Good Morning Girlfriends!

I know there are many who are struggling with overwhelming issues today. Many of you had restless nights and are extremely stressed over the challenges you are facing in your life. I am so thankful that you are a part of this group of women who can encourage and pray for one another. Many of you have contacted me regarding things that you are currently walking through asking for prayer. Thank you for that confidence and trust.

Each of you are awesme ladies designed by a great God. I know for many of you the future seems foggy and confusing but God is still on the throne and He is in control no matter what we are facing! He can heal a broken marriage, perform a miracle with finances, and give hope where there just doesn't seem to be any glimmer of light.

Look up girlfriends! God loves you and His desire is to do an awesome work through you. Trust Him. The devil has NOTHING over God!! He brings confusion and heart ache but God brings peace, healing and love.

I pray a special blessing upon you, your family and ministry today. May God ROCK the HOUSE today in a way that will definitely ROCK your world. I pray for miracles all over the place today and I will be waiting to hear how God answered your prayers.

You are awesome!

Blessings and hugs,
Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Girlfriends,

I pray that you have had an awesome weekend!

I traveled to Joppa, MD yesterday to speak at a garden party for the awesome ladies of Grace AG.  It was a beautiful afternoon. 

Be encouraged today that God loves you and continues to walk with you daily as your guide and protector.  Psalm 18:32, It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (NIV)  Praise Him for that!!!  I can have confidence today knowing that when life simply doesn't make sense God has my back!

God promises in his word to give us strength to meet the daily challenges we face but he doesn't promise to eliminate them.  If he gave us no rough roads to walk, no mountains to climb, and no battles to fight, we would not grow.  He will not leave us alone with the challenges we face.  He stands beside us and strengthens us to face them.

Let's rejoice in the battles!!!!  That is where we grow and mature in our walk with him.

Have a wonderful Sunday!  May God bless you abundantly today in your ministry and family.

You are loved and appreciated,

Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Girlfriends!

I pray that you have had an awesome weekend. I am excited!  Brandon, Casey and Cayden are leaving MO on Friday to travel home to VA to live!! He is stepping out to full-time ministry as an evangelist with Tour 29:11.  Check out his ministry website.

Cayden is now six months old and we have only seen him twice.  He doesn't have a clue who Grammy and Grand-dad are but I hope to let him know in a few days!! It will be so good to have our family in one place again. Would you please keep Brandon and his family in your prayers as he travels?

Be encouraged today that God loves you and continues to walk with you daily as your guide and protector. Psalm 18:32, It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (NIV) Praise Him for that!!! I can have confidence today knowing that when life simply doesn't make sense God has my back!

God promises in his word to give us strength to meet the daily challenges we face but he doesn't promise to eliminate them. If he gave us no rough roads to walk, no mountains to climb, and no battles to fight, we would not grow. He will not leave us alone with the challenges we face. He stands beside us and strengthens us to face them.

Let's rejoice in the battles!!!! That is where we grow and mature in our walk with him.

Have a wonderful Sunday! May God bless you abundantly today in your ministry and family.

You are loved and appreciated,
Debbie

Conquering Life's Challenges

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

 

It seems life can be overwhelming at times. Financial stress, illness, family problems, spiritual warfare, and the list goes on. But the scriptures clearly state that you and I are more than conquerors with Jesus Christ. The scripture in Romans is one of the most comforting promises found in the Bible because we can experience peace today knowing that our Lord will be with us no matter what we face.

Believers will always face hardships of some magnitude in this life but Paul exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death is proof of his unconquerable love. Nothing can stop Christ's constant presence with us. Nothing brings more comfort than God's peace.

Each day we can feel totally secure knowing that Christ is taking care of us. We don't need to be afraid or overwhelmed with things in this life. It doesn't matter what you are facing this week. Nothing in this world is too big for God. Don't simply speak his promises. Believe them!

Blessings!

Loneliness of Pastor's Wives

It was a very late night at church last evening doing pre-marriage counseling. When the alarm clock began making that annoying noise at 5am I did not want to get out of bed!!!

Ministry is exciting, challenging and often very tiring.  I can remember when our children were small and I was working full-time outside of the home, how chaotic our lives were.  Our kids are now grown adults, married and have children of their own.  How quickly time passes......

If you are not connected to the group on FB for pastor's wives and ministry women I encourage you to check it out.  It is a resource where ministry women can connect with one another, encourage and pray for others who are facing challenges in their lives.  The group is called Chocolate and Coffee/Pastor's Wives and Ministry Women.

I receive many emails from other pastor's wives and ministry women who are dealing with a number of challenges.  Loneliness seems to be number uno for so many pastor's wives.  Many do not have any friendships in the church and some don't have friends with other ministry wives.  The ministry can be a very lonely place and we need others who will pray and encourage us when the challenges become overwhelming. 

Do you have friends that allow you to be open and honest about the struggles you face in ministry?  How do  you deal with the challenges of the profession?

Love to hear your feedback girlfriends.

Many blessings,
Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Girlfriends,

Praying that your weekend has been awesome!

Our granddaughter Tori graduated from preschool on Thursday. She is so precious. It was an exciting time for her and our family. I had two teeth extracted on Friday. That was not fun! One of my teeth broke while it was being pulled...... I knew I was in trouble when the dentist said, "This is not good". Anyway, the teeth are gone and I am doing well. There is a little swelling this morning but I feel great!

Please keep our grandson Luke who is seven in your prayers on Thursday. He has had step throat six times this winter and is having surgery to have his tonsils and adenoids removed.

 Just want to encourage you today friends.  As I look around I constantly see people struggling with life issues.  Some are losing their homes, some are dealing with devastating news about their health, some have lost their jobs, some are dealing with major issues in their marriages and the list goes on. Life is a constant challenge.  But, God is our constant. 

 We truly do have so much to be thankful for and for me; I often take that for granted.  I am so thankful that I serve a God who will never fail me or leave me.  I am so thankful that even when life’s challenges seem bigger than anything I have ever imagined, my God is on the throne and He walks with me through those deep waters.  Life often brings pain but God is always there to bring comfort and peace.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed (Proverbs 16:3).  Sometimes we fail unintentionally to commit our struggles and challenges to God.  Yes we do and I am guilty of this as well.  How many times have we given God temporary control of things in our lives only to take back control when things stop gong the way we expect.  And sometimes we commit a task fully to the Lord, but put forth no effort ourselves in praying about this situation.  We must maintain a delicate balance: trusting God as if everything depended on him, while working as if everything depended on us.  By working I mean praying daily for this situation. Think of a specific situation you are walking through right now.  Have you fully committed it to the Lord? Are you fully trusting God for the answer?

At the cross I bow my knee,
Where Your blood was shed for me.
There’s no greater love than this.
You have overcome the grave.
Your glory fills the highest place.
What can separate me now?
Song - At the Cross by Hillsong

God loves his children so much and he cares about everything we walk through in this life.  Whether it is a small challenge or something that is overwhelming,..,,. He cares.  Lay the burden at the cross today and then trust God with the results. He has overcome the grave.  His glory fills the highest place.  Friends, what can separate us now?

Have a wonderful Sunday.  May God’s power and presence be magnified in your services today!

Love and appreciate you,

Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Girlfriends!

Another Sunday morning and another week full of busyness. Does this apply to any of you this morning?

I had a great week other than finding out I have a ton of dental work that must be done. I absolutely hate going to the dentist!! When I was a little girl I had a horrible experience and I dread anything being done to my teeth. Because I have put off going to the dentist for so long I now have a ton of procedures scheduled…………

As a worship leader, music is an integral part of my life. Many times when life seems super heavy and overwhelming I play my favorite CD and meditate on God’s Word. Music is soothing to my soul and truly ministers to my spirit in a powerful way.

As I prepared the music schedule this weekend I thought about how many times I have been guilty of leading a beautiful worship song but my actions certainly did not demonstrate the truth in those songs. I may have been dealing with an overwhelming battle in my own life and instead of trusting God to take care of the situation, I worried and lacked the faith I needed for a break through.

There is a song that has been around for awhile, Break Through. Break through all my fears. Break through all my doubts. Break through that I may worship you. Break through all my pain. Break through all my guilt and my shame. Break through like only You can do………… Powerful words aren’t they? But it even gets better. You are brighter than my darkest night;
Stronger than my toughest fight. Just one touch from You; my King, my Friend, and I’ll never be the same again. Break Through!!

We know people diagnosed with cancer and some of you are even dealing with this in your own families. Many are suffering with depression and hopelessness. Marriages are falling apart and families are crumbling. God is brighter than our darkest night and stronger than our toughest fight! Declare that today! God is strength and peace, our comforter and healer.

Friends, I challenge you today to step up to the plate with a faith that cannot waver when the wind blows and the ship is being tossed back and forth. Our God reigns and He is always in control when life seems hopeless. We must be the light to those around us so they can also experience the beautiful love from our Savior. Break through oh God…… we are praying for a break through…………………………..

My prayer for you this morning is that you will see that Break Through TODAY! Trust Him no matter how hard the storm is raging around you. Nothing is too big for our God!
Love and appreciate you,
Debbie