tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post5548238598342301192..comments2023-07-23T09:26:58.568-04:00Comments on My (im)Perfect Peace: So Long, Insecurity // Week TwoValeriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09672013135257417886noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post-45181969459525446742013-02-05T16:57:25.422-05:002013-02-05T16:57:25.422-05:00@Brenda Krames It's awesome that you desire to...@<a href="#c4812296170709899252" rel="nofollow">Brenda Krames</a> It's awesome that you desire to be even more effective in your ministry to others. It would be easy for me to praise you for what you already do, but I know we are all being perfected in our callings. ;) I'm encouraged by your testimony and I know God will bring you to that next level of security, to freely minister even when it hurts. Thanks so much for sharing your heart!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09672013135257417886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post-48122961707098992522013-02-05T10:37:13.292-05:002013-02-05T10:37:13.292-05:00Q4 - This is a healthy, soul searching lesson! I l...Q4 - This is a healthy, soul searching lesson! I loved the scriptures - Ephesians 2:10 is especially encouraging. If I can just tap into the "prepared" good works that God has for me - what a sweet life this will be! (I'm a bit of a planner.) I'm thinking about all of the time I could save and be way more effective.<br />My false positive, or one that God is focusing on right now, is trying to say just the right thing to people. I'm in a phase of life where I am realizing the impact my words have on people, especially the people I love the most. I hate confrontation and have avoided it most of my life. But when you are in a position of ministry and people are asking you for help - there will be confrontation. Which means I walk away not feeling "liked" so much but have to face the fact that true love is painful at times - but yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.Brenda Krameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01139848015977497611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post-36692121911455986602013-02-05T08:44:14.831-05:002013-02-05T08:44:14.831-05:00@Sharon "Step on the snake before breakfast&q...@<a href="#c7385107019759928034" rel="nofollow">Sharon</a> "Step on the snake before breakfast" I love that! The day is so much better when we start out with renewed faith that with God all things are possible. I'm glad you are ready to tackle even the most subtle insecurities. Thank you for sharing with us!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09672013135257417886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post-73851070197599280342013-02-05T07:25:03.762-05:002013-02-05T07:25:03.762-05:00Since starting this book I've been thinking th...Since starting this book I've been thinking thinking about snakes lately. Not that I like them - far from it. I'd rather steer clear of the black one that seems to live under our patio. But that's not the kind I'm thinking about. I've also been reading a book by Ann Voskamp, "One Thousand Gifts" and that led me to check out her blog. On there I came across her "25 Sanity Manifesto" - her plan for bringing order and peace to the day. One of the items listed is "Step on the snake before breakfast" "Before breakfast crush one hard thing that is tempting you to think there are impossible things. Before breakfast crush that one thing and prove that all things are possible with God". Then I begin this study and Beth starts out talking about rattlesnakes. So I began to wonder what is it with these snakes??? Do I have "snakes" in my life? And the answer is yes. Snakes are sutble and like these insecurities can pop up at any time and strangle us if we aren't on guard. As a young girl I was definately insecure, but over the years became less so as I learned and accepted that I am God's workmanship/masterpiece (Eph. 2:10) However I'm seeing there are still some things lurking in the shadows. Time to step on that "snake" or maybe use the shotgun like Beth does!Sharonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post-1091961569912163122013-02-04T12:50:41.867-05:002013-02-04T12:50:41.867-05:00@Lisa Adele Psalm 23 is such a beautiful psalm - I...@<a href="#c4697188412861856694" rel="nofollow">Lisa Adele</a> Psalm 23 is such a beautiful psalm - I am immediately set a ease whenever I read it. Thank you for sharing it, along with your testimony. <br /><br />I am so glad you were able to work with a counselor and overcome chronic anxiety. Perfectionism is one of those tricky beasts that looks good on the outside but can be so dangerous. I appreciate you sharing your journey because the desire to do it all and do it perfectly can be too great at times. I often need to be reminded to "let go, and let God", as the saying goes. :)<br /><br />Let me know how Scripture Typer works out for you. So far, I've been able to memorize a couple verses a week...and retain them. (Memorization has never come that quickly for me!) I hope it helps you as well!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09672013135257417886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post-77034676833595192762013-02-04T12:34:18.816-05:002013-02-04T12:34:18.816-05:00@Anonymous Thank you so much for sharing! I am gla...@<a href="#c780679867743171907" rel="nofollow">Anonymous</a> Thank you so much for sharing! I am glad you are able to identify your insecurities and how it affects your ability to be who God created you to be. I'm sure it breaks God's heart to see His children afraid to be themselves. He has placed unique gifts, talents, and personalities within each of us -- for a purpose! Thankfully God is patient and compassionate. He coaxes the real "us" out of ourselves. And when choose to live fully as He intended, it is a beautiful act of worship to Him. I am still learning to live this every day! I will be praying for you throughout this study. I believe God will lead you and you WILL become secure in Him. God bless!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09672013135257417886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post-46971884128618566942013-02-01T17:54:01.677-05:002013-02-01T17:54:01.677-05:00My false positive is definitely feeling the need f...My false positive is definitely feeling the need for perfection. It's a lot of self-pressure that can become unhealthy at times. <br /><br />The buggest way that this has hindered me in the past is when I was suffering from chronic anxiety a couple years back- It took away my ability to do my job well, keep my house nice and definitely hindered my ability to do anything bigger outside of myself. Thankfully, with the help of an amazing Christian counselor, I was able to regain self-control without forcing self-perfection. <br /><br /> It's not a verse you have mentioned yet, Val, but one that I memorized while going through counseling was Psalm 23- it reminds me (even now) that God is always with me and in control of everything. <br /><br />As a side note- I usually take FOREVER to memorize scriptures, even when I want to- so I'm looking forward to giving the tool you mentioned a shot :)Lisa Adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002089114112658863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post-7806798677431719072013-01-31T21:27:46.456-05:002013-01-31T21:27:46.456-05:00I have several false positives ranging from how I ...I have several false positives ranging from how I look, to personality, and the attitude/behavior of my husband. My greatest false positive is like yours Valerie, to be liked and accepted by all. <br /><br />I do recognize how my insecurities hinder my ability to use my spiritual gifts and how they affect my relationships. There are times I shrink back from sharing the Truth for the same reasons as you Valerie. Other times I avoid speaking to new people or being myself, carefree and silly for fear of how I will look or what people with think. <br /><br />I am angered by the damaging effects insecurity has on my life. I am looking forward to continuing with this study, becoming a secure woman, and to seeing how God is able to use this new found security to advance his kingdom :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6039374478606967027.post-52650027390162298192013-01-31T08:43:25.900-05:002013-01-31T08:43:25.900-05:00I think I have a couple false positives that I'...I think I have a couple false positives that I've struggled with over the years. But the most harmful is my desire to be liked and accepted by all. I've come a long way in that area, but as He usually does, God is refining me and I am seeing how this desire can interfere with His Spirit's work in me. <br /><br />There are times I believe I should pray for or talk to people about a truth God's give me to share -- but I shrink back because I'm afraid the person will think it's weird,or won't agree, or will be offended, etc. On the flip side, I have also been drawn into discussions or situations I didn't need to be in because of some expectations (real or perceived) that I was trying to live up to. <br /><br />I am excited to work with God in refining this area of my life - I WANT to do His will and not the will of others (or myself). I've chosen to memorize Ephesians 2:8-10 because it reminds me of both God's grace and His purpose for me. I have a job to do for His kingdom, but if I mess up, His grace covers me and empowers me to trust Him and try again!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09672013135257417886noreply@blogger.com