February 5, 2010
12-31-09
New Year’s Eve! And, What a day! Thank you – Jesus – for all you’ve shown me. Holy Spirit, thank you!
Our first stop was Beit She’An near the end of the Jezreel Valley. Once a city of commercial and military importance, it is near where King Saul’s body was nailed to city walls. (I Sam. 31). This place was fascinating. It had been
under a field for many years and a farmer with his tractor hit the top of a column. Underneath was a treasure of historical and archeological finds.
Megiddo is on the edge of the Plain of Armageddon – the site of the final battle in Rev. 16:16. I had always pictured this to be rugged – dry and rocky. But the valley is a brilliant lush green. The fortified structure at Megiddo was something to behold. An impressive water system is still in place. Twenty-five civilizations have been uncovered in this one spot. Megiddo was where King Solomon had a large reserve of horses and chariots.
Caesarea was beautiful … on the Mediterranean coast. Johnnie Moore taught us from Acts 23 while we sat in the theater where Paul testified of Jesus.
Please give me more boldness. Lord, I’m available for you. I love you.
February 5, 2010
12/29/09 Day 2
What a long flight! 
My ankles look like – well – huge. All good – and worth it.
Duke and Carlene Westover of Ducar Tours met our group at Tel Aviv. Ido, a 7th generation Israeli and archeologist, is our guide.
As we rode along the way to Tiberius (2 1/2 hours), Ido pointed out Mt. Carmel. This is where the prophets challenged Elijah to a dual of gods (I Kings 18: 16-46)….. but There is No God like Jehovah!
Our hotel overlooks the Sea of Galilee. I’m looking forward to 
reading my Bible on the balcony tomorrow.
Father, your holiness and your kindness take me back. Thank you for your goodness to me. I can’t help but think of all those I know who love you so much and would love to visit this land where time began. Lord, please help me not to miss what you’ve entrusted to me with this opportunity.
February 4, 2010
The first week of the new year and the new decade, I spent in Israel. This was my first time to visit the Holy Land. I am so thankful to the Lord for this amazing opportunity.
12 -28 -09 (Day 1)
My adventure begins! Thanks to my wonderful parents and a Lord who answers prayers, I’m in Richmond, Virginia ready to board a plane to NYC and on to Israel. This is a dream come true. My heart is filled with great expectations! 
I’m praying that the Lord will teach me- convict me – and use me. Last night I was so excited about going on a trip where I don’t have any responsibilities – not in charge – no roommates – nothing to plan — I was having an “All about ME” moment or two. In the early morning, Jesus reminded me that it is becasue of Him that I’m on this trip. My time is not my own and this trip is not all about me.
Lord – you know I’m a selfish woman. Please forgive me for my inward focus. I pray in Jesus name that You will fill me with your Spirit and help me look around to see what and who You see. Jesus- please use my hands – my eyes – my words today. Your word says you use jars of clay. The clay in me is evident. But …so is the power of You. Thank you for loving me, Jesus. I love you, too!
September 8, 2009
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
Filed under book review, devotion, encouragement, leadership, professional women, schedule
Tags: book review, Christian, devotion, fear, scared, what if
August 26, 2009
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…
Filed under Women's Ministry, devotion, encouragement, leadership, prayer, professional women
Tags: Christian, confidence, conversation, devotion, disappointment, fresh, meeting, satisfy
August 21, 2009
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.
August 21, 2009
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
Filed under Proverbs 31, Women's Ministry, book review, devotion, discipleship, encouragement, leadership
Tags: book review, challenge, Christianity, faith, leadership, Lysa Terkeurst, new blog, perspective, Proverbs 31, radical, Women's Ministry, worship
August 8, 2009
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.
August 3, 2009
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.
12-31-09
under a field for many years and a farmer with his tractor hit the top of a column. Underneath was a treasure of historical and archeological finds.
Caesarea was beautiful … on the Mediterranean coast. Johnnie Moore taught us from Acts 23 while we sat in the theater where Paul testified of Jesus.
