Very interesting and helpful comments for Ch 1! You girls always amaze me with your faith. Let's keep praying for each other that we find contentment in our lives, and specifically for this week, in our circumstances. Happy reading :)
XOXO
Libby
First of all, I want to start of by saying that it has been wonderful to be able to connect with you lovely ladies again. It is great to read about how God is working in everyone's life, now that we are all gone from Behrend. I definitely consider my friendship and accountability to you ladies a positive thing in my life.
ReplyDeleteI have really been enjoying this book because it is where I am at in my life and exactly what I need to hear. A few weeks ago I remember telling Andy that I don't have anything in my life that I enjoy. For a few weeks I was in this pit believing that I don't enjoy anything about my life. Then one day at work it dawned on me, I have an amazing husband and I am thoroughly enjoying being his wife. How terrible of me to think that I don't enjoy anything about my life. I made sure to express to Andy that the thing about my life that I enjoy the most is being his wife.
This chapter has made me realize that I have even more than one thing in my life that I enjoy. In fact, I realized that I have so many things in my life that I consider positive and only one negative. However, I dwell on that one negative thing all the time.
This chapter has challenged me that I need to dwell on Philippians 4:8 (NLT):
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
It is my challenge for this week to put Phil. 4:8 to practice... to concentrate my thoughts on the positives in my life. Who is with me on this one?
Jenna,
DeleteI am proud of you for sharing your story, I think that was a hard thing for you to admit. I think we all go through phases in our life, phases where God is teaching us big things about Him and about us. It is hard while we are in these "phases," but when we find ourselves on the other side of it, instead of in the middle of it, we have moments of revelation and moments of dear closeness to God.
Its hard not to dwell on a negative, but going along with what Linda said in the first chapter, we have to train ourselves. I am totally with you on this, Jenna!! There is one thing in my life that I have always dwelled on and that I let overcome me at times. Although I have gotten much better at looking at the positives with God's help, I still see this one thing as a negative and I know it brings me down at times. I want to find the positives in this negative and even praise God for it! :)
Jenna, I've definitely done this a ton lately too. I think it definitely has everything to do with current life-status not being what we "pictured". And I think that's why this book is so ideal for so many of us at this point in our lives. When things don't go the way we want, it's hard to examine the positive things going on and all too easy to focus on the negatives.
DeleteI think one thing that we focus our thoughts on that adds to our discontenment with circumstances is our constant peering over the fence at what other people have and wishing we had the same. They say "the grass isn't always greener on the other side," and yet we still tend to think it is. I like how Linda gave us the two views of her journey in Hong Kong. The first view may make us almost jealous! Linda had such a purpose in Hong Kong. She was living out God's will, she enjoyed time with her husband in an exotic country, her kids and their spouses visited her, she loved the shopping and food. How wonderful! Then we hear the other side, the not so glamorous side. We realize that Linda had great struggles to overcome in Hong Kong and was not just living some fantasy life.
ReplyDeleteI think we are really great at pointing out the positive in other people's life, but not so great at seeing the positive in our own. We "outsiders" can look at the lives of people around us and say "why can't I have what that person has. If I did, then I would be happy." In doing this, we forget to be content in our own circumstances. We overlook all the blessings that God gives us and feel sorry for ourselves instead. (I think I used to be the poster-girl for this bad habit.)
As I build my relationship with God and learn more about Him, I start to see his plans for me. Through great trial and error, I have slowly learned how to see the positive in my own circumstances. I want us all to be lamps on a stand and shine our positive light on other women. If we fall down, I want us to do it with grace and dignitiy and with the knowledge that God is there to catch us and put us back up where we belong, shining and bright. I want to rally you to be models of God's word and thank Him for the many many blessing in your life XOXOXO
I completely agree, Libby. We are always wanting something different, something more, and it seems people rarely take the time to just appreciate what God has blessed us with. And you're definitely right in saying that we see what other people have and automatically assume it's so glamorous and so wonderful, but how do we really know what they are truly going through?
DeleteIt is so easy to think that everyone else has things better than ourselves? I know that I can so easily slip into thinking that someone else is prettier, smarter, has a better job, or more adventure in their life. Although, it is so much more uplifting if I can concentrate my thoughts on the blessings God has abundantly given to me, even in the hardest of times. This is a great perspective, Libby.
DeleteIt's so crazy how many times I can be going through something and a certain message through my pastor's sermon or a chapter in a book like this can pinpoint exactly how I've been and make me open up my eyes. Lately, I've been trying to record things in my prayer journal that are positive and simply focus on those instead of constantly asking God for things. I decided it's time to dedicate time thanking Him for what I've been blessed with. But even through all of that I still find myself worrying and discontented at my current situation. Instead of being thankful for the time I have with my family and people at home, I seem to brood and isolate myself in embarrassment and frustration. There was a time period after I graduated and moved home where I consistently would thank God for this invaluable time I'm getting here with particular people in my life. But as of late, I've just been annoyed and impatient and that has definitely damaged my relationship with God. I think a part of me (as terrible as it sounds) is resentful for my current status and that caused me to make excuses for not going to church for a couple of months and even when I would it wasn't for the right reasons and I simply was indifferent and inattentive when I was there. I let negativity encompass my life and was just outwardly rude to my family and the people around me. But one day, God helped me realize how useless and harmful my negativity was being to myself and the people who had to deal with me. I still am struggling with it, but I am just trying to live a happier more content life and I definitely think this book is going to assist me in striving toward that. I really want to be able to be someone like the stories Linda tells about people she has encountered with such strength and optimism...isn't that just a great testament to God?
ReplyDeleteI love your idea about writing the positives in life into your prayer journal. That is a great way to reinforce being thankful for what God has blessed us with. I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that the change in my attitude from being completely discontent and anxious about my career did not happen over night nor is it completely gone. I still have moments or days of feeling very discontent and anxious but that is when I realize that I need to focus my trust in God and stop trying to control the uncontrollable. I am very proud of you, Michelle. :)
DeleteLadies! I love reading your comments - I think I agree with everything that has been said! Jenna, you make a wonderful point about learning to dwell on the positives instead of that one negative thing...and M, great idea about the prayer journal. I have been keeping one on and off and when I do write in it, I almost immediately feel as if my worries disintegrate. Libby, you are so right in saying "the grass isn't always greener on the other side"...and somehow, we manage to still peek over the fence and believe that our lives would be more fulfilling if only we had (insert lusted thing). Linda does do an excellent job of gearing us up to the beauties of Hong Kong and then bringing us back to reality with the not-so-pretty aspects that she dealt with. Everyone does, indeed, struggle with the pretty and not-so-pretty.
ReplyDeleteWhen I wrote my positives and negatives down, I realized that I am currently struggling with three big negatives. And my postives list? I couldn't contain it. But I was surprised! I actually thought to myself, Wow, Aeriale, you have all these positives in your life and you didn't even recognize them until you wrote them down...how sad is that?
This past Thursday, I was able to purchase my very own car! I signed the papers and drove Daisy out of the parking lot with the biggest smile my face could muster. Libby, I bought myself a green VW Beetle! Every time I get in it, I think of you! But, what a blessing. God allowed me to purchase my car, and a beautiful cat that I adore, and you know what all my positives had in common? The word "time".
I have time to write fiction and send my works out to contests and lit journal for publication.
I have time to spend with my family and friends (when they come home).
I have time to read to my heart's content.
And the best of all? I have time to work out every day at the Y. Since June, I have lost 26lbs because my job's hours are all over the place and I have time to focus on my health and staying in shape! I couldn't ask for a bigger blessing than the time God has given me after graduation.
Linda Dillow surehas hit us all spot on, with our struggles, fears, and blessings. I'm excited to chat with you girls about chapter 3!
Aeriale, Daisy sounds amazing! I'm so excited for you! Do you have the bumper plastered with stickers yet??
ReplyDeleteWould I even recognize you if I saw you!?!?! You go girl! 26lbs! I am so impressed! I miss our days at Planet Fitness, the judge free zone. I know that you were worried about being home after graduation and what you would be doing, but I am so glad you are finding the positives and using the time God has given you. I was worried you would become discouraged and grumpy because of a particular person you would be forced to be around... I miss you girls and the apartment!
I enjoy reading everyone's comments... everyone always has such a different response and it helps to get everyone's points of view. Chapter 2 helped me to understand that no matter what your circumstance the best thing to do is to turn to God. The book says that being content is a heart choice... choosing to pray instead of being anxious. I have been blessed to learn at a young age that praying about things is MUCH better than worrying about them! I agree with Jenna... reading this book is making me realize that I have many things about my life that I enjoy. A lot of positives. God is good:)
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