Week 4
Do you realize that this is week 4? That means we are halfway through this study! While from a completion, achievement standpoint- that’s exciting; it also makes me pause and say am I ready to be halfway done with this just yet?! Have I really soaked up the ideas that Allie has so eloquently and purposefully written? Am I doing this to just mark another thing off my to-do list or am I really taking the time it deserves, to really pay attention to the concepts and then apply those concepts to my reality? I sincerely hope, friends, that this study is encouraging you to spend more time in your Bible, more time in prayer, and more time evaluating your current position- whether that be in your job, your mindset, your habits in order to honestly ask ourselves- am I in God’s “where” for my life? Or is God telling me “where” to go? Am I treating myself like I’m wonderfully made with a God given purpose? Or am I just going through the motions, trying to keep my head above water?
Just in case you missed the last few weeks or if you want to review prior weeks, you can catch-up here.
Notes from my reading journal-
CHAPTER 12-
Bible Passages found withing this chapter:
*Keep in mind, I highly recommend grabbing your Bible and flipping to these verses (preferably even a verse before and/ or after). I’m so glad Allie includes these verses within the chapters, but I still just feel a deeper connection when I’m in my actual Bible!
Genesis 2:25
Mark 5:28-34
Psalm 34:5
Ephesians 4:1
Allie’s Discussion Questions:
I’ve always felt like shame is a by-product of our inner voice/ the Holy Spirit guiding us back to the “right path” when we’ve veered off or made a “bad” decision. The awesome part 2 of shame, is of course, God! We have Jesus on our side, acting as our bridge between us and God so we have the ability to go to Jesus in prayer to ask for forgiveness. As far as God lifting our shame, He forgives us because Jesus already paid the debt for the sins that are causing us shame, but the “then what” is the part I love- as Christians we not only can ask for forgiveness, but we can take it a step further and ask for guidance going forward.
“Help me Lord; lead, guide, and direct me so that I am following your will and not continuing in these activities that are causing me to feel shame.”
Listening to the world or our peers after an embarrassing event, if they are saying we aren’t good enough or it was too big of a mess up, is the opposite of what Jesus and God’s word says. To me it seems like, if something we did was “too bad” for God to forgive us (which I know isn’t a thing, just go with me for a sec) then He wouldn’t bother having the Holy Spirit try to guide us back to the right path, right? So really, the very fact that we feel shame shows us that God still loves us and is wanting us to see the error of our ways so we can ask for forgiveness and help in turning it around. He isn’t going to just turn His back on us and give up, no matter the mess up that is causing us to feel shame!
CHAPTER 13-
Bible Passages found withing this chapter:
Isaiah 64:8
Isaiah 44:22
Isaiah 43:1
Revelation 21:4
Notes:
I’ve never heard of Kintsugi, but I LOVE this analogy! So much so in fact, I had to take a short break for a second to research it online and see if any is sold around me! But back to the point, I know I have been very blessed- while my life hasn’t been all rainbows and unicorns, compared to others, I guess it has been. I was raised by a loving single mother who always made sure I had the best possible childhood. Despite my parents divorcing when I was in elementary school, they never fought in front of me, and my mother always protected me from the uglier things that came from their divorce. Growing up, I was cared for and sheltered. Even once I got older, I went to a Christian college where again I was fairly sheltered and met my now husband, who still cares for and protects me. I’m not saying that to brag at all, just to say honestly I struggle to wrap my brain around these accounts of real life horror stories of abuse and trafficking. When I hear of things like that and people that have lived through such things, I greatly admire their faith, their strength, and their perseverance.
Regardless of our backgrounds, we all have problems and internal struggles that create “breaks” and “cracks” so the imagery of God filling those breaks, cracks, and gaps in our lives with his love, forgiveness, and acceptance is beyond beautiful. I really do just love Allie’s analogy of Kintsugi pottery symbolizing our new identity in Christ- a unique piece of beautiful pottery becoming a new even more beautiful piece of art once the cracks are filled with gold or silver!
Allie’s Discussion Questions:
On a very basic level, every part of my life needs God’s mending and redemption! Alone, I am nothing; alone, I am a mess- just broken pieces of pottery, BUT GOD! I would venture to say nothing is “majorly broken,” meaning I’m not struggling with alcoholism or sex addiction; however, I don’t think that’s for me to say. I don’t think it’s my place to classify something as “major.” There’s nothing that says me gossiping to a friend at work, or me having materialistic tendencies is any less damaging to God’s kingdom than someone else’s addictions. So to answer Allie’s question here, I would have to say “all of it;” my whole life needs mending, my whole life needs to be surrendered. I need God in every aspect, and yes, my “needs” are not as extreme as someone trying to escape a life of trafficking; however, our God is big enough to handle both- my (albeit) lame little life as well as someone going through an actual nightmare. It’s not my place to classify or decide what is “big enough” to hand over to God; He can and does handle it all- the “small,” the “big,” the happy, the sad, ALL OF IT.
CHAPTER 14-
Bible Passages found withing this chapter:
Galatians 3:28
Romans 12:16
1 Peter 4:8-9
Allie’s Discussion Questions:
The truth that you belong to God gives the peace and security of not having to worry or stress about every little thing. I struggle with anxiety (and honestly- social awkwardness) so I often nitpick every little detail of an interaction. Did I say the wrong thing, did I talk too much, ugh I shouldn’t have done that- all leading back to the foundational question “What are they going to think of me?!” But knowing that I belong to God, takes all of that out of the equation for our relationship. I can pray openly to Him; I don’t have to look back and think “Ugh, I shouldn't have prayed that”, ”He may not like me now”- because He created me and will always love me! I feel most loved and accepted at home; I firmly believe in creating a welcoming space that reflects you and your loved ones so that when we arrive at home we immediately feel “at home”- accepted, loved, warm, snuggled, dry, well fed, all the things comfy and cozy.
Notes for Finding God’s “WHERE” for my life:
As I’m typing up the responses to Allie’s discussion question, I feel alive and excited thinking about my home. Is that where my “heart’s fire” is? I love the idea of creating a home, a space to welcome and love my family and their friends. Just thinking “out loud” and not sure what that means- is it that I long for a stay at home “job,” is it that I dream of a career helping others create their own cozy, welcoming feeling at their home, I genuinely don’t know- but isn’t that what this study is? Diving deeper into God’s word and His will for my Wonderfully Made life?!
CHAPTER 15-
Bible Passages found withing this chapter:
Proverbs 16:28
Colossians 3:13
Proverbs 17:17
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Notes:
Love this chapter! Thank you Allie for putting this on paper!! So as I mentioned in chapter 14’s notes- I’m socially awkward! Don’t get me wrong, I have friends but I always struggle a little bit in social situations (did I say the wrong thing, ugh what will they think about, blah blah blah); even with texts I over analyze every little word- will they take that the wrong way, is it too late, too early, too close to a meal time to text, CRAZY I KNOW! But Allie is so right, having that person or people that you can confide in and not worry about all those silly little things, is something so special and something I need to focus a little more energy on!
Allie’s Discussion Questions:
I have both- friendships that bring me closer to God and friendships with unbelievers that don’t bring me closer to God. Friendships are kind-of like marriages in that no 2 look the same- I have friendships centered around vastly different things, different people that I can talk to about different things, or go different places- but the important foundational factor in any true friendship is trust. Can I trust you with this information, can I trust you to be in my home, around my kids, around my husband? The crazy thing around friendships is that they are constantly evolving, as we grow as people, as our seasons change, the friendships either change with it or they fizzle out and move on. As you’re reading this, I hope you know that I consider you one of my friends! If we are close enough for you to be reading my thoughts and notes on this study and/ or from my longer term Bible study, then I feel like we should at least be classified as friends! So as your (albeit virtual) friend, I hope you know you can always message me or comment on a post or whatever to get in touch with me if you need a shoulder- let me know your prayer requests, let’s discuss Bible passages together, let’s just talk about life, if you need that ear, I’m here and I love you, friends!
