Extra, Extra, Read All About It!
by Pastor Laura Koke
Hello beautiful! I have some exciting news to share! Plans are well underway for the 2011 SHINE Women's Conference. Mark your calendars and save the dates for October 20th - 22nd. Every year, when God's girls gather together for this epic event, amazing things happen! Our hearts are refreshed and healed, our lives are challenged to make a difference in our love-starved world, and we PARTY like there's no tomorrow! Holla!
This year, our keynote speakers are Wendy Treat and noted author, Dr. Caroline Leaf. Each bringing an explosive understanding of our uniqueness as women, which will empower us to be the strategic women God has called us to be!
As the months draw closer to conference, I look forward to expounding on this years vision, which, in a nutshell is…CONNECT, COMMUNITY, CAUSE. CONNECTING with God, being in COMMUNITY with one another, and living for a CAUSE greater than ourselves. What an exciting time to be alive as we become aware of the brilliant impact we can make as God's daughters!
So, if you're 6 or 106, SHINE is for you! It's going to be an absolutely, positively, 'rock your world' conference! But not without you! So make plans now to attend and make sure you bring your fabulous friends!
All my love,
Pastor Laura
P.S. We are so excited to announce that this year we'll also be hosting SHINE KIDZ for boys & girls ages birth to 5th grade. While you are enjoying the SHINE Women's Conference your child will be ministered to through a program designed specifically for them.
SHINE KIDZ: Early bird registration $5 per child per session with a max of $15 per session per family. At the door $7 per child per session with a max of $20 per session per family.
SHINE Women's Conference: Early bird registration is $25.00, at the door $30.00.
© 2011 by Laura Koke. All rights reserved.
 Laura and her husband, Rob, are the Senior Pastors of Shoreline Church in Austin, Texas. For 20 years they have raised up the next generation of leaders and created a life giving church that is making a significant impact locally and globally. Laura is a leading voice and advocate for this generation, as well as an accomplished doctor and author. Laura is an authentic, engaging, and compassionate communicator, whose passion to destroy injustice is helping to rescue countless lives and is bringing hope to many. She will inspire you to receive the beautiful love and grace of God that will equip and compel you to share it with everyone around you.
Single Motherhood – Seasons of Blossom
Single motherhood is like the four seasons… Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Sometimes it can be sunshine all day long and other times it can be miserably hot or cold. Regardless of what each season brings, know that God is simply watering your seed so that you can blossom into the person He created you to be.
Seasons Produce Perseverance
When you have perseverance, there is nothing that can stand in your way. Perseverance is a crucial part of your growth track with Christ. It's what makes you stand strong in what you believe in. When God sees that you are able to overcome challenges, he delights and rewards you for being strong and faithful.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Seasons Produce Purpose
Seasons will come and go, but the purpose that God has given you remains the same. Each season will help give you a clearer picture of what that is. Just remember, God always works everything out for his good and his only desire is to see you and your children prosper in all that you do.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Seasons Produce Relationships
God is very clear on what friendships mean to him. It is a necessity to have encouraging friends around you when facing challenges. It's not always easy to get out of your comfort zone to meet new people, but it certainly makes a world of difference when you can connect and relate to other single mothers that know exactly what you are going through. Try it this Mother's Day! Shoreline is having a Single Mother's Luncheon on May 8th just for you. I know you will meet some awesome people there.
Ecclesiastes 4:10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
My challenge for you is that you would put all your trust in the one who created you, because there is no greater love than His! May you enjoy YOUR season this Mother's Day and may God bless you and your children above and beyond any of your expectations!
© 2011 by Helen Fernandez. All rights reserved.
Click here to find out more about the Single Mothers Luncheon
 I have lived in Austin all my life and I absolutely love it here! I have been attending Shoreline for over 10 years and I cannot say enough about this wonderful place. I just recently got married about 9 months ago, but before that I was a single mother. I hope that one day my experiences can help encourage other mothers to believe and dream the unthinkable.
Monthly Devotional
Simply, Trust
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
If you're anything like me, you find yourself returning to this scripture again and again to remind yourself that GOD is in control of your life. I'm realizing, as His Bride, He doesn't want me to exhaust myself with anything that distracts me or hinders me from loving (worshipping) Him and to simply, trust…
It's so easy, in the world we live in, to unnoticeably find yourself sitting in the driver's seat of your life thinking that GOD is in control but later finding out that He really doesn't have full access to your most sacred thoughts, emotions, or desires. Think about this for a second; there are areas of your life that are easily governed by Him but are there also things that we sweep under the rug or shove in the closet so no one sees them? Are you willing to lift up that rug or open that door and allow Him to take on those burdens?
The passage above says that if we give Him "all" of our heart and "all" of our ways that He "shall" direct our paths! This is how we show our love to GOD, through our faith (Deuteronomy 6:5; Hebrews 10:38).
I challenge you to make your first response one of faith. In order to run, you must first walk; and in order to walk, you must first stand. Trusting Him to allow you to fly means you are going to have to let go. Psalms 34:8 said to, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" He is not afraid of your challenge nor is He afraid of failure because it's impossible for Him to do so if you trust and believe (Hebrews 11:6). He is Lord, He is emphatically in love with you and there is nothing that will ever change that.
Father, thank you for loving me beyond my understanding. It's my prayer that You become Lord over every area of our lives and that we become more and more like the carefree Bride that You have designed for us to be. In the undoubtedly powerful name of Jesus, Amen.
© 2011 by Myles K. Wren. All rights reserved.
Click here to read Shoreline's statement of faith
 Myles K. Wren volunteers for the Worship Arts and Junior High/High/Young Adult Lift Ministries. She envisions becoming a world renowned inspirational and motivational writer as well as mentor for young adult women and teens. You can read an archive of devotions from Ms. Wren at www.piecesdevotionalmkw.blogspot.com.
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