Girls Bible Study

Girlies!  Guess what?!  We're back in action with Girls Bible Study, all new in 2012!

Join us Monday, January 30th, from 6:30-8pm at the Thrashers' home for a night of girl time.  We'll eat some delish snacks, talk about the latest things happening in our lives, and take a look through God's Word together.

Oh!  And we'll also make these little guys...

So, grab a friend and let's hang out!  

For directions or more information, call me at 417.885.5275, or email me at jstone@ridgecrestbaptist.org.

See you soon! :)

Jessie

Girls Ministry Conference

Hey, ladies!

I wanted to make you aware of a really great opportunity coming up at Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church. They are hosting a girls conference for 7th-12th grade ladies (Y-O-U!) on February 17th-18th.  I'll post the information letter and registration form below.  Check it out and let me know if you need help getting registered!

Love,
Jessie

ditching insecurity: installment uno

Last week, I posted about things I wanted to do differently in 2012.  One of the big things I said I wanted to address is my ongoing struggle with insecurities.  For some reason, the Lord has not allowed me to shake that statement, and so, it's become a commitment for me.  Ditch the insecurities and live freely as the creation God intended me to be.

I know that getting rid of those pesky seeds planted by the enemy is not going to be an easy task.  It's definitely going to be a journey.  But I'm convinced that I'm not the only one who struggles with these insecurities and so I've decided to share my journey with you along the way, with the hopes that something in my life may be able to help you in your journey.

Are you ready for this?  It's going to be quite a ride.

The first thing the Lord has really been teaching me about dealing with my insecurities is that I've got to face them head-on.  They aren't going to just disappear through passive attitudes or behaviors.  No, they are going to require full-on war.  That means that I've got to be so super and disgustingly honest about the insecurities eating at me.

Did you catch that "h" word?  HONEST?  It can be a tough one, especially for us girls.  We so often cut corners in the name of not hurting feelings, not ruffling feathers, or just out of fear of facing reality.  As long as we continue to avoid the ugly stuff brewing in the corners of our hearts and minds, we allow it to do just that:  to brew.  And fester.  And rot.  And then before we know it, we're so ridden with insecurities, little lies that have webbed into larger lies, that we're insecure about our insecurities!

Hear me out on this girls.  I am saying NO MORE.  I'm ready to get really honest.  I'm ready to face the little (or not so little) monsters and ditch them once and for all.  Are you ready?

Then let's get brutally honest.

What are you most insecure about?  Yes, I'm challenging you to be honest.  Stop and think for a minute.  What gets you worked into a tizzy the most?

Here are my top 2:
1) My physical appearance--Size, shape, skin, hair...all of that jazz.  Ick.
2) What others think of me--Did I say the right thing?  Do I come across totally incompetent/dumb/rude/whatever other negative thing I don't want to be?

These are the two areas that I'm going to begin to address, head-on, starting with numero uno.  I know it's going to be messy, but I also know it's going to be so worth it when I come to the point of accepting myself--blemishes and all--and understanding my worth in Him alone.

That's it for today, ladies.  I've got lots to ponder and pray through before I've got more to share.  Stay tuned for more thoughts and experiences on this journey.

Be brave, girls, and remember that you are so loved!
Jessie

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

GBS Week 8: Extreme Makeover

This week the show we studied was Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The reality series features a family who needs new hope because of an illness, death in family, or a disaster that’s left them destitute. Their house is completely remodeled while the family goes off on a vacation. A local home builder and community volunteers build the structure while the design team works on the creative aspects of the house. Ty Pennington, the host, selects a room and dubs it his “secret room”, which no one can view prior to the final reveal. At the end of the week, the family returns to their home to find it surrounded by cheering crowds and blocked by a huge bus. When the family gives the bus driver the cue, “Bus driver, move that bus!”, the bus is moved and the family sees their new home.

Which of the following members of the Extreme Makeover team would you most enjoy being and why?

-The Team Leader (Ty): He inspires the team and volunteers to meet big goals, and shows his artistic flair by working the entire week by himself on a secret room for one family member.

-The Carpenter (Paige): In her pink hardhat and pink tool belt, she has the carpentry skills to build beautiful kitchen cabinets and specialty furniture for children’s rooms.

-The Designer (Paul): He has an amazing imagination, and his job is to design extravagantly themed rooms around each family member’s hobbies.

-The Shopper (Tracy): Her role on the team is to go shopping! She acquires all the furniture and décor, and the useable items that fill the cupboards, closets, drawers, and walls.

There are three different types of generosity to get the job done:

-Generosity with Talents: We see all kinds of gifted people on the show, donating what they do best—decorating, hammering, planting, painting, organizing, even doing a musical performance.

-Generosity with Time: Hundreds of volunteers show up to help build a house in seven days. The people on the show are generous with their time, often working through the night to finish the job on time.

-Generosity with Things: Whenever you see the family given a special surprise gift—such as a new car, money to pay off a mortgage, or prepaid college education for the children—you know that behind it are generous people who are good at giving away their money and their things.

What are you most generous with: your talents, your time, or your things?

If you need to become more generous in some way, follow these steps to an Extreme Generosity Makeover:

Step 1: Figure out the problem

Are you proud, selfish, anxious, or insecure? Why do these problems make it hard for us to be generous?

If you are proud, read Deut. 8:8-10.

If you are selfish, read 1 Kings 21:2-4

If you are anxious, read Eccl. 5:10

If you are insecure, read Luke 12:15

Step 2: Follow the plan

Read 2 Corinthians 8:2-5

Part A: Don’t be held back by what you lack

The Macedonians were tested by great troubles and were very poor. However, they did not let this stand in the way of giving joyfully. They had little to spare, yet they did not let that rob them of the joy of giving. Instead, by giving, they gained great joy.

Part B: Find the need that tugs on your heart

The Macedonians gave more than they could afford, and even begged and pleaded for the opportunity to share. They weren’t just faking interest—they were passionately concerned about people.

Is there a cause or ministry that you feel passionate about?

Part C: Money is fine…but give talents and time

The Macedonians surprised Paul by giving in a way that he didn’t expect: they not only gave of their resources, but of themselves. Sometimes, generosity can be faked. Being real in a fake world means being a truly generous, others-centered person.

Step 3: Enjoy the results

The big reveal at the end of the show is exciting because you see the joy on the faces of the family. That’s the great thing about giving! You don’t lose when you give; your joy multiplies.

“If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over.” –Luke 6:38

What does this verse mean to you, and how does it encourage you to be more generous?

What have you learned this week about being generous? If you struggle with being generous, ask God to give you peace about it.  

~Emilee

GBS Week 7: My Superficial Sweet 16

My Super Sweet 16 is a reality series documenting the outrageous sixteenth birthday parties of wealthy teenagers. The fascination with the show lies in the lavish, permissive, self-indulgent event, on which thousands of dollars were spent. Temper tantrums from the spoiled birthday girl punctuate the show in a way that leaves viewers laughing at the girl’s ridiculousness. A meltdown because the new Mercedes is presented at the wrong time,  the little sisters party dress makes her look hotter than the birthday girl, and no one came out of the party tent to see her make her grand entrance in a helicopter.

If you had unlimited resources, which kind of party would you choose?

-         A Fantasy-Land party, where you make a grand entrance dressed in a showgirl costume, riding on an elephant, with a complete carnival and the gift of a Range Rover.

-         A Diamonds Are Forever party, where you’re carried in on the shoulder of two hunky men, and given a 7-carat diamond ring and a $100,000 Mercedes sedan.

-         The Fairy Tale party, in a castle tent, where you arrive in a Cinderella carriage, have knights as your bodyguards, see a fireworks show in your honor, and receive the gift of a new BMW.

My Super Sweet 16 is an entertaining—and sometimes sickening—look at the tantrums and meltdowns that some very rich girls have in the process of receiving a party that’s lavish beyond imagination. These girls are bent on creating for themselves what could be called the most fake world of all—a world where they end up getting everything they want, and go to extremes to appear popular—but usually it just ends up feeling superficial.

Here are three types of superficiality, as shown in these exact quotes from girls on the show:

I Want It All: This is the girl who grasps for everything—from jewels to clothes to cars—and declares, “I’m used to getting everything I want, and if I don’t…look out.”

It’s All About Me: This girl thrives when the world revolves around her: “I love being the center of attention, when everything’s focused on me.”

How Do I Rate? This girl obsesses about comparing herself to others: “I have to stand out among everyone else, and I have to be the hottest thing at my party.”

Each of these girls got what she wanted—the gifts, the attention, and the status. So, why weren’t they satisfied? Because each of them was trying to find happiness in something superficial.

     There are three kinds of behavior that lead to discontentment: Coveting things, comparing yourself to others, and being jealous of attention. If you want to become real in a fake world, you will need to work on replacing these types of discontentment with super-satisfaction. Then you will be a genuine person—and more likable too!

1. Choose Contentment Over Coveting

What kinds of things do you find yourself wishing for? When have you become so preoccupied with what you don’t have that you stop enjoying what you do have?

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish, harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” -1 Timothy 6:6-10

Imagine that you must choose between a million dollars and contentment. Which would you choose, and why?

Wanting to get rich is a trap. We get out of the trap by combining godliness with contentment—seeking to be more like God, and more thankful to God.

2. Stop Comparing And Start Rejoicing

Comparison leads to one of two things: jealousy or pride.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” –Romans 12:15

Which part of this verse is harder for you—to be happy with other when they are happy, or to be sad with others when they are sad? How does rejoicing with those rejoice cure jealousy? How can it cure pride?

Rejoicing with those who rejoice takes the focus off of ourselves and helps increase the happiness of others by adding our rejoicing to theirs. In order to rejoice with those who are rejoicing, we have to be purely thinking about others and not ourselves. The minute we start comparing, we open ourselves to jealousy, and we can’t rejoice with them!

Rejoicing with those who rejoice can also overcome certain types of pride. It is impossible to indulge in the pride of entitlement and rejoice with those who rejoice at the same time. We can’t genuinely celebrate someone else’s good news if we’re feeling pridefully superior.

3. It’s Not All About Me…It’s All About You!

I’m sure you’ve heard the story of Joseph and the many colored coat before, but let’s just do a quick recap:

Joseph was the youngest son in a large family. He had always been favored by his father, and received a gift no one else had—a coat of many colors. His brothers were so jealous, that they got rid of Joseph by selling him into slavery. (Check out Genesis 37 for the rest of the story).

Have you ever envied someone who was the center of attention?

If we were able to talk to Joseph’s brothers, they might tell us they just wanted to feel special. They just wanted their father’s attention and approval. They said, “It’s all about me.” The cure for “It’s all about me” is to turn it into “It’s all about you”. 1 Corin. 13:4 tells us love does not envy—it is not jealous. In fact, love cancels out envy. Envy is all about me; love is all about you.

Are there any situations in your life in which loving others would work better for you than making sure you’re loved?

This week we’ve looked at how we are sometimes discontent, and how we overcome that to be content.

Pray: God, help me to be satisfied with what you have given me this week. Show me how much I am blessed, and how I can use my abilities to bless others. Help me to take the focus off of myself, and to put it on You by loving others. Amen.

~Emilee

GBS Week 6: LifeSwap

This week our discussion was based off of the show WifeSwap. Have you ever seen the show? The show focuses on the lives of two wives who trade families for two weeks. For the first week, the mom has to play by the other families rules. But for the second week, the new mom gets to make up her own set of household rules, and the other family must adhere to those rules. At the end of the show, each wife is given a certain amount of money that they divide up for the other family to use (College fund, vacation, music lessons, etc). Sometimes there are some pretty nasty fights that occur because the families don’t have patience with one another.

Which of the following real families from the show WifeSwap would be the most irritating for you to live with?

(A)   The Galvans, where a controlling mom picks which clothes everyone wears each day, sets a timer for how long the kids brush their teeth, inspects every room daily to make sure everything is perfectly clean, and listens in on everyone else’s phone calls.

(B)   The Haigwoods, who raise their own food on their farm and eat it all raw (even the meat), don’t believe in school (or home schooling), never buy anything new (they barter or buy used), and never eat in restaurants.

(C)   The Roys, whose home is out of control chaos: mountains of laundry, rooms where the floor can’t be seen because of the mess, burping contests, public rudeness, frequent pranks, constant television, and absolutely no chores for anyone.

We talked about three different things that we need to have patience with:

-Irritating people: Let’s face it. Even if you are the most self-controlling person in the world, some people are just irritating. It can take patience to understand and love certain people.

-Pet peeves: We all have certain things that are guaranteed to annoy us. How you deal with your everyday annoyances tells a lot about how patient you are.

- Waiting: If you find it hard to wait to get what you want, to see changes, or to gain control of a situation, then you need more patience.  

If you struggle with irritating people in your life, instead of lashing out at them, or gritting your teeth and hiding your feelings, try out these three new rules to help you have patience:

Rule 1: Give them understanding

Try to understand people better before getting irritated with them—you may discover an explanation for their behavior. If you understand a person, you will be more likely to have patience with them, because you know the reasoning behind their actions.

                 “Those who are patient have great understanding.” –Proverbs 14:29

Rule 2: Give them a break

Even if you can’t find any explanation for someone’s behavior, over-look those faults by loving that person.

                 “Be patient with each other, making allowances for one another’s faults because of your love.” –Ephesians 4:2

Patience isn’t simply about what it does for you; it’s about loving because we’re commanded to love. There is a very powerful connection between patience and love—when I’m not showing patience, I’m not showing love.

Rule 3: Give them what you’ve received

When you stop and think about it, God has had to exhibit far more understanding with you over your lifetime than you have to show to the person you’re irritated with at the moment. If you are merciful to someone, you will grow to have more patience with them.

    “But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners.” - 1 Timothy 1:16

Just as God showed mercy on us by sending His Son to die for us, we should also show mercy to those who irritate us.

When your pet peeves strike again, try these new rules to de-peeve those annoying pets:

Rule 1: Let go of your way

Pet peeves are really nothing more than little moments of selfishness. Learn to let go of your agenda, your preferences, and your expectations.

“Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5a

Think of some pet peeves that you have. What is the link between those pet peeves and selfishness? How you exercise patience instead?

Rule 2: Let go of your pity party

Impatient people tend to let pet peeves get to them quickly, especially when they’re tired, frustrated, sick, or feeling sorry for themselves.

“Love is not irritable or touchy.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5b

Now, I’m sure as girls, we all know what it means to be touchy. But when we’re touchy, we’re not showing love, or patience to those around us.

Rule 3: Let go of your grudge

Sometimes pet peeves are best handled by not paying attention to them. Learn to let something slide, overlook an insult, or stop noticing every little thing someone does wrong.

“Love does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do wrong.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5c

Holding on to a grudge is the same as keeping bitterness in your heart. How can you apply this verse to times when your pet peeves make you impatient?

Do you find it hard to wait? Here are your new rules to help you find peace while you’re waiting:

Rule 1: Don’t just do something—stand there!

If you get presumptuous and assume God is late, you might decide to do something just to be doing something! You might make a snap decision, go with what feels good, or jump the gun and act even when the decision isn’t clear.

“God makes everything happen at the right time.” –Ecclesiastes 3:11

In what situations have you sometimes felt like God was “late”? How does this verse—and this rule—help you not jump the gun?

Rule 2: Don’t fret—pray.

Delays and roadblocks are there for a reason. Instead of stewing and fretting about what you should do, use the delay to pray. When you see the phrase, “Wait on the Lord”, it usually means to pray while you wait!

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret…” – Psalm 37:7

How can prayer help you when you hit obstacles along your way?

Rule 3: Don’t decide if you don’t have peace.

Don’t steamroll over the roadblock or panic about your confusion. Invite God to stand there with you, and don’t make a move until He releases you to do so by giving you peace.

“For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33

How can this rule help you handle situations that you don’t have peace about?

If you struggle with one or more of these issues, pray. There will never be a time when prayer can hurt. If you deal with irritating people, pray that you might understand them and have more patience towards them. If you have a lot of pet peeves, pray that God would give you the patience to handle them. If you struggle with waiting, pray for peace and understanding in your life. Don’t hesitate to ask God for His direction in your life.

~Emilee

GBS Week 4: Fear or Faith?

This week’s lesson is based off of the show Fear Factor. Fear Factor is a reality show where contestants compete to win a cash prize. To win, they compete against each other performing dangerous and frightening stunts. The first stunt is designed to physically test the contestants—such as jumping from rooftop from rooftop, with the fastest people moving on to the next round. The next challenge is supposed to test the contestant mentally—this usually involves eating something disgusting, such as a cockroach, or ten year old eggnog. The last stunt is an extreme-type action that you would see in a movie. Such as flipping a car, or escaping from a shark infested pool. The player who completes this round the fastest wins the prize.

For you, which of the following actual stunts from Fear Factor would take the most courage?

1. Being locked in a box and covered by tarantulas.
2. Eating wormy hotdogs and maggoty fried chicken.
3. Leaping from one suspended beam to another, 20 stories in the air.
4. Crouching for hours in a small, dark, enclosed septic tank with deafening sirens and occasional electric shocks.

People tend to react in a number of different ways to situations they find threatening. Take a look at these three types of behaviors that we’re calling “fear factors”.

Stressing out: When you can’t stop worrying about something that might happen. Stressing out takes over your thoughts and drains your energy.

Freaking out: A common way of reacting when you feel threatened by people or situations that you can’t control. Freaking out fills you with dread and causes you to shut down or lash out.

Hiding out: When you cover up your fear, which can take the form of denial, retreat, or lying. Hiding out leads to deeper deception as you try to escape a consequence or cover your insecurity.

Lots of people in the Bible exhibited some sort of fear factor when facing stressful situations. In response, each of them learned to have a faith factor—a spiritual tool (prayer, trust, truth, etc.) they could use to combat their fears.

If you stress out, then your faith factor should be prayer. Read the book of Esther to see how she fought stress with prayer.

If you freak out, your faith factor should be trust. Trust that God is in control and that He has good things planned for you.

If you hide out, then your faith factor should be believing the truth. Live your life in an honest and truthful way.

There are a lot of situations that life is going to throw at us that cause fear. What we need to do is equip ourselves with faith factors so that we can properly react to that fear.

~Emilee

2012: all things new

So I've been doing a lot of thinking.  It's an entirely new year and with that comes the opportunity to wipe the slate clean, to make some positive changes.

Have you given it any thought yet?  I don't know about you, but I've got several things I'd like to do differently in 2012.

For example, I'd like to address some underlying insecurities that seem to rear their ugly heads at the most inopportune times.  And quite honestly, I'm tired of them.  I don't need them.  But I've got to choose to overcome them if I have any hope of moving beyond them.

And so in 2012, I'm making it my goal to quiet some silly insecurities once and for all.  That's probably going to mean rolling up my sleeves and getting down to business along the way, and I'm not sure exactly what that means.  It's definitely going to be a journey into a little bit of unknown.  But I'm not afraid.  I know that it's possible and I know that it's worth it.  Stay tuned for more of my thoughts and notes along the way.

What about you?  What do you want to do differently in 2012?  You know the beauty of this whole "new beginnings" kind of thing is that it doesn't have to happen just because it's a new year.  The Lord is so gracious that He allows us to have a new beginning every day and for that I'm so grateful.

Do you need to take advantage of today and allow Him to make you new?  Don't wait.  Start your new year right now.

And listen to this for a little encouragement.  I promise it's worth it.