To My Sisters,

I apologize to everyone for the delay in the past few posts. I have been wrapped up in something very exciting…

2nd Annual

Women of Providence

women's conference

 

Live It!

9.24.11

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." Colossians 2:6

For those of you not familiar with the conference it is held at Providence Baptist Church in McLean, VA. Last year was a great success and this promises to be even more exciting.

Through powerful music, exciting speakers, and small group breakout sessions on a wide range of topics, you are sure to find the tools and inspiration you need to dive into the awesome life God has for you!

Special guests include:

Gospel recording artist, speaker and co-founder of Life Waters Ministries, Dr. Negleatha Johnson.

Renowned Gospel singer/songwriter, Alyce Metallo.

Author, speaker, historian and TV News analyst, Jane Hampton Cook.

 

And a special session of unique musical styling and original poetry with published poet and entertainer, Cheryl Crockett.

And I’ll have the privilege of hosting as well as singing and speaking a bit myself.

 

Register Online Today!

http://www.wix.com/providencetoday/liveit

$20 early-registration fee

(includes a wonderful lunch and gift)

15% discount for groups of 5 or more!

 For more information:

Email us at WomenofProvidence@gmail.com or call the church office. 703-893-5330

Providence Baptist Church

8980 Brook Road, McLean, VA 22102

 

If at all possible I hope to see you there. Please help spread the word about this exciting opportunity to grow in the Lord and have a lot of fun together!

Generosity: The answer is “Yes!"

Have you ever had that awkward moment where you wondered, “Do you tip this person?” or “Should I pick up the tab?” or “Should I give a little in this offering even though it’s not my church?”

Well, allow me to put your mind at rest…the answer to these questions is simply “Yes!” If the thought comes to your mind, and it is not going to be financially unwise for you to do so, the answer is yes. One time God told me, “Just do it! It’s just money, and it’s really not yours anyway.”

And what about that Salvation Army bucket? Have you ever tried to sneak in the shore, rushing by, careful not to make eye contact with the poor freezing soul ringing that little bell, pretending to be on the phone or focused on something you see on the other side of the walk way? We’ve all been there. Try this, just give a couple dollars and smile. Chances are you won’t miss the money, but God will reward your giving with the ability to walk in and out of the store guilt free! J

I used to get worried and anxious over these little things. But I have been set free. And it is a wonderful feeling. The scripture says that God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7) And I felt God say, “You’re asking if you should bless someone…what do you think my answer is going to be?” And I realized that worrying over whether I should give someone $5 for taking my bag, or tip the server 20% instead of 15% was robbing me of the joy of giving. The extra few dollars was not going to put me in financial straits and yet the simple act of giving could bring as much joy and fulfillment to me as to the receiver, if not more.

So just think about this as you go throughout your day. Of course we have to be wise and be good stewards, but in most instances when we are questioning whether or not to bless someone, the answer is simply, “Go for it!” The small amount it will cost you will not compare to the huge amount of joy and love you feel coming back at you. I firmly believe we are blessed to be a blessing, not to sit on it! It is God’s money anyway. Hold it loosely and allow Him to use it anyway He wants!

Note: I am not talking about giving a $100 bill to a “begger” with brand new $150 tennis shoes…I am talking about the many little opportunities we have each day to reach out and show love just by living with a generous heart and an open hand. It is great freedom!
 

“And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

No Pressure. No Problem.

When Tim and I were on our honeymoon in the Caribbean the staff of the resort had a phrase that was their answer to everything..."No pressure. No problem, mon." It really stuck in your head after a few days, and it was one of our favorite sayings for the first year of our marriage.

It sounds funny, but I think that if we got real about it, this is exactly what Jesus is saying to us when we come to Him with our worries, fears, and anxieties.

Take a few minutes to read and reread these verses. Roll them over in your mind.

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God." Philippians 4:6 (Amplified Bible)

"Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls." Matthew 11:29

"Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life," Matthew 6:25a

"And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?" Matthew 6:27

"Therefore do not worry and be anxious," Matthew 6:31a

"But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." Matthew 6:33

Ok, Got it? No worrying about anything...ANYTHING! So take a deep breath. Ok, take all the pressures on your mind and give them to God. Go on...let go. Now, walk away...Hey! Put them back!! :) Now, walk away thanking God that He's got it.

So the next time you start with your, "But, Lord...But, Lord..." Picture Jesus with a smile on His face saying, "Relax, my child. I've got it! No pressure. No problem, mon."

Keeping in Step

So one morning the week before deer season when I was in high school, my dad and I went out early to check my stand for signs that any big bucks had been in the area. J Yes, I grew up far from my current Northern VA residence and enjoyed a bit of hunting…though in my classical Type A, perfectionist style I never actually got anything because nothing was ever big enough…but that’s a lesson for another day.

On this particular November morning all was very quiet. The sun was just rising, and the dew was still tick on the field. I was following my dad back to the house, being careful to step right where he had walked. This way the talk grass was knocked down and the path was easier for me to navigate. But several times I would hear something, or start looking over across the field, my mind wandering along the fence row, and I would find myself in brush up to my waist hardly able to continue. But all I had to do was stop and find where my dad was and then fall back in step right behind him. As we headed back to the house that morning the Lord taught me a very valuable lesson. It is much the same with our heavenly Father. As long as we follow along in His steps and stay focused on where He is leading us the path is much easier, not without obstacles but much smoother. The minute we become distracted and get off track we find ourselves getting all tangled up and we lose our way. But the beauty of it is that as soon as we look down and find we have gotten ourselves in a mess, all we have to do is look back to where He is and go get right back in step with Him.

Just something to think about…

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8a

“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 trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrew 12:1-2a (NLT)

“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amplified Bible)

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

Thank You for My Weakness

I recently wrote a song, and with the help of my very gifted friend John it now actually has music. The title is “Thank You for My Weakness.” This may sound odd, but bare with me. Do you ever find yourself feeling beaten and discouraged? Ever feel you can’t rise up from under the load of insufficiency? Maybe the words “I can’t” have become your motto, or someone telling you “You just aren’t good enough,” continues to ring in your ears long after the words have been spoken.

Here’s the thing…that is exactly when God can use us the most and when His power can be at its greatest in and through our lives, IF we surrender ourselves to Him. These verses have been the source of great encouragement to me over the years.

“But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (Amplified Bible)

“[No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.” 1 Corinthians 1:17 (Amplified Bible)

So you see, were it not for our weaknesses we would not have the incredible opportunity to have the power of the Almighty God perfected in us. All the “voices” if you will, that are telling you you are not good enough are not from God. That’s a tactic of Satan to keep you down and to hinder you from being active for the Lord.

Challenge: The next time you begin to feel these thoughts coming on stop and tell Satan, “Thanks for reminding me!” And then remind Him of these scriptures. Commit these verses to memory and learn to give thanks for your weaknesses. Don’t be ashamed, be grateful! For when we are weak He is strong! And as the words of the song say, “If it takes my weakness for Your power to be known, then Lord, let my weakness show!”

How to Grow

Mark 4:24 is a powerful verse with great promise and practical advice. I love the “tell it like it is” approach Christ takes here.

“And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you--and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.”

So there you have it. The phrase, “You get out of it what you put into it,” is a Biblical principle.

The fact is, you can ask others to pray for you all you want, but if you are not doing your part – spending regular one-on-one time with God and in the Word – you will make no progress. You can have people laying hands on you until there is not a hair left on your head, but if you are not seeking God on your own, habitually and constantly, you will see no change.

And where is your focus? Are you continually thinking positive thoughts? Are you making a conscious effort to keep the things of God in the forefront of you mind? Or do you spend more time thinking about the weaknesses of yourself rather than the power of your God?

Don’t even think about saying, “I don’t have time.” That is a lie! And it is one the devil would love for you to believe! Saying you don’t have time to spend time with God is like saying you don’t have time to breath, or like dying of a heart attack but saying you don’t have time to see a doctor. God is your life source. He is the reason you live and breathe and your life will never be right apart from Him.

So decide today. No more excuses! Make it work! You will see results. I promise!!

“BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].” Psalm 1:1-3

Been experiencing Internet problems. Will have new post up within 72 hours.