Good Morning Girls!  I started our new "series" if you will yesterday explaining that on the first day of school I suddenly had ts panicky feeling of  "what is next for me?  What shall I pursue?"  As women today the possibilities are endless.  We can work, stay at home, or volunteer just about anywhere.  There is no career that is off limits to us.  The world is ours for the taking......
This is supposed to be a good thing right?  I mean we are now considered equal among men.  We have just as many opportunities as men.  We have just as many choices.  Sure, it's great, but the problem is, we have too many choices.  Too many wrong choices.  Too many choices that carry negative consequences.  Too many choices that distract us and pull us away from the will of God in our lives.  Too many choices that seem like the better choice when comparing them to the worlds standards.  Too many choices that are not God's best.
 I confess there were times this summer when I daydreamed of going back to work full time and hiding behind my career.  Now don't misunderstand me- working full time and pursuing a career is not a bad thing, but my motives were.  I wanted to go back to work to feel like I was doing something that could be measured.  I wanted to hit a sales goal, be top dog in the office, show them how it's done.  I wanted to see my name on the board and have the highest percentage of sales.  I wanted to walk around the office knowing I was the best.  Again, being your best at something is not a bad thing- my motives were.  I wanted to have this glory and validation because I was feeling like a failure in my life.  My faith was wavering day to day.  I felt insecure, confused, and frustrated.  I felt desperate about our finances.  It seemed like if I could pour my efforts somewhere else, and prove myself to be of value, it would excuse me from digging in and fighting for my faith.  If I could be top dog, I would no longer have to wait on the Lord- ouch!  Let me tell you Girls, taking matters into your own hands is never God's best!  Praise the Lord I remained grounded enough to know that though at times I was tempted, I knew in my heart that the Lord has a plan for my family and it doesn't involve me being the top sales Girl (not now anyways).
We are surrounded by the worlds standards.  It is shoved down our throat daily.  However, what the world has to offer is distractions, destruction, and danger (I needed another D word there).  It is so easy to get caught up the newest, biggest, best.  It is easy to find yourself one day pursuing things that are not of God.  It is easy to find yourself in the midst of a Trivial Pursuit.  Websters defines trivial as being of little significance, or value; ordinary.  Well Girls, this I know, we are not called to live a life of insignificance and ordinary!  Oh no, we serve a God that is anything but ordinary, and wants to use us to do extraordinary things for the Kingdom of God!  Don't spin your wheels pursuing the "things" of this world- God has better "things" in store for you, if you pursue the things of God instead (and we'll get to that part tomorrow).......

1 John 2:15-16 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.  These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

Love you wayyyyy more than trying to get that history pie slice in the game of trivial pursuit-
Jen