Study With Me - Chapter 19

Hello everyone!

It's a blustery day here in the NW and we have seen more snow in northern Oregon than they have seen in 20+ years. I'm enjoying it but I am not out in it. So lets look at the next chapter.

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Study With Me - Chapter 19 - Wilderness Mentality #4

I can't help it I'm just addicted to grumbling, faultfinding and complaining.

Well that pretty much sums it up for most of us, pack up we can go now. :) Sad but very true, we are addicted to grumbling. We don't like this or we don't like that. And if you don't think you grumble, listen to what comes out of your mouth. Because sometimes even when we think we are being good, we are only being controlled, not good.

After reading this chapter again (probably for the 4th or 5th time) I realized there are at least 3 areas that need to be in check.

First of all and I think most importantly, we need to make sure our thoughts and attitudes are in a positive track. This is so important because what we think on we will act on eventually.

This is where the second area comes into play, our body language. We can be a witness, bad or good, with our body language. Don't think for a moment that how you act without saying a word does not get noticed by those around you. I know it's easy to see the the obvious when someone slams a door or stomps off, but what about when we do the heavy sigh every 30 seconds or the scowl when we look someone else up and down and don't know anyone saw us do it. What about the pout because we didn't get our way. What about the refusal to participate in group activity, just because it is not your thing. God showed me sometimes we just need to be grateful receivers, whether it is our thing or not.

The third area I think comes into play is our mouth. What we say is what we speak into existence for our life. Remember God created heaven and earth with words.

Lets read James, it is such a good reminder for us all. (This is the New Living Translation.)

James 3
Controlling the Tongue

1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
True Wisdom Comes from God 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, nonspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

This chapter in BOTM (as with all of them) is such a good reminder for me that I need to be thankful in all things. That how I act can be a turn off or a turn on to my heavenly Father. If I seek to draw people to him, then I need to act in a manner that will cause others to want what He has to offer.

I got a nice compliment once. A friend at work asked me how my weekend was, and I said "It was great, how was yours?" She said "Lynn you always have great weekends!" That was so nice to know that I was portraying a positive outlook to the point it was noticed.

In all of this as a reminder to myself and to all of you. Watch what you meditate on, watch what you do and how you act, and watch what you say. Others are watching and what you do will affect them positive or negative. But most of all what you do will affect you, because God and the enemy are always watching too. Don't give the Devil even a crack to enter into your life. So with that being said, we need to look at our life, family, jobs, homes, children in a different light.

I used to have a post-it note on my desk for a reminder "K.M.S." It stood for Keep Mouth Shut. which is good, but it's not enough. If I am still grumbling and fault finding inside, eventually I will break down and blurt it out. What's in a mans heart will come out of his mouth. So I think I need to come up with another post-it, something to do with doing an attitude/heart check.

Father God help us! Help us to quit fault finding and pointing fingers. Help us to be more accepting of others and things that are not our way. Most of all help us to be more like you with mercy and grace and compassion for our fellow man. Help us to pray in faith for the things and people we feel need your guidance instead of ripping them to shreds. And Father have mercy on us when we fall short. In Jesus name, Amen

Have a very Merry Blessed Christmas everyone. Not sure when I'll post again could be later today may be tomorrow, or next week. I haven't been on a real schedule with this like I wanted to but that's okay. God Bless you all.

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 18

Hi I'm Back! I had to go to the dentist and then my youngest daughter stopped by with my 2yr old grandson so he and I had to play with the ball and eat crackers and make bubbles in the sink, and Mommy drifted off for a quick nap. Full time on swing shift, 2 youngsters and going to College part time catches up sometimes. :) Then we gently woke her up so she could go get big sister from pre-school.

Well in an effort to not let the devil rule me If I can't post two chapters during the week I will post two now, so with that being said I will start the next chapter. If you are trying to catch up chapter 17 is below.

And If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro or join in anytime.

Chapter 18 - Wilderness Mentality #3

"Please make everything easy I can't take it if things is too hard"

I would guess that most of us have our limits and it is different for each of us how much we think we can handle. But God wants us to stretch ourselves so we can grow. He wants us to give it our all.

I heard a pastor say one time that for God to approve of the gift you were giving on His behalf, it needed to cost you to something. He gave the example of the widow giving her last two mites. She gave everything she had. We need to put our sweat, tears and heart into serving God. After all He did that for us and topped it off with His Son. Selah!

Someone came to me the other day and said he was sure he found a flaw in Gods word. (He said it half joking) I said oh whats that, he said "God said he wouldn't give you more than you could handle". God was so quick and so good I said it before I knew what came out of my mouth I said "Sounds like you're trying to handle everything on your own, instead of giving it to God, cause He can handle it all." I'd like to take credit but that was from God. :)

See nothing is to hard if we know when to put up, shut up and lift up, but not give up. Have any of you Mothers been in a hurry trying to get the children ready and you're running late and you are ever so gently speaking loudly to your children to get their socks and shoes on. When all the sudden they plop down on their butts on the floor start crying and say - But I can't do it! God shared that vision with me. That sometimes that's how He sees us - throwing our little fit. Meantime He could really use us to help him and we throw up our hands and say I can't. Ouch! Then next week we ask God, but why don't you ever use me? Hmm gee I'm not sure, I tried to by it was too hard. :) That principle is not limited to helping God it extends to every area of our lives. We we show ourselves worthy in one area, the we can move to another.

I was at a conference one time and I was really into the worship, I was singing and praising and praying - arms raised high. Tears were running down my face, not scrunched faced crying, just tender in the presence of God. My arms started aching, but I wanted to still be submissive to God and show Him I was surrendering to Him, so I said softly I'm still surrendering my arms just hurt. But before I could sing another word of the song, it was as if I heard an audible voice say in my spirit. "You don't have to put them back up but I stretched mine on a cross for you?" He wasn't trying to make me feel bad, just wanted me to think about how much we want, but how little we give. How easy we are to just give up. I put my arms back up. Not out of guilt or condemnation, but out of love and respect. When they first started to ache again, I told myself too bad I'm doing this for the Lord. Guess what, that was the last time I felt them.

Again our attitude will play a huge part of our success and failure in all that we do. Like the story above when I did it out of love, I had purposed to show Him honor. Had I been doing it to please the people around me or out of a feeling of obligation, it would have been easy to cave in.

Father help us to seek you when we feel weak. Show us that nothing is too hard when we lean on you. Remind us to use your word as our weapons to fight, when we are being bombarded and feel like giving up. We thank you and praise you for never never ever giving up on us, for never saying we were too hard of a task for you. Thank you! In Jesus Name. Amen

And remember when you don't feel like doing something - stop feeling yourself. :)

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 17

Hi everyone,
Well it seems like ever since I said I wanted to post a couple chapters a week I have been busier than normal. However, I will not let the devil win this battle so I will be posting at least 2 maybe more chapters today and you can read and enjoy them at your own pace. :)

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro for join in anytime.

Chapter 17 - Wilderness Mentality #2

"Someone do it for me I don't want to take the responsibility"

Well I don't care who you are at some point in all of our lives we have to choose whether or not to take responsibility for something or not. Sometimes we take it when we should, sometimes, we don't. Sometimes we take it when we shouldn't. Opps!

Now when something good, great or spectacular has happened, and the question is posed, "Who is the responsible party?" it's easy to draw a group of volunteers that want to take the responsibility. However when someone spills the milk, the beans, or there is a ill effect of any sort, the crowd tries very hard to fade into the wood work. Or perhaps we start the ever popular finger pointing contest. That seems to be a favorite past time that most all of us have partaken at least once in our life.

One of my favorite when I was younger, was to let everyone around me make the decisions, then if it didn't work, it wasn't my fault right? Wrong! I had my responsibility in the fact that I didn't stand up and make the decision that was right to begin with. Then to put icing on my little cake, I could play the martyr and victim card. Poor me look at what I've had to endure. Well God and I talked a lot and He agreed to grow me and make me strong, and I agreed I would take responsibility for my actions in every situation. Yes bad things have happened in my life, now what role did I play in allowing them to happen. Yes it hurts but it feels so good in the end.

Joyce often tells about a time when she was whining to God, "Why do other people get to do this or that and you won't let me?" God told her "Joyce you have asked me for a lot, do you want it or not?"

See God was showing her, with every blessing, comes a responsibility. And everything produces after its own kind. If we want a job, we need to work. If we want friends, we need to be a friend. If we want people to treat our children right, then we need to be kind to other peoples children.

Father,

Help us to see our part in everything. Show us how to accept our responsibility in everything we do. When we ask for things, help us to see what we will need to accomplish to have what we desire and the strength and determination to complete that which you give us. Father help us to be honest with you and ourselves. In Jesus Name, Amen

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 16

Hi Everyone, I hope you all had a very nice Thanksgiving. We had lots of food, children, grandchildren, and lots of love flowing. It was truly a wonderful day.

If you are coming here for the first time, I am hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Click the button on my side bar to go to the intro for join in anytime. So lets get started.

Chapter 16 - Wilderness Mentality #1

"My future is determined by my past and my present"

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. - It really is that simple, and that hard. If you are stuck in the mindset that this is all you will ever be or have - you are right. But if you think you can conquer the world and have the best of everything - you are right. You can only go as far as your mind will allow you to go. You can not go beyond what you believe you can do. I know some one and they had family members that were brought up the same, but some raised their children in the slums and some went on to be very prosperous. When they asked their father why the others lived like that the Father explained, they were trapped in their minds. They could not see a better life for themselves so they didn't work for a better life.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. If we don't study God's word and find out all the wonderful things that he has in store for us we could live a much lesser life than He wanted to give us. It's like someone putting a million dollars in the bank for us but if we never checked our account we could be hunting pop cans to buy milk for the baby. Find out what God wants to do for you.

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he. Once we find out what God has in store for us and what He wants to do for us, then we need to start envisioning it for our lives. Believe and have faith that He will do for you all the things He has promised.

And one of the most important lessons in this is don't run back to the familiar. I think a lot of times we miss blessings and being used by God because we won't leave the comfort of where we are, good and bad. I say that knowing that there was a time in my life I was tempted to go back into an abusive relationship for the simple reason that even though it was bad, I knew what to expect. Thank God I didn't, but I know that there are others that have. God wants to use us all, but we need to be willing to have some change and moving in our life to make it happen.

We may need to leave our Egypt to see our promise land.

Father - Thank you for giving us courage to make the changes we need to. The vision to see a better life than we have now even if it is the best. Lead us and guide us. In Jesus name. Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Lynn

How do you like your eggs?

Life and the circumstances around you form who you are. Then one day you wake up or wise up and say hey is this who I really wanted to be? Or better yet is this who God wanted me to be. Well for most of us this happens a little at a time, because that's how God gives it to us. In little bits as He thinks we are ready.

One day I was watching the movie "Runaway Bride" with Julia Roberts, and there was this scene where Richard Grere was trying to get her to say what kind of eggs she liked. She couldn't tell him. See she had always just gone along with her boyfriends and what they liked. Well of course she was in denial at first but then one day she made all kinds of different styles of eggs and tried them to see which one she really liked. This really spoke to me. See I used to be such a people pleaser that I always just liked what others liked. When confronted with what I wanted with out taking others into consideration, it would stress me out. I always wanted to make the ones around me happy.

I find that a lot of people look up to movie stars and rock stars and sport stars. That is fine to a point. But God has shown me that he created each of us to have a special talent and function in this life. If we change ourselves to be other people we are slacking on the job God designed us for.

I used to struggle with these very simple questions. Where do you want to eat? What do you want to eat and How do you like your eggs? My answer generally would be, I don't know what do you want? See I thought I was being kind, which I was to a certain degree, however I was losing ME.

We are made in God's image, but what was His Image for me. There are times in our life we work so hard to impress others, but what about impressing God? God was showing me something one day He said "remember when you were a little Girl and had imaginary friends?" I said yes. He told me that "all that time you felt the presence of love around you, I was with you". He said "You have an imagination because I imagined you first".

When we grow and conquer things in our life, it is hard to imagine that we were different, but I do remember those indecisive days. It's nice now to say what I like and don't. It gives people around me a chance to like or dislike me, because now I'm a somebody not an everybody.
Step out and choose your eggs or whatever. It's okay to be you. God needs you to be who He created you to be.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Dare to be all God wants you to be!

Blessings,
Lynn
I will post the next chapter of Study with Me tomorrow or Wednesday.
I am doing a Give-Away on my other Blog. Please check it Out!

Study with Me Part 3

Hi Everyone

We are doing a study using Joyce Meyers book "Battlefield of the Mind". Each chapter is unique so you can pick up at any time or go back and start in the beginning by clicking the button on my side bar which will take you to the intro of the study.

Part 3 - Intro to Chapter 16 - Wilderness Mentalities

We all have them - those mindsets that hold us back, the strongholds, the roots of bitterness, grumbling complaining fault finding. We are where we are, because of our attitudes along the way of our journey. It is okay to visit some places, or let some things visit us, but where we abide (make our home, our abode) is where we root ourselves. Is this the garden you meant to live in?

After I read this book the first time, I was driving to work one day thinking about the children of Israel. I got on my high horse and was telling God how silly they were to take so long and not appreciate Him. All of the sudden God spoke to me and said "Lynn - How old are you"? Gulp 40!

"How long did it take you so really seek this intimate relationship with me"? Ooops! I climbed off my horse real quick. :)

See we all have something that we allow to hold us back. (Notice I said "We Allow") We have a choice to stay in our pity pool or get out. I am not saying by any means it is easy, I know! No really I know. I wanted to blame everyone and everything for the mess I was in, but ultimately I had to take responsibility for my part in the decisions I had made in my life that got me to that point. Things come at us and things happen to us, but how we react to them is where the battle is won or lost.

I was raped twice when I was 15. I allowed that to condition a lot of my thinking about myself and about men and about relationships, even my relationship with God. (How could he let this happen) But to truly heal, I had to go back and accept my responsibility in the situation. Not that it was my fault ("NO means NO!") or that it was right for them to do that too me, but being in the wrong places was my responsibility and my wrong thinking after the attack, was my responsibility. See attitudes unresolved, fester like a sliver. They cause the area around them to swell and become oversensitive. Pretty soon they create a substance that looks and smells foul. And until we poked or snip 0r squeeze that area to remove that sliver - attitude -mindset - stronghold, it will continue to handicap that area of our life. Take a few moments to look at the parallels of a foot that has a sliver and the stages it goes through including limping, with an attitude that is not corrected in a certain area. Ponder that a moment. See how and attitude can change the course of your life. Pretty amazing and scary huh?

The rest of the book will examine 10 different "Wilderness Mentalities". As we read through Gods word and this book. Seek to lay down the "stinking thinking" that holds you in bondage.

Father God, Thank you so much for your inspiration in our lives, thank you for the courage you give each of us as we dig to be honest with ourselves about our shortcomings. Help us to see areas that we need to change and attitudes that are wrong. Hug us and let us feel your love and mercy so we are not tempted to beat ourselves up from our mistakes.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Until next time,

Be Blessed!

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 15

Hi everyone,

We are doing a study using Joyce Meyers book "Battlefield of the Mind". Each chapter is unique so you can pick up at any time or go back and start in the beginning by clicking the button on my side bar which will take you to the intro of the study.

In reading this for the second time, I feel like it is fresh and new like I have never read it ever before. Then I realized - I haven't. I am right now who I have never been before. Each day as I continue in God's word, I am not the person I was yesterday let alone the person that read this book for the first time 4 years ago. There is so much fresh revelation and perspective because of where I am now in my life verses where I was 4 years ago, emotionally and spiritually. Which leads me into this chapter.

Chapter 15 - The Mind of Christ

First of all I want to ask, Do we want the mind of Christ? Why would we want the mind of Christ? When I thought about that, these are the first couple things that popped into my mind.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Okay so I think it is safe to say there might be some benefits to having the mind of Christ. So the next thing is how do we get it? You get to know God, by lining yourself up with his word.

Getting to know God is as simple as spending time with Him. Read the word, talk to Him, include Him in everything you do. He's there already, He sees you, but you need to interact with Him. Have you ever gone somewhere a meeting or social event and had to sit by someone that wouldn't talk to you. You can talk all night and they learn a great deal about you, but you know very little about them. That's how we are with God when we don't interact with Him. Now I know he has a head start on knowing us because he created us, but if we make time for Him, He will reveal Himself to us.

Take your spouse or a close friend for example, you have invested a lot of time and effort getting to know them. You didn't just meet one day exchange a list of likes and dislikes and poof you knew all about each other. Your relationship grew by spending time together. Sharing experiences good and bad together. You do all sorts of different things with each other to the point that you know what the other likes or doesn't. You learn their mannerisms, the way the talk what they think, what their responses are about things before they respond.

To me that is what it is like to have the Mind of Christ - in operation.

What we spend time doing and focusing on is what we will be proficient in. The more we spend time in God's word and fellowship with Him, the more we will begin to think and act like Him. Our focus is where we will eventually go to. Have you ever been driving and start gazing out the window? All the sudden you jerk the wheel to get yourself back in your lane. What happens is you will drift on the road and in life where you focus your attention and time. That's why it is important to meditate on God's word day and night.

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

I also think to have and operate with the mind of Christ you need to have vision - a goal.

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.

See if we have a goal in mind, or a vision of what God has in store for us, it helps us to stay on the path to obtain that prize. When we loose focus of our vision, we give up and give in. Think about Jesus. He had a vision of what he had to do. He knew what the Fathers plan was. When Satan was trying to get him to bow down, he offered Jesus all kinds of enticing things. If Jesus hadn't had a vision of a much bigger picture He might have given in. What about Jesus going to the cross. His flesh didn't want to do it - he asked "Father if there is any other way" but he had a vision of the Fathers plan. What if Jesus had just given up and said, it's too hard I don't even know all these people you're trying to help. Let them hang on the cross for themselves. No he had a vision and focus of a much bigger picture.

We can never overcome the storms of this world, if all we think of and focus on is ourselves and our problems, and our circumstances. Again, what we focus on is what we will drift towards and become.

Spend time with God, include Him in your life, get to know what he would say and do and then say and do it yourself.

Father God, Thank you so much for being with each of us as we grow with new revelations each day. Help us to seek you in all we do. Give us a vision of our life and what you have in store for us and help us to stay focused on the right path. In Jesus name, Amen

I would like to post a couple of chapters a week to finish the study up by the end of the year. God has given me a couple of nudges for something new He would like me to do. But in being honest with myself I can't take on any more until I finish what I have. ( I am currently doing 3 studies not including when Rachel O. posts something) So My posts might be a little shorter, but not less heartfelt. I hope you are enjoying the insight that I am getting from the book and I hope God is doing a work in you as well.

Blessings,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 14

Hi Everyone,

To anyone new we are doing a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers, join in anytime or go back and see the posts and comments from the start.

Chapter 14 - A Passive Mind

I went through this book for the first time when I had purposed in my life to actively walk daily with the Lord. So this chapter points out some turning points in my life as well. I started getting up earlier than normal to get in Gods word every day.

I can look back on so many times in my life that I was too passive, and unfortunately it cause destruction in my life for many years. See passivity can take on many forms and due to my previous personality of insecurity and people pleasing I used to have a real hard time saying no or speaking my real feelings. So I would take the stand of I'll pray about it and maybe it will go away. I'm sorry to say that doesn't really work. God gave us dominion over every thing that creeps on this earth and we have to speak to the mountain for it to move. He didn't tell us to hope and pray and everything will go alright. My prayers have changed from take it away to give me the courage to face it and over come it. Then I step out and face whatever, even if I have to do it afraid. (at first)

I liked the example of the lady that thought about being a princess and having her prince. She spent so much time thinking of it that the reality of her own husband repulsed her. Ladies, I have always thought that is why romance novels are not good. You create an image of a mate that can't be fulfilled. Just as much as it is not good for men to be looking at the magazines with the out of proportion models and comparing them to us women, we will always fall short because that is not reality.

By passively entertaining those thoughts, we are giving the devil entrance for more evil thoughts.

And as we see more and more through out this study, where our mind goes our body will soon follow.

You are the one that has to take your thoughts captive. You need to purpose in your heart to take action and fill your mind with the word of God. Remember, by not doing anything, you are still doing something.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Make the decision to actively think (on the word) and not let the devil have reign over your thought life. Ask God to point out the area's that you need to change and the strength to change them.

Blessings my friends,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 13

Hello Everyone

Again if this is your first time here, I am hosting a Bible study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. Jump in any time and comment or if you want you can go back and see what we have said in previous posts and chapters.

Chapter 13 A Judgmental, Critical and Suspicious Mind.

Well how did you like this chapter? I'm not sure I want to use the statement "I Think" anymore. :) As I read this chapter I noted some areas that still needed some work in my life and others I can finally count all joy. I can remember back to times when I felt any time someone brought up a subject I had to tell what I knew or thought I knew. See being insecure and a people-pleaser, I wanted to fix people. I was brought up to believe that if people needed you, they loved you. That lead to being used a lot in my life. I now understand the difference between want and need. Now I like to sit back and listen others and see what I can learn.

I'm not sure when it was that I learned the difference between discernment and judgement. That you can discern a persons character or a situation without being judgemental or causing a judgement. However I can look back and see how I have reaped from judgments I made earlier in my life. We will reap from the seeds we have sown in our life. God showed me that whether we speak something or not, the following phrase will not lead to good. "Well if that was me" or Well if I had .... I would....." It is easy for us to think we would handle any situation better, but we never know with all certainty what we would do if we were in the same place.

Why should we guard our hearts? What we think and ponder will get into our hearts, and will come out our mouths. See the more we ponder something the greater the chance we will act on it. Don't think that just thinking something is okay. God said to me one day "remember when you were a little girl, you would pray to me in your head and not out loud". "If you believed I heard those prayers why would I not hear your judgement and criticism that you are thinking now". Ouch!!

We need to not only learn to not say these things, we need to renew our minds to not think them either. We need to look at people around us with love and mercy. And when we come across the unlovely, (and we will) we need to pray for them and let God do the rest.

We have the opportunity several times a day, to criticize, and judge and it is very hard to not get sucked into it. Take some time these next few days to identify areas that cause you to be critical and judgemental. Ask God to bring them to your attention and help you to stop.

Father God we are learning so much about our thoughts and attitudes for ourselves and towards others. Show us the areas we need to change and give us the courage and strength to do so.

Thank you for your wisdom in our lives.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Have a great week

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 12

Hello everyone,

Well it's been a fun few weeks of traveling and vacationing (part of the reason why this took so long) but back home and time to get serious and committed about my studies again. The Joyce Meyers conference was great and had some real good time of fellowship with my buddy that ended up joining me. I will be posting more on what I learned from her in the future.

Well again if this is your first time here, I am hosting a Bible study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. Jump in any time and comment or if you want you can go back and see what we have said in previous posts and chapters.

Chapter 12 - An Anxious and Worried Mind

What a great time for this chapter to come along. God's timing is great. With prices rising and jobs being cut it could be very easy for our flesh (our carnal being) to get in fear. Being worried and anxious can also cause us to take these cares on instead of giving them to God. What am I going to do about this? I have got to figure this out. If you look at both of those questions, it shows where our faith lies.... in I. Instead of focusing in the "am I" we need to being focusing on the almight "I am" - God.

1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (nlt)

I once heard that when we try to do things on our own, or figure them out ourself, it is like telling God you can handle it better than He can. Ouch! Give the problem to Him.

Worrry will not stop coming to us, we will always be able to find something to worry about.

John 10:10 says : The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (nlt)

We can't continue to focus on the storms of this life or what is going on in this world and expect God's blessings to flourish in our life. Where our focus is, is where our heart is, and where our faith is. We can however choose not to let it make a home in us. We can choose to trust God in and through the storms that come at us.

Read Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus Walks on Water 22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. (nlt)

Notice how when Peter had his eyes on Jesus, he too could walk on water. However the moment he looked at the storm - he started sinking. We need to set our sights and focus on God, now more than ever.

Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. (nlt)

Over the next few days pay attention to worried thoughts and anxious thoughts that come to you. Purposely focus on giving them to God.

Father I thank you that you are more than enough for all of us. I ask that you help us identify parts of our lives that we are trying to fix on our own. Help us to release those areas and lean on you. I don't need to know how you will protect us, I just need to receive it. Thank you for your wisdom and discernment that you give to each of us.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Have a Blessed Week everyone!

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 11

Hello Everyone,

If this is your first time to this blog, I'm hosting a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. You can go back and start at the beginning, pick up here, make a comment here or on a blog, email me, or just read along behind the scenes. It is very nice to have everyone's feed back and see the different revelations we are all getting as these chapters and God's word touch each of us. So if this is your first time, Welcome.

Chapter 11 Doubt and Unbelief

Doubt - We have all experienced it at one time or another. That little voice that says "Should I or Should I not". When I was 17 I interviewed for a job in a large office building. I answered all the questions they asked, selling myself with the attitude of if I don't know it I'm sure I can learn it. As I walked out of the building and saw the professionalism of the place, Satan went to town with his little seeds. Did you over sell yourself? Do you really think you can do all those things they were talking about? Even if you could do the work, would you fit in, or have the clothes for this position?

By the time I had got home, I had let the devil tear me up and spit me out. I started doubting my abilities and finally wavered so much that I was in unbelief about who God said I was. I was not in a strong walk with God at the time and it didn't take much to make me fall. As I got home, the phone was ringing and it was the lady I interviewed with. She wanted me to start as soon as I could. I wish I could tell you I went for it, but I did not. I was so defeated in my "MIND" that I declined the position telling her that I thought the position might be over my head then thanked her for her time. She said she was sorry that she couldn't convince me to come but glad she got to meet me.

A few days later, she called again, stating that they had made another position for me and would like me to come. It didn't matter if I didn't know how to do it they would train me. Again I allowed the devil to convince me I was not worthy and declined again. She did call me one or two more times. I can't look back at that time with regrets, I have to move on, however it can be a learning experience. If I had been built up in the word I may have reacted differently. I told you all of that to point out what doubt and unbelief can do in your life. We need to build ourselves up in God's word to recognize that if something is not lining up with Him, it's an attack to lead us astray. And also so we are fully convinced and confident not to doubt or waiver which leads to unbelief and disobedience.

Something that struck me from Joyce's conference this past weekend is that "If you ever doubt God's love for you, you will doubt God's word for you". See you may believe that God heals, but if you doubt He loves you, you will doubt that He will heal you. "Well I know he heals and He did heal Fred, but I hope he'll heal me someday". "Oh I know God gave me a word to share but I don't know if anyone will listen to me".

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (niv)

Because I wasn't walking close to God at the time of that interview, I was tricked and deceived. That may have been a position that God really wanted me to take, (or not), not all enticing things are from God. And when we let satan lie to us we are choosing to doubt, and choosing to be in unbelief and disobedience to God. Look at Eve, when the serpent told her God was holding back, she choose to eat the fruit. See again the enemy made her question Gods intentions for her and Adam, which lead to doubt, which lead to unbelief, which then lead to disobedience. Then because of her sin, she was in fear. Fear - Doubt - and Unbelief are not from God.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (nkjv)

At the first sign of questioning, take it to God and seek His wisdom. Remember, no matter how enticing something may seem, if it does not line up with the word of God, or what He has spoken into your heart for your life, don't go with it.

Ladies (and Gents) feel free to share your experiences or what God is sharing with you concerning doubt and unbelief. I look forward to hearing from you.

Father God,

I thank you for the wisdom and discernment you give us. Help us to always seek you and to not doubt you or the visions you give us for our life. I thank you for this time of fellowship with my other Blog friends. May we all grow in your word. Watch over us and lead us where we need to go.

In Jesus precious name.

Amen

Be Blessed!

Lynn

Sometimes Unnoticed

Hi Everyone I'm home from St. Louis. I'm sure over the next few weeks I will have a lot to share on what was taught and what touched me personally. But to sum everything up in a short preview of what I will say... It was wonderfully awesome. But before I get into what was taught, I want to share a praise report.

The first day of the conference as we were walking from the parking lot to the entrance I noticed a lady in front of us that looked like my youngest daughter from the back side and mentioned that to my friend. So we get to the entrance and everyone is give a baggy with items including a necklace that holds our registration card and are told this is our entrance ticket for each session. It was actually fun because all over St. Louis you could see women with these necklaces and point at each other and say "Joyce Lady-Awesome isn't it?"

So before we actually sat down I saw this lady that I had seen earlier, again from behind, and thought to myself, what are the chances of that with thousands of women here.

The next day as we parked for the morning session and started to walk in, I saw that woman again from behind and was humored that I would see this same lady out of thousands. When we parked for the evening session we parked in a different lot that was closer and on the other side of the dome and just walked in, not giving a thought to the woman I had been noticing.

After the evening session and coming out of the parking lot from the other side of the Edward Jones Dome, I patiently weaved my way through women and traffic to find the Interstate. However in a unfamiliar city, one way streets and heavy traffic, and a "No Left Turn" sign, I am heading across the Mississippi River to the State of Illinois.

So I'm asking my friend which exit and we are both stalling and not sure, then all of the sudden I see tons of cars turning into a raceway and what looked like a gas station - Here's my sign. :)
I turn in and there are three cop cars and a bunch of people standing around, not a good time to ask a cop. So as I am looking for someone to ask I see a woman with a Joyce necklace. I tell my friend, there's a Joyce Lady we can ask her. I pull in front of the ladies truck that was parked, my friend jumps out to ask, and you guessed it, it was the lady I kept seeing from behind. She gave us perfect directions to get us back on track to get to our hotel.

God knows what we need before we do and perfect directions I'm convinced were from our perfect protector. Sometimes these things are gratefully received but there origin is unnoticed. I'm happy and proud to say I know it was ordered by the Lord.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

PS. We never saw the lady the rest of the conference.

Study with Me - Chapter 10

Hi Everyone,
Well I know not all of you have had time to respond to chapter 9 but I will be with Joyce in person and won't have a lot of time to post. :) So please post your comments here or on chapter nine and I will check both.

Chapter 10 "A Confused Mind"

Well to some of us in this day and age a confused mind is the normal state of mind. But as we are informed with Gods word a confused mind is not normal at all. There are so many things that can cause us to be confused, but all of them stem from the enemy. Being confused is a type of being double minded, and in James 1:5-8 God tells us a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

A fearful, people pleasing person will often be confused and double minded because they are always trying to do what they think the other person wants.

Reasoning will also cause you to have a confused mind. Have you ever tried to reason and justify doing or not doing something? That is what we do when we try to line Gods word up with our actions instead of lining our actions up with Gods word. The carnal mind is an enemy to God. God is not logical, and often times will ask us to do things that do not make sense to us to stretch our faith and obedience to Himself.

To me reasoning is one step away from an excuse. When I first started to "Woman Up" and put on my "Big Girl" pants, I had to take responsibility for my actions and conform to Gods way. My flesh wanted to make excuses for why I did things or why I acted a certain way. Well God showed me that making an excuse was justifying my actions in my own mind, and as long as I did so I couldn't grow in Him. So then I would say "Well I know this doesn't excuse what I did, BUT this is the reason. Still hanging on to that flesh! Finally I can take the reason and instead of using it as a partial excuse I can so okay God - I do these things because - so change them in me.
I'm lining myself up with Him instead trying to get Gods word to fit me. I'm submitting to Him.

When there is confusion there is no peace, when there is no peace there is no God. God showed me that wisdom comes from Him. When we try to reason or figure things out on our own, we are doing it in our own strength and not His. We essentially are pushing Him out, saying we can handle and figure it out better on our own. By accepting our rationalizations and reasoning's, above His wisdom and discernment we are inadvertently saying our ways are better than Gods. Ouch. A busy cluttered mind has trouble hearing Gods still small voice. Quit trying to figure and reason, ask God for His wisdom.

Letting go of reasoning and people pleasing are things that have to be worked at. Lean on God and He will guide you where you need to go.

Father God, I thank you that we don't have to know it all. Thank you that we don't have to reason and wonder. Please give us you wisdom, help us to let it go and listen for your still small voice. Thank you for your peace that passes all understanding.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

Have a great weekend, I know I will.
Be Blessed - In His Love,
Lynn

More on Chapter 9

Hi Everyone,
Well I'm not sure if you are busy or waiting for me to post more. I am still having a hard time trying to decide what to post on this chapter. So I am going to start typing and see where it leads. :)

Father God help us discern you word, give us wisdom as we read and share your word.
In Jesus name Amen.

Well I'll start by telling you the funny that my Husband and I have when we know the other has drifted away while we are talking to each other. Years ago I came across a cartoon that had two frames. The 1st was a man scolding a dog and the caption stated "This is what we say to dogs: Ginger you were a very bad girl today and you need to go to your dog house right now Ginger, do you hear me?" The next frame stated "This is what dogs hear: Ginger Blah Blah, Ginger Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah. So the funny with my husband is when we fess up or when we catch the other we say "I didn't catch that - You know, Ginger blah blah." :) It's our little way of nicely showing we drifted without accusing the other of not caring or hurting the others feeling for not paying attention.

I believe wondering and wandering is something that we all have to deal with in one way or another. I also think the wondering can often be the prerequisite to wandering if left unchecked. As you wonder about something your mind (and body) will wander over there. Staying focused and dedicated to the task at hand takes determination and hard work. Daydreaming can be innocent enough and yet not. We have been learning through this study that where the mind goes the man follows. Where we allow our mind to drift to, is where our flesh will eventually follow.

Take for example someone that is trying to diet or quit a bad habit. The more you let you mind think and wonder about what ever you are trying to quit, the more your flesh cries out for it. Your flesh has a louder voice than you may know. Controlling what we think about and where we allow our minds to drift to, is a big part of our success.

I heard someone else teach on this one time and they said that the wanted to break themselves of wondering and do what God wanted them to do. They started with one thing at a time. One of the things they did was to go to the closet and instead of saying "I wonder what I should wear today?" They went to the closet and said "God tell me what to wear today."

We know that wondering and wandering can be bad for us, lets see how many ideas we can come up with on helping each other to stay focused and on task.

I will be leaving early Thursday morning for Dallas Fort Worth TX and then St Louis Mo for the Joyce Meyer Women's Conference. I will try to post the first part of Chapter 10 before I go.

Be Blessed,
Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 9 "Kinda"

Hello Ladies,

Well normally on our family vacation Hubby goes golfing and I have time to read relax & shop. Well this year Hubby isn't golfing as much so we are vacationing together. Which is wonderful for me, not so good for the posting of the study. I have started to post Chapter 9 a couple of times and there are so many directions I want to go in, for the Wondering and Wandering, that I'm wondering what to post. :). If you have already read the chapter go ahead and post some thoughts and I will add more later.

Here are some really quick things to think about.

Where can wondering lead you? Good and Bad?
What types of wandering have you experienced and was it good or bad?

And did anyone relate to having a conversation with someone and then realizing you were somewhere else and didn't hear what they said? We have a funny little story about that in our house. I'll share later.

Miss you all and will catch up with you more later.

Be Blessed - We're having a great time.
Lynn

Study With Me - Part 2 - Intro and Chapter 8

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. I have some general news to catch you up on and then I will post the study. First of all I will be on vacation starting Tuesday (I did a post on my other Blog please check it out) But I will have my computer and free time to check blogs and post new lessons. Possibly more time to do so than now. Secondly I will come home from that vacation and go to Joyce Meyers Women's Conference in St. Louis MO. Now here are some big things and growths for me. The old me would not have ventured out on her own to go 1/2 across the USA to do this. I have never been this far East before. The only other thing that I have done like this is when my daughter was 9 I flew to CA and took her to Disney Land, met up with friends of ours for two days and then one day on our own. Now I will be meeting up with a friend, but when I started this journey it was on my own, I didn't know my friend would want to come. Third- if any of you reading this will be there, I would love to meet you. Okay enough about that lets say a prayer and do some highlights from Part 2 Intro and Chapter 8.

Father God, I praise you and thank you for all you are teaching us. I thank you for the growth that we are getting by the renewing of our minds. Help us to be strong and determined as we face the strongholds that have held us back. Lead us, guide us, direct us and correct us.
In Jesus Precious Name, Amen.

Conditions of the Mind and When is my Mind Normal?

I've often heard that everything is relative to what it is compared to. So if that is the case, when we ask the question "When is my mind Normal?" It would depend on what you are comparing it to. If you are often worried, anxious, depressed, or angry, then you could say that is "normal" for you to be like that. But if you are comparing your mind and thoughts to Gods word and wanting to renew your mind, it would not be normal for you to have those thoughts.

God wants us to be happy and free. He has a job for us here on earth and we will have a very difficult time doing it if we can't get over ourselves. (Oh I say that so big after having a pity party the other day-opps did I just tell on myself, oh well) But it's true. I have heard Pastors say so many times when asked "How do you do all this, and travel and raise a family?" And they answer, "I just don't focus on it." I've been having some real challenges lately with some dead lines and right before vacation too. So I have been really trying to lean on God and not focus on the mountain, just take one step at a time. I have actually said to myself, don't focus on that. :)

When I have a lot on my plate and things I need to get done, I will make "mental notes" which I have now started referring to as a "Post-it note for the brain". But the Lord was showing me as I went over this chapter. That my over flowing lists of things to do, (that are always way too long) doesn't always give him a place to be heard. The quiet calm mind, can receive incoming messages, new revelations.

In this fast paced world, with so many things to do, places to go and people to see, it is easy to keep our minds very stimulated. And if we aren't keeping it busy, the Devil does his best to fill it with lies and confusion.

As we have learned in our other chapters, we need to watch what we think about, break down strong holds and mind binding spirits and progress will come little by little.

In the next few days, purposely work at spending a few moments or minutes each day or several times a day, clearing your mind to hear from God.

I will post again shortly - God's going on vacation with me. :)

Be Blessed my Friends,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 7

Hello Everyone-
To anyone that has just come here - Welcome! I am hosting a study using the book, "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. Please join in any time. If you want to see my previous posts and comments click the "Study with Me" button on my side bar.

Hope you had a nice week. Mine was very busy but good. I leaned on God a lot and that was nice. Well what did you all think of Chapter 7 "Think about what you are Thinking About"
This is one of many very important areas of our lives, because we can literally guide our life with our thoughts. As we continue through this study it will become more and more clear how this can happen.

Father God thank you again for leading us and guiding us. Thank you for being in our midst as we dig into your word. Please give us Revelation on how we need to apply this to our lives. In Jesus name, Amen

Have you ever had a fight in your head before? Did you think, well when they say this I’m going to say that! Then I’m going to tell them blah blah blah. Then as soon as you come in contact with that person, they only have to say “Hi” and you blurt out everything you just rehearsed in your mind. If you don’t, it may have been a struggle not to let them have it with both barrels. Because along with all of the things you had rehearsed to say to them, you convinced yourself you had a right to do so. God shared with me “Lynn whether you like it or not, Thinking and Meditating is a rehearsal for your actions.” That’s why God tells us so many times to make our meditations pure.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Joyce looked up meditate in the dictionary, but I looked up a couple more here (Merriam-Webster online) and want to share what it had to say:

Rehearsal:
1: something recounted or told again .
2 a: a private performance or practice session preparatory to a public appearance b: a practice exercise

Plan:
1: a drawing or diagram drawn on a plane: as a: a top or horizontal view of an object b: a large-scale map of a small area
2 a: a method for achieving an end b: an often customary method of doing something : a detailed formulation of a program of action d: Goal or Aim
3: an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective4: a detailed program (as for payment or the provision of some service)

Meditate:
1 : a discourse intended to express its author's reflections or to guide others in contemplation
2 : the act or process of meditating.
Meditating:
1 : to engage in contemplation or reflection
2 : to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness transitive
Verb: 1 : to focus one's thoughts on : reflect on or ponder over 2 : to plan or project in the mind : (Intend or Purpose)

So if thinking and meditating is a rehearsal for our actions, what we allow ourselves to think about can be a blueprint to our future. If we want success with anything in life we need to put the time into it. This will work in the natural as well as the supernatural. Tiger Woods (The worlds best Golfer) may have natural talent, however he did not become the best by thinking about swimming all the time. No along with practicing, he meditates on golf day and night.
Look at Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

You know I hadn't really Pondered and Meditated on that scripture, but it really says it all. :)

Now not everything will come over night. It took us how many years to get where we are, it may take us a day or two to get out of this mess. One of our readers did a post about "Practice makes Perfect, and Joyce has that in the book. Keep practicing on bridling those thoughts, and those words. Keep practicing by reading and studying the word. Day by day you will see little changes. One day you may be driving along and someone cuts you off and you say "Oh Oh that was dangerous, God watch over that person and help them to slow down, in Jesus Name". where as your former self may have said something quite the contrary. :)

So what do you want to be good at? What do you want your life to be like? Set that vision in motion with your thoughts.

Be Blessed
Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 6

Hi Ladies and Happy Labors Day. I hope you have the day off and are relaxing, however I will be working. Oh well I have lots of benefits at my job so I'm not complaining. Sounds like you are enjoying this book as much as I do and I'm glad. You know how it is when something really touches and you're excited and want to share, that is this book. Chapter 6 is not as long, but still has a very important message. So lets get started

Father we are gathering together again to study your word. Give us wisdom and fresh revelations on renewing our minds. In Jesus name Amen.

Chapter 6 - Mind Binding Spirits

Those little bu t devastating attacks. That voice in your head, "You're not worthy", "You're not smart", "That wasn't God - that was you", "Who do you think you are?" "God's not going to give you a word of knowledge, there are thousands of people out there that know the word way more than you do". "You have screwed up way too much for God to talk to you."

Sound familiar anyone?

It's a bunch of garbage, lies from the pit of Hades. God has a whole book of promises called the Bible. Those promises are for "Who so ever believes" - then BELIEVE! We are working to renew our minds and flush out the garbage. I've heard the best way to get weeds out of our lawn is to over seed, grow more grass and the grass chokes out the weeds. Well we need to choke out the mined Binding weeds in our brains and the best way to do that is by over seeding our brains with the word of God.

Joyce gave a lot of good scriptures in the book and I would like to add a few for us to meditate on.

John 14:1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God trust also in me."

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Hebrews 10:35-36 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Psalm 119:165 165 Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Isaiah 50:7 7 “ For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now here are a couple of scriptures that I want us to confess over ourselves as much as we can but a least once a day. They have been modified to personalize them.

John 14:27 Peace Jesus left with ME, not the worlds peace He gave ME, Let MY heart not be troubled neither will I be afraid.

Galatians 1:9 I will not grow weary in well doing, for in due season I will reap if I do not lose heart.

Listen, God knows the most about each and every one of us. Even if we don't talk to Him about some areas of our life He knows them, and He chose us anyway. Don't let the voices of Mind Binding Spirits have a place in your life.

Be Blessed,

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 5 Thoughts

Hi Ladies -

Thank you so much for your patience. Not only was I gone over the weekend the notes I originally started just weren't flowing. I kept trying to finish them and couldn't get them to go. So I scratched started over and it worked so I guess I was just down a wrong path and God wanted me to go somewhere else. I do pray for His leading so I guess that was a tug on the bridle. :)

Father God, I thank you for our time together. Open our minds and hearts to receive your word. Help us to apply it to our lives. In Jesus name, Amen

How many times have we heard or said "I don't want to get my hopes up, then I wont be disappointed if it doesn't come through". Joyce points out right away that this sets up for a negative life style. God tells us that with out vision we will perish -
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he

I went through some very trying things in my first marriage. I believed, loved and feared God, but didn't have a relationship with Him, but I always had hope. Hope for a better life, Hope that some day.... Now that doesn't mean that I was always positive. I dealt with a lot of negativity, and so bounced between the two, hope and negativity.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

And therefore I did not have a lot of success, receiving or walking in faith. See I had to come to the realization that I had to be honest with myself and take ownership of what I was doing wrong. But then what happens? We beat ourselves up for doing something wrong - NO! We need to lay it down, accept that we are a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Give your negativity to God, let Him change it and us.

Again we need to examine our thoughts and what we say. Remember faith comes by hearing.... even if we hear ourselves. Spend a day listening to what you and others say. Make notes mental or written, what positive words and phrases are stated and how many are negative.

Joyce talked about "Evil Forebodings" Have you ever got the feeling that something bad was going to happen? You couldn't put your finger on it but you had this heaviness on you that you just couldn't shake. So everywhere you went you were looking for a sign of what was going to happen. Joyce was experiencing this and God told her is was "Evil Foreboding" Then Joyce came across this scripture:
Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].(amp)
We need to shake off these thoughts and meditate on positive thoughts, Gods word and promises for our life.

Keep your tongue from evil.
1 Peter 3:10 “ He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Then please remember as we learn more of Gods word and we strive to change we will transform "Little by Little" as we learned in chapter 4.

Thank you Father God for you mercy and kindness. Thank you for your gentle nudge that helps us to change and the freedom we experience when we do. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thanks Ladies for your comments and participation.
Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 5

Hi Ladies,
I will be leaving tomorrow and not returning until Monday afternoon or evening. It is my 11th anniversary and we are going camping with family and friends. I'm hoping to post a start to chapter 5 in the morning. However if I don't and you are ready, go ahead and post some comments here and I will finish my comments when I return. I know several of you will be out of town or have other commitments too so this might be a good weekend to take off of the Blog.

If I don't post tomorrow before I leave Hugs and Kisses to you all and I'll talk to you soon.
Loves,
Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 4

Hi Everyone,
If this is your first time here we are doing a study using the book "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers. You are welcome to join in anytime, just click the button on my side bar and it will take you to the Intro. We would love to have you comment and let us know you're here.

Well Ladies you all are coming up with great comments and insight, but that's what we are praying for. We want to grow more and more each day, which leads into the next lesson.

Chapter 4 - Little by Little

In this chapter, Joyce is focusing on cutting ourselves some slack. I've heard & believe we can be our own worse critics. We never feel that we match up. But remember "Only a fool compares".

I think we need to quit looking at others and seek God to find out who we are individually supposed to be. I also believe that a lot of wrong thoughts have to do with the "Stinking Thinking" that we are not quick to cast out. God calls them vain imaginations. 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And for me I love that she uses Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1 was a hard pill for me to swallow - but very beneficial to receiving Gods mercy in my life. Like Joyce states, this doesn't happen overnight, it happens "Little by Little" then one day you look back and you see where you were and where you are.

I know some of us journal and that is a great way of encouraging yourself as you reflect on the battles that God has brought you through. If you haven't written in a journal, maybe you would like to try it to see if it helps you as well. There may be times when we are only taking ground an inch at a time but adding those inches together will soon become the MILEstones of our lives.

I'm going to cut you loose you all are doing a great job of commenting and gaining from each other, and I'm learning from you as well. So let me know if anything in the chapter touched you.

Father God, Thanks again for more time so we can fellowship together. I again thank you for the wisdom you give us as we study your word and change our lives to walk closer to you. Help us to embrace you as our Father to crawl up on your lap and let you hold us and kiss us with your love and mercy. Help us to always remember the security we feel when we let you direct our paths. We love you, In Jesus Name, Your girls.

Blessings Ladies,

Lynn

Study With Me - Chapter 3

Hi Everyone If this is your first time here, we are doing a study using Joyce Meyer's book "Battlefield of the Mind" So to go to the beginning click the button on my side bar or scroll down to the "Study with me Intro"

Father God thank you that we have another opportunity to study and ponder your word. Give us wisdom to discern how to apply theses messages to our lives. In Jesus name Amen.

Chapter 3 - Don't Give Up

Joyce was talking about having a Wilderness Mentality, and I think we all get there sometimes. That rut that keeps us going around the same Mountain. "But that's the way we've always done it."

Matthew15: 6 So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God [depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect]. (amp)

One day I was on my way to work and talking with God. I was thinking - Wow that's bad it took them 40 years to make an 11 day trip. They wandered and wandered, grumbling and complaining, all they had to do was listen to God and follow Him. All they had to do was to be grateful. That wasn't very smart, they could have had it all, and it took FORTY years. Then I heard God speak into my Spirit, "And how old are you Lynn? And when did you start really being obedient to my words?" Ouch! What was that about Judge not lest ye be judged. :)

The important message that Joyce was getting at in this chapter is "Don't Give Up". No matter what we've done or haven't done, keep going. If you miss your mark, pick yourself up and keep going. Again, don't let all those negative thoughts that come to you take residence in your mind. If we know how to worry, then turn it around and meditate on Gods word.

Ponder on areas that you have struggled with. (There's those strongholds again.)

Have you reached the victory circle or are you still in the race? - (Remember Don't Give Up!)

If you are still in the race is your 11 day journey past the 11th day?

What is holding you back?

What can you do to finish that race?

If you are in the victory circle what revelations did God give you to cross the finish line?

Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

Thank you God for your wisdom and strength as we renew our minds. In Jesus Name Amen.

Have a Great Blessed Day!

Lynn

Study with Me - Chapter 2

Hi Everyone
If this is your first time here, we are doing a study using Joyce Meyer's book "Battlefield of the Mind" So to go to the beginning click the button on my side bar or scroll down to the "Study with me Intro"

Father God I thank you so much that we can come together and study and fellowship about you. Please help as we desire to know you more. In Jesus name Amen

Chapter 2 A Vital Necessity

Obviously this whole study is going to deal with our mind and our thoughts. In the Intro and Chapter 1 we dealt with thoughts that lead to strongholds in our lives. We also worked on trying to break them a part into the truth and the lie.

In Chapter 2 Joyce wants us to see why it is Vital to line our thoughts up with Gods word. The first part of Proverbs 23:7 says For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. You might wonder, what does that mean? I go back to my saying "What you feed will grow." If you give a fearful thought a lot of attention, it will grow, and you will become fearful. Fearful = Full of Fear, As a man thinks (He thinks fearfully) so is he (He is full of fear)

Now on the other hand you can have a fearful thought come to you, but if you speak to that thought with Gods word-it will shrivel up and die.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

My husband and I had been asked to share a few words at our Bible Study about what has helped us to be friendly and reach out to others so we agreed. Over the course of the next few weeks we prayed about what to say and looked up some scriptures but decided we would let God guide us when the time came so we weren't just reading off a cue card. Well the day of the study came and my husband gets an abscessed root canal. Half of his face is swollen and red. Not only did he not look his best he was in some severe pain. So a couple of hours before the potluck Bible study, that is supposed to have a surprise speaker the surprise is on me. I am the surprise speaker. YIKES!!! See what I hadn't admitted through this whole thing is I had counted on my husband to be the one to speak. After all he's had more experience sharing Gods word and knows the scripture references better. NOW we're talking some fearful thoughts. "You are going to make a fool out of yourself and your husband" and on and on.... Whoa Whoa Whoa God called us/me to do this and if he called me He would equip me. So my husband and I went over some scriptures to share, (I did make some note cards for reference) and some thoughts we had previously gone over. So I packed the food I was taking to the potluck and off I went. (Yes I prayed all the way there) I was still experiencing fear come at me - but I wasn't allowing it to be fed. So after all of us ate and then the surprise speaker was announced - minus 1. Surprise I'm doing this solo. :)

When I started I was nervous, but I leaned on God and the Holy Spirit took over. I can't tell you what all I said,but it was one of the most awesome experiences I have ever had. For weeks people came to my husband and told him how the words I spoke touched them. It wasn't me, it was God. I let him give the speech.

Now I told you that story to say this - What if I had chickened out? What if I had meditated on making a fool out of myself? First peoples lives would not have been touched and encouraged to reach out to others. Secondly I would still be in bondage letting fear control my life. See when we lean in on God we get to see his glory manifest in our lives. Which in turn builds our faith in what God can do with and through us. (Yeah little ole you from po dunk USA)

See it was vital for me to line up with God's word so I could push past the fear by leaning on Him and complete a task He wanted done. It not only affected me but the people I spoke to and the people that they reached out to, because God showed them how to through me.

Zechariah 4:6 Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Have any of you had an experience where God called you out of your comfort zone?

Did you go or stay back?

How did it affect you walk with God and others?

I'll end with prayer and a few more scriptures to ponder.

Romans 8:5-6For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Father thanks so much for helping me with revelations to share. Thank you that we gain wisdom and insight as we study together. Thank you for my new friends and sisters that are taking this journey with me. In Jesus precious name. Amen

Leave a comment or e-mail!

Blessings,

Lynn

Study with Me Chapter 1

Hi Ladies, we had some good insights and revelations already just on the intro. We are going to learn so much. Chapter 1 is picking up where the intro left off with a war in our minds. So before we get into this lets Pray:

Father we are gathering again today to learn more of your word. Help us to put your word to use in our lives. Reveal to us what areas of our lives need to change, give us strength and courage to face and change them. In Jesus name Amen.

Right off we see that Mary has strongholds, and it shows us how these strongholds came about. They were built little by little. Now look at the strongholds that you identified in the Intro. Were there thoughts that you meditated on over and over. Did you have the attitude "Well Bless God I will never......? Okay we will go on! :)

Now lets go on to John he had issues of his own. He was passive & non confrontational. I liked where he said he hoped it would just work itself out. Yep, that used to be me. Head in the sand, if I don't look at it, it doesn't exist. NOT! His stronghold of "I'm going to lose anyway in the end so why even start anything" was a stronghold that was birthed in me during my 1st marriage. Which in turn enabled more abuse to occur.

A big part of these mindsets again goes back to Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, Stop there for a minute. Now right off the cuff - we say we aren't and maybe we aren't but lets dig real deep for a nugget. What part of this world do we let in? In Mary's case to fuel her fire it could have been as simple as male bashing jokes about lazy/domineering men that make women do everything. Repeating these offenses into her spirit making the strongholds in her grow. Now for John, he already had a feeling of inadequacy, so his might have been listening to friends or co-workers talk about nagging, pushy wives that are never satisfied. What we feed in our lives will grow. Now lets finish the scripture: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Two things here #1. We have to renew, rebuild and remodel our minds, and what is the blueprint of that remodel? It is Gods word! #2. To Prove the good, or acceptable, or perfect will of God. (I know we are or should be striving for the perfect but one step at a time. We are works in progress right?) Okay now God gave us everything when Jesus died on the Cross. Gods will is His word. He gave us free will to do what we want. So if we want what He wants (His will) then we need to line ourselves up with His word.
John 8:31-32 If you abide in my word you are my disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free!
There is time in our lives we need to face these giants. Be honest with yourself and with God. Is there a thought or thoughts that you have allowed to dominate you or your behavior?

My pastor did a sermon one night about offenses and bitterness. He said we have those times we will let it go except this one little offense that we want to hang onto. It's our pet - our friend. He said we can even name it. Here Fluffy Fluffy Fluffy, come here. We pet it and hug it. It's ours and we can keep it. It was so funny because it's true, there are things we want to hang onto and not give up. So what mindsets and strongholds are we hanging onto that we need to give up to the Lord. (Remember the truth sets us free)

Only you know what strongholds you have and what they have created in your life. There may be some major repair work for the demolishing they have created. It may take time, and patience and tears. But always know that God is on your side. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

This chapter gave us some things to really think about, as we seek to be more and more like God and we are cutting those bad spots out of our lives. Again reflect on yourselves and identify areas that may be strongholds in your life and mindsets that don't line up with Gods word.

I'll leave you with a couple of scriptures: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (nkjv)
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trust in you (nkjv)

Father help each of us as we dig deeper in your word reveal areas the need healing and pruning. I thank you we have all come together here for your glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Well Ladies what are your thoughts on the chapter and my comments.
Be Blessed,
Lynn

It's Here! Study with Me - Intro

Hello everyone!

Well by your comments and e-mails I don't know who is more happy about this you or I. I know the ones of you that have gotten your books and workbooks have read and done the intro and anyone else that would like to join we are doing a study using "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyers.

So I'd like to start with a prayer;
Father God as we start this study I ask that you watch over us lead us each in the way you want us to go. Reveal to us what areas of our mind and life that are not lining up with you and give us the strength and courage to change. In Jesus Name, Amen


The intro starts off giving Proverbs 23:7 "For as a man thinks in his heart so is he" (nkjv)
* Take a few moments of honest reflection and ask yourself - What do I really think of myself?*What do I really think of my life?
Write them down and cover them up, or fold the paper over. Now honestly reflect on what you say out loud about yourself and your life. Do you say things like "Oh I'm never prosperous", or 'I'll never have that", I'm not pretty, skinny, talented...... Joyce would call this "Stinking Thinking". Can you look in the mirror and look at your self and say I'm pretty or I love you? That is probably an exercise we could all work on. What we say about ourselves, is what is truly in our hearts. And what is in our hearts is what is in our minds.
Maybe we should tuck that little piece of paper aside and as the study goes on see how our answers change.

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live life according to the spirit, the things of the spirit. (nkjv)

Have you ever tried to quit something, or diet? As long as you keep thinking about not doing it, it's a struggle. But if you put your focus on God instead, it just happens. What we focus on becomes a mountain in our life. Good or Bad!

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (nkjv)

For me I think a big part of our mind struggle has to do with the world we live in. A world that is flooded with sexual innuendos just to sell a product, even a hamburger and fry. As easy as it would seem to live Godly if we could lock ourselves away and not see anybody else, that is not what God called us here for. That is why we need to line our thoughts up with Gods and get strong , because there is a war zone out there and yes the Battlefield is in our minds.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (njkv)

This is a real hunk of meat to grab and if it is not clear now it will become more and more alive to you as we go on! What you will find out is that Satan can not physically touch or harm you. "of our Warfare are not carnal" carnal means flesh. What he does is attack your thoughts. A stronghold is an area that the devil has taken a little piece of truth and added to it and built it up so big in your life that now its a stumbling block to your victory. We will in Jesus name break down these strongholds and learn to live in the fullness God has promised us.

One of my favorite scriptures is John 10:10 the thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.


Here are some things to think about. You don't need to answer them to me if you don't want to but I do want you to think about them.
* Do you know of any Strongholds in your life?
*What are they?
* What lies does Satan use to build them?
Now try to break that apart, since we know that Satan uses a little piece of the truth to make it believable.
*What is the little piece of truth?
*What is the lie?
I'll give you an example: The truth is I need to lose some weight. The lie would be "your fat, you've tried dieting it didn't work, you will always be fat". Once you break out the lie it loses its power.

It's only the intro and I can see God doing so much. I haven't set up a "Mr Linky" as I said before, so you can comment here if you want, you can do a post on your blog or if you want to share something private you can e-mail me. Please at least let me know you've been here, I will somewhat gauge how fast we move on by how much time I think you will need.

Father I thank you for the work you are doing here. I ask that you help each of us as we do this study to breakdown strongholds and free our minds. In Jesus name, Amen

God Bless you all,
Lynn