Ok, so how many of you are signed up for a women’s Bible study this year? Most studies will begin in the next week or two at many churches. How about it? Is it something that you have even thought about yet or is this idea completely foreign to you? If it is something that you have hesitated to do in the past…jump on in! God’s Word will NEVER disappoint. You will be richly blessed! Do you work during the day? Maybe a morning study is one you can’t make. How about an evening study then? At the church I attend, our women’s ministry is offering the same women’s Bible study both in the morning and evening to accommodate the women. If your church home is much larger you will have the choice of many different Bible studies and study times during the week to choose from. My best friend belongs to a much larger church so when I recently asked her what women’s Bible studies they were doing, I felt like she was reciting all thirty one flavors at Baskin Robbins! I asked her jokingly, so who is speaking at your women’s conference this year…Jesus?!?
‘Regrets, I’ve had a few…’ from the Frank Sinatra song comes to mind when I think of how many years I missed out on not being in a women’s Bible study. Bible studies are not only a great way to meet other gals and make new friends, most importantly they keep us faithfully in His Word each week going deeper and deeper into the truths and promises that God has for each one of us. And when we get into God’s Word, God’s Word gets into us! Send me a comment and fill us all in on what your women’s ministry is studying this year. Or maybe if you work, you have decided to get a few girlfriends together and meet at lunch for your own Bible study. Either way…you will be blessed. If you scroll down a bit you will find a video I have included that reminds me of just how precious and valuable being in His Word is.
”Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
I just had to share...
I just had to share a woman's devotion that I subscribe to that touched my heart this morning. If you want to receive it in your mailbox daily just go to www.proverbs31.org and subscribe to their ‘Encouragement for Today’ daily devotion. A dear girlfriend of mine shared these devotions with me and I was blessed, I pray you are too.
Be blessed today! JoanneAugust 30, 2007
Pursuing Jesus Above All
By Micca Campbell
Psalms 63:1, "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirst for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." (NIV)
Devotion:
There is a tale of an elderly woman in the church who served the Lord for years. Instead of seeking the help of others, she did most of the work herself. She was head of women's ministry, taught Sunday school, sung in the choir, was on the prayer team, and counseled the pastor on a regular basis. She was tired, worn out, and longed for heaven. Yet, because there was still so much work for her to do, she feared that she would never die. Eventually she did die. I guess God wanted His job back.
Nevertheless, from the perspective of most, today's successful leaders, whether in the Christian world or secular, are much like this woman.
Somewhere between her calling and service to God she took over, rushed ahead, and set her own agenda. It happens to the best of us. In our service to God we can easily slip into pursuing ministry instead of pursuing Jesus, and miss the purpose of our existence. The same is true in every facet of our lives. The pursuit of happiness, opportunity, or even being a good parent, can get in the way of simply pursuing Jesus.
What are you pursuing? What is it that you really want? Is it a successful career that you covet? Is it to be a musician, a doctor, or to author a book? Maybe it's a spouse you're dreaming of, or the desire to be a mom that you're longing for. Whatever your dream is, it's a God-given dream. In addition to giving you the dream, God has also given you what it takes to make your dream come true. We don't arrive at our dreams by our own efforts, nor can we make them come true all by ourselves. We get there by pursuing God.
I have found in my own life and ministry that when God reigns in my heart, blessings and opportunities pour down faster than I can make them happen myself. The best way to get where you're going is to surrender your dreams to God.
We are always in a hurry. God never is. While He has given us the vision of what we are to become, it may not be a reality in us yet. We have to let God work in our lives until we are ready. The dream is not what needs shaping. It's us. God often prepares us for our dreams through adversity in our lives.
Don't be discouraged if your dream seems unreachable. No matter what your circumstances are, God is at work shaping and preparing you for it. You and I may achieve some sort of success by our own pursuit, but it will never satisfy us like pursuing Jesus and waiting on Him to bring our dreams to pass.
When God alone is our true treasure, reward, and prize; when He is all we long for, seek after, love and adore, then He gives us the desires of our hearts. Only then are we ready to fulfill our purpose. No other person or thing can satisfy us like Jesus or prepare us for our God-given dreams. What are you pursuing?
Dear Lord, You know the dream I have tucked away in my heart. You know how I've longed for it to become a reality. I trust You today. I give You permission to work in my life preparing me for that dream. While You work, I will simply pursue You and be satisfied until my dream is a reality. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Be blessed today! JoanneAugust 30, 2007
Pursuing Jesus Above All
By Micca Campbell
Psalms 63:1, "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirst for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." (NIV)
Devotion:
There is a tale of an elderly woman in the church who served the Lord for years. Instead of seeking the help of others, she did most of the work herself. She was head of women's ministry, taught Sunday school, sung in the choir, was on the prayer team, and counseled the pastor on a regular basis. She was tired, worn out, and longed for heaven. Yet, because there was still so much work for her to do, she feared that she would never die. Eventually she did die. I guess God wanted His job back.
Nevertheless, from the perspective of most, today's successful leaders, whether in the Christian world or secular, are much like this woman.
Somewhere between her calling and service to God she took over, rushed ahead, and set her own agenda. It happens to the best of us. In our service to God we can easily slip into pursuing ministry instead of pursuing Jesus, and miss the purpose of our existence. The same is true in every facet of our lives. The pursuit of happiness, opportunity, or even being a good parent, can get in the way of simply pursuing Jesus.
What are you pursuing? What is it that you really want? Is it a successful career that you covet? Is it to be a musician, a doctor, or to author a book? Maybe it's a spouse you're dreaming of, or the desire to be a mom that you're longing for. Whatever your dream is, it's a God-given dream. In addition to giving you the dream, God has also given you what it takes to make your dream come true. We don't arrive at our dreams by our own efforts, nor can we make them come true all by ourselves. We get there by pursuing God.
I have found in my own life and ministry that when God reigns in my heart, blessings and opportunities pour down faster than I can make them happen myself. The best way to get where you're going is to surrender your dreams to God.
We are always in a hurry. God never is. While He has given us the vision of what we are to become, it may not be a reality in us yet. We have to let God work in our lives until we are ready. The dream is not what needs shaping. It's us. God often prepares us for our dreams through adversity in our lives.
Don't be discouraged if your dream seems unreachable. No matter what your circumstances are, God is at work shaping and preparing you for it. You and I may achieve some sort of success by our own pursuit, but it will never satisfy us like pursuing Jesus and waiting on Him to bring our dreams to pass.
When God alone is our true treasure, reward, and prize; when He is all we long for, seek after, love and adore, then He gives us the desires of our hearts. Only then are we ready to fulfill our purpose. No other person or thing can satisfy us like Jesus or prepare us for our God-given dreams. What are you pursuing?
Dear Lord, You know the dream I have tucked away in my heart. You know how I've longed for it to become a reality. I trust You today. I give You permission to work in my life preparing me for that dream. While You work, I will simply pursue You and be satisfied until my dream is a reality. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
And the winner is......NOT ME!
It is only the second week of the new school year and I have already been disqualified for the ‘Mother of the year’ award. I was exhausted yesterday morning when I got up and started my day. These past few nights I have been staying up way past my bedtime. As Paul left for work in the morning he told me to forego my planned yard work and take a nap instead. He suggested a nap for two reasons, one: he is a great husband and two: self-preservation…unfortunately, I didn’t take his advice.
I was due to pick up our youngest two children from school at 2:15pm. At about 2:00pm I was busy straightening up my bedroom and decided to lie on my bed and close my eyes for just a few moments before I got in the car to get the kids. My bed called to me. I told myself that it would be fine, that I couldn’t possibly fall asleep in only a few minutes time. Just laying on top of my cool cotton comforter with my eyes closed felt so wonderful. It felt like mere seconds later when I opened my eyes and glanced at our clock…”WHAT?!?! 3:00PM!?!?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! I shot out of bed like my fanny was on fire. As I bolted out of the room calling for my oldest daughter Meghan, (She had gotten home from school early) I was immediately met in our hallway by both Samuel and Grace. Meghan said, “Don’t panic mom, it’s ok, I picked them up for you.” Grace and Samuel came running to me with big hugs. As small arms flew everywhere I noticed their little cheeks were as red as summer tomatoes. The guilt pierced my mom-heart. “Hurry, go and get a popsicle! I am so sorry guys. I feel just awful about falling asleep.” I said. The knife twisted a bit deeper in my heart when my daughter Meghan told me that she had seen I had fallen asleep and later with the help from a call to her dad, decided to ride her bicycle in the 95 degree heat to meet and walk her younger siblings home. After apologizing profusely they answered by saying, “That’s alright mom. We’re fine. Walking home really wasn’t that bad.” The knife then completed its work and cut my mom-heart in two.
Yep, I felt pretty rotten. I am truly grateful that my kids can be so forgiving with their far from perfect mother. I am grateful to have a teenage daughter who would bless her mom before herself. I’m not sure I would have responded in the same way they did. Actually, I know that I would not have had the same reaction if the roles were reversed…lessons once again that I am learning from my children. God’s word says, ‘Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.’ 1Timothy 4:12 Since my after school fumble with their pick up, they were quite an example for me. Oh, and as far as the ‘Mother of the year’ award goes…there is always next year.
I was due to pick up our youngest two children from school at 2:15pm. At about 2:00pm I was busy straightening up my bedroom and decided to lie on my bed and close my eyes for just a few moments before I got in the car to get the kids. My bed called to me. I told myself that it would be fine, that I couldn’t possibly fall asleep in only a few minutes time. Just laying on top of my cool cotton comforter with my eyes closed felt so wonderful. It felt like mere seconds later when I opened my eyes and glanced at our clock…”WHAT?!?! 3:00PM!?!?!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! I shot out of bed like my fanny was on fire. As I bolted out of the room calling for my oldest daughter Meghan, (She had gotten home from school early) I was immediately met in our hallway by both Samuel and Grace. Meghan said, “Don’t panic mom, it’s ok, I picked them up for you.” Grace and Samuel came running to me with big hugs. As small arms flew everywhere I noticed their little cheeks were as red as summer tomatoes. The guilt pierced my mom-heart. “Hurry, go and get a popsicle! I am so sorry guys. I feel just awful about falling asleep.” I said. The knife twisted a bit deeper in my heart when my daughter Meghan told me that she had seen I had fallen asleep and later with the help from a call to her dad, decided to ride her bicycle in the 95 degree heat to meet and walk her younger siblings home. After apologizing profusely they answered by saying, “That’s alright mom. We’re fine. Walking home really wasn’t that bad.” The knife then completed its work and cut my mom-heart in two.
Yep, I felt pretty rotten. I am truly grateful that my kids can be so forgiving with their far from perfect mother. I am grateful to have a teenage daughter who would bless her mom before herself. I’m not sure I would have responded in the same way they did. Actually, I know that I would not have had the same reaction if the roles were reversed…lessons once again that I am learning from my children. God’s word says, ‘Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.’ 1Timothy 4:12 Since my after school fumble with their pick up, they were quite an example for me. Oh, and as far as the ‘Mother of the year’ award goes…there is always next year.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Our God Is An Awesome God!
Why am I always amazed when I learn something from one of my children? I am ashamed to admit that it is a surprise to me every single time it happens. So often I can get caught up in believing that I am their ‘Grand Poobah’ of knowledge and wisdom. My eyes and ears become closed to lessons in life that can be gained from them. Thankfully this morning during our family devotion my eyes and ears were wide open.
As all six of us sat in different areas of our family room, my husband Paul read the story in the Bible about the disciples out on the stormy seas of Galilee (John 6:16-20). He shared aloud, “As the darkness fell and the storm grew Jesus could be seen walking on the water towards them. Detecting their fear Jesus spoke to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Paul went on to share with our children how they shouldn’t fear situations or even the darkness because Jesus was always with them. As is our routine, he then went around the room and asked each child to contribute their own personal thoughts about the story just shared. Both our eight year old daughter Grace and six year old son Samuel said when they are afraid of the dark they pray in their beds. Our teenage son David’s answer was different. He said, “Dad, whenever you send me down to the basement and it is dark outside, I always sing out loud the song ‘Our God is an awesome God’.” He went on to say “It makes me feel better and I figure if I am going to die I might as well die singing a worship song.” We all cracked up. David laughed too, but not before I had been touched by his heartfelt words.
It made me think…when I fear whatever is along my path, in an instant my big ‘G’ God can become a little ‘g’ God. When the darkness creeps into my life, do I remind myself of what a great and awesome God I love and serve? I need to do what my son does. Today if fear or worry lurks in any unknown places…I will refresh my short term memory and remind myself, ‘My God is an AWESOME God!’
As all six of us sat in different areas of our family room, my husband Paul read the story in the Bible about the disciples out on the stormy seas of Galilee (John 6:16-20). He shared aloud, “As the darkness fell and the storm grew Jesus could be seen walking on the water towards them. Detecting their fear Jesus spoke to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Paul went on to share with our children how they shouldn’t fear situations or even the darkness because Jesus was always with them. As is our routine, he then went around the room and asked each child to contribute their own personal thoughts about the story just shared. Both our eight year old daughter Grace and six year old son Samuel said when they are afraid of the dark they pray in their beds. Our teenage son David’s answer was different. He said, “Dad, whenever you send me down to the basement and it is dark outside, I always sing out loud the song ‘Our God is an awesome God’.” He went on to say “It makes me feel better and I figure if I am going to die I might as well die singing a worship song.” We all cracked up. David laughed too, but not before I had been touched by his heartfelt words.
It made me think…when I fear whatever is along my path, in an instant my big ‘G’ God can become a little ‘g’ God. When the darkness creeps into my life, do I remind myself of what a great and awesome God I love and serve? I need to do what my son does. Today if fear or worry lurks in any unknown places…I will refresh my short term memory and remind myself, ‘My God is an AWESOME God!’
Thursday, August 23, 2007
And so it begins...
And so it begins...my very first post to my very first blog. What in the world am I thinking? My nerves are a bit on edge and I know why. I am way too transparent to have a blog! What have I done? My husband Paul has no idea what I have been up to while he was at work today. Oh boy,will he be quite surprised. But then again, after almost ten years of marriage he has to know that these little surprises I often create in our life are often great stories for his use later.
I dedicate my very first post on my very first blog to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I pray that He will use my blog for His will and purpose in my life. If just one soul is touched by these words then this will have been all worth it.
God Bless, Joanne
And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, " Write, for these words are faithful and true." Rev. 21:5
I dedicate my very first post on my very first blog to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I pray that He will use my blog for His will and purpose in my life. If just one soul is touched by these words then this will have been all worth it.
God Bless, Joanne
And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, " Write, for these words are faithful and true." Rev. 21:5
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