Day 9

Day 9 -
I am thankful for the message the ladies shared at the Women Of Faith conference this weekend. This was either the 3rd or 4th WOF conference I've attended, and although I've enjoyed each one, I really felt like the messages this weekend hit me very personally. The theme was 'Survival to Revival'.

I've felt God calling me to women's ministry for about 18 years now, ever since I attended my first ladies retreat with the ladies I went to church with back then.  Since that time I have been taking baby steps. Sometimes we are called to proceed slowly. God is still teaching me and bringing new experiences to prepare me. But although I have moved ahead, I've dragged my feet at times too.

I'm continually filled with doubt.  I look in the mirror and see what my past and what other say I am. I see the girl who was painfully shy, the child who was afraid at home, who was told by a teacher she was stupid, someone who isn't the 'cool kid' or popular girl, who was bullied, who was dumped at prom, who has failures and shame, who has been judged, who has been told by Christians what my limits are, heartbreaks and losses, etc... But the truth is, who I really am, is a daughter of the King!  I have told myself and others that that I am free of the past yet as I sat there in the big event center with 6,000 sisters-in-Christ, I realized, I was still letting my past restrict me.  I was letting my past hold me back from accepting the future God has for me.

I need to let all the rest go. REALLY let it go!  It's time to stop worrying about what others think of me and focus on the victory I have in Christ!

Dear Lord, thank you for not giving up on me.  Thank you putting a calling on my life. I will stop living in fear and focusing on myself and my insecurities and I will focus on what You have done and will do. I will minister to women, and be the speaker You're calling me to be. I will obey You. When fear and doubt try to creep in, I will look to You, knowing that I can do all things through, my strength, my all in all.
 Amen.

Day 8

Day 8 - I am thankful for Gods timing. I could give many, many reasons for this, but today I'm thinking of the ability to attend this weekends conference. Thankfully, this was paid for quite a while ago! Thank you Lord for providing and working things out so I could be with many sisters in Christ praising You and being filled. Amen.

Day 7

Day 7 - I am thankful for being able to attend the Women of Faith conference this weekend. It's been about 6 years since I have been able to attend one of these events. I'm looking forward to the speakers and what the Lord has to say to all of us ladies through them. I'm looking forward to the music which always inspires and is a great time of worshiping our God. And I'm really looking forward to being surrounded by many sisters-in-Christ. Being in the frozen chosen north east, it can feel like we are so few. Dear Lord, thank you for this opportunity to fellowship with other believers, to learn more about You, and to praise You!!! Amen.

Day 6

Day 6 - I am thankful that the cooler weather means no (or at least, a lot less) spiders!! I saw a plastic spider that one of the boys strategically placed for me to find, and thought how wonderful it has been not to find creepy crawlies all over the place lately. Dear Lord, I know that I should appreciate all that You have created. Right now I am appreciating the changing season where I'll get a reprieve from Your eight-legged creations.Thank you. Amen.

Day 5

Day 5 -
Today I am thankful for chocolate.  This needs no deep explanation.  Dear Lord, thank you for special treats on dreary days.  Amen.

Day 4

Day 4 -
I am thankful for clutter.  Say what?  Although the clutter in our home drives me nuts most days (all 4 of us like to hang on to things), I can see the blessing in it too.  I look around and see that the clutter is made up of things like toys, clothes that need to be changed out for the next season, pots and pans, piles of school papers, books, etc... I'm thankful our boys are blessed to have plenty of toys to play with and share with friends. I'm thankful that we have plenty of good clothes to wear for all weather.  I'm thankful to have plenty of cookware to make meals for our family and share with others. I'm thankful our boys are doing so well at school and come home excited to show us their hard work.  I'm thankful we are a family who likes to read. And on and on I could go.  Thank you Lord that as frustrating as it is to keep the clutter from taking over, that all of this 'stuff' reminds me that a happy, well cared for family lives here.  Amen.

Day 3

Day 3 - 
I am thankful for God's beautiful creation. Snowy, messy day yesterday. Beautiful sunset last night. Bright, sunshine today with leaves of red, gold, and orange fluttering in the breeze. Dear Lord, thank you for all of the beauty that You have created. Thank you for the four season - the beautiful colors of fall, blankets of glittering snow in the winter, the fresh green buds of spring, and the sunshine sparkling on the sea in the summer. Your creation is a marvelous gift. Thank you. Amen.