Spirit Led Woman

As we prepare for this year to draw to a close, I can't help but wonder what the new year will bring. So many things are up in the air around us, the war, the economy, changes in government. It seems so much is changing. I was on the way to our Christmas eve service at church with my boys and we we were talking about how life had changed for us since Christmas of last year. We are in a new church and new community. This means we live in a new parsonage, which I will take the time to say I absolutely love. I feel so blessed in my home every day. There is room for everyone to spread out and I got to choose the colors and many other aspects I am thankful for. Our new church family is absolutely great. We have some people God has placed there that are irreplaceable and treat us like gold. I thank God for them every day. I also thank God for a church that truly has a heart for the community that surrounds it. God is leading people with a heart like ours to World Harvest and we are trust...

I do not attract who I want to be, but who I am becoming . As a pastor's wife assimilating to a new church, I am very aware of the law of attraction. I strongly believe that God wants us to build relationships in our lives. We were created for fellowship. Genesis tells us it is not good for man to be alone. How much more so for a woman, who was created to MEET man's need for fellowship. Bear ye one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2. One of my daily prayers is that God will raise up a team of women around me that are real and personal. It is time we get beyond the facade of we we 'think' we should be and acknowledge the awesome women we are! Each of us has struggles and burdens, but as iron sharpens iron, so one man shineth the countenance of another. I want to sharpen others. I want and need a group of women that believe in who I am in Christ and want to see me get to where God is taking me. I desire to watch and be a part of the growth in...

Negative people: Do you know someone who just drags you down? Who is it that can quickly cause you to become negative? You can be in a good mood and feel on top of the world. You can have peace about a situation in your life, and then you talk to the wrong person. Crash! It all comes down around you. Suddenly you are in a bad mood, mad at the world, questioning the will of God, or even your walk with God. All because you opened your mouth or your heart to the wrong person. When I think about this, I look at the life of Joseph. God had chosen Joseph before he was even born and gave him dreams about his future. Joseph told the wrong people at the wrong time. His brothers couldn't handle the thought of his dreams coming true because they were not in his corner or on his team. How often do we do this? God begins to speak to us and confirm His will for our lives and we tell the wrong people. Of course they can't affirm us in our dream! They don't see us as God sees us. Take it f...

I went to our WM Christmas party last night. My single friend who was the hostess told me last week she wanted to be Mrs. Claus. I laughed it off at the time, but after being in her home last night, I believe her! It was so beautifully decorated for Christmas. There was a fire in the fireplace and a tree in each room. Beautiful nativity scenes, candles and other Christmas decor warmed the home. Our host was gracious, and I felt welcomed and valued as a guest. Hospitality at its warmest was evident in her home and manner. I came home last night wishing I had planned more holiday gatherings in my own home during this season. I have a sister that gets paid to decorate other peoples homes, but I somehow missed the gene for interior design that God was supposed to give me. I was not raised in a home that served formal meals so I never learned how to 'entertain' in a way that would impress my guests. Shall I keep giving you a list of all of my excuses? In spite of all of my excuses a...

A pastor friend of mine received a phone call recently from another pastor. The other man pastors a large church about an hour away from him. He had heard good things about my friends church and was calling him with an unusual request. You see, he had about 10 families from my friends community that were travelling to his church on Sunday morning for services. They were not involved in extra activities, ministries or additional services because of the distance. Their pastor wanted to see about getting them plugged in at a church in their community for their own spiritual health. First, let me give kudos to this guy. Wow! This is SO unusual for a pastor to do. I applaud him for really caring about the spiritual health of his people. Secondly, let me update you that in the three months since this conversation took place, not one of the families has taken their pastor up on his recommendation to them. While I don't pretend to know all the reasons, I have a theory. my theory is based o...

One fine Sunday morning, a man was walking with his family to church when he heard an awful commotion coming from behind the church. He sent his family on it and went to see what was going on. To his surprise, he saw the devil sitting on the ground moaning and crying something awful. "What in the world is wrong with you?" he asked the devil. "You won't believe what they're blaming me for in there." was his answer. Now, I know this story has A LOT of faulty theology but stay with me as I make my point! There are so many things in our life that we deal with that are a result of our own bad choices. When you think about the fact that every one of us is allowed to make our own choices in life, it is mindboggling. I know sometimes it seems it would be easier if we could force those that we care about to make good choices. It is so hard to see people that we love hitting their heads against a brick wall over and over again wondering why the wall won't move, bu...

Father, I honor you as the Lord of my life. I surrender all areas of my life to You. I ask that you fill me with your Spirit so that everything I do today might glorify You. I trust You with my life, recognizing that You hold my future in the palm of Your hand. I believe that You have good plans for me and that they WILL come to pass. Show me what You would have me to do to prepare for that which You have called me to do. I honor and exalt You high above all else. In Jesus' Name, Amen

A few years ago, my sister-in-law invited me to join her for Black friday shopping. This was not something I grew up doing, but I was game for some 'girl bonding' so I got up at 4 am and joined her at Target. Ths was the year that every store seemed to have a giveaway and I was excited about the goodie bag that was advertised for the first 500 shoppers. It was FREEZING! I admit I spent that day like a deer in the headlights. At the end of the day about all I had to show for my trip were the freebies I got at the stores we visited. It was just too overwhelming for me and I went into blissful hibernation for the next three years. Three year later, my money saving instrincts took over and I carefully studied the Thanksgiving Day ads for the best deals. I admit it, I hit gold for awhile there and loved Black Friday. This was soon followed by Cyber Monday hysteria. While we have always been on a tight budget, this year I am very exact about what I am planning to buy and can I tell y...