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!

Week Eleven: Jesus, the Name Above All Names

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Phil. 2:5-11

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1:21

"And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." John 1:16-18

PRAISES
~For God's divine provision of 2 enthusiastic and gifted Co-Zone leaders for Killeen/Ft. Hood and for the many contacts they and the other zones have already made
~For God's abiding presence in the day to day activities at the Just Give Me Jesus office - for new volunteers, new churches and new contacts
~For the buckets of rain that poured down on Central Texas last week - reminding us that even in the driest of seasons HE WILL PROVIDE what we need
~For the continuing number of people who are signing up to be facilitators for the follow-up Bible studies
~For allowing us to feel the Lord's guidance each day and for our knowing that prayer is working

REQUESTS
~For God to reveal the financial needs for JGMJ to potential donors causing them to trust Him in speedy and generous giving and/or pledging and to direct the fundraising committee to those whose hearts He has already touched
~For the Spirit's guidance of Wanda and Rita as they prepare to lead the first training session on Thursday, for 100% attendance for those being trained, and for God to use the time to prepare the women spiritually and practically
~For God to move the hearts of women in churches that are not represented in our facilitator list to sign up to facilitate a study
~For God to move the hearts of women in churches that are not represented in our follow-up facilitator list to sign up to facilitate a study
~For God to intervene in the personal lives of many of our leaders who are distracted from their work because of health concerns, houses to sell, family troubles
~For God's hand to guide all decisions concerning the spending of money - that we will be effective and careful stewards of that which has been so sacrificially given
~For men and women to desire to earnestly pray for revival and to be drawn to obediently attend the April 2 Prayer Rally
~For each of us to remember that we are ambassadors for the Lord and that everywhere we go--the people we smile at, the ones we help, the ones for whom we have compassion, the ones with whom we may get perturbed --we are the messengers with the love of the Lord

Week Ten: Jesus, the Word

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

John 1:1-4

“He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Rev. 19:13-16

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us – that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

1 John 1:1-3

"Prayer is to the spiritual life what the beating of the pulse and the drawing of breath are to the life of the body." - John Henry Newman

This week we praise Jehovah God for:
......the many women and men who are being called forth to pray - not just for JUST GIVE ME JESUS but for true REVIVAL to break forth in Central Texas - and for the exciting new contacts that are resulting from the Prayer Zone meetings
.....the peace we have - knowing that He has called us to this and has brought us this far - and that He will be faithful to complete it
.....being the orchestrator of all our activities and the perfector of all our strategies - clearing the way for us to go forward with fundraising plans and church relations procedures
…..filling our hearts with His presence in the zone meetings last week as women of different races, churches and denominations came together in love and unity praying for revival and for the deep awareness that we truly are one in the bond of Love as we joined our spirits with the Spirit of God
….. making our tax-exempt non-profit status official – we received our IRS Determination Letter
.....drawing more in obedience to be Bible Study facilitators and for those who have indicated which training session they can attend

We ask Almighty God to:

.....continue to call His servants - providing more follow-up facilitators, counselors and church relations volunteers, prayer leaders - and for their obedient response
.....calm the economic fears of potential donors, to release them to give generously to Just Give Me Jesus, and to bless them for their sacrificial giving - guiding every word of fundraising contacts being made this week
.....protect and bless our leadership and their families as many are traveling for spring break - either on mission trips or vacations - that all schemes of the enemy will be defeated in the name of Christ
.....make way for the finalizing of the Ferrell Center contract and for clarification of other budget expenses
.....ignite fresh energy in the Church Relations volunteers so they would desire to "adopt" more churches and be willing to report diligently and regularly on their activities
…..call a prayer zone leader for the Ft. Hood / Killeen area opening doors for connections to form prayer cell groups with wonderful prayer warriors in that area
.....remind those who have completed the forms for facilitating Bible Studies to indicate quickly which training session they would like to attend
.....guard the first Bible Study facilitator training (beginning March 19) - for calendars to stay clear, for good health so the individuals can attend, for the Holy Spirit to guide Wanda and Rita as they make preparations, and for great accomodations to be made in the churches with room and equipment
….change our hearts and raise up more prayer groups with a deep yearning for revival

….that people will follow God’s call to humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways