Am I too tired to quit?

Our conference is 2 days away. We have had 6 previous conferences so we have advertised it as our 7th annual conference. Tonight, however, I was thinking of all the years and all the changes that have come to us in the last 7 years of doing this. It has not been easy and not all the thoughts were good. God has been good and He has been faithful but He has a round about way of showing His purpose and faithfulness at times. As I sat…stapling papers together…I thought, “Am I too tired to quit?” Have you ever felt that way…like the pattern is so familiar that even though it exhausts you at times, it’s what you know and it’s what you do so you cannot change? As I started praying about that thought, I heard a still small voice say to me, “You really had 6 conferences. Then the 7th year, you rested. This is the 8th year. You are not quitting…it’s the year of new beginnings.” Wow. I didn’t expect to come to that conclusion.

Right now, my life is hard. I am personally struggling with many many things. Obviously the Lord knew that we needed to dedicate this conference and our March retreat with the themes of hope because I have been running low on it.

I have had to redefine hope to align up with the Lord. I have needed to lift up my eyes to see past the circumstances to focus on the heavens where God sits. There is my hope. There is my strength and it is because of the power of Hope in His Spirit I can keep going, keep changing, keep growing and HOPEfully not quit. Like my good and wise friend (Bobbye) has said to me many times, “Just take one day at time. It’s easier to get through life that way.”

I HOPE I meet you at the conference. I know that God is going to show up and show off! The conferences are amazing and the fruit seems to stay fresh forever. Thank you to all of you ladies who have never missed one of them and thank you to all of you who are willing to step out and attend this one.

It is a new beginning…and you know what… I can’t wait to get started!

Counting down to the Friendship Conference

In July 2005, TL and I hosted our first women’s conference in San Diego, California. I remember it well. It was an experience that has mixed emotions attached to it, for lots of reasons. I can honestly say that the courage it takes to step out and host your own event is truly from heaven above, at least it was in our case. We had a great deal to learn about event planning and execution. I applaud all of the women (and men) who undertake such a challenge. It is not easy, to say the least. Now, we are less than three weeks from our 6^th annual women’s event in San Diego. It is the 6^th women’s conference we have hosted since the first one in 2005. We have learned more than we ever imagined along this journey, as God is truly the faithful One, even when we are ready to quit. We could not be in this place without the Lord…and some wonderful, amazing friends who are such an integral part of this ministry and this event.

This year’s theme is “The Power of Friendship” and it comes straight from our hearts. We know firsthand that there is POWER in friendship. Sadly, many of us struggle to develop, sustain and maintain meaningful friendships. Tonilee and I have been friends for almost 10 years, and at times, I think we are both amazed at what God has done through the friendship. I am telling you…God gets the glory. Power is necessary to have friendships that last and are rewarding. What is power? Power is the energizing force grounded in love that never gives up on us, even when we want to quit. The power of friendship brings love into our lives in ways we could never explain. The power of friendship brings healing, hope and happiness. Friends make us laugh. Friends make us cry. Friends make us angry. Friends can drive us crazy. We have a saying in our office: “It ain’t easy,” referring to our “friends.” But, we love each other and are totally there for each other, no matter what happens. It is the power of friendship.

We would love for you ladies to join us for a special day in San Diego. We are having this event in a beautiful location on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University in Brown Chapel, their large auditorium. The entire day is designed to encourage, inspire and empower women to be all that God has purposed for them to be in their lives. And, yes, He gives us friends to help us get there. The greatest part of all…God, Himself, is the “bestest” Friend we will ever have. We want everyone to leave this event knowing that they are a friend of God and that He loves them unconditionally.  Plus, we know many of the women will make new friends before the day is over. Hope to see you there! Bobbye

For more information, go to http://dailydisciples.org/conference.html and see the speakers, schedule and registration information.

The Power of Friendship

Reading in Zechariah 13, I realized what God was saying. There were many people who called themselves prophets (or people called by God to preach His words) but they were not. God says in Zechariah 13:4-5 that on a certain day, every prophet will be ashamed of his vision and will become aware of how they are deceiving. God desired for these people to do what He had intended for them to do instead of doing what they wanted to do (the work of the ministry). It would have been better for these people to be farmers and in business than to preach when God had not put words in their mouths. The work of God/ministry was doing what God had asked them to specifically do.

The same problem exists today. There are many people quoting the wrong things and preaching their own words from a platform that God did not grant to them. As a result, there is no power to change themselves or those who attend to listen. Many churches today are powerless because people have used the name of God and preached the words of God without the leading of His Spirit or the filling of His power.

For me, personally, I never wanted a preaching/teaching platform. Bobbye says it best, “We did not wake up one day and say, ‘Let’s go into ministry.’ This was never our plan or intention.” This ministry has been a work of God and He gets the glory for the words as well as the changed lives. Out of all the prophets, I relate to Jeremiah and Jonah the most. Jeremiah because I have tried my hardest to not do this but my heart burns within if I do not. And Jonah because I am continually purposefully trying to go the other way even though I know better. I know that I am not alone in these feelings. Many people we counsel tell us their struggles too. But what God is saying in Zechariah could be summarized as regardless of what you do, make sure it is what God has asked you to do. If you are claiming to be a Bible teacher, pastor, prophet but were appointed by men (including yourself) then you will be judged stricter by God as stated in James 2 as well as quoted by God’s prophets. (We are starting an online Bible Study on the Book of James called Walking Out Our Faith. If interested in attending from your own computer, let us know at info@dailydisciples.org. We start this Tuesday, January 5)

I might be sensitive to hear the Lord speaking but it has not always been the motivation of the Lord that has kept me going. I really believe that God gave me a physical tangible person who has challenged me as well as encouraged to me to continue. I am thankful for the power of friendship that has changed my life and kept me doing the work of the Lord. I do not blame people who quit because the work becomes too hard. You will not ever find me judging someone for quitting but I would recommend that they find a friend or an accountability partner to talk things out and get perspective before making any big changes. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.”

Just because God has asked you to do something, does not mean that it is easy. Just because others tell you to do something, does not mean it is of God. Life can be confusing and tough. The power of friendship can cut through the random factors to keep you focused, doing the work of God. You do not have to go at it alone; God is totally into fellowship, counsel, unity and empowers us through friendship.

**if you are a woman who is lonely, depressed and feel isolated, please join us at the Power of Friendship Conference on Saturday, January 30. Bring a friend and make a friend. You will be encouraged and you know that you are not alone. Depression will lift and love will fill your heart.

Sign up!

You do not want to miss this one day event.

Happy New Year!