REAL Issues Women Face

Whether it's been a 2 person Panel or a 5 person Panel - Panel's at our luncheon have been AWESOME!  Women get to ask questions based upon issues  issues women face that need REAL ANSWERS by a REAL Holy Spirit through REAL women willing to share.

At our Conference next weekend - we intend to have a Panel discussion for 45 minutes.  I would love to have your thoughts, regardless if you are able to come to the Conference or not.

Below are issues you may identify with?  Perhaps it'll jump start your thinking to issues you or a friend deal with. 

- Setbacks, frustrations and disappointments happen to each and every one of us; they may be due to a mistake or a bad decision we’ve made or they may be due to circumstances beyond our control…but they happen.  This often results in stress.  

What’s your secret to dealing with stress?

- Most women long for true, close friendships, yet often don’t have many close friends…

How do you define a real friend and how do you get beyond superficial? Is it worth it? Do you have lots of them?

- We all are so busy these days. There simply does not seem to be enough time for everything we feel obligated to do and have any time left for ourselves…or any time to be our best.  The secret comes from prioritizing – but that’s easier said than done. 

How do you balance being a wife, mother, daughter, employee, friend and have any time for yourself?

- Most people say they prefer to avoid conflict at all costs. However, conflict happens. The reality is that few of us are good at managing conflict.  As women, we tend to do one of two things: We either want a direct, candid conversation, which can be seen as confrontational- and makes the other person uncomfortable.  Or we do everything we can to avoid conflict (the person), by trying to find a way around the problem or just doing the work ourselves...

Do you think you’ve learned to “pick your moments” – and if so, how?

Click HERE with your question.  
OR
Go to our FACEBOOK page and give us your thoughts.

What's different this year from last year's conference?

It’s the same great event as last year's, however this year, we've made a few changes.

• There are more breakout options for Middle School and High School girls.
• We've separated the Middle School/High School girls so we can address REAL issues THEY face.
• A fashion show for the Middle School girls! –
• A Panel Discussion for the High School girls with Quinn Evans (Johnny and Beth Evans daughter), Lindsey Wingo and Kayleigh Bradham.  Girls will have an opportunity to talk about very REAL issues they are facing and receive down to earth Biblical answers from women they will want to emulate.
• A coffee bar and hot tea bar!
• A Panel Discussion for adults.

Click HERE for Conference information!  Only 5 days left to Register!

Inspiration Behind our Women's Conference AND INPUT Needed!

In the months following last year's Women/Girl's Conference, a participant and friend, Lindsey Wingo,  (yes, Ryan's wife!)

became inspired to start a blog for moms.  After attending Wendy Schultz's breakout on parenting, she had an awesome idea!  (By the way, Lindsey will be the Luncheon speaker in March!)

With the help of her sisters, Lindsey founded,  Missional Motherhood, a blog sharing wisdom and advice for mothers.  She has women of all ages -  26 writing contributors in all, sharing their wisdom.

Talking about walking away from the conference with a God-inspired brilliant idea!  This woman IS making a difference in her corner of the world!

The primary inspiration behind our Conference:  I have been blessed to have learned from many women whom I consider to be spiritual giants - they have contributed greatly to my spiritual growth.

I want YOU to have the opportunity to learn from them as well!  Bringing them all under one roof - to share their practical wisdom on relevant cultural topics will truly help you in your everyday life  - starting with YOUR family and GENERATION.

Speakers:
Helping you with your Relationship with God:
Sarah Bush, 
Cindy Finley, 
Kim Powell, 
Janice Lawrence,  
Fuller Harvey,

Marriage Speakers:
Brenda Dubbelman, 
Holly Ladner, 
Brigitte Harrison,
Robin Clow

Parenting
Gwen Brodd, 
Suzi McDuffee, 
Wendy Anderson Schulz, Sarah Schulz, 
Melody Merritt, 

Impact (Sessions to help you make an IMPACT in your corner of the World)
Brigitte Harrison
Cary Heise, 
Judy Roberts, 
Cindy Finley

Middle School Girls
Heather Rumley, 
Amy Harriman, 
Wendy Anderson Schulz, Sarah Schulz, 

High School Girls
Ellen Stevens, Rachel Stevens, 
Quinn Evans, 
Kayleigh Bradham

These women and girls are making a difference in their corners of the world.  They are not perfect - but they are making a difference that matters before the God of the Universe.  Don't miss this opportunity to learn from them!

YOUR INPUT NEEDED
If you could ask ANY OF THESE WOMEN a question - what would it be?  Meaning...

If you had the opportunity to ask a question to a panel of women (of various ages) what would it be?  Maybe it's:

• How do you balance it all?  Work?  Ministry?  family?
• How much time do you spend on social media?
• How do you keep from being over committed?
• When do you go to the grocery store?  (It could be as goofy as this!)

Seriously - we want to make this fun but helpful!  Every panel discussion we've had at our luncheon this past fall was a hit!  But with a panel of this size - it would help to know some of your thoughts ahead of time!  Will you help us?  Your questions will be anonymous.

Click HERE with your question.  
OR
Go to our FACEBOOK page and give us your thoughts.

Click HERE for Conference information!

The Scorched Terrain in our Lives

Joel 2:25
"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten," says the Lord.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of keynoting the Coastal Women's Retreat at Fort Caswell, NC.



With close to 400 women in attendance, my topic was Purpose...  I taught using Daniel's life as an example of God still having a good plan and purpose for our lives despite experiencing scorched earth circumstances.

What is scorched earth?  It's when the terrain of our lives will never be altered.  Sometimes it's due to choices others made for us or  it due to the really bad choices we have made.

Daniel experienced scorched earth as a teenager.  The terrain of his life would never be the same following King Nebuchadnezzar's smack down on Jerusalem.  While often the poorest could remain - everyone else was killed.  The best and the brightest were forced into slavery.

Daniel would have seen his friends and family murdered...  He was forced to walk across several deserts to Babylon...  Upon arriving, he was forced to integrate into the culture by changing his language, wardrobe, name and identity.  He would NEVER go back home to his beloved Jerusalem.   He would NEVER see his mother or grandmother EVER again.  Life would never be the same.

So it is for many of us.  As the women shared with me, nothing could have prepared me for the scorched earth some of these women have experienced:

• A husband leaving for another woman - 
• A husband's addiction to porn causing divorce and upheaval -
• A husband leaving for another man -
• Alcohol addiction - 
• Infertility and hopelessness
• A woman losing two children (a 14 year old and a 20 year old) a few years apart in two separate accidents.
• Rape
• A daughter's murder

If you are someone who's experienced scorched earth, I'll share with you, the same thing I shared with them:    

"I've got nothin'!  But I can lead you to the ONE Who does. He's the ONLY ONE Who can comfort you, help make sense of life in this new season, encourage you and give you hope in these places of desolation.  

He did it for Daniel.  He'll do it for you.  

HOWEVER, like Daniel, we'll have to CHOOSE to do life God's way...  We'll have to intentionally live life according to His Word; obeying Him as best we understand with our whole hearts embracing the good He has for us in this new season.

And when we do - He'll chase us down with favor, promotion and purpose in our everyday lives - despite the terrain being forever altered.   (Daniel 1:8-21; 2:46-49; 6:29)

Below is the closing session:


Is there anything MORE PRECIOUS than the people of God on their knees before Him?

Confessing sin; releasing unforgiveness, bitterness and anger...  At least 10 accepted Christ for the first time!  Women deliberately making decisions to live God's way...  It was AWESOME sight to behold!  The Spirit of God was in this place moving mightily!

Join us for OUR Conference!  Next Monday is the LAST DAY to Register!

MARCH 7TH
Register

Open to Women and Girls (6th grade and older!)

Keynote Speaker:

Tara Furman,

President and Founder of Knowing God Ministries

Amy Carroll,

Speaker and Author for Proverbs 31 Ministries

WORSHIP 

Ryan Wingo

REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!

Dental Surgery and Snow

Job 38:22
“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
    or seen the storehouses of the hail..."

Last Friday, I had dental surgery.  Oh mercy, it's taken much longer to recover than I expected. I finally started feeling normal again on Tuesday - so the snow days have seemed good.

Coming out of fuzzy medicine head, I've been preparing for the Coastal Women's Retreat this weekend at Ft. Caswell.   It's not exactly forecasted to be a warm beach weekend - but I'm super excited about the weekend and topic:  Purpose!   

What I LOVE about this topic is that despite turbulent circumstances, God's purpose for our lives never waiver.  He is the God of hope - even in desperate times.  I'll be teaching primarily from the book of Daniel.  The more I've studied, the more I see how God allowed Daniel to THRIVE despite being in a land of suffering.

Very excited about the message!  In fact, in my preparation, I've many times thought I'd burst from excitement of God's activity in the midst of hard times.  I realize this probably makes no sense to some of you.  But truly, I get excited about the promises in God's Word.  For those of you attending - I look forward to meeting you!

SNOW

Nothing makes my children and I happier than BIG, thick flakes of snow!  WE LOVE SNOW.

Wednesday afternoon, the sun was out and it was barely snowing.  I was shoveling our driveway and the kids were sledding in the yard.

Suddenly, big, thick flakes began to fall!  My children began jumping with joy - trying to eat the flakes.  My dog was even trying to eat them.

Yet it was when my daughter made this comment that my heart REALLY jumped with joy.  She said, "Mom, I just prayed that God would shake the storehouses of snow.  And He did!!!"

I praise God for the small, sweet glimpse of fruit coming from my daughter in the marathon of motherhood.   This was a glimpse of seeing my faith passed the NEXT Generation...

I praise God for Melody Merritt,

our Conference Director and her team.  My brain has been far from the KGM conference - as I've had to focus on my upcoming event.  But Melody and her team are busily preparing for the MANY already signed up.  It's going to be GREAT!

Registration NOW Open

Women/Girls' Conference

MARCH 7TH, 2015
9am-5pm
(Doors open @ 8am)

Open to women and girls 6th grade and older -

HOST CHURCH:  

Apex Baptist Church

"Making your House a Home " Part 2

…in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

Yesterday, we discussed two tangible ways to make your home a house for the Lord.  Today, we have one more action step and will also touch on the hospitality aspect of your home.

3. Pray      

Daily, be in prayer for your family. And WITH your family. 

Here are some ways the Black household shares in prayer: 

• Each morning before my husband and daughter leave the house my son and I say goodbye to them at the door.  We stand in a circle and my husband prays over the day. 
• We take turns blessing the meals we share together.
• As we tuck our children in bed each night, we pray out loud with them.  My daughter blows me away sometimes with the praises, thanksgiving and petitions she brings to the Lord.  
• Often as I head to bed, I stop at each child’s bedroom and once again quietly pray protection and thanksgiving over them.

4.  Hospitality

Because the home is such a significant part of a family, I have worked to make our home a place of refuge, a safe haven where people (my husband and kids, but also our extended family and friends) feel welcomed and loved.  This is the real meaning of hospitality:  simply making those that come into your home feel comfortable, secure and most importantly, loved.

I will admit to you that this has not come easy to me.  I am not the neatest person and I seem to be able to find things better in clutter.  However, my husband is very much the opposite.  I had to learn how to make my house a home.  I still daily pray for the Lord’s guidance and direction.   God has been so faithful in changing my heart and attitude toward how I look at my home.  

“She watches over the affairs of her household” Proverbs 31: 27a 

One of the best affirmations of my “homemaking” came from a five-year-old.  My daughter had a play date with a friend from school who, at the end of the play date, turned to my daughter and said “Your house is so cool!”  I really don’t think she was meaning “Oh, I love all the furniture and stuff you have in your house,”  I really think she was saying “So cool” because of the way she FELT as she spent time in our house.  She felt safe, happy and an overall peace. 

I am learning  so much from our home:

• I am so very thankful for the Lord’s provision in our home, for the peace and protection it provides.
• I have learned the gift of hospitality from my home, learning how to open my home and focus on those that we invite in.  
  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13, 
• In my home, I am learning to serve my husband as his helpmate and show him love.  By the dinner I prepare for him after a hard day at work.  By making it a safe haven for him from the stresses of the outside world.   A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.    Proverbs 12:4

The Lord has molded and shaped our home over these past years:   cribs in a bedroom transition into a "big person bed"; rooms are painted, pictures in picture frames are swapped for new ones; furniture is moved and then moved again.  It is ever changing and evolving  with our lives, but the constant and consistent, never changing aspect of our home is that WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.

And so I pray this scripture over my household and yours:

          For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

          Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more then all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen 

Ephesians 3:14-20

Registration NOW Open

Women/Girls' Conference

MARCH 7TH, 2015
9am-5pm
(Doors open @ 8am)

Open to women and girls 6th grade and older -

HOST CHURCH:  

Apex Baptist Church

Making Your House a HOME... Part 1 of 2

"As for me and my house we will serve the Lord."
Joshua 24:15

A few years ago, we sold the home that had been our “starter house” and went in search of what we hoped would be our “forever house” - - by this we meant a home our family could grow with, NOT a home our family would grow out of.

My husband and I prayerfully considered each home.  The one thing we could agree on was that in our home, Christ would be centered and we wanted all who stepped into the house to feel welcomed and feel the Lord’s presence.

“Home” - -is such an intricate and meaningful place for a family.   In the concordance of my Bible (NIV Application Bible), it says that a house is “a building that serves as living quarters for a family.” 
True, but to me it is so much more.  It is the place that 

• my kids come and snuggle up on my lap.  
• A place my husband arrives after a long and sometimes strenuous day at work.  
• AND it is the place that I daily spend time with my Lord. 

The home should be a place... 

• where a family comes together and feels safe, loved, and sheltered . 
• A place of worship for the Lord . . . a home where Jesus is the center, the heart.  
• Our home should be the place where we feel safe and able to cry out to the Lord.  (Psalm 46:1)

Regardless if you are married, a single parent or single - if you want to make your home a refuge, a place where you feel the presence of your Heavenly Father, let’s spend two days together exploring how to begin making our houses into HOMES that serve the Lord.

For TODAY, two action steps:  

1)  Start by claiming a scripture over your home.

We actually inherited the scripture that we claim over our house.  It is Joshua 24:15.  The previous owners had this verse on a small cross nailed by the side door entrance to the house.  I now have it written on the wall in our kitchen, the place that gets the most traffic during the day and a place that all guests will see and know that our house belongs to the Lord!

You may have a verse that is meaningful to your family, but if not, during YOUR quiet time with the Lord today, ask Him to lead you to a verse that speaks blessing to your family’s dwelling.   Once you have a verse, display it in a in a place of prominence as a reminder and blessing to all who see it.

2)  Have scripture written throughout your house.

I love Pinterest:   I can have an idea in my head, not know how to execute it, then search on Pinterest and find a very crafty person who has done all the work so all I have to do is print it out! 

This came in handy as I began to turn our home into a “House of Thanksgiving.”  I made a “Thankful Tree” and cut out leaves for our family and friends that visit to write what they are thankful for.  In my quiet time I meditated on verses throughout the scripture that talked on thanksgiving. I then typed a few out on my computer, playing around with the font and using a thanksgiving color scheme.  After spending entirely too long on this little project, I pulled up Pinterest and – voila! - found some of the same verses elaborately made with downloadable templates to print and put in frames. 

During your quiet time, keep note cards or sticky notes close by and when the Lord speaks to you through a verse, write it down and place it throughout the house.  Bedrooms, living area, kitchen, and even bathrooms are all great places to have scripture. 

Regardless of if you live in an apartment, town home, “starter home”, or “forever home”, I encourage you to make your house a home that serves the Lord. 

Next time, we'll explore even more - -but for now, I'll leave you with this thought:

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, 
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17