A Mess, Nonetheless

In part 1 of this topic, Miss and Rach talked about the power of our words and tone. In this episode—part 2—they discuss learning to control our tongue. Using Scripture to guide the conversation they stress the importance of learning to listen to the Holy Spirit regarding not only what things we should be saying, but also the things we should NOT be saying! 

Ministry Spotlight:

Boughtbeautifully.org

@boughtbeautifully

Show Notes:

We have to learn to not only have self control, but also to rely on the HS for when we choose to speak or not to speak. 

1. All thoughts are not meant to come out

• Proverbs 13:3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

2. Our thoughts should be brought to the HS before spoken

• Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

3. Often our thoughts are simply meant for US to examine 

• Taking your thoughts captive simply means gaining control over what you think about yourself and life.  

Challenge: What pricked your spirit, what did you hear God saying to you? Bring that to Him and ask Him to work on you in. 

This two-part series touches base on all sorts of areas involved in how we speak: to others, about others, our tone, how we speak in anger, and what the Bible has to say about all the speech-related-topics! 

Rachel and Melissa share vulnerably about the areas they have struggled with their words, and even areas they currently struggle in these departments. You'll want to listen and find out what areas God might be calling you to dive into and work on this week!

Ministry Spotlight:

Littlesistersewing.com

@littlesistersewing

Show notes:

1. How we speak to people matters (in front of them and behind their backs)

• Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” 

• Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

2. What we say in our anger is not excusable

• It’s not like “free calories” at the fair

3. The tone of our voice matters as much as the words

• A dog as an example 

• Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Challenge: Pay attention to what pricked your heart when listening. What made you defensive? Zero in on that and bring it to God.

Regardless of where you think you land with food issues we truly believe you will resonate with something in this episode. Miss and Rach talk with Heather Creekmore from Compared to Who? all about our relationship with food, its effect on the way we view our bodies and how we can take a more Biblical perspective with health and fueling our bodies. 

You won't want to miss this episode. It falls right in line with our body image episodes and we think it's something that's prevalent with so many women!

Ministry Spotlight:

Heather Creekmore - @comparedtowho 

Melissa and Rachel know better than anyone the pros and cons of living a disciplined life. They've been on both sides of the fence, and for different reasons! They discuss what the Bible says regarding the subject and talk about why it's such an important and impactful matter for us to consider. Tune in to see where you might have some growth to do. This was a convicting topic for them, even while recording!

Show Notes:

Does it really matter?

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Being out of control in an area of our life usually results in sin

Love of money, body, self, food, alcohol, lust, gossip, etc

The opposite of self-discipline is a self-indulgent lifestyle that produces “the works of the flesh”. Any lack of self-control will inevitably result in sinful deeds.

Gal 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 10:23 Amplified Bible All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

Ignorance or self-justification isn’t an excuse

Examples: Adam and Eve in the Garden, Speeding ticket when you don’t know the limit, Eating a gallon of ice cream because someone said it was “fat free”

Hebrews 12:11 ESV For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Challenge: Identify an area in your life that makes the biggest impact and needs to be addressed (don’t start everywhere!) Ask God what you can implement to help there be success in this area. 

There’s almost nothing more prevalent than women comparing their bodies to someone else’s. And yet, doesn’t it almost seem that almost no women are happy with their bodies? Melissa and Rachel have been many different sizes, many different weights, and comparing bodies happened in all the different seasons. They discuss the dangers of living in a constant state of comparison with our appearance and they share how God has begun freeing them from this phenomenon. As always, they share Scripture that has helped shape their thought process throughout the years in this area. 

Show Notes:

1. Everything we do is meant to glorify God 

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
  

2. Our body is the least interesting about us 

• Prov 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

3. We cannot take our bodies with us

• 1 Timothy 4:8 For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

4. Are we asking what God's will is for our bodies?

• Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Challenge: Take a day or two, being very mindful of how often your mind goes to comparing your body to others. 

Isn’t it easy to wonder what life would be like in someone else’s financial shoes? Melissa and Rachel share their experiences with comparison in finances, and how they’ve NEVER been happier for stumbling into that territory. They discuss the Bible, and how we can all be challenged to examine our  lives in this area.

Show Notes:

1. Other people aren’t always happy with their finances, no matter what it looks like:

• Ecclesiastes 5:10 “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”

2. God decides who gets what:

• (Deuteronomy 8:18) “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth,

3. Desiring wealth above all (greed) brings problems down on us all:

• (Proverbs 15:27) “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.”

Challenge: Find "your thing" we talked about this episode, evaluate and work on areas you find yourself comparing. 

If you're a parent, you won't want to miss this episode! Rachel and Miss know firsthand how quickly we can start comparing our kids to other people's kids, or even some of our kids to our other kids! Comparison in our parenting will only harm our kids and our faith in how big our God is. They have 3 points and a challenge to help you examine where you need to grow in this area. 

Show Notes:

1. We have zero idea of how God plans to use our kids, regardless of their current condition. Examples: Gideon and Moses

2. Our job is to seek Jesus. First. Period.

• Matthew 6:33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.  

3. Stay in your lane

• Hebrews 12:1 We have all these great people around us as examples. Their lives tell us what faith means. So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall.

Challenge: Find your thing that you need to work on this week, and apply it. 

If you’re in a relationship of any kind, you won’t want to miss this episode. Without even trying, it’s easy to compare our significant others to people who might do things better than them. Melissa and Rachel talk about their own experience with comparison in their marriages. They share what God has taught them, about the harm it can bring, and how the Bible has changed their mind on the subject.

Show Notes:

1. Our marriage is supposed to be a reflection of the God, first and foremost. We are made in God's image to represent HIM.

• Genesis 1:26a “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’”

2. Comparison in marriage de-validates the sanctity (holiness) of our marriage. Our marriage is meant to be sacred:

• Ephesians 5:25-29: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 

3. Comparison in our marriage does not honor our marriage or spouse.

• Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ESV says “Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Comparison — we all do it from time to time. Some of us don't even realize how much it's part of our thought process and just how much we are losing by letting it be part of us. Miss and Rachel talk about why it is so dangerous to compare, what the Bible says about it, and how we can challenge ourselves in this area.  

Show Notes:

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus” 

John 21: 15-22 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” 

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of deathby which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

Galatians 6:4-5 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.

Challenge: Start thinking through and acknowledging where you have comparison issues in your life that need to be dealt with.  

Hard, annoying and inconvenient things happen in life: there's no way around it. Miss and Rach talk about what a game changer gratitude is during such times.

They share how it has changed their perspective during rough times when they've found positive things to focus on even when things don’t go as planned. 

Show Notes:

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Challenge: Spend the next week really paying attention to your days, asking yourself the question, “How much time do I spend thinking/worrying about things vs praying to God and going to the source?”