She Speaks Overwhelms!

Powerful.
Overwhelming.
Beautiful.
Breathtaking.
Spirit-moving.
Challenging.
Confirming.
Answer to prayer.

All of these statements have one thing in common.
They each describe my time at She Speaks 2014.

Powerful.
The more I seek you, The more I find you.
Kari Jobe's song, The More I Seek You,  has come to life in a powerful way for me. Truly over the last six years I have sought the Lord harder than I ever have and truly He continually shows Himself. My time at She Speaks 2014 was incredible for many reasons. Great speakers, wonderful women, delicious food, amazing music. But the most exceptional thing for me was the number of times God spoke to my heart and confirmed His words for me. I would sit and listen intently to Lysa TerKeurst and He would whisper. And each whisper would confirm His leading. Continually He was shining light on the Word and always clearly answering my questions.
Sitting at the feet of the Lord is never without result.
And the result is always drawing nearer to the King.
And my heart is always left overwhelmed by His great love.
Overwhelming.
A sea of women created a traffic jam when I first arrived and I initially felt overwhelmed, even breathless. Why am I here? Suddenly the sweetest face emerged from the crowd, a smile and a friendly greeting, all helped to calm me. Lydia was sent for this very purpose. I will not forget her. The entire weekend passed without bumping into her again until the very last moment. Just as we were getting ready to enter the prayer room for one last prayer there was Lydia. God has perfect timing.
Beautiful.
Proverbs 31 took care of all the details and made each lady feel loved. We were all prayed for by name in advance. Flowers and candles welcomed us and transformed the hotel space into a home. Everywhere...beautiful!

Beautiful women, all with loving hearts, all with a desire to share God's love with others.
There was Nancy from New Jersey who desires courage.
Dorri, spelled with two R's, who asks for patience.
Shanti, a beautiful mother of five. Lisa, who sparkles with the kindest smile.
Becky who has been stalked for years and refuses to stop living in fear.
Kelly who just stared a blog and has posted two times.
And many more.
All beautiful.
I now carry a "one-word prayer" for each one.
Breathtaking.
Each message spoken was powerful and each moved my heart toward prayer for more boldness. I have come back with a great desire to spend time in the darkroom while God brightens His light in me so that I may emerge a lighthouse for Him! (Thank you Christine Caine)
I plan to study more about the hidden face of God and his chosen people. I desire to GO and MAKE. To go into all the nations and make the name of Christ known...make Jesus famous! (Thank you Lysa TerKeurst)
I'm ready to continue pouring all of myself into whatever mission field the Lord plots before me and I find myself overflowing with joy and love that I pray will flow out and over to all that I meet!

Yes, it was Spirit-moving. Challenging. Confirming.
And one of the best gifts of all is that I get to come home and continue serving alongside my AMAZING ministry partner and friend!

 Donna, ready to make the BEST YES!

And with His Words and His ability and for His glory, I will stand firm and be faithful to follow where He leads.

 

 

She Speaks 2014 was a blessing to my heart, mind and soul. To all the Faithfully Fit girls who prayed and supported us...Thank you from the depths of my heart!

Overflowing with love for you all~ Jodie

 



"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

"If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11

When you can't see the stairs....

One of our Faithfully Fit ladies gave Jodie and I a gift once...a sign that said this:

I have it in my bathroom. 

I read it when I am brushing my teeth or fixing my hair. 

But recently, it has become a resounding voice in my head.

And then, this morning...God reminded me of it..again.

You see, to be quite honest with you, I am a little scared right now.

I told the evening class last night about some uncertainties at work and how that has been a concern for me...whether or not I will have a job next week..but that it not really what is scaring me.

What has been on my heart and mind more is the trip that I will be taking tomorrow with my dear friend and ministry partner, Jodie.

.

We leave in the morning for She Speaks.

We leave in the morning on an adventure that will change us forever.

We leave in the morning with open hearts and hands asking God to show us where He wants us to go...and I cannot see the staircase...I am not sure if there are handrails...and I am also not quite sure if I am "in shape" enough to take all those stairs. 

"Now, Donna," you say. "You and Jodie are soooo good at what you do. You make such a great team." (thank you for the compliment and encouragement, by the way!)

I do not discount that and each and every day is a blessing working with Jodie...but we have done it all right here at home. There has only been a small staircase to climb...and we now have practice at those stairs!

But God being the "on time" God that He is...gave me just what I needed this morning. 

As I read my devotion, I was reminded of Joseph - you know the one with the beautiful coat of many colors (Genesis 37). The Joseph who had a dream that that his family would bow down to him. The Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers who were jealous of him. I bet his staircase was really scary. I bet he thought that God had possibly abandoned him - but through it all God had a plan.

God reminded me in Psalm 86 that He alone is God and

that He alone will do great and wondrous things (v.10).

As I prayed today because I feel grossly unprepared  to go out where God leads, He reminded me that I will not go alone. That He has ordered my steps and that He has and will continue to use my will for His purposes, even when I am not paying attention. He reminded me now and earlier today to seek Him wholeheartedly and to stop looking ahead at the whole staircase but to take one step at a time.

Thank you to those who are and will continue to pray for Jodie and I as we walk in the Truth that has been laid out before us. May you know that the same power that He offered through Jesus is not only offered to us but to each of you too.....Are you willing to step out as well? We would love to have you join us!

~Donna

42 and Joy-filled!

Birthdays.
Some love them, some loathe them.
Some celebrate them, some hide from them.
Some get excited, some get disappointed.
Some even choose to lie and say they didn't happen.

Yesterday was my birthday.
I turned 42. That is a truthful age. Honest!
This is my favorite picture from my time celebrating my milestone...warning its a "selfie"...or an "usie"...a picture taken on a cell phone!

You may not be able to tell why I love this picture so much. Allow me to share what I see and feel when I look.
I see joy. Inner joy.
I see the joy of a wife who loves her husband. (He deserves an applaud! He arranged this special day with a dear friend of ours who shared hospitality, love and good cooking!)
I see the joy of a mom who is so excited her children are present in her life.
I see a change.
A change you may not notice, but I do.
The change is the JOY in my heart that now spills out in my smile and my wrinkled nose!
It hasn't always been there, though I have always wanted it! I just spent time chasing the wrong things to get it!
Now I chase Jesus! Well I don't have to chase far, He's always near!

He created me and never left me. I am His marvelous work and so are you!
Not one day of my life is a surprise to Him.
He knew the birthdays I would spend without joy and those I would spend with joy overflowing and He works everything together for good! He is good.
He is the treasure of my heart and because of Him I treasure other things more fully.
My family, my friends, yes.
But also with great joy I treasure sisters!
Sisters in Christ.
Other women who see Him and need Him. I treasure YOU!

 

I'm 42 and one day old.
I have joy in my heart. The joy of a Savior!
And each day I enjoy sharing that joy with others!
I pray you have that JOY also! If you don't can I say a prayer for you today?
Father,
You amaze me. You stir my  heart in ways that no other can. You pour blessing upon blessing. I stand in awe of your love, your patience, your gentle and quiet ways. Your strength abounds and it is present for us all. Thank you. Lord, I know someone today needs your joy. They need you because they are lonely, they are hurting, they are lost. I lift them to you. Not even knowing their name, I lift them. You know them. You knitted them together, you know each hair, each heart and each tear. Nothing about them goes unnoticed to you. Lord, let them feel your love, let them see your blessings. Place someone in their life today that is willing to share your joy with them. May your family be added to today! I will rejoice in new sisters!
Amen

If you need a place to fellowship with other women, explore God's word, share prayer and experience joy with sisters we invite you to Faithfully Fit! Click around our blog and see what we are all about. Hopefully you will notice that "whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we do it all for the glory of God!" (1 Cor. 10:31; emphasis mine)

~Jodie

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him" Psalm 28:7

 

Joy in the Laundry, Really!

A text received from my husband..."Washing clothes. What is your saying? Joy in the Laundry?"

I'm married to an "Army-man". He's not always away from home, but this night he is and he's doing his own laundry.
I reply, "Yep! Are you feeling the joy?".
"No. Missing home.".
That tugs at my heart!

I wake up today and strip the sheets off the bed, knowing only one side is really in need of washing, the other side has been missing it's normal occupant (and I have too). But alas, there is laundry to be done so here I go! My thoughts go back to the text. I have become fairly well-known for saying there is JOY IN THE LAUNDRY.
It brings a smile to my heart when others remember.
But what is it really all about?

Well unfortunately for years I spent time moaning and groaning over piles of dirty laundry that needed to be washed, dried, folded, ironed and put away. I mean really there were loads upon load and I never seemed to be able to catch up. There were days that it seemed to consume me as I would tug the dirty clothes to the basement, load up the washer and then turn on the dryer repeatedly to fluff the clothes I meant to fold the day before. It seemed worthy of complaint. But somewhere along the way I saw a blessing overlooked. Little arms and legs were running around in those clothes each day spilling jelly on their shirts, playing in mud puddles, drooling ice cream. And those little arms and legs were attached to sweet little blessings that were mine! (Now those big clothes belonging to my hardworking husband were also a blessing, but I thought you may get warm fuzzies if I showed you my little blessings!)

And while their little clothes with big messes turned to big clothes with bigger messes they were still blessings filled with joy to be treasured!

 

I wrote these words in an email sent in February 2012:

 "I have gone from despising the mounds of dirty clothes that need washing to enjoying my time folding the fresh loads falling out of the dryer. What happened to my distaste for the dirty, stinky socks and underwear? I began to look at the chore as an act of love toward my family and well, not a chore."

 

There is Joy in the Laundry!

 

And there is more, more to my Joy in the Laundry. There is Jesus!

Jesus stands ready to wash loads and loads of dirty laundry every day.

Our laundry.

We approach his feet, stinky and unclean.

He reaches out and removes the dirt and grime of sin.

He makes us clean.

An act of great love.

Not a chore.

A gift of love.

 

 

"Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness" Psalm 51:7-8

 

So when the piles seem endless...(like this pile to be ironed that has been waiting over a week), don't worry, don't complain.

Look for the joy.

Look for the blessings.

 

 Spend more time here! Jesus doesn't mind if you are wrinkled! And if you throw that load in the washer before you sit the machine will be working for you while you enjoy sweet moments in the Word...finding JOY!

 

Joy in the laundry!
I just can't wait for that Army-Man to get home so I can wash his clothes!
~Jodie



An Unlikely Gathering

 

 
 

It was an unlikely gathering.

Unlikely because normally time would not allow.
But on this day time opened wide.

Unlikely because normally I would stress about dotting the I's and crossing the T's.
But on this occasion God prompted me to follow His lead.

So while I snipped the basil off I said, "Ok God, you lead, I'll follow".

 

I sent a few texts out.
One to a friend who I knew loves my Tomato Basil Summer Salad (which did not even have that name until after this unlikely occasion occurred)! A warm response of excitement was received. Really? Yes, Really!
I would like to make you a salad!
And then God prompted again. "You know another friend who is home alone this evening. Why not invite her to come over and share my bounty that I have sent as a blessing". So I sent another text and extended an invite. And God said, "Why stop there? Take my lead and see who will come if you just extend an invitation. I have opened the time, provided all you need, just open your heart and your home". So I continued to share invitations, to a neighbor, to a friend I have not seen all summer, and then to our entire morning Faithfully Fit class that just happened to be filled with new faces on this particular morning.
You want to talk about unlikely! It was the first summer morning class I had been able to attend. All summer long family matters and work issues and vacations have interfered with me seeing the sweet girls during morning class. But on this morning I was able! I will willing, ready and able. And so with a little hesitation (only because the "have to be in control of the details" person inside me was creeping out) I sounded out the invitation for anyone who would like to come! Come to my house and lets do some cooking! And all afternoon as God would place someone on my mind I would trust and respond.
And two minutes before six the doorbell rang for the first time. And then we began to gather.

And my kitchen began to fill with laughter and the wonderful aroma of food and God's blessings!

I gained a true respect that evening for women like Rhee Drummond, better known as the Pioneer Woman, who show others to cook, photograph each step and clearly explain the process. It's a ton of work! (I highly recommend her cooking blog, cookbook, TV show and recipes as they are easy to follow and tasty!)

 

This little group of friends, some new, some old, joined hands in my kitchen for prayer and God said, "Thank you for following".

 

We chopped. We told stories. We sautéed. We laughed. We learned. We shared life.

 

When the evening came to a close we all prepared to go our separate ways and they wanted to clean my kitchen. I said it's Ok! Because really, it was. On this day, in that place, all was well. It was an unlikely evening. But God cleared the way, arranged the timing, prompted those who He needed to gather and all was well! His blessing were bountiful!

This is the day the Lord has made, Rejoice and be glad in it!

Now I'm no TV cooking star, and though I have a recipe or two in a church cookbook, I am not a cookbook author. But I am a girl who likes to turn on the stovetop and stir up some madness! And I am a girl who loves Jesus. So from this point forward, when the unlikely happens again, I will be calling, texting, posting, inviting and I hope you will say yes! You just never know what the Lord will cook up when He's in your heart and you let Him into your kitchen!
~ Jodie

 

 

 

 Tomato Basil Summer Salad

Fresh vine ripened tomatoes ~ your choice of type: cherry, heirloom, roma
Olive Oil (tasting/finishing oil)
15 Basil Leaves ~ cut using a chiffonade technique (into long, thin strips)

Quarter or slice your tomatoes. Drizzle and toss with olive oil. Season with salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste. Finish by sprinkling basil on top. Enjoy all summer long while the tomatoes are fresh! It's just not the same when you can not get "real" tomatoes.

 

Take a moment to see the love of the Creator.

In this world of ups and downs, adversity, despair, sin and shame we often complain and see darkness. Satan loves that! He is prowling around, looking for anyone he can devour (1 Peter 5:8) and he is happy to see those who are caught up in focusing on the darkness.
Take a moment to see the light.

Even when we suffer, even when there is pain, God is present and writing love notes all over the sky for you...his chosen and dearly loved children. It takes a moment sometime to stop and fix our gaze on Him. How is it that we are able to be consumed by darkness when it only takes a sliver of light to awaken a dark space? Let's refocus on the light.

Take a moment to enjoy the gifts.

Love, Mercy, Forgiveness...they shine bright in a world of treasures that moth and dust destroy!

These gifts are freely given and available to us all. But we live in a world that says, "You don't deserve them", "You must earn them". My friend, that is just the lion prowling around looking to devour the one who has lost their focus. Focus on the Light. He says, "My gift is freely given", "I have come to save and not condemn".

Are you willing to take a moment to refocus?
Sometime we have seen things the same way for so long that it is difficult to look at them differently. I remember visiting the eye doctor for the first time after many years. My glasses were outdated and I did not realize that although I could see I was not seeing clearly. After being fitted with contacts for the very first time I left the doctors office. When I stepped out into the daylight I was breathless. The light took my vision for a moment. My eyes readjusted. And then I stood breathless. How did those leaves get so green? Have there always been a million leaves on one tree? My eyes were seeing beautiful things that I had been missing. I had a new opportunity to see more! You do to! When you turn your eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face...the things of earth will grow strangely dim (sound familiar?).
Turn around and look for a moment.
Just this past weekend when returning from a short road trip to Newport News I noticed a light. There is was developing in the sky to my left. I knew it was coming and there it was...the super moon. Donna was sitting in the passenger seat and I said, "do you see it?" but it was too late for her to view. Up the road just a hair and I decided we have to go back. Sure the moon will be visible from other places but this you have to see. It took time. It took a turn. It took my jeep across an opening in the median with my GPS saying, recalculate!

 And there we sat, pulled off on the side of the highway. Laughing, looking, pulling out our cameras. Taking a moment from our world time table and choosing to stop and see the love of the Creator. He whispers in the wind. He speaks in the paintings of the sky. Here I am, loving you, holding the world on it's axis and it's all for you! "God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, AND TO DIVIDE THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS. And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:17-18, emphasis mine).

Take a moment to see the love of the Creator, to see the light, to enjoy the gifts, be willing to refocus, turn around and look!
 He writing love letters all over the place and they are for you!

Blessings from the girl who loves Jesus and drives around in an orange jeep~ Jodie

Think about what it means to mimic Jesus.

A Bible-blog devotion with morning instructor, Sara Armstrong Patton

The world is ever-changing around us: unsettling, upsetting, sometimes even horrifying.
The Bible and its truths don’t change.
Jesus doesn’t change.
God doesn’t change.
The love God has for us doesn’t change.

One truth that will never change is found in Romans Chapter 6. Verse 16 tells us that we must choose whom we will serve – God or sin:

"Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living."

 

There are no other choices; there is no third option. In this overwhelmingly complicated world, I find rest and peace in that thought. There might be 48 different kinds of cheese crackers at the grocery store, but there is only one God, and we either choose to serve Him or choose to serve sin. Serving Him isn’t always something that comes natural to us, however. Choosing to serve God often means reacting in ways which feel completely unnatural. We must deny our human instincts if we answer the call to mimic Jesus.

And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

(Mark 8:34).

 

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (Ephesians 5:1)

Think about what it means to mimic Jesus.

In John 4, Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well. She was ostracized by her community and chose to go to the well in the heat of the day to avoid seeing the other women. Because of her immorality, she was shunned and rejected by those who lived in her area. Jesus knew she had five husbands already and that she was living with another man to whom she wasn’t married. Did He take her in front of everyone and talk about her sins? Did He condemn her? He did not. He told her about “living water,” eternal life, and the only thing which can satisfy our souls. I ask myself hard questions when I read about the Samaritan woman. How do I treat those who are ostracized in my community? Do I judge them publicly, do I judge them in my heart, do I silently watch as others judge them? Do I love them as Jesus does? Do I mimic Jesus? Am I serving God or serving sin?

In Luke 22, Judas betrayed Jesus. He accepted money and handed Jesus over to the chief priests, knowing that the chief priests were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus. Did Jesus retaliate? No, He did nothing to seek revenge. As I read what Jesus said on the cross, I believe He forgave Judas, just as He forgives all of us.

 

On the cross, he made a statement about forgiveness.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

 

He asked for forgiveness for those who crucified Him, for Judas who betrayed Him. I ask myself hard questions when I read about Judas. How do I respond when someone is hurtful to me or my family? Do I seek revenge; do I hope something bad will happen to them? Or, do I forgive and love as Jesus loves? Do I mimic Jesus? Am I serving God or serving sin?

We are called to make a choice.

There are only two choices: serve God or serve sin.

I am human and weak, and it’s not always easy, but every day I make choices to serve God. He loves me enough to sacrifice His only son. Do I deserve that love? Absolutely not, but I don’t have to. He gives it freely. It’s a gift, not an award. In my thankfulness, I serve Him, not because I am trying to earn His love or His mercy or His grace, but because I love Him. I pray you love Him and will make choices every day to serve Him too.

Sara

 

Life's Lemons

Right this moment...I am physically tired.

My eyelids are heavy and I am hoping that my kids will want to watch a quiet movie very soon.

Why am I so tired?

Well, I am glad that you asked.

Meet my mom.

 As far as I am concerned she is the best mom on the planet. 

And I know for a fact that God chose her just for me!

My mom (her name is Dianne by the way) has had her fair share of sickness this year and last night we got to have another "slumber" party - her words not mine - in the hospital.

This year alone, my mom has had a stroke, been diagnosed with a-fib, had a cardioversion to correct her a-fib, had several needle biopsies due to a large tumor found on her thyroid and then had her thyroid removed.

What a bunch of lemons!!

I am sure that each of you reading this could name your own lemons... some much worse than what we have been dealing with, but that is not the point of this blog entry.

The point is that through it all.....there has been peace.

Through it all.....there has been confidence.

Through it all......there has been rest.

Through it all there has been an absence of fear.

Because, through it all there has been... Jesus.

God's word promises us that He will bring it to health and that all will be healed. And that through Him and His healing that peace and truth will be seen. Notice that God's word does not specify the healing or where it will take place? Our family has been lucky in that mom's healing has come here on earth....but God does not always work that way..but He is always working to bring nothing but good to those who believe. (Romans 8:28)...in heaven and on earth.

So, when God hands you lemons...what are you doing with them? Are you celebrating the healing that will come and having a glass of lemonade or are you just making an ugly face? Do you have peace in the truth? Can you rest even when you are physically exhausted? I sure hope so. And if you aren't sure how, we would be happy to share Jesus with you!

Off to bed...lemons and all!

~Donna

Balance In This Place

Balance.
It's the one word prayer that I came home from our family beach vacation whispering.
In a world where most of us overindulge and seek more and more of the good life, I say, "Lord, give me balance."
Preparing to leave for our vacation time takes some preparation on my part. I am the planner of the family. I locate the place, make the reservations, pick a time to leave, coordinate our work schedules and our children's schedules, pack the bags, prepare the car for all our needs and at the end of it all I feel like I am definitely ready for a vacation!

It's a balancing act.

In the moments before we depart, I wonder. What am I forgetting?
The cat? Check!
The thermostat? Check!
The lights? Check!

As I grab the last few items from the kitchen table I know that whatever I leave behind will not be sorely missed. And if need be in this world of Walmart, Dollar Tree and grocery stores we are able to run around the corner to grab what we "need". Unless it's a trip to Okracoke or Sunset Beach! Then you realize that you can live without eight pairs of flip flops and seven scents of body lotion!

Balance.

When the car pulls into our destination and all our "essential" belonging are unpacked I spy that one place I know will provide my balance during our vacation frenzy. That one place that I found last year on the early morning rise when all other heads stayed laid in the bed. There it is, my little place for balance. The swing... an invitation to come...tucked in the shade...overlooking the sea...perfect sights and sounds provided by the Creator. Add one me, one bible, One Jesus. Balance.

I invite Him in to join me on my adventure to seek the kingdom first.
Before the feet are in the sand.
Before the hunt for my shells.
Before the trip to the seafood buffet.
Before the putt putt games and the shopping excursions.
Before I let the rest of the world enter and take away the balance.
He anchors my soul, sure and steadfast, He offers me rest, nourishment, peace, love, joy, hope.
So when the calls come in from the outside world, the world of ups and downs, twists and turns, and all that we let offset our balance I am attached. Attached to the anchor. My unwavering Christ.

 

 

My Balance. My Rock. My Anchor.

Present when the call comes about illness. Present when the storm brews in the distance. Present when the uncertainty of here looms in the night.

He offers Balance.

Rest for the weary,

Strength for the weak,

Hope for the hopeless,

Love to the lonely.

Balance.

 

And while I seek the kingdom and long for balance, there are others in need of this treasure as well. He sees them well before I see. He knows them long before I know. He spots the worn, the weary, the broken, the torn. He offers guaranteed promises:

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

 



He sees what I see as whole. He notices the fragile that I overlook. He tends to the frayed well before I even see the tattered. And he gives light to darkness.

And he whispers in the wind, "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go" Genesis 28:15.

He speaks through the warmth of the sun and says, "behold, I am freeing you today from the chains which are on your hands...come along, and I will look after you" Jeremiah 40:4.

In the calm after the storm He proclaims, I Am!

I am your balance. Your Rock. Your Anchor. Your God.

 

And as I unload the car and place my purple bible on the tableside I smile and thank the One who knows all my tattered, torn and battered places for the balance He offers, the rest He gives, the love He showers, the light He shines.

Ahh, balance. ~ Jodie