"As daughters of God, we have a unique calling to live our lives as female disciples in a way that men do not have: We are given the gift of biblical femininity, not to glorify ourselves, but to glorify Jesus.

The amazing truth is that when we pursue Jesus by dying to ourselves, he shows us how much he pursues us. He loves his girls. We are life-givers, we are helpers, we are communicators – he designed us to be all these things. We are beautiful when we lay aside our designs for our life and cling to his.

Strive for maturity as female disciples of Christ. Hate your sin and repent where needed. Boldly live as redeemed women, making more disciples out of women who are attracted to Jesus’ work in each of us."

From the Mars Hill blog. For the full article visit: http://blog.marshillchurch.org/
 
This month, they'll be focusing on what it means to be a godly woman; last month they focused on biblical masculinity. Very eye opening.

Below is an article written by my friend and co-worker, Manny Sanchez, regarding what God is challenging him in. I completely relate and without a doubt feel God asking me to grow in this area too!!! I love how God works through people, His Word, and in our own hearts to teach us things and encourage us to become more like Himself. My hope in posting this is that you'll also be encouraged.

Much love, friends,
Carolyn

Prayer and Spiritual Leadership
By Emmanuel Sanchez (Original article posted here.)
Something God has been convicting me a lot about is prayer. He has shown me the deep inadequacy both in my personal life and especially in my leadership. I tried my petty excuses, but “oddly” enough He wouldn’t accept. He insists on confronting me time and time again in all sorts of creative ways. I have lost count now at how many articles, conversations, verses, sermons, lately, have in some way or another been gentle reminders of my need to pray. In fact, even my daughter last night, upon learning that I will be out of town for the next few days on a missions trip said to me, “Daddy, I will pray for you every day!” Talk about humbling! God has an amazing sense of humor! I think I got the message now though.

In short, God’s message to me is summed up in this quote by one of my favorite authors, Charles Spurgeon:

“Of course the leader is above all others distinguished as a man of prayer. He prays as an ordinary Christian, else he were a hypocrite. He prays more than ordinary Christians else he were disqualified for the office which he has undertaken.”

And listen to what this other preacher said:

“It would be wholly monstrous for a man to be highest in office and lowest in soul; first in station and last in life.”

Harsh? Now you understand how I felt..thanks for the empathy. : )

What a great challenge though!

What I realize now, (from what my daughter taught me) is that prayer is not optional for us spiritual leaders; it’s our job description. Why? Because we aren’t merely leading a man-made work. We are called to lead in God’s work and the nature of this work is supernatural. We can’t accomplish it on some Microsoft project-management software. It can only be done in our prayer closet, on our knees.

If we truly desire to be used as catalysts for life-change in the lives of people, we need to be first and foremost be men and women of prayer. How amazing would it be that those whom God has entrusted to us, have the advantage of our supplication!

Father, help us become men and women of prayer.

April 27, 2010

Okay, okay---so, it's time for me to confess. Urrrrghhhh. How do I say it? Well, I guess the easiest way is to just put it simply, bluntly. Here's goes... I have been feeling lonely. I have been feeling very SINGLE! 

There. It's out in the open (that feels rather vulnerable). I hope I'm doing the right thing by opening up about it! Please, allow me to expand, because my hunch is, I'm not the only one feeling this way.

Let's see, after a few years of contentment and peace in my singleness, over the last month or so, it's finally crept up on me. At first, I couldn't quite put my finger on it: I was experiencing emotions and feelings that just didn't seem to add up. I couldn't explain them. They were very conflicting. It was all very foreign to me.

Confusion.
A desire to be by myself (my introvertedness coming through).
Yet when I was alone, I felt the desire to be around people.
But then when I was around people, I still felt this strange longing and emptiness.
My normal, refreshing solitude time seemed painfully alone, unsettling.
Discouragement.
Sadness.
Random sobs would break through without any explanation.

After a few days of this, I explained my conflicting feelings to a friend who simply listened well and prayed for me. (She had no answers or solutions. Prayer was enough). And by God's grace, through her prayer it became very clear what was going on (Yay, God!).

I felt a deep longing for a husband and the lack of one in my life. Rather than feeling hopeful or trusting God's plan in this area, I began feeling discouraged and rather depressed (not fun at all!). And on top of that, I felt embarrassed that I was feeling this way. I don't know if you ever feel this way and I don't know what you do about it if you do, but here's what I've been doing...

Asking for prayer, being honest with friends about it, sitting with God--talking with Him, crying with Him. I'm not pushing it away. I'm not trying to pretend I'm stronger than I am. And guess what!!!

God in His faithfulness has really blessed me! I've found that I'm not the only one feeling this way (I shouldn't have been surprised). I've found great comfort in my friends who know what's going on. I've found encouragement. Trust, hope and joy have been restored. Yay!

Jesus loves me. My friends love me. I have family that love me. Every day is a gift from the Lord full of His promises and opportunities and I want to make the most of them!!! I don't want to be consumed by what I don't have, but rather with what I do have right in front me! And if/when God would like to bless me with a godly man to love and serve together with, I'll take him. Until then, I will trust Him. He knows what's best and I certainly don't want any less than HIS best.

Single or married, I desire to seek God wholeheartedly and love others as best I can. I'm so thankful for HIS Spirit and HIS grace, because I know that I cannot do it on my own strength! Boy, do I need Him.

So, friends, that about sums it up for now. I hope I've made sense (hehe). I hope that opening up about this struggle is an encouragement to at least one person. You're not alone.

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Ephesians 3:16-19

March 19, 2010

"O Lord, you have examined my heart
      and know everything about me.
 You know when I sit down or stand up.
      You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
 You see me when I travel
      and when I rest at home.
      You know everything I do.
 You know what I am going to say
      even before I say it, Lord.
 You go before me and follow me.
      You place your hand of blessing on my head.
 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
      too great for me to understand!

 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
      and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
      Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it."
  Psalm 139:1-6, 13-14

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." 1 John 4:9-12

• Safely Home, Randy Alcorn
• Sweet Caroline, by Rachel Hauck
• Love Starts with Elle, by Rachel Hauck - $2 (advertised on Amazon for $6)
• Mending Places, Denise Hunter
• What a Girl Wants, Kristin Billerbeck

• Thorn in My Heart, Liz Curtis Higgs
• Fair is the Rose, Liz Curtis Higgs
• Whence Came a Prince, Liz Curtis Higgs - $2 (a bit worn)

• The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares (hardcover)
• Someone to Love, Jude Deveraux
• A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning, by Lemony Snicket (hardcover)

• jewelry boxes of different styles (michaels)
• acrylic paint
• paint brushes
• jewels and decorative gems

• framed wooden mirror (michaels)
• acrylic paints
• paint brushes
• decorative buttons
• decorative gems that are self adhesive 

• broken tile pieces of varying types of materials
• i am not sure what we will put the tiles on, this is my most recent idea and i am open to using what is donated in this area, nothing is concrete

• glue dots
• construction paper
• art supply bin
• paint brushes
• some sort of sealant for sealing wood craft projects 
• fabri-tac permanent adhesive by beacon adhesives
• a blow dryer (used for quick drying projects)
• ink and stamp pads
• And any other crafty items are gladly welcomed

• jewelry boxes of different styles (michaels)
• acrylic paint
• paint brushes
• jewels and decorative gems

• framed wooden mirror (michaels)
• acrylic paints
• paint brushes
• decorative buttons
• decorative gems that are self adhesive 

• broken tile pieces of varying types of materials
• i am not sure what we will put the tiles on, this is my most recent idea and i am open to using what is donated in this area, nothing is concrete

• glue dots
• scissors
• construction paper
• art supply bin
• markers
• paint brushes
• some sort of sealant for sealing wood craft projects 
• fabri-tac permanent adhesive by beacon adhesives
• a blow dryer (used for quick drying projects)
• ink and stamp pads
• And any other crafty items are gladly welcomed

• The Proverbs are to teach us wisdom and discipline.
• The purpose of wisdom and discipline is to teach us how to live a certain way - "rightly, justly, fairly."
• Right living results in all sorts of blessings.
• The opposite of wisdom is foolishness, which leads to a life of destruction and trouble.

January 7, 2010


Tonight was another Epic night and as I looked across the room, it was SO great to see so many familiar faces. Over the last year or so, many of the Epic peeps have become very good friends. And I am just very thankful!! :) 


So, I wanted to give a few shout-outs:

• Manny - We missed youuuuuuuu! But totally loved the video!
• Marghee - I LOVE your very animated stories and creativity! Working with you is so fun!
• Toby - Dude, you're a servant with such a tender heart! Yeah!
• Erik - Faithful, great communicator, perceptive - awesome!
• Jen - When are we gonna see Blindside---sheesh! And pick out your Bridesmaid dress? Can't wait! Love ya!
• Cody - thanks for helping clean up tonight (and take the left-overs--I know it's not being wasted)!
• Josh - thanks for your thumb's up tonight - that encouraged me. :)
• Sara - "roooooomieeeee!" you have such a beautiful smile!