One Flaw in Women

One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men...

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

God Uses His People

God uses people to refresh other people. He so loves this kind of ministry that he moved the prophet Malachi to speak of it as a most-needed work in the last days. Malachi described how, in his day, God’s people built each other up through one-on-one edification: “They that feared the Lord spoke often one to another” (Malachi 3:16).

When did this happen, exactly? Malachi’s words came during a time of rampant ungodliness, when the “devourer” had destroyed much fruit in the land. God’s people had grown weary and started to doubt that walking with the Lord was worth it. They thought, “We’re told it pays to serve the Lord, obey his Word and carry his burdens. But as we look around at the proud and the compromisers, they’re the ones who seem happy. They’re pursuing prosperity, living carelessly, enjoying life to the fullest.”

The Holy Spirit began to move in Israel, and soon the fear of the Lord came upon a God-hungry people. Suddenly everyone in Israel, young and old, became one-on-one missionaries. By the Spirit’s prompting, people opened up to one another, edifying each other and building up and comforting those around them.

I’m convinced Malachi’s word about this ministry is a mirror image of the present day. He has given us a picture of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days, as God’s people stop gossiping and complaining and instead minister refreshing. It’s happening by phone, by letter, by e-mail, and face to face. And God is so pleased with this ministry, we’re told he writes everything down. Every kind word spoken, every call made, every letter written, every effort to comfort the downcast is recorded in a “book of remembrance.” And the Bible says each of us whose deeds are written down will be precious to him: “They shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels” (Malachi 3:17).

Be a Titus to someone who’s downcast in spirit. Pray to have the spirit of Onesiphorus, who sought out the hurting to bring them to healing. Think of it: You’ve been given all the power of heaven to refresh a hurting believer, someone who needs the consolation that God has given uniquely to you. Yes, there are people who need you and the Lord intends your past consolations to bring refreshing to them. Call that someone today and say, “Brother, sister, I want to pray for and encourage you. I’ve got a good word for you.”

David Wilkerson

Psalm 111 - A Thanksgiving Prayer

Psalm 111

^1-10 Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got—
Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
God's works are so great, worth
A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.
His miracles are his memorial—
This God of Grace, this God of Love.
He gave food to those who fear him,
He remembered to keep his ancient promise.
He proved to his people that he could do what he said:
Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift!
He manufactures truth and justice;
All his products are guaranteed to last—
Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.
All that he makes and does is honest and true:
He paid the ransom for his people,
He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
He's so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.
The good life begins in the fear of God—
Do that and you'll know the blessing of God.
His Hallelujah lasts forever!



For Your Kids : http://www.just4kidsmagazine.com/nov.html

WISHING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING DAY!

Please keep your mind and eyes on the Lord this week, and please keep in mind all that He has given you. Let us all be so thankful for His love and His constant embrace. Children of God... He loves you so. He has risen and has left a helper, His Spirit to be with you always!

Love and Blessings, and I pray for an attitude of gratitude for all!!

See you soon!

Beautiful Ladies

Please help me in welcoming Ingrid Paulicivich to the position of Women's Ministry Leader. She has answered a prayer that I have held for as long as our church has been in existance. I know she comes at a time when growth is upon us, and the women are ready and longing to know each other and to find things to do with each other. Ingrid will be so creative! Her love for God, her desire to seek Him so strongly, her enthusiasm and her beautiful spirit is what we have needed for so long. She is truly a gift from God.

I will be her right hand and will be there to help her in all she does. A lot of women signed a "Women's Committee" sheet this last weekend. I am so happy that we are all on board and are ready to make things happen.

See you all very soon!

The Patriarch's

Our Friday Women's Bible Study had brought so much depth and fruit into our lives over this past year. If I could share everything, I would be writing for hours. But, I realized that I should share the most important points that we have learned with you all.

We are studying Joseph right now (do you know he bragged incessantly, tattled on his brothers and was probably very spoiled as a child?). Before him it was his father Jacob (who stole his brother's inheritance and his brother Esau..of course we learned much about Isaac and Abraham (who asked his wife to pose as his sister so that he would not be killed) One thing that has been pointed out over and over is just how human these men (and their women) were!! They were not perfect! They lied, deceived, bragged, stole...and yet they were God's chosen? What this all brings to my mind is how I have placed these Biblical human beings (not just characters in a book) on such high pedestal's over the years. These were God's chosen people. He loved them deeply.

Yes, they had their major flaws, their weaknesses, and yet, God so truly loved them!!! He stood by them, he taught them, he carried them, because they loved him and worshipped him. He turned their bad decisions into good. He pulled them out of the holes that they dug themselves into!

How many times do we make horrible mistakes? Some of us have gone through such hard lessons in life that we try and follow God more closely and try to live our lives in a better way (from our past). Some of us are just now starting to understand and embrace God. Either way, we are still making mistakes. We hurt each other, we don't always make the best decisions for all of those around us... but we love the Lord and we know that He watches over us....even though....we are flawed, we are not perfect.

We sometimes make decisions that don't include God... we go on on a path He has not chosen for us and we feel that something is very wrong. We feel that God has turned His back on us. I beg you, when you are feeling like this, look at your life and analyze where you are. Are you allowing God on the path you have chosen, or do you know He wouldn't want you there? Are you seeking Him? Are you speaking, praying to Him? Because God never turns away, we do. God never stops trying to get our attention, we turn our backs. He is always there waiting, like a father waiting for a long lost child to come home. He longs to hold us and to tell us everything is going to be ok. Will you allow him to do that for you?

I ask you, this week, to read Genesis if you have time. See what I have seen in the heroes our Bible speaks of. You will see that you are just as worthy of God's love as they were. Don't ever feel that you are not. His door is always open.

Dave says that hell's door is locked from the inside, meaning if we feel like we are in the depths of hell here on earth, we have the power to let ourselves out and back into the light of God. All we need to do is turn the handle and walk through and God will be waiting there for you, with arms stretched wide and probably with tears of joy on His face. Waiting for you.

I will leave you with that beautiful picture!

He is waiting, to bring you His Kingdom on Earth today. To fill your days with joy and love...today.. don't wait, run and don't miss another minute of all He has for you!

God bless you and yours on this beautiful day!!

However, as it is written
No age has seen
No ear had heard
No mind has conceived
What God has prepared for
those who love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

"It's not what you do once in a while, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference."

—Jenny Craig

The most beautiful things in the world are not seen nor touched. They are felt with the heart.

—Helen Keller

"Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

—Eleanor Roosevelt

"I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances."

—Martha Washington

"Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it with use."

—Ruth Gordon

"If you look at what you have in life,
You'll always have more.
If you look at what you don't have in life,
You'll never have enough."

—Oprah Winfrey

"We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise;
And then, if we are true to plan,
Our statures touch the skies."

—Emily Dickinson

"The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind."

—Caroline Myss

"Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be."

—Grandma Moses

Banana S our Cream Bread

Thank you Linda Cox. My thighs thank you too :o)

Banana Sour Cream Bread

Rated: Submitted By: Esther Nelson Photo By: MuffinPuffin317 Prep Time: 10 Minutes Cook Time: 1 Hour Ready In: 1 Hour 10 Minutes Servings: 32

"Sour cream gives enough tangy bite to take the edge off this banana bread 's sweetness. Dusting the baking pans with cinnamon sugar gives these small four loaves a gentle spice undertone."

Ingredients:

1/4 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 cup butter 3 cups white sugar 3 eggs 6 very ripe bananas, mashed 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons baking soda 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

1.	Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease four 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
2.	In a large bowl, cream butter and 3 cups sugar. Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix in salt, baking soda and flour. Stir in nuts. Divide into prepared pans.
3.	Bake for 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2009 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 10/14/2009

cruel!

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Ps 121:7-8 NIV

ANITA RENFROE

For all of you women that came to the Women of Faith Conference, I know you will appreciate this link!!!

For all of you women that could not make this Conference, I know "you" will appreciate this link also!!!

If you want to laugh and start your day on a bright note... watch Anita..and tap into her sense of humor!!!


http://www.anitarenfroe.com/video_clips.htm

You can find more on Anita here: http://www.anitarenfroe.com/index.htm

Enjoy!

'Leaf' It to God

A widow loses her wedding ring...but finds her faith

By Carol Gimbel, Earlysville, Virginia

Carol Gimbel

I dragged my rake through the leaves, thinking about how last fall Steve would have been here with me, helping out with Aunt Maudie’s yard.

It had been five months since my husband’s death from a heart attack.

I struggled to go on. I’d prayed and prayed for relief from the gray sadness I seemed to live in. But it seemed impossible without Steve.

Tired, I knelt down to pluck leaves from my rake. That’s when I noticed—my left hand, the hand where I wore the diamond ring Steve had given me, was bare. The ring must have fallen off while I was working.

I dropped to the ground and sifted through the pile of leaves, trying to stay calm and not start sobbing. I wasn’t sure I could take another loss right then.

Aunt Maudie asked her neighbors to help my search. One neighbor even walked the yard with a metal detector. We scoured the ground and leaf piles for hours. I knew for a fact that I’d been wearing it when I started raking. But the ring was gone.

Just like Steve, I thought, trudging into the house for dinner with Aunt Maudie, feeling more hopeless than ever. I took my place at the table, but I didn’t feel like eating.

Aunt Maudie was having none of it. “Dear Lord,” she said, praying boldly, “you know where that ring is and how much it means to Carol. I know you can bring it back to her if it is your will. Amen.”

We had gone over every square inch of that yard. Aunt Maudie had to know that her prayer was impossible. Yet here she was, after all the hopeless searching, still trusting that God could find it for me. If I had faith like that, I thought, I could even imagine going on without Steve.

After dinner I stepped out onto the back porch and looked out at the newly raked yard. Suddenly something flashed on the ground. What’s that? A bright twinkle, almost like…

I stepped into the yard and bent down. My ring!

Impossible? No, prayer is never impossible. It just took losing Steve’s ring for me to understand that even without Steve I am never alone.

______________________________________

The reason I posted this message..... years ago I had gone shopping, needing an outfit for a special occassion. I went to several different stores and tried on clothes, but couldn't find anything I liked. When I got home, I realized one of my earrings was missing. Theses earrings never left my ears.. they were given to me many years ago by a loved one who has since passed on and they are very special to me.

I called the stores I had visited and naively asked the store clerks to look in the dressing rooms to see if they could find my earring. They grudgingly agreed, but all came back with a "no" to my earring. These earrings were a bit valuable, so I figured, even if found by someone, I would never get it back.

This bothered me for days. I know we are not supposed to be attached to material things, but it was the sentiment behind the earring that I was upset about. I prayed to God to forgive my selfishness, but if there was any way to get that earring back, I knew He could find it for me. I asked Him to either please help me find it or to take away this feeling of loss for me, so that I would not miss it. Within seconds, I looked down on my bedroom carpet, which just happened to be shag, and saw something shiney. There was my earring!!!

I realized it must have come off before I even went shopping that day, while I was changing my clothes! I could not have found that without God's help!!

The other little fact around that time was that I used to vacuum our bedroom often. I just didn't feel like vacuuming for a couple of days. If I had, and the earring had been there all along, it would have been gone forever.

This was "All God"

I was not one to pray to God for "little" things, like finding objects before. But I had remembered someone saying that God wanted our prayers for little things and big things, so I just prayed. I am so happy I did, because He heard and He helped me.

Nothing is too small or too big for our gracious God.

Praise God!

Fear

Fear is an illusion; only love is real. When I am experiencing fear, it helps when I remind myself that fear is simply the absence of faith. When I began my spiritual journey, one of my mentors told me either God is or God isn't. The idea that God isn't didn't make any sense, so when fear rears its ugly head, I remind myself to have faith.

Susan Gregg

Women of Faith

I attended my first Women of Faith event this past weekend. I am still 2 inches off of the floor. Between the women in our personal group that attended and the speakers, oh my goodness! Luci Swindoll, Lisa Weltchel, Mary Graham, Patsy Clairmont, Marilyn Meberg. The Worship team was soooo good and Aiesha Woods and her brother sang and really made the walls shake with worship and praise!

I know that some women did not or could not attend. They had other commitments, children at home, too much on their plate and not enough help to be able to take 2 days and refresh, refill, rejuvenate. Or maybe there was a darker force that made it really hard for them to do something for themselves (yes, I truly believe that happens!!)

I am putting the word out that I would love for us to do this again next year. I will not push or prod, I will not make anyone feel guilty to go. It was so hard to get a group together this year.

But, I have to say...LADIES, it is your turn! It is your turn to get rest, to get refreshed. It is your turn to bond with like minded women and just be YOU for a couple of days.

I felt the same pangs of guilt...should I leave my husband with the children for two whole days? Should I have my son miss a day of homeschooling? Should I leave the animals in the hands of my family and think they will be taken care of and fed? Should I leave the laundry and dishes that will ultimately pile up while I am gone.

My answer to me and to you is a big "YES"

We have a year to plan. We can do this!!

Can you spend the night? "YES" Of course, Anaheim is close, but by the time the Friday night event is over, you will be darn tired!!! Yes, you can drive home..but there will be a driving urge to stay home the following day. I say stay. 4 to 5 women to a room brings the cost down drastically. The Women of Faith organizers will have discounted hotels for us. Or, Priceline.com was our saving grace for this event. We decided to stay at the very last minute and most of the hotels were already booked. We stayed at a Hilton not too far and 3 of us shared the cost. It was wonderful. We ate dinner there and didn't need to drive around town in traffic for food. AND, by the time Friday night was over and we were at our hotel...our heads hit our pillows and we were out!!!

We were blessed tremendously!

We all sometimes feel that someone like Sheila Walsh, Luci Swindoll, or the rest of the speakers much have it all together, right? Why else would they be asked to speak to us?! Well, let me tell you sisters, that we are "ALL" broken!! We all have the same problems!! We all put our pants on one leg at a time!! We are all equal in God's eyes! You would not believe what these women shared with us!! The trials that they have been through..AND JUST RECENTLY!!!

Sometimes we NEED to hear the testimony of others, so that we know we are truly all connected! That we ALL face the same challenges and that trials come our way! The difference between us and someone that doesn't know God is that we have the tools to ride the storms and the peace to know that the outcome will be a blessing and will create a blessing in us and for our future. (We just don't see that right now...but with sister's in Christ...we have that encouragement to be reminded of and to hold on to)

When you walk down an aisle at a grocery store and you come across that woman that looks all put together and perfect... honestly, you have no idea what is going on inside of her. She may have an abusive husband, a child addicted to drugs, a special needs child, a horrible employer, an abusive past that she has stuffed down to her innermost being that has not been healed. The makeup and clothes do not make the woman! It is our soul and our devotion to our Lord that gives us the glow and the strength to carry on!!

We are all equal in God's eyes and we are all here for "each other"

Praise God, that He has given us each other!! Let's celebrate that! Let's really seek each other out and get to know each other. He doesn't have us cross paths on accident. There are no accidents with God. We are all on the same journey, and right now, on the same path for a reason. Before He moves you on to another or different path, I want to know you!

Please, if I have not introduced myself to you yet, please come to me. I really want to know you!

God Bless you all... Big Hugs and Big Blessings to you and Yours.

As my new friend Liz would say...

"In His Grip"

Oh, and I forgot to add.. Steven Curtis Chapman was fabulous!!! I will forever be a fan now!
What a special man of God!

Girls

	When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend, And then I started to become a woman. And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends.
	One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.. Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom. Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities. One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,' Another , 'Let's fight together,' Another , 'Let's walk away together.'
	One friend will meet your spiritual need, Another your shoe fetish, Another your love for movies, Another will be with you in your season of confusion, Another will be your clarifier, Another the wind beneath your wings.
	But whatever their assignment in your life, On whatever the occasion, On whatever the day, Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back, Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself . Those are your best friends.
	It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several.. One from 7th grade, One from high school, Several from the college years, A couple from old jobs, On some days your mother, On some days your neighbor, On others, your sisters, And on some days, your daughters.
So whether they've been a friend for 20 minutes or 20+ years, AND ONLY IF YOU'D LIKE TO, Pass this on to the women that God has placed in your life To make a difference.

Meetup.com

We are now registered with Meetup! If you join either the Blog, or Meetup, you will always know what is going on with theeffect Faith Community!

http://www.meetup.com/theeffect-community

If you would like me to send you an invite link to Meetup, just email me at mbrisbin@cox.net!

Spread the word...let's grow our Faith Community. We are relevant for everyone today. God has his hands on us..we can just feel it!!

May God bless your week with a rich abundance of peace and joy!

Spirituality

True spirituality helps you with life's challenges.
It is touching God and from that touch we long to touch mankind.

John Paul Jackson

To Celebrate Growing Older :o)

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or j
oyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion, Today is special.
22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone and everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give it time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come. 43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."



Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

Prayer Request

I wanted to share that I have just learned that a friend's dad was diagnosed with Cancer in his pancreas and Liver. It is terminal. If you could all please put her Dad, Fred Hulse and his wife Carol and Michele and their whole family in your prayers they would greatly appreciate it... Thank you so much.

Update:
I just wanted to share that Mr. Hulse passed away a week ago. The cancer was too severe for him to survive. Please continue to pray for his family as they deeply feel the loss of their loved one. Thank you!

Prayer Requests Always Welcome.

You Are A Beautiful Butterfly!

I have come across so many women and men that are going through trials lately. I wish I could hug them all and tell them that everything is going to be ok, but the fact is, sometimes things don't turn out the way that we hope they will.

But here is another perspective. Could it be possible that the trial you are going through might have a beautiful outcome? I know when we are in the midst of the pain that is not something we see or believe, and when we are in the midst of pain, we sometimes find ways to bypass it. Maybe we just stuff it deep down into our soul. Maybe we do absolutely nothing...but let it fester and grow and take a root of bitterness deep within.

Do you know the story of the butterfly?

There was once a man watching a butterfly working it's way out of it's cocoon. He watch intensely as this beautiful creature struggled so hard to work it's way out of it's sheath. He felt helpless for this poor little thing, surely he could help it along.

He pulled at the cocoon and helped the butterfly escape the grip of it's former home. The butterfly fell before him. He watched as it tried to open it's wings. The wing that the butterfly pushed through the cocoon opened beautifully. What a work of art this Godly creature was. But, the man noticed that the wing that he helped out of the cocoon did not open. The butterfly struggled helplessly, but he could not open this wing and lay there thrashing about, struggling, helpless, to no avail. He was crippled. What the man did not know was that the butterfly had to go through this process. The painful struggle of pushing it's way out of this cocoon. It is with this process that the butterfly becomes strong, that fluids push through it's body and wings, and where the creation of our God takes form. It is painful, but it is necessary. When a butterfly is able to work through this painful process by itself, it transforms into a gorgeous creation, almost artwork that God has gifted us with.

We are like butterflies. We have obstacles to overcome, that we need to "push" our way through. We can not take side steps or find that easy path if we want our trial, our journey to transform our life. With every trial there is an outcome. For children of God there is always beauty to behold in the near future. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But the beauty comes. And when it does, we realize that we needed to go through the painful process that now lays behind us, to make us the stronger person that we are today.

That is why we praise our Lord in all things...good and bad. If your heart is with God, truly with God, you will recognize the beauty that appears before. you.

You are a beautiful creation. You are more than that, you are a child of our Lord. You are part of a bigger picture. You are a part of the family of God. Your life transforms... and will keep transforming. This is a promise!!! It just gets better!!

Philippians 1:3

3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

A Woman of Strength

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape, but ...
A woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything, but ...
A woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her, but ...
A woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future, but ...
A woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be God's blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks surefootedly, but ...
A woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face, but ...
A woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey, but ...
A woman of strength has faith that in the journey she will become strong.

Isaiah 41:10"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold theewith the right hand of my righteousness.

http://www.my.homewithgod.com/mkcathy/inspirational/strength.html

My perspective...just a note.

It's after 12:00 am. and I am still here at my computer. People ask me why I am up so late so often. Well, Dave is still working on his sermon for the morning and I wait for him to finish. I have to admit, I can't always wait.. get too sleepy.

The life of a Pastor's Wife :o) .. I'm still getting used to it. At first I really fought it. I thought, I'm not good enough, outgoing enough, talented enough. I can't play piano and sing, You sometimes feel like you are under a microscope, and feel that you need to watch all you say and do. I realized that tonight when I was joking a bit, and it wasn't taken the way I intended. I just need to watch what I say.. Sometimes the old me creeps through a little bit. Or maybe I just needed a little more grace at that moment :o) ...

I'm not fighting it anymore. God has really put His Huge soft hands on my shoulders and has given me much comfort. In a time when anxiety should be expected, I am feeling good. I realized that I just can't stop conversing with Him. I need to talk to Him. The more that I do, the more I feel His presence in our lives. He is watching over our family.

He is also watching over so many people that have come to the effect. Whether they are there for a day, or they stay and become like family... We have been seeing beautiful transformations in people that warms our hearts and helps us to keep perspective of what we are doing and what we are involved it.

God truly makes plans for us. Sometimes we go unwittingly at first, but we find our place and He sends His comforter. He opens our eyes and hearts and minds to accept what we see and what we hear. His Grace has truly been the greatest thing we have witnessed since starting theeffect. He truly loves us all.

I have seen a transformation happening in our Pastor Dave over the years... a huge transformation. His life is devoted on teaching all about the Jesus he has learned about. The loving Father that never stops loving us. He preaches with a message of love, not fear. Because, God is love and casts out all fear. Instead of fear we have an immense awe of a creator that is beyond our comprehension...but we keep trying to comprehend. Dave studies continously. Prays continuously. We pray that he is a conduit of God's word to everyone he speaks to.

That's my little perspective for tonight. I'm getting a little sleepy. Can't hold out much longer. Guess I'll be going to bed with a book for a bit :o) ..
Good night all! Hope to see you in the morning!! Donuts are waiting! Lots of coffee for me!

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.'
When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you,
but merely opening your hands to receive something better.
Concentrate on this sentence...
'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

Something good is always near...

Information for Women of Faith Event

From: Women of Faith
Date: 8/20/2009 3:09:21 AM
To: mbrisbin@cox.net
Subject: Before You Go...Information About A Grand New Day


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Anaheim, CA
September 11 - 12, 2009 - Honda Center

5. IT’S NOT TOO LATE!
We still have seats available for your friends and family. Send them to womenoffaith.com or have them call 888-49-FAITH to register.

4. WHERE AND HOW MUCH?
Click here for a map, directions, parking prices, special needs, and more.

3. HUNGRY?
We’ll break for lunch at approximately:
Friday: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Saturday: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Concessions will be open both days
Arenas generally do NOT allow any outside food or beverages. Some exceptions may be made for medical reasons. Check with the arena for details.


2. GET YOUR ZZZZZ’S
View a list of discounted hotels. You may not sleep much, but you’ll need a place to hang out with your friends

1. PLAN AHEAD
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. (You’ll probably climb stairs at some point.) Layers are always a good choice.
Say ‘No’ to bulky accessories. Security will search them and there’s no place to stash them anyway.
Pick a place (in advance!) to meet in case you get separated from your group.
Although outside beverages are prohibited, you can usually bring an empty water bottle and fill it at a water fountain inside.
Come expecting to have a grand time!


Women of Faith | 820 W. Spring Creek Pkwy. Suite 400 | Plano, TX 75023



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"In solitude we can listen to the voice of him who spoke to us before we could speak a word, who healed us before we could make any gesture to help, who set us free long before we could free others, and who loved us long before we could give love to anyone."

Henri Nouwen

You will never have a beauty secret with more visible results than the study of God's Word.
Let His Word evoke your beauty daily.
~ Beth Moore, Author

Does Your Faith Make You Feel Like This?

God wishes joy for our lives. If you are not experiencing joy, please seek God, please speak to a pastor. Our lives are meant to be lived fully. I pray that your hearts are filled with fullness of Spirit and an abundance of joy!
God Bless You!

God esteems the worship of no one more than that of a devoted servant.

Women's Bible Study, Starting Friday, August 7th.

The Women's Bible Study will be starting up again on Friday, August 7th at 9:30 am.
There is child care available.

We are studying The Patriarchs, by Beth Moore. Believe me, if you have not joined us yet, it is ok... you can hop in any time with this study. It is so relevant for our lives today, and it might be just what God has been putting on your heart.

My prayer for our Women's Ministrie's is that we grow strong and bond tighter. That our meetings will always be a safe place for study, prayer and sharing. Would you like a safe place with women... a place to get away from the practical needs of your day and tend to your spiritual needs. We are not good for our family or friends unless we are healthy and whole. Are you needing spiritual healing? Please join us!

Let us praise Him,
By keeping His Word on our hearts,
Singing and Dancing and Praising Him,
Listening to His voice,
And By always loving each other!

Bless You!

PLEASE PRAY UNCEASINGLY

Please keep our church in your prayers continually.

• Prayers:


• That the Lord will bless us with His felt presence every day of every week, at every service and function in our church. That His Spirit would flow and be a part of our lives in a radically healing way.
  
• That the Lord will continue to bless those that come to theeffect, and that the church will have a ripple effect in our lives, in our families, friends and community. (Our nation, Our world!)


• That the Lord will bless us with the resources to keep theeffect community, and recovery ministry strong, and our doors "always" open.


• That the Lord will continue to heal those that come to our church.


• That all families will not know the word "dysfunctional" and will be whole and healthy.
  
• That marriages would become stronger.


• That friendships would abound.
  
• That we would truly become a "community" of believers.
  
• That our women would become like family to each other and be there for each other in times of need.
  
• That our men would become like family to each other and be there for each other in times of need.
  
• That leaders would be raised in our church.


• That those who see needs in our church would respond to them. If the Lord puts it on our hearts to respond.
  
• Pray for "His Will" to be done in our lives.. That our will be His will.
  This will bring a wholeness to all of us that He wants for us so desperately!

If you have prayer requests, please email them to me so that I can share them. If you would like them to be anonymous, just let me know. (marian@theeffect.org)

Please know that God is listening. He knows our hearts and minds. He is ever constant and ever present. If we don't feel Him, it is because we are holding Him at arms length. Some of us are hurt so badly, and don't trust that He will answer. It is that hurt that creates a strong wall that can not be penetrated without the healing of God's love. Ask for it, desire it, lean into Him even when you do not feel Him. He is there, and He is just waiting for you to come to him. Like a parent who longs to see a long lost child...He is waiting for you. He wants to you come and sit with Him.

A QUIET MOMENT TO MEDITATE ON THE LORD:

Imagine yourself sitting at a stream... a gentle stream...the time of day when shadows are crisp and vivid.

You are listening to the stream.

You are shaded by a large tree, and you lean against it to rest.

You dip your feet into the stream and feel the gentle warm current embrace your feet.

You feel at rest.

A man comes to sit by the stream.

You do not know Him, but it does not worry you.

He is praying.

You hear the gentle voice pray as you lean against the tree.

It is the Lord, and He is praying for you.

You realize this.

A complete peace comes over you.

A feeling of love that you have never felt before.

You rise slowly and you go to sit with Him. You know that you are welcome to. You just know.

He cups His hands gently on your face.

He looks so deeply into your eyes.

You have never felt such love upon you.

He takes your hands in His.

You do not speak. You can't.

There is no need for words.

You feel the Spirit of the Lord flow through your body with a warmth and embrace you have never felt before.

You feel so loved.

You feel so whole.

You feel a part of something so beautiful. Beyond words, beautiful.

You close your eyes and let this all seep into your soul,
your whole being.

You rest in this perfect moment for what seems like forever.

You want it to last forever.

You do not want to leave this moment.

You slowly, very slowly, open your eyes.

You are leaning against the tree again. Your surroundings so crisp and vivid.

Your feet are in the gentle current of the stream.

It's as if you never left this spot, by the tree, by the gentle stream.

You still feel he warmth of God with you.

You rest in this.

When you are ready to leave this stream, you know you will take this warmth with you.

When you life gives you bleak moments, you know you can come back to this moment and know, just know, that you are not alone in this universe.

God is with you. You know this now, there is no doubt... You feel this now.. You embrace this now.

Take this with you today... know you are loved wholly, fully, in a way you could never have imagined.

You don't have to wait for heaven to feel this perfect love.

He wants this for you TODAY.

You are so very loved!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Remember also, that God puts people in our path. People you "should'" know. People you will learn from. There is a reason for every human connection that comes your way. Keep your eyes and hearts open to this. God uses each of us as His hands, His feet, His Heart, His eyes. He uses us to help each other. He may call out to you to help someone. He may call out to someone to help you. Keep your hearts open to this. We are "all" recovering from something. We all need the touch of our our Lord. All of us.

We are not inanimate objects. We are spiritual beings that have been blessed with a soul and have been blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ in all that He has done for us. We are truly, truly children of God.

Do not let the enemy take this away from you. Do not listen to evil! Listen with your heart for the Lord.. He is always speaking to you.. Let His voice be the loudest one. Let His voice be the one that drowns out the needless ones! It will be like a gentle wind, but it will penetrate more deeply than the busyness and loudness of everything else that comes your way.

May God bless your life abundantly... in Love and Spirit and continuous healing.

WORK AT HOME JOBS!

I read this today.. and got some really good ideas :o) .. I've tried selling jewelry, Avon, you name it, but here in this attached article are some very viable work at home options. So many of us moms want to stay home and work, but it just seems out of our hands!

I thought some of you might be interested.

WORK AT HOME

Michael Medved (author, speaker) also speaks highly of www.Incomeathome.com

FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT ON A DIET :O)

MINIATURE FRENCH BREAKFAST PUFFS

1/3 c Soft shortening/butter mix
1/2 c Sugar
1/4 ts Nutmeg
1 Egg1/2 c Milk
1 1/2 c Sifted flour
1/3 c Butter, melted
1 1/2 ts Baking powder
1/2 c Sugar
1/2 ts Salt
1 t Cinnamon

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease bottoms of 48 smallmuffin cups. Mix shortening, 1/2 c sugar, and eggthoroughly. Sift together flour, baking powder, saltand nutmeg. Stir flour mixture and milk alternatelyinto sugar/shortening mixture. Fill greased muffincups 2/3 full. Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.Dip immediately in melted butter, then in mixture ofcinnamon/sugar. Serve hot.

Makes 3-1/2 to 4 dozen.

From Luci Swindoll

July 22, 2009

I just got home from church. My brother, Chuck (whom I call “Babe”) has started a new series on 2 Timothy. Today was focused on the first seven verses of chapter one. It was an outstanding sermon.

How many times have I heard Babe preach? Dozens. Hundreds. Dare I say thousands? I’ve lost count. The church where he ministers–Stonebriar Community, in Frisco, Texas–is maybe three miles from my house, if that...and I came home last night, immediately after the Women of Faith Cleveland event in order to hear him today. Just ask me if it’s worth it. Oh my goodness–there’s nobody like him in the world and every time I have the opportunity to hear him speak, I’m THERE...even if it means taking The Red Eye, or getting up at the crack of dawn to beat the crowd.

As I sat in the service this morning, my mind floated back to when we were kids, tossing a football in the backyard of our little Swindoll home in Houston. Then I thought about all the fishing trips we’ve been on as a family. I remembered Babe’s graduation from high school when he received honors in academia, drama and music. There was a mental picture of his wedding 55 years ago when I was one of the soloists. I recalled his graduation with honors from Dallas Seminary; even his becoming President of DTS some years later. I have the forty-seven letters he wrote me during his time in the Marine Corps and especially when he was stationed on the island of Okinawa, back in the ‘50s. In my library are copies of all the books he’s written, inscribed to me...and in recent months, piles of sermon notes from various messages he’s preached that I’ve shared with friends. And this doesn’t even begin to touch the emails where he’s answered questions I’ve had or given counsel I’ve requested. He’s a fabulous brother and a joy to my life in a thousand ways.

But, here’s my favorite of life’s sweetest joys–when I moved back to Texas five years ago from having lived thirty years in Southern California, I did so to be closer to the Women of Faith office and more centrally accessible to an airport for our weekend trips. And what did the Lord do in the meantime? He moved Babe and Cynthia down the street from me, about six blocks away. And why did God do that? Because

“He’s famous for great and unexpected acts; there’s no end to His surprises” (Job 5:8). I didn’t know that was going to happen when I moved to Frisco. And now, there they are...just down the road. In a matter of months, Babe will be 75 and I’ll be 77. All of a sudden we’ve been given these final years together and I couldn’t be happier. We’re closer than we’ve ever been... in every way. It’s a gift of God’s grace!

Don't miss out on God's surprises. Pay attention to the little things God does...especially those for which you’ve never asked. Then thank Him and tell somebody what He’s done. Remember–He’s famous for those gracious acts.

Much love,

IT'S OK TO DANCE!!

2 Samuel 6:5
David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments - lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals!

FRIDAY JULY 7

SOAK NIGHT AT theeffect!!

Bring your pillow, jammies, beach chairs..whatever makes you comfortable and share 2 hours of praise and worship with a wonderful group of people and the best worship team on this planet!

If you would like to much afterwards... you might want to bring something to share.

Of course, low cal, low carb, low fat... :o)

See you there!!

Dear Ladies,

We have 7 spots left for the Women of Faith Conference. Please, please, please, If you know of anyone that would like to attend, or who might want to sponsor a woman who would love to come but can not afford it, please let them know about this event.

I know that it is going to be a huge blessing for everyone attending!! We will all be sitting together, which will help us all get to know each other a little better too! I love that!!If you have sisters, mothers, cousins, friends, work companions...any one who might want to come, please let them know all about the event.

If you need more information: http://www.womenoffaith.com

Some of us will be spending the night on Friday night...and there are a few women that would like to come just for Saturday only. As soon as I have a final number on hotel needs, I will book the hotel rooms. For those of you wanting to come only on Saturday, I will get in touch with you soon. We might have some drivers to take you all there!

The reason for maybe sounding urgent is, based on the signatures that I received at church for this event, I knew that I needed to reserve seats, or non of us would be sitting together. In order to do that, I needed to reserve the seats. I would love to see all of these reserved seats get filled with special women!!

I know God will bring all of those who would benefit most from this event! It will be wonderful spending the weekend with you!

Again, please put the word out to your peoples :o)

Blessings!
Marian Brisbin
949-291-2553

PRAYER

My brother-in-law has been in a hospital in Lake Tahoe for over a week now. He is in intense pain, and his insurance company is holding something up. My sister and brother in law live in Aptos, CA, and it sounds like the insurance company will not pay to have him moved to a hospital closer to home. My sister has been staying in hotel rooms, while Bill lays in the hospital. He has complications and a fever that will not go down. There is undoubtably an infection, but he is not gettin the help that he needs.

Please keep Bill and my sister Chris in your prayers! I do believe that God answers prayer, always. It doesn't always come when we ask, and it also doesn't always come in the form that we think it should, but the answers do come!

I know we are all praying very hard, unceasingly. I pray that our prayers will reach our Lord and His love will heal my brother.

THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER!

John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

James 5:13
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1 Kings 13:6
And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.

IMPORTANT! Women's Mini Retreat - Sept. 11-12

Call Marian for More Information! 949-291-2553

Friday, September 11th and Saturday September 12th
Please Join Us!! effect Women's Retreat...
Everyone Welcome!!

We need to sell 12 more seats!
Please think about coming and being a part of the effect women's family!
We need you. Sisters, Mothers, Cousins, Friends, all can come!
The cost is minimal compared to the excellent speakers they will be sharing with us
and the 2 boxed lunches! $79.00!

If you can't make it, would you consider sponsering a woman who would like to come? There are some that would come in a heartbeat, they just can't affort it right now.

Thank you!

Please pray for the women attending. Please pray that all who want to go will be able to go. Please pray for the church that we will have the funds to cover our commitment.

Blessings to you all!

Please call me if you have not signed up and would like to attend. The church has purchased the tickets so that we could hold places for all wanting to come. We will have a spot for you open!

If you would like to spend Friday night with some of the women who would like to stay, please let me know also.

Thanks so much!

Marian

949-291-2553

Comfort

1"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God[a];
trust also in me.
2In my Father's house are many rooms;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4You know the way to the place where I am going."
John 14

Walking Wednesdays

Our Wednesday Walks have all but stopped.
With summer here, by 10:00 am it is already hot.

I am willing to walk if you are. Just call me the day before
and I will meet you. If you would like to meet at 9:00 am,

that would be really fine with me. School is out and I can

make it.

Walk with me, talk with me, pray with me!
Blessings!

Rest

Don't forget to take time for yourself today.

Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew."
Saint Francis de Sales

"A pearl is a beautiful thing that is produced by an injured life. It is the tear [that results] from the injury of the oyster. The treasure of our being in this world is also produced by an injured life. If we had not been wounded, if we had not been injured, then we will not produce the pearl."
Stephan Hoeller

Black Dots

Have you taken the right path in life? The right path for you? Do you feel that something is missing? Is there an emptiness?

Maybe you go to church every Sunday, you do Bible studies, you have Christian friends, you try to always do the right thing. What is missing?

I was raised to go to church every Sunday. I was told about heaven and scared about going to hell. I tried to be a really good person, and yet.. I was crying out to God so often, wondering why I felt the way that I did.

A nun told my 1st grade class that every time we sin, we would get a black dot on our soul. Once our soul is full of the black dots and all black, there was no turning back. We would have only hell to look forward to. Can you imagine what that did to me and the children I went to school with? Young children are so impressionable and believe what those in authority tell us. I don't know about the others, but I sure believed her.

I reached an age where I knew my soul was black. With the lies and bad things I did in my life, surely I was now going to hell. The crazy thing was, at this age of realizing that I had sinned often, I was old enough to know better, to know that the nun was out of her mind telling young children this story, but there was a part of me that sincerely believed it. The years after that (knowing my soul was pure black) were black..selfish, very worldly.

I stopped going to church after the 8th grade.. I visited friend's churches occassionally, but I didn't feel worthy of doing anything more than just visiting. I even had some people pray for me and prostelitize to me when I was in my 20's and when I could not accept that they were telling me, they cried. They said they wanted to see me in Heaven someday and if I did not accept Jesus soon, that might not happen.

I didn't feel good enough, Christian enough, holy enough. I felt that if people really knew the real me, they would stay 10 ft. away, or rather shun me. My thoughts were not always pure.. my past was something out of movie...surely God could not forgive me!! I mean really!

Everyone said.. just say this sinner's prayer and God will take care of the rest. Well, that is like telling someone... just sit here on this couch and a job will fall into your lap. God does want to complete what He started in us.. but He does need a little bit of our help. If we don't hear Him, He will send people our way to help us get on the right path.. but we have to be open to that. I had people in malls walk up to me and give me pamplets. I had people walk up to me at the beach and at the grocery store. It was a little embarrassing.. because it happened a lot. I look back now and see that God had a hand in this.. He knew how dense I was and was really trying to get the point across!!

I realized later in life, that I really didn't know Who God was. Who was this Jesus that could come and cleanse me of my sin, and asked for nothing but my faith. How could I have faith in someone I could not see? I wanted to much to believe. I wanted so much to fit in. Everyone else seemed to understand, seemed confident and I still felt lost.

Who is God? How can you really describe the indescribable? How can you put into words the immenseness of Who God is? Is He church? Is He the Bible? What is He? Was going to church enough? Why was I still empty?

It wasn't until I started to pray...not the rote prayers of my childhood, and not what people told me to pray. I started to ask Jesus to reveal Himself to me. Now I pray for that daily. I didn't have a mountain experience in my walk with the Lord, like some people do. I did not have a honeymoon period in the beginning, if that is what you want to call it. But, I can say, that when I pray, when I find that little bit of time to be alone with the Lord. In my home, my car, where ever I am.. I feel something. The more I do it, the closer I feel. Sometimes, I don't use words to pray. I just sit. I ask Jesus if He has anything for me that day. I do get up at times and feel that I had no connection at all...but then, as God usually works in my life, I see things all day long that can only be from God. He opens my eyes to goodness, to laughter, to His holiness in many ways.

I find that these times with Jesus are my favorite. Another favorite time is when I am singing and praising Him with others. Worship is such a special time in church. I close my eyes and I feel the music and I ponder the words in the songs being sung... and as I and all of the others are sharing our love for God with the joy of singing, I feel Him.

I found my Jesus when I was alone and when I begged Him to be in my life and I took the time to "just be" with Him.

I am not saying to not go to church.. of course not. I am not saying that God's Word in the Bible isn't created for us to read and to help us. It truly is for us and from God. What I am saying is that God is this and so much more. I went to church for years and never questioned anything or anyone. I wanted so badly to be clean, to be accepted, that I believed what seasoned Christians told me. I listened to how they interpreted the Bible. I stood on the hardline of fundamentalism with fists clenched tight and with a self righteousness of believing that "I knew it all." Of course, because I studied the Word, I went to church, I wore the right apparel, I tried to look the part and be the perfect Christian.

I am here to tell you that no one knows it all. And, when someone says something to you that doesn't sit well with your heart, question it! And, if you speak to a pastor or a seasoned Christian and what they say doesn't sit right with you, question it! Go to God Himself. Even the most scholarly and well intentioned of Christians might have it wrong once in awhile... We can intercede for others with prayer, and they can do the same for us, but we can also go to God without a middle man. This was a concept I that was hard for me to accept, because I was raised in the Catholic faith. We weren't even given Bibles in parochial school.

Church is a special place... and there are so many different kinds of churches! Try many! You might find that one holds a special place for you. A place where God may want you to be for awhile, to grow, to make friendships, to learn. But, it is in that quiet personal time with the Lord, that time for just you and Him, where a personal relationship with Christ is truly born. It is that "personal relationship" that Jesus longs for with us.. and our heart longs for with Him! It is when you start to build that foundation, and that relationship, where the emptiness starts to disappear, the lonliness goes away. This is where God fills you so full, that when you are overfilled with His Spirit and His love, you reflect Him. This is when you realize what it is truly meant to be a "Christian". This is when God transforms you, and you let Him.

Our Abba Father is waiting for us to come to Him. He longs to hold us. Like a father or mother who has not seen their child in years, He waits and longs for us to come to Him. He longs for us to know Him and to trust Him.

For the nun who told me that my soul would fill with black dots.... I do forgive her. She meant well. It is the way of many to scare us into goodness and belief. I think there is a better way, but she truly did not mean to hurt us...she wanted to save us. (Jesus never used scare tactics)

So, you've said the sinner's prayer (which can be whatever words you want to use). Now what? Spend time alone and know that God is with you. He has always been with you. He is listening and He will finish what He has started in you. Find a church you love and feel comfortable in. If you have questions...please ask questions! Human beings are not perfect, but they are trying to do the right thing for you.

Know that God is pure love! Pure love. Where there is light there can be no darkness. God is pure light. We bring the wrath of darkness upon ourselves if we step out of His light. Why would we want to do that? ( 1 John: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin. )

Read the Bible, Pray, Find Alone Time With God, Find a good church, God will lead you to the rest.

I would choose a church which endeavors to practice what it preaches, translating its beliefs into everyday life. . ." I would choose a church which endeavors to practice what it preaches, translating its beliefs into everyday life. . ." Billy Graham


Blessings and Love be with you. I pray that you will embrace God with your whole heart today and live a life of the fullness that God wants for you. He wants that for you today. You don't need to wait until you get to heaven...He wants that for you today!