Thankful Thursday - Thanking God for you

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:3-6

This week my heart has been filled with excitement in anticipation of going on vacation with my family and some close friends. But, it has also been a little heavy.

This time last year I was preparing for She Speaks, a conference for Women's Ministry Leaders, Writers & Speakers given by Proverbs 31 Ministries. My calling to Women's Ministry was new & I thought "what a perfect way to find out about this new calling." I went in not knowing what to expect but excited & anxious to see what God was going to show me.

I left overflowing with emotion, knowledge & gratitude.

Emotion - because God met me exactly where I needed him during my time in the prayer room. He lavished His Love on me as I was reminded he was The Healer.

Knowledge - because the information shared by Shari Braendel, Wendy Pope, Melanie Chitwood, Lysa Terkeurst & Renee Swope has been a tremendous help for me this past year.

Gratitude - because God put me in contact with some amazing women who touched my life that weekend and over the last year.

 I met Julie Sanders through an introduction by Melanie Chitwood. Julie writes at Come Have A Peace. You had a chance to meet her here a few months ago when she wrote a guest post for me while I was recovering from surgery. Julie has become a trusted mentor and dear friend.

Melissa Taylor and I bonded as we talked about the illness of her mother, my in-laws and my husband. We also found a kindred link in the love of our USC-Gamecocks.

At lunch I met Carey & Heatherly. These two ladies filled me in on the basics of blogging over salad :). Carey has been a source of wise council on raising children on her blog Lets Get Real. And Heatherly, my dear friend at A Pinkdaisy Life has shown that sometimes God takes us through a hard, slow time only to bring us through as a much stronger person on the other side.

My heart is heavy this week knowing I won't be experiencing the incredible weekend from last year but, I am very thankful for the friends I met. I am honored to pray for all of the P31 ladies as they minister to 600 women this weekend at She Speaks. I am especially thankful I can pray for Wendy, Heatherly and Carey.

#94- #103

• worshiping my Savior in song
• sun kissed cheeks of my kids
• being part of something BIG
• nature walks with Grandma
• days with a hint of fall in an unbearably hot summer
• help from a sweet neighbor
• God ordained meeting of sweet friends in ministry
• time spent with friends at the pool
• the blessings & lessons that will come after the hard times
• friends I can go to for prayer

Counting 1000 gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience

In His Calm,

Mary

 

Thankful Thursday - I Will Rise

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble & fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:29-31

Have you ever felt beaten down and weary from trying to change only to mess up. Again? This week I found myself in that place. I have worked hard to break the cycle I grew up in but this week I fell back into the behavior that was habit. It didn't take long for me to begin beating myself up. In my mind I thought, "I'm not good enough to ever change." I doubted I had the strength to be the person I want to be. 

Then I realized the enemy was putting those thoughts into my head. He was making me doubt myself. More importantly he was making me doubt God. As I drove down the road crying I asked God to forgive me for ever doubting His Love for me. I asked Him to give me the strength & help I needed to be the person He wants me to be.

As I was praying the song I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin came on the radio. It was exactly what I needed!

Thank you Lord for your Amazing Grace & Strength. Thank you for giving me power when I am weak.

#83 - #93

• watching Little House on the Prairie with G
• bedtime stories & songs before bed
• watching as God reveals His Plans
• fear of stepping out in faith
• trusting God will do a Mighty work
• date night
• slip n slide fun
• singing Jesus Loves Me with the 2 year olds during church nursery
• God's Amazing Grace
• encouragement from a friend
• God calls us by name and raises us from our weakness

Counting 1000 gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience

In His Calm,

Mary