Happy Five Year Anniversary "No Limits Life Group"!

Who would have thought that when I felt God's nudge five years ago to start a Life Group in my home in Tulsa that I would have met some of the most remarkable women that sincerely realize, like Queen Esther, they are HERE on this earth, at this time, "for such a time as this". We named ourselves the “No Limits Life Group” because there should be “no limits” to our faith and trust that “Nothing is impossible with God”. These are ordinary women who have experienced some of the most difficult tests, trials, disappointments, losses, and painful circumstances., but with the help of our extraordinary God, today, they are feisty, undaunted women on purpose and on assignment and they are using their past experiences as testimonies of God's amazing grace. Only four of us could make this reunion last night, but it was a foursome that shook the gates of heaven in our praise and prayer time together.

This photo with Michael Jordan was the end-of-night comic relief. Michael was perfect in every photo – didn’t even flinch, but we were either too high, too low, too wide or too hidden. It made for hilarious antics and merry hearts that sure did us good like a medicine. What a joy it was to reminisce back to the early days of our group when we met for the first time. We were all newbies in our circle of friends, but we grew to not only love each other, but we also walked hand in hand with each other through some really serious and tough times and helped each other unpack some of that baggage that we had carried way too long.

These women's families and friends have been positively impacted by their incredible lives of faith-in-action. I have seen them step up in boldness and courage when it comes to facing life head-on -- relentless in their attitude to never give up.
These women were just what “the doctor” ordered for me. They pushed me to study more, pray more, be accountable more, give more, receive more, celebrate more and live out my faith with a fervor more -- so much so that week after week, we saw God's grace in action He answered our prayers.

Here we are five years later – still living the “no limits” life. I’m not sharing this to impress you, but I am sharing to impress upon you that we need strong, faith-filled believers in our lives to help us shoulder the responsibilities of motherhood, wives, singles,, widows, daughters, friends, businesswomen, students and everyone in between. Don’t go it alone. Traveling this journey of faith with other believers sure makes the journey oh, so sweet.
Indeed, there are NO LIMITS to what God can do with a little band of women (or men) who are completely surrendered to His will and ways. Oh, there is telling....the Samaritan woman at the well who ran to town to tell about Christ, and Mary Magdalene -- running to tell about the resurrection of the Lord -- both of them were women with "pasts". But, they, too, ran into an extraordinary God....yes, we are in mighty good company.

This, That and The Other

Often our lives are made up of having a little longing for THIS or being a little offended about THAT or complaining a little about the OTHER. Being dissatisfied about THIS, THAT or the OTHER.

I’m guilty. Sometimes I have a longing for something on my bucket list. I was offended when an online merchant deceived me. My yard has ruts in it from when my yard man mowed way too low. I deserve to feel all these dissatisfied emotions about THIS, THAT or the OTHER. Or do I?

Then comes a reality shake-up on really what matters. Heaven met earth when my Life Group and I headed to James Mission on Tuesday Night to take a look at their operations. We thought they may be a good outreach ministry that we could volunteer for and support.

James Mission, here in Tulsa and Nowata, is all about restoring hope through God’s love by providing resources, encouragement and support to orphans, foster and displaced families. What started in their home, is now their own location at the Resource and Visitation Center. The visitation rooms give biological parents and their children a safe and friendly environment for their visits together. And their newest project is Loads of Love for those children who are removed from their home for various reasons, and all the things they hold dear (favorite toys, books, clothes and keepsakes, etc.) are left behind – sometimes forever. This “on-call” delivery of filled suitcases & bags for kids who are newly placed into Emergency Foster Care helps soothe the pain these kids face..

We saw their many tubs of neatly folded “like-new” or new clothes arranged according to ages and sizes. We saw loads of diapers, toys, Bibles, toiletries – all the things that help that precious child feel loved in spite of their unfortunate circumstances.

Love and compassion built James Mission. The Reyes, foster and adoptive parents themselves, run this ministry because of their undaunted love and care for needy children. Marisa, their own foster, and now “adopted” daughter, was our guide and it was easy to see how what was meant for her demise, became the vehicle that brought love and care (a hope and a future) from the Reyes family. After moving three times in foster homes and a youth shelter for over a year, Marisa met the Reyes family. Marisa says "After about eight months of living with such a great foster family, I was adopted in February, 2015. Their love for me reminds me that I was chosen, special, and loved. I now have three brothers, a sister and two dogs. My family means more than you could ever imagine and I couldn’t have done better for myself without them."

Our Life Group has already determined to be a part of James Mission because we hold dear God’s Word that says in James 1:27 “The worship that God wants is this: caring for orphans and widows who need help and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence. This is the kind of worship that God accepts as pure and good.”

In the light of so many needs all around us, we’ll find those who LONG a warm bed and a family that loves them. If any have the right to be offended by negligent family members, and have reasons to complain about their mistreatment, these precious children do. How can I justify longing, being offended or complaining for those really non-vital issues in my world. I know God expects more from us. He expects us to be His hands extended to a hurting world. He expects us to be a light in the darkness to the hurting: THIS child. THAT broken-hearted widow. The OTHERS who are just a hug away from our making a difference in their lives. Indeed THE WORSHIP God wants from us is loving, caring and helping His children – those who can’t help themselves.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35

Just a Little Band of Women

In so many places in this world, women are so marginalized and ostracized – simply because they are women. If only our world used the example of Jesus and how He loved and respected us. He really "upset the apple cart" in His culture in the way He related to women. In Luke 8 we see there was a band of women followers who traveled with Jesus and His 12 motley crew of men disciples as He ministered all around Galilee. Those women came from all walks of life, they were single, married, and some had questionable backgrounds, but here’s the common thread – each of them experienced healing through their encounter with Christ. He loved them, taught them and could have cared less about what the pious religious folk thought.

I know God loves us all – after all, He gave all of us His only Son who paid the ultimate price for our wrongs. But, personally, I am keenly aware of His love for us girls. A couple of Sundays ago, the Gospel reading in Luke 7 was read – it tells the story of the woman (Mary Magdalene) and her alabaster flask of ointment that she bathed Jesus feet with. Jesus’ reply to her when Simon Peter “ostracized” her was “Your sins which are many, are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” To Simon, Jesus gave a scolding about his lack-luster attitude. And here’s the best part of the story…..Mary Magdalene went on to be the first to see our risen Lord, and then become the first evangelist. I'd say "that's some kind of love"! How fitting that on July 22nd, Pope Francis will elevate and honor "Saint" Mary Magdalene to having a Feast Day named after her.....just like the other disciples. Sincerely, we, women, can stand up and stand tall, knowing we are so deeply and profoundly loved by God. We really do matter to Him.

The little bands of women that Jesus touched and loved is a mighty indicator of His love for us. The women at the foot of the cross and at the tomb held a tiny flame of faith that He would rise as He promised. That flame of faith may have burned high, and it may have burned low, but the flame never went out, and their faith was rewarded.

That’s how I feel about the little band of women who meet at my home every Tuesday night (for almost 3 years now) to celebrate that love that He has for us. Like the women of the Bible, our flame of faith may burn high and it may burn low, but our flame never goes out and because we have faith in His Word that “nothing is impossible with Him”, He rewards us. We have had many answers to prayer – healings, marriages restored, families restored, spiritual growth, emotional healings, being able to forgive, seeing children come to know Christ, and, even, the birth of babies…..like this little angel girl, Ragan. For months, we prayed for Ragan’s mommy and daddy and Ragan is the evidence of “Nothing is impossible with God.” Just a little band of women – who encourage each other, pray for each other, cry with each other and laugh with each other – but all of us – holding hands together as we walk out this journey of faith. Ragan's two grandmothers (pictured here) have stood strong for precious Ragan.

What BAND do you belong to? If you don’t have a group that lifts you higher, that is willing to run to the finish line with you, that encourages you to go the distance, that makes you better and gives you a good kick-in-the-place-you-sit-on every now and again, I urge you to find a BAND too. Being a little band of women or men….can certainly keep you going….especially when the going gets tough. By the way, my little band of women....can sure ROCK OUT....after all our faith is built on THE ROCK!
#BandOfWomen #RockStars #NoLimitsLifeGroup #GodLovesUs

Thanking God For So Many Sisters

Day 241 of Photo Inspirations -- Thanking God For So Many SISTERS!
My world once revolved around my family.  And, quite frankly, I’m still at their beckoned call if they need me, and they are there for me if I need them, but I’m HERE and they’re THERE – in those seasons of THEIR lives and I’m in this season of MY life.

It's a new season.  My biological sisters graduated to heaven, but God has placed me with so many precious friendships that I love to call “My SISTERS” in THIS season.  There are many special “single” women in my community, and we laugh and share so many things in common – particularly our singleness, our love for this season of our lives, and the freedom that goes along with it. Then I have my two incredible walking sisters and we join together at least three times a week to walk with the purpose of praying and sharing and encouraging each other.  They have wonderful husbands and families – and we pray for them all, including mine, as well as our community and country.  I have a special BFF sister and sister-in-law that are there for me WHENEVER & WHATEVER is going on.   I am also a part of a leadership group of women that I call my sisters.  We meet once a week to pray, encourage, plan and prepare for a women’s retreat that is coming up soon.  Then, in October, I’ll be leading a Women’s Bible Study for 8 weeks.

There’s also my No Limits Life Group – truly my sisters that we do life together – sharing each other’s challenges, as well as victories.  Meeting every week at my home, we laugh, cry, and give each other support on so many levels.  My place is a SAFE place.  We’ve got each other’s backs.   We are a diverse group:  single and married – some work full time, some are part time and some are retired.  But our single most important goal in life is to be fully devoted followers of Christ and to live with believing there are NO LIMITS to what God can do in and through us.  And so many of our prayers have been answered.  We are accountable to each other. We coach each other. We make each other better.

I’ll admit it.  I’m a woman on purpose to help as many as I can to live an overcoming victorious life. I wrote my goals in my journal earlier this year – one of which was “Doors of ministry opportunities continually opening for me to impart Godly wisdom”  and those prayers and goals are being fulfilled beyond what I could have asked for…..simply because I asked.

My photo inspirations today are from last night’s SISTERS Event at LifeChurch.tv – Jenks, where hundreds of SISTERS came together to praise and worship God with an off-the-chain band and singers, and we heard a powerful word about “Listening Well”.  I’ll share about that amazing talk another day, but I wanted to share today about the importance of having friends or SISTERS in your life.  And in the men’s case, BROTHERS.  Sisters and Brothers that we can depend on, ask for prayer (and know they will pray), convince us to not give up, make us feel loved and accepted in spite of our worthiness.

In this season of my life, I could have easily withdrawn and gone into a solemn, lonely place because, quite frankly, I could.  But, there is such a better, more fulfilling way of living.  I’ve said it before, “If you want to have friends, show yourself friendly.”  Yes, it will mean you have to get out of your comfort zone.  You may find it by joining or starting a small group from your church.  You may volunteer to facilitate a Bible Study or join a Sunday School Class or a Choir or another group where they're living a life of purpose and destiny.  I assure you.  It will be worth the effort to make the effort to be a part of a group or to start a group that makes THIS SEASON of your life the BEST SEASON of your life.  I'm so happy that I did.