Girl time!

Shopping with my daughter. I think I have been doing it since she was born. Even before then if you count the time she went along for the ride in my tummy. This weekend was a special weekend as my daughter and I headed to a cheer competition for some "girl-time". Hubby was away at what I call "duty"(Army National Guard training to some); my son was playing golf with his grandfather; and my daughter and I jumped in "her" car to go off for the weekend. And because it was just us girls there was a little shopping to be done. And I confess, some eating too.

As we shopped the stores there was a trend emerging. My daughter was gravitating to the swim suits. Ok, it is March...Spring. And we are dreaming of warmer, sunny days with blue skies and sunshine. But I was not in the mood to try on swim suits yet. And then it came. That moment when your daughter says something and all you can do is lower your head and say, "yes, you are right." As I stood there thumbing through the rows of beautiful swim suits, feeling less than beautiful myself, my daughter says, "All beautiful you are, my darling". Oh those beautiful words of Song of Solomon. I know them very well and it was me who taught them to my daughter. I taught them to her and shared them with many women at last years women's conference and I had to agree with her. I knew she was right! The Word is truth, all of it, and I knew that my behavior was not showing my trust in what the Lord sees.
As I spend time preparing for this years conference and spring session of Faithfull Fit I look forward to all the truth that I will learn in God's Word. I look forward to learning. I look forward to sharing. I look forward to living what I learn and what I share. I look forward to more Mother-Daughter moments when my daughter reminds me of God's truth. I pray that I demonstrate my trust in His Word.
In closing I want to share a challenge I issued a year ago to the ladies of Faithfully Fit:
"All beautiful you are, my dear. There is no flaw in you"(Song of Sol 4:7).

Insert your name in that verse. I dare you. Come on ...it's for each one of us. Let it whisper to your heart. All beautiful you are, Donna, Heather, Judy, Connie, Rhonda, Lisa, Jenny, Michele, and your name and your name. When you see yourself as I see you, you are beautiful says the Lord.

 

This spring, as you spend time with your daughters, your friends, your family, let them see that you trust the truth of the Word by living in that truth! I learned so much last spring and I look forward to learning more this spring. Join us in studying God's Word...we are always here and it is always FREE to join us at Faithfully Fit. Speaking of FREE, well, that just happens to be the name of Spring Session 2014! Join us to learn why!

Lesson in Radiance: Mary and Martha

"Mary....sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving."

Luke 10:39-40

Distractions are everywhere. We are easily deterred from things that are important. But consistenly, God will get our attention and re-direct us back to Him. It is then up to us whether we choose to follow or not. We have been studying some extraordinary women over the past few months. Each woman has been very different from the others, but they have also had one thing in common: they have all had a center focus on Him. They were all extraordinary not because of them, but because of God. God made them and makes us radiant.

This week, God has been teaching me about the importance of being meek. So far, I have learned that  1. meekness does not come naturally and 2. to have a meek heart does not make you weak but truly strong in Christ. When I began reading the chapter on Mary and Martha, I immediately could relate to Martha. In this story, Jesus had to gently teach Martha a lesson in meekness...so that she could be humble and learn that what is most important is to trust in Him and in Him alone.  

Read Luke 10:38-42

Martha was upset with Mary. She was irritated that Mary was sitting rather than working. And then she eventually got so irritated that she complained to Jesus himself in front of everyone. And she was probably shocked when Jesus told her that she was the one in the wrong. Having a meek heart means that you are obedient, no matter the circumstance. You can question God's direction in your heart, but not aloud! ( an example of this is found in Ezekiel 24: 15-17). Martha's end actions shows how subtly and sinfully human pride can corrupt even the best of our actions. Mary had chosen the right thing. She had chosen a listening ear...a listening heart. She was showing a teachable spirit. (Psalm 25:4-5).

Having a meek heart helps us to realize that what God has done for us is far more important than what we do for Him. "Meekness is an attitude of humility toward God and a gentleness towards people, springing from a recognition that God is in control." Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Meekness = Radiance
Are you seeking radiance today?

Lord, I pray that you will help us all to seek You. Lord, may we allow You to be consistently in control and may we have a listening heart. Lord, transform us, change us, clothe us with meekness, fill us with Your Spirit and produce in us a "Mary" heart,  not only for our own enjoyment and pleasure, but even more for Your glory and so that we may radiate and reflect Christ to our world. I pray it in Jesus’ name, Amen.
~Donna

Heart Treaures

The treasures of your heart. What are they?
Love.
The love of Jesus.
The love of a husband, a son, a daughter.
These are my "heart treasures".

It hasn't always been in this order.
Oh, the things I missed.
But not this morning.
This morning the treasures of my heart were stored in just the most perfect order and my heart sings JOY.
Sleep in my eyes, there is a little chill in the air as I wake and take a walk to the kitchen, feed the cat, and start the coffee. Settling in my chair, coffee warming my hands...the Word begins filling my heart with warmth. It's the greatest moment of the day, drawing near to the One who loves best.
Two Sunday's ago my sixteen year old daughter discovered 1 Corinthians 13 as we listened together in church. (There was a mommy joy moment when I watched her write down a verse reference.) But here in my chair, just me and the Man who walks on water. There is something sweet that is to be tasted. Cherished. Treasured. I am His. God is good. Store that is your heart, make God's love your HEART TREASURE.

The treasures of your heart. What are they?
The Book tells us not to store up things that thieves and moths destroy.
Oh how I have wasted so much space and time on things of this world. (Matthew 6:19-21)
The things of heaven.
There are the things to be treasured.
And as I turn the pages of the Word the treasures fill my heart and mind and make me rich with all that is there to be enjoyed and savored. I read. I ponder. My heart tears. It opens to be filled, to be spilled. I am forced into conversation, my Friend awaits, my Father is near. He is there for you also, there is more of Him than there is of us. Seek Him with you heart. Look for heart treasures.

The treasures of your heart. What are they?

This past Sunday sitting between my son and my daughter at church. Eighteen and sixteen, how did this happen? My heart is overwhelmed with thanksgiving. Sunday. Surrounded by my church family, the beautiful children God loaned me...treasures! The treasures of the Lord abound, store them in your heart. Trust that even when you are experiencing trails you can cling to your heart treasures and be rich with Joy.
I am currently reading a book called "Kisses from Katie, A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption". Before retiring to bed last night I read Chapter 14. Katie is wise beyond her years. At eighteen year of age she moved to Uganda feeling God's call on her life to be a missionary. She has adopted 13 girls at the time of this book and writes,

"By most people's standards, my little family does not have much, but we have more than enough. And we know in our hearts that, really, Christ is all we need.... Serving Jesus and my family with all of me, that is my treasure."

 

The treasures of your heart. What are they?

Join me today in storing up treasures in heaven...Heart Treasures.

Jodie

 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

He Understands

Do you ever wonder if anyone understands what you are going through?
Do you ever stop and take a look around and feel overwhelmed by your circumstance?
Alone in your struggles?
I admit there are times when I have. Even on days when I am just overwhelmed with simple things I catch myself thinking, "does anyone understand?"

The more I get to know Jesus the more confident I am that He understands, and not just that, He comes and meets me where I am. He understands when I am overwhelmed, when I am depressed, when I am upset. He understand when I struggle with sin. And He meets me where I am.
He is there for you too. He understands you too. And He will go out of His way to meet you where you are!
This week in Faithfully Fit we have been studying the Samaritan woman.
The women at the well. (John 4:1-26)
In the heat of the day a woman walks to the well to fetch water. She is alone. She is doing this chore at a time of the day that others do not. Most likely because she does not want to be ridiculed.
Perhaps she wonders if anyone understands.
As she approaches the well she sees a man and He asks for a drink of water. We know that this is no ordinary man and she will learn who He is before the encounter ends. But at first she is unaware that this is Jesus. Jesus, who will be her Lord and Savior. And He did not just happen by, he came to meet her where she was. He went to this well not for physical water as all others who would come to the well. He had to go. He had to go to meet this one woman where she was. He understands. He understands and He meets us where we are.
The scripture says, "Now he had to go through Samaria" (John 4:4).
That is the Jesus I know. The Jesus that had to come when I needed Him. The One who came to take my place on the cross. The One who understands and who is with me always.
Is that the Jesus you know? Are you His? Do you walk with Him day by day? Or are your still searching and wondering if anyone understands?
If you are at the well, thirsty and alone, He will meet you there and He understands.
If you are buried under past regret because of sin, He will meet you there and He offers grace.
If you are overwhelmed with illness, debt, loss and pain, He will come to where you are and He understands and offers ALL of Himself to you.
That little verse, John 4:4, speaks volumes. He HAD to go. You see He is here for all of us, one by one, He comes where we are to offer us love and life. He understands. He understands pain, He understands struggle, He understands loss.
The Samaritan woman was thirsty for someone to understand. And Jesus said, "whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." ( John 4: 14) She accepted that drink. Will you?



Let's pray together. Lord, Often we are overwhelmed and long for someone to understand. Help us to trust that you are there, meeting us right where we are. Quench our thirst, hold us tight. Thank you for coming to us in our time of need and for being ALL we need. Amen

Spending time at the well ~ Jodie

Lessons in Radiance: The woman at the well

My vision is not good.

.....but then I am reminded that I should see things through God's eyes and not mine. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

          My heart struggles with living in this world.

 .....but then I am reminded that I am not of this world but that I belong to Him. (John 17:14-22)

          My head is fighting my heart to give up and quit.

                                                  .....but then I am reminded to "stand firm" in the work of the Lord. 

                                                                                     (1 Corinthians 15:58)

The story of the woman at the well is simple. It is about confronting who we really are, truly experiencing God's grace, and then sharing the Good News. (John 4: 5-42)

Simple...right? Some days yes and some days...no. The hardest part? Being human and trying to "please" people while ultimately serving the Lord without compromise. Maybe I need to spend a bit more time looking at the woman at the well and basking in God's grace, letting Him cover me. 

My joy is fading and then God reminds me of a simple lesson that I learned as a little girl. A song embedded deep in my heart.

My 4 year old girl is dancing her first dance recital to a familiar song...."This Little Light of Mine". 

We all know it...

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine....

Hide it under a bushel, no, I'm gonna let it shine.....

Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine"

But her song is a bit different. It is by a group called Addison Road. Please join me in listening...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii2THk_yR3Q

"There will be days when you want to give up

When the clouds settle in

But after the rain comes the sun

Don’t you ever forget

One day there will be no more pain

And we will finally see Jesus’ face

So until then I’m gonna to try

To brave the dark and let my little light shine"

When the world and all the people in it are bringing you down...

 LET IT SHINE. 

When Satan is trying to steal your joy.... 

LET IT SHINE. 

When you are confronted with who you really are, hold on to God's grace and....

 LET IT SHINE.

Do you want to be radiant?

Let it Shine!!!

~Donna

Spring is in the air...well in my heart!
Time changes Sunday...longer days!
It has been an interesting winter here in North Carolina and even though it has been colder than I would like God has shown himself time and again in the beauty of his creation.
Yesterday, the instructors met to complete plans for spring session. Every few months we focus on a new theme of study, we refresh the music, we take a moment or two to celebrate with a kick-off, we take time to get excited about the journey and the task God has planned for us. We rejoice that we are his servants, however far we fall from perfect, we gladly serve to bring glory to the One who loves each of us!
We pray that this spring you will take a moment to spend some time with Faithfully Fit. I don't want to give away all the fun we have planned but I want to share one word....FREE!

Free...to praise

Free...to workout

Free...to pray

Free...to fellowship

Free...to worship

Free...to encourage

Free...why? Because there is One who hung on a cross that you and I could be free from the chains of this world.
Pray about joining us this spring. We will kick off spring session on March 30th at 3pm with a Generations' Celebration at The Rock, 539 Becker Drive, Roanoke Rapids, NC. All ladies are invited and you are invited to come with your mothers, grandmothers and daughters. This promises to be a sweet time of fellowship!