Freedom From Performing: Grace In An Applause Driven World – Week 6
Written by Becky on February 22, 2012.
Week 6
Put Away the Measuring Stick
Our constant propensity to compare ourselves
to the women around us
is wrecking our perceptions of both ourselves and them.
Beth Moore
Introduction
The question every performer asks is: “How do I measure up?” The problem is, when we compare ourselves or our things with those around us or their things, it’s a recipe for disaster! Think about it… what are the areas where you struggle with envy?
- Maybe it’s in the realm of material things – Why can’t you live in a house like your friend’s?
- Maybe it’s in the realm of body image – Why is it your friend never has to diet and she looks like a supermodel?
- Maybe it’s in the realm of your marriage – Why doesn’t your husband bring you flowers like your friend’s husband?
- Maybe it’s in the realm of abilities or accomplishments – Why didn’t you get the promotion at work that your friend got?
On and on our list goes. Sigh. Envy is serious business, isn’t it? It can ruin our friendships, our marriages, and our self-esteem. Life was never meant to be a competition, so we need to figure out how to put away the measuring tape! Jesus told a story about envy – let’s take a look.
Freedom From Performing: Grace In an Applause Driven World – Week 5
Written by Becky on February 15, 2012.
Week 5
Find Your Purpose and Passion
Recognizing who we are in Christ and aligning our
life with God’s purpose for use gives us a sense of destiny….
It gives form and direction to our life.
Jean Fleming
Introduction:
When my husband and I were first married Steve was the pastor of a little country church. My young groom thought I was “super woman” which was flattering for a while until one fateful business meeting. I was unable to attend that meeting and in my absence Steve had me voted in as the assistant organist. Now that would have been fine had I known how to play the organ! But, I didn’t have a clue. In fact, I had never touched an organ! I lived in fear that the church organist would die (she was 86 at the time) and that I would be called on to play in her absence. As I have grown up and found freedom from performing, I have figured out how God has wired me and where He might best use me in His kingdom.
Jesus calls each of us to join Him in His mission of sharing His grace with the world. When we internalize God’s grace it gives purpose and passion to our lives. In this chapter, we will be exploring how discovering your own unique design might help you join God in sharing His grace with world. Continue Reading…
Freedom From Performing: Grace In An Applause Driven World – Week 4
Written by Becky on February 8, 2012.
Week 4
Give Yourself Permission to Rest
We must drink deeply from the very Source of deep calm
And peace of interior quietude and refreshment of God,
Allowing the pure water of divine grace to flow plentifully
From the source itself.
Mother Teresa
Introduction:
This morning I read in Sarah Young’s book, Jesus Calling, “Come to Me for rest and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.”
Have you ever felt “bone-weary”? I certainly have! In this chapter we’re going to talk about rest. Why do you think so many of us performers are exhausted and stressed out? As I mention in the book, I’ve spent considerable time thinking about this and have concluded that there are a number of factors that suck us into a whirlwind of busyness. Here are just a few:
- The never-ending to-do list. If I don’t do it, who will?
- The pressure to produce. Productivity feeds our insatiable appetite to accomplish and succeed. But when is enough enough, and who defines success?
- The quest for financial security. Many women work more than forty hours a week in order to make ends meet, but at what cost?
- Our addiction to applause. A full calendar feeds our egos. After all, if my calendar is full, I must be important, right?
Can you relate to any of those? As performers we take on too much and end up stressed out. We feel guilty resting. Jesus, however, taught a different lifestyle. He told a tiny parable with big implications for every stressed out performer.
Freedom From Performing:Grace In An Applause Driven World – Week 3
Written by Becky on February 1, 2012.
Week 3
Build A Rock-Solid Core
“When we live a life centered around what others like, feel, and say,
we lose touch with our own identity.”
Neva Coyle
Introduction:
Have you ever felt like you were living life as though every appointment was another audition? I certainly have! Being a people pleaser, the continual question I asked myself was, “How did I come across?” Whew, take it from one who knows, that’s exhausting!
When we live to please others we often lose ourselves in the process. We end up creating a false self that we perceive looks better to others. Our false self is an identity built around things like accomplishments, productivity and people pleasing. Bottom line, it’s not the real you! Instead, our false identity is formed around an equation that Robert S McGee talked about in his book The Search for Significance. That equation looks like this:
Self-worth = Performance + Others’ Opinions
When we live based on that equation, we don’t experience God’s grace because it is our “real” selves, no matter how messed up, that God loves. So how do we fix the problem? We’ve got to re-shape our core, not our physical core, but our emotional and spiritual core. My core identity needs to be that I am a beloved child of God. Jesus told a story that illustrates how important it is to have a strong core.
Freedom From Performing – Week 2
Written by Becky on January 25, 2012.
Chapter Two
Find Freedom From Shame
“Guilt was not my problem as I felt it.
What I felt most was a glob
Of unworthiness that I could not tie down to any concrete sins
I was guilty of. What I needed more than pardon was a sense that
God accepted me, owned me, held me,
And affirmed me,
And would never let go of me.”
Lewis Smedes
Introduction
I can relate to the quote by Lewis Smedes. For a long time I felt smothered by a nebulous feeling of guilt, but I couldn’t tie it to one particular sin. In the opening of the second chapter I tell the story of the first time I heard the song “Amazing Grace.” At the time I was only five years old. “I remember thinking, that’s me. I’m a wretch. I am dirty and very bad. I must try harder to be good in order for God to like me.” I also remember worrying every day, am I a “good girl?” Most five-year-olds don’t have a profound sense of their own wretchedness. I believe for me that feeling was tied to the sexual abuse I was experiencing. “My shame about the abuse left me with feelings of guilt, inferiority, self-loathing, and worthlessness.”
Shame troubles many women, not just those who have been abused. I believe many of our performance issues are rooted in shame. “Shame drives us to perform but can also prevent us from internalizing God’s grace, the very thing that can heal our shame.” This week we’re going to take a look at shame. We’ll define the difference between healthy shame and unhealthy shame and how God’s grace heals them both.
Freedom From Performing: Grace In An Applause Driven World – Week 1
Written by Becky on January 18, 2012.
“I am convinced that the basic cause of some of the most disturbing
emotional/spiritual problems which trouble evangelical Christians
is the failure to receive and live out of
God’s unconditional grace.”
David Seamands
Introduction
Welcome to week one of our online Bible Study through Freedom From Performing: Grace In an Applause Driven World. If you joined me in December for Experiencing Emmanuel, I apologize for how long it took me to figure out the new system…but, since you’ve decided to start this Bible study with me, I know you’ll give me grace! And, I’m not feeling any pressure to perform! LOL!
Seriously, I’m so glad you’ve decided to be a part of this study. One of the best ways to study Freedom From Performing is to go through the book with friends. Every Wednesday I’ll be posting a blog related to a chapter out of the book. I’ll ask you to read the chapter, complete the “Daily Dose of Grace” portion at the end of each chapter, and participate in our online discussion. Each week I’ll post some questions to get our discussion going. You can gather some girl friends and meet at Starbucks or in your home to discuss the concepts from Freedom, or you can simply check in each week and participate online. Our study will be 12 weeks long. If you miss one, don’t worry, I don’t want you feeling pressured or stressed out. Simply check in the following week, or catch up in between lessons. If you click on the “Continue Reading” link at the end of this introduction you’ll be able to leave a comment and participate.
Experiencing Immanuel – Week Four
Written by Becky on December 28, 2011.
Experiencing Immanuel
Week Four
Prince of Peace
“And He will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Almighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
Introduction
When I was walking through the dark valley of breast cancer I remember hearing a Rich Mullins song that spoke of Jesus as the prince of peace. I don’t remember the title what I do remember was one line of the lyrics that struck a chord with my frightened soul, “Hold me Jesus I’m shaking like a leaf. You have been my King of Glory, now won’t you be my prince of peace?” Many times since breast cancer I have thought of those words. In the chaos of this life, sometimes we long for Jesus to be our Prince of Peace. The prophet Isaiah promised just that, writing that one of the titles given to Jesus would be the Prince of Peace.
Experiencing Immanuel
Written by Becky on December 23, 2011.
Week Three
Everlasting Father
“And He will be called, Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
Introduction
As believers we differentiate between God the Father and God the Son. But in this prophecy from Isaiah, He refers to Jesus as the Everlasting Father. Mind boggling isn’t it? Where does God the Father stop and God the Son start? There is no nice neat way to explain the trinity. It is a truth we hold to based on scriptural evidence by faith. Though Jesus Christ was separate from God the Father He claimed, “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30)
Experiencing Emmanuel – Week Three
Written by Becky on December 21, 2011.
Hi Friends,
Due to a family celebration, I will not be able to upload the Bible study until tomorrow. I apologize……Please check in tomorrow.
I know many of you have expressed concerns that you were unable to leave comments or participate in the discussion. We are trying to fix that problem and will hoepfully have a solution soon…….Thanks for your patience as we continue to fine tune the Bible study feature.
***Update – to comment on a Bible Study post, just click “continue reading” and then scroll to the bottom of the post, where you will be able to comment! ***
Blessings to each of you!
Becky
Experiencing Immanuel – Week Two
Written by Becky on December 14, 2011.
Experiencing Immanuel
Week Two
Almighty God
“And He will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Almighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
Introduction
Imagine if God were good, but weak? What if God had great ideas, but was powerless to carry them out? Would you want to worship Him? Of course not! Yet often when overwhelmed with the heaviness of life’s problems, we forget that we have an Almighty God on our side! The first time that God introduced Himself as “God Almighty” was to Abraham. At the time Abraham was ninety-nine years old. God appeared to him and spoke to him of the child He would give him and the covenant He would establish with Abraham’s descendants. God spoke these words, “I am God almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers” (Genesis 17:1-2). In response, Abraham fell facedown before God Almighty wondering, “Can my wife and I really have a baby? We’re ready for the nursing home!” But, God fulfilled His promise to Abraham because He is exactly that – God Almighty; El Shadday.