"BLESSED" Women's Retreat

Thank you to the women of Mission Hills Community Church!

WOW-

saying that was an amazing weekend doesn't even describe the depth of 

love,

support,

transparency 

&

connection

that I was able to watch and experience 

through these beautiful women.

When I first arrived,

I was overwhelmed by the beauty and creativity that I saw all around the room.

You talk about gifts-

these women have many!!!

Here are a couple of shots of the entry way.

SO gorgeous!

There was a bag FULL of swag!

The FIRST time I was the Keynote Speaker-

and I was so humbled by God.

God has really worked a miracle in me:

My first memory of being in front of people was traumatic!

In Kindergarten, our class was on stage to sing for a Winter Program-

 I ran off the stage crying.

In Middle School I attempted to face my fear and competed in our school's 

Speech Contest 

and I think I won-

reading Martin Luther King's famous speech,

"I Have a Dream".

I actually memorized the whole thing.

Nowadays, 

I'm lucky if I remember what I went to the grocery store for!

Anyhow,

just a really wonderful weekend with these women.

I shared most of my life,

specifically some of the 

"not so glamorous"

parts.

I shared the good, the bad, and yes,

the ugly.

I shared how this little girl grew up thinking that she had to be perfect and 

could not let anyone down.

And because of the pressure she had put on herself,

she made many, many bad choices.

I've referred to some of my many mistakes here.

BUT...

what I was reminded of this weekend and shared,

was that we have ALL sinned.

We have ALL made mistakes.

What matters is what we do with them.

If you don't believe in God, 

you hope no one finds out and you go on 

living your life,

hiding your mistakes with shame and guilt.

That takes a lot of energy.

(I know)

Shame and guilt are like shackles,

they are bondage that keep us from living a completely JOY filled life,

a life filled with peace and happiness.

BUT,

if you believe in God and TRUST him with your shame and guilt,

by surrendering them to him,

he will BLESS you for it.

You are FREE from that bondage

that shame and guilt keeps us in-

I asked the women if anyone had ever been skydiving-

not one in the room,

except for Moi.

Yes, 

I have been skydiving and shared how 

when I was at the door of that airplane getting ready to jump-

it was THE single scariest moment of my life-

I jumped and screamed with everything I had- 

and kept screaming until the "professional" that was strapped to me tapped my side 

to remind me that I had to pull the chord so the parachute would open-

I pulled-

and as the parachute was opening, 

I was pulled upward as the parachute opened and then-

silence

and

beauty 

ALL around me.

Trusting God is kind of like jumping out of that airplane:

scary.

But when you do, 

you receive all the benefits of living a faith filled life:

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness,goodness

and 

self-control.

And,

you get the REAL "professional" strapped to you-

He will never leave you or forsake you-

I heard this song and love the lyrics-

no matter what mistakes I've made and/or continue to make,

I have a GOD who forgives me,

values me

and

loves me, 

NO. MATTER. WHAT.

Do you?

(turn it UP!)

         

I'm so grateful that His mercies are new EVERY morning!

Let Jesus lift you up today-

Let him fill you with his spirit-

let go-

Fit, Fabulous 40's Friday!

What's Eating You?

We all know that to lose weight we need to eat better and exercise, 

but I think a few things need to happen.

1. You must BELIEVE it is possible!

2.You must have your "WHY", your reason for doing it.
But, bottom line, you have GOT to do it for YOU!

3. You must think about the underlying issues, "what's eating you",
that has you turning to food
to either numb the issue
or comfort you regarding this issue(s).

You might even want to journal about the above....

Personally,
I think what was "eating me" was fear.
My entire life has been spent fear-full.
I still have it,
but as my faith in God has grown, I have become more
FEAR-LESS,
I can trust HIM
and not have to turn to food in excess or candy
for the comfort I have needed.

We ALL have to eat.

The tough thing is that you can't "Quit" eating, 

but you CAN

"QUIT"

feeding into your emotions,

 eating unhealthy and begin giving your body healthy food,

foods that will energize,

cleanse

and

heal

your body!

There is a difference between feeding your body
and
feeding your emotions!

Fit Tip of the Day; 
Write down everything you eat today and the rest of the week.
Write down what you eat and at what time.

AWARENESS if the first key to improvement!

IF I COULD DO IT,
YOU 
can do it!!!!

Just keep going!

Do you think journaling could help?

Prayers Please!

You know what they say?

"Be careful what you wish for,

because 

you might actually get it!"

I have always dreamed of being a 

REAL Speaker,

you know, someone who actually gets paid for it?

Well, this week I have a few speaking dates,

and I'm a little scared.

I could really use your prayers!

On Wednesday,

I'm speaking for one of my favorite Mom's Groups,

Mission Hills' Mom2Mom Group.

On Saturday I have my first

"REAL" Speaking opportunity at a Boutique in Orange.

Then, on Monday,

I have another "REAL" talk that another speaker referred me to since she couldn't make it.

I will be sharing 3 different talks,

within 

1 week.

Please say a few prayers for this girl! 

(two thumbs pointing at myself)

I am praying this:

But I'm not so scared that I'm not preparing or doing what I need to do.

Our God is faithful.

HE always shows up.

HE always provides.

HE never leaves me,

ever.

So, I don't have to be afraid.

That doesn't mean that some of the ladies won't like me.

:-(

That doesn't mean that I will bring all the lost to the Lord.

That doesn't mean that my fear is completely gone.

It is still there....a little...

but HE calls me to be brave,

faithful,

courageous.

So, 

I'm stepping!

Please say a prayer for me and for the hearts of these women that I will be speaking to

1) on Marriage (Wed)

2) on The Gift of CHRISTmas (Sat)

3) on The Power of a Praying Mother (Mon)

Thank you SO, SO MUCH!

And may I pray for you?

Lord, 

Please bless my friend reading this.

I pray that this week, he/she would see you, that you would make yourself 

supernaturally real for this friend.

I also pray that this friend would be blessed, protected and be swooned by you and your love!

Lastly,

I pray that they too, would step out in fear,

and that they too, would be brave,

courageous 

somewhere in their life this week!

Thank you, Father, for hearing every word, every prayer, every heart!

I love you,

in Jesus' name I ask these things,

AMEN!

"Everything" Blog Tour

Welcome Friends!

I couldn't be more excited to share some new insight with you today regarding

  Mary DeMuth's new book, "Everything".

I am also very excited because I got to hear Kay Warren (Pastor Rick's wife) speak at our High School Ministry this weekend, and some of what she said really resonated with me, 

especially because it was a confirmation to some of the things that Mary states in her book.

Now, before I get into sharing my ONE BIG THING about "Everything", I have to share with you what has been really going on in my life that I have admittedly been hiding from you all.

Yes, I have been hiding something from you.

Please don't judge or hate on me,

I'm just like you, 

or maybe, some of you!

This summer, when Mary let me be a part of this book launch, 

she had no idea that it came at the exact time I needed it. 

I had been wrestling with God, like Jacob, not just for one night, 
but for most of my Christian life. 

Reading Mary's book actually took me to a place where I had to look at 

MY LIFE, MY FAITH, and MY HEART 

and ask myself, 

"Have I really, truly given Jesus EVERYTHING?"

Tears well up in my eyes even now as I am reminded that my answer was,

"NO,

 not everything. 

I hadn't given Him my heart, in it's entirety, 

maybe 90% of it, but that was enough, wasn't it?"

Then I justified it....

I had served for years, in Women's Ministries at church, speaking for MOPS, volunteered, taken meals to friends, encouraged, inspired and even lead others to Christ,

 and yet, 

at the very bottom, the pit of my soul, 

I realized that I could "DO" what Jesus wanted 

and

 I could "BE" the type of woman Jesus wanted me to be, (on the outside)

but

 I did not "GIVE" what Jesus was asking for ....my WHOLE heart.

Pretty big realization after being a Christian for more than 35 years and really serving in ministry for the last 12, wouldn't you say?

Pretty big to me.

Well, of course I began praying and asking the Lord for 

wisdom, clarity and the courage

 I needed to really discover why I hadn't given Jesus everything, 

and it came to me.....

what has always been my ONE BIG THING- 

FEAR.

I was born a scaredy-cat!

I was a shy, timid, scared child.
(I'm sure those who know me would really be surprised by this)

I don't know why, and that doesn't even really matter. 

What matters is that at some deep level, I have known that, 

and I have worked Oh, soooooo very hard to overcome many, many fears, 
so much so, 

that I am someone who has done things many others haven't- 

to overcompensate for my fear.

I'm not afraid of snakes, I actually like them.

I will kill spiders with my bare hands.
I'm not afraid to hold bugs, reptiles or other yucky things.

I have had my belly pierced, shot a handgun and have gone skydiving.

I've spent 24 hours alone, on a small mountain with nothing more than a sleeping bag.

My largest obstacle has been to learn how to stop my eyes from watering (a subconscious reaction) when I speak to large groups.

And although I have overcome most of my fears, 
I had not given my heart fully to God because of 
that same fear.

In "Everything", 

Mary says,

"We think we can manage on our own, so we reject the help that God readily supplies. 
We fear that if we let Him be in control, 
He’ll make us open up to people, risk ourselves, do scary things,

 or let go of the sins we cherish.

He wants all of us, all the time, our minds and hearts deeply engaged with His so we will joyfully follow Him toward every single adventure He plans for us."

Adventure?

Kay Warren went on "God's Adventure" when her heart broke for children

orphaned by AIDS.

I was afraid of THAT kind of adventure.
What about you?

"But Jesus says we’re not to live like every- one else. 
Our lives should be different, 
marked by
fearlessness and bold belief.

He asks us to abandon our control so that He can reign in our lives and grow us.
We would rather live a lie than come to the Truth Personified, Jesus, 
and let Him show us our hearts.

 To follow is to give up our lives, 
particularly our expectations of how our lives should be. 
We need to let go of our presumptions about the life we should have 
and 
let Jesus dream a new dream for us. 

A dream where others are changed through the Holy Spirit in us. 
A dream we can't even fathom."
Mary DeMuth

Because of the words in this book,
I have released FULL control of my life
and 
ALL of my heart.
Yes, ALL.

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 
For whoever would save his life will lose it, 
but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." 
Mark 8:34-35 ESV

Mary gave me a gift, by including me in a group,

 that I questioned why I was there every day,

by allowing me to read her book, process it and talk about it with other readers.

I had a lot of time to chew on it and really think about what I was reading

 and how it applied to my life.

Thank you, Mary!

God used Mary to truly and deeply bless me 

through this book.

I absolutely believe that when you read it,

you too, 

will think about how it applies to your life,

your heart, in your head and in your hands,

and my prayer to you 

is that YOU 

will bravely and courageously

  look honestly at yourself 

to see 

if

you truly have given 

Jesus 

everything.

And if you have, get ready for your adventure!

I AM!

Saving faith is not just believing that Jesus lived and died. 

Faith that saves is the confident, continuous confession of total dependence on, 

and trust in Jesus Christ to meet the requirements on your behalf 

to give you entrance into God's Eternal Kingdom. 

It's the surrender of your life in complete trust to Him to do what you cannot do.

You're my Everything

Rendered speechless by Your beauty
Lord, I'm blown away
With everything that's in my heart
A million words could never say all there is to say

Chorus 1:
You're more than just a song, You're more than just a whim
You're more than just a passing fantasy
You're my Everyday
You're my Every Way
You're my Everything

Verse 2:
If I could see forever
In just one moment I would say
These todays are worth tomorrow
When I will see You face to face

Chorus 2:
I want to be with You
I need to be with You
I long to be with You, precious King
So with every day, Lord, in every way
You're my Everything

Bridge:
You're my Everything
You're my Everything
You're my Everything, Oh Jesus
You're my Everything

Ending:
You're my Everyday
You're my Every Way 

What do you think it means to give Jesus everything?

Have you given Jesus everything?

Why or why not?

Have a beyond wonderful week!

God is a Comedian...

I'm speaking next week to a MOPS group that I have visited for the last 2 years.

This year, they had one small request.

"Janet, we would LOVE to have you back (maybe she didn't say "LOVE" in bold letters, but she did say, "love"), but can you do us a favor?

Uh oh.

"Sure, anything- what do you need?" (always here to please...)

"would you mind speaking on Organization?"

"Uh....okay", was my response.

"GREAT! Thank you so much, how about this date....time, etc".

Uh oh.

For any of you out there in Blog-Land who don't know me...

I'm not the most organized person.

I'm hardly organized..

God is a Comedian...

seriously?

Me???

Seriously?

I have stacks of papers in my office right now

(still there from when I spoke w/her 2 months ago!)

I'm so dis-organized that my kids are trained to put their hands up when they open the cupboards in case something comes falling out...

I'm so disorganized that when I try to file something or put something where it should be,

I CAN"T FIND IT!!!!!!

In fact...

"It sucks to be me ( as Nacho would say) speaking on Organization", was my first thought, embarrassingly so...

Then I heard a still, small voice....

It's not YOU...it's ME, speaking through you...

My heart is the vessel HE uses to encourage these women...

My mouth is the vessel used to present the message HE wants to present...

My disorganized mind is somehow used to focus on what HE thinks is important to communicate...

My body is a puppet HE uses while I attempt to step aside...

I am the vehicle HE uses to reach those Mommies, HIS Mommies...

It's all HIM...

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same SPIRIT. There are different kinds of service, but the same LORD. There are different kinds of working, but the same GOD works all of them in all people.

Now to each one the manifestation of the SPIRIT is given for the common good."

All these are the work of one and the same SPIRIT."

1Corinthians 12:4-7, 11

It does NOT "suck to be me", in fact, I am honored, blessed and humbled that HE would use me in this way...

sometimes confused,(me LORD? Seriously?)

but alas still honored!

And I know, that God will provide me with

WHAT to say,

AND

HOW to say it.

"My GRACE is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

That is why, 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."

2Corinthians 12:9-10

I'll let you know how it goes!

Trusting In HIM,

Janet