Priscilla Shirer's Blog, page 54

Wardrobe Woes...SOLVED!

ARG!  I have gone into my closet a million times this week and I keep thinking, "I have NOTHING TO WEAR!"  I feel like a middle school girl complaining to my mom, complete with a pouty groan and whiney tone when I tell my friend I'm running late (again!) because I can't "find anything to wear!"  And while some girls can come up with a cute outfit just by perusing their hangars, this former tomboy has to have a little inspiration...read:  someone else's outfit for me to copy!

So, I've decided to do a little sleuthing and re-inspire my closet.  I went onto Pinterest and a few other fun little sites and hunted down some cute outfits that I could replicate with stuff I already have.  I think these fun pant outfits will be just the ticket to keep my budget intact and make me feel like my wardrobe is refreshed!  

 

The Hangout

 

I have a fantastic pair of baggy, holey jeans that I love...and a striped tank!  Annnnd a leopard print bangle.  

The Classy Monochrome

I love this outfit in ALL white.  I have a white tee and jeans that can easily pull this off...never thouht of pairing them together before...with a pair of heels, this is PERFECT for an evening at dinner with my besties!

 

All Jean, All the Time

Again, a monochrome look that I've never considered doing:  Jean on jean.  I'm a recovering clothes matcher.  Meaning, in my younger years I had to match shirt with shoes with jewelry, etc.  Now, with all the mix-n-match prints, I've started to get a little out of my box.  This monochrome feel like the next step on my matchy-turned-mixer-(now!)turned-monochrome journey!

 

Sassy and Single!

Um, our GB shirt would look so sassy with my faux leather pants.  Just sayin'.

 

Ok.  There are a few fun pieces I'm gonna' try out this week...hope your Monday is just fabulous!

 

annetta

Soap and a Checklist

Do you ever wake up, have a quiet time and walk away feeling guilty?  As if you didn't spend enough time with the Lord?  Am I the only one?  I get this feeling a lot.  No matter how much time I put in, there is this crazy standard in my head that can't be met.  I mean, it really CAN'T be met.  The more I study, the more I feel like I SHOULD study...MORE!  And we all know what all that is...good, ol'-fashioned lies and legalism.  

God just isn't sitting up in heaven with the stopwatch app opened on His iPhone, seeing how long I've spent in His word today.  Nope.  But He IS wooing me to love Him more...and to respond with living like Jesus did.  Even THAT "living like Jesus did" is such an esoteric phrase...I sometimes just SPIN wondering what that looks like in daily life.  He was GOD.  He knew how to respond in every circumstance.  Don't get me wrong, a circumstance will come up on occasion and I'll think "Oh, I know exactly how I should respond to this" or His Holy Spirit will remind me of a Scripture that will guide how I interact with a situation.  But othertimes, I'm just left there wondering "WHAT DO I DO?!???"  

SO.  I have been doing 2 things to combat these feelings of "never enough" and the abstract "like Jesus" model...

1. SOAP.  Every day my Dad sends out a Bible Study to the people from his church...he reads a passage of Scripture, writes out his Observations of that passage, thinks of ways to Apply it and then Prays accordingly.  These 4 things (Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer) are how he makes sure to "hide" God's Word for him that day, in his heart.  I've started to do this...and WOOO-EEE!  I feel like I've actually done "enough" Bible study at the end!

2.  One of my favorite passages in Psalm 37.  I particularly like verse 3, "Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness."  

If this was a checklist it would read:

A.  Trust the Lord.

B  Do Good.

C.  Dwell in the Land.

D.  Cultivate Faithfulness.

Gosh, if I did those 4 things for the rest of my life (that is, if I did them WELL!) I would be living a life that looks like Jesus.  He did all these things. I can clearly see these attributes in His life.  So when I start to get stressed about living a life that "looks like Jesus" these days, I just go back to this verse and meditate on one of these things...

Ok.  You've heard a few of the kinda' random things I do to combat my craziness....Any tips from YOUR end?  Things that you find enhance YOUR walk??

 

Love you heaps and heaps!

 

annetta

Full

Oh my goodness, I’m full!!

I woke up this way.

Uncomfortable really.

The fact is, I’ve just had a fantastic week. Spent it on the seven seas – a cruise to Alaska with my entire family. My parents, siblings and our spouses had the chance to minister to the nearly 300 people that joined us for a 7-day conference. It was a delightful time listening to God’s Word and delighting in His work.

Seriously, His work was on full display.

Never in my life have I seen such a lavish presentation of God’s glory in creation. He was seriously showing off for all of us . . and we just smiled and let Him. All the while wondering how anyone – anyone – could possibly see scenery like this and think there is not a perfect, powerful God.

 

When we weren’t looking at the scenery or watching humpback whales skim the water’s surface, we were eating. Apparently, that’s what you are supposed to do when you take a cruise.

Eat.

Everything.

All day long.

. . .and night.

After the first day, I’m not really sure I felt one hunger pain. For seven straight days, I was full.

Constantly full.

Not one single growl nor rumble.

Felt satisfying for the first day and even into the second. But as the third and fourth day approached, that sense of being stuffed got a bit annoying. Then, when we rounded the corner (corner = hips and belly) toward the last few days, we just got plain ol’ uncomfortable; adjusting our sitting positions and our belt loops to try and accommodate the gluttony.

And when I unbuttoned my own jeans (under the white table cloth mind you) in the middle of dinner on the 6th day, a thought occurred to me that I just couldn’t shake: the impeccable meals we’d relished at the beginning of the cruise were less appetizing now. The meals hadn’t changed. They were still decadent and delightful. But we just weren’t as interested anymore. Our stomachs were too full to allow us to appreciate them as much. Without a gnawing sense of hunger – an emptiness waiting to be filled – food, no matter how good, wasn’t as inviting.

By overindulging during the first few days, we’d actual robbed ourselves of some of the fun reserved for the last ones.

Self control. Should have exercised some. Sure, it would have been hard with all of those 24-hour-a-day mouthwatering options but it also would have enabled us to stay balanced enough to enjoy the spread over the long haul – to feel the hunger that is meant to invite you into another delicious experience.

Hind sight’s always 20/20.

A lesson learned. . . in my stomach. . and in my life.

Self-control keeps us balanced and not over-inundated with things that keep us from enjoying every bit of tasty excitement God wants us to have in our lives. When we eat too much, spend too much, hoard too much, work too much, exercise too much or control too much, we get out of balance and the taste buds of our lives are desensitized to the flavors God wants to give. That full feeling we get might be nice the first day, or even the first month, but after a while we’ll just feel uncomfortable.. . wishing we’d maintained more balance along the way.

Self-control isn’t some rigid spiritual discipline meant to keep us from enjoying life. Turns out, self-control is the only way we can have the room required to enjoy it.

Trust me on this one, ok?

. . .Or come take a peek at my elastic, waste-band pants and they’ll tell you the real story.

Priscilla

All the Single Ladies...

In singleville, the summer is the time to shine!  Quite literally (unfortunately) at times, as the temps soar past 100 degrees.  And at other times, figuratively, as there is always a lake day around the corner or a crew going to dinner, or your teacher friends begging you to take a real lunch hour with them as they are lazing away their summer vacay.  And for those in my particular crew of single girls, we have been digging into a ton of books this summer, reading and studying...setting our hearts on the Lord.  In the last 2 months, I feel like we have shifted some ideologies and mindsets in such a strong way.  Below I've written out the statements and questions that we ask ourselves on pretty much a daily basis now.  And whether you are single or not, I have a feeling you might get a little something out of these little nuggets my friends have shared with me.

1.  It's not about who is going to be at the party that you can flirt with...it's about who is at the party that you can love on.

    What are your intentions in going to places?  Are you going to see and be seen?  Or are you going because God has led you to believe it is the best use of your time for the evening?  SO many times I would go to a party because I felt like I "had to" get out of my house...I didn't want to go, but I went simply because I "should".  And when I arrived I enjoyed folks, but not one person walked away thinking "I want to know Jesus more because Annetta loved on me well."  THAT is now my goal at a party.  My time is precious.  If I am going to spend it at a party, then it will be spent well for the Kingdom!  

2.  Whatever you are doing, have FUN.  

     It's an attitude. I've had the worst night with the funnest people and the best night serving at an event.  It's all about perspective.  If I go into it thinking, "I want to love on people and enjoy this life He has given me" I am immediately more attractive to other folks, and I actually get the opportunity to love people well!  It's a beautiful tension!

3.  (a personal fav) If he's not asking you out, he probably doesn't like you.

     So many times.  Countless times.  My friends and I have sat around and said, "But he SAID he liked my shoes...does that mean he is in love with me?" "No...it means he wants to marry you."  HA!  It sounds ridiculous.  But it is *hangs head* true.  We sit and wonder what a guy's actions or words mean.  Honestly. the majority of fellas are pretty simple.  If they think it, they say it.  And if they like you, they will ask you out.  It's just that simple.

I can just HEAR some of you  saying, "BUT what about if he doesn't KNOW I'm interested" or "But he's shy" or "He thinks his best friend is in love with me" or some other such craziness.  My response?  The same:  If he likes you (eventually) he will ask you out.  YOUR job is to press into Jesus.  Ask Him to bring the right one at the right time. 

4.  Praying my heart doesn't like "that guy".

     We all have met him...the guy that is so perfectly coiffed and gregarious.  All the women just swoon when he walks in.  And my heart just a-twitterpates when he looks my direction.  Well...he never asked me out.  And I was involved emotionally in this back and forth craziness where I would convince myself he was JUST the man for me if he would but NOTICE me.  And then starts those little mental games and lies we tell ourselves, "If I was just skinnier" or "if I was prettier" or "if I was funnier" or more godly or more interesting or taller or shorter or chubbier or more talented or richer or poorer or better travelled or, or, OR.....it could go on forever!  

There will always be this place where you think "I am not enough" or even "I am too much".  Or there is the even worse place (or so it seems even worse!) where we think "I am not considered...I am invisible."  LIES!  LIES!  LIES I tell ya!  Quit believing them!  And start getting on your knees....guarding your heart, asking God to keep your heart from "liking" a fella He hasn't given you to love on!  And start pressing into the Author of your story, asking HIM to move to make you the best you can be.  And let me PROMISE you, my friend, THAT is enough.  It is MORE than enough.  Because the MORE-THAN-ENOUGH-GOD has created you to be amazing!

OK.  Just wanted to throw those things out there as we go into this new month. What do you think ladies?  Thoughts?!

You are FIERCELY loved this day by The One Who Knows Your Deepest Longings...

 

annetta

 

PS  If you wanna set your heart on the Lord...meditate on Romans 8, Psalm 63, and Lamentations 3...you'll get there beloved friend!  He is calling you deeper and deeper and deeper!  

Tiaras Versus Food: The Age-Long Battle

 

Ok.  So there has been a theme to all my blog posts lately...Scripture.  

I've been buried under,

     meditating on,

          soaking in,

     breathing deep,

memorizing crazy,

Scripture.  

And it has been non-stop.  I'm not so sure what started this fiendish thirst, but I'm not complaining!

As I was working out this morning, I was working on memorizing Romans 8 (I am using ALL of the tips y'all gave me!  If you weren't a part of that blog post, you've GOT to look at the comments! I am setup!!).  Problem: I kept getting lost in the "flesh versus Spirit" circles of the passage.  My Dad was in town and we had breakfast right after my workout...talking over memorizing he made this little comment:  "Annetta, it's kind of hard to memorize a passage without understanding it well."  Ha.  Ya think??  And that is what spun me into this place I am today:  tryng to understand Romans 8.

So in order to understand this process, I've got a confession to make:  I struggle with gluttony.  I LOVE food.  It is something that drives a lot of decisions I make, makes me feel better when I have a bad day and something I look forward to.  Food is good.  God created it for our enjoyment as well as our health.  But I've allowed food to take a place in my life that God never intended for it to take.  When I go to eat a meal, I struggle with walking in the flesh rather than walking in the Spirit.  I don't eat for the reasons God gave it to me.  SO...how do I change this?

As I've been reading in Romans, it has become clear:  living in the flesh is feeding the flesh.  Jerry has a joke in the office.  He says, "I am really 2 men.  I am the man you see here today, loving God, serving Him as best as I know how...and I'm the hoodlum I COULD be.  Which man I FEED makes all the difference between which one you see each day."  Thinking about that in context of Romans 8, I think I get what Paul is saying, "Whatever part of me that I feed, grows stronger."  In context of Romans 8, I know that my thought patterns are what allow me to get sucked back into the cycle of gluttony.  

I struggle with trusting God fully.  I can't control my circumstances.  It's hard to give up that control to God.  And it doesn't FEEL good.  But eating a tasty meal DOES feel good and it's something that I am quasi-in control of.  My lack of trust in God and desire to control lead me to look for other ways to meet this need, outside of God.  My lack of trust in God is when my flesh is raring its ugly, faithless head.  Feeding the flesh, I walk in the flesh, and eat...and eat and eat and eat.  Does this sound like a godly, Spirit-infused life?  NO!  And it is NOT!

But I love how Romans 8 kicks in here..."For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace...and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

 If I but CHOOSE to consistently trust God, setting my mind on things of the Spirit, I will have life and peace.  Moreso, I do what my heart longs to do...I please GOd.  I walk the best way possible for my life, in my created purpose, pleasing God!  MORESO, verse 14 & 16 says "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God...The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God."  Beautiful!  I get so jazzed about this...I get to be HIS kid.  My identity is made clear again.  And all those insecurities that creep up when I struggle in the flesh, they disappear when I walk according to the spirit...simply because the Holy Spirit tells us WHO we are and WHOSE we are in the spirit.  

I love Him y'all.  I want to please Him.  In my flesh, I tend to not trust Him.  But today, with y'all as my witnesses, I get to walk a little better in His Spirit...as His kid...and I might even bust out my princess tiara one of these days. Any other thoughts to add?  How do you practically choose to walk in the spirit?

WE are loved, 

 

annetta

Community in Love

Community is hard.  It's messy.  It's beautiful.  AND it's dangerous.  "Dangerous?" you say.  Yes, DANGEROUS.  Because when I am in community, everyone can see all of my junk.  And eventually, my junk gets in the way of someone else knowing God.  It's hard to have a bout with pride when someone needs you to love them, no matter what it requires of you.  It's hard to have your ugly staring everyone in the face when they desperately need me to be full of Jesus, loving and leading well.  To say that I've never felt more sinful and full of my flesh is an understatement!  I have to ask Him hourly (if not MINUTE by minute!) how I can better love my community

My pastor spoke on the love of God today (PHENOMENAL sermon HERE).  And one of the things he reminded us was that community starts with love.  Loving people is something Jesus was so incredibly good at...He would say ONE word or thought and it would transform someone's life.  He knew WHEN to say something good or hard.  He knew HOW to say something good or hard that might hurt for a moment, but would save that person for a LIFEtime.

SO today I am praying for a deeper heart of love for my community...and a tongue that "says the words of the Father" like Jesus prayed in John 8.  

Is it hard for you to love and live well in community too?  Can I pray something specifically for you?  What has helped you navigate hard relationships that God has called you to?  I love our blog friends...y'all have such wisdom, I always learn so much from you!

Praying even now that He might enlighten YOUR heart to the HOPE of His calling..you are loved and treasured friend!

 

annetta

Cool Points

So...my Community Group is doing Scripture memory this summer.  Like, BIG time.  Like a verse-a-day memory.  

I NEED HELP.

The last time I set out to memorize passages of Scripture was probably when I was a 12 year old homeschooled kid.  My sisters and I memorized 3 chapters of Matthew (think the Beatitudes) and put motions to them (think UBER nerdy).  While our cool points took a massive hit, the motions were actually quite helpful.  But as an adult, I can't really see me saying these verses to my group with full motion...or SHOULD I?  Maybe I would get MORE cool points?

What do YOU do for Scripture memory?  Wanna join me in Romans 8 for the summer?  ANY and all tips are QUITE helpful.  If I sound desperate, well....I AM.  So...ideas?

Lots of love to you,

 

annetta

Wisdom Poured Out

Yesterday was a day that I'll never forget for as long as I live. I sat in a room with 24 other women for six hours... and we talked.

Actually. . . we did more listening than talking. 


Because that's what you do when a woman who has lived 70 years, been married nearly five decades, served in ministry for four decades and has raised successful God loving children is sitting on a stool in front of you. So, yes, we gladly did as little talking as possible so as not to interrupt this woman of maturity and grace. She took this day to invest in us and to pour wisdom into our lives. We were grateful ...and teary-eyed... and overwhelmed.

I took notes faster than a Harvard law student the week before the bar exam. I couldn't type fast enough as insights shimmering with Biblical maturity and life experience came tumbling out of her mouth.

I thought you might enjoy sharing in a bit of those nuggets today. So, take notes and then. . . tell me, what is a great piece of advice you've gotten from an older woman in your life?

It's takes a lot of courage to just be yourself. 
 It takes a lot of courage to be led by the Holy Spirit. 
The church isn't called to "in-reach", it is called to outreach. So, help others. 
Life is a compilation of many different seasons. Don't be afraid to let go of one season in order to grab hold of the next one. 
If you can't pay for it, don't buy it. Money pressures can kill your marriage, your ministry and your sanity. 
If you cannot be in ministry and enjoy it, don't do it. Abundant life was meant to be enjoyed and that is exactly what the enemy has come to steal from you. (Jn 10:10) 
There is a different between being the boss and being the leader. Leadership takes maturity and wisdom.  
The key to longevity is a willingness to change. Don't change principles or morals. . but be willing to change the packaging. 
Anyone can start a new thing. . but only some can finish what they started. Be a finisher. 
Sometimes you just have to say "No" which means you have to be willing to disappoint others in order to set boundaries in your life. 
Guilt is a terrible task master. Never listen to it. 
You won't make good decisions unless you take time to really think about them. 
Give up the thought of being normal. To do what you have been called to do, you'll have to get used to being abnormal. 
Stop trying to get something out of your spouse that he was never meant to give you. 
You can't be happy . . . and selfish. Generosity puts a smile on your face and joy in your heart. 
Being right is overrated. You get a smug feeling in the moment but it fades quickly. 
Don't let your ministry get ahead of your relationship with God. 
It's dangerous to promote people who have charisma but no character. 

 

Which one speaks most to you? And why?

Priscilla

Podcast Maybe?

So I'm on a podcast kick.  Usually I sit at my desk with my headphones in and listen to my fav music-of-the-moment.  But earlier this week, my pastor talked on Galatians 5 and that verse "feeding the flesh" really stuck in my spirit.  I want to feed the Spirit of God that lives in me.  I want to live according to His Spirit, not according to my spirit.  So, I decided I should marinate my heart in the Word of God.  

One obvious way to do this?  Podcasting sermons.  I listen to Matt Chandler, John Piper, Bobbie Houston, Ben Stuart (a new fav) and of course my own pastors Todd Wagner and Jonathan Pokluda.  I'm downloading a few Joyce Meyers and Tony Evans' sermons...and of course, I've listened (on repeat!) to all of Priscilla's CD's (you can find them HERE...Secrets for Sleepwalkers is WORN OUT in my CD player).   

But even with all these, I'm gonna need to add a few names to this list if I'm going to keep the sermons spinning...and with my Dad being a pastor of a small local church, I have a special affinity to the lesser-known preachers...So, who do YOU listen to?  Do you have a favorite pastor that I need to hear?  My listening tastes (as evidenced above) are as wide and varied as the events we take part in here at GB.  So shoot me a name!  Let us all be encouraged by your local pastor!

Hope your week is starting with FAITH!

annetta

Circles of Revival

I'm seeing circles. . .and I'm loving it! 

Right now, many thousands of you are banded together in a mass Bible study group on Gideon. I am so honored and excited to be able to serve you in the Scriptures whether you are doing the study alone or with a handful of others in your church or home. The thought of ALL of us - no matter our geographical, denominational or racial differences - searching the Scriptures together makes a holy chill run up and down my spine.

Many of you are joining the Siesta Summer Bible Study (http://blog.lproof.org/) with Beth Moore for the journey through Gideon but many others of you are venturing out on your own or with your home church. However you are doing the study, I hope that you hear the voice of God with startling clarity and power . . .
.

. .and I hope to SEE YOU.

Can I just tell you that I have never been in love with Twitter or Instagram more than in these last few weeks. Every day, I open my account to find photos of you doing your study - on your back porch, in the fellowship hall at your church or in your livingroom. It puts a huge smile on my face to get to "connect" with you in this way! And nothing has been more fun than seeing how you've created the "Circle of Revival" that I talked about in Session 1 of the study.

From socks to diapers, toys to books - you have made it priority to create a circle in which to stand and pray

"Lord, bring revival . . . but let it begin in this circle with me!"

Who cares if you had to threaten your kids to get them to stay still long enough for you to finish your prayer

Or if a furry friend wants to join you inside.

Your circle - no matter what it looks like, how long it has stayed in tact or who has gotten into it with you - matters! And I'm praying that you see revival start to spread like wildfire through your own heart first and then in the spheres of influence around you.

Ok so, please keep sending me these photos! You can email them to our ministry (info@goingbeyond.com) or just keep tweeting them to @priscillashirer. Please don't forget to add the #lessonsfromGideon hashtag so that others can see your photos as well. It's a great way for us to stay in touch and see all the creative "circles" God inspires us to make!

And speaking of #LessonsFromGideon, you ought to add a column to your twitter page for that hashtag! Getting a daily dose of all the lessons being learned from women all over the world is both encouraging and inspiring!

 

So glad to study the Bible with you!

Praying for you.

Priscilla