Women Of The Bible

The Shunammite Woman
Key scriptures: 2Kings4:8 –37
The Shunammite woman was a notable woman who took it upon herself to care for Elisha the Prophet. She made a room for the man of God so that when he was in the area he had a place to rest. Have you made room in your heart and home for God? She was rewarded with a son, a secret desire of her heart. The child grew and one day went out to his father in the fields.

He began to complain with his head and was sent to his mother. She held her child, her gift from God in her arms until he died. Her response to this situation was to take the child to the Man of God’s room and leave
him there to wait for Elisha. I am sure her servants and the people around her thought she had gone crazy in her grief. Her reply when asked about her child was “It is well.” Now we know that in reality the child was dead, but this mother refused to give up. She had her servant saddle a donkey and she went to the prophet.
He saw her coming at a distance and sent his servant down to meet her to ask if everything was ok. Her response to the servant was again “It is well.” Yet she continued on to the prophet and spoke only to him. In her conversation with him she never once said the boy was dead. Elisha was going to send his servant with his staff to the boy, but she was persistent and refused to leave without Elisha. Now when the man of God came to her house, it took a little work but her son was risen from the dead and returned to her.

We can learn a few things from this woman’s example:
1) What we say about our situations is very important. There is Power in our words.
2) Who we talk to is important. Notice that she only told the man of God about the true nature of her problem.
3) Dead things can be brought back to life! It might not happen right away and it might take a little work. What are the dead things in your life today? Is it a dream? Your marriage, career or family situation? God is still in the business of bringing life to dead situations! He is no respecter of persons and the bible
teaches us that he changes not. So if he restored this woman’s dream to her, He can do it for you! What is your dream? What is your response to those dead situations today? Jesus came that we could have life and life more abundantly, he is the one who can bring life to your situation. Call on him today and tell him what is in your heart, Let him heal the broken areas of your life

Women of the Bible

The Woman with the Alabaster Box

Scriptural Reference: Luke 7:36 –50

We know by all accounts that this woman was a sinful woman. When she entered the house where Jesus was and began to wash his feet with her tears, dry them with her hair and anoint them with perfume from her alabaster box it disturbed those around her. Not only her actions but also the way Jesus reacted to it. When questioned why he would let a woman like her touch him Jesus told them that one who had been forgiven of much would love much.

We can see that her act of worship pleased Jesus, but those around her were uncomfortable. Sometimes your worship may be uncomfortable or disturb others around you but remember That the Lord will be pleased. The alabaster box was expensive and the perfume inside more so, it was probably worth about a years wages in those days. Even though it was precious and could have been sold for a lot of money her act of worship pleased the Lord more. Don’t ever take for granted the value of your worship to the Lord. No matter how great a sin you may have committed or how long you have lived in sin, GOD is ready to forgive you of it all.

Carrying around the weight of sin and guilt is a very heavy burden it will wear you out. GOD invites you today to cast all of your care upon him because he cares for you. His burden is easy his yoke is light. This story illustrates the awesome mercy of God and teaches us that he can still be touched; Jesus touched the untouchable and loved the unlovable. This woman left that night forever changed. ALL of her sins had been forgiven. Thank GOD that he still forgives our sins today. He still touches the untouchable. He loves you so much that he chose to die for you and his decision would be the same even if you were the only one. What a great GOD we serve, A GOD of Love!

The Shepards Fold

Be sure to check out the newest link on my blog for the Shepards Fold.

The Shepherd’s Fold USA, Inc. is a Christian registered US 501C(3) charity that helps support formerly abandoned and homeless children that have been taken into the care of one man and his family in Guntur, India.

Although some people might see this family home as an “orphanage”, Jacob , its founder and leader, hopes this will always be a real home to every child who comes there. Both his family in India and the Fold’s supporters in America are a real family to the children. They are considered aunties and uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers, brothers, sisters and cousins - regardless of age or background.

Each child has a story that speaks of hopelessness before he or she was rescued. Through our charitable organisation, we try to provide support for food, shelter, clothing and education. At present, there are 28 children who need our support and love. More are waiting, but permanent housing and funding are needed before we can help them.

God Cares

Sometimes when we are going through tuff times it is easy to start thinking that no one cares what we are going through or that we are alone. Sometimes even well meaning friends forget to call and check on you or let you know they are thinking of you. Life gets busy. Take a moment today to reflect on the goodness and mercy of God. He cares for you and no matter what you are going through there is an answer in his word. God loves you so much that he gave his only son to save you. He numbered the hairs on your head. I love my children so much but I can tell you I do not know how many hairs they have on their heads. Take time today to thank him for the good things in your life and focus on what you do have instead of what you do not have or what you need. Think of someone you can pray for other than yourself. I can tell you when we get our focus on God, off our problems, and on what we can do to help someone else, Our Lives will improve drastically! Be Blessed today!

Standing Firm During Transition

Times of crises are only transitions periods. The definition of transition is simply change. transition: (movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change.) In order for God to accomplish all that he has planned for you life there must be times of change.

Think about Joseph, right before he was moved out into his destiny, the palace, he was in the prison. What is your prison today? Is it physical, financial, emotional? When it seems like we are at the lowest point in our lives God is often just getting us ready to move into our destiny, if we continue to stand.

It is how we look and act during the crises that matters. The bible says "Having done all to stand, Stand therefore." You can't always fight the storms of life, you have to stand against them until they have passed over you. Times of crisis doesn't mean you are not blessed, or are not saved even though it may feel like it at the time. The Bible says that it rains on the just and unjust alike. We will all face adversity, so plant your roots deep in the word of God. Be like the Palm Tree, it's roots go deep so that when the storms come it may have to bend but it will stand against the storm. Sometimes we have to remember what God said in the light during times of darkness.

Everything has an expiration date, whether it is a job, a relationship,or a crisis. Don't try too hard to hold onto people or things that are trying to exit your life, such as friendships or positions. God will not allow you to lose anything or anyone that is a part of your destiny.

When a woman is preparing to give birth, the part right before the baby is born is called the transition phase. This is also the hardest stage of labor, because the baby has to be pushed out. Think of that! Right before you are going to hold your miracle in your arms is the hardest part. Your transition could end tomorrow, don't stop pushing in the middle of the crisis.

New Life Through the Holy Spirit

“Lord, I have really messed up my life. I wish I could just start over.” Have you ever felt this way? Maybe you are even wondering if life is worth living because of past mistakes or bad circumstances. You cannot change your past—it is firmly set in history. However, you can start over, no matter where you are right now, no matter where you may have been. Jesus is right there waiting for you to come home to him, so he can make everything right again. You can decide in your heart to let today be a new begining, a fresh start. Start right now by confessing your sins to God and ask Jesus to cleanse you and fill you with living water.

The Holy Spirit specializes in giving new life and resurrecting dead areas. All who have believed in Christ and trusted in Him for salvation have received His Spirit to dwell within them. A New life begins immediately for all who choose to accept His offer of the forgiveness of their sins. According to the word of God There is no more condemnation, and they are set free to begin living a new life for Christ.

How easy life would be if that were the only fresh start we’d ever need. But our old sinful tendencies—which the Bible calls “the flesh”—are not removed at salvation. Throughout life, there will be times when we will need to go back and make things right so dont feel like you are not saved if you "Mess up". Be quick to cofess the sin and ask God to forgive you and strengthen you to overcome the sin the next time you are tempted by it.

The Spirit is ever present, empowering us to say no to sin and yes to the will of God. You will find his will on any issue in the Word of God, incase your wondering what exzactly is his will? Stop and consider the strength of the One who lives within you. He has all the power of almighty God, who raised Jesus from the dead (Rom. 8:11). Is your situation more difficult than a resurrection? He created the very world in which we live, along with the universe. Is your situation more difficult than creation?

By setting your mind on the things of the Spirit and living under His authority, you can put to death the sinful actions and habits that have made a mess of your life. The Lord wants to set you free from addicting pleasures and drives that lead only to pain and heartache. Begin today by letting the Holy Spirit lead you into new life. Invite the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you into all truth.

I ask the Holy Spirit each day to lead me and guide me and to show me if I need to forgive someone or a situation to bring it to my rememberance. Then if I think of a situation or person, I confess my forgiveness and ask God to bring healing and restoration. I dont always feel it right away, sometimes I dont always want to forgive, but I make a choice to do so. If I fail to forgive here on Earth, God will not forgive me of my sins either. I dont know about you but I dont want to miss out on Heaven just because of a stubborn will, and I have need of his forgiveness each and every day.

Praying in a Crisis

I received the following email today from a friend. It was certainly timely as I had just found out my brother was in a mine accident.

READ | Numbers 21:6-8

When was the last time you got on your knees and cried out to God about something other than personal issues? We’re often so involved in our own busy lives that we fail to see the crises others are facing. I’m talking about situations that don’t affect our immediate family at all, rather than, say, the deployment of a soldier we know or a terrorist attack on our land. But whether circumstances touch total strangers or hit “close to home,” doesn’t it often feel as if such matters are just too big for one person’s prayer to make a difference?

This is a lie straight from Satan. He wants us to assume that cataclysmic or tragic problems are too vast for our petition to have any effect. Scripture disagrees: James 5:16 assures us that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” And verse 17 provides a powerful example: “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.”

Almighty God is able to heal, bring peace, and change circumstances. And He has chosen to let His children participate in the process through prayer. He instructs us to talk with Him about everything (Phil. 4:6) and promises to hear when sin does not obstruct our communication (Ps. 66:18).

The next time you hear of a tragedy or problem—regardless of whether it affects people you know or perfect strangers—resist the temptation to distance yourself from it. You can have an impact on the lives of others when you intercede on their behalf. So let news of a crisis become a catalyst for prayer.

Spiritual Growth

I was thinking about spiritual growth this morning. As Christian's we should be going from glory to glory to glory. To often we become stagnant, if we are not growing we are standing still, once you have stood in the same place long enough you become stagnant. Just like a pool of water that has nothing flowing into it. We need the holy spirit continually flowing in our lives. Too often in our busy society we do not take the time or make the effort to keep his presence fresh. One quick way to keep your spirit man fresh is by daily devotions. One of the best daily devotions I have come across is by Kim Potter at A New Thing Ministries. I encourage you today to check out her site : www.anewthingministries.com there you can sign up for her daily newsletter. If growth is what you need, and I think we all do, you will not be disappointed by this anointed Woman of God.

READ | 2 Timothy 1:1-6

Paul admired the faith legacy that was passed down to Timothy by his mother and grandmother. Although Eunice and Lois could not bestow their belief as if it were a material heirloom, they certainly modeled the value of trusting in the Lord. Whatever Timothy’s monetary birthright, his greatest inheritance was spiritual instruction from these influential women.

Mothers and fathers who desire to create a faith legacy will make the following values part of their lives:

Principles. You yourself must practice the Lord’s principles. Parents can’t teach what they don’t know. But those who live according to God’s Word and find His ways effective will eagerly share the lesson.

Pattern. You must go beyond simply talking about principles, and live them in front of your children. Lifestyle speaks so much louder than words. A consistent pattern of obedience to God inspires others to seek Him, whereas saying one thing but doing another can turn children off.

Persistence. You must be determined about gaining spiritual knowledge. I learned this wise habit from my mother, who set out to instill in me the values I’d need to become a godly adult. To teach a particular lesson, she’d keep telling and showing me until she was satisfied I’d gotten the message.

Timothy’s mother and grandmother were not intent on merely raising a boy. Rather, they desired to train up a man of God. Judging from Paul’s letters, they achieved that goal because they themselves were devoted to the Lord. Can you say the same of your life? It’s never too late to begin crafting a faith legacy.

Living in God's Calling

READ ESTHER 3:13; 4:4-16

Knowing that we have a calling from the Lord is one thing, but living it out is another. Esther reached a point in her life when fulfilling God’s plan became risky and dangerous. The Lord had placed her in a position of influence, but using that power could cost the young woman her life.
Few are called to be kings or queens, but we have all been given places of influence to one degree or another. The Lord has placed you in your family, community, and church to fulfill His purposes for your life in this generation. As long as you are breathing, He is still working out His will for you.

How will you respond to His calling? There are only two options: cooperate by submitting to His plan, or resist Him. Trying to avoid or ignore the opportunities He presents is a form of resistance. Maybe the cost of obedience seems too high, but what about the cost of disobedience?
Eventually, every Christian is going to encounter a situation that tests his or her willingness to obey God. When that time comes, remember the lesson from Esther. If you refuse, the Lord will use someone else, and you will lose the opportunity to fulfill His calling. Maybe you have been placed in a difficult situation “for such a time as this”—to be an influence for Christ in our dark world.

Living in God’s calling isn’t always easy, but it is always worth the risk. Each step will reveal the faithfulness of our Lord, encouraging us to trust Him in the next opportunity He provides. As our faith grows, His perfect timing will become evident, and we’ll look with joy and expectation for what awaits us.

E Women 2009 Free to be Real Conference

We Just got back from the Ewomen 09 Free to be Real conference in Johnson City, TN. It was an amazing weekend! We were able to hear from some of today's most inspirational Christian women. There were also opportunities to visit and get their autographs that I may have taken advantage of had I not had an injured knee.

Among the speakers were:

Comedienne -Chonda Pierce
Best Selling Author -Stormie Omartian
New York Times Best Selling Author -Karen Kingsbury
Best Selling Author and Popular Speaker -Angela Thomas
Christian Music Artist -Kathy Troccoli
Best Selling Author, Speaker and Singer - Michelle Mickinney Hammond
Christian Music Artist - Charles Billingsley
Christian Music Artist - Matthew West

These folks have an amazing love for the Lord and the body of Christ. If you have never been to one of the ewomen conferences I highly reccommend that you attend one, you will be refreshed in the Lord and have an awesome time with other christian women, and the praise and worship is Spiritually moving and unforgetable!

Check out their website : www.ewomen.net