Good Morning Beautiful Peeps!

I trust we are all into the hustle and bustle of the holiday schedule! It happens every year……. We have so much to do during Christmas that often times it is a challenge to find time to sit and relax in front of the Christmas tree. I love Christmas and I love sitting in the house at night with all the lights off except the Christmas trees. I have to make a concerted effort to find that time where I can escape life’s struggles and RELAX! I pray that you will also find time to enjoy the holiday. You deserve it!

Even in the midst of all the shopping, baking, cooking, wrapping gifts, cantata practices, parties, etc., we can find ourselves lonely. Ever been there? How can we possibly feel lonely as pastor’s wives and ministry women? After all, there are people around us all the time but It happens to me and I know it happens to you also. It hurts when you are in the middle of the holiday activities, around a number of people, but feel so alone………………………….

Loneliness can manifest as an inner ache or a craving for affection. Its side effects include feelings of emptiness, uselessness, or purposelessness. But loneliness can be cured, no matter what the cause. If you are lonely, you can confront it in the name of Jesus Christ.

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Luke 12:7) NIV. Our true value is God’s estimate of our worth, not our peers’. Other people (even sometimes Christians) evaluate and categorize us according to how we perform, what we achieve, and how we look. But God cares for us because we belong to him. So we can face life without fear.

God has promised to be with you always, and to never leave you or forsake you. Pray that God will send you real friends that God Himself has chosen for you. Grasp His promise that He will comfort you and cause you to rejoice. Then get ready for the joy!

Merry Christmas dear friends!

Love and appreciate you,
Debbie

Good Morning Sweet Friends,

I returned from Dallas yesterday like many of you, who attended the Conversations ’10 conference for women in ministry. It was outstanding! It felt wonderful connecting with other women involved in ministry from all over the country. I loved meeting many of you who I have become friends with through my ministry on facebook. I leave again this afternoon for our District Minister’s Retreat! Life is busy!

One of the things that continues to resonate in my spirit is that God is calling us to know who we are in Christ. In order for us to fulfill the purpose and plan God has for our lives, we MUST become CONFIDENT in who we are as a woman of God. To me that translates to – I don’t have to be like Betty, Susan, Jenny or Olivia (random names ). I don’t need to be like any other woman in ministry no matter how incredible they are. I need to be ME. I need to be Debbie Shank. God’s plan for my life will be different from others. I need to pursue God’s complete plan for MY LIFE and trust Him fully each and every day even when life appears to be uncertain and unclear.

I pray God’s fullness upon your life and ministry today. May God bless you abundantly this week. God does love you and cares about every detail of your life.

Love and appreciate you,
Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Peeps!

I am still in Carlisle, PA at the Pastor’s Wives Retreat. It has been a wonderful weekend!

Just want to remind you this morning how important you are to the Kingdom.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Paul says that because of the resurrection, nothing we do is in vain. When we don’t see results it is easy to become discouraged. But if we can maintain a heavenly perspective, we will understand that we often will not see the good that results from our efforts. Don’t allow discouragement over an apparent lack of results keep you from working. Do the good that you have opportunity to do, knowing that your work will have eternal results.

The enemy is prowling and his goal is to steal, kill and destroy. No matter what he brings against us, our God is greater! The enemy is defeated in the name of Jesus!!

Have an awesome Sunday and an incredible week!

You are appreciated and your work for the Kingdom does not go unnoticed,

Love you,
Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Peeps!

Like many of you reading this post today, it has been a challenging week. I received a message earlier in the week that my aunt had committed suicide. She was a very lonely and depressed woman for years and the enemy finally convinced her that taking her own life would be the answer to all her problems……….

The enemy comes against those of us in ministry also with many things. I receive numerous emails from women weekly who are struggling and feeling totally alone.

A man of many companions may come to ruin but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). Loneliness is everywhere – many people feel cut off and alienated from others. Being in a crowd just makes people more aware of their isolation. We all need friends who will stick close, listen, care, and offer help when it is needed – in good times and bad. It is better to have one such friend than dozens of superficial acquaintances. Instead of wishing you could find a true friend, seek to become one. There are people who need your friendship. Ask God to reveal them to you, and then take on the challenge of being a true friend.

If you are lonely this morning a genuine friend can make quite a difference in your life. So maybe it is time that you prayed that God send you one. Maybe he already has, but you were just too self-involved to see it. That’s certainly easy to do. Perhaps there is someone right under your nose that would be amazingly good at reciprocating your support and love. We tend to be programmed to think that we must always be the givers, and others are to be the receivers. Take a fresh look at our present relationships and examine their potential.

You might not find this friend in your own church. That doesn’t matter. The important thing is to find a friend. We were meant to live in relationship to others.

I leave Friday afternoon to travel to PA to speak at the Penn-Del Pastor’s Wives retreat next weekend. Would you pray for me this week as I finish preparing for my sessions? I am praying for God’s anointing over the retreat. My desire is to be a blessing and encourager for those attending.

I am praying for you today and throughout the week. May God bless you, your family and ministry.

Appreciate and love you,
Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Peeps!

I love long holiday weekends don't you? The problem with me is that I always have too much on my list that I want to achieve in a few short days! Where is the time for rest and relaxation??

I was typing my message this morning, was almost finished when the entire thing disappeared! So.............. I guess that is not what God intended for you to read today.

My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62: 1, 2.

These are some of my favorite passages! David must have been far from home when he wrote this psalm. Fortunately, God is never limited to any geographic location. Even when we are among unknown surroundings, God never abandons us. Amen to that!! A "higher" rock would be a plan of refuge and safety. God's all-surpassing strength is always with us. I am so thankful this morning for God's strength and power!

God is my solid rock today! Even when we are weary and discouraged, God is our ROCK! He loves us and cares about every detail of our lives.

I am praying for you today friends. May God bless you in a very special way this week. Be encouraged! God is still in control no matter what the current circumstances in our lives may look like.

Have a wonderful weekend and a fantastic week!

Love and appreciate you,
Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Peeps!!

This week I received devastating news that a dear FB ministry friend, who I dearly loved and admired, passed away. My heart aches this morning as I write this. Many of us just found out about this tragedy a few days ago and are still trying to make sense of it all. Deborah Hosmer Meyer was one of the most encouraging Christian women I have ever known. Although I don't understand all of this, I know that God is still in control and He absolutely knows what he is doing.I encourage you to visit Deborah’s blog. You will be blessed by her posts. We have also created a page on FB as a tribute to her legacy - A Tribute to Deborah Hosmer Meyer. If you knew her please feel free to share something from your heart on her page.

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Friends, we need one another in ministry. I keep asking myself if there was something I could have done for Deborah that I didn’t do. Many times we are walking through very difficult times but we choose to be silent and carry the load alone. Please don’t do that. There are many ministry women on face book, including myself, who are more than willing to pray with you and encourage you. We really need to reach out to one another, to encourage, love and pray for our sisters in Christ. Our lives are full and we are very busy trying to balance life and ministry. I regret that I didn’t tell Deborah how much she meant to me before she passed away. I encourage you to take time this week to reach out to those who have made a difference in your life and let them know how important they are to you. Life is fragile…………

I pray God’s blessings upon you, your family and your ministry today. You are loved and appreciated more than you know. Be blessed!

Love,
Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Girlfriends!

Pray that you had an awesome week! We were in MO visiting our son and daughter-in-law and had a wonderful time! Hate the 18 hour drive to and from MO but it was worth it!

Just want to encourage you to check the Discussion posts on the Chocolate and Coffee wall. I love to read your comments and it is a great place to encourage and support one another. Please check it out this week and participate.

Be encouraged today and allow God to do an awesome work in your lives. We face so many impossible situations every week that would be hopeless if we had to handle them with our limited strength. But God specializes in working through us to achieve the impossible.

Don't focus on your problems. Focus on your solution!! God is able and still reigns. He loves you. He is your comfort and your strength. He is the answer to ALL the things you are facing today. Grab His hand and allow Him to walk with you through life's challenges.

I am praying for God's anointing power to be upon you today. May the Lord continue to bless you, your family and ministry in a way you never imagined!

Appreciate each of you. Hope to see many of you in September at the Conversations '10 conference in Dallas, TX.

Love you,
Debbie