Saturday, October 30, 2010
"Sweet Life Cafe" - Women's Retreat
What a beautiful group of sisters! And what a wonderful weekend . . . We had a wonderful weekend at "Sweet Life Cafe", but "what happens at retreat, stays at retreat" except sharing the Gospel! Hope you enjoy these few pictures.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
16 Days and Counting . . .
We are getting closer and closer to our "Sweet Life Cafe" Women's Retreat. Whether you will be attending or not, I hope you are praying over those who will be.
Today, my special request for prayer is that each woman who attends, like Mary Magdelen at the tomb (John 20), will encounter Jesus in a very real and personal way. I hope that you will lift up all of our women and pray this prayer for them.
God bless,
Ann
Today, my special request for prayer is that each woman who attends, like Mary Magdelen at the tomb (John 20), will encounter Jesus in a very real and personal way. I hope that you will lift up all of our women and pray this prayer for them.
God bless,
Ann
Thursday, October 7, 2010
WOW! What an "Ingathering" of Believers . . .
Coming off the heels of Ingathering, I'm what the Akins Family sang "Good Tired". This week was physically and emotionally exhausting, but WOW was it spiritually uplifting and energizing! I am almost in a state of depression today considering I have to wait another two years for Ingathering again.
In Pastor Rick's challenge last night, he asked who would take the gospel to a lost and dying world? Now, my question to you is are you sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world? From his challenge, I have determined that I MUST pray to my Abba Father daily to provide me with opportunities to share; eyes to recognize them and the Holy Spirit's courage and clarity of words to present the gospel in a loving way to the lost and dying world.
So how will you share?
In Pastor Rick's challenge last night, he asked who would take the gospel to a lost and dying world? Now, my question to you is are you sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world? From his challenge, I have determined that I MUST pray to my Abba Father daily to provide me with opportunities to share; eyes to recognize them and the Holy Spirit's courage and clarity of words to present the gospel in a loving way to the lost and dying world.
So how will you share?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
29 Days and Counting . . .
Yes, it's just 29 days until the "Sweet Life Cafe'" Women's Retreat. I hope you are getting as excited as I am.
I wanted to post a prayer request for today . . . I ask that you will pray over the retreat in your daily quiet times and include our specific requests. For today, I ask that you pray specifically for our session leaders Patsy Cook, Christy Cook and Donna Drake - pray for God's guidance and direction; that only words from His heart will proceed from their mouths; and that He will use them as an instrument for His purposes and not their own.
I wanted to post a prayer request for today . . . I ask that you will pray over the retreat in your daily quiet times and include our specific requests. For today, I ask that you pray specifically for our session leaders Patsy Cook, Christy Cook and Donna Drake - pray for God's guidance and direction; that only words from His heart will proceed from their mouths; and that He will use them as an instrument for His purposes and not their own.
Friday, September 24, 2010
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year . . ."
Do those words make you think of snow, crackling fires, the smell of evergreens and a precious little baby in a manger?
I can hear you now . . . "What? Christmas? It isn't even Thanksgiving yet!" But it is time to start planning towards our annual Christmas Dinner and our new Christmas Brunch! This year's theme will be "O Holy Night". The dates are December 7th for the dinner and December 11th for the brunch. Tickets will go on sale in November for $15/person for one event. But for those of you with a love for decorating and hosting, now is the time to start planning your table. If you are interested in hosting a table, please contact Beverly Pittman at bevpittman@charter.net or Leianne Penn at leianne1972@yahoo.com. We hope you will put this exciting tradition on your calendar and plan to join us!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
What are you looking forward to?
Well, the countdown is on until "Sweet Life Cafe" and we want to know what excites you about the retreat?
Click on the "Comments" link below and tell us what you think!
Click on the "Comments" link below and tell us what you think!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Where's Your Focus?
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2
Where's your focus? For several weeks, I have been meditating on this very thought - how do I keep my mind (and life) focused on heavenly things and not the things of this earth.
I love The Message Bible's version of this verse . . .
Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
Often times I have been to conferences where I have repeatedly heard one particular statement, "if you don't know what to do, look where God is working and jump in" . . . Isn't that the whole point? Be about His work, not self absorbed, world absorbed, possession absorbed, but rather GOD ABSORBED!
I posed the question to several individuals, whom I highly respect, "How do you keep your mind focused on heavenly things while doing the mundane tasks of the day?" I thought I would share their answers . . .
"The thing that helps me keep focused is reminding myself that this is my Heavenly Father's world and He is just letting me use and enjoy things while I'm here. "
- Marcella Mote
"Try to make Prayer my first response to problem solving.
Surround my office, car and home with verses or sayings that cause prayer to be a thought. On my refrigerator is a 4 parts of prayer index card in one of those magnets that normally would hold a picture. I helps me remember to pray."
- Kim McCormack
I am not sure that I do....I should .....but I don't .....the real sad thing is that sometimes I actually hide from the "heavenly things"....but when I am facing the day as God would have me to ..... "there are no mundane tasks". The reality is ... the majority of our life could be seen as mundane, routine and aggonizing....or the majority of our life could be seen as filled with possibity and purpose.... sometimes we just really just need a change of perspective. It is like my grandmother would say to me when I was whinning about life .... "You need to look at the other side of the quilt." (For those that have no idea of what a quilt is... one side is often pretty awesome while the other side.....well it just doesn't look as good...kind of like wearing a tee shirt inside out.)
When I begin to view life as mundane...I may have lost the appreciation that I should have for the "moments" that God has given me.
We proclaim that today is the day the Lord has made....if we believe this .....then whatever task I am confronted with may also bring with it the possiblity of encountering God in some unique way.
So ....In those moments when life is mundane.....
..... I know that it is time for me to pray once again.... "God give me eyes to see".
- Dan McKay
Prayer and The Word!
The first thing that I do when I wake up every morning and the last thing that I do before I close my eyes in sleep are to commune with My Heavenly Father.
Believe it or not, I don’t do all the talking either! I have learned that I must listen to My Lord. In any successful relationship, communication is the key.
The Bible says “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) I try to be listening for God’s voice so that I will be ready to follow Him in whatever His will is for my life each and every day.
I study His Word, so in times of a widow’s loneliness and pain from chronic illness,I can focus on my blessings and not my fears. Knowing that He holds me in the palm of His hand gives me great comfort. (John 10:28)
The experiences of having been carried by my Savior through the deepest valleys of this life when I could not carry myself have given me peace that surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:6,7)
When I feel that I am being temped by satan, I pray, asking Jesus to rebuke him in His power and I quote scripture, for the greatest power is in the name of Jesus and the Word of God.
I am so unworthy, but He has forgiven me! He gives me peace, comfort and joy; therefore, I strive to live every second of every day knowing that He is all I need, He is enough!
May He and He alone receive glory and honor in any and everything that I am able to accomplish for Him.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (My life verse)
- Brenda McClure
I have to allow my mind to be reminded of what is His, everything. And then I feel thankful, unworthy, excited, humble -- to think that Jesus loves even me! And every time I am outside, at some point in the day, I see his awesome artwork!!!
- Linda Branan
I have to remember that nothing in the life of a believer is mundane...if allowed, Jesus will use every moment of life to bring us to a higher level of relationship with Himself. I sometimes find myself thinking (and acting) as though the mundane is opposite from the mountain top...when actually, the mundane is a big part of the mountain top or getting to the mountain top. John 15:4 says "remain in me" or "abide in me."
Oswald Chambers says, " it is a matter of determination." "The Spirit of Jesus is put into us by way of the atonement by the Cross of Christ. I then have to build my thinking patiently to bring it into perfect harmony with my Lord. God will not make me think of or like Jesus--I have to do it myself. I have to bring "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...2 Corinthians 10-5."
As I write this...I must confess to the Lord that I am guilty of the above and ask forgiveness. I often let the ""mundane thinking cloud out the "abiding."
- Beverly Pittman
"Usually when I am working around the house someone will come to mind and I pray for them. If I am cleaning out stuff, I will run across something that will remind me how blessed I am. God has blessed me with many dear friends and whether it is God putting them on my mind or whatever triggers their name it reminds me how blessed I really am."
- Jan Adams
So, how do you keep your eyes focused on Him and things eternal? Feel free to click on comments below and share your way for keeping your eyes on heavenly things.
Where's your focus? For several weeks, I have been meditating on this very thought - how do I keep my mind (and life) focused on heavenly things and not the things of this earth.
I love The Message Bible's version of this verse . . .
Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
Often times I have been to conferences where I have repeatedly heard one particular statement, "if you don't know what to do, look where God is working and jump in" . . . Isn't that the whole point? Be about His work, not self absorbed, world absorbed, possession absorbed, but rather GOD ABSORBED!
I posed the question to several individuals, whom I highly respect, "How do you keep your mind focused on heavenly things while doing the mundane tasks of the day?" I thought I would share their answers . . .
"The thing that helps me keep focused is reminding myself that this is my Heavenly Father's world and He is just letting me use and enjoy things while I'm here. "
- Marcella Mote
"Try to make Prayer my first response to problem solving.
Surround my office, car and home with verses or sayings that cause prayer to be a thought. On my refrigerator is a 4 parts of prayer index card in one of those magnets that normally would hold a picture. I helps me remember to pray."
- Kim McCormack
I am not sure that I do....I should .....but I don't .....the real sad thing is that sometimes I actually hide from the "heavenly things"....but when I am facing the day as God would have me to ..... "there are no mundane tasks". The reality is ... the majority of our life could be seen as mundane, routine and aggonizing....or the majority of our life could be seen as filled with possibity and purpose.... sometimes we just really just need a change of perspective. It is like my grandmother would say to me when I was whinning about life .... "You need to look at the other side of the quilt." (For those that have no idea of what a quilt is... one side is often pretty awesome while the other side.....well it just doesn't look as good...kind of like wearing a tee shirt inside out.)
When I begin to view life as mundane...I may have lost the appreciation that I should have for the "moments" that God has given me.
We proclaim that today is the day the Lord has made....if we believe this .....then whatever task I am confronted with may also bring with it the possiblity of encountering God in some unique way.
So ....In those moments when life is mundane.....
..... I know that it is time for me to pray once again.... "God give me eyes to see".
- Dan McKay
Prayer and The Word!
The first thing that I do when I wake up every morning and the last thing that I do before I close my eyes in sleep are to commune with My Heavenly Father.
Believe it or not, I don’t do all the talking either! I have learned that I must listen to My Lord. In any successful relationship, communication is the key.
The Bible says “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) I try to be listening for God’s voice so that I will be ready to follow Him in whatever His will is for my life each and every day.
I study His Word, so in times of a widow’s loneliness and pain from chronic illness,I can focus on my blessings and not my fears. Knowing that He holds me in the palm of His hand gives me great comfort. (John 10:28)
The experiences of having been carried by my Savior through the deepest valleys of this life when I could not carry myself have given me peace that surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:6,7)
When I feel that I am being temped by satan, I pray, asking Jesus to rebuke him in His power and I quote scripture, for the greatest power is in the name of Jesus and the Word of God.
I am so unworthy, but He has forgiven me! He gives me peace, comfort and joy; therefore, I strive to live every second of every day knowing that He is all I need, He is enough!
May He and He alone receive glory and honor in any and everything that I am able to accomplish for Him.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (My life verse)
- Brenda McClure
I have to allow my mind to be reminded of what is His, everything. And then I feel thankful, unworthy, excited, humble -- to think that Jesus loves even me! And every time I am outside, at some point in the day, I see his awesome artwork!!!
- Linda Branan
I have to remember that nothing in the life of a believer is mundane...if allowed, Jesus will use every moment of life to bring us to a higher level of relationship with Himself. I sometimes find myself thinking (and acting) as though the mundane is opposite from the mountain top...when actually, the mundane is a big part of the mountain top or getting to the mountain top. John 15:4 says "remain in me" or "abide in me."
Oswald Chambers says, " it is a matter of determination." "The Spirit of Jesus is put into us by way of the atonement by the Cross of Christ. I then have to build my thinking patiently to bring it into perfect harmony with my Lord. God will not make me think of or like Jesus--I have to do it myself. I have to bring "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...2 Corinthians 10-5."
As I write this...I must confess to the Lord that I am guilty of the above and ask forgiveness. I often let the ""mundane thinking cloud out the "abiding."
- Beverly Pittman
"Usually when I am working around the house someone will come to mind and I pray for them. If I am cleaning out stuff, I will run across something that will remind me how blessed I am. God has blessed me with many dear friends and whether it is God putting them on my mind or whatever triggers their name it reminds me how blessed I really am."
- Jan Adams
So, how do you keep your eyes focused on Him and things eternal? Feel free to click on comments below and share your way for keeping your eyes on heavenly things.
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