2014 - A Year in Pictures

As we reflect on 2014, we are filled with gratitude that you even allow us into your life.   Our greatest desire is to share the REALITY of Jesus in everyday life.  Knowing God personally is truly what gives life meaning and purpose!

Below is a thankful recounting of ALL the Lord has done through Knowing God Ministries in 2014:

He has allowed us to take the message, "These are not idle words [the Bible].  They are your life! " (Deut. 32:46-47) into SO many places and in SO many ways:

Through Bible studies that are changing people's lives...

            

"I knew I was saved, but didn't know how to establish a relationship with Jesus.  Now I do!  These studies have changed my life."

Abigail C.

"I am mentoring young women with your studies.  I have seen their relationship with Christ blossom from being in these studies."

Judy R.

       

Through a new and improved monthly luncheon...

Rich with fellowship, relevant speakers and topics -  

as well as interactive workshops and panel discussions!

We dream of sharing this concept with women everywhere by franchising in other cities -

Glory to God, in the 5 mos of doing the luncheon in 2014, 450 women have heard the gospel message and practical ways to apply Biblical principles to everyday life situations...  

The goal is disciple making - for these women to make an impact for Christ in their corners of the world.

Through a Women/Girls' Conference!

350+ women/girls 

• worshiped together interdenominationally;

• heard the gospel message of truth;

350+ households are being impacted with Jesus.  

If that were not enough...

• 21 women/girls committed their lives to Christ for the first time!!!   
• Multitudes fell on their knees before the Lord in repentance and surrender.  

Good Stuff!

2015 Theme:  Making a Difference in MY GENERATION 

Through a newly launched ministry to Girls and their Mothers called -

 teaching them HOW to know God personally...

through Jesus Christ and a daily quiet time.

Below is a quiet time basket from a little girl who attended one of the GNO events! 

At these events, we have girls AND their mothers accepting Christ for the first time!  

It's SO precious.  

Consider hosting one in your church or community!  It's super easy.

In 2014, the speaking ministry took Autumn and me to 4 states, 22 venues with the opportunity to impact over 1700 women/girls.

We share the Good News of knowing God personally through a daily quiet time.  We share how one woman can impact her world starting with her family.

Fayetteville, NC - many military spouses in this audience.  

What a super special group of women.  

A quote from the leader, Kim Wood (far left)

"God is moving and the women are really growing.  Some of these women have been in Bible studies for years and say this is the best they have ever done. It teaches WHY and HOW to have a quiet time.  We are loving this study!"

All to Jesus!

A group from Crofton, MD - a place God allowed me to teach on depression - and how time with God each day is the chief weapon in this battle.  

I'm always amazed how God touches deep within the heart - in ways that I NEVER can.

Clayton, NC - @ Discovery Church Mother's Day Weekend!

Charlotte, NC -  a Mother/Daughter Event with Girl band:  1 Girl Nation!

By God's amazing grace and your help - we hosted our 3rd Annual Golf Tournament!  

It was a big success for us!

We had 80 players along with many in-kind donations and sponsorships which helped make the tournament the success it was!

God even blessed us that day with minimal heat and humidity.  

The date was July 28th.  Summer humidity in North Carolina can be sweltering - I still marvel at all He did that day - even with the weather!

God also enabled us to launch 2 new Journals:

             

We could not do this without YOU.  

Thank you

for coming along beside us in 2014.

As we move into 2015, we invite you to be a part!  Either through:

• Prayer

• Shopping Amazon through AmazonSmile* 
• Log into to Amazon Smiles 

        Select Knowing God Ministries as your charity of choice

        Amazon donates .5% of your purchases to KGM! 

        *Includes Prime Members

• One Time Gift

• Monthly Donation Commitment of  $15, $25, $50, $100...   

        No amount is too small.        

        We rejoice over every amount                                                                   

        Contact  Melody melody@knowinggodministries.net 

• Making a Stock Donation  

Thank you for joining us in this commission!

Happy New Year

Love,

Tara and the KGM Family

3 Practical Ways to Keep CHRIST in Christmas

December's Luncheon - December 12, 2014

Click to Register

Registration ends Wednesday or when registration is full.
Not far from capacity!

Speakers: Johnny and Beth Evans

Growing Stronger by Grace

 

2 Corinthians 13:11

Be joyful.  Grow to maturity.  Encourage each other.  Live in harmony and peace.  Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

I can't believe we're in the month of December!

For many, this means the shopping; the decorating, the cooking, the parties and the planning for family and friend gatherings have commenced.   I personally LOVE every minute of it!

Yet with all the busyness, we as believers must be intentional about keeping CHRIST in CHRISTmas. 

Three quick practical ways from personal experience in the last 2 weeks:

• Spend quality time with Jesus each morning in front of your Christmas Tree.  If you've read this blog for any length of time, you must think I'm a broken record.  I don't care!  I can't say it enough.  It's paramount.  I'm serious - time spent with Jesus each morning, will prepare you for the parking lot snakes.  (covered in the next point)  

As for what to read during your quiet time, I would suggest reading the many Christmas Scriptures (see below for a list) to help keep your focus on Jesus.   The Gospel of Luke is also a great place to start.

• DO NOT FREAK OUT when someone snakes your parking place at Target on a rainy Saturday... (oh yeah, totally snaked it!) Forcing you to park in no-man's land with your daughter ...only to end up in line behind the parking lot snakes at the Returns counter... soaking wet and cold.

Furious... maybe seething... I had to remind myself, "My daughter is watching... I can react the way I feel or represent Jesus, what's it going to be?"   

By God's grace, I gritted my teeth and chose to represent Jesus as best I could.

As I stood there thinking horrible thoughts, one little glimmer of LIGHT seemed to break through, "The Baby in the manger you read about this morning, came for the parking lot snakes too..."

I suddenly felt very sorry for them.  Compassion even started to rise within me. My shoulders relaxed a bit.   'Surely they don't know Jesus,' I thought.  'They would never have done something so blatantly rude if they did.'  

So here's the deal my fellow sisters in Christ - GIVE UP your rights to a parking place or our right to the place in line when it's questionable as to who go there first.

You know that moment.  It's  that awkward moment when you really just want the other person to say, "I know you got here first, go ahead and go."   But you didn't get there first or you really aren't sure who did!   (This happens all the time at Chick-fil-A to me!)   When this happens, just DIE!  Die to your rights.  Jesus did.

• Tell people "Merry Christmas!" instead of "Happy Holidays."  The phrase, 'Happy Holidays' really makes me want to gag.  (Sorry, a little too honest today, huh?)  The season is about Jesus!  (CHRISTmas)  I try really hard not to be obnoxious, but I just can't cave on this one.  I encourage you not to either!  Stand firm!

Think about the significance:

God made a radical decision that NO OTHER world religion can boast.  HE made a decision to come to us.  The Baby in the manger, is God in the flesh, coming to us because He knew we could not do  enough good things to get to Him.  So out of great love to you and me, HE came to rescue us.

This is what Christmas is all about!  Enjoy:)

Christmas Scriptures

Isaiah 7:14

Isaiah 9:6,7

Luke 1:5-25

Luke 1: 26-38

Luke 2:1-20

Matthew 1-2

Great Gift Idea for YOU or the people you love:

   

New, Christmas Devotional and Memories Journal

It gives you:

• 16 life changing Christmas devotions leading up to the birth of Christ.
• Creative ideas to share Jesus in a practical meaningful way in the midst of your celebrations!
• 3 years of journaling pages devoted to recording special Christmas memories!
• Much More!

Take a sneak peak HERE!

Order HERE!

The Power of Serving Others - Fuller Harvey

Great Gift Idea for YOU or the people you love:

   

Tara's New, Christmas Devotional and Memories Journal

It gives you:

• 16 life changing Christmas devotions leading up to the birth of Christ.
• Creative ideas to share Jesus in a practical meaningful way in the midst of your celebrations!
• 3 years of journaling pages devoted to recording special Christmas memories!
• Much More!

Take a sneak peak HERE!

Order HERE!

$13

“It was for freedom that Christ has set us free; therefore keep standing firm 
and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."     
Galatians 5:1

I awoke one morning with the strangest thought going through my mind:  
When is a candle “free”? 

CRAZY - -like, C-R-A-Z-Y, I know!

But, since it was among the very first thoughts I had while coming to consciousness (what I call the morning “download”), I took it to be from the Lord and so began asking Him about it.   

Then – POW! – the thought came: “You are the light of the world.”  (Matthew 5:14) 
This download wasn’t about a candle – it was about ME.  It’s about YOU.

The world tells us when we are in service to others, that we are somehow “less than.” That is a flat out lie.  The truth is: 

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Italics, mine).   

Galatians 5:13

Take a moment to recount the moments in your life which feel like “servitude”:

·        Picking up jackets or damp towels or dirty clothes beside the hamper

·        Cleaning up after the family pet

·        Making the coffee for your husband and bringing it to him while he is still in bed

·        Changing the toilet paper

·        Fill in YOUR blank - the list goes on and on . . .

The world tells us that if we see ourselves in service to others or if we contemplate words like “submission” and “submit” and care for the needs of others, we are allowing ourselves to be doormats.  

How cool would it be to redefine these moments as “candle” or “light shine” moments? 

We need to see that it’s FREEDOM to SERVE- these are holy moments when we can shine love to our corners of the world.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

My former husband had a habit of pouring a cup of coffee and leaving his empty sweetener packets on the counter right in front of the coffee maker.  It fell on me to pick them up and sweep them into the trash can - -  which was in the very pull-out cupboard right beneath the coffee maker!    The world wanted me to think I was being a doormat - - -but God trained mind to think (as I swept them off the counter and into the trash each morning):   “He needs me,” (toward the Lord) and “I love you, honey," (toward him).

God turned it into a candle/”Light Shine” moment!

“For freedom Christ has set me free:  I’m going to let my light SHINE.”

During this Christmas season and beyond, let your light shine to the people you love the most, to the people you work with and to the strangers you bump into while shopping or waiting in line.   There's freedom in serving others!

Don't miss:

December's Luncheon

Speakers: Johnny and Beth Evans

Growing Stronger by Grace

 

Bring your man OR a friend OR come alone...

Regardless, there's a seat with your name on it!

Luncheon Details! - Click to Register

December 12, 2014

MacGregor Downs Country Club

430 St. Andrews Lane Cary, NC

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

Doors Open: 11:00am

General Session:  11:30am – 1:30

Menu

5 oz Grilled Filet

Mashed Potatoes

Grilled Asparagus

Dessert:  Apple Strudel with Carmel drizzle and powdered sugar

(Vegetarian Plate Available

Indicate during Registration process)

Partial Scholarships Available

Contact Melody - melody@knowinggodministries.net 

For Life's Little Discomforts...

Psalm 118:28

"You are my God, and I will give you thanks."

Walking Jake these last few cold mornings has not been a fun start the day.  Despite the sun being out, the rush of cold air feels like a slap in the face.  But Jake's a Lab.


Yep, that's him in the back of my car.  He doesn't know he's a dog.  So the alternative of a non-walk is worse.  He MUST be walked or he'll drive us all crazy!  The earlier, the better!

Upon walking down the driveway to get to the walking route, my natural inclination is to begin inwardly complaining.   Then I become grumpy - and it's not even 8:00am!

One morning last week, I decided to do just the opposite!  I began intentionally thanking God for all the blessings I normally take for granted.  For starters:

• My health - Lord, forgive me when I take this for granted.
• My warm cozy house.  How blessed I am to live in a house.  So many around the world live in tents or on the streets or in horrible conditions.  
• An indoor bathroom... (Can I get an "AMEN?!")
• Warm, hot showers -
• A pillow to lay my head at night -
• A comfy bed to sleep in -
• Plenty of food in my pantry -
• A grocery store down the street in which to buy groceries -
• Grocery stores that never run out of food to buy!
• Clean water to drink -
• A Bible teaching church
• A relationship with the God Who created me and adores me (and you!)
• For Jesus - so that I could HAVE this relationship - 
• A purpose for getting up in the morning - 
• For the opportunity to home school one of my children - 
• A family who loves me and supports my work in KGM.
• A team of women who serve wholeheartedly because they have a keen understanding that it's not me or KGM they are serving, but the God of the universe.  (It's hard to find volunteers like this.)
• A computer that works - it's not super fast - but it works!  (And I know how to use it.)
• War not being fought on our home soil.
• No bombs going off in my back yard...  (Women in other countries face this terror each day.)
• Electricity in the house.

My father grew up in rural eastern North Carolina.  He did not have running water or electricity until he was 10 years old. (This was in the 1950's!)  This meant going OUTSIDE if you had to go potty in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning!   Talk about a slap on the face and somewhere else... Can you imagine???

So for life's little discomforts or for life's major hardships - count your blessings.  It'll change your whole countenance - and it keeps you from being grumpy before the day even starts:)

December's Luncheon

Speaker: Johnny and Beth Evans

Growing Stronger by Grace

 

About Johnny and Beth

Johnny & Beth have four children, quadruplets; Daniel, Andrew, Katherine, and Quinn.  Johnny currently serves as the Eastern NC Director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  Beth teaches over 400 women each week in LAMBS - Ladies AM Bible Study at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Johnny played football under Coach Lou Holtz at NC State from 1974-1977, where he was a quarterback and punter. Evans still ranks as NC State's top punter both season and career statistics. He was the Peach Bowl Outstanding Player in 1977 and was named the Fellowship of Christian Athlete's College Athlete of the Year in 1978. The Cleveland Browns picked Evans in the Second Round of the 1978 draft and he played three seasons as the Brown's quarterback and punter. Evans went on to play three more years in the Canadian Football League.

"For me, football and faith always went hand in hand.  I’m convinced a Christian is someone who places their trust in Christ during good times and bad times...

And when you’re playing football, as crazy as it gets — wins, losses, injuries — faith always reminded me there’s a bigger picture involved, and it helped me to keep things in perspective.

A win was never the greatest thing in the world, and a loss was never the worst thing in the world.

It was living by faith, and that would also apply to my business career, my family life, and every area of my life.”

~ Johnny Evans

Bring your man OR a friend OR come alone...

Regardless, there's a seat with your name on it!

Luncheon Details! - Click to Register

December 12, 2014

MacGregor Downs Country Club

430 St. Andrews Lane Cary, NC

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:

Doors Open: 11:00am

General Session:  11:30am – 1:30

Menu

5 oz Grilled Filet

Mashed Potatoes

Grilled Asparagus

Dessert:  Apple Strudel with Carmel drizzle and powdered sugar

(Vegetarian Plate Available

Indicate during Registration process)

Partial Scholarships Available

Contact Melody - melody@knowinggodministries.net 

Click to Register