Balance that Works for Women

I am coming out of my summer hiding to make a very important announcement…

Society expects a lot from women in 2011. We run marathons, committees, carpools and households. We hold hands and hold meetings and hold bags of groceries, usually all at the same time. We answer e-mails while we answer the incessant questions of our 3 year olds. We have careers and ministries. We have talents, passions and dreams.

We’re wives,
We’re mothers
We’re grandmothers
We’re sisters
We’re neighbors
We’re friends…

And, girl, we are TIRED! Because most of us tried to do all of that before we sat down at the computer to read this post!

Maybe it’s just me, but the concept of balance in life often seems unattainable, at least for the long-term. I go through seasons where I feel well-balanced, only to have some element of my life change, throwing me off balance again. Sometimes it can be something as large as a relocation or a small as an uncooperative child. Or a small, uncooperative child. Whatever.

I do not believe it’s God’s plan for women to constantly feel overwhelmed with our responsibilities. It’s distracting. It’s disheartening. It’s oppressive. I believe it’s one of the many tactics of the Enemy to make us ineffective. For me, being off balance keeps me from hearing God’s voice. When I can’t hear His voice, I can’t do His will. And, voila…I’m ineffective.

This is why I’m teaching a brand new series. I figure is this is an ongoing battle for me, it must be an ongoing battle for some of you, too. Because Satan uses the same tactics on all of us…he’s so NOT creative.

No, it’s not a class on hormone health.  Though we all know that whacked out hormones can throw a girl off balance.  Instead we’ll be talking about this:

• Enemies of Balance, including Perfectionism, the Comparison Trap, Mismanaged Time, and Busyness

• Setting God-Directed Goals

• How to make Healthy Meals and Fitness a Priority

• Streamlining Household tasks, everything from the laundry pile to the giant paper pile

• Balancing screen time and Face Time

• Making time for all the important people in your life, including your spouse, your children and your friends.

Don’t worry, I’m going to just heap on you a boatload of condemnation for not being organized and give you a bunch of things to add to your to DO list. 

I hate classes like that, don’t you?

Instead, we will begin this Wednesday by turning away from society and it’s crazy expectations, and instead turning to God, to find out what HE expects of us. I will challenge you to identify your personal limitations and put up some personal boundaries. And rather than a to DO list, I will have each of you create a To DON’T list!

Hopefully, by the end of the very first class you’ll feel a little less burdened. A little more empowered. A lot more balanced.

If you are in the Louisville, KY area, I would LOVE to see you there!  If not, the entire series will be available for FREE MP3 download, along with all the class notes (I will post the links as they become available). 

It’s going to be a lot of fun!  See you there, one way or another!