YES to GOD study Chpts. 16 & 17

Hello and welcome to

Family Camp was such a refreshing weekend and I can hardly wait to share it with you starting tomorrow. It was really hard to leave this...

If this is your first visit, we are discussing the book "What Happens When Women Walk in Faith" by our dear friend, Lysa TerKeurst every Tuesday right here. A time of growing closer to God by reading this incredible book and Bible study and then sharing what God has shown us through it.

We have 2 more weeks of this study and then on September 23rd we'll be starting our new one by my dear friend, Lisa Whittle called "Behind Those Eyes". If you want to read more then please click here. I really believe that God is just lining up the studies He wants us to do. So as we wrap up this current in a few weeks may we approach "Behind Those Eyes" with much anticipation of Jesus leading us into a new place with Him. A place we didn't even know existed!

Okay...keep in mind that anything in blue is a quote from the book.

CHAPTER 16: God's Portion, Position and Promise

Many of you know the life we've had as of late with our daughter Alyssa, who is the teen mom of our bundle of sweetness, Amiyah Elizabeth. I was woke up this morning with text messages from her that were very unpleasant. My heart aches for her because the rebellion within her has just squeezed out any beat of her heart that once thumped for her Savior.
At least that's what I see. God may see differently since he can see inside her heart, but right now this mother hurts for her "mini me" that just refuses to get it.

With being out of town this weekend I didn't get to read my two chapters until this morning, after the not so nice text messages. She wasn't being mean, she is just really frustrated right now and was venting. I feel her pain, but I need to trust God in this. All of this.


With that being my choice after getting Alivia off to school, I sat down to read my chapters. I just have to say, our God...He is so good! I say this because this first part of this chapter was exactly what I'm going through.

Where have I gone wrong as a mother?



This question has pounced on my thoughts and caused many tears to flow in the last few months more than I can count. Just this weekend though I re-released Alyssa to her Savior because emotionally and physically I just can't take it anymore. He can though.

It was a weekend of peace. Peace I hadn't felt in a long while. Actually, I can't re-count if I've ever felt this way before. I'm not sure if I cause the angels to drop their head in sadness or shake it in frustration when they see me making my way back up to the cross to take my daughter back with the false confidence that I can handle this girl on my own. So, no more...I give her back to God and just trust. He does not need my assistance. As Lysa shared with much wisdom about herself and her own daughter...

She is a sinner. She is infected with the same sin nature the rest of God's children are infected with---myself included. Without God, she would be left to her own bad decisions and faulty thinking. But with God, she has hope for a different kind of life.



My girl who has gone astray, I am praying will eventually find herself completely in awe of Him like she did back in '99. The pages of a journal she kept are splashed with the words God is cool all over it. I pray that sooner than later her hardened heart will soften up a bit and realize just how cool He is and the desire she once had for Him will be refreshed. Doesn't mean she'll stop sinning. Lord knows, I haven't, but it means she'll have hope for a different life.


Lysa walks us through the life of the children of Israel. Oh, how many of us have been there? The first glimpse she gives us is God's Portion. How many of us have experienced the portion part of this chapter where we are praising God for His provision and then moments later complaining that it's not enough or not what we want? I especially loved this paragraph because I can really relate: Though they didn't deserve His provision, God still had mercy on them and provided. The way He provided required them to pursue a relationship with Him on a daily basis, receiving their portion every day.


I loved the end of that: The WAY He provided required them...Oh thank God He is full of mercy and that His ways are not our ways!

Then Lysa moves us to God's Position in our lives. Bottom line is: He wants to be above everything and everybody in our life. Numero uno. Head Honcho. Above all. First Place.



Then our last part of this chapter Lysa talked about God's Promise. It is so good to know that Lysa can also relate to getting tired of constant battles in her life. Amen sista! Seems like when one thing get straightened out, it seems there is something else crooked and it sometimes just wears me down.

God is interested in my character, not my comfort.

Unfortunately I know this to be true. This last year with our teen mom has been a real shaping of character. Even at family camp this weekend, I"ll be honest with you, it was hard to share with strangers that my teenager just had a baby. It's just not a comfortable phrase to say out loud. Now hear me out here, I am not ashamed of my daughter or my grandbaby, but it is uncomfortable because it's not natural, it's not the plan of God. This is where God has re-shaped my character and not my level of comfort. I have, along with my husband, son, parents, sister and many friends, including you, chosen to shower this child with grace instead of shame. When the sinner inside of me wants to cuss this girl out for her choices I have to choose God's way.



Yes I'm uncomfortable...so what! The moments I collapse into my Savior's arms in uncomfortable situations is where my true comfort can be found. THIS. IS. Worth it!



God allows the heating and pounding, the abrasive rubs and polishing in my life for a reason. They are purifying and smoothing me so I will reflect Him.

HALLELUJAH!! Thank you sweet Jesus! Oh how cleansing is just the thought of Him seeing Himself in ME??? Only because of having Him in my life is that possible!

PHASE 5: RESURRECTION

CHAPTER 17: God's Dream, God's Way

This chapter Lysa teaches us that we have to experience death before we can experience this next phase of resurrection.
God's dream for us must come to life God's way.

Right now Alyssa wants the car back that we took the keys to in June because of her behavior. Her Dad is not budging and so her frustration level is very high. I really needed to read this part of the chapter this morning as I find myself getting very upset with my husband. Lysa shared about a child throwing a tantrum in Barnes & Noble over wanting something. "I want it! I want it now! I want it, I want it, I want it!"



That is so similiar to the text messages I was woken up to this morning after Gene told Alyssa "no" to her question of "Do I get my car back?" This next part really helped me ask God to forgive me for targeting Gene with my fire lit arrows.
If that mom gives in and lets the child have whatever she wants right now, she'll stop screaming, but she'll never appreciate what she's been given. If, however, this mom perseveres, the child stands to learn some very valuable lessons.



It would be so easy for me to rescue my rebellious teen mom right now, but she would remain in her Egypt. As hard as it is , I have to trust Jesus enough to let her go and let her Savior capture her heart. If I continue to get in His way, her time in her desert will be prolonged.





God could take the people out of Egypt, but He had to discipline the Egypt out of them.



The last part I found to be very touched by is in the Bible study part of the book. Lysa talked of waiting on God and how when we want action it's not easy to wait. Here are 10 tips she gave during the waiting section of life's clock:

1.) Do not lose confidence in God's goodness.

2.)Be strong.

3.)Do not lose hope.

4.) Let God be your shield and your hope.

5.) Be patient.

6.) Continue to cry out for God.

7.) Cling to His Word.

8.) Watch for His answers.

9.) Trust in His unfailing love.

10.) Rejoice in His redemption.

I will be putting these on a note card and permanently filing them into my mind under "What to do while waiting".



Please leave a comment letting us know what touched you in these chapters and if you have more to share on your own blog, please leave the link to your blog under Mr. Linky. God bless you!

Chapters 18 & 19 will be next week and don't forget to get your copy of "Behind Those Eyes" by Lisa Whittle for the next Yes to God study beginning Tuesday, September 23rd and don't forget to invite a friend!

~Many Blessings~