Just Give Me Jesus-Waco

Rummage Sale Update


Thank you for your questions concerning
this great event! Here is the latest news:

Volunteers needed!
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Call the office for information concerning availability for pick up items, 751-7200.
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Drop-off hours at Waco Baptist Academy :
Thursday, 12-5:00 p.m. and Friday 9-5:00 p.m.
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You do not need to price items!

Please pray for this wonderful opportunity!

Blessings to you.

Pulling Weeds

My apologies for falling off the the blog wagon. Rest assured it has not just been this blog, but my personal one as well. I have been doing a Bible study titled, "No Other Gods", by Kelly Minter. Let's just say I have been convicted in some major ways. I have been struggling with some empty feelings for several months. Feelings of loneliness and confusion. I asked The Lord to show me why. Why this sense of unrest and of all things...loneliness? Really? I am surrounded by family and friends daily. And surely a house full of crying, tantrums and screaming are not something that lends itself to emptiness. Except the fact that all of it takes away from my relationship with God. He has painfully shown me all the things I put before Him. Some of the things are actual things (TV, blogs, etc.) Others are relationships. Relationships that are not bad. They are in fact, good and necessary. However, all that I pour into them are taking away from my time with the Lord. Therefore, they are feeling pretty empty in and of themselves. Funny enough, the way to remedy all of this is simply to work on my relationship with Him. Just spending time with him. Such a "duh" concept, I know. But friends, I struggle with this simple concept and always have.

All of this to say, I am getting back. I have identified what has taken my time and I want to unselfishly give that time back to the Father. I have to! Otherwise, I will miss out on the blessings He has for me!

Insight with an Insider!

So so sorry for such an absence in my writing. Sistas, I have been tired and gone. However, I am back from the hiatus. Is anyone out there even reading??? If so, this post is for you!
A couple of weeks ago, some staffers from AnGeL ministries were here meeting with the JGMJ commitees. I got word that a young woman was on staff who knew all about blogging and wanted to talk to me! Wow! How exciting! So, Jamie and I met up to chat about blogs and what revival really means. Now, Jamie is the Associate Director of Event Ministries with AnGeL. Cool right? Guess what--she is younger than me!!! I am in awe of her job and it must say a lot about her that she would be so young and so thought of to serve at such a place. After talking to her, I saw why. She was so cute and poised and you know what...Christ beamed out of her. Not in a weird way either. She was so genuine and so in touch with her Father. And can I just tell you she graduated with a degree in Women's ministry?!?! What? I want that degree! Hello! I went to Baylor and I am quite certain there was not a degree of such a thing. Shoulda woulda.
Our main priority was to talk about how I could get young women involved. Basically, there is no real science to it. Jamie put it this way, "would you run a marathon the day of with no training?" Nope. I don't believe I would. That's why it is so so so important for us to be praying as a whole for this, but also to be praying that the Lord would specifically work in our own hearts. Prepare us for the revival within. We both sort of agreed that a lot of time conferences, retreats, women's "things" have a what I like to call the "church camp" effect. It's all fine and dandy when you are there. Then, you leave. Now what? And the fire dies. She said JGMJ is a no-frills conference. You get what you get and it is a nitty gritty spiritual event. Come ready to be changed. Come ready to leave changed. Come ready to live changed. Well, that got me excited. I love the simplicity. I love the message...JUST GIVE ME JESUS. She assured me Ann Graham Lotz is going to put it just as that. She is going to teach us how to be disciples. And all the while, the revival that comes from within, will be poured out into a city wide event--a domino effect, if you will. I can picture it all now...
So, ladies, get into a prayer cell group! Heck, you can come to mine! Pray and prepare. And COME the weekend of. Bring your friends, but be ready to leave changed!! Jamie and me---isn't she super cute?? Thanks for visiting with me, Jamie. Your heart is very evident. Can't wait to see you soon!

SOOO sorry! I missed last week's requests because I was trying to get out of town. I heard the rally was great! I would LOVE for some of you to contact me and let me know how the Spirit moved you there so I can write about it. Also, I had the privilege of meeting a staffer from AnGel ministries! Details and a picture to come!!!!

Week Fourteen: Jesus, the Christ

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:31

"Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." Matt. 16:16-17

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Cor. 4:6

PRAISES:
~That God showed up in a powerful way at our Prayer Rally...through the leadership of Phyllis and spirit-filled worship of Gary...breaking down cultural, denominational and racial barriers and bringing unity as we sought God and prayed for revival
~For women who attended the Prayer Rally and have now gotten God's vision of the big picture of revival for Central Texas and who want to join God in what He is doing.
~For churches and individuals who have been led by God to respond to the financial needs of JGMJesus

REQUESTS:
~For special protection and enabling of the Bible Study Facilitator leaders during April with double training sessions each week
~For the conscious demonstration of support from the women of Central Texas by way of prayer, financial giving and service to the JGMJesus Revival
~That remaining information sheets for counseling will come in and God will arrange schedules for potential counselors to attend the 2 training sessions
~For the Promotion Co-Chairs to have eyes to see when the money is best spent and lead them to the right places to share the message of hope
~For a good response to the usher committee's email by women committing to be trained and to serve as ushers

Week Twelve: Jesus, the Deliverer

"The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Romans 11:26-27
"I will love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my Deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:1-2
"But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my Deliverer; do not delay, O my God." Psalm 40:17
"Blessed be the Lord my Rock . . . My lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my Deliverer, My shield and the ONE in whom I take refuge . . ." Psalm 144:1-2

PRAISES
~For the growing number of churches and pastors who are willing to participate in JGMJesus with expectant hope for revival
~For good attendance, committed people, and the Spirit's guidance as the first follow-up Bible Study training began
~For the enthusiastic prayer zone leader's meeting full of wonderful ideas and suggestions for reaching more women to pray
~For many opportunities to promote JGMJesus and prayer leading to an awareness of God's favor on Central Texas in bringing revival and to many stepping out in obedient involvement
~For God's guidance for Anne in the provision for new leadership in AnGel Ministires...Brenda, our new revival director... and for Carole and what she has meant to us.

PRAYER REQUESTS
~For a great coming together of God's people in prayer for revival at the Prayer Rally on April 2 at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church..that nothing will prevent them from coming
~For the church liaisons to be a clear source of communication between the JGMJesus leadership team and for them to do all that they do for the glory of God and out of love for Him and His people
~Pray for the women and pastors of Central Texas to be not only willing to participate in JGMJesus, but that they will be filled with enthusiastic excitement in serving Jesus
~For God to open the doors and show the Fundraising committee the people to contact and for the wealth of Central Texas to be released for good works through generous giving to JGMJesus
~For God to lead and give wisdom to the Special Needs Team to recognize the needs and make appropriate provisions for all participants
~For the letters that were mailed to the pastors to get to the right place, for the pastors to receive the information with open hearts, and for them to respond by returning the card that was enclosed
~For continued protection for attendance for the follow-up Bible Study training, for the people to understand and complete their homework, and for God's use of His Word to strengthen spiritually
~For meetings with Brenda and Jamie this week...perfect scheduling, unity, and all questions answered
~For God's protection of and provision for the Leadership Team of JGMJesus, the Prayer Team, and volunteers .....energy, time, health, and personal lives

Recognize Falsehood

"They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."

I was so touched by our pastor's message yesterday at church. It was so interesting. He preached a sermon (and I am paraphrasing here) on what the Devil might preach to draw people in. Basically, he would preach falsehood of what it will be like after accepting Christianity. He would promise a life that is "perfect"--no hurt, heartache, hardships, illness, death-- and when life disappoints, people would fall away from God in groves. Does that ring true for you? I think it does for a lot of Christians. The good life is not always "good" my friends. What you get out of your trials and who you seek in the troubled times are how we define ourselves. WHO DO WE SEEK in those times? Is it Christ? Is it really Christ? Or is it doctors, family members, spouses, medication? Life is going to disappoint us. Our purpose in life is not to possess a perfect life! I think a lot of things these days are gearing Christianity towards a better life! Have a better life--become a Christian! What a let-down. We still get sick, sin, get cheated, lose money, have way-ward children. What happened to the perfection we signed up for? The perfection is in Christ through us and in us! To know our job is a life of service towards Him regardless of the circumstances! Right?
All this to say, be aware of this in our attempts to bring revival to our town and the lives in it. Don't make promises of a better life to non-Christians. Make promises of HOPE in a life that will have turmoil. It is so tempting to offer a better life to those who don't know the Lord. While I don't think it is wrong to say it will be "better", you must watch the emphasis that is placed on that word. There are no guarantees. We don't want them to come to know Christ and then fall away when things are not glamorous in their new life. Let's make sure we are praying that we would all speak Truth in Christ. Offer a life of change, not in a betterment sort of way, but a source of HOPE when the troubled waters come. Hope this made sense to you...Pastor Barry said it better than me! Be blessed today. And much love to all of you!!

If You Have about 20 Minutes Today....

....Listen to this (click on "this") and be encouraged!