Crash the Chatterbox Session 1

September 27, 2015 by 2 Comments

Crash the ChatterboxHola Divas! We had the great pleasure of starting our newest Bible Study….Crash the Chatterbox! If you missed it….you MISSED it!  Don’t worry, we will recap the Bible Study right here on the blog! So here goes….

Inside your head is a chatterbox.

The “Chatterbox” is the voice in our heads that utters lies. Lies unfortunately we believe. The chatterbox can be non stop, intimidating, insinuating, irritating and tiring.

The voice we hear quickly manifests into thoughts.

Thoughts that turn into emotions and reactions. (We reviewed a worksheet that listed how we react when we believe a thought. The worksheet is part of a process called “The Work” by Byron Katie. See the worksheet HERE.)

In Crash the Chatterbox: Hearing God’s Voice Above All Others, Pastor Steven Furtick focuses on four key areas in which negative thoughts are most debilitating: insecurity, fear, condemnation and discouragement.

He also teaches four confessions to CRASH THE CHATTERBOX.

  1. God says I am-to overpower insecurity
  2. God says He will-to overpower fear
  3. God says I can –to overpower discouragement
  4. God says He has-to overpower condemnation

During session one, we focused on insecurity.

The chatterbox tries to make us feel insecure by attacking our identity:

-You’re not pretty or smart.

-You are not talented enough.

-You will NEVER get over ________.

-You are stuck and never going anywhere.

-You will be alone FOREVER.

To CRASH the chatterbox when it tries to make us insecure about who we are, we have to say OUT LOUD who God says we are.

God says I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:4)

God says I am the head and not the tail…above and not beneath. (Deuteronomy 28:13)

God says I am his workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)

God says I am redeemed. (Romans 3:25)

It would be easy to repeat these confessions if the chatterbox is always forthcoming. But the chatterbox is a master of deception. It tells a little of the truth but distorts things.

Pastor Furtick gave us an example of this in Chapter 1:

Forthcoming:

Perhaps you should take steps toward spending more focused time reading your Bible, because God has so many promises and truths He wants to reveal to you today.

Distortion:

If you really loved God, you’d spend more time reading your Bible, like people do who have their priorities in order.

Both statements contain of seed of truth. The difference is the first statement has an undertone of AFFIRMATION. The second statement has an undertone of CONDEMNATION.

We can never tune out ALL the chatter—the lies in our minds—but we can learn to tune IN to God’s voice. The chatterbox says we are worthless and rejected, but God says we are His beloved children through Christ.

Watch the highlights of Pastor Furtick’s message “I know I am”.  (Be sure to watch even if you attended Session 1…this video is different from what we watched in our actual study.)

To be prepared for our next study, please read chapters 1-7 in the Crash the Chatterbox book.

Join us in person!  RSVP on our meetup page.

Filed Under: Crash the Chattterbox Bible Study, Devotions

Five Minute Friday-Yes

September 4, 2015 by 5 Comments

Hola Divas! Happy Friday. One of the most requested things from our blog have been the Five Minute Friday posts. Sooooo, they are back! Each week, Kate Motaung posts a one-word prompt on her blog and women from all over the world write from their hearts for five minutes then share their words.

If you have never read our Five-Minute Friday posts in the past, you really need to check them out! Today’s word is YES.

Five years ago, I said YES to teaching an eight week session of ZUMBA at the Kernersville Parks and Recreation Center.  Nothing major, just 8 weeks.  I remember thinking “if I can get fifteen people to consistently come to class”…. When over fifty people came to the kick-off class and we had forty-five people stuffed in the small upper room of the gym on our first official class, I couldn’t believe so many people said YES.

To God be the Glory!!!!

My yes was and is bigger than me.

The women who said YES were not my family or close friends.  My family and friends had said YES to so many of my adventures (Amway, Mary Kay, etc)….so God filled our classes.

He ALWAYS chooses us.

From the very moment I stepped on the platform to teach, I knew this dance thing would be part of my ministry.  Yet, I wasn’ t planning anything because, I only said YES to an eight week session.

Half-way through our first session, ladies began to ask: “when is the next session?”.  So I said YES again and again and again until it has been FIVE years of leading the most awesome group of ladies on the planet.

Leading?  I said YES to an eight week session of ZUMBA……that’s it.

But God had other plans.

Plans for our class to serve as a safe haven for women weary from everyday life.

DFD-Belong

Plans for our class to include a Christian Fitness Program (Devoted Fitness). {Oh, and even though some other instructors told me I would probably lose some people when I started playing Christian Music….more people said YES than ever!}

Devoted Fitness

Plans for our class to study God’s Word together. {Can you imagine several crazy women come at 8:30 prior to our Saturday class for Bible Study?…They just keep saying YES!}

Plans for our class to travel together.

Dance Fit Divas Beach

Plans for new friends to be made.

Laura, Becky, Alexis

But for me personally, God had plans for me to pour out my “seriously-don’t-have-it-all-together-life” into other women.

Dance Fit Divas Free-80s

Really????...because I only said YES to an eight week session of ZUMBA.

Honeybee Festival

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Filed Under: Five Minute Friday, Uncategorized

Five Minute Friday-Here

August 7, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Hola Divas! Happy Friday.   One of the most requested things from our blog has been the Five Minute Friday posts. Sooooo, they are back! Each week, Kate Motaung posts a one-word prompt on her blog and women from all over the world write from their hearts for five minutes then share their words.

If you have never read our Five-Minute Friday posts in the past, you really need to check them out! Today’s word is HERE.

Sometimes, getting to your destination is a reason to celebrate.  As you get settled, you take a breath and happily announce..”I’m HERE!!!”.

At other times, HERE is an emotion.  Someone asks you how you are and you simply respond…”I’m HERE“.

HERE can be a destination, an emotion, a way of specifying your location, or a simple answer to let your teacher know you are in class.

Most of all….HERE is the only place we can be right now.

Although I know this, I spend a lot of time rehashing feelings and happenings from old destinations and worrying about those I have not yet experienced.

All my thinking can get pretty noisy.

Perhaps that is why I like the music in our classes so loud.

It makes it kinda hard to do anything but shake, smile and sweat with a great beat and beautiful faces surrounding you.

80’s Class July 9, 2015

But what seems so simple…a dance fitness class, is actually part  of our preparation for our next assignment.

As we take care of ourselves, we are better equipped to take care of others.

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

 

Zumba girls

80’s Party July 9, 2015

 

Filed Under: Devotions, Five Minute Friday Tagged With:

Five Minute Friday on Saturday-FREE

July 18, 2015 by 3 Comments

Hola Divas and happy weekend!  One of the most requested things from our blog has been the Five Minute Friday posts.  Sooooo, it’s back…a day late but back nonetheless!  Each week, Kate Motaung posts a one-word prompt on  her blog and women from all over the world write from their hearts for five minutes then share their words.

If you have never read our Five-Minute Friday posts in the past, you really need to check them out! Today’s word is FREE.

Earlier this month, we had an 80’s party during class.  To say it was a blast is a complete understatement.  The Divas went all in with costumes, make-up and a boat load of sassy-ness.

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Look at the smiles…these ladies were FREE……for one silly moment.

With every thing going on in our country, FREEdom has seemed hard…polarizing even.

But there is something liberating about shaking your hips, sweating, hooping and hollering with a room full of other women…and it all starts with a prayer.  Yep, that’s the way the Divas get down.

God’s word is true….”For where two or three are gathered together……there am I in the midst of them”. (Matthew 18:20)

I caught a glimpse of what being FREE really means standing on stage, watching beautiful women of all sizes, shapes, colors and life circumstances dance to a rendition of Gloria Estefan’s 80’s hit “Conga”.

FREE was that exact moment.

Divas Dancing

FREE was not thinking about anything else but being fully immersed in what was happening and being so thankful for it.

Dance Fit Divas Free-80s

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Devotions, Five Minute Friday Tagged With:

How to decide what is best…Your Move Bible Study

April 18, 2015 by 1 Comment

Has life EVER provided you with a circumstance that you NEVER thought you would be in and there was a decision that had to be made quickly?

Unless you live under a rock and never leave your rock palace, it is impossible to evade trying times and the split-second decisions that come with them.

So what do you?  How do you decide what is best?

Options-Decisions-Choices

In our newest Bible Study, Your Move by Andy Stanley, we have been learning how to make sound decisions when the time frame is short, options are limited yet a Diva still has to put on her big girl panties and make a decision.

Throughout the Bible study,  we are challenged to ask ourselves four questions to make sound decisions with God’s help.

Session one, Andy inspired us to get gut honest with ourselves and ask….

Why am I am I doing this….REALLY? Stated another way….Am I being completely honest with myself? Or …what is the real reason I am making this choice?

Determining our true motives for leaning towards one decision over another is very important because as Andy reminded us, we spend tremendous amounts of time and energy deceiving ourselves.

There is a Biblical answer for why we can rationalize and convince ourselves to do things that are not the best for us:

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV) 

I don’t know about you, but I have sweet talked myself into a plethora of bad decisions:  unwise and unnecessary purchases, dietary indiscertions, over booking my schedule, procrastinating, surfing the net or flipping through Facebook (just to name a few).

Taking a few moments to ask ourselves (“Why am I doing this…REALLY?”) enables us to get gut honest.  For example:

I am surfing the net because I don’t want to clean up, prepare for the next day, or finish the report.

I feel lonely and shopping makes me feel better.

I am afraid.

When we ask ourselves why….it allows the Holy Spirit to guide us towards the best decision.

After we determine WHY we are doing something, session two suggested we ask ourselves:  “What story do I want to tell?”.

Image source: http://threadling.com/

Image source: http://threadling.com/

In every decision-making environment, transition period, or drama producing activity, we are writing the script for our future story.

To illustrate this point, Andy used the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50).   Joseph faced family betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment.  Often, he was forced to choose between no win options.  Yet despite difficult situations, Joseph made choices with God-centered integrity and faithfulness and he was later rewarded.

When Joseph was finally able to reconcile with his family he said these words:

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20

WOW.

This morning, we discover the third question Andy suggests we asks ourselves….”Is there a tension that needs my attention“.

Join us in person for Bible Study in Kernersville, NC get the details on our Meetup Page.

Or if you are too far away or you have schedule conflicts…get the handouts HERE.  You can also watch the actual video messages from Andy Stanley  You Tube. Click HERE for the session one message.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Your Move Bible Study

Word Theme, Playlist and Schedule Changes

February 3, 2015 by 8 Comments

Last weekend, we had our normal “Soulful Saturday” class featuring Devoted Fitness  and Zumba toning but we added a twist.  Each diva was asked to bring a white t-shirt to class so she could write her “word theme” for 2015.

DSCN2213

Sometimes a single word can change everything.

At the beginning of January, many people make resolutions for how they want the year to be.  By January 31, resolutions have been abandoned for one reason or another and the feelings on inadequacy, “what’s the point”, and why try rear their ugly heads.

We ended the first month of 2015 by declaring a word theme for the year to help keep us focused but be flexible to allow life to happen.

We started the first day of February with dance, praise and POWERFUL WORDS!

One glimpse at these smiles and you know God is GOOD!

Several people have asked me for Saturday’s playlist…find it HERE.

WE DO NOT HAVE CLASS THIS SATURDAY (February 7, 2015 or March 7, 2015) DUE TO A SCHEDULING CONFLICTS… check our calendar HERE.

DSCN2221 DSCN2234 DSCN2229 DSCN2216 DSCN2223DSCN2237DSCN2239

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Best Yes Process

September 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment

TheBestYes_1024x1024Hola Divas!  Welcome back to our “online discussion” of our newest Bible Study….The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst.  If you missed our first discussion read it HERE.

Earlier this week, we talked about how we get to our “BEST YES”.

Our best yes is us playing our part at work, church, home…wherever we are.

We learn/discern /decide/determine our best yes from asking God.  When we do, He will answer us:

Isaiah 30:22 (NIV)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Asking and then getting our answer sounds sooooo easy, almost too easy.  Is that why we don’t ask more often?

Worrying, filling up our schedules, doing it ’cause we have a free moment, or because we don’t want to let someone down seem to be our methods of operation.

Our methods seem logical at the time but they are INEFFECTIVE.

Lysa said it amazingly on page 3 of The Best Yes book:  “I’m tired. I’m distracted. I’m disappointed in myself.  I feel slightly used and more than slightly used up.  I’m a little overwhelmed and a lot worn down.”

Do you ever feel like this?

Overwhelmed Schedule

Lysa used a Biblical example that shows just how futile our methods are yet provides a process to achieve our Best Yes!

Isaiah 30:15 NIV–This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:  “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

So the first step towards finding our “Best Yes” is to: ____________DOWN…rest, be quiet, trust. {SLOW}

But what do we often do?

Isaiah 30:16 AMP—And you said, No! We will speed (on our own course) on horses….

Yep we Speed up…we fill up our schedules and our children’s schedules.  We become so busy that we cannot hear God or even if we hear Him, we are too busy to do what He asks:(

What is the Lord’s demeanor while we hurry and scurry about?

Isaiah 30:18 MSG-But God is not finished.  He’s waiting around to be gracious to you….. 

Isaiah 30:18 NLT-So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God….

WOW, The Lord is gracious and shows us compassion even when we jack up our schedules and get on the plane to Crazy Town.  All we have to do is turn our daily decisions over to Him.

When we turn our decisions over to Him…we are blessed and arrive at our BEST YES!

Isaiah 30:18b NLT….Blessed are those who wait for his help.

Dear Lord, forgive me for jumping into my day and committing myself to things before asking YOU.  You know exactly what is my “best yes” for every moment.  Help me remember to pause and seek your counsel so that I can play the part you specifically designed for me….. wherever I am.

—-Amen

Read through chapter 6 to be ready for our next discussion:

Live–Saturday September 20, 2014 8:30am Kernersville Parks and Recreation Center

Online:  Tuesday September 23, 2014 (right here on the blog!)

Filed Under: The Best Yes Bible Study

The Best Yes…Playing Your Part

September 15, 2014 by 5 Comments

 

TheBestYes_1024x1024

Hola Divas! Welcome to our fall Bible Study…..The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst!  I don’t know about y’all but September is the “real” New Year for me.  It is the beginning of a new school year, new extra curricular activity schedule….new traffic patterns, new car pool….simply put, the “real” new year. As such, what better time to critically evaluate how we spend our time?

 

 

The Best Yes will help us:

  • Cure the disease to please with a biblical understanding of the command to love.
  • Escape the guilt of disappointing others by learning the secret of the small no.
  • Overcome the agony of hard choices by embracing a wisdom-based decision-making process.
  • Rise above the rush of endless demands and discover your Best Yes today.

During our first session together, we learned what the “Best Yes” is.

The Best Yes is us playing our part…. at school, at home, at work, wherever we are!

So how do we get this “Best Yes”?

We find our Best Yes by asking God what we should do with our schedules….big things and little mundane things.

When we ask Him, He will guide us.

Isaiah 30:21  Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 

We ask God…sometimes.  But often, we need an answer now or we become so busy… asking God simply slips our minds.

I so desperately want to hear God’s voice directing me on which steps to take…don’t you?

Lucky for us, Lysa provides us with a process for arriving at our best yes!  Read chapters 1-3 and join us later this week as we read through God’s Word and discover what steps to take towards our “Best Yes”.

Wonder Woman

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Five Minute Friday-Belong

July 11, 2014 by 3 Comments

Lisa-Jo-Baker-FMFIt’s Friday y’all! Whoo hoo! Every Friday, Lisa Jo Baker hosts a blog link up called Five Minute Fridays (FMF). She provides a word prompt and then participants are to set their timers for five minutes and write until the timer goes off. Before my life changed, I used to write a FMF post every week! If you have NEVER read our FMF posts, I urge you to read past posts. Today’s word is belong.  Belong was a FMF word last year so I spruced up last year’s post. Cheating, I know but the words still ring true:

Have you ever gone somewhere and immediately knew you were right were you belonged?  Or perhaps you can remember a time when you ended up somewhere you had NO BUSINESS being.  Belong is a feeling you get, down deep.

When you belong, you can dance your heart out without feeling self conscious in a room full of women you hardly know.

When you belong, you chat before class and long after class with other women whom you have become kindred spirits with simply because you salsa and sweat together.

One of the things people compliment our class about is how friendly every one is and how welcomed they feel when they come to class.  Although we work out HARD, the Dance Fit Divas are about so much more than just working out.

When I started teaching our class, my intention was to teach an eight week ZUMBA session.  Three years later, I look back and can only say…MY GOD…this is where I belong.

God’s plan was so much bigger than an eight week ZUMBA session.  God’s plan included adding Devoted Fitness (a Christian fitness program), bible study, and traveling the high seas.  Most of all, God’s plan was the creation of a place where women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and colors could  grow closer to HIM, shake their tail-feathers, and belong.

…The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. Psalm 24:1

How can you make someone feel like they belong today?

Filed Under: Five Minute Friday

Unglued Bible Study-Remember and Let God Chisel

July 8, 2014 by 7 Comments

220px-CHISELHello Divas!  Welcome to week four of our Unglued Bible Study!  During our last discussion, Lysa Terkeurst (the author of our study), explained the true purpose of unglued moments: “God doesn’t allow the unglued moments of our lives to happen so we’ll label ourselves and stay stuck.  He allows the unglued moments to make us aware of the chiseling that needs to be done.”  AMEN!

At the end of our time together, Lysa challenged us to practice pausing and whispering “Let God Chisel” before reacting to difficult situations.  We added our own twist to the challenge with the addition of the word REMEMBER.

Taking the time to pause allows us to remember how God has worked things out before and that He is in control.

Last session, we read about the disciples coming unglued and fearful even after they experienced the miracle of Jesus feeding thousands of people with very limited resources…two fish and five loaves of bread to be exact. (Matthew 14:13-21)

They, just like us…did not remember.

Psalm 106:13 describes how the Israelites became unglued after God parted the Red Sea and allowed them to cross yet drowned the Egyptian soldiers chasing them:  But they soon forgot and did not wait for his plan to unfold.

Too often, we come unglued and forge ahead into rash decisions, mean-spirited words, and anxiety because we forget to wait for His plan to unfold.

Let me be clear…..I have had PLENTY of opportunities since our last meeting alone to come UNGLUED.  I wish I could tell you I  remembered to let God chisel every time, but I did NOT!  This study is just what I need right now and it is stepping all over my diva toes!

Thank God for imperfect progress…”slow steps of change wrapped in grace”.

What are some things you can do to help you Remember to Let God Chisel in unglued moments?

Tell me in the comments….I need some fresh ideas!

Homework for this week: Chapters 4,5 &6

Filed Under: Unglued Revisited 2014 Tagged With:
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