Chase the Lion Session One: Taking Risks

Lesson One: The Domino Effect

Ordinary people taking risks don't know they are making history. People like Martian Luther, Oskar Schindler and Rosa Parks took risks.

What risks have you taken in your own life?
For me it would be choosing to attend SBU. It was not something that my family wanted me to do, or that they supported. I ended up needing to lean on God and good things came of that! This lesson talked about the domino effect. I can see the domino effect that has occurred in my life. It started when I was a freshman in high school and continues to today! Although I don't see myself as taking risks, I see the domino effect and see how it has worked in others lives around me.

Lesson 2: Risky Business

Daniel, Peter, and John - they all risked their lives for Christ.

Have you ever done anything risky for God? What was the result?
Again, going to SBU was a big step. I decided to pursue youth ministry in my undergrad. This does not seem too risky to me, although there were not many women in that major and I was reminded of that often. No I am not a youth minister at this time, but I see where I was used even if it was only for a couple of months. I helped out the youth at FBCKC while we were in between youth ministers. The interim couple really appreciated my help and I really got to use the gifts God gave me at that time. I still hope to see where God is going to use that training down the road in my future.
I took a risk going back to get my masters in Elementary Education. With a little nudge from a friend I filled out the application for NCA and got my first teaching job there. I have met many wonderful friends there and I have grown a lot as a teacher.

Lesson 3: Buried Talent

According to the parable in Matt 25, an essential element of faithfulness is risk! "Faithfulness is multiplying what you have to the best of your God-given ability. Faithfulness is not minimizing risk; faithfulness is maximizing risk in order to maximize reward" (p 17).

My definition of faithfulness: Faithfulness - trusting that God will keep me safe and guide me when I take a risk that He has equipped me for.

How do Jesus' words strike you? How do they make you feel?
I know that I have been given a lot of responsibility and that I need to step up to the plate and make the most of it. I need to quit living day by day and start making sure that I am prepared and that I am doing well. Again if I was not rushing then I would have time to do things that I want to do and get done what I need to do too!

What talents has God given you?
God has given me the ability to encourage others, also he has given me the gift of hospitality. Also He has given me the gift of administration.

How are you currently investing your talents? Are they safe investments or risky investments?
I am NOT investing my talents. I am burying them.

Lesson 4: Play offense

I loved the words on p 20, "Satan wants us to live in a defensive posture, and he uses two primary tactics to accomplish it - fear and discouragement. He wants us to run away from fear, uncertainty and risk. But Christ calls us to chase lions. Stan would love nothing more than our ultimate goal to be to avoid sin. However, doing nothing wrong doesn't constitute doing something right. Goodness is not the absence of badness."

All I could do is think....WOW! I can't just try to avoid sin, I need to chase after what is right! "Goodness is not he absence of badness." That one got me!

Here is the link to Ted Leonsis' 101 List: http://www.tedstake.com/?p=8

Here is the start of my list:
1. Fall in love and get married
2. Have children
3. Start a ministry for woman
4. Minister with my husband
5. Teach at the college level
6. Be an administrator in education
7. Pay off my college loans
8. Go to Hawaii
9. Go on a cruise
10. Write a book

What is tempting about living life defensively?
You only have to react to situations. You do not have to worry about people thinking you are crazy at what you are doing. You are less likely to be discouraged. When you take a risk there is a possibility that you will be rejected or others will not like your decisions.

What areas of you life do you live offensively?
None

Lesson 5: Inaction Regrets

Oh how I hate "what if's."

Regret of action - doing something that you wish you hadn't done.
Regret of inaction - not doing something that you wish you had done.

Action regrets = commission sins
Inaction regrets = omission sins

At the end of life our greatest regrets will be the thing we didn't do.

I just want to get rid of some of my what if's. I think Satan enjoys throwing our what if's in our faces. I just want to be rid of them. Especially if you can not change the present. Sometimes we can rectify our what if and God gives us another chance. Sometimes the moment has past and we just have to ask for forgiveness and give it to God. I challenge you to do that this week! Give God the regret you have, if you can't change it, ask for forgiveness and move on. If He give you another shot at it...take the risk this time.

RUN!

Scripture Verse for the week:

Matt 19:28-30 "And Jesus replied, 'I assure you that when I, the Son of Man, sit upon my glorious throne in the Kingdom, that you who have been my followers will also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will have eternal life. "

Prayer Experiment:
Ask God to give you the courage and heart of a risk-taker
Confess any sins of omission.
Ask God if there are any risks that He wants you to take. Listen.
Specifically write out one risky request.
Thank God for allowing you to be a part of His adventure.

Chasing our dreams is a risk. What dreams (or goals) do you have that you need to start running after?

Check out http://chasethelion.com/guide/seizing-opportunities for this weeks audio/video lesson.

Please write answers to any of the questions that were given in the study guide, any thoughts that you have about the scripture, words written, or the audio/video that went with the Taking Risks Session.

I have had a particularly bad week and this study is helping me get through it! I also know that I need to be a risk taker and sometimes I need to go for it! It is scary but I know others have done it and they have come out just fine. I also know it is not an "easy" process, it is not all sunshine and rainbows. Risk is hard, it may not be fun or exciting, but sometimes it has to be done. I am thankful for the risk takers that I have as examples in my life. I think you know who you are!

The Time Has Come

Okay, let's stop procrastinating. I can always think of a million reasons why not to start the Bible study Chasing the Lions. They are excuses. I'm done with them. I will ALWAYS be too busy...welcome to life. The time is now. No more excuses. I will be starting the Chasing the Lions Bible study this week. If you would like to join me please do. I have included the link to the audio and video from the church where this was first developed. I will post my thoughts on this blog on Monday. Please write your thoughts as comments about the weeks lesson. I will be starting the study tomorrow. You may catch up if you have not bought the book yet.

The book is a workbook it even includes a notes section for each session. The book is called "Chasing the Lion {stepping confidently into the unknown}." It is by Mark Batterson. The publisher is Lifeway it is in the "threads" series. I actually found it in the singles section of the Bible study materials.

I have thought of all my excuses and God has answered them. I have to do lesson plans - you need Me to help plan your steps. I have too many other commitments including tech board, RCET board, Love and Logic group, KKI president, cheerleading sponsor (a new commitment), thinking of offering after school enrichment - how can you do all this without Me? The holidays are coming up I'll be busy - again too busy to spend a little time with the person you should be thanking at Thanksgiving and celebrating the birth of at Christmas... come on!
Yeah, I've been a little convicted! Did not mean to step on toes, just sharing what He has reveled to me.

Here is the plan have the session read and ready to comment on Monday.
Session 1 –Taking Risks - Monday November 24
Session 2 – Seizing Opportunities - Monday December 1
Session 3 - Facing Fears - Monday December 8
Session 4 - Reframing Problems - Monday December 15
Session 5 – Embracing Uncertainties - Monday December 22
Session 6 – Looking Foolish - Monday December 29


So you should listen to the audio or watch the video from the site below and start the study this week. We will post comments next Monday.

We will get done right before the new year! Remember the benefit of doing this online is that you can post and share anytime you want. You do not have to do it on Monday that is just the day I will be aiming to get the post up and the link for the audio or video for the coming week. If you get behind, you can just catch up when you can. Let’s start the chase!


Check out this site for the audio or video for the first week!


http://chasethelion.com/guide/defying-odds

Let's Get This Started!

Alright, it sounds like there is a good response. Now we need to figure out what study we want to do. Let's come up with ideas...

Some people have talked about still having the get together part and internet part. We will need to look at a day we like. Here is the thinking...we pick a day of the week...if you can not come...(because stuff comes up, kids need you, end of the quarter, school events, too tired, you live in Texas)...we still have it. If you miss, you read the post and comment on the blog. You also comment on the blog during the week so that we can discuss all week. Share your thoughts, questions, prayer concerns.

Here is what we need to decide... what study, what day, what time, where?

Let's hear the ideas!

Love you all!

New To Blog

Well this is my first blog! I have so many friends that share their thoughts on blogs I have decided to do the same. I may be asking some of you for help! Well as usual I am procrastinating so I need to get back to my task at hand for today. First I want to share my vision for a ministry that I came up with years ago...maybe this will be my starting off point!

PALACE Ministries: For Women
PALACE Ladies = Pursuing A Life According to Christ’s Example. Ephesians 5:1-2a “Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.Purpose:PALACE ladies pursue a well balanced life that includes personal time with Jesus, love for others, encouragement, goal setting, and evangelism in an attempt to follow Christ’s example.A PALACE lady maintains balance between her time with God, Family, Job, and Activities through organization.

There is more to it. If you really want to know I would be happy to share. My current desire is to share a Bible study online with some of the most AMAZING women that god could have placed in my life!

Gay has been there from the start of my Christian walk! Really. As a teen she and her husband were my youth ministers. I had gone to that particular church off and on in 7th and 8th grade. For the first 6 times in a ROW that I went to the church I was greeted with a "hello, is this the first time here?" Often by the same person and handed a card to fill out AGAIN! I stopped going. (This is before I was saved) I had been in church as a child thanks to my grandparents. I had a basic "knowledge" of Christ. I then went to YCW at SDC with a friend’s church and was moved by the message of the speaker. I prayed a prayer of salvation that night. I saw Gay and her husband right after that. I went up to speak to them assuming that they would not remember me, they were still new to the church and had only met me once. Gay said hello and asked how my family was doing since the recent death of my grandmother. I was shocked...not only did she know me, but she really cared. Anyone who knows her would not be shocked. She truly loves and cares about others. As I have grown up, she has become a good friend and wonderful mentor. She has an amazing heart and is certainly a PALACE lady! (Okay Gay, stop crying I am done! Love you!)

Amber is a fairly new friend! I have already learned so much from her! I love how she loves life, shows passion, cares about herself, her family, her friends and her students. Amber is a trusted friend! I enjoy reading her blog...sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry, sometimes I am inspired!

Ashley has been there for me in many ways. She is a wonderful friend, she is a great person to talk to, she really listens, she gives advice and encouragement. She happens to let me rent a place to live too! She lets me stay in her house and watch her dish while she is not there too! Oh, and I feel like I have two dogs thanks to her. Her dogs think I am just a member of the family who lives through the other door to the backyard!

Jo, what can I say about Jo. Well I call her my "mom away from mom!" I don't know what I would have done without her and her family. I am truly a part of the family. I even have a pair of Orange Nike's to prove it. (The official shoe of the family!) I practically live at their house. I really did for a little while! I have a new love for soccer thanks to the family! I will NEVER be as loud as her, I can try though! It is rare for me not to be at the house once a week! I still do my laundry there and go over to watch NASCAR races and movies! She introduced me to a wonderful church that I may some day like to serve in some way!

Rachel has been the friend close to my age on the hall. Wow this year we will really be the young ones! Rachel has been a friend that shows me how to and encourages me to stay focused on God. I have been blessed by the fact that she used to let me stay at her house to save me from an hour drive that I did not want to drive late at night. She opened her house to me as well as her heart. She, like the other ladies of this group, have shown me what a good Christian marriage can look like.

Sarah is our social director! She lets us all hang at her house! If we have something going on it is usually at her place. We even planned a party at her place and let her know the day we were coming over! Sarah is a prayer warrior! She cares for us all and seems to know everything going on at school! She is truly a "handy woman!"

Tina is a counselor to me in more than one way. She is someone to talk to who will listen. She does not try to make things better she tries to help you figure out how to make things better. She shows me that things may not always go on our time table, but God's is always better!

I love these ladies! God has given me such wonderful mentors and friends!

Well looks like this first one was long!