chapter three

Hello Sweet Sister in Christ,

How was Chapter 2?  How was your week?  I am hoping and praying that you are reading and I know that God is allowing many opportunities for you to pray....it is a VITAL Necessity, is it not?

This past week, as I read Chapter 3... the Enemy came on strong, he is angered -- he knows that by reading this book, and praying, and believing the concepts that Joyce is sharing with us through this...there will be freedom.   And there will be peace...and there will be such joy....so before I post for this Chapter, I want to begin with prayer:

Lord, I am praying now for each lady who has come to this post, this page  -- Lord, bless them.  Lord, I bind that enemy who is trying to steal, kill, and destroy their life...I bind it by the authority I have IN YOU given by Christ Jesus.....I bind it and send it AWAY.  Lord, may each lady who is doing this study with us, may each lady who has ventured to take on this task.....bless them.  Lord, meet needs,  comfort, and give them the extra strength needed to continue on this journey.  Lord, as we continue, into Chapter Three..may we NOT GIVE UP!  Amen.

think about HOW this plant grew up - in spite of its adversity....

Ok,  Chapter Three:   Don't give up!

I loved the scripture of Galatians 6.9....And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season, we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.  

Just thinking about giving birth....my first born was 21 years old on Monday.  She was almost 2 weeks overdue.  I spent an entire day in the hospital getting 'soft' and then the next day with Pitosen being dripped into my veins, only to have a C-secion at the end of my 2nd day of trying.....I wanted to give up.  I remember so clearly, laying on that gurney and wanting to just sleep and go to heaven, I was in pain, I was tired, and I was ready -- I did not care.  I have not felt that exhausted since.  But she arrived at 9:06 and by 2am, when I got my 2nd wind...I was glad I did not give up.

Praise God my mom did not give up.

Praise God...women don't give up!!   I loved what Joyce stated in her commentary -- God is looking for people who will go all the way through with HIM.

Is that not what we want in our relationships?  In our marriage?  In our children -- character that does not give up.

However, I can relate and understand how it seems so easy to give up and give in.....sometimes the pain is just too hard....  but,  Isaiah 43.2 is what sustains me --

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.    Isa  43.2

It is easy to quit, it takes faith to go through!

We don't quit by renewing our minds.    After we have finally decided to be like-minded with God, then we will need to choose and to continue to choose right thoughts.

I can give you two specific examples of how choosing right thinking made the difference this past week.  I will share them at another time,  this week, I would really LIKE to hear from you....

IT is YOUR turn:

Can you share a time when YOU did not give up, and you know that you know, the victory was won? Or maybe you are in the middle of a battle and just need some encouragement...would you share it and allow us to pray with you?

I want to encourage you...GOD does answer prayer, and HE does things that amaze me.


Lord, I ask a blessing upon my sisters in Christ and I pray they will share this week, I pray they will be encouraged.  I pray that if they are passing through the waters of strife...that they will SEEK you for every need and they will battle on and renew their minds.  Lord, I pray they know how much YOU love them, and Lord, I pray they would see how YOU call them Beloved!  Amen.

chapter 2

I want to bear good fruit! 

Hello Beloved, so how was chapter one?  If you were unable to post your comments to the questions, that is OK, but I pray you can.  Remember, God is working a great plan here and if all you can do is read and THINK and spend time with God...then, don't put the pressure on yourself to comment.  I realize it is HARD. 

Ok, now Chapter Two is next -- The Chapter title was to the point -- A VITAL Necessity. 

It begins with the scripture "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."  Proverbs 23.7

Thoughts are POWERFUL.  As a mother, a teacher, a wife, and just a daughter -- I know that my words are very important and they 'set' a tone, especially in my classroom and in my family. 

I highlighted  in my book what  Joyce says within the first few paragraphs.....

 You CANNOT have a positive life and a negative mind. 

Romans 8. 5 is a verse I have heard over and over and now, it really sinks in. 

For those who are according to the flesh  and are controlled by its unholy desires  set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the Holy Spirit. 

My simple illustration is this....my flesh desires to sleep in every day..even when I have had enough sleep and pretend the world will go away....I set my mind to get up and face the day and get to work! 

Another simple illustration, I am on my Weight Watchers kick again and very motivated by Jennifer Hudson.  These last 13-14 pounds are driving me NUTS, but all over the WW web site....all I read and see is POSITIVES.....even when I had a weight gain, this little window popped up and reminded me that gain is normal in the 3rd week.

And as moms, I am sure many of us have looked into the eyes of our kids and reminded them that negativity...gets us NO where!  Am I right?

So, HIS word is our lifeline..so true---right?  

This verse became very real in my life...my husband  choose sin but I was sinful  too --  unfaithful in my mind.  And in God's eyes - I sinned just as much as he did.  I can't read this verse now without being greatful that HE died for all of our sins...not just the ones other people believe are the 'bad' ones. 

And I don't want to paint a negative picture about my husband, whom I love dearly and have forgiven, but I must be real here -- my sin in God's eyes was just as sinful as his.  I hope that makes sense to you.

I will add, just the other morning we were speaking about a year ago and our life and all he said was, "yep, that was a pot hole in life".  And I replied, "yep it was".  And he said the most sweetest thing and here is an example of a positive thought, he said, "it could of been a big pot hole but you made it small".  That single short sentence and positive thought was a CHOICE to think and live in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  I gave him a hug and kiss and said, "thanks"...that really WAS the BEST thing he could of said.  Men are not romance writers, or mine is not...but that comment, that positive thought - WAS right on.  

Later in the chapter she speaks about our weapon -- prayer.  Oh Yes! 

Even today, as I was driving back into town, I began to think about a person that hurt me very deeply a long while ago.  I forgave her.  But there are certain things that bring back triggers.  And my flesh wanted to 'go there' and have a pity party for myself.  As it is my time of the month and my emotions are a big and a bit  heightened but I quickly realized that I DID not want to go back to that time.  It was in the past.  I had to take those negative thoughts and rebuke them and tell Satan he was NOT going to lie to me today.  I am a new creation in Christ, I am blessed, chosen, accepted, adopted, forgiven and redeemed.  And then I prayed and put postive memories over the yucky ones.  And THAT is how this chapter became ALIVE to me today! 

The bible says that a tree will be known by its fruit - I want to bear GOOD fruit! 

So, after this chapter, would you comment on how this chapter affected you? 

Did you relate?  Do you have a real life illustration that happened to you this week and God made this very clear to you?  Or perhaps, you are on the end of those negative thoughts and just need some prayer - write one out here. 

Happy Reading, Lord, may our thoughts line up with your thoughts.  May the women doing this on line book study find the time to ponder and think on you throughout their entire day.  Lord, we want to bear good fruit.  Amen. 

Please comment if the Lord leads you: 

Michelle

AND PS.....Even though we have those triggers, we CAN overcome them.  I know it!

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.