Our 7th Birthday & Stones of Remembrance

1 Samuel 7:12

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.  He named it Ebenezer saying, "Thus far the Lord helped us."

Several weeks ago, Knowing God Ministries celebrated it's 7th birthday!   Our team celebrated with balloons, fattening desserts and sweet fellowship!

(The yummy food is hiding)

     

This was our first Journal.  I LOVED this Journal, but it was super expensive to reproduce.  The current Journal is very similar to this one.  (Just not pink!)  In fact, I like Growing Stronger Roots better!  I like the organization component.

A month before KGM's birthday, the Lord put on my heart in my quiet time to commemorate the milestone with Ebenezer's stones proclaiming, "Thus far the Lord helped us."

"Well what in the world is THAT supposed to look like, Lord?"  I asked.  "Am I supposed to go gather stones and paste writing on them?"

No answer...

But leading into the last KGM meeting of the season and the birthday celebration - God impressed upon my heart that a stone could look like this:

So I contacted Kelly Hollis (right) and said, "I need some stones!"   Explained what I sensed the Lord saying, and the above is what this creative genus came up with.  Such a gift!

So at the KGM birthday celebration, we posted the stones on a big bulletin board!  

What a blessing to every woman (especially our new girls) as I shared what each stone represented and how far the Lord has brought us.  Because truly, each stone represent HUGE milestones that are only a reality because of God.   

Each stone represent months or years of prayer and work before it EVER came to fruition.  Some of the stones represent miracles - truly - nothing short of a modern day miracle.

The process of gathering these stones, brought tears, sweet memories of events I'd forgotten, and eye opening thoughts...  

For example:  Pictured is my team in 2009 at the Intimacy with God launch we hosted at my church. There were MAYBE 40 women attended.

5 years later, God brought 400 to our first Women/Girl's Conference.

For me, the stones have given me greater resolve to keep keepin' on.  The stones have brought bigger faith to keep believing God;  the stones have brought greater focus to keep my eyes on Jesus, not the giants around me.  And more importantly, I've learned that as long as I keep my eyes on Him, the ministry's best days are in front of me.  

You can do this too!   You can do it with your family; your business; your ministry, etc...  

All you have to do is take time this summer to think back and recount the goodness and faithfulness of God in your life.  Then commemorate it with stones of remembrance.   

If you take time to do this, you too will be encouraged that thus far, the Lord HAS helped us...  And if He's helped us in the past, He'll certainly help us as we move into the future!

Hebrews 13:5, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Psalm 118:6, "The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?"

Psalm 121:8, "The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Thank yous:  

To my current Team and Board - everyone of you are the bomb!  You've been hand chosen by God to serve in the ministry.  I count it a privilege to serve beside you.

To my husband and children - I get my best stories from you and Jake!  I couldn't do this if it weren't for you.  Great is your reward in heaven.  You share in the reward as you allow me to go.

To my Mom and Dad - 2 of my biggest supporters - where would I be without you?  Words are not enough.  Thank you for pouring into our lives and KGM.  So excited it's almost golf tourney time, Dad!

To my sister and my Aunt Connie and Judy, who attend and volunteer at almost all of our functions and advocate greatly for KGM's mission - it's a gift to grow the Kingdom with you!

To our Partners in ministry who believe in what we're doing and help fund us with your offerings - we are grateful.  One of our prayers for you is that God will multiply it 100 fold into your lives and families.  Only God can repay all you pour in.  Thank you. 

To past Team members and Board members - you are a part of much of this - share in your Master's happiness!

To our faithful volunteers like Sandie Rogers, Brenda Vath, and Emma Marx - only Jesus sees the hours you spend behind the scenes - may He reward you as only He can.

If I've miss anyone - I'm so sorry!  

Regardless...

Thank you for taking this journey with us.  

May the Lord Jesus be glorified in all we do!

When Worry Consumes You

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!”  

Isaiah 26:3

Peace sounds so easy:  just keep your mind on God and He will keep your mind at peace!  We would all like this.  But it is not as easy as it sounds.  

One of the times in my life that I was in need of peace was in 2000:   my husband left,  we got a divorce, and I became a single mom with no job.  I wanted peace, but tears, worry and anxiousness overwhelmed me.  I wanted to know how I was going to make it through today and what tomorrow was going to look like.  There were many days that the load was overwhelming.  I found that worry did not help, it just borrowed trouble.  God’s Word answered the trouble:  I found that when I turned to prayer and gave it to God, the load was lighter.  He was my burden bearer, bringing peace into my heart and my mind.

I found the key to peace was Jesus.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  

Philippians 4:6-7

One of the ways that I found helped me keep my eyes on God was to cultivate a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving.  During that period of time, I read a devotion that gave me the idea to keep a “Praise and Thanksgiving” Basket.  Each night before I went to bed I would write on an index card 5 things that I could thank and praise God for that day.

I wrote my praises and thanksgiving on index cards for three years.   Some days it was hard to find something to be thankful for or to even praise God.  But as I looked for the praises, I saw my God at work, supernaturally taking care of my needs, giving peace and joy in the midst of horrible circumstances.  During those difficult years, I learned that He is my Sustainer, my Provider, my Everything.

Now, 14 years later, I still write my praises and thanksgiving down.  I keep them in my journal.  This still helps me keep my thoughts fixed on God.  When you are in need of peace and having a hard time keeping your mind fixed on Him, try writing out your praises and thanksgiving,

It will help you fix your thoughts on Him.  And He will fill you with peace!

Bless Those Around You

2 Corinthians 4:7

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

I'm always amazed at the blessings God sends when we say "YES" to Him.  (Saying "yes" meaning - we walk in obedience to His commands as best we understand.)   

The really cool thing about God, He'll not only blesses us, He'll bless the people around us as well.

• Potiphar was blessed b/c of Joseph -
• Naomi was blessed b/c of Ruth -
• The nation of Israel was blessed b/c of Esther -

There are many more.  These are top of mind.

This band, 1 Girl Nation, is the BOMB!!!   If you are a mother or grandmother of a tween girl, check them out.  They are beautiful role models.  (I would love to have them come to Raleigh - but it will require many churches and/or groups coming together.  I'm thinking Girls' Conference.  Begin praying! (A work of God always begins with prayer.)

Following the 1 Girl Nation event Saturday, Caroline Simas, the Event Organizer invited a few of us to her home for an after party.  My daughter, her friend, and Caroline Simas' girls were the only kids in attendance!

What a huge blessing for my daughter!  The day before was her birthday and we did virtually nothing to celebrate.   Yet Jesus arranged for us to have our own little party with the ladies from 1 Girl Nation!!!

The girls from the band, played soccer and basketball with the little girls.   Engaged them in conversation.

They took selfies and put them on Instagram - which my Caroline marveled at all the 'likes' they got within minutes!



I believe with all my being God gave our girls this BLESSING because their Mamma's said 'YES' to Him.   He compelled one Mama to organize (out of her comfort zone) and another to speak to little girls (definitely out of hers).

Caroline Simas, a special friend of mine, is not an Event Organizer, but an Artist.  She's the Founder and Owner of Multiple Blessings.   We met years ago when I was inspired to publish my little homemade prayer journal.   Though she lives in Charlotte, God divinely led me to her for encouragement and inspiration.  

   

In a nutshell, Caroline started her business by printing her designs (which include Scripture) on note cards, note pads, bookmarks, tissue boxes etc...   Her dream was to be a licensed artist  - asking the Lord for 2 or 3 companies to represent.  He answered by blessing her with 30 companies!   Her designs are now sold worldwide. God is using her gift of art to point people to HIM in secular places. Our God is SO BIG!  (Her products ARE GREAT for gift ideas...  check her out!)

The Holy Spirit prompted her late in the winter to put this event together for a nonprofit she's involved with called Education = Hope.     She said, "yes" even though she had no idea what she was doing. She just followed the leading of the Holy Spirit one step at a time.

Caroline and I learned:  

1 Obedient Woman + the POWER of the Holy Spirit = a God Event with the power for life change!

He'll do the same for you!  Is the Lord prompting you to do something that's totally out of your comfort zone, yet you're sensing a compelling you can't describe?   A compelling you're having a hard time saying "no" to - yet to say "yes" may not make any sense?

THAT'S GOD!  That's His Spirit compelling us; inviting us to join Him in His work and to make a difference.

If we base our decision of obedience on what we perceive we can do in our own ability and talent, we'll miss the power of God and the really cool things He has planned for us...  AND the people around us...

Thank you Caroline Simas for making me think bigger, by thinking smaller!   

Because of you, I got experience God in a new way. (I bet you did as well:)

And because of your invitation -  There's a new Girl's Journal!

More Next Week!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!