Fear got a hold on you?

What if I get cancer?  What if my husband has heart problems?  What if I can’t lead this group? What if …

Fear can quickly pull me to the bottom of life’s sea.   Fear can hold us down and make us feel breathless.

Fear got a hold on you? Loosen the grip with Max Lucado’s newest book, Fearless. This is a great reminder of who is in control and the God we can trust.  All of us face trials and with the right perspective, we can get through them. “It’s not the absence of storms that sets us apart.  It’s whom we discover in the storm: an unstirred Christ.”

This weekend I worked on a message for our leadership team retreat.  After a few hours, I felt fear’s grip.  I began doubting my message – I doubted my ability – within a few minutes I was trying to figure out how in the world I got to lead a Women’s Ministry.  Can you relate?

Lucado cautions, “Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness.” When we are wrapped in fear, we not only doubt our abilities, we begin to doubt the character of God.   We must keep our attention on Jesus and not our situation.

I don’t have a message, but Jesus does. I don’t have ability – but the Holy Spirit enables – I am not a likely choice for leading a ministry, but God chooses the foolish to confound the wise.   The thoughts of fear in the face of God and His Word, don’t hold water.

I would recommend Fearless to anyone who doesn’t want to be controlled by the What ifs of life and wants to experience the thrill of a faith-filled journey.

Fearless         Thomas Nelson        ISBN: 978-0-8499

Flat or Fizz

Pop!  Fizz!  Bubbles…. There is nothing quite as refreshing as a bottle of Coca Cola.  My son loves the original small bottle… these days I’ve gone to Coke Zero.  Refreshing all the same.  And, there is nothing that compares to the disappointment of a big gulp of flat Coke….

Christians can be like a bottle of pop.  Fresh… invigorating…a welcome treat.  We can also be like the flat coke that doesn’t satisfy and leaves a bad aftertaste.

II Thes. 2:17 “May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.” (The Message).

What if all the Christ-followers you encountered today had “Fresh Fizz.”  What if they weren’t relying on last week’s devotion or Sunday’s sermon to enliven their speech? What if you and I were going into every meeting with new ideas filtered through the unending help and confidence that Jesus wants to give?

Father, please fill us with your Holy Spirit. Please help us to walk in your power, strength, and anointing.  Jesus we want to bring your refreshment to those around us.  Today, we are pouring out the stale and looking for fresh word from You.  We look with expectancy to see how You are going to work in us and around us this day.

In Jesus Name…

Day 1 of a 30-day challenge…

This morning I began a challenge of seeking God in a more radical way by asking Him to increase my love for Him.  I asked Jesus to help me to see Him at work.  He so graciously answered my prayer.  From one appointment to the next, He was at work. Had a great time talking with the team at World Help and hearing about the way lives are being transformed as a result of their ministry.  Jesus is stirring my heart for a group of people in Guatemala … and a vision to love a village to Him.

What Happens When Women Say “Yes” to God

A must read for women who are yearning for more in their Christian walk.  This book has recharged my desire to be radical in my faith. I can see the adventure that awaits the woman ready to abandon all for Christ.  Do I want to know about God or really know Him? The answer comes in obedience. Obedience out of love -not duty.

This summer, I had the privilege of attending the Proverbs 31 conference led by Lysa Tekereurst.  In the middle of an environment that could have been very competitive, there was unity and humility.  Lysa’s message on being remarkABLE women stirred my heart and prompted me to search out this book.  I wasn’t disappointed.

“We all worship something.  We must choose whom – or what- we will worship.  Will it be the opinions of others, our fears, or even our own comfort?  Or will it be the One who created our souls to worship?  Whatever we worship, we will obey. As we choose to be radically obedient and say yes to the Lord, we must be radically obedient and say yes to the Lord, we must be radical about choosing to worship Him and Him alone.”

Lysa is the President of Proverbs 31.  She has an international radio broadcast and has been appeared on Oprah; Focus on the Family, and Good Morning America.   She is a wife and mother of five.

I’m taking the challenge to pray everyday for 30 days for the Lord to increase my devotion to Him and His Word… join me in looking for Jesus in every day.  It’ll be an adventure to remember.

What Happens When Women Say Yes to God:  Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways

Lysa TerKeurst Harvest House Publishers

Get over yourself!

We were just back from our honeymoon when I made the mistake of using my husband’s toothpaste.  I thought we could share everything…toothpaste included.  But who knew there were different ways to get toothpaste from a tube?  All you neat people – are thinking – of course, there is a right way and a wrong way to squeeze toothpaste from a tube.  People like me — think if feels good to grab the middle of a tube and squish it where it has never been squished before.  Mike has a system for getting the Colgate on his brush.  He starts at the bottom and strategically squeezes a little at time keeping a smooth tube at all times.   To save our marriage… we decided we would never share toothpaste.

Flash forward 25 years and we are on an anniversary getaway to Washington, D.C.  Mike wants to walk through the city carefully viewing each monument and reading all the displays in the museums. I want to jump on the trolley with the guide who will tell me the highlights.

Toothpaste and Trolley cars… the differences are many. With all those differences, we still make a good team. I admire that Mike is calculated and dependable.  I am so thankful for this man who loves Jesus.  He is a man who lives by honor and justice – and he has faithfully loved and cared for our sons and me.   Besides, I think he appreciates the “variety” I bring to our life.

Romans 12:10 – 12
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor, giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.

That is a great word for the church and it is also a great recipe to a good marriage.  Maybe you and your husband are more alike than Mike and me… but even so, you still share in the differences in men and women.  Jesus is continually reminding me to “Get over yourself.” The more I do… the more there is to celebrate… year after year.

Father, thank you for your faithfulness in teaching me.  Help me to be a wife that loves, honors, give preference, is diligent, fervent, serves, rejoices in hope, shows patience in everything and prays continually.  Thank you for hearing and answering prayer.

Favorite Books on Marriage:  Love and Respect by Emerson E. Eggerichs – the DVD curriculum for this series is amazing.  For the wives only:  Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus and  Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas.

At the altar…

Lisa and Patsy - great time of WM training at P31

God showed up in a big way at the Proverbs 31 conference.  On the final meeting of  She Speaks, Renee Swope invited us to make our way to a cross to pick up a card which read,  “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:2

Today, the Lord continued to deal with my heart.  I visited one of my favorite spots …LU Prayer Chapel.  I was alone at the altar – and found rest in my Bible and with Jesus.  The words “obedience” and “surrender” are the words the Holy Spirit has whispered to my heart since Lysa Terkeurst’s opening message.  This morning, I reviewed the words to the old hymn “Trust and Obey.”

When we walk with the Lord
In the Light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
Let us do His good will;
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.”

The next verse got me …

“But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor He shows a
And the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey for there is no other way – to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Jesus, help me surrender all to You … I so want my plans to line up with Your purposes. I love you.  Thank you for inviting me to the altar again.

Just another Tag?

We upload an album on Facebook and tag our friends in photos…  We send a tweet on twitter and we tag an article or website we like.  We are constantly identifying ourselves with people, causes, and activities.   i.e. …. Women’s Ministry, Discipleship, Mother’s of Multiples, Seasoned Sisters, and Alabama Football … you get the picture.

Courtney ... serving in Thailand

Last week our family listened to Courtney Vestal share her testimony of serving in Thailand this summer.   This vibrant-beautiful young woman spent her summer building relationships with hurting women exposing them to the love of Christ.   At the close of Courtney’s testimony she prayed and asked the Lord to help us be a part of things He would want His name “tagged to”…

Had to think…would Jesus want His name “tagged” to my actions?

Lord, Jesus, help me to intentionally attach myself to the groups, people, and actions that please you.

Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Scheduling

July 31st … Proverbs 31 conference. August 10th..hair appointment with Kelly at Arte’ Dei Capelli (essential)… leader retreat September 12th at Master’s Inn … September 18th Women’s Ministry is going to New York City…   October family getaway at the beach…  November 11th  National Women’s Ministry Forum. Does your calendar look like mine? Throw in the start of school…football season (Roll Tide)…  and then, remember, there are only 157 days til Christmas.  Whew! It books quickly.

Have you considered putting prayer on your calendar?   This Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m., I’ll meet my best buddies and we’ll pray for the things closest to our hearts.  We’ve met for 10 years and we’ve seen prayer after prayer answered. God has changed us as we’ve seen Him actively work in the lives of our families.

We need to talk with Jesus everyday and throughout the day – but how about scheduling an extended appointment with Him.  Talk about peace and refreshment… that is what you’ll get.  Before you fill in your calendar (or someone else does for you)… before the apple festivals… teacher conferences… dentists… and fall sports banquets… even before the last hoorah of summer…How about putting down a prayer date?

Would you like more information on prayer?  Strategic Renewal is a great resource.

Faithful Forever

“Loyal”… “Constant”… “Steadfast”… “Like a reliable compass” are some definitions of faithful.  Mike and I had the privilege of spending the evening with some of the most faithful in our church family.  These men and women have given years of loyal, constant, and steadfast service.  They love God with all their hearts, and they love their church family. In a time where there are so many uncertainties, people like this are great reminders of the consistency of a loving Savior. When developing leaders, it is a great thing when we can convey the importance of being a faithful servant.

Do you know someone who is a faithful servant?  Why not let them know what their consistency means to you.

Psalm 146:6
The Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

Life… Love… and Leadership…

Favorite Blend from The Muse

Thank you for visiting my blog. Conversations is a reflection of pursuing relationship with Christ and asking God to help me see life … love … and leadership from His perspective.  I will look forward to learning from you as we experience “Conversations” together.

I Corinthians 2:9
However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” —