chapter one

The Mind is the Battlefield.

I love how this chapter started with Eph. 6.12.
I wrote it down on an index card and placed it in my purse.  I want to memorize this one.

Our Enemy is pure and simple -- Satan.  Not our family....our kids....our jobs....our circumstances...our ....
Jesus called Satan the Father of Lies in John 8.14.

I found this very interesting as I had never thought of it before -- Satan has studied us for a LONG time.
Satan knows what bothers us.  He is willing to invest ANY amount of time it takes to defeat us.  One of the Devil's strong points is patience.

Patience -- really?  That is one thing that many of us women struggle with ....the lack of Patience.  We were given the right amount of patience when God created us...we...maybe..just have not learned how to access it??  !!   Got to think about that!

So we have to learn to TEAR down the strongholds.  Stop and think about those strongholds in your life.

A stronghold is an area in which we are held in bondage due to a certain way of thinking.

I will be frank and personal.  There was a time in my life..my marriage where the stronghold of guilt and self-pity could of REALLY taken its toll.  It tried.  You see, my husband was unfaithful.  It is what it is...but I praise God that with HIS help...those strongholds that TRIED to get me...did NOT succeed.

I stated I did not want to be negative and I did not share that for pity or concern or to hurt him...just to simply be REAL.  Real.  I KNOW we can win this battle of our minds....It is a process, but it can be done. (PS, this is where I mentioned that what we share here...is shared in confidence. We can trust each other.)

2 Corn 10. 4-5 is how we tear those strongholds down.    I think it would be a GREAT idea to write that verse down in my..purse as well.

( Side note, at CVS/ Walgreens, you can get a spiral of index cards.  This idea is from Beth Moore.  I have done this now for 3 years..or this is my 3rd year.  I section it off and write down on these index cards ...that are bound in a spirtal...well, I write verses that people give me or that HE gives me and I carry them around DAILY.  I try and memorize at least one each month..or twelve.  It is just an idea, but when I say jot down the verse and place it in my purse that is what I am talking about.)

Then there was the Summary of the Situation...I thought this was GOOD.  It is on pg. 12 of my NOOK version of the book, not sure about the paperback copy...I just reminded myself, we ARE in a war.  Period.   And the other point that jumped out at me....#6  Satan is in NO hurry...he will wait us out.  There is that patience again.

The Word is our Weapon....John 8: 31, 32  

 If you abide in My word ( hold fast to my teachings and live in accordance with them), you are truly My disciples.  And You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

So, I really need to learn everything about Jesus, really get to KNOW HIM and the Holy Spirit.  I want to also learn more of HIS word so I can use it as POWER in my prayers.

Ok - I got a little 'longwinded' there..just excited about the first chapter.  
Now our  two questions  for comment......

God fights for us.  I love the scripture from Exodus 14.14.  I have this one memorized.  God will fight for me, I need only be still.  God is fighting for us.  That makes my heart sing.

Question #1...Have you had a time when you KNEW God was fighting for you - would you share it?  How did you know HE was....HOW did it bless you?

Question #2 ... Did you relate to the Story of Mary or John?  You can share if you wish...


Ok,  so if you have not read chapter one yet...please do so and then respond.

God loves you dearly - have a great week!

It is time to start to READ.....

Ok -- Hello !  
So glad to be on this adventure.  I want everyone to know there is NO pressure here.  Many of you have already READ the book...some have not started, but I pray that we can use this forum to really seek WHAT God wants us to learn!  

As women, we carry the emotional part of our family...God designed us to be a helpmate to our husbands and we have natural abilities  to love ...unconditionally.  Did you know that in the bible God did not have to tell us to love...HE says we are to respect and  honor...HE told our men to love...they don't think that way normally.  We do.

We are so unique and God loves us so.

So here is how this will work.

I am going to try my best to give an intro for the chapter....what 'hit' me or so and then post a discussion question for everyone to comment on.

We all remember what is said here is - stays here.  No condemnation.  We want this to be an area of freedom.  And no bashing either......I realized ( like today ) our children and our spouses or our co-workers can really aggravate us, we just need to leave that and not allow that to block any blessings we will receive on this blog.

My goal is each Wednesday eve....so later tonight I will blog/post our Chapter 1 assignment.  You will have the entire week to respond or just read and then we will try and do one chapter a week.

Free free to add comments and respond to what others say/write.

I just LOVE this....so excited for this new adventure.

And by the way, God is so proud of you -- HE calls you beloved.

I will pray, Dear Lord,  this is YOURs and we as your beloved want to get a grip and we want to win the battle of our mind....We have that authority to squash strongholds and WE can do this WITH YOU..and oNLY YOu.  We love you Lord.  Amen.

Welcome....

WE are starting!  YEAH....

The link here is to help you.  You will need to sign up for a google account if you don't have on and then add yourself as a follower and so you can comment and share...as we START.

Wow, I am so excited.....Excited.....

A few rules, what we share here...it to help and benefit.  Only share what you want.  And we will all pledge to keep confidences and keep our opinions to ourselves...it must edify another ....

But, this is also a place to be real and to be honest....

First Assignment:  Roll Call....

1.  comment and sign in , tell where you live and your age and then your relationship to Diann... and then tell ONE really cool thing that happened to you this past week.  It can be a silly thing or a God thing..or it can be a kid story.  Please keep it brief.  

2.  Then before we START this....stop and say a prayer that this opportunity will bring us closer to each other and we will gain great insight into our Heavenly Father.    Once you have done that...move to #3.

3.  On this blog, state what bothers your mind the most...just one word or a phrase..or what it on your mind.  Be brief.  It will be something we will look back on.  I would ask that no one comments on each others  #3...just read.  

OK -- that is it...here we go.  I will start.  

1.  Michelle Pritchard 

Okeechobee Florida

Age 45...and holding.  

Diann is my sissy.....'little or younger sister' 

And my cool God thing...being able to START this blog and interact with all of you!  Here we go!  

2.  I prayed.  

Lord, here now...I have NO idea what is in store with this..but it is YOURS.  Both Dee and I wish to have a way to bond with our sisters and family and friends....so do that Lord.  I commit this adventure to YOU.  Only YOU.. may YOU be gloified. Amen.  

3.  What is on my mind...well,  I am in prayer for a certain woman right now and I know God wants me to annoint her with oil and pray..sometime next week, I want the courage to do that, but the Enemy keeps telling me a bunch of stuff to get me 'scared'.  

Ok - there, now it is your turn.