When Your Soul is Thirsty

Psalm 42:1-2

As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."

This past weekend, I did a retreat in Grundy, Va, called 'Got Purpose?'  

Grundy is DEEP in the Appalachian mountains - close to the Virginia/West Virginia line. Once arriving, (five plus hours from Raleigh)  I found faith-filled women.  No, STRONG, ROOTED, faith-filled women.  

Retreat Team 

Above is the retreat team of Harman Memorial Baptist.  They were amazing!  Harman Memorial is in coal mine country.  (It was really cool seeing an active mine - across the street from the church. I've never seen a mine before!)  But even cooler were the women who attended.

The ~100+ women who attended were HUNGRY for truth.  Truly, they reminded me of the key verse today.  Their souls were thirsty for living water.  They were thirsty for hope. 

Many drove an hour + to attend.

Women of all ages

Even mothers and daughters!  (my favorite!)

I share this - because it's rare to find such spiritual hunger.  It's rare to find a leadership team that truly understands the power of prayer.  This leadership team in the months leading up to the retreat - met regularly for prayer.  They even took a day to fast. 

They absolutely inspired and encouraged me personally with their heart for prayer.  (See the new hit movie War Room.  Click to see trailer)   Prayer is powerful! 

As a result:

Women responded to the challenge of identifying the sin that would rather stay hidden in our lives; to forgiving those who sin against us; to walk with God by SITTING in our chair; to obey God - even when it means stepping out of comfort zones.

They responded by drawing lines in the sand - on their knees in prayer.  Each committing to walk with the Lord afresh - fulfilling the specific, God-given purpose each of them have been given.

Hope and joy abounded!  In a difficult area of the country where coal mining has been shut down and the economy severely depressed - women have a new way of approaching the everyday.  Women are dreaming again!  Except now - they're allowing their dreams to be defined by the God of hope!

Retreat leader, Dee Dee Looney

Thank you Dee, Belinda, Tracie, Sarah, Tonya, etc... for the opportunity to minister to your women!  What a privilege.

ALSO:  LOVED going to Huddle House at 11pm Friday night!  Can't remember the last time I was up that late:)  Fun getting to know you!

Luncheon Friday, September 18th

Luncheons are a mini oasis' of spiritual refreshment...each with a specific message to

help you grow in your relationship with Jesus.

This month:  SPIRITUAL WARFARE!

Speaker:  Debbie Wilson

Do you ever feel discouraged for no apparent reason?  

Does fear control you?  

Does your past taunt you? 

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you're experiencing

Spiritual Warfare...

Click HERE for more and to register.

Early Registration ends Wednesday!

6 Ways to Become your Husband's Companion

 
If in the Raleigh, NC area, don't miss the first KGM @ Nite and Tara speak on her latest book,
The 7 Day Challenge.  
See below for details!

Genesis 2:18, 

The Lord God said, “It is not good for man to be ALONE!

Men desire companionship from their wives.   They long to have someone with whom they can share life’s experiences.

However, I believe men are lonelier today than ever.  With social media occupying our minds, our kids busier than ever with sports or activities and the endless things we use to fill our schedules, men are lonely.

Even worse is when our men feel alone in our presence because we’ve become so disconnected emotionally, physically and spiritually.  Often we can be sitting beside him on the sofa or at the dinner table but are so distracted with our own agendas and schedules that our men are left out in the cold.

IF this is your home:

1.      Have the courage to say, I’m guilty!  

2.      Start being “available” when you’re both home at the same time. 

3.      Begin listening to him when he talks.  Put your smart phone down and look at him when he’s talking. 

4.      Don’t interrupt him. LEARN TO RESPOND TO WHAT HE IS SAYING.  This has become lost in today’s society.  Example:  He says:  “Let’s have roast beef Sunday, with mashed potatoes.  That’s my favorite meal.”  And you respond, “Hmmm, Sunday….what time do you want to leave for Church?”

5.      Laugh with him.  Study what amuses him.  It’s a big deal to a man that you are on the same page with him.

6.      Be willing to do things he enjoys (including watching things on TV).

Men are typically not as talkative as we are, so become comfortable with silence.  Your physical presence and mental presence will be noticed, even if you aren’t saying anything.

Taken from: Click HERE for more

Does your Marriage need a little touch-up work... a little sprucing up?  

Or a major overhaul?

Come and learn how the Bible's recipe for marriage can lead to significant change in only 7 Days!

EVENT TITLE:

Jump Start your Marriage in a Week

– The 7 Day Challenge

Location:

Hope Community – Morrisville Campus

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Tickets:

$10 – ticket  |  $22 – ticket + book (details below)

Register HERE!

Intimacy in Marriage - a Gift to be Prioritized

Song of Solomon 5:1
Oh, love and beloved, eat and drink!  Yes, drink deeply of your love!

Friday's Luncheon - SO good to see familiar faces...



and to meet all the new faces!



We had a full house to discuss a topic that for the most part, is NOT discussed in the church at large.
The topic:  Intimacy in Marriage.



  How can it be?  How awkward for a Pastor or Minister to address from the pulpit:

• Lack of intimate desire?
• Menopause issues?
• Dryness?
• Pain?
• Body image issues?

But in a room full of Christian women - we discussed it!    And we didn't just scratch the surface, we talked about very real issues and received solid Biblical truth.

Personally, it was refreshing to discuss a subject that drives much of the culture, except we brought God's standard and truth into the subject.

The big message of the day:  Sex in marriage is a precious gift we should prioritize, protect and foster.

Brigitte Harrison, our bold, courageous speaker, encouraged us to:

• Build a wall!  Sex serves as a barrier against temptation.  She described it as adding a layer of bricks around the wall of your marriage.
• To not be ashamed!  Sex is not something to be ashamed of.  God created it and said that it was good.  

She told us that sex unifies.  That sex allows us to intimately know each other.  That sex is actually a picture of God's love!  God's love is about acts of service; His love is sacrificial; His love is selfless. Therefore, we should be the same.


She even challenged us to be creative and adventurous.  There were 3 questions we should ask:
1.  Does God say no to this?
2.  Is it good for us?  Will it be encouraging?
3.  Is it only us?  (NEVER should sex involve other people.)



And the biggie:  We, as women, should not only respond to our husband's advances, but it is vital for us to initiate.  Men want to know we are eager, not just enduring.  They want to feel wanted.



Not always easy.  Several women during the break approached me in tears sharing that their marriage is on the brink of disaster - and that they've never initiated intimacy.  They were thankful to have heard such truth.

During the Workshop -




Oh my!  What a hoot this was!  Tons of fun!

Between Rey Cooke, Debbie Wilson and Brigitte; Kelly Hollis as the moderator, anonymous questions from the audience were answered.  Nothing was held back!

They did a great job answering with practical suggestions - some that even made us belly laugh!  If you were there, who will forget what Rey shared about coconut oil???



In all seriousness, what I personally loved was how these women addressed issues that come from menopause.  One such example was Rey sharing that though she had lost most all desire, she made up her mind that since this was important to her husband, she would make it important to her.  She proceeded to share the practicals of how she did this.

Another big moment (in my opinion) was when Brigitte answered a question saying, "Many of these issues I shared were NOT my husband's issues.  They were mine.  But I sat with the Lord and allowed HIM to walk me through these issues instead of making them my husband's problems.  You should do the same - sit with Jesus.  Allow HIM to heal your heart."

Amen!

The other really awesome thing was the number of spiritually mature women who were in the audience and were able to add such encouragement to the discussion.  The things they shared were PROFOUND!  I wish you could have been there!  One such nugget:

• Resentment and Romance are not good bedfellows.  If you're angry with your husband and not forgiving him - romance can never come.

POWERFUL statement.

• Another shared how she found passion in her marriage again following breast cancer.  A very moving moment.

1. To see more pictures from the luncheon, click HERE
2. To share your favorite part of the luncheon or the teaching that was most meaningful to you, join us on the KGM Facebook page by clicking HERE

Don't miss our September luncheon -
September 18th with Debbie Wilson.
Topic:  How to Win at Spiritual Warfare

Pre-Order your copy of my latest book!

It's discounted if you order by August 28th!  You'll also receive some fun presale perks, like a pass for a friend to the

KGM @ Night Event September 10th!