It’s time to start the second week of the study. We will be talking about chapter one.
For me, writing out my life journey showed me at times my perspective was focused incorrectly. It’s easier to see this as you write things down on paper. I also found I was right in certain areas where I strongly doubted my judgment. God worked on me as I saw trends in my strengths and trends in my weaknesses. I’m curious to see what you discovered on your journey so far.
There will be questions posted in the comment section under each week’s post and this will be how we communicate and talk with each other. We will learn from each other and hear different stories.
***Please participate in this part…this is where we grow as a community.***
I’m praying God will work in your life and on your heart as you read what so deeply impacted my life. I pray you will be still and listen to God speaking to you.
Here’s your assignment for the week:
- Watch the video below.
- Answer the questions in the comments section below.
- Return a couple of hours later to see what other comments were left and feel free to comment to others’ comments.
- Tell your friends to join you on this journey.
- Read chapter 2 and answer the questions at the end of the chapter.
- Pray. Pray that God will open your eyes to ways you can improve. Pray for others who are doing this study that God would work in their lives. Pray for personal revival in the hearts of all Christians and those who don’t know Jesus as their personal Savior.
© 2016 Susan M. Sims
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Question #1 – Did you have a hard time writing out your life story? What was the hardest thing for you while doing this assignment?
Honestly, there really has not been anything outstanding or remarkable about my life! I guess he might say it’s been kind of boring! I was raised in a Christian home. My father was a Nazarene pastor. I went to a Nazarene College and met my husband there! We have been in pastoral ministry for over 35 years! We have two children who are married and five grandchildren! It’s been a good life but nothing really major to look back on! And I guess that’s good in a way but when talking about being transparent, I don’t have any deep dark secrets to hide or wrestle with! The hardest time of my life is the phase I’m in right now!
Don’t let the fact that your life has been stable make you think it’s not remarkable. Being stable is amazing for so many who struggle to get to “stable”. You could look at it as your life being an example for others.
Re-remembering some of the past and major events that have happened. Kind of hard to figure out what to put down and what not to put sown
Writing my story for me is not really the hard part considering my bad life choices and having a totally dysfunctional family. I have seen the hand of God and his many blessings and forgiveness not only in my life but in the life of others. What i found difficult is writing my expectations and goals which never seem to come about. I personally seem content but I allow my husband and others to make me feel bad. That in itself is a problem and one i need to work on. Expectations are rough for me cause when you have a roller coaster life like Job in the bible its easy to not expect anything good. I have learned to trust in GOD and lean on him but not to expect anything. When things good happen I get emotional cause I do know it is only by Gods hand it happened.
Question #2 – What did you learn about yourself while doing the life story project? This might be something you’ve never seen before or it might have confirmed something you’ve known for awhile now.
I know that I always have to be the strong one for everyone around me it seems! I have to be strong for my daughters and my husband and for the ladies at my church and for the people at my work! Everybody looks to me for support and sometimes I get weary but I feellike I can’t let my guard down and show weakness because everyone counts on me and I feel like if I put a crack in that wall I’ll break! I know that soundskind of sad and pitiful! I’m not sad but it’s just the way I feel it is!
I had a lady in a Bible study once look me square in the eyes and say, “You have always been strong for others and now it’s time for us to learn how to be that strong one for you”. I know it was from God because I did lose it! I was so embarrassed that I lost it and then I realized I was putting myself on a false pedestal that I could handle everything and, at the same time, I was preventing others from growing by not allowing them to feel the pressure of being the strong one.
In some of the darkest times I was reminded, often that God is faithful. He sends people your way to encourage and help carry you. He surrounds you when you have know clue that He is present. I am amazed that He is so patient to re-remind me that He is here and present
Amen to that! 🙂
Question #3 – What are the little daily tasks of life that drive you crazy and possibly “eat away at you”?
I try to go to planet fitness and workout as often as possible! 2 to 3 days a week but I hate it! I don’t like exercising but I do it for my house! But then when I do, I feel stressed because it cuts into my evening time and getting dinner and doing laundry and dishes & other chores that await at home! I work full time so I have to go work out after work!
Mine would be my fault, usually…saying “yes” to too many good things and not reserving my energy for the best. I take advantage of my family and God when I give my best away for others, even the church, when I need to stay laser-focused on what God desires. So, I get extremely frustrated when I feel overwhelmed but I’m starting to realize most times I’m overwhelmed because I lost focus. Then, when I realize I’ve lost focus I get down on myself for messing up. I have a hard time forgiving myself when I think I should know better.
The house, laundry, dishes, etc. I get overwhelmed and then do none of it or very little and feel guilty for not doing what needs to be done. I don’t have any little elves to do it while I sleep either
Question #4 – Is it harder for you to be transparent in the little things of life or in the big things? These could be the big picture vs. small details, the dreams vs. daily living, etc.
It’s the little things I don’t think are important to share! They seem so trivial! Some of the bigger things I have experienced are: I lost my father when I was a child, both of my parents (mom & adopted dad) had Alzheimer’s & have also passed awayand one of my daughters went through a terrible divorce! Everybody knows about those two events in my life! Those are not hard for me to talk about & I feel like I’m doing so, it might help someone else who might have experienced something similar! But the little annoyances are the things I can’t talk about, especially if they have to do with people in the church or even my husband! LOL!
I agree…the little things are what get to me, too. I continually pray for God to search me and know my heart. I want to be able to give Him the little things as easily as I give Him the big things. I love doing the little things with my kids because I learn so much about them during those times. I know this would be the same for me and God..I just forget at times.
I go back and forth from being overwhelmed by little stuff(house. Etc.) and being whiny vs feeling inadequate because I don’t handle the small stuff or making excuses and not turning that part over to God as well. Sometimes the big stuff is too crushing to even mention, sometimes
I think we always have to be praying to God that He will show us how much and when to share with others.
Question #5 – How does “knowing who you are, knowing where you want to go, and knowing where you struggle” fit into your picture or understanding of being transparent? Are answering these three questions necessary to transparency?
I guess! I just think sometimes people really don’t care, arent interested or have too much on their own plates to want to listen to my problems! I also have been taught in my counseling training that you can be too open & transparent and that’s not healthy either! I guess my issue is trying to find that balance!
Hahaha…people don’t care. That struck me as funny. I get that feeling sometimes and I’m sure they might think this of me, too. 🙁
I have started praying while in situations about how much to share with people. I’m in the grocery store and someone strikes up a conversation. I know the answer but do I reveal something that would divulge personal information about myself? I pray to ask for guidance and leading. This writing of the book has made me very sensitive to how open to be with others. My being open can be just as harmful in some situations as not opening up can be. So confusing at times.
Not sure about answering the 3 questions. Writing my story is a reminder that God is present and faithful. When I focus on Him and the people around me, there will opportinities(with His direction) that allows me to share and be transparent with my struggles. Sometimes I get it right and other times I miss opportinities to share God’s faithfulness in my life because I am too focused on the “gotta do” list or just closing my eyes.
Here’s a quick 5 minute personality test I’ve had some of my small groups take in the past as we discussed transparency. It allowed us to see how and why people react to certain situations. Copy the following URL, take the test and let us know “who” you are!
http://www.sagestrategies.biz/documents/FiveMinutePersonalityTestforclass.pdf
I’m a Beaver, Lion, Golden Retriever, and then an Otter…like a 36/40 Beaver…watch out!
I am a lion all the way! ?
Awesome! I just made my husband and kids do it so we could all compare. Very fun. 🙂
I am 24/26/27/23. Not sure what that says about me: split in quarters