09/03: A Friend Who Is Rising
From the ashes we rise. Mary DeMuth shares how life interrupted is God ever-present.
Can you relate?
Can you relate?
Welcome! If you are stopping by because you read the Encouragement For Today devo at Proverbs 31 I am so happy you are here!
I mean it. You know in this fast-paced world we live in, it's hard to find time to simply sit a spell with friends. I've been sitting a spell lately. For years I've felt guilty if I slowed down or stopped. I am up early and go to bed late (well, late for me ;o)
When someone asks me to do something the first word out of my mouth has been, "SURE!" Then I think, now how in the world am I going to 'find' time to get that done?
I'm going to share a secret with you....can I trust you not to blab? Ok, I keep this SuperWoman costume tucked away for just such an occasion. It sits there in the back of my mind waiting for an opportunity to come to life. Like many of my clothes, it doesn't fit anymore. It is about 3 sizes too small, but that doesn't stop me from squeezing into it.
Picture a Britney Spears size shaper on Kathy Bates, yea, that. Miserable! And NOT my best look.
Do you have one too? Are you trying to force more in your life than is humanly possible?
I've got a great idea. Let's give it away. Yes, GIVE IT AWAY. That item on our list that we said 'yes' to when God really wanted to bless someone else with that task. So give it away. That desire to be everything to everyone. Lets agree to let go of the need to be busier than all our friends. Activity does not equal a fulfilled life.
The lesson for today is:
There is only room for one Super in our life (and it isn't us)
Pull up a chair. Kick back with me a minute. I'll pour us a glass of lemonade as we sit and marvel at our Super God.
I mean it. You know in this fast-paced world we live in, it's hard to find time to simply sit a spell with friends. I've been sitting a spell lately. For years I've felt guilty if I slowed down or stopped. I am up early and go to bed late (well, late for me ;o)
When someone asks me to do something the first word out of my mouth has been, "SURE!" Then I think, now how in the world am I going to 'find' time to get that done?
I'm going to share a secret with you....can I trust you not to blab? Ok, I keep this SuperWoman costume tucked away for just such an occasion. It sits there in the back of my mind waiting for an opportunity to come to life. Like many of my clothes, it doesn't fit anymore. It is about 3 sizes too small, but that doesn't stop me from squeezing into it.
Picture a Britney Spears size shaper on Kathy Bates, yea, that. Miserable! And NOT my best look.
Do you have one too? Are you trying to force more in your life than is humanly possible?
I've got a great idea. Let's give it away. Yes, GIVE IT AWAY. That item on our list that we said 'yes' to when God really wanted to bless someone else with that task. So give it away. That desire to be everything to everyone. Lets agree to let go of the need to be busier than all our friends. Activity does not equal a fulfilled life.
The lesson for today is:
There is only room for one Super in our life (and it isn't us)
Pull up a chair. Kick back with me a minute. I'll pour us a glass of lemonade as we sit and marvel at our Super God.
08/13: Watching God Heal
If you've ever walked with someone through the healing steps from devastation to triumph, you know the road is long, bumpy and uncharted.
You have no idea going in what you are about to face, but you feel that knock on your heart saying, "Go." So you wrap your arm around a hurting shoulder and you take a chance.
Last year God crossed my path with a girl who was crushed in her spirit. Immediately our hearts connected. I believe we saw a mirror when we listened intently to one another's story. I saw my past pain reflected in her circumstance, she saw hope expressed through a kindred spirit.
When God sews hearts together it becomes a new fabric in your life. It's like watching an expert quilter take pieces of rags and stitch them masterfully into a new design.
My friend has been able to process her pain and reach out to help others. And today I'm like a proud momma bragging on her baby, because this Friday the 13th is very special!
Her very first devotional on Encouragement For Today is running! This free online devotional is our Proverbs 31 Ministries team devotions that are sent to nearly 400,000 subscribers everyday. Crosswalk.com, runs them too and countless people share them by forwarding them on to others.
So today, will you join me in celebrating this very precious friend? Visit her devo at
Crosswalk
or
Proverbs 31
Maybe you could send her a word of encouragement today. Keep your eyes peeled. Today God just may cross your path with a hurting heart. If He does, wrap them up and be ready for the adventure you were meant to live.
You have no idea going in what you are about to face, but you feel that knock on your heart saying, "Go." So you wrap your arm around a hurting shoulder and you take a chance.
Last year God crossed my path with a girl who was crushed in her spirit. Immediately our hearts connected. I believe we saw a mirror when we listened intently to one another's story. I saw my past pain reflected in her circumstance, she saw hope expressed through a kindred spirit.
When God sews hearts together it becomes a new fabric in your life. It's like watching an expert quilter take pieces of rags and stitch them masterfully into a new design.
My friend has been able to process her pain and reach out to help others. And today I'm like a proud momma bragging on her baby, because this Friday the 13th is very special!
Her very first devotional on Encouragement For Today is running! This free online devotional is our Proverbs 31 Ministries team devotions that are sent to nearly 400,000 subscribers everyday. Crosswalk.com, runs them too and countless people share them by forwarding them on to others.
So today, will you join me in celebrating this very precious friend? Visit her devo at
Crosswalk
or
Proverbs 31
Maybe you could send her a word of encouragement today. Keep your eyes peeled. Today God just may cross your path with a hurting heart. If He does, wrap them up and be ready for the adventure you were meant to live.
We are gearing up for the EXTREME event in Nashville Sept. 10-11. Actually Brentwood, a suburb of the Country Music City! Cheri Keaggy will join us as the worship leader.
Would you like to win a free registration to come?
We will have a drawing on our Encouragement Cafe Facebook fan page. Watch for your chance! Tell us why you should get the free ticket and you will be entered to win!
Would you like to win a free registration to come?
We will have a drawing on our Encouragement Cafe Facebook fan page. Watch for your chance! Tell us why you should get the free ticket and you will be entered to win!
Oh My Word!!! Micca coined the phrase years ago and I steal it often, "I'm suffering with the Holy Hangovers!"
After a week of intense God / Girlfriend Time, my body is limp. Isn't it funny how we prep for these occasions? The INADEQUATE MONSTER camps out in our head and screams, "You don't fit!"
He zeroed in on my fingernails this year. I know, that's silly, and yet the day before I left town I stopped at the nail shop. NEVER had nail tips in my life, but the INADEQUATE MONSTER screamed, "Your rag-tag paper thin, broken off, scrappy nails DO NOT cry, confident speaker."
Until this moment, I've been ok with my paper thin, broken off, scrappy nails. But here I sat watching my paper thin nail being replaced. Not sure if the grinder was suppose to penetrate my nail bed, but it did. The pain shot me out of the chair and into the view of Lynn, the owner. The new girl was whisked away while Lynn tried to repair the damage. I left with these foreign, not-what-I-expected, thicker-than-bath-mat fingernails :
Maybe I'm not alone. Maybe you came to this conference feeling inadequate too. I've been on the Proverbs 31 Team for 10 years and every year Satan screams at me from a new direction. Maybe you tried to "get your pretty on" at the last minute. Or maybe he attacked your family, your flight, or your job, trying to get you to just forget it.
He is desperate before, during and after this event to silence this army of women. He knows when passion ignites, it cannot be extinguished.
Yet with all my inadequacies you know what I find every single year?
God.
Yep, God. He shows up. 608 women came with 608 stories of inadequacies, and yet, He showed up. And I believe I saw the fires of hell diminish and the little sparks of confidence fanned into raging wildfires of passion.
Do you have a She Speaks story? I am collecting them! Please share.
After a week of intense God / Girlfriend Time, my body is limp. Isn't it funny how we prep for these occasions? The INADEQUATE MONSTER camps out in our head and screams, "You don't fit!"
He zeroed in on my fingernails this year. I know, that's silly, and yet the day before I left town I stopped at the nail shop. NEVER had nail tips in my life, but the INADEQUATE MONSTER screamed, "Your rag-tag paper thin, broken off, scrappy nails DO NOT cry, confident speaker."
Until this moment, I've been ok with my paper thin, broken off, scrappy nails. But here I sat watching my paper thin nail being replaced. Not sure if the grinder was suppose to penetrate my nail bed, but it did. The pain shot me out of the chair and into the view of Lynn, the owner. The new girl was whisked away while Lynn tried to repair the damage. I left with these foreign, not-what-I-expected, thicker-than-bath-mat fingernails :
Maybe I'm not alone. Maybe you came to this conference feeling inadequate too. I've been on the Proverbs 31 Team for 10 years and every year Satan screams at me from a new direction. Maybe you tried to "get your pretty on" at the last minute. Or maybe he attacked your family, your flight, or your job, trying to get you to just forget it.
He is desperate before, during and after this event to silence this army of women. He knows when passion ignites, it cannot be extinguished.
Yet with all my inadequacies you know what I find every single year?
God.
Yep, God. He shows up. 608 women came with 608 stories of inadequacies, and yet, He showed up. And I believe I saw the fires of hell diminish and the little sparks of confidence fanned into raging wildfires of passion.
Do you have a She Speaks story? I am collecting them! Please share.
06/04: The Mailbox
You've got to watch this! And get the book!!!
Get the BEST summer read you've had in a very long time! From one of my sweet P31 sisters, Marybeth Whalen.
Click here to find out how!
Get the BEST summer read you've had in a very long time! From one of my sweet P31 sisters, Marybeth Whalen.
Click here to find out how!
We are doing it again! Renee's blog is kicking off another giveaway to She Speaks! The one thing I've learned in life is NEVER GIVE UP! So if you didn't win the first one, try again!
Can I assure you of something? Prayers are being offered up on your behalf by the entire Proverbs 31 team. We read your comments and heard your heart as you poured yourself onto the pages of our blogs. If we could we would tuck you in our pocket and take each one of you to the conference! God has a plan for you.
So our team prayer for each name that entered the contest was something like this,
"Lord, if it be Your will that these women come, provide a way. You hold the dreams of these women in Your hand. We also know Father, that You are not effected by an economic crisis, You control it all. Will you provide opportunities for each woman who is truly meant to be at this conference? Surprise her with Your provision! Teach her how to creatively work to accomplish this task. We have seen You do it over and over again each year. We have seen You take trembling hearts and set them on fire for You! We have watched You turn dreams into reality. Will You do it again Lord? Do it again for every woman who is called to be at She Speaks this year, we pray in Jesus' precious name, amen."
Cindy won the first one last week, now ladies, here is another opportunity. This is the way it works.
To Enter the She Speaks Scholarship Contest
1. If you'd like to win, or try to win this for someone else, please leave a comment below sharing why you'd like to win by clicking on the word "comments." Simply type in the white box. If you don't have a blog, click anonymous. But be sure to include your name and email so we can contact you if you win.
2. We'd like to give this scholarship to someone who has not attended She Speaks before since two of the others went to graduates.
3. Our other scholarships have been for writers, so this one is for a woman who feels called to speak. Be sure to let us know what this scholarship would mean to you to fulfill that calling.
4. Visit as many blogs as you can (linked below) and leave a comment (it can be the same comment) to increase your chances! We'll compile the comments left on our blogs through Friday at midnight and send them to our home office where a random drawing will be done. The winner will be announced on Monday on the P31 homepage.
So, leave a comment and click away. You have until midnight on Friday. I can't wait to read your comments!
And visit my sisters blogs too for more chances to win!
Lysa
Wend B
Shari
Micca
Whitney
Amy
Melanie
Lynn
Karen
Suzie
Zoe
Sharon
Charlene
Tracie
Rachel
Wendy P
Luann
Susanne
Renee
Melissa
Van
Marybeth
Gynnis
LeAnn
She Seeks
She Reads
RadRev
ENCOURAGEMENT CAFE
Can I assure you of something? Prayers are being offered up on your behalf by the entire Proverbs 31 team. We read your comments and heard your heart as you poured yourself onto the pages of our blogs. If we could we would tuck you in our pocket and take each one of you to the conference! God has a plan for you.
So our team prayer for each name that entered the contest was something like this,
"Lord, if it be Your will that these women come, provide a way. You hold the dreams of these women in Your hand. We also know Father, that You are not effected by an economic crisis, You control it all. Will you provide opportunities for each woman who is truly meant to be at this conference? Surprise her with Your provision! Teach her how to creatively work to accomplish this task. We have seen You do it over and over again each year. We have seen You take trembling hearts and set them on fire for You! We have watched You turn dreams into reality. Will You do it again Lord? Do it again for every woman who is called to be at She Speaks this year, we pray in Jesus' precious name, amen."
Cindy won the first one last week, now ladies, here is another opportunity. This is the way it works.
To Enter the She Speaks Scholarship Contest
1. If you'd like to win, or try to win this for someone else, please leave a comment below sharing why you'd like to win by clicking on the word "comments." Simply type in the white box. If you don't have a blog, click anonymous. But be sure to include your name and email so we can contact you if you win.
2. We'd like to give this scholarship to someone who has not attended She Speaks before since two of the others went to graduates.
3. Our other scholarships have been for writers, so this one is for a woman who feels called to speak. Be sure to let us know what this scholarship would mean to you to fulfill that calling.
4. Visit as many blogs as you can (linked below) and leave a comment (it can be the same comment) to increase your chances! We'll compile the comments left on our blogs through Friday at midnight and send them to our home office where a random drawing will be done. The winner will be announced on Monday on the P31 homepage.
So, leave a comment and click away. You have until midnight on Friday. I can't wait to read your comments!
And visit my sisters blogs too for more chances to win!
Lysa
Wend B
Shari
Micca
Whitney
Amy
Melanie
Lynn
Karen
Suzie
Zoe
Sharon
Charlene
Tracie
Rachel
Wendy P
Luann
Susanne
Renee
Melissa
Van
Marybeth
Gynnis
LeAnn
She Seeks
She Reads
RadRev
ENCOURAGEMENT CAFE
Tour-de-blogs Today!! Visit my sisters for a chance to win a SCHOLARSHIP TO SHE SPEAKS
My knees were shaking as I practiced in my room the night before. Two girls from my church and I had signed up when Lysa TerKeurst spoke to our group months earlier. Now here I was with 45 other women at the very first She Speaks event.
It was a small banquet room at a Ramada Inn (I think) and there were 3 rows of long tables. Lysa's heart to help other women discover what to do next when God calls them to speak or write was evident as she addressed our little group.
My heart was racing and I thought, "What on earth am I doing here!!!? These women have it all together and I come with tons of baggage!"
That weekend changed my life forever. I had spent most of my life running from God because of my past, but when I surrendered completely to Him a few years earlier I had no idea what was in store.
Saying 'yes' to God and learning year-by-year that I can trust Him all started in that little room with 45 other sold-out women. We had no clue what God would do with our little bit of obedience, but as I look back now and see how God has grown Proverbs 31 Ministries to reach millions, the tears still flow.
She Speaks last year had over 600, our online devotionals now reach almost a half million daily worldwide, the radio minute is on over 1000 outlets, the P31 Woman Magazine reaches thousands, and on and on He goes.
One woman saw a need to equip others for His glory. What will God do with your little bit of obedience?
Click here to find out more about the She Speaks Conference
Leave a comment and be entered to win!!!!
And visit my sisters blogs too for more chances to win!
Lysa
Wend B
Shari
Micca
Whitney
Amy
Melanie
Lynn
Karen
Suzie
Zoe
Sharon
Charlene
Tracie
Rachel
Wendy P
Luann
Susanne
Renee
Melissa
Van
Marybeth
Glynnis
LeAnn
She Seeks
She Reads
RadRev
ENCOURAGEMENT CAFE
My knees were shaking as I practiced in my room the night before. Two girls from my church and I had signed up when Lysa TerKeurst spoke to our group months earlier. Now here I was with 45 other women at the very first She Speaks event.
It was a small banquet room at a Ramada Inn (I think) and there were 3 rows of long tables. Lysa's heart to help other women discover what to do next when God calls them to speak or write was evident as she addressed our little group.
My heart was racing and I thought, "What on earth am I doing here!!!? These women have it all together and I come with tons of baggage!"
That weekend changed my life forever. I had spent most of my life running from God because of my past, but when I surrendered completely to Him a few years earlier I had no idea what was in store.
Saying 'yes' to God and learning year-by-year that I can trust Him all started in that little room with 45 other sold-out women. We had no clue what God would do with our little bit of obedience, but as I look back now and see how God has grown Proverbs 31 Ministries to reach millions, the tears still flow.
She Speaks last year had over 600, our online devotionals now reach almost a half million daily worldwide, the radio minute is on over 1000 outlets, the P31 Woman Magazine reaches thousands, and on and on He goes.
One woman saw a need to equip others for His glory. What will God do with your little bit of obedience?
Click here to find out more about the She Speaks Conference
Leave a comment and be entered to win!!!!
And visit my sisters blogs too for more chances to win!
Lysa
Wend B
Shari
Micca
Whitney
Amy
Melanie
Lynn
Karen
Suzie
Zoe
Sharon
Charlene
Tracie
Rachel
Wendy P
Luann
Susanne
Renee
Melissa
Van
Marybeth
Glynnis
LeAnn
She Seeks
She Reads
RadRev
ENCOURAGEMENT CAFE
04/14: Ablaze!
I know it's been too long since I've said hello. Hi there! I've missed you.
As you know, I'm in real estate and right now that equals CRAZY! I'm going on 4-5 hours of sleep each night.
Because my work life has taken over, I have been praying that God would reignite the fire in me.
So I took the whole 'on fire' thing to a new level last night. As you all know I have been overly tired and strung out. I woke up at 2 a.m. and could not go back to sleep, soooo I had been up.
I was making Chinese with some a Teriyaki noodle dish that calls for you to bring a cup and a half of water to a boil with 1 tbl of oil in it. I put it on the stove and Dwight asked me to come out onto the deck to see some of his handywork in the yard.
I sat down with him and chatted for what seemed like a minute. Out of the corner of my eye through the window I saw the flames jumping in my kitchen. I raced inside and the room was filling with smoke and the pot was ablaze. I slapped a lid on it and opened every window and turned on every fan, but not before the smoke alarm started screaming.
So, how was your night? Did God reignite your fire too?
As you know, I'm in real estate and right now that equals CRAZY! I'm going on 4-5 hours of sleep each night.
Because my work life has taken over, I have been praying that God would reignite the fire in me.
So I took the whole 'on fire' thing to a new level last night. As you all know I have been overly tired and strung out. I woke up at 2 a.m. and could not go back to sleep, soooo I had been up.
I was making Chinese with some a Teriyaki noodle dish that calls for you to bring a cup and a half of water to a boil with 1 tbl of oil in it. I put it on the stove and Dwight asked me to come out onto the deck to see some of his handywork in the yard.
I sat down with him and chatted for what seemed like a minute. Out of the corner of my eye through the window I saw the flames jumping in my kitchen. I raced inside and the room was filling with smoke and the pot was ablaze. I slapped a lid on it and opened every window and turned on every fan, but not before the smoke alarm started screaming.
So, how was your night? Did God reignite your fire too?
Hey, have you heard about the conference that Proverbs 31 does each year in the summer called She Speaks? Over 600 women who felt God calling them to write, speak, or lead, gathered last year in Concord, NC at the Embassy Suites. Representatives from top publishing houses, Proverbs 31 speakers/authors, and guest speakers gather to sharpen their skills and listen for God's direction.
Would you like to attend? Lysa TerKeurst, our president of Proverbs 31 Ministries just told us some exciting news! Scholarship money is available! For all the details, jump over to her site and check out how you can be smack dab in the middle of this one-of-a-kind event!
Click here for the details! She Speaks 2010
Don't keep this to yourself, tell your friends not to miss this opportunity!
I'll be there waiting for you with a big ol' hug!
Love ya tons,
Luann
Would you like to attend? Lysa TerKeurst, our president of Proverbs 31 Ministries just told us some exciting news! Scholarship money is available! For all the details, jump over to her site and check out how you can be smack dab in the middle of this one-of-a-kind event!
Click here for the details! She Speaks 2010
Don't keep this to yourself, tell your friends not to miss this opportunity!
I'll be there waiting for you with a big ol' hug!
Love ya tons,
Luann
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