Hello my positive friends.  I want to remind you that we will be meeting again on the fourth Tues (North Dallas) and Wed (Cottonwood Creek) for Bible Study, fellowship and lunch.  The message is from Philippians 3 and the title of our lesson is “Press On.”  Looking forward to seeing you on Feb 23 and 24.  RSVP to Donna Skell – 972-380-0123 or dskell@roaringlambsministries.org

Here’s a little devotional thought for this week: 

It’s Presidents Day, and it’s a good time to think about the lives of our national leaders.  When I consider the humble beginnings of Abraham Lincoln, I think about the tremendous story of persistence and achievement his life portrayed.  He could have given up many times throughout his life, yet through each defeat he continued to press forward.  Instead of focusing on his limitations and his past, he recognized what he could do and the difference he could make for good in our nation. Take some time today to read Lincoln’s(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln#Childhood_and_education)   and recognize your own abilities and strengths. 

God has given each one of us gifts and talents to offer this world.  This past weekend my husband and I attended a banquet in Abilene, Texas honoring the wonderful folks at Disability Resources.   DRI offers vocational opportunities and a loving home environment for adults with physical and mental disabilities.  Several years ago a gifted woman named Kathy Taylor put together a bell choir teaching the special folks from DRI how to play and perform.  The “Bell Peppers” bell choir performed for us on Saturday night and they did a fantastic job.  I am grateful for the way Kathy and the staff at DRI builds on what the folks can do, instead of focusing on what they are not able to do. http://www.driabilene.org/bell2

What an important lesson for all of us. We may not be able to do everything, but we can do something. Every person has strengths.  Play to your strengths and stop focusing on your weaknesses.  And when it comes to the people around you, build on their abilities and talents instead of wasting your time worrying about the things they can’t do.  Make a deliberate effort to search for strengths and see the best in the people God places in your life. 

Watching the DRI bell choir reminded me that no one should ever say, “I just can’t do anything.”  The precious folks at DRI learned  vocational skills and how to work together playing bells.  They have asked the question “What can I do?” and found the answer.   So step up to the challenge.  Ask yourself, what am I able to accomplish with the gifts I have been given.

Hebrews 10:24 says, “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.”  Let’s make it a personal challenge to ourselves to search and see the potential in others and seize the opportunity to build them up and encourage them in their gifts, talents and strengths.  Don’t forget to focus on your own strengths as well.  And like Lincoln, don’t let disappointment get you down.  Persist as you build on your potential.

Hello Friends,

Last month at PWC we talked about God’s good purpose for our lives.  I want to share with you lesson God taught me to help me see the beauty of His work in our lives.

Recently, I was in Austin, Texas helping my daughter as she was working on some of the details for her upcoming  wedding.  Austin is a unique and wonderful place set right in the hill country of Texas.  I love to drive outside the city and get a fresh look and a reviving dose of God’s beautiful creation.  Last night we enjoyed a truly magnificent display of stars.  We just don’t see the stars like that in Dallas as the bright city lights drown out the ability to observe the night time splendor.   I was completely taken by the majesty of the star-filled sky.  Yes, it is true, the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas!

David’s declaration in Psalm 19 kept running through my head:

The heavens declare the glory of God;

The skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech ;

Night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language

Where their voice is not heard. 

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

Their words to the ends of the world.

No matter where we go, the night sky is always filled with bright and beautiful stars, but we can’t always see their splendor.  Sadly the city lights dim our view.  It makes me wonder, what distractions in my life dims my view of seeing the beautiful work God is doing? It’s easy to forget God’s great love for us and His good purpose for our lives.  Sometimes we don’t see the loving way He cares for us because we are blinded by our busyness or consumed with our agendas. 

Oh Lord, help us to see you more clearly.  Help us to recognize those things that distract us and dim our view of your kind and gracious love.  Strengthen our focus so we see your majesty and your ever present beauty in our lives.   

It was a great week last week at the Positive Woman Connection Bible studies!  I loved seeing all of you and sharing a message from Philippians 2.  I think we all were strengthened by the truth of knowing God has a good purpose for our lives.

This past weekend I had the privilege of flying to Phoenix and speaking to the wonderful ladies at La Casa De Cristo church in Scottsdale. It was a blessing to get to know the tremendous women in this community of believers, as I observed their servant’s hearts and joyful spirits working together in the bonds of Christ. Truly a picture of the body of Christ shining brightly!

As I prayed about the message to share with the women there, God put on my heart the transforming truth we find throughout the Bible that God is with us and will give us strength. Even when we walk through dark valleys we do not need to be afraid for God is close beside us. As a Good Shepherd, his rod and staff protect and comfort us.

It may feel like God is far away when things go wrong and we become discouraged. But these can be the very times when our faith grows as we trust God and pour out our hearts toward him even when we don’t understand. I like what Sinclair Ferguson said, “Appearances can be deceptive. The fact that we cannot see what God is doing does not mean that he is doing nothing.”

One time when I was taking my mastiff to the vet, we met up with a beagle wearing a lamp shade. It wasn’t a real lampshade of course, it was one of those silly plastic collars that dogs have to wear so they won’t scratch something on their head. The beagle was miserable and I wasn’t sure how it was going to make it through the day, much less a week of wearing the lamp shade. The owner said to me, “If only my dog knew this is here to help her and protect her.” I thought to myself, how easy it is to doubt our master because we can’t understand why He is allowing something in our lives. Like the beagle, we can either fight against what God is doing in our lives, or trust the love of the master even when we can’t understand the process.

In the same way, I want to encourage you today, trust God’s care for you. You may not be able to see all the reasons why, but you can trust a God who loves you and sees your situation. He is with you. He has a good purpose and a kind intention for your life.

Hello my friends,

It’s been a difficult week.  One I’m sure we will never forget as people of Haiti experienced one of the worse natural disasters in history.

As we look back at the tragic events and the aftermath of the earthquake, I know your hearts have been moved along with mine to want to do what we can for the people there.  In watching the continual news coverage, I noticed that many of the workers asked everyone to pray for the relief efforts there.  Certainly at a time like this we recognize our desperate need for God’s mercy, wisdom and care.   

The apostle Paul’s words kept resonating in my mind, “Pray without ceasing.”  Let us all commit to continually pray for the people in this devastated country.  Pray for the relief workers, for their safety and their health.  Pray for more provisions to get through to the people.  Pray for the healing of the people and for the country.  Don’t stop praying.

At this point we may not be able to go over to help physically, but we can help through donations.  Even in this decision, I encourage you to pray for the ways you are to give to help meet the needs of the people of Haiti.  I have chosen to donate to World Vision.  You can go to www.worldvision.org to find out how they are serving in Haiti and also to find out how you can donate.  Prayerfully consider the ways God wants you to help.

Pray without ceasing.  Never stop praying.  Those words are a charge for us as we watch the relief efforts increase day by day.  Oh Lord, help these precious people of Haiti.  Give them peace and strength.  Help them to know you are their refuge.  Help the relief workers.  Give them wisdom and perseverance as they continue to be your hands and feet in this devastated country.

I’ll see you all on January 26 for another Positive Woman Connection!