I remember as a little girl spending many hours with my grandmother at her restaurant. She ran a restaurant for many years and was a savy business woman. She had many people who were regulars. They loved her food, her hospitality and her straightforward answer to any question.
I loved it when my grandmother would give me duties at the restaurant. When I was six I would stand on a box and run the cash register. If she gave me a duty it meant that she either trusted me or thought she could teach me. Each was a honor.
Last night I stood in amazement of what God can do if we trust Him and if He finds us teachable.
Last night...I felt like I partnered with God. Last night...He allowed me to be His voice...His hands and His feet.
Hope Community Church in Hudson, Ohio does an outreach event every year called Judgement House. It is a walk-thru drama. At the end of the drama goers sit down with counselors and talk about the drama. The gospel is clearly presented and an opportunity to give your life to the Lord is given.
It was fun partnering with my best friend Sandie in this endeavor. We had the honor and privledge to lead four people to the Lord. What a blessing. Once they left...we even did a victory dance. Not a pretty sight for everyone in the room...but we didn't care. We danced!!!!
Tonight is another night. Tonight we will be in place when they come through the doors. Tonight we partner again with God...tonight...I hope we dance.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
LOVE IT WHEN GOD CALLS MY NAME
About a month ago I had a chance to spend time with two wonderful ladies at a retreat. Angie and Jen are friends and amazing worship leaders. They were sharing with me how their lives had been "simplified" and how freeing that had become.
God began to remind me that this is what is needed in all areas of our lives. That really all that we need is Him...Simply Him. I then had an idea for a women's event.
Not a retreat....but an experience. A night away from everyday responsibilities. A weekend to experience Jesus in an intimate way.
The best way for me to describe this is "women's retreat unplugged."
Why not make this all about Him. No committees, no icebreakers, no gift bags, no giveaways...just Jesus.
No breakout sessions, no pre-made journals, no plannned activities...just Him.
I love all of the stuff mentioned above...don't get me wrong. I am just craving an organic, deep time with just other women, and Jesus.
IT"S HAPPENING!!!!
January 8th and 9th Hope Community Church's Women's Ministry presents:
SIMPLY JESUS!!!!
Carlisle Inn, Sugarcreek, Ohio
JOIN US!!!!
All you need is you, toothbrush and your bible.
Can't wait!!
God began to remind me that this is what is needed in all areas of our lives. That really all that we need is Him...Simply Him. I then had an idea for a women's event.
Not a retreat....but an experience. A night away from everyday responsibilities. A weekend to experience Jesus in an intimate way.
The best way for me to describe this is "women's retreat unplugged."
Why not make this all about Him. No committees, no icebreakers, no gift bags, no giveaways...just Jesus.
No breakout sessions, no pre-made journals, no plannned activities...just Him.
I love all of the stuff mentioned above...don't get me wrong. I am just craving an organic, deep time with just other women, and Jesus.
IT"S HAPPENING!!!!
January 8th and 9th Hope Community Church's Women's Ministry presents:
SIMPLY JESUS!!!!
Carlisle Inn, Sugarcreek, Ohio
JOIN US!!!!
All you need is you, toothbrush and your bible.
Can't wait!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
YEAR 45
It seems natural that on one's birthday that you look back on the year.
That lasted about one minute with me and then I began to look ahead.
What would I like to accomplish in my 45th year of life.
There is the obvious..lose weight...exercise more...read my Bible more, etc...but I wanted to get specific. So here are 45 things that I want to do in year 45. You may become bored after reading the first three. That's okay...
1. bake something from scratch
2. grow a new type of flower
3. pay for someone's order at McDonalds
4. give our turtles away to a science class
5. speak somewhere that requires me to fly
6. read Crazy Love
7. tell a restaurant employee how much I appreciated their service
8. buy a really great pair of high heels at an amazing cheap price
9. run a mile
10. teach my dog a trick
11. fix a really large homemade dinner on a sunday afternoon
12. make a fancy dessert that I can't pronounce
13. watch Casablanca
14. lead someone to Christ
15. wash wally's car
16. leave a gospel tract with a waiter
17. heal a relationship that is strained in my life at the moment
18. try pilates
19. try to understand football
20. write to a missionary
21. flat iron my hair
22. reach out to a neighbor
23. download a song to my Ipod by myself
24. build a snowman
25. hike without complaining
26. make a video blog
27. speak without being paid
28. buy and eat a school lunch
29. enourage my pastors
30. read Dreamgiver again
31. read a John Pyper sermon
32. give bottled water to our sanitation workers
33. experiment with eyeliner
34. play games on a saturday night with my family
35. write a personal Psalm
36. fast for a day
37. try a new perfume
38. use a large amount of coupons on a grocery shopping trip
39. be silent for one day
40. thank the mail carrier
41. watch Gone With The Wind
42. babysit someone's child for free
43. make a homemade card
44. have ice cream for dinner
45. don't pressure myself in doing any of the above...but always add to the list.
That lasted about one minute with me and then I began to look ahead.
What would I like to accomplish in my 45th year of life.
There is the obvious..lose weight...exercise more...read my Bible more, etc...but I wanted to get specific. So here are 45 things that I want to do in year 45. You may become bored after reading the first three. That's okay...
1. bake something from scratch
2. grow a new type of flower
3. pay for someone's order at McDonalds
4. give our turtles away to a science class
5. speak somewhere that requires me to fly
6. read Crazy Love
7. tell a restaurant employee how much I appreciated their service
8. buy a really great pair of high heels at an amazing cheap price
9. run a mile
10. teach my dog a trick
11. fix a really large homemade dinner on a sunday afternoon
12. make a fancy dessert that I can't pronounce
13. watch Casablanca
14. lead someone to Christ
15. wash wally's car
16. leave a gospel tract with a waiter
17. heal a relationship that is strained in my life at the moment
18. try pilates
19. try to understand football
20. write to a missionary
21. flat iron my hair
22. reach out to a neighbor
23. download a song to my Ipod by myself
24. build a snowman
25. hike without complaining
26. make a video blog
27. speak without being paid
28. buy and eat a school lunch
29. enourage my pastors
30. read Dreamgiver again
31. read a John Pyper sermon
32. give bottled water to our sanitation workers
33. experiment with eyeliner
34. play games on a saturday night with my family
35. write a personal Psalm
36. fast for a day
37. try a new perfume
38. use a large amount of coupons on a grocery shopping trip
39. be silent for one day
40. thank the mail carrier
41. watch Gone With The Wind
42. babysit someone's child for free
43. make a homemade card
44. have ice cream for dinner
45. don't pressure myself in doing any of the above...but always add to the list.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
SO DIFFERENT...BUT SO ALIKE
Meet Ashley and Ally
One loves to run...one likes to flip
One loves math...one enjoys science
One loves having her hair, nails and makeup done...one hates it
One has a heart for missions, inner city ...one is still discovering her passion
One lives in Indiana...one lives upstairs
One wears flats...one prefers heels
One is a great driver...one has increased my prayer life
One likes fruit...one likes chocolate
One is often annoyed with her brother...one is always annoyed with her brother
One is a saver...one is a spender
One had a bad haircut as a child...one had a terrible haircut as a child
Both have a mom and Lord that loves them more than they will ever know!!!
Thursday, October 01, 2009
THE FERRY RIDE
Oh what a month! I have had the honor of traveling for the last four weekends to speaking events and other activities associated with Speaking Thru Me. I am exhausted...but a good exhaustion. I feel so blessed that I have a family that supports me in ministry! My wonderful husband has had to be the mom and dad for the past 4 weekends. Numerous carpools, pre-cooked meals and a little drama here and there. This will be my last weekend away for awhile. I am excited to join 45 other women at a retreat in Hiram, Ohio.
My travels have given me some great blogging devotional material and what I had hoped to be some video vlogs. Soon to come..maybe.
Devotion #1 - The Ferry Ride
What a blast I had traveling with three other STMM members from Nashville to Illinois recently. It is amazing how quick a three hour trip can become when you are laughing, chatting and taking in many unique views. (details in another post)
We suddenly turned in to "tourists" when we saw a sign that said "ferry ahead." It must be some mistake. Who uses ferries these days? Haven't we evolved as a society? What happened to building a bridge? No mistake...we soon found ourselves boarding a ferry. Cameras came out...windows rolled down and we began to document our ferry experience. We were soon driving off the ferry and back onto the highway.
I wonder how far away a bridge may have been? Should we have tried to find one instead? We would have gone way off our path in order to have found a bridge.
Christ reminds us in John that He is "the way, the truth and the life"...and that "He is the ONLY way to the father." Many of us try to find other ways to the Father. We go way off the path that He has ordained for us. Why? We think the other ways are better. For the four of us...the ferry was our only way...for the four of us...He is always the only way!
Go make a memory today,
Joy
My travels have given me some great blogging devotional material and what I had hoped to be some video vlogs. Soon to come..maybe.
Devotion #1 - The Ferry Ride
What a blast I had traveling with three other STMM members from Nashville to Illinois recently. It is amazing how quick a three hour trip can become when you are laughing, chatting and taking in many unique views. (details in another post)
We suddenly turned in to "tourists" when we saw a sign that said "ferry ahead." It must be some mistake. Who uses ferries these days? Haven't we evolved as a society? What happened to building a bridge? No mistake...we soon found ourselves boarding a ferry. Cameras came out...windows rolled down and we began to document our ferry experience. We were soon driving off the ferry and back onto the highway.
I wonder how far away a bridge may have been? Should we have tried to find one instead? We would have gone way off our path in order to have found a bridge.
Christ reminds us in John that He is "the way, the truth and the life"...and that "He is the ONLY way to the father." Many of us try to find other ways to the Father. We go way off the path that He has ordained for us. Why? We think the other ways are better. For the four of us...the ferry was our only way...for the four of us...He is always the only way!
Go make a memory today,
Joy
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