Daily Encouragement: Conversations with God

So much of the Bible speaks to prayer and talking and listening to God, and many times the best we seem to come up with in prayer is a short, memorized script that we say at mealtimes and bedtime.

My husband and I have to work to encourage our children to push themselves a little further to think about someone else and pray for them. Wow--what a struggle!

As adults, though, we too can certainly be that way, always focused on what we need or want right now without much regard for our sick or hurting friends and neighbors. We also can forget the awesomeness of the Almighty God to whom we are praying--taking his power and might and favor for granted.

Today, precious sister, I would encourage you to go a little further, a little deeper, and maybe even take yourself out of the picture when you pray (or at least at the end of the list), and ask for God to move in the lives of the people that come to mind when you are praying. And don't forget to continue watching and waiting for God's answers!

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18)

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)

by Wendie Beddingfield

picture by Julia Freeman-Woolpert

Daily Encouragement: Lesson Learned?

God's object lesson for Jonah....

Yesterday, we read how Jonah had asked God to go ahead and kill him because nothing he had predicted had actually happened. So today we are going to look at God's response as the conclusion of our look at the book of Jonah.

"The Lord replied, 'Is it right for you to be angry about this?'

Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see if anything would happen to the city. And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased some of his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.

But God also prepared a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant, so that it soon died and withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God sent a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. 'Death is certainly better than this!' he exclaimed.

Then God said to Jonah, 'Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?'

'Yes,' Jonah retorted, 'even angry enough to die!'

Then the Lord said, 'You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. And a plant is only, at best, short lived. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?'" (Jonah 4:4-11)

We don't see if Jonah had a change of heart with this, but we do see a glimpse of the heart of God for people "living in spiritual darkness." He uses the plant and the worm and the weather to help put things in perspective for Jonah, and he doesn't accuse Jonah outright but was gentle in His question to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry?"

I distinctly remember one of God's object lessons in my life which I recently shared at a women's retreat. I had been angry, disappointed and bitter toward God because of a third miscarriage--we had prayed and prayed for this little one and I was pretty sure I had heard from God that he or she would be healthy and go to full term, but at 10 weeks it was no more. It wasn't until weeks later when the nurse at my ob/gyn pointed out God's hand in my life--the cancer in my body was discovered early enough that it had not spread. Through that whole traumatic experience, God was saving my life! That was when I realized it was NOT right for me to be angry with God. I was immediately overwhelmed with gratefulness and sorrow for my wrong attitude.

What about you? Have you ever experienced one of God's object lessons? Are you in the midst of one even now? I encourage you today to again step back and try to see your present circumstances within the big picture--from God's perspective--and consider if a change in attitude is required.

I am proud of you, sister, for seeking to hear from God, for pursuing Him. No matter where you've been or what you've done, God's heart is for you to draw close to Him and see that He has your best interest at heart. Remember, "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28)

by Wendie Beddingfield

picture by Robert Proksa

Daily Encouragement: Judge Not

a little more on Jonah....

If you know the story of Jonah, you might remember that after God decided not to destroy Nineveh, Jonah got upset with God. Jonah said, "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people. Just kill me now, Lord! I'd rather be dead than alive because nothing I predicted is going to happen." (Jonah 4:2-3)

Do you get the sense that Jonah was not focused on the people of Nineveh but on himself? He had put himself out there...shouting a warning about the destruction of the city, and then when the people turned away from their wickedness (what God really wanted for them), He relented and did not do what He had threatened. Jonah was so wrapped up in the fact that what he had predicted did not come to pass that he could not see how his obedience led to the salvation of an entire city!

Jonah did hear from God--twice.

Jonah obeyed the second time, doing exactly what God had commanded.

Jonah expected God to follow through.

If this were you, how would you react when God chose to show compassion and not bring judgment? Would you focus on how you failed, how God made you look bad, or would you rejoice in the change of heart of another person?

Today I encourage you to look for God's hand working in the lives of others, rejoice when He chooses to show compassion for others rather than bringing judgment because we "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and our own sin deserves death, but He chose to have compassion. He loved us so much that He sent His only son to die on the cross to save us from an eternal separation from Himself. We did not receive what we deserved, so let us not demand judgment on others but be compassionate and pray for the restoration of their souls.

by Wendie Beddingfield

picture by Billy Alexander

Daily Encouragement: "Freak"

more on Jonah....

"Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit up Jonah on the beach, and it did." (Jonah 2:10)

Jonah was miraculously saved from being digested by the fish and was given a second chance to obey. God then commanded Jonah again to go to Nineveh and deliver the message of judgment, and that's just what Jonah did.

"On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds" 'Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!'" (Jonah 3:4)

Now imagine the city of Dallas on a weekend with an event like the state fair going on. How would you react if someone from Oklahoma City (or any place outside of Texas--can't help it, I'm a Texan) strolled into the crowds of the state fair yelling, "Forty days from now Dallas will be destroyed!"? Yeah, you'd think that he was insane or a "freak," but something unexpected happened in Nineveh.

"The people of Nineveh believed God's message, and from the greatest to the least, they decided to go without food and wear sackcloth to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in sackcloth and sat on a heap of ashes. Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: 'No one, not even the animals, may eat or drink anything at all. Everyone is required to wear sackcloth and pray earnestly to God. Everyone must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will have pity on us and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.'" (Jonah 3:5-9)

Our God, Jonah's God, is so amazing! What would seem like an insane thing to do turned out to be the exact thing this city needed to turn their hearts away from evil and pray to God. Even better, read what happens....

"When God saw that they had put a stop to their evil ways, he had mercy on them and didn't carry out the destruction he had threatened." (Jonah 3:10)

Not only did God give Jonah a second chance, He gave an entire city a second chance!

So how would you react if God called you to do something that would make you look insane or look like a "freak?" Would you turn and run the other way, or would you step out in faith and see what God would do through your obedience? It could mean salvation for someone else....who can tell?

by Wendie Beddingfield

Daily Encouragement: Seeing God's Hand

More thoughts on the book of Jonah....

"Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights." (Jonah 1:17)

Where could he go? What could he possibly do? He certainly didn't have his iphone to check his e-mail, get on Facebook, or play Angry Birds now did he? He couldn't even call a friend to share what an awful predicament he was in. Nope. He was all alone--except for God.

"Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish." (Jonah 2:1)

This wasn't one of those, "If you get me out of here I'll serve you all my life" kind of prayers that people say when they want to try to bribe God into rescuing them or a loved one. It went like this...."I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the world of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!....When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord....For my salvation comes from the Lord alone." (Jonah 2:2,7,9b)

This was a prayer of thankfulness for God rescuing him from drowning by sending a fish to swallow him--even though he did not know what would come next!

We see throughout this book that Jonah has some issues with God, but this prayer shows a grateful heart, one that can see the hand of God in his own life. Even when he was in dire straits--he saw how God kept him alive.

So what is your predicament? What is your attitude toward God--is it desperate for deliverance only, or is it grateful for His salvation from a fate worse than what you are currently experiencing?

"Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand." (Philippians 4:6-7)

I encourage you today to look for God's hand in your life, step back and see the bigger picture, and thank him today for all he has done.


by Wendie Beddingfield

Pictures!

If you weren't at New Hope yesterday or missed the slideshow of pictures from the retreat at the end of the service, you can view it here:

Women of Hope
Princess and the P's Spring Retreat
Slideshow (click on this link)

This video uses QuickTime, in case you're having difficulties viewing it. I'm not a computer expert; that's my husband, Gabriel; so I hope you are able to view it, too!

Daily Encouragement: Awesome Power

Today I am drawn to the minor prophets in the Old Testament--lots of short, not-necessarily sweet prophecies of judgement and then some sweet words of restoration. The book I settled in on is the book of Jonah.

**When I think on this story, I can't get visions of the Veggie Tales movie "Jonah" out of my head. The songs were especially catchy, so I have "Jonah was a prophet, ooh, ooh..." and "the God of second chances" looping in my mind while writing this piece. I highly recommend Veggie Tales to all parents of kids 8 and under (teenagers like them, too.)**

Okay, back to Jonah. In case you've never read the story, God called Jonah to go to this city called Ninevah that was full of wicked people, and Jonah was to tell them that their city would be destroyed because of their wickedness. Jonah opted to go in the opposite direction, however, in order to run away from God. Well, you can't really run away from God, and neither could Jonah. While on a ship, the Lord caused a violent storm to threaten to sink the ship, and Jonah knew it was because of him. Jonah admitted it was his fault and asked to be thrown overboard, and although hesitant, the sailors "threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once!" (Jonah 1:15)

Here's the kicker that I hadn't really caught until today..."The sailors were awestruck by the Lord's great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him." (Jonah 1:16)

The Lord's consequences for Jonah's disobedience was the storm. Jonah's heart was convicted and in order to save these sailors, he knew he must get off the boat. I don't really know what was going through his mind then, but there must have been a great heaviness in his heart, and he asked the sailors to throw him over--maybe because he just couldn't do it himself. When they did, God did exactly what Jonah had predicted and the sailors were "awestruck" and became servants of God Almighty. The power of God and his wonders and miracles draw many people to Himself. Even in the consequences of our sin, God can and does use these "heavy" times in our lives to draw others.

There is much more to come in this little book of Jonah that we'll catch tomorrow, but for today, sweet friend, I want to encourage you that even while suffering in the consequences of past (or even current) sin, God can use this, too, to draw you back to Him as well as outsiders who are looking on--seeing the mighty hand of God!

picture by Zhongde Liu

Daily Encouragement: Ears to Hear

When I sit down to read or study the Bible, even before I open the cover, I often ask the question, "Lord, what do you want to say to me this morning?" Sometimes I sit in silence waiting to hear something, sometimes I have my journal out and begin writing, and other times I ask to be directed to a passage of scripture.

God speaks to His children in many different ways, and when we don't hear Him speak in the way we expect, we can get frustrated and disappointed and even feel inferior to those that say they do hear Him. But Jesus said that we would recognize His voice:

"I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! For a shepherd enters through the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't recognize his voice." (John 10:1-5)

So is it that we have just not learned what it means to listen? I liken this to a true musician. Either by gifting or years of practice, a musician is able to hear aspects of music that most of us non-musicians cannot even detect because our ears have not been trained. So then the question is how do we become trained to recognize His voice?

Here's my opinion and experience in this: spend time with Him.

Spend time reading His word, asking for Him to speak through the scriptures. Spend time in prayer, praising Him for who He is, confessing your sin, seeking His wisdom and guidance and help, listening and watching for His answers. Spend time meditating on a verse or passage, dwelling on it. Spend time with other believers, especially those that share how God is speaking to them and listen--God uses all of these ways to speak to His children, and we will recognize Him if we will take time getting to know Him and take time to look for Him and listen for His voice.

Precious sister, don't give up the desire to hear from Him, don't give up believing He will speak to you--lean in and develop your relationship with the Father by spending time with Him and watch and listen for Him intently as you do.


photo

Daily Encouragement: No Fear

I just love how when God sends a heavenly messenger to someone in the Bible, He always starts off with "Don't be afraid." Even when Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection, he started off saying, "Peace be with you."

Our Father knows us very well; any time the unexpected arises, it catches us off guard and we tend to lose our peace and panic-mode sets in. The messenger must first calm the person down, reassuring them that God is in control, and then he can go on with the rest of his message.

This verse in Daniel is especially for you today if you are struggling with fear, anxiety or operating in panic-mode:

"'Don't be afraid,' he said, 'for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong!'" (Daniel 10:19)

The reason you can choose to be at peace, take heart and be strong today is because "you are deeply loved by God." He's got it all under control and has your best interest at heart. He has already given you courage and strength; you only have to take it! May the peace of God be with you today!

Daily Encouragement: Not Ashamed

"I know that you sincerely trust the Lord, for you have the faith of your mother, Eunice, and your grandmother, Lois. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord." (2 Timothy 1:5-8a)

This is Paul talking to Timothy, his son in Christ, encouraging him to be bold and share Christ without fear.

In a conversation with God I had recently, I asked Him, "What do you want to say to me?" and His reply was, "Too timid; stand strong. I am more.... I am not powerless. I am not timid. Want to be like me? Speak out using what I have given you and be the bold, mighty woman of God I have made you to be."

In those first two words, "too timid," I broke down--I broke down because I knew He was right. Not condemning, just truth.

And as I look at this passage in 2 Timothy, I see that it lines up very closely with my conversation with God, but what I heard was personalized just for me, just how I needed to hear it. God is NOT powerless nor timid, and His desire is for us to draw on His power to share our faith in Christ with boldness, share what Jesus has done to change our lives, what He can do for those who do not know him.

You don't have to be a Bible scholar or travelling evangelist to share your faith--all you need is a relationship with Jesus and a willing spirit to go wherever, do whatever and and say whatever He calls you to. You, sister, are a mighty woman of God! I encourage you today to take the first step and ask Him, "What do you want to say to me?" and be ready to listen.

Daily Encouragement -- Fighting For Your Thoughts

Being joyful does not depend on what's going on around you--it's the result of "right thinking" in the midst of your circumstances. Just like loving someone is a choice, you can choose to be joyful.

What generally causes us to go down the road of depression is our choice to allow lies to penetrate our thoughts without challenging them with the truth. I encourage you today to read the following from the book of Philippians and check out the steps below for tips on doing combat for your thoughts:

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers [and sisters], let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (Philippians 4:4-8)

Step 1: Ask yourself this question: "Is what I'm thinking about true?"

As Christians, we know that the word of God is true, and it addresses all sorts of issues in our lives, so we can use it as our guide for right thinking and also as ammunition against the lies.

Step 2: If you're unsure of the answer to the first question, ask yourself and ask God this next question: "What IS true? (in my life, in this situation...)

"True" also means "real." Things in the past and things in the future are not real today--the things of today are what we know as true or real. When you think about what is true, don't forget to include what the Bible says about God and about Jesus and the Holy Spirit--these things are always true!

More questions to ask: "Is what I'm dwelling on honorable and right? Is it pure, lovely or admirable? Is it excellent or praiseworthy?"

Step 3: Speak out what IS true--let your ears hear it and make the choice to believe it. Do this as often as you are tempted to believe the lies about yourself, others, God or your situation.

The battle over your thoughts is one that Jesus has already won, all we have to do is stay engaged and make the choice to depend on the Holy Spirit to infiltrate our hearts and our minds with His truth and you will find yourself choosing joy--what a victory!

photo by Cristina Chirtes

Daily Encouragement -- Truth Teller

Recently, a friend of mine was sharing how she had endured some stress and anxiety over what we might call a lie of "omission" -- meaning she allowed someone to believe a lie by simply not explaining the situation she was in. The stress and the anxiety came when she had to perpetuate the lie by pretending, sneaking, and careful maneuvering, but she was afraid feelings would get hurt if she came out and told the truth.

So what do you think? What would you do in a similar situation in order to spare the feelings of someone you really care about?

Let's take a look at a few verses to see what the Bible has to say:

"Do not steal. Do not cheat one another. Do not lie." (Leviticus 19:11)

"And then you will no longer need to be ashamed of yourselves, for you will no longer be rebels against me. I will remove all the proud and arrogant people from among you. There will be no pride on my holy mountain. Those who are left will be the lowly and the humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the LORD. The people of Israel who survive will do no wrong to each other, never telling lies or deceiving one another." (Zephaniah 3:11-13a)

"You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy and true. So put away all falsehood and 'tell your neighbor the truth' because we belong to each other." (Ephesians 4:24-25)

"Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church." (Ephesians 4:14-15)

It may seem like the "little white lie" would be a good way to keep from hurting someone we love, but we are in essence rebelling against God and showing Him that we do not trust Him enough to take care of us or the other person if we speak the truth -- in love.

Today, sister, be aware of what you say (or omit) and make every effort to be a truth teller--in this you will honor the LORD and the people you come in contact with.

Daily Encouragement -- Mighty Heroes/Heroines

Late last year I was studying in the book of Judges to try to understand better the time in which the events of the book of Ruth occurred. These "judges" were the heroes God raised up to lead the Israelites to victory over their oppressors like the Canaanites or the Midianites.

In the sixth and seventh chapters, we see that Israel is crying out to the Lord for help because they were "reduced to starvation by the Midianites," and God's response was to send a prophet explaining what they had done to get them into the mess in which they found themselves. However, God also appeared as an angel of the Lord to a young man, the least of his family, and his family the least of all the tribes of Israel, and this young man's name was Gideon. And do you know what the angel of the Lord said to him? He said, "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!" (Judges 6:12)

Okay, now this young man had been interrupted by the angel--he had been threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to keep any Midianites from seeing that he had food. He was sneaking around; not quite a mighty hero if you ask me. Gideon had not done anything heroic--not yet; in fact, it took him several tests to finally believe that it was actually God that appeared to him and that the Lord would do what He said He would do before he led any men into battle (you just have to go and read Judges 6 and 7 to get the rest of the story).

So we see God speaking to Gideon's potential (not what he had done but what he was going to do) by calling him a "mighty hero." Did you know that "the Lord is with you," too, if you have made Jesus the Lord of your life? That also means you have great potential in you as well to be a mighty heroine who is being raised up to help set the captives free and bring hope to the hopeless through the redeeming power of Jesus Christ who is in you.

You are a Mighty Woman of God! I encourage you to accept this truth as your own and walk confidently in the power of His Spirit today.

Daily Encouragement -- A little wisdom

Proverbs is chock-full of all manner of words of wisdom and instruction for living. You can read a short passage everyday and go and apply it to your life that very day in a very practical way.

Here's one that jumped out at me early this morning as I was reading Proverbs 15:

"A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash." (Proverbs 15:14)

I encourage you today to go to Proverbs, read a section and pick out a verse or two that speaks to you. Write it down; dwell on it, maybe even memorize it. You, sister, no matter what your background, education or your circumstance, can be a wise woman, too!

Daily Encouragement - Students and Teachers

Sundays are often the highlight of my week, what with seeing lots of friends who share my faith in Christ, music that is inspiring and draws my mind and heart toward God, but also having the privilege of hearing a sermon--one that is relevant and challenging--shared by one of the best pastors I've had the honor to serve under.

I love the word of God. I love to read it, hear it, study it, discuss it, ponder it, teach it, and be changed by it. So, when I read the following passage in Nehemiah some time ago, I was greatly encouraged in what Ezra and some other Levites did after the wall was rebuilt around Jerusalem around 444 B.C.

"Now in midautumn, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled together as one person at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.

So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the scroll of the law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people paid close attention to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.

Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, 'Amen! Amen!' as they lifted their hands toward heaven. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground."

--Hang in there with me, sister, this is good stuff and you need to get the context here!

"Now the Levites--Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbathai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah--instructed the people who were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people to understand each passage. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, 'Don't weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.' All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the law.

And Nehemiah continued, 'Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!'

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, 'Hush! Don't weep! For this is a sacred day.' So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them."
(Nehemiah 7:73b-8:12)

The word of God is available in mass quantities in America in multiple translations. In addition to that are commentaries, books by topic and books on the books of the Bible, and we have teachers and preachers on television, radio and even the world wide web (you can catch my pastor here: newhopechristian.org).

The thing that encouraged me in this passage was the example that Ezra and these Levites set for future pastors and teachers and the value of reading the word of God out loud and then explaining the meaning so that the people could understand, and then Nehemiah spoke up at the end encouraging the people, "Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" (Nehemiah 8:10)

We're not going to automatically understand everything we read in the Bible. We need the Holy Spirit to teach us, and God uses other people to teach us as well. If you feel called to teach, start a dialogue with God about what, how and to whom you are to teach. And we're all called to be students of the word--not just on Sundays, mind you; so what are you going to do today to continue in your education?

Daily Encouragement: Is the Bible boring you?

One of the basic fundamentals to living a life dedicated to Christ is spending time reading, studying, meditating and even memorizing scripture. Delving into the word helps us to know God better, to know Jesus better, and to know ourselves and others better. This is not just a book collected from writings of men over thousands of years, not just a history book or a good fiction read. This book has power!

"For the word of God is full of living power, it is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires." (Hebrews 4:12)

So, does the Bible still seem boring to you, or you just don't have the time to sit down and read? You know, I've been through many times like that, been discouraged, uninterested, overwhelmed by life. I knew I should be "in the word," but I really didn't want to. This is not uncommon, but it is an issue that we cannot ignore.

The question is.....how does one overcome a lack of interest in studying the scriptures? In answer to that, I propose a three step process that should be repeated as often as you feel the apathy coming on:

1) One of the first things to do is ASK for God to give you a desire.

"Give me an eagerness for your decrees..." (Psalm 119:36)

Stop feeling guilty, and just ask Him. Do you think He doesn't want you to want to know more about Him and His ways? Pray for God's word to come alive for you.

2) Seize the moment and just do it. After you pray, open the Bible--act on what you've asked for and trust God to give you the desire as you read. Do not delay! Jump right in. You don't have to spend hours reading book after book--just get started.

3) Remember what reading and hearing God's word will do:

"Your decrees please me; they give me wise advice." (Psalm 119:24)

"I lie in the dust, completely discouraged; revive me by your word." (Psalm 119:25)

"I weep with grief; encourage me by your word." (Psalm 119:28)

"I meditate on your age-old laws, O Lord, they comfort me." (Psalm 119:52)

"I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord, and I obey your law because of this." (Psalm 119:55)

"All your commands are trustworthy." (Psalm 119:86)

"Forever, O Lord, your word stands firm in heaven." (Psalm 119:89)

"As your words are taught, they give light; even the simple can understand them." (Psalm 119:130)

"For those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble." (Psalm 119:165)

And finally, when we have strayed, He will use His word to draw us back to Him:

"I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands." (Psalm 119:176)


4) This one is optional: get involved with a Bible study group that can help keep you accountable to digging in and can give you encouragement as you share together the things God is revealing to you.

Precious sister, the reward for spending time in the word is so much greater than the time and effort you will need to "just do it." The more time you spend pouring over God's love letters and his life manual with the heart that asks "Lord, please help me see and hear what you have for me today," the more you will delight in coming to Him every day for your nourishment.

"People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God." (Matthew 4:4)

Daily Encouragement: the Lord's Supper

As we draw closer to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, I think it's quite appropriate to consider the topic of the Lord's Supper or communion.

I've been in several different church congregations when they were "taking communion," and it seems it's done differently in every place. Sometimes you pass a plate of broken crackers and tiny cups of grape juice (our kids were always dying to participate because it included juice!); sometimes we are called to come up to the altar and take it up front; and sometimes it's at a table elsewhere in the room that you go to "when you are ready." The thing is, it's not really the ritual itself, it's the meaning behind it that really matters.

For those of you who are new to the body of believers, eating "Christ's body" and drinking "his blood" seems a little morbid and even cult-like, so why would we be doing something like that?

I'm going to pull my answer from Paul's letter to the Corinthians which we find in 1 Corinthians 11:

"For this is what the Lord himself said, and I pass it on to you just as I received it. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is given for you. do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.' For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until he comes again." (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

It's a symbolic act that is not just a ritual, but it helps us to remember--to remember how Christ suffered and died on the cross to give us life--true, eternal life. We take the bread and the cup in gratitude for his sacrifice knowing that it was the shedding of his blood that cleansed our hearts--not the grape juice in the cup. I think Jesus knew, though, that some of us understand better when we do something "hands on," and it becomes more real to us.

So the next opportunity you have to take the Lord's Supper, remember what it was like when you first understood Christ's sacrifice for you, what it did for you, and give him your heart for that is what He truly wants from you.

Daily Encouragement: How Different Are You?

As teenagers we struggle to fit in with the "in" crowd or risk ridicule by said crowd, so we do our best to wear what they wear, talk like they talk, and go where they go. The thinking is, "If I'm not like them, I'm not as liked, wanted, or valuable as they are."

As we get older, many of us grow more comfortable in our own skin and allow our differences to shine through--understanding that just because we are not the same as everyone else, we are no less valuable as a person. At least we accept that up to a certain point.

For believers or followers of Christ, we are called to go further, to stand out even more, to be God's holy people who do not blend in with the world. That's not to say that we can't dress with the trends or use the same "lingo" or frequent the same hang-outs as those of our worldly counterparts--that is unless it causes us to lower our standards of purity and righteousness for ourselves.

So, how different are you since you gave your life to Christ? How does your life speak to the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit working in you?

"Before, you let yourselves be slaves of impurity and lawlessness. Now you must choose to be slaves of righteousness so that you will become holy. In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren't concerned with doing what was right. And what was the result? It was not good, since now you are ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life." (Romans 6:19b-22)

I urge you, sister, to take a moment today to ask our Heavenly Father what He might want you to do in order to "stand out" for Him in order to draw others to Christ.

Daily Encouragement: The God Who Knows

"I called you by name when you did not know me. I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have prepared you, even though you do not know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other." (Isaiah 45:4b-6)

"Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31)

He knows your name---He knew you even before you knew Him.

He knows the number of hairs on your head even now, and He knows what you are going through right now.

He knows your name and He considers you highly valuable---How will you respond to Him today in the light of this truth?



****Would love for you to share your responses, comments, and/or feedback on the "Daily Encouragement."****

Daily Encouragement - The God Who Hears

On a scale of 1 to 10, how valuable to you feel today? What is it that tells you how valued you are? How do you know?

I learned some time ago that "people don't care what or how much you know until they know how much you care," and I thought, "Okay, I can deal with that." I cared a lot, so I gave a lot of advice when someone was in need of it. I was always the one talking! So there was a part of my understanding of "caring" that was missing that has only in recent years been revealed to me: if a person feels like they have been "heard," they will feel valued, and that is an amazing way to care for someone that most people do not practice in their relationships with others.

Here's what I want you to know, dear sister: even if no one else "hears" you, our Heavenly Father does because He values you--you are His dearly loved child.

"The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, he rescues those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:17)

Dearly loved child of God, know today that you are heard by the God of the Universe and your value on a scale from 1 to 10 is 100+!! Live today in response to this truth.

Daily Encouragement: The God Who Sees

The pain of rejection runs deep, doesn't it, precious sister? Not so much in our jobs or careers but more so in relationships with people we care about. This is especially true as we age and give our heart to a man and dream for a future together, but if we give ourselves to him physically, intimately, we bind ourselves to him in a way that God intended to last for a lifetime (Matt 19:6).

So what happens when this man that we love (or loved) packs up and leaves or when we decide it's time to remove ourselves from the relationship either in divorce, broken engagements, or just a parting of ways? This union or marriage (whether legal or otherwise) is broken and a mourning period begins because the loss of this person with whom you have joined yourself is much like the death of a spouse or a dearly loved friend.

However, on top of these feelings of sorrow or loss can be the pain of rejection if the man is the one who chooses to leave or refuses to chase after us, ask for a second (or third) chance, and vow to work it out whatever the cost. A sense of inadequacy and fear of future rejection as well as desperation to be truly loved and valued overwhelm our thoughts and build walls in our hearts that are nearly impossible to break down. However, my friend, nothing is impossible for God! (Matt 19:26)

There indeed is hope for your heart, dear sister, if you are in this place, this place of grief and mourning because our God, the God of the Universe, the God Who Sees (El Roi) you and hears your cries, moves with compassion toward you and desires to comfort you if you will let Him.

Please take some time to read through the following passages from Genesis about a woman named Hagar and consider how you might respond to the God Who Sees and Hears today:

"But Sarai, Abram's wife, had no children. So Sarai took her servant, and Egyptian woman named Hagar, and gave her to Abram so she could bear his children. 'The Lord has kept me from having any children,' Sarai said to Abram. 'Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.' And Abram agreed. So Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram first arrived in the land of Canaan.)

So Abram slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress Sarai with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, 'It's all your fault! Now this servant of mine is pregnant, and she despises me, though I myself gave her the privilege of sleeping with you. The Lord will make you pay for doing this to me!'

Abram replied, 'Since she is your servant, you may deal with her as you see fit.' So Sarai treated her harshly, and Hagar ran away.

The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a desert spring along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, 'Hagar, Sarai's servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?'

'I am running away from my mistress,' she replied.

Then the angel of the Lord said, 'Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.' The angel added, 'I will give you more descendants than you can count.' And the angel also said, 'You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (meaning God hears), for the Lord has heard about your misery. This son of yours will be a wild one--free and untamed as a wild donkey! He will be against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live at odds with the rest of his brothers.'

Thereafter, Hagar referred to the Lord, who had spoken to her, as 'the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have seen the One who sees me!" (Genesis 16:1-13)

Later, in Genesis 21, after the birth of Isaac (the firstborn of Abram and Sarai or Abraham and Sarah now), we read of what happens to Hagar and her son and how God, again, speaks to her. Keep reading, girl, it's surely worth another minute or two!:

"As time went by and Isaac grew and was weaned, Abraham gave a big party to celebrate the happy occasion. But Sarah saw Ishmael--the son of Abraham and her Egyptian servant Hagar--making fun of Isaac. So she turned to Abraham and demanded, 'Get rid of that servant and her son. He is not going to share the family inheritance with my son, Isaac. I won't have it!'

This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. But God told Abraham, 'Do not be upset over the boy and your servant wife. Do just as Sarah says, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. But I will make a nation of the descendants of Hagar's son because he also is your son.'

So Abraham got up early the next morning, prepared food for the journey, and strapped a container of water to Hagar's shoulders. He sent her away with their son, and she walked out into the wilderness of Beersheba, wandering aimlessly. When the water was gone, she left the boy in the shade of a bush. Then she went and sat down by herself about a hundred yards away. 'I don't want to watch the boy die,' she said, as she burst into tears.

Then God heard the boy's cries, and the angel of God called to Hagar from the sky, 'Hagar, what's wrong? Do not be afraid! God had heard the boy's cries from the place where you laid him. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.

Then God opened Hagar's eyes, and she saw a well. She immediately filled her water container and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness of Paran." (Genesis 21:8-20a)

You are heard, dear one, when you cry out. You are seen when your are all alone, but you are not alone at all because this God who sees and hears, our God, will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Be comforted in His presence today.

Daily Encouragement: Joy in the End

I have to say that in my set of daily responsibilities I have started to feel a little overwhelmed by the weight of what is still left to be done over the next couple of weeks, and I was able to take some time this morning with a couple of very precious sisters, who are faithful in prayer, and lay all that weight at the foot of the cross. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

Now when He's talking about being weary and carrying heavy burdens, he's not just talking about work and school but also hurts and baggage from our past. It doesn't matter how big or how messy it is, our Almighty God does not want you to be carrying those around with you and He offers a trade--your overloaded suitcases full of rejection, abandonment, neglect, and abuse for His light and easy bag of acceptance, love, joy, gentleness, mercy, and grace that comes from faithful obedience. Hmmm... which would you choose? It seems like it would be a simple choice, right? But many times we don't know or forget that we even have the choice to make! And it is also a big step of faith to put the familiar suitcases down for the unknown grab-bag we are being offered.

With that in mind, here's your note of encouragement today--it comes from Hebrews 12:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." (Hebrews 12:1-4)

Unload your weights--whatever is pulling you down--and take up His burden of love and grace and forgiveness and run the race he has marked out for you today. God is FOR YOU! And so am I!

Daily Encouragement

As a little girl playing with friends on the playground, I always wanted to pretend to be the "damsel in distress" that would be rescued by the brave hero or knight or Zorro or whomever--I just wanted to be the one to be swept off my feet and delivered from the clutches of the evil villain. Then, when I had my own little girl, I'd watch her play with the other girls and someone just had to be the boy to be the hero, the rescuer, and since my daughter was more of a tom-boy, she always got chosen for that role. It was tough watching her be relegated to that role because of how her hair was cut or the stature of her body because deep down she was still a girl, a damsel, and not the brave knight. She didn't mind so much but since then she's grown her hair out and, well, this teenage girl just doesn't resemble much of a boy anymore.

Here and now, we have an honest-to-goodness hero who has rescued us from a fate worse than anything that evil villain could think up. Jesus Christ came to earth as a man, lived a sinless life (our white knight), and rescued us from our own sin and the consequences of that sin which is death (Romans 6:23) by sacrificing his own life for ours on the cross. You and I were/are indeed that damsel in distress, but we don't have to wait for that white knight--he's waiting for you!

"For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins." Colossians 1:13-14

Daily Encouragement

Are you feeling a little weak, discouraged, or used up today? Take heart! If you are in Christ, you have access to some awesome strength, power and sustainability, and all you need to do is to admit you need it and ask for it.

When I was walking through my trial of cancer and chemotherapy, there was not a day that went by that I was not physically weak, but I was also going through a struggle with depression though I did not recognize it. God spoke volumes to me about what weakness truly is and that is the best place to be in order to exemplify God's miraculous power and strength. Read through the following verses and insert yourself in the "tired" and "weak" and draw on the power of the Holy Spirit for your strength.

"He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak." (Isaiah 40:29)

"But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own." (2 Corinthians 4:7)

"If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am." (2 Corinthians 11:30)

"Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Now we come to the portion of Paul's prayer for the believers in Colosse, and I am making it my prayer for you today:

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light." (Colossians 1:11-12)


**There's still a little time left to register for the Princess and the P's Spring Retreat and scholarships available. Get away, get refilled and get refreshed!

Daily Encouragement

On our second day of looking at Paul's prayer for the believers in Colosse, we see Paul going from encouraging them in where they are in their relationship with Christ and their love for God's people to encouraging them by speaking to their growth--"spiritual wisdom."

"So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better." (Colossians 1:9-10)

He's not at all saying that we should put a hold on loving others while we gain understanding and wisdom, but we add to it. The more we know and understand God, the more we will know and desire His will in our lives, and the more we will desire to do His will, and the more we do His will the more we will get to know God better. It's an amazing cycle that draws us closer and closer, but it is up to us to engage it even when the circumstances are, shall we say, less than comfortable.

This is my prayer for you and for myself today. I would encourage you to take a moment to say these verses out loud but turn them around in a prayer for yourself and as a prayer for your friend, your husband, your children, or anyone that God lays on your heart.

There is more to this encouraging prayer that we'll look at tomorrow--in the meantime, may your Monday be filled with hope and joy that comes from a heart that is completely surrendered to Christ.

Daily Encouragement

The opening of the book of Colossians is an especially encouraging prayer from Paul to the believers at Colosse (a city in the Roman province of Asia), so for your encouragement today, I thought I'd share the first part of it today and more later this week:

"We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard that you trust in Christ Jesus and that you love all of God's people. You do this because you are looking forward to the joys of heaven--as you have been ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard and understood the truth about God's great kindness to sinners." (Colossians 1:3-6)

Yes, the truth of the Good News that has changed your life is going out even still and it changes the lives of the people around you. Do you know of anyone who has not heard and has not understood the truth "about God's great kindness to sinners"? Besides your Facebook status or information page, how have you been sharing this Good News that changes lives? Be bold and courageous, for this news is LIFE CHANGING!

Daily Encouragement

How carefully do you choose your outfits everyday?

Sometimes I stand in my closet just staring at what's on the hangers wondering how I might coordinate them and come out looking somewhat "put together." Then, I would proceed to put them on, decide, "no, that just won't do," and commence with trying a different combination until I'm at least somewhat satisfied, but then again, sometimes I go back after a while and start all over again!

Here's a tip on the best things you can put on everyday and never think twice about it:

"Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. and let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)

Daily Encouragement

More words on work...

I'm on this kick with the subject of work recently because of the study on Ruth I'm leading with some awesome chicks and also with the Joseph study with some other awesome women--God's just drawing all this out, and it's amazing to me how He weaves lessons together to make sure we "get it."

Today's tidbit is generated from our study on Ruth. You know, I used to think this woman Ruth was just a righteous (but plain) woman I wasn't all that interested in--the book was short and didn't seem to really catch my attention. Over the last year, though, God has been revealing more of Himself through this tiny little set of chapters, and I'm so excited to share it with you.

Here's the breakdown: she's this destitute, recently widowed foreigner coming to Bethlehem with her newly widowed mother-in-law, Naomi--having nothing to show for their time in Moab. Ruth asks Naomi to allow her to go out and glean (pick up the left-overs) in the fields wherever she could. Ruth doesn't sit around and wait for God to drop in a care-package from the local food bank or go begging in the streets. No, Ruth says to her mother-in-law, "Let me go out into the fields to gather leftover grain behind anyone who will let me do it." (Ruth 2:2) And she goes out and humbly works her tail off! But she "just so happens" to find herself in the fields belonging to a man named Boaz, and God met her there and provided for her needs and the needs of her mother-in-law. You'll have to go to this short little book in the Bible to find out what happens next!

You will see how Ruth is noticed for her character and her work ethic. God met Ruth in the fields and poured out His blessings and favor on her, but the question is, would God have done the same thing for her if she had stayed home waiting for a hand-out, worrying about where they would find their next meal, or feeling sorry for herself?

Consider your own circumstances. Don't give up looking for work if you're currently unemployed or underemployed; don't give up hope. If God's calling you to a change in careers or is urging you to be content and do your best where you are--listen, talk with your family and step out in faith, and He will meet you--He will never leave you nor forsake you--even when the numbers just don't add up. What's the God of the universe speaking to you today?

Here is my prayer for you, dear sister:
"May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully" (Ruth 2:12) as you reflect the character of Christ in your day-to-day responsibilities and encounters with others.

Daily Encouragement

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, y'all!

Just recently, I started writing a daily tidbit on Christian discipleship for some sweet friends of mine, and I was thinking maybe there was someone out there who would be interested in getting some daily encouragement through our blog. So, I'm going to try it out here and you ladies send me your feedback!

Today's encouragement:

What's your job situation like right now? Do you have a boss that seems to be keeping you down or has someone been promoted over you? Are you unemployed and desperately looking for work, and no one seems to be hiring?

Take courage and don't lose heart because the truth is that these companies are not the ones in charge of your employment -- God is sovereign (He's in control) over everything, even your promotion or demotion, hiring and firing!

Psalm 75:6-7 says, "For no one on earth--from east or west, or even from the wilderness--can raise another person up. It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall."

On Thursday mornings, we've been studying the life of Joseph as laid out in the final chapters of Genesis, and we see how God was with Joseph from the time he is sold as a slave into the house of Potiphar in Egypt, to when he is promoted to 2nd in command of Potiphar's house, to his false imprisonment and then his command over his fellow inmates, to his promotion to ruler over all of Egypt-- 2nd only to Pharaoh (Genesis 37-45). Joseph was faithful to the Lord and to his employers, and God took care of Joseph through all of his affliction and his success, and God had a purpose for it all.

God is the one who provides us with everything we need, and it is our job as servants of Christ, to be good stewards of what we've been given (with material possessions, with our time, with our giftings and our physical capabilities).

"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 paths." (Proverbs 3:5)

This is where we can not only encourage our husbands who may be struggling in their jobs but also know for ourselves that Christ is really our employer (even if you're self-employed or a stay-at-home mom): "Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)

Please make sure to leave me your questions or comments. I'd love to hear from you!

Blessings,

Wendie

Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

....to be treated as royalty.

If you are a follower of Christ, you are a daughter of the King, therefore, a princess.

Because of your standing as a princess, at the Princess and the P's spring retreat April 8-10, you will be treated like royalty.

(For the following, keep in mind, some of this is more figurative than literal.)

First, you will be given time to let your hair down, relax and have fun.

We will all come, all the royal princesses, will come before our King to purify our hearts and minds.

You will be able to unload your burden on Him and will be given rest.

You will then be bathed with pure water (which is the Holy Spirit) and feast on the bread of life (the Word of God).

You will be clothed in royal robes, adorned with jewels and anointed with oil.

We will spend time listening, valuing the words you speak and sharing our hearts with you. We will give you time alone to spend with our King so that He can make your face shine with the reflection of His glory.

You are beautiful daughters, cherished by the King, and it is our goal, as Women of Hope, to treat you as He sees you, and for us to see ourselves in that light.

I hope you will join us! There is still time to register, contact Stephanie Bush at beansmommy30@gmail.com to save your place!

Gathering

Due to the ice and not much hope for a thaw, we have decided to postpone the Women of Hope Gathering that was scheduled for Friday night. We are so disappointed as we were really looking forward to meeting with all you girls, but we want you to stay safe!

We will update with the new date as soon as we have it!

Blessings,

Wendie

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

The leadership team of the Women of Hope has been planning some fun and exciting as well as growth-oriented activities and events for 2011! We hope you will take a look at everything that is offered and come as often as you can. Ours is a large community group within New Hope that seeks to offer gender-specific opportunities--feminine to be even more specific--that will enable women from all kinds of backgrounds to grow in relationship to one another as we grow in Christ.