As you (hopefully) know by now, I had some internet connectivity problems last night and had to postpone our live chat. Well, I went home over lunch and tried to log on - and could not. So, rather than continue to tentatively plan on chatting tonight, I'm going to cancel this week's chat.I'm so sorry.
This means that we won't chat until Monday, July 6 (because I am out of town on vacation next week). Please, PLEASE come back!! :) On July 6, we'll have LOTS to talk about - we'll touch on Week 2 and we'll delve into Week 3.
For now, here are a few questions and thoughts to consider. Let's discuss in the comments.
- We all have labels in our lives - words we believe (true or not, uplifting or not) describe us. What are YOUR labels? Where did they come from?
- Some labels are true. (I am a woman.) Some labels are false. (I am stupid.) I believe the author of our study was saying in Week 2 that often we develop false labels based on how we react and process true labels - leaving us with labels of FAITH (true) or FATE (false). Can you think of an example of this in your own life?
- I love, love, love how the author encourages us to focus on Romans 12:2: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
- Are you a Pharisee? Do you focus on cleaning your outside while leaving your inside dirty? (Matthew 23:25-26)
- Many of us make choices and develop habits based on faulty assumptions, just like the author did when, as a child, she thought angels were attending the Catholic church down the street. I know I often operate on faulty assumptions (I can do it myself. I must be perfect to be lovable. If I can't lose weight, I'm a loser.) a lot. What about you?
- And last but not least, we read this week about roots and fruits. What are the fruits of your faulty assumptions and fate labels? What can you do to get rid of them - at the root?
All right, friends. I hope you can forgive this mess, and I hope you'll continue on in the study and come back on July 6. Until then, this is my prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for these awesome ladies you've brought together. I pray that you would bless them and speak to them and push them to grow through this study. I thank you for the saving grace and mercy you've given each of us so freely, and I thank you for each woman in this study who has accepted that salvation. I pray that each of us would lean on You and Your Truth only when filling our though closets, and I pray that you would erase the negative lies we've spent so many years lining our closets with and wearing in our lives. I pray for each woman in this study, God. I know we all have situations and issues and problems and burdens and joys and celebrations - and I thank you for being right there in the middle of all of it, holding our hands. Thank you for the book we're reading and The Book we continue to read. I pray you will bring this group back together in two weeks. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
