BUY????
Did someone say we can “BUY” something????

My name is Andrea, and I am Eric Moore’s “bride” of 7 years and “momma” to 3 energetic boys (ages 6, 5, and 2). I am a stay-at-home mom that dabbles in several things re: business and ministry.
I LOVE this opportunity to try and muster up a few brain cells and write to introduce myself, and maybe encourage a present or future girlfriend.
Shortly after I gave my life to the Lord (June 18th, 1994), I just couldn’t get enough of God and His people, so I left the television world (account executive) and took off to raise support and enter full-time ministry.
I have a passion for encouraging women to become all that God has created us to be!!!
It’s interesting though, how difficult it is for us to live freely with peace & joy.
My girlfriends can call me with their issues, and I have SOOOOOO much faith for them. BUT, please don’t let something happen in my world!!! I mean…my stuff is “different” & just a little too difficult for God?!?” Hmmm?
Ecclesiastes 1:9 says there is nothing new under the sun, yet we keep getting “stumped” by the same old lies, deception, and discouragement that personally come our way.
I’ve had my own journeys with my career, life, and my “diligent pursuit to conform my hubby into my own image/ideas.” I still can’t understand why he won’t greet me every morning with, “Good Morning your Royal Highness, how may I serve you today!?!?”
Through my adventures, I have treasured my personal time with the Lord (which…if you’re having a hard time today….ask yourself if you’ve been spending quality/yummy time with the Lord???) Most of the time, that alone will change our attitude, perspective, and even our ability to build “intimate” relationships!!!
I also LOVE time with my dear girlfriends for “let’s be real with one another” time and “Uh, Andrea, have you ever thought about this…?” and time where our words are bathed in lots of love, confidentiality, AND TRUTH.
One of my favorite scriptures for women is:
“BUY THE TRUTH AND DO NOT SELL IT!” Prov. 23:23
Being a former collegiate volleyball player, (ROLL TIDE) it’s sad how rare I make time to maintain “any” evidence of muscle residency in my physical body. But, through fighting for Truth daily and not letting it go, I have built a certain level of my spiritual muscles. Often, that‘s one of our biggest challenges. Maybe that’s why God wanted to get our attention in “Girly” terms when He said, “BUY the Truth and do not sell it.” What an authoritative statement! I mean, I love it when my man spoils me, especially when it’s to BUY me something special! Hee, hee!!! But, how powerful when God says this! He is referring to any Truth regarding us, our future, our family, things concerning us… ALL of it.
So, if you find something troubling you, ask God for the TRUTH, and then hold fast to it. Sometimes God will use people to speak Truth to you. God wants us to BUY His TRUTH and NO MATTER WHAT….do not lose or give it up!!!!
Now, just in case you’re wondering, the Truth can pertain to anything…..

“I just don’t fit in around here…”
“One more won’t hurt…”
“I can’t do …., ‘cause I’m not…”
“I wish I was…”
“If only…..then….”
“Girl, do these jeans make my butt look big???”
Okay so, when I....then I’ll…..”

God’s Truth will always bring His fruit along with it (Gal: 5:22), so look for the peace to “seal the deal” and then help guard your Truth!!!
SO ladies, what TRUTH are you often being challenged to “sell”, or just not receive???? I’d LOVE to hear!!! Often times it’s one of the same areas God has actually created you to make a major impact in, for Him!!!!

Copyright © 2010 by Andrea Moore. All Rights Reserved.

Oh, the hustle and bustle of being a 21st century woman! Where does the time go? The to-do list seems to never end and lunch with a friend never seems to happen. Where did this long laundry list of expectations for my life come? Ugh! Surely, this isn’t what God created me for!

Yet I always seem to find that another day has passed and I didn’t take a moment to ask God what He had planned for me. My plans for the day were well thought out and each task was accomplished, but I didn’t get any closer to my dream. The dream I know God has placed in my heart. The dream He has whispered during my quiet times with Him. The dream I can’t seem to shake when I wake up or go to sleep. Why didn’t I just take that item off my list and replace it with a dream step?

So, the questions is, “What shall we do tomorrow when the alarm wakes our restful sleep reminding us that another busy day has just begun?” Will our laundry list of to-do’s take precedent over the dreams we have, yet again? No, not today! God created you for a purpose and placed you in this space of history to leave a mark for the generations to come. All you have to do is say, “Yes!”

I know, it’s easier said than done, especially when we are faced with school, work, crying babies, or an endless sea of dishes. But, those things will be taken care of, I promise. You are a woman who has been crafted by the master designer for such a time as this. He has given you talents, gifts, and ideas that He longs for you to pour out on the world around you. Take hold of it today, one task at a time. You’ll be surprised to find that God will supply you with enough time to cook dinner and spend with friends. Walking out the dreams God has for you is a sweet spot like no other.

So tonight, as you snuggle up in your bed hearing those sweet whispers of a dream again we can’t seem to shake, make a promise to yourself and God that tomorrow’s list will be a new one! One, which reflects a dream-step that will carry you into your destiny becoming the woman you were created to be!

Great Scripture Share:
Ps. 139: 13-16 (Message)
Eph 2:10 (Message)

Copyright © 2010 by Heather Frierson. All Rights Reserved.

 Shoreline Church Communications and Dance Director and has a passion to encourage women along side of her to become all that they were created to be both inside and out. CreatedWoman.net

Face the Elephants

Awhile back I had a dream, yes it could have been the pizza from last night’s dinner, but just humor me and hear me out. I was running through an open field foot loose and fancy free when I approached a wooded area where my path was blocked by 3 big elephants. Instantly afraid that they were going to attack, I retreated and ran away.

We have all found ourselves running care free through life when all the sudden our path is blocked by a big scary elephant. I’m not sure what the elephant in your path may look like but perhaps it’s a divorce, an unmet dream or painful past full of disappointments. Don’t turn and run away. Researchers say one of the best things to do if you find yourself in the path of an elephant is to stand still because they mock charge, in other words they are bluffing. Too many times we get caught off guard by the enemy’s bluff and we retreat in fear. We have a tendency to internalize the thought; if people really knew what I was facing they would not accept or love me

Replace the lies you’ve been listening to with truth from the word of God. He loves you with an everlasting love and He is for you, not against you. God wants to empower you to face the elephants and bring complete restoration to your life.

One of the best ways to deal with the elephants in your life is to first embrace God’s grace for your situation then surround yourself with a great support system. Here at Shoreline, we believe in the power of relationships that you can experience in small groups, Girl’s Night Out, Conferences and services. When I first began attending Shoreline, years ago, I was newly divorced, hurt and lonely. I finally worked up the courage to attend my first women’s event where I met a gal named Ponda, who immediately took me under her wing. One person, one invitation forever changed my life. It allowed me to develop a support system of wonderful friends who encouraged me to face the elephants in my path, spoke God’s grace over me, prayed for me and loved me enough to disciple me along the way.

Please accept my invitation to a class, a service or a special event. I want you to experience what I did, support, grace and love that has forever changed my life – I know it will change your life too.

Copyright © 2010 by Lisa Smith. All Rights Reserved.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I wondered how this situation snowballed out of control.  How a simple decision to not do something turned into Judge Judy’s courtroom, where I was the tried and charged “GUILTY”!  

Regardless of the verdict, God spoke to my heart “COVERED”.  He has said that to me a lot, of late.  Hmmm?  

As Noah’s voyage in the rain season of a lifetime came to end, he wanted a glass of wine.  Who wouldn’t?  Think about it.  He spends years building a gigantic ship, mocked by friends and people in the community.  He gathers lions, tigers, bears and birds and corrals them into the ship.  With his family on board, it starts to rain.  This rainy season lasts forty days.  Mount Everest ranges 29,000 feet above earth and it was under water.  The whole earth is covered.  I’m thinking Noah had seen enough rain to last a lifetime!  

After the rain stopped, it took over 150 days to dry things out.  Imagine the humidity and the stench inside the ship.  No port-a-potty or air ducts to help the flow of foul air.  Need I say more? 

Shortly after setting foot on dry land, God instructs Noah on the good food habits that Pastor Laura wishes we would all grab a hold of.  Then God blesses Noah with the words, “Be fruitful and multiply”.  The cherry on top of this beautiful cake is God’s invention, the rainbow!  

Since Noah was a farmer, and it was a great season of rain, he planted a vineyard. The grape harvest was rich and succulent.  This is where things get a little out of hand.   Noah must have been chomping at the bit to have some wine.  He had so much wine he passed out on the floor naked.  The plot gets more twisted when one son turns tales of daddy’s drunk, passed out on the floor, naked story.  He was probably immature and thought it was funny.  While the other sons are shocked, go in backwards and cover their dad’s nakedness. 

In life we have the opportunity to cover the mistakes of others, or point them out at the expense of their credibility.  What will you do?

Copyright © 2010 by Anita Strychalski. All Rights Reserved.

Anita Strychalski has been on staff at Shoreline Church for nine years supporting church services and serving the pastoral care needs of the congregation. She is passionate about all scopes of social justice and believes that God placed gifts and talents in each of us. When we put these gifts and talents into action, we express the highest form of gratitude to a loving God. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Human Services at St. Edward’s with a minor in Disaster Management. Contact Anita at 512-681-3248 or anita.strychalski@shoreline.net