PRINCESS WARRIORS

From Beth Moore's Esther It's tough being a woman study:

"As painful as the process may be, that which shatters our superficiality also shatters the fetters of our fragility and frees us to walk with dignity and might to our destinies. WE ARE NOT THE FRAGILE FLOWERS WE HAVE CONSIDERED OURSELVES TO BE. We, like Esther, are the WARRIOR PRINCESSES of God."

Caps my emphasis. And can I get an AMEN!

FRIEND OF GOD

First, blogger is hating the video upload so it will have to be at a later date.

Now to the post. We often sing the song "I am a friend of God", as do many other churches across our nation. I have to tell you at times I have struggled with the song because it spoke of a familiarity with God that I was not confident in. That perhaps we were pals or buddies. He is one of my "peeps" or we are BFF's. I recently read a devotional by Beth Moore discussing love and in doing so she brought up this very scripture text. Abraham was called a friend of God in James 2:23. The word used for "friend" was philos. She says it better than I could.

" A very important aspect of philos is the adoption of like interests...It (James 2:23) teaches us that Abraham adopted God's interests as his own."

taken for the New Every Morning devotional

Now that is a definition I can better get my head around. However, it also puts part of the responsibility on me. That I would adopt God's interest as my own. That is how I become friends with people on this planet. That is how I become a friend of God. Please Lord may I show myself friendly to you today:)

rhonda

PRAYER REQUEST

** UPDATE: Jean Marie was negative for viral meningitis. She is on her way home. Praise the Lord!

Mark Parkhurst is doing well and expected to go home soon.
Please add a young lady by the name of Jean Marie to your list. She is 4 months pregnant and at the hospital with suspected viral meningitis. She and her husband have already suffered one miscarriage.

MINISTRY FAIR

We know the ministry fair was a few weeks back, but we are just now getting to the pictures. Even though we did not win the competition (props to Mike & Janice), our table was awesome! Here are the pictures.

Doesn't this just scream women? And grace? Thanks to Judy for the table arrangement!

Come by the table:)

That is right- we'd love to chat with you!

We have all kinds of information on the table. Feel free to stop by and grab a newsletter or a survey. We need you! Women of Grace - not Woman of Grace.

Special thanks to Tara & Charlsie for being our table gals. They did an awesome job:)

SURPRISE?

Got a treat for you on Sunday ( I hope!) Don't miss it:)

UPDATE

Here is an update on Mark Parkhurst from Judy. The question was "have you heard anything?":

Yes, Judith, Ray. Bill, I went over there last nast- he looked great...laughing and talking just like always. But, they will keep him again tonight to keep check on meds. PTL!

Keep praying for Charlotte & Mark:)

PRAYER REQUEST

Charlotte Parkhurst was one of our speakers at the retreat. Her husband, Mark, has had to return to the hospital for heart issues. Please be in prayer for Charlotte & Mark, as well as the doctor's & staff at the hospital. Thanks.

YOUR TURN

We have taken up enough post space - now it is your turn. Tell us how God met with you this past weekend. What did He speak into your life. We overcome the enemy 2 ways - the blood of the Lamb (Christ Jesus & its a done deal) and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). So start TESTIFYING LADIES! TESTIFY!

TO YOU & YOU & YOU

Now to the two biggest thank yous:

To all you Women of Grace who trusted us with 18 hours of your life - we say a BIG THANK YOU! There would have been no retreat without you- just the three of us having a sleep over at the church. We are entertaining but not that much!

To Lord God, His One & Only Son Jesus Christ and to the Great Comforter Holy Spirit - we humbly thank You for manifesting Yourself among us. We thank You for organizing the retreat, setting things us as You saw fit, and working it all to Your glory. Without You it would have been all in vain. We love You!

THANK YOU

** See I told you I would have to add more- to Niki & Charlsie for taking all the pics. Check out FaceBook - we are everywhere & have our own group:)

With some sleep behind us, it is time for thank you's (in no particular order):

• To the prayer team for praying over us the week before the retreat- no doubt it paved the way.
• To the praise team for all their hard work. You prepared our hearts for the Word of God.
• To the greeters who made every lady feel welcomed, made fabulous name tags & signs. You shared the love of Christ and Grace Creek with every woman who walked in that door.
• To the food team - WOW! We ate like queens! Thank you for organizing last night & for cooking away this morning. Where else does one of the guest speakers show up at 6 to cook breakfast!
• To the clean up team - how much of a blessing were you two? You will never know what a joy it was to not have to clean up. Everything was spic & span. You brought honor to the house of the Lord. May you be blessed for it.
• To the decorating team -how cute were you? The decorations were great. Very girly! Thanks for the hard work!
• To all the guests speakers and musicians - thank you so much for putting yourself out there for us and for Jesus. We pray that you are blessed 100 fold for the blessing you were to us.
• To David, Matt, James, Bill, Jared, & Amanda - thank you so much for helping set up and opening the church to us. It was such a blessing!
• And BENJAMIN - what to say. Thank you is insufficient - your hard work was invaluable to us. You are a blessing to our WOG and Grace Creek. May the Lord bless you pressed down & overflowing; more than you could have ever imagined!

If I forgot anyone or group, I am sorry. But please know we are thankful beyond what words can say! And now I am going to take a liberty and say a special thank you to Judy & Vivian. Absolutely - hands down - no way - this would have happened without you. You heart for the Lord is not only a blessing but an encouragement to me and many others. Words can not do justice to the love I have for you both. We may butt heads - but our hearts are knitted together in Christ and that trumps all! Your willingness to lay down your desires and press hard after Jesus is humbling. It is an honor and a privilege to serve with you.

All right - that is it for tonight. I will see all you lovelies in the am. More pics to come! Bless you! Sleep well!

rhonda

SLEEP

The retreat has come and gone BUT our God is FOREVER! And the things He did in the lives of the women in attendance are eternal. Praise His holy name! There will be pics to come and more info - but for now there is -SLEEP!

Prepare the Way

Know what these gals are doing?

How about these?

And these?

Want to give this one a guess?


They are preparing for you! Tomorrow is the day. FINALLY! The team leaders have been working their rear ends off and are ready for you. The question is-->
Are you ready for us?

Girly Get-A-Way '09 in less than 24 hours:)

BABIES! BABIES! BABIES!

Here are some pics from baby shower #2. Remember to pray for this prescious mom-to-be and her hubby!

Ahh... little pink dresses... too cute too cute!

And look - I figured out how to make the pictures BIG - YEA ME!

MINISTRY FAIR

Be sure to check out our booth at the Ministry Fair this Sunday. Lots of info and couple of super sweet gals to answer questions for you. Have a great weekend! One more week until the retreat - YEAH!!!!

Floored

I said it tonight & I will say it again - we are humbled at the hand of God on this retreat. We are honored so many of you are joining us and we are excited to see what is ahead!

WOMEN OF GRACE

The retreat is fast approaching and is consuming a lot of the leadership talk, as well it should. However, we had a meeting today with some future leaders of WOG teams and we want to talk about that. Not about the meeting as much as about the ministry. God is doing something with the women. Christ is moving amongst us. We put it on lots of stuff because we mean it - real women equipping real lives for real Christianity. That is what we want to do. What is more beautiful or attractive than to see someone REALLY walking with Jesus. In all they do & say they are striving to bring glory to Him and to the kingdom. That, friends, is what draws people to Jesus. When they see what He has done for everyday "ordinary" people and they see it walked out before their eyes in the everyday details of their lives. When they see "ordinary" people doing extraordinary things and all pointing to Jesus Christ, it gets the lost everytime. Women of Grace is praying to be leaders on this front. In our church & our community. In our homes & in our workplaces. We have prayed time & again "Lord God let it start with us" - whatever changes need to be made, whatever steps need to be taken - show us and let it start with us. Not a selfish, prideful prayer- but a prayer or obedience and sacrifice. The ladies we met with today pray the same I'll bet, and I'll bet you do to. So Princess warriors- ready your swords! We are on the offensive - to reclaim what the enemy has tried to take. To plant our feet firmly on the Rock and proclaim the name of Jesus Christ. Be prayed up & get into the Word. Armor yourself from head to toe. We have the victory. Let me say it again -WE HAVE THE VICTORY!
See ya in the morning girls - remember - UNSTOPPABLE CHRUCH!