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| IF WORDS COULD FALL LIKE RAINGirls Bible study Week 4
War Against Image/War Against Ourselves
Activity: Decorate folders and collage pages to represent ourselves and who we are and who God made us to be
*Be thoughtful when making the collages to really embrace what makes you you, what makes you unique, the gifts God blesses you with, the challenges God has put on your life, and the ministry he has put on your heart. When you’re done and throughout the time we spend on these, I hope you see that you are an amazing, talented, and beautiful young woman, created by God in his likeness, led by faith, saved by grace, and growing each day to fit God’s purpose.
Group Prayer
Discussion:
Image: A woman’s image is very important to her. It tells the people around you who you are and what you’re all about. Image consists of, but is not limited to, how we dress, how well we take care of ourselves, how we carry ourselves, and how we act. It also involves our reputation quite a bit! That is hard to me because I think there are so many people who take one thing you do, and imagine your whole life is that way. I know I’m guilty of doing that as well. We, however, are women of God and want to reflect a Godly image. How can we go about that? What would it look like? What makes a woman of God different from a worldlier woman? Is being worldly always bad?
Tradition vs. Modern: I look at traditional women, classy women, and women in the generations before me and see a beauty that women to day just can’t seem to grasp. They seem to have it all together. They could all cook, they dressed fabulously, they didn’t claw each other’s eyes out or sell themselves for sex. They knew what their purpose was and where their place was. They used their strengths to their advantage and didn’t compete for male roles. Something else I see, tho, is quietness, secretness, lack of awareness, lack of vision, and loneliness. Discuss what the good and bad differences of traditional women vs. modern women.
Relationship with Women: I think for many of us it is a struggle to develop strong relationships with other women, and once we have it is painful to break the bond that has been created. What makes it hard to make friends with girls? How do other girls intimidate you? Explain “Girl Drama.” How do we overcome this?
Our Bodies: It is so frustrating today to see the amount of girls facing body issues. Many girls think they are too fat, some think they are to skinny. If only my mouth was like hers, my hair was like hers, my eyes like hers, my butt like hers. If only my boobs were bigger, my waist was smaller, I had a tan, I didn’t have stretch mark or cellulite. Face it honey, we are women. We hate all our curves and imperfections, compare them to other women’s attributes that they wish they could change as well, hope guys will somehow still find us attractive and flaunt the things we do have to get their attention, and then freak out if they look at us or otherwise be labeled forever as a ::hootchie:: (or worse). The thing is, tho, God made us. He made us the way he wanted us to be and to Him, we are perfect. I’m as guilty as the next girl, but ours bodies belong to God and what we to them and with them also belong to God and what we think of our bodies is what we think of God’s creation. Same goes for personality. Remember who you are and whose you are and for what purpose you were made.
Secret Battle: For each and every one of us there is not only a battle going on in the world around us, but also battles inside us, in our hearts and minds. Each person’s battle is different and some may be worse than others, but we can all share in the fact that it is not always easy to live with yourself. Jot down in your journals some of your internal struggles. After our study, look over the notes you jotted down. If you need to pray with or talk to me or another girl, tonite is the perfect nite!!! You may find, or I may be able to help you find, someone you can relate to. When you get home tonite, spend time with God telling him what hurts and why, and how that struggle affects you. Ask Him to comfort you and help get you through your struggle. Read and listen for his guidance. God knows you deeply and intimately. He knows what you struggle with and he even knows how he is going to use that struggle to benefit both you and Him, and most likely a few others as well.
Traveling Worship
This activity is a lot like Blake’s candle activity. We will go to different spots around the room to look deeper into our lives and relationships and deeper into the word of God. Travel by yourself, don’t talk to the other girls, and don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. This is a time for you and God. If you need to pray with someone, you can get me or quietly grab a friend. Don’t interrupt what other girls are doing. Remember, it’s just you and God.
*Worry String *A Woman’s Image
*God Made Me Special *Come Before God
*I Struggle With… *Scriptures
*A Letter from God *Honest Payer
*Write A Letter *Read a Book
*Prayer of Thanx *Silence
Discuss: What has God revealed to you? What do you have to bring to the table?
Prayer: person to the right
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Prov. 31:30 | | |
| GCR girls: tomarrow is my last night for girls biblestudy. we are meeting somewhere in the family center, i'll tell y'all at church tonite, and its gonna be amazing!!! um our theme this week is 80's Night!!! yea!!! bring out the crimpers!!! we have 2 wars to finish out the study: War Against Image and War Against Ourselves. we're doing 2 fun, creative activities, then discussing and praying, then we have a whole hour of centers kinda like blake's candle centers thing, and then we'll talk and pray again. we are starting at 6:30 like usual, but i would really apreciate it if you were there at exactly 6:30 or a lil before because it may take a while. if u need a ride call me early!!! I'm bringing oreos!!! i really, really really, want u to be there!!! o and i'm takin pictures!!!
non-GCR midland girls: you are welcome to come to biblestudy too!! its from 6:30 to 9:00 at the Golf Course Road Church of Christ family center. bring your bible and a notebook if you have them. call if you have questions 528*0315
non-midlanders: between tomarrow morning and saturday night i will post a few blogs here and on myspace (www.myspace.com/sugahhoneybebedahl) that pretty much wrap up out biblestudy. please leave comments!!! i try to do this at least once every 2 weeks. | | |
| Fight Like A Girl chapter 1: You Fight Like a Girl!Ok so here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for: the first full review/outline/study from our book!! In this chapter, author Lisa Bevere talks about how God made girls different from guys. We're not talking about the obvious physical differences here, but the characteristics and gifts God has blessed us with. So what i did was start at the very begining and made notes as i read. I'm just posting the notes and a fe of my own thoughts and the rest is open. What will make this really good is if we get comments and guys you need to keep checking so we can comment on comments and make a full disscussion. Alright here goes!!!:
*"You fight like a girl!" well...Girls are meant to fight like girls!! God made us girls, not guys, which means we act like girls, not guys.
*do girls fight dirty?
*It is usually not a compliment to fight like a girl
1. We try to fight like men
2. We take cheep shots or cheat
3. We ignore the storm around us in order to be "ladylike"
*What is considered weakness in one gender is often a strength to the other
*should not hitting as hard as boys be a bad thing?
*boys are often considered brave and strong when they fight for what is important to them, stand up to bullies, protect younger children, or uphold honor in their families; they are mocked when they don't stand up for what is right
*men are physically stronger and therefore have the upper hand when it comes to physical feats
*what is the strength of a woman?
*what should upset a woman?
*what would fighting like a girl look like if it was done right?
~Women and Battle~
*Women were not initially formed for battle, but for life, nurture, and relationship
*Is it wrong for women to fight?
*no, but neither men nor women were created for destruction, but rather for increase (having kids, spiritual increase), order (balance), and cultivation (growth and development).
*Isaiah 2:4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
*both men and women will return to their original positions and relational dynamics; right now there is a problem, an enemy, and a battle
*after the fall (Adam and Eve) dominion became domination, multiplication became division, order spiraled into chaos, flourishing to decay. The last to be created became the first in conflict. The stage was set for battle
*Genesis 3:15 "And I will put enmity between you and the woman..."
*enmity = "deep-rooted hate and irreconcilable hostility"~a hatred so profound, it is destined to not only exist perpetually, but to deepen and expand without end
*arrows traveling east in west, not around the world or in any cirlce, but on and on in opposite directions
*enmity is so strong it is used only 8 times in the bible
*Revelation 12:17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring - those who keep God's commandments and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
*the enemy had to divide to conquer. To cause Adam to forfeit his position, he needed more than just deception. He used the power of the woman's influence. Without her influence, it is quite possible that man might not have yeilded to the serpent's councel. He surrendered to the voice of his wife. He watched her eat, and when nothing appeared to change, he streched forth his and and recieved it from her.
*Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
*yes mam, man may not have ever sinned if it were not for woman. Eve took the fruit and convinced Adam, but look closer. It did not take much convincing. "She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." She did not act alone.
*Eve tried to grasp at something she was not to have (equility with God) and in the process lost something she already had (the potential to posses wisdom).
*"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for wisdom..." hello, they are in a garden, there was lots of fruit that was good for food and pleasing to the eye. Eve did not pick that apple from that tree because she was hungry, but because she wanted wisdom, and more than that she wanted to know what God knows.
*Philipians 2:6 Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage
*Adam and Eve were made in the image of God, but not equal to God. The image is like a reflection, not repersentation entirely.
*Satan was darkening their understanding and taking their power -- Far too often when deception speaks, you forget both who you are and who your true allies are
~Lost Purpose, Lost Places~
*We frequently lose what we have because we fail to remember why it was given
*Adam and Eve forgot their purpose and lost their place. They knew they were created for dominion, but forgot why. Grasping for what was lost, they began to misuse their strengths, and used their dominion against rather than for each other. Essentually, the fall of man originated the battle of the sexes.
*Do we grasp and wrestle with others for their roles because we lose sight of our own? We all lose when we take from other what is not theirs to give. Why are we not content to walk in the authority and positions entrusted to our care?
*The man's position is not up for grabs, just as it is not his to give away. The woman's place is not the man's for the taking, nor is it hers to forfeit. The two must stand together in their respective roles.
*we have spent all this time trying to find our way back to Eden, God's paradise, where His creation again flourishes. This once-lush garden is long gone, though the seeds od truth and principle remain. We long for the restoration of our lost paradise.
*I (actually Lisa Bevere) believe we will begin to see a turnaround as we stop misusing power and authority. What would happen if women used their powers of insight and influence for healing and nurture? If men fought like men and women embraced fighting like women?
*men would win the respect they have lost and women would recover the power of love
*Psalm 68:11-12 The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it: "Kings and armies flee in haste;every household shares in the punder"
*God is declaring victory, and it is time for the daughters to joyously shout the truth of what was won
~Totally Free, Totally God's~
*Galations 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free
*God is all about freedom. He wants you totally free so you can be totally his. Its possible that God actually enjoys putting us in postions and situations that have the potential to really challenge areas of bondage in our lives. He could really enjoy watching his children pushed into realms outside their comfort and control.
*God loves giving you the oppertunity to face what you fear, because when you face what you fear you become fearless.
*As this study continues, open your heart. Believe you are one of these voices, one of these daughters of the Most High God who will learn how to fight like a girl. It is time to take it all back from the serpent, put on out high heels, and crush his head!!!!!
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| New Girls Biblestudy Up and Runninghey chicas, sorry its takin me a while to get this up. thruthfully, i've been way busy and i'm not going to have the full complete study up until after i get back from camp, but i am going to go ahead and start y'all on your first two challenges, one for this week and one for next week. i will have the rest up as soon as i can. y'all spread the word to the girls who weren't at biblestudy thursday.
Challenge 1: June 25 week
the first challenge is to focus on what God has to say to you. it's very important to spend time with God if you are going to have a relationship with Him. if u never talked to your friends, would they still be your friends? and if u did all the talking and never listened would you be a very good friend? there are many, many times in the bible where Jesus was alone to pray, like for instance after the feeding of the five thousand and before the walk on the water, or the right before he was crucified. so here's your challenge:
everyday spend 10 minutes reading your bible, 5 minutes in prayer, and 5 minutes in silence, like we did and will be doing in biblestudy. after you've gone a whole week, start adding five minutes one at a time to each part, so that you will eventually spend 15 min in the bible, 10 min in prayer, and 10 min in silence. then make it twice a day. the challenge is that by the end of the summer u will have 3 times with God everyday, early in the morning, right before you go to bed, and another time you find it convient daily. by reading, praying, and listening, i believe you will strenghthen your relationship with God, you will be more joyful (joyful means full of joy, not happy), and God will be reavealing things to you daily. bonus challenge: share what you experience with people around you. you never know how you could effect someone's life! also, leave comments on this blog of how your doing and what your experienceing and questions you have, and check to see what others have to say.
challenge 2: July2 week
in your notebooks make a list of all the things you are thankful for and all the ways God has blessed you. add to it throughout the week. write out on the top of each page Proverbs 31:30. look up the verses that are printed on the outline in your bible and write out the verses that really apeal to you. remember, we have biblestudy this week (July 6th) but it's in the coke room in the family center (the room by the coke machines). it is our princess party so bring your tiara, and also bring things to decorate your folder and notebooks. bonus challenge: read the blog 2 down from this one from may 4 of last year, titled "challenge week 1" then do what it says!! easy!! | | |
| WARNING: this weeks lesson has a lot of scripture. stop what you are doing now and grab your bible. if you do not have a bible you can use, e-mail me and i will help you. it would help you a lot if you also got some paper and took notes as you read. remember, the more comments people leave, the more discussion we can have, and that is really the point of this anyway.
A Cinderella Story
There is something about the cinderella story that is intriuging. It is used in miliions of stories and movies. It's your classic "rags to riches." What if Cinderella was a princess and married the prince? Well thats not very unusual, of course a princess will marry a prince. The thing that is amazing is that Cinderella started out at the most humble beginings. She had lost her mother, then her father, and was left with her step-mother and step-sisters who were jealous of her and ordered her around like a slave and did not let her grace the presence of people such as the prince. And yes, she wore rags and stayed by the cinders (that's ashes if you didn't know).
Read Luke 18:9-14 before you read on!
Jesus says we must humble ourselves, which when you think about it makes a lot of sense. God made us. He already knows what he gave us and what he didn't, so there is no reason to boast to Him. Not to menttion he is onipotent (all- powerful) and omipresent (everywhere) and has our lifes in his hands, so there is really no need to explain ourselves.
Humbleness - - Read Mark 10:31, John 3:30, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 2 Corinthians 13:4, Philipians 1:3-4
Boasting - - Read Ephesians 2:8-9
Onipotent - - Read John 1:1-2, Romans 8:28
If we cannot humble ourselves because we are to afraid of the people around us and we want to impress them, God says forget about it. Who is deciding our eternity anyway?
Pleasing others - - Read 1 Corinthians 9:19, 2 Corinthians 8:21, Galations 1:10, Colossians 3:23,
James 4:4
Just in case that doesn't help ease your thoughts, remember that you are not alone. Not only do you have the holy spirit with you always and fellow Christians to back you up, but remember Jesus did live on this earth for a while. He was tempted just like we are. Heck, they even brutally took his life from him and we all know he could have stopped it if he wanted.
Jesus is with you - - Read John 15:18-19, Hebrews 2:18
And this is the cool part. Just as CInderella found her prince charming and simultaniosly got to laugh in the faces of those who hurt her, Christ has a gift waiting for us. Remember in the first story you read that the last sentence said "For everyone who exalts himself will be made humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Heaven is waiting, but it's not for everyone. Yet God calls you to be part of his gift, which is grace, and through God's grace you will be blessed beyond your imagination, getting to experience his love, and love will guide you to Jesus, and Jesus gets you into heaven. And if that gift wasn't meant for you, you wouldn't be here reading about it.
The Gift - - Read Matthew 11:28, John 10:10 & 28, Romans 6:23, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 John 2:17
More examples: Romans 3:23-24, Romans 4:18 (the Abraham story)
Something else to check out: http://blogontheweb.com/supercalafragalisticexpealidocious/archive/2005/05/12/67605.aspx | | |
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