Thinking and STEPPING OUT OF THE BOX

I daily have to say to myself...

Don't just "think outside of the box." Be willing to "step out of the box."

Those of you who know me... and I mean really know me... know that I am not comfortable in most social settings. Large groups of people in one place - especially in crowded areas - make me want to hide. There were many times in the small foyer area of our former church building that I would freeze up & sneak away. The move to our new facility, with a large Commons area, really helped. But, I still have some "crazy" moments

Going to Church in Your Pajamas

'Tis four days before Christmas and all through the house... not a creature was stirring... we hope NOT a mouse!!! There I sat in my jammies planning my day... scheduling my posts, wondering just what to say...

I could go on but, I won't bore you :) 

This, for so many of us, is an extremely blessed and yet, busy time of year. I don't have time to write... or do I... just a few words.

PAIRINGS - Experiencing God - Love Relationship With God

We've just begun a sermon series at my church about RELATIONSHIPS (see below). We all have relationships. I like the idea of re-visiting how we are living out those relationships. It's always a good idea to reflect upon being the best ME I can be :) The initial relationship I need to cultivate is my relationship with God.

Why GOD first?

Because when lives are centered on God, we're best prepared & equipped to face life and all that it throws in our paths.

"Your love relationship with God prepares you to be involved in His work

by developing in you a God-centered life." 

~ Henry Blackaby, Experiencing God

What are you doing to work on the relationships in your life??

About my church sermon series...

RE:fresh / RE:lationships Sermon Series: April 27 – June 29“It is amazing how the Bible gives us practical, historical examples for many of today’s diverse relational issues. Together we’ll examine critical relationship principles through the lives of some functional, and quite dysfunctional scriptural families. No matter what your family situation, prepare for improved relationships in the upcoming sermon series.” – Rev. Rolland Daniels

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

My Sunday Make-Up Is Worn Off By Tuesday Mornings!

As I was pulling out of my drive at 9:05am to head to church (20-25 minutes away) for the 9:00am Bible study (RefresHer), I was armed & ready... 

Armed & ready to put my make-up on. I had my make-up pouch squished between my knees with all the necessary tools. I would apply it at every stop sign or stop light I encountered between home and church. There are 8 stops (7 signs & one light). And, if I was caught at one of the two railroad tracks, I had a chance of looking pretty good by the time I got to Bible study :) 

I caught a glimpse of myself in the rear view mirror and thought, 

"WOW! My Sunday make-up is totally worn off by Tuesday mornings!"

I'm one of those women who can be girlie-girle one day. On the girlie-girlie days, I might go with foundation, blush, powder, eyebrow pencil, eye liner, mascara, lip liner and lip color!!! On the more common tom-boy days, it's soap, water & Oil of Olay! Mondays are usually rough for me -- resulting in my looking pretty disheveled by Tuesday morning as I head out to RefresHer.

In an effort to keep from frightening those around the table who have to actually LOOK at me during the small group time, I try to put a little make-up on before arriving. I hate to scare anyone who's made the effort to make it there for the Tuesday morning meeting. Often my Tuesday make-up gets done, kind of  -- even if it's just over some of the remaining Sunday make-up.

When my mind said,

"WOW! My Sunday make-up is totally worn off by Tuesday mornings!"

My heart cried out,

"Don't let that happen to your spirit after the celebration of Easter Sunday has passed by & your calendar returns to the normal crazy-busy life. Don't let the Easter Sunday morning JOY dampen as the days pass. Make a conscious effort to celebrate the miracle of that day every day."

I think Satan doesn't want us to live in the "SUNDAY mind-set". But, as far as I'm concerned, there's no real value in what we hear & affirm on Sunday mornings if it's not applied to all the days of the week. I think he would love for us to forget the joy which fills our hearts on Easter Sunday morning as we celebrate the knowledge that CHRIST OVERCAME DEATH & made that possible for us. He wants us to forget that the BATTLE HAS BEEN WON. We are VICTORS. The debt of our sins has been PAID IN FULL.

I was thrilled on Monday evening to see the post Ann Voskamp had published that day about being Resurrection People... and living day-to-day in that knowledge! Check it out here.

We are chosen. We are conquerors. We are victors. We are God's Resurrection People. Let's WALK IN THAT KNOWLEDGE! Let's say to ourselves at the break of every day.. 

Don't let your Sunday be worn off by Tuesday morning!!

  Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

Open Spaces - #JoyDare No. 2289

Due to a small book club group for women started in 2012 by a friend at my church, I actually picked up & read Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts, in early 2012. I began listing gifts then & am planning to continue for years to come. It's a WONDERFUL way to remind myself of God's tender loving care for & faithfulness to me -- and to all his children! I've always been one to get super excited about the little things from God - seeing a mother deer & her fawns while out walking early in the morning, the way the clouds look on a cold -- but sunny -- winter day, the lighting or angle I was able to catch in a photo, the quiet snoring/breathing of the LOML as he sleeps beside me, new fuzzy socks or slippers, an apple right off my tree, etc. Often times my descriptions make no sense to anyone by me & God. So, I decided to expand upon those thoughts in a few posts. So... for today... 

Open Spaces - #JoyDare No. 2289

Among other things, I've struggled with insecurity & anxiety issues for years. As you can see from my posts over the years, I've struggled with a lot :) Usually each struggle happens independently. But, there's one situation that used to be the "double whammy" for me every week. It happened every Sunday morning at church. It was the church narthex -- the old term for the entry area just outside of the sanctuary. We began attending church at "North Anderson Church of God" when we moved back to Indiana for the LOML to finish up on his degree. Within a few years, I was singing in the choir, active in a Young Married Couples class, volunteering for the Worship Arts pastor & ministry, and more. I met a LOT of great people through those smaller groups. I was at home in each of those groups.

But, Sunday mornings after church, when we all poured out from the sanctuary, my chest tightened and my breathing became quick & shallow. I never could seem to make it from point A to point B without feeling a lot of stress. I felt swallowed up in that sea of smiling (and familiar) faces. It was just too much... too close. I was constantly questioning myself... did I miss someone's eye contact because I was staring at my feet moving toward my goal... did I miss talking with someone when I stopped to say hello to another... did I... did I... did I? In the 17 years we attended church at that location, I struggled with those feelings.

When our church relocated to our new location, Madison Park Church, it only took a few Sundays for my family to notice that things had changed. The person who had avoided crossing the narthex at North was now almost impossible to get in the car after church. I was running all over "The Commons" at Madison Park. It was freeing. My deep connection & joy come from the intimate moments I share with those I see before & after the services. The open space in our new "Commons" area freed me to move about & make those connections.

When we moved from Durbin Manor out here to the sticks, I had NO IDEA how freeing the open spaces would be. I can't even describe how much I love sitting at my place at the dinner table. I look out our front window (to my left) for over a mile to where the White River bends below the river banks and then glance to the right out the back window across a mile of fields & small wooded areas. There's sheer joy in those moments as I look out for a distance while safe inside of my home.

Whether I 'm walking down a country road for a few miles with no one in sight or walking through a crowded room, I envision myself as being covered & protected by God Himself. I can navigate all those places without fear knowing that God will bring me through.

His Promises are TRUE!

"He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection." Psalm 91:4 NLT 

"You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word." Psalm 119:114 AMP

My #JoyDare list for Sunday, 2/9/14:

2289. open spaces

2290. messy rooms

2291. old people

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...

The Wisest Man...

Who's the wisest man you know? Who's the wisest woman? Who among us is WISE?

Solomon wrote, 

"In my search for wisdom, I tried to observe everything that goes on all across the earth. I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. This reminded me that no one can discover everything God has created in our world, no matter how hard they work at it. Not even the wisest people know everything, even if they say they do." Ecclesiastes 8:16 & 17 



Photo by T. Getz

The New Living Translation (Study Application) Bible notes say...

"Even if he had access to all the world’s wisdom, the wisest man would know very little. No one can fully comprehend God and all that He has done, and there are always more questions than answers. But the unknown should not cast a shadow over our joy, faith, or work because we know that someone greater is in control and that we can put our trust in Him. Don’t let what you don’t know about the future destroy the joy God wants to give you today."

To me, that last statement, 'Don’t let what you don’t know about the future destroy the joy God wants to give you today', is priceless. I know little of the future. But, today, I choose JOY!

Awesome Girlfriends I Have!!!

I have quite a few girlfriends who inspire me to be a better person... while completely accepting me & loving me right where I am. I volunteer for my local church to communicate information for two ministry areas: Women's Ministries & Worship Arts Ministries. This week I was blessed to write a story about what some of my awesome girlfriends are doing with other friends in our community. Here it is...

If you participate in Zumba with our SisterFitness girls at Madison Park or follow us at all via Twitter or Facebook, you've been hearing some great things about the Great Give. On Tuesday, July 9th, Natalie & Hillary, the sisters of SisterFitness, showed up to lead the Zumba group at Madison Park. Here's an excerpt from their post the following day about that night:

God showed up last night.

• We went to the bank feeling strongly that we needed to get out $700 to give away. That just happened to be the exact amount the bank had in $5 bills.

• We showed up to class – a class that has been averaging about 80 people during these summer months – and God brought us exactly 140 people… 140 people x $5 = $700.

Simply. Amazing.

• This is not about Sister Fitness. This is not about Madison Park Church. This is not about any single one of us. This is about God being ready to do something HUGE for our community with the humbled hearts of any of us willing to participate.

What exactly IS the Great Give? In the words of our friends in the first post about the Great Give, "If you are reading this right now, you are blessed. You have the Internet with some sort of device to search and retrieve information....READ MORE HERE

The Great Give will benefit the ministry of Dove Harbor. Learn about the Dove Harbor story here.

The past 2 weeks have been full of wonderful stories of what $5 can equal. Many of the people have done something great with their $5.

• The children of SisterFitness started the entire thing out with a  sweet show of support!
• Kimberly Majeski (our BOHO ministry coordinator) wrote two posts related to the Great Give: The Great Give and Strip Club Theology.  
• Some of the ideas to support the Great Give so far have involved: chocolate, birthdays, crayons, cornhole, local government and running.
• For all the stories shared via our Madison Park Zumba girls at SisterFitness, take a look here. 

The Great Give will conclude ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, Tuesday July 30th, as the participants of Zumba at our Madison Park facility will gather & give back their "$5" to go to the ministry of Dove Harbor. If you would like to participate in the Great Give by making a contribution online, click here. 

We are blessed to be in community with YOU! Thanks for your love & participation. 

From a volunteer who's BLESSED to be play a small part in the BIG PLAN of God through the WomMin of Madison Park...
The Communications Gal - c

RE: Women's Ministries at Madison Park
The best sources for all the information about what the women (young & not-so-young) of MPC are up to can be found via The Tuesday Scoop, our Facebook page & our Twitter feed. For the complete picture of what's happening at Madison Park Church, we encourage you to check the main website daily AND subscribe to the Threads Email Updates.

As I've said before, often times the things I do which don't put a penny in my pocket fill my heart with blessings that are invaluable! I am so grateful to have such inspiring girlfriends!

Full Participation!!

I'm in the process of writing a note to my sisters about our sweet, little "GLAMdaughter". Tomorrow will be her Half Birthday (as her Mommy calls it)... 6 months old!!  I'll accompany her & her Mommy to a breast feeding support group sponsored by the local hospital to get her weighed & measured tonight. Only then will I be ready to send out my note! We're pretty sure she's broken the 16 pound mark :)

 

Waiting for the praise to start.
Getting there early to get a great seat for our little one :)

As I wrote, I was telling them about how A totally gets IN to the worship service each Sunday at our church. She yells out, waves her arms, kicks her feet -- all while smiling a huge toothless smile! I stated, "She totally wears herself out in worship." 

 

As I wrote those words, I had the thought of how incredibly pleasing that would be to God if we each did that!

 

I pray that I will give my ALL as I worship Him - whether in a church service or at a small gathering of friends or sitting beside a firefly-lit soybean field at night in the middle of nowhere! 

Found this picture from a few weeks ago and just had to add it on today...

"She totally wears herself out in worship."

How do YOU worship?

Linking with Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts Community...

Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels!

What do "dirty, rotten scoundrels" have to do with LOVE? And what do "dirty, rotten scoundrels" have to do with walking a tightrope?  

My words today are aimed at ME. I've consistently battled against being a black & white girl when it comes to wrong & right. I've had a tough time knowing exactly how to love a person (or how to appropriately to show my love) when I don't necessary care too much for the person or condone their choices & behaviors. 

I am "balance" challenged most days!

Does anyone else find it difficult to walk that fine line between helping someone & enabling them to continue on their path of poor choices? And, what about the fine line between showing love to someone & appearing to support choices & behaviors? 

God is showing me daily--often moment by moment--that UNCONDITIONAL GODLY LOVE has nothing to do with wrong & right! Completely LOVING someone doesn't have to mean that I have to COMPLETELY agree with their choices. 

The circumstances of my life in the past 3-4 years have been a great awakening for me about God's love. I've never had a problem with loving my own children unconditionally... but, that's a mom thing isn't it? Even when we feel like we could string our kids up by their toenails, we seem to giggle inside & know that we still love them no matter what they do. 

But, how do we show LOVE & ACCEPTANCE to those who just don't seem to deserve it? I truly believe that the only way is through Christ. It doesn't seem to be a humanly possible thing... on my own. It's a miraculous to find that you truly love someone you don't really "like" that much :) 

And, for me to base my love upon right & wrong choices of others is very detrimental to my personal relationship with God. By taking the name of Christ & calling myself a Christian, I believe that I am being called to be a person of LOVE! The more I read God's word & the more that I talk with Him, the more convicted I am about loving without conditions. I can't say that it's easy. But, my spirit tells me that it's the only way my heart can be clear in front of the Lord. 

It's easy to say that LOVE is my guide. But truthfully, sometimes life gets in the way of knowing how to best show love. For me lately, it's a constant act of discipline & obedience to my Lord.

His words: 

• "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good." Romans 12:9
• "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:17 
• "Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works." James 2:26
• "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

I'm so very thankful for the opportunity I have to serve as a volunteer in my home church, Madison Park Church of God, through Worship Arts & Women's Ministries. This note was written as I was working on a weekly Worship Arts note for them.

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

The Rolling Sea

above from the

Warner Sallman Collection

Over the sea, 
Over the sea, 
Jesus Savior, Pilot me. 

Over the sea, 
Over the sea, 
Over the jasper* sea.

Over & over comes the mighty sea,
Like the love of Jesus pouring over me.

Has anyone EVERY heard that chorus?  That was one of the choruses my father loved & sang with me at bedtime when I was little. Dad was born in the late 20's & brought up by a God-fearing (aka GOD LOVING) family.  They were very active in their church in Middletown, Ohio. He went on to being an accredited minister in the Church of God.  Back in that day, the churches were rather small & pastors often wore many hats.  Most of the years growing up, I remember my parents heading up the Youth Group, as well. I remember them leading the youth in that chorus.

The song came to my mind the other night as I was pondering the future.  (I confess, it's really NOT my job to ponder the future - but, to hand it over to God & get some sleep!) However, much of my time lately has been spent on thoughts & actions based upon changes which are happening in my world & in the worlds of those I love. 

When life is changing so rapidly & we are reminded that we are NOT in control (as we often desire to be), we can find peace & stability in God. 

• He is the anchor of our soul - Hebrews 6:19  
• He is the tower we run to in times of need - Isaiah 25:4 & Proverbs 18:10   
• When life crashes us down like the rolling sea, He exchanges it with rolling waves of His love & peace - Isaiah 48:18  
• He is the constant source of rest, renewal & strength. He is our cornerstone - upon whom we lean... upon whom we build our tomorrows - 1 Peter 2:6 
• He is stronger than any storm - Mark 4:39-41 

No matter how life rages around me, I find peace in the arms of my Savior. His grace is sufficient! He meets all my needs!

Seek Him today for whatever you need. He is able to meet your needs!

His Words:

• "This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary."  Hebrews 6:19 
• "But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O LORD, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall." Isaiah 25:4
• The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 
• "As the Scriptures say, 'I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.'" 1 Peter 2:6 
• "Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea." Isaiah 48:18
• "When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Silence! Be still!' Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, 'Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?' The disciples were absolutely terrified. 'Who is this man?' they asked each other. 'Even the wind and waves obey him!'" Mark 4:39-41 

* NOTE:  I found that the word "boundless" was used in one version & the word "stormy" was used in another. My dad sang JASPER though - which happened to be his older brother's name. Jasper means green... so, it works just fine for me :)

Shared with the Ann Voskamp 1000 Gifts Community

Crazy Relevancy! - 31 DAYS OF CRAZY - 22 October 2012

oops... forgot to POST this yesterday... sorry

I've been volunteering at my church for over 20 years now.  I began working with the Worship Arts ministry & added the Women's Ministries to my volunteer list a few years back.  As church-goers know, the format of worship is constantly changing - as is the marketing, advertising, service format, etc.  When I was a little girl (in that North Carolina country church), we sang hymns & a few choruses and the children sat with their parents through the entire service.  

Just yesterday on Twitter, a national organization posed the question: 

"Churches are often painfully irrelevant... Your thoughts?"

One of my local acquaintance's replied to the question: 

"People in a church are relevant. The culture within a church can be irrelevant if we can't relate to it. (i.e. choral music)". 

Being that I attend the same church as that person & I sing in the choir (aka choral music), my attention was caught immediately!  And my mind was filled with questions:

• What makes what we do at church relevant?  
• What is and isn't worshipful in God's eyes? 
• Is it dependent upon styles of music? 
• Have all these things changed for God as our cultures have changed over the centuries? 

The actual word worship means ascribe worth to God -- to show Him through our thoughts & actions that we value Him above everything else. 

• Is that the same for everyone? 
• Is there a right or wrong way to worship Him? 
• Does some one's worship offend God? Does the song sung by a talented vocalist reach the ears & the heart of God better or quicker than that of an aged saint with a wavering voice? 
• Does God really like those old, slow songs full of "ancient" history or would He prefer a joyous, energy-filled current song? 
• Is He tired of the choir now? 
• Does He like the beating of drums & the sound of guitars? 
• And, what in the world does He think of those "sacred dancers"? 

Ballet Magnificat worship with Women of Faith
AND, you have to admit, most church "sacred dancers"
aren't with a national ballet group.

So many questions related to relevancy in what we do!

What makes worship relevant?  As I process numerous thoughts about WORSHIP, I find it hard not to believe that God is blessed by ALL types of worship, when offered up to Him in true sincerity, love & adoration. 

His Words: 

(got this idea from Chase Tibbs' blog; using it because i love the words of God)

• Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:10 NLT
• "But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23&24 NLT
• "And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17 NLT

Go check out over 1200 topics
in the 31 days {of change} with...

Wanna DO SOMETHING?

We are DOING SOMETHING in my town...

This email was sent by Madison Park Church of God.
Email not displaying correctly? Click here.

Do YOU wish you could make a positive difference in our community & in our world. In the midst of our busy lives , we still long to do something meaningful.  Well here's a great chance! Beginning this coming Sunday, September 30, we can work together - DO Something Anderson!  During the week, hundreds of volunteers from 7 churches & the community at large are coming together to tackle work projects that the city has been unable to address, due to economic down turn and a shortage of government funding. All of the projects and work sites have been identified by the City of Anderson. Participating Churches:  Celebration Church East Side Church of God Florida Station Church of God Madison Park Church of God Main Street Church of God Park Place Church of God South Meridian Church of God Community Sponsors Bendle Lawn Equipment Herald Bulletin Phillippe Water Ricker's Open to the entire community!! Sign up with a friend or your family!! DO Something Anderson is an initiative designed to make a positive difference in our community.  Volunteers from all over the area will be coming together  & working side by side! Visit the DoSomethingAnderson website... download the project list and sign-up form.  You may sign-up online too! There are a variety of "hands-on" tasks that can be done.  We are also in need of hospitality team members.  There's something for EVERYONE. Won't you join us!!  Through a partnership with city leaders, the 2012 DO Something Anderson Blitz week has been designated as September 30 - October 6. Join us & make a difference! Have a great week! The Communications Gal - cyndee RE: Women's Ministries at Madison Park The best sources for all the information about what the women (young & not-so-young) of MPC are up to can be found via The Tuesday Scoop, our Facebook page & our Twitter feed. For the complete picture of what's happening at Madison Park Church, we encourage you to check the main website daily AND subscribe to the Threads Email Updates. MADISON PARK CHURCH WOMEN'S MINISTRIES MISSION STATEMENT: Loving God... Loving Women... Loving Well Connect with each other & with us in the following ways: FACEBOOK  - "Like" us & Share our page at http://on.fb.me/MPCWomen & http://on.fb.me/MPCZumba  TWITTER  - 'Follow" us & Share our posts at @MadisonPkWomen & @SisterFitness  For Women's Ministries Updates to email addresses, your friends can SUBSCRIBE at http://www.madisonparkchurch.org/ministries/womensmin Find out what's happening in & thru Madison Park 24/7 at www.madisonparkchurch.org

Madison Park Church of God Anderson, Indiana www.MadisonParkChurch.org

Overwhelmed...

Today... I am... a tad OVERWHELMED...

Tonight & tomorrow is Women of Faith in downtown Indy. God's been whispering in my ear that THIS YEAR is going to be really special for Him. As a friend & I were saying yesterday, we never really KNOW what He has in store for us (and through us) when we are faithful to do what we are led to do or to be where we are led to be.

And me... I have about a MILLION things going on in my life lately. Some of my LOVED & CHERISHED friends are going through stressful & hectic times right now... really STRESSFUL & HECTIC times... even horrendous for a few of them. Some have had plans to go to Women of Faith & are having road blocks even today! I am dealing with so many things, I can't even begin the list. I KNOW THAT GOD IS IN ALL OF IT... I also believe that satan is trying to interfere.

I sent the above note to the women who serve with me on our Women's Ministries Leadership Team at Madison Park along with the following request:

May I please ask your prayers for all of those attending WoF this weekend. God is ready & willing to do a GOOD WORK through this weekend. Please pray that our eyes will be focused on Him instead of the stresses of this world. Please pray that we will reach out & be inclusive to those around us who NEED TO SEE JESUS!

I closed that note with:

My deepest gratitude!! I am so blessed to have so many Godly sisters who "have my back".

 The moment I hit SEND, my eyes were filled with tears.  Yes, I am overwhelmed... I'm overwhelmed by the love of God & my gratitude for the Godly sisters who walk life with me! Like my mama used to say, "There's strength & safety in numbers!"

"For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them." Matthew 18: 20

(shared this post with the Ann Voskamp One Thousand Gift community)

gratitude... 
the thanksgiving precedes the miracle...

Coincidence? I Think Not...

This morning I woke up & followed my custom of reading my first devotional via the YouVersion.com app on my phone. It read...  

Our care for others is a measure of our greatness. How much concern do you show to others? This is a vital question that can accurately measure your greatness in God's eyes. How have you expressed your care for others lately, especially the helpless, the needy, the poor-those who can't return your love and concern? Your honest answer to that question will give you a good idea of your real greatness. 

Jesus said,  “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”  Luke 9:48 NLT 

My heart was touched and, I was immediately impressed to copy & share the devotional on the Women's Ministries Facebook page for our church.  So I posted the short devotional & scripture on the page without refreshing the page to see what had been recently added by others.

Imagine my surprise when the page refreshed & I saw what had been posted just minutes before by Dove Harbor, a safe haven for women & children in crisis...

Extremely thankful to be sharing our Saturday morning with The Encourager's Group, from Madison Park Church of God! THANK YOU so much for helping us transform 2 rooms into "homes" for 2 families! What a blessing this morning has been, as well as a privilege to serve with such a wonderful group of volunteers!

This is just one of the MANY wonderful Madison Park groups who support the Dove Harbor ministry...what a great group of women and a few good men!! THANK YOU!

Coincidence?  I think not! I believe that at the moment the Lord was impressing me to post that devotional, that He was impressing Dove Harbor to write their post on our page.  God's timing is always PERFECT!

What a blessing to have been a part of such a great "coincidence" orchestrated by God!

A Safe Harbor

I believe that Christians need some sort of accountability structure in their lives.  

I have an accountability partner with whom I've met regularly for almost 17 years now - WOW!!  Over the years, some seasons we've met weekly... other seasons we've touch base 2-3 times a month.   She's not afraid to ask me the hard questions.  I'm not afraid to ask her the hard questions.  I feel completely free to tell her my deepest darkest secrets too :D I know she is praying for me - even when we don't speak regularly.  I am praying for her daily too!

I have a small group through the Worship Arts Ministry at my local church.  During the school months, we meet once a month (plus a few extra social meetings).  In the summers, we meet a few times socially. They aren't afraid to ask me the hard questions. And, I'm not afraid to ask them the hard questions.  We lovingly encourage each other to grow in grace... in Him!

It would be so easy for me to settle into my day to day life & not seek to grow or become "a better me" without the love & help of accountability friends.

It's important to find a SAFE place to open up.  And, personally, I believe that if you ask God to provide a safe harbor to open up to others... He will provide it. We need each other.  Ask Him to help you find a place of accountability, if you don't already have one.

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again. James 5:16-18 The Message