Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Sanctifying...Every Day...

I hope your year is going by a bit slower than mine.  Wow!  We just completed the third quarter...and Spring Break begins in two days!  May I share how the Lord has been working in my life?

Women's Events

  • Earlier this month, I helped transport pastors' wives from our association to a retreat...just for them...that our association's Women's Ministry Team (love being a part of this team!) felt led to host.  No, I am not a pastor's wife...and felt I needed to excuse myself from their times of devotions and chats.  So I did.  I was so blessed, though, to hear their times of quiet...and then their outbursts of belly laughs!  Blessed my soul!
  • This past Saturday, I attended Inspire Women's Conference, hosted by the state association, and and was so blessed to mingle with 900 women!  Amazing!  My favorite session was on social media, where I learned our largest population is not China, India, nor the US...but Facebook, followed by YouTube...then China and India.  Much to ponder...on how better to reach this mission field.
  • Near future events include a local evening at a neighbor church and Women of Joy in April in Branson.  Yes!  I am excited about this, as my daughter also wants to attend, and I was able to get her a ticket!  I have also purchased us tickets to return to another Women of Joy this fall.  Speakers for April are Christine Caine, Sylvia Harney, Angela Thomas Pharr, and Chrystal Evans Hurst.  This fall's speakers are Sheila Walsh, Liz Curtis Higgs, Karen Kingsbury, and Alli Worthington.  Yay!
  • God is good! All the time!
Bible Studies
  • My Bible Study gals chose to read My Utmost for His Highest throughout the entire year...a book I read through last year...and had decided to do so again.  So glad they chose to read along also, for they are being blessed.  (The Husband has also decided to read the book!  Yay!)
  • I also felt that the Lord wanted me to read and get to know Paul this year.  I am working through Beth Moore's Paul:  90 Days on His Journey to Faith.  Not sure what I will read next about him...but he and I shall spend time together most mornings this year!
  • For Lent, I am tagging along with the Lifeway 40-Day Easter Prayer Guide.  This week's fast is from spending money...so I have avoided Wal-Mart and Cato's...and the drive-thrus!  :)  I agree that this conscious effort to withdraw from something is a great way to draw nearer to God, which remains my utmost goal.
  • God is good!  All the time!
Our Annual Women's Conference
  • Over the last month, I have been praying and asking ladies to speak at our church's annual women's conference...two said yes...two declined...then another said yes...  God is continually teaching me to seek His Perfect Will...not mine...and I totally trust His Decisions.  I am excited...speakers are confirmed!  Let the creative side of me take over as I "play" with our theme and create flyers.  I really believe we will see a soul saved this summer during conference.  For this lady, I am already praying.
  • More about this soon.
  • God is good!  All the time!
My Prayer Request
  • For several reasons, I need to lose weight:  both for health and spiritual reasons.
  • Would you pray that I heed this still, small voice of God in this area of my life?  For, as you probably know, the more I want to, try to, the more I am tempted by the foods I enjoy the most:  sweets.  
  • Confession:  Gluttony is the thorn in my flesh.  I know that (not just for food...but books, glasses!).  I hear myself talking about others' thorns and how they just need to resist.  But what do I do?  I eat that sweet treat and do NOT say no.
  • I am praying...and this prayer request I know He will...has...answered.  
  • Thank you.
  • God is good!  All the time!
NEW Teaching Position
  • I have accepted a teaching position at a nearby school, and I know that I know this is the Lord's Perfect Will for me, and I am sooooooooo excited!  This is a prayer answered.
  • I began this school year...my 28th...asking the Lord that my last years be as my first years.  This year has not been that, yet at the same time this new job arrived on the horizon.  God just cleared the way.  Sitting in church, on Feb. 13, I received the text that the school board had approved my hire for 2019-2020.  
  • Get this...I was hired in March for my very first job.  See that date...February...God is outdoing Himself has He answers this prayer request!  Of course, He is!
  • I am already praying for my New Mission Field...as I continue to serve Him in my current teaching position. 
  • God is good!  All the time!
This Month's Memory Verse(s)
Image result for numbers 6:24-26
  • A few months ago, I adopted my friend Amanda's monthly goal of choosing a verse on which to focus.  What a blessing!
  • For this month's verses, I (might be a bit greedy here)...have chosen Numbers 6:24-26.
  • May I leave you with these verses?
    • May He bless, make, shine, lift, and give you peace...as He graciously completes you.
  • Dear friends, God is good!  All the time!  


Wednesday, January 2, 2019

My One Word

Since 2011, I have participated in the MyOneWord...what a journey! 

How do I choose a word?  I like to the think the word chooses me...or more specifically, the Lord chooses the word for me.  I wait until the word will just not leave me; every time I think ponder on this...that one word is just there.

My Words

  • 2011:  Peace
  • 2012:  Quiet
  • 2013:  Fit
  • 2014:  Smile
  • 2015:  Complete
  • 2016:  All
  • 2017:  Diligent
  • 2018:  Less
  • 2019:  Birth
What an interesting mix of words.  Out of all the words in our language, He chose these for me for specific reasons that I could even foresee.

MY WORD:  Birth

Just to clear the air...fairly certain this has nothing to do with my birthing any babies! Physically (hysterectomies...had two partials...took care of that!), age-wise (am happy to be 52!), mentally/emotionally (time is full with all my students!)...just not going to happen!  

In anticipation of 2019 and this word, how might I encounter this word?  I do plan to "birth" new projects:  quilts, paintings, flower beds.  Maybe other "new" events are to take place?  

My scriptures for this year (just could not settle on one...and neither have the word birth, but these work for me!):
John 3:6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
Philippians 1:21 - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 
I have given birth once; therefore, from experience, while I know birth brings tremendous joy, first come the birthing pains!  Oh, my.  Thus, here I begin my prayers for wisdom and courage and diligence to endure through whatever is coming my way in 2019.

Please tell me!  Have you chosen a word?  Better yet...has a word chosen you!?

May you be blessed!