Monday, November 24, 2014

GREAT Luncheon Friday


As always, the luncheon on Friday was full of sweet fellowship and women getting to meet other women!






It was like any other wonderful 3rd Friday of the month...




until we learned the reality of what's taking place in our own back yard....  It was sobering and shocking.  Frankly, I'm still processing all I heard.

Did you know...  North Carolina is 8th on the FBI's list of states most likely to have trafficking?  8th! (This is due to our major highways, coastal and mountain tourism, military bases and universities...)

Did you further know, 50% of  trafficked children are boys between the ages of 11-13?  That surprised me.  I thought most would have been girls.  (girls 12-14 is the common age)



Abbi Tengalia, Founder of Transforming Hope Ministries, a nonprofit that provides help through education, prevention, and restoration was our guest speaker.

Abbi,herself, was a victim of human trafficking.  She bravely shared her story.  She even got teary eyed as she shared how her loving heavenly Father rescued her from the nightmare she once lived.



Before leaving - Abbi had time to take questions from the audience.



GREAT questions were asked!

Some of the things I learned:

Most children exploited in the United States, are American.  The common vulnerabilities to being lured into exploitation are:

  • homelessness or children living in foster care
  • interaction with social services or juvenile detention facilities
  • history of abuse
  • habitual running away or drug addiction
  • living in a single parent home especially if the parent struggles with addiction.

As of January 2014, there were 527 homeless people counted in Durham and Wake Counties.  Of those, 333 were children.

SOBERING...

This is the first time we've had an issue based lunch.  After getting to know Abbi, I personally am looking for ways that we (KGM) can partner with Transforming Hope Ministries in the future.

My team and I knew the General Session would be... heavy... and it was.  So we intentionally decided to shift gears for the Workshop.

So not only was this a 1st  issue based luncheon, but this was the first in doing a fufu workshop!  And it was FABULOUS!!!  (We have nothing against fufu - we just try to use the time differently!)

The women LOVED IT!   It was tons of fun with practical application for the girl who struggles with hospitality!  (me!)


Kelly and Amy were amazing as they shared ways to prepare our homes and our hearts for the upcoming holidays.

If you could not stay or if you missed, they showed us how easy it is to make centerpieces like this:


and this!  It's SUPER EASY!



For a pdf download of hospitality tips - click here

For appetizer recipe's (that Kelly MADE and allowed for us sample:  click here
For cookie recipe's that Amy MADE and allowed us to sample:  click here

It was like the Kelly and Amy show!
I could have listened to them talk for at least another hour.   They've become great friends through KGM.   The way they bounced off each other was organic, funny and left you sitting on the edge of your seat as to what they were going to say next...

Especially when Kelly encouraged us to pre pray our holiday events - that she specifically prays a certain family member would merely keep his pants on!?!  (We never got to the bottom of that one - she said, "Another story for another time!")

We're curious, Kelly!

Point being - pray about the big details, the small details and the annoying details!

Great Luncheon - no GREAT Luncheon!

Don't miss December's luncheon:  
December 12th 
Johnny and Beth Evans!

Registration is NOW OPEN!   
Sorry for the technical glitches over the weekend and Monday morning.  They're finally fixed!:)







Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Free Ticket to Luncheon and Beyond the Veil - Ellen Stevens




Free Ticket!
A very generous gal contacted the ministry and told us she could not come to the luncheon despite purchasing a ticket.  We offered to refund her money.  But she wants to donate it!

If you or someone you know NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT and can attend on Friday - be the first to contact Melody at melody@knowinggodministries.net !!!




For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
      Zephaniah 3:17
In the summer of 1989, I was planning my wedding. Browsing through many collections of bridal gowns and trying on multiple styles, I selected a lovely traditional dress glistening with stunning bead work, luxurious fabric with elegant lace and train. All at the right price! As any upcoming bride to be I desired to look my best for this very important day in my life.

Next, I worked to find a veil, and purchased a chapel length veil: it was 90 inches long and draped on the floor.

Most southern brides in the eighties had their portraits made in their beautiful gowns and I of course wanted to do the same. On a humid, hot August day my roommate came to help me assemble my dress and veil and keep me organized! My photographer, gifted in the skill of helping brides to pose took multiple shots —all elegant and classy.

When my pictures arrived, only one sitting portrait showed me at my personal best; all the rest seemed “disconnected” somehow. I was distressed!  Beautiful dress, lovely veil . . . Why only ONE photo which looked beautiful?!

It was then I realized an important issue:  the veil and the dress, while each beautiful, were not complementary to each other.  God got my attention:  I had failed to pray for HIS assembling of the entire ensemble and had done things piece-meal.   (I am a slow learner…didn’t even THINK about the veil and dress matching!)

Paralyzed in my heart, sad and feeling as if I had failed miserably with one of the most important assignments in life—I called my fiancee and asked for his counsel. He could tell I was FROZEN in disappointment.  “What am I going to do?" I cried.  "It looks like a big mess!”  Wisely he said, “Well, if Jesus can rent the veil in the temple for you to have full access to Himself, he can surely help you find a new veil!

Stunned at his response, I simply said, “But the veil is non-returnable!”

Jesus assures us that God provides for the birds, then asks, “Are you much more valuable than they?”  Matthew 6:26

So, two weeks before the wedding I drove home to Mt. Airy, NC, and found a cute bridal shop. Entering in, I prayed afresh, “Lord, I need the perfect wedding veil. Forgive me for not coming to you first and asking you for your help. I thought this was too small a thing to bother you with… but you are teaching me eternal truths—you care about the details of my life."

I walked over to the displayed veils—Blusher veils, elbow length, finger tip, and chapel length styles. One especially caught my eye twinkling in the daylight.  Inwardly I knew that He was guiding my steps.

I boldly asked the shop owner if she might exchange my purchased veil with the sparkling finger tip veil.  They were the exact same price. 
She said yes! 
Joy filled my heart. We made the exchange and I brought home a veil that fully complimented my dress.
October 7th, Bob and I have been married 25 years.  My heavenly Father perfectly engineered my veil crisis to teach me something I did not know I had:  

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His Spirit. And behold the veil of the temple was torn in two form top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split…Matthew 27:51. 

The veil separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was torn. Our Father opened the new and living way, giving us access to His moment by moment supply of grace and mercy.


“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh
                                                                             Hebrews 10:19-20

God removed my sin barrier thru Jesus . . . opening up an intimate relationship with the LORD and learning to partner with him in everyday decision making. 

He is trustworthy, faithful, merciful, and gracious to call me His friend, His bride, His beloved, His chosen one . . . nothing can separate me from His immeasurable love.





Monday, November 17, 2014

The Invisible Scarlet Letter we Wear


Friday, November 21, 2014
Last day to Enjoy Pre-Registration Special - Wednesday


Colossians 2:13-14
"Then God made you alive in Christ, for He forgave all our sins.  He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross."

Did you ever read The Scarlet Letter?   

I read it in high school.  The story is about a woman caught in adultery and forced to wear an obnoxious letter (“A” for adultery) on every piece of clothing.  The intent was to bring shame and embarrassment.  All would see and judge.  She was discarded from society, family and friends.  She was forever labeled “damaged goods.”

Sadly, in ministry I see a modern day version of this movie more often than not:  women wearing their own invisible scarlet letter. 

How do I know this?   After all, its easy to put on some makeup and do our hair all pretty and wear trendy clothes to hide it.  Yet a former scarlet letter wearer that's living in freedom can spot another letter wearer quite easily.

I used to wear my own scarlet letter.  However, because I plugged into the God through Jesus and I've learned what the WORD says about Scarlet letters - I don't wear that thing any more!   It makes me so sad to see women who continually wear their letters - when they don't have to!
Perhaps it’s the scarlet letter of:  D = divorce or depression; drunkard;  B = Bankruptcy; A = adultery, addict, abortion, abused, abandoned, abuser;   F= fornicator, etc... ;  Name it ______________  
Often, a woman doesn't even realize she's wearing an invisible scarlet letter.  Yet it comes out in her countenance; her perception of herself and others; through her eyes; through her fears; through her decisions and lifestyle. 

Sadly, the natural tendency is to label ourselves “damaged goods” when we're wearing the invisible scarlet letter. 


Yet what does God say about these invisible Scarlet Letters?  

The Word says He wants to:

  • Make us ALIVE in Christ!
  • Forgive ALL our sins.  (not just the ones we perceive are forgivable -  but ALL of them!)
  • Cancel the record of the charges against us!  Never to bring them up again!
But there's only one way for this to happen: through the cross of Jesus!  

It requires going to God and doing life His way.  It requires accepting HIS way of being right with Him - Jesus.  It requires giving Him permission to lovingly and gently deal with our stuff at the root.


When we do... we begin to live with renewed passion and purpose!  I know this from personal experience!

So does our speaker for the luncheon on Friday.

T =  Trafficked...
Abbi Tengalia, 
Founder and Executive Director ,
Transforming Hope Ministries
Abbi TOur speaker at one time wore the letter, "t." 

Yet Jesus rescued Abbi.   Part of her rescue (and mine) required allowing God, the Redeemer, the Restorer; the Healer; and the Forgiver - to direct her path.  This was a commitment of week after week, month after month, year after year of saying YES to God.

This doesn't mean that her life became easy and she lived happily ever after.  After all - she's now a single mom with a child born from the experience of life in the pit.  

Yet Abbi wears her scarlet letter NO MORE.   She knows she's forgiven and she's living the new life of purpose God has for her and her precious child!!!

Are you wearing an invisible scarlet letter?

You don't have to if you don't want to.  Take that thing off, girlfriend.

Be encouraged!  God delights and is able to give your life a new purpose!   Even if your life or the life of someone you love is a train wreck ...  God is able to forgive our sins, cancel the record of charges against us and make us alive to His purposes!

For more on taking off the Scarlet Letter:
Click on study for a sneak peak
Click HERE to order

For more on Friday's Luncheon - Click HERE!


Thursday, November 13, 2014

No Mountain High Enough; No Valley Low Enough



Have you heard the song by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, "Ain't no Mountain High Enough?
Take a look at how it relates to this month's message and speaker for our Luncheon, 
November 21, 2014!


There's no mountain high enough or valley low enough to keep Jesus from getting to us or the ones we love... when we're willing to be rescued.

November's Luncheon - super rich!


GENERAL SESSION:

Speaker: Abbi Tenaglia
Founder and President:  Transforming Hope Ministries

Human Trafficking:  
Wake Up!  It's Happening in OUR Backyard
                    
How does a good girl who was taught to go to church and obey all the rules find herself in the worst of all circumstances? 

Come hear a raw, but miraculous story of how God rescued Abbi, formerly addicted to drugs, sexually exploited, & completely broken, by awakening her heart to a personal relationship with Jesus.

God's arm is never to short to rescue any of us from whatever pit we may find ourselves in.  Be encouraged and inspired by this remarkable true story you'll never forget.

About Abbi:

Abbi Tenaglia is originally from a small town in Indiana but never truly felt at home until she moved to North Carolina in 2004. She has an Associate of Applied Science in Accounting and will complete her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Liberty University in August, 2015.

Abbi founded Transforming Hope Ministries in 2010.  Her favorite things to do are spend time with her daughter, go to the beach, serve in the cafe at her church, eat sushi, drink Starbucks, and watch Remember the Titans or Tar Heel basketball!



WORKSHOP:  
Hospitality:  Preparing your Home for the Holidays

Workshop Leaders:       
KGM Luncheon Directors:    Kelly Hollis  and             Amy Newton


Have you ever noticed the beautiful, yet simple centerpieces on the tables at each KGM Luncheon? Those centerpieces are NOT provided by MacGregor.   EACH month, they are carefully created and provided by the God given gifts of KGM's Hospitality Mavens!

In this interactive workshop, (we want you to share as well!)  you will be given practical suggestions for preparing your heart and home for the holidays.  Kelly and Amy will share:
  • Rich holiday traditions for keeping Jesus the center of the season
  • Centerpieces that will dazzle and amaze - yet are super easy and cost efficient.
  • Appetizer and Dessert Recipe's that are simple and yummy.
  • Basic hospitality tips for the gal who struggles with hospitality!

Regardless if you're entertaining a few or many or if you just want more of Jesus in your holiday celebrations - you'll love the fresh ideas you'll glean!  It's always the fastest 45 minutes of the week.

Don't miss this month's luncheon!


Monday, November 10, 2014

First Fruits of Each Day

The Knowing God Ministries Luncheon - November 21

Register Now




Then it shall be when you enter the land which the Lord gives you as an inheritance, and you possess it and live in it, that you shall take the first of all the produce of the ground which you shall bring from the land the Lord gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name . . . and you shall say before the Lord your God. . .   ‘I have brought the first produce of the ground which Thou, O Lord, hast given me.’  And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God . . . you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you and your household.
Deuteronomy 26 (verses 1, 5, and 10)

Okay  - -I’m admitting this hideous self-truth immediately:  plants commit suicide when they see me coming.  They know I’m either going to drown them or starve them –no middle ground; the subtleties of plant-nurturing have been lost on me. 

Two years ago, I gave it one last hurrah, and planted what I called my “crop circle” -

 . . . and $250 later, I had eaten precisely ONE amazing tomato-basil salad, when overnight, the rest of the garden became DEER SALAD. 

I surrendered.  No more gardening for me.

So I have had a somewhat bewildering time embracing the Biblical idea of “first fruits” in Deuteronomy 26 (above):   My “ground” and, more clearly, my talents don’t produce vegetation!   Perhaps you, too, do not tend a garden . . .
How, then, do you and I give our “first fruits”? 

Here’s how:  by seeing that EACH DAY the Lord wakes us up, He is presenting us with a GARDEN RIPE FOR THE HARVEST.  And, He, therefore, asks us to give HIM the first fruits of that garden/day.

In other words, by offering our first moments to the Lord (in what is commonly called a “quiet time”), we are bringing HIM the “first fruits”, not only of our day – but of our HOUSEHOLD, as well.  Proverbs 3:9 says:   “Honor the Lord from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce.”

In other words, the Lord realizes when we give Him our first fruits of each day, we are choosing HIM above our households . . . so He beautifully adds this promise to His command from verse 9 in verse 10:    “. . . so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will over-flow with new wine.”

WE GIVE - HE REPLENISHES!

And not just “replaces” - -He fills to over-flowing and plenty!

And, here is another amazing truth:  we aren’t called simply to do this “because He said so” – we are called to do this       BECAUSE HE DID SO!    Colossians 1:15 says this of Jesus:   “And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.”

God gave us His first fruits by offering up Jesus to cover the penalty of sin (death) and then replenished that offering to full and overflowing by raising Jesus from the dead, and granting us ALL eternal life!

As Tara points out in CREATED FOR PURPOSE (Week 3/Day3, pg.57)*: 
“When we seek Jesus first in daily priorities . . . we will be fruitful in whatever He tells us to do . . . . . When we seek Him first and foremost, we can watch our lives fall into place.” 

Let’s give the Lord the first fruits of each day:  -precious, holy, first-waking moments – -set apart to praise Him, to worship Him – and hear Him speak into what the REST of the HARVEST OF THAT DAY will look like.

Plants may still commit suicide around me, but it is my earnest prayer that each DAY the Lord grants me will yield a harvest of Life, Life, and MORE LIFE!

[To kick-start your worship in this manner, CLICK HERE for Chris Tomlin’s “Glory in the Highest”, which begins with the words:  “You are the FIRST. . . You go before.”]


*See our resources page [here] to order CREATED FOR PURPOSE. 

Or to learn HOW to develop a quiet time and an intimate relationship with God, start with INTIMACY WITH GOD.  Contact us if you need assistance in determining which study is right for you.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Do YOU Believe God is Faithful?

1 Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful is He who calls you and He also will bring it to pass.


"God has a plan." 
"God is faithful to complete His plan."    

Do we really believe this Biblical truth deep within our core 
or 
are these just warm fuzzy religious words we attach to a situation that seems totally out of control to make ourselves feel better?
I recently attended The True Woman Conference in Indianapolis.  The faithfulness of God was one of the big messages.
The last day of the conference we had the privilege of meeting and hearing from Naghmeh Abedini, wife of Pastor Saeed Abedini, an Iranian American Christian Pastor currently serving an eight year sentence in an Iranian prison.   He was arrested when he went back to Iran to visit family and build an orphanage.

His wife, Naghmeh, never really mentioned the 'faithfulness' of God, per say, but I saw it all over her testimony!


She spoke of God releasing her from her own fears and anxieties when her husband was imprisoned. She spoke of how it rocked her comfortable world in Boise, Idaho, and set her on a journey speaking to government agencies - even the United Nations! 

This is a woman who never wanted to be taken out of her comfort zone in Boise . . . but she and her husband had committed to being willing to do whatever God had for them...
The powerful faithfulness of God! 

It's how Naghmeh deals with the separation from her husband;
it's how Pastor Saeed is handling his imprisonment;

it's how we handle our circumstances when it does not seem like God is faithful.  It could be a:
troubled marriage, finances that are in disarray, prodigal kids, the evil in the world.

But God has a plan!
Does faithful mean Pastor Saeed will be released, that our marriages will be healed, that our finances will be reconciled?   Not necessarily.
In a letter Pastor Saeed wrote to his daughter (please go to this link and read), he spoke of God being in control, God having a purpose, God being glorified!   Hearing about Pastor Saeed's faith brought tears to my eyes. Tears of
  • Joy - in Pastor Saeed's faith in our faithful God even in the midst of terrible circumstances;
  • Sadness - for him and his family being separated and for the torture he has endured;
  • Happiness - hearing how God is using him in that prison to bring the Light of the gospel into a very dark place!   
  • Amazement:  for how God is using his wife,  (very shy and introverted) to bring awareness to the public and government officials of the conditions her husband and others like him face. 
Faithful means being reliable, steadfast and unwavering

That's Who God is! 

Choose to believe this in the core of your being.  Look for ways He is being reliable, steadfast and unwavering in your troubling circumstances and give Him praise for His faithfulness...

This is when it becomes more than just a cliche of words.

Let us not forget the 100 million Christians suffering persecution for their faith. Remember to pray for them!   

Monday, November 3, 2014

Sweet Surcee's from the Creator to YOU


Isaiah 40:31
"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."


A few weeks ago, I had the awesome opportunity to speak at Camp Willow Run for their annual Mother/Daughter Conference!


There were over 200 in attendance!  Girls ages 13-20 and their mothers were challenged to "Make a Difference - by BEING Different!"  To not conform to the patterns of this world, but to be ever transformed by the renewing of their minds by being in God's Word DAILY!


Many of these girls made first time commitments to Jesus in salvation!  
Many, MANY made re-commitments in their walk with the Lord!
Woohoo!!!  It was awesome!  Beyond awesome!!!

I LOVE these venues.  Truly, it's an amazing God given opportunity  to impact two generations.  I thank God that He even allows me to participate in His work.  

If you were at CWR - I'm still praying for you and thinking of you!   I pray you're being that LONE NUT in your corner of the world.
CWR is one of my biggest fall highlights!  
(By the way, we've started making Cookie Mush on a regular basis at my house!!!)



Within 2 hours of getting home that Sunday - I showered, unpacked and repacked; got in the car and headed east for 41/2 hours to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.   

Many times I felt like Donkey in the movie Shrek, asking my husband, "Are we there yet?"
"No!" was always the answer!  It seemed like we would never get there.  But we finally did!

My Dad and Mom are the BOMB!  Each year, they take mine and my sister's family to the beach. This year we went to Corolla.  

We had such a wonderful time together.  


Sitting on the beach with my sister (blankets and all!) is always a high light.


My kids got cousin time - 


and fishing time off the dock at the backside of the house.

The day after arriving, I was exhausted.  When this happens, I know what I need to do... 
So I totally checked out... Spent the afternoon ALONE with my Bible on the beach.  

It was HERE that I was refreshed and renewed.   As I sat and stared at the vast ocean that God created and controls, I pondered the greatness of God and what His Word says about His greatness.  

Following this time, throughout the week,  He seemed to send sweet surcee's - reminding me of His greatness in His creation.  

(surcee = something  out of the ordinary and extra special)





As I sat on the beach that day, I was reminded of the boundary He set up for all seas... 
"You set a firm boundary for the seas..."  Psalm 104:9
"'This far and no farther will you come.  Here your proud waves must stop,' says the Lord."  Job 38:11



I never get to see picturesque sunsets like this.

"The heavens proclaim the glory of God.  The skies display His craftsmanship.  
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known.  

Psalm 19:1-2


They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.  
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth and their words to all the world.



The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end."  
Psalm 19:3-4, 6


One night after dinner, when the kids wanted to go chase crabs on the beach - God had a show waiting for us -  A full moon reflecting off the water.  (Picture's can't even do the moment justice!)  It too was breathtaking.

"When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers - the moon and the stars You have set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?"
Psalm 8:3-4

But He does!  He sent Jesus so we could KNOW this awesome Creator and be right with Him...
Are you right with Him?  Do you KNOW you're right Him?  Click HERE if you have any question whatsoever.


The house we stayed faced west.  So instead of watching the sunrise, I got to watch the moon set at sunrise...  
"Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise ...?"  Job 38;12

Isn't each new day - a day that we can live and breathe a gift from God???



We got a rare sighting of the wild horses that roam the Outer Banks!   

"You make springs pour water...  They provide water for all the animals and the wild donkeys quench their thirst."  Psalm 104:10, 11


This is not an online stock picture - This dolphin was swimming behind the boat my husband was fishing on!  He sent a text saying, "Look at what's swimming behind our boat!"  

'O Lord, what a variety of things you have made...  The earth is full of your creatures.  Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small."
Psalm 104:24,25


One of the biggest  surcee's of all -was getting to see a Bald Eagle.
On two mornings, I happened to look up and see a Bald Eagle soaring over me!  
I NEVER get to see Bald Eagles.  Because of how they are often referenced in the Bible, they have such a special place in my heart.  So this was a huge treat!

This sweet surcee served as a fresh reminder of  a Scripture that  I see often on a wall in my home.  
I hope it encourages YOU afresh as well -
"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 40:31

God knew I needed refreshing and renewing, because when I came home, we hosted one of the largest luncheons we've had to date

And a writing deadline waiting for an upcoming Christmas Devotional/Journal being released NEXT WEEK!

May you too be encouraged by the many ways God speaks personally to you... His sweet, sweet surcee's just for you as you ponder His creation in your corner of the world:)