THE FRAZZLED FEMALE

BY CINDI WOOD

WEEK 1 Day 1 He Loves Me!
What is the best thing God wants for us? He longs for me to spend time in His presence. He desires a personal and intimate relationship with me daily.
Are you working so hard for Him that you're bypassing your relationship with Him? In all honesty as I thought of this and looked within my heart, lately I have put Him second to working.
How do you feel about getting to know Him better? My heart is filled with a new sonf and new commitment to put Him first in all things. I now understand how I got myself all out of sorts with my walk. Praise God for Him revealing our relationship was being led away by distractions.

Day 2 The Journey of Intimacy
What choices did Mary and Martha make about the time they spent Jesus? Martha allowed her hospitality to rob her of being at peace with Jesus visit to her home. Mary sat at His feet to enjoy and bask in the Lord Jesus presence.
How do you relate with Mary? Realizing that anytime I am in prayer, in the Word, and acknowledging my God and Savior I am in God’s presence. I can just hear the cherubim and seraphim’s wings fluttering. I picture just like Isaiah saw, the Lord’s train filling the temple. My heart just want’s to bask in His presence.
How do you relate with Martha? In all truth, I too have felt like Martha. Busy, busy, busy and not stopping to smell the fragrance of Christ my Savior. I even have gotten upset with sister’s in church when they seem to not fulfill the call God has placed on their lives. But thank God He showed me the more important things through Martha and Mary. Martha had a gift of hospitality and she just allowed her business to take control. It is so easy to complain instead of do in the name of Jesus.

Day 3 Hearing When God Speaks
How often do you think about God during the day? All day. No matter what, where, and whom I am around, I think of my Savior. I can sit in my back room and hear the bird or see the squirrel walk across the power lines. I can’t help but know God created them little animals. When I see a baby be born on TV I know who created the little one. When I hear my granddaughter share her faith I cannot help but praise my God. As I observe my husband and how he cares for me I see a servant that reminds me of Christ Jesus. Music touches my soul and I sing for joy knowing He is the song in my heart.
What things keep you from hearing God’s voice? Sin, distractions, my own selfish ways.
Re-read John 17:6-9
How does this make you feel, knowing the Lord pursues a love relationship with you? Loved and complete.

Day 4 My Heart’s Longing
God already knows the things that are in our hearts, but He wants us to talk to Him about them.
There is no question to answer today.
Say a prayer and pour out your heart’s desires to Him. You may share it here only if you wish. Lord you are the joy in my heart, the song I can sing, the life I would not exchange, the hope that is eternal, and my life. You guide me with your light and I praise you that you call me into the wonderful love relationship. Help me to be the child you can use and one who listens and speaks forth. Thank you for teaching me, freeing me, and using me. In Jesus Name. AMEN mammy

Day 5 Something More
Have you ever experienced a time in your Christian walk when your relationship with the Lord was less than exciting? Absolutely. Using the options on page 19 which do you see as the biggest obstacle that contributed to the distance you were feeling? A trial in my faith. (problem with people)
Conclude this week reading Psalm 139:23-24 prayerfully. Ask the Lord to show you anything in your life that is interfering with your relationship with Him.

Week 2
Day 1: A Positive Attitude
1. Describe a time you felt God was telling you to do something difficult but you did it out of obedience to Him. VBS
How did God bless your obedience? Joy, excitement mixed with some anxiety. But I am totally depending on the Lord to take care of any details I may not grasp and I know He will bless our church with increase on new born Christians.
2. What is God revealing to you about becoming a more positive person? To cast all my anxieties on the Lord and give Him all that troubles me.

Day 2: You Become What You Think
1. Your De-Frazzler this week will help you become more positive. Have you chosen your fasting attitude if you have complete the following: Yes
I have chosen to take a fast on: _Every Thursday at breakfast…
I want to be able to pray and seek his face. Meditate only on the Lord and His goodness and mercy.
Why? I want to please my Lord in everything in my day and life.
2. How will your life be better by taking this fast? Draw nearer to Jesus and hear His directions for my life.
3. Read Philippians 4:8. What are the characteristics Paul tells us to think about? All things that are honorable, true, commendable, morally excellent, things worthy of praising God.

Day 3: The Power of God
1. What things are accumulating in your life that Negatively affect your attitude? Organization of time, tired, feel lousy, and somedays overwhelmed.
2. List three areas (be creative) where you have NEVER thought of God's power being available? Mopping? Running errands? Exercizing?

Day 4: The Gift of His Power
1. How do we access God’s power in our lives? (pages 33-34) Prayer and Praising the Lord.
2. Write two “How Do I do This “this questions to the Lord
A._How do I rest totally in you Lord Jesus?
B. How do I accomplish getting my home in order Lord?
3. Share a situation from the last couple of days when focusing on a scripture could have helped you avoid negative thinking? Tonight when Jerry and I were discussing an issue with Best Buys warranty and how they were handling it in a dishonest way. You will understand when I say: “I should have prayed and then shut my big mouth.” I kind of blamed Jerry instead of being bold and addressing the issue’s myself.

Day 5: Being Positive in Negative Circumstances
1. After reading the story on page 35 at the top check three feelings you imagine were at the top of Glenda's emotional heap: _____anger _____confusion ______embarrassment
_____loss of self esteem __x___betrayal __x___shock ___x____rejection
_____glad to be rid of him
2. Have you ever experienced these feelings or similar ones? __x_yes ___no
Did you have a difficult time being positive? __x_yes ___no .
Explain your answer. My emotions seem to trigger my thoughts in a negative way instead of using the reasoning capabilities Jesus has given me. I am growing up in Jesus to where I am using the wisdom instead of emotions. But I still struggle at times.
How does it make your feel to know that “God understands your inability and even your resistance to being positive when everything inside you feels negative“? Totally loved and understood even when I don’t understand myself at times.
He knows that in your weakness you are not able to overlook all of life’s negatives and immediately jump into a positive lifestyle.
He understands, and wants us to rely on His power and the truth that He is God. He is in charge of our lives. What is our part in doing this? Our part is to believe---believe that He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do!
Write a prayer asking God to help you utilize His power to help you be positive when it’s easier to be negative.

Lord thank you so much for revealing to me how I can take my negative thoughts and attitudes to you. Oh Lord help me to be more positive as a woman of faith. Let my light shine even when I want to be negative or am tempted to be negative. Father I praise you for showing me to think on things from above on not on the earthly things that can cause me great disappointment. Thank you Lord for a way of escape when I want to be ugly. In Jesus Name. AMEN Mammy

Week 3 Day 1: God is in Control
This week is going to be tough for some, only answer what you are comfortable in sharing. Remember it won’t leave this group.
1.You were asked to rate how much time you have for certain areas of your life. Look at what you scored less than 5 on. my spouse and our children(grandchildren)
Ask God if He wants you to spend more time on these activities.
If you feel He is saying yes, ask Him to show you how best to do this. Lord I do ask you to make the most of our time together. I pray for every opportunity to do this that it is a direct blessing from you to us. Help us all to love one another and bless one another. Thank you Lord for how you blessed me this weekend with regards to our children.
If you don’t feel Him urging the importance of these, ask Him to help release any guilt you may be feeling about these areas. (You may keep these to yourself if you feel you need to.)
2. What 2 important principles can we learn from Jochebed? She relied on God and she was persistant. I too want to have that firm faith with my relationship with the Lord.
3. What is God revealing to you about how you manage your time? I am praying that God will reveal my inadequacies so that my time management will improve in the weeks ahead. I am learning to trust him with my time.

Day 2: More….
Read Matthew 6:19-21
1. What do you think this means, "Store up treasures in Heaven"? Things of heavenly value. So much here on earth seems valuable until you measure it to God's values. I am learning to store up treasures in heaven with God's handprint on them.
Name some ways you are doing this. Preparation to spend time with the Savior. Ready to share the gospel. Giving people hope. Praying about all things. Allowing God to use me as he sees fit.
2. In what areas of your life do you specifically long to experience His blessing? Family to reunite together. To be able to spend more time in rejoicing with one another as God has blessed us all so much.
as a mother as a wife at work: As a wife to be a good listener and encourage my husband. As a mother just be ready to pray at all times when they ask me too. Pray for each of my children to have a victorious life in Christ. My grandchildren to be used of our Lord and giving praise to God for how he is using them.
cleaning house in my friendships serving others: well to be honest its not my favorite thing but find pleasure in doing housework because it pleases God.
in my time with God. (consistent devotions each day and prayer seeking His will for my life.)
3. Do you believe spending time with Him each day will lead you to experience His blessing?
Explain: Yes, it is a blessing to commune with the Lord each day for my whole life takes on a new song. Not negative but positive things happen when I have given the Lord my first heart cry.

Day 3: The Core of the Problem
"God will not bless you in doing the things He has not called you to do"
1. How do you feel about this statement? Absolutely I agree with this. Why would I waste God's time and my own when it is not his calling for me. But honestly I have been there and met total frustration. God is good when I do his will and not my own or out of a sense of duty.
2. List your roles in each of the following areas; skip those that do not apply.
Example: Family wife mother housekeeper etc…
Family: prayer warrior, example, house, fulfills needs, helps, encourages, disciplines, loves, accepts, cares for, adores:
Church: teaches women and Sunday School, VBS Director for 2005, serve as deacon wife, sing in praise team and Complete Quartet
Career:
Community:
Schools:
Friendships: encourager, prayer, laughter, joy, peace, lead, be there,
Volunteer Work:
Other:
Reread your list and highlight or check off areas you may be over committed.
Take time with the Lord, seeking His direction.
Remember sitting at His feet and seeking His counsel are to your advantage.
After your prayer time, share what the Father is revealing.
Are there areas He wants you to give up? No at this time. He wants me to be a finisher of what he has assigned me to do.
Are you affirmed in your roles in other areas? Yes

Day 4: Blessed By God
1. How often do you compare yourself to other women? Once in awhile.
2. Why do you think you are tempted to do that? I feel I lack some disciplines in my life.
3. Do you think that’s what God wants us to do? Sometimes when I need to be led by an older sister example.
4. Do you think the purpose of Proverbs 31 is to make us feel inadequate as godly women? Absolutely not. God has this for us so we can strive to be a woman of purpose and a woman who is virtuous through his power.
5 How should we view this passage? An example to live by.

Day 5: My time belongs to God
1. What things cause you to feel over whelmed and frustrated because there aren’t enough hours in a day? I lack the strength and energy on many days of the week. I at times feel so defeated when I have those days. I strive to make the best of each day and ask God to help me through it all. I think the issues I have is trying to accomplish what I need to do and then enjoy the day as I go through it. When I look to Jesus I feel so empowered to do and finish any tasks I have. But I realize I miss that great opportunity to rely on His power and not my own strength. Today as I talked with my pastor he told me: good to not feel overconfident because when I depend on God he does it all through me.
2. Is it time that’s out of control, or are we out of control? Mammy is out of control.
Concentrate on what you do have control over, "Yourself" instead of what is beyond your control "circumstances"! AMEN
Pray and ask God to be the "God of your time"!
Lord Jesus I need you each morning even when I am rising out of my bed, I need you. Somedays I get up and just feel already overwhelmed because I did not seek your peace through it all. Father I lay myself on your altar and ask you Lord ot help me and order my time according to your will. I ask this humble in Jesus name. AMEN Mammy