“In our April training video, we will consider the value of taking time to “Be still” before God (Psalm 46:10).
Here, Becky Shirey teaches us how we can use a Psalm 46:10 moment to be encouraged and strengthened for the journey ahead.
Check it out!”
PDF Mar 092012
I was at home, my 6 year old daughter had her very favorite Christian CD on and was in her room coloring her princess pictures on her floor singing along. The day before she and her 4 yr old brother were “rocking out” to the same CD with a toy microphone and guitar. My daughter has almost every song memorized on this CD. The artist is a young lady who has an incredible ministry to other young girls and my daughter is a recipient of that. We had the opportunity to see her perform twice now. Seeing her perform live really brought her music to life in my daughter’s eyes, (and ears!)
I watched this scene that unfolded before me. On the outside, they were jumping around, singing at the top of their lungs, having a
great time, (and I, being a good mom, got some great shots and video of this of course) but on the inside, they were worshiping. She knows what the words are talking about. She understands that it is about Jesus. They both do. These aren’t songs we sing in church, but they are still songs that minister to her heart. This is worship. Her heart is touching God’s heart in these moments. That is what worship truly is – our heart touching God’s heart. When we delight in Him, we feel His delight in us. That is communion, worship and builds relationship with our Creator.
I was thinking about all the music we listen to, the artists we’ve seen perform, even meeting some of them in our lifetime. I grew up in a musical family. We toured with my dad most of my life as he sang and spoke at many festivals, conferences, churches, camps, (you name it) across the U.S. Throughout our travels and those events, I was introduced to many of the artists, authors, and speakers you may have heard of, seen live, or have product in your home as a result of their ministry. I remember after meeting certain ones, I was way more into their music or their books – because I had met the authors! This was a big deal to me, especially after knowing a little about them and hearing a few of their songs or reading their books earlier. I was a fan for sure, but now I appreciated them even more because I’d had conversation with them and got to know them a little more than just from a song or a book I’d purchased.
You know, it reminds me of our relationship with the Lord. When we meet Him in a real and personal way, everything becomes more alive to us -His Word, His calling on our lives, His people, His church. They aren’t just merely something to observe any longer, but a part of us. Our lives take on a whole new meaning – because we KNOW the Author of it! Now we can offer our lives to Him, and this is our reasonable act of worship. Know the author, become friends, and get excited because there is a Creator who we can worship in a greater way. We can know him personally – not just be a fan from a distance.
Kayla
Oct 072011
Daniel 1:8-9 (NIV) But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were brought in to be taught and trained for 3 years and then enter the king’s service. They were first given Babylonian names: Daniel – Belteshazzar, Hananiah – Shadrach, Mishael – Meshach, and Azariah – Abednego. Assigning new names was a common practice in the ancient world. It’s intention was to change one’s entire identity until his life matched the title. God gave these young men knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. Israelites considered food from Nebuchadnezzar’s table to be contaminated because the first portion of it was offered to idols and a portion of the wine was poured out on a pagan altar. Daniel had “resolved” not to defile himself. He didn’t want to be corrupted by the king’s luxuries. Whether he was called Daniel or Belteshazzar, it didn’t change who he was and the fact that he would stand firm for his God. Daniel’s brand of “resolve” involved something he was challenged to do every day.
In our daily walk we must also “resolve” to stand firm. We live in a “Babylonian culture” where it can be easy to get used to decaying morals and standards. We must press on toward the mark for which God has called us! (Phil 3:14 NIV) Integrity depends on consistency. Integrity not only calls us to live inside out, it keeps the outside from coming in. It means being the same person no matter where we are or who’s around. CONSISTENCY.
Quoting Beth Moore, “Godliness is never accidental and neither is victory coincidental. Both stem from up-front daily resolve. We will live lives of integrity on purpose or we will not do it at all.”
We are faced with many decisions to be made daily at work, at home, and at play. As Daniel had “resolved” to stand firm for his God, may we do the same. If we are a child of the King, we are promised that He will be with us just as He was with Daniel. I’m reminded of a song that Kari Jobe sings “I know that you (God) are for me, I know that you will never forsake me in my weakness.” Our God is for us!
Our heavenly Father,
Help us to “resolve” to be consistent in our daily walk with you. In every situation may we draw strength from you, our power source. May you be glorified in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Submitted by Kathy Walls
Oct 052011
Submitted by Becky Anderson, Pacific Region Web Manager
Is today the day?
I don’t think about that as much as I should. I have lots of things going on here on earth that I think are pretty important. I have a son to homeschool, a home to take care of, a husband to support and lift up. And that is just scratching the surface. After my fleeting quiet time in the morning I go about doing my duties for the day, and often take my focus from my Heavenly Father, and put them in the tangible things I have before me.
Don’t we all?
Do you ever have those times when you say, with hurt and longing in your heart, “Your Kingdom Come…Please…”? When the pain of this world is too much and the burdens are more than I think I can bear. When I’ve fallen short again, I have yet another lesson
to learn, but I just don’t want to. I’m still here. We are all still here in our own little kingdom focusing on the tangible things of this world instead of focusing on the power and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So before I can pray “Your Kingdom Come”, I must, as Alan Redpath suggests, be willing to pray “My Kingdom Go”.
My view of success Go
My perfection Go
My need of control Go
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be
added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Then, when I release my grip and allow God’s Kingdom to reign in me, I can experience His glory. I am filled with the Holy Spirit and will produce fruit. I am lined up with His will and am at peace.
Lord, I so often trust in my kingdom, and not Yours. Please forgive me for putting myself and my needs before Yours. I long to be in your will and walk in your ways. Continue to guide and teach me. Continue to circumcise my heart, O God. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Apr 082011
Submitted by Jane Ahl, PWOCI Prayer Coordinator
Psalm 22:1 (and Matt 27:46) says, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus is in the depths of His sorrows. No other place shows us the grief of Christ as well as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is as full of agony as the moment Jesus’ cry split the air. At that moment Jesus’ physical weakness was combined with the severe mental torture of the shame and dishonor through which He was to pass. What was even worse, and what marked the culmination of His grief, was the spiritual agony beyond all description. He suffered as a result of the departure of His father’s presence from Him. This was the darkest midnight of Jesus’ horror and the point He descended into the very abyss of suffering. No mere human can fully comprehend the meaning of His words, although at times we find ourselves crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” There are seasons in our lives when the brightness of God’s smile is obscured by clouds and thick darkness. But remember, God never forsakes us. In our experience it only feels as though He has forsaken us, but in Christ’s case, He was actually forsaken. We distress over what feels like a slight turning away of God’s love from us, but God actually DID turn His face away from His Son. Who could even understand the tremendous agony that caused Jesus? In our case, our pain is often caused by our own unbelief, or sinful heart. In Jesus’ case, it was the cry of a dreadful act because God had actually turned away from Him for a time. If your heart is in distress, remember that God has not actually forsaken you. God, obscured by clouds, is just as much our God as when He is shining in the full brilliance of His grace. Just the mere thought that God would forsake us brings us great agony and pain. Just imagine what suffering it brought Jesus on the cross. God takes our meager hardships to mold and conform us to the image of His Son.
Father, I thank you that you never turn your back on us and that your love and mercy is NEW every Morning! Praises to the Father, In Jesus Name, Amen.
Feb 242011
Submitted by Leona D. Tatem, West Region President
Some months ago when I did my first blog, I asked the question: Where is God working?” Since that time, it is very evident that God is at work in the ministries of our various local PWOC’s here in the West.
One of the things that I have tried to do as a regional president is to invite the local presidents to share in a conference call that allows them to tell me how things are going at their respective installations and how we can pray for them. Well, all I know is that God is doing amazing things.
Since coming back from International Conference, we have had one of the local installations to have an EYS training offered to not only the ladies in PWOC but the ladies on the Catholic side of the house and from that they have built a cooperative relationship to help take care of each group’s children. WOW! God is at work!
In another location, the president has been focused on building the Titus 2 women and she is working with the women on breaking down the mandate of the Titus 2 and she is seeing her women grow.
But the key to all of this was that they first began with deep and intensive prayer. They sought God and He spoke His heart to them. WOW! God is at work!
There are so many stories like that around the West Region and I am honored to be a part of what God is doing here in the West. When I began as the president, I asked God what was our focus should be and it was prayer. For the last year I have talked about “Women Positioned for Prayer” and as I finish out my second year that is where we still find ourselves—“Women Positioned for Prayer.” I believe it has been because of the fervent prayer of these remarkable women that we can now answer the question, “Where is God Working?” and say, “He is working in the lives and hearts of the women here in the West.” He is birthing new ministries and He is reinforcing old ones. He is redesigning focuses and He is bringing unity. God is at work and so I know that while He is at work that we are all called to be open to His move and to His will.
God’s blessings and peace be with you all!
May 272010
God and Doctors
God doesn’t often heal people on the spot. He usually heals them through the skilled hand of a physician or surgeon, or he takes them home which is the best healing of all, or he provides other wellness professionals to combat their afflictions.
My mother introduced me to the world of natural medicine through a naturopathic physician who was knowledgeable in nutrition, holistic medicine, and homeopathic remedies. His recommendations helped her so she thought he could help me too.
Upon his first examination he concluded that dermatomyositis seemed like a possibility in a mix of connective tissue diseases. The challenge at this point was nailing it down definitively. That would require additional blood tests performed by my other doctors. But they had either done all they could within their scope of practice or refused to do more. Because the rheumatologist was stuck on lupus based on basic lab tests, he wasn’t willing to test for anything else. So we went with the lupus diagnosis which really didn’t make that much of a difference to the naturopath. Different autoimmune diseases are treated in similar ways. With a blend of multivitamins, powders, liquids, and other healthful substances I launched an attack on the disease from a different angle.
In the meantime, my primary care physician referred me to a nutritionist who concurred with the naturopath that I needed to eat more protein and healthy fats to lower my triglycerides, thereby lowering my heart disease ratio which shot off the chart. Of course this had nothing to do with my autoimmune condition but it was an important piece of information that affected my overall health. In addition, the primary care physician prescribed prednisone which seems to be the go-to drug used for autoimmune diseases. I dreaded its side effects and hoped the supplement program suggested by the naturopath would lessen the effects of the drug. I even hoped the supplements would be effective enough to control the disease so I could quit taking prednisone. That remained to be seen.
Through December and January I continued my treatment plan. By the time February 2002 rolled around Steve made plans to come get me. Turns out he didn’t end up going to Afghanistan after all. So my visit with Judy and the folks would come to an end and my care would be interrupted. At least I wasn’t attached to my rheumatologist. That was no loss. Maybe I would get a new one.
Steve and I stayed for a few days before returning home. On our road trip from Colorado to Tennessee I indulged in Goobers and Raisinettes, crackers, chips and nuts. Hey, the nutritionist and naturopath told me I needed to eat more fat and protein to lower my triglycerides. What better way is there than eating chocolate covered peanuts! I took their advice to heart. It was the yummiest and most painless remedy I’d ever have.
The ensuing months at Fort Campbell would prove interesting. Prednisone damage would show up. The disease would take a new turn. An appointment with a new rheumatologist would be missed. And a compassionate reassignment would be necessary.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES:
As I reflect on the events of those years I see clearly how God had everything worked out ahead of time. He does go before us preparing the way. Keep checking in each week to see what He does, how He leads, how He provides. And yes, how He takes me deeper than I’d ever gone before. There’s nothing like constant companions Sorrow and Suffering to take one deeper into the realm of inner change and surrender.
If you are enduring, or have endured, an extremely rough season in your life and you’ve never read the book Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, I recommend reading it. Watch how the Chief Shepherd transforms little Much-Afraid on her journey to the high places. It will touch your heart.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights (Habakkuk 3:19).
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Life Happens – Jesus Answers is a weekly column addressing the challenges we face in life, coupled with the presence and grace of Jesus, our One True Source of hope and peace. The column’s author, Laura Firtko, can be reached by email here: LifeHappens@pwoc.org
Apr 292010
The Wait Ends
The lab results finally came and they were normal. Soon morphine infused into my IV would provide relief. But the pain got so far ahead of me that two milligrams did nothing to ease it. Four milligrams didn’t work. Six milligrams helped. I had a total of eight. I knew that amount would make me sick.
To the nurse standing next to my lovely black plastic bed I said, “I think I’ll need an anti-nausea medication.” What did he say? “Okay. Let me know if you think you’re gonna throw up.” Then he departed.
Possible responses swirled around my brain with nowhere to land. This is what I should have said: “Okay, no problem. At the moment I sense I’m going to hurl I’ll jump off this bed and go on a nurse hunt. I’m sure I’ll find you in time for you to gather the supplies, get the doctor’s permission, accompany me back to the bed, and inject the medication into my IV. By then the nausea will have subsided and all will be well. I’m sure that’s how this will go down.”
Moments later it all came up. A big splash of water and morphine erupted from my stomach. It landed on the black plastic bed. Since there was no food in my stomach it wasn’t as miserable as barfing after a big meal. Even so, a technician had to clean it up. She was lucky it was fluid, not chunks.
Forgive my sarcasm. I have a hard time with stupidity. Comedian Bill Engvall has it right when he says, “Here’s your sign.” Sometimes people say and do things that just don’t make any sense. Excuse me but vomit won’t wait. When the stomach is ready to expel its contents you don’t have a choice but to let her rip. Any nurse ought to know that.
After my episode of expulsion I understood firsthand why the beds were covered with thick black plastic and not lovely linens. Someone would end up doing a lot of laundry, and who has time for laundry when they’re busy saving lives and killing pain? And at last my pain was killed. There’s nothing like relief from prolonged severe pain.
God can do that in our hearts and souls. He has a way of easing intense heartache so we don’t slide into despair. I would experience this in years to come. For now — October 2001 — I had to tend to my thumb.
Had I been able to see the future this trip to the ER would have seemed like a trip to Disneyland. The worst phase of my transformational journey was on its way.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES:
We live in a desperately broken world. It’s easy to lose hope and enter periods of grief at every turn if we let ourselves. Our only true hope is found in Jesus Christ who has warned us of trials and tribulations, but who also has overcome them — I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
When I feel overcome by suffering or grief, or I’m angry at God, or I don’t feel like praying, I force myself to grab my Bible and open to the Psalms. Supernaturally, as I read, I feel the tension in my body subside and God’s indescribable peace soothes me. Some of my favorites: Psalm 10, 18, 25, 27, 31, 35, 37, 40, 41, 55-57, 91, 103, 139-145. Dive in to the book of Psalms this week and let the Holy Spirit soothe your soul with His peace.
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Life Happens – Jesus Answers is a weekly column addressing the challenges we face in life, coupled with the presence and grace of Jesus, our One True Source of hope and peace. The column’s author, Laura Firtko, can be reached by email here: LifeHappens@pwoc.org
Feb 222010
And so the story went…..
The beautiful princess, with her hair wet, matted and stuck to her face, stood silent staring at the huge altar before her. Her golden scepter in hand was of no use here, and she knew it. She fell to her knees in shame and despair. How did she get to this place, this point in her life? Exhausted from her weary battle, she realized this was it; the moment of truth was upon her. The enemy destroyed her kingdom, and she narrowly escaped her demise.
Her gown of elegance was now torn and battered in the wind. The sparkling material that once flowed was ripped to shreds, laying in pieces around her. Really, all she had left of her deity was her crown–oh yes, her crown of glory! The crown that displayed her purpose, her agendas, her power, her authority and her life, became the symbol of her identity and was now the sad display of indignity.
Somehow, the crown seemed heavy now, and it felt awkward on her head. She reached upon her head and felt the sharp edges of metal that always displayed the royalty and power of the kingdom she built, an inheritance from her father. She began to weep, realizing that her crown became her downfall. No longer did it represent supremacy, but rather places of shame, guilt, inadequacies, failures and fears, and most of all, a heart of stone. Her crown became her idol as it allowed her the excuse to not trust in anything but her own self righteousness.
She began to shake violently in anger and rage as she realized the longing of desperation in her heart that was never fulfilled. The reality of a lifetime of mistakes and disappointments hit her heart like a ton of bricks as she fell prostrate on the altar of grace.
Sitting up, she took a deep breath and violently cast the crown down with such a force it knocked one of the sapphires loose.
It shimmered in the moonlight on the altar in front of her, and its radiance danced in her eyes. Closing them, she took a deep breath and prayed that one day God would bestow her with a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of despair. Her desire now was to be a display of splendor and be planted by the Lord, to instead serve under His crown of humility and grace, where she knew she would find peace and love. She could only hope that her stony heart would become flesh once again.
Like most princesses, there comes a place in our walk of faith where we learn to put those crowns down–the crowns that once represented pride, control, selfish ambition, and much more. As those of us who have walked there realize, like the princess in the story, our kingdoms are not built on truth but on pride. They slowly crumble under our own demise. However, God promises us in Psalm 103:4 that He will redeem our life from the pit and crown us with love and compassion. This is what true royalty is about, wearing the crown of righteousness that is not of our own but from the Highest King in the land, Jesus Christ.
So, today, are you willing to lay those crowns down that display false power, shame, envy, self pity or fear in your lives? Are you willing to let God crown you with His righteousness and not your own?
His desire is to bring us a crown of love and compassion that will shine throughout His kingdom. This is by far the highest crown we could ever wear, holding power and authority that could never be compared. It has the power to transform not only our own lives but the lives of others. Make the great exchange today and once again walk as the royal princess you were meant to be!
Kimchi Lya Blow is a proud military wife and mother of 4 beautiful children. She is also a free lance writer, and has been a contributing author to a women’s devotional called Life Savors for Women and other Christian publications. Her other gifts include speaking and teaching Bible studies.
