Today, I want to introduce you to my dear friend, Karen Ehman. Karen serves on the Proverbs 31 Speaker Team with me. She has authored four books, one of which we are featuring today. She speaks across the country encouraging woman on how to simplify their lives and glorify God in their hearts and their homes.
The subject of hospitality is not only near and dear to my heart, but it is also the perfect topic for me to address here on Wendy’s blog. You see, Wendy and her family are currently offering hospitality to our daughter Mackenzie as she lives with them while attending cosmetology school in Charlotte. It has done my heart a wealth of good knowing Kenz is in the capable hands and home of the sweet Blight family. She is made to feel right at home!
When it comes to the subject of opening your home, how do you fare? So often, we women shy away from this important ministry because we have unrealistic expectations of ourselves. We surmise we simply must have perfectly cleaned houses, gourmet food to serve and lavish décor on display in order to be hospitable.
We need to remember that there is a huge difference between what the world calls “entertaining” and what the Bible refers to as “hospitality”. Entertaining puts the emphasis on you and impressing your guests. Hospitality puts the emphasis on your guests and seeks to make them feel refreshed, not impressed when they leave your home.
While there are many aspects to hospitality, the food you offer dozen’t need to stress you out. With a few simple “what to serve” ideas, having others over can be a snap. Try to develop a repertoire of no-fail recipes to draw upon when company comes. And don’t worry about serving an entire seven-course meal. Just having others over for a simple snack is offering hospitality too! In fact, this week, pick up the phone, invite someone over and try this fall favorite idea:
Carmel Apple Dip
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
¼ C. brown sugar
¾ C. sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 C. chopped, lightly salted peanuts
Blend cream cheese, sugars and vanilla until thoroughly mixed. Just before serving, fold in peanuts. Serve with sliced, crisp, slightly tart apples such as Honey Crisp, Gala or Granny Smith. Enjoy!!!
If you’d like to explore the topic of hospitality further, leave a comment here and you will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of my book A Life That Says Welcome; Simple Ways to Open Your Heart and Home to Others. In it you’ll find many ideas for what to serve, how to dejunk your home and keep it clean, simple decorating ideas and hospitality on the road activities to do with your family.
Happy hospitality everyone!
Thank you, Karen! If you would like to win a copy of her featured book, A Life that Says Welcome, please leave a comment on my blog. To read more from Karen, please visit her blog.To purchase a copy of Karen's book please visit the Proverbs 31 website.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Will You Join God in His Work?
Welcome to my "old" bloggy girlriends and new bloggy friends that are joining us today after reading my Proverbs 31 devotion.
Divine Appointments.
God Moments.
"God"incidents.
The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the God of Heaven and Earth steps into time to use you and me to touch the life of another.
Truly I say to you, there is no greater privilege. God certainly does not need our help, yet He CHOOSES to use us.
Why?
One of God's greatest desires is to deepen our relationship with Him, to draw us closer to His heart, to make us more like Him. To accomplish this, He often challenges us to live beyond ourselves...to step outside our comfort zones.
Living beyond ourselves, stepping outside our comfort zones requires obedience. Obedience requires trust in the one who is asking you to obey. We can trust God.
Why?
God is Love. God loves us with an unconditional everlasting love. This is an immutable fact. His Word, from Genesis to Revelation, is a written testimony to all God has said and done to prove that love. So if you and I BELIEVE...if we have FAITH in this amazing grace-filled love, not only will we trust God but also we will desire to please Him. Obedience will be the natural outflow of this loving relationship.
When we walk in obedience to God, we open ourselves up to be used by Him. He will do something through our lives that only He can do. And we will come to know Him in a way that we never would have known Him before.
He wants to use us to do GOD-SIZED, MIGHTY, WONDERFUL, MARVELOUS, MIRACULOUS things. If you are like me that day in the grocery store, I wanted a sign, an affirmation that I should speak because it was SO stepping out of my comfort zone. Satan tried to rationalize me right out of my obedience. If I had fallen for the lies of the evil one, think of the incredible blessings we all would have missed. Each one of us in the store that day experienced the powerful presence of the LIVING GOD in our midst.
With God affirmation often FOLLOWS obedience.
And sometimes obedience does not always reap a beautiful blessing. One afternoon, my son and I hurriedly walked past a man sitting alone by the fountain at our local mall. His dirty clothes and long, greasy hair caught my eye. I felt led to buy him something from Chick-fil-a. Bo and I approached the man and offered him the meal. Much to our surprise, he refused it and looked almost offended. My heart was broken. I was embarrassed.
Did I not hear God right that day? Was that not God's will? Did I act with the wrong motive? These thoughts plagued my mind. But as I walked to the car, the Lord impressed upon my heart..."you did what I asked, Wendy, you obeyed. That is all I require of you. The rest is up to me."
For the next few days, pray the prayer below. Watch and see what God is doing and join Him in His work. If you have a divine appointment story today or God brings one over the next few days, please share it with us!!
Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You are always at work in this world...at work all around us. Thank You for inviting us to be a part of the amazing work You do. What an incredible privilege it is to join You. Draw us closer to your heart as we seek to know You more through Divine Appointments. As we leave this post today, use us, Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear. Give us beautiful stories to share.
Blessing,
Wendy
Divine Appointments.
God Moments.
"God"incidents.
The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the God of Heaven and Earth steps into time to use you and me to touch the life of another.
Truly I say to you, there is no greater privilege. God certainly does not need our help, yet He CHOOSES to use us.
Why?
One of God's greatest desires is to deepen our relationship with Him, to draw us closer to His heart, to make us more like Him. To accomplish this, He often challenges us to live beyond ourselves...to step outside our comfort zones.
Living beyond ourselves, stepping outside our comfort zones requires obedience. Obedience requires trust in the one who is asking you to obey. We can trust God.
Why?
God is Love. God loves us with an unconditional everlasting love. This is an immutable fact. His Word, from Genesis to Revelation, is a written testimony to all God has said and done to prove that love. So if you and I BELIEVE...if we have FAITH in this amazing grace-filled love, not only will we trust God but also we will desire to please Him. Obedience will be the natural outflow of this loving relationship.
When we walk in obedience to God, we open ourselves up to be used by Him. He will do something through our lives that only He can do. And we will come to know Him in a way that we never would have known Him before.
He wants to use us to do GOD-SIZED, MIGHTY, WONDERFUL, MARVELOUS, MIRACULOUS things. If you are like me that day in the grocery store, I wanted a sign, an affirmation that I should speak because it was SO stepping out of my comfort zone. Satan tried to rationalize me right out of my obedience. If I had fallen for the lies of the evil one, think of the incredible blessings we all would have missed. Each one of us in the store that day experienced the powerful presence of the LIVING GOD in our midst.
With God affirmation often FOLLOWS obedience.
And sometimes obedience does not always reap a beautiful blessing. One afternoon, my son and I hurriedly walked past a man sitting alone by the fountain at our local mall. His dirty clothes and long, greasy hair caught my eye. I felt led to buy him something from Chick-fil-a. Bo and I approached the man and offered him the meal. Much to our surprise, he refused it and looked almost offended. My heart was broken. I was embarrassed.
Did I not hear God right that day? Was that not God's will? Did I act with the wrong motive? These thoughts plagued my mind. But as I walked to the car, the Lord impressed upon my heart..."you did what I asked, Wendy, you obeyed. That is all I require of you. The rest is up to me."
For the next few days, pray the prayer below. Watch and see what God is doing and join Him in His work. If you have a divine appointment story today or God brings one over the next few days, please share it with us!!
Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You are always at work in this world...at work all around us. Thank You for inviting us to be a part of the amazing work You do. What an incredible privilege it is to join You. Draw us closer to your heart as we seek to know You more through Divine Appointments. As we leave this post today, use us, Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear. Give us beautiful stories to share.
Blessing,
Wendy
Friday, September 18, 2009
Are You Believing the Lies? - Part 4
We ended Part 3 of this series talking about Satan's deception...Satan caused Eve to doubt God with his lies. Deception is Satan's M.O. - modus operandi. It is all he knows. Scripture tells us that he is the father of lies. Read Jesus' words in John 8:44:
By looking, watching, listening, and buying, we perpetuate these lies. The media wins. They fill our mind with lies and, by doing so, destroy our self esteem, value, and worth. In fact, repeated exposure to much of what the media feeds over time actually desensitizes, not only us, but this precious generation of young women to what is impure, ungodly, and immoral. Our culture awakens our senses to immorality to the point that we what we have been taught most of our lives is ungodly and immoral is really now viewed as natural and acceptable.
Sounds hopeless, doesn't it???? But there is one solution to this problem. The only long-lasting eternal solution to defeat these lies is for us to know WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.
We left Eve after her fall in fear, shame, guilt, and sorrow. The good news for us is that we do not have to stay in that place with Eve. Christ came and took all that from Eve and from us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control
He [Satan] was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the Truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Satan assaults us from every direction. Billboards all across America display perfectly formed, unbelievably beautiful, half-naked women selling beer, lingerie, jewelry, and sporting events. Signs for million dollar neighborhoods convincing us of the need to keep up with "the Joneses" appear on every corner. A plethora of magazine covers appear at every check out counter telling us how to lose weight fast and how to have better sex. We cannot turn on the radio without receiving sexual, sensual images. Movies like "Twilight," "Baby Momma," and "Bride Wars" teach us beautiful people, living together, and sex before marriage are in.By looking, watching, listening, and buying, we perpetuate these lies. The media wins. They fill our mind with lies and, by doing so, destroy our self esteem, value, and worth. In fact, repeated exposure to much of what the media feeds over time actually desensitizes, not only us, but this precious generation of young women to what is impure, ungodly, and immoral. Our culture awakens our senses to immorality to the point that we what we have been taught most of our lives is ungodly and immoral is really now viewed as natural and acceptable.
Sounds hopeless, doesn't it???? But there is one solution to this problem. The only long-lasting eternal solution to defeat these lies is for us to know WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.
We left Eve after her fall in fear, shame, guilt, and sorrow. The good news for us is that we do not have to stay in that place with Eve. Christ came and took all that from Eve and from us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,
Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come.
When you invite Christ into your heart, you become a new creation. No matter the choices you made in the past, no matter the lies you have been told and believed from your past, you are a new creation. At the moment you ask forgiveness of your sin and invite Christ to be a part of your life, you become a child of God. John 1:12-13 says,
Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
You are sealed with the Holy Spirit. You become a temple of the Living God. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God, comes to live inside of you!!! How cool is that???
The prophet Ezekiel predicted this truth in the Old Testament. God promised through Ezekiel a time in the future when He would give His people new spiritual life. Ezekiel 36:26-27 says:
A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put in you, and I will take out the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you and CAUSE you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.
This new spiritual birth becomes a reality, prophesy fulfilled, in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. THIS IS TRUTH, SWEET FRIENDS. We experience a spiritual transformation, a new birth...an implant of Jesus into our hearts in the person of the Holy Spirit. Just as we receive our parent's DNA at our physical birth, we receive our heavenly Father's DNA at our spiritual birth. We receive the fruit of His Spirit as told in Galatians Chapter 5:love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control
We are God's new creation - beautiful, strong, created with a unique plan and purpose. Please do not leave this post today without KNOWING this Truth... I am praying even know that God would speak this truth LOUD AND CLEAR into your heart...that you would believe NOT who you are in your parent's eyes, in your spouse's eyes, in your children's eyes, in your employer's eyes, in your friend's eyes, in the world's eyes, or in your eyes....
BUT MY PRAYER IS THAT YOU WILL KNOW AND BELIEVE WHO YOU ARE IN YOUR FATHER'S EYES.....
Next post we will look at exactly who we are in Christ. If you have the time to chat about this, please leave a comment. I truly believe this is one of the greatest struggles we deal with as women...believing the TRUTH about who we are. We all believe the world's lies as fed to us by Satan...oftentimes through the very ones who are to love us. Share your stories, Truths that have helped you combat the lies, and your prayer requests.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Celebrating the Women of Central Church of God
Last night I spoke to the women of Central Church of God in Charlotte, North Carolina. My deepest thanks to Brenda, Stacy, and Michelle who worked so hard to create a beautiful evening of worship and praise to our Jesus.
We had over 400 women, and it was AMAZING!! Thank you for such a warm welcome and for the hugs and words of affirmation as we closed. We ran out of the outline of my message, so per the request of many, I am posting it below. I pray the verses and the prayer bless you and speak to your heart. If you were there last night, I would LOVE to hear what God spoke to your heart and what your "baby steps" will be.
Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God’s Story
For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
LIVING:
For I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Romans 11:33
O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways...Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast....All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:1-4, 7-10, 16.
‘I have loved you with an everlasting love: I have drawn you with loving-kindness’. Jeremiah 31:3
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4
ACTIVE:
[Jesus] asked him, ‘Would you like to get well?’ John 5:6 (NLT)
Jesus told him, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!’ John 5:8 (NLT)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
SHARPER...PENETRATING:
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12. (NLT)
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent... Ephesians 6:13-18. (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20. (NLT)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me; He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 (NLT)
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NLT)
He will shield you with His wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor. Now you don’t need to be afraid of the dark any more, nor fear the dangers of the day; nor dread the plagues of darkness, nor disasters in the morning. Psalm 91:4-6 (TLB)
I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned to me and He heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, sometimes it is hard for me to understand why there is pain and suffering in my life. At times, I have been angry with You. But now, at this moment, I am ready to surrender my heart and my hurting places to You. Thank You for the words of Truth You have revealed to me. Take them now, plant them deep within my heart, let them take root and flourish within me. Bring Your transforming power into my life. Heal and restore me. From this day forward, give me eyes to see and ears to hear all You desire to teach me. Help me to trust You in all things. I give You total access to my heart, the heart You created and specially formed for me. Bring the fullness of Your Spirit into my hurting places; shine the Light of Your Word into my darkness. Come and meet me here.I love you, Lord. I ask all this in the powerful Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
All verses NIV unless otherwise specified.
We had over 400 women, and it was AMAZING!! Thank you for such a warm welcome and for the hugs and words of affirmation as we closed. We ran out of the outline of my message, so per the request of many, I am posting it below. I pray the verses and the prayer bless you and speak to your heart. If you were there last night, I would LOVE to hear what God spoke to your heart and what your "baby steps" will be.
Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God’s Story
For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
LIVING:
For I am convinced that neither life nor death, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Romans 11:33
O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways...Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast....All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:1-4, 7-10, 16.
‘I have loved you with an everlasting love: I have drawn you with loving-kindness’. Jeremiah 31:3
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4
ACTIVE:
[Jesus] asked him, ‘Would you like to get well?’ John 5:6 (NLT)
Jesus told him, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!’ John 5:8 (NLT)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
SHARPER...PENETRATING:
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12. (NLT)
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent... Ephesians 6:13-18. (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20. (NLT)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me; He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 (NLT)
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NLT)
He will shield you with His wings! They will shelter you. His faithful promises are your armor. Now you don’t need to be afraid of the dark any more, nor fear the dangers of the day; nor dread the plagues of darkness, nor disasters in the morning. Psalm 91:4-6 (TLB)
I waited patiently for the Lord, He turned to me and He heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, sometimes it is hard for me to understand why there is pain and suffering in my life. At times, I have been angry with You. But now, at this moment, I am ready to surrender my heart and my hurting places to You. Thank You for the words of Truth You have revealed to me. Take them now, plant them deep within my heart, let them take root and flourish within me. Bring Your transforming power into my life. Heal and restore me. From this day forward, give me eyes to see and ears to hear all You desire to teach me. Help me to trust You in all things. I give You total access to my heart, the heart You created and specially formed for me. Bring the fullness of Your Spirit into my hurting places; shine the Light of Your Word into my darkness. Come and meet me here.I love you, Lord. I ask all this in the powerful Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
All verses NIV unless otherwise specified.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Intermission on True Beauty Series to Offer Praise to My King
My heart simply cannot hold back what my spirit feels in this moment. Six years ago my friend Lisa Allen and I started a neighborhood Bible Study here in Charlotte with 12 women. Opening my home each week was stepping out in faith BIG TIME for this young mom who was really just beginning to heal from the trauma of rape. We gathered week after week to study God's Word.
Over the years, the women would invite friends, and we added 5-6 women each year. We came from every background...Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, even Greek Orthodox. Together we grew...as wives, as mothers, and as women.
Last year we celebrated our sixth year. We had grown to nearly 40, clearly outgrowing my home. I could hardly believe what God had done in six years as I reflected on the growth of myself and each and every woman in the study. I pondered what to do, what to do. We simply could not meet in my home anymore. One group had already broken off to meet at a coffee shop on Thursdays. It made my heart sad that everything was changing. I began to wonder if God was done with this little study.
As the year drew to a close, and my book had been published and my number of speaking engagements increased, I thought perhaps the Lord was calling me out of the study. I shared this with a few of our leaders, and we agreed to pray.
As I prayed and pondered what the Lord would have me do with the study, He spoke ONE THING into my heart: Wendy, you are a Bible teacher...this is what I created you to do...this is your calling...I will equip you...I will provide for you...I will make a way. I prayed and asked the Lord for confirmation after confirmation, and He so faithfully provided.
He provided a new location, a church just a mile from my house. He provided a team of women who had a passion for this study to continue, women who stepped up to serve in every way needed to grow and make this study happen.
He planted in my heart a study for the entire year, one I am still in the midst of writing and preparing.
Yesterday was the first day of our "new" study. Our leadership met at 8:45 to pray at Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I prayed for our morning. I knew what God was about to do that day. Our work of preparation was complete. His work was about to begin as nearly 80 beautiful women walked into the sanctuary.
As I stood next to the podium and looked out over the sweet faces before me...representing names I had prayed over for months...I could hardly contain my emotions. The Truth of God's Word washed over me...the power of His promises invading me ever deeper:
Wendy, did I not tell you years ago in your sorrow and despair that I work all things together for good for those who love Me and are called according to my purpose? (Romans 8:28).
Sisters in Christ, I felt compelled to write this because I believe there is someone out there who God is calling to step out in faith...to believe that in the midst of your pain and suffering God WILL work it for good...even though you cannot see it now...HE WILL!!!
Heavenly Father, Redeemer, Restorer, Savior, Almighty God, how I love You, Lord. My heart is so full as I think of how You Redeem ALL things. There is nothing that can ever happen in our lives that is to great, too reprehensible, or too horrible for you to redeem and make new. Thank You that Your Word is Truth. Thank You that it is LIVING and ACTIVE!!! Thank You that in You ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!! Amen.
Over the years, the women would invite friends, and we added 5-6 women each year. We came from every background...Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, even Greek Orthodox. Together we grew...as wives, as mothers, and as women.
Last year we celebrated our sixth year. We had grown to nearly 40, clearly outgrowing my home. I could hardly believe what God had done in six years as I reflected on the growth of myself and each and every woman in the study. I pondered what to do, what to do. We simply could not meet in my home anymore. One group had already broken off to meet at a coffee shop on Thursdays. It made my heart sad that everything was changing. I began to wonder if God was done with this little study.
As the year drew to a close, and my book had been published and my number of speaking engagements increased, I thought perhaps the Lord was calling me out of the study. I shared this with a few of our leaders, and we agreed to pray.
As I prayed and pondered what the Lord would have me do with the study, He spoke ONE THING into my heart: Wendy, you are a Bible teacher...this is what I created you to do...this is your calling...I will equip you...I will provide for you...I will make a way. I prayed and asked the Lord for confirmation after confirmation, and He so faithfully provided.
He provided a new location, a church just a mile from my house. He provided a team of women who had a passion for this study to continue, women who stepped up to serve in every way needed to grow and make this study happen.
He planted in my heart a study for the entire year, one I am still in the midst of writing and preparing.
Yesterday was the first day of our "new" study. Our leadership met at 8:45 to pray at Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I prayed for our morning. I knew what God was about to do that day. Our work of preparation was complete. His work was about to begin as nearly 80 beautiful women walked into the sanctuary.
As I stood next to the podium and looked out over the sweet faces before me...representing names I had prayed over for months...I could hardly contain my emotions. The Truth of God's Word washed over me...the power of His promises invading me ever deeper:
Wendy, did I not tell you years ago in your sorrow and despair that I work all things together for good for those who love Me and are called according to my purpose? (Romans 8:28).
Sisters in Christ, I felt compelled to write this because I believe there is someone out there who God is calling to step out in faith...to believe that in the midst of your pain and suffering God WILL work it for good...even though you cannot see it now...HE WILL!!!
Heavenly Father, Redeemer, Restorer, Savior, Almighty God, how I love You, Lord. My heart is so full as I think of how You Redeem ALL things. There is nothing that can ever happen in our lives that is to great, too reprehensible, or too horrible for you to redeem and make new. Thank You that Your Word is Truth. Thank You that it is LIVING and ACTIVE!!! Thank You that in You ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!! Amen.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Are You Believing the Lies? - Part 3
Our Father in heaven gave us the Bible, His Word, to ensure that we never again have to believe the lies of the evil one. It is by knowing, studying, and believing this Book that you and I can keep from making the same mistake Eve did. And when I say knowing, I don't just mean knowing like we know 2 + 2 = 4 or knowing Barak Obama is the current president. I mean KNOWING it, SEEKING HARD after it, HUNGERING for it, THIRSTING for it, DIGESTING it, and having a DEEP and ABIDING PASSION for it.
Psalm 119:11 says,
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word...I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Jesus knew the power and significance of God's Word because in the wilderness each time Satan tempted Him, He rebuked him saying, "It is written," and then quoted His Father's Word. Jesus was able to stand firm against every temptation Satan threw at Him because HE KNEW HIS FATHER'S WORD!
Listen carefully, my friends, Satan knows our vulnerable places, our weaknesses, and our fears, and he will come hard after you in those places. He wants to render you impotent so that God cannot use you.
God creates women of strength and beauty. He creates women with the desire that they will be a powerful influence for His Kingdom in their culture and in their world. Satan plots to destroy that strength and beauty. He wants weak, despairing, fearful women who will shrink back, blend in, and be absorbed by their culture and the world.
The question for you and me is who will we be? Will we be the woman of strength and beauty God created us to be...the woman who will influence her culture for God. Or will we be the one who shrinks back, blends in, and lets the culture influence us?
Satan caused Eve to doubt God, the very One who created her when he said, For God knows that when you eat of it [the fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Satan tempted her with power, prestige, and position...the very same stuff he tempted Jesus with. He led her to believe that God was withholding something from her, something more desirable than that which she already had.
So what happened? Eve was faced with a choice that day in the garden. Choose God's Word or Satan's lies. She had so much to lose and only one thing to gain. But Satan made that one thing seem so BIG, so IRRESISTIBLE that she caved. Eve chose to believe the lies of the evil one, the deceiver, the father of lies. To make matters worse, she not only ate the forbidden fruit but also led her husband to do the same.
In that moment, they both lost everything...but especially for Eve (and for us)...it was devastating. She lost her significance, her provision, her security, her purpose, and her perfect union with God and her husband. And what replaced it? Guilt...fear...shame...and so much more.
DECEPTION...that is Satan's favorite tactic. In my next post, we will examine Satan's assault on women in our current culture and God's solution...His answer to Satan's lies. Don't miss what God's Word has for you!!! Here are some clues...
New Creation
Masterpiece
Forgiven
Loved
Set Apart
Holy
Made with Purpose
I am adding this topic as a message I will share when I speak, so I would love to hear your stories and thoughts to help make it the best it can be.
Psalm 119:11 says,
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word...I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Jesus knew the power and significance of God's Word because in the wilderness each time Satan tempted Him, He rebuked him saying, "It is written," and then quoted His Father's Word. Jesus was able to stand firm against every temptation Satan threw at Him because HE KNEW HIS FATHER'S WORD!
Listen carefully, my friends, Satan knows our vulnerable places, our weaknesses, and our fears, and he will come hard after you in those places. He wants to render you impotent so that God cannot use you.
God creates women of strength and beauty. He creates women with the desire that they will be a powerful influence for His Kingdom in their culture and in their world. Satan plots to destroy that strength and beauty. He wants weak, despairing, fearful women who will shrink back, blend in, and be absorbed by their culture and the world.
The question for you and me is who will we be? Will we be the woman of strength and beauty God created us to be...the woman who will influence her culture for God. Or will we be the one who shrinks back, blends in, and lets the culture influence us?
Satan caused Eve to doubt God, the very One who created her when he said, For God knows that when you eat of it [the fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Satan tempted her with power, prestige, and position...the very same stuff he tempted Jesus with. He led her to believe that God was withholding something from her, something more desirable than that which she already had.
So what happened? Eve was faced with a choice that day in the garden. Choose God's Word or Satan's lies. She had so much to lose and only one thing to gain. But Satan made that one thing seem so BIG, so IRRESISTIBLE that she caved. Eve chose to believe the lies of the evil one, the deceiver, the father of lies. To make matters worse, she not only ate the forbidden fruit but also led her husband to do the same.
In that moment, they both lost everything...but especially for Eve (and for us)...it was devastating. She lost her significance, her provision, her security, her purpose, and her perfect union with God and her husband. And what replaced it? Guilt...fear...shame...and so much more.
DECEPTION...that is Satan's favorite tactic. In my next post, we will examine Satan's assault on women in our current culture and God's solution...His answer to Satan's lies. Don't miss what God's Word has for you!!! Here are some clues...
New Creation
Masterpiece
Forgiven
Loved
Set Apart
Holy
Made with Purpose
I am adding this topic as a message I will share when I speak, so I would love to hear your stories and thoughts to help make it the best it can be.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Are You Believing the Lies - Part 2
We ended with this question on my last post...
So who is this beautiful woman that God so carefully and masterfully created, and who the world so easily criticizes and seeks to redefine? Who does God say she is?
The answer to this question begins with these words: In the beginning, God created. God spoke into being all that we know and much that we cannot see or fathom. He painted the horizon, gathered the waters, brought forth vegetation, placed stars in the sky, perfectly ordered the planets, and filled the earth with living creatures. He created every living creature according to its own kind, with its own unique design and purpose.
Although God saw all that He had made and declared it good, He decided to create one more creature...one made in His image and His likeness to rule over His Creation. God created man from the dust of the ground. The very hand of God molded and shaped His newest creation. God then breathed into the man's nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living being.
God then decided it was not good for man to be alone, so He caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, removed one of the man's ribs, and closed the place with flesh. From this rib, God made woman.
God's final creation...His masterpiece...was a woman!!
He saved the best for last!! He brought her to the man and the man said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. Genesis 2:23
Adam and Eve were perfect. They had the perfect marriage in a perfect world.
Eve had special significance.
God created her to be Adam's helpmate, to rule alongside of him over all the creatures of the earth.
Eve had a personal relationship with God.
She walked and talked with God.
Eve had a confident and secure relationship with God.
God provided for Eve's every need.
Together Adam and Eve had unbroken union with each other and with God.
They did not lack for anything...physically, spiritually, or emotionally. They reigned over God's creation with complete freedom and only
ONE RESTRICTION...
You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.
Genesis 2:16-17.
It was this one restriction that invited Satan into their paradise. Eve made the mistake of wandering over near the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan, knowing she was alone, appeared before her in the form of a beautiful creature that I am sure appealed to all of her senses.
You see, that is how Satan works. Scripture tells us,
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8.
He engaged her in a conversation. He said to her,
Did God really say, 'you must not eat fruit from any tree in the garden?' Genesis 3:1b.
Satan twisted God's Word. Eve made the grave mistake of conversing with Satan, and his question provided her the opportunity to change and interpret God's words to her.
Studying this brought me to one and only one conclusion. Eve must not have really known God's Word. She did not have it hidden deep in her heart. Perhaps she heard what God said and never took it to heart. Or perhaps God spoke it to Adam and Adam then told Eve, so she never heard it herself. Either way, they were words she heard but did not truly KNOW. They were not etched into her heart and mind. She did not learn them with a heart bent toward obedience.
Eve's mistake was engaging in a dialogue with Satan.
Satan then told Eve an outright lie, absolutely contradicting God's Word. He spoke these words...
You will not surely die...For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:4-5
John 8:44 says of Satan,
He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is liar and the father of lies.
Another name for Satan is "diablos," which means divider. Satan loves to divide families, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, husbands and wives, and most especially God from His children. His primary goal is to steal, kill, and destroy all that is God's and all that is good.
God told Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate from the tree. Satan contradicted God's specific words and convinced Eve she would not die.
This was the fall of Eve and the fall of all mankind. For you see, Eve lived in perfect communion with her Father until Satan, the father of lies, came into the picture.
Has there been a time in your life where you have been taken in by the "father of lies?" Maybe you have been deceived into thinking you are a failure as a wife, as a mother, as a Bible teacher, as a child of God. Maybe you have been deceived into thinking you will live in the depths of despair and depression for the rest of your life. Perhaps you have been deceived into thinking there is no hope for your circumstances. THESE ARE ALL LIES!!!!
Join me in my next post as we journey together to find TRUTH to combat the LIES.
***The winner of the drawing to win a copy of my book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner, and a $20 gift certificate is "Elle Elle," Liz in Arkansas. Please e-mail me at spkrcoord@proverbs31.org and give me your contact information and let me know the type of gift certificate you would like. **
So who is this beautiful woman that God so carefully and masterfully created, and who the world so easily criticizes and seeks to redefine? Who does God say she is?
The answer to this question begins with these words: In the beginning, God created. God spoke into being all that we know and much that we cannot see or fathom. He painted the horizon, gathered the waters, brought forth vegetation, placed stars in the sky, perfectly ordered the planets, and filled the earth with living creatures. He created every living creature according to its own kind, with its own unique design and purpose.
Although God saw all that He had made and declared it good, He decided to create one more creature...one made in His image and His likeness to rule over His Creation. God created man from the dust of the ground. The very hand of God molded and shaped His newest creation. God then breathed into the man's nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living being.
God then decided it was not good for man to be alone, so He caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, removed one of the man's ribs, and closed the place with flesh. From this rib, God made woman.
God's final creation...His masterpiece...was a woman!!
He saved the best for last!! He brought her to the man and the man said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. Genesis 2:23
Adam and Eve were perfect. They had the perfect marriage in a perfect world.
Eve had special significance.
God created her to be Adam's helpmate, to rule alongside of him over all the creatures of the earth.
Eve had a personal relationship with God.
She walked and talked with God.
Eve had a confident and secure relationship with God.
God provided for Eve's every need.
Together Adam and Eve had unbroken union with each other and with God.
They did not lack for anything...physically, spiritually, or emotionally. They reigned over God's creation with complete freedom and only
ONE RESTRICTION...
You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.
Genesis 2:16-17.
It was this one restriction that invited Satan into their paradise. Eve made the mistake of wandering over near the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan, knowing she was alone, appeared before her in the form of a beautiful creature that I am sure appealed to all of her senses.
You see, that is how Satan works. Scripture tells us,
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8.
He engaged her in a conversation. He said to her,
Did God really say, 'you must not eat fruit from any tree in the garden?' Genesis 3:1b.
Satan twisted God's Word. Eve made the grave mistake of conversing with Satan, and his question provided her the opportunity to change and interpret God's words to her.
Studying this brought me to one and only one conclusion. Eve must not have really known God's Word. She did not have it hidden deep in her heart. Perhaps she heard what God said and never took it to heart. Or perhaps God spoke it to Adam and Adam then told Eve, so she never heard it herself. Either way, they were words she heard but did not truly KNOW. They were not etched into her heart and mind. She did not learn them with a heart bent toward obedience.
Eve's mistake was engaging in a dialogue with Satan.
Satan then told Eve an outright lie, absolutely contradicting God's Word. He spoke these words...
You will not surely die...For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:4-5
John 8:44 says of Satan,
He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is liar and the father of lies.
Another name for Satan is "diablos," which means divider. Satan loves to divide families, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, husbands and wives, and most especially God from His children. His primary goal is to steal, kill, and destroy all that is God's and all that is good.
God told Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate from the tree. Satan contradicted God's specific words and convinced Eve she would not die.
This was the fall of Eve and the fall of all mankind. For you see, Eve lived in perfect communion with her Father until Satan, the father of lies, came into the picture.
Has there been a time in your life where you have been taken in by the "father of lies?" Maybe you have been deceived into thinking you are a failure as a wife, as a mother, as a Bible teacher, as a child of God. Maybe you have been deceived into thinking you will live in the depths of despair and depression for the rest of your life. Perhaps you have been deceived into thinking there is no hope for your circumstances. THESE ARE ALL LIES!!!!
Join me in my next post as we journey together to find TRUTH to combat the LIES.
***The winner of the drawing to win a copy of my book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner, and a $20 gift certificate is "Elle Elle," Liz in Arkansas. Please e-mail me at spkrcoord@proverbs31.org and give me your contact information and let me know the type of gift certificate you would like. **
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Are You Believing the Lies?
It is amazing how God speaks in the most unique and unexpected ways. One trip to the ladies room inspired this post. One Sunday after worship, my daughter, Lauren, and I joined several of our girlfriends for lunch. As it is when you gather with girlfriends, laughter filled our time together, so much so that, at my age, it required a quick trip to the ladies room! :0)
As I closed the door to the stall, I saw an advertisement that caught my eye. The ad was for a plastic surgeon:
"Define yourself through the hands and eyes of a true artist."
As I closed the door to the stall, I saw an advertisement that caught my eye. The ad was for a plastic surgeon:
"Define yourself through the hands and eyes of a true artist."
The words pierced my heart. The joy and laughter that had filled our conversation moments earlier vanished as I realized there are women searching so desperately for their identity that they would look for it on the back of a bathroom door. I thought too of God and how His heart must break. He looks down from His thrown in heaven to observe His beautiful creation, a woman He created with strength, dignity, beauty, and a unique purpose before the foundation of the world, hastily plugging the doctor's number in her PDA or scribbling it on a crumpled Target receipt at the bottom of her purse.
Sadly, this is where our society has taken us.
What this world has lost sight of and what this doctor so flippantly and arrogantly tossed aside is that there is only ONE TRUE ARTIST....
The One True God
our Heavenly Father
the Lover of our Souls
the Maker of our Hearts
the Creator of the Universe
Scripture tells us God and God alone is the Creator of human life.
In the beginning, God created...
God created man in His own image,
in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them. Genesis 1:1, 17
We are created in God's Image. God and God alone is the source of our identity. God and God alone is the one to define us. No one else has that right.
So who is this beautiful creature called woman that God so carefully and masterfully created... who the world so easily criticizes and seeks to redefine? Who does God say that she is?
Will you join me in my next few posts to find the answer to this question. Please share with me your thoughts on how our culture defines women. I would love to hear your stories, personal experiences that expose the lies of our culture.
By the way, in my next post, I will announce the winner of the copy of my book, Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner, and the gift certificate. If you participated in our summer study and would like to be considered for the drawing, please leave a comment on last Tuesday's post (August 25th).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe
