NY Women of Purpose

"Rescued"

2011-08-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hi ladies!
The 2011 Women of Purpose Conference is almost upon us! Yea! I just went to Phoenix for our director's seminar and am so impressed with Kerry Clarensau, our new national director and the "direction" she is taking us in. She shared alot about ministry to women - ladies, that's what it is all about! We need each other.
Please be praying for the conference! If you have not registered, early registration is due this Wednesday, August 10th but you can register anytime up until the event. We do not want you to miss out! I was speaking with Dr. Beth Grant, our speaker, in Phoenix and she just loved our theme "Rescued". There will be some women coming that weekend who need to be "rescued" in the worst way and Christ will be there to meet them! Are you preparing yourselves now by seeking God to move in your heart, the hearts of the women at your church and the others who will be attending? I love you all and can't wait to see you!!!! Don't miss out! Get all the details at www.nywomenofpurpose.org. See you there!

My country tis' of thee

2011-07-02T15:34:00.001-07:00

This year, the fourth of July takes on a whole new meaning for us as a family. My husband, Jim is originally from Scotland and moved to Canada when he was only 7. We met at Zion Bible Institute and married 27 years ago. He has retained his Canadian citizenship but recently decided that he would like to finally become an American. So he went through the process and this past week on June 3oth, took his oath. The celebration was unique and special. There were 50 people becoming naturalized citizens that day and they hailed from 29 different countries! A judge presided over the ceremony and there was a speaker from the local news station. At the end, each candidate went up and received his certificate of naturalization from the judge and your family was allowed to take pictures. A band played, the pledge of allegiance given and right away, each candidate was given the information as to how to be able to vote.

The commitment that you make when becoming a citizen is serious but also rewarding. The freedoms he gained and the liberty which he now declares is exhilarating!

There is a country that we shall one day see but only if we have taken a proper oath. That is one of allegiance to God, who is our Creator and Redeemer. The liberties which He bestows on us are also rewarding! We shall one day reign with Him!

This 4th of July, think of those who have died to give you freedom and ultimately the One who died to give you everlasting freedom! God bless America!

"Falling Behind"

2011-05-22T17:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted to this blog! It has been a long winter and somehow I fell behind in keeping up with my goal of posting each month.

Usually when we think of new beginnings, we think of January as the time of year when we set new goals. But...perhaps...we should be thinking of the spring as a new time to recommit! It's May 22 and finally the temperature is over 70 and I can see the trees are blooming and flowers are abundant. The bunnies in our back woods have been munching on my tulips and enjoying themselves.

New life is everywhere! I want to encourage you that if you have been in a slump, so to speak, whether physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually - now is the time to let God change you and breathe new life into your spirit. Don't let the enemy drag you down or cause you to feel you have failed in any area. Whatever areas of your life need change, now is the time to refresh, refuel, and recommit yourself to the One who can revitalizeyour life totally!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

2010-11-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

We just finished having the most incredible Thanksgiving! It was the first time I have cooked dinner at home in years! I was grateful to have my brother and my brother-in-law, along with our son, Jordan here for the weekend.
And now...the Christmas preparations have begun! The scurry to find the perfect gifts began at 3:30 am the morning after Thanksgiving! So tiring but so much fun! This week we will decorate our home as well as the church.
I could not wait to get out the hymn book and start doing carols as part of our worship service. Joy to the World was the first song we sang in church this morning. I love the Christmas season! What I cherish the most is that I am reminded once again that Emmanuel, God with us, came to earth as a baby and humbled Himself to be our Redemption. He is our Savior, our strong tower, our refuge, our joy...and the list goes on! If I could give anyone the perfect gift, it would be Him!
As you prepare for December 25th, try not to get caught up in the hustle, the bustle and the stress that this season can bring. Instead, focus on the One who truly is the gift that goes on and on and on!
Our prayer is that you would be blessed with all the joy and the peace of Christ!
Merry Christmas!!!

How do you spell "relief"? FAITH

2010-10-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

Anybody out there worry or fret? Any woman out there suffering with anxiety? Want to be freed today? According to Webster's dictionary, relief is a release from anxiety or tension, or the feeling of release, lightness and and cheerfulness that accompanies this. It's a factor that ends a painful or stressful experience such as pain, hunger or boredom. I'm rarely bored, but we all have pain in our lives at some point. How do we overcome the anxiety that grips us? I don't have all the answers but I know that lately I have been standing on the truth expressed in Hebrews 11:1.

Hebrews 11:1 "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we cannot see."
The Message

Sometimes there are trials that come into our lives and they drag on forever. Or...as David expressed in the Psalms, "deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts". What that meant was that the trials in David's life were like the waves of the ocean. When you watch the waves, it seems like one calls unto the other as they roll in one after the other. The rough spots or trials in our lives can be like that. We seem to go through one thing after another. There have been times during the past 9 months, that I have not been living day to day, but actually moment to moment. That's what I had strength for. The one thing that I have held onto or gripped more than ever is the faith that I could trust in God. That whatever is brought into my life, God knows I can handle. He deems me worthy to endure it. It's this faith and trust that we can have in Him that makes life worth living for. When we cannot see the reward...when we cannot see the end to our current circumstances, faith is the handle! Get a firm grip, girls!

Did you know?

2010-08-08T11:34:00.001-07:00

Did you know that it is only 6 1/2 weeks until the 2010 Women of Purpose Conference? Did you know that God is wanting to meet you there and transform you like never before?

Did you know Joanna Weaver cannot wait to meet all of you wonderful ladies of New York?! I spoke with Joanna on the phone last week and as we talked over details, I could sense the excitement in both of us! She is in the final stages of a brand new book and cannot wait to share the details with you!

Did you know that Sue Duffield has been all over the place this summer? I am friends with her on Facebook and she is constantly on the move. Sue Duffield has already met many of you as she spoke at some of the spring rallies in April and May. She cannot wait to reconnect with some of you and meet those of you who have not yet enjoyed her sense of humor!

I don't know about you...but I peresonally have had a lot going on in my life over the summer. When I think about it, I am more convinced than ever that God is going to meet us in an incredible way in September and the enemy would like to thwart us or discourage us in any way he can. My motto right now is "I will not be moved!" UNLESS it's by the Spirit!

Did you know I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE ALL OF YOU!!!!!

"No Regrets"

2010-07-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

Last month, I wrote in my blog about a situation with my half-sister who was dying of terminal lung cancer. She had asked my brother not to tell me until she was dead. She passed away two days later so the bitterness on her part was never resolved. And...I could not attempt to find out what transpired that made her so resentful towards me. I have had a lot of time since then to re-evaluate our relationship. We had not had contact in years. She was one who never showed approval of me - nothing I ever did was good enough for her. Questions will always remain. Could I have done more to reconcile our relationship? Should I have picked up the phone and made an attempt to connect with her? Would it have helped? I have realized through this that it is hard to live with regrets and questions. Better to make an attempt to resolve a relationship than sit back and do nothing. If they don't accept it, you have done your part. I am trying not to live with the "regrets" and I am learning to trust God to bring me through a process of healing. A friend helped me realize lately that I am not grieving her death...I am grieving a relationship that truly never was and never will be. That says it so well. If God so speaks to your heart, reach out to someone in your life today that has been estranged and see what God can do. Don't be afraid, but step out in obedience and let God orchestrate the end result!

"Let bygones be bygones"

2010-06-04T12:21:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness is a very important lesson to learn. Unforgiveness holds prisoners of all involved. I recently have been through a very disheartening situation. I come from a dysfunctional family and have siblings that share the same father but not the same mother. We have never been extremely close due to distance and age gaps. I received a phone call last night informing me of that one of my half-sisters is dying - she is in the last stages of lung cancer. She made my brother promise not to tell me of her illness until she had passed. Why? Four years ago, she sent me a photo album that I had made for my father when he was living. I received it the week before I was to act as director for the first time at the Women of Purpose Conference. It was a reminder to me of where God had brought me from and how faithful He is. I had put it away and after the conference, had forgotten about it. I had not sent a thank you card to show my appreciation....and she was hurt. In February, after losing my oldest brother to a stroke, I felt a strong urge to reconnect with the rest of my family that I had not been in touch with and I sent her a family newsletter informing her of my family's news along with a note thanking her for her thoughtfulness in sending me the photo album. It was apparently too little, too late. So, because of resentment on her part, she would go to the grave with unresolved unforgiveness. I don't know if it was her intent to punish me. How sad! All of it could have been resolved with as little as a phone call. I struggled all night with this information...cried...prayed. It was all I could think about because I cannot make it right. Today I realized that I have no control and that she was the one with the grudge. I have prayed continuously over the years for her salvation and I pray that she made her peace. My point is this...life is too short. Our former director, Eleanor Grossglass, had a saying that has always stuck with me..."let it go, Louie, let it go!" Many times those words have resounded in my ears. So much heartache and disillusionment would be dissolved if we would just let it go! If you have unresolved conflicts in your life, either settle them or let them go and retain your peace. "Let it go, Louie, let it go!"

Spring has sprung!

2010-04-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

New life everywhere! I love to smell the fresh air and newly mowed grass as I walk! Spring is all about transformation - the dead brown grass is now a luscious green, trees are budding with new growth and beautiful blooms, baby bunnies are burrowed in little freshly dug holes in my flower bed (eek!) and as I wake up each morning, there's wonderful music from birds perched outside my window.
In my spiritual life, I yearn for transformation also! Is there such a thing as spring in a Christian's life? "God will do a new thing in this land: a transformed woman will embrace the transforming God." Jeremiah 31:22 The Message. He is ready, willing and able to take us as clay in the hands of a potter and create a beautiful work of artistry!
If you desire to allow the Lord to transform your life, plan to attend the NY District Women of Purpose conference September 23-25 in Binghamton. Be praying with us that lives will be transformed! And...be ready to have God do a new thing in this land!

Time out!

2010-03-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

I remember when my son, Jordan, was small and would misbehave and be placed in a "time out". He would wiggle and squirm and couldn't wait to get out of that situation. It was meant to be a time of reflection for him, but alas, it was anything but that! He did not want to sit still!

I recently had the opportunity to hear Judi Braddy, author of It All Comes Out In The Wash, speak at a retreat. One of the things that she shared that really hit home with me is that we think "busyness" and stress are normal. What we really need is a "time out" - a time of turning our heart to God and reflecting on Him - a sabbatical! We are just like children placed in a time out - we don't want to sit still. We want to get up and go! And...we think it's admirable! A sabbatical does not need to be a huge amount of time. It's just some time out of our day, our week, even our year, when we just take time not to think about everything on our plates so to speak and begin to think on Him! If Jesus did it, so should we! He took time to rest and to pray.

I tried it this week and it worked! It was amazing how everything else fell into place. So...let me challenge you! Place yourself in a "time out" this week and see what happens!

Blessings to each of you as you sit and listen quietly! In His presence is fullness of joy!

Spa for the Soul

2010-02-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

For my recent birthday, I received a "spa in a bag". It included many items to help give myself a night of relaxation - bath fizz ball, lotion, nail polish, etc. I thought it was so thoughtful of the family who gave it to me. I had a stressful month and I looked forward to using all the delightful products inside! In this day and age, many women around me talk about how they take time to go to spas and get facials, pedicures, etc. They feel that is important to their overall appearance and their self-confidence.

March 12th and 13th, we will gather at the Comfort Inn in Syracuse for our "SPA" but it will be "FOR THE SOUL". (see website for details) As women of God, we need to take time out to "pamper" ourselves with the Word, with fellowship and with His presence. If we would do that, we would feel so refreshed! And our self-confidence would skyrocket!

Even if you will not be attending our event, treat yourself to a spa day. Get away somewhere quiet, read the Word and just "bask" in His presence! You most definitely will feel relaxed, less stressed and the peace that is reflected on your face from time spent with Him will beat any moisturizer made!

A baby changes everything!

2009-12-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

A couple in our church got married in their later years (the wife is in her late 30's, husband in his late 40's) and had a baby approximately a year ago. As those of you who have had or have a baby know, a baby brings many changes! Most of the changes are incredibly blissful! As I inquired this morning as to what Christmas morning was like for them, this being his first Christmas, the joy on their faces was precious as they recounted every detail! This child has especially been a blessing to Grandma, who has dementia. He has brought her a new reason to live! She spends much time bragging on him!

Many years ago, a baby came into this world in a humble manger. When He was born, everything changed! He was the One all had waited for...He would be the Savior of the world! Because of that birth, our whole lives can be turned around if we will allow Him to be part of our lives!

In this new year, ask yourself "Am I ready for change?" We talk about resolutions - losing weight, reading our Bible more, etc. but no resolution could be greater than to let that Babe entirely bring about a revolution in our lives. Let that baby change everything in 2010! Here's to a New You!!!!

Thanks but no thanks?

2009-11-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again...time to reflect on our gratitude (or lack thereof) for all the Lord's blessings. We had a family style Thanksgiving dinner at our church today. The day did not start out well! I lead worship and I had placed the cd (we have to use pre-recorded sound traks as we have no full time piano player) in the player. I thought I would practice before the service started. As I played the first song, I knew it was not right. My husband took over and when he did, it would not play at all. I had placed the cd on top of another one and it jammed the machine. Needless to say, my husband was not too happy and neither was our board member who had to take the entire machine apart to try to fix it. So...we did acapella hymns just like I'm sure the pilgrims did way back when! Maybe God has a sense of humor! I was not too thankful!
During the dinner, we went all around the table sharing our traditions and then stating what we were thankful for. At the end, everyone pulled together in cleaning up and doing the dishes. It did my heart good to see everybody pitching in. As we were cleaning, I was speaking with someone who has always hated the holidays ever since I've known her. I shared with her that she needs to come up with a plan to be thankful through the holidays and somehow find a plan to make them less stressful. It's all about focus! God deserves to be praised and celebrated! It's not about football games, turkey (aren't you glad you don't have feathers?), shopping (although I'm one of those die-hard black Friday shoppers - I'm out the door at 4:30 am) or stuffing ourselves until we pass out on the couch. It is a time to think about the blessings of family, health, freedom and life in Christ! May we all take time to push aside the stresses of life as we gather together and have an attitude of gratitude! Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Appreciation Day

2009-10-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

October is Pastor Appreciation month. I had the joy and privilege of helping our church surprise my husband/pastor this past Sunday. They presented him/us with a gift certificate for a night away. We are so excited as we are using it to go visit our close friends in Pennyslvania!

I had been asked by our church leadership if I would preach and give him a break on his special day. I prayed and thought about what to share and a passage that came to mind was the passage in Exodus about the battle that took place between Israel and the Amalekites. As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed. But...Moses hands became tired. Aaron and Hur stepped in and came to his aid and began to lift his hands up, one on one side, one on the other. There is a lesson to be learned by that story related in the Bible. When we hold up the hands of our pastor, not only are we aiding him but we are aiding the church and we are aiding Christ! If we would only keep that focus in mind, many battles would be won in our churches.

5 ways we can hold up the hands of our pastor:
1. Partner with him in doing the work of the ministry.
2. Participate by being involved in activities in the church
3. Promote - show enthusiasm and pride in your pastor and church
4. Practice - what he preaches
5. Pray - for your pastor and his family. He prays for you!

It's the small things that will encourage your pastor. Make a photo album with index cards where members of your congregation have written notes of encouragement and appreciation. Buy him his favorite chocolate. If they have small children, offer to babysit. The list is endless!

So...I want to encourage all your women's departments out there to bless your pastor this month of October and send me a note letting me know what you did! Email it to nywomenofpurpose@gmail.com. Blessings to you as you bless your pastor!

Women of Purpose Conference 09

2009-10-03T18:54:00.001-07:00

I had a date with my "honey" today! We went to the mall to pick up a birthday gift for one of the teen girls from our church. In perusing through the mall, I discovered a wonderful coffee shop and it's aroma drew me in. The pumpkin latte was calling me! As I savored the fragrance of the spices and pumpkin, I was reminded of the sweet savor of last weekend's Women of Purpose Conference. The blend was just right! Dr. Eve Fenton ministered the Word powerfully! Elisabeth Burns heart spoke abundantly through the lyrics and melodies of her music. My wonderful team of representatives and assistant director "ground" together a fine packet of activities and displays. They are Starbucks personified! And just as you can go to a coffee shop and get a gift card that can be reloaded for future use, so the ladies at the conference were at the altar "reloading"in the gifts of the Spirit for future battle. God was faithful!!! To my fellow coffee lovers and New York Women of Purpose - may God continually give you a fresh brew each day as you spend time in His Word perkin up!

counting down

2009-09-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

Counting down! A little over two weeks until the Women of Purpose conference in Binghamton! I am praying that the ladies are coming full of expectation! Are we coming confident and full of belief that God is going to move in our lives?

Our theme this year is "Life in Christ...good to the last drop!" I just got a new coffee maker, a model that brews the coffee into a stainless steel pot that continues to keep the coffee hot for hours. I know, I tried it! There is nothing like a brew of coffee that keeps its freshness and isn't stale from sitting hours on a burner. I tried some 3 hours after it was brewed, still hot and good to the last drop that remained in the pot! Are we ready for a fresh brew in 2 weeks? I don't know about you, but I want God to do something new in my life! Do you need more joy in your life? Let Him perk you up! I love flavored coffee - Irish creme being my favorite. Let God flavor your life - begin to release the talents and gifts He has given you. Let September 24th-26th be the start of God doing something unimaginable in your life! "God can do anything...far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!" Ephesians3:20a The Message Hope to see you there!

Get Motivated August 18, 2009

2009-08-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to go to a Get Motivated seminar in downtown Buffalo today. I got to hear one of my all time favorite motivational speakers Zig Ziglar along with Rudy Guliano, Gen. Colin Powell, Tamara Lowe and a list of others. It was an incredible day. What did I learn today?
* Take the word "impossible" out of your vocabulary - don't you believe God is bigger than that? *Your past does not define you. The decisions you make today determine your future.
*People need you more at a funeral than a wedding - they need to know you love them and care. *Mirror, mirror, on the wall - do I have a prayer at all? Yes!
*There are 3 kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who say "what just happened?"
And last but not least...from Zig Ziglar "If you get discouraged, remember Moses was a basket case and he came out okay!" I love that one!
Be encouraged today and know that God is for you!!!! Don't box Him in!