Well ladies, WVLUN 2010 is over...but is it really?? I think NOT!
"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus." (Rom 15:5)
As the Praise Team sang, "Greater things are yet to be done, Greater things are still to come in this city"...my eyes welled up with tears, knowing that this is just the beginning for so many women here in the Wabash Valley. "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1)
Our prayers were certainly answered this past weekend! The message that Lisa shared, Friendships for GrownUps was such a powerful one, and just in time for so many women - and of course, God knew those that needed that message and brought them to share in the love, mercy and grace that He provides. The altar call spoke volumes and He was certainly touching the hearts of women in the Wabash Valley...and those of the "men in black" as well, I'm sure!!
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2Cor 4:7)
I challenge each of us to take the experiences we've had this past weekend and share them with the world - so that everyone knows the love that is waiting for them, if they just ask!!
It was an honor to work along side you all...I'm humbled and have been blessed beyond words! Thank you all!!
...and that's from the heart
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Look Up!
"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?” Psalm 121:1
Ladies, are you looking up, down or all around?? How we honestly answer this question truly reflects the depth of our belief that God is watching over us and is there for us, to help in the only way He can. I will be the first to admit that there are times when I struggle to look for my help from the right place.
In this fast paced world full of advertisements, self help books, of aisles full of pills or potions promising a quick fix for just about everything…where do you turn??
As women of faith, let's turn off the false help of the sometimes too powerful worldly influences that surround us and shout to the heavens “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Without a doubt, this statement, when made by every woman around the world will be our victory song, and be accepted as praises to God!
Satan wants to keep our attention focused on the false help that he has placed all around us, filling our minds with the “promises” of the best that life has to offer. He wants to keep us from the real, authentic, and loving help that comes from trusting the Maker of heaven and earth.
Ladies, NOW is the time to look UP and know HE is with you! The next time you are in line at the grocery store or hear a commercial on TV or the radio that gives you a “promise” of youth, beauty and all things wonderful - Instead of spending that first dollar, even when they sweeten the deal – for only $9.99 – RUN and find a quiet place to talk the One who offers real help for the problems you may be facing. Pick up your Bible and read about God's perfect plan for your life, a plan to give you a hope and a future.
Real help from a real God awaits you and please, always remember “In Your presence, there is fullness of joy” Psalm 16:11
…and that’s from the heart
Ladies, are you looking up, down or all around?? How we honestly answer this question truly reflects the depth of our belief that God is watching over us and is there for us, to help in the only way He can. I will be the first to admit that there are times when I struggle to look for my help from the right place.
In this fast paced world full of advertisements, self help books, of aisles full of pills or potions promising a quick fix for just about everything…where do you turn??
As women of faith, let's turn off the false help of the sometimes too powerful worldly influences that surround us and shout to the heavens “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Without a doubt, this statement, when made by every woman around the world will be our victory song, and be accepted as praises to God!
Satan wants to keep our attention focused on the false help that he has placed all around us, filling our minds with the “promises” of the best that life has to offer. He wants to keep us from the real, authentic, and loving help that comes from trusting the Maker of heaven and earth.
Ladies, NOW is the time to look UP and know HE is with you! The next time you are in line at the grocery store or hear a commercial on TV or the radio that gives you a “promise” of youth, beauty and all things wonderful - Instead of spending that first dollar, even when they sweeten the deal – for only $9.99 – RUN and find a quiet place to talk the One who offers real help for the problems you may be facing. Pick up your Bible and read about God's perfect plan for your life, a plan to give you a hope and a future.
Real help from a real God awaits you and please, always remember “In Your presence, there is fullness of joy” Psalm 16:11
…and that’s from the heart
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Responding God's Way
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
How we respond to people is very important. Often times we tend to have an emotional response because as women, we are full of feeling. We are passionate, sensitive and prudent. This is especially true when we feel we are right about something. Being emotional is not necessarily a bad thing. The right emotions can drive us to pursue our passions and accomplish the desires and dreams we have. However, when we allow our emotions to dictate our actions then it becomes problematic. How we interact with the people in our lives is so relevant to God that He continually addresses the issue within the Bible.
In Proverbs chapter 15 the writer starts out by instructing us to speak to people with gentleness. In the heat of the moment that is not always easy. However, God's desire for us is to be God driven, not emotion driven. When someone says or does something that crushes us, it's in that moment that the true test of virtue takes place. Do we respond with ear shattering words that wound and destroy that individual? On the other hand, do we respond with love and kindness? Our emotions would dictate to fight fire with fire. Say what you feel, do what you want. How we react is a true test of what we really stand for and believe in.
Through it all we always need to remember that God is observing us. Each moment we live, we are given a chance to react with God-like character or temporal emotions. We as women have the power to bring healing or destruction with our tongues. How awesome would it be to move beyond what we feel and say and behave according to the way God desires us to? Ladies, let us remember that women of wisdom build their houses up, but foolish women tear their houses down.
And that's from the heart...
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
How we respond to people is very important. Often times we tend to have an emotional response because as women, we are full of feeling. We are passionate, sensitive and prudent. This is especially true when we feel we are right about something. Being emotional is not necessarily a bad thing. The right emotions can drive us to pursue our passions and accomplish the desires and dreams we have. However, when we allow our emotions to dictate our actions then it becomes problematic. How we interact with the people in our lives is so relevant to God that He continually addresses the issue within the Bible.
In Proverbs chapter 15 the writer starts out by instructing us to speak to people with gentleness. In the heat of the moment that is not always easy. However, God's desire for us is to be God driven, not emotion driven. When someone says or does something that crushes us, it's in that moment that the true test of virtue takes place. Do we respond with ear shattering words that wound and destroy that individual? On the other hand, do we respond with love and kindness? Our emotions would dictate to fight fire with fire. Say what you feel, do what you want. How we react is a true test of what we really stand for and believe in.
Through it all we always need to remember that God is observing us. Each moment we live, we are given a chance to react with God-like character or temporal emotions. We as women have the power to bring healing or destruction with our tongues. How awesome would it be to move beyond what we feel and say and behave according to the way God desires us to? Ladies, let us remember that women of wisdom build their houses up, but foolish women tear their houses down.
And that's from the heart...
Friday, March 26, 2010
Everyday Miracles
Proverbs 3: 5-6 tells us "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His Will in all you do, and He will direct your path"
Most often as humans, we see our world as a very limited time and space - but God's power is limitless, it has no boundaries. The Bible is filled with miracles where God made His power known. Miracles are easy to spot...but what about our everyday lives?? He takes the ordinary every day things and uses them in His masterpiece - which is the life we were given when we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior.
Just because we can't see God, doesn't mean He isn't there. Sometimes we don't recognize Him - especially when we let the world get in the way! God is constantly at work in us, preparing us to do what He created us to do. When we accept that God puts every circumstance in our path, it is easier to push through, knowing what we're going through is part of His master plan. We all know it's east to trust Him when things are going well, but the true test of our faith comes to the surface in the middle of a crisis! That's when we really show what's inside our hearts. What we do shows what we believe about God, and His power!
Romans 8:28 "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him. They are the people He called, because that was His plan" Even disasters are intended for good. Next time you're faced with a challenge, step back and think of it this way...a "dis-appointment is really His appointment." God uses our mistakes as a test, and He doesn't waste a single one to teach us the lessons He has for us. God is in control, the same as yesterday, today and every tomorrow!
Pray with me...
Father, we want to thank You for Your presence, even when we can't tell You are here, we know You are with us. Help us see and feel Your mighty hand at work, even when it doesn't make sense or isn't what we think is best. Teach us to be women who are willing to trust everything in our lives to You. Open our minds to the lessons You have for us to learn so that we can become better servants, just as You planned from the very beginning of time.
It's in Jesus precious name I pray, Amen.
Most often as humans, we see our world as a very limited time and space - but God's power is limitless, it has no boundaries. The Bible is filled with miracles where God made His power known. Miracles are easy to spot...but what about our everyday lives?? He takes the ordinary every day things and uses them in His masterpiece - which is the life we were given when we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior.
Just because we can't see God, doesn't mean He isn't there. Sometimes we don't recognize Him - especially when we let the world get in the way! God is constantly at work in us, preparing us to do what He created us to do. When we accept that God puts every circumstance in our path, it is easier to push through, knowing what we're going through is part of His master plan. We all know it's east to trust Him when things are going well, but the true test of our faith comes to the surface in the middle of a crisis! That's when we really show what's inside our hearts. What we do shows what we believe about God, and His power!
Romans 8:28 "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love Him. They are the people He called, because that was His plan" Even disasters are intended for good. Next time you're faced with a challenge, step back and think of it this way...a "dis-appointment is really His appointment." God uses our mistakes as a test, and He doesn't waste a single one to teach us the lessons He has for us. God is in control, the same as yesterday, today and every tomorrow!
Pray with me...
Father, we want to thank You for Your presence, even when we can't tell You are here, we know You are with us. Help us see and feel Your mighty hand at work, even when it doesn't make sense or isn't what we think is best. Teach us to be women who are willing to trust everything in our lives to You. Open our minds to the lessons You have for us to learn so that we can become better servants, just as You planned from the very beginning of time.
It's in Jesus precious name I pray, Amen.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Strengthen and Encourage
But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30: 6
When we are down and out it is not always easy to put on a happy go lucky face. Many times our circumstances are forecasting that we are going to be swallowed up by what we are going through. Our faith rises to say that we are going to come out on top. Through it all it is a continual warfare to look past what we see and trust what God said.
In 1 Samuel chapter 30 a young man named David found that while he was away from home his wives and children had been captured. In addition to that, the town he lived in had been destroyed by fire. The Bible records David as being down and deeply distressed. David's men were in distress too for their wives and children had been taken as well. David and his men cried for they were heartbroken. The men spoke of killing David because this tragedy had occurred. Despite all this, the Bible says that David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord.
So how is it possible to encourage yourself when everything seems hopeless and things have gone awry? This can only happen by completely trusting and depending in God. There comes a time where we have to learn to encourage ourselves. It is because of the faith and relationship that David had with God that he was able to encourage himself. It is imperative that we have a relationship with God, so we won't faint when adversity happens. David knew that even though things looked bad, it wasn't over. He encouraged himself by remembering all the times God rescued him.
After David encouraged himself, he prayed to God. God told David to go after the men who had stolen their families. He assured David complete victory and recovery of all their families. In order to hear clearly from God, we have to have the proper mindset. Our mindset has to be full of encouraging declarations from within; knowing that God is continually with us no matter how bad it looks. The Bible goes on to tell us that David and his men recovered everything that God said he would. Had David not encouraged himself with the proper mindset, he may have never even sought God for the answer.
Ladies, God wants us to have our hope, faith and trust in him. When we do this, we will hear clearly from God. In doing this, we will be strengthened and encouraged from within.
When we are down and out it is not always easy to put on a happy go lucky face. Many times our circumstances are forecasting that we are going to be swallowed up by what we are going through. Our faith rises to say that we are going to come out on top. Through it all it is a continual warfare to look past what we see and trust what God said.
In 1 Samuel chapter 30 a young man named David found that while he was away from home his wives and children had been captured. In addition to that, the town he lived in had been destroyed by fire. The Bible records David as being down and deeply distressed. David's men were in distress too for their wives and children had been taken as well. David and his men cried for they were heartbroken. The men spoke of killing David because this tragedy had occurred. Despite all this, the Bible says that David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord.
So how is it possible to encourage yourself when everything seems hopeless and things have gone awry? This can only happen by completely trusting and depending in God. There comes a time where we have to learn to encourage ourselves. It is because of the faith and relationship that David had with God that he was able to encourage himself. It is imperative that we have a relationship with God, so we won't faint when adversity happens. David knew that even though things looked bad, it wasn't over. He encouraged himself by remembering all the times God rescued him.
After David encouraged himself, he prayed to God. God told David to go after the men who had stolen their families. He assured David complete victory and recovery of all their families. In order to hear clearly from God, we have to have the proper mindset. Our mindset has to be full of encouraging declarations from within; knowing that God is continually with us no matter how bad it looks. The Bible goes on to tell us that David and his men recovered everything that God said he would. Had David not encouraged himself with the proper mindset, he may have never even sought God for the answer.
Ladies, God wants us to have our hope, faith and trust in him. When we do this, we will hear clearly from God. In doing this, we will be strengthened and encouraged from within.
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