It's No Secret

Hey friends,


Thanks for all the posts yesterday and on for those on the Proverbs 31 web-site which I added to your comments.
I'm always blessed and humbled by your comments and interested at the number of women who struggle with this issue.
I would love it if we could keep this conversation going a little while longer.
Please post your thoughts on how we can stop believing the enemy's lies.

Today I wanted to share some really exciting news with you and I think will be a great tool in helping us take every thought captive. My sweet friend Rachel Olsen is releasing her first book tomorrow and I wanted you to be some of the first to see it.



This is one book you are going to want for yourself and for every woman you know.

Click here to order

Here's the book description:
Done with feeling exhausted—or worse, bored? Ready to trade your issues and hang-ups for greater intimacy and fulfillment? Then it’s time you did some digging for biblical “bling” and discovered the secrets to life in God’s kingdom.

Rachel’s writing is lighthearted and fun, but she’s serious about helping you uncover biblical secrets that can make your life shine. This book will help you:


Overcome the competitive urges that leave you lonely
Grow spiritually despite life's setbacks
Discover how to make what you give away ultimately return to you
View your need for rest not as a must but as a gift
Handle conflicts and criticism with grace
Relax unimportant or unrealistic expectations in favor of emotional stability
Find adventure as you yield whole-heartedly to God


Grab your Bible, a girlfriend, and come discover 12 secrets the world doesn't know that every woman should.

Entertaining Thoughts

How often do you compare yourself to others? If you read my Proverbs 31 devotion today you know that I confessed my temptation to entertain thoughts of comparison and criticism. As I grew up I chose to take comparison and criticism very much to heart and that contributed to a life of discouragement and defeat.

You and I are bombarded with airbrushed magazine covers and sixteen year old models selling anti-aging make-up everyday. We watch skinny starlets on our televisions and in movies and long to have their figures and lavish lifestyles. We allow ourselves to believe the lies from our enemy Satan that if we don't look like these women we see; then we are not worthy. We spend our time entertaining lies instead of taking every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.

Let me let you in on a little secret friends, The actresses, the ladies who appear on those magazine covers and even the sixteen year old selling anti-aging make-up are just like you and me in real life. It takes an army of hair and make-up professionals 3-5 hours to get them ready for their close-ups and agencies still spend tens of thousands of dollars on airbrushing.

When we entertain lies from the enemy we open the door to Satan and he rushes in with more lies and discouragement. Save yourself the trouble and a lot of headaches ladies. Slam the door on his lies and take every thought captive.

Here's an exercise I did with my small group a few years ago and the Proverbs 31 team did this for one another at this year's She Speaks Conference.

Have a small piece of paper or a blank bookmark for each person in your group.

Take turns writing down an encouraging truth about each person on the paper or bookmark.

Keep the paper or bookmark in your bible and read it once a week.

I'll share some of the precious truths my friends shared with me.

Favorite Princess

Sister

Encourager

Adorable

Gracious

Loveable

Get the idea? I would also encourage you to do this with your family. In fact this would be a great idea to do as we get ready for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Here's something we did on a regular basis when our sons were younger.

We would pass the salt shaker to each person at the dinner table and everyone took turns saying one encouraging truth about the one holding the shaker.

John 10:10 reminds us , "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

I encourage you to take every thought captive friends and do not allow the enemy to get his foot over the threshold of your mind.

Witness a Wedding

Happy Wednesday friends,

As I arrived at my office today there was a most beautiful couple waiting at the door. She was dressed in a lovely gray dress with many strings of glassy pearls and he was standing tall in a handsome blue suit. I unlocked the doors and escorted them to their counselor's office for what I thought was their "normal" appointment.

Within a few moments the counselor came to my desk and asked if I would witness a wedding.
Witness a wedding in a counseling office? "Okay."
Sure enough the beautiful couple who had been waiting at the door, was in fact getting married at this very moment and I was about to sign my name on an official document stating the fact that I had witnessed this holy union.

The couselor who is also an ordained minister stood before the beautiful couple asking them to repeat their vows and to pledge their love to one another. They did, exchanged rings and sealed this happy union with a kiss.
While the circumstances were unusual and unconventional to be sure, their love and devotion to one another was just as sweet and precious as you might imagine.

Wow, what a happy way to begin my work day. What about you friend, how has your day started?
Did you spend your morning getting anxious children off their first day of school?
Maybe you had to chase a run away pet through the neighborhood in your jammies, or maybe you woke up discouraged and burdened.
However your day has started out, I hope you will apply the verse in the scripture above to your day.
The Lord of all creation calls you "HIS" beloved bride. I hope you will take a moment to let that sink into your heart and mind. Allow His love for you to wash over you and remember that you are the most beloved bride of the most High King.

Define Born Again

Hi friends, and Happy Monday,

Often when I'm speaking, I'm asked to define the term "Born Again".
I just ran across Rick Warrens' definition and it's short and sweet.

What's Born Again?
Admission of need, Submission to God, Remission of sin & guilt, Transmission of life, Commission for service.

What's your definition of Born Again?

I hope you'll stop by often, some of my sweet She Speaks friends are going to be guest posting during the month of September and I have a few give aways to go along with that.

Free Shopping Spree

Happy Monday Friends,

If you're anything like me, you're standing in front of your closet screaming, "I don't have anything to wear!"
Well, I have great news for you today.

You can win a shopping spree and fashion makeover with Shari Morrison Braendel, the woman who has helped the entire Proverbs 31 Ministries Team and Staff discover God's beauty comes in all shapes and sizes!!

This is one contest you don't want to miss!! Enter at Shari's site here http://www.fashionmeetsfaith.com/contest/!!!

Grand Prize:
One winner will receive a $500 Visa gift card, a web camera, a one-hour fashion consultation with Shari Braendel via Skype, a set of color swatches, and an autographed copy of Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad.

Shari’s book Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad, just released! I read the entire book in one sitting, and that's saying something. I can hardly sit still to watch my favorite shows on HGTV.

Anyway, Shari has put together the perfect full color handbook for.anyone looking to freshen up their wardrobe and their look.
Weather you love fashion or you just love your comfy clothes, this book is for you. Shari offers great ideas and tips from the top of your head to the soles of your feet.

Don't miss out on this opportunity.

The Answer and The Winner

Happy Tuesday Friends,

Thanks to all of you for posting on the last two entries and entering my latest goodie bag give away.

Your answers to my question on why I wear a tiara when I clean were great and very close to the real answer.

Here's the real reason why I wear a tiara when I clean:

I wear a tiara when I clean because it reminds me that I'm a princess daughter of the King for sure.

However, I like to take it one step farther.

A true princess comes to serve others, not to be served by others and that's easy to remember when you are scrubbing toilets in a tiara. HA!

Now, on to the winner of the goodie gift bag...

Drum Roll Please....

RRRRRRRRRRRR

The Winner is:

Anonymous: who posted August 8 at 9:57 AM

Your story about meeting her friend 22 years ago.

Email me with your contact information and I'll get the Goodiy Gift Bag to you.

Stay tuned friends,

I've asked the ladies in my She Speaks evaluation group to do some guest posting. I want them to share their heart for ministry with all of you. I hope to begin that very soon.

In the meantime, keep posting.

My gift closet is over flowing these days and I think there is another give away in the near future.

If Only

Hey friends,

Thanks so much for stopping by today, especially, if you've popping over from the Proverbs 31

On-line devotions.

Thanks for your posts regarding my latest question and opportunity to win a goodie gift bag.

Your answers are close to the correct answer. Keep posting, each post enters you in the contest to win the goodie gift bag.

My sister is in town from Dallas Texas and arrived just as the She Speaks Conference ended. Even though I was pooped we stayed up till way past a girls bedtime last night talking and laughing and believe it or not this very subject of "If Only" came up.

I think it's something most girls and women struggle with at some point in their lives; some of us more than others. How many times have I slipped back into the pit of "If Only"? Too many to count, BUT GOD in his mercy ALWAYS stoops down to rescue me, wrapping me in his cloak of "Glory" as Angela Thomas reminded us at the conference. I love this reminder and exhortation.

2 Thessalonians 1:11
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

Are you looking to the Lord for your contentment? Or are you looking at other women, to fashion your ideas of success and worth. It's easy to see the lovely and gracious exterior, we take note of another woman's success, and we fall into the trap of “wanting what she has” and “wanting be just like her”.

Friends, if we re doing that we delude ourselves into thinking that life would be better if only… The truth is, we must remember our calling. We are to magnify and reflect the Glory of God in everything we do.

I hope you will will be reminded as I was to turn your eyes and your attention to the ONE who loves you with an everlasting love and wants to transform your "If Only" into "You Are".

What are your thoughts?

The Day After

Hey there sweetest friends,

Happy Monday to you all.

A special Hello to all the ladies who attended this year's Proverbs 31 Ministries She Speaks Conference.

Can I just say that through the hard work and sacrificial service of 80+ people, the Lord showed up and showed off HIS glorious splendor in a mighty way?

For those of you unable to attend, I hope to share some pictures of the conference very soon.

If you have pictures of the conference and would like to share them with me, I'd love to post them here.

For me the day after the conference is always such a bitter sweet time as we say goodbye to our news friends and move on the God's next steps for our lives so...

I've asked the incredible ladies in my speaker evaluation group to consider doing at least one guest host post here on my blog.

Each woman has a powerful story to tell and I don't want my bloggy friends to miss out on what God has done and IS doing in their lives.

If you have any topics you'd like to discuss here on my blog, please let me know and I'll get to work on that.

In the meantime, my sweet sister and her two children are on their way to our house this very minute from Dallas, Texas. We will miss having her wonderful husband Brandon join us for this trip, but I expect our time together to be fun and full of laughter!!!!!!!

I just heart my sister and her family.

I'll close for now, the bathrooms still need a good scrubbing and I need to put on my tiara before I tackle that.

You did know I wear a tiara while cleaning house didn't you?

Do you know WHY I wear a tiara while cleaning?

Maybe a gift bag of goodies give away will get you to leave a post.

Put on those thinking caps, tell all your friends and leave as many DIFFERENT posts as you like.

Leave a post and be entered for a drawing very soon.