I have just Saturday recieve my copy of this super good book and I will be back later to answer these questions . I love to hear what you have tyo ask and as always just answer what question tickle your fancyie.
1. Elizabeth compares her physical appearance to the women around her and feels like a plain moth among beautiful butterflies. Why do women have such a tendency to compare themselves to others? What are the results of such comparisons? And how can we avoid the comparison trap?
2. Elizabeth believes if she serves the Lord diligently, He will reward her efforts. Often we too think we can earn God's favor by serving him. What’s wrong with this philosophy? Does God's love and blessing really depend on anything we do? Or does he bestow blessings because of his great love and mercy?
3. John’s friend Gibbs encourages him to take the "hard path" because it will lead to greater holiness. What hardships have you faced lately? Why is it our natural inclination to take the easy way out of hard situations? How can doing the hard thing lead you to greater holiness?
4. Elizabeth was tempted to steal papers from John in order to protect herself. Have you ever been in a situation where you were tempted to do wrong in order to protect yourself or someone you love? What happened? Is there ever a time when it’s okay to do wrong to help yourself or others?
5. John's quest to serve the Lord through preaching eventually became more about what he was accomplishing than about God's glory. What examples have you seen where people in ministry lose perspective and end up neglecting marriages and/or family in their efforts to build their ministry?
6. When Elizabeth lost her baby, she felt abandoned by God and by John. Have you ever felt abandoned by God or someone you love? How did you recover? What do you think of Sister Norton's statement "Hardships are the Lord's greatest blessings to a believer. Without them we would love the Lord only for what He does for us. Our troubles teach us to love Him for who He is"?
7. John was eventually faced with a difficult choice: give up his preaching or go to prison. Have you ever had to sacrifice something because of your beliefs?
8. Elizabeth felt the pain of rejection from John. For a time, he put
his work and ministry ahead of their marriage. She came to a point of
forgiveness and a willingness to support John's calling whether John
changed or not. Have you experienced a time when you've needed to
forgive someone who hurt you, regardless of whether they changed? What
was the situation like?
I really didn't want to do this. But I felt obligated and am glad I did.
1. I feel that it is only human nature to compare yourself to others.
Usually comparing yourself either makes you very vain or causes you to feel less then your true worth.
To avoid comparing yourself I think you would have to 1 pray about it, 2 come to the realization that EVERYONE is beautiful in their own way, and 3 truly love yourself!
2. I truly don't know. But this is something I am going to ponder on.
3. Lately I have been facing financial hardships (who hasn't), relationship problems (mainly because I cannot open up), and struggling with trying to be a good Christian.
Taking the easy way out is something that we, as humans, have done for a long time, it is, just that, easier! I think the human race feels that taking the easy way out saves time.
Doing the "hard thing" can lead to greater holiness because you learn more that way.
4. Yes.
I did it, and paid for it.
No.
5. When it becomes about power, when they loose site of God.
6. Yes.
I prayed about it.
I think that is very true. You learn and grow from hardships. You grow as a person and spiritaully. Spiritual growth is very important, and without hardships you wouldn't grow very much.
7. Yes, and I am struggling with that now. It is not something tangible, but more of an internal battle to give up bad habits in order to live a holier life.
8. Yes. It was very difficult for me to forgive without said person changing. It took a lot of prayer and a lot of growing up.
You make some wonderful points on loving yourself. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. And you do have to love your self with a honest healthy love one way you have a true picture of your self.
I am still reading it but when I finish I will have my answer posted. And thank you for answering the questions.
Well I have finally finish this book and I really enjoy it . So as promise I am here to answer the questions about the book.
Why do women have such a tendency to compare themselves to others? We are constantly hit with pictures of lovely models and actress to compare our self with. We are also tell all the time we should have this shape to our lips , or be this tall . Which just leads to the tendency to compare are self to others. What are the results of such comparisons? because we all want to look our best. And how can we avoid the comparison trap? We should remember God made each of us to be a one of a kind and that we are all lovely in our won way. My niece has the prettiest red hair and other young lady has the cutest smile.
Does God's love and blessing really depend on anything we do? There is only one place I remember his blessing depending on anything we do and that is in Miach where the Bible say bring all your title and to the storehouse and see if I will not pour you out a blessing you will not be about to hold. Or does he bestow blessings because of his great love and mercy? Thank you it is out of love and mercy he blessing us.
John’s friend Gibbs encourages him to take the "hard path" because it will lead to greater holiness. What hardships have you faced lately? I have be going to count to get my disability to only get told no, I deal with my health issues on a daily bases. Why is it our natural inclination to take the easy way out of hard situations? because we think we can not deal with the hard stuff and we want life to have no pain or hardship but we forget that we grow most in hard times.How can doing the hard thing lead you to greater holiness? It sends us to our knees and to his word to comfort our self with the hope we found there. We also can feel us presence with us more sometimes.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were tempted to do wrong in order to protect yourself or someone you love? Not that I can think of. What happened? Is there ever a time when it’s okay to do wrong to help yourself or others? I think if it was a life or dead case maybe but other then that no
What examples have you seen where people in ministry lose perspective and end up neglecting marriages and/or family in their efforts to build their ministry? I think of case where the pastor marriage is falling about because he spend too little time with his family because he forgets to honor God by taking care of his family first. I love it when church will send the pastor family or just him and his wife off on vacation it is important. I also think of case when tv pastor get so big a ego they forget about keep it for God and want to build a big mane for they selves.
Have you ever felt abandoned by God or someone you love? Yes How did you recover? I work though the grief of losing my sister Chrissy over several months by allowing myself to feel b my feelings . By talking to people who had gone through it to , my family that was left and read both his words and other good books on grief. What do you think of Sister Norton's statement "Hardships are the Lord's greatest blessings to a believer. Without them we would love the Lord only for what He does for us. Our troubles teach us to love Him for who He is"? I think there is a lot of truth in it but she said it at the wrong time to Elizabeth. I think sometimes we have a lot of wisdom we can give to people but because we try to inpart it at the wrong time or the wrong way it does no good.
John was eventually faced with a difficult choice: give up his preaching or go to prison. Have you ever had to sacrifice something because of your beliefs? Yes but should time with old friends or the like. nothing big like going to jail.
Have you experienced a time when you've needed to
forgive someone who hurt you, regardless of whether they changed? Yes What
was the situation like?it was growing up in a very disaffecting family.
The Shut Mouth Society?
- Alieda
on Oct. 31, 2011 at 9:33 AM