Be Prayerful

"Pray continually...." 

I Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)

Lysa TerKeurst (2010) spoke of praying continually, but how does one pray continually? Praying continually hinges on realizing my utter dependence on God - continually. When I recognize my need for God, and when I realize that God desires to meet that need, then my weaknesses serve as a trigger to pray. My weaknesses are numerous, therefore I am in a perfect position to prayer continually (personal communication, TerKeurst, 2010).

For example, I have an addiction to food. To combat this addiction, I am choosing to participate in a restrictive diet for 40 days. Each time my stomach growls; each time my mouth waters; each time I long for food that I am choosing not eat at this time, I am seeking God to strengthen my resolve. It is continual - believe me!

Lysa TerKeurst (2010) reminds me that God longs to be my portion each day. By addressing my food addiction, I am placing myself in a position of weakness in order to experience God's power in my every day life.

What is your area of greatest need?

Will you allow your weaknesses 

to be a trigger to pray continually?

An Unusual Connection: Vampires, Lysa TerKeurst, & Beth Moore

What do Vampires, Lysa TerKeurst, & Beth Moore have in common?

When I am in connection with how God is working around me, Truth strikes me from multiple sources. Several months ago, I wrote a series of blogs relating to "The Twilight Series." I am currently reading Beth Moore's newest book "So Long Insecurity;" and, this week I am wrapping up an event featuring Lysa TerKeurst, as the speaker. I am home today, and happened upon Focus on the Family's broadcast entitled, "Navigating the Vampire Phenomenon, 1."

One of my biggest questions regarding "The Twilight Series" is the extreme obsession I see among very young girls, teenagers, young women, and middle-aged women. Females of all ages pour over these books (reading them many times over), see the movies with great anticipation and joy, and talk about the characters like they are real people. As I read Beth's discussion of insecurity, which includes many real-life examples of women who share, with intense honesty, their own struggles with insecurity, I can not help but wonder about how fiction like that of "The Twilight Series," negatively impacts woman's view of real life and love. As was stated in the broadcast above, I also can not help but question the source of need that this obsession represents.

Lysa TerKeurst points out (on her blog, in her spoken messages, and in her books) that humankind is created to crave. In Truth, God created us to crave Him! Yet, we attempt to meet that craving with everything but God, or a combination of things, along with a sprinkle of God. I attempt to fill my cravings for God with food, with work, with busy-ness, with service, with entertainment, with human comforts. I see a STRIKING CONNECTION between the insecurity of women, the innate pull of our cravings to be met with something or someone, and the obsession with vampires!

Don't label me "self-righteous." Though "The Twilight Series" has not sucked me in, I succumb to hundreds of other powerful (and inappropriate) cravings - not the least of which is food.  

Oh God, fill my life with You.

Move me to crave you first and foremost!

Allow every other pleasure to be enjoyed 

through the filter of Your perfect love for me,

 and Your complete fulfillment in me. 

Amen!

Messages From Heaven Via Humans

Open My Heart

Open my heart to Your Word; enlighten me.

Open my heart to Your Word,

And make me see

That all of life's meaning

Can be found in knowing You.

But how can I know You

If Your Word is not my rule?

Open my heart to Your Word;

Illumine me.

©2001, Geri Rosser

Dr. Geri Rosser led the students who provided praise and worship for the women's conference. They were FABULOUS! When I set this up with Geri, she did not want to intice the students with promises of an honorarium. She wanted them to participate with a heart of service. So, we surprised them each with a check at the end of the event. I love surprises!

Geri wrote the above chorus; it really touched my heart, and it is perfectly in line with the Truths God is teaching me. Thank you, Geri, for saying YES! to God.

How can I sum up Lysa TerKeurst's messages without "spilling the beans?" God is powerfully at work in her - using Lysa's body, mind, and soul to proclaim His message. My most profound comment is, "WOW!" :)

How many times a day/week/month/year do we find ourselves asking "Why, God?" Whether it is a personal hardship, the hardship of a close friend/family member, or a hardship of disasterous proportions, the "Why" questions of life are frequent. Lysa encouraged us to turn our thinking around.... Instead of asking "Why?" questions, talk to God:

"This is my reality, God.... What do You want me to do with it?"

I may be out-of-control of the circumstances, but (with God's help) I may be in-control of my reactions. Check in tomorrow for more!

Be joyful always; pray continually;

give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Event Planning: What is Success?

Success in planning the MVNU Women's Auxiliary Spring Conference is measured by how God works.I really wish that I had kept a journal of all the glitches that have occurred in the weeks prior to this event each year! At first, these glitches always catch me by surprise, and even make me mad; however, I firmly believe that these glitches represent evil's desire to shift the momentum away from honoring God.

There is not one bit of doubt in me that the devil was in our credit card machine this year!!! From start to finish, registration was a problem in 2010. Had I the time to be discouraged, I might have been by the low number of pre-event registrations. The credit card machine was one source of our apparent low numbers, but our actual numbers were right on target. Praise the Lord!! While we raise funds at the event, we do not intend to make much money from the cost of registration - our initial goal is "break even" on average.

When I arrived at the venue on Friday at noon, I was caught up in a seemingly (at the time) huge glitch.... Our tables and chairs had not been delivered! I'll be honest, I freaked a bit! Then, I took some deep, cleansing breathes and addressed the problem. Sure enough, the dilemma was solved with time to spare! Thank you, Jesus!

All of the stresses that occurred in the months/weeks/days/hours prior to this event were worthwhile when the music began! This year an MVNU student praise team led worship for the first time. They were wonderful, and the women loved having students on the platform. I believe it is great testimony of how valuable our students are - they give me hope for the future! Dr. Geri Rosser led the group; she also shared a prayer chorus that she wrote and arranged. I hope to share that with you soon!

Our featured speaker this year was Lysa TerKeurst, President of Proverbs 31 Ministries. One of her books is titled, "What Happens When Women Say Yes to God." I am thankful that Lysa said "Yes" to God. Her ministry is rich, authentic, and so down-to-earth. By the grace of God, her messages touched single women, married women, women with no children, moms, grandmas.... everyone, young and old. The response was amazing! I am excited to share some specifics from Lysa's talks, and their impact upon me personally... tomorrow.

P.S. I just realized that I never shared with the specifics of Beth Moore's message upon me in January. I will do that soon!

Spiritual Gifts in Action: Event Planning

I plan one, big event a year: the MVNU Women's Auxiliary Spring Conference. I believe I was 11 years old when I first planned something significant. It was a summer babysitting service with my best friend. We called it "Snoopy's Place." Cute, huh? We offered our services every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer. Our plans included a scheduled play time, sack lunches, snack time, and rest time. We made a significant amount of money! Nearly 30 years later, as a busy mom, I know why our services were so popular!

Throughout junior high and high school, I planned events for school and for church. It just came naturally to me, and I loved it! During my senior year in high school, I planned a formal, Christmas dance. It was an extremely memorable experience, and I learned a bunch! My planning joys continued throughout college with my biggest feat being the Homecoming Coronation during in my junior year.

My first job included event planning, as well. As the Administrative Assistant for the Director of YOUTH IN MISSION, I planned the summer training camp, and the fall recruiting tour. It was a blast!! Beyond that job, my event planning energies turned back to volunteer services through church. These volunteer experiences matured my passions for women's ministries. As a result, when the opportunity arose for me to volunteer as the conference coordinator for the MVNU Women's Auxiliary, I found the perfect marriage of my Spiritual gifts, interests and passions.

I love helping women grow in their personal relationship with Christ! Coordinating an event that is aimed at inspiration and spiritual transformation among women is quite fulfilling for me. Our 2010 event was my fourth consecutive conference. Over four years, we've had Liz Curtis Higgs, a group of 4 ladies with a long name that I can never remember, Shaunti Feldhahn, and Lysa TerKeurst. Each year holds a special place in my heart, but this year was particularly amazing!

Success in planning this event is measured by how God works. I can 't wait to tell you more... tomorrow!

"This is why I remind you to fan into flame the spiritual gifts
God gave you when I laid my hands upon you."

2 Timothy 1:6 (NLT)

Food for Thought

My pastor spoke of David and Goliath last Sunday. Because I have heard this story from childhood, I did not expect new Truths to keep me thinking into Tuesday. But then, I also forgot that the Bible is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12). I love it when God's Word speaks to me in a new, fresh way!

Two points from the sermon strike me. 1) Goliath is symbolic of evil, and 2) Spiritual weapons are more powerful than worldly weapons, despite the culture's opinions. Then, as I studied the Book of Mark this week, I read the passage where Jesus said to Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan!" Again, a very common verse of Scripture (Mark 8:33). These three ideas are rolling around in my brain.

Evil challenges Believers every day. Evil looks big, intimidating, and much stronger than Believers. Some call Christ-followers crazy. Pastor Glenn named this idea the "Goliath-effect." I like the word usage! To combat the Goliath-effect, we often look for weaponry created by the very culture that nurtures evil. In this way, we feel like David, who was bogged down by Saul's armor in preparation for battle against Goliath (think the Veggie Tales version of the story). David, however, knew better - based upon his personal relationship with The Living God. He dropped Saul's armor to fight Goliath with Spiritual weapons - faith, a few stones, and a sling - even though the people mocked him.

In Mark, when Christ began speaking to the disciples about His upcoming persecution and death, Peter tried to stop Him because, in Peter's mind, Christ came to stun the world with His strength. But, Spiritual weapons are of a different order, and God's plan for Christ in this world was very different than Peter's plan. In weakness, there is strength; in humility there is power; in death, there is life. Christ knew that Peter's words were absolutely based on worldly wisdom. Christ came to exemplify Spiritual wisdom.

The question asked in "Listening For God Through Mark," is this:

Like Peter, what might I be doing to "prevent Christ from fulfilling His mission on earth" (p. 46)?

Wow! Now that is some food for thought....

So, What Am I Doing?

I've been busy. That is an understatement, but so is everybody, right? When I think about my New Year's Challenges to Myself, I smile.... I have moved in a completely new direction. There is too much pressure to come with "New Year's Resolutions" by January 1st. I needed more time to work through God's leadership for 2010. So, what am I doing?

I adore my morning devotions in the car. Truly, I will forever look back on this season in life, and recall my spiritual growth from the driver's seat of my white Honda Odyssey in the parking lot of MVNU's Campus Center. God has met me there in BIG way for the past 18 months, or so. I have decided to NOT memorize two pieces of scripture a month in 2010 - that was sooo 2009. I plan to periodically review my 2009 verses, and occasionally add to my note card spiral of verses. I have also decided to NOT read through the Bible in a year. It simply goes against every natural grain I have within me.... When it comes to studying God's Word, I do not like strict structures and time lines. Yuck.

So, what am I doing?

1. Reading "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore, participating in family blog that focuses on the questions Beth provides each week, and attending Beth's simulcast on April 24 in Seattle.
2. Participating in Nall Avenue Nazarene's Lenten Bible Study using "Listening for God Through Mark,"  listening online to Pastor Ken Lightcap's corresponding sermons, and participating in Nall's Lenten Blog.
3. Following Lent, I will resume Kelly Minter's Bible study entitled "Ruth: Loss, Love, & Legacy." The little bit I completed prior to Lent wet my appetite. I think it is going to be a great study!
4. Finally, I am addressing a serious stronghold in my life: Food Addiction. Lysa TerKeurst inspired me to take this stronghold seriously, and that is all I am going to say, for now. 

 I plan on posting more this week about the above points....