God Wants His Job Back Giveaway
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NOTE: There seems to have been a glitch on the Crosswalk.com site and an old devotion of mine ran instead of the correct one. The correct one is called God Wants His Job Back? Click here to take a peek and so you’ll know what I am referring to in this post. We’ll wait while you do. Be sure to come back for the giveaway!
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Do you too like to call the shots, be in charge, run the show?
Welcome to the control freaks club. :)
If you, like me, struggle with wanting to situate people and manipulate outcomes, here a few quotes taken from my newly released book and 6-week dvd Bible study: LET. IT. GO. How to Stop Running the Show & Start Walking in Faith.
“Where you can get yourself (and your emotions) in a tangled-up mess is when you act before you pray. Leap before you look. Cart before the horse in a race to your own coveted finish. Yes, do what you can — prayerfully and carefully — but leave the results to God. Your job is obedience. God’s job is results.”
“There exists a miniscule line between being conscientious and being controlling. A marker so fine, we women often cross it without even noticing that it’s stretched out right there in front of us, waiting to trip us up. What we must do is determine the difference between being conscientious (our part) and being in control (God’s job).”
And perhaps the whole book is best summed up by my friend Liz’s description of it:
“Especially written for wives and mothers who try to control everyone and everything around them (believe me, I get this!), Let. It. Go.offers solid advice, wise counsel, and a healthy dose of humor. Full of why-to and how-to suggestions, plus helpful tools to measure what needs fixing, Karen Ehman’s book goes right to the heart of the issue: ‘are we trying to be godly or are we trying to be God?’”
Liz Curtis Higgs, author of The Girl’s Still Got It
Through the remainder of November, ALL PRODUCTS purchase through Proverbs 31 Ministries are 25% off! Whoo-hoo! Christmas shopping time! Click here to order.
Speaking of Christmas, would you like to join over 6500 women and get my free resource From Chaos to Calm: The LET. IT. GO. Christmas Challenge? You might just win a Kindle Fire for participating!
Do you often have Norman Rockwell-like expectations about the holidays — the decorations, the food, the gifts, the activity — laden schedule, the family get-togethers?
There are many areas where women want to exert control ensuring the perfect yuletide season. What if we learned instead to let go of unrealistic expectations and embrace an “out-of-control” Christmas this year: relaxing and relating in a peaceful manner while letting others offer input and ultimately allowing God to call the shots?
This five-day challenge will allow Christmas to go from chaos to calm as you learn to control what you should and trust God with what you can’t. The result? Less stressing and more blessing! Click here for the free sign up.
And, as promised in the devotion, here is the giveaway:
It includes a copy of the book, a Cinnamon stick candle from the White barn Company and some Starbucks cinnamon coffee.
And finally, the LET. IT. GO. blog tour continues where we are giving away a second Kindle Fire. Today’s posts are found at my friends’ blogs: Kara Chupp’s Arlene Pellicane’s Goodbye, house. Hello, home! Getting Freedom
To find even more bloggers participating, click here.
Now, to leave a comment to win the giveaway, tell me, which area do you struggle the most with wanting to control, your husband’s behavior, the kids’ behavior, your schedule, the house, or circumstances in general? Or is it something else? Please share.
The schedule. Ugh. Too many kids doing too many things with not enough parents to go around.
I unfortunately try to control so many aspects of life. My kids are the biggest currently. I have given up trying to have any control over my husband b/c he doesn’t budge unless he wants to so it’s fruitless. Same with the house…I still have perfectionist tendencies, but realize they aren’t attainable with 2 kids and a busy life. I realize the urge and need for control though always seems to end up causing more stress. I’m trying to learn to relax and just accept that I can’t do it all and I can truly do nothing without Christ. It’s like swimming against a strong current and exhausting trying to do it alone.
I struggle with gifts! Iw ant to buy everything….but I don’t want to spend too much $$ or spoil! Isn’t it really all about God – so why do I feel obligated to buy everything in the store! UGH! I need help letting it all go!
How did you know me so well!! I love to control it all and when I can’t watch out!! I could use some help with this issue.
I struggle with loss of control on a daily basis. I have a chronic illness that has left me no other choice than to give up control in a lot of areas..but oh do I struggle with this. I have had to give up control on having a perfect house, when things get done, and so much more. It is so hard to want to do things that need to be done, but you cannot do them. I would love to read your book and put things into better perspective, as this is one area that is so difficult for me.
My house. I want it kept clean and tidy, but we live on a farm with three fantastic kids and a busy (and messy) wonderful husband.
I know that there was a glitch in the sending of the devotional, and the old one was run…but I really needed to hear that one as well as this one. So now I am thanking God for that “glitch”, it came at the right time!
I struggle with control, wanting the old times back, and seeing the need for change and making everyone happy, but not me. I run around like Maratha when I should be Mary, enjoying the time, making memories and enjoying God blessings.
It is amazing how God hears my little prayers and answer them through the internet. Driving to work this morning i was thinking of this very thing. I spent my hour drive trying to figure how and when I became a control freak! I am not sure i can pinpoint if i try to control my kids or my husband more! I saw your book on Pinterest last night and I will pin in tonight -can’t do it at work. I love how you KNOW me and my struggles but yet you have never met me. It gives me comfort that i am not alone in this struggle. I look forward to reading your book and learning to let God have control of my day. Thank you!
I don’t think I can narrow down one area where I seek control. I am much like you describe yourself – leader becoming the boss. It’s so hard to differentiate sometimes! Thanks for this devotion and reminder that god is in control. He is the boss!!
Me a “control freek”-no way, I’m always giving space, listening to others needs before mine, allowing God to Move in my life and to Trust Him-no I’m not needing this book!
Well-I just listened to the first video from the series posted on line and did I get awaken by How Much I AM a Control Freek! Especially when it comes to God, Did I say that???? Yes-I did…I really could value from this encouragement to put God back in the Drivers Seat and not be a back seat driver, but relax and ENJOY the Ride!
Thanks!
Nancy in Ohio
I struggle in wanting to control my husband. I would love to lead a group study on this topic! (Will look into this.)
most likely my husband, but thankfully God has already started working in this area. I would still love to read this book!
I try to control my families schedule, the key word is try!! I think that if I am in control the world will spin correctly on axis!! HAHA I have learned and am still learning to allow margin in my days. I allow space, time space so that if change occurs I don’t blow up or go crazy with my words, thoughts and actions. It has given me so much freedom and peace. I am still a work in progress, but aren’t we all!
Circumstances in general, and that often results in an attempt to control the behavior of anyone else related to the scenario. This is one of the biggest struggles I face daily.
I struggle with controlling my husband and adult children. I’ve actually said to my children, “I wish I could live your life for you!” I think I could really use this book!
Wanting to control m boyfriend.
I try to control my health with over planning everything. I seem to not feel settled until I know exactly when and what is something is going to happen. I have a rare disease and I have to go to the doctor a lot. My breathing is affected and so I have to plan when to suction when to take the trach out to clean it and such. When things do not go my way, well you know what happens. Thankfully I am not married or I would be a monster to my spouse. lol
I struggle most with letting go of controlling or striving for the things I hold closest to my heart, the things I most long for – my desire for marriage and family, and being a worship leader at my church. God has proven Himself to be faithful over and over again, in my life, as well as the lives of friends and family (and throughout the Good Word). “Pull me a little closer, take me a little deeper. I want to know Your heart. Your love is so much sweeter than anything I’ve tasted. I want to know Your heart.” I just need to submit to His will. His plan is good, His will is better, and His timing is PERFECT!!!
I struggle the most with the time that my kids are at their dads house. It has also been my greatest blessing because i have learned to pray Gods word over them & surrender them completely to God.
I am struggling in every area you have mentioned and I know that God is providing me many opportunities to make improvements and I am failing miserably. I need this study for the nudge in the right direction! Thank you God for,always giving us another chance!
I struggle with wanting to control everything. My kids have physical disabilities and I want to control every aspect of their lives as well as wanting to control my husband and circumstances.
I try to control my poor kiddos.
I tend to givie my problems to God, then take them back and try to “fix” them myself. I struggle with letting go and trusting God to take care of them. I really do need to give God his job back and trust that he will take care of things. Thanks for writing this book!
I think the one thing that I struggle most with is circumstances around me (extended family, unforseen events) that just take me over the edge sometimes. okay usually those things that I really have no control over are what I flip out over