Priscilla Shirer's Blog, page 42

Guest Blogger: Lisa Harper | Missy is Home!

The first time I met Lisa Harper she was on a Harley. I'm serious. We were in an arena filled with nearly 10,000 women who had just settled in for a women's conference sponsored by Focus on the Family. The loud roar of a motorcyle engine shattered the silence. We all turned around - straining our necks to see what was coming.

It was Lisa.

On a Harley Davidson.

Her Harley Davidson.

Driving up the center aisle.
She parked at the stage and then preceded to mount the platform, open her Bible and teach us with clarity, power and passion. I've listened to every word out of her mouth ever since. Anyone this brave and bold and beautiful and deeply Biblical needs to be heard. (Plus, I secretly want to ride a motorcycle).

This is the dicodome of Lisa Harper. She cool and trendy, wise and insightful all at the same time. You've not seen anyone don a leather jacket and teach the Bible like Lisa can. She is one of my favorites. I look for opportunities to sit under her teaching any chance I can get whether she's behind a podium or sharing her insights in books or her Bible studies.

And now, Lisa has added a new chapter to her already full and fabulous life. She's a mother. For the first time in her 50 years, she's cuddling a little one that calls her "Momma". Today, she writes to us about the joyful exhaustion of motherhood.

Ride on, sweet Lisa! We're cheering for you and that little girl of yours every single day!

Priscilla

To all of my friends who are parents,

I owe you an apology. A big, fat, red-faced, groveling apology. Because while I didn’t think you were lying exactly, I did think you were exaggerating about how exhausting raising kids is. When you talked about how you couldn’t keep up with the laundry or how you didn’t have time to get your Bible study homework done or feed the dog or brush your own hair or fix anything more time-consuming than microwaved chicken nuggets for dinner, I thought you were being a tad melodramatic. I mean, Goodnight, how much work does corralling one of those cute little toddlers require?

I so deserve a swift kick in the shins.

Now that my four and a half year old adopted daughter has been home with me for sixteen days, I’ve realized just how comically inaccurate my assumption was because I’m exhausted to the bone. To the very marrow of my bones to be more accurate. And much like Esau gave up his inheritance for his brother’s chow, I’d consider exchanging mine for a nap. You want the pearl and diamond necklace my jewelry designer sister gave me? Fine, just take my little girl to McDonald’s for an hour and point me in the direction of a soft mattress...or a dirty rug…it doesn’t matter. Just anywhere I can be unconscious for a while. This motherhood thing has Flat. Worn. Me. Out. I had to covertly sniff myself in public a few days ago because I couldn’t remember if I’d put on deodorant. Less than three weeks of parenthood and I backed into a friend’s car in my driveway yesterday because the bags under my eyes impeded my vision (okay, it was really because I was enchanted by my child’s pitch-perfect rendition of “Deep and Wide” and was gazing at her instead looking in the rear view mirror).

      

Truth be told and teasing aside, I wouldn’t trade this sleep-deprived bliss for anything in the world because other than my salvation being Missy’s mama is the sweetest gift God has ever given me. As a single, 50 year old whose imaginary husband seems to be permanently lost and unwilling to stop and ask for directions, I thought I’d missed out on being a mom. Thankfully, no good thing does He [God] withhold from those who walk uprightly [or her who stumbles frequently] (Psalm 84:11) and His plans for me included a bright-eyed, brown-skinned, joyful punkin’ from Haiti named Missy whose birth mama died of AIDS and unknowingly left her infected with HIV.

    

Our adoption process took two years. One hundred and four weeks of paperwork and disappointment and heartbreak and waiting and more paperwork. But by the grace of God two and a half weeks ago I finally got to bring my Missy home and we’ve spent every waking moment since then singing and laughing and hopping and splashing and coloring and visiting doctors offices and hospitals and pharmacies. Then today we got her lab results from the infectious disease doc at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and found out that against the odds her HIV is undetectable and her CD4 count is normal. Which means that as long as my baby stays on meds, her future looms bright. Which means our Redeemer still parts Red Seas, y’all! He can heal what’s broken in and around us; He can make old, AARP-card-carrying chicks new mamas; and for those of us who desperately need a nap, He created coffee. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Warmest Regards,

Lisa Harper

The Chat with Priscilla

If it’s 12pm on a Tuesday or Thursday, you can find us here at the Going Beyond office huddled around our computer glued to latest The Chat with Priscilla. Each month has given us a new episode with great guests and many thought provoking discussions.

The month of May is no different, my friend! Priscilla sits down with none other than Beth Moore!! Are you doing the happy dance? I’m doing the happy dance! Please don’t let me be the only one doing the happy dance!

This chat is so much fun to watch, ya’ll. Priscilla sits down with Ms. Beth for a special The Chat with Priscilla Live. It was taped on the set of the Priscilla Shirer Live Simulcast, hosted by Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in the heart of New Orleans.  It was held in a church but it definitely felt like you were sitting around a coffee table or curled up on a couch just catching up with girlfriends. There are so many knee-slapping-type-of-laugh moments to enjoy.

Ms. Beth shares openly about family, precious prayer time, her writing process, her love for coffee, and hairspray (I mean, of course!). She also talks about her newly released Bible study, Children of the Day, and her prayer for each woman that will participate in the study, whether in community or alone. There’s a fire in her heart for each of you, sister. Believe that. Her prayer is that you will love the Lord more than when you started. And at the end of the day you will sit back in total awe over the pure beauty of God and His Word.

You don’t want to miss this special chat.

Be sure to tune in! Put it on your calendar, set your reminder, and place the sticky note on your dashboard – it will air every Tuesday and Thursday at 12pm, 6pm and 10pm (CT) during the month of May.  You can click here to take you directly to the chat.

ENJOY IT!

*Nicole

P.S. . .You will hear Priscilla and Ms. Beth talk about a simulcast that was held the following day. If you’ve missed that simulcast or would just love to see it again, you most certainly can! Lifeway has extended the digital pass for the event and you can purchase a pass here. Please know, this offer expires June 2nd.

Guest Blogger: Angie Smith | Yes

Ever wish you knew someone who had a rich, raw, witty humor that kept you in stitches for hours? Have you ever thought how cool it would be for that same friend to be able to share authentic conversation with you about life's deepest struggles and yet leave you with a sense of hope, forgiveness, peace and comfort that could make you feel as hope-filled, warm and cozy as the caramel-drizzled latte you held in your hands?

Well, now you do.

Meet Angie Smith. If you don't already know her, you most certainly should. Her rich words of wisdom have touched a generation of women - some of whom have experienced emotionally devastating circumstances and have been comforted by grace and healing from God's hand.

Angie knows. Her life is as deep as it is wide. She and her family have been through it and have lived to tell a story that is changing lives one at a time. Her study of the Word and her love for the Savior is contagious through her work in ministry but also through her life as wife, mother and friend. . .

. . .the kind of friend you want to share a latte with one sip at a time.

Enjoy,

Priscilla

I’ve somehow managed to get a bloody nose in the midst of trying to get ready for bed. My hair is in a towel, my face is splotchy-red from the shower, and I have toilet paper shoved into my nose. I sit cross-legged in front of the mirror, plucking my eyebrows and staring into what I’ve become.

At that moment, Todd opens the door and walks in. I look at him, straight-faced, and say, “So, be honest. Isn’t marriage everything you dreamed of…and MORE?” He smiles. We laugh. I untie the towel and start trying to comb out knots with my fingers.

“The girls took my brush again.” I explain.

He’s putting away clothes behind me, and I realize he knows where all of my things go. Tank tops here, speaking clothes there.

I blow my nose, smooth moisturizer over my cheeks, and tell him I’ll meet him upstairs in a few minutes. He nods, reaching high for the socks, and I’m grateful for the truth that hides deep in this moment.

We’re still standing.

And for all the Instagram-worthy, blog-post-destined moments we’ve had over the years, nothing compares to the tenderness of our invisible, everyday life. He knows I spoke too soon when I told him I was angry, and he knows it comes from fear. He knows exactly how many seconds lie between a bowl of oatmeal that she’ll eat and one that will send her into teary despair.

It’s deep and hidden and pure, and it stretches as the years pass. It has walked through hospitals, through cemeteries, through the frayed edges of “for better or for worse.” And for all our wild dreaming about what this life would look like, I never knew it would be the steady rhythm of “us” that would trump fantasy.

We pulled out our wedding video for friends recently (on VHS, thankyouverymuch) and we got lost in the memories for a little while. I’m happy-as happy as a bride has ever been-and Todd looks like a kid in his dad’s tux. We didn’t go into it with unhealthy expectations or ignorant misgivings about how hard it would be. I think we knew it was part of the deal. But anticipation and experience are different, and we’ve had to brave it together.

I watched us looking at each other as we left the church, and it struck me that we did that. Everyone was cheering and the doors were wide open ahead of us, but our eyes were locked on each other.

And as I watched, something in me wanted to tell the “us” in the video they had found the secret, and that they would hold tight to it even when everything shouted and pulled. When the earth gave way, we’d be hand in hand, clinging to the same thing we did that day.

I’m yours, and you’re mine. All the rest of it will fall where it will.

Thirteen years outside those church doors, and our fingers are still looped together believing for the best.

I laugh, not because I think we’re doing it exactly right, but because we’re doing it at all. The beauty of this life is in the moments that never make it into a scrapbook-the moments when, if you were being honest-you would say, “We almost gave up right there, but we didn’t.”

It won’t make Facebook, that’s for sure, but it didn’t go without notice. Mascara-stained cheeks and words I wish I had swallowed before spilling. No. It’s not glamorous, but there’s truth that could stand to see the light of day.

And the times we did let the sun go down in our anger. I know, that’s a no-no. I read it, too.

But we’re sinners in desperate need of grace, and we’re going to continue to make decisions we shouldn’t. In the midst of it, we reach for Him, and we ask Him to speak mercy over our brokenness. And we commit to each other over and over again, and the words echo like they did in an old church so many days ago.

For better, yes.

But also for worse.

And we’ll take what comes because we believe in the One who knitted us together. I love this man who knows where my socks go, and he loves me in spite of my counter-sitting habits.

That moment, and thousands more remind me what it really means to be in love-it’s as much about “being in” as it is about “in love.”

Today, I smile like I did when he lifted my veil, because I know his hands and his heart better today than that day.

And the best part?

I’m still saying “yes.”

May Jewelry Box Article

The beginning of a new month is already here!  Goodness, can you believe it?  Well, for the Going Beyond team, the beginning of a new month means Priscilla has a new Jewelry Box article just for YOU! You can read and enjoy the latest jewelry box here.

After you've read it, we'd love to hear any thoughts that you may have!  Looking forward to hearing from you all today.

Nicole

Oh!  Did you know that you can sign up to receive these monthy nuggets in your inbox?  Yup! Just click here, scroll to the bottom of the page, fill out your information, and you are done, my friend!

Guest Blogger: Valorie Burton | Happy Women Live Better

If there is one person that I've watched galvanize people's spirit, harness their enthusiasm and spur them on to action, it is Valorie Burton. And, the thing is, she hasn't just been doing it in recent years - as a writer for Essence Magazine, Personal Life Coach, author of best selling books and motivational speaker - she was doing it in her formative years before anyone ever knew her name and before she had written one book.

Her life has told it's own story- authentic, vulnerable, beautiful and attention-grabbing.

We met when we were in our early twenties, both headed down similar paths that each of us was still trying to figure out and understand. We stumbled our way along year after year and, without fail, those curvy trails kept intersecting with each other time and time again. We lived parallel lives in alot of ways during those early years. . . and my life is the better for it.

She speaks truth and wraps it in a straight-forward, girl-to-girl kind of way that makes clear her intention to cheer you on to success in every aspect of your life. Her post today is a message that every single one of us needs to be reminded of and encouraged to adapt our life to. Enjoy it and then RUN to grab her books. The will inspire you to change for the better.

You are fiercely loved today,

Priscilla

"When you let go of what your life 'should' be, you are free to focus on what your life 'could' be right now." - Happy Women Live Better

Dear Friend,

I posted this quote from Happy Women Live Better on my FaceBook fan page a few weeks ago, and it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. A major turning point in my happiness came the day I decided to quit lamenting all the things I thought should be present in my life, but were not. I held tightly to the belief that if I could just have some of the things in my life that I didn't have, then I could really be happy. That's when God whispered in my spirit: Be happy right now. Happiness is an attitude we choose regardless of our circumstances. It isn't always easy, but it is possible to notice and appreciate what you have rather than feeling sorry for yourself over what you don't. What unfulfilled desire in your life tempts you to feel sorry for yourself? One secret to getting more of what you want is to stop insisting you must have it in order to be happy.  

When you let go of what you think your life "should" be, you can then focus on making your life what it "could" be. Stop noticing everything wrong with your spouse or kids, and start building on what's right. Quit complaining about the job you want to leave, and start celebrating some aspect of your job that you actually like. Refuse to mope about not being in a relationship, and start having fun and creating adventures that make your life exciting - partner or no partner. Take what you have and make the most of it. When you do, happiness follows. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy - a circle of good. Happiness causes success, not the other way around. So be grateful, enjoy life, and let the good things that follow delightfully surprise you. As you let go of the need to be in control and embrace the good all around you, it is amazing how those unfulfilled desires begin to unfold.

Learning to be happy while you wait for what you want and not just happy when you get it - now, that's a test of your faith. Will you pass the test? Often, God is just waiting on you to be anxious for nothing and to know the joy of The Lord truly is your strength.

My challenge to you this week:

Let go of what "should" be and take a step towards what "could" be.

Journaling question:

What do you think "should" be in your life right now that isn't? How has that "should" impacted your happiness? What good could you do in your life if you embraced your life exactly as it is?

Until next time,

Valorie

Take the happiness test and discover your happiness triggers for free at www.happywomantest.com.

Guest Blogger: Michelle Stimpson | Shredding the Past

Michelle Stimpson is a creator. She's an innovator really. This stunningly gifted woman crafts stories and characters that cause her audiences' souls to become attached - connected in a deep, internal way.

I've admired her from afar, watching as she churns out book after delicious book - including the highly acclaimed Boaz Brown, Divas of Damascus Road (National Bestseller), and Falling Into Grace. She has also published several short stories for high school students through her educational publishing company, Right Track Academic Support Services, at www.wegottaread.com.

Her educational publishing company. . . 

That's what I like most about Michelle - her interest in others. She pours her time and energy into mentoring the next generation, teaching them how they, too, can put pen to paper and publish their works. And then, she serves whole heartedly in the women's ministry at her local church (which happens to also be the same as mine). Our women are the better for it.

So glad that she's stopping by our virtual living room today. Enjoy meeting Michelle.

Priscilla :)

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 10:17, KJV

I started keeping a diary when I was twelve, shortly after my mother had a car accident. I look back on those rough years now and realize that journaling was a blessing. Aside from being therapeutic, journaling got me into the habit of writing almost daily and taught me how to tell a story using only my version of the truth.

The Journals

As time went on, I would revisit those journals under duress. When angry with my husband, I’d flip to the parts about my ex-boyfriend who was sooooo sweet. Should I have married that guy instead? When overwhelmed as a new mom, I re-read my high school volumes, reminded of was carefree and had my whole life ahead of me. What if I could get a do-over? I re-visited the college years when I felt discouraged. What if I’d picked a different major?

A few years ago, the Lord began to nudge me toward letting those pre-Jesus-in-my-life-for-real journals go. I balked, “Go?! Go where?” He couldn’t be serious.

I told a friend about this weird throwing-away-journals business God had mentioned. She agreed with Him. I decided not to listen to either one of them.

God graciously reiterated Himself in various ways over the next months. Finally, I began to hypothesize that…just maybe…His thoughts about my journals were higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9 rings a bell). And so, with a heart open to His interpretation, I revisited those older journals to discern God’s viewpoint.

This time, it was as though someone had given me a new pair of glasses through which to read. My word! It was a hot mess! DeAnna and I were setting up Natalie for a confrontation with Rochelle. My volleyball coach was bias. My sorority sisters couldn’t dance. Anyone with a brain could see that the ex-boyfriend I was obsessed with wasn’t really into me (duh!) and there was so much complaining about the people who loved me most.

Still. These were my journals. Furthermore, I knew lots of other Christians who got to keep their diaries. So, I flat out asked God, “Why do you want me to get rid of my journals?”

Inside, He whispered: They are a record of your sin and foolishness.

He had a point.

Yet, I reasoned on, “But doesn’t everybody have a record?”

Again, He answered me in love: I don’t remember your sin anymore. Why do you want to remember it?

End of conversation.

Y’all, I boo-hooed all the way to Office Max at the revelation of His love. I had those folders and books shredded. I literally gave them over to be tossed into oblivion.

They’re gone forever. Just like my sin and yours.

Thank Jesus!

Busyness Interrupted

I tend to keep myself busy. Overly busy to be exact. I keep telling myself that a lengthy to-do list is normal. I'm an adult now and this is what adults do, right?!

My busy schedule was keeping every hour of my day packed with something to do. I definitely couldn't miss my 5:30am date with the treadmill; it would be irresponsible of me to drop any of the emails, meetings and deadlines that were stacked high on my desk; and I couldn’t fathom cancelling dinner dates and gatherings with friends. Oh, and sleep! I couldn’t forget to sleep.

As I ran from one appointment to the next, I was oblivious to the fact that I was beginning to spread myself way too thin, pouring myself out but failing to pour anything back in. I was depleting rapidly, on empty, running on whatever fumes were left. I could feel I was stretched thin but I brushed it off and told myself that this was my new norm.

I’m an adult now, remember?

One thing this schedule was very good at was keeping me from my quiet time with the Lord. But my priorities were more pressing. I knew I needed to rest in Him. I knew I needed to be renewed by the Word. I knew I needed shelter from my storm.

But I was too busy.

I was on my way to the gym one morning when I was stopped at a railroad crossing. Nothing out of the ordinary, I thought. This should only be about a three-minute delay in my work out. Tops.

The dread on my face as I watched the train’s wheels begin to slow down and finally come to a complete stop. You have got to be kidding me! Three minutes passed, then five, then ten. I looked around for a way of escape, but there was just no possible escape plan. There were cars beside me, cars behind me, and a stalled freight train in front of me.

It was now safe for me to panic.

I couldn't just have 'down' time!  I figured it would be so wise of me to be resourceful with my time and truthfully, I needed something to occupy my thoughts so that I didn’t scream. I looked around the car for paperwork to possibly sort through and there was my Bible, sitting there on the back seat, waving at me, and even calling my name. I’m pretty sure that was sleep deprivation talking.

I grabbed it, leafed through it, and began to read. And pray. And listen. And pray some more. Goodness, I needed this moment right here.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB)

 Sigh.

Yes, I hear you, Lord.

The train finally began to move after 45 minutes of being stalled. It was the same amount of time I would have spent at the gym. Go figure.  I couldn’t tell you exactly what happened to that train, but I know He knows. And I definitely learned my valuable lesson that morning.

There’s no benefit to me, us, in forsaking our quiet time with the One who restores. He provides rest for the weary, peace for the anxious, faith for those in doubt, wisdom for those with questions, confidence for those who are uncertain, and direction for those that are searching.
…like me.

Nicole :)

Guest Blogger: Sarah Jakes | Silence

Oh . . .I’d heard of her. Just like so many others, I’d sat along the sidelines of her family’s thriving ministry in Dallas, Texas and catch glimpses of this life maturing. Emerging. Becoming.

There she was – the vivacious young girl growing up before our eyes into a mother . . .then business woman . . .then writer . . .then media personality . . .and then . . .well, there’s more that remains to be seen. I’m sure of it.

She’s only in her mid-twenties and already she has helped thousands upon thousands of women find beauty and grace even in the disappointments in the lives.

And she should know.

She’s survived more in her two decades than some have in an entire lifetime. Her writings reveal the path she’s traveled. They are always personal and thoughtful – the kind that make you read almost as much between the lines as on them. A thread of vulnerability and openness always weaves its way into her books and teachings make her words drip with an endearing quality that draws people in.

All kinds of people.

Broken people like me.

Read. Enjoy. Then run to grab one of Sarah’s beautiful books. You’ll be glad you did.

Blessings,

Priscilla

I hate the silence. I hate the whispers that come when the distractions are gone and the fear sets in. I hate being in a room full of people and still feeling alone. I spend most days with my back against the wall. I love to fight. I’ve never been comfortable sitting back and letting life just happen to me.

I’ve fallen in love with the pressure to hold it together, but the silence always betrays me. The silence is where my doubt finds its strength and consumes me.

I need a distraction.

A person, fling, project, drug, job, child, or friend... I need anything that will free me from this prison called quiet. I just need something to divert my attention from me. Because when I’m alone in my thoughts I calculate the improbability of my dreams becoming a reality. In the silence I pick myself apart searching for a list of all the things wrong with me. I relive all the things that hurt me. I’ve collectively spent hours thinking about the many reasons I don't deserve better. I call it bracing myself for the worst. I live for the moments when the noise comes and takes away the voices running a marathon in my head.

I’m afraid.

Afraid that if I can’t find a way to escape these thoughts they’ll overcome me. One day I’ll open my mouth to speak and my world will hear that the crack in my voice isn’t just nerves, it’s doubt. They’ll know that the silence is teaching me to not believe in me. They’ll understand why I need the microphone to drown out the voice of my fears, regret, and maybe even my truth.

How could I tell them that I’m as equally afraid as I am confident? How could I tell them that everyday is a battle? Some days I win and other days I willingly surrender to the voices and stifle my hope. It’s too hard to believe when the silence screams my greatest fears.

We spend years convincing children there is no boogeyman under the bed and fail to mention that he’s closer than he may appear. So many of us let the monsters reside safely in our heart scaring away any chance we have for rest...joy...and peace.

What if the silence isn’t about the voices? What if the only way to win is to do what we did as kids? Find peace in the face of fear.

In the Gulf of Alaska, for as far as the eye can see, there is nothing but mountains, trees, clouds, water, and silence. There weren’t any car horns, no blares from sirens, or people chattering. From my view on the ship all I could see was how beautiful life is when each piece finds its place and just...is.

I didn’t wonder how much more beautiful the land would be if the skyscrapers were touching the sky instead of the mountains. I never stopped to imagine pavement where the ocean was. I didn’t look at the trees and try to fix the color of its leaves. I didn’t try to fix what God created so that it could be what people were used to.

I made a pact with my fear long before I found my purpose. The pact insisted that I fix what the world said was wrong with me before I could be of any use. The day I realized that I was laying concrete over the ocean of my soul I made a new deal. I made a covenant with God that I would learn to seek His voice in the silence. And no matter what the people say I believe that I don’t have to look like what you’re used to, to still be used.

I’ve seen clouds tell the mountains secrets, water embrace the shore, and trees grow high enough to worship the heavens. I’ve heard the voices torment me in my head long enough.

The secret to muting the fear-filled silence when walking in His purpose for your life is trusting that God is stronger than your doubt. He may not have created you to be like the rest of the world, but it’s only because He expected that you would be strong enough to find peace, not fear, in the silence.

God, I’m tired of living up to the expectations of what people say. I want to remove the roadblocks that are keeping me from finding the beauty in my walk and the promise in my purpose. I’m tired of talking myself out of better. May the words from my mouth and thoughts in my mind be pleasing and acceptable in Your sight. All I want is for others to look at me and see You.

Sarah

Whole Numbers and Fractions. Dividing and Multiplying.

Math has never really been my thing. I'm serious. I think that God skipped the line I was standing in when He passed out the "math" wires in the brain. I'm a firm believer that He's not one prone to oversight so he must have intentionally chose to leave my brain wires on the factory belt instead of fusing them in.

I'll have to ask Him about that later.

The fact remains, I have math issues. Always have. I have memories of school years filled with math arithmetic assignments I couldn't complete apart from a tutor breathing down my neck and algebra equations taunting me on tests. They would look up at me all sinister and wry - "We're smarter than you...and we know it. Don't even try it sista."

So, I obeyed. Stop trying. Completed the bare minimum requirement needed to get a diploma in college and then closed my textbook, never to return to it again.

Until now.

Turns out, I'd grow up to be a home school mom. Shoot. That darn math is all up in my face again.

I'll admit that I'm so grateful to the sweet, young math-wiz from my local church that loves to hang out with my boys and teach them a thing or two a few times a week. So grateful for her I can barely stand it.

Like. For real. Every time she shows up at my door it's all I can do not to drop to my knees, kiss her feet and thank her profusely for saving me. . .from making my children hate math in the most horrible way.

Still, I help the boys with lessons here and there. Every time I can explain something to them successfully, I give myself a little, invisible pat on the back - We did it girl! And the other day, while discussing fractions and whole numbers, I realized something interesting - something that I'm sure I learned before but. . Well, you know. . .I just studied math to pass tests back then not to actually retain.

So anyway, here's what I learned - when a fraction is multiplied by a whole number it decreases the value of the whole number. The whole number doesn't grow in value, it lessens exponentially. Ok. . I know this is not rocket science but just keep reading anyway.

Multiplication is a mathematical operation that we normally think of in terms of growth. Multiply and watch the number get bigger - 3 apples x 5 children = 15 apples all together. But when a whole number is multiplied by a fraction the result is smaller - 3 x 2/3 = 2.

See? Smaller. Less.

Got me thinking. In relationships if you don't bring a whole person - a healthy, full, complete individual to the equation - you are actually doing the other party a disservice. Somehow instead of finding that your lives are growing and expanding, becoming richer and more full, you'll find them depleted and weakened, withered and dry.

So.. . I've got some question for you. Are you bringing wholeness or just a fraction to your current relationship? What is the person you are with bringing to it? How are they affecting you and how are you affecting them?

Here's to being a "whole number" kind of girl!

Priscilla

AWAKEN | Oh, What A Night!

Oh, what a night!

This past Tuesday, the amazing team at First Baptist Dallas hosted 3,000 women for a time of fellowship that brought the house down! We began our AWAKEN gathering with an incredible worship experience led by Anthony Evans and Priscilla gave an awesome message as women leaned in with a heart full of expectancy to hear from God.

"Running out of ourselves is a prefix to running into Jesus."

During our prayer experience, women were awakened to the needs of others. Silent petitions in the form of prayer requests flooded the alter. It was such a beautiful sight to see sisters hand-in-hand interceding on behalf of one another.

Did you have the opportunity to take a “shipping tag” with a prayer request at the end of the night?  For the next several days, remember to continue storming the gates of heaven with prayers on behalf of your sisters!

We've added a new element to our AWAKEN gathering called the Wide Awake Award! This award gives us an opportunity to honor a woman from the DFW area that has been diligently serving within her community. The winner of our first ever Wide Awake Award was a single mother named Pam. Pam has been a wonderful example of what being the "hands and feet of Jesus" looks like by sacrificially serving others even during her own time of need. She had no idea her friends nominated her for this award!! We were extremely honored to take the time to publicly applaud her self-less efforts and shower her with appreciation. 

Sisters, you are fiercely loved...and you loved fiercely.

We had a chance to bless an amazing ministry called Reach4Hope that nurtures the inner city youth of Dallas. Women with a heart for our city overwhelmed this ministry in such a beautiful way! It was a great sight to see women coming through the doors with arms filled with donations for young people that might not have access to simple, yet needful things.

Talk about being the hands and feet of Jesus!! Reach4Hope had to cart everything away in a Uhaul truck. a UHAUL truck! We don’t want you to stop there though. Visit their site here to see how you, along with your friends and family, can become more involved with this amazing ministry throughout the year.

Are you already anticipating the next AWAKEN event like we are? Save the date and mark you calendars for Tuesday, October 21st, when we meet for our next AWAKEN in the beautiful Prestonwood Baptist Church (Plano campus).  We don't want you to miss it! This will be another amazing night of fellowship, worship, teaching and encouragement. Begin spreading the news! Tell your family, girlfriends and co-workers about this special night, October 21st.  As always, this event is free but registration will be required.

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