One Word, Three Arrows
The new year is well and gloriously underway. A fresh season has begun. Old things have passed on with a happy goodbye. And each new day brings with it unlimited possibilities that are only restricted by one’s lack of vision.
Instead of facing the new year with an extended list of goals and objectives that may likely be unmet about halfway though the year because of a sense of being overwhelmed or burdened, why not focus on one word and three arrows.
One word. A power source for your walk in the faith. A word that encompasses your hopes, dreams, and aspirations for the new year. One word that says it all and that gives you a sense of motivation for all things God.
What would your one word be?
For me, that word would be reach.
Reach: to get to; to succeed in touching or seizing with an outstretched hand; to stretch or extend so as to touch or meet; range of effective action, power, or capacity; to make contact or communication with.
Reach. One simple word with so much depth. A word that is an incredible source of fuel and focus for me after a year of great growth and grace. A word that reminds me of God’s mighty hand and outstretched arm toward His beloved people (Psalm 136:12; Deuteronomy 5:15; 2 Kings 17:36; Jeremiah 32:17).
Reach, my power word for 2012, which extends in three very specific directions, hence my reference to the three arrows. My three arrows – aims – for 2012, reach(ing) upward, reach(ing) inward, and reach(ing) outward.
Reach(ing) upward…This means going forward faithfully with God in whatever direction He chooses to pull me in/lead me toward. As He reaches for me, I reach for Him. With this arrow, I dedicate myself to fully trusting the LORD and surrendering myself completely to His glorious will.
Reach(ing) inward… This means living the “OK challenge.” This was a lesson from Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women. With this arrow, I dedicate myself to living peaceably with all men. I also intentionally choose to practice the peace I have been promised.
Reach(ing) outward… This means so much, to the point that it’s more vast that my words can express. Even with its vastness, however, it is not impossible for a supernatural God to conquer. With this arrow, I commit to aiming my heart toward grace works and fruitful missions. I commit myself to being God’s servant to all – the poor, the broken-hearted, the downtrodden, the fatherless, the widowed, the needy.
Only God knows how far these arrows will go. All I know is that I am ready to reach with everything I have inside of me. One word, three arrows. All aimed at the heart and glory of God.
Q4U: What is your one word for the year? Do you have three arrows aimed and ready?
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved to Leave A Legacy of Grace
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will cultivate a peaceful home where everyone can sense God’s presence not only through acts of love and service but also through the pleasant and grateful attitude with which I perform them.”
[and]
” I fully resolve to make today’s decisions with tomorrow’s impact in mind. I will consider my current choices in light of those who will come after me.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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A woman of resolution is surely a sight to behold. She is breathtaking, as she has given up her life so much so that she belongs not to herself but rather to God. She is her Father’s daughter. A woman-child in totality and in completion. She is everything that God has called her to be and more – more in such that she is forever growing, changing, and being transformed into an even more perfect vessel for the glory of her heavenly Father.
The woman of resolution is a godly wife and mother. She is a servant and sister. She is a comrade and friend. She is a disciple and a sincere follower of Jesus Christ, who understands the value in teaching and in learning. Her ways are blessed-kissed and touched by grace. Her walk is honest and upright. Her heart is open and giving. She is a peacekeeper, an encourager, and a worshipper in her home, at her place of employment, in her community and church, and everywhere God determines to place her.
The woman of resolution is God’s living grace. She is the woman who understands that her life serves as God’s graceful, grace-filled, and gracious touch and movement on mankind. She is also the woman who appreciates that her most blessed legacy lies in God’s glory. This is the message that is communicated to all who know her.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond. 
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved to Practice the Rule of 3
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will demonstrate to my children how to love God with all their hearts, minds, and strength, and will train them to respect authority and live responsibly.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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“Train up a child,” “provoke not your children,” and “impress on your children the commandments of God” - all of these are vital and essential lessons to know as you rear and bring up your children under the godly model of parenthood. Along with these scriptural guides, one must also consider the importance of the Rule of 3.
One of the greatest gifts given to womankind is the gift of motherhood. Being a mother is a blessed responsibility, as a woman is called to be a steward over God’s child/children. Though motherhood is not without its challenges and ongoing grace-growth teachings, it is a treasured role that implies that one be a ”soul shaper, intentional encourager, and discipline dealer.”
A woman of resolution loves her children and understands that she has been positioned by God to serve in the role He has set so that His children (which includes you) can come forth as He has purposed. She knows that her divine appointment as a mother calls for her to instruct her children in the ways and teachings of God. She appreciates that her task requires that she surrender herself and her children completely to God’s Father-ing.
The mother who is resolved to love her children according to God’s model of parenthood understands the value of living by example. She believes in the power of prayer, and she faithfully incorporates it into her life and over the lives of her children. She is mindful of the positive and negative influences surrounding her children and is willing to serve as a godly gatekeeper so that they are protected. She is honest and truthful. Compassionate and encouraging. Just and fair. She is also dedicated to training up her kids in righteousness.
In the place of “loving her children,” the woman who is resolved lives a life that demonstrates trust in God. She leans into God and looks for Him to guide her as she guides her children, according to the Word of God and in full compliance with the Holy Spirit.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Be His #1 Fan
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will be faithful to my husband and honor him in my conduct and conversation in order to bring glory to the name of the Lord. I will aspire to be a suitable partner for him to help him reach his God-given potential.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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It goes without saying that many women dream of one day getting married and spending the rest of their lives with the man of their dreams. They dream of sunhearts and lovedust. Of tender moments wrapped in the cover of love. They look forward to a future frothed with ooey gooey kisses shared with their best friend. But as time passes and the realities of life sink in, many women are shockingly surprised by what their relationship with their significant other becomes.
The woman of resolution understands the seriousness and sacredness of her covenant relationship with her spouse. She values her mate as her God-given head and supports him in whatever way she can. She stands with him when good choices are made and when not so good choices are made. She encourages him when he is low and struggling to draw his next breath and when he is high and celebrating the goodness of God with a heart full of praise.
Resolved to fulfill her husband, the woman of resolution knows that her role as wife and partner is such that she is called to wear many hats. She is head cheerleader on days when her man needs to know he is leading his family down the right path. She is a trustworthy confidant in times when her spouse needs to know that his words – what he has to say - matters. She is a faithful lifemate when her husband longs to know he is cherished above all others. She is her partner’s # 1 fan, even after lovedust and life collide.
In the place of “fulfilling her husband,” the woman who is resolved is committed to lifting up her best friend and to supporting him in his efforts. She does all she can to encourage him to be the man that God has called him to be. She is dedicated to esteeming him in every way. She is determined to pray for her covenant partner’s spiritual maturation and development, and she will cheer for him “until death do us part.”
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond. 
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Care
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will pursue justice, love mercy, and extend compassion toward others.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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Missions, works, and service, oh my. So much has been done and still there is so much more to be done. Are you resolved to care beyond your circumstances?
Impoverished nations. Children with no parents or family who are able or willing to take them on and care for them. Orphans of all ages trafficked to the highest bidder. Drugs galore by the tons, massively enslaving men and women, boys and girls. Abused women shunned by a nation who grants them none of the basic human rights they are due. Innocent people confined and imprisoned by a dictatorial and/or “religious” regime. Homeless souls who have elected or been forced to live an existence on the outskirts of humanity. The poor. The broken-hearted. The down-trodden. All of these are among us. They are around us. Are you willing to see them? Are you willing to hear their cries?
The resolved woman who has a heart for God cares beyond where she stands. She does not limit herself or her ability to act based on her circumstances. She realizes that she has a voice that can be used and that she likewise has hands and feet that can go and do. She knows that she has a greater purpose and mission, a higher calling for her life. She appreciates that she is a representative of the One who cared enough to give His life for her.
The woman who is resolved to care fights for those who have no fight left inside. She speaks for those who have no voice. She is dedicated to giving of her means and talents, such as they are. She extends mercy and grace to those in need, understanding that she is demonstrating love and compassion as unto the LORD. She serves others knowing that she is doing so with a mindset of loving her neighbor as self. She has accepted that she is, indeed, her brother’s keeper.
In the place of justice, mercy and compassion, the woman who is resolved cares enough to care and does all she can to help. Her eyes are open, her ears can hear, and her heart is willing to love in deed and in truth.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Live with Integrity
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will not tolerate evil influences even in the most justifiable form, in myself or my home, but will embrace and encourage a life of purity.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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Living with integrity, in a world that oftentimes seems to lack it, can be a challenge. In truth, it can seem like a seemingly impossible task. If it were not for God, His Word, and His Spirit, many of us would not and could not make it.
On a daily basis, Christians and non-Christians alike are bombarded with images. From commercials and billboards to movies and magazines to rhythmical radio tunes and colorful internet advertisements, we are inundated with loose principles, idolatry, and unholy living. We are persuasively encouraged to relax our morals and to massage our beliefs so that we can join the in crowd and be a part of the now or the know. But it is in the face of a relaxed and massaged stance that the Christian and the non-Christian begin to be eased and lulled into a slow and sometimes painful death of the soul.
The woman who is resolved to live her life with integrity stands firm in her convictions. She champions God and resiliently runs a race with a course set on that which is not only morally correct, but that is also spiritually correct. She does not compromise who she is for the sake of fitting in. She opposes that which is not for God or His glory.
The woman of God who lives with integrity allows God to be a refuge and fortress in her life and in the lives of her loved ones. She trusts God to be her Stronghold both at home and at work, and in any place the LORD calls her to dwell. She is the woman who knows that, though she may at times be called to stand alone in the physical, she will never be alone in the spiritual. She ”actively and intentionally makes a daily choice to reject the crowd, repel the culture and respond to the calling of God.”*
In the place of integrity, the woman who is resolved lives in the world but is not of the world. She is the woman who appreciates her deliverance and who valiantly strives to walk in the freedom she has been granted in Christ. She is the woman who moves, speaks, walks, talks, and teaches others, as well as herself, by way of the Spirit, what holiness means. She is a woman who elects to be undefiled.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
* The quote above is from K.E. Teamer.
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Forgive
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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Could you forgive the person who betrayed you the most?
Over the course of our lives, many of us have been wronged, violated, and crushed by the actions of others. We have been acted upon in such a way that was totally devastating. As a result, we may have withdrawn, in a sense, and closed ourselves off from the world. This is often done as a means of protection and self-preservation. But could it be that in removing ourselves from that which has hurt us or from that person who has betrayed us, we are shrouding our lives with the dark garment of unforgiveness.
When one is harmed emotionally, physically, or mentally, it is natural to seek that which removes them from harm’s way. Oftentimes, however, issues might go unresolved and matters may remain unsettled, thereby giving way and root to the practice of unforgiveness. Soon, it may become a way of life for the person who views herself as a victim.
Is it possible that in practicing unforgiveness, the victim can become the victimizer?
In practicing unforgiveness and wearing the unholy garb of unforgivenss, the person who was victimized could easily be led down a track where she becomes victimizer, holding everyone a guilty distance away from her heart. She may blame an innocent party for the actions of another who negatively impacted her life in the past. She might even give way to a seed of bitterness that can take root in the lives of those around her, contributing to a poisonous and unfruitful vine. Ultimately, however, it begs to wonder whether or not she is betraying herself as it relates to her life in Christ.
The woman of resolution who has been wronged or who has admittedly wronged others understands, only through Christ and with the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, that the practice of unforgiveness is detrimental to her life and the lives of others who have been positioned around her. She recognizes that, she must forgive in order to be forgiven, and she knows that this can only be accomplished through the supernatural power of God.
The woman who is resolved is the woman who gets to a point of understanding and discernment, where she can see, with her spiritual eyes, that Satan tries to counterfeit forgiveness with things such as excuses, rationales, and justifications. She is the woman who forgives herself for the times when she proudly wore garments of darkness. She is the woman who has surrendered to God and undergone a spiritual makeover of the heart and mind. She now models God’s holy garment of forgiveness…even before that or those which have betrayed her.
In the place of forgiveness, the woman who is resolved lives forgiven and practices the art of forgiveness. She shares the blooms of God’s love freely, knowing that it is only in Him that she can do so.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Esteem Others Higher
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will be a woman who is quick to listen and slow to speak. I will care about the concerns of others and esteem them more highly than myself.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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Shh…a message of importance is about to be spoken, and guess what, it is not coming from your mouth.
Although this is quite the humourous take on the importance of being quiet and listening, it is definitely a lesson that all of us need to learn. The problem many of us have is that our mouths are so busy running that our ears are not effectively listening. And they cannot listen if we are more concerned about esteeming ourselves higher than others.
The woman of resolution understands that she is not center stage. She understands that the spotlight does not have to be on her and that the microphone does not have to be in her hand. She knows that the world does not revolve around her, rather she appreciates that it revolves around Jesus Christ.
As a woman who is resolved, the woman of resolution undoubtedly knows that because the world is centered and focused on Christ, she can live in such a way that she is readily available and wholly present to respond to the needs of others. She understands that in order to respond, she must be able to hear. She also knows that in order to be able to hear, she must be able to be quiet, even to the point of being slow to speak (a great exercise of faith, to be sure).
In the place of esteeming others, the woman who is resolved can practice the art of quieting self for the greater good of others. She can remain silent, knowing that she is making a real difference in the lives of others simply by listening and responding to their needs.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Devotedly Give Her Best
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will seek to devote the best of myself, my time, and my talents to the primary roles the Lord has entrusted to me in this phase of my life.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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Every day that we live, we are called to love and to serve. We are called to give of ourselves – in part or in whole. Sometimes, however, we get so busy in the giving that we lose sight of giving that which is best.
The best cannot be measured by the world’s standards, but rather it is defined by God’s. It deals with giving of that which we have been given. Given, that is, by the LORD God Himself.
The best should be viewed as an offering as “unto the LORD” (Colossians 3:23). It should also be viewed as a gift as unto self (Mark 12:31), because who, after all, would give less than there best to another if they looked at it from the perspective of giving to self. Lastly, the best can be viewed as a blessing upon oneself.
A woman of resolution is one who understands that her best offering is her first offering or rather her firstfruit offering unto the LORD. She is the woman who appreciates that she must first acknowledge the One who gives and then that she must give back to her Provider that which He has provided. She is committed to blessing Him with all His many blessings which have been bestowed upon her. She is devoted to this cause.
A woman of resolution is also the woman who understands that she must give her most excellent offering to her neighbor (as unto self). She realizes that she can only serve another if she sees him through the eyes of love.
Additionally, the woman of resolution is the one who recognizes that she must give the best she has to herself. She is not to give to herself in a selfish way, but rather in an unselfish way that shows that she understands that giving the best requires a refreshed and replenished heart. She knows that she must recharge, and as such, she can then go forward with her very best.
The “devoted” woman of resolution is about the woman who gives quality versus quantity. It is about the woman who is selfless and unconditional in her love and worship of God. It is about the woman who demonstrates a whole-hearted love toward those placed in her life from season to season. And it is about the woman who extends grace to herself in her present moments. It is about the woman who is determined to live in such a way that her devotion is sure.
In the place of devotion, the woman who is resolved can give all of herself without losing any of who she is in Christ.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Be HIS
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will live as a woman answerable to God and faithfully committed to His Word.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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The world, with its many challenges, has the potential to impact the woman of God in many ways. No matter the circumstance, however, the woman after God’s own heart should stand firm in her faithfulness and committment to the One who is LORD of her life. She must remember and never forget that she is His.
In the matter of living, we, as women, deal with issues of the heart, issues of the mind, and issues of the spirit. When either one of those areas is affected and our sense of peace is disturbed, the taint of the great deceiver may be felt ten-fold. But for those who allow the Holy Spirit to have full reign and access in their lives – heart, soul, and spirit – God, in His faithfulness and love, is able to speak His promises over their lives and into their situations and there is belief.
To those who allow the Spirit’s fire to consume them, nothing is held back when it comes to the grace and growth opportunities allowed by God. A holy stirring is assured. An acceptance of “being different” is realized. A heavenly purpose is claimed.
The woman of resolution, who is “faithfully His,” is connected to her Father in such a way that nothing can come between them. She is the woman who chooses to believe in the promises of God rather than in the deceptions of the world or of the prince of this world. She is the woman who cherishes her Father, trusts in His truths about who she is, and lives in such a way that is aligned with His kingdom purposes and divine will.
In the place of faithfulness, the woman who is resolved can trust in the covenant relationship that she has with her Creator and be all that He says she can be in Him.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Accept My Beautiful (and Yours Too)
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will accept and celebrate my uniqueness, and will esteem and encourage the distinctions I admire in others.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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That which is beautiful and unique and special in each one of us is to be celebrated. It is to be recognized and cherished. It is to be loved. It is not to be admired from the viewpoint of narcissism, arrogance, or envy but rather it is to be appreciated from the viewpoint of purity and goodness.
God made each woman beautiful in her own time and in her own way. He made woman to be the apple of His eye. He made her to be a vessel of life. She was made to be valued and esteemed. She was made to be gifted and capable. And as such, she – being made in the very image of God Himself - was made to be applauded.
A woman of resolution is adorned by God. She is authentic. A rare find. She is a jewel in the crown of her Father. She is the woman who rests in her chosenness. She is the woman who is so comfortable in her own skin that she can value the beauty found in others. She communicates love and encouragement to others because she communicates love and encouragement to herself.
Being and seeing self as an “authentically me” woman of resolution is about living and breathing in a place of security. It is about esteeming self in a selfless versus selfish kind of way. It is about demonstrating a heart of love toward others, so much so that honest and meaningful acknowledgement of their beautiful is expressed without condition.
In the place of authenticity, the woman who is resolved can be real in such a way that she is not threatened or insecure.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
A Woman of Resolution…Resolved To Follow God’s Design for the Woman
(A Message based on Priscilla Shirer’s book, The Resolution for Women)
“I will champion God’s model for womanhood in the face of a post feminist culture. I will teach it to my daughters and encourage its support by my sons.”
- Priscilla Shirer, The Resolution for Women
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Since the beginning of time, God had a specific plan, order, and design for all of His creation. The woman, in particular, was one such creation that had a specific role and purpose. She had a plan she was to follow, an order she was to adhere to, and a design she was to pattern her life after.
Part of the intended plan for the woman was to serve as a helper to her God-given man. She was fashioned to be suitable for him and to be identified as part of Him. She was to have a God-blessed union with man. She was to comply with the directives given to man by God Himself. She was to serve as partner and mother. She was to desire her husband only. And yes, she was to submit to the leadership of the man she was given too.
Though times have changed and societal views of who a woman is, what she is purposed for, and what she is expected to do have shifted, God’s intent for the woman has remained consistent and clear. It has not changed.
Being a “purposefully feminine” woman of resolution is about being confident and assured in your God-given role. It is about walking in the light of God’s definition of woman versus the world’s definition of woman. It is about a surrendering of self and an acceptance of who God says you are as a woman in Christ.
In the place of biblical femininity, the woman who is resolved can stand firm in her belief that she is who God has declared her to be.
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To learn more about The Resolution for Women or about Priscilla Shirer, see The Phone Tree post, The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer or go to Going Beyond.
Kim Teamer, Christ Follower/Bible Study Enthusiast/Pursuer of Truth 
