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