- especially through my divorce -- but I have a long ways to go. I am overly sensitive to other's opinions of me and even though I know that in my head, my emotions can take a plunge.
I am really praying that God will use this book and this blog to do a significant healing for me.
1.
ReplyDeleteDear Heavenly Father,
I Praise You and thank you for bringing me this far in my life, to the season of grandparenthood;
sharing life at home with my husband and teenage son, our youngest of 3 children;
growing in my relationship with You, my husband, each of our children, and all of our family members;
still growing and learning.
Dear Lord,
I Repent of my defensiveness and selfishness, and insecurity.
I Acknowledge that You are in control and I am always safe and secure with You.
(Intercession)
Dear Lord, I thank you for blessing me with a beautiful daughter. I pray for her, and for the thousands of women who are on this journey together of reading this book. I am reading it, because I know that You put this burden on Beth's heart to write this book because our gender does have a serious battle with Insecurity.
I can relate to so many of the comments already.
I thank you and pray for Your servant, Beth Moore.
(Supplication)
I pray for myself that You will help me to always be alert to You speaking to me through Beth's book. I pray that You will help me to become secure in Your love.
(Equipping)
I pray that You will use this book to help equip me to be Your servant.
2. Our first question is based on Chapter One: When was the last time you came face-to-face with our gender’s massive struggle with insecurity? Describe the setting.
Today, just reading all the comments from others and relating to all of them.
3.
I thought I could choose one part that resonated with me, but as I read back over it, ALL of it resonated with me!
Sandy
40's
Married
Oklahoma
I also bought the book for my single daughter who turned 20 on Feb. 3, and I also bought the audio set, read by Beth, that I am enjoying listening to on may to and from work.
Hi Siestas!
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry in the delay in my response but have had computer issues at home.
1) Since returning home from Siesta Celebration I have been taking some pilates and zumba classes at the area park and rec. Even though through the grace of God I am 45 pounds lighter than I was two years ago, I am struggling with seeing myself in the mirror for 30 minutes!! I have cried and been discouraged so much the last few weeks. I am very insecure going into these classes. I know God wants me to have a realistic viewpoint and be secure in who I am in Christ. I never thought I'd have an issue with this.
2) The comment in the definition regarding my self worth hit home. Our youngest will graduate in two years and I am already struggling with where I will fit after having children at home for 28 years. Again, struggling with what I do rather than who I am.
Looking forward to more conversations with all of you.
Danelle
blest5x@gmail.com
1. Praying that God will reveal my areas of insecurity and lead me to healing in those areas.
ReplyDelete2. My beautiful daughters struggling with their looks even though they are so beautiful!
3. I am realizing that I am very confident in my abilities, but not confident in my worth "just as I am". I am a leader and feel most comfortable when leading or doing. But when I am just me, with out all my performance, I feel like I am nothing.
Robin
46
Married
Washington State
Thanks for being patient with me. I've been reading the book and writing my answers out long hand. I'm just now posting all three weeks of homework! So for week 1:
ReplyDelete2. "Running" into the store to pick up a couple of things w/o makeup, hair a mess, wearing sloppy clothes (I'd been cleaning house),etc. Of course, this is the time I run into that gorgeous acquaintance that I haven't seen in 2 or 3 years - looking adorable, professional, thin, "fixed up" and all I could imagine into the evening was what she must have thought about me - "wow, she's aged!, gained weight!, let herself go!, frumpy!, etc."
3. As I read the definition/description of insecurity, the words chronic, profound, deep, constant are not words that I would associate with my own insecurity. However, I do know that insecurity is here within me nontheless, especially in the area of "lack of confidence in ourselves" - especially in my appearance as I age.