Let. It. Go. Week 1 Wrap Up

As I mentioned yesterday in the Controllers Anonymous Meeting Blog Post, I have joined an Online Bible Study covering this book:

Let. It. Go. by Karen Ehman

 

Today's Assignment from Melissa Taylor is to Reflect and Respond to the questions below. And well, since I'm a blogger, I'll just do it here.

 

• Which Reflection Verse spoke to you most this week? How were you able to apply it to your life?
• Well, they all definitely spoke to me & I'll leave my thoughts on them with each verse.
• “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” ~ Colossians 3:23 NIV84
• This one spoke to me the most, but here are my thoughts: No matter what I'm doing, whether it be at home or at work, I need to work my hardest with all of my heart to please the Lord. Working like this provides as a great example to others (especially my girls) of what it's like to have the Lord in my heart. I should not try to please others, only work to please the Lord.
• “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.” ~ Psalm 118:8 NIV11
• I need to seek my fulfillment in the Lord. All of my trust needs to be in the Lord. I do not need to rely on any person for these things.
• “My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge. Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.” ~ Proverbs 8:9-11 NLT
• Spending time with God strengthening my relationship & gaining knowledge from His Truth should be my top priority.

• What is the difference between trusting God and believing in God?
• Believing in God means I know all about His wonderful characteristics & mighty acts. I know He is patient, loving, forgiving, powerful, ever near, always faithful....He's perfect! I read the pages of my Bible about men & women who trusted Him with amazing results; but I doubt He'll really repeat this in my modern everyday life. I intellectually believe He does what is best for the world in general, but practically I behave as if in my individual situations, I must know what's best. My lips may say I trust Him, but my actions say the opposite.
• But to truly trust God, I must have a plump line --a solid starting point of reference on which I base all my decisions. I need to be intentional about spending time alone with God in prayer, knitting my heart to the Father's so they can unite in purpose. Then, whenever I'm faced with a choice, I can first sift through the grid of glory. I can ponder: Will this glorify me or will this glorify God? "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing" (John 8:54). To glorify ("to make famous") God, my actions should point to Him & make Him famous to those watching.

• Are you tired of trying to control things/people around you? Are you exhausted trying to keep up a good front? How will you be able to change these patterns? (p 23)
• I am tired of trying to control things & people around me! Keeping up a good front is definitely exhausting. I am beyond thankful I have truly started giving everything to God. In order to change these patterns, I must be trained to embrace this dichotomy of a truth: in order to get a grip, I have to let go.

• What is the difference between a tool, toy, and tangent? Give an example of each in your life.
• Tools are needed, they help me live life. Temporary toys are the little fun now & then to help relieve stress & rejuvenate, to refresh my mind, body, & soul. Tangents are what trip me up...they are the activities, hobbies, people, or time-wasting habits that knock me off course.
• At times my Smartphone can become a tangent for me, with my easy access to my all of my various accounts. But I am learning how to turn it into a temporary toy. Reading non-Christ centered daily blogs became a tangent for me last week while I was home sick with the flu & with 2 sweet little girls who had the flu. But I quickly learned how to just scan those & only limit myself on reading them. I sometimes feel like my cleaning can become a tangent…NOT because I have an overclean house or anything; but because I feel like I get home from work, clean, & then it’s time to put my girls down for bed & I’ve spent no time with them. I’m trying to find a balance on that one where I’m cleaning a little each day & ALSO not having a mass cleaning day. I like the idea of doing a little each day. I HAVE gotten them involved in the cleaning tasks & they love it when they are participating. But I also need to make sure we do something extremely fun afterwards.

• What is one thing you can take away from all you’ve learned in Week 1?
• I am more of a controller than I thought I was. I feel that my struggle is with letting God take things & not thinking: “did God really say”. I need to let it go & let God have complete control. I need to trust God. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone! Karen has hit the nail on the head with this one!!!

Controllers Anonymous Meeting

Have you ever been to a group therapy session or alcoholics anonymous meeting?

 

I haven't, but I've seen enough movies & shows about them to get the drift of how they start out, or how they are portrayed to start out according to Hollywood. Heck during my 7-week bedrest during the pregnancy with my 2nd child, I got addicted to Celebrity Rehab, a show hosted  by Dr. Drew that air on VH1. There's even a show on now called Go On that airs on NBC staring Matthew Perry. I watch the premier & it seemed like it would be a good show. But I decided not to get into that one cause I don't watch too many TV shows anymore & I didn't want to get addicted to another one. Oh, I got sidetracked.

 

Anyway!

 

So here's what I'm imagining: Everyone walks in, trying to blend in & not make too much eye contact. Some may or may not take part in the snacks (I would totally hit up the snack table cause I love food). And at the official start time, the therapist or director/leader (sometimes a person recovering whatever we are all meeting for) tells everyone to find a seat & everyone does. Some are thinking, heck I don't have a problem! I'm just here cause I was told I had to be here. Others are like, I know I have a problem & they own up to it & are ready to figure out how to fix it.

 

Well, for this blog post I'm participating in a blog hop that is similar to this group session. I recently started an Online Bible Study (OBS) on this book:

Let. It. Go. How to Stop Running the Show and Start Walking in Faith by Karen Ehman

 

This OBS is hosted by:

Melissa Taylor

 

I tried to participate in Melissa's OBS for Unglued, but I got really distracted & behind & just ended up rewriting the book with some of my own thoughts & experiences. It was a great book!!!! {For those of you who follow me a lot, I will get back to Becoming More, but I really wanted to participate in this OBS.}

 

Let.It.Go. How to Stop Running the Show and Start Walking in Faith gives you practical tips and ideas to letting go of your need to control.  Between housework, meals (okay, I don't cook much but I do some), kids, & a job if we work outside of the home; we women have a lot to control. We are wired to do so (it's like we're born with a control gene). As Karen points out, "The problem lies with our failure to know where to draw the line, to differentiate between leading and bossing, to know the difference between simply taking charge and ultimately taking over."

 

I hope through the course of this 6-week study I will be able to let go of those items I hold so tightly onto and solely rely on God to direct my steps. I hope to "determine the difference between being conscientious (our part) and being in control (God's job)" as Karen points out.

 

So here's my Controllers Anonymous Meeting introduction (sorry it's kind of lengthy):

Hi, my name is Tasha & I have a tendency to control. I tend to alter between being agreeable & easygoing at times &, in some situations, wanting to take charge. I'm a people pleaser. I also tend to worry. But I have hope & so do you! I want to let it go & let God.