Thursday, September 2, 2010

The Joys of A Pap Smear....NOT.

My little artist....she is such a sweetie. Guitar lessons are coming along nicely.

So I went and had a complete physical today. It was the most thorough exam I have ever had. I was soooooo happy it was a woman, let me tell ya. AND, if anybody remembers my post on funny gynecological stories that were all funny but true, well I held true to form and laughed myself silly during the exam. Breast and the pelvic......the lady doing it was laughing just as hard as I was because I was laughing it made her laugh. hee hee. I can't imagine why I am that ticklish, but hey, we had a good laugh and probably everyone who heard us laughing had fun laughing at us laughing too. See, you can have a breast exam and a pap smear and spread joy at the same time. Never let it be said that women are not great multi taskers!

Tonight I will be leading the last DVD session on Lysa TerKeurst's DVD Bible Study "Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl" at church. I have really and truly enjoyed this study and I can honestly say that it has impacted me dramatically and changed me. We started it 12 weeks ago and I am still benefiting so greatly from the very first session where I learned to replace my "what if" and "if only" with scripture from God's truth and speak that instead. Honestly, it has changed so much about my peace level and trust levels which were admittedly quite high already but truly this has taken me on a whole new higher level. Love that!

Do you know what else this study has changed? MY MARRIAGE!

Yeppers, it sure 'nuf did. And it changed it in many areas, all for the good. I wasn't expecting that. That was a HUGE surprise for me and boy oh boy am I loving it! I can't begin to cover all the fantastic things this study has done for my life in one blog post. And by that I do not mean that I am inspired to go change, no, the change has already taken place. It has changed how I live, how I think, how I process, and how I love. Not inspired, not motivated, but changed me. Deeply. Thank you Lysa!

Just watching the DVD one session after another without looking at the workbook the first time impacted me. Especially the first session! The last session and her closing thoughts got me too at the first viewing. But putting together the reading of her book "Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl", watching the DVD and then leading the ladies at church in a 45 minute discussion afterwards based on the workbook was incredible! The ladies did not want to do the workbook so I did it and then created the discussion questions based off what Lysa has in the workbook. I really wish the ladies had done all of the reading and workbook, I think it is the combination of all 3 that has really impacted me but I do know the ladies have said they have changed too. I love the challenges that were thrown in too. Lysa on Session 2 I believe threw out a challenge to us and we loved it! So, me being me, I added new challenges every study.

Two of the most favorite challenges I heard from the ladies were Lysa's questions/challenges on these two topics.
1. How can I be a woman of more carefully chosen words? "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" was our scripture out of Psalms. The ladies loved that one as they set out for two weeks carefully choosing their words only to find themselves more peaceful and hearing their families comment on how much more calmer mom was and that she was nicer. Hmmmmm, ladies, maybe we could all stand that challenge? Men, you too.

2. In your sphere of influence, how can you love the people around you better? I personally found this to be the most challenging one. I thought it would be the easiest, nope. But, the results were fantastic and the ladies, who did it, all had the same positive things to say about it. Must work huh? So, in your sphere of influence, who can you love better?

Lysa TerKeurst is by far my most favorite Bible teacher/speaker. Oh yes. God has used her to change me in the most wonderful ways. I wonder sometimes what my life would be like if Lysa never responded to God's calling on her life. What if Lysa, sitting in her home with her children and being an ordinary mom, felt this pull on her life and said "Lord, I am not qualified to do this. I am scared. I have a past Lord, people will never listen to me. Who wants to hear what I have to say anyway? Lord, please don't ask me to get up and embarrass myself in front of so many people. There are so many more around me who are so much better than I am!". What if? What would hundreds, probably thousands of lives look like if Lysa had not passionately pursued God and listened for Him to call her? And, she was just an ordinary mom like so many of us. But, she has a heart for the Lord and is obedient and that is how He can use her so mightily! LOVE IT. I love this quote from her so much "I am called; therefore I am equipped." Yes we are.

I am really anticipating a nice time tonight as we close out this DVD study and in two weeks I will go back to presenting the Bible studies that I write with the Holy Spirit. This next one has really got me. I am studying and studying and studying and I am full of "knowledge" on John chapters 13-16 but there is still so much more that I know God wants me to do with this study. I feel certain I am going to have to make it a 2 part study. Which frustrates me honestly because we meet every other week so then this study will have the 2 week gap. Oh well, if the Lord asked me to do it, then He will be working it all out. I am feeling such a strong pull to lean the study heavily on Jesus's command which He gives several times through chapters 13-16 to love others has He has loved us. Specifically how did Jesus love us? How can I love the people I come into contact with like Jesus would love them? If Jesus and I did a swap (exp. wife swap), how would Jesus operate in my home and love my family? Then, okay, how can I do those things?

This study should be all about one word. IMPACT.

Praying for big things in this....

Love y'all,

Jenn

1 comment:

Charlotte said...

From my heart to yours I hope you have a restful Labor Day.

Hugs,
Charlotte