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On Your Mark. . . Get Set. . . PRAY!!

CHASING AFTER GOD

This the theme (and some of the graphics) for the 2007--2008 Women Connecting Women ministry year that the Holy Spirit dumped into my heart on June 28th!!  It has been a force that is changing the way that I think/talk/plan my personal & ministry life!!  In December, Pastor Chitty challenged us to not set "New Year's Resolutions" but rather to ask God "what do YOU want to increase in my life?"  Ever since then God has been speaking to me about prayer.  Ultimately, like a runner in the "blocks" who must be set/ready/focused or he will lose the race, so PRAYER is the only thing in life that truly gets us "on our mark. . sets us in the RIGHT position" for life!!  

WOW--so much has been happening these last several weeks getting ready for the Kick-OFF on Sept. 10th!!   God has been pouring into me all summer--it has been amazing & thrilling!  But also a LOT of work to put all of HIS plans into place--calling women into leadership, putting together informational brochures, bulk mailings, designing the banner for our stage "back drop" etc., etc, etc!!  Last year we had about 12 women on our Leadership team--THIS year we have 12 women serving as coordinators of different areas of ministry, ~16 women who will be serving as table leaders at our monthly Gatherings (to love on/nurture/follow-up on/pray for the women at their table) and 10 small group leaders/co-leaders!!  That is 38 women--Can you say MULTIPLICATON???  Last night we had our "final prep before the Kick OFF" meeting & it was just AWESOME!!  The excitement & anticipation of what God has in store for us this year is growing.  As I shared the song we will start each GATHERING with--"Chasing" by Desperation Band--they began to really grab ahold of the vision!!  I can't hardly explain with words what He has put into my heart but let's just say there have been some prophecies given to me these past several days & weeks that are just God-sized things!  I am so humbled and honored that He has chosen me to be a part of putting this together & calling these women into leadership & yet I know this is what I was created for!!  IT is so FUN and exciting & awesome!!

So I would like to ask you to PRAY for me.  As you can imagine, the devil is pulling out the "big guns" to attack me--starting last night.  Today has been a challenging day but I am recognizing this for what it is & seeking "back up" from my Christian family.  I am the emcee and primary speaker for the Kick-OFF next Monday night, Sept. 10th--I need the protection & anointing of the Lord as I put everything the Lord has been giving me since July 5th into the message I will deliver that night!!!  Then I am hosting the WCW Leadership Retreat in Pawley's Island Sept. 14-15th--again, I need the protection & anointing for this as well.  This is a time we will have fun together, make relationships and when I can pour into these women as leaders!!  Pray that everyone who is supposed to be there with us will be able to make it--schedules/jobs/families/etc. will get worked out!!

Thanks so much for being there for me when God was using YOU to prepare me for this season in my life!!  I can't believe that God has allowed me this opportunity to partner with Him in this ministry!  I know it is "only at my church" but I feel it is so much BIGGER than that--in the spirit realm & eventually in the physical.  The Lord spoke to me during my prayer time on Saturday that "2007--2008 will be the beginning of a movement in the city of Columbia that will eventually be written about in books & newspapers! Things that people have given up on--dreams, hopes, destinies--will be revived & fulfilled in ways that everyone will know and believe God is the One TRUE LIVING GOD!!! 

I can't wait to share what God does next week & over the next several months!! 

Several of you have been asking me about my proposal to the Pediatrics physicians that I mentioned in a previous blog.  Well, quite honestly I was supposed to get back to him with some revisions and time has just gotten away from me.  In that time I have really struggled with fear and insecurity. 

FEARS:  

• "is this the right timing?" 
• "how will all the details of which hours to work and who will take care of L & L?
• will I still be able to effectively fulfill my ministry as Women Connecting Women Director 
• will I be able to add this to my already BUSY life without some part suffering?" 

INSECURITIES:

• I have never done pediatrics nutrition--do I know what I am doing?
• how will I work with the different office staffs & physicians?
• will I have clients after all this preliminary work?  I NEED AN INCOME!!

Well, Justin & I talked through this issue last Sunday on the way home from lunch & agreed that I need to move ahead with revising & re-submitting my proposal.  Then on Thursday evening I traveled to Charlotte to attend a Nutrition Entrepreneurs meeting which really helped inspire me and answered a LOT of questions I had.  Isn't God's timing perfect?

So I just finished revising my original proposal and will deliver it to my doctor-friend, Dr. Whitaker, at Sandhills Pediatrics on Monday!!  I know God has a plan for me which will not only provide an income (2 in preschool this year!) and to USE my RD degree BUT ALSO to have interaction with people that are not already Christians!!!  I have asked God to use me to spread the Kingdom of God in the marketplace and I believe this is the answer to that prayer!  So, here I go with this first part of Nutrition Private Practice & then I will soon pursue other areas where I can do consulting/teaching/writing for adults!

Please pray for me in the next few weeks for the following:

• Favor with the physicians and the staff at Sandhills Pediatrics
• Proposal process to move quickly so that I can be working by the beginning of September
• For continued success in the management of my wife/mother/homemaker duties as I move back into the ministry and work-worlds that can be demanding of my time/attention.
• ANOINTING for me & my WCW Team as we finish out the final preparations for the coming ministry year--there is a LOT to do in the next few weeks to get our promotional materials completed and printed!!  Our Annual WCW Kick-OFF is September 10th--please pray for all the leaders and women to be READY for this important night & the ministries that will happen weekly/bi-weekly and monthly!!!!

Thank you to each of you who have loved me, encouraged me, and prayed for me in these 2 areas--new job and Directing the Women's Ministry!!  I can't tell you how much you mean to me & how much I count on your prayers--I cannot do what I do without them!!