Save the date!

Our annual women's retreat is just around the corner.

Join us for testimony, teaching, food, fellowship, and worship.

If you're interested in attending, comment below or contact Ruthann, Brooke, or Jill.

We'd love to see you there!

Blessings, 

us.

Jill's Dreaming Big

Hello! Oh, how I've missed you all....

This summer, my husband and I have been hoping for something big. I've spent hours before the Lord asking, begging, hoping, dreaming for something big.

He'd given me His peace about the outcome, regardless of what it was, but I was still feeling anxious at times while waiting for the answer.

I was praying this morning, thanking the Lord for all He's taught me during this time, and asking Him to show me why I was still feeling anxious. He answered me almost immediately.

Right away, I felt the Lord ask me when the last time I hoped for something big was? When was the last time I dreamed something that only God could make happen?....and I couldn't answer. I realized that my anxiety was coming from the stress of dreaming a big dream, and the potential to be disappointed. I hadn't hoped for, dreamed up, or asked God for something big in so long.

I was convicted about what I had turned my God into....a small god. I have faith that God will supply my every need, I have faith that God will protect me, I have faith that God will always be with me....but  it has been a long time since I have been bold in my prayers, since I have dreamed and asked for something big.

The Bible teaches us to be bold in our requests to God. To be persistent. To pray with expectation that what we've asked for will be received (if we're seeking God's will). But we have to ask!

I get it- if we don't ask, we don't get a "no", and we don't get disappointed. What little faith. What a small life.

If we ask and wait, our faith grows. Our relationship with Him grows as we dream big together and seek His will. Yes, there's potential for earthly, human disappointment-but God does not disappoint.

We may not understand something in the moment, and we may be disappointed for a time, but He is always working things out. He has big plans for us.

How small is my testimony when I view God as such a small god, trusting Him in only the small things, that many people could credit to mere man instead of Him. How much more glory can God get when I dream big, ask boldly, and share His answers with others-and those big things can only be attributed to Him.

I would gladly risk a few moments of human sized disappointment for a lifetime of God-sized dreams and faith.

Today, we got our answer for this dream, and there was a time of disappointment. But I'm believing in a God who is bigger than my biggest dream, and I'm claiming the following promises for my future:

"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

"He holds victory in store for the upright. He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones." -Proverbs 2:7-8

Be blessed this week,

Jill

A Bug's Ride

Can You see the bug on the bottom left corner of this photo? This bug clung on for his dear life on the drive from my house to the grocery store, a journey of about 4 miles.  I watched him holding on around corners, over bumps and even as my speed increased. I kept one eye on the road and the other on this tenacious bug. He didn't succumb to the trials he was facing,  he just kept clinging on to my windshield. 

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

When I arrived at the store I paused as I watched him fly away and thought to myself , "I hope my grip is as strong on the Lord as this bug's grip on my windshield.".

As the speed of life pushes me along am I clinging to God?

When life puts a bump in my path do I stay fixed to my faith, clinging to the Lord?

When I can't see around the next curve do I let go and return to a comfort zone or do I cling to God and KNOW that HE upholds me with HIS righteous right hand?

So put away those bug sprays and let some of these crazy little creatures remind you of, and even challenge you today!!!

Love you all,

ruthann

P.S. Save the Date for the 2013 Living Beauty Full Women's Day Retreat- Saturday, October 26th!!!!

HE Leads Me

 Greeting My Beauties!!!!

This has been quite a week in the Greater Boston area. All of Massachusetts, New England, and the world have been riveted by the bombing, the deaths, the injuries, the manhunt and capture of the suspects. To say the least, it has been profoundly disturbing, unsettling and unimaginable. Like most of the world, I could not turn off the media coverage. I would have liked to say that I was calm and peaceful through the unfolding events but I was not.

At the end of last year I stopped my weekly blogging in obedience to a call form God for my silence in my life ( both around me and from me). It has been a  greater challenge than I thought it would be. I have been doing pretty good at creating a quit and peaceful life around me AND working diligently at stopping all my chatter. The latter has proved to be the biggest challenge. BUT I can report some recognizable progress!!!!!

SO what happened to me this week?  I was swept right up into the tsunami of media and social networking. The more I watched and listened the more peace was pulled from me. As my attention was moved from God's goodness to the evil I was more agitated.

Oh, I don't want  you to think that I was not taking to God through all of this because i was! I was praying through  he whole week. the difference was my attention was moved from the light of God's presence to the darkness and the Holy Spirit within me was grieved. I literally felt that sickness in my spirit.

At night I had to reset my attentions to my Lord. Not just in conversation ( prayer) but  by running to His Presence. THAT is where I belong, close to the Lord of my life, with my eyes focused on Him. This does not mean I am unaware of the world around me or  tragic events but it does put me in a place to live in peace, God's peace, NOT fear.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want .He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3a

When we are led by our Shepherd , He leads us to places of rest, refreshment  and restoration.
So I turn my attentions fully back to His Light and Goodness as I run into His Presence, into His Grace, into His Peace,....He is waiting.

Setting my face like flint,
ruthann