Sunday Morning Encouragement

Good Morning Girlfriends!! I pray that you are safe from Hurricane Irene, rested and excited about what God has planned in the HOUSE today!!!

It seems everywhere I turned this week God was speaking to my heart about busyness. Hmmmmmmm....... Ministry as we all know can certainly be a busy place. Sometimes that busyness can bring overwhelming discouragement and unbelievable stress into our lives. Ever been there?

An article by Jill Briscoe emphasized being so busy  that we find ourselves in a place where there is no time to spend in the Word. Her relationship with God had grown thin because she had not spent time in prayer, like she knew she needed to. Her one statement was awesome, "I felt like a flat camel! The nourishment that should have been stored in my hump was gone!! Keep fresh in ministry. I was busy with ministry stuff, but it was all output and no intake. The inevitable result was a desert experience."

How are you doing today? Are you feeling like a flat camel? Has the nourishment stored in your hump disappeared?

Ladies, we are very busy creatures but we cannot give out what we don't have. We must be intentional about spending quality time with our Lord daily. A flat camel is not going to be very productive for the Kingdom.

I pray that your week will be filled with "special" time with God. Let's face it friends....... Our soul is more important than anything. If we are not careful and intentional, busyness can deplete us spiritually.

Have a wonderful week! You are appreciated!!

Love you,
Debbie

Sunday Morning Encouragement

Good Morning Beautiful Girlfriends!!!

Can you believe another week has passed? Where has the summer gone? It won't be long until we are sipping hot chocolate, digging out our winter clothing and shoveling snow!!!!! No, no, no!!!!!


Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7). The Word of God is telling our congregations to look at you and me - to see how we are living our lives. These people watch our relationship with God, our husbands and family, and with our churches. They observe the way we respond to and raise our children and they watch the way we negotiate relationships - the good, the bad and even the ugly.


These people also watch to see what we give priority to in our lives. If something is not important to you as a leader, it is not going to be important to them. If we come in late to church, they’ll more than likely come in late. If we choose to sit down during the worship, are easily distracted and don't enter in, more than likely they will have that same attitude.

One of my biggest fears is that I will do something on a "bad hair day" to lead someone astray. My prayer for each of us today is that God will help us to be a Godly example for our congregations and our family. I realize how demanding our lives can be and many of us are multi-tasking daily but God is our strength and our source. May His love and peace surround you today. May His sweet spirit shine in and through our lives.

Have a wonderful day in the House and have a wonderful week filled to overflowing with God's abundant blessings! You are special and God loves you!!

Love and appreciate you,
Debbie

Good Morning Beautiful Girlfriends!

God is so good and I encourage you today to hold tight to the hem of His garment. Just like the woman with the issue of blood who struggled to reach Jesus with unbelievable determination. She knew if only she could touch the hem of His garment she would be healed. I want to serve Christ with that same determination in my soul. Life is challenging and ministry is hard. I am so thankful this morning that my God is a God of love and forgiveness. He is a God of power and strength.

This has been a very busy week for me and I know you can relate. I gave out all week and last evening realized I was totally spent! God's Word is so energizing and powerful. And that special time in our Secret Place with Him is priceless If you are weary and worn this morning dear friend, call on the One who will give you strength and power. God is calling you to a new level.

Have a beautiful Sunday! May the power of God be awesome in your church and ministry today. Be determined to be ALL that God is calling you to be and more!

You are appreciated!

Love you,
Debbie

Good Morning Girlfriends!

I want to welcome those of you who are brand new to this blog and are reading this Sunday message for the very first time! Thank you for becoming a part of this group which was created to support and encourage one another.

Satan is the champion of discouragement. Many times he manages to use the smallest thing to get our attention and totally mess with our minds. Do you know what happens to us during this time of frustration and discouragement? We become totally focused on the problem instead of the solution. Satan wins when we allow that to happen.

My God is bigger than any problem I will ever face on this earth. If you are carrying some heavy duty baggage around today, I encourage you to unload at the foot of the cross. Let God take care of it. All of it!

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 NLT

No one can heal your heart or soothe your soul like Jesus can. No one loves you more, and no one else has the power or passion for you and your burdens like God has. He is definitely the lover of your soul, and He longs for you to run to Him with your burdens so He can heal the pain.

I pray that this will be an awesome Sunday for you. I pray God's blessings will rain down upon you, your family and your ministry today. May you feel encouraged, refreshed and loved. You are special. You are appreciated. And you are loved!

Blessings and hugs from one girlfriend in ministry to another!!

Love ya!♥

Good Morning Beautiful Girlfriends!

I know many of you may feel especially challenged today because of things you are dealing with in your life and ministry. I want to encourage you and remind you that God loves you so much.

Philippians 1:6, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

At times we might feel that we are not making progress in our spiritual life but when God begins a project, he completes it! God walks with us each day and is always there to encourage us and cheer us on when life seems to look everything but exciting!! Remember that God will never give up on you!

If you feel incomplete this morning, unfinished or discouraged by your shortcomings, remember God's awesome promise and provision! Don't allow your present condition to rob you of the joy of knowing Christ more intimately and growing closer to him. His plan for your life is magnificent!!

Have a wonderful day friends! You are beautiful women of God and are making a difference for the Kingdom. You are appreciated and loved!!

Hugs,
Debbie

Is Your Ministry Hindered By Intimidation?

Good Morning Beautiful Girlfriends!

For me, Monday is far more difficult to roll out of bed than any other day of the week! I am usually exhausted from the weekend and a full day of events on Sunday. My motivation when the alarm begins to "buzz' at 5am seriously needs some help! I hear Starbucks calling my name!

Do you ever feel weary in the ministry? Have you ever questioned God about how you can really make any difference in the Kingdom of God? Are you intimidated by others when you attempt to stand strong for what you believe?

God has a plan for you and that plan is huge. He tells us in His Word that we are to be imitators of Christ. That tells me that others need to see Jesus in me even when I am tired,weary and basically worn out! We may be the only billboard for the Kingdom of God that someone may see.

All of us can make a positive difference for Christ. I feel such an urgency in my heart for those who are unsaved. People need to know that God loves them and He is returning soon for His church. Christians need to continue being "busy" about God's business. People are searching for hope in a desperate and lost world. God offers that hope and peace to those who surrender their lives to Him.

Preaching truth in church today is not popular. Those pastor's are often labeled "old fashioned and not relevant". Well friend, when the trumpet sounds, who really cares about being relevant. I just want to know that I know that I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I am washed in the blood of the lamb and on my way to heaven! How about you? Do you dare to make a difference in this world?

Love and appreciate you,
Debbie

Good Morning Girlfriends!

This is the day that the Lord hath made.  I will REJOICE and be glad in it!!!!! 

I know for many it is challenging to rejoice this morning because of everything happening around you in your ministry and life.  Just remember today that God is still on the throne and is as powerful as He was yesterday and will still reign tomorrow!  He loves you and cares about every detail of your life including the discouragement and disappointments you may be dealing with today.

Just want to encourage you this morning with a simple thought.  No matter what you are walking through at this moment, God will help you be a positive influence in a negative situation. Be encouraged – what you have to offer is the life of Jesus, not your own expertise.  Encouragement cannot harm people – a loving word from you will always help somehow, if even a little, if only for a moment. As ministry wives and ministry women, our skills and callings are varied, but we can be unceasing encourager's.  We are greatly needed!

I am praying for you today that God’s power and presence will be overwhelming in your services.  You are amazing women of God!

Love and appreciate you!

Hugs,

Debbie