Chapter 24 - Transformed by Truth

Hi Ladies,
Please post your comments for Chapter 24 here.  Make it a blessed day.

Jess

Chapter 23 - How We Grow

Such a great chapter.  I feel like I say this alot but it is great.  To change we have to start by changing the way we think.  Allow the Lord to change the way we think and let the holy spirit live within us.  We must develop the mind of Christ...Wow...this is huge.  How can we even remotely begin to be like him but we can try right?  "Selfish thinking is the source of sinful behavior."  Isn't that the truth.  I hate being selfish but find myself being selfish towards Christ, asking for things and not giving him the time he deserves.  I am trying to change this and I am doing my part.  I just need to pray hard and talk to him all the time. 

I know you all want to make the time to Blogg and read the book but I haven't heard from you ladies.  We need to keep each other accountable for this and to continue our reading.  I know we all need this in our lives.  I love you all and hope we can continue this wonderful path of loving the lord. 

Jess

Chapter 22 - Created to Become like Christ

Ladies,
Please post your comments for chapter 22 here.

Thank you,

Jess Runyan

Chapter 21 - Protecting Your Church

Please post your comments for Chapter 21 here.  Thank you.

Chapter 20 - Restoring Broken Fellowship

Hi Ladies,
Please post your comments for Chapter 20 in this section.  This is the halfway point of the book please keep up the blogging because it helps us all grow with the Lord.

Jess

Chapter 19 - Cultivating Community

Hi Ladies,
This is a great chapter and I really like this quote "You will have to care enought to lovingly speak the truth, even when you would rather gloss over a problem or ignore an issue.  While it is much easier to remain silent when others around us are harming themsleves or others with sinful pattern, it is not the loving thing to do."  I think we do this all the time and do not tell people what should be said we think oh it's someone else's problem they will tell them.  We need to recognize this and change it because our faith tells us that we need to do what is right and encourage believers in God to do the right thing.  "An honest answer is the sign of a true friendship."  Wow, I really love this because it is so true!  We always beat around the bush and we need to remember that we need to say it lovingly and not scolding or in a judging way.  We could use this advice with our significant others and remember that we need to do it in a loving way.  He also says that the bible states that there is a right time and place to say things, we need to be more compassionate and considerate.  Respecting others differences and being considerate is a huge thing to me because it is so important in my eyes to respect each other.  In reading this chapter I thought it was funn when he said their are "ERG people (Extra Grace Required)."  I have very little patience for these people and I need to really pray about it because who am I to judge them on how they are.  I need to just show love to the know-it-alls of the world and realize that they are people of God also.  This is truly a tought one though because I just write those people off but it is my goal to show them love.  We need to keep others information confidential and not gossip about what is said.  I sometimes catch myself and have to tell myself that I need to not talk about that person.  I am a pretty good listener and secret keeper but I do sometimes find it difficult when I find out about people I don't care too much about having issues and sharing the issues with other friends.  I know that I need to stop this and respect others privacy regardless of how I feel about them.  I think we should all go by this: "If you are a member of a small group or class, I urge you to make a group covenant that includes the nine characteristics of biblical fellowship: We will share our tru feelings (authenticity), encourage each other (mercy), speak the truth in love (honest), admit our weaknesses (humility), respect our differences (courtesty), no gossip (confidentiality), and make a group a priority (frequency)."  I really enjoyed this chapter ladies. 

I wanted to ask you on a side note to please pray for my baby boy Evan that the next several appointments with the cardiologist will go well and eventually when he has surgery that it will too go well.  Lastly, Chris has a phone interview with the capital group on Monday; please pray that he says the right things and that God would bless us (if it is his will) to get the position. 

Have an amazing weekend.  Love you all!

Jess

Chapter 18

Please post for chapter 18 here.  thank you.

Chapter 17

Please post for Chapter 17 here.  Thank you.

chapter 16

Please post for Chapter 16 here.  Thanks

Chapter 15

Please post for chapter 15 here.  Thanks :)

Chapter 14

Hi Ladies,
Please post for chapter 14 here...sorry I am behind I have been home sick.  Thanks.

Chapter 13

Please post for Chapter 13 here.  Thank you.

Chapter 12

Please post for Chapter 12 here.

Chapter 11

Post comments for Chapter 11 here. 

Chapter 10 is a revelation! I don't have to be in "charge" all the time. So difficult because I am the older sibling and I take on that role. Surrender myself!

Chapter 10

Post comments for Chapter 10 here please.  Wow, 10 day ladies what a wonderful thing.

Chapter 9

Please post for Chapter 9 here.

Chapter 8

Hi Ladies,
Please post for chapter 8 here.  Thank you.

Chapte 7

Chapter 7 Post here please.

Tips for using Blog

Hi Ladies,
I wanted to give you some hints on using this blog:

-Always make sure you sign in before you post a comment or you will lose your post.
- Try to make sure you become a follower to the blog; it will help you sign in and out easier
-Say anything you want pertaining to the chapter in question.
- You can always go back to any chapter and comment.
- Any questions on the blog send me a text.

Hope this helps.

Jess

Chapter 6

So the world on earth is temporary and we live as if we live here forever.  We forget that we have eternal life with God our Father in heaven.  Doesn't if make you sad though to think that some of the people you love will not be joining us.  For this reason it is our responsibility to spread the word of God and enlighten our family and friends of what their future will be like if they live a righteous path.  I learned tonight that I need to remember that my life here is short and my life in eternity is forever.  I need to remember that in my life everyday.  It hit home when he stated that we are not going to be compeletely happy here on earth because it is not our home and will not give us complete happiness.  We will not be compeletly happy until we live with our father in heaven.  I hope you ladies have an amazing weekend and you remember to pray everyday.

Love ya,

Jess

Chapter 5

Hi Ladies,
Please post your comments for Chapter 5 here.  I will post my comments in the evening.  Make it a beautiful day!

Jess

Chapter 4

Hi Ladies,
Please post your comments here for Chapter 4.  Wow, we are already four days into this incredible journey.  I will comment tonight on Chapter 4. 

Chapter 3

I have not read my portion this morning but I wanted to post this chapter so you guys can put your comments.  I will do my portion on this tonight and read what everybody wrote and comment.  Hope you are all having a blessed day.

Jess

Chapter 2

I love what he says "God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made."  I am amazed that he created all of us and has a purpose for every single one of us.  I do not understand the bad people though, I know we are all children of God, but I am confused about why he allows there to be murderers etc. This is something I think I need to look in the bible to figure out.  This was a good chapter because he says that "you were not an accident" and I struggle with this.  The question at the end of the chapter hit home to me because it says: I know that God uniquely created me.  What areas of my personality, background, and physical apperance am I struggling to accept?  I know that this may seem trivial but I really struggle with how I look with my weight.  I know that if I accepted how I looked I would actually lose weight but it is hard.  Then I look at myself and say wow how selfish am I that I even think of this.  I also, struggle with my personality sometimes when I am bothered by certain things or just annoyed.  I really do need to remember that God created me the way I am and I need to accept that.  However, I need to live a more Godly life and remember him all the time.  I would like to point out that I am grateful that God gave me an amazing family, a wonderful husband, and two amazing children.  The bottom line is that God is really great.

Love,
Jess

Chapter 1

I read the book today.  Basically talks about how it starts with God and that we need to recognize that it isn't about us.  I like when he says that a journey is always better when it is shared, refering to us working together as a group on this book.  The premis is that we cannot figure ourselves out until we find out with God first because he is the one that created us.  I enjoyed reading the part where he discusses that "stuff" does not make us who we are.  I think we all get so wrapped up in "stuff" that we lose focus on the importance of God.  I love, love, love the way the book is structured and reading a chapter a day.  He says that we need to read a chapter a day to digest what is being said.  I think that totally makes sense because it allows me to take it all in one day at a time.  I really like the fact that he discusses how we purchase all these self-help books and look for the answers through them but, they are not there.  A big emphasis on reading the bible is key.

My thoughts!
Jess

The Book

Here is how this is going to work.  We read the book day 1 and post your thoughts about day 1.  We can all comment and go from there.  It is a big commitment but i know we can do it. 

Introduction

Hi Ladies,
Are we ready to do this 40 day challenge...let's get this started.