The Power of Connection

May 16, 2010Leave a comment

Hello! Can’t to see you on May 25 or 26 as we have a special guest, Mary James. I know you will love her. Be sure to make your reservations dskell@roaringlambsministries.org.

This weekend we traveled down to College Station, Texas in order to watch our youngest daughter walk across the stage to receive her diploma from Texas A&M University. Although the ceremony was a bit long (thousands graduated this weekend) it was also powerful. The loyalty and connectedness between the students of A&M is a force to be reckoned with and goes far beyond obligatory school spirit. These students are fiercely loyal to each other. They not only stick up for each other, they believe it is their duty to live a life worthy of the standards and excellence of the university. Being an A&M student is a commitment to be an Aggie for life and represent the school with honor and dignity.

This same kind of loyalty and connectedness is what the apostle Paul desired to see in the lives of believers. Notice the charge he gave the believers in Philippi: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Having the same love, one in spirit and in purpose – well that describes A&M students, but sadly I’m not so sure it describes the body of Christ.

When the speaker at graduation talked about the expectations of living a life which respectfully represents the school, I couldn’t help but think about how the apostle Paul talked about walking in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul reminded the early believers that their citizenship was in Heaven. Now the Roman citizens of Paul’s time were expected to live up to the honors and standards of citizenship. They were supposed to promote the interests of Rome and live in a way that brought dignity to the city. Sounds like Aggies, doesn’t it? It should also sound like Christians, shouldn’t it?

Well, I suppose we could say there were a few life lessons learned from this observer of Texas A&M graduation. As fellow believers in Christ let us seek to:

Be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and in purpose.
Walk in a manner worthy of our high-calling as believers and citizens of Heaven.

We ought to be about building each other up and not tearing each other down. Our focus should be on serving Christ and honoring Him with all we do and say. If Aggies can do it for their school, surely we do it in honor of our loving Heavenly Father!

Three Cheers for Moms

May 9, 2010Leave a comment

Here's a recent picture of me with my two daughters Grace and Joy

Happy Mother’s Day! May you rejoice in your high-calling as a mom. I look forward to seeing you May 25 or 26 at the Positive Woman Connection. Here’s a good word for you as we celebrate the gift of our moms.

Moms deserve a pat on the back and an enthusiastic word of encouragement, don’t you agree? Here are three cheers that come to mind when I consider the heart of a MOM:

Hurray for Humility – Humility is a rare and beautiful quality. Christ showed us the perfect picture of humility as He left his throne in Heaven and came to this earth in the form of a servant. Certainly a mom humbly serves in her home as she lovingly considers the interests and needs of her family often above her own needs. We are never so Christ-like as when we serve others in the beauty of loving humility.
Hurray for Compassion – Care and compassion seem to come naturally for a mom as she genuinely feels deeply with both the joys and the pains her children go through in life. She cries when they cry, she laughs when they laugh. Just as the Lord is compassionate and gracious with His children, so a mom pours out compassion and care to hers.
Hurray for Strength – A mom is resilient. She perseveres even when she is tired. She overcomes hurdles and lifts up her kids when they fall down. She keeps on going like the energizer bunny from morning until night. She’s a champion! May God continue to be her strength and joy for the journey ahead!

Celebrate one of God’s most precious gifts to this world – the heart of a mom.

In Over My Head

May 3, 2010Leave a comment

It was great to be together last week and learn a lesson about contentment. Here’s a little devotional to remind us all that our strength comes from the Lord:

Sometimes I feel like I am in over my head in certain situations, but these are just the situations in which God loves to show His mighty hand. Think of Gideon who was up against thousands of Midianites with an army of only 300 men. The victory was the Lord’s; not man’s. Consider David with just five smooth stones against a giant Goliath. And what about Daniel and Samuel and Joshua and Hezekiah; all in situations way over their heads, but with a great and mighty God on their side?

When we remember these stories of faith-filled, God-sized victories we are reminded of God’s great ability and power. Sometimes our challenge comes in actually believing He cares about us and wants to intervene in our personal situations. Yet the God of the big, miraculous Bible stories is also our loving heavenly Father who delights in the details in the lives of His children.

Several weeks ago I had that sinking feeling that I may be over my head. I was scheduled to fly to Eugene, Oregon in order to shoot six videos in one day. Here’s how the day was set up, I was to shoot a video for a half hour, then have a half hour to change clothes, redo hair and make-up and go over my notes for the next video, then film another 30-minute video, then back to change, redo and study, then another video… You get the picture. From the moment I learned about the schedule I realized this was beyond me, but I also knew it was not beyond the power of God. I prayed for God’s strength, wisdom and guidance. I asked a team of friends to pray for me as well.

The beautiful thing about doing these videos was that I knew I needed the Lord. I couldn’t depend on myself alone; I knew I was dependant on the God who invites us to cast all our cares on Him. When I am in a place beyond my own abilities and give my needs to God, then He gets the glory. If I stay in a place of depending on my own abilities and depend on myself, well then, I tend to take the credit.

To God be the glory. This past weekend I filmed the videos in Eugene, Oregon and they went without a hitch! God gave me energy, and presence of mind from the beginning of our filming to the very last video. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it was Him!

I don’t know what you are facing; it may be way beyond what you feel like you can handle. I want to encourage you to look to your Provider, your loving Heavenly Father who is able to meet your needs in any and every situation. Paul as a prisoner in Rome wrote, “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” He may not change your situation, but He can give you what you need in the midst.

Points to Ponder:

Don’t be afraid of situations which seem beyond your abilities.
Remember you have a God who loves you and is able to meet your needs.
Cast your cares on Him.
Give Him the glory.

Just in case you were wondering, the videos I filmed were for my newest book with the wonderful people at Harvest House Publishing. The Bible Study videos will come out in November 2010. The title is “A Woman’s Passionate Pursuit of God.” To read about another life lesson learned in Eugene this pasts weekend, go to my other blog: www.positivemoms.blogspot.com

The Power to Be Content

April 26, 2010Leave a comment

Looking forward to seeing you this week at the Positive Woman Connection. Be sure to make a reservation with Donna Skell (dskell@roaringlambsministries.org)

Here’s a little devotional as we prepare to meet this week and learn about Contentment:

Are you a little tired, little worn-out, little overwhelmed? Do you feel frustrated, dissatisfied or restless? I know, I sound like I’m doing an ad for Vita-Meata-Vegamin (from an old “I Love Lucy” segment for all of you too young to know), but to be completely realistic here, there are always going to be times when we do feel drained both physically and emotionally. Where do we go for strength?

Certainly we must be deliberate about taking care of ourselves physically by eating right and getting the rest we need. We can also find support emotionally through talking with a trusted friend, finding wise counsel or journaling. As believers in Christ, God invites us to come to Him for strength. The Bible talks quite a bit about finding our strength in God. Isaiah reminds us, “Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength.” The Psalmist said, “The Lord is my strength and my shield.” Paul said, “For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul also talked about the strength he found to be content in any and every situation, whether in plenty or in need. He said he learned the secret to being content in every situation. Here it is, “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.” He went on to say, “My God will meet all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Being content doesn’t mean God orchestrates everything to turn out perfectly for you. It means God will strengthen you in and through your difficulties. Lean on Him, look to Him, find your strength in Him. He loves you and will provide for you.

This week I am teaching about the power to be content in any and every situation. If you live in the Dallas area, join me at the Positive Woman Connection on Tuesday, April 27 at Prestonwood Country Club on Preston Road in North Dallas. I’ll also be teaching in Allen on Wednesday at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church on Hwy 121. Come learn more about the treasure of being content and finding our strength in Christ.

Never-Ending Student

April 19, 2010Leave a comment

Hello Fellow Positive Women,

As we start off another week, I want to encourage you to keep your eyes open to the learning opportunities God places in your life. Read my devotional below and I look forward to seeing you next week at PWC. Be sure to RSVP to Donna at Dskell@roaringlambsministries.org. See you soon!

“Knowledge and experience are the best two feet anyone can have to equip him for successful living.” John Wanamaker

This week I had the privilege of going with the wonderful young moms in my connection group from church (Christy, Stephanie, Tandy, Becky – love you all) to hear John Townsend talk about setting boundaries with kids. It was a tremendous time of learning, and I highly recommend any of John’s books (www.JohnTownsend.com) and especially Boundaries with Kids if you are a parent. It’s funny, but I thought I was going to the event just to encourage and support the young moms in my group, yet oddly I walked away with a wealth of wisdom which I needed to apply to my own life and relationships as well. We never stop learning and growing!

On Saturday I went to speak to the ladies at First Baptist Lewisville and funny thing, God wanted me there so I could learn as well. I attended one of the break-out sessions mainly because I wanted to just hear what the teacher had to say on a certain misunderstood topic in scripture (mainly submission), and once again I not only walked away with a wealth of wisdom, but also a fair amount of conviction.

This morning I picked up my dad’s latest book, Your Daily Mental Vitamin (by Garry Kinder), and the entry went like this: Read and inwardly digest one book each month. Feed the mind as you feed the body. Leaders are readers and readers are leaders. I think the lesson for the week, at least for me, is never stop learning. Be intentional about growing and learning. We learn from books, from the people God places in our lives and most importantly from God’s Word.

As a fellow student in the classroom of life, I invite you to join me in the adventure and joy of learning and growing. Don’t be discouraged if you still feel like you are a never-ending student. Remember that He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.