Posts Tagged ‘decision making’

I read having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver over the summer.  A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read.  I have been actually sharing my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book on my blogs.  Here is the latest question I studied out and gave commentary on.

Questions for Discussion or Reflection – Day Fifteen

2) According to Dr. Edward Hallowell, over half of us are chronic worriers.  Which of the ten signs of a big worrier on page 33 do you struggle with?  How do worry and anxiety spill over into your daily life and affect your behavior? Your physical health?

Ten Signs of a Big Worrier

Is worrying a problem in your life? Dr. Hallowell says it might be if these worry signs are true about you:

1)      You find you spend much more time in useless non constructive worry than other people you know.

2)      People around you comment on how much of a worrier you are.

3)      You feel that it is bad luck or tempting fate not to worry.

4)      Worry interferes with your work – you miss opportunities, fail to make decisions, perform at lower than optimal level.

5)      Worry interferes with your close relationships – your spouse and/or friends sometimes complain that your worrying is a drain on their energy and patience.

6)      You know that many of your worries are unrealistic or exaggerated, yet you cannot seem to control them.

7)      Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by worry and even experience physical symptoms such as rapid breathing, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or trembling.

8)      You feel a chronic need for reassurance even when everything is fine.

9)      You feel an exaggerated fear of certain situations that other people seem to handle with little difficulty.

10)   Your parents or grandparents were known as great worriers, or they suffered from an anxiety disorder.

Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting – Psalm 139:23 – 24

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Personally I believe all of us have some areas and have had times in our lives where we have worried over people, places or things that we should had turned over to God.   I know for me, I have a tendency to either over analyze a thing or want something to be so prefect that I fail to even start on a project I know. I should be doing.  Praise God, he is helping me in that area by bringing the right people and influences across my path and I am willing enough to accept their counsel vs. being offend by it.

2009’s I speak by faith and see by my actions strongholds are not being carried over into this New Year.  Missed blessings or opportunities are not an option.  I have cleaned out my inner ear to hear more clearly from God.  In turn, I have begun the process of removing the waxes sort of speak of distractions, either externally or internally created.

To be continued… I welcome your comments!

The previous article can be found Psalm 139:23 – 24 ### Personally I believe all of us have some areas and have had times in our lives where we have worried over people, places or things that we should had turned over to God. I know for me, I have a tendency to either over analyze a thing or want something to be so prefect that I fail to even start on a project I know. I should be doing. Praise God, he is helping me in that area by bringing the right people and influences across my path and I am willing enough to accept their counsel vs. being offend by it. 2009’s I speak by faith and see by my actions strongholds are not being carried over into this New Year. Missed blessings or opportunities are not an option. I have cleaned out my inner ear to hear more clearly from God. I have begun the process of removing the waxes sort of speak of distractions, either externally or internally created. To be continued… I welcome your comments! The previous article can be found here. Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com " target="_blank">here.

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

Proverbs 18:16 (Amplified Bible) ¹⁶A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.

It has been a good challenge for me to decide what would be the first topic; I would blog about this year.  A lot has happen since my last posting.  I celebrated a birthday my 31^st, I began working in a new industry health care administration and officially graduated to the status of courtship with a man of valor; a friend I have known since my girlhood.

With all these new developments and responsibilities I had to begin the process of evaluating my priorities again.   Judge myself and see if the last things God told me to do, if I was still doing them with the same level of passion I had when they were first dropped in my spirit.  Or had I allowed other things to distract me from accomplishing my assignments.  Basically I asked myself have I been a faithful steward.

In short in some areas being very transparent, I have not been consistent.  The word consistency is defined by Webster to mean “1 a archaic: condition of adhering together: firmness of material substance b: firmness of constitution or character”.  Ironically, one of the points my Pastor taught during our Watch Night / New Year’s Eve service was in fact the importance of being consistent.  He let us know that his year having a steadfast mind will be one of the perquisites for obtaining the fullness of the blessing (the empowerment to prosper.)

Looking back at the last 12 months and at my I WILL statements for 2009, I can say I believe I have made good progress in areas such as being a better steward over my relationships with others professionally, personally and spiritually.  I have become more pliable and fearless out of necessity and a true desire to want to change my life for the better.

2009 was a year where God began pruning me.  I was like a tree with unruly branches that were bearing fruits of selfishness, a short temper and just plain fleshy behavior.   I had to go back to the basics in making sure I was getting in enough word and fellowship time with God (prayer) to balance any worldly attacks.  I had to humble myself and repent to those I may have hurt emotionally through the neglecting of their needs in my pursuit to guard myself from new hurts.  In short I had to get honest with myself and God.

So as I embark on this New Year 2010, the one question that I continue to replay in my head and I know I must answer is… “What was the last thing God told me to do?”

I am sure and I know that there will continue to be more pruning by God as he prepares me for the next phase.  He is preparing me to walk out my destiny in fulfill his ultimate purpose.

I DARE YOU… To begin to ask yourself similarly the question, WHAT WAS THE LAST THING GOD TOLD ME TO DO?  AM I STILL CONSISTENT IN FULFILLING IT? You may be surprised by the answer you receive back.

If you liked this feature and would like to share your own dreams, leave your comments now.

Lela Jefferson

http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

I will pass the test of walking in love even in the midst of hurt feelings.  I know that I am accepted by my Abba Father and am the righteousness of God.

If I must boldly stand apart and embark on things unknown, I know my faith in the covenant promises will be more than enough to sustain me.

I will see God’s will done through my life of bond servitude and my inheritance.  Know this…I regret nothing, nor do I desire to go back through doors that have been clearly shut.

Lela Jefferson

- http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

I have been studying the book of Ruth from the Old Testament for the last month and a half.  Not for the usual reasons.  Women are generally told to learn of and study Ruth’s life in preparation of meeting their own Boaz or future mate.  I understand that as a single born again Christian woman, Jesus is my Boaz till I marry.  So, anything I do now in “preparation” is really maintaining and improving when it comes to OUR relationship together.

The character I have been drawn to is Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi (from her first marriage) and her development throughout the book…from being a bitter and discouraged woman that mourned the loss of her husband and her two sons…to becoming a helpful, selfless, wise and mature woman, who was finally restored and redeemed beyond measure…

In my own life I have had to put aside feelings of rejection, failure, disappointment, betrayal, mistrust, doubt and a host of others in order to not close my eyes and heart to visions of God’s will for my life.  During this last year for example the roots of my character have been examined, tested and still are as I have begun the process of executing / birthing visions.  I am not the same person I was a year ago and I know it is all for the better.

What inspired me to begin this study of Ruth was as I was coming home from a powerful rehearsal session of the volunteer / seed sowing ministry I serve in Music (at my church), the Lord through the Holy Spirit pressed on my heart to begin reading.  Since I joined my church now over 5 years ago, I have made it my business to always have in my bag a Bible translation.  So when prompted, I didn’t question why I was being led, I just began to read.

What has surprised me the most is the fact that I do not know how I could had (in the past) overlooked the importance of Naomi’s role in the story’s back drop.  It was Naomi’s son whom Ruth was first married to.  It was Naomi’s homeland of Bethlehem where Ruth is introduced to Boaz and it was Naomi who advised Ruth in all she should do to prepare for Boaz.  It was Naomi in the end of the book that becomes nurse to Ruth and Boaz son O’bed who would one day be the paternal grandfather to King David.

Naomi was able to do this because her heart began to be changed through service and obedience she received from Ruth.   Slowly her attitude became one of gratitude.  So, like many great preparers of other biblical characters before and after her, Jethro (Moses’s father-in-law) Samuel (prophet and appointed  kings), Mordecai (uncle and adviser of Queen Esther) she was used by God in such a way that has affected generations.

That part of her testimony is one that I want to one day also be remembered for…

Lela Jefferson

www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

So… in thinking about what was going to be my 1^st blog topic today, led me to think about both my pastors (Dr. Creflo A. and Taffi L. Dollar) recent teachings on the faith of what an AUTHENTIC Christian should be and its co-relation to a tweet quote I read sent by John C. Maxwell in regards to Integrity.  ”Integrity is the glue that keeps our way of life together.  We must strive to keep our integrity intact. – Billy Graham”

From Webster:

Main Entry: in·teg·ri·ty

Pronunciation: \in-ˈte-grə-tē\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English integrite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French integrité, from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire

Date: 14th century

1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness

synonyms see honesty

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To me what it means to be an AUTHENTIC Christian is to do what Jesus would have done.  To have compassion, have a strong sense of integrity, have temperance (and all the other fruits of the spirit) be able to correct and be corrected (teachable) with love, and a willing to lay your life down for the Abba Father.

One of my attitude adjustment plan steps is to work on correcting one challenging thing about myself one day at a time.  So that what I want to be projected about my character lines up with the WORD and is pleasing to God.  In order to do this I know that I need to know what God says about me, have a teachable spirit, be able to hear the voice of God and be willing to obey it immediately.  By doing this I am developing what I like to call the “Self Correcting Spirit”.  Knowing when something is wrong (does not line up to God’s word) and being able to correct my actions and words before they become habits.

Today I am reviewing my INTEGRITY.  What aspect of your character will you be reviewing / working on correcting today?

Lela Jefferson – www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

I recently finished reading having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver.  A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read.  For the next 12 weeks, I plan to share my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book.

Questions for Going Deeper – Day Nine

1) All of us have felt alone-even great heroes of the faith felt this way.  Read 1 Kings 19:1-18.  How did the “Deadly Ds” of distraction, discouragement, and doubt attack Elijah after the great victory over the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18?  I’ve completed the first one as a example:

DISTRACTION:  Jezbel’s anger made him run for his life.

DISCOURAGEMENT:  He showed his discouragement by hiding away and taking offense with Israel on the Lord’s behalf.  He internalized worries and concerns that were the Lord’s not his own. He forgot his lane or role in their relationship; him and God.  He was the servant not the master.

DOUBT: Elijah showed his doubt when he lost his confidence in himself and his relationship with God.  He allowed fear to make him believe God could no longer protect him; he lost faith.  When this happened all that God could do was instruct him to appoint those that would succeed him and kings of Israel and Judah.

To be continued… I welcome your comments!

The previous article can be found here.

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

I recently finished reading having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver.  A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read.  For the next 12 weeks, I plan to share my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book.

Going Deeper – Day Seven

8 ) What spoke most to you in this, chapter.

The morning my mother the beloved Thelma B. Jefferson went home to be with the Lord in the spring of 2006;   I was very audibly awakened by the Holy Spirit.  It was the first time I had ever been awakened in such a way and at the time in the morning.  It was just before 4:00 AM.  Being obedient I got up and began to pray in my heavenly language / tongues.  The night before I had been told I was being recommended for a position to work full-time in ministry and was not completely sure about taking up the offer because it was not in one my strengths area.  I knew it was my destiny to work in ministry, however I was not sure if it was the right season or timing for it.

So, as I began to pray my heart at first was heavy.  As I was led deeper into the spirit and began praising God I felt a peace.  At the end of the hour or so, I lifted my hands up and said ‘Lord, whatever people places or things you must remove out of my life in order for me to walk in your perfect will.  I promise I will not become angry with you.’  As I stated above that was the morning my mother went home to be with the Lord…

Additional life changing events began to unfold shortly thereafter…relationship testing.  I accepted the position and was released and brought back.  Learned my boyfriend/fiancé of 6 years was cheating on me.  My finances were hit, the list goes on.  However through it all I kept my promise of not getting angry with God.

Yet, our relationship became one of duty bound because I was trying to shield myself from being hurt again, versus one of release and restoration.  Reading this chapter and doing the Bible Study showed me that.  Real power comes from learning how to release your cares wants and desires back to God.  He has a specific purpose for each of us and if we are bogged down, with burdens he did not want us to carry, we can miss the mark.  Then what most of us do is look towards God and asking him why? When, we were the cause of it all; for we had stepped out of the protection that is found in being intimate with him.

To be continued…

The previous article can be found here.

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com