{Sorry this is up so late, blogspot was being a pain this morning}
What is Frankly Friday?
Let's define Frankly shall we...
Time for another Frankly Friday!
frankly |ˈfra ng klē|adverbin an open, honest, and direct manner
. . .
I want this to be a way for all of us to be open, raw, and transparent with not only each other...but with ourselves. I think we put a lot of stock into the "fear" of what others may think of us...into the "fear" of really putting what's on your heart out there in case someone decides to tear you down.
I'm over the fear & you should be too.
So let's write...whether it's about a situation you're struggling through, a victory you've made, a memory that you can't let go of...anything as long as it's honest.
. . .
My girlfriends and I started a new Bible Study last night.
Chase by: Jennie Allen.
{This is a video that introduces the study, cut out 10 minutes of your day and watch it!!}
. . .
Y'all this is exactly what i've been needing!
Last night was the "getting started" session and even still it definitely struck some serious oh Jennie you ain't playing moments. We had a list of questions we had to answer and we were encouraged to be 100% honest with not only ourselves but with each other.
I wanted to share some of those questions with you today, and maybe you can {like i did} perform a little heart check of where you are in life mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
I think moments like these are needed and vitally important in the growth of ourselves as individuals.
. . .
When your heart moves fast, what are you excited about?
When you feel disappointed or sad, what is it usually about?
When you feel content and most happy, what is it usually about?
What are the things you think about most?
For God to be pleased with you, what do you think you should be chasing?
Describe God.
Answer as if He is one of your friends and you are telling someone about Him.
What is your heart chasing most?
. . .
BAM! Right?
We were able to have some heart revealing conversation last night that really cut straight to the core of some of our idols and sins.
What is my heart chasing most?
My response?
Anything & Everything BUT God.
Why is that? When did i become 'ok' with not having a passionate and thriving relationship with Jesus?
When did this happen?
I'll tell you: it happened when i allowed my sin to not be a big deal and to just brush it off and pray a quick prayer for forgiveness without communicating and laying myself bare before the one who created me. Look at your own personal relationships, do they thrive if you neglect them and ignore the problems? NO they fall apart and people become bitter and hateful.
I don't want to be bitter and hateful towards God, but if i don't change this blah road that i'm on that is exactly where i will end up. I'll end up in a place where i'm not joyful and i'm not even close to reflecting the Glory of God.
One of the girls asked last night, "So what do we do? Most of us are 'mature Christians' {aka we've been at this for many years} where do we start over?"
It's a great question, one that i believe comes with real and practical steps:
---Recognize that you've got a problem {sound familiar} and let humility in.
---Make note of what you're 'putting in'. Music, movies, books, tv shows, conversations, etc. They actually make a huge impact on what we think about, so if you see a problem start fixing it.
---Have accountability. Surround yourself with some women {or men if this is reversed} who have your back and aren't afraid to call you out on something. If you don't have that at home, i'm sure you can find it here in bloggerland. :) I'm willing to be that person.
. . .
So there is my dose of frankness today, and i can honestly say that YES i am working on my relationship with Jesus. It's been a process that has been frustrating but has also shed so much light on where my heart is, and where i know God wants it to be.
. . .
As my friends, yes y'all, if you wouldn't mind praying for us when you think of it. That God will do some healing and some refining in our group, we need it desperately.
<3
. . .
Don't forget to link-up if you wrote a post today!
My girlfriends and I started a new Bible Study last night.
Chase by: Jennie Allen.
{This is a video that introduces the study, cut out 10 minutes of your day and watch it!!}
. . .
Y'all this is exactly what i've been needing!
Last night was the "getting started" session and even still it definitely struck some serious oh Jennie you ain't playing moments. We had a list of questions we had to answer and we were encouraged to be 100% honest with not only ourselves but with each other.
I wanted to share some of those questions with you today, and maybe you can {like i did} perform a little heart check of where you are in life mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
I think moments like these are needed and vitally important in the growth of ourselves as individuals.
. . .
When your heart moves fast, what are you excited about?
When you feel disappointed or sad, what is it usually about?
When you feel content and most happy, what is it usually about?
What are the things you think about most?
For God to be pleased with you, what do you think you should be chasing?
Describe God.
Answer as if He is one of your friends and you are telling someone about Him.
What is your heart chasing most?
. . .
BAM! Right?
We were able to have some heart revealing conversation last night that really cut straight to the core of some of our idols and sins.
What is my heart chasing most?
My response?
Anything & Everything BUT God.
Why is that? When did i become 'ok' with not having a passionate and thriving relationship with Jesus?
When did this happen?
I'll tell you: it happened when i allowed my sin to not be a big deal and to just brush it off and pray a quick prayer for forgiveness without communicating and laying myself bare before the one who created me. Look at your own personal relationships, do they thrive if you neglect them and ignore the problems? NO they fall apart and people become bitter and hateful.
I don't want to be bitter and hateful towards God, but if i don't change this blah road that i'm on that is exactly where i will end up. I'll end up in a place where i'm not joyful and i'm not even close to reflecting the Glory of God.
One of the girls asked last night, "So what do we do? Most of us are 'mature Christians' {aka we've been at this for many years} where do we start over?"
It's a great question, one that i believe comes with real and practical steps:
---Recognize that you've got a problem {sound familiar} and let humility in.
---Make note of what you're 'putting in'. Music, movies, books, tv shows, conversations, etc. They actually make a huge impact on what we think about, so if you see a problem start fixing it.
---Have accountability. Surround yourself with some women {or men if this is reversed} who have your back and aren't afraid to call you out on something. If you don't have that at home, i'm sure you can find it here in bloggerland. :) I'm willing to be that person.
. . .
So there is my dose of frankness today, and i can honestly say that YES i am working on my relationship with Jesus. It's been a process that has been frustrating but has also shed so much light on where my heart is, and where i know God wants it to be.
. . .
As my friends, yes y'all, if you wouldn't mind praying for us when you think of it. That God will do some healing and some refining in our group, we need it desperately.
<3
. . .
Don't forget to link-up if you wrote a post today!
4 comments:
"Blah" periods are normal...I have been through them. I do admire you for wanting to change the road before it becomes a way of life, though.
"By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life."
- Psalm 42:8 (NIV)
I've heard that Jennie Allen Bible studies are gooood. Love that you and your friends are making study a priority!
Those are definitely some good questions to think on.
I love that one of your steps is to "make note of what you are putting in." I'm pretty extreme about paying attention to what goes in. After all, from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. (Where I get my blog name. :)) I always figure if I'm not talking about God and his ways much then I must not be putting enough of him IN. But the more of God I put in the easier it is to leave those other things out.
I think that sometimes we approach it all backwards... we work at getting rid of things that don't belong so we can have more of God. BUT if we just start making it a priority to get more of God we will find that the others things start to go away.
Love this! Those questions really hit me right to the heart..what am I really chasing? I so so want it to be Abba, and only Him! Excited to have found your blog, and am looking forward to following along:) love Katie
Wow, this video had me at the first sentence. What a wonderful Bible study this is! And what an amazing group to do this with--I love how you all seem to value honesty and encouragement. So important in relationships these days!
Oh, and that question "what is your heart chasing most?" Umm, girl, that question hit me, too. Definitely a reality check that I needed! :)
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