Championing My Sisters

That title might sound like I'm championing a movement for declaring our rights as women. Well, yes, I am, in a sense. What I'm actually declaring is the power that God placed within us to be world changers and history makers. I am so blessed to be a leader for a beautiful group of women who have raised their hands and hearts to also be leaders who lead other women to follow in drawing closer to God. The closer we get to Him – the more like Him we become – loving, serving, giving.

It may seem I have an over-zealous desire to see my sisters become mighty warriors for God. Well, as a matter of fact, I do. I want to see us move from a state of complacency and weakness to “be strong in the Lord and the power of His might”. Ephesians 6:10. And, to be moving on up in our faith and determination to be more effective as faith-filled women in our homes, schools, workplaces and marketplaces. This world needs to see that in women -- to be dominant and ruling over the enemy of our souls who has deceived us and made us feel weak long enough.

I am one of you and if there's anything I desire to do, it's to be a role model who teaches, speaks, writes and who walks the walk and talks the talk of an empowered woman -- who is empowered by the ONE Who lives big in me. Trust me. I didn’t show up overnight with this zeal. It has grown exponentially in me – especially since the love of my life went to heaven. Right then, I knew if I yielded to my natural feelings, I would go underground to retreat from life. But, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. I knew my mission had just begun. Truly, God loves women. He calls us and equips us. It's backed by God's Word. Just look at some of the Bible's women of faith who set the pace for us.

Besides Judge Deborah, Queen Esther, Ruth and Hannah in the Old Testament, in the New Testament is Elizabeth who recognized the Mother of our Lord, Mary who gave birth to the Messiah, and Anna who spoke about the Messiah to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel. When the time of His Passion drew near, Mary of Bethany anointed the feet of Jesus, Mary, our Lord's Mother, stood at the cross of Jesus, and Mary of Magdala who spoke with the risen Jesus and told His disciples, “I have seen the Lord”.

That sure makes me wanna’ jump up and shout: “I know Him and I’ve seen Him too, Mary!” He is alive and He is on the move in women’s hearts, filling us with His power, so we can tell a hurting, angry world about a loving, life-changing God.

My beautiful and precious Sisters-in-Christ (SIC) – scripture says we are a mighty throng. “The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng” (Psalm 68:11). Indeed we are. This is where everything begins: acknowledging that God alone is our source of strength. Let us proclaim our mighty Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as our champion! Indeed we are a mighty throng!

She Needed a Hero So She Became One

A dear friend who is going through some really tough times sent me a private message after I had said to her “You are your own hero -- you + God = courageous and strong, mighty woman of God!” She replied: Is that ok, to be your own hero?” The following helps explain my response to her:.

If ever we needed our sisterhood, we need it today. To have friends that encourage us, cry with us, rejoice with us and pray for us is worth more than silver and gold. I do that a lot on Facebook. When I see friends’ photos of their child’s wedding, I rejoice with them. I celebrate with my friends when they celebrate the accomplishments of their family – the school wins, graduations, awards, baby births, and anniversaries. I also love it when friends are bold enough to ask for prayer.

This photo says “She Needed a Hero, So She Became One!” I’m so proud of my friends and those women I don’t know, who aspire to be strong, resilient, determined, tenacious women and who say “I can do this. I can survive this. I am an overcomer. I am powerful – not because of my own abilities and my own self-talk – but I am powerful because the Greater One lives in me. (1 John 4:4) I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)”

I learned very quickly, after I became a widow, that I had a choice to make. I could whine and I could wallow in self-pity because I didn’t have my hero to lean on or give me advice on important decisions, or to repair something around the house. I could have thought “I need a hero to see after me!” If I stayed in that mindset, I would have never realized all I could do on my own. Now I know I am a woman of wisdom. I daily purpose to be powerful, passionate, positive, and, above all – peaceful. Rarely do I call out for help from anyone, but I also know my limitations. So when my daughter asked what I’d like for my birthday and since they live nearby, I was quick to say “Coupons for around-the-house jobs” (see photo). And, that's what they gave me. Yay!! I'll definitely use those coupons!

Honestly, there are times I think about how awesome it would be to have a hero again who I could go to for support and who would give me that extra hug, soothe my troubled soul, and boost me up with encouragement and compliments. But, I know I have God Who is more than enough. He is faithful to me. "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation." Psalm 68:5. He lifts me up with His love. I may be alone, but I’m not lonely. He is for me and encourages me daily with His Word.

Still, there are times when it's up to ME to set me free. It's up to me to apply the band-aids to my body and my spirit. It's up to me to change the channel of "pitiful me" to "powerful me". It's up to me to do what King David did. "When King David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or mother or friend and it’s ME. I never leave me. I never forsake me. I don’t EVER let me beat ME up and I don't let me pity me. I put on my armor, pick up my sword and raise it high. I have come to realize I am my own HERO. Yes…..there are times when we need a HERO......and that's when it's up to us to BECOME ONE

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.