In chapter 3, I share how “our hearts leak and will always end up empty when we find our worth in anything but who we are in Christ. Our value is not measured by what others think of us—but we surely live like it is, don’t we? It’s almost as though we wake up every morning with an empty jar, like Sam, and walk around holding it out to people or things, hoping they will fill us…”
In today’s video message, I talk about the things we look to and illustrate how we can allow God to fill the empty places in our hearts…
Please click the arrow below to watch.
(Optional) Download my “Message Notes” in a PDF format here or in a MSWord doc here. We want you to just watch and let God speak to your heart the first time, but we also knew some of you will want the notes. I even included blanks for you to fill in. 🙂
UPDATE: It’s been quite a week at our house…a trip to the ER with my mom after a bad fall Sunday, I woke up sick on Tuesday and my son Andrew (14) broke his collar bone that same afternoon. Wednesday we found out I had bronchitis and that Andrew’s break was much worse than we expected. Fortunately, we are doing a good bit better today. God’s kept us close to His promises and provided strength and encouragement through so many of your prayers and notes. THANK YOU!!
Connecting in Community: I’d love to hear your thoughts about this week”s video message and your answers to questions at end of Chapter 3. If you left a comment earlier in the week, let’s talk about questions we hadn’t answered yet. Like 4-7. And how the video message ties into the question about finding our “worth-ship” in Christ.
Just click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that – share your thoughts, I love to hear them! And I’ll share mine too.
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This has really been a great week. I too so enjoyed the video and I have watched it a couple of times. I also read the chapter a few times and just let all the information sink into the very depths of my heart and ask Jesus to work in my heart and to show me all those things that are filling the empty places in my heart — Gosh, there is a lot more there than I thought but God is so good and drawing me deeper and deeper into Him.
Wonderful visual~ thank you this will help place this week (and on…) in perspective!
I am praying for a speedy recovery for you and your son!
I so very much want to feel full of God’s unfailing love. I am weary and worn this week and pray that God’s unfailing love will carry me through this week. I know he longs to fill the empty places in my heart. The places I have tried to fill with education, with work, with other’s approval. None of those fill me up like only he can.
I pray that each of us this week will turn our hearts to God and let him fill us up. That he will help us in our weariness and that in our successes we will give him the glory.
Love This Video and want to Thank You Sister Renee for sharing through your Obedience in God helping us see thar we are Searching in all the wrong Places to be Fullfilled all We need Is Jesus,A Personal Relationship with Him.Empty Me is a Song that blesses my Heart.I want More of Him and Less of Myself.I want Him to Fill till my Cup runneth over.I Thank Him For His Precious gift to me Salvation.That is when I began to see My old heart had died and Praise God He gave me A New one that was Secure in who I was as A Child of the King, Also saw my Purpose for being here.He taught Me that Nothing in this World Could Seperate me From The Love of Christ.I now had His Promises His Provision His Protection on My LifeI now new How To be that Servant that Wife that Mother That Grandmother that Friend and Sister in Christ He sent me here to be.I Learned that I was sent Here to Spread the Good news to all that needed assurance that they are Special they are Loved and they have a Purpose in this Life.Thanks for being a Precious Blessing to me Sister Renee and all the Other Women of God that is doing this online Study..
I shared the video with my daughters, ages 7 and 9. My 7 year old wanted to watch it twice in a row. We had a good discussion afterwards.
I know I am guilty of trying to fill my empty places with people and activities. This weekend was hard – my boyfriend was away for work again and I haven’t seen him in a month, my friends were on dates with their husbands or significant others or were doing family activities and my daughters are spending the weekend with their dad. During the day I met up with some people from church and went to the mountains, but sitting at home alone Friday and Saturday night gets me upset at times. I don’t want to go to bars, I don’t want to go out with another man other than my boyfriend, my friends were busy – hard to remember sometimes that I just need God to fill up my hurt places. Thank you for the reminder.
I too shared the video with my 71/2 year old son. Not too much discussion yet, because we haven’t had much time in the car this w/e. That seems to be the place where alot of mature conversations and revelations are made. So Renee’s roadtrip video last week was also very relative. Thanks Heather and hope you were able to stop doing and just be for awhile with Jesus with that valuable alone time. I have felt that empty feeling before when my son has to go to his dad’s too. I didn’t realize I have been using my son to fill some of the spaces till you brought this up thanks Heather.
Renee,
Thank you for posting the video, as well as for writing the book. Like my other new-found friends here, I too have been looking for that unconditional love in all the wrong places. I have always felt like I needed to earn someone’s love and constantly seek for people’s approval. I love how you point out in the video that we need to dump out all of those other things and be filled by Christ alone!
One thing that humored me was when you put in the manly man… you put him in upside down (whether on purpose or not) — which brought me to a realization. Even when the manly men in our lives stand on their heads for us, it is not enough. My husband is a man who would stand on his head if necessary to make me believe that I am loved… and yet I’m always trying to ‘earn’ it by being a better wife, a better mom, a better homemaker… there always has to be more because I’m so aware of my shortfallings. I am trying to learn to live in the light of God’s grace.
Thanks for being so open in your book. I love reading it, but find that I have to be alone at night, because I cry my way through each chapter. That’s a good thing – it means you are hitting me right where I’m at!!
Your visual compliments one of my other favorite visuals of pulling all the weeds in our garden – that also gives more room for God to fill with pretty and beautiful blooms to erase all the weeds and rubble we have in our”garden”. Thank you so much for this study – you are such a blessing to SO MANY OF US…Bless you for following and sharing Gods will for YOUR life…
Beautiful… thanks for sharing!
Wow, the water pouring into the jar was so powerful. I was instantly refreshed and teary-eyed. Thank you Jesus for satisfying my soul.
I AM A VISUAL LEARNER SO THIS LESSON WAS PERFECT FOR MY RETENTION NEEDS!!!
CHILDLIKE FAITH…IT IS SO REFRESHING. MY HEART IS SMILING AND I WILL REMEMBER THIS
LESSON FOREVER.
PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING SO AUTHENTIC.
How mighty is our God, how awesome is He. Let’s serve Him with gladness and enter His courts with praise. God puts a song in our hearts, and He lifts us up to His unfailing love, as we draw near to Him. Ps 90:14 Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love, that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days. ( can’t you just feel your mood shift, and your perspective turning in a great direction ?) God has something wonderful in store for our thoughts and attitudes and moods today and tomorrow too !
What a awesome video, I got so much revelation from it and the Holy Spirit and shown me how everyday this has been a reality in my life. I will no longer look to things, poeple, position, money or anything but God to fill the empty places in my heart. I know that His unfailing love is more than enough and my heart will forever be changed. Thank you so much Renee I really needed to see that.
Good job, Renee! You might want to use a colored liquid in the future. Just a thought…
WOW!!! that was an amazing message,Thank You. I clearly understood and its soo true!! I must keep preservering in him until I get to that place in him…..
Wow! What a powerful video! Thank you for showing us this, Renee. When you said that when He speaks to our hearts and says “I love you, you are accepted… and when we allow Him to pour His love and promises into our hearts there are no empty places. I knew which Bible verses you were talking about. Today I read day six of your book The 7-day Doubt Diet. I felt compelled to read it first before finishing my questions for this chapter. Now I know why. God wanted me to read day six. His promises are I AM ACCEPTED… Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child. Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ. I AM SECURE… Romans 8:28 I am assured that God works for my good in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. Romans 8:31-39 I am free from condemnation. I CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM GOD’S LOVE. Philippians 1:6 I AM CONFIDENT GOD WILL COMPLETE THE GOOD WORK HE STARTED IN ME. I AM SIGNIFICANT…Ephesians 2:10 I am God’s workmanship. Ephesians 3:12 I MAY APPROACH GOD WITH FREEDOM AND CONFIDENCE. Philippians 4:13 I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, WHO STRENGTHENS ME.
God wanted to show me that I struggle with these promises. I have asked God to show me when i feel that these promises are not meant for me. When I feel this, I know that Satan is just a liar and I am not going to let him get to me! Thank you God for showing me who I really am in You, and that I do want you to fill and fulfill my empty spaces.
#2 I have looked to men to fulfill me, then I thought getting married would do the trick. Then having a child might do it. I have come to realize after becoming a Christian and learning about GOD that the #1 and mocst precios relationship O could ever have is the one I am building with my Lord and Savior. But sadly enough I always live as though I totally believe this….but I know it is still true nonetheless. I have discovered this through many trials, much pain, and now healing—glory be to GOD for my healing. I am still a work in progress, my Healing Savior is not through with me yet. I am convinced that this healing is not in me or any one on this earth, but it is in Him and only Him.
#6 Salvation—Christ saves and protects me from harm, risk and destruction and has already done so in my life. Satisfaction—I need to accept Jesus with confidence that He is true and dependable and will be there for me; even when I fail Him–He won’t fail me.
#7 When I start to measure my value by how well I am doing as a friend, Then I will look to Jesus for His example to me in being a friend along with Ruth and Naomi.
I would like to take this time to share something I learned from our teens at church
4 Great Ways of Living
1. Look back and thank GOD
2. Look forward and trust GOD
3. Look around and believe in GOD
4. Look inside and find GOD
I like your “? ditty” from the teens. Going in the notebook as another tool to use with my kids/coworkers etc.Thanks Carolyn!
Hello,
thank-you Renee not only for sharing this teaching which is so valuable but also for making us a part of your life through the prayer requests you had. Thank-you for giving us an opportunity to “hold you up”.
Well, I just purchased the book last night so I feel a little like I’m running to catch up with you ladies but it certainly is going to be well worth the time and investment. I can say this because after reading just the first chapter and praying the prayer and answering the questions at the end it has given me such an insight into myself and how I fit into God’s plan
I love how you emphasize “praying the word” I also believe this is such a powerful tool in seeing prayers answered–and it’s encouraging, as you mentioned.
I too ,like so many others commented , find the visual so helpful in the application portion of this study.
In Christ,
Beth
All
As i read all of these comments to a degree we are all so much alike and it is no wonder we were all drawn by God to take this course. When we finally get it thru our heads, HE IS ALL WE NEED and the rest is just cherries on top what a wonderful life we will live. To go to Him for all that needs answered, he is our source of wisdom and satisfaction. He is our source of self worth, when we can begin to see ourselves not as others and not as we but who we are in HIM, yep I am one of those that turns to food, friends, and working hard to remove those obstacles and go to the PROVIDER the one who fills us with His living water,,, fills all the empty spaces, all the spaces….Thanks for the video and lessons.
Cathi
my mom sent this to me and then my 9 year old gd sent it to me I don’t know if mom created it or if it came in one of the many mailings she receives, but it fit so well in with our studies i am sharing I apologize in advance if I am messing with c/r issues
I Love You
I see you like no one else sees you. I see the things you prefer
others do not see. I see things that you are not even aware of.
there is nothing hidden from Me. I see all and I know all.
I see the parts that you do not like; I see the parts of you that
you reject. I see, and My Love for you is not altered. In the
same way that nothing can separate you from Me, nothing
will ever change My love for you.
I look at you and smile. I desire to be close to you, just as you
desire closeness with others that are important in your life.
I look at you and My heart floods with pride and joy that you
are My child.
I want to put My arms around you and hold you close. I want
to walk with you today. I want to talk to you about the things
that are going on in your life. I want you to know that I am
always here for you.
Even though you may not ‘feel’ or ‘know’ this to be true, I
remain there for you. If you look for Me, I will show Myself
to you, for My heart is for you to know Me.
This is beautiful and so relates to what we are learning here on this bible study. Thank you for sharing this Cathi.
Thank you for sharing, Cathi.
THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL IT TRULY TOUCHED MY HEART AND WAS SO NEEDED AS A REMIMDER FOR ME THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS WITH US MY FRIEND. GOD BLESS
I am going to this with others. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for taking the time to send the e-mail on Friday. My week was so busy that I didn’t get to watch the video earlier. I am so glad that I watched it!!! What a blessing it was to have you share this message with us. I am headed out for a run and will begin askng God to help me find what I am looking for and to help me put my gifts in the appropriate place in my life. Thank you again for the e-mail reminder and for all that you do. I am glad that your family is doing well.