Psalm 18

Are you walking in defeat, everywhere you turn is more news you would rather not hear? Do you not want to get up in the morning for fear of what today might bring? I've got good news - but you have to hear it, I mean really hear it. Set down and start to read Psalm 18.

Psalm 18
1 I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
3 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
16 He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
18 They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me.
19 He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.
28 You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
29 In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.
30 God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection
32 God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.

David took time out in his battle to recognize that the Lord was his strength. Will you make a choice today to recognize that the Lord is your strength? Verse 30 says ... All the Lords's promises prove true. He is a shield for ALL who look to him for protection. Verse 32 says God arms me with strength. Just do as David did in verse 6, But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. Cry out to God and recognize that your strength comes from the Lord and then, maybe most importantly of all realize that victory over your enemies is yours!!!

Start walking in that victory. Wake up in the morning knowing you are going to battle - put on your armor and choose to walk in victory. The battle's not mine but God's.

~Debbie~

Choosing To Sing

ALL of my life in EVERY season YOU are STILL GOD:
I HAVE a REASON to SING, I HAVE a REASON to WORSHIP

Father God, we don’t always understand the workings of your hand but regardless we choose to sing…we choose to worship. You are always and will always be God every season, every mountain and every valley of our lives.

~Terica

Love 'Em!

This series that we are in called "the Dip" brought some memories back from when I was a high school tennis player....

One of my tennis coaches had a peculiar way of getting me to deal with lobs well. A lob in tennis is when your opponent hits the ball high in the air when you are up at the net trying to hit the ball over your head. In order to hit these lobs back you have back up and position yourself to slam it back....the payback for not hitting the lob deep enough. The thing is, it is easy to psych yourself out because you know you're supposed to be able to slam it back but it is soooo easy to choke on these shots. Well my tennis coach made me do the most embarrassing thing I have ever had to do on a tennis court...He made me scream "Love 'Em!" while the ball was in the air before I hit it back 'declaring' that I loved to hit that shot. While at first this was really embarassing since he not only made me yell this during private lessons and group lessons, but also during actual matches, later on shouting "Love 'em!" became automatic and part of my tennis routine. It changed how I thought about that shot, no longer was it an opportunity to choke, but rather a chance to shine.

Why did this come back to me during this series? Brandon talked yesterday about what to do while you are in the Dip. He told us that we are to Remember what God has done for us in the past, to Accept our current circumstances, and to Trust that God has things in control. Then he went on to explain the whole reason that we go through these 'dip cycles': so that we may go on toward maturity in Christ. In fact we are to rejoice in our trials and sufferings because we know that we are moving on to a closer relationship with God.

My tennis coach changed my way of thinking about a difficult circumstance: he had me speak out that I was rejoicing even before it was true. That even though my heart may not yet believe and my eyes may not see how any of this is going to be a good thing later, my will can be set to rejoice until the rest of my emotions and circumstances catch up. We need to make it our default setting that we rejoice in our trials and circumstances so much so that it is an automatic part of daily routine. But my tennis coach knew the key to something becoming automatic: we can never let one opportunity to rejoice slip by no matter how big or small, no matter how insignificant, or how embarrassing. We have to rejoice in the paper cut, and the broken leg, the lost $5 bill, and the loss of our household income. If we never let one struggle or disappointment pass us by without praising God for who he is, then when we really need for our rejoicing to be almost automatic, it will be.

Remember in your trials, that they are not simply an opportunity for God to fail you, but an chance for God's goodness and glory to shine through you when He moves you out of your Dip!

~Laura

Standing in Battle

I thought this was fitting for today from His Pricess Warrior by Sheri Rose Shephard:

You are not called to follow others, my beloved warrior. I have appointed you to lead them to me.

Life will become a great adventure if you will step out to the front line and fight for those who are too weak to fight for themselves. Don't look back on what you have lost; look forward to the great victories that are in front of you. You don't have to hide behind your fears and insecurities any longer. I can and will turn your pain into passion to change the world around you. As you find your way to the front line, hide this truth in your heart: "This fight is not just for you, it is for all those you dearly love".

Love,
Your King who fights for you

Deuteronomy 20:3 NLT He will say to them, "Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them."

Zechariah 10:5 NIV Together they will be like mighty warriors in battle trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets. They will fight because the Lord is with them, and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.

I love how the author says that God "can and will turn your pain into passion to change the world around you." Sometimes I think we get caught up in thinking God is not asking us to do anything because our life revolves around our family, we work at home or in an "un"adventurous job but this clearly says you are called to change the world around you whatever that might be. "This fight is not just for you: it is for all those you dearly love." That puts a whole new light on everything we face.

Standing in battle,
~Debbie~

Bold As Love

Awareness

As a mom, I now have a new level of respect for the human ears. It is incredible how after only hearing your brand new baby cry for a few days your body can be so in tune to that particular frequency. No one else may be able to hear that your child is crying down the hall and 5 rooms away, but you can! I also remember back in high school, or college really how it was amazing how if anyone within a 1 mile radius mentioned the name of the boy that I was interested in at the time I was suddenly Superman and could hear every word! On the not so fun side, it is also amazing how when I am frustrated by something or someone, I supernaturally am able to catch any hint of someone else's frustration with the same thing, so that I can fuel my fire.

This ability to tune into certain things can often be a blessing, but I find it to be very revealing: I am tuned in to the things that are important to me, those things that are the closest to my heart. Sadly the Lord revealed this to me this morning, as I was praying for a deeper awareness of Him. He showed me that the fact that I am not as aware of Him, and his whisperings to me, shows that He is not as important to me as I wish He were. If He truly ranked at the top of my list, I would be constantly straining to hear His voice, just like I strain to hear whether or not my son has fallen off the slide in the back yard.

Lord, help me to tune my ear into You. I want You to be the closest thing to my heart, and the most important person in my life! Help me to be constantly aware of your voice, your movement, and your heart. I love you, with all of my broken peices that you are constantly mending inside me. I praise you for the joy that you are constantly returning to me as I lean my ear closer and closer to you. You are so good!

~Laura

Good News!!

The “GLOW” retreat was wonderful. Time spent renewing our passion for spending time with our heavenly Father. Reinforcing truths from God’s Word for us to arm ourselves as we face our daily battles and to not back down or live a life of defeat.

Friend, if you have landed here today wondering what in the world God wants to do with your life, I want you to know one thing. Not a single thing in your life will be wasted. God will use your past and your present to prepare you for your future. He has a beautiful plan ... a call on your life. He is waiting to reveal it to you.

Jeremiah 1:5 says, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as My prophet to the nation" (NLT).

Psalm 139:16 says, "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed" (NLT).

God wants to remind you of a precious Truth. Hear it and never forget it...before time began, before God spoke the world into being...He had you in His heart. God chose you to be His child. God has a perfect plan for your life. No one else has your plan, your family, your gifts, your talents, your heart, your education, your past, and your present ... NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE.

He chose you. He wants to use you to do great things for His Kingdom ... things that only you can do. He is preparing you...yes, even now.

But we have to be willing to be used by God. To be used by God, you must TRUST Him with your past; BELIEVE Him for your future; BELIEVE He has a plan for you; SURRENDER your life to His Plan, and BELIEVE He will equip you to do what He has called you to do.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Don’t let the work God wants you to do go undone. Begin TODAY!!!

~Debbie~

Ask, Seek, Knock...He will be found.

I am oh so thankful for all the love, thought, prayer, fasting (the list is endless)…that took place for Glow. We believed and anticipated a move from our God and girls…did He ever. I walked around in total awe and even now when I think of all God so beautifully orchestrated I’m overwhelmed. I truly believe the intent of His heart was to meet with each of us personally and that was achieved. By His hand, what at one time held us captive has been replaced by the truth that we are captivating. How sweet is that? Girls we have reclaimed our Glow, we now radiate and walk in the love and freedom He so graciously offers. I encourage us all to continue seeking after Him with all that we have. That was our focus over the events of the retreat but it doesn’t have to end there. Actually, it was just the beginning.

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Enough said.

From the speakers to the behind-the-scenes workers to all those in attendance…my heart overflows. My Lord, my God and my Redeemer…I am so in love.

~ Terica

Psalm 139

This past weekend was GLOW. It was amazing, spectacular, awesome, fantastic and any other adjective you can think of. This week I am going to take a blogging break to download some of the life-changing words and material I received at GLOW. But I don't want to leave you without something to meditate on. Enjoy and have a terrific Tuesday!

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. ~ Psalm 139

Love you all dearly!
~Kazia~

To You Be All the Glory

I can't even begin to describe GLOW this past weekend. My heart is full of confidence that God moved. You can see it when you look into the eyes of any lady in attendance. You can hear it when you listen to the words that come out of their mouths, not even about what happened, just the way we speak has been changed. I know for me, that it is not cliche to say that I got my glow back, because I truly did. I radiate with the faith that my God can topple the fortresses inside of me and I know that He can do the same for anyone I come in contact with.

All I even know to say is that I am so honored to have been alongside these 21 ladies getting to receive what God was ready and willing to give us: Freedom!

I love you girls!
~Laura

My Hope Is In You

Today I am leaving for our B’Loved “GLOW” Retreat. I am so excited. I can’t wait to see all God has in store for me as I block out everyday life and focus upon my maker. The God of the universe. The great I AM. This morning the prayer on my heart is Psalm 25.

1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; 2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. 4 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. . . . .

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. 18 Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. 19 See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! 20 Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.

~Debbie~

The Eve of Glow

Tomorrow begins our long awaited and highly anticipated retreat…Glow. Our sole focus over the next couple of days will be to spend some one-on-one face time with the Father. We plan on exfoliating our souls and reclaiming our shine…thus, beaming with a Glow that is uncontainable and radiates for all to see.

Will you take a few moments and pray for all twenty-two of the precious women who have committed themselves to these events? Believe with me that life altering truths will be revealed and take root creating breakthroughs that will forever impact this world for Christ. Stand with me in agreement that every beautiful heart in attendance will once again fall madly, deeply, head-over-heels in love with their first Love.

~ Terica

Expect and Receive

This week is filled with great expectation and anticipation. Glow 2010 is upon us and there is a tremendous buzz in the air. I can't help but get excited about the life change that I know we will see take place in everyone who comes expecting to see life change. I want to encourage each and every one of you, whether you are attending or not, to speak the words below over these precious ladies as they embark on something truly unbelievable. Hold on to your hats ladies, we are in for something spectacular!

Phillippians 1:3~11

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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."

"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."

~Kazia~

Ready for Anything

As I was praying about what to write today I felt like God spoke this title into existence for me to figure out what the body of text was supposed to say about this topic. We'll see how it goes...

I started thinking about the word 'ready.' Could anything that I am possibly qualify to be described as that particular adjective? What could this phrase mean to God? I decided to do some research...

read·y
1. Prepared or available for service, action, or progress: (I am ready to work. The soup will be ready in a minute.)
2. Mentally disposed; willing: (He was ready to believe her.)
3. Likely or about to do something: (She is ready to retire.)
4. Prompt in apprehending or reacting: (a ready intelligence; a ready response.)
5. Available

Something in my spirit did a back-flip as I read this definition. So many things on this list that completely describe the ONLY thing that He is wanting from me. He wants me to be available to Him. Mentally disposed to hear Him speak. Willing for his service.

The great thing about being Ready for Anything God has for me is that it doesn't require anything from me except that I tilt my vision of my life through his eyes first.

My favorite definition on the list, that I know that God is speaking to me about, is #3. LIKELY OR ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING. I am likely to move on His behalf. I am about to do something for Him. I am about to make His name famous. I am about to be a part of taking this world on for the cause of Christ.

I am ready to be ready.

For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation. - 2 Corinthians 6:2

~Laura

Father, please forgive me of my disbelief. Thank you so much that you are so powerful and all-knowing that you could find a way to make my imperfections somehow be used for your glory. I ask that you create in us a bold heart that is truly ready for anything you have for us. Teach us to tilt our vision so that our entire worlds are seen through your perfect eyes rather than our imperfect fleshly desires. I thank you that all you desire of me is that I desire you. Father, I am ready. Help me to stay ready. I love you!